"LILY!" I squealed in delight when I entered my room to see the fluffy ball of black fur sitting on my bed. I was so happy to see him, that I hopped over to him on my crutches as fast as I could. He bounced around in place, meowing in just as much excitement and purred loudly when I finally rubbed his head.
"He really did miss you. Was worried sick when I told him what happened to ya." Gajeel stated as he stood behind me.
Lily was worried? More like you were worried, Gajeel. You were by my side the entire time, ever since I was in the hospital, leaving Lily all alone. Wait? Who, watched after lily while he was with me? He's not that irresponsible to leave Lily alone by himself. I voiced my question, hoping he won't say he did leave him alone.
"I asked Gray if he could watch after him while I was gone and in return, I'll forgive him for what he did to Juvia."
"Aaaww, you're such a good guy." I giggled at the frown he gave me. Even though he doesn't want to admit it, he secretly likes Gray and care for everyone around him. That iron façade can't fool me. Without thinking, I stopped petting Lily in order to wrap my arms around his stomach.
"Thank you, Gajeel…for being there for me." I breathed, feeling his body go rigid, but eventually relax.
He wrapped an arm around me, while ruffling my hair. "No problem, shrimp. I'm…I'm just glad you're okay." His voice croaked with emotion as he held me tighter. "You made me so worried and lily too. He was the most worried though, I knew you were going to be fine."
"Liar," I muttered into his shirt as I felt a wave of emotion wash over me, but I bit back the tears that threaten to fall.
"I should've been there, if I was, nothing would've happened to you."
Pushing away from him slightly in order to look up at him, I saw guilt in his sad ruby eyes. "There was nothing you could've done; it was an accident."
"But I could've driven you two or even told Erza to just go ahead and beat'em up."
"Stop blaming yourself for something you had no control over." I demanded pushing him away. He took a few steps back, feeling my frustration behind the pitiful nudge.
"I can't help but to blame myself, it seems like everyone around me gets hurt and I can't control that." He said turning his back to me.
How dramatic. Its inevitable for people to get hurt; things happen. "You seriously think that this is your fault? Don't blame yourself for this, or I'll hit you with it." I shouted, pointing at my cast. He looked back at me with a small smile, trying to hold in laugh.
"I would love to see you try to hit me with you cast, you may break it more. Your leg is so small."
"Shut up." I giggled, looking down at my casted leg. I wiggled my toes that stuck out partially from the thick white restrainer, but the growl of my stomach stopped me.
"Someone's hungry." He laughed.
"Maybe just a little. I wonder if there's anything edible in my-"
"Don't worry about that, I'll get us some food. Just stay here and try not to hurt yourself." He demanded lifting me up and placing me on my bed. Lily ecstatically climbed into my lap, snuggling against my growling stomach, purring loudly. Petting his fur, I watched as Gajeel set my crunches against my desk, completely out of my reach. My legs dangled on the edge of the bed, watching him leave me to sit and wait for him to get back.
"Hey, bunny girl." He spoke as Lucy came in as he was going out.
"Where's he going?" Lucy asked as she came into view. Her hair was loose around her shoulders, with her arm safely in its sling.
"To get food, I'm so hungry."
"Me too, I'm pretty sure Natsu will go with him wherever he's going." Using her free arm, she lifted herself up onto my bed, sitting beside me. I ran my fingers through Lily's fur, delighted to see him again. I can't believe I forgot all about him while I was in the hospital.
"So, you and Gajeel?"
"Nothing's going on Lu-chan." I spoke, keeping my head down. There was a brief moment of silence as if she was giving me time to realize that she didn't believe my words, that I didn't even believe my own words.
"You and I both know that's a lie, so why don't you just tell me the truth."
"I don't want you to make fun of me," I sheepishly said, lifting lily up to my face to rub his cheek against mine.
"I'm not going to make fun of you, promise!" she said resting her hand on my shoulder. Taking a deep breath, I proceeded to tell her about my dreams and everything I remembered from the crash. I held onto Lily as if he would keep me from dying of embarrassment from the stories and keeping me from falling apart. But when I talked, Lucy said nothing, just sat and listened with a calm look on her face. Her facial expression didn't give me any type of feedback on what she was currently thinking, so I just continued to tell her everything.
She didn't say a word after I was finished, just sat there thinking quietly to herself. The air was thick with suspense, making it hard for me to breathe or think of what to say next. When she finally spoke, it nearly startled me, causing me to flinch at the sound of her voice.
"So, you're basically telling me that you do have feelings for him?"
I did? Is that what came out my mouth? "No, I don't know, maybe."
"Oh, come on, Levy! You totally have feelings for him, you always did, you just didn't want to admit it. Even now you're doubting your feelings." She said sternly. Am I doubting my feelings for him?
This feeling in my heart, the way he smiles at me, the annoying nick names he gives me. "You're thinking about him aren't you?" she asked causing me to snap my attention towards her.
"What?"
"You're smiling and blushing. Are you thinking about him?" she asked with a wide smile on her face, causing my face to become redder. "See you do like him."
Covering my face in my hands, I squealed, causing Lucy to laugh hysterically. She was hunched over slightly, trying to catch her breath. "It's not that funny, Lu-chan." I groaned in my hands.
"It kind-of is, especially when you don't know if he's your zombie stalker or not."
Wait! I totally forgot about that too! How can I be so stupid? I can't possibly fall for someone who may or may not be my stalker. But…what if he's not a stalker, what if he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time and maybe he really did ask my friends about where my classes were. This is all just too confusing.
"Would you tell me if he is or not?" I asked, hoping to get a yes.
"Only if you really want to know and admit that you like him." She said smiling from ear to ear.
Admit that I like him? What am I going to do after I admit…that's only if I do?
How could I like Gajeel? Out of all guys, why him? He puts on this act like he's made out of steel, but deep down he's just a big softie that wants to be loved just like everyone else. But even then, he pushes people away, because according to him he doesn't want them to get hurt.
But that doesn't matter! Who cares about that? As long as I have everyone I care about around me, everything will be ok. He was there when I woke up and never left my side; if he wasn't there then I would've been….
"Oh goodness, I do like him." I whispered to myself, covering my heated face with Lily's fur. He mewled in shock, but then settled down accepting his fate.
Lucy giggled at my distress, rubbing my back, "it's ok, don't be embarrassed. Even I'm still trying to understand my fondness for Nastu."
"But that's different," I sighed shaking my head. "You guys have been best friends for years and always liked each other, whereas me…I don't even know."
"It's really ok, Levy. But before you get ahead of yourself, don't you want to know if he is or was your stalker?"
I made a series of incoherent noises as I debated with myself. "I'm…I….uuggh." I stuttered trying to express my thoughts. I want to know, but I also don't want to know. I don't think that'll change how I feel about him but I'm not sure if that'll change how I see him.
Gajeel Redfox, stalking me? I don't see why he would, there's nothing exiting about my life, and my everyday routine is pretty repetitive. Maybe, because of that he knows where my classes are, but I've never seen him creeping around or anything, so he's definitely can't be a stalker.
"I don't really see any harm in knowing," I hesitantly said. Why am I so nervous, and why is my heart beating like I've been running nonstop? Lily, rubbed his head against my hand, meowing lightly, as if telling me everything will be ok.
"Are you sure, you want to know?"
Nodding my head rapidly, "yes, please tell me before I change my mind."
"Ok, then you asked for it, Gajeel - " She started to say but was interrupted by the sound of my door opening.
"Did someone say my name?" Gajeel asked stepping into view with four boxes of pizza in his hands, with Natsu right behind him.
I quickly looked away, trying to avoid those soul reading eyes, putting my attention on the cat that was curled up in my lap purring loudly.
Natsu voice made me lift my head slightly, in order to look at his usual goofy smile and the blue fur he held against him. "Probably talking about how weird you are." He spoke walking over to Lucy and me, ignoring the glare he was receiving from Gajeel.
Natsu placed Happy in Lucy's lap and the little blue animal was delighted to see his co-owner, mewling and jumping in her lap. "He really likes you Lu." I smiled giggling at the excited cat.
"Yea, even though he scratches my walls and end up in my underwear drawer."
The boys immediately started to devour the food, but not without Gray and Juvia coming over first. Soon, the word got out that Lucy and I were back and ok, which lead to more people than allowed being in my room. Cana, came over and supplied the drinks, then more people ordered food. Music was being played by a Bluetooth speaker, with some people on the floor giggling playing card games and other standing around eating and conversing.
I was stuck in a tight hug, with a sobbing Juvia blubbering. "Juvia's so glad you're ok! I wouldn't know what to do without, Levy!"
Giggling, I hugged her back, "I'm ok I promise."
"Alright, Juvia, let her go before you break her." Gajeel chuckled patting Juvia's head. She reluctantly let go, but soon latched onto Gray. He slung his free arm around her shoulder while she cried, using his other to stuff a slice of pizza in his mouth.
"They seem to be getting along better." I smiled leaning against the edge of my bed, while the broad man stood beside me.
He nodded taking a sip of his drink, "Yea, I think he's starting to get used to her, showing her emotions without reserve." He admitted.
I wish I could be like Juvia, expressing my feelings without hesitations no matter if the person will accept me or not. I wondered if she would answer my questions, I have about Gajeel, or even give me a hint on what's going on in that big head of his? Maybe, I'll ask her later, when she's not drunk.