What can I say? Writing is hard for me. When can I find time?

So that's how we met and became friends. We never left the hollow in spirit, although we occasionally departed in body. Soon however we began to really grow up. But we used this to our advantage. Echo found a potter and worked as an apprentice. He was hysterical the day he told me. He said the hard clay would strengthen his arm muscles for archery, and he could sell his pieces once he got good enough. I laughed at first. But then I found a weaver and began doing the same. Within six months we had a modest but steady income. First we replaced the flimsy doorway with a series of hidden gears that could open or close a more study and more inconspicuous doorway by the stroke of a log. Echo and I then decorated the hollow not only with our work but used the money we had to buy furniture such as chairs. Echo dug a fire pit and brought a spit for roasting meat. I brought a set of dishes so we wouldn't have to bring leftovers. We even got two beds in case we wanted to have a sleepover (telling our parents we were at another friend's house). Which brings me to another point; no one knew we were such good friends. They knew we knew each other but not this well.

We grew up even more though, and it became obvious. I, well, you know what happens to a girl. My body, according to a playful Echo, became more shapely. I pointed out how his arms became larger and his chest more pronounced. We then proceeded to laugh about how the other was probably being chased by the opposite sex. Then we got taller. Oh, the hollow was big enough to support our heigth. But we got taller. Our voices deepened, Echo's more than mine. We started to look at each other more. Like, we would just look at each other sometimes, then blush and look away. We knew we liked each other but we never knew how much until one day.

*

I was in my room packing up for an afternoon with Echo at the hollow. We planned to have lunch then just sit and have a quiet afternoon. It was nice going to that secret place and being with my best friend. I finished my basket and walked outside into the garden to escape out of the back of the house. As soon as I did however, a bulky red echidna stepped into my path.

"Where are you going Starlight?" he asked.

"To the forest." I cursed in my head. I couldn't lie to him in case he watched me go. I did not like this echidna very much. He followed me too much.

"The forest can be a dangerous place."

"I can take care of myself."

"And you brought food." He stepped a little too close and touched my basket.

"Bears can smell that you know."

"I can take care of myself."

"I doubt that." I wanted to slap him. "I will accompany you. I had planned on taking you to a proper eatery but if you insist on going to the woods I suppose as a gentleman I must assist you." He was being so snub. I wanted to kick his ass right there. But I held my tongue. My first priority was keeping him from discovering the hollow. I would have to apologize to Echo later.

It wasn't a pleasant trip. I walked in circles in the forest until we were a place I knew to be about 10 minutes away form the hollow by walking and 5 by running. I sat down and unpacked my lunch. The damn echidna insisted on speaking with me.

"I've been watching you for some time now."

"Stalker." I slapped myself mentally. It just slipped out. He laughed.

"If that's how you define my actions but they weren't without reason." Really?

"I really you Starlight." What? He looked into my eyes. I panicked.

"I really like you." Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Craaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa My mind exploded. I couldn't think. Although I was only half finished eating my appetite disappeared. appetite left. I just looked dumbly into his big purple eyes. I sweat dropped. He smiled.

"I can see you like me too." He kissed me on the cheek.

"Shall I accompany you back to your house now? I don't want to freak you out or anything." I stood up and let him take my arm. I was catatonic. I couldn't even protest. He guided my awkward feet back through the forest, garden, then to my room. I waited there for 15 minutes. Then, without even putting the basket down I rushed out the door, past the garden and into the woods.

I dashed haphazardly through the brush, causing tears in my dress and scratches all over my face. Leaves and branches wiped my makeup clean off. My feet ached by the time I struck the log which opened the passage to the hollow. I limped inside and fell down on my bed. Echo was there waiting.

"Where were you?"

"Knuckles had me. I couldn't escape."

"But you had lunch with him?" i looked at my basket.

"Meh. I suppose I did." He stood up and looked at me clearly a little miffed.

"You didnt eat all of it. What are we going to do with the leftovers?" I tossed him the basket.

"Dig a cellar and bury it." He furrowed his brow. Then tossed the basket outside the open door to the hollow and grabbed me by the wrist. He moved me outside and closed the door with another touch of the log beside the door.

"Your food: You dig." He said sternly, then handed me a shovel we brought to the hollow. I looked t it blankly.

"You're stronger than me. And besides-" I furrowed my brows. "-digging is the man's job!"

"Oh, so you're a woman now are you?" I slapped him.

"Yes I am!"

"So. I 'the man' have to dig holes and work the earth while you 'the woman' can jst sit around and be pampered by desperate guys!"

"How dare you!" I threw the shovel at him. "I didn't need OR want his romancing!"

"Oh, you were romanced were you?!"

"YES AND UNLIKE YOU HE WAS A PERFECT GENTLEMAN!!!" I stopped myself. What was I thinking? I looked down. We were best friends. We shouldn't be fighting like this. Echo did the same.

"Still like this old hill?"

"...yeah."

"Me too." He took the shovel and started digging. I sat down by the edge of his new hole and watched. Once it was big and deep enough we put in the food and grabbed some wood to cover the hole. We then went inside the hollow and he sighed, standing in the middle. I walked to him.

"I'm....sorry." He said, looking at me with those big blue eyes of his.

"I'm sorry too." I said. Then I did something neither one of us expected. I leaned forwards, falling off balance. My body pressed against his and I kissed him. Squarely on the lips I kissed him. I couldn't stop myself. He was shocked at first but the wrapped his arms around me. I moaned. It felt so good. I thought we were just friends but this was different. This was amazing. He rolled his tongue into my mouth and I moaned harder. I felt hot and cold all over. I smiled despite myself and slipped my arms around his neck and let my hands feel his quills. We both giggled, knowing how much he loved having his quills in just the right arrangement. I moved and played with them childishly and we kissed. Then one of us I don't even know who pulled away. I rested my head on his shoulders and he held me close.

"I love you Echo." I said weakly.

"I love you too Starlight." He replied. I closed my eyes as we kissed once more.

Yes I started their relationship quickly. But there is a reason for that. You will see after chapter 3.