A/N: Welcome back to another chapter. I'm trying to get back into the swing of things and get back into a schedule but since all the chapters of this story are quite long, being at the absolute least 6000 words each, but most ending up at around the 8000 mark, every 4 days is a bit too much for me. I'm going to try to stick to an every 5 day schedule but honestly i might not make that. No matter what happens, there will definitely be at least one chapter a week, but sometimes there may be two if I'm fast enough. Reviews, favourites, follows and interactions always help keep me motivated and motivation is the driving force of these stories (hint hint:P) but i'll definitely get one out a week at the very least. Anyway, enjoy chapter 9!
Chapter 9
Confusing Talks
I ran home from school, hand in my hands as I darted around street corners. School was always horrible for me. I was bullied relentlessly by all of the mammals just because I was different. I hated my primary school, despite only being in 2nd grade at the time. The students hated me. Their parents hated me. The teachers hated me. I had no friends at all because everybody hated me, just because I was a stupid bird. The only non-mammal in my whole primary school. Well, apart from her…
I didn't want my parents to see me cry. Dad never liked it. He always just told me to go drink a glass of cement and toughen up. I decided to head up to the neighboring park. The clouded heavens looked down on me, showering the surrounding area in a light drizzle, mirroring my demeanor.
I jumped up onto one of the swing sets, head in hands as I gently pushed myself backwards and forwards, wishing for a better life. Wishing I could be anywhere else. That's when she showed up. The pink swallow that burst her way into my life when everything seemed so gloomy, acting as the one ray of sunshine that permeated through the ever setting, low-lying layer of grey cumulonimbus clouds.
"Hey, are you alright?" the swallow asked me, noting the tears streaming down my cheeks.
"Yeah… I'm fine," I sniffed, rubbing away the stray tears and mucus that was dripping slowly from my nose with the back of my hand.
"You don't look fine. Mind if I sit with you?" She asked, grabbing the metal chain that attached the black rubber seat to the wooden framework holding the swings aloft. I nodded slightly as she mounted the swing next to me and pushed against the ground, the force propelling her backwards as she looked at me, her smile mesmerizing.
"So, what's up," she asked.
"I… I'm just," I hesitated, never usually being the one to open up. Since most people I met hated my guts, I had a hard time ever trusting people and grew quite anxious in conversations. I guess that's why I grew so attached to her so quickly, and to people ever since. "I'm the only bird in school and everybody thinks I'm a freak and bully me all the time," I sighed finally, allowing the swallow in.
"Well, not anymore," she smiled. I tilted my head, curious as to the connotation of her words but when she explained how she just moved to my school, I was over joyed.
"Guess we can be the only birds together, yeah?" I nodded and she laughed. "My name is Wave," she said, holding out her hand.
"I-I-I'm Jet," I stuttered, clasping my own hand in hers. She gripped my feathers firmly with hers and shook.
"Good to meet you Jet, I know we will just be the best of friends," she beamed the most wonderful smile. For the first time in my life, I felt something I have never felt before. I felt accepted. I felt like I belonged, like I had a friend. I felt like I was in love.
We were best friends ever since. Well, up until the end of primary and middle school, at the end of year 8. We were talking excitedly about getting ready to move to Mobius High together the next year when everything turned to shit. When I lost her for what I thought was forever…
Jet sighed, pulling the covers further over his head. He hadn't left the bed all weekend, still thinking about the pink swallow he saw the other day. He didn't know whether to talk to her or not. What to say or what he should do. It was eating him up inside.
Ray, the yellow squirrel sighed to himself that Sunday afternoon after Jet spent another day in bed. He hardly ate or moved at all. Ray set a plate down next to the green hawk and filled up another glass of water, both he smuggled out of the dining area to bring up to his roommate before silently sneaking out of the room to leave Jet to his own devices.
…
"Are you going to do it this time?" Breezie asked, combing a hand through her long hair as she blinked at the purple haired mongoose.
"I said I'd do it eventually, just back off," Mina huffed, crossing her arms over her chest, obscuring her breasts as she pouted at her hedgehog friend.
"Look, Sonic is a really hot, athletic guy but you haven't seen him with any girl except that lesbo pink hedgehog so you know they aren't together. He might not be single for much longer so you gotta jump aboard that ship now before it sails away forever, girl," Breezie said, trying to give Mina the pep talk she needed to finally ask Sonic out.
The mongoose had been secretly stalking Sonic for the past couple of days after seeing him earlier.
"But I don't know… what if he refuses?" Mina sighed, letting some of her insecurities cloud her better judgement.
"So, what's the worst that could happen?" Breezie shrugged.
"He could say no and then make everybody hate me and then a zombie apocalypse happens and the only thing that could save everybody was if he kissed me but he was so repulsed by me that he would rather just be eaten by the hordes of zombies and then I try to save him and he doesn't let me and it's just us two left and then he jumps into a crowd and then I watch him get torn to bits and then he comes back as a zombie and then he tries to eat me and then-"
"Mina!" Breezie yelled over the rambling mongoose who heaved heavily, allowing large quantities of oxygen to reach her deprived lungs after her nonsensical spouting.
"Sorry," she laughed, rubbing the back of her neck.
"Hey guys, what's going on over here?" A peppy orange porcupine walked up, taking a seat next to Breezie as he joined in on the conversation. "You guys weren't talking about hot I am right?"
"Haha, yeah right," Breezie rolled her eyes sarcastically, giving Spike a playful punch in his right arm. He faked a laugh, trying to mask the sadness that washed over him. "Just trying to convince Mina to go ask Sonic out already."
"Sonic the Hedgehog? Man that guy is so cool. If you don't do it I just might," Spike joked, earning a kick underneath the table by Mina.
"I just don't know if I can do i…" she hesitated as she noticed the sapphire hedgehog pass by the open doors. He turned his head, smiling. Mina melted at the sight of that beautiful, leg weakening smile. "I'll do it," she concluded, a newfound determined flare in her eyes.
"Wish me luck," Mina sung out as she got up and ran out of the dining area.
"Some people just never learn," Breezie shook her head as she picked up her can of soda and took a sip, washing down the salad that she was munching on. "She just needs to work up the courage to ask. What's the worst that could happen?"
"Yeah…" Spike's eyes darted left to right. "About that…" he fidgeted in his seat, beads of sweat appearing on his forehead as he tried to steel his nerves for his impending proclamation of love to the hedgehog. "Breezie… I wanted to ask you…"
"Well, at least you're not a romantic wreck," Breezie laughed, turning to Spike. "I'm so glad to have a best friend like you. Anyway, what were you saying Spike?" she asked, beaming a warming smile to the porcupine.
"N-Nothing," he sighed, slinking further down into his chair as he mentally scolded himself.
Meanwhile, Mina chased after the sapphire hedgehog, finally catching up to him. She tapped him on the back of the shoulder, causing him to spin around on his ruby red shoes to face her.
"Oh, hey," he mumbled.
"Hey there," Mina cooed, blinking her eyelashes at Sonic and beaming him a cute smile, using all the techniques she learned from Breezie to seem as seductive as possible.
"Are you okay? You're doing something funny with your eyes," Sonic remarked. "Can I help?"
"Wh-what? Oh, no, you're perfect," she mumbled seductively, putting her hand around his waist. "So, are you doing anything tonight?" she whispered into his ear.
"Nothing really," he shrugged.
"Well, would you like to do something like me?" Mina fluttered her eyelashes again.
"Do you mean something with you?" he corrected her.
"I know what I said," she faked a giggle, slapping him gently on the stomach. "You're so funny though."
"Look, I know what you are trying to do but sorry, I'm not interested. I hope you understand… um, I never caught your name," Sonic finished, taking a step back from the annoyed Mina who fumed angrily after putting in her everything to flirt with the obnoxious acting hedgehog.
"Humph, the name is Mina," she sighed. "Okay, whatever. I'll see you around," her shoulders sagged as she turned to walk away from a confused hedgehog.
"What just happened?" Sonic asked to himself, bewildered as he watched the mongoose leave. However, his eyes were not the only pair watching the attractive mongoose walk away. A certain shaggy quilled, green hedgehog watched with an open mouth and tight pants as Mina passed by him.
"Who was that," Manic mumbled to himself, watching her walk past him wide-eyed.
…
"What kind of campus doesn't have a freaking footy team?" Knuckles grunted, angrily spouting his complaints aloud to himself. "And where the hell has Jet been? He was supposed to come join a new sport with me but he hasn't responded to any of my texts."
"Have you tried calling him?" Rouge asked, walking beside Knuckles with her arm draped around his shoulders.
"Yes, twice!" Knuckles complained. "Whatever, who needs him. I'll go find another sport. I hear this team is pretty kick-ass at basketball," Knuckles pondered, breaking apart from Rouge.
"Okay, well I'm going to go to class. Good luck," she smiled, giving him a peck on the lips. "And make sure you don't get changed out of those sexy basketball shorts when you sneak into my room tonight," Rouge winked before turning and walking away. Knuckles waited, watching her grow smaller and smaller until he finally managed to make himself turn away from her and walked into the gym.
Knuckles scanned the large, empty area. It was a generic looking gymnasium. Wooden, veneered floors that looked freshly waxed lined the ground. Lines of white, red and yellow were painted neatly along the floor, crisscrossing all over the place as the boundaries of many indoor sports took up the flooring. Two basketball rings stood high at either end and the walls were lined with wooden bleachers for spectators to sit, stand and cheer on the winning teams.
There was nobody else here, except one lone female steadily dribbling a basketball on the ground and between her legs. The consistent sounds of the ball ricocheting off the floorboards and back into her flat palm echoed throughout the gym, enticing him to walk further in. Knuckles' presence remained unnoticed as he walked up behind her until he opened his mouth to speak.
"Um, hello? I'm here to try out for the team," Knuckles finally piped up. The girl caught the ball in one hand and turned around, her eyes blinking as she looked at him. The echidna in question donned a tight fitting basketball shirt and her white sports bra was clearly visible through the thin, loose fabric. Her long pink hair was tied up behind her in a ponytail and sweat coated her brow.
"Name and year level," the echidna stated, almost robotically. Her mechanical tone showed that this wasn't the first person who had come in to try to join the team that Friday afternoon.
"Oh, no you don't understand," Knuckles said. "I'm looking for the coach."
"You're looking at her. The name is Julie-Su," Julie stated indignantly, tonguing her cheek.
"Wait, you're the coach?" he asked.
"Yep, and team captain. Why, is it too unbelievable that a girl can be the captain?" she scoffed, clearly this wasn't the first time that day that a guy had come in underestimating her skills because of her gender.
"No, it's not that. I just thought that there was a guy's team that I could join," Knuckles corrected her.
"All teams here are co-ed. Don't like it, don't join," Julie stated.
"But doesn't that seem a little unfair since all the other schools we play are all guy teams."
"Oh, you did not just say that." Knuckles pressed the palm of his hand deeply into his forehead.
"No, no I didn't mean it like that. I just meant-"
"If you think you're so good then why don't we have a little one on one. I'll show you how good a girl can be," Julie interrupted him before he could dig himself out of the metaphorical hole that he had created for himself. Knuckles smirked.
"Okay, you're on." Knuckles pulled off his jacket, revealing his gym shirt that he used to wear when working out at the gym back in Central City. He took his position underneath the basket, knees bent and arms outstretched waiting for her attack.
Julie smiled before she began dribbling the ball. She quite easily out maneuvered the echidna, faking left before spinning around, keeping complete control of the ball the whole time, and performing a perfect layup.
"Hm, you're up," she smirked confidently, throwing the ball at Knuckles who caught her pass. "You haven't seen nothing yet."
The two echidna's continued playing, passing 5, 10 and 15 baskets each. They were very evenly matched, neither one giving an inch. If one scored, the other did right after and if one missed a shot, they defended perfectly and stopped the other from scoring also. Before they realized it, an hour had passed and they both only needed one more basket to win.
Knuckles laughed as Julie bounced the ball between his legs, darting around him to catch it in midair and shoot it into the air, cheering as she watched it bounce off of the back board and slide cleanly through the ring.
"Yes, I win," she cheered, doing a cute little victory dance in front of Knuckles who stood there, cross armed smirking at her.
"Humble, aren't we," he sneered jokingly.
"Jealous, aren't we," she shot back. They threw insults and compliments at each other back and forth before both bursting out into laughter.
"You know what, you're alright Knuckles," Julie smiled. "Maybe I'll see you around, off court," she smiled as she picked up a towel and wiped the sweat off her face.
"Yeah…" he mumbled, captivated by the echidna as she walked off the court and exited through the doors, heading for the change rooms and showers situated next to the gym.
Little did Knuckles know that the envious teal eyes of a curvaceous bat were twitching angrily as they watched Knuckles stand there, completely gob smacked.
…
Silver was sitting on the indigo couches that littered the main dorming area, head phones in his ears as he nodded along to the music he was listening to. Beside him, lounging on what she considered the more comfortable, aqua couches was a certain auburn haired squirrel, reading a book.
Silver suddenly shot up, startled at the deafeningly loud sound of his ringtone shoot through his speakers. His phone vibrated and Silver glanced down at his phone to see who was calling him.
Dr. Geoffrey
Silver fumbled his phone, violently ripping out his headphones from their socket as he thrust the silver device up to his ear.
"Hello, doctor, how is she? Is she okay? Did she take a turn for the worst? Say it ain't so!" Silver berated the calm, complacent skunk on the other end of the line. Sally looked up from her book, intrigued by the one sided conversation that she heard Silver have with the doctor.
"Don't worry Silver, Blaze is fine. In fact, she is better than fine. She has actually woken up from her coma," Geoffrey explained.
"What?! She's awake!" Silver shouted into the receiver. Sally's eyes bulged as she fixated on the silver hedgehog. A huge wave of relief washed over her as she reveled in the good news. All Sally could think of since the accident was her horrible fight with the cat. She wished more than anything that she could talk to Blaze and apologize, and it looked like her dreams might be able to come true after all.
"What, she asked to see me now? Aw doc, I can't come right now. I've got this wicket stupid project due tonight. Can you tell Blaze that I'll come back to Central City on the weekend to visit her?" he sighed, hating his teacher more and more with each passing second.
Silver heard muffled, unintelligible whispers on the other end before Geoffrey came back, cleared his throat and accepted his request.
"Feel free to visit at any time between nine and five on Saturday, Silver," he said. Silver thanked the doctor and moved his phone to hang up the call, but was stopped just before by Sally who snatched the phone away from him.
"Hey doctor, it's Blaze's friend Sally. Does she mind if I come visit her today? I don't have anything on tonight and can go catch the bus back right now," Sally almost shouted into the speaker. Another muffled conversation was held before the skunk agreed, saying that she wouldn't have that long with the patient but Sally thanked him and hung up.
Silver glared angrily at her but Sally dismissed his gaze.
"Sorry Silver but I really need to apologize to her. We had a big fight before the fire and I feel so guilty about everything that happened. Since you couldn't go, I thought I could at least keep her company today," Sally explained.
"Thanks Sally, you're a good friend," Silver smiled, standing up to wrap his arms around the surprised squirrel. "Can you please tell her that I love her and miss her too?" Sally nodded before sprinting out the door and over to the administration building to organize transport for herself into the city.
…
Mina sat, sulking under a grand tree, curled up into a ball with her head placed firmly between her knees. She wrapped her arms around her legs, trying to calm herself down after the completely embarrassing display she just put on for Sonic.
"Ugh, what the hell was that, Mina?" she scolded herself, pulling up a handful of grass and throwing it into the air, watching as it was picked up by the wind currents and taken aloft on a new journey.
"M-Mina? Mina, is that you!?" A young voice called out to her. Mina tilted her head upwards to look at the person standing before her. As her gaze shifted upwards, her eyes glanced over red shoes, twin tails, golden fur and eventually made their way to peer into a pool of azure.
"Tails, I thought I saw you the other day," she cheered, suddenly jumping up from her position and greeting him with a big hug. "I can't believe it is really you!"
"It's so good to see you again," Tails smiled, returning the hug. The two stood in each other's embrace for a few minutes before Tails quickly stepped backwards, rubbing the back of his neck with his hand. "Heh, yeah, good to see you again."
"How long has it been? Five, six years?" Mina laughed, thinking back happily on pleasant memories.
"Yeah it has…" Tails mumbled, something else clearly on his mind. "Mina… why were you sitting like that, looking so sad?"
"Oh, it's nothing. Just some boy issues," she waved him off, not wanting to talk about it to the fox that she once knew so well.
"Come on, Mina. You know you can trust me. I know it's been a while but maybe I can help you out," Tails tried to coerce her. Mina didn't know why, but just like back then, she couldn't help but place her complete trust in him just like before.
"Well, okay, on one condition," she smirked, winking at the fox. "You have to tell me if you have a girlfriend. I remember you always used to go on and on about how you really wanted that special somebody back in the day," she giggled.
"Mina, always trying to intrude on my love life like always," Tails shared in the laugh, stopping when he peered deep into her shimmering eyes. Tails darted his head to the side, breaking the eye contact.
"Still shy," she giggled again. "You haven't changed a bit, have you?"
"Nope, still the same old me and I still don't have a girlfriend. I was seeing this rabbit girl for a long time but we broke up because now I'm goi-" Tails began but Mina interrupted him, unable to contain herself any longer.
"Oh, you're single! So could you possibly help me out with something?" Mina asked.
"Well, I'm not entirely-"
"I really like this guy but I kinda screwed it up. Do you know Sonic the Hedgehog?" Tails eyes widened and he immediately shut his mouth, no longer trying to explain to Mina that he doesn't have a girlfriend, but in fact a boyfriend. The same boyfriend that she seemed to be keen on.
"Um… yeah, he is my best friend," Tails said finally after a moments pause, deciding not to mention his connection with Sonic straight away until he got a little more information out of his old friend.
"Good, can you put in a good word for me? Thanks, you're still the best," Mina gave Tails a quick peck on the cheek before rushing off without another word.
"Well, she still rushes off completely out of the blue," Tails chuckled as he watched her go. "I guess some things never really do change…"
…
Sally arrived at the hospital a lot later than she had previously anticipated. She glanced down at her little wrist watch that she always wore around her left wrist and noted that it was a quarter to five, meaning that she barely had anytime to see the burnt cat. Sally rushed over to the front desk, inquiring about Blaze before being sent up to her room.
"You only have fifteen minutes before we have to ask you to leave," the small monkey woman at the front desk called out. Sally just flashed a thumbs up, not looking back as she sped up the staircase, ascending faster than the elevator, before bursting out onto the floor where Blaze's room was.
When Sally arrived at the door, she rattled her knuckles against the flimsy door before hearing a sore, quiet voice respond on the other side.
"Come… in," the voice coughed. Sally opened the door and Blaze's crusted eyes instantly grew with anger. The cat tried to turn away from the squirrel to show her disgust but groaned in pain at the immense effort it took for her frail body.
"Blaze, don't move, you need some more time to heal before you can get up," Sally soothed, approaching closer to the bed.
"Please… go… away," she responded in a low, gravelly tone. Her raspy voice croaked out through her throat, seemingly begging for some water to cool her singed skin. Sally struggled to look at the cat, but forced herself to keep eye contact despite the sight. She had to keep breaking her sentences to take a slow, deep wheeze to accommodate her recovering lungs.
Blaze stared back at the auburn haired girl. Her whole body was bruised and black, with only small patches of newly grown purple hair to accent her figure. She looked weak, frail, but in much better condition than she had been during the coma.
"Blaze… I," Sally began, choosing her words carefully. "I'm really sorry about all the mean things I said to you back at school. I know you were just trying to look out for me and I acted like a complete jerk. I just wanted to show you how much I'm sorry and how much I value your friendship and… well…" she finished, turning a quarter turn and rolling up her sleeve to show the less than violet feline a small patch stuck to her forearm.
"Is… that… a…?" Blaze forced out.
"Yep, it's a nicotine patch. You were the wakeup call I needed and I'm trying my hardest to quit. I still have cravings and it is getting quite hard to concentrate but every time I reach for a pack, I just picture you and throw it away. It's been tough, but it's worth it," Sally smiled when she saw the beginnings of a smile creep on Blaze's face. The violet feline said nothing, but raised her hands slightly, inviting Sally over to her.
Sally hesitated but eventually made her way to Blaze's bedside and bent down, giving the cat a gentle hug.
"Ouch," Blaze coughed when Sally squeezed slightly too hard.
"Ohmygosh, I'm sorry," Sally apologized swiftly, jumping back slightly. Blaze pointed to the glass of water beside her bed and Sally handed it to her, watching as Blaze eagerly and greedily gulped down the cooling liquid contained inside its glass prison.
"I'm sorry… too," Blaze finally said after finishing off the water. Sally looked at her, furrowing her brow in confusion as she didn't understand the cat's apology. "Sorry that I… was so hard on… you for smoking."
"Oh, don't worry about that, it's all in the past," Sally confirmed, waving away the idea that Blaze entertained but the frail cat insisted on continuing.
"No… it isn't okay," Blaze coughed, forcing the words out despite the discomfort that they caused her. "You were just a good… friend and I didn't… want to see it happen… to you too."
"Thanks Blaze, I think you're a good friend too. But, what was it you were worried about happening to me? It's just a cigarette," Sally responded.
"I… well it wasn't me but… it was my mother…" Blaze began. "When I was younger… my mother used to smoke all… the time and I often… spent nights sleeping and breathing in her… second hand smoke. It… was quite gross…" Blaze chuckled before falling into another coughing fit. Sally waited patiently, offering her a fresh glass of water to help her before she was in a condition to continue her story.
"When I was little… mum went to the doctor… and when she came home dad was… crying. It turns out that… she developed lung cancer and… died the year after, after a short… but painful battle with the cancer that…. Viciously attacked her from her lungs." Sally nodded, her heart breaking from the felines story.
"I promised myself… from that day on that I… wouldn't let anybody else close… to me get taken by those… bastard cigarettes and… cancer… that's why when I first… saw you smoking I… acted quite rashly…" Blaze wheezed. Sally didn't respond, she just sat down at the foot of Blaze's bed, took one of her singed hands in her own and smiled at the cat.
"Thank you," Sally smiled, her insides churning.
"Hey… I told you that smoking… wasn't going to be the death of me…" Blaze managed to stifle a little laugh, joined in by Sally until suddenly her giggles turned into gasps and she began coughing uncontrollably. The monitor hooked up to her that maintained a steady beeping, coinciding with her heart beat suddenly started beeping infrequently and Blaze's eyes began to rotate backwards into her head.
"I'm sorry Miss Acorn but I'm going to have to ask you to-" Geoffrey the doctor walked in, staring at his clipboard when he suddenly stopped upon seeing the cat's deteriorating display. "Quick, nurse, code blue! I need some free hands to Blaze the Cat's room stat!" he barked down the hallway before rushing over to the cat's bed.
"Sally, I'm going to need you to leave," the skunk said, trying to help stabilize the cat as a couple of nurses carrying medical equipment rushed into the room.
"But I can-"
"Leave, now!" Geoffrey barked. Sally nodded and quickly left the room, glancing back over her shoulder at the coughing, wheezing cat that was just talking calmly not moments before.
…
Tails got up from his bed when he heard a gentle knock at the door.
"Tails? You in there?" A deep, masculine voice called from the other side of the room. Tails hopped off the bed and walked to the door, opening it a crack to be greeted with a warm smile and crimson eyes staring down at him.
"Shadow, I'm glad you could make it, come in," Tails smiled, inviting him into the dorm room he shared with his roommates.
"Thanks, I'm sorry that we couldn't hang out somewhere else but everybody seems to have it out for me right now and I don't really want to be seen in public until this whole fire thing blows over," he sighed, collapsing on Tails' bed.
"Don't worry. They just don't know you like I do. Sonic and I know you didn't do it and I know that Rouge doesn't either," Tails tried to offer support.
"I wouldn't know," Shadow replied bitterly. "Rouge has been so wrapped up in Knuckles the past couple of days that I can't even get the time of day. I think leaving her for a month without explanation hurt her more than I realized," he sighed.
"Hey, come on," Tails soothed, joining Shadow on the bed. "She'll come around. Just give her time and show her that you will always be there for you."
"Thanks. Hey, where is Sonic anyway? I just assumed he'd be here to hang with us," Shadow shrugged, looking around the messy room and the three bare beds.
"Oh, Sally returned from the hospital a little while ago and he is keeping her company over in her room until curfew."
"What about your other roommates?"
"Mighty is probably off with Ray and Clove somewhere," Tails began.
"Mighty?" Shadow interrupted. "You mean that arrogant armadillo asshole? I hate that guy!"
"Yeah, but he's actually a really cool guy once you get to know him," Tails defended the absent red shelled armadillo.
"Whatever," Shadow scoffed. "He's a fucking dick and he's probably getting fucked by that shaky squirrel's dick right now," Shadow sneered. His smirk was wiped off his face when Tails jabbed his elbow into Shadow's ribs. "Ouch, Chaos, I'm sorry alright, but he is a dick."
"You'll warm up to him soon," Tails replied. "And, well our other roommate isn't ever really around. He is kinda like you. Looks the same too. Keeps to himself and only really comes to the room well after curfew ends," Tails pondered the strange hedgehog.
"Mephiles?"
"Yeah, how did you know?"
"Lucky guess, I guess," Shadow shrugged, smiling as he thought back to his strange encounter with the doppelganger from earlier that week.
"I don't know what he does? It's not like there is a Saturday night life here on campus," Tails giggled. Shadow smiled, letting out a quite chuckle.
"Yeah, but it's not like we used to go out and hit the town on Saturday nights last semester either."
"If I recall correctly, it was exactly like this. You and me, sitting on a bed together talking at nine on a Saturday night," Tails smiled. Shadow looked over and smiled back at the fox, both reminiscing on old times.
"So, how are you and Sonic going," Shadow responded, changing the subject.
"It's alright I guess," Tails said, resting his head on his two hands that were placed behind his head.
"Tails… I'm not jealous or anything. I've moved on so you don't have to lie to me. You and I are good friends, and good friends talk about their relationships," Shadow stared at the fox, looking somewhat offended by Tails' response.
"Okay, sorry, I know you've moved on. I just didn't want to be rude," Tails looked down at his stomach before meeting Shadow's gaze as azure met crimson. After realizing that the hedgehog truly had moved on to other people, Tails finally responded.
"Well… honestly… it is perfect. He is everything I have ever wanted. I love him so much, Shadow. He is just so kind, and sweet, and funny and makes me feel on top of the world."
"That's good Tails," Shadow smiled, genuinely happy for his close friend. "That's good."
…
Sonic lay next to Sally on her bed, a big bag of salt and vinegar chips between them. He reached a salty hand into the packet and pulled out a handful of chips, stuffing them into his face happily.
"Slow down," Sally laughed, picking out an equally large handful of the chips and stuffing her gullet full as well.
"Look who's talking," Sonic laughed. The two had been deep in conversation ever since Sally returned home from the hospital, saddened. She had promised Sonic that they could hang out that night and despite accepting begrudgingly, she was so glad that they had a talk.
"That's a shame about Blaze, I hope she is alright," Sonic sighed.
"Don't worry, she's tough. She can pull through again. The doctor said he'd call Silver when she wakes up again but he is going to visit her tomorrow anyway so we will be able to know how she is holding up when he returns," she sighed, munching down more chips.
"Speaking of fiery females," Sonic began, changing the subject with a cringey Segway. "How are you and Amy going?"
"That was horrible," Sally punched Sonic's arm playfully as she laughed at his remark. "You're such a dork."
"Yeah, but I'm a dork that you're stuck with," he smirked at the squirrel who giggled, raising a hand to block her mouth as little bits of chewed up chips sprayed from her mouth.
"Can you guys quite down a bit? I'm trying to read over here," Sonia called out from her bed in the other side of the room.
"Oh shut it Sonia," Sonic attacked back playfully, throwing a pillow at her. Despite not even knowing each other for more than two weeks, the two were quite alike and acted more and more like siblings each day.
"Watch your tone, or maybe I can go tell Tails and Amy that I caught you two in bed together," she winked.
"Fully clothed!" Sally retorted.
"Still under the covers together," Sonia laughed. "And it wouldn't be a lie either."
"Go back to your book and stop eavesdropping, sis," Sonic growled lightly.
"Ha-ha, okay whatever," Sonia chuckled as she reached into her bedside draw and pulled out a set of earbuds, plugging them into her phone and selecting her favourite band. She nodded along to the music that played through the cords, blocking out the sounds of the world around her.
"Well, anyway… we are going pretty well, I guess. I don't know. We made up and things have been going fine but she seems sort of distant recently. And we haven't really been… intimate, since the big fight last week," Sally sighed, staring down at her feet which were concealed by the covers.
"She'll come around. I know Amy better than anybody, we were together for a long time. She likes to try to hold a grudge but it never lasts very long."
"Thanks, Sonic. So, what about you and Tails. Still in paradise? You guys are like the cutest couple I know."
Sonic sighed. "I wish the rest of the school thought that. Everybody is still kind of uncomfortable with the whole me and him thing. We are trying not to let it get to us but going from top of the school to the bottom is hard, y'know?"
"That's so wrong to say, but I get you. It's worth it for him though, isn't it?" Sally asked.
"Yeah I guess, but it's not just the popularity and awkward glances we get. It's just that… um… never mind. Forget I said anything," Sonic replied, trying to change the conversation.
"You know me better than that. I'm not going to forget anything. Come on, out with it. Or do you need to be visited by the tickle monster," Sally smirked.
"Really, the tickle monster? That used to be funny back when we were in primary school but we are 18, Sa- ahahahahahaha, quite it!" Sonic slapped her hand away as she writhed her fingers into Sonic's side, tickling his sensitive skin underneath the white t-shirt that he draped over his torso.
"What was that? You're too old for this to work?" Sally laughed back. Sonia looked over at the two, giggling silently to herself.
'He is so immature,' she thought to herself, watching the tickle fight display that she was witnessing.
"Okay, okay, I give," Sonic breathed, gasping for air after laughing too hard and for too long. Sally had him pinned underneath her, threatening to continue her onslaught unless he opened up to her. "You're mean."
"Thanks."
"Well… that thing it… I…" Sonic mulled over his choice of words in his head carefully, picking out the right words that he wanted to say. "It's not like it was at the start. Sure, there are perks, but it's just sort of, I don't know, weird now. Like Tails has changed so much and I don't like it. He's turning into Amy. He's jealous, he's clingy and whenever we are alone he just wants to cuddle or kiss or-"
"Okay, stop right there. I get your point," Sally interjected, piecing together the end of that sentence herself. "So what are you going to do?"
"I don't know. I love him, but I love him as my best friend more. I just want my best buddy back and if Tails can't be my best little buddy and my boyfriend, well I chose best friend Tails over boyfriend Tails. Does that make sense?" Sonic finished.
"Not really, but I get what you mean. Maybe you guys were just meant to be best friends and nothing more," Sally nodded.
"Yeah… I guess I'll try to let him down gently next time I see him," Sonic breathed, saddened by his decision. Deep down, however, he knew he was making the right choice.
Meanwhile, on the bed beside them, Sonia frowned slightly, secretly listening into the conversation. She hoped that everything between the two would turn out fine, but after some past experiences she had a really bad feeling about the following day for her brother.
…
"I don't know man, I just feel really bad for not being able to go see her with Sally today," Silver sighed, turning over on his bed to face the dark indigo darkling that copied Silver's movements on his own mattress.
"At least you finished that project today, right?" Eclipse asked. Silver nodded, smiling at the darkling.
"Thanks to you. Thanks for staying to keep me company these past couple of days."
"Yeah, well I had to do the project too and since we are roommates for the next six months whether we like it or not, I thought we may as well get to know each other," Eclipse shrugged, shaking off the disguised compliment that Silver sent him.
"Well, we've been talking about my love life and Blaze and Breezie enough for tonight, what about you? I know nothing about your love life. Is there a special lady for you?" Silver asked.
"Well… maybe there is this one girl," Eclipse admitted after a slight pause.
"C'mon man, out with it," Silver pursued the small thread that Eclipse left hanging for him, hoping to unravel the whole sweater, and the truth concealed inside.
"Do you know this girl called Tikal?"
"Oh, Tikal, yeah she's alright. Horrible taste in men though," Silver admitted. "Why?"
"S-Seriously?" Silver just looked at the darkling. "Why do you think why? She is the one girl I like," he muttered, annoyed. Silver followed his grumblings with a long, drawn out 'oh.'
"Maybe you can change her taste in men then. Just be confident around her. She likes confident, funny guys," Silver added.
"Thanks, that's sort of along the lines of what Mighty told me. I'm thinking of asking her to go to Elias' big party next week with me," Eclipse sighed happily.
"What party?"
"Oh, yeah you new guys don't know. Elias is like, the king of the school here. He throws a really big party each term, or four a year if you want to look at it that way, and because of it he is like Mr. Popular here. All the girls love him, all the guys want to be him and everybody who is anybody goes to his parties. They are always so crazy and he always goes out and hires some big abandoned building or hotel or cruise ship or something since his parents are super-duper rich," Eclipse finished.
"Oh, that sounds awesome!" Silver cheered, but his happiness turned to a frown. "But I didn't get invited."
"Dude, you don't get invited. You just need to know where it is and when it is and you can go. Elias always just tells a couple people and by the end of the week, everybody in the school who has any connections knows when and where."
"But I don't have any connections," Silver whined. Eclipse just slapped his forehead, chuckling to himself.
"Man, you're such an idiot. I am you're connection," Eclipse stated. Silver's eyes suddenly lit up, understanding what his roomie and new friend was alluding too.
"So… we are going to go to the party together next weekend?!" Silver asked, trying to contain his excitement.
"Are you kidding me? The whole fucking school is going to go to Elias' big party next weekend!" Eclipse cheered.
"I can't wait!"
A/N: Poor Tails, it looks like he is in bliss while Sonic is about to call it quits. Are the dynamic duo about to enter splitsville? Is Blaze okay? What is Mina and Tails' connection? It seems like everybody has a connection with the new cast in some way or another, but all will be revealed in time. I hope you are all excited for the first big event of this story. There is no egg parenting or dance here. Just a good old fashioned gigantic party! Look forward to that. Everybody knows that shit goes down at parties and drama will run like wine!
Anyway, normally I'd ask a question like who your favourite character is or if you think character A was justified in doing what they did to character B but this time, since Pokemon Go! seems to be all over the place at the moment, I'd like to ask one simple question to you all...
Are you team Mystic, team Valor or team Instinct? Let me know, I'd love to see which team has the most of my readers. #TEAMINSTINCT!
Next time on SH:EL
Jet can't stop having flashbacks to a simpler time with Wave
Knuckles and Manic search for a lead singer... separately
Silver gets a bit too close with Breezie so he goes to visit Blaze to clear his mind of her
Cosmo confronts Cream
And Sonic and Tails have a much needed talk about their relationship...
All this and so much more, next time in Chapter 10: Faithfulness
