Chapter 21

"You look tired," Sonia says to Sonic the next morning, noticing the dark shadows under his eyes.

Sonic makes an agreeing, "mmm," noise as he chews a piece of toast.

"Were you thinking about mother too?"

"No, I just couldn't sleep with all the noise from Manic's room," Sonic grumbles.

"Was he drumming again?" Sonia asks disapprovingly. "I told him the curfew is ten."

"I wish he had been," Sonic replies and shudders.

"Oh," Sonia giggles.

"I'll go tell him to keep it down next time," Sonic says, ready to give his brother a telling off.

Star and Manic are hiding out in his bedroom, eating pot brownies in bed.

"These are so good," Star says happily. "How long 'til they start to work?"

"It depends," answers Manic. "I've made it pretty weak since it's your first time."

Sonic speeds in without knocking. Manic quickly throws the container of pot brownies underneath his bed.

"Ewww! Put some clothes on!" Sonic demands, covering his eyes when he sees they're still in bed.

Star looks confused, "I'm wearing PJs."

Sonic feels relieved and definitely doesn't want to risk seeing his brother's girlfriend naked.

Manic sighs, feeling lazy and grabs his red body warmer lying on the carpet.

"So what are you hiding?" Sonic asks Manic suspiciously. He's always too quick for him.

"Nothing."

"Have you been stealing again?" Sonic asks angrily and goes to look under his bed. Sonic pulls out the container and is surprised that it's not what he expected to find.

"Ooh brownies! Did sis make these?" Sonic grabs one.

Both Star and Manic are wide eyed as he goes to bite into it.

"No!" Manic quickly snatches the brownie and the container off him.

"Hey! Why can't I eat one?" Sonic sulks.

Manic tries to think up an excuse, "well…it's 'cause you need to diet."

Sonic narrows his eyes, "I'm not fat! Gimme those!"

Sonic play fights him for them and Manic struggles to keep them out of his reach. Eventually Sonic snatches them away.

"Okay! They're pot brownies," Manic admits.

Sonic looks stunned and drops them, "I thought you quit!"

"I did but…"

"SONIA!" Sonic calls for back up. "You're in big trouble now, bro."

Sonia arrives within seconds and hesitantly walks into Manic's bedroom. She respects her brothers' privacy and usually knocks first before entering either of their bedrooms, but she didn't this time since she was called.

"What is it now?" she asks, annoyed at being interrupted. "I'm making breakfast for Mindy."

"Manic's taking drugs again," Sonic informs her and looks cross.

"MANIC HEDGEHOG!" Sonia yells and puts her hands on her hips, angry and disapproving.

"Shit," Manic mumbles, knowing he's about to get a huge telling off if she's using his full name.

Star gives him a sympathetic look.

"We told you to give them up and you broke your promise," Sonia rants. "I can't believe you let us down. I'm very disappointed in you."

"Sorry, sis," Manic replies sadly.

"How many times?" Sonic demands.

"Once, I only just bought it yesterday."

"Maybe he had a reason for relapsing," Star suggests, trying to help Manic out.

Sonia and Sonic stare at her.

"It's probably…" She's about to try and shift the blame onto her for asking for pot brownies, but Manic stops her not wanting his siblings to get angry with her too.

"Actually, there kinda is," admits Manic.

"So what is your explanation?" asks Sonia, only half believing the excuse so far.

Manic sighs, "I was totally stressing out about all the stuff with ma and what Oracle means and it just helps with that."

Sonic folds his arms, "you need to work on dealing with stuff. Me and sis don't get high to run away from our problems."

"I think you should go to rehab, Manic," Sonia tells him seriously.

"No way!" Manic objects. "I'm not even addicted. I just use it when I feel bad."

"Well you obviously need help staying off them," insists Sonia.

Sonic feels sad as he realises what this means, "But he'll have to go away for weeks. What about the concert? We can't do it without Manic."

"Then we'll have to cancel."

Sonic and Manic are horrified at the suggestion.

"No!" Sonic exclaims.

"I'll do anything," Manic pleads with her. "I'll quit. I'll do drug tests. Just don't cancel the gig or send me away."

"Hmm…I suppose," Sonia thinks. She would definitely trust Manic if they had proof he was really staying off drugs. "Plus there's always therapy?"

Sonic looks at Manic for his reaction.

"I guess," Manic answers vaguely. He isn't too keen on talking about problems with a stranger, but he knows that's better than being locked away in rehab. "But isn't that gonna be expensive?"

"We can cover it," Sonia insists.

"So we have a deal?" asks Sonic. "No more drugs?"

"Sure."

"Great. I'll go book an appointment for you," Sonia says, leaving his bedroom to make the call.

"And I'm confiscating these," says Sonic. He grabs the container and speeds off outside to empty them all into a dumpster and speeds back.

"Erm bro, aren't you forgetting something?" Manic smirks.

Sonic's confused, "what?"

Manic takes out the hidden bag of left over weed, "I can't really quit with the stash under my mattress."

Sonic takes it, "I'm proud of you, bro. Thanks for being honest and not keeping it."

"I'll regret it later," jokes Manic.