A/N: Damn. I'm not going to lie, I'm a bit annoyed at how long it took me to get this chapter out. I wanted to release it on the 28th as a special one year anniversary chapter but I just couldn't finish it on time because of work, exams and the new fire emblem game ;) Either way, Happy 1 year anniversary to SH:EL! I might be a bit late, but as a thanks I give you the longest chapter ever, with over 13,000 words. I hope you like it, a lot is going on!
Chapter 37
Coffee Crisis
"Why do we have to do this so early?" Eclipse groaned as he was lead half asleep in a zombie-like trance.
"Because this is a matter of the utmost importance," Spike whined, keeping his iron grasp on Eclipses wrist, hauling him forward further. Spike was worried. Something serious was amiss and despite the sleep crusting over Eclipses tired eyes, he could tell this was urgent.
"Where are you taking me?" Eclipse asked, not used to being up so early. The sun was still low on the horizon, the warming heat starting to melt away the due amassed on the blades of grass from the night's condensation.
"Emerald Café," Spike stated plainly like it should have been obvious. Eclipse was confused but followed along, concerned for his friend.
Once they arrived at the café, Spike burst through the doors, thankful to see Bean on duty instead of Breezie. He quickly hastened to the counter and slammed a crisp five dollar note onto the counter.
"Emerald Cappuccino, quickly," Spike said hurriedly. Bean reacted undeterred, his usual sad demeaner staying strong as he took the money and trotted over to start making the coffee without a word.
"Hey, don't be so mean to Bean," Eclipse scolded him.
"No time for formalities, this is life or death," Spike chided as he hopped from foot to foot, waiting for Bean to add in the secret, peppermint ingredient that gave the coffee the titular emerald flair.
"What is?"
"This!" Spike threw his hands skywards. "Our very own café is taking their emerald coffee's off the menu! Today is the last day we can get them, and I need that pepperminty goodness in my life," Spike whined like a child who had been told he wasn't allowed to eat chocolate again.
"Seriously," Eclipse droned, unenthused. He couldn't believe this was Spike's urgent problem that needed to be solved at seven in the morning. "I'm out of here."
"Eclipse wait, I need you for moral support. This is the worst day of my life," Spike called melodramatically. Eclipse ignored him, throwing his hands in his pockets as he exited the café.
"You're unbelievable," he muttered as he left.
"Here you go, one emerald Cappuccino," Bean said in a monotone manner. Spike greedily snatched it out of Bean's hands, mumbling his thanks as he went to take an eager sip. "Yowch!" Spike yelled, grabbing his burnt tongue. The mug fell from his hands in his reaction, crashing to the floor. Pieces of ceramics shattered, peppering the floor as Spike tried to blow on his tongue idiotically.
"Really," Bean sighed as he saw the mess he would have to clean up.
"Aww, my coffee," Spike moaned as he bent down to pick up some of the bigger pieces of the mug. He placed all the pieces he could on the counter to make Bean's job easier and went to get more money for another coffee when the bell above the door chimed and Breezie strolled in.
"Spike…" she breathed.
"Sorry Bean, some other time, I gotta go," Spike quickly apologized again and sprinted out of the café, avoiding eye contact with the concerned and depressed teenager.
"What's up with him?" Bean queried. "He's not usually this… strange."
"It's a long story," Breezie replied as she moved around to the counter and grabbed her denim apron from the rack. "Don't worry, I'll clean this up," Breezie offered as she grabbed the broom and got to work, thinking of Spike and how quickly he fled from her presence.
…
Silver lay on his side, staring across at Espio out of the corner of his eye as the other teenager lay on his stomach, a familiar small notebook resting on his pillow. Espio's legs swung freely in the air as he tabbed the end of the pen on his teeth rhythmically, waiting for the lyrics to come to him.
Both roommates were woken up early that Sunday morning due to a surprise interruption when Spike banged on their door and roused Eclipse from his sleep. However, neither one of them slept much that night. Most of the school hadn't after the depressing wedding. Almost every student in the school watched as Sonia sprinted down the aisle, tears streaming from her eyes as she disappeared around the corner yesterday afternoon. All their hearts collectively broke for her, and all anger turned to Mephiles, who had yet to be seen despite the night-long search by Sally, Cream, Wave, Cosmo, Shadow and Mighty, spearheaded by Sonic and Manic. After no sign of him, the whole school seemed to retire to their rooms. Rumour had it that Sonia had shut herself away in the room Razor had given her and hadn't emerged since.
Silver sighed, trying to work up the nerve to talk to Espio. He knew Espio owed him nothing. He knew that he was solely responsible for ruining Espio's schooling life after the fateful decision to send those nudes around the he had mistakenly been sent one drunken night.
"H-Hey Espio?" Silver mumbled under his breath, barely audible. No response. "Hey, Espio," Silver repeated slightly louder, with a little more confidence.
"What do you want," Espio hissed back, turning his head to glare at the startled teenager. His standoffish nature unusual, but warranted.
"I… Ummm… wanted to say I'm sorry. For the pictures and, well, basically everything I've done to you," Silver tried to apologize.
"Really? You're apologizing now? Only after you've been found out? You're disgusting, leave me alone," Espio shook his head, ignoring Silver.
"I know, but after what you did to Blaze last semester I-"
"Don't give me that shit. I felt so bad for what I did to you two, but turns out you didn't even care about Blaze," Espio scowled.
"Don't you dare say I didn't care about her!" Silver fired back, suddenly worked up as his blood boiled.
"Why not? You clearly didn't care about her since you were balls deep in Breezie while she was in intensive care at the hospital!" Silver went silent, nothing else he could say. He knew Espio was right, and he knew he deserved to be ignored, but he wanted to try to set things right.
"That's… that's kinda what I wanted to ask you. I… need a favour," Silver admitted. Espio turned his head, finally meeting Silver's gaze.
"You can't be serious?" Espio laughed humourlessly. "What possessed you to think I would ever do any favour for you?"
"It's about Blaze. I really hurt her and I want to show her I'm sorry. I was wondering… if you could help me write her a song to show her how much I care about her," Silver blurted out. There were a few moments of uncomfortable silence before Espio burst into laughter.
"Her dumping you was the best thing that could ever happen to that girl. I actually like Blaze, and making sure you don't get her back would be the nicest way for me to pay the kindness she showed me despite all I did to her," Espio replied through laughs, whipping away his tears.
"But Espio, please, I really need your help," Silver begged. Espio couldn't help but pity the groveling teenager who once stood so high above him on the moral ground. However, no amount of pity would change Espio's mind.
"Go fuck yourself," he concluded bitterly, slamming his book shut and jumping off the top bunk. He grabbed some trousers and a towel from the hangers and left the room for the showers without so much as a glance. Moments later, the door opened again and Silver was ready to try another apology, but it was Eclipse that stepped through the doorway.
"What's wrong?" Silver asked, seeing Eclipses tired and annoyed face.
"I swear to Chaos I don't know why I ever became friends with Spike sometimes," Eclipse complained as he collapsed face first onto his mattress, instantly falling asleep from exhaustion.
…
Big, black bags hung from Sonic's eyes as he trotted through the forest with sagged shoulders. He stopped to stretch as he pushed through the overgrown path and emerged back on school grounds, yawning loudly as the sun hit his skin. He had been searching all night, long after all the others had given up and gone to bed. He wanted to find Mephiles, no, needed to find him. To teach him a lesson he wouldn't soon forget.
He slunk back to the dormitory, dragging his heels across the freshly cut grass, trying his hardest not to collapse from exhaustion. It wasn't until he dragged himself up the short steps and fell through the doors into the lounging area that he was invigorated with newfound energy.
"Where is he?!" Sonic yelled as he pounced Shadow, who was silently dozing on one of the fuchsia couches. He had planned to retire to his room after last night's search but paused to rest his eyes before falling into sleep's clutches.
"Huh, wha?" Shadow screamed as he snapped awake, grabbing Sonic's arm and twisting it, hurling Sonic's body over the top of his head to slam him down on the ground behind him.
"Ah, fuck, what the hell is wrong with you?" Sonic cursed aloud as he bellowed in pain.
"Shit, sorry," Shadow apologized as he helped Sonic off the ground and up to his feet. "Reflexes, you shouldn't sneak up on a guy like that."
"You don't have to go ape shit and flip me," Sonic complained as he rubbed his lower back to relieve some of the pain. Sonic was fuming, more so than before and Shadow couldn't help but sigh, knowing better than most how worked up Sonic can get.
"What do you want, Sonic?" He asked casually.
"I want to know where the hell Mephiles is," Sonic snorted.
"How should I know? I spent all night searching for him like you did. I didn't find him, so why are you here yelling at me?"
"Because… you… you know him. You are his boyfriend and you were the last one to see him and-"
"Ex-boyfriend," Shadow corrected him. "And that has nothing to do with anything. What are you insinuating?" Shadow probed.
"Maybe this was your plan. Get him to change his mind, run away and then join him later. You probably told him to run away!"
"Are you seriously blaming me?" Shadow growled, unable to believe Sonic. "I know you're an idiot, but your idiocy really amazes me. You become the biggest moron when you're angry."
"But… but he loved you!" Sonic continued in his desperate attempt to find somebody to blame, somebody who he could yell at.
"Cut the shit, Sonic. I'm not gonna be the patsy again. I'm sick of being blamed for shit that I didn't do. I expected that from others, but not you," Shadow said with judgement.
"Shadow I…" Sonic trailed off, not knowing what to stay, anger still clouding his better judgement.
"You're the most stubborn person I know," Shadow shook his head as he turned to climb the stairs. "I'm gonna go hang with Tails. At least he is a true friend." With that, Shadow disappeared, leaving Sonic to stew in his anger and hopelessness.
…
Blaze stared out the window, watching the sun rise high in the sky. She contemplated her plan, formulated in her head the previous day after her eventful encounter with Fiona. Her hatred for Sally had burned bright, sparked further by the knowledge that everything Silver had told her about revenge and karma had been sweet nothings from a hypocrite who subsequently broke her heart.
The more she dwelled on her momentary anger, the more she began to hate herself. She couldn't really go through with their vengeance plan, could she? Sally had always been so kind. Always had her best interests at heart, and Blaze knew that the fire was an accident. Her stomach hurt, as if her body was fighting against her earlier decision. Before she could contemplate further, her phone rang, garnering her attention.
"Hello?" She asked, putting on her best peppy voice despite her demeaner. "…Yes, this is Blaze speaking… What, she's dead?" Blaze gasped, sadness instantly enveloping her. She could feel the tears already threatening as she continued in a shallow, weak voice. "I… I understand, I'll be there as soon as I can."
Blaze dropped the phone on her bed, fresh streaks of tears streaming down her eyes as she tried to contain the wave of sadness that had smashed into her, sending her heart tumbling overboard into the murky depths below that she had recently been struggling to climb herself out of.
Blaze grabbed her coat and hastened out of the room, pushing past Amy and Cosmo who were just returning from breakfast together. She almost tumbled down the stairs, tripping over her own feet as she barreled across the grassy fields and into the mail building in the center of campus.
She slammed the palm of her hand against the small, brass bell, feverishly trying to gain either Gold or Razor's attention. She needed a permission slip to leave the school for a couple days. She needed those days off. The last thing she needed was hearing the sarcastic remarks of a certain rust-furred vixen scoffing behind her.
"Breaking the bell won't get glasses to come any faster," Fiona remarked sardonically.
"I'm not in the mood," Blaze sniffed, wiping dry the trail of tears to avoid looking weak or vulnerable in front of the manipulative girl. "What are you doing here anyway?"
"You're not the only one who needs permission to leave the school today."
"As if permission ever stopped you," Blaze snarled.
"What's gotten into you today? Well, if you don't want me to make fun of you, how about we talk about more pressing matters," Fiona transitioned, swaying her hips as she waltzed up to lean on the desk, staring at Blaze's unsure face.
"What?" Blaze replied indignantly, not in the mood to deal with Fiona's attitude.
"I've been doing some pre-planning about your Sally scheme and I think I have the perfect time to make the switcheroo," Fiona mused. "The more I thought about your idea, the more perfect and downright evil it is. It's deliciously appropriate. It'll really fuck her up the same way she fucked up both our lives," Fiona added proudly.
Blaze paused to think. Part of her, the small, darker part of her subconscious that was unlocked at the wedding due to the simultaneous break-up with Silver and knowledge that despite him preaching about the negative effects of revenge, he took his own against Espio, wanted her to continue her scheme. She began to think, opening her mouth to add input when her heart snapped at her.
The aching muscle, still in pain after the previous news of her deceased aunt chastised her. Blaze knew she was a better person. She knew she couldn't go through with this. Not to Sally. Her aunt wouldn't have wanted this. She wouldn't want her memory soiled like this.
"No." Blaze said finally.
"What?" Fiona asked. "What do you mean, no?"
"I mean no. I'm not doing this with you. It's evil. Just pure evil," Blaze argued.
"Are you kidding me? This was your idea! You're not backing out on me now, little miss perfect," Fiona growled.
"Damn right I am," Blaze fired back.
"You're pathetic," Fiona spat.
"At least I'm not so depraved and sad as to enacting stupid revenge on my friends."
"Friends? Ha, that's a laugh. Sally lit the school on fire, standing back to watch as you almost died and I took the fall."
"But she confessed."
"Only after you came back and I was released from jail. Only after she knew it was safe. She fucked us both, and she deserves what's coming to her," Fiona stated plainly.
"I refuse," Blaze protested, standing her ground.
"You're weak! I'll do it myself then. Just try and stop me," Fiona challenged, narrowing her eyes.
"Whatever," Blaze rolled her eyes. "You know you are the most horrible, self-absorbed person I've ever met."
"Hey! I'll have you know I'm the most humble person at this school!"
"Point proven," Blaze sighed as she pushed past Fiona. "Just do what you want. I need to go deal with things," Blaze said finally as she ignored getting permission and walked away. Just as she left, Gold finally walked through the doors, a piping hot cup of coffee in her hands.
"And where the fuck have you been!" Fiona scolded the secretary. Without a word, Gold just ignored the vixen, walking into her office to retrieve a red slip of paper and silently hand it to Fiona. "A detention slip? What for?"
"Swearing at me," Gold replied politely, batting her eyelashes as she took a satisfied sip of her coffee.
"I hate this school," Fiona muttered under her breath as she snatched the paper out of Gold's hand and stormed off, ignoring the permission she originally set out to get.
…
It had felt like an eternity. Bernadette and Aleena were both curled up in balls on the floor, fast asleep after having dozed off from exhaustion. They both still stayed at their posts outside Sonia's door, but neither were let in by the distraught bride to be. Quietly, when she was sure both of them had fallen asleep, Sonic unlocked the door and peered out.
"Sonia!" Manic called cheerfully, running into her and wrapping his arms around her body, ignoring her pleas for quiet. He had been out looking for Mephiles all night while the two mothers guarded Sonia, trying to speak to the crying girl but Manic had returned in the early hours of the morning.
"Manic, please be quiet. I don't want to wake…" Sonia trailed off as Aleena roused her head, wiping the sleep out of her eyes before the fell on Sonia.
"My poor baby," she cried out as she jumped up, instantly waking Bernadette as she also threw her arms around Sonia. "Are you okay? Why didn't you let me in? Don't worry, we'll deal with this. I'm so sorry. Are you holding up okay, sweetie?" Aleena bombarded Sonia with questions.
"Mum, please, I'm fine. I just need some… space," she choked as she managed to pry her mother off her, gulping in big breaths of air. She darted her gaze to Manic.
"Sorry," he mouthed, understanding why Sonia wanted some peace and quiet after the traumatic wedding before being suffocated. Sonia couldn't help but smile, though. Just the knowledge of her mother and brother caring so much about her that they would camp outside the door. It warmed her broken heart.
"Mum, I'm okay. Really," Sonia assured her.
"Why didn't you let us in?" Bernadette asked kindly, concern dripping from her words as she stretched her legs.
"I just needed to be left alone with my thoughts before getting smothered. I'm really okay," Sonia continued, having been dried out of tears for some time.
"Are you sure?" Aleena asked, motherly instincts kicking in.
"Promise," Sonia managed a weak smile before the three of them all hugged her again instinctively. Sonia sighed, returning the embrace.
"I'm so sorry this has happened," Aleena frowned.
"It's fine, mum. I'm a big girl, I can handle it."
"You sure? We can still stay at the hotel and be with you until you feel better," Bernadette offered.
"Please, that's the last thing I want. No offence," Sonia added. "I just need things to go back to normal. I just need to process this on my own and not have everybody fawning over me the whole time, especially my mother."
"Could have said that nicer," Manic whispered, seeing the hurt on Aleena's face.
"No, I understand," Aleena smiled. "You're a very brave girl, Sonia."
"Thanks, I do love you very much."
"But Sonia, you do know things won't go back to normal. People will continue talking about this for some time before it all dies down," Bernadette pointed out.
"I know, but I have my brothers to look after me and I don't think people are going to mess with either of them after they saw what happened to Mephiles the first time."
"Exactly. Me and Sonic can take care of her if she needs, ma," Manic confirmed.
"Okay, okay. But know I'm always a phone call away," Aleena reminded them.
"We know," they both said in unison. Sonia quickly gave Bernadette and Aleena another quick hug again, offering more thanks and assurance she was okay before ushering them away.
"Oh, and do tell Sonic I apologize for what I said to Amy, will you?" Aleena called as she walked down the hall.
"I will," Manic called. Sonia shot him a confused glance. "Long story. I'll tell you about it later." It wasn't until both Aleena and Bernadette had completely vanished that Sonia let out a long, drawn out sigh.
"That's two people down. Now I just have to deal with the rest of the school," she added shakily.
"I'm right here," Manic smiled, slipping his hand in hers as the two twins smiled at each other. "We can get you through this, and find Mephiles, together."
…
A cool breeze billowed across the vacant field. Most students were either curled up in bed, feverishly typing away on their laptops to finish their last assignments or still asleep after the exhausting wedding the afternoon prior. Spike zipped up his jacket, shivering as the wind whipped his skin, leaving him riddled with goosebumps. Despite the blazing sun in the sky, it was a cold, chilly day due to the blistering winds that attacked the school.
He wrapped his hands, shielded in his fingerless, black gloves, around the cardboard cup of emerald latte. This was now his second attempt at enjoying a last tantalizing taste of the dreamy peppermint coffee before the café ran out but before he could press his lips against the flap and let the hot liquid slip down his throat a voice rang through the field.
"Spike!" It called out desperately, accompanied by a hand clasping down heavily on his shoulder. Spike jumped in fright, surprised and caught completely off guard. In his frantic panic, he let go of his grip and watched in horror as the takeaway cup fell to the ground. He sniffed as he watched the brown liquid soak into the grass, seeping into the dirt. He turned around, fire in his eyes to berate the person that cost him his coffee but stopped dead in his tracks when his gaze was met by deep purple.
"B-Breezie…" he mumbled, still not able to face his newest demon, and oldest angel.
"Please, Spike stop avoiding me. Just let me explain, please," she begged, her voice fragile and vulnerable. Spike had never heard it in this tone, not since he first met her when she moved to the school all those years ago. He facial features drooped, her eyes sore and filled with pain. Guilt hung over her head, her shoulders sagged as depression gripped her mind.
Spike looked at her, a woman he used to adore but not looked at with indifference. She was nothing like the girl he fell in love with. Despite not looking different, he couldn't see her the same way as she was before.
"Please," she pleaded. Her voice trembled and as much as Spike wanted to turn and walk away, he couldn't help but nod silently to her.
"I just wanted to say again I'm so sorry that I hurt you," Breezie began. "I didn't mean to. If I led you on it was never my intention. I didn't know how you felt about me, and I was blinded by finally finding Silver again."
"Seriously… that's your apology," Spike replied dully.
"What do you mean? I-"
"Don't give me that shit," Spike interrupted forcefully. "Don't pretend you didn't know how I felt about you. You knew, and you toyed with me."
"That's not fair!" Breezie retorted loudly. "You can't get mad at me because I didn't love you back! I loved you like a best friend, like a brother but not romantically and I'm sorry."
"That's not why I'm mad. I'm mad because of the way you hurt Blaze, the way you ditched me and treated me after you started dating Silver. Discarded me like leftovers that had gone off," Spike sighed.
"Spike I-"
"But most importantly… I'm mad because you knew how I felt about you, and you knew that I had the highest grade in history and so you decided to trick me into helping you write your history paper. I felt weird about doing ninety percent but I was so blinded, and you used that blindness to get me to do the hard work while you had fun with him!"
"I…" Breezie tried to argue but she couldn't. She knew he was right. She knew she used him, and had no excuse. "I'm sorry," she sighed. Spike shook his head, and turned to walk off.
"Spike please… I don't know what I'd do without my best friend," she called with a whimper. Spike stopped, took a deep breath and spoke without turning around.
"Did you ever love me?"
"You were my best friend. My brother…"
"I said…" Spike said as he glanced behind him, his eyes locking with hers. "Did you ever love me?"
"…No," Breezie admitted as her eyes dropped to the ground. Spike began to walk off again. "Spike please… we can still be best friends. I still need you!"
"I can't keep doing this to myself," Spike said finally. "I'm sorry, but it's too painful. I'll never not love you, Breezie. But you hurt me one too many times." With that final confession, Spike disappeared into the dorms building.
…
"What was that about?" Cosmo asked as she staggered to keep her feet, leaning against the wall as Blaze pushed past the two girls.
"Wish I knew," Amy shrugged as she stepped back into their shared dorm room. "I have no idea what goes on in that girl's head."
"I hope it's nothing serious," Cosmo fretted as she followed Amy into their room, collapsing down on Cloves bed. She was too lazy to climb the ladder and new her absent roommate wouldn't mind.
"Don't worry. Blaze is a tough one. Anybody who can survive a fiery inferno and stand up to Fiona can handle anything life throws their way. It's the thing I admire most about her," Amy smirked. She quickly sat up, shooting Cosmo a glance. "And don't you ever tell her I said that."
"Okay, promise," Cosmo gulped, smart enough to know not to get on the receiving end of Amy's wrath.
"Oh, also…" Amy trailed off, lying back down to face the bottom of the bunk above her, unsure of her next words.
"…yeah?" Cosmo asked cautiously.
"Sorry, I just wanted to ask how you're doing. Like, I'm not sure what to say or how to approach this… but, like, I want to make sure that you are on the right track. Have you done any gambling recently?"
"Oh… that…" Cosmo sighed before chuckling, unable to stifle her laugh.
"What's so funny?"
"It's just… that's the strangest way anybody has ever asked how I'm going."
"Sorry, it's just… you're my friend and I want to make sure everything is okay but I know it's a touchy subject and didn't know how to properly approach it," Amy admitted.
"Amy, don't worry. You can say what you want, as long as I know that it's coming from a good place, I won't get mad," Cosmo smiled, pleased that Amy cared about how she was fairing in her constant struggling against the nagging inclinations that plagued her day to day life.
"So… you never really answered my question."
"Good. It's going good."
"That's good," Amy replied before throwing her a cheeky sneer.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"I also noticed you and Jet at the wedding the other day. I can smell when there's love in the air," she winked. "Since when were you dating Jet?!"
"Shhh, not so loud," Cosmo shushed Amy. "We don't want anybody to know yet."
"So it's true!" Amy almost jumped for joy, hiding a squeal of excitement.
"No… well kinda… like it's nothing serious, we haven't even kissed yet but-"
"But you've finally found a guy," Amy dived out of her bed and jumped onto Cosmo, embracing her tightly.
"Amy please, you're hurting me," Cosmo coughed through laughs as the two girls shard in contagious laughter.
"I knew you'd get somebody someday. I never gave up hope."
"Thanks Amy."
"Remember, if you ever need advice, I'm your girl."
"Again, thanks… but I think I'll do this my own way," Cosmo smiled, relieved to know that despite all she had done to her roommate and all the money she had stolen and lost, Amy still cared about her and considered her a friend.
…
Mighty: Okay, fine, my room five minutes
Despite the tone Ray assumed from the way Mighty wrote his message, it was still sent almost immediately after Ray's question. It wasn't much to ease Ray's anxiety but it was enough to give him that small confidence boost necessary.
"You can do this. It's not that big of a deal. He's Mighty, remember. Not some evil demon. Just Mighty. The same Mighty who is kind. The same Mighty who always stood up for me. The same Mighty who loves me. The same Mighty who chose me as his best friend. The same Mighty who is my best friend," Ray spoke into the mirror, his reflection mimicking his speech. The self-proclaimed pep talk did little to slow his racing pulse. Butterflies flew around in his stomach and his knees were weak.
Ray didn't want to feel so weak. Didn't know how Mighty could ever make his feel this nervous but despite his rational side, he was still more scared about this than anything. He clenched his fist, nodded to himself and strode out of the bathroom and down the hall until he found himself standing outside Mighty's dorm room.
"It's just Mighty…" Ray repeated in a whisper. "He always wants what's best for us… always." Ray raised his knuckles and knocked on the door. He could hear papers shuffling on the other side of the door before it slowly creaked open to reveal Tails standing shirtless in nothing but pajama bottoms.
"Ray? What a pleasant surprise. How have you been?" Tails greeted courteously.
"Oh, hi Tails, n-nice to see you," Ray stammered, annoyed that his nerves were betraying his mouth.
"Are you here to see-"
"Me. He's here to see me and it's private. Can you wait outside," Mighty cut Tails off rudely, narrowing his eyes at the back of Tails' head. Tails turned around, annoyed but when he saw the grave severity in his roommate's eyes, Tails knew that this was serious.
"I-I need to go to the toilet," Tails lied as he quickly fled the room, closing the door behind Ray, leaving the two best friends alone together.
"Okay, I'm listening. What did you want to talk to me about?" Mighty asked distantly, jumping right to the point.
"Seriously? That's it. No, 'Hi Ray, so good to see you again?' I thought we were friends," Ray complained.
"Sorry," Mighty sighed, sliding over to Ray and wrapping his arms around the shorter boy's shoulders. Surprised, Ray smiled and took his opportunity anyway, snaking his arms around Mighty's waist.
"I can feel your smile," Mighty chuckled.
"Good, because I'm happy and you should know it," Ray replied, the nervousness that had been plaguing him slowly dissipating.
"Why?"
"Because ever since that fight, we haven't seen each other or talked. I missed you," Ray frowned.
"Ray…" Mighty trailed off, pushing the boy back arm's length so his hands were resting on Ray's shoulders and their gazes interlocked in a fierce contest. Each one searching the other's pupils for hints of what they were thinking, feeling, like they always could do.
"Mighty I-"
"No, I'm sorry," Mighty interrupted quickly. "You have nothing to be sorry about. I just got so mad after you told me about Clove and I shouldn't have been so distant. Things have just been really hard for me recently but I shouldn't take that out on you. I missed you too, a lot honestly but I'll make it up to you. I'm not gonna leave you, and I'm always going to be here for you no matter what. I love you."
"…I wasn't going to say I'm sorry," Ray smirked. There was a moment of silence before the two burst out laughing. "But yeah, I love you too."
"You're a little shit," Mighty chuckled, lightly punching Ray's forearm before breathing a sigh of relief. "But glad that's done with. So, wanna grab some coffee? I hear today is the last day they are selling emerald coffee. Talk about a coffee crisis, am I right?" Mighty grinned.
"Yeah, definitely," Ray nodded before stopping himself, his shoulders instantly drooping. "Actually… There is something I wanted to tell you."
"Shoot," Mighty said as he plopped down on his bed and began tying up the shoelaces of his black vans.
"Promise you won't hate me?" Ray began.
"It always makes me nervous when you say that."
"So, you promise?"
"Ray, I'm your best friend. I understand if you need me to promise to keep a secret, even though you know I'd never spill any secret you give me, but needing me to promise that I won't hate you… that just hurts. I could never hate you, okay?" Mighty urged, his voice grave, serious but above all, flooding with care.
"Okay," Ray sighed. "I know. I couldn't ever hate you either. So… here goes," Ray took a deep breath before spewing out his words in quick succession. "I asked Clove out yesterday and she said yes."
Mighty sat up straight, his spine stiffening and his hand clamping shut around the shoe he was loosening. He just sat there, frozen like a statue, not blinking and not moving a muscle. Ray could feel his anxiety crash over him again like a mighty wave in a hurricane.
"M-Mighty?" Ray stuttered. "Are… are you okay?" Without warning, in one quick motion Mighty reeled back his arm and sent the shoe flying across the room, smashing into the wall with a loud crash. Ray flinched as Mighty turned began breathing out with great frequency and capacity.
"Mighty… Mighty are you okay?" Ray cautiously tiptoed over to the disgruntled teenager.
"Am I okay?" Mighty repeated, almost in a joking matter, coupled with a small laugh. "Am I okay?" He repeated again in hysterics, jumping to his feet. "No, I'm not fucking okay," he boomed.
"Mighty I-I"
"I-I-I… I what?" Mighty growled, staring Ray down with menacing eyes, flames dancing in their center. "I betrayed your trust? I backstabbed you? I took the sacrifice you made for me and stepped all over it, and you in the process because all I care about is myself?"
"What? Mighty… Mighty I didn't betray you? You said you didn't like her that way anymore and said I could date her. How did you sacrifice her? Please… why are you being like this?"
"Why does anyone act like anything? Why do trees sway in the breeze? Why do humans breathe? Why does Sonic run?" Mighty asked rhetorically, uproariously.
"Mighty, stop, you're not making sense. You're scaring me," Ray backed up slightly.
"Oh sorry, I can't scare you but you can walk all over my body. Maybe I should get Scourge in here, you two can be best friends and laugh at me."
"What?"
"I'm outta here," Mighty stood and stomped out of the room, still with only one shoe on his left foot.
"What the hell did you do?" Tails asked as he hesitantly entered the room.
"I have no idea," Ray admitted.
…
The long line stretched all the way out the door, snaking around the side of the building. Bean looked completely exhausted, run ragged off his feet after Breezie had left on her break. Sweat beaded on his brow, coffee grinds staining his clothing and the sweet aroma of peppermint seeping into his pours.
Tikal and Clove thanked him, warming their hands on their piping hot cups of coffee as the retreated from the café out into the open, completely at the mercy of the winds. Tikal shivered, wrapping a scarf tighter around her neck as the two friends took off back to the dormitory.
"I still can't believe he fled," Clove sounded frustrated. "I thought I knew him better than that."
"I just hope poor Sonia is doing okay," Tikal frowned with sympathy. "But at least it wasn't all bad…" Tikal smirked. Clove looked at her, confused. "Ray, you idiot," Tikal laughed.
"Oh, right, yeah. I can't believe he asked me out. It was a pleasant surprise," Clove hid her smile as she lifted the cup up to her lips to drink.
"C'mon, as if that was a surprise. It was so totally obvious that he liked you. Mighty even knew it and he was going out with you!" Tikal announced like it was the most obvious statement in the world.
"Wait… Mighty knew? So… why did he get mad about me and Ray growing closer if he knew this would happen?"
"I have no idea," Tikal sighed, thinking back to the pain her close friend was going through. She knew she shouldn't be encouraging Clove to pursue this relationship with Ray, but Clove was her best friend above everybody else and she seemed genuinely happy about the new romantic prospects that have been introduced into her life.
"But Clove…" Tikal began, remembering Clove's slip of the tongue at the wedding. "You let it slip about something Cassia had told you about Ray and Mighty. What did she say?"
"Oh… it's just the mind of a younger girl playing tricks on her. I don't think she really understood what was happening," Clove excused her sister's accusations.
"Okay, let me rephrase. What did she think was happening?"
"She told me that Mighty and Ray were gay, like, with each other. Like that would ever happen," Clove chuckled. Tikal smiled, laughing along with her best friends despite the gears turning in her brain. She recalled some of the stories Mighty had told her, things he needed to get off his chest. The change room fiasco, the depressive state Mighty seemed to always manage to pull Ray out of, and, most importantly, the night at the cliff. Things didn't seem to fully add up. Holes emerged in the story that Tikal never brought up after Mighty assured her nothing was going on. But now that Cassia saw it too, Tikal couldn't shed the thought. It just made too much sense.
"Tiks? You alright?" Clove waved her hand in front of Tikal's face, snapping her out of her thoughts. "Lost you for a second."
"Oh, no it's nothing. Just remembering that I had to go talk to Mr. Zonic. I'll see you around," Tikal lied as she rushed off.
…
Everywhere she walked, all heads turned to face her and all eyes fell upon her. She wanted none of it. She just wanted to escape everything, to be alone with her thoughts and just get back into her normal school routine. To forget about everything that happened. Her dorm room wasn't any kind of solace with Sally fretting over her as soon as she opened the door. She quickly grabbed her laptop and hastened over to the library, not stopping to talk to anybody, not even Sonic who called to her as she rushed past. It was too much. Everybody thought she loved Mephiles, and everybody thought it was heartbreak. It was, but somehow it was almost worse than that, knowing how relieved she was that her baby was going to be alright and now being thrown back into the uncertain winds.
Meanwhile, after waiting almost an hour in the increasingly long line to get his hands on his third coffee of the day, and hopefully the first one he could actually enjoy, Spike exited the café.
Spike felt his heart break as he saw Sonic barrel past him, gaze transfixed to the floor. He knew what it was like to have somebody you loved break your heart. Although he never had Breezie ever reciprocate the feelings and he certainly never was about to marry her. He was slightly confused, however. It was common knowledge that Mephiles was gay, which made the wedding a complete surprise. Either way, the pain in Sonia's eyes were real enough for Spike to know he had to do something to help her.
He narrowed his eyes, care and determination flowing through his veins as he followed Sonia into the building and up the stairs. He saw her sitting at one of the tables at the far end of the library, head stuck into her laptop screen and made his way over there when he felt a hand on his shoulder.
"No food or drinks in the library," Megan, the school's librarian stopped him.
"But I need-" Spike began to argue but was instantly cut off.
"No food or drinks in the library," Megan repeated forcefully, her piercing gaze melting Spike's confidence. Spike gulped, his eyes flitting from the depressed Sonia to his billowing emerald Flat White. Sonia needed somebody, but he still hadn't been able to taste the delectable, tantalizing coffee. Spike sighed, letting the coffee slip from his hands into the bin with a heavy heart.
"Rest in peace," Spike sniffed as he slumped over to Sonia.
"What a weird kid," Megan sighed as she returned to her desk at the library entrance, grabbing her own cup of Emerald Coffee and sipping at it was a satisfied sigh. Spike approached Sonia at the circular table tucked away in the back-left corner of the library, surrounded almost completely by books and bookshelves, and took a seat opposite her.
"Sonia?" He asked cautiously.
"Please go away, Spike," Sonia said without looking up from her screen.
"Sonia, I just wanted to-"
"No Spike," Sonia boomed, slamming her fist against the table and dragging her gaze from her screen to peer angrily into Spike's soulful eyes.
"Shhh," Megan hissed from her desk.
"I don't want your sympathies," Sonia hissed in a hushed whisper. "I don't want to talk about what happened. I don't want to talk about Mephiles or my feelings, I just want to be left alone and forget it ever happened."
"No, Sonia, you misunderstand. I was just going to ask you if you've finished that History essay Mr. Ash gave us about the great war?" Spike quickly lied, hoping to lift Sonia's spirits and lower her guard.
"Actually, I'm doing that now," Sonia replied, surprised by his topic of conversation. Spike took this opening as a chance to make her smile.
"Yeah. I'm finding it really interesting, actually. It's cool how Captain Metal became so strong and crushed his enemies thanks to his alloys." Sonia stared at her, completely at a loss as Spike stared back at her with a big, goofy grin on his face, his eyebrows raised in anticipation.
"You're an idiot," Sonia replied.
"C'mon. Get it? Captain Metal. Alloys instead of allies? Because mixing metallic elements together to create one of greater strength is an alloy!"
"I get it. That doesn't mean you're not an idiot," Sonia replied, but couldn't stifle the laugh that escaped her lips.
"There's that smile I was looking for." Sonia couldn't help but smile, secretly thankful. Spike picked up his chair and dragged it around so he was sitting next to her, looking at her blank word document with nothing but a title written. "I've already finished my essay so maybe I could give you some help? Free of charge, of course."
"Sure, that would be nice," Sonia admitted, glad she could be with somebody and act normal for a change. "On one condition."
"Anything."
"No more history puns."
"You have my… word," Spike sneered, his eyes darting from the word document on her laptop to Sonia's unamused face. Sonia pinched the bridge of her nose, shaking her head but she couldn't lie to herself, she appreciated the distraction.
…
Most people have an image of hell ingrained into their mind from a young age. A burning hellscape, red flames licking the sky and looming demons dancing on rivers of blood. Screaming, tortured cries and broken skulls filling the air and littering the ground. However, that's only what we see. That's how hell is portrayed in television. In movies. But it's not true. People don't know what true hell is.
There is no blood. It's silent, not even birds dare chirp. Black gates act as the entrance to true hell. There's no fire. There's no blood. It's not red. It's a gigantic, white mansion. People think they know hell, but they don't. Real hell lies on earth, at the end of Furore road. Real hell, is where I spent my childhood.
I felt my breath grow shallow, my chest tightening as I gripped the gates I had not touched since I fled this place all those years ago. Just the sight sent shivers down my mind and filled my head with nightmares. The cold touch of the metal on my skin threw my thoughts into disarray as I pushed open the gate and strode though with a façade of confidence.
My charade only broke, the mask only broke away when the door opened and the devil herself answered the door.
…
"It's a nightmare. So much paperwork, so many calls to make," Gold lamented as she rushed around her room, pulling open the filing cabinet and flipping through the folders until she found the one marked with Mephiles' name. She tossed it onto her desk, the file falling open in the middle.
"Gold, you should really take a break. I make a mean spaghetti," Zonic offered, perched on the corner of Gold's desk watching the secretary flash around frantically.
"Thanks, but I can't, I need to get this all settled," Gold lamented. "But above all else… despite what he did, I just hope Mephiles is safe and okay."
"Hey, hey," Zonic said softly, grabbing both of Gold's risk, forcing her to stop gently and looked up into her glistening eyes. "I know you're worried and that you feel personally responsible for whatever happens to these kids. It's one of the things I admire most about you, but running yourself rampant all day isn't healthy."
"But I just-"
"Gold," Zonic said sternly, closing the folder. "C'mon, work will still be there after lunch. Now c'mon, I'll make my famous spaghetti in the teacher's lounge."
"Okay, sure," Gold gave in without more of a fight as she followed him over to the lounge. She took a seat, adjusting her glasses at the wide table while Zonic opened a drawer, pulled out a large saucepan and filled it with water. He turned on the stove and let the water begin to boil while he opened the cupboard and pulled out the pasta, labeled neatly with his name.
"I still can't get over how the teacher's lounge here has a fully stocked and functioning kitchen. At my old school, all we got was a fridge and microwave," Gold said, passing the time.
"But you also had a home to go to after work. Since we all have to live here, we have gradually developed the lounge into a home away from home. It was Ash's idea to throw in the stove, since we got sick of having to eat the same food as those students. I swear the lunch ladies are trying to poison us," Zonic chuckled as the water began to bubble and he tossed in the spaghetti.
"I guess. Chaos knows I couldn't deal with that every day, and I've already spent too much on Emerald Café muffins," Gold giggled, each little laugh making Zonic's heart flutter. "Oh, and since we have some time alone," Gold added. "You seemed strange at the wedding, when Sonia was left at the altar."
Zonic froze, gripping the saucepan handle as he mentally scolded himself for making his reaction so obvious to the ever-attentive secretary.
"Yeah? Why wouldn't I be. Everyone was surprised, me just as much as anybody else," Zonic lied as he opened the fridge and retrieved a half empty bottle of pasta sauce.
"No, it was something different. You had the look of familiarity and pain in your eyes. And you said, 'not again.' Have you been to a wedding where the bride was left at the altar or something?" Gold asked, studying the details in his face and body language to find an answer without him needing to reply.
"No, nothing like that. My life isn't that interesting," Zonic dodged around her accusations as he drained the pasta and prepared two bowls. "But, while on the topic of romance… kinda, I wanted to say that I had a really nice time at the wedding and was wondering if, maybe, I don't know, you wanted to have dinner with me on Friday night or something?"
"Zonic… I had a really great time too and you're a really nice guy but I'm just not looking for a relationship right now," Gold said gently. Zonic could feel his heart break, the sweat dripped from his brow and his guts churned.
"Oh, no I just meant, like, for something to do in a completely platonic , non-romantic way," Zonic swallowed his pride.
"Oh, well I'd love to but I'm actually busy Friday but I'd be happy to some other time," Gold replied happily before an awkward air descended upon the pair. "Anyway… this was nice but I really should get back to work."
"But we haven't even eaten yet," Zonic called after her as she excused herself and made her way over to the door.
"I'm sorry but I really need to finish this quickly," Gold apologized before exiting. Zonic sighed, staring at the two bowls of spaghetti. He quickly picked up his phone that was lying on the counter and shot off a text to his two closest friends.
Zonic: Hey, drinks in town this Friday night
Zespio: You're lucky we have Friday off
Zector: Sure, but you better not tell any more stories about Gold or I swear to Chaos…
Zonic: Don't worry, that won't happen
Zespio: Relationship issues?
Zector: Good. Maybe you could work things out with Zally?
Zonic: Please can we not
Zector: You can't keep running away from this. She keeps asking where you are.
Zonic: Zector please…
Zector: …I'll see you Friday. I need a drink
Zespio: Amen
Zonic continued to text from his phone. The sound of the door opening again sparked hope in his heart as he darted his gaze to the door, only to be disappointed by the sight of the history teacher, Mr. Ash.
"Ah, something smells good," he sighed in delight, licking his lips. "I knew the kitchen was a good idea. Oh, and you've made two. One for me?"
"Yeah, sure, go nuts," Zonic sighed as he handed him one of the two bowls of spaghetti.
"You are one of a kind, Zonic," Ash thanked him as he devoured the pasta.
"If only Gold thought that," Zonic muttered under his breath as he stuffed a forkful of spaghetti into his mouth dejectedly.
…
"You tell him he has until the end of the day or else we'll see him in court," the woman screamed into the receiver of her mobile phone before hanging up abruptly. The harsh tone in her raised voice echoed through the room, causing her little baby to begin screeching in sadness. All she had to do was glower over to the baby and it ceased immediately. Babies cry. That's life, but this young child, before even knowing how to speak, had learnt quickly that it was never to cry around her. Around Claire Fox.
The sound of the doorbell stole Claire's attention.
"Dimitri!" She called angrily, but nobody replied. "Dimitri, you chaos-forsaken fool, answer the door. Ugh, good help is so hard to find," Claire lamented as she rose and skulked over to the door, pulling it open proudly. Her eyes instantly narrowed, disgust filling her pupils as she looked down on her first disappointment, Fiona.
"Hello mother," Fiona shrunk just at the sight of the woman in the grey pant suit. Her eyes immediately sought out the grown, her head lowered.
"Look at people when speaking to them, Fionnula," Claire scolded, adopting her authoritative, motherly tone.
"My name is Fiona," Fiona mumbled under her breath.
"What was that?" Claire raised her eyebrow, her sharp change in tone automatically causing Fiona to flinch. She balled her fist, not wanting to back down or appear weak. She never wanted to appear weak to anyone, but especially not to her mother.
"I said, my name is Fiona. We agreed you'd never call me Fionnula again," Fiona raised her voice. Claire was slightly taken aback by her sudden confidence.
"We also agreed you'd be my daughter, but you didn't want to do that and instead decided to tarnish the family name, Fionnula! Now, why are you here. I made myself explicitly clear you were not to come back here. Come crawling back to ask for more money, I presume?"
"No! I came here to-" Fiona instantly countered with her brash, abrasive attitude but paused, the fleeting resistance dissipating from her body as she sagged her shoulders. "Sorry, mother. I came here to ask for a favour."
"No," Claire responded instantly. "I only give favours to people who I trust will repay them. You've lost all my trust."
"Mother I…" Fiona paused to gather herself, never feeling as small as she did in that instant. "Mother… I came here to apologize for everything I've done. I'm sorry I ran away. I'm sorry I lived with Patch. I'm sorry I fight you at every turn and I'm sorry that I got arrested. But most importantly, I'm sorry for disobeying you, mother," Fiona did her best to sound sincere, hoping against hope that Claire would grant her the one wish she had.
"It's too late for apologies," Claire responded harshly as she gripped the doorknob. "Now get out of my sight, I have my real child to care for. I don't want you ruining Maximillian like you ruined yourself," she ended without sympathy and slammed the door in Fiona's face. Fiona held back the tears, trying her hardest to steel herself for the sacrifice she knew she had to make.
"Mother, please," Fiona begged, calling out to her mum on the other side of the door. "I'll do whatever you ask!" A few moments passed before the door creaked open and Claire stuck her head out, the bun that held up her rust coloured hair bouncing atop her head.
"Anything?" Claire asked.
"I just need one favour and if you help me, I promise after I graduate I'll come back home and be the girl you wanted me to be. No more running away. No more slacking off. I'll study wherever you want to become a lawyer and never question your decisions again. Just help me this one time," Fiona begged.
"You promise you'll do all that?"
"I promise," Fiona nodded.
"Oh, Fiona… that's all I ever ask from you," Claire smiled. "Come in and we'll sort out this favour," Claire stepped aside to let Fiona enter the room. She instantly rushed over to the small cot that her brother lay in, trying his hardest to hold back the tears. At the sight of seeing Fiona again, he burst into tears finally.
"It's okay. I've got you, I've got you," Fiona cooed as she reached down and picked up the little kit, hugging him close and rocking him.
"Don't baby him," Claire snapped.
"But mum, he's just a baby," Fiona replied.
"What was our agreement?" Claire growled.
"Yes, mother," Fiona complied, placing her baby brother back down in the crib, trying her hardest to ignore his cries. "Don't worry Maxy, I'll help you get through this," she promised as she placed a kiss on his head and walked back over to Claire.
"Now, let's get down to business. What do you need from me?"
"I need you to help get somebody out of prison." Claire raised a skeptical eyebrow but the promise of having her perfect little clone back on the proper path was enough of an incentive to release one little stain on society.
"Very well. It shall be done," Claire nodded. "Now where is Dimitri!"
"Sorry ma'am, I was preparing the dinner and didn't hear the door. My sincerest apologies," a flustered butler hastened into the room, his eyes widening as he saw Fiona.
"Dimitri, you know your duties, and you know I am never to be kept waiting," Claire scolded her butler.
"Yes ma'am. It won't happen again," Dimitri apologized profusely.
"I know it won't. That'll be all."
"Yes ma'am."
"No, I mean that will be all. End of story. Your services are no longer required. Be out by the end of the day," Claire scowled distantly as she turned her back and strode back over to her chair. Fiona watched, unsurprised at her mother's heartless actions.
"But ma'am-"
"I said that will be all. Goodbye Dimitri. Don't let me see you again."
…
"Hey, no fair, you cheated," Jet chuckled as Cosmo celebrated loudly.
"Just because I'm better at you doesn't mean it's cheating," Cosmo laughed as she poked her tongue out at him, a trait which he found so endearing.
"Oh yeah? Prove it," Jet sneered as he picked up the folded little piece of paper and threw it back across the table in the study room the two had rented out again. "Score two in a row."
"Set 'em up and I'll know 'em down. Every time," Cosmo winked, never having felt so confident around a guy in her life. Jet smirked as he held up his thumbs and index fingers, positioning them to be two goal posts at the other end of the table.
Cosmo stood the piece of paper upright on a mini stand and closed one eye, aiming at the space between Jet's fingers. She tongued her cheek, concentrating as she mathed out the trajectory in her head. She placed her hand on the table and in one fluid motion, the flicked her index finger into the paper, sending it flying across the room in a perfect ark, straight through the middle of the goals.
"Champion!" Cosmo shouted with glee, laughing at the bewilderment on Jet's face.
"Teach me how you did it," he said.
"Nope. Trade secret," Cosmo shook her head.
"Please. With sprinkles on top?" Jet begged gleefully.
"You'll have to do better than that." Jet shook his head with a smile as he rose from his chair and darted over to the other side of the room, picking Cosmo up in a bear hug and encircling her with his stronger, footballer arms.
"I won't let go until you tell me," Jet threatened. Cosmo beat his arms playfully, crying from laughter as Jet struggled to hold on. His leg got caught on the leg of the chair and plummeted backwards into the ground, Cosmo falling on top of her. She rolled off him onto her side, both in a fit of giggles as they smiled at each other.
A nice silence descended as the laughs subsided, both staring at each other on the floor. Jet smiled and began to slowly close his eyes and close the gap. Cosmo began to panic, the reality setting on her. She quickly jumped up, holding out her hand. When Jet realized Cosmos' lips weren't meeting his, he cracked open an eye to see her hand. He frowned as he placed his hand in hers and hauled himself back onto his feet.
"I had a lot of fun, but we've gotta meet the ground in the cafeteria, remember," Cosmo said.
"Oh yeah, almost forgot about that," Jet replied somewhat defeatedly as he glanced to the clock and saw they still had ten minutes before their meeting.
"Oh… and one last thing."
"Yeah?"
"Can we… keep this a secret from the group. Like, us?" Cosmo asked innocently.
"You mean from Wave and Cream, don't you?" Jet assumed. Cosmo nodded.
"This is my first real big tight knit group of friends and I don't want to ruin it by introducing relationship drama."
"So what I'm taking from this is you're saying that we are in a relationship?" Jet replied cheekily.
"Of course we are, silly," Cosmo replied. "What makes you think we aren't?" Jet wanted to respond, to bring up how she has constantly dodged kissing him but decided it wasn't the right time. He trusted her, and wanted her to feel comfortable with it.
"No reason. But sure, I agree that we should keep this a secret from them, at least until the end of school. This place has a funny way of blowing everything out of proportion," Jet agreed as he wrapped his arms around Cosmo and the two shared a warm embrace.
"Now c'mon. Let's not keep them waiting any longer."
…
Knuckles breathed deeply as he opened the door to the gym, dressed in his basketball gear. Ever since he learnt the disgusting truth about Julie, he couldn't bring himself to come back to training. He couldn't even look at her without thinking about the blood they shared and the things they did behind closed doors.
However, as if the universe had other plans for the redhead, as he entered that gym with his duffle bag, only one other person was there. Julie-Su, practicing her free throws.
"J-Julie…" Knuckles stammered as she turned to see who had entered. "What… where is the rest of the team?"
"Oh… hey Knux," Julie responded, rubbing the back of her head. She still hadn't been able to come to terms with the predicament they found themselves in, trying to dive deep into her other friend's issue to avoid having to confront her own demons. "Training was cancelled because of the wedding… I, uh, thought you quit so I didn't let you know."
"Yeah… I was thinking of quitting but I didn't want to let the team down," Knuckles sighed. The two just stood in the middle of the gym awkwardly, neither one being able to make eye-contact with the other. The only sounds that flooded the gym's interior were the occasional cough from the two teenagers as both tried to think of something to say but came up with nothing.
"I… um… guess I should let you get back to it then," Knuckles stated finally.
"Yeah, I guess so," Julie agreed as she bent down to pick up the basketball at her feet. She focused back at the ring, the ball ready in her hands but she couldn't concentrate as Knuckles footsteps echoed throughout the gym, getting steadily quieter.
"Knuckles, wait!" Julie called after him. He quickly came to a stop, offering a fleeting glance over his shoulder as she rushed up to him.
"Julie?" He questioned, wide-eyed.
"This is dumb," she said out of the blue.
"What do you mean?"
"This. Us. Everything," she groaned aloud. "Think about it. We both thought we were only children but we've received a gift from the heavens. A surprise sibling, and we are ruining this gift," she explained.
"I know. But… what we did…"
"Fuck that," Julie cursed aloud.
"But-"
"As far as I'm concerned, it doesn't matter. We didn't know at the time. We shouldn't be disgusted with ourselves. The important thing is we move on and begin to create a new life, forge new paths and be there for each other. Not as girlfriend and boyfriend, but as brother and sister. As siblings," she stated confidently, trying to believe her words more than Knuckles did. "Siblings are supposed to support each other no matter what. Why should we be any different?"
Knuckles couldn't help but smile. He didn't know how she could be so confident. He admired it greatly.
"You know what? You're right," Knuckles decided defiantly. "Screw what other's think. We can't discard the chance we've been given. I used to love you, but just because of this doesn't mean I should stop loving you. I should just love you in a different way, as a sister. Siblings?" Knuckles asked, arm outstretched with open palm.
"Siblings," Julie nodded, clasping her hands in his with a smile on her face. "So, one on one? Winner gets bragging rights for the rest of the week?"
"Oh, you are so on," Knuckles agreed, snatching the ball out of her grasp and dribbling it up to the ring with Julie close on his heels.
…
The knocking at his door stirred Razor from his contemplation. The gruff principal removed his reading glasses, closing Mephiles' student folder that he had been studying and placed it back in his door.
"Come in," he called politely, waiting as his door swung open and Lumina strode uncertainly into the room.
"How may I help you?" Razor asked, confused to see a brand-new face all the way out in his campus.
"Hello, my name is Lumina Flowlight," Lumina begun as courteously as possible. "I've just been on a camping trip out on the other side of the lake and have been humbled enough to have met some of the students at this school."
"Well, I hope they've been nothing but nice to you, Miss Flowlight," Razor began happily before his tone shifting subtly into a more didactic tone. "But you must know camping around this lake is strictly forbidden outside of the summer season."
"I'm sorry, but I wasn't here by accident," Lumina continued cryptically, combing a loose strand of hair back behind her ear.
"Oh, then why were you here?" Razor followed up. "Shouldn't you be in school at this time of year?"
"Actually, I can't be in school just yet due to… unforeseen and unfortunate circumstances," Lumina replied after a quick pause to mull over her words.
"Why are you here then?" Razor repeated, jumping straight to the crux of the issue.
"I came here to find somebody. I heard he was last seen heading out this way and the name has rung some familiar chords with some of your student body, specifically Fiona Fox." Hearing the vixen's name caught Razor's attention as he began to piece the pieces of the puzzle together in his mind.
"You came here looking for that boy Fiona snuck on campus with her, didn't you? You do understand it's against school policy to bring any guests without first getting approval from Gold and myself," Razor explained.
"No, I'm not trying to defend his actions. I just need to find him. Please, do you know where Void is?"
"I'm sorry, but after Zonic broke up a fight between him and one of our students, we discovered he had previously been arrested and so we sent him back to where he belongs."
"You sent him back into that place?" Lumina gasped.
"It's a place where trouble makers like him deserve to be," Razor replied harshly. "Now, I'm sorry to be so hostile but we are already dealing with enough personal issues with students so I'll have to ask you to vacate the premises and pack up your camp."
"Yes, yes I understand. I'm sorry for wasting your time," Lumina apologized as she got up to leave. Razor frowned, guilt rushing through him at how he reacted to her presence.
"Lumina," he called, halting her as she opened the door. She turned her head, looking at him expectantly. "It's late. You don't have to leave tonight. You can spend one more night and leave tomorrow. And… I hope you find Void and everything turns out alright."
"Thank you very much," Lumina bowed respectfully as she exited the principal's office. She knew what she had to do and, thanks to Razor, where to go. It was time to finally find Void once and for all.
…
"I'll see you for the morning shift," Breezie called as she stacked the final chair and threw on her coat. "You're still good for locking up tonight?"
"Yep, all good. I just have to finish cleaning the coffee machine," Bean replied.
"Thanks Bean, you're the best," Breezie thanks in her melodic sing-song voice as she left the closed café. Bean whistled to himself, trying to keep up his spirits that seemed to be constantly in the dumps but was cut off by the bell chiming as the door was pushed open.
"I'm sorry but we are clos-" he began automatically, almost robotically but was instantly cut off by the panting teenager that slammed five dollars down on the counter.
"Emerald… Coffee…" Spike panted, sweat beading from his brow. "I don't care if you're closed. I don't care if I have to pay double, I just need one last cup of that sweet, sweet emerald coffee," he begged.
"You know it is just peppermint… right?" Bean responded, almost frightened but Spikes desperation.
"It's not just peppermint. The tantalizing texture of the flakes melting into the coffee swirls deliciously around your mouth. The robust flavour of the fresh coffee beans tickling your tongue. The divine aroma entering your nostrils. Its not peppermint, it's something else. I've tried peppermint and it just doesn't taste the same. It isn't that luscious, palatable and enticing taste that sends you on a journey with each sip like the ones here," he sighed delightfully.
"Woah… dude, I think you might have a problem," Bean absorbed the information, concerned for Spike's obsessive nature.
"Whatever, but please just give me one last cup," Spike pleaded. He needed the coffee. It was almost like a drug and all he needed was a quick fix to stave off his cravings.
"Spike… I'm so sorry but we already sold out. There won't be any left until next year."
"But we won't be here next year!" Spike shouted in desperation.
"Then I guess it just wasn't meant to be," Bean replied empathetically. Spike could feel the hope drain from him as he slumped his shoulders and dejectedly retrieved his money. He dragged his heels across the floor as he left the coffee shop, all light extinguished from his very being.
"Goodbye Emerald Coffee," he called out to the spacious, empty café similarly to a wife shouting her goodbyes to her husband as he was being shipped off to war. "You will be sorely missed."
"What a drama queen," Bean shook his head as he finished cleaning the coffee machine and retreated into the store room. He quickly checked to make sure Spike had gone before opening up the cupboard to reveal one final bag of the special emerald flakes.
"This'll last me until the end of the year," he smirked as he pocketed the last sachet and locked up for the night.
A/N: Poor Spike. He had so many chances but just couldn't ever get that last cup of emerald coffee. Bean, you sneaky dynamite :P
Before we get into the events, I just wanted to address an issue. A lot of you seem to be complaining about how unlikable a character is and how they are horrible. What you must understand is that this is a story, not real life. This isn't a show where every character is trying to make the reader like them. Not all are trying to be sympathetic. I try to write everybody as real people, with real flaws. When something goes wrong, he blames other people. When something is said, Tails jumps to conclusions too quickly. When things go bad, Mighty's short fuse is lit. These are all flaws, but it makes the characters more complete. Not every character can be likable, perfect and always do the right thing. I don't write characters into plots, I write plots around characters. They might do things you wouldn't, or you would find dispicable but (generally) I think they do things that somebody like that would do. You can dislike them, sure, but don't blame them for doing what they do. Each character has had up's and down's. I just hope you all have trust in me to write an engaging story and I ask you don't give up on me until we get to the end in chapter 65! Remember Espio? I was chastised for what a douche he was at the start but now he's one of the favourites. Everybody loved Silver, and now people can't stand him. Just trust me, and I'll keep giving you entertainment :P It's a win win!
Okay, so Fiona, or as it was revealed that her real name was Fionnula (Fi-noo-la) but naturally Fiona liked the alternate version better. She finally caved to her mother, sacrificing her future happiness to save Void. Also to partially save her brother, Max. People say she's a horrible, selfish character but would somebody truly evil sacrifice so much for those they love?
Knuckles and Julie decide to try and push past their realization and try to move on together as siblings, helping each other out. Meanwhile, Sonia is trying to move on with her life without having everybody up in her business, even her brothers and family. And Spike helps Sonia, but is he helping her because he cares, or simply because she is Sonic's sister?
Mighty and Ray... poor guys, a perfect friendship being strained by a girl. Is Ray justified in asking Clove out? I just want you to remember, before you chastise Ray, that he has no idea the true reasons Mighty dumped Clove. All he knows is that he didn't love her any more and Mighty refuses to tell Ray the truth because he doesn't want Ray to blame himself and possibly travel back to the top of that cliff. It's a tough position for both of them, but hopefully they can work it out together.
Gold has refused Zonic, but she is already in a taboo relationship with Espio. Can Zonic figure out what's really going on. And what is his mysterious past and his abraision to weddings? Has Zonic been married before? Well, Zector and Zespio know that answer! And Cosmo and Jet are progressing swimmingly, apart from the fact that Cosmo keeps avoiding the kiss. Does she really like Jet, or is there something else preventing her from taking that next step?
Blaze has decided darkness just doesn't suit her. How many of you thought I was setting up for a dark Blaze story line? All of you? Well, I can't be predictable all the time, can I? Sorry if you were really looking forward to exploring the darker side of Blaze, but don't fret, I have some interesting stuff in the works for our favourite cat. For starters, her aunt just died, meaning she has to leave for a short while to attend the funeral. Now all she has left is her deadbeat father. But will he ever show up to the school to wreak some havock (Hint, hint, read the context clues and you'll know I plan for Blaze's father to make a surprise appearence sooner than you think!) And now Fiona has sworn vengeance on Sally too. If it's anything like her convoluded plan to destroy Amy, Sally is in for a rough time.
I just wanted to give a big thanks to all of you. I recieved so many reviews and I loved reading each and everyone. They honestly give me the motivation to continue writing, and it helps me shape my future plots. If everybody hates the direction I am going with certain arcs, I try to alter it slightly because just because I think something is a good idea, doesn't mean it's good. I might be the only one who likes it, and I'll alter my plan if everybody else tells me it's shit. So please, keep them coming and I'll keep writing because honestly, without talking with you guys I would have given up on this story a while ago so from the bottom of my heart, thank you. If you ever have any extra questions or just want to chat, I'll always respond to a PM :) I think we've had non-stop heartbreak, twists and depression from our characters so let's give them (Well some of them) a nice break and deal with some of the happier plot lines next time, shall we?
Question of the Day: We've had a lot of arcs and surprise twists in this story, but I'm curious. What was your favourite character arc finished or still underway (I.E Tikal's mother, Scourge and Silver's past, Fiona's revenge plan etc.) and secondly, what was your favourite surprise twist (Julie and Knuckles relationship, Mephiles the terrorist etc.)
Next time on SH:EL
Fiona approaches Lumina
Spike and Sonia grow closer
Espio plays another concert!
Zector, Zespio and Zonic go drinking
...and we see how Cream and Tails' relationship began back two years ago
All this and so much more in Chapter 38: A Coward's Way Out.