Thank You Always

Chapter Six: Quiet

Gray stared at his clock, and listened to it tick.

Take me to Highland Park. I heard the rollercoasters there are to die for.

Are you sure?

Very sure.

Gray wondered if he made the right choice. If I go, Erza and I will get closer together, and maybe even get back to where we were. But I'll ruin any hope of a relationship she had with Jellal if he sees us, and she'll hate me, and she wouldn't want me around, and-

"Hey Gray!" Loke said enthusiastically as he through open the door to their dorm. "I heard you asked out Erza! Finally man, we all know you've been crushing on her for a while now. Dude, you're stepping up your game!"

Gray was completely at a loss. It's not technically a date, just...a friendly outing. Yeah, that's it.

When Gray voiced his thoughts, Loke laughed at him.

"You aren't fooling anyone except yourself, dude. It's a date. You better look nice for your lady," Loke said with a big smile on his face. Gray groaned.

"She's not 'my lady'," Gray mumbled into his pillow.

"Again, not fooling anybody."

"Ice princess!" Natsu yelled as he ran into the room. "Heard you asked out Erza and she said yes! Dude, that's awesome!"

Gray groaned. "How many people know?" he asked, lifting his head a little to look at his two friends.

"Oh, just everybody who came to the party, and their friends, and their friends' friends, and their friends' fr-"

"Basically, everyone," Loke cut in. "And they all totally support you."

Gray scoffed and muttered, "Doubt it." He then proceeded to shoo Natsu out of the dorm and convince Loke that a girl wanted him at her dorm.

It's a date.

You aren't fooling anyone except yourself.

Who am I kidding, Gray thought. It probably is a date, and even if it isn't, everyone thinks it is, probably including Jellal. I'm so screwed. If I hadn't been here, if I was never born, this never would have happened, and Erza would have had her happily ever after with Jellal...

Somehow he ended up at Magnolia River again, watching the water flow by. He heard the grass rustling and a soft, small hand cover his.

"You better not be thinking about jumping again," Erza said in a calm, steady voice. Gray knew she was just trying to be strong for him. She was always like that, shielding herself by locking away her feelings.

"I was considering it," Gray mumbled softly. "But I owe it to you to at least take you to Highland Park tomorrow."

Erza smiled. "Thank you Gray." A brief pause. "You do know I love you, right?"

He knew all too well.

"Of course. I love you too."

More than you'll ever know.

"Great," Erza beamed. She started to get up, but Gray grabbed her wrist before she could.

"Is it a date? Going to Highland Park, I mean," Gray asked awkwardly.

"I...um...I think...I believe it is. It is a date!" Erza announced. Gray couldn't help but chuckle a little at her enthusiasm. She smiled back and moved to get up again, but Gray grabbed her (again).

"Will...will you...watch the sun set with me...?" Gray asked softly. Erza chuckled at how shy Gray was being, then nodded.

As she watched the sun set with Gray at the river where they became friends, she felt all of her misplaced anger and hatred towards Gray melt away.

This is we're supposed to be
Sitting by the broken tree
No tragedy, no poetry
Just staring at the sky