Regular sonic fan: I'm so glad that you liked the last chapter so much with the flirting and the chocolates and everything! It was a lot of fun to write. Who doesn't love flirty Vector, you know? Someone messed up in the head definitely created Vectilla. *nods* Thank you so much for being here for me. I'm always here for you too, you know that, right? *hugs you* I'm glad that you told too. Sometimes it feels really good to get something like that off of your chest.
andypandy123: Hm, no ideas yet unless you want to take a plane over to Michigan. :P I bet you did feel exhausted after reading the whole thing. I'm usually surprised at myself if I can read an entire book. Your Sonic story sounds interesting! Are there any pairings or anything in it? Sorry if I'm being nosy. I love Sonic too much for my own good. And haha, you're like the opposite of me. I say that holidays can last forever and I'd be totally good with that. Guess I'm lazy! Wow, if I had him for a teacher, I would've quit ages ago!
TheMidnightShadow: Ouch, that must've hurt. Did the broken ankle take you a long time to recover from? I get what you're saying about your dad. My dad was like this huge soccer champ and of course I can't play soccer to save my life. Go figure, right? =/
Savvy0417: It's nice when Vector and Espio are getting along, isn't it? Those are rare times it seems like. xD I'm sort of going to do Scoursy and Shadamy in the fic I was telling you about. Rosy and Amy are going to be twin sisters and I'm going to write in both of their POVs. Glad you're excited for it! *high fives you*
crazyshine: ...Yes, it is. *hides underneath my desk* Is that a bad thing? Sorry if you dislike the pairing.
Spiiiiii: Haha, that is so true, Vector is flirting with Espio regardless of whether or not he's trying to. Knowing Vector, he probably is trying to flirt with Espio though because he's finally admitted to himself that he likes that little chameleon. xD I'm sorry that you shake a lot! *hugs you* Did that just start up? My breathing problems seem to be getting worse. *sadface* The kiss will come eventually, yeah! Maybe that's good that you forgot when it comes though so it will be a surprise, right? That's so true, it's like impossible to just have one favorite Sonic couple. What are your top favorite Sonic couples atm? And I'm totally not surprised that you RP as Espio. I bet that you make an awesome Espio. Now I kinda wanna try RPing as Rosy or Fiona, but I don't really have the time. Your plan sounds like mine. :P I always nap in the morning. Today I was just like so exhausted. How about you? Thanks for reading!
Guest: I'm really glad to hear that you liked the last chapter! I always enjoyed that one myself. Writing about Vector shoving chocolates down Espy's throat was fun and I guess that Espio is one to over-think things, isn't he? xD Thanks for the review!
Villains' Bad Girl: *hugs* Oh no, not anymore. I made them sign a legal contract before I came back home that basically says that they can't ever force me to do anything or interfere with medical shiz. They're even getting me a kitten! I honestly think that they just don't want me to die at this point. My mom said that my dad went to work crying the other day over me. Who knew that they cared, you know?
FullyEroded: Are you sure that being placed in foster care wouldn't be better than the situation that you're currently in though? Your dad sounds extremely abusive. Sorry again if I'm being nosy, I just hate to hear about people being hurt. :S And d'aww, that's sweet of you to say. You always make me blush. :) I've been cheated on before, so I know that feeling. As long as I'm around, I promise that fanfiction will never end! Hope today is a better day for you!
Saints-Fan-12: Hehe, fangirl dreams are the best, aren't they? I think that Vector was flirting with Espio too. ;) Thank you so much for the review!
Stormyx: Oh no, don't feel bad about long reviews at all! I love replying to them, so it's all good. *hugs you* Oh geez, yeah, some of the eating disorder stereotypes are stupid. Like the ones that say that recovery is fast (yeah right) and the ones that say it's a choice. It's not - you're either dispositioned toward it or you're not. It's genetic. Also, I found this curious, but apparently bulimia is more common than anorexia. I could never imagine binging and purging, so I found that odd. Mike is pretty bossy and you have to admit that MU was pretty much like Mike University, you know? xD Your imagination isn't strange at all! I think that Scourge has a real life club of fangirls who swoon over him (me included, haha). Although, okay, I will admit that I did make Scourge a pimp in one of my stories because he seemed to fit that role. :P Never feel corny for writing anything! I love hearing your thoughts. I did try to make the jail/court scenes as realistic as possible, so I'm glad to hear that my point got across! Oh, you have two years left? Damn, that seems like a lot longer than one year. :( Well, if you ever need support or encouragement, I'm here for you, okay? SOPA would make the world a boring place. I don't get why people keep trying to get it to resurface. I mean, just let it die already, sheesh! Thanks for reviewing! :)
bearvalley3365: I'm really glad to hear that you enjoy this story so much. That means a lot to me to hear that! And ah, you mean SOPA. Yeah, it would be a shame if it passes. I guess that we just have to cross our fingers and hope for the best.
Ersiffa Narman: Heya! Lol, so it's on your bucket list for now? I'm glad that you had a great day! Remastering old recordings sounds like fun. Do you do that often? I'm so-so today, just really tired. I feel like I could sleep all day sometimes, you know? Hope today goes well for you too!
Alethe-Hedgefox84: That's totally okay about not responding sooner. I understand completely. :) But omg, you had reading for summer vacation? What did you have to read? That must've sucked so much. I've been doing worse actually. I'm getting pretty scared about my health now, but my parents are being very sweet and understanding. I guess that whatever happens happens and is what's meant to be. Good luck with your first day at school tomorrow! You'll have to let me know how it goes, okay? And aw, I'm glad you liked the chapter so much! I'll read the story when I'm feeling a bit better. ^^
ven bracken: Lol, I think that you're right in thinking that Vector is flirting with Espio! xD Do you think that Charmy will pick up on it?
Mysterious: I agree with you completely! Vector, you can deny it all that you want, but we totally know that you're trying to flirt with Espio! Thanks so much for commenting!
zgirl16: It's totally okay about being busy. We all get busy at times, don't we? :) I'm sorry that you've been bullied in the past as well. *huggles you* It's amazing just how much influences stupid people can have on us, isn't it?
Chapter XXVIII
~ Espio's POV ~
As soon as the rather disturbing thought enters my head, I try to push it aside. Of course Vector is not flirting with me! I'm just being extremely paranoid as usual and am misinterpreting his snarky sense of humor. Still though, I could have sworn for a moment that the way he had been looking at me had been a bit more than friendly. Suddenly feeling distraught, I stiffen with Vector's arm still around me and edge away from him, needing my distance. Vector immediately pulls his arm aside, respecting my need for space. I send him a grateful look, still unsure whether or not I'm over-thinking this.
Of course I'm just over-thinking this! After all, Vector is a ladies' man. He has Vanilla's interest and is clearly infatuated with her. Most likely, the two of them will be going on another date in a few days. Then again, now that I think about it, I remember that Vector didn't seem all that interested in Miss Vanilla during the movie and the dinner date. That's my fault for intentionally stealing her attention away from him though. No wonder he was bored. Feeling a little guilty, I tug on a small patch of grass next to me and tear off a few green blades.
Charmy is telling Vector about - no surprise here - his video games and so I'm allowed to stay out of the conversation and continue mulling over my own thoughts. It would be very strange if Vector was flirting with me. Actually, "strange" is probably not the word that I'm looking for. I wrack my brain for a better word, but come up with nothing. Could the large, masculine crocodile actually have some interest in me? The way that he presented the glass bowl to me earlier and the way that he told me how much I mean to him not as just a member of Team Chaotix but also as a friend might hint to something more.
My insides churn uncomfortably and I stop reaching for another pickle with my hand extended in midair. I place the hand on my lap with my other one and shoot Vector a long, sideways look. He's laughing at something that Charmy is saying. I should be sickened at the thought of Vector trying to flirt with me, but strangely enough, I'm not.
I lean against the rugged bark on the trunk of the tree behind me and continue observing Charmy and Vector. I've never really considered my sexuality before up to this point. After Bryce showed me that a relationship was about nothing more than sex, rape, and abuse, I vowed never to get into another relationship and have viewed myself as asexual ever since.
Would it be wrong of me to try flirting back with Vector? I'm certainly not saying that I like him or have any feelings for him whatsoever. I'm against any sort of relationship whether it is homosexual or heterosexual. I just want to find out if Vector is really coming onto me or not.
As if he senses my gaze on him, Vector chooses this minute to look over at me. Our eyes meet and I'm the one to blush and turn away, glad that Vector doesn't have access to my thoughts. If this is all just a misunderstanding, he would probably think that I'm nothing more than a sick pervert to be wondering about whether or not he's flirting with me and...
Damn, I really am over-thinking this, aren't I? I tell myself that it doesn't matter whether Vector is flirting with me or not. I am staying out of relationships and that's all that there is to it. Giving myself a firm nod, I flick my eyes back over in Vector's direction. He's still looking at me. When we lock gazes, Vector sends me a toothy grin.
"Are you two finished eating?" I ask, glancing away from Vector before anything gets any more awkward. I hate the fact that I'm blushing now whenever he looks at me and please someone tell me why my pulse quickens whenever I'm too close to the large reptile.
"Yeah, I'm stuffed!" Vector exclaims. "'Course, the cookies in the bag weren't nearly as good as yer homemade cookies, Esp."
"Mine aren't very good," I reply modestly as I glance over at the empty wrappers and bags lying scattered across the checkered picnic blanket. Picking one up, I shake it upsi-down. A few crumbs fall out of it and land onto the picnic blanket. Sending Vector and Charmy an incredulous look, I exclaim, "Did the two of you really eat all of this food?"
Charmy and Vector exchange glances and look at the ground sheepishly. Charmy admits, "Well, we were hungry..."
"Not hungry. We were famished!" Vector nods resolutely.
"Hmph. Well, don't come whining to me when you both end up with stomachaches," I reply sternly, folding my arms across my chest and still wondering how just a little bee and a crocodile can possibly eat so much food in the matter of minutes. Suddenly, I glance down and notice a trail of ants climbing across my picnic blanket! Glaring at them, I wave a hand in their direction and mutter, "I dislike ants on a clean blanket. They always end up in the house."
"Don't yeh worry, Esp! I'll save ya from the ants!" Vector exclaims, looking around wildly and grabbing a rock from next to him.
"Vector, this really isn't necessary..." I start to say.
Too late. Vector is already crushing the ants on the blanket with the rock. Charmy giggles and cheers him on while I flinch and look away. Vector finishes squishing all of the ants and then turns to me triumphantly, adding, "See? No more ants. Guess that ya won't have to worry about them infesting yer house after all!"
"I suppose so. There might have been a less violent way to rid the blanket of them, but thank you anyway," I admit wryly.
"Aw, that's our Espio. He's always lookin' out fer the best of everyone - even ants!" Vector murmurs fondly.
"Well, not exactly," I protest, feeling like the center of attention again. "I just don't support violence unless something or someone is evil. Then it must die."
Charmy yawns, obviously finding the banter between Vector and myself extremely boring. He gets up from where he's sitting on the blanket and starts hovering midair as he complains, "I'm bored. Let's do something. Wanna play volleyball now? There's a net right over there to our left. See it?"
Vector and I turn and face the direction of Charmy's finger. Sure enough, there is a volleyball net within a few yards of us. I perk up at the chance to move around and show off my ninja quick reflexes. Vector, on the other hand, does not share my enthusiasm. He groans and mutters, "Charmy, we just ate!"
"You're not getting out of this one," I tell Vector, reaching down and pulling on his arm. "You have to help me take on Charmy. He's definitely at an advantage since he can fly."
"Fine," Vector grunts, allowing me to tug him to his feet and lead him across the soft grass to the volleyball net. Charmy is already on the other side of the net and has picked up the volleyball that was lying at the base of the net. He tosses it above his head and then catches it again while sending us an impatient look.
I'm not particularly good at playing volleyball. In fact, I haven't played it more than once or twice. However, my natural skills and abilities are enough to give me an advantage when it comes to this particular sport. Chameleons are prideful creatures in general and although I've lost a lot of self respect for myself, I like to show off my skills whenever I have the chance to display them. Of course, this has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that Vector is watching me right now. Certainly not!
"You guys are so slow," Charmy whines when Vector and I finally reach the volleyball net. "Are you ready?"
"Ready when you are," I reply, taking a stand at the right side of the net while Vector stands toward the left side of the net. I brace myself for Charmy's first serve and prepare to run and dive all over the place to keep the ball from hitting the ground. Something tells me that Vector is not going to be too helpful when it comes to this game.
"Alright! Here it comes!" Charmy shouts enthusiastically before he sends the ball up and over the net.
Thankfully, the ball is sent in my direction and I have an easy time jumping up into the air and batting the ball right back to Charmy. Although Vector makes quite a scene running around clumsily and trying to throw himself at the ball, the entire volleyball match mainly consists of an ongoing battle between Charmy and myself. Typically, I let Charmy skunk me, but today, I put up more of a fight and do my best to keep the team composed of Vector and myself not too far behind Charmy when it comes to points.
"Espio, you've really improved!" Charmy compliments me randomly as I manage to score on him once again.
Panting, I give him a half-smile. We're already at game point, but I feel as if I've done a rather good job considering the fact that Vector is being more amusing than helpful. Speaking of Vector, I see him eying me rather closely at the moment. I quickly turn away from him and wait for the next ball. It's a very warm day outside and I'm sweating heavily. After this, a nice cold drink of water will be welcome.
Charmy sends the ball flying over the net. I jump up to get it, and at the same time, accidentally lose my white glove. It slides over my hand, probably because of the sweat, and lands somewhere on the ground. Forgetting about the ball, I glance down and search the ground for it. Smack! Something hard slams into my head and I'm sent falling to the ground.
"Ooph," I grunt as I thud against the hard ground. It was stupid of me to forget about the ball and to search for the glove instead. I deserved to get hit on the head.
"Esp! Are yeh alright?" Vector's concerned voice sounds from next to me.
Flinching at the sudden burst of pain that fires up in my ankle when I try to move, I slowly ease myself into a sitting position and brush the dirt off of my sweaty body, replying, "I think so. It was just a short fall. I'll be just fine."
"Ya landed pretty hard," Vector protests, sending me a dubious look. "Here's yer glove. I'll put it on for ya. Give me yer hand."
Too stunned from the fall to insist that I can put my glove on by myself, I hold out my hand palm up and wait for Vector to slip it over my hand. When nothing happens, I glance upward to find Vector sending me a look of disgust and horror. My heartbeat immediately quickens and I wonder what he's looking at me like this for. I follow his gaze and cringe as I see what he's staring at. The mangled, scarred flesh of my wrist looks worse than usual in the sunlight. I turn my hand to conceal the scarring, but it's too late. The damage has been done.
Reaching forward and seizing my hand once more so that he can get a better look at it, Vector glances from whitish pink scars to my face and asks in a shocked voice, "What the hell happened to yeh, Esp? Don't ya try and tell me that yeh were born with 'em. I might not be the brightest croc, but I ain't that stupid."
"It's nothing," I attempt to change the subject and pull my hand out of Vector's tight grip. Unfortunately, there is no winning when a large four-hundred pound crocodile has your wrist in a firm grasp.
"Don't say it's nothin' cuz it's clearly somethin'!" Vector frowns, forcing my palm up so that he can stare at the marks once again. "How did this happen?"
I try and come up with a lie, but my head is still muddled from my fall. All I can think of is the excuse that I told Charmy about accidentally burning myself. Unfortunately, I can already tell that Vector isn't going to believe that. I send him a pleading look and press, "Please just let it go. Nothing happened."
"Clearly somethin' happened!" Vector snaps angrily. "Why won't yeh just tell me what?"
For a moment, I consider telling Vector about what Bryce did to me. I'll never tell him that I was raped, but I could tell him that I was abused in other ways. ...No, I can't do that. It will make me seem weak, and for some reason, appearing weak in Vector's eyes is something that I don't want.
"I'm fine. Now please don't make a scene," I speak in a quiet voice, trying to get Vector to do the same.
Unfortunately, Vector does not take the hint. The volume of his voice only increases as he nods at my wrist and presses, "This is nasty, Esp!"
I feel as if I've just been smacked in the face by another volleyball, except that this time, it hurts worse than before. Nobody has told me that my body is disgusting since Bryce tried to drown me with insults months earlier. I can't believe that Vector of all people practically just told me that I'm repulsive!
Turning my head away from him so that he can't see the hurt in my eyes, I state in a cold voice, "If you find me disgusting, you don't have to be my friend. I never asked for more than a teammate from you."
"Espio..." Vector says my voice in a much gentler tone of voice. I dare to glance back over at him, distrust in my eyes. Vector sends me a caring look as he strokes the scars on my wrist with light fingertips and replies, "Ya know that's not what I meant. I only care fer yeh, that's all. I wish that yeh would tell me what happened. It bothers me that ya don't trust me."
Just then, Charmy flies up and interrupts the tender moment between Vector and myself, exclaiming, "Are you okay, Espio? That was a long fall."
"I'm fine, thank you," I reply, trying to pull my walls back up around myself before I tell Vector something that I'll regret telling him later. Sending him an imploring glance, I add, "Vector here was just helping me find my glove."
"Er...right," Vector agrees, tossing me back the glove.
"Oh, okay. I think that I've had enough volleyball for one day. Let's go back to the blanket!" Charmy suggests, waving us after him.
I pull my glove on quickly and start after Charmy. Even without glancing to my right, I can sense Vector's eyes on me. When I do finally meet his gaze, he's giving me a hard look. I have a feeling that he's not about to let the subject of what really happened to me drop anytime soon. I sigh and look away from him. Perhaps I will tell Vector about what happened...someday.
Hm, do you think that Espio will ever tell Vector the truth someday? Review please! :) ...Guys, I'm feeling a bit scared again tonight. I guess that whatever happens is meant to be and that I should just calm down. Sometimes it's just hard though, you know? Sorry for all of this. You're my only friends.
