My face blushed furiously as I walked into the amusement park with Gajeel. As soon as I had shown up to meet with Mira, and had seen who all she had invited for “special training” I had known immediately what was really going on. Mirajane had never kept it a secret that she “shipped” certain people with others, and that's what was happening now. She had invited us all to the amusement park and forced us together to try to hook us up with each other.

“What the hell are we supposed to do now?” Gajeel grumbled, crossing his arms as he frowned down at me.

“Maybe this is Mira's way of getting you to relax a little,” I lied, smiling up at him. “A day at the amusement park might be fun if you give it a chance.”

“So, you're saying we're not here to train?” He asked, frowning at me.

I slowly shook my head. “Afraid not.”

“Tch. Then no way in hell am I staying here!” He growled, heading back towards the gates.

“I wouldn't do that if I were you,” I warned, grabbing his arm to stop him. “Do you really want Mirajane to find out you left early?”

“I don't give a sh—“

“What about Erza?” That got his attention. “I saw her patrolling the area when we got here, so I assume she's in on Mira's plan as well. What if she catches you leaving?”

“Damn it,” he grumbled, walking back into the park. “So,” he said, focusing his red eyes on me again, “since I'm stuck here with you, what the hell are we going to do until we can leave?”

“Well, riding any of the rides is definitely out,” I said, trying to ignore how rude his statement was. “So how about we go to the prize games? Those are fun.”

“Yeah, whatever,” he shrugged, following me as I led the way.

When we got there, I couldn't help but smile in wonder at all of the different games. “Are there any you want to play?” I asked.

“Not really,” he sighed.

I puffed out my cheeks at him, then sighed. “You know, it isn't my fault you're here with me. Getting stuck here with you isn't all that fun for me either—especially when you're so determined to have a bad time. It wouldn't kill you to have a little fun.”

“I don't find these kinds of things fun, so why should I?” He frowned. “Besides, I was tricked to come here by that damned demon woman.”

“We both were, but I'm not pouting about it,” I snapped.

“Pouting? You think I'm pouting about it?!” He growled, narrowing his eyes to glare at me.

I returned his glare, putting my hands on my hips. “What else are you doing, acting like that?”

“I'm pissed!” He retorted. “I hate these places, especially when I'm stuck here with y—“ He suddenly cut off, looking as though he regretted his words. The damage was already done, however.

“I'm sorry you had to endure being around me for so long,” I whispered, looking down at the ground. “I'll just go so you don't have to be stuck with me any longer.”

“Shrimp, wait—“

I disappeared into the crowd before he could stop me. I was small, so I slipped between the other park visitors easily. I could hear him coming after me, but I was already lost in the crowd, putting as much distance between us as I could. Stupid Gajeel! He is seriously the most insensitive jerk I've ever known! Can't he tell that I was trying to make the situation more enjoyable for the both of us?!

I sighed. Of course he couldn't. Gajeel didn't feel the same way about me that I did him. I had loved him since the moment he shielded me from Laxus's lightning bolt and took the blow himself. I knew he was only trying to make up for what he had done to Jet, Droy, and I before that, but it still warmed my heart. Every time he fought by my side I loved him a little bit more, and I hadn't realized that until recently.

Actually, it hadn't been until Mirajane mentioned something about my feelings that I even thought I could possibly have feelings for him. But, I did. I loved Gajeel. Like, really loved him.

“Stupid,” I grumbled, wandering into a small ice cream shop. I bought a small vanilla cone before sitting at one of the two-person booths near the back of the room. “I should have known better. Of course Gajeel wouldn't want to spend the entire day at an amusement park with me. And if he doesn't even want to do that, what makes me think he'd have feelings for me, anyways? We're not even close to the same level.”

I licked my ice cream, sinking slowly into a worse and worse mood despite the happiness of the other visitors surrounding me. Maybe Mira and Erza won't notice if I slip out early. I immediately dismissed the thought of trying to sneak out. No, they would definitely kill me.

Perhaps I could just wait the rest of the day out in the ice cream shop. I dismissed that thought as well. I had left my book at home when I thought I was coming here to train, so I would die of boredom before the end of the day just sitting in the shop doing nothing.

“I guess I'll just walk around,” I sighed, finishing my cone. I left the shop and walked slowly around the amusement park for about an hour.

“Hey there,” someone said, catching my attention.

“Um, hello,” I nodded, walking by a young man on a bench eating a frozen chocolate-covered banana.

“Are you alone?” He asked, getting up as I continued walking and following me.

“Can I help you with something?” I asked him, ignoring his question and coming to a stop.

“Oh, sorry if I seemed a little forward. My name is Ryan,” he chuckled, holding out his free hand.

“Levy,” I said, shaking it.

“That's a beautiful name,” Ryan told me.

“Th-thank you.”

“Anyways, I was wondering—if you're here alone—would you like to hang out for a while with me? My friends all bailed, so I ended up coming by myself today. It would be nice to have someone to spend the day with.”

I blushed as he smiled at me. “Well, I—“

“Sorry, buddy, but she's already here with someone.” Suddenly, I was thrown over someone's shoulder and carried away from a stunned Ryan.

“G-Gajeel?!” I gasped, knowing only one person with spiky black hair as long as that.

“What the hell do you think you're doin', runnin' off like that?” He snapped, placing me back on my feet.

“Me? What do you think you're doing, throwing me over your shoulder and carrying me like a damned sack of potatoes!” He snorted, and his smile only made me angrier. “You were really rude to Ryan just now, and—“

“Ryan?” He asked, smile gone.

“The boy I was talking to when you went all cave-man a second ago!” I frowned.

“Who the hell cares about him? You just met him, so forget about it.”

“I may have just met him, but he was nicer to me in that two-minute exchange than you ever have been in the year I've known you!”

“What?” He growled, glaring at me.

“You're always such a jerk to me! You are there whenever I need help, but after that you act like I don't even exist. Sure, I appreciate what you've done for me, but it infuriates me when you act completely indifferent all the time! Especially when I love you—“ I stopped with a gasp, throwing a hand over my mouth.

“You what?” He asked, eyes wide in shock.

“No, nothing,” I said, turning and running into the crowd. Shit! Smooth, Levy! That's exactly how to scare him away! I could feel tears of humiliation in my eyes as I walked back towards the ice cream shop. There was no way I could face him again after exploding like then and then just saying I loved him. He probably thinks I'm crazy.

“Shrimp, wait just a damned minute!” A hand grabbed my arm, and I refused to turn around as Gajeel brought me to a halt. “What did you just say?” When I didn't respond, he forced me to turn around. “Shrimp.”

“Nothing,” I told him, refusing to meet his eyes.

“It sounded to me like it was somethin',” he said. “I want you to say it again.”

“Why?” I snapped, finally looking into his red eyes with my tear-brightened hazel ones. “So you can laugh in my face, or say feelings like that are stupid? Fine,” I said, wiping my eyes. “I love you. There, happy? I love you so much, and you don't even—“ Before I could finish, his lips met mine.

I stood there, shocked, as he kissed me, and even for a few seconds after he had pulled away. “I love you, too, Shrimp.” His words brought me out of my stupor, and I met his eyes.

“You do?”

He grinned, patting me on the top of the head. “Now you're really stuck with me. Gihi.”

My cheeks burned with blush as I smiled up at him. “And you're stuck with me.”

Woo! My first Gale one-shot! :D Ok, one more in the amusement park set, and then it's on to the next group of requests! ^_^ I'll try to get these updated a little faster! I don't have anything to do until Thursday, so I should be able to write at least a few more by then. :D Thanks so much for reading! <3