Chapter 7: Sing It Loud!

I sat on the living room couch with my books on my lap, trying to solve my calculus homework, but I couldn't even focus no matter how I tried. All I could think about was her. Even looking around my own house reminded my of her. Mom and dad weren't home like always.

When I was younger, Amy and I would go to each other's houses and have sleepovers whenever my parents were busy, which was about always. We usually hung out at her house, and her house was always full of noise that being at my own silent one made me miss her.

I obviously could not focus on my homework, so I put my books away and checked my phone. I had one new message. My heart nearly jumped out of my chest as I opened my message and read the text "okay, be there in 10"

I tried to calm down and grabbed my keys before I left. I began to think about what exactly I would ask Amy as I waked to the park. Would I tell her to leave the past behind us and pretend that kiss never happened, or ask her if what had happened between us was over?

Had there even been something between us? Was it all my head? There were too many things to discuss, yet they all revolved around the same thing. I was supposed to know! Being confused or clueless about something always made me lose my temper. My clothes began to feel warmer, which wasn't a good thing.

I reached the park and sat in one of the benches, then took deep breaths to calm down. My eyelids shut and remained that way for a couple of minutes until someone sat down. I opened my eyes and saw her before me.

Amy was wearing a white tank top with a black bra and a black mini skirt, which really didn't help the situation. My chest began to burn, but not for the same reason as before.

"I got your text" Amy said looking me in the eye. I tried to keep eye contact, but I couldn't and looked away. But I just couldn't allow myself to look weak, so I forced my eyes to look at her. She noticed my nervousness and spoke first. "Blaze, I'm sorry about what happened in the bathroom, a-and...about asking Scourge out"

'Scourge?' I thought confused. As far as I knew she had a date with Manic, not Scourge. But it still didn't matter to me that much, she was still going out with a male. "Why did you kiss me if you were straight?" I asked in a flat tone, even though my heart was beating fast. The way your heart would beat when you got into serious trouble with your parents. Amy sighed and responded hesitantly "I...I-I don't know...I thought I liked you b..but...I don't know! I don't know what I want"

"W-will ahem!...will we ever be friends again, like we used to be?" I asked forcing my voice to not crack and myself not to stutter. I looked deeply into those beautiful green eyes of hers as she answered my question. Those eyes.

My ears picked up her voice but not the words in it or the meaning, but from just looking into her eyes I knew what the answer was. I got up and said "goodbye, Amanda" before standing up and walking home without saying another word or looking back.

By the time I got home mom and dad has already arrived. I went straight to my room and locked the door. My mom quickly went to knock on the door and ask me of I was okay. "I'm alright, I just want to be left alone...please"

Soon enough I was left alone. Alone to "not" think about the girl who I had been in love with in years and had just broken my heart.

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I was greeted by Shadow when I got home. "Tell me all about it, like, how was your date?" Shadow asked in his "gay voice" which honestly wasn't a very good one. His voice was too deep. "Don't wanna talk 'bout it bro" I said quickly and started to walk to my room, but he got in the way. "Did something bad happen? Did Sonic try anything-?"

"No, bro! Its okay really" I said, but Shadow didn't move an inch. I knew he was just concerned about me, but I didn't want to tell him. But if I didn't tell him he wouldn't move and he would continue to ask me about out until I told him. Shadow crossed his arms and waited for a response from me. "Let's go to my room and I'll tell ya, its a long story"

Shadow and I went to my room and I told him the big misunderstanding that was going on. "Blaze saw me hugging Amy after that green hedgehog asked her out, maybe she thought it was me and, you know, told Sonic. Now Sonic is like mad at me and 's being a jerk" I explained my theory, like a sir. Shadow pondered this, and concluded "you need to talk to him and clear this huge misunderstanding"

"Yeah a-"

"If he doesn't want to, I'll tie him up and you can-"

"No, Shadow, no. I just gotta talk ta him like a civilized mobian. And this is something I gotta do alone, even though I appreciate your...your.." I said, but stopped because I had forgotten the word I was looking for. "Concern?" Asked Shadow raising an eyebrow. "Yeah concern" I responded with a nod.

"I understand, but let me know if something happens" Shadow added and padded my back before leaving the room to leave me alone with my thoughts.

The next day I woke up, got ready for school and went to the kitchen to get my pills, but Farrell was sitting at the table drinking a cup of coffee. "Wait, boy. I need to talk to ya about something before ya take your medicines. Maybe you would take 5 rather than 6 this week" Farrell said. "Which one do I stop taking?" I asked a little confused as to why I had to stop taking one and which one. "The blue one. Stop taking it this week, then next week you'll take 4 and so on until we get you off the meds" Farrell responded and took a sip from his mug.

I had six pills in my hand and took out the blue one and put it back in the container. I Had them settled in those plastic containers that separated the pills by days of the well, so I just put it back on today's. "Thanks, dad" I said before taking my meds. I put all the pills in my mouth and poured myself some water in a clean glass. They were starting to dissolve in my mouth and give me a very unpleasant taste, so I swalloed them. Then I said goodbye to Farrell and left for the bus stop.

Sonic was already at the bus stopped when I arrived and he was obviously avoiding me. I tried to stand in front of him, but he would just look the other way and turn around. At first it made me feel a bit sad. All I wanted was to explain to him what had happened the day before, but he wouldn't even let me speak! Aside from that, it began to get annoying after a while and I became frustrated. My heart began to beat faster, and all I could think about was just going far away from Sonic. Or punching him. "Fine, have it your way, douchebag!"

I got on the bus and stood far away from Sonic until we got to school. At lunch, Sonic and I kept ignoring each other and it was pretty obvious. And then it happened.

A brown chipmunk came over, Sally, I believe. I recognized her from the cheerleading squad. She wrapped her arms around Sonic and gave him a tight hug with a kiss on the cheek. Then smiled and said something to his ear. My heart pumped faster and I began to feel angery at this. Really really angry! I mean furious! What could possibly make her think she could just do that to my-...!

My what? My friend, of course. Right? I was just angry because I knew he could do better. That was the only, only reason. Sally and Sonic began started talking and I tried to ignore them. But the more I tried to, the angrier I got. "Try not to make it so obvious" a voice said from next to me. I turned my head to see Blaze sitting next to me. Was I so mad that I didn't even notice her there?

"That's what they want" Blaze added in monotone. I was a little surprised that she was speaking to me after what had happened yesterday, but maybe she figured out it wasn't me asking Amy out. I mean, someone had to, right?

"You're not mad at me r-?"

"Of course not, YOU did nothing wrong" Blaze said. As she said this she looked up and glared at Amy, who was sitting at the opposite side of the table, and Amy glared back. It felt a little awkward being in the middle of this. "Hey guys! Gguuuuuyyyss!" said Mina loudly to get everyone's attention. Everyone stopped their conversions, not all once of course, and looked at her to see what she had to say. "This better be important" Knuckles said to her. "It somewhat is. There's this new karaoke place that has opened up and wanted all of us to go!" Mina said excitedly. She had a huge smile on her face, while some of us (knuckles) didn't seem interested in the least. By now she had lost the attention of about a quarter of the group, and I guess I felt bad for her. "Sounds like a blast! Count me in"

"Yeah, me too!" Amy added. We settled everything and it turned out that Mina, Espio, Amy, Silver, Sonic, Scourge, Sally and I were going. Mina gave us the address of the place and told us to meet at 5 pm, which gave us about two hours to get ready and do homework. After we were all settled, I decided to talk to Blaze. "Blaze, I think you should go, why don't ya go? It'll be fun!"

"I don't want to" Blaze responded. Silver cut in and said "Come on, even if Amy and her boyfriend are going doesn't mean you can't go and have fun"

She sighed. "It's not only that, I don't like singing"

"You don't have to sing, you can just watch the rest sing"

"I have stuff to do"

"We'll go at five, it gives you plenty of time to go and you can be fashionably late"

"Please guys, I know you want me to go, but I just don't want to" Blaze said. Silver opened his mouth to speak, when a group of crocodiles walked in the cafeteria yelling. They were arguing about something, not sure what, but my curiosity wanted me to find out. My ears twitched.

Vector came in last stomping after them yelling to see her. The crocodile farthest from him was the female crocodile he was dating,I recall. Three crocodiles stood in Vector's way while the girl went to get her lunch. "Oh come on guys, this is all a big misunderstanding. Just gimme a chance to explain" pleased Vector, but didn't help his situation.

"Leave her ass alone, nigga" said one of them using foul language. "Just go fuck yourself, she doesn't need a fag like you" said the one in the middle. "Me? A fag?! How dare you, you scum!" Vector yelled and sighed. Vector ignored them and walked to a table. Our table.

Everyone had fallen silent, so silent that if someone's phone rang you could have been able to hear it, which was odd since we were in the cafeteria. But with the big scene that Vector and those crocodiles, the silence only made sense. Vector's mouth was in a straight line when he slumped down on a seat next to Espio silently and brought the headphones that were around his neck up to his ears.

Sally and Sonic tried to ask him if he was alright, which was idiotic questions if you ask me. Vector looked at them and ignored them. It wasn't until Espio looked up at him and called his name that Vector removed his headphones almost instantaneously. "Yeah?" Asked Vector with a softer tone than the one he had used before. "We are going to a karaoke place after school at five, would you like to come?" asked Espio.

Vector's lips curled into a smile and he put his claw on Espio's shoulder. "Course I will!...wait you're going, right?" Vector asked and revived a nod from Espio. "Great! Then I'm going too" Vector said. It was a little amazing to see him recover from his anger so quickly, and all because of quiet little Espio.

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Sonic and I pretty much ignored each other during pe and English. He acted as if I wasn't there, didn't name eye contact, and vise versa. He even refused to get into the pool to be near me, and he switched seats with a kid in English class so he wouldn't have to look at me. At this point I didn't feel bad for the misunderstanding we had. I had not gotten a chance to explain and I think I no longer have to.

After school I went straight home to get ready and invited Shadow to come along. "Did you and Sonic make up?" Shadow asked curiously. This made me feel nervous and dishonest. I rubbed the back of my neck and hesitated to answer, which ironically enough , was enough of an answer for Shadow. It simply meant 'no'

Shadow changed into a black pair of skinny Jeans with a red tank top and his usual shoes. Sometimes I wondered if he was colorblind, or if he just weird taste. I just brushed my teeth and took a quick shower before putting on the same thing I had before, with the exception of a clean black shirt and clean boxers. Wore what I had brought to school earlier today, which was my black best, black fingerless gloves, and black shorts with a chain hanging from the back pocket to the front pocket. Nothing fancy.

I made sure that I wore colone and used some gel to spike up my bangs. "What are you, female? You're taking forever!" Shadow yelled at me from outside the bathroom. "Just a minute, I'm taking a piss" I said with a chuckle, finding it amusing to gross Shadow out.

After that, we left the house and walked there, having a peaceful and appropiate conversation as we walked. "Let's do a fucking duet and sing Pussy by Rammstein" Shadow said with enthusiasm. And people think I'm the one with the potty mouth when they see the way I'm dressed. "Guess we should, but let's do it at the end in case we get kicked out" I pointed out. Shadow smirked and nodded. "Yeah, after all they did ban the music video, which was censored because, you know, it was basically uncensored porn. Good thing I've already watched it on an earthly site" he said.

"Woah woah woah, remember what Farrell said about watching human porn? It's gross, man" I blurted out maybe a bit too loud. A mother fox covered her little kitsune's ears and fastened up their pace and other mobians just gave us weird looks. A light blush crept on Shadow's face. "Oh come on, hairless females are hot, especially when they-"

"Shut up, dude. Not into that" I said. We kept walking for about seven more minutes until we reached the place. The parking lot wasn't too full, but it wasn't empty either. We walked through it went inside through the main door. "Are you sure we're at the right place? All I see is a restaurant" said Shadow. I looked around the place while we walked inside. It was basically a restaurant, but there was a stage and a karaoke machine in the center.

I nudged Shadow when I spotted the two tables were our friends were at. There were ten of us after all, so it only makes sense that we sit in two tables. Amy, Scourge, Sonic, Sally, and Silver sat on a table right next to a window. Mina, Espio, and Vector were sitting on a table behind it and there were two open seats. I assumed those were for Shadow and I, so we walked over and sat there. I say next to Mina, to my right, and with Shadow to my left. Espio was on Shadow's left. "Hey guys, what's up?" I greeted with a smile. "Sup"

"Hello"

"Hiya"

"So, are we eating first ooorr?" said Shadow. "Actually, I'm kinda hungry too" agreed Vector. I wasn't sure if we were going to eat at all, but at the moment no one was singing. I'm assuming we're can't yet. "Oh Vector" sighed a frustrated Espio with a soft facepalm. Mina looked over at the other table and I did so as well. They were already ordering.

"Eehh, I guess we could order something before singing" Mina said with a shrug. I nodded and moved my hand to the menu on the center of the table, but Mina did as well and our hands touched when they laid on the menu.

I quickly took my hand away and apologized multiple times repeatedly. "Sorry, sorry, sorry" I said feeling my cheeks burn in embarrassment. Mina's face turned completely red and she apologized as well.

We ordered when the waiter came and waited for our food. Espio and Vector were talking amongst themselves, but were sitting quite close to each other, which I found quite funny. "So, what song are you gonna sing?" I asked Mina curiously. When I was younger, Farrell and Shadow used to get frustrated at my enormous amount of questions. I guess that habit of asking questions never really vanished, but is not as annoying or as obvious as it used to be. "I'm singing The Unforgiven by Metallica if it's there" I added.

"Well I'm singing Skater Boy by Avril Lavigne" Mina responded still blushing. "Actually they should have a 'Punk Boy' version, don't you think?" Mina asked. I chuckled and nodded in agreement. "Yeah, they should"

I looked over at the other table. Sonic and Sally were sitting very close to each other and were holding hands on the table. Ugh. Scourge and Amy were doing the same, except Amy seemed rather distracted and annoyed too.

I turned back to Sonic and Sally and then looked away when I began to feel sick to my stomach. Okay, so maybe I didn't feel physically sick but I still felt something in my heart and my gut. I wanted to believe it wasn't jealousy, but I guess it was.

Our food arrived and we ate while some guy got on the stage and sang a pop song I didn't recognize. When the guy was finishing his song, Mina gulped down what was left of her drink and ran to the stage right after the guy had gotten off. And like she said, she sang Skater Boy. She seemed really into it, putting her heart and soul to every syllable she sang. Mina even seemed a but disappointed after the song ended.

After that, Vector pulled Espio to the stage by the arm and went to mess with the machine. "Ugh what the hell is wrong with this thing?!" He stud in frustration. Espio chuckled at his short temper and moved Vector away from it. "Your fingers are too fat" Espio said. He pressed a couple of buttons and picked and looked up at Vector. "This song?" He asked. "Yep" Vector said nodding and his snout hit Espio. Espio held his head and looked up. He moved away awkwardly after apologizing and grabbed a mic. Espio looked around the machine and found another microphone on the floor in front on the machine and turned it on.

Vector began rapping a song that I remembered from the radio. "I could make your bed rock" he sang. Vector sang most of it and nudged Espio. He turned his eyes to the screen and seemed embarrassed. "I'm not saying that"

"Ya gotta"

"I hate you"

"We both know that's a lie"

Espio sighed and rapped the only part the girl did in the song. "I'm so pretty like, be on my pedal bike,be on my low scrunch, be on my ecko whites"

A few people from the audience laughed, chuckled and giggled (Shadow and I included). After that, they finished the song together and got off the stage.

Then Scourge went up. Oh man.

Before he sang, he whispered "I know you want me" into the microphone before singing Sex by Nickelback. No one cheered, no one laughed, they either listened to him or ignored him. Amy looked like she wanted to be invisible or vanish; she was really embarrassed and annoyed. I would not be surprised if she stopped seeing that douchebag after this.

"Sex is only the answer, it's never a question.."

If you want to be a rapist... asshole.

Amy got up from her seat and went to the bathroom. The song ended and Scourge went to sit back in his seat.

"C'mon, it's time" Shadow said and stood up and I did the same. We went to the stage before anyone else did and Shadow looked for the song. "They only have one song by Rammstein and it's Du Hast" he pointed out. I was a bit disappointed, but we had no choice. Shadow selected it, but the keyboard intro for Pussy played. I guess it was under the wrong name. Shadow began to song after the intro.

"Too big, too small, size does matter after all"

"Zu groß, zu Klein, Er könnte etwas größer sein"

I sang every part in German and Shadow and I sang the English parts together.

"Just a little bit, be my little bitch..you've got a pusseh! I have a dickah! So What's the problem? Let's do it quick!"

Some adults in the audience seemed offended, while the younger ones seemed to find it funny and enjoy the song.

"So take me know before it's too late, life's too sort so I can't wait! Take me know, oh don't you see? I can't get laid in Germany!"

My eyes landed on Sonic while singing. He seemed to be enjoying the song, while Sally...not so much. My eyes met his and for a second, and for that moment I didn't see anger like before.

Then it happened.

"Be his little bitch. You've got a pussy, he has a dick, so what's the problem? Just do him quick! So take him now before it's too late, life's to short and he can't wait! Take him now, oh don't you see? He can't get laid in Germany!" Shadow sang. I wanted to die of embarrassment, especially since he kept pointing at me and Sonic as he sang. I wanted to vanish, disappear, become invisible or something that got me off stage without getting noticed. Unfortunately, that was not possible. So ein mist! Damn!

The song ended and we went to our seats. As I walked, Sonic looked at me obviously embarrassed while Sally gave me a dirty look.

I sat back down next to Mina, who was giggling non stop. "That was so funny, but weren't you gonna sing a song by yourself?" She asked. "Nah, I changed my mind" I responded. "That was an awesome song! Even though I don't like rock, I liked it!" Vector exclaimed. "A little vulgar, which explains why you liked it so much, Vector" Espio said.

Sally said something to Sonic, but he seemed unhappy about it and pointed at his watch. She shaked her head repeatedly and he sighed. She smiled and ran up to the stage smiling. She ended up singing Teenage dream by Katy Perry. I crossed my arms and glared at the stupid chipmunk with the amazing voice. I looked at Sonic, who was cheering as she sang.

"You make me, feel like I'm livin' a,.teenage dream, the way you turn me on..."

I swear I could feel my blood boil. Man I felt mad. So mad I let out a low growl. "Calm your ovaries, jealous one" I heard Shadow say with a chuckle. "I don't have ovaries!" I said loudly. So loudly looked Sonic looked over. I wanted to die. Again.

Sally finished the song and walked over to their table.

Sonic's table began to leave. I looked around my table and it seemed like they had no one had the intention of leaving.

Sonic and the others left, and when Sonic passed by he waved goodbye with a smile, while Sally had a across her muzzle. I returned Sonic's smile, only to be teased by Vector, Shadow and Mina.

x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.

"Dude, what the fuck?!" I yelled at Shadow, slamming the door behind me as we got home. "What's all the racket about?" Farrel asked, who was sitting on the couch watching TV.

"I helped his crush realize he liked him and now he's bitching" Shadow explained incorrectly. "No, all you did was embarrass my front of all my friends and some random strangers! Do you know how hard it was to shrug that off and act like nothing happened!?"

Farrell's mouth hanged open, obviously not knowing what to say. Frustrated because of Shadow, I stomped to my room and slammed the door.

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There you have it. Did you guys enjoy the chapter? Please don't forget to leave a review, I'd really appreciate it. I really appreciate you guys following and leaving reviews, I appreciate your support
:D

In other news, Regular Sonic Fan and I are working on a Manadow story titled Hearts and Brains, which takes place in a zombie infested, apocalyptic future. We would really really appreciate it if you check it out. It will be on my profile.

And if you don't like manadow but have never read a manadow fic before, you should give it a chance. Just a suggestion c:

Anyway, with that out of the way, do you guys have any predictions of what will happen on the next chapter? Is Sally jealous? What's up with Vector and Espio? And will Manic be upset with Shadow for long?

Until next time, have a great day! :D