Hey, guys! Just so you guys know, updates will be slower from now on. I'm doing marching band, and school for me starts in a week and a half, so yeah. I'm sorry! Please don't hate me! Now, to respond to my fabulous reviewers!

ChaosMaster1234: :)right back at ya! Hahaha.

Swimchic321: Aw, I'm sorry! I've been busy, as you've read above. I hate Raven too. And she's my own OC. Jessica is a side character, so yeah, I really hate her. I agree! Villains ftw! Oh, and you will see some of that coupling soon. As of now, I'm focusing on Cream and Shadow, trying to develop them first before I go all out. Thanks for reviewing! And by the way, what symbols are those by your name? :3

Fireclaw:I agree! A straight Silver is a good one. Oh, and Raven before she met Jessica? That might be a bonus chapter, along with the winner of the contest. There are lots of girls like Jessica at my school. It's scary. Yep, Vanilla is pretty much win! I like Omega and E102 Gamma. My favorite robots…besides Astro Boy. :3 Thanks for reviewing!

Gummybear385: So good, you reviewed it twice! Hahaha and that's fine. My laptop got a virus in February. Not fun. And yes, Raven was finally dumped. Happy face! And the fight was based off of one at my school…except for someone dumping his girlfriend after it. :3 Thanks for reviewing!

Blackclaw2508: Stalkers are people who spy on other people…which means Raven. :3 Here is your Shadow plushie! *hands him plushie* Enjoy! And Happy Face ftw! Yay, you finally climaxed! Well, this porn might make you climax as well. Haha thanks for reviewing!

Rainclaw: Pervertedness is good for you! Heh heh heh Captain America was pretty good, I heard. And yes, "Shaven" is forever gone! Hurrah! Jessica is gone too. She was a one hit wonder, lol. The drama heats up in this chapter, so prepare yourself! Things are about to get hairy ;). :3 Thanks for reviewing!

Angel the Neko: You should feel loved, because we all love you! :3 And for the contest, it wouldn't hurt to try! You're a great author. Go for it!

Malik: I COMMAND YOU!

Me: This is a Sonic fanfic. You are not allowed here.

Malik: This gives me effeminate fury!

Me: Anyways, I hope you try. If not, it's all good. :3 Thanks for reviewing!

Airym of the 13th: Yay! And poor Sonic! He'll be gassy for a month.

Airym: *sweat drop*

Me: Anyways, Raven is no longer in the picture. She's still in the fic, but she won't interfere with Shads anymore. And yes, Vanilla meant it in that way. ;) I can't wait for your account if you make it! That'll make me happy! :3 Yes, the USA was dying to see Harry Potter. The all went to the midnight premiere. Yeah. Hahaha thanks for reviewing!

DarkWindTheWolf: Thanks for being the ONLY one to take my challenge thus far! I read it, and it was great! It was funny! And I didn't mind you using Flame and Raven. In fact, it was like foreshadowing to later chapter. ;) Thanks for the oneshot, and thanks for reviewing!

SkipBeatAnimeGirl: Me too! And hurray for Shadow being single! Let's see what happens! Dun, dun, dun! :3 Thanks for reviewing!

Zebsolo: Aww, that's mean. I would have gotten my chainsaw on her! Hahaha just kidding! And awww no challenge? I think you should try! I'm encouraging all to do it! It's for fun. It's not like I'm your English teacher who will be harsh on stuff lol. Try it if you want! Fun is my middle name!

Cream: I thought it was Rock-

Me: Shhh! Thanks for reviewing! :3

nikkie9: Thank yous! :3 Thanks for reviewing!

Hakimu: Yeah, love at first sight in multi-chapter fanfics is a bit much, even for a fanfic. :3 I will put more Silvaze in, I just want to focus on Shadow and Cream for a bit. :3 Thanks for reviewing!

Now, on with the chapter!


Chapter 9 Can't Make You Love Me

Winter vacation was a blast! Cream forgot about Raven for the time being, and just decided to have fun! With Raven not hanging around, Shadow and Cream have gotten closer in their friendship. Valentine's Day showed up fourteen days later, and things were about to change, and not for the better…


The day before Valentine's Day, Cream had Amy over her house.

"Cream, tomorrow has to be the day you confess to Shadow." Amy was saying.

"I can't do it, Amy! It's too embarrassing!" Cream cried.

Amy rolled her eyes. "Come on, Cream! Things have been going so well with you two that Sonic and I haven't had to do anything yet. And besides, we all know Shadow. He's not going to talk first. In fact, Raven was the one who confessed to Shadow. He's so shy around that mushy stuff. So it's up to you, Cream."

Cream sighed, knowing Amy was right. If she didn't speak up, nothing will happen.

"Fine. But how do I bring it up? Where should I bring it up?"

"I can't answer how to bring it up. That's up to you. But you should bring it up when you two are completely alone, like when you two walk home." Amy suggested.

"Alone, huh?" Cream murmured.

"You have never confessed to anyone, have you?" Amy asked.

Cream shook her head. "No. In fact, I have never fallen in love before. Until now."

Amy whistled. "I can't believe a pretty girl like you has never been in a relationship."

Cream blushed and looked away.

I can believe it. I'm not like Amy, who's popular and can get the sweetest and funniest guy in school. I'm a shy, small puny panther who has never had any experiences in love. But maybe, just maybe…Shadow is different. Maybe he can see what I see…


The next day, Cream woke up nervously. The day for Cream to confess had finally arrived. Valentine's Day. Today was the day she would push her shyness to the side. That day, Cream wore her pink skinny jeans and a black tank top with a red heart on it. She tied her hair back with a pink ribbon.

When she went out the front door, Shadow was waiting for her. During the walk to school, the two were feeling awkward, especially Cream. There was this tension in the air that was threatening to overshadow them.

"Happy Valentine's Day." Cream spoke up, trying to break the ice. And it wasn't just from the sidewalk.

"Happy Valentine's Day to you too." Shadow replied, relaxing a bit.

Cream relaxed a bit too, glad that he didn't shoot her greeting to the ground.

Maybe I'll have a chance at love…she thought.

Throughout the day, Cream had been sneaking glances at the ebony hedgehog, and he never caught her gaze, to her relief. Amy was observant at lunch time at Shadow and Cream. Ever since Shadow dumped Raven, he hadn't been the same. When the two first went out, that was the period when Shadow was the happiest, lucky to be in love and date the prettiest girl in the class of 2012. But now…it's as if he has a piece of him missing, despite moving in from Raven. Amy only hoped Cream could fill that hole in his heart.

The end of school finally came. It was time for Cream to confess.

"Sonic and I are rooting for you!" Amy cried.

"BANZAI!" Sonic cried, launching party streamers around them.

"Sonic, what are you, InuYasha?" Amy asked, rolling her eyes.

Giggling, Cream waved goodbye to her two friends and shyly walked over to Shadow.

"Let's go." he said plainly, stuffing the Valentine's Day cards from all of his fangirls into his backpack (A/N: Including me! :3).

"Okay." she replied nervously.

About halfway through the walk, Cream decided that it was now or never.

"Shadow…I have something very important to tell you." Cream began.

Shadow looked at her questioningly.

"What is it?" he asked.

Cream then stopped walking. Seeing this, Shadow did the same, confused.

"Shadow, I have been denying this feeling for some time, but I have recently realized it," she said slowly, looking him in the eye. "I'm in love with you, Shadow!"

Shadow then looked as if he had been slapped in the face. He stood there, frozen and stiff, like an icicle. Cream expected laughing, but all she received was a deathly silence, like when Shadow broke up with Raven.

"Shadow…?" she squeaked.

"I…you…what?" Shadow stammered.

"Yes, I have deep feelings for you. I just can't deny it." Cream repeated, her heart racing in suspense and fear.

Shadow then remembered the time when Cream asked him if he would ever date someone four years younger than him. That someone was her! Shadow slowly shook his head, his eyes closed.

"I'm sorry Cream. I do not return your feelings. This wouldn't work out in the first place. You're so young and innocent."

Cream felt like a bunch of bricks smashed her heart into pieces.

"What do you mean? What are you saying?" Cream asked, tears threatening to fall.

"Did you honestly think that a senior would have feelings for a freshman?" Shadow asked coldly. "You are so naïve. What you're feeling is just a silly crush on a senior, not love. Do you honestly know what love even is?"

Cream felt her heart break into even tinier pieces. "I do, Shadow! This is not a crush! And isn't age just a number?"

"No, it's not." Shadow replied just as coldly. "In case you haven't noticed, there are some things in this world that have boundaries. Love is one of them. Love is fragile. When I first dated Raven, she meant everything to me, and I tried to hold on to her as long as I could, despite the fights we've had. That's love, Cream. It's not a feeling you get after knowing a guy four years older than you for a few months. I've known Raven for three years, and just started dating her last year."

Cream's tears had fallen over, and she was trembling.

"I get it! You don't have feelings for me because I'm a puny panther. Am I correct?" Cream snapped.

Shadow stayed quiet, not wanting to incriminate himself anymore.

"I thought so." Cream sniffed, her tears doing the talking for her. "I thought you were different. I thought that you saw differently than the status quo. But you are so narrow-minded that you couldn't see past the fact I was a freshman. I overlooked you being a senior, and focused on you. Not the senior football star. You. And that's where I found love. I bet you only liked Raven because her hips were a mile wide, am I right?"

Shadow's eyes darkened. "No, you're not." he seethed.

"Yes, I am. Well, I can't make you love me. You only look on the outside, Shadow. I look on the inside. You really are an arrogant asshole! And I can't believe I ever fell in love with you!" Cream shouted.

She ran away from Shadow, the tears cascading down her face at a rapid pace. All Shadow did was look away. Cream passed by Amy and Sonic, and they were shocked to see Cream crying.

"Cream, what's wrong?" Amy asked, feeling her own tears come upon seeing Cream's expression.

"Shadow…he…broke my heart!" Cream cried.

With that, she ran off, feeling her life break along with her heart,


Whoa. Were you guys expecting that? Whoa. Well, what will happen to Cream now? Will Shadow regret what he has done? You'll find out. Oh, and the contest is still open! Details are in chapter 8 at the end. I have one contestant. I want more! It's fun! :3 And remember…

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Ja ne, minasan!

PRK