Due to the feedback I was getting for the rough draft of the sequel, I trashed that version completely, and made a completely new version. This is still a beta version of sorts because so many edits are gonna be made. Constructive criticism please-if you don't get it, explain what you don't understand.
"What are you working on?" Sonic's voice took me by surprise.
"Um..." I looked at the desk in front of me. It has a picture of the Assassin's Creed hidden blade, the red chaos emerald, and a half-hearted attempt at recreating the hidden blade technology. "Nothing that'll work." I pushed my chair away from the desk and stood up. Sonic stood before me, at least five inches shorter, and smiled.
"Aw, come on, have some faith in yourself!"
I silently moved past him and shuffled out of the room. I hated Sonic's house. It was so...colorful. Pictures of his friends lined the walls. There was him and the orange fox, whatever his name was. Then there was a shot of Rouge and the red one-Knuckles?-smiling together on a beach. It looked sort of like a vacation. I recognized a few other people in the background-I saw a little bunny playing in the sand with a pink figure hovering over her. My eyes lingered on this girl, but I'm not sure why. I moved on the then next. There was the pink girl again, hugging Sonic and kissing him on the cheek. I felt the urge to tear the picture to shreds, but I knew Sonic would be unhappy.
I made my way down the stairs, remembering every time I had been here. On Sonic's birthday-I gave him a new video game, which he still plays I think. Then there was when he had movie night. We watched several zombie movies. Sonic sat next to me. "I figured you'd be into horror and guts, right?" He had said. He was right, though cannibalism disgusts me. Then he invited me over for...what did he call it? "Bro time?" I don't even know. Me, him, the fox, and several other boys sat in his living room watching action movies, playing video games, and and chugging beer. There was several other occasions similar to this, and then about a month and a half ago he threw a party.
Joy. My thoughts were interrupted by a hand on my shoulder. "Somethin' wrong, Shadow?" Sonic asked. He laughed. "I mean, other than your usual contempt for mankind."
"Not really." I shrugged. I made my way over to his couch and sat down. "What's today?"
Sonic shrugged. "Tuesday, right?"
"I have no idea." I pulled my legs up and hugged my knees, scowling at the wall.
"This is bad, if neither of us can keep track, nothing's gonna get done around here!" Sonic sat beside me. I continued glaring at the wall. "Wanna go do something?"
"I think I'm gonna go home. It's late." I yawned.
"Whaaaaat?" Sonic playfully shoved me. "Who doesn't wanna go clubbing on a Tuesday night?"
"Apparently me." I fought back the urge to smile. I guess sonic noticed, because he reached out and attempted to force the corners of my lips upwards. I swatted his hand away and grinned despite myself.
Sonic stood up and skipped around triumphantly. "I win!"
"Yeah, yeah!" I rolled my eyes.
He stopped. "Seriously, though, my brother Manic and his family are flying in tonight and I have to pick them up at like three in the morning, won't you come with me?"
I considered it for a moment, deciding whether or not to say "Staying the night on a Tuesday? How scandalous!" or reminding him I had what most commonly refer to as a job. He looked up at me hopefully. Jesus Christ, I can't say no to him.
"Fine." I said reluctantly.
"Yay!" Sonic smiled!
"Calm down, Sonic." I sighed.
"Can you skip work tomorrow?"
"Sure." He looked at me expectantly. "What?"
"Don't you have to call in sick or something?"
"Nah, I work for G.U.N., remember? They practically worship me there. They won't get pushy if I don't show up." I shrugged. It was kind of nice, actually. They're too scared I'll quit if they annoy me-they know I don't need a job. I already get paid ridiculous amounts of money to do their bidding, so it's gotten to the point where I don't need a job anymore.
"Oh, that's awesome!" Sonic smiled. He didn't have a job, because everyone gave "Mr. Perfect" whatever he wanted, no questions asked. it honestly pissed me off. He doesn't need to work for anything. I checked the clock. It read eight thirty-six.
"I do think I'll run home really quick, though. Ill be back, say, two hours tops." I stood up and headed to the front door.
"Okay, then." Sonic frowned. "See you when you get back I suppose." I looked back at him and chuckled.
"Don't frown, Sonic; It doesn't suit you." He smiled at this and his cheeks colored slightly. I looked at him silently for a moment. "I'll see you later." I opened the door and left. I felt the cool autumn air assault me. I made a mental note to return with a jacket. I fished for me keys for a moment, before realizing that i hadn't driven myself here-I had chaos controlled. I debated going back inside to retrieve the emerald from Sonic's bedroom, but the cool air felt nice, so I decided to walk.
As I wandered through the dark streets I tried to think of a good reason that I had to leave, in case he asks me. The truth is, I just can't stand being around him sometimes. He's just too happy. I wouldn't call it jealousy, exactly, but still, he always had a smile. I figure that'll make people want to be around you more than a scowl. Still, I found too much to scowl at to even consider a smile. People in general don't get along very well with me. Amy tells me I need to change my mindset and start out positively. Yeah, right.
As if on cue, I heard her voice behind me. "Walking home?"
"What's it to you?" I said coldly.
She caught up to me and shrugged. "I dunno. Excuse me for trying to make conversation."
"Whatever." I clenched my fists. don't know why, but lately whenever Amy was around my temper flared.
"You used to be fun, you know." She said, clearly annoyed.
Ignoring this comment, I asked, "What are you doing out here all alone?"
"I could ask you the same thing." She looked straight ahead.
"Well if you must know, I am going home, as a matter of fact."
"Same. Is it safe to assume you're coming from Sonic's place?"
"Yeah." I shrugged. She looked at me expectantly. "What? Do you expect me to care what you were doing?"
"Well, you don't have to care. You just ask. It's the art of conversation."
"I'm not exactly the most social guy, Amy."
"Well if you won't ask I'll just tell you. Rouge called me and said it was an emergency-turns out she broke her favorite saphire."
"Yeah, she called me about that too. I guess she thought I would fix it for her."
"You could have. Why didn't you?"
"I wouldn't have gotten anything out of it."
"Maybe if you do something that's not extremely selfish for once, it might fill the cavity in your chest where your heart should be."
To this I made no reply. After a few minutes of walking silently, she spoke up again. "Well, this is my stop. See you." She turned to head up the walk to an apartment complex. "I do love our talks, Shadow." She added sarcastically.
I kept walking silently, he words ringing in my ears. Why on earth you she of all poeple call me selfish? My thoughts were angry and violent. What I wouldn't give to wrap my hands around the little bitch's throat, and squeeze it until she blacks out, till she doesn't move, untill she is dead...
But I digress. I felt a raindrop on my head, and then another. Soon it because to drizzle slightly. Angrily, I ducked under the awning of a storefront. Shit. Determine to get home, I prepared myself to run. Just as I was about to go, my phone rang. it was Sonic.
"Hello?"
"Hey, it started raining, I wanted to make sure you got home okay."
"Well, no, actually."
"Where are you?"
"I'm at Ridgedale in front of..." I looked at the dark sign. "The Great Clips."
"Want me to swing by and grab you?" His voice was colored with concern.
"That'd be nice." A few minutes later he pulled up in his BMW.
He rolled down the window wearing a huge grin. "Need a lift?"
"I'd certainly like one." I walked around the car and got in the passenger side.
"So, your place?"
"That was the plan."
He started driving, and I listened to the pitter-patter of rain. "Shadow, why do you need to go home, exactly?"
I debated telling the truth, that I wanted to be alone. However, I didn't want to hurt his feelings. I mulled this question over for a while, before ever so not smoothly changing the subject. "I, uh, saw Amy while I was walking."
"Really? What's she got to say?" Sonic asked.
"Nothing of interest, really. Just the usual." I tapped the fingers of my left hand on the arm rest.
"What's the usual?"
I scowled out the window. "Petty insults, mainly."
Sonic laughed. "Well, screw her then." He reached out to grab my hand which I instinctively pulled away.
Looking over at him, I noticed he looked hurt. Feeling guilty and annoyed with myself, I found his hand and intertwined my fingers with his. I resorted to tapping my right hand on the window as I watch the rain.
"Shadow, are you mad at me or something." I rolled my eyes.
"No." I said simply. "You'd think he'd have figured out that I don't like physical contact. With anyone."
"What?" Sonic said.
"Huh?"
"You mumbled something, but I didn't understand."
"Oh, no, guess I was thinking aloud." I bit the inside of my cheek.
"Oh. I just thought, cause you looked kinda unhappy."
"Yeah." There's a lot I want to say. I am unhappy, I don't know how to act around other people, my old best friend throws insults at me whenever I see her...I'm not good with words, though.
Sonic pulled into the driveway of my house. I threw myself inside and felt relaxed immediately. Sonic followed behind me, wide-eyed. "I think this is the first time I've actually be inside your house!"
"Oh, yeah, I guess it is." I switched on the lights. It was still extremely dark-I had dark purple colored light bulbs everywhere. It was still light enough to make out my medieval decor, complete with suits of armour and a sword and sheid above the fireplace. The walls were all gray stones, and every window had it's own set of heavy black velvet curtains. I felt comfortable in this setting.
"Shadow?" Sonic said nervously. He stood before a suit of armour whose head followed him as he moved.
"Heh, that's automatic. There's a camera inside the head that follows moving objects."
"Creepy." While Sonic was preoccupied with this, I thought about mentioning my roomate.
"By the way, my best friend lives with me." I said bluntly.
Sonic looked surprised. "I didn't know you had a best friend!"
"Hi name is Cyan." I shrugged. "He's light blue, kinda like the printer ink?"
"Oh, awesome! Is he here?"
"Let's find out."
I headed towards the stairs and stopped midway up to bang on the wall. "Cyan! Get down here!"
My very sleepy best friend stumbled out of his room. He was a tall and thin hedgehog about my height. His pale green eyes were unfocused. "Why do you have to wake me up when you get home every damn time?" He yawned. "Some people like to sleep."
"I just wanted you to meet Sonic." I turned to walk down the stairs.
"You mean that guy you won't shut up about? He exists?" Cyan laughed.
"Bite me." I said over my shoulder.
He whacked the back of my head. "You know what I hate about you? You're an asshole."
"Thanks for the kind words, Cyan, you're a real pal." Cyan shoved me so I fell down the last two steps.
Sonic moved to help me up, but I hopped onto my feet with ease. "You liar!" Cyan said, looking at Sonic. "You said he was hot!"
"He is." I punched him in the arm.
"Thanks?" Sonic said very confused, watching me and my roomate argue.
"Eh..." I turned to face Sonic.
"Now that I've made Shadow feel uncomfortable, I take my leave. See you later bro!" Cyan skipped up the stairs. I watched him go quietly. Sonic came up beside me slipped his hand into mine.
"He's...interesting."
I shrugged. "He's an asshole, but he gets me."
"Can I see what your room looks like?"
"Yeah," I said slowly, still looking up the staircase. "Let's, uh, let's go."