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Poetry In Motion
the final downpour of metaphors

Chapter Seventeen: At The Eleventh Hour

"We're heading to the cafeteria, you coming?" Cana was expecting the same, old boring reply from her friend, that's why when she sloppily slid out of her seat to go, she could have sworn her toe hit the edge of the table with no mercy at the response that she got from the redhead.

"Pass. I've lunch with Jellal." Actually, it wasn't the authenticity of that fact that caught the brunette off guard but the way her friend had said it so casually that her lack of preparedness had cost her a fully, functional toe. Still caressing the injured body part, Cana just stared as Erza gathered her things and stood up to leave.

"Lunch? With Jellal? I thought you guys weren't a thing."

The redhead gave her friend a glance before speaking clearly.

"We're not."

"Fuck, sorry I'm confused."

Erza rolled her eyes before letting out a distressed sigh. Having to explain things over like this would take time; Jellal was waiting for her and seeing as there's no way to quell the hunger for details present in the brunette's eyes, Erza promised that she'd tell her about everything, putting emphasis on that word and left the room. She was going to meet with Jellal just like any other day, but she was feeling her chest constricting. They weren't a thing. She knows that; she thinks he knows that. Whatever this was that they have, the both of them surprisingly agreed in silence that there aren't going to be any labels. Well at least that was what she thought. It wasn't like she was against this kind of development. So long as they don't get in each other's way, and both of them are comfortable, no one was complaining; she wasn't complaining. She was satisfied with testing the waters cautiously. She was fine with it.

As her phone vibrated from a text in her pocket, she felt the ticklish sensation on her thigh creeping all the way to her chest.

"Hey, sorry I'm late. I had to—what are you doing?" Erza wasn't entirely sure why Jellal had told her to come to the lab first and now the sight of him working on some slides gave the answer. He didn't answer, his eyes intensely focused on the tissue samples while his hand was busy scribbling down notes on a piece of paper. Thinking that she shouldn't do anything else to break his concentration, she chose to watch him silently. The amount of concentration he had was amazing that the redhead's presence was still unknown to him. After a couple more minutes, his posture went lax and he took off his gloves. When he felt a poking sensation on his shoulder, he turned around and saw her.

"Erza," he greeted. Eyes darting back and forth to the clock and the redhead. "How long have you been in here?"

"Not too long." she replied. "What are we having for lunch?"

"Oh yeah, lunch." he slipped past her and washed his hands, meticulously cleansing and rinsing afterwards. He then reached for his bag and pulled out two...were those lunchboxes?

She hesitantly took one container when he offered one at her.

"You made lunch?" she looked surprised, flabbergasted because this has never happened, even before when they were still sharing the same unit.

"I had a few extra hours this morning and I figured, hey, why not prepare lunch?" he opened the lid for her and a neat display of meat, rice and vegetables was tucked inside. She didn't know how to cook so normally, she'd buy whatever the cafeteria and any other food establishments had to offer so to have someone prepare food for her was...nice.

She smiled.

"But let's hurry or there won't be any available seats in the cafeteria." Erza stopped him from going on his way and to one of the university's crowded place. Instead, she surveyed the room, cleared a table situated at the far end of the room and sat down.

"We can eat here instead." she offered.

Jellal chuckled. "This is a lab. There are millions of bacteria in here. Not to mention the chemicals. It's not safe to eat here."

Erza lowered her head before biting the pad of her thumb.

"Sorry, I didn't think of that. I just wanted the two of us to enjoy lunch together, in private."

Jellal swore this woman was going to be his undoing. His face was burning up and he could feel his ears turning red. To brush off the embarrassment aside, he simply cleared his throat and proposed another location for lunch.

"We can head back to the dorm. I mean, you don't have classes anymore for the day right?" he tried to sound as though he was guessing well in fact he had her schedule burned at the back of his mind ever since they exchanged schedules. Erza's face lit up and she vigorously nodded.

"That's good. Let's go. I already miss that place."

"Aren't you going to ask me when's my next class?" he playfully asked, hoping to get her stuttering and apologizing for missing out on his schedule.

She blinked.

"What are you talking about? You're free for the rest of the day."

"...How did you know that?" Genuinely, he was surprised.

"I got your schedule memorized. Now come on already."

Lunch was great, but her being there was better. He felt like his world was complete again and he couldn't help but just stare at her. So much has happened for the past months and the semester was nearly coming to an end. They both have a lot more years to accomplish which meant that they have a lot more time together. His chest constricted at the thought of having her here everyday, eating lunch together and drinking tea together. He stared at her, deaf to whatever she was saying. The calm expression on her face told him he should just continue to look at her and when he did. From the strands of her hair all the way to the profile of her face. She was still speaking and his eyes gazed onto her lips as they moved, opened, and closed in slow motion. He found himself eventually leaning towards her and he pressed his lips on her, everything felt wonderful.

"What was that all about?" she softly asked. Not that she was complaining or anything, because she did find the kiss randomly chaste and passionate. Jellal rested his forehead on hers and let out a contented sigh.

"Can I ask you something?" he twirled the strands of her hair around his finger before sniffing them. The question hanged in the air for a moment before she replied with a yes and a nod.

"Can you stay the night?" he watched her reaction as he chose his words carefully. He didn't want to scare her after all.

A pregnant pause.

Another kiss. This time, Erza initiating it.

A sigh.

A smile.

"Okay."

A/N: Late update, I know sorry for that! And the previous chapter wasn't the end guys, I don't know what gave you that idea lol. Anyway this one's still faaaaaaaaaaaar from over so yeah, expect more to come. As always thank you guys for the support!