Hi! Woohoo chapter 4! Has Knuckles found someone else to stare at other than Rouge? And how will Millie's auditions go? Read to find out! This chapter uses what I call a time marker at the end which means that chapter 5 will be the events that happen around the same time. Just so people don't get confused. As usual please leave a review, feedback helps me loads and motivates me. Hope you like the new chapter!

'Thank goodness that's over.' Millie sighed, scuffing her feet and slowly walking to the benches outside. She slumped on the seat still with the auditions on her mind. The sun burnt bright and shone greatly, Millie took this chance just to enjoy its rays.

'Nyaaaa...'

'Enjoying the sun are we?' A familiar voice asked. Opening one eye, reluctant to leave her relaxed state, she recognised the figure blocking the light.

'Leah! Oh it's so nice to see you! I didn't think you'd come to this school.' The cat jumped up and hugged her friend. Leah too was a cat but she definitely looked different from Millie.

Her hair shoulder length, neat purple-prussian blue, on the left bang a horizontal thick yellow line and on the right bang a vertical one. Her fur was a dark chocolate colour with her muzzle being a more caramel colour. Leah's eyes were a darker green than Sonic's and the eye makeup similar to Rouge's with dark lilac eyeshadow. Long, pointed, caramel ears protruded from the side of her head with some cream coloured tufts on the inside.

'Woah! No need for a death hug now! And of corse I would come to this school, it's the only one that takes in people like us.' Millie let her go and started pulling the brown cat along.

'Come meet my friends! They're really nice, I'm sure they'd like you too!' The blue cat was very exited, heading over to the bench where Sonic and the others were sitting.

'Hey guys. I want you to meet my friend Leah. She's new at this school today.' They all greeted her, introducing themselves.

'Where's Knuckles?' Millie asked looking around for the red echidna.

'Oh he's coming. Said something about being late to lunch today.' Sonic replied. Just then Knuckles jogged over, fist bumping Sonic he caught sight of Leah. His reaction was, well, surprising. First gasping, blushing, then suddenly covering his nose. The others looked puzzled at his response.

'Hi. My name's Leah, you must be Knuckles. It's a pleasure to meet you.' Leah spoke very formally, offering to shake hands.

'Er-erm... N-nice to meet you t-too.'

'You ok Knuckles? You look as if you've seen somma that anime you watch.' Sonic looked a his friend half confused and half expecting that response. Leah pulled her hand back, chuckling at the obviously about-to-nosebleed echidna.

'I-I'm fine...' Knuckles turned away from the group hoping that Leah was just an illusion, "sexiest damn illusion my brain's ever come up with!"

'I'm not an illusion if that's what you're hoping, because most people do and I'm rather tired of it!' Knuckles turned, shocked at Leah's statement. She'd hit the nail right on the head, he was hoping for her to be an illusion. Leah whispered to Millie as Knuckles attempted to grab back what was left of his reputation.

'He's kinda cute don't ya think?'

'Wah? I don't know? Why? You got a crush, eh, eh?' Millie nudged and winked at Leah, trying to get the answer she wanted.

'One does not simply get a crush.' Leah answered back defending herself. She didn't want to completely admit that she had a crush on the first day. Millie giggled and wandered over to Sonic, she sat next to him and they talked about something or other.

Amy however, sat giving Millie the death glare, "why are you getting so buddy buddy with my Sonic. She better not make any moves on him or she's gonna have me to talk to!" Amy's thoughts continued to seethe and turn nasty, her jealousy almost getting the better of her.

'Amy, are you ok? I'm getting loads of bad vibes.'

'Eh! No I-I'm fine! No bad vibes here!' Amy said frustrated. Leah looked inquisitively at the pink hedgehog, still trying to figure out her mood.

'Leah, I hope you're not trying to figure peoples moods out again and don't even bother trying to read minds. Sorry Amy, Leah's a telepath and she has an annoying habit of looking into people's thoughts.' Millie apologised when she realised that Leah had attempted to read Amy's head.

'What!? You didn't hear what I said did you?' Amy sounded uneasy with the thought of Leah trying such a thing, feeling that her privacy had been invaded.

'No, all I see at the moment are murmurs and aura. I need your permission to be able to hear your thoughts.' Leah reassured Amy. The pink hedgehog gave a sigh of relief before looking through her bag for something to occupy her and distract her from Sonic and Millie's conversations.

Millie found interest in a butterfly that flitted past and stood up to chase it. Sonic found amusement in Millie's game of catch, laughing every time she jumped to catch it then let it go only to follow it again. She was completely mesmerised by this that she didn't realise Shadow was close by. He was sitting on the grass near the top of the hill, observing all the students then laying back to watch the clouds.

Millie ran a few steps before catching her foot on the back of his head, she tripped and landed in a heap on top of Shadow. They both started to roll down the hill. At the bottom Shadow landed flat on his stomach, Millie the same but on top of him. Leah and Sonic ran down the hill both asking if Millie was ok.

Millie sat up, her legs straddling the middle of Shadow's back thus preventing Shadow from sitting up. She rubbed her head wondering how far she had fell and what she had fallen on, looking at the black lump under her.

'Oh my! Shadow! So you were what I fell over.'

'Yes and would you mind getting off me please, you're wearing a skirt.'

'Oh dear! Yes sorry!' Millie apologised hastily getting off of Shadow. Coincidentally the side Sonic had just stopped, putting a hand on his shoe as she did so. Millie looked up and blushed.

'Whoops, sorry.'

'Its ok. I'm just glad you're ok.' Sonic answered smiling and helping her up. They both stood face to face and stared into each others eyes for a moment. Leah raised an eyebrow and shook her head, "they're so helplessly in love and they don't know it. How cute!" Her thoughts drifted for a while before picking up another voice. It wasn't Shadow's because he was complaining about no one worrying about him and the fall. This voice was calmer and was having a conversation with someone, a companion maybe?

'Hey is there another telepath in the school?' Leah asked Sonic.

'Yeah, that'll be Silver. He can also use telekinesis, why? Can you hear him?'

'Yeah and it's kinda bugging me because I've not yet met him and I can hear his words.' Before Sonic could reply that same calmer voice greeted him from atop the hill. A silver-white hedgehog was waving along with a purple cat. The cat was Blaze, princess of the Sol dimension.

'Hey I heard that another princess just joined the school. Who may she be?' Blaze asked, ever since meeting Silver her social skills had increased dramatically (well she did keep herself in absolute solitude for years and years. Yes I did my research).

'Um, that would be me. It's a pleasure to meet you Blaze. My mother told me many tales about you, many amazing tales! And, if you don't mind me asking... Don't you have the power of pyrokenisis?' Millie seemed nervous and afraid to ask because she was too a princess.

'Its a pleasure to meet you too! I've been looking forward to meet you and yes that is my power.' Blaze was calm but you could tell she was happy and somewhat amused by the fellow cats shyness.

'R-really? You've wanted to meet me?'

'Sure, it's nice to see new faces around here.' Blaze smiled at Millie. Millie was unsure of how to respond, she had never met another princess before. Nor had she had any practice at talking to a noble other than her parents. Seeing this in Millie's eyes Blaze took her to one side whilst everyone else was conversing.

'I also heard that some kids put you on the list for the performing arts competitions on the first day here. Y'know, they've only been up for two weeks and its two days before audition when everyone signs up. Strange that.' Blaze's friendly talk made Millie feel more at home and able to converse with the purple cat.

'Y-yeah but I'm gonna go ahead with the competitions because I figured that they only put my name there to make me back out. Making me look like a coward. I don't want to look like a coward.'

'Thats very clever and brave of you, people I know would've just backed off. But you have rose to the challenge and that's very brave. I respect you highly for that.' Blaze's voice was still calm, relaxing Millie's nerves even more.

'Oh thank you. Um... If it weren't to much trouble, could you come along to the auditions tonight? Some of the other are coming too but I would also like it if you were there, if its not a problem.' Millie was anxious to know the answer, but she did dearly want Blaze to be there. Even though they had only conversed for a few minutes Millie already felt Blaze to be someone to look up to. She was confident and serious but at the same time calm and friendly.

'Sure, I'm not doing anything tonight so I'll see you there.'

'Great! Thank you Blaze!' Millie cheered. The rest of lunch was spent talking about various things including Millie choosing what songs to sing and perform, Sonic beating his record in track and field. Amy started an entire conversation on the perfect bag for an outfit. Knuckles went quiet for a bit with so many girls around, he didn't count Amy though because he'd known her for longer.

All the time, however, Sonic kept on glancing at Millie. Who, near the end of lunch, had found yet another butterfly to torment, catching then letting it go.

'That poor butterfly must have a head ache the amount of times you've caught it and let I go. Let it have a rest.' Sonic joked.

'Oh ok then.' Her voice resigned and annoyed, she was disappointed to have to stop playing with the one insect that didn't freak her out. Millie skipped over to where Sonic was laying using his arms as a cushion.

'I'd rather use your tummy as a cushion but as you can't bend like that I guess only I've got a chance at that.' Millie teased him with no real intention of carrying out her actions but a part of her did want to. Sonic sat bolt upright when hearing Millie's taunting.

'You weren't actually thinking of doing that, were you?'

'No. But I just thought teasing you was fun. I'm really bored and I've got geography next before prep for auditions.'

'Oh so you're going to do them then?'

'Yeah, may as well. I'm not gonna back down from bullies.' Millie slumped backwards and lay like a starfish on the grass, closing her eyes and smiling contented. A finger started circling round her naval, making her purr. The finger then turned into a hand, rubbing her stomach like a regular tabby cat. Her purring became louder and the person rubbing her stomach laughed.

'Hehe, Sonic, is that you?' Sonic removed his hand at her question.

'Sorry, I kinda wanted to see if you would purr.'

'That's ok. Well now you know.' Millie giggled. The bell had rang and the entire field of students drained into the school. Whilst doing geography work thoughts of what to sing and play ran through her head. She still hadn't decided what to do and time was running out.

Running to her dorm to change Millie had finally got some ideas for what to sing.

Millie changed into a pair of baggy denim jeans with fashion rips down the front, a black t-shirt with a red print anarchy symbol. A denim jacket was thrown on top and she wore her purple converse. A red 'x' was clipped into her hair to hold some of the extra fringe to the side. Millie was in her neko form for singing because she felt most confident that way.

Grabbing the handle of the violin case Millie ran out of her dorm to the main hall. "Oh dear! What to sing, what to sing? What to play as well!" The neko thought as she ran. Walking into the side doors of the hall she saw about thirty other people there, boys and girls alike and allow sorts of animal traits. Birds, bears, raccoons, even some deers.

'Alright everyone, those who are spectating please make your way to the seats and those auditioning come with me.' The music instructor commanded. The crowd split apart into two groups. Those spectating argued over seating arrangements some even lifting chairs up to make a separate gathering of chairs. Millie took another look at the people also wanting to be in the contests and saw that the number of people dropped by about ten herself included.

The instructor gathered them at the side of the production stage to inform them about what was going to happen.

'Right then, listen properly because I'm only gonna say this once. I will give you each a number that you are to pin to your shirt, then you will line up in numerical order. Those who are doing both contests need to perform their chosen piece after they sing. Got that everyone!'

There was a simultaneous 'got it' before each person was given a number, Millie was number fifteen, the same as her age. Listening to the people before her Millie reasoned that about eight or nine actually made it through, her number was then called and she walked onto the stage with her violin. As soon as Millie stood on the red x her knees felt like jelly and she wondered if she'd eaten that butterfly from lunch.

'Ok, so you are Millie Barnett correct?' One of the three judges asked, he looked to be the serious one that took things way too seriously.

'Yes, that's right.'

'And what are you going to sing and perform for us this afternoon?'

'Um.' Millie's mind went blank, the song she was going to sing had left her mind completely.

'Well?' The judge becoming impatient.

'Um, yes... I'm going to sing 'meltdown' by Kagamine Rin.'

'Oh a Japanese song. Are you sure, the mark boundaries are higher if its in a foreign language.'

'Yes, I'm sure.' Millie nodded.

'Ok go ahead then.' The backing track started to play as Millie's lifted the microphone. Shadow and the others looked surprised she was still going to sing even though the marks were different.

'machi-akari hanayaka ether masui no tsumetasa, nemure nai gozen niji subete ga kyuusoku ni kawaru.' Her words perfectly timed and pitch perfect. Shadow mouthed the words as she sang them, impressed by her ability to not only speak but sing Japanese as well. The judges were most surprised too as she sang the song and danced to it, they were almost enjoying it. Two of the three judges started to smile. The song finish and Millie took a breath.

'That was the best singing I've heard all night. You were wonderful!' Miss. Nekonekome cheered, Millie didn't realise she was one of the judges and smiled happily back.

'Moving on now, what's your violin piece going to be?'

This time Millie was a lot more confident, feeling happy at the positive response to her singing.

'Elements by Lindsey Stirling.'

'Ok.' The judge replied, obviously hoping for some sort of classical piece. Millie quickly took out her violin and waxed the bow before testing the strings. The backing track started on queue Millie trapped the violin between her left shoulder and chin. She began to play and it was just as good as her singing. Her timing correct and the pitch also. Her friends were surprised as they'd never heard her play before, they'd had so much fun last night at Amy's dorm that Millie never got a chance to play for them.

'That was amazing!' The first judge said,

'Simply delightful!' The second judge applauded,

'The emotions, the atmosphere! That was the best modern violin piece I have ever heard!' The last judge praised.

'T-thank you!' Millie bowed, happy that the judges appreciated the song so much. They waved her of stage where she met up with Blaze and the others.

'Millie that was beautiful, who knew you could play so well!' Blaze hugged her even though she was about a foot taller.

'Haha! Thanks!' Millie replied hugging Blaze back and turning into her cat self again. The judges informed them that people would know if they go through or not tomorrow and to go back to their own dorms. Millie walked back with Blaze and Leah whilst the others talked among themselves as they walked too.

-
08:43 pm
-

Millie couldn't quite work out where Shadow had gotten to, he seemed to have disappeared from the group. She waved Blaze and Leah goodbye out of her dormitory door then went inside to change for bed. She used the same spell as last night and the same nightshirt.

"Well, day two wasn't bad, not bad at all! Other than that monster this morning." The cat thought as she flopped onto her bed.

'That was great Japanese singing by the way.' A low voice said from nowhere. Millie sat up strait startled after the words spoke, she saw a dark figure in the shadows of her room.

'Wh-who's there?' Her voice wobbly with fear.

'Can't you guess?'

'I'm being serious, who's there!?' The figure took a step forward into the light of Millie's desk lamp. It was Shadow, Millie hadn't noticed his shoes by the door even when she herself put her shoes there.

'What are you doing in my dorm?!' Millie demanded, confused and trying to figure where he came from.

'I wanted to congratulate one of my favourite people on making it through to the next round.' Shadow plainly said but there was something else about his tone.

'I don't even know if I got through yet, we get that information tomorrow. And you needn't congratulate me in my room you could do that tomorrow.' The blue cat flustered. She was annoyed he was in her room without permission. Shadow just gave a devilish smile, the same one from break.

Millie shuffled backward onto the bed and up to the wall, Shadow silently walked over and faced Millie before also starting getting onto the bed.

'Shadow what're you doing?' Millie pressed herself further against the wall, realising that this was probably not the best thing. Shadow was now mostly on the bed with just one leg laying behind.

'Pushing you're self against the wall isn't going to take you any further away from me. In fact, it just makes my job easier.' Shadow smirked, moving closer to Millie's face. His body now completely on the bed Millie stuttered,

'Sh-shadow w-whatever you're doing ple- mmpf!' Her words were cut short by his lips. Shadow was barely pushing but it was enough for her to stop talking. Both their eyes were open, Shadow's eyes told Millie that he new what he was doing and Millie's told Shadow that she was not only surprised but wondering. Her head felt like it had divided into two feelings, one side was shouting for her to throw him off the bed and yell, the other side was hopping up and down with fangirl excitement.

"She's still deciding I can tell, heh, I can stay like this all night if needed." Shadow thought musefuly. He stared straight into her eyes looking for any change in decision. Millie contemplated both sides, chose one and took action. Her eyes closed and she parted her mouth some more allowing Shadow to give her a full kiss and he did without regret. He pushed into Millie's mouth and she felt tingles shoot threw her body. "This feels... Amazing and... Different. But I like it."

Shadow slid his hand round the back of her head, pulling her closer to him and Millie rested her arms over and around his shoulders, also pulling him closer. Shadow parted from her briefly, turned his head slightly and went in for another kiss. This time he tasted her bottom lip, moving his tongue to then taste the top and Millie moaned at the feeling. They continued to kiss for a few minute and Millie finally realised what it meant to 'make out'.

Shadow pulled back after those minutes to look at the cats reaction, she was smiling back at him and then used her arms to pull him into a hug. Shadow was surprised at first he wondered "huh? Why a hug?" Before doing the same.

'Hey Millie.'

'Yeah Shadow.'

'What kinda music do you like?'

'Um... Why?'

'Dunno, just curious I guess.'

'Well my iPod's on the dresser but I'm not getting up to fetch it.'

'Don't worry. I will.' Shadow said into her neck before letting Millie go and making his way to the oak wood dresser. Picking up the iPod he turned it on and the screen presented him with a code lock.

'Damn, there's a pass code lock.' He muttered.

'Bring it over here, I'll unlock it for you. Don't bother trying to do it yourself cause you'll lock me out.' Millie yawned holding a hand out ready to receive the iPod. Shadow did as he was told and handed the device over, a few taps later and shadow was looking through Millie's music. He was surprised to see that Sonic was right for once.

'From Evanescence all the way to Obsidia and Speedisco.'

'Yeah I know my music's kinda different from everyone else's. My fave song at the moment is welcome to the show by Britt Nicole.' Shadow smirked at Millie before pulling a pair of earphones from nowhere and plugging them into the iPod, he started to listen to some of her music.

Millie decided she wanted to listen too so she grabbed a pair of headphones from her bag. These didn't have a wire but instead a small arial on the side, she pressed a button on the side and they glowed red for a brief moment. Soon she could hear what Shadow was listening too.

'Haha, I see you're listening to my favourite song.'

'How'd you know?'

'The headphones I'm wearing connect to my iPod wirelessly, so whatever you play I can hear. I just hope you're not a song flicker.'

'Song flicker?'

'It's what I call people who only listen to thirty seconds of a song before pressing the shuffle button, then doing the same again.' Shadow laughed at Millie's name, and changed the song.

'Falling by Obsidia, I really like that one!'

'I know.' Shadow purred before gliding back onto the bed, pressing his lips on Millie's. Using his lips he prised hers open gently and moved his tongue in as the bass dropped in the song, he was timing this on purpose. Millie was surprised at first, her eyes wide, then she felt his tongue feel its way along her teeth. "I...I've never felt anything like... This before... It's amazing." Her thoughts wandered. Shadows tongue then started to play with her tongue, moving it here and there, pushing it back and bringing it forward.

Millie pushed herself forward and started to do the same, lips locking into place as their tongues wrestled. The pair broke apart after a while to take a breath, Millie felt slightly light headed from lack of air.

'You're not bad.' Shadow purred, holding Millie close to his body.

'Th-thanks.' She breathed, moving closer to his chest and nuzzled into the long white fur. Shadow found this amusing and quietly laughed.

'You chose that song on purpose didn't you?'

'Why d'you ask?'

'Cause I think the beats... Made that feel even better...' Millie replied drowsily, she could barely keep her eyes open. Shadow saw she was almost sleeping and lifted her off the bed, threw back the cover and lay her down. Once on the mattress she curled up. He pulled the cover over her, put her iPod back on the dresser and looked back at her sleeping. "Damn she's cute. And her neck... It's so... Vulnerable. Not tonight Shadow she's not ready." His thoughts turned devilish as he left the dorm.