When Phantom Lord disbanded, you had nowhere to go. You stuck around Gajeel the entire time, not like your old friend cared if you did.

Then Juvia came looking for you both, and said she was joining Fairytail, and offered to take the both of you with her.

You both refused at the time, until Makarov came.

Now, you and Gajeel barely saw each other anymore. He was off doing his own thing with the stronger members of the guild, while you stayed back playing catch up.