BACK FROM THE DEAD B*TCHES

I'm sorry it's been years, but I hope you enjoy this if any of you still read this T.T

After they put the bread in the oven they had sat down at the small table in the kitchen area and went over some material from Lit class that Gajeel was having trouble with.

"Maybe if you get all caught up today you can have Tuesday off from tutoring." Levy suggested. Gajeel's heart sunk a little at the idea; It would mean one less opportunity to hang out with Levy.

"I don't know Shrimp… I mean, I'm pretty dense when it comes to this poetry stuff..."

Rain started lightly tapping against the window sill slowly at first but gradually picked up speed. Gajeel didn't remember there being any forecast for rain today.

"Man it's really coming down out there," Levy commented and frowned "It was so nice earlier that I didn't think to bring an umbrella or jacket."

"You're welcome to stay here to wait out the storm." he suggested. He was trying his hardest to keep it cool, but he really liked the idea of spending the day with her.

"Are you sure that's okay? I hate to get in the way of any plans you had..."

"Don't worry Shorty my only plan for tonight was to find something to watch on Netflix." That was what he did on most of his weekends. He didn't exactly have an active social life, even though Lily always tried to get him to go to parties with him.

The timer Gajeel had set for the bread went off, he and Levy both got up to check the status of their creation.

"Well, it looks done Shrimp." Gajeel announced holding the loaf with oven mitts on. It was definitely a strange sight to behold, the feared Gajeel as a homemaker. She went up and inspected the banana bread, noting the texture and color, making a mental note for later.

"Well let's see how this turned out." He was cutting slices for himself and Levy when suddenly the lights flickered and everything went dark.

"It's okay, this happens all the time here in Warrod." Gajeel reassured her. He walked over to a drawer in the living room and pulled out candles and a couple flashlights.

"Well I hope you like the smell of Christmas cookies, lilac, and 2X4." He said,

"2X4?" Levy questioned, a slight smirk on her lips.

"Our friend Juvia got us that one. It's supposed to be a 'man scent' or something. Though personally I prefer the Christmas cookie." He said placing the candles on the table lighting each with a match.

"Alright well I don't have too much to offer you just…" Gajeel opened the refrigerator to reveal a nearly empty refrigerator, "a six pack and leftover chinese food." He grabbed two cans out of the fridge and handed one to Levy and she thanked him. Levy had never really been much of a drinker, just socially and she usually limited herself to one or two. Gajeel walked into his room with a candle and came back out holding what looked like a pack of cards and a board game.

"Well not much to do here, we've got a pack of cards, Candy Land, and a pack of beer."

"I could go for kicking your ass in Candy Land." Levy challenged.

"That is if you can even reach it, Shortie," he said with that crooked grin and Levy's stomach did a little flip.

"You're on. I call blue!"

It was definitely the most competitive game of Candyland Levy had ever played. There was plenty of shit talking and accusations of cheating going on. She was had moved on to her second can of beer and was feeling a light buzz. When they finally finished they moved on to card games.

"So have you actually been to jail?"

"Go fish."

"No seriously, there are all these rumours about you. Like people are scared of you. I don't see why though." Levy hoped she wasn't prying too much but she was genuinely curious after her friend's comments about him.

"Well- I never went to jail. I did get involved in the wrong crowd in high school. I know now I was a total tool. You know my mom had died and I was going from foster home to foster home and I was looking for somewhere to belong. I was just young and stupid."

"So how did you end up coming to Magnolia University then?"

"Old man Dreyar. He came to my high school recruiting for the football team. He got me a scholarship and took me under his wing- he has for a lot of the guys on the team."

Levy's phone lit up, it was a message from Lucy.

Just checking in to see if you're okay, it's getting pretty late.

"Oh wow! I didn't realize how late it's gotten." Levy was having fun and didn't want to leave, but usually the usual crowd was hanging out in the room around this time and she didn't want to let her friends down.

"Well it looks like it's not raining nearly has hard as it was before, I'll walk you back."

"Okay." She texted Lucy to let her know that she was okay and on her way back.

"Here Shrimp," Levy looked up and Gajeel was throwing a sweatshirt in her direction. "It's still raining out there and I don't need my tutor getting sick on me. I need all the help I can get."

Levy felt herself blush and was glad that he wouldn't be able to see it in the dim candle light. "I could fit 4 of myself in here." She joked pulling the sweater over her head.

Gajeel laughed. It was true it was absurdly too large on her. It came down to her knees and the empty sleeves dangled at her side. He had to admit she looked adorable.

The campus was sombre and dark. The rain had driven away the usual groups of merry students on their way to one party or another. Levy was very glad Gajeel offered to walk her home. Not that the campus is unsafe but she watched way too much Law and Order, Gajeel being here made her feel safe. They arrived at her door and she turned to face Gajeel. She wasn't sure how to say goodbye- should they hug? Her stomach was in knots.

"So uh- you guys planning on going to the Halloween party next weekend."

"Halloween party?"

"Yeah there's some party that the dean's daughter throws every year. She's a real party animal- only gets away with it because of her dad. Anyway there's no invite people pretty much just show up."

"Yeah, I'll see what Luce thinks about it but it sounds fun!"

"Right. See you tuesday." Gajeel, also unsure of what to do, started walking backwards away from her and made finger guns. So stupid! He thought to himself, embarrassed at his choice of farewell.

When Levy walked through the door she was so caught up in her elated mood that for a moment she had forgotten that she had a roommate and frequent visitors from across the hall. She closed the door to see four faces looking at her in surprise.

"Oh my GOD what are you wearing? Is that his sweater?"

"Are you guys like, an item now?" Asked Natsu with a smirk.

All the sudden she was overwhelmed with questions from Natsu, Lucy, Gray, and Lisanna.

"It's past midnight don't you people have lives? Do you ever sleep!?" Was Levy's joking response to all her inquisitors.

"Avoiding the subject I see."

"Ooooohhh la la."

Lucy sprang up and grabbed Levy's arm and dragged her over to her bed. "Sit down, tell us everything."

"It's really not exciting as you think it is. I went over to his dorm we made banana bread. The power went out because of the storm. I stayed there until the rain let up and we played games and stuff."

"Ohh sounds romantic."

"Well-"

"How was the banana bread?"

"It was really good actually."

"I bet he learned how to make it in jail."

"You guys are so nosey!" she exclaimed, "How about you all talk about your days?"

Lucy and Lisanna both had cheerleading tryouts that day, Natsu was excited about a new buffet coming onto campus, and Gray apparently had acquired a secret admirer, a girl from one of his classes.

As Levy listened to them ramble and joke about their days she was in an elated mood. Although she had put on an annoyed act with them, she was so glad to have made friends like them, and she also couldn't wait until the next tutoring session.