It was the third day of the school's first term. In Magnolia Elementary, A new student will be sharing the same class as her fate changer. Yes, the transfer student from Boston is actually a petite red haired girl by the name…

Saved by His Heart

Chapter One: The day we became friends

Don't own Fairy Tail

-ShiroScarletZice

XXX

In a classroom in Magnolia Elementary, the students were making themselves busy, especially this raven haired boy, Gray Fullbuster. He was eagerly waiting for his fortune result from his brunette friend, Cana Alberano. Cana and Gray are the same age, 10. She has this special talent in predicting ones luck with her cards. She receives payment from anyone who wishes to know their fortune from her. Every day, the least amount of cash she receives is 25$. That was just the least. Who could ever imagined the regular amount of payment she gets.

Today, her first customer is Gray.

"You'll have brilliant luck today." Cana said to her customer, Gray, while collecting her scattered cards on the desk.

Gray slammed his hand in protest. He didn't believe his fortune. "Brilliant Luck my ass! I fell into a ditch and lost my wallet on my way to class this morning! Nothing's lucky about that!"

"My fortune telling had never been wrong." The brunette shuffled the deck of cards. "Maybe your disastrous morning is the first step in claiming your brilliant luck."

Gray crossed his arms and stuck out his tongue to Cana. "You know nothing about me so shut up."

"I've been your friend since kindergarten. I know more about you than anyone else in this class."

The two than heard someone saying 'the teacher's on her way'. Gray quickly ran back to his seat and pretends that he was reading a book. The female adult walked in the room with an unknown red haired girl in tow. Murmurs broke out among the students and it was mainly about the girl that was standing beside the teacher.

"Okay students, this girl here will be your new classmate. Please, introduce yourself to the whole class."

The red haired scanned the room where she would be studying in. The population of girls dominates the boys. Taking a deep breath, she started. "I'm Erza Scarlet. It is a pleasure to be friends with you all." Everyone sweat drops after barely hearing her short introduction.

"Is that all? Well, you will be sitting next to Elfman over there." The teacher pointed to an empty seat next to the white haired boy. Erza nodded and made her way to the unoccupied desk.

Gray glared at her as she passed by him. She didn't even made eye contact with anyone. She just looked straight and focused on reaching her destination.

Gray rested his cheeks on his palm while thinking. 'A newbie, ceh, I hope she's not good in maths. No one's better in that than me, the Great-Gray.' He grinned foolishly to his own thoughts.

(Recess…)

As usual, the cafeteria was crowded with hungry kids. They collect their meals from the counter and search for an empty table to munch on their food. Gray sat with his friends on their usual table at the corner of the hall. Erza was sitting alone a few tables away from them. That was when Cana started the topic about her.

"That girl," Cana gestured the group to look at the lonely red haired. "She's always on her own ever since first period."

Gray wiped a stain of gravy on his shirt. "If you're worried, why don't you go talk to her?"

Cana sighed. "I tried, but she ignored me and everyone else that tried to say hi to her."

Gray snorted and lifted himself off his seat. "A little newbie who didn't even say hi to me, the Great Gray," He then made his way to the red haired girl. "That kind of kid can't be around here."

Gray stopped pride fully next to Erza. "Hey you," He spat and waited for a respond, but, she didn't even bother to turn her gaze to him. She totally ignored him.

That really enraged the raven haired boy. He gritted his teeth and clenched his fist. Gray grabbed Erza's and everyone in the cafeteria's attention by kicking her table, which caused her carton of milk to spill. Erza ogled at Gray and she finally talked. "What was that for?"

Gray placed his hands on his hips and glared daggers at her. "This is a school where the students, the teachers, the janitors and everyone around the school territory, are as talkative as a curious child. You don't go around here quietly and ignoring everyone's greet. Because ignoring people is rude."

"Tsk," Erza picked up the carton of milk and placed it on her tray before lifting it up and made her way out of Gray's side. "You calling me rude for ignoring people," the red haired turned her head to shot a glare at him. "While you're even ruder for kicking my table and interrupting me eat."

Everyone in the cafeteria burst into laughter hearing the girl's wise response. Even Cana can't hold back a soft snicker. Gray felt embarrassed and mad at the same time. "Why you little…" Gray gritted his teeth and stormed out of the cafeteria. He was pissed off by her. "I'll get you back for this."

(After School…)

Gray had to come home late today because of the soccer club meeting. By the time he was on the streets on the way back, the sun was about to set. If he takes his usual route, he'll reach home with dinner ready on the table and a worried mother waiting in front of the door. So, he decides to take the short cut. If he takes that route, he will have to walk along the riverbank, climb down a hill and run away from a bunch of dogs. He estimated that it will only take him 20 minutes or less to reach home.

Not many people around this neighborhood know about this short cut. So it was a surprise for Gray to see someone sitting by the riverbank. Gray was going to ignore the person until he notice the red hair. It was Erza, the girl that had humiliated him during recess today.

An evil idea popped in his head. 'I'll teach her a lesson to not mess with the Great Gray. I'll creep behind her and surprise her. That'll make her remember me as the first student from Magnolia Elementary to scare her out of her socks. Hehe…' The thought of it created an evil grin on his face.

Gray ran quietly down the slope to where Erza was sitting. He prepared a scary face and positioned his hands to squeeze her shoulders and make her squeal in fright. Erza must have heard his rapid footsteps and turned around.

The raven haired stopped running mid-way when he saw what she was actually doing. She was…

Crying

The tears streaming down her cheeks were still fresh. The raven haired boy was stunned seeing her in that state. His early scary face turned into a shock expression. Gray had never liked it when people cry, especially seeing his friends crying. Wait, did Gray just consider Erza as his friend?

Erza stood up and quickly wipe away her tears using the back of her hand. "W-what do you want n-now?" Her voice was shaky and had a hint of sacredness. Why was she scared?

Gray didn't want to stay here with any longer so he ran back up the slope and out of her sight. His cheeks were tinted with pink.

Gray Fullbuster left behind a very, very, very stunned Erza Scarlet. Her mind was playing the same question that the raven haired had said. She was still surprise from being found crying by a jerk. Something was bothering her when she remembered the expression on Gray's face. She didn't want to continue with this silly thought about him and shrugged it all out.

"What's wrong with that idiot?" Erza mumbled before tears start to fall again.

Gray ran furiously straight home with the image of Erza with fresh tears and red nose in his head. He doesn't like this new feeling in his heart. 'Nothing's lucky about today…'

"I'm never gonna spend my money on that fortune teller ever again!" Gray shouted which grabbed the attention of the dogs around him. 'Now dogs are about to bite my ass! Cana was definitely wrong! This isn't brilliant luck!'

(The Next Evening…)

Erza was on her way back to the same spot she goes every day. But today, she wasn't alone there; someone is already sitting there taking her place. It was the boy that had seen her cheeks wet.

'That jerk, what's he doing here?' Erza was about to walk back but the sound of her flip flop ruffling the green grass grabbed the boy's attention. He turned around to her. If her vision was still perfect, she could see the flustered face of Gray.

"I knew you'll be here again." Gray said, trying his best to hide the nervous look on his face, but he failed. Erza could easily read him through.

Erza slowly walked towards him. "Why are you here?" she asked coldly before taking a seat not too far and too close to the boy.

The boy didn't answer, instead he moved closer to her. Realizing what he was doing, she distanced herself even further from him. Gray was getting a little bit annoyed by her growing further from him. So, he quickly snatched her wrist and stopped her from moving further from him.

The red haired girl looked straight into the boy's eyes, just realizing that his orbs were actually deep blue. Gray also realizes that her hair wasn't a normal red color, it was… scarlet. What a strange color for a hair. Both of the kids' cheeks are turning a deep shade of red noticing that they were staring at each other.

"I came here to say I'm sorry." Gray finally answered her previous question.

Erza raised a brow. "What?"

"I'm sorry for kicking your table yesterday. I'm sorry for being a jerk and…I'm… kinda sorry for…" Gray paused for awhile, getting more and more nervous. "…for accidently saw you crying here."

The girl's eyes grew in disbelief. Why is he apologizing for accidently seeing her cry? Erza quickly slipped her hand from his grip, his recent apology still lingering in her mind.

Gray studied her for a while longer before he face the ground. "Why are you always on your own?"

Erza looked away from his direction. Her lips curved downwards forming a frown. "I prefer being alone," She set her gaze to the setting sun. "I feel uneasy when I'm with other people."

The boy cleared his throat. "Why were you out here on your own crying!?" Gray raised his voice and he looked up to face her. His eyes were full of worry.

She was awfully surprised by his sudden question. Why was he so eager to know why she was crying alone? Did he care for her? She was even more surprise when his cold hands wrapping her tight fist comfortingly. Erza looked down at her hand before looking up to face him.

"You don't have to hide your weakness around me anymore. If you feel like crying, you can come to me and cry your heart out on my shoulder. 'Cause I'll always be around you when you need me. But, if you don't want to cry on me, there is always you're other friends." Gray assuredly said as he gave away his rare warm smile to her.

Erza's body was about to jump and hug him right then and now. Her heart was beating fast and her cheeks wouldn't stop getting warmer and warmer by the second. But, instead of flying towards him and embrace him with a tight bear hug, she just pat his shoulder and chuckled. "I don't have any other friends in this town else than you, Great Gray."

"Whoa, did you just call me, Great Gray?" Gray surprisingly said.

Erza's expression turned confused. "Isn't Great Gray your name?"

"Well, that's what my slaves call me. My real name is plain ol' Gray, Gray Fullbuster."

After that, Erza burst out laughing.

"Oi, what's so funny?!"

Erza was clutching her stomach. "Hahaha…. Fullbuster? Hahaha, such a weird name!"

"Oh yeah, like Scarlet is a fancy name!" Gray grudgingly said.

Her laughter slowly turns into a soft snicker. "Don't expect me to call you Gray. I like the name Fullbuster even better."

Gray grunted and rose from his seat. "Call me whatever you wish to but keep in mind that when you're calling me Fullbuster, you're calling out for my entire family."

"Alright Fullbuster."

"Promise me," Gray said.

"Promise what?"

"Promise me that you won't cry on your own after this."

Erza smiled widely and put out her pinky. "I'll promise, if you promise me that you will always be my friend and always be around me when I need you."

"I promise." Gray hooked his pinky to Erza's and grinned. "I think I'll leave now. Those piles of homework ain't gonna finish themselves."

Erza stood up and dusted off her skirt. "Guess I'll see you tomorrow, Fullbuster."

Gray waved at her before walking off. "Later, Erza!"

The smile on their faces could tell that this is the beginning of their eternal friendship, not knowing that someday it'll grow into something even special.

XXX

Now, Gray is all grown up with a longer face, muscular body, tanned skin and taller height. His raven hair grew messier. That memory of 8 years ago was still fresh in his head. He remembered every second of that moment. "Erza changed a lot after that." He mumbled to himself. "She's become talkative and has grown much more gorgeous." Gray turned to his right and as if it was a coincidence, Erza was walking towards the school building holding hands with her boyfriend, Jellal Fernandez. Gray smiled seeing his friends happy together. He ran to catch up with them.

"Yo love birds, wait up!"

*First chapter of 'Saved By His Heart' is officially a wrap. WHOA! It took me (Scarlet) days to piece the ideas and words together. Hope you guys like it. Yeah, I know that they are OOC. Have you ever read an AU story with everyone still in character? Well I haven't.

At the end there, Gray isn't jealous of Erza and Jellal. He's just happy that his best friend got to be with her loooong tiiiime crush. I can't go deep into the details cause I might accidently spoil the future chapters.

So, REVIEW if you like/hate the chapter. If you're a fan of FMA, you must know the principal of equivalent exchange. I had write and published the story, you must review it in exchange. Reviewing is easier than reading right?

-Scarlet of ShiroScarletZice ^_^