I stood there for a few minutes with my jaw slack, trying to figure out what just happened. He went from ready to snatch Gray's head off, to smiling and wanting to get food. I don't understand this guy, but I'm glad he's better now. He was like a dragon ready to destroy a village, when he's angry.
Shrugging my shoulders, I thought it was better to just change out of my costume and into something warm.
I pulled on a pair of dark jeans and a comfy sweater with a black cat on it. It's still Halloween, I have to dress the part somehow.
"I'll be back later Lily. Wait for us to get back ok." I said rubbing between his ears as he laid out on his cat bed beside my closet.
After grabbing my purse and slipping on my shoes, I rush out of my dorm room, just in time to see Gajeel pull up in his truck.
He shot me a crocked smile, causing my stomach to flop around like crazy, as I quickly rounded the loud vehicle to get in the passenger seat.
"You got it shrimp?" he asked as he watched me struggle to lift myself up and into the seat.
"Yep! I got it. Ok, what are we getting from the store?" I asked pulling the seat belt over my chest and clicking it at my side.
The heat was on, warming my bones and the radio was playing a faint hard rock melody that was barely audible.
"You'll find out once we get the stuff."
"It's a surprise?" I asked turning my head to look at him. He drove with one hand on the stirring wheel and the other in his lap. The cab of the truck was spacious and tall, but his head still nearly touched the roof of the truck.
"Yep, if you can guess what it is based off the ingredients you'll get a treat. It is Halloween."
"That's not fair." I pouted up at him. I was a little upset that he wasn't going to tell me but also secretly upset that even when we're sitting down, he's still a lot taller than me. Stupid giant!
His zombie make up was washed off and he changed into a long sleeve shirt, dark pants and boots. Does this guy, not need a jacket? It is pretty cold outside. Maybe he has a higher a body temperature than most people. Yea, that could be-
"Yo, shorty! We're here." Gajeel said snapping me out of my thoughts.
"Oh! Cool!" I responded quickly unbuckling my seat belt and sliding out of the truck and down to the pavement.
The parking lot was mostly empty beside a few cars here there, probably people getting last minute candy for the trick or treaters. There were even a few parents dragging their kids into the store trying to find a last minute costume.
Walking beside Gajeel, the automatic doors welcomed us as we stepped into the grocery store. I let him take the lead, since it's such a big surprise and I don't know what to get.
"Do you have a list, maybe I can help you get some of the ingredients." I said following him.
"Nah, don't try to be slick shrimp. I know you're just trying to figure out what I'm makin'."
"No, no, I just want to help." I defended myself, watching him inspect a few potatoes.
Ok, maybe it's both, maybe I want to see the treat he has in store and also help because I feel kind of useless just following him around the store. Watching him pick up different vegetables and inspect them like a he's a food critique, was pretty weird to watch.
Who knew Gajeel was serious about his cooking?
"Are you making...stir fry?"
"Nope!"
"What about...a casserole?"
"Nooooppe!"
As he picked out different vegetables, I tried my best to guess what he was making and every time I did, it was the wrong answer. He seemed to enjoy watching me sigh in defeat as we continued to walk around the store grabbing ingredients.
"Oh! I know what you're making!" I announced with a big smile and my arms full with a big pot, that Gajeel just placed towards me.
"What do you think it is now?"
"You're making some type of stew!"
"Ok, you got me!" he said turning around to face me.
I squealed in delight spinning around, happy I finally guessed the right answer.
"Gihi, you're happy you finally guessed it, huh?" he laughed ruffling my hair as I giggled. "Come on let's go to the checkout line."
Nodding my head in agreement, I skipped beside him towards the checkout, with the pot in my arms.
Once everything was paid for and piled in the back seat of his truck, the anticipation of my treat was unbearable. I tried my best not ask him, but I really want to know.
"So? What's my treat?"
"You'll find out once we get back to campus."
"What? Oh come on! I hate anticipation." I pouted crossing my arms over my chest.
I heard him snicker, trying to keep a straight face. I was going to ask him what was so funny, but I decided against it, since I already knew he was laughing at me.
I have always hated anticipation, but love surprises. I know it sounds like an oxymoron but I do like surprises but hate being told I'm going to get a surprise.
Lucy used to do it all the time, still does actually. Tell me she knows what she's going to get me for my birthday or Christmas, just to watch me try to guess what it is. She can be mean sometimes but I do the same with here, that's what best friends are for right. To pick on you, but not cross the line at the same time.
When we arrived back at my dorm, we went upstairs to the community kitchen, to get cooking. Well, Gajeel got cooking, he gave me the job of chopping onions, that bastard.
"Was this my treat? If so, this is very cruel." I sniffled trying to resist, rubbing my burning eyes as I sliced the knife smoothly through the onion.
"Gihi, nah, this isn't the treat. I'm just not good with cutting onions."
"Good, and I think I'm done. I can't really tell because my eyes are on fire." I said turning towards him with squinted sensitive eyes.
"Sorry about that shorty." he said. My eyes were burning so bad that I just closed them to try and prevent anymore irritation but it didn't help.
I heard running water from my sink and it turn off within a few seconds, then I felt a cold wet rag gently wipe both my eyes. The burning sensation dwindled instantly to where I could open my eyes to see Gajeel holding the rag.
"Is that better?" he asked with worried red eyes.
"Yes, thank you." I smiled feeling my face heat up. I saw a blush start to form on his cheeks, but he then quickly turned away, clearing his throat. "So, um can you add the onions to the pot?"
"Yes," I barely muttered, grabbing the chopping board we borrowed from a cabinet. Using the knife I used to cut the onions, I pushed them into the simmering pot, with a plop.
We quickly got over our little moment of awkwardness, and continued to talk. I learned a lot about Gajeel's cooking habits as the stew started boil.
He hate cutting onions, which I'm pretty sure everyone does, and he's also really skilled with a knife. I've never seen a guy cut food so fast with precise accuracy in my life. His dad taught him how to cook, because according to him, "You may find a girl you like and she may can't cook worth shit, so learn how to cook now."
"Did he really say that?" I giggled, sitting on the counter top, lightly swinging my feet.
"I kid you not, but he also worked a lot, so I had to learn how to feed myself." he smiled putting the lid on the pot.
I also learned he's a huge horror movie buff, so we planned to eat our dinner, while searching for a good scary movie on TV. He laughed when I cringed, when he described his favorite movies, more like favorite body chopped into bits movie.
He carried the sweltering pot downstairs, with me leading the way to let him in to my room. Using one of the pot holders he used to carry the pot, he placed on my desk, placing the stew on top of it.
Walking to the spare dresser I used as a compartment to hold all of my dishes and snacks, I pulled out two bowls and spoons.
"Here," I said handing him a bowl. Accepting it, he used a ladle that he bought to spoon soup into both of our bowls.
My T.V. was positioned at angle so it could face my bed, so that only meant we had one place to sit in my room and it'll be a lot more comfortable than sitting on the floor.
Carefully, I climbed onto my bed with a bowl full of warm soup, making sure not spill it. Once, both of us was sure that our food was safe, I grabbed my remote, tossing it to Gajeel.
"You can choose the movie, just make sure it's not super scary."
"You sure, you want to do that?" he asked with a mischievous smile.
"I'm not sure, but we'll see."
He searched the channels for a few minutes before deciding on a suspenseful slasher movie, with music that's scary in its self. I'm usually not one for scary movies, but this movie raised my anxiety so high that I couldn't look away. I was blindly eating my soup, savoring the seasoning and taste, surprised that someone that seems so rough and tough, can make something that can cause my taste buds to explode.
"This is really good." I said finishing up my dinner.
"The movie?"
"No, the food."
"Oh, well there you go, that's your treat. Your taste buds will never be the same." he said finishing up his third bowl, while I was still on my first.
So that was treat? I don't know why I was thinking he would do something more romantic than that. I don't know why I was thinking he would do something romantic when we're not even dating, we don't even like each other in that way. If we did like each other, wouldn't it be obvious to the both of us or would we be oblivious?
No, I think it would be obvious.
But why can't I stop my heart from beating? I have a twin size bed, so we're sitting so close together, that I can feel his body heat radiating off of him. It was cold in my room, so the warmth of the soup and him made me feel all warm and fuzzy.
A blood curdling scream coming from my T.V. brought me back to reality making me flinch, nearly dropping my empty bowl.
"Gihi, don't drop your stuff." he said taking the bowl from hand, before sliding off of my bed. He walked to my dresser, placing the empty bowls on to it. I watched as he walked to my desk, picking up the now cold pot and placing it in my fridge. Before coming back over to finish the movie, he bent down by my closet to pet a now sleeping panther lily.
I watched as he walked back to my bed, running his fingers through his hair as he kept his eyes glued to the screen. Goodness, even with his long sleeve shirt, you could still see the rippling of his muscles as he moved. My mouth went dry, just looking at him, leading my thoughts to wonder what he would look like in a suit to what he would look like possibly-
"Yo, shrimp! I got something on my face?"
"Oh! Um, n-no." I stuttered looking away from him, to stare at the screen, trying to conceal my scarlet face.
How could I let him catch me starring, dammit Levy, why are you acting so strange? Pull yourself together!
It took me awhile to get over my little embarrassment, but the movie quickly helped me forget. I tried my best not scream along with the actors when the murderer popped out of nowhere. I yelped, cringed and squealed, scooting closer and closer to Gajeel for protection. He didn't seem to mind, me hiding my face in his arm.
It was starting get late as the second movie started come on, and my body was beginning to relax. I yawned, resting my head on Gajeel's arm, feeling my eyes become heavy weights, threatening to drop.
"You're not fallin' asleep on me, are ya shrimp?"
"Hmm? No." I mumbled, letting his warmth seep into my skin.
"Ok, better not," was the last thing I heard before slipping into a warm comfy slumber.