Wait, what happened with Erza? She was stuck in traffic and didn't get to her room that day?

Not exactly.

See, on the day she was moving to her dorm which is located inside the institution, she'd just told her mom of her sexual preference. And as it turns out, Erza had actually been talking to someone online by the name of Mirajane, who she hasn't met yet and doesn't know if they will ever meet someday, really. They don't go to the same school.

Anyway, to continue, Erza did get on campus. In fact, she was prepared, her luggages already unstacked and unpacked from the back of the cab she rode in, her cellphone, laptop and their chargers, her favorite picture of strawberry cake to be pasted on the wall beside her bed as she imagined to motivate her everyday.

Unfortunately, she forgot two crucial things.

That's why this happened at the front desk:

              "I'm sorry, who are you again?"

              "Erza Scarlet. I'm an incoming freshman, ready to take on a whirl in adulthood." She says ever so confidently. The lady in charge wasn't amused one bit at her enthusiasm. "Er, I came to get my room key."

              "Let me see your I.D. first, young lady."

Erza went and opened her backpack, perfectly confident and poise on checking her wallet and pulling it out as soon as she gets her hand on-

               "Um, hold on for one sec-" she dove in, kneeling to the floor, letting the students know about the things she brings with her everyday. "Damn it, where is it?"

                "I assume there's trouble?" the older was sighing, lazily looking over her shoulder to watch the others go about their day laughing, having fun with their new-found friends. It sucked for her.

                 "Listen," Erza had already packed her stuff back into her backpack when she got on her feet. Fiddling with her fingers, struggling to find out what to say next to this woman to convince her she's a student. She then saw the name card on her chest, Evergreen. "Evergreen," Erza blinked. "I think I forgot my I.D. at home. Is it possible I can. . . still get my room?"

Evergreen gave the plainest stare, leaning her head on the palm of her hand. "What do you think?"

               "Yes?" because if she goes back home, that would mean confronting her mom, awkward questions to answer, probably convince her to say it's a phase and maybe even get scolded at the end of the argument for wasting cab fare in a single day and causing self-humiliation on the first day. "I'll let myself out."

✨🤙✨

                 "Aw, man, sorry you didn't enjoy your time with our Droy there. I was so sure he'd be your type, though."

Lucy and Levy happened to have woken up almost at the same time. Lucy was drooling then, wiping it off her shirt when she saw that her roomie had been up since 5AM. She thought it was going to be awkward, walking out on her and her friend without saying anything, but Levy brushed it off. Saying no harm done. Droy was probably quite satisfied to finally share his stories to a 'good listener', or so Levy assumes of her character.

                "No offense but he's not my type and what would you know about my type?" it was a genuine question especially since they weren't close enough for her to say whatever.

                "Tall, dark, strong silent type." Levy went with her theory. "Just because. Gut feeling, if you will."

Once the two had already sat together, Lucy had to observe and find the right timing to pull out her phone and let Levy scroll through her gallery to let her see what her type is. And she did. Levy was astonished.

                "Oh, I see. I guess it makes sense. I told you I had strong intuition." Levy was proudly announcing, even placing her hands on her hips with the matching pose.

                "It's a bit personal to talk about something like that this early, so I couldn't be honest." Is what Lucy said a few seconds before, "oh, what the hell."

After having their breakfast meal as they planned, the two decided to go to the library for a change and search for books to read. New books. New releases, they hoped and wished it wouldn't be as outdated as it was their previous schools.

             "Students? This early? Oh, my," a woman with long white hair came walking to the entrance when she saw Lucy and Levy heading to the library. The woman came out, closing the door for a bit to greet them.  “What a pleasant surprise. College students usually don't choose the library as their first choice to hang out at.”

              “We're kind of looking for new recommendations and all,”  Levy squeaks, a bit shy from meeting with someone she's physically intimidated by (in a good way).

              “Yes, well, fear not. The library's open. I'm the head librarian, you may call me Mirajane. I don't prefer being called with Miss or Professor at the beginning, simply because I'm not in those professions.”  Mira giggles at the sight of future graduates of the university. Clears her throat and excused her behavior.  “Er, to tell you the truth, the books don't arrive until after the first week of school. So, these are a bit outdated.”

On the one hand, Levy seemed to be enjoying herself, judging from how her eyes darted at every single book handle she read the titles of, marking them on her list mentally on what to borrow on her next visit. On the other hand, Lucy got her eye on something else entirely. A someone who was sitting across from where they were being toured in, and that someone was quietly snoring in his table after finishing reading half of the little prince.

Mirajane stormed towards the younger and lightly slapped him on the head with the folded newspaper in her hand, whispering something to scold the young man. To Lucy’s surprise, both of them were making their way over. She couldn't get a grip in place, indecisive how to play her pose. So she leaned against the bookshelf and smiled an awkward smile Levy didn't notice.

             “Everyone, I’d like you to meet Gray Fullbuster. He’s one of the first batch of Student Assistants who will be joining me in the library for this semester.”  Mirajane was quite fond of the newbies, playfully teasing them for being shy, always reminding them it won't feel that embarrassing for long.

At first, Lucy was almost caught staring into his eyes when he looked her way. He was saying something she didn't quite hear, which is why Levy helped her out, removing her arm from the shelf.

                “Sorry, sorry, Lucy's in a daze.” Levy smiled apologetically before whispering to her friend, “they said you shouldn't be leaning against the shelves since they're old and fragile after the years they've been using it.”

                 “S-orry. . .” Lucy apologized along, bowing her head as low as she could to hide her face, which earned a slight grin from Gray.

                 “So, yeah, you'll be seeing me, since I'm the librarian, if you're often here. As readers. And of course, Gray, because SA's start at the library before changing their location overtime.”  Mirajane smiles at both of them once again before saying,  “we hope you enjoy your stay and do feel free to have a look around, not just here but the whole campus!”

Unfortunately, Lucy and Levy couldn't stay for long since they were notified their last roommate's coming in today, which is why they came directly into their room, where they saw the redhead parking in, making herself comfortable on the free bed.

                “Hi!” Levy greets first, startling the newcomer.

                “Sorry! We're excited to have you here.” Lucy smoothed things over, reaching for her hand, “I'm Lucy and this is Levy. You must be Erza Scarlet?”

The woman named Erza nodded, pulling her hair together to create an updo ponytail.  “I was supposed to come in as early as yesterday, but I forgot my I.D., so I had to get it at home first,”  she sighs frustratedly.  “You wouldn't believe the mess I had to go through when I got back—”  she coughs, changing back to the main topic she introduced.  “Uhm, so, eventually, I got back here. It was the traffic. I got stuck. That's about it.”

                 “Is it okay if we ask about your astrological sign?” Levy piped in again, trying to recover.

                 “Oh, you're those kind of people?”

                 “If by people, you mean judgung others based on their signs, then no. We just have fun sharing qualities and facts about signs.”  Levy added, trying to create a friendly atmosphere around the three of them. They are going to have to get along if they want to stay as roomies for the rest of college. And they shouldn't be getting into any disagreements either.

                  “I was talking about those who believe in astrology, but okay. I'm an Aquarius.”

Erza already felt like she made a big mistake revealing that about her. Because of that reveal, Lucy and Levy were all over her, (almost) yelling things like ‘psyched’ to meet her and ‘glad to know a humanitarian’, which didn't make that much sense to her at all.

                   “Uh, okay. . ,” she raised a hand to say what she wanted to admit, “I don't know anything about zodiac signs and maybe I'll never do. I don't believe in astrology, sorry.”

                   “Right off the bat. Like a true aquarian.” Lucy nods in agreement to what Levy said before they accepted the ruling. “Thanks for telling us that. And sorry if we made you uncomfortable.”

Erza nods and says, okay, before she started unpacking her things, opening the cabinet to check out where she could put her stuff in.  “Oh, right. You two already unpacked.”  She rubbed both sides of her temples, rolling her eyes to herself.  “I shouldn't have forgotten the stupid I.D. . .”

                  “We could talk about our courses. What course are you in?”

                  “Psychology. Though I did take a military subject, too. Y'know, physical training for PE.”

Lucy grimaced at the thought of the heat, sweat and sharing of sweat with your teammates under the sun. Skin possibly burning. Constant need for water.  “Why are you interested in military, if I may ask?”

                    “I want to serve the country. And it's good for self-defense.” Erza replies in a matter-of-factly tone.  “What about you two?”

                   “We're classmates. Both majoring in communications.” Levy took the floor to introduce their courses.  “It's an odd fate. And that we happened to love talking about the signs.”

Erza nods along again, and started placing her things—which turned our to be cute stuffed toys on the shelf available above the study table they were provided with along with their room. She blushed at the sight of concentrating with her side friends.

                   “Let us know if you need any help about. . . anything at all.” Levy once again tried approaching, which earned a simple respond, ‘yeah’.

✨🤙✨

That night, Lucy couldn't stand the idea of being in the same room as Erza. Not that she hated her, but it was so uncalled for whenever she shuts both of them up when they talk about zodiac signs. Literally telling them to not talk about astrology around her. Although Levy seemed okay with it to avoid any arguments, Lucy wasn't, so she walked out and was buying beverage from the vending machine near the cafeteria.

That's when she saw Gray.

She was alone, trying to get the drink she purchased, and then he arrived, whispering over her shoulder. “Need help with that?”

Lucy thankfully didn’t punch him anywhere, but she was going to if he were a stranger coming in. Instead, she found herself leaning against the machine, gulping, frozen in place. His hand was leaning on the side. “Hey? You okay?”

She backed away from the machine, flustered. “Sorry, I-I was. . . surprised to see you here.”

Gray gave her a small smile, “No worries. Sorry for startling you. Anyway,” he softly kicks the machine on the bottom before punching the center of the vending machine. Lucy had to look away, check if anyone was on the lookout for vending machine punchers. She laughed at her own joke. Gray put his hand in the receiving box, and handed it over to her.

                  “Ah, thank you—”

                  “Actually, why don't you give this to me? I helped you out.”

                  “Eh? Oh, sure.”

Now it was Gray's turn to be flustered. “Oy, you know I was joking.”

                  “Ahh. . .” Lucy didn't get it. She didn't get it at all but went along with it. “It's okay. You can have that.” She wasn't thirsty anymore, either way.

                  “Nice. Thanks.” Gray rubbed the top of the can, letting it fizz for a bit before taking a sip. He brought it near to her mouth when he was done. “Do you not drink from other people's drinks?”

                   “I haven't, but I'm not picky.” Lucy accepted it back, caressing the can where he held it in her fingers.  “So, you're staying in the dormitories yourself?”

                   “Nah,”  oh well. It was worth a shot.  “That's why I had to be Student Assistant. Pay for my tuition for free.”

                    “It's getting dark out. Maybe you should go home.” She wished he'd stay. Too bad he wasn't near her place.

                    “Yeah. I got off my first shift anyway.” Gray stretched out his arms, revealing his stomach skin before grabbing his bag from the floor and walking out the campus. “Thanks for the drink, Lucy, was it?”

Lucy nods weakly, still shy after their first conversation. But when the man smiled and ran the other way, “See you around.” Her heart fluttered like crazy, leaning against the wall, bumping her head in the process, but it didn't matter.

She talked to her first crush. And she was approached first at that.