Crashed CHAPTER 7

I rested my head back against the wall, sighing as I pushed the bath water all around me, creating waves that crashed against my body.

Today was my day off, and I was trying hard to shake myself of the images from my dream.

I spent the first hour of the morning staring at the screen of my laptop, which displayed the search results of this question: How do you make yourself stop dreaming?

I only got stupid answers like "solve your problems; be your own doctor," and "be optimistic." Either that, or they just said what can cause certain nightmares.

I felt a little idiotic for trying to find some way to stop dreaming, but what else can I do?

I tried to imagine life before the accident. Before everything seemed to change. Before these damned dreams plagued me. It's only been a short time, but it feels like it's been forever. A lifetime of weird feelings and strange faces.

I liked to think of my dreams as objects to be set on a shelf. Things that you could look at, but had no practical use.

But I knew they were more than that.

Back when I was little and my parents hadn't gone completely crazy yet, whenever I had bad dreams, mom would let me sleep with her. Dad was always out getting drunk at night—and when Mom wasn't inviting random strangers to the house, she sort of paid attention to me.

My life back then was full of broken promises and empty I love you's.

When my ringtone echoed off the walls on full blast, I jumped. I retrieved my phone from the top of the toilet next to me. Knuckles.

"Hello?" I answered after letting it ring a few times.

"Rouge… I'm so happy you answered. You don't know how much it's been killing me to think about you not talking to me ever again." I heard him let out a breath before continuing. "I shouldn't have left you like that last night… I was just very confused, and I was already kinda mad from work and—"

I didn't hide the attitude in my voice. "You think I care? You shouldn't be taking out your anger on me."

"Rouge y-you have to admit you were acting a little weird. I guess I shouldn't have kissed you, but you didn't have to jump in front of a truck like that."

"Knuckles, I didn't do that to avoid you! I didn't mean to jump in front of the truck, either! You think I'm suicidal or something? Holy shit." I ran a hand over my face, imagining I wiped away my anger. "Knuckles, you just took me by surprise."

"That doesn't excuse you shouting 'what the fuck is happening to me?'"

"I just… had a really bad headache that day. It just got really really bad at that second."

Knuckles remained silent for several moments before saying: "Can I please see you today?"

I thought about it. So I either sit here and do nothing all day, or hang out with the charming guy who's only a little weird? "Sure. I'll give you one chance to make this up to me, but you gotta give me a little bit. I'm actually still in the bath right now."

I could almost hear his embarrassment over the phone. "Oh I'm sorry! I'll let you go. I'll come get you at… is 2:00 okay?"

It gave me a few hours. "Okay. Don't be late."

I hung up, feeling a new wave of nerves afterwards. I wasn't really sure if I wanted to see him or not. I was scared I'd be bombarded with images of Shadow again.

I started to recognize the overpowering sleepy feeling, the one I've been getting the past few times I just had to nap out of nowhere—and every time dreaming of that blasted hedgehog. I immediately sat up, turning on the cold water so I could splash my face with it, rubbing my eyes with it, and rubbing it on my shoulders. When it didn't work, I turned the water back off so I didn't ruin my warm bath.

My lids felt like they were being heavily weighed down, and soon enough I couldn't keep them open anymore.

I laid back, giving up on fighting it.

...

I was following Shadow as he walked. He was wearing low cut black jeans, and an open over shirt with an identical color, with sleeves pushed up to his elbows. No shirt under, just a clear view of his beautiful abs.

I didn't say anything. I didn't reach out to touch him, either.

His pace quickened every few seconds, and he seemed to be in a huge hurry.

I noticed we were walking down the same street that lead the way to my apartment building at the same time I realized I was naked.

I was walking around outside, naked.

"Shit!" I yelled to myself, using my hands to cover my intimate areas.

Shadow turned around, just for a second.

I stopped.

He examined his surroundings, sighed, then turned and kept speed-walking.

Did he not see me?

Realization dawned on me when I observed the way no one paid any attention to me. I must be dreaming.

I ran after Shadow, trying to keep up as he made the turn onto the sidewalk next to the roundabout in front of the main office of my building, which circled a massive water fountain.

Within the next two minutes, he was at my door.

He knocked, waited.

Knocked again, kept waiting.

Shadow made an exasperated sigh, shrugged, and tried the doorknob. It opened.

"Shadow, you need to stop. What are you doing in my house!? Shadow! Not the bathroom—the door is shut for a reason! Shadow—"

I woke up as he opened the door.

I shot up from the water, feeling utterly exposed.

And when I looked up, I knew why.

"Sorry to intrude. Your door was unlocked. You shouldn't leave it like that, could let any stranger right in." Shadow crossed his arms and leaned against the doorway.

"Strangers like you!? What the hell are you doing in my house!?" I tugged the curtains shut, which made my area a lot darker. "I'm kinda naked, you know."

"And?"

"You're not supposed to walk in on a girl naked like this."

"How come I have the feeling you don't mind as much as you act like you do?" I could almost hear his smirk.

It was somewhat true, as I almost expected him. Almost like I knew my dream was leading me to this. After what happened to Silver, and now this, I'm almost positive these events haven't been coincidences.

Shadow's even wearing the same damn sexy-as-hell outfit. I moved the curtain just enough to poke my head out so I could talk to him.

But really, I just wanted to check him out.

"Shadow, I don't want to deal with you right now." I winced after I said his name, realizing I've never addressed him by it before.

He didn't seemed fazed. He almost seems to be expecting everything I'm doing right now.

He stepped closer, and I tried to focus on the gentle hum of the air conditioning, rather than his abs. "But I want to deal with you." He kept smirking as he slowly dragged my towel from its hook, slinging it over his shoulder after the end of it smacked the floor.

"I kinda need that." I said with a taut voice.

"Mhmm. And you'll probably need these, too," He grabbed my haphazard pile of clothes on the counter, holding them under his arm. "But you'll have to come get them."

"Why are you like this with me?"

"It's fun."

I gave a nervous laugh, trying not to show how much he's actually affecting me.

Don't give in. He's just a stranger. He practically broke into your house, and here you are swooning. You aren't like this.

Not only that, he just waltzed in here while you were naked and completely exposed. Just like it was nothing.

Shadow stared me in the eyes while he threw everything in his arms out the door. He smiled. "You gonna come out?"

"No!" I retreated back into the curtain, holding my knees to my chest. "Get out of my house!"

"Rouge," Shadow's voice was suddenly closer, too close.

The curtain opened enough so I could see his face. He sat on his knees on the side of the tub, resting his elbows on the surface. "I wanted to talk to you. Without you running away."

"Just because I'm stuck without clothes doesn't mean I can't run." I rolled my eyes. "I mean my boobs might smack me in the face, but I can run."

Shadow's flirty smile suddenly disappeared, and was soon replaced with a frown. He examined me. "Where's Blaze?"

I felt my eyebrow raise. "What? Why?"

"I can't talk when she's around. Tell me, is she here?"

I thought about my answer. How does he know Blaze lives with me? I wanted to know exactly what's up with him and Blaze and her boyfriend. What connection do they have?

"She hasn't come back since she left with Silver last night." I offered.

"Figures." Shadow looked away for a second before focusing back on me. "I'm sure you're aware there's some weird shit going on."

"Y-yes, ever since I got in that acciden—wait," I shook my head. I don't have to tell him anything. "what the hell do you have to do with all this?"

His expression hardened, like it was difficult for him to get the words out. "That's what I came to ask you."

I moved to mimic his position, except my arms were folded on the edge of the tub to cover my breasts. His face was too close for comfort. "You need to leave, Shadow. You can't just walk in here and ask me questions like this."

Shadow tilted his head, but gave no hint of getting up.

"I have a date today. You can't be here to ruin it." I stated, trying to give him more reasons to leave. "It'll look very suspicious when my date walks in and sees me talking to another guy, naked."

"Oh, he'll just be jealous I saw your body first." And there was that smirk again.

"I'll make sure this body is the very last thing you see if you don't go get my clothes and let me out." I scooted back against the wall, crossing my arms over my chest.

"Maybe I will, maybe I won't."

"Shadow."

"Rouge."

"If you don't let me out, I'm going to pull you in. Don't test me." I tapped my foot under the water. He was definitely testing my patience.

He was silent for a moment, probably considering what I said. "I dare you." He finally said.

And without hesitation, I reached forward and gripped his shirt before pulling him into the water with me.

He gasped, whether it was because the water was so hot or just the shock of what I just did, I wasn't sure.

What I didn't think about was with the way I was sitting when I pulled him in, he ended up right between my legs.

I tried to cover up, but he wasn't looking at me anyway. He braced his hands on the wall on either side of me, and let his head hang between his arms. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "Damn, that's hot water. Are you trying to burn my fur off?"

I examined his wet clothes. "I told you I'd do it."

"I wasn't so sure, but—" He lifted his head to lock eyes with me. "you do realize this makes it harder for you to get out, right?"

Shit.

As long as I was using my arms to cover up my chest, I couldn't move them to push him off. He was surrounding me. "You say you came to talk, but you've just been wasting time fucking with me." I said.

"You might not want to say the F word while I'm between your legs." Shadow glanced down, then met my eyes again.

I hoped I wasn't blushing. "I-I'll say what I want. Now get off me."

"You pulled me in here. This is your fault."

I knew he wasn't going to move until I did something, so I opted for grabbing onto his crotch. I hoped he could see the fire in my eyes. "You better move now, or I'll just squeeze harder until you do."

He winced, but instead of pulling away from me, he got closer. His body was crushed against mine, and he pushed my free arm off of my breasts so he could grip one. His hot breath was in my ear: "You don't scare me."

I shuddered, feeling like butter in his hands. I felt the strongest urge to kiss him, but I had to push it away. I was supposed to be mad.

I didn't know what else to do, so I shoved him. Maybe a little too hard.

His body landed in a wet mass on the floor.

I stood, covering up as best I could as I stepped over him. "Aw look, you got my floor all wet."

"You pulled me in, and then shoved me out, so it's your fault." Shadow linked his hands behind his head, resting on the tile. "I'm not cleaning it up."

I retrieved my clothes and towel from the hallway, and changed into my skinny jeans and tank top before I returned to Shadow. "You know none of this would've happened if you didn't take my shit."

The hedgehog sat up and looked at me. "Rouge I just… I need to figure out what's been going on with me. You're the only one I can talk to."

"And why is that? Why don't you call your mom or something?" I threw the towel at Shadow's head. "Please wipe up your puddle."

Shadow reluctantly dropped the towel on the floor and lazily wiped up the water. "I don't have one."

I was a little shocked with how easily he said he lacked a mother. "What about… What about your dad? Or any other family members?"

"Well, Rouge, I don't know any of the family I might've had. You see, I kinda don't remember a single thing that has happened to me since maybe... a couple weeks ago. No one has tried to contact me, and I don't know anyone to contact." He pushed himself off the floor and handed me the damp towel.

How can someone have no family, no real friends, not remember a thing, and act like it doesn't bother them at all? Is that why he's been bugging me so much? There's just simply no one else? "You act like you don't care."

"You can't feel remorse for things you don't remember."

"Shadow I… I'm sorry." I moved closer to him, touching the edge of his shirt collar. I can't imagine what he's been through.

"So do you dream about me, too?" He said randomly, staring down at my hand.

Great. He had to bring that up. "Yes."

"What happens?"

Well, last time you were having sex with me. And we both seemed to really enjoy it. "Nothing important."

I watched Shadow's ears flatten, like he was disappointed with my answer. "Oh. Mine aren't like that."

I kept on fumbling with his collar, trying to distract myself from his daring eyes. Then I remembered I had a date today.

"Shadow, I have to get ready. You need to leave." I started to pull him by his shirt, but he stayed rooted where he stood.

"Rouge, I can't. I just… I need to know what's wrong. Why I've been having these dreams… and why I can't… why I can't…" His eyes trailed from me to the floor.

"Can't what?"

"Can't stop thinking about you."

My whole world seemed to pause at that moment. I couldn't decide whether he was being genuine, or was just trying to get me to sleep with him. Based on his recent behavior, I'd go with the latter. "Shadow, I've only seen you, what, three times? There's no way—"

And now he was close. Too close. "You don't understand what you do to me." Shadow hooked his fingers in the belt loops on the back of my jeans and pulled me against him. "I know I don't remember much, but I don't think I've ever felt this strongly this fast for anyone."

I pushed him away from me. "Do you say that to all the girls you want to have sex with?"

"I was not proposing sex. Have some faith."

"Faith in you? I barely know you."

"Doesn't mean you can't get to know me." His eyes glinted with a suggestion I didn't want to consider.

"You know what? If you really want to stay, you can sit with me while I get ready. I'm surprised you haven't thrown up yet after seeing me with no makeup." I put an extra sway in my hips to tease him as I walked back towards the bathroom. "But you have to be out of here by one."

"Deals a deal, if you'll answer my questions." I listened to Shadow's steps behind me, dragging his feet as he walked.

"Shadow, I only know as much as you do."