Chapter 4

The rest of the week passed by rather smoothly, an influx of customers came in waves throughout each day and tons of in-house orders were made as well as for most of next week. The work that week piled up so much they had to call in Amy Rose and Cream just to help front and in the kitchen. Silver would pat himself on the back, but he had to give thanks to Shadow, without his own bit of advertising they wouldn't have been able to earn so much money. Silver did thank him in his own usual manner, after every shift with bringing him a care package of sweets, he seemed to enjoy them, he ordered a box of sweets along with his standing order. Silver's heart flutter with every time he came into the store, taking a peak from beyond the doors and savoured every glimpse of Shadow he could get. He couldn't believe Shadow made daily trips here.

Blaze and Cream caught Silver by the door a lot of times and each time had to give them off-handed excuses as to why. He heavily suspected Blaze knew, the look she gave him whenever she caught his wandering eye checking Shadow out through the door. The suspicions were correct, she confronted him about his actions. Silver almost had a heart attack about what she would think but she was very accepting and shocked that he never took it further then light stalking. She was cool about it and didn't push him too much on the subject, but she was silent about it during work and only discussed it in private. In return Silver offered his help by listening and comforting her when she talked about her home life and how it got bad at times. She appreciated his aid and was always feeling better emotionally after their conversations.

After the week was done, the weekend was closing time for the shop and time for the employees to relax. It was a lazy Saturday and Silver was still in bed, talking to Blaze through a messenger.

Blaze: "You sore from yesterday?"

Silver: "Kind of, hurts to walk."

Blaze: "Silver, you were supposed to be wearing your gel soles."

Silver: "I was! They must be so worn out. I need a new pair."

Blaze: "Check day is next Friday, maybe you can get some then?"

Silver: "Eh, maybe. Should do it otherwise I'm going to be bedridden due to feet."

Blaze: "Tragic."

Silver: "Yeah, what about you? Knuckles and Shade okay?"

Blaze: "Kind of, Shade has been quiet, and Knuckles is worried."

Blaze: "He's scared she might leave."

Silver: "That's crazy, she wouldn't do that without a good reason."

Blaze: "I keep telling him that, but he won't listen."

Silver: "Money again?"

Blaze: "We're a little tight but I assured them I was going to get paid pretty well next week."

Silver: "Did they buy it?"

Blaze: "Mostly, Shade is still skeptical, and Knuckles is thinking of abandoning his duty."

Silver: "What?!"

Silver: "He can't do that!"

Blaze: "I know, I said he shouldn't give it up."

Blaze: "He wouldn't listen to me on that and is looking through the wanted ads."

Silver: "He loves his job, why would he want to give it up?"

Silver: "You said you were getting paid, why doubt you?"

Blaze: "I don't know, we knew the dangerous of moving in together."

Blaze: "I guess we forgot to take in account of money in that fantasy."

Silver: "Don't worry Blaze, with the new business from Shadow's side, you'll get a raise yet!"

Blaze: "Speaking of which, you were doing an awful lot of staring and not a lot of baking."

Silver: "Don't you start."

Blaze: "I think it's cute seeing you act like a puppy in love."

Silver: "Ha ha."

Blaze: "I'm serious Silver, I know love when I see it."

Silver: "I know, just, you have SEEN him, right?"

Blaze: "Total knockout I know."

Silver: "Then you see my predicament."

Blaze: "Yeah, kind of hard to find out how to talk him without stammering."

Silver: "Hey! It was one time!"

Blaze: "One awkward time."

Silver: "SHHHHH!"

Blaze: ":)"

Silver: ":C"

Blaze: "I'm just teasing Silver. You both would be cute together."

Silver: "You think?"

Blaze: "Absolutely."

Blaze: "You just need to actually talk to him."

Silver: "Yeah but…"

Silver: "What if he doesn't like men?"

Blaze: "You're kidding right? He owns a tattoo parlour, draws, posts selfies of himself partially naked, 'just got out of bed' selfies, and let's not forget his sense of style; there is no way he's anything but gay."

Silver: "Okay point made, but, what about if it comes to sex?"

Blaze: "Silver you're as much a man as I am a woman."

Silver: "I guess but, what if he doesn't like what he sees down there?"

Blaze: "That's his problem, not yours."

Silver: "I guess."

Blaze: "It's going to be fine Silver, if Knuckles accepted me and didn't mind what I had then you shouldn't worry about that either."

Silver: "Heh, I suppose. Thanks Blaze."

Blaze: "You've been my best friend since I left home. So, I kind of owe you one."

Silver: "Same to you."

Silver: "Gotta go, mum's calling me. Talk to you later."

Blaze: "See ya."

Silver signed out of the messenger and walked outside his bedroom, he walks down the catwalk overlooking both the living room and kitchen until he reached the office, Rouge had been calling him for some time, but he needed to wrap up the conversation with Blaze then just leave mid-conversation. As he entered the room, the size of it was quite small but for business work it was perfect, he saw Rouge was sitting behind a desk with a calculator, a desktop and sheets of paper and folders piled on each other.

"You wanted to see me?" he spoke up.

She looked up from her work and nodded, she handed him a stack of papers.

"Here, look through this." She instructed.

Silver nodded and start reading, these were papers on the profits, costs and salary calculations based off this week for the bakery, he read and flip them through while understanding the math that was being used. He checked and double checked it before looking up.

"This is incredible, not even a week and we've made more then what we usually make in several months!" he exclaimed.

"Mhm, the boost to our sales is certainly proving to be good for business. You might have another worker in your midst if we can keep this up." Rouge explained. "Though, you should go through with your plan to have fresh baked goods and sweets carted around the city, get Amy and Cream to do. If we can get the word out, then we might be looking at a bright future for your shop yet."

"Even brighter then we started?"

"We'll be shining brighter then a diamond if things continue to go as smoothly." Rouge chuckled.

Silver cracked a smile at her jewel analogy, he almost forgot how obsessed his mother was with jewels. His childhood was full of sparkly gemstones and jewelry pasted everywhere, he thinks his pacifier must have been a rounded gem too, but he couldn't recall. If she was comparing his business to that then it must be good.

"I'm proud of you, Silver." Rouge softened her voice, furrowing her brows. "You've proved to me that with little help other then management from me, that you were able to turn a profit solely through your networking skills."

"Aw, thanks but Blaze should get the real credit." He smiled.

"And she will be, with the bonus and raise your going to give her on Friday." Rough reminded him.

"I know, don't worry and with numbers like these, I can pay to have another employee on as well as to give them a higher pay." Silver chuckled.

"Good to know, now, are you going to help with all these calculations and paperwork?" She asked, raising a brow.

Silver laughed, pulling up a chair and turning the computer monitor towards him. Silver and Rouge stayed in the office for most of the day, occasionally heading out to make something to eat before going back to work. Since Rouge helped him with his bakery's paperwork he thought he'd do the same and start arranging and getting them in order. He was surprised about how much everything she used in her club was quite expensive, the employee's paycheques, electricity bill, the padding in the place and even the light up dancefloor was worth more then the avenue it was on. However, looking at the numbers each night out of a year, she was always able to make thrice that amount back to pay her employees and cover the cost of everything else while living pretty on her own pile.

Silver had always been impressed by her success, he couldn't understand how she was able to do this. When he was young he barely saw her and when she was there they were barely making it by but now, they were living in a luxury apartment with an huge amount still left in the bank. Her success was what inspired him to start up his own business as she taught him that if he worked hard enough he too will make it somewhere.

It was a little past into the afternoon where they finally stopped. They put the papers into boxes and filing cabinets and clean off the desk.

"Alright, that should be enough work for today. Better enjoy the rest of it before I had to go into work." Rouge stated, straighten her back.

"Going back to the club?" Silver asked.

"Yeah, gotta make my grand appearance this weekend or else I'll be missed." Rouge struck a pose.

Silver chuckled. "You're silly."

"Mhm, you got anything planned for today?"

"Not really, maybe I could go visit Blaze or go out to dinner with Blaze and her partners." Silver shrugged.

"That could be fun, remember to pay for them. Stubborn oafs would try to pay when they barely have anything to rub together." Rouge commented.

"Yeah, wished they wouldn't be stubborn about accepting money from friends." Silver added. "But I can't change that, I can only hope to give Blaze a raise."

"Mhm, I'm thinking of persuading Shade to work as a bouncer. That woman is a beast when it comes to physical strength." Rouge did a little gesture of a strong person as she referred to Shade.

Silver has seen Shade on a few occasions and like Knuckles she was strong and built like it too. However, her being a bouncer probably wouldn't bode to well, the scenario going off going off his mind wasn't a pretty one. Shade standing outside Club Rouge and pulling out a weapon for the minor offenses.

"I don't think that's a good idea…" He said quietly.

"Nah, she'll be fine. If she can accept it that is." Rouge sighed. "Oh well, off you go. Go spend your day well."

She shooed him out of her office, Silver just laughed as she gently pushed him out and closed the door. Silver went back to his room to get a change of clothes and his towel, he looked at his still opened laptop. Maybe a night out with Blaze, Knuckles and Shade wouldn't be so bad. He walked over, turning it back on and started typing in the messenger. Blaze was still considered logged on, so she might see this.

Silver: "Blaze, you want to take Knuckles and Shade for dinner and a movie with me?"

Silver waited a moment, he didn't see the message that she was typing. He waited long until he saw it. He waited anxiously for her message.

Blaze: "They're okay with it, you paying?"

Silver: "Of course, gotta make sure you make it through most of next week ;p"

Blaze: "Knuckles won't be happy with that, but I think I can handle him."

Silver: "Blaze use your special – KISS ATTACK!"

Blaze: "He has resistance to that, I need to pull out my ultimate – SUPER MAKEOUT SESS!"

Silver: "Blaze no! you need your strength for game night with me!"

Blaze: "Don't worry, I'll purchase mana candy and have enough energy for later tonight!"

Silver: "Pfft, we're so silly :p"

Blaze: "Comes with us both being nerds."

Silver: "True, around 4 I'll pick you up in my car and we'll head off to some place cool to eat."

Silver: "What are you feeling like eating?"

Blaze: "A burger joint, just to go easy on your wallet."

Silver: "Aww and not at some fancy restaurant?"

Blaze: "Yeah, I'll take Knuckles out when I get paid ;3c"

Silver: ":o"

Silver: "Blaze you sly cat."

Blaze: "You know it, see you then okay?"

Silver: "K, bye!"

Silver smiled, logging out and setting his laptop on his end table. He grabbed his clothes and towel, heading towards the bathroom to get ready for a fun night-out.

Took awhile to write as I had to get my NaNoWriMo project chapters up first but hope you don't mind.

I was thinking of how ridiculous I should go with this story and reference real-world places even more then just instagram and see how I lose my audience's suspence of disbelief. But I kind of wanted to include Blaze more in the story and include her struggles along with Silver.

It's just something I'm experimenting with for now at least but don't worry, Silver/Shadow moments are on the rise ;p wait for the next chapter.