Thanks to my reviewers, once again! Here's Chapter 4! First hint of Knuxrouge-ness! Yay! And we've now switched back to Knuckles' Point of View....

Once more, I still do not own the rights to any of these characters. And I don't think I'll be getting them any time soon. So, hopefully, you'll be okay without this disclaimer for the rest of the chapters.

Chapter Four: Loathe Supposed

I could think about only one thing the entire way to the party. The same thing I'd thought about when leaving the island. I will hate you, Rouge.

I barely noticed Cream's greeting, "Hello, Mr. Knuckles." And I didn't feel the need to respond. I didn't even spare Vanilla a glance, walking right past both rabbits directly to the door. I didn't bother opening the door lightly either, swinging it open before me.

Everyone in the room seemed to turn and look at me at precisely the same second. I heard a gasp from the couch in the middle of the room, where Sonic, Tails, and Amy were all sitting together. I thought back to my shouting on the island, then I turned my gaze to Sonic. I do hate you, Sonic. That fact was enough to keep my resolve firm.

I scanned the room, aware that all eyes were still on me, and I saw the one I was looking for. She was standing at the back of the room, leaning against the wall, her eyes staring at me, just like everyone else's... But she looked different. She was thinner than the last time I'd seen her, almost in an unhealthy way, and she looked tired as if she hadn't slept in weeks. Her skin was paler, her hair was longer, and her eyes weren't as bright as before. I was immediately sure of one thing: it would be easy to hate her.

My attention was drawn away from her by a voice coming from the pink hedgehog next to Sonic. She looked shocked, watching me as if I were some sort of alien, and was stuttering to say my name, "Kn-kn-Knuckles...?" Did she not think it was me?

I shifted my gaze to her, and I noticed her stiffen. I instantly recognized the look in her eyes. Fear. She was afraid of me. Sonic moved beside her as if to give her a comforting touch, and I faced him again. He stopped suddenly, as if paralyzed by my eyes... And then I understood. It wasn't just Amy. They were all afraid of me: Amy, Tails, AND Sonic. Why? I wasn't sure. But I didn't really care. Good. I hate them all, anyway. And I wasn't surprised to realize that the statement was true. More hatred.

I was empowered by my new sources of hate. They made me angry. And strong. They were exactly what I needed. After all, hatred simply fuels more hate.

I took my eyes away from them all, walking to an empty wall where I stood by myself, concentrating on the aspects of Rouge that I least liked.

Cream and Vanilla walked in behind me, but, even then, the room was silent. Tails had turned the television off seconds after I'd walked through the door, and no one was talking. There were constant glances in my direction, as though they were wanting to talk to me, or at least to each other, about me. None of them said anything, though. I didn't care. It was easiest to think in silence.

Her ears. They were the first thing I thought of. Her big, stupid ears that can hear everything everyone says. I looked up, glancing at Rouge, as I raved on. I hate those ears. And look at her eyes! They're all glassy, like.... Like... Wait, is she still looking at me? She seemed to be. Her head was turned in my direction, and her eyes seemed to be looking at my face... But they weren't.... focused. Something about her didn't seem quite right. She looked... lost.

...That seemed to be all it took. My mind was screaming at my feet, What are you doing?! They seemed to have developed a mind of their own, though. The next thing I knew, I was less than a foot away from the girl I was supposed to be hating. I was staring into her eyes, wondering what was wrong, and I was reaching out and.... taking her hand.

I didn't know what was happening. What was I doing? I had no control... Was I... comforting her?

I don't understand! I'm supposed to hate her!

At my touch, she suddenly appeared to come back to reality. I watched her eyes focus, locking with mine, and she looked confused... But I was certain she was nowhere near as confused as I was. ....What am I doing?

She spoke quietly, "Hey, Knucklehead..." The sound of her voice was so familiar... Like I'd heard it every day of my life. It was soothing.

"Hey, Rouge." I was shocked at the calmness of my own voice...

I stared at her for a few seconds in silence, and she returned the stare, her eyes glistening... Then she took me by surprise, flinging her arms around my neck and pulling me into a warm embrace, burying her head in my chest. Her voice was sweet as she spoke again, "I missed you so much..."

I closed my eyes, whispering, "I missed you, too, Rouge..."

In an instant, I found that the whole past year no longer mattered. She was forgiven. Because, no matter what would happen, I suddenly knew...

I can't hate you, Rouge... I just... can't.

And I didn't know why.

What's going on here?! Knuckles finds, for some reason, that he can't hate Rouge? And isn't she supposed to be insane?

Updating quickly! Promise! ...Though I bet I'd update even quicker if I got some more reviews. ;)