"Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think that's any of your business, Shadow," I say, silently hoping he'll change the subject. I walk into the kitchen for no reason other than I don't want to stand in the same room as him anymore, and thankfully he doesn't follow me.

"I don't need you to tell me anyway, I already know the answer," he says, turning towards the kitchen with a smug grin on his face.

Wow, he sure is broken up about this whole thing.

"What do you say we do one last thing together as a couple, Sonic?" I was hunching over an empty glass at the kitchen table, but I sit up straight immediately after hearing that. What is he talking about? He's looking all devious, like he just hatched a brilliant evil scheme. I look at him confusedly, expecting an explanation.

"What? You don't want to visit Angel Island? Don't you like it up there?" he asks before opening the door and beckoning me out of it.

I roll my eyes and hop off the stool I was sitting at. He doesn't take his hand off the doorknob or his eyes off of me.

"What is your problem, Shadow?" I ask. He doesn't have that stupid evil grin on his face anymore, at least. I get this uncomfortable churning in my stomach at the thought of him confronting Knuckles again. I'm really not in the mood to break up another stupid fight.

"Knuckles is my problem, I'll deal with him. You stay out of it. Better yet? Stay out of my life entirely," I say, pushing the door closed.

That's something I hoped I'd never have to say to him, but I can't say I'm too surprised it's come to this. I knew what I was getting into dating a guy like Shadow, but I didn't think it was all that ridiculous to hope our breakup would be an amicable one. Or maybe it was, I don't know. Shadow never was one to make things easy.

He puts his hand on mine to move it and I instinctively snatch away from him. He doesn't break eye contact with me as he opens the door again, but doesn't step out of it.

"Don't be so dramatic, Sonic. We're just going to talk. Feel free to stay here if you prefer," he says, flashing me another self-satisfied smirk and bolting out the door before I can protest. I'm not in the mood for this shit.

I slam the door shut and race after him, catching up to him easily even though he had a slight head start. I know he sees me next to him but he doesn't acknowledge me. His usual scowl is back and he just keeps running in those hover-skate things like he's on some kind of mission and I'm not even here. If I had to guess, I'd say he was running everything through his mind again and is getting slightly angrier the closer we get to our destination.

I try to kick it into high gear so I'll get there before Shadow does, to at least give Knuckles a heads up. Predictably, I am able to get to Angel Island with Shadow trailing behind me somewhere. I'm not sure where exactly, I haven't looked back.

I don't see Knuckles at first since he's not at the shrine, which I should've expected. Sometimes I think he wants the Master Emerald to be stolen. Maybe he's trying to get fired so he can finally get off this island, but that's a discussion for another time.

I do a quick run around the entire island and spot Knuckles sitting in a tree a way's from the emerald, and his eyes are closed but I'm pretty sure he's awake. Too bad if he isn't, nap time's over.

"Get down here, Knuckles!" I yell. He jumps slightly, clearly startled but trying to look composed. I guess he was sleeping after all. He leans over and stares down at me groggily, squinting like he isn't sure if it's me or one of the other several blue hedgehogs he knows.

"I'm kinda busy here, Sonic," he says, but swings his legs over the branch he was lying on to get a better look at me. I motion with my hand for him to get down and he rolls his eyes, but complies. He hops off and lands right next to me, peering at me expectedly through half-lidded eyes.

Did Shadow get lost or something? I know he's slower than me, but he isn't that slow, I'd think he would've caught up by now.

"I took your advice, Knuckles. I made my decision," That's all I need to say. If I had decided to stay with Shadow, there would've been no reason for me to come here. Knuckles looks energetic and well-rested all of a sudden. He doesn't have to say 'I told you so,' his cocky grin says it for him.

"So where did-oh, never mind," he says, leaning over slightly so I know Shadow must be behind me. Did he just want to hear what we said before he made his grand appearance? That wouldn't surprise me in the least.

This is so stupid. Why are we even here? Shadow can throw all the tantrums he wants and these two can duke it out all day, but that's not going to change anything. I'm about to walk over to Shadow to try and keep him from approaching Knuckles, but something stops me. Maybe he's doing this on purpose so he can launch a sneak attack or something, but Shadow doesn't look like he's intending to fight at all. He steps closer to us, but he doesn't look livid like I would expect. Knuckles looks surprised too, but raises his fists anyway.

"Well, Shadow? Do your wor-"

"Tell him, Sonic," Shadow interrupts before Knuckles can finish his bravado. I give Shadow a confused look and glance at Knuckles, who looks just as lost as I do. Shadow hasn't broken his gaze on Knuckles, and I have no idea what it is he wants me to say.

He doesn't wait for me to ask. "Tell him what you told me, Sonic. Tell him that you've just been leading him on," he says, still staring at Knuckles with a freakishly calm look on his face. Knuckles looks taken aback, then swings his head towards me for a confirmation or denial. I can confirm I didn't actually say I was leading him on, but I can't deny that it kind of looks that way.

I expect Knuckles to turn his attention back to Shadow and start throwing punches, but he doesn't. He holds his gaze on me, waiting for me to explain what Shadow is talking about. I don't know if he'll like my answer, and Shadow is banking on it pissing him off. One of them against me is bad enough, but it looks like Shadow wants them to join forces.