Listen up brats." The masters voice broke through the guilds noisy chatter. "We have another new recruit." Levy could feel the hair on the back of her head stand straight up. Oh no. She thought. How is he back already and how could Gajeel actually decide to join? She put her shanking hands quickly under the table and held them together, desperately trying to make them stop. This is bad. Really,really bad. I'm not ready for this. I thought I was... but I'm not. She could feel the panic beginning to set in. The resounding crash, as members of the guild lept to their feet in protest knocking benches over, jolted the tiny mage back into the present. Levy realized she had completely stopped listening to the masters speech. He must have told everyone who was joining. Levy thought. She tried to focus on what was being said but, the fear kept dragging her under. She felt like she was trying to listen to sound coming from a broken lacrima. Fingers pointed at her and then back towards the master. She knew she had to say something. She stood as straight as she could trying to hide her shaking body. The bluenette could feel cold sweat sliding down her back. Her fingers gripped the wooden table as she tried to speak. A small squeak came out. So Levy cleared her throat and tried again.

" I'm fine guys, really. I'm over it." She hoped her voice wasn't as shaky as it sounded to her. "And if I'm fine with it the rest of you should be too." With her bravery and strength gone she didn't remember sitting down but was surprised to find herself sitting on the bench.

"You're an idiot." Jet muttered crossing his arms. He wouldn't look at The small bluenette. His eyes kept moving around the room taking in everyone's reactions.

"You don't have to act brace" Droy commented. "If you're bothered by it you can tell us. Besides, I am better now! And I know all of Gajeel's tricks. He won't get by me a second time."

Jet rolled his eye at Droy's optimism. "You're right he won't get by you a second time because I will have already stopped him before he can get to you" Jet responded.

Levy's thoughts wandered as the two boys began to argue over who would be better at protecting her a second time. She dug through her bag until she found a book on dragons. Pulling it out she flipped to the page she was currently reading and blocked out the rest of the world.

She resurfaced when she felt someone shaking her shoulder. It was Jet. He had a job request in his hand.

"What do you say we get out of here for a few days?" The tall speed mage asked

"That is the best idea I have heard all day" Levy said with a smile. "Lets go" It's not running away. She thought. Shadow Gear is behind on our bills from being in the hospital. A job is exactly what we need.

The request was a simple one, translating books, but, to Levy, it was one of the most enjoyable tasks. Unfortunately for the little mage it was over way too quickly and in just a few days they were already heading back to the guild. She could feel her feet dragging the closer she got to home. HE would be there. Did he even feel bad about what he had done. Would he recognize her? Or was she just another face in a long line of people that he had squared off against and won. She wasn't sure if that made it any easier. Misery loves company she thought with a grim laugh. And her mind drifted to thoughts of an Iron Dragon support group.

"Hey you alright?" Jet's voice broke her thoughts. "You're really quiet"

"Just thinking about the guild" Levy responded as the tops of the city of Magnolia started to appear in the distance. She paused took a deep breath and forced herself to put one foot in front of the other. She would not let fear run her life.

Well... Maybe fear could run it a little. She thought as she looked up at the huge front doors of fairy tail. Levy was reminded that she was short on a daily basis but looking up at the top of those large wooden doors she felt smaller than ever today. Before she was ready Jet and Droy pushed them open and walked inside. Ready or not here we come. Levy thought and followed them into the guild. She waved back to Mira's greeting. Shadow Gear walked up the long bar it had been a long walk back and they were ready for something cold to drink. Mira walked over handing each of them a glass of there favorite beverages and asked them for details about their quest. Levy let Jet and Droy catch Mira up on their lastest adventure. She was too busy focusing on swallowing her drink to even attempt to talk. She couldn't bring herself to look around but she knew he had to be there. She could feel his presence. She could feel the hair on the back of her neck standing up. It was all she could do to keep herself from running from the guild hall screaming.

"So..." Jet's voice pulled her from her thoughts once again. She made a mental note to try to pay more attention to what was going on around her.

"Has the great Iron Dragon returned?" Jet asked softly with a dark look on his face. Mira nodded.

"Yep, and so far it's been uneventful. He keeps to himself in the corner." She nodded her head toward a dark corner behind Levy's shoulder. "The guild seems to be used to him already." Droy muttered darkly. Mira shot Levy a worried glance. But the small girl was once again focusing on swallowing her drink.

"You doing ok Levs?" Mira asked.

Levy looked up surprised and quickly tried to swallow her drink . "I'm fine Mira really." She said. "I'm worn out from our trip... I... I think I'm going to head back to the dorm." She spun around on the stool ready to jump down when her eyes found Gajeel's red ones. Even sitting in the dark across the room she could see them. Almost as if they were glowing. He was watching her. She could feel the fear starting to claw its way back to the front of her mind. She could feel the panic start to rise. She was frozen like a deer in a spotlight. What should she do? Fear made it impossible to think.

Suddenly Gajeel was blocked from her view. She slowly looked up and was greeted by Droy's smiling face.

"Come on" he said "we will walk you home." And with that Jet and Droy whisked her out of the guild hall.

"Thanks guys" Levy responded sheepishly once they had made it to the women's dorm. "I was about to make a fool of myself. You saved me a lot of embarrassment." She gave both boys a hug and told them goodnight. She shut the dorm door and leaned against it. She took a deep breath calming herself and then walked to her room. One down only a million more meetings to go. She thought flopping onto her bed. She needed a break from her brain, the real world, life, everything. She grabbed the book lying on her nightstand and began to read.