"And the winner is Fairy Tail's Gale Redfox!"

Sweat clung to Gale's pulsing muscles as he towered over his defeated opponent who lay face down on the arena floor.

The crowd went wild around the iron dragon slayer cheering his name over and over again with overflowing excitement.

He had forgotten what it felt like to fight in a magic league fight. The constant adrenaline pumping through his veins and the euphoric satisfaction of winning not only for himself but for those supporting him.

To Gale, it was almost better than reading his favourite book. Not quite as good but pretty damn close in his opinion.

He looked to the sidelines searching for a certain redhead and when he finally found her, he allowed a grin to spread across his lips.

Rose was glowing in pride and on her face adorned a smile which made Gale's win feel twenty times more cherished.

"Hell yeah, Metal Face!" Nashi cheered from beside Rose.

Gale walked towards them where Storm ended up handing him a towel.

"You spend so much time reading, how the hell were able to get that much better at fighting?" Storm laughed, swinging his arm around Gale's shoulder and ruffling his hair. "Congrats man."

Gale threw his best friend a glare but he was just so happy at the match's outcome that he couldn't stay angry-faced.

He looked up to Principal Laxus who was grinning back at him.

"You did great out there, Redfox. I'm proud. Now let's go celebrate."

__________

The next day...

Gale hated the attention that came to him the day after his Magic League fight.

Why couldn't people just celebrate for one afternoon and let it go?

Why did he have to deal with random people bothering him in the school corridors with their energetic congratulations that he didn't want?

Hunter and Storm weren't helping out either. They just watched as he was paraded with all the attention and snickered at his discomfort.

Thankfully when they reached the library, Gale was finally left alone and he could enjoy his book in peace and quiet.

What he'd give to be a librarian when he was older. Being surrounded by books and getting paid to tell people to shut the hell up... That sounded like the perfect life to Gale Redfox.

"He's making a weird face." Storm said staring at Gale who was seated across from him.

Hunter smacked Gale at the back of the head, snapping the boy out of his oh so perfect fantasy.

Gale scowled.

"Yay the Redfox we know and love is back." Storm laughed before getting his textbooks on the table, ready to study.

"You're welcome." Hunter simply said as he pulled the seat out next to Gale and sat down. He got his phone out and started cycling through his new messages.

This was a common occurrence for the popular trio. The library was like their sanctuary and a great place to just relax.

Gale would be happily reading his books. Storm would be studying or sleeping depending on his mood. And Hunter would just waste time playing games on his phone.

All in comfortable and delightful silence.

"Quinn Eucliffe texted me asking if we're going to her party tomorrow night." Hunter said, breaking the silence.

Gale immediately shook his head. No way was he going to a party. He hated those with a passion.

Storm sighed. "I already promised Winter I'd go with her so I have to." He informed the two.

"Hm... guess we're all going then." Hunter concluded, texting back Quinn with a simple thumbs up emoji.

Storm nodded. "Cool."

Gale rolled his eyes. Why did his opinion on things mean so little to his friends? Now, he was being forced to go to this stupid party. Taking one of Storm's paper and pens, Gale scribbled down a message.

Are Rose and Alexis going?

Hunter raised his brow at the paper and then back up at Gale.

"Why do you care? Are you trying to get with my sister or something?" Hunter questioned.

Gale's face heated up instantly out of embarrassment. His cheeked were flaring red as he shook his head and made necessary arm movements to indicate that he was NOT doing such a thing.

Storm and Hunter burst out into laughter but quickly quietened down after being shushed by the ancient looking Librarian.

"Sorry." Storm whispered.

"I'm just kidding." Hunter chuckled. "I'll ask Alexis." He said sending a message to the blonde haired girl.

Gale took a deep breath in and exhaled, his face returning to its usual colour.

"You know, not to sound like Alexis here but you two would indeed make a great couple." Storm said with a knowing nod. "I mean you both like each other and isn't that enough to get things going?"

Gale covered his face with hands, wanting nothing more than the subject to change.

"Ugh gross." Hunter groaned.

"Why are you so against them?" Storm asked.

"I'm not really against them..." Hunter said calmly.

It would make him the biggest hypocrite if he was. Also, Alexis showed him a whole powerpoint about why Gale and Rose belong together and had to admit she made a few good points. Even if he hated it.

"It's just that if Gale here were to break her heart, I'd have to choose her side and that sucks." Hunter admitted with a grimace. "So do what you want. I don't really care. You have my blessing or whatever."

Gale never asked for his blessing but ok. However, those words did make him feel a little bit better. Maybe at the party he could-

"But word of warning, she's the worst. She'll get angry over the littlest of things and then when anything goes wrong, she'll put all the blame on you because it's never her fault. Oh and she's the ultimate control freak."

"I feel like you're being dramatic." Storm said, spinning his pen between his fingers. "She seems like a total sweetheart when she's with Gale."

Sweetheart? Gale admitted that she was nice to him but at the same time, she was pretty intimidating. Oh no, why was he thinking about this so seriously?

Hunter sighed. "Do what you want with my information but don't say I didn't want warn you."

Hunter's phone buzzed and he checked it. "Rose and Alexis are going. They're getting ready at my house... so I guess we'll get ready at... Gale's house then."

Wait what? Gale looked up at his two friends in confusion. When did his house get into the equation? Just before he could protest, Storm spoke up.

"Yup, Gale's house sounds good." Storm agreed, nodding his head.

Gale put his head face down on the table in defeat.

___________

"Did you hear me, Rose? Huh, Rose? Roseeeee!" Alexis poked her best friend's sides waiting for a reaction as Rose piled her book into her locker.

"I heard you. Now stop touching me!" Rose slammed her locker shut.

Alexis had been annoying her ever since she found out Gale was attending the party.

"I can just imagine it now. You and Gale finding a quiet corner for yourselves because you both hate the loud noise of partying and then finally FINALLY when you're all alone you admit your undying love-"

"Cut it out already, Lexi or I'll run away from you right now." Rose threatened but Alexis was unfazed. Her smile never faltering.

"If you run, you know I'll catch you."

"You know what? I hope Justin is at that party and that he never leaves you alone."

Alexis gasped dramatically. "You take that back!"

"Then stop bothering me about Gale!"

Both girls had their eyes narrowed at each other waiting for the other to give in. Their auras intensified, making the ground rattle underneath them. Innocent students cowered at the power of their tension-

"Truce?" Alexis said.

Rose nodded. "Truce."

And just like that they returned back to normal. The two began walking towards their next class which was Social Studies like nothing happened.

"So what are you wearing?" Alexis asked.

"So I was thinking maybe the red dress. You know the one I got last year-"

Rose was going to continue when she saw Nashi walking down the hall.

"Hey Nashi!" Alexis waved energetically.

Nashi grinned and quickly joined the pair. "Hey guys, where are you off to?"

"Social Studies." Alexis replied.

"Damn, that's boring." Nashi said. "I was just about to skip."

"Nashi..." Rose sighed, sternly eyeing the pink haired girl. "I thought you were changing your ways."

Nashi chuckled sheepishly. "I just need a break or else my brain will explode. Please don't tell Principal Dreyar."

"Everyone deserves a break once in a while." Alexis chimed in. "Don't you feel happier now that you don't have all those leadership roles, Rose?"

Rose supposed she did enjoy the fact that she actually had free time thanks to the magic league classes.

"I don't care that you're skipping Nashi, I just wanted to ask you something." Rose said crossing her arms.

Nashi let out a sigh of relief. "What's up?"

"Quinn's party is tomorrow night and Alexis and I are getting ready at my house beforehand. Do you want to join us?" Rose asked.

For a moment, Nashi's usual grin faded as she stared at Rose. "You're... inviting me... to your house...?" She said softly which was an unusual thing for the hyperactive girl that Rose and Alexis knew.

"Yes to get ready. You know, get changed and maybe even eat something before we leave." Rose added. "Is there anything in particular that you like? I can ask my mom to get it."

"I didn't take you for a party girl." Nashi said as she tilted her head to the side.

"I don't like parties at all but you know its senior year. Might as well have fun with your friends to the fullest." Rose replied. "So what will it be?"

Something in Nashi's stomach felt warm and fuzzy. She had always felt like the odd one out in the team even if she didn't show it.

The three boys had known each other since middle school. Meanwhile Rose and Alexis had been best friends since Freshman year. Of course Nashi knew of them but she was never close to any of them until Principal Dreyar created the Magic League team.

But now? Maybe things could change.

"Yeah, I'll totally get ready at yours!" Nashi declared, her fiery personality returning to her.

"Yay!" Alexis cheered. "You know, I have been dying to see what you'd look like in a dress."

"Wait what-"

____________

I wrote this so long ago and thought I'd just randomly post it lol