Chapter 2: A New Start
M20, Freemantle. Friday 4th September 1998. 14:05 GMT.
"And in sports news; it has been reported that Emerald City have put in a £10 million bid for Diamond City goalkeeper Marcus Gill. This brings a fifth club into the race to get his signature.
"And Peter Kenyon had reported to be sick, so leaving player/assistant manager Gande Diaranger in change for Diamond United's match tomorrow."
This was what Sonic and Amy were listening to on the radio as they were going to Diamond. Sonic was wearing his blue Diamond United shirt with jeans and Amy was in a light red jumper and long denim skirt. The sun was beating down on Sonic's car, so he was wearing a pair of blue sunglasses.
They were an hour away from the city. Both of them, with Stars, Jessica and Knuckles were also riding towards the city as well. All five were going to start university on the 7th and were going to share a house together. There was a sixth housemate but the landlord wouldn't tell them anything about them.
"Looking forward to living in our house?" Amy asked.
"Yeah," Sonic answered. "I can finally live the way I want."
"You got me to deal with," Amy said. "Plus Stars, Jess, Knuckles and this new roommate."
"I know everything about Stars and Jess and I can handle Knuckles and whoever else the landlord can throw at us."
"This will also change our relationship," Amy said.
"For the better."
On Sonic's left was a black 4X4 (they drive on the left in Freemantle). It was Stars with Jessica and Knuckles. Stars' and Jessica's dad loaned them his car because it can sort move things.
Sonic picked up his mobile phone, looked down the speed dial until he found Stars. He pressed dial and it rang.
"Want a race?" Sonic asked.
Stars just hung up and spread up the road.
"The cocky bastard!" Sonic yelled and pull his foot hard on the accelerator.
Sonic quickly caught with Stars. Stars moved into the right lane to cut Sonic off. Sonic looked over his left shoulder to make sure no one was behind him. He moved into the left lane, overtook Stars and cruised at 85 mph.
"ARE YOU MAD!!!!!!!!?" Amy shouted.
"You should know," Sonic answered, "we been going out for nearly two years."
Poland Street, Diamond, Freemantle. Same day. 16:18 GMT.
The group finally made it Diamond. Diamond was both a historical and modern city. It had many historical churches, it was the largest university city in the world (even though Diamond didn't have a university but colleges with specialize in a subject), businesses in technology, weapons, banking, etc. Diamond was also Freemantle's second city, so very important. Diamond also had two of Freemantle's biggest football clubs.
The group were going to up a street with terrene houses. Sonic and Stars stopped they cars outside 16 and 18.
Sonic and Amy stepped out Sonic's Porsche and Stars (combats and blue T-shirt) and Knuckles (jeans, black jacket, black top and light brown worker boots) jump out the front of the Range Rover and Jessica (jeans and a light yellow top) got out the back.
"That was scary," Amy said to Jessica.
"I know," Jessica answered. "What were they thinking?"
"Don't worry," Amy said. "We get them to being in everything."
16:40 GMT.
Jessica was in the kitchen. Sonic and Stars were able to bully her to set it up. She was playing around with the microwave. Behind her she heard footsteps.
"Hey," a female voice said.
Jessica quickly turned around in shock. She knew it wasn't Amy's voice.
It was 18-year-old red star cat with long blond hair. She was wearing a blue sleeveless top, jeans and light brown high heel shoes.
"Sorry," Jessica said. "You scared me."
"It okay," the girl answered. "I'm Natalie by the way," she said holding her hand out.
"Jessica," Jessica said and shook her hand. "Don't worry, we're all normal people."
As she said that Sonic, Stars and Knuckles rushed passed the door having a pillow fight.
"Okay, I'll re-phase that: me and Amy are normal people," Jessica said.
"What course are you doing?" Natalie asked.
"Physics, you?"
"Law."
Both girls sat down at a table.
"Where are you from?" Natalie asked.
"Emerald, you?"
"Warretar, a town 30 miles away from here," Natalie answered.
"Why didn't you stay there?"
"I wanted to get away from my parents," Natalie said. "I was going to move in with my brother but his girlfriend moved in with him and I just thought it be weird."
"Did the landlord refuse to tell you info about us?"
"Yeah, I couldn't believe it. He said he could tell me about residents. I would like to know who I'm going to live with!"
"Don't get me started on him."
"I won't," Natalie said.
Both girls smiled.
"Who else is here?" Natalie asked.
"Stars, my twin brother," Jessica started. "Sonic, my half uncle, it's a long story, I'll explain later, Amy, his girlfriend and Knuckles, our mate."
"And all of you are first years?" Natalie asked.
"Yeah. Have you been here and set up your room already?" Jessica asked.
"Only an hour ago, my dad and brother help."
Natalie picked up her black leather handbag. "Want a mint?" she asked.
"Just one."
Natalie was looking in her handbag and pulled out thinks like a mirror, makeup and a blue inhaler before she got out a packet of mints.
Jessica picked up the inhaler and had a look at it.
"I'm asthmatic," Natalie said.
Jessica put the inhaler on the table. "Sorry. I'm nosey."
"It's alright."
Sonic walked into the kitchen with a black box saying Amnesia in white text. He walked to the fridge and started to put cans of lager in it.
"Jessica, mystery girl," Sonic said.
"That's Sonic," Jessica said.
"He's your uncle?" Natalie asked.
"Yeah."
"But his 18 and he's a hedgehog," Natalie said.
"Yeah," Sonic said. "My dad is her granddad. See he married a star cat."
"They had my mum," Jessica continued, "but they got divorced and he married Sonic's mum."
"Okay," Natalie said, a little unsure.
"Anyway," Sonic said. "Who are you?"
"Natalie."
17:53 GMT.
Sonic and Stars were in the kitchen, both were planning to make dinner.
"So, what are we going to make?" Sonic asked.
"Let's just get a takeaway," Stars said.
"Good idea."
Sonic and Stars turned around. Jessica was behind them.
"My God, you two are lazy," she said. "I'll make dinner."
"We'll go for a takeaway," Stars said.
"Why?"
"Lets put it this way, if we had the choice between a your cooking and a slow painful death …." Stars was saying.
"There one and the same," Sonic said.
"You're right."
"I don't care," Jessica said and went to the fridge. "Ah."
"What?" Stars asked.
"We got no food," Jessica answered.
"Takeaway it is," Sonic said. "KNUCX, AMY, NAT, WHAT DO YOU FANCY FOR TAKEAWAY?"
"PIZZA," the three shouted.
"We're off," Sonic said to Jessica and both Sonic and Stars went out to Sonic's car.
20:43 GMT.
Sonic was in his room. The walls were painted blue and it had all the basic prepared for him.
Sonic was setting up his CD player, whiles singing.
"I've paid my dues
"Time after time.
"I've done my sentence
"But committed no crime.
"And bad mistakes
"I've made a few.
"I've had my share of sand
"Kicked in my face
"But I've come through!!"
"You're good," Natalie said. She walked into the room whiles Sonic was putting wires in the back in the CD player and speakers.
"Thanks."
Natalie sat on Sonic's bed. She picked up a CD Sonic had lying on the bed. Sonic finished up with the CD player.
"Did you want something?" Sonic asked.
"Well, my brother has tickets for the match against Oakfield tomorrow and he thought it would be a good idea to bring a roommate with me," Natalie answered.
"And you picked me."
"Well, you're a United supporter."
"Sinces you're offering," Sonic said," I'll go."
"We'll get to the stadium at 2:30," Natalie said.
"Are you a big football fan?" Sonic asked.
"Pretty big."
"And a United supporter?"
"Yeah."
22:43 GMT.
"Could you put it on channel 2?" Stars asked Knuckles. Both were in the living, watching TV.
"What on?" Knuckles asked in return.
"Mum is going to be interviewed," Jessica said.
Knuckles picked up the remote control and switched the channel.
"But Mrs. Staray, what about your daughter?" the interviewer (a 49-year-old dingo).
"What about my daughter!" Plant shouted. "I'm sending her to a private school, is there some wrong with that!"
"But you're the minister for schools and secondary education."
"So! I send my other children to state school and my former colleague who is the head teacher of there school gave her an IQ test and she went off the scale. He recommended sending her to a school that can meet her needs.
"And anyway, you can't criticize me, unless you like double standards. I know that you are sending all your children to private schools."
"Go mum," Jessica said. Both Stars and Jessica haven't seen they mother act like that. She was getting a lot of flak from the press because she was going to send her youngest daughter to Yarnbrooke independent school.
"How's Plant doing?" Sonic asked.
"I think she's interviewing him," Stars said.
18 Poland Street, Diamond, Freemantle. Saturday 5th September 1998. 11:15 GMT.
Jessica and Natalie were in the kitchen. Jessica was wearing sport trousers and black T-Shirt with a two eyes and below saying 'Fear is in the eye of the beholder (Don't let it be you)'. Natalie was in jeans, a blue Diamond United shirt and her brown shoes.
"What do you plan to do after uni?" Natalie asked.
"I was thinking of joining the RAF as a pilot, do a masters in astrophysics and hope to become an astronaut," Jessica asked. "What type of law would you want to do?"
"You make the most money out of business and contract law, but I think it's a bit boring," Natalie started off, "I personally enjoyed criminal law at A-level but I got four years to think about it."
"What else did you do at A-level?"
"Law, as I just told you, Freemantlish Lit. and History," Natalie said and suddenly had a thought. "Are you gifted?"
"Don't know, never been tested. I got two A* and an A in my A-levels," Jessica answered. "My little sister is the one who is a genius. She's now doing her GCSEs at Yarkbrooke."
"That's that posh private school in the north-west in the countryside," Natalie said.
"Well, our old school said they couldn't meet her needs."
Whiles the girls were talking Sonic was walking down the stairs putting a white Diamond United football shirt. When he went into the living room he saw that noone was there. He went into the kitchen.
"Where is everyone?" he asked.
"Stars and Knuckles have gone to get so food," Jessica said, "because we don't have any."
"And Amy has gone for a walk to see what in the area's like," Natalie said.
"What did you do about breakfast?" Sonic asked.
"We had to skip it," Jessica answered.
"When did they go?"
"Half an hour ago."
Natalie stood up. "Want to go now?" she asked.
"It's a bit early," Sonic answered. Sonic looked down on and saw her shoe. "Do you like those shoes or something?"
"It's because I'm very short," Natalie answered. She removed the left shoe by using the right foot. She had to bend her right knee and looked a lot shorter. With the shoe she was 5'7 and half, without she was 5'2.
New Trafford Stadium, Diamond, Freemantle. Saturday 5th September 1998. 14:33 GMT.
New Trafford Stadium had a capacity of 65,000, the second largest stadium in the country. The sets were either blue, red or white, on side said D.U.F.C, one of the sides behind the goalposts had the kit supposes logo (two white stick men), one with the team's logo and the section were Sonic and Natalie were sitting it was the team's major supposer; Coke Cola.
The stadium was used as a football stadium and occasionally as a rugby league stadium.
Sonic and Natalie were going to their seats. The tickets were for sits by the centre line.
"Want anything to eat or drink?" Sonic asked Natalie.
"No thanks," she answered.
"Oh come on!" Sonic yelled. "You got the ticket, at least let me buy you something."
"Okay, a cola," Natalie answered.
It took Sonic five minutes to get to drinks. When Sonic got back to the seats he saw Natalie with male red star cat with blond hair. He was in his early twenties and in jeans, a light blue shirt and white sports jacket.
As Sonic got closer he saw who it was.
"Sonic," Natalie said. "This is my brother Ja…"
"JACK LASER!!!!!" Sonic shouted. "JACK FUCKER LASER!!!!!!"
Jack Laser was the most famous football player on the planet (if you read The Final you would know). He had a major knee injury during the world cup final and was unable to play; he still had to wait two weeks to get back into full training and another week for him to play in a match.
"Don't make it two obvious!!!!" Natalie shouted.
"Sorry, but it Jack Laser!"
"It's okay Natalie," Jack said. "He's just a die hard fan."
"You won't tell anyone?" Natalie asked.
"I won't unless you want me to," Sonic said. "How's the knee?"
"It's getting there," Jack said.
"By the way here your drink," Sonic said and gave the cola to Natalie.
The stadium slowly filled with fans. Most of them were Diamond United fans in blue and red shirts, but they were some sections for Oakfield fans wearing white and green shirt (similar to Ajax's shirt but with green not red).
Oakfield was a mid range club; they had good players and didn't worry about going down a league, but didn't challenge to win the league either. They were challenging to get into the UEFA cup; which was a major continental competition.
Diamond United would normally be the favours to win; but they had an injury crisis. They lose Jack Laser, the captain Gande Diaranger, left back Freddy Carling and striker Robby Zamora.
In the summer Gande Diaranger was made player/assistant manager at the age of 30. In the press they thought the manager would make him into a coach and he would give a senior coach the assistant's job, after losing Darren Conner to Easton to become their manager.
Sonic, Jack and Natalie were chatting for half an hour until the match started.
The match started slowly, but most football (soccer) matches don't truly start until after five minutes.
The first came on the 10th minute; a goal for Oakfield. It was a scrambles for the Diamond United defence. Quinton Damina (a 25-year-old lion) changed at the defence. Shot. The goalie pushed it away but the defences couldn't get it away and under 21 international Tim Sebastian (a fox) scored.
The dugout (the area where the subs and managers are) was close to Sonic, Jack and Natalie. All three could hear Diaranger shouting.
"FOUTU INUNTILE!!!!! FOUTU INUNTILE!!!!!!" was what Diaranger was shouting.
"What's he saying?" Sonic asked.
"Fucking useless," Jack answered.
"Well it was," Sonic joked.
Diamond United got a goal on the 23rd minute, a freekick from Ashley Rayer. Sonic was wild when he scored, Jack and Natalie were happy as well, but a lot more calmer then Sonic.
Diamond United got a second goal on the 52nd minute. It was great piece of skill by summer signing Tusko Fu.
The final goal of the match was a goal for Oakfield on the 72nd minute. It was scored by Matty Stevens, a young defender who was predicted a bright future. He scored it by a headed during a corner.
The match finished two all. It was a fair result, neither side deserved win. Diamond United moved up to second in the league and Oakfield stayed seventh.
At the end of the match Sonic and Natalie were walking out the stadium. Jack was been held up by fans who wanted his autograph.
Sonic and Natalie were waiting outside the stadium. Many fans were leaving and were around the stadium.
"I'm sorry about earlier," Sonic said.
"It's okay," Natalie answered.
"Why didn't you tell me who your brother was?" Sonic asked.
"Would you have believed me?" Natalie asked in returned.
"Good point. But you could have at least told me what your surname was."
"Then you would have put two and two together."
"Sorry about that," a voice said. It was Jack, he was about to get away from the fans. "Do you want to come back to my flat?"
"I don't mind," Natalie said. "Sonic?"
"Sure."
Jack took them to his car, a silver car simpler to a BMW Z4.
"Nice car," Sonic said.
"Thanks," Jack answered. "Ah. I'm afraid you can't come."
The car only had two seats, so he could only take Natalie.
"It alright," Sonic said. "Maybe some other time."
18 Poland Street, Diamond, Freemantle. Same day. 20:32 GMT.
Sonic, Knuckles and Stars were in the living room. They made their own dinner that night (chicken and pasta). All three were watching a video of a stage show (Hooligan's Island).
Jessica and Amy were in the kitchen, making coffee. As they were talking Natalie walked in.
"How was it at your brother's?" Amy asked.
"It's alright," Natalie said. "He has a nice place."
All three heard the blokes roaring with laugher.
"What are they watching?" Natalie asked.
"Hooligan's Island," Jessica answered.
"The Bottom stage show?"
"Yeah."
"Excuse me for one moment," Natalie said. She got up and went in living room.
She sat down next to Stars, picking at his food.
On the screen was a set of Desert Island. The characters were Richie, a white and brown guinea pig with long blond hair in his early-forty, he was wearing a white shirt, trousers, dark green tie, hat and a long brown streak up his back, and Eddie, a chimpanzee with no hair on his head who was also in his early-forty, who was wearing a Hawaiian shirt, fish-net vest and cream shorts.
"But why couldn't we stay in Emerald?" Eddie asked.
"BECAUSE THE POLICE WANTED US! REMEMBER!!!" Richie shouted. "'Oh, let's take so ecstasy' YOU SAID! 'Oh, let's see what ecstasy like.' REMEMBER THE NIGHTMARE 12 HOUR DANCE WE COULDN'T STOP DOING FOR 12 FUCKING HOURS!!!!!!"
Richie showed the dance, which was him running on the spot and in the middle of it looking at his watch and screamed twice. He was singing the William Tell tune whiles doing it.
"Well Brain Havery said it would be alright," Eddie answered.
"NO IT FUCKING WASN'T" Richie shouted and did the dance very quickly. "REMEMBER THE FIRE! The ambulance," Richie continued. "STEELING THE AMBULANCE!!!!!"
Eddie laughed.
"De-dor de-dor, 'h-hey, let's go to number 10.' REMEMBER THE CRASH! THE FIGHT! Carty Bear's peek-a-boo bra!!"
"Let's just sweep it all under the carpet," Eddie said.
"THAT'S WHAT WE WERE TRYING TO DO WHEN THE POLICE RAIDED US!!!! This situation arose from your sadly disgusting sexual predilections. It was because of you we had to go on the run in the first place."
"Yeah," Eddie agreed. "I suppose we were lucky when that theatrical agent; Sir Pervi McLeslie-Blowjob had an opening for us."
"Yes. And we filled his opening so successfully," Richie said.
"Well I'm good with a spade."
"Yes."
"Mind you it did make a mighty mess of his arsehole," Eddie said with a sick twisted smile.
"Yes, and he was so grateful, we offered us a job on that beautiful Q&R liner."
"Yes, that was a bit of a break."
"Yeah. Well my only regret was that we were so earth scattering, so monumentally, crap," Richie said.
"Oh come on! We weren't that bad," Eddie said, "It was a fantastic title; the great Arsehole and Norman."
"WE WEREN'T THAT BAD!!!! Norman," Richie said. "I don't see why they didn't call us Peter Andre and have done with it. We weren't so must as a 20 minute diversion, more like a 24 hour pitch battle in the main dinning hall!!!! We were awful!!!!!"
"LOOK!!! I WAS ALRIGHT UP UNTIL THE SWORD SWALLOWING!!!!!!" Eddie shouted.
"THAT WAS THE FIRST ITEM!!" Richie answered. "Anyway, you're meant to swallow the swords yourself."
Eddie jaw dropped as wide as possible. He was in complete shook.
"NOT SKEWER SOME INNOCENT BYSTANDER IN THE FRONT ROW!!!!!" Richie shouted, while doing the action.
"SHE WAS GAGGING FOR IT MATE!!! She had her mouth wwwwiiiiddddeeee open."
"SHE WAS IN SHOCK AT YOUR COSTUME!!!!"
"Nah nah nah nah nah, I was not wearing a costume," Eddie answered.
"Exactly!"
"Well I had my privates covered."
"YOU HAD YOU DICK IN A BOTTLE OF VODKA!!!!!"
"I was doing an impression."
"Of what?"
"A Molotov Cocktail," Eddie said. "Get it? Cock, tail."
"We are a speciality act. We do not do impressions. You lowered the whole tone. The disappearing rabbits were a nightmare."
"They disappeared."
"YEAH, YOU THREW THEM INTO THE FUCKING AUDIENCE!!!!!" Richie shouted, showing the action.
"Hey, they reappeared."
"YEAH, THEY FUCKING THREW THEM BACK!!!!"
"Well it was you who sawed the captain in half," Eddie said.
"He was a volunteer."
"No no, he was trying to stop the show."
"Well whatever, the trick worked brilliantly, we saw him in half," Richie said.
"I think the essences of the trick Richie is in the joining back together again."
"Details, details. It's the sawing in half where the real drama lies and we accomplished that with perash."
"No we didn't! We were hacking away at him for hours."
"Well the blood fused the electrics and the chainsaw packed up," Richie said. "I told we should've used a petrel one."
"Petrel is very, very dangerous on stage Richie."
"YEAH! AS WE FOUND OUT …"
All four were laughing. But now Sonic's mobile phone started to ring.
Sonic answered it: "Hello."
"Spike, it Mets," the voice said. Mets is Sonic's MI5 handler, so always told him about missions.
"What do you want?" Sonic asked.
"I need you to go to number 7 Imperial Road," Mets said. "Alone."
"Now?"
"Yes now."
"Right, you'll have to send on the phone," Sonic said. "I don't know where that is."
Sonic went up to his room quickly. Pulled out his cupboard a brown leather jacket. Put it on and went to the front door.
"Okay everyone," Sonic said. "I'm off."