Scene 35

Shadow Act-3

I looked out over the horizon as I leaned on the balcony of my girlfriends apartment. The evening sun shined across the park that was in front of the complex. I just leaned, smoking.

"I really got to quit." I thought to myself.

But how? I couldn't do anything to stop, the fake E-cigarettes are too expensive, Mobiuns cant get the nicotine gum, and the patch always rips out some fur.

I have tried going cold turkey, but I always went back to smoking within a few days.

I'm stuck with this, till the day I die.

And for what?

A girl I love.

I do love Rouge, but I just want to quit.

She has told me time and time again.

"Shadow, you never had to smoke to look cool, I thought you were cool enough!

Besides, to me, it doesn't matter if you are cool or not, I love you anyway."

If she would've told me that 7 years ago, I wouldn't be dealing with this.

But I still love her.

I'm always trying to quit, and finding new ways to quit.

I've tried using less and less, buying bad tasting cigarettes, and I am doing some hobbies to pass the time.

They never works before.

But now im trying all three at once.

I've limited myself to two smokes a day, bought these smokes that taste like cinnamon, (they just feel like they make my mouth burn) and I started working on my bike.

Well, it's not a bike, it's a motorcycle.

Black chrome, leather seat,200 horsepower engine, and the best thing bout it…

It has a cup holder!

"Still out here?" I heard Rouge say.

I looked behind me and saw her.

"Yeah, just looking out there." I replied as I burned out my second, and last smoke of the day.

"I'm happy that you are trying to quit those things" she said to me.

"Its harder than it seems." I replied as I walked in the apartment.

"It seems like." She said as I sat on the couch.

"Want anything for dinner baby?" she asked.

"Chili dogs?" I said as I looked at her.

She walked behind me and kissed my cheek.

"Anything for you."

I smiled as she went to the kitchen.

"Love you babe!" I said, smiling.

She looked back at me, "Love you too."

10 years ago…

Mobius University…

KNOCK KNOCK!

"Come in!" I said.

"Its locked!" he replied.

I sighed and got up, I went to the door and opened it.

"Sup Marshall." I replied as we slapped hands.

"Hey Shadow, so good to see you again since you left." He replied, smiling.

"It's good to see you. How is everyone?" I asked him.

"Good, Sonic go into College, he left like, a month ago, Amy is a junior, Silver is a senior, and Miles found someone he likes."

He said the last part in a singsong voice.

"Who does he like?" I asked.

"This rabbit named Cream, she is real cute." He replied.

"They dating?"

"No, but Miles is planning to ask her out."

He sat on the couch in my dorm.

"Bout you?" I asked.

"What bout me?"

I sat next to him.

"You lookin to dating anyone?"

He looked away.

"Maybe…"

"Tell me." I replied.

"I don't wanna."

"Come on! Tell me." I said again.

"I didn't have to ask the school board to let you on campus dude, just tell me." I replied.

4 times a month, the university lets us have a friend or family member come visit us. This time I let Marshall come.

"Its Amy…"

He blushed as he said it.

"She know you wanna ask her?"

"No, I like her a lot, but I don't know when to ask her out." He replied.

"Do it when you feel like it is right, she might feel the same way bout you."

"You think?"

I nodded.

He gave me a hug.

"Thanks man." He said.

"No problem Zorro." I chuckled a bit.

He pulled away.

"So, what do you wanna do today?" he asked.

"I just got GTA 5, want to play that?"

Almost immediately he turned on the PS4.

I chuckled at my friends eagerness.

"Thought this doesn't come out till a few weeks from now."

He said.

"Well, I know a buddy who knows a guy, who got him a copy for about 40 bucks."

"Sweet…" he said as it loaded.

"That reminds me, I met a guy about 2 weeks ago."

"Who?" I asked.

"Knuckles, red echidna, purple eyes. Cool guy, but a bit stubborn."

"Where did you guys meet him?" I asked.

"Me and Miles were at a gas station, getting some soda, when these guys came in and started to bother us. Knuckles was there, he is about 16 I think, and he got the guys to stop bothering us." He replied, still looking at the screen.

"What did he do?"

"Something bout beating them with his hands, which sounds a little lame, but his fists has these spikes on them. It's cool, and weird at the same time." He answered.

I nodded, "He go to your guy's school?"

"Yup!"

"Did you guys see him before?" I kept asking.

"A few times, but we never talked to him."

"Ahh…" I said as I watched him play.

"What is he like?" I asked.

He paused then looked at me.

"Why you asking me? We barley met the guy, but we hang out some times. I think he is like, one of those thug types."

"How can you tell?" I ask.

"He like…

Well…

I just get a feeling off of him." He told me.

I nodded as I watched him play.

"So, any girls you like man?" he asked.

I shook my head no.

"No, haven't meet any girls I like yet man."

"Really? Cause on the way here, I seen a lot of fine females here." He chuckled.

I laughed a bit, "No, I haven't man, but I will someday."

"Maybe she would have big boobs" Marshall laughed.

"Or a perfect ass!" I joined with him.

"Oh oh! Maybe she can fly!"

We continued laughing for a bit more, it slowly died down…