Thank You Always

Chapter One: The Reason is You

Gray sighed as he collapsed onto his bunk in the dorm. He knew his best friend/roommate Loke wouldn't come back to the dorm until later, so he decided to think about his life so far.

His mother and father were killed by a crazed lunatic named Deliora. He was adopted by a kind woman named Ur and had a stepbrother named Lyon. Ur was also killed by Deliora and Lyon was in a coma, which he is still currently in. He was sent to an orphanage called Fairy Tail, where he met his good friend Cana, his best friend Loke, his rival Natsu, and his hopeless crush, Erza. Erza ended up dating Jellal, yet Gray couldn't get over her. Natsu fell in love with mutual friend Lucy, and Cana fell in love with booze. Loke became a playboy and was constantly surrounded by girls. He soon found himself very much alone, and by the time they graduated from high school, Gray was suffering from deep depression. Erza was the one that helped him though. She tried her best. One of the reasons that he liked her so much. That led him here, reflecting upon his past.

I should have died a long time ago, Gray thought. But I wanna at least say thank you to Erza. She deserves it.

Gray thought about what he was going to do. He wanted to be with Ur, and Ur's body was found in the ocean, and the Magnolia River flowed to the ocean...

Gray knew what he was about to do would probably hurt a lot, but he didn't care. He just hoped that Erza wouldn't be too sad. Gray took out his cell phone and gave a quick text. Then he walked out of his dorm and into the evening calm.

***

Erza's phone buzzed just as she was about to leave her dorm. Her date with Jellal was in ten minutes.

It won't take too long to reply to a text, Erza reasoned with herself. She grabbed her phone and checked her messages.

Gray: thnx 4 evrything. im srry. cant wait 2 c Ur

Erza immediately knew what he meant. She grabbed her coat and shoved her feet into her running shoes. She quickly sent a text to Jellal.

Erza: im not coming don't wait up

She ran as fast as she could to the river where Gray and Erza first became friends.

Erza missed her parents and her grandfather Rob. She started crying, regretting everything that happened and remembering everyone she lost.

"Erza, today is the day that I finally beat you!" Gray shouted as he ran towards her. Erza quickly wiped away her tears and stood up.

"Fine, come fight me," Erza retorted. Gray just stared wide-eyed at her, then he sat down next to her.

"Giving up already, Gray?"

"Erza, why are you always alone?"

"...I like being alone."

"Then how come you're crying?"

Erza couldn't answer that.

"Erza, it may not seem like it, but Fairy Tail's always here for you. I am too..." Gray said. Erza smiled. She had just made a friend.

Erza started crying as she ran towards Magnolia River. She couldn't lose another loved one.

When she reached the river, she saw Gray, his back to her, getting ready to jump.

"Gray!"