Sonic High: Emerald Lake

by twotailedfox

32 main characters, 12 years of school and 1 campus in the middle of nowhere. As the students of Mobius High try to finish their senior year, relationships will be tested, tensions raised and drama will lurk around every corner. Dark and mature themes, many different relationships (no relationship is safe) and real world problems including suicidal thoughts, rape, racism, death etc

61. Chapter 61: An Eye for an Eye

A/N: Want information about when the next chapter will be released, or my plans for the future of this story? Make sure to read the A/N at the conclusion of the chapter.

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Chapter 61

An Eye for an Eye

The flashing lights were a stark contrast to the dull blackness of the night sky above as the paramedics wheeled Espio carefully down the steps outside the gym and loaded him into the ambulance. Knuckles followed behind, rattling off answers to their questions and feverishly texting away. Razor tried to keep up a calm façade as he spoke to the driver as they loaded Espio. He knew the school couldn't afford an incident like this. He wrapped his dressing gown tighter around him and wiggled his exposed toes.

"I need to make sure all my students get back to bed but I'll come visit at the hospital later. Here is his mother's information" Razor said as he handed the paramedics Espio's file.

"We'll keep you updated Mr. Shark." Razor stood back as the ambulance sped off into the night.

"What happened Razor?" Julie asked as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes and bounded down the dormitory steps. She was the first to be awoken by the commotion.

"I can't disclose that information right now Julie, I'm sorry," Razor responded, trying his hardest not to break down.

"But who was it? Are they alright?"

"Not now Julie," Razor snapped. He was barely keeping it together. His mind raced to Claire Fox. This was going to be the nail in the coffin, the knife twist to put the school to bed with Tails' death as her smoking gun. The small chance he had was dissipating before his eyes. He needed to figure out what happened and how he could keep it a secret.

"But Razor–"

"Julie," Razor interrupted. "This is very serious and I need you to help me out. Can you do me a favour?"

"Of course, sir," Julie nodded.

"I need to call our lawyer and go visit the hospital to clear everything up. I'll go wake up Mr. Ash and he'll take care of everything but until he comes to speak to you I need you to stay in the common room and send any other curious students who were woken up by the commotion.

"You can count on me," Julie scurried off as Razor rushed over to wake up Ash.

…

The pristine white building shone atop the hill as the first streaks of sunlight struck the glinting hospital windows. The building interior was filled with a maze of countless floors of twisting stuffy corridors. There was an undertone of bleach stench that wafted through the hallways and every surface was dusted and wiped clean. Vases of flowers sitting on small tables and landscape paintings lined the magnolia walls.

Sonia tapped her fingers impatiently on the glass as the black plastic spiral span clockwise until the bag of gummy snakes fell from its shelf. Sonia plucked it from the vending machine and dodged around the fluttering nurses as she raced back to the fifth floor waiting room.

"Any news yet?" Sonia asked as she offered the bag around. Mighty and Manic both humbly accepted one but Knuckles didn't tear his eyes away from Espio's room.

"Nothing yet," Manic answered when Knuckles didn't answer and instead nervously chewed his flaky nails.

"He was with him when it happened," Mighty whispered to Sonia when she flashed them a confused glance.

"Knux…" Sonia placed a gentle, comforting hand on top of his as he rattled his fingers against the armrest. Knuckles didn't respond, but instead sat with his gaze transfixed on the door to Espio's room.

"Knuckles, please talk to me. Say something. Are you alright?" Sonia refused to give up.

"I'm not the one who you should be worrying about," Knuckles finally replied quietly without moving his head.

"But I'm worried about you."

"Me? You should be worried about Espio," Knuckles yelled as he whipped his head away from the door. Spit showered Sonia's face from his outburst. Knuckles' eyes grew wide when he realized his sudden outburst. "Son… I'm sorry, I didn't mean to yell at you like that. I just… ugh, I don't know."

"It's alright," Sonia sighed as she whipped the spit from her face with the sleeve of her long, woolen green sweater. "I know you didn't mean it and you've been through a tough night."

"No, that's not an excuse for me to snap at you like that," Knuckles reprimanded himself. "I just feel so useless. I was right there with him and when it happened I just froze."

"You called the ambulance. He'd be dead if it wasn't for your quick thinking," Sonia said.

"But I should have done more. I should have given him CPR or gotten the nurse or done something. I was right there."

"Knux, there wasn't anything more you could have done. Please don't beat yourself up about this."

"But I–" Knuckles' thought was interrupted by an impatient shout from Bean. While the two of them talked, and Manic and Mighty chowed down on gummies to distract themselves from the wait Bean had been anxiously walking back and forth.

"I can't wait any longer," Bean growled as he turned and stormed towards the door. Manic and Mighty were quick to jump up and rush at him. Each one wrapped themselves around either arm as he reached out to wrench open the door and tried to haul him back.

"The doc said to wait," Manic said.

"You'll only make things worse by barging in there and distracting him," Mighty tried to reason.

"Get off of me," Bean grunted as he tried to shake the two teenagers loose. Manic dug his heels in and pulled Bean backwards.

"Geez, when did he get so strong?" Mighty asked.

"I can't hold him back much longer," Manic snorted. Suddenly Bean stopped pulling and stepped backwards. His momentum shift took both Manic and Mighty off guard and the crumpled back to the ground with a thud. Finally free, Bean dashed to the door but it creaked open just as he reached for the handle.

"Oh, hello," Geoffrey said with surprise as he tiptoed out of the room mere inches from Bean's face.

"How is he?" Bean asked abruptly.

"He's awake. You can go see him now," Geoffrey said. Knuckles jumped off his chair and followed Bean impatiently into the room. Sonia followed close behind, and Manic and Mighty came in last. Manic grumbled something under his breath as he rubbed his backside.

As the quintet entered the room they pulled back the curtain and saw Espio lying there. He was connected to beeping heart monitors and had a needle stuck into his arm with a tube connected to a plastic bag with some liquid that was slowly draining into his veins. However, Espio was sitting up and awake.

"Espio, you're alive," Bean grinned.

"You really had us worried there, man," Knuckles added.

"Hey guys," Espio laughed sheepishly. "Sorry for getting you all worried."

"You should be," Manic laughed. "But I'm glad you're all right."

"We all are," Sonia smiled.

"Don't worry, I'm fine."

"What was it like having a heart attack?" Mighty asked, earning him a scowl from Sonia. Espio simply chuckled.

"Don't ask him stuff like that," Sonia chastised him.

"No, it's cool. The funny thing was I didn't even have a heart attack."

"What?"

"Yeah. Geoffrey was just telling me what happened. Apparently I just fainted due to dehydration."

"You can't be serious," Bean shook his head in disbelief.

"It's true. A mixture of severe dehydration, sun, far too much sugar, no sleep and then a tough workout was too much for my body to handle and it just shut down," Espio explained.

"But you said your heart hurt. You said you were having a heart attack," Knuckles said.

"I thought I was. You can't blame me for assuming that. I guess the heart ache was just due to my heart trying too hard to get blood to my brain."

"You had us all so worried for that? Seriously?"

"Hey, it's not like I purposely tricked you."

"Still. We thought you were going to die."

"You can't get rid of me that easily. But, while I had my not-so-near death experience and then sat here while the doctor was running tests just to be safe I had a thought. Knowing all my band members came out to see if I was okay I got nostalgic."

"What are you trying to say?" Manic asked.

"I want to do one more song with all of you," Espio said.

"You can't be serious," Sonia shook her head.

"You need to take it easy, bro," Knuckles said.

"I'll be fine. I get to leave the hospital in the morning and can go straight back to school like nothing happened as long as I pass the tests."

"That's… convenient," Mighty remarked, but shut his mouth with a well timed slap to his abdomen by Sonia. "I mean, that's great news."

"Why do we have to do a performance so soon?" Manic was unconvinced.

"I know this is strange, but when I slipped out of consciousness my life flashed before my eyes and I realized something. All the worst times of my life – all my mistakes and darkest days and lost friendships – had something in common. Fiona."

"Fiona?"

"Yeah. She ruined the best friendship I ever had. She manipulated me, took advantage of me, changed me and then set out to make me as miserable as I possibly could be when I decided I wanted nothing to do with her. She even forced Gold to leave because…" Espio trailed off when he realized what he was about to admit.

"Gold?" Sonia furrowed her brow. "What does Fiona have to do with Gold leaving, and how do you factor into that?"

"That's not important," Espio disregarded it. "The important thing is I bet me having a heart attack put a smile on her face."

"Whoa, dude, she's a bitch but she's not cold stone evil. I'm sure she wouldn't wish you dead," Mighty said.

"I wouldn't put it past her," Bean grumbled.

"I want to play a song; a special song just for her. Are you guys in?"

"Yeah, sure, why not," Manic said.

"If you're sure you're good then it's the least I can do," Knuckles said. Mighty and Bean eventually agreed too.

"You're all idiots, but I guess there's nothing I can do to stop you. Just take it easy, okay Espio?" Sonia sighed in defeat.

"No promises," Espio chuckled.

…

The flashing lights had dissipated into the vast night sky above the school and the blaring ambulance sirens had faded into the distance. Julie, Ash, Blaze and the other teachers worked tirelessly to heard all the curious students back into their dorm rooms and back to bed.

After all the confusion had settled down and students reluctantly retired back into their rooms only a few students and faculty remained in the courtyard.

"Thanks for all your help, Julie," Ash smiled. "You really are good in a crisis."

"No worries Mr. Ash. It was the least I could do," Julie replied.

"Where's da- um, I mean, where's principal Razor?" Blaze asked.

"I think he's in his office talking to his lawyer. I believe he is about to head into town to visit Espio in the hospital to make sure everything is alright," Ash explained.

"Alright, thanks," Blaze said as she scurried over to Razor's office. Before she disappeared into the building she turned to Sonic, the only other student still out of the dormitory. "Sorry Sonic, I won't be coming back to bed tonight. I need to help out my dad."

"I understand. Text me how everything turns out in the morning, okay?" Sonic asked.

"Of course," she pecked his lips before disappearing into the main office building. Sonic shoved his hands into the pockets of his sweatpants and trudged back to the dormitory. He couldn't sleep now. Not after everything that had happened to him that night. He needed Blaze to be with him that night. He had woken her up and asked to sleep with her that night after he had returned from the forest with Tikal and Blaze happily obliged. Now he wasn't sure at all how he'd get to sleep.

"Hey Sonic," a voice called to him as he flopped down on one of the fuchsia couches in the common room.

"Hello?"

"Are you alright?" Silver stepped out of the shadowy staircase and made his way over to the other couch.

"Yeah, I guess," Sonic said distantly. "Couldn't sleep."

"Me neither. Since neither of us can sleep, wanna talk?" Silver tired to be friendly but Sonic didn't seem to want to speak to him.

"Not really," Sonic folded his arms.

"Okay," Silver sat down on the couch opposite Sonic and stayed silent, watching the other boy. After a few awkward minutes Sonic grunted loudly and swung his feet off the couch.

"Alright, fine, since you seem to wanna stay here we can talk. But make it quick. I've had a long, long night and I just want to be alone and think since Blaze is busy helping her father," Sonic grumbled.

"I'm glad you mentioned her," Silver began. "That's who I wanted to talk to you about."

"Blaze? Look, Silver, if this is about you still being mad at me for dating her I just wanna say I really don't give a shit."

"No, no, it's nothing like that. Sonic, I know you don't really like me at the moment."

"Yeah, you can say that again."

"I've done some bad things recently and I wanted to apologize."

"Blaze is the one you should be apologizing to. I can't believe you cheated on her, then got angry that her and I got together," Sonic said.

"I have apologized to her, several times," Silver sighed.

"Then maybe take the hint and stay away from her."

"I still like you, Sonic. You and Blaze. I had a chat with her tonight at the party and she agreed to be friends with me again, sorta."

"Cool. Good for you."

"I just wanted to say sorry to you, too. We used to be quite close and I miss our times together just messing around and shooting the shit."

"I guess I miss it a bit too."

"Look, I'm not sitting here asking to be your friend again, but I do miss hanging out. The main reason I wanted to see you is just to give you my blessing."

"Your blessing?" Sonic asked.

"For you and Blaze. I know it doesn't mean much but I'm really glad you two found each other and I hope you can be the man she deserves. The man I couldn't be," Silver sighed. Sonic didn't say anything more so Silver rose and began to ascend the stairs.

"Silver, wait."

"Yeah?"

"Why tell me this? Why do this now, after all this time?"

"I promised Blaze I'd try to be a better person, and I wanted to start with you. I fucked up big time this year. I was a bad person. I'd like to think I'm a generally good person and I always try to see the best in people but I was, for lack of a better word, an asshole."

"Can't disagree there."

"But this is just me trying to grow and change. We're all teenagers. Teenagers do stupid things. Just look at you and your brother. You two couldn't stand the sight of each other only a few short months ago and now he's dating your ex and you're closer than ever. Espio used to be the biggest sleazebag in the school and now he's become one of the nicest, most genuine guys I know, even if he still hates my guts. I found a way to forgive Espio for what he did to me and Blaze, and now I hope you can find a way to forgive me for what I did to Blaze." Sonic didn't say anything. With a sigh, Silver turned back to the stair case and took a step.

"Hey, Silver," Sonic called.

"Yeah?"

"Goodnight," Sonic smiled up at him.

"Goodnight," Silver smiled back as he took another small step up the staircase, and with Sonic.

…

The sun began to rise as its first rays pierced through the slits in the grey blinds covering Espio's recovery room window. It had been a tumultuous night, but the small chaos was preferred to the more dire outcomes that could have eventuated. Mighty, Manic, Knuckles, Sonia and Bean couldn't make the hour drive back to campus that same night so they slept on the uncomfortable waiting room chairs.

Espio hadn't slept much. He felt horrible for causing such trouble for something that turned out so unremarkable. He didn't want people to get the wrong idea, he was still scared, but he wished he hadn't got everybody so worried. It seemed that despite everything he seemed to keep letting everybody down. He let out a frustrated sigh and stared at the cream coloured walls when he heard a faint click and his door creaked open.

"Hey, you awake?" A voice whispered through the dull lighting.

"Yeah, come in," Espio shrugged. Bean slipped through the door and closed it softly, being careful not to rouse his friends finally fast asleep in the adjacent room. "Couldn't sleep?"

"Those chairs are so fucking uncomfortable," Bean swore as he massaged his sore lower back. "I couldn't take another minute I barely got any sleep. I don't know how the others did it. Figured I'd check if you were awake since I didn't want to disturb them."

"Fair enough. I couldn't sleep either. I just feel like I caused everybody so much stress. Principal Razor visited last night."

"What? When?"

"You guys had all just fallen asleep. He wanted to check up on me. It was sweet, but honestly I think he was more worried that this could just be more ammunition Claire can use against him at the trial this weekend. I could see the exasperation in his eyes, even if he was putting up a brave façade for me," Espio sighed.

"I think the fact that he came all the way here at one in the morning regardless speaks volumes of his character," Bean decided.

"I guess. I just… I keep ruining things for everybody."

"What? Why would you say that?"

"Lying here awake all night got me thinking. I've screwed with people's lives so many times and I just make everything worse."

"No you haven't," Bean denied.

"I have," Espio asserted.

"Alright, give me some examples then."

"Razor tonight."

"That doesn't count. Fainting from dehydration and exhaustion isn't your fault."

"Gold."

"Gold? Come to think of it you've mentioned her a couple times. I don't understand what she has to do with anything."

"I got her fired. It was my fault," Espio admitted with a hung head.

"Wait really? How? What did you do? Why did you do it?" A thousand questions swam around in Bean's head.

"That's not important."

"C'mon man, you can't say shit like that and then not follow through."

"I said it's not important," Espio clapped back with fierce eyes. Bean knew that look well, and was smart enough to back off.

"Okay, well, who else?"

"Silver."

"I thought you hate him."

"I do, but I didn't back when I screwed him over. Blaze too, and she's been so sweet to me recently. And, worst of all, you."

"Me?"

"Yeah. I became so spiteful and treated you like garbage. Back in the tenth grade I think I made it my sworn duty to turn the whole school against you and Techno," Espio admitted.

"You were a bit of a dick," Bean laughed. "But we've been over this a dozen times. I don't blame you, Fiona screwed with us."

"Still. I can't keep hiding behind that excuse. I need to take responsibility for my actions. But…" Espio trailed off.

"But what?" Bean asked. He sat on the edge of Espio's hospital bed to rest his aching joints. Sleeping in a waiting room chair really wasn't the most comfortable place he'd ever fallen asleep.

"Nevermind."

"No, go on," Bean shuffled slightly closer.

"It's stupid. Forget I said anything," Espio disregarded him and looked away.

"You know me well enough to know I'm not just going to forget it. C'mon, you're here throwing yourself a little pity party so don't go quiet on me now."

"Pity party. Wow, thanks."

"Hey, I'm not going to sugar coat it. But if you want me to help just talk to me. Don't you trust me?"

"I do. You know I do."

"Well, prove it. We're friends again so don't go getting cold on me now," Bean urged.

"Alright, fine," Espio sat up and hugged his knees. They brushed against Bean's side as he sat even closer, his hand pressed down on the mattress to hold his weight. "I was just going to ask if you've ever thought about what would have happened to us if Fiona was never in our lives."

"What do you mean?"

"Like, if we were never friends with her. She was the one who introduced you to Techno, wasn't she?"

"Oh yeah, she was, at that party. I'd forgotten all about how Fiona introduced me to the love of my life." Espio shuddered as he said that. "Well, was the love of my life. Not anymore."

"I never asked how you two broke up," Espio breathed.

"Just drifted apart. I thought I loved her but all the little things added up and we realized we just weren't right for each other," Bean admitted.

"She dumped you, didn't she?" Espio said bluntly.

"Yeah, she did," Bean laughed. Espio laughed too. "I never thought I'd be able to laugh about that. She destroyed me when she dumped me. I was so down for so long. But now that I've got you in my life again I… I don't really care." It finally hit him. That's why he'd been so happy recently. It was Espio. He finally found a source of joy.

"So, how do you think the future would have unfolded if neither of them were in our lives."

"You mean, if we just stayed best friends?" Bean asked.

"Yeah," Espio placed his hand on Bean's on the bed. "Do you think we would have gotten any closer?" Bean swallowed, his heart thumping in his chest. Espio's voice was raspy and deep with purpose, but a hidden vulnerability and uncertainty laced his words.

"I'd like to think so," Bean whispered as he leaned closer. "And, who knows what could have happened between us."

"Sometimes I wonder…" Espio trailed off as he closed his eyes and began to meet Bean's face when the door swung open and both teenagers jumped apart like a spark of electricity has been sent through their veins.

"Espio, breakfast is ready," the joyful nurse beamed in a sing-song voice as she placed the tray of hospital food on his bed. "Gosh, boys, it's so dark in here. Let's brighten this room up," she said cheerily as she opened the blinds and let the blinding light surge into every dark corner of the room.

"Thanks," Espio muttered. His eyes met Bean's for a second before both boys turned away from each other. The nurse whistled an upbeat tune as she exited and, before either Espio or Bean could speak, one by one his friends began to enter his room.

"Hey dude. Feeling any better?" Knuckles asked.

"Probably better than us," Mighty complained as he rubbed his backside.

"Yeah, those chairs were bloody unbearable," Manic yawned and rubbed his tired eyes.

"Shut up you groaners. Espio's the sick one, not you two," Sonia chastised them playfully as she stepped up to his bedside and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, beaming him a warming smile. Bean couldn't help but notice the longing look he flashed her. He'd know that look anywhere. It was the way he used to look at Techno. He bit his tongue and smiled through his revelation. It had been a confusing morning.

"Ah, good morning everybody," Dr. Geoffrey announced as he strode into the room carrying a beige folder with files clipped within. "I'm glad you're all up and here. I've got some news to share."

"Is it about Espio?" Knuckles asked.

"In a sense, yes."

"Weird way to say it," Mighty noted groggily.

"I guess it was," Geoffrey smiled. "I have good news and, well, not bad news but… other news."

"Can we have the good news first?"

"Espio is completely fine and can go back to school without anything further."

"That's great news," Sonia beamed.

"What's the other news?" Espio asked.

"Well… how do I put this," Geoffrey tapped his chin with his pen as his eyes shifted from Espio to Sonia. "I was examining the blood samples Espio supplied last night just to make sure it was just exhaustion and dehydration when I noticed something."

"What is it?" Knuckles seemed worried.

"Oh, it's nothing to be alarmed about," Geoffrey guaranteed. "It was just something about his blood. I don't know how I noticed it, but it might have been because Sonia here came in with you to make sure you were alright so I had her on my brain. I took the results down to floor three and dug out your file, Sonia."

"My file?"

"Yes. And, more specifically, I looked up the initial test we took of you and your baby to see whether Mephiles was the father."

"What does that have to do with anything?" Sonia seemed disgruntled.

"That was what I realized. Sonia, I discovered the identity of your unborn baby's father."

"What?"

"It's undoubtable. I checked and double checked but all signs point to it. Sonia, I don't know how to tell you this, but Espio is a perfect match. He's the father!" Knuckles shot Espio an unreadable glare, Bean flashed him a depressed glance, Espio stared wide-eyed at Sonia, Manic and Mighty did nothing but gasp and Sonia – she fainted.

…

Amy was on the war path. She was furious. The previous night Manic had tried his best to convince her not to intervene but she couldn't sit by and let Rouge get away with it. It was Clove's choice, that much Amy knew, and although she disagreed with Clove's ultimate choice she didn't want to blame her friend or victimize her. But Rouge, she was the one that put that thought in Clove's head in the first place. For all Amy cared, Rouge murdered somebody.

"Rouge the Bat!" Amy bellowed as she stormed down the hallway and threw open the wooden door to Rouge's room.

"Whoa, Amy, what are you doing?" Julie snapped awake groggily. She'd slept in that morning after staying out most of the night helping Razor and Ash keep things under control and, until moments ago, was enjoying the respite.

"Julie, get out, I need to talk to Rouge," Amy ground her teeth together and rudely expelled Amy.

"Hey, that's no way to talk to me," Julie grunted.

"Nice to see you too, Amy," Rouge smiled unphased by Amy's sudden intrusion. She was used to these sorts of outbursts from the fiery teenager. "Julie, could you give me and our dear friend Amy a moment of privacy?"

"Are you sure," Julie furrowed a brow. "She looks like she might kill you."

"I'd like to see her try," Rouge scoffed. With a shrug Julie rose from her bed, grabbed her towel off the wooden post at the edge of her bed and muttered something inaudible about going to have a shower. Amy closed the door behind her.

"How could you?" Amy growled.

"How could I what? I do a lot of things, you will have to be way more specific," Rouge mused as she folded her arms. She'd had this type of confrontations enough times with Amy to know exactly how it would play out. She was not going to buy into Amy's game.

"Clove."

"Clove?"

"You convinced her to get the abortion. You murdered her child," Amy accused with a pointed finger.

"I did no such thing," Rouge replied calmly. "I simply gave her some advice, but not once did I force her to get the abortion. I know you have quite the archaic way of thinking but believe it or not it was her choice to do what she pleased, and she pleased to get the abortion."

"It was the wrong choice."

"Chaos, Amy, I'm sick of these horrid ways you overreact to things," Rouge sighed. "So many times somebody does something you don't like and you blow up like a volcano. Not everybody has the same beliefs and thought processes as you, thankfully."

"Well… what about Mighty?"

"What does he have to do with this?"

"By your reasoning, he should have a choice as well. It was half his baby, so if Clove wanted to get the abortion then that's only fifty percent of the decision. She needed his permission, too, and I really doubt she got it from him," Amy challenged.

"That's fucking ridiculous. The baby wasn't in his body. You're taking my words and blowing them out of proportion."

"Didn't you say it was the person's choice?"

"The girl's choice. Her body, her baby, her choice."

"His baby too! And you know what, since you think you did the right thing let's make sure you did."

"What do you mean?" Rouge asked skeptically as Amy whipped out her phone and scrolled through her contacts until she called somebody. She clicked the loudspeaker button and a ringing emanated through the dorm room.

"You said it was their choice. I agree. So I'm going to ask Mighty what he thinks. If he agrees and thinks the abortion was the right choice then I'll graciously admit defeat and apologize. But somehow I doubt he'll be so chill about it."

"Amy, you can't do that. You can't do that to Clove!" Rouge shrieked as she tried to snatch the phone out of Amy's hand but she was too fast.

"Hello? Amy?" Mighty's voice rang through the air.

"Mighty, hi," Amy grunted as she dodged more of Rouge's attempts to steal the phone.

"Are you alright? You sound like you're puffed," Mighty pointed out.

"Perfectly fine."

"Is something wrong? I only just got back from the hospital with Espio and I'm really tired. I'm just getting to my dorm so do you mind if we talk after I take a nap?"

"Clove was pregnant with your child," Amy blurted out. Rouge's eyes grew wide as Amy dodge another of her advances and she crashed into the door, sinking to the floor. She looked up at Amy's victorious smile with disbelief as she sat on the floor. She was too late. The line was silent for a few painful seconds.

"Clove is… pregnant?" Mighty breathed.

"Was pregnant. Not anymore. She has been carrying your baby for months but the other day she went off into the city and had an abortion. What do you think about that?"

"Amy you son of a bitch!" Rouge cursed.

"I… I can't believe it." Rouge snatched the phone out of Amy's hand, which she relinquished happily.

"Mighty, don't listen to her."

"I need to go."

"Mighty!" Rouge tried to call his name but he hung up the phone. Rouge turned back to Amy.

"Looks like he didn't think it was such a good idea.

"You're unbelievable," Rouge bellowed as she raced out the door and down the hallway.

"Where are you going?" Amy called.

"I need to get to Clove before Mighty does!" Amy scurried after her.

…

Claire pulled up outside the eggshell-white, cookie-cutter house that sat snug between too similarly styled houses on Stardust Street. She cut the engine and stepped out of the car and into the pouring rain. She braved the storm as she held her briefcase over her head to protect her hair and grey pant-suit from the pellets of rain until she made it to the verandah of the Hedgehog's house. Claire rung the doorbell and waited patiently until a surprised woman answered the door.

"Claire Fox?" Aleena answered the door with astonishment. "What are you doing here?"

"Hi Aleena, is Bernadette in?" Claire asked with her nicest tone.

"No, sorry, she's out grocery shopping. Can I leave a message?" Aleena tried equally hard to put up a happy façade despite her disgust of the woman standing in front of her.

"No, I just wanted to make sure she wasn't here. It's you I wanted to talk to. Can I come in?" Claire asked.

"I don't know if that's such a good idea Cl–" Aleena was interrupted as Claire pushed open the fly wire door and pushed into the house. She made a beeline for the kitchen and stopped when she leant against the kitchen island.

"Nice place you and Bernadette have here," Claire complimented.

"Alright, you're inside and you clearly have something you want from me so let's quit with the niceties and cut to the chase."

"Aleena, really? Maybe I just want to say hi to an old friend?"

"You and Bernadette were old friends; we only just met a couple months ago."

"Quite right. Okay, since you're in such a rush I'll be brief. I'm here to collect."

"Collect what?"

"That favour you owe me."

"I don't owe you any…" Aleena trailed off as her memory caught up with her.

"Yes you do. Don't you remember how I helped you claim custody over Jules? I gave you a sizeable and charitable discount for something. What was that something again?" Claire tapped the tip of her finger against her chin.

"A favour," Aleen sighed as she sagged her shoulders. Claire clicked her fingers.

"That was it! So, now I've come for what I'm owed."

"What do you want from me?" Aleena asked, resigned.

"Simple. For my favour all I ask of you is to testify."

"Testify? Like, in court?" Claire nodded. "Then we are even?"

"Then we are even."

"That wasn't as bad as I envisioned. Which case do you need me to testify in?"

"Amadeus' case," Claire smiled as Aleena's face went white. Claire had her right where she wanted her and Aleena knew she couldn't do anything but comply. "When the time comes, I need you to testify in court against Razor and that wretched school and help me close its doors for good."

…

It only took Rouge less than two minutes to fly down the two flights of stairs and stop outside the room with the golden numbers one-one-seven. She rattled her manicured nails against the hardwood door and tapped her foot impatiently until, finally, Blaze opened the door.

"Rouge, how unexpected. Can I help…" Blaze began cheerily but was pushed aside by Rouge's forearm as she barreled past Blaze and over to the desk where Clove was hunched over, "… you."

"Clove, we need to talk," Rouge said.

"Can it wait? Blaze and I were just going over some chemistry together. I'm really struggling and after all that's happened to me the past week I've fallen a bit behind," Clove replied.

"Mighty knows." Blaze's eyes grew wide and Clove went rigid. With a screech she pushed out her chair and stood up slowly.

"Mighty… knows?" Clove repeated quietly.

"Apparently Amy learnt about the abortion and heard that I helped you figure out what you wanted to do and she didn't like it. She threatened me and we argued and so to prove a point she called Mighty and told him that you were pregnant with his child but got it aborted," Rouge said in a single breath. Blaze was stunned, Clove was speechless.

"I'm sorry. I tried to stop her but you know how Amy can get," Rouge apologized.

"It's not your fault. I was the one that told Amy you helped me make up my mind and put things into perspective," Clove replied.

"I just figured I'd tell you since he hung up on Amy not two minutes ago and I think he might be coming here to confront you."

"No, he's not coming here."

"How do you know."

"We dated for over a year. I know that boy. Even when he loved me there was one person he cared for more and he'll want to know if that person knew about this."

"Who?" Blaze asked.

"Ray."

"Exactly," Clove nodded. "He'll want to know if Ray knew first, then he'll come talk to me. If Ray finds out I was hiding a secret pregnancy from him it could ruin our relationship. I need to get to him before Mighty does and explain everything."

"C'mon, there's no time to waste," Rouge grabbed her arm and the two raced down the hallway. However, when Blaze went to close the door a puffed Amy emerged from the hallway.

"Did I miss the confrontation?" Amy asked.

"You seriously are a piece of work, aren't you?" Blaze shook her head.

"It's not my fault, Blaze. Clove ended a life, so I'll end a relationship. An eye for an eye."

"Just when I thought you were taking steps to become a better person you do some shit like this. You're unbelievable," Blaze said before slamming the door in Amy's face.

"Rude," Amy scoffed.

…

The library was a labyrinth with walls lined with books snaking, twisting and turning through the floor space of the modern architectural wonder with its honeycomb-like exterior and huge domed glass ceiling. The building, for most of the year, stood almost empty as students only bothered to use its facilities if a big essay was due. However, in this final week it was packed to the brim. Every table was full, every desk had a student squatting over practice exam papers and all the pods had been booked days in advance.

Silver muttered to himself as he carried his stack of papers through the bookshelves searching for a spare space to work, but to no avail. As he distractedly looked he failed to notice a pair of calculating eyes in the adjacent aisle watching him through the gaps between the books.

The owner of the eyes followed him patiently until he let out a mumble of annoyance and took a swift left when Silver realized all the tables in the corner were full. That's when they struck.

"Ow," Silver howled as he smacked head-first into somebody and collapsed onto his butt with a thud.

"Oh, Silver, I'm so sorry I didn't see you there," Fiona, the owner of the eyes, feigned an apology.

"Fiona? What are you doing here?" Silver asked in confusion as he quickly swiped his papers off the carpeted floor.

"Just looking for a book on the Soleannan revolution for our history exam," Fiona lied easily.

"Okay," Silver didn't buy it. He knew she was up to something and decided he didn't want to entertain her any further. However, when he tried to side-step around her she shot out her hand and blocked his path.

"Wait. Don't go," Fiona said in a strange tone that Silver had never heard from her before. It sounded desperate and almost vulnerable.

"Fiona?"

"I… I need to talk to you about… us."

"Us?"

"Yeah, you and me and what we have between us. That night in the forest, then that night when you showed up at my door."

"There is no us," Silver put his foot down. "They were both mistakes."

"The first time might have been a drunken mistake, but the second time wasn't," Fiona insisted. "I didn't know how to feel when you showed up at my door but that night – that sex – it was something I'd never experienced before."

"The sex was good. In fact it was amazing, even though I hate to admit it. But it was a mistake; both times."

"You can't say you didn't feel something stronger. I think I like you, Silver, and I know that even if you hate to admit it you like me too. You wouldn't have come seeking me that day."

"It's just lust. Nothing more than our primal urges. You don't like me and I don't like you. There is no us. Just you and me."

"Is this because of my past? Lumina and Void helped open my eyes. I'm trying to be a better person. It might take some time but I'm going to right my wrongs."

"I don't believe you," Silver shook his head.

"Please, Silver, just let me prove it to you. Let me show you, tonight for dinner in the cafeteria."

"I don't care. I don't want anything to do with you, Fiona."

"You can't ignore this. You can't ignore your feelings. You can't ignore me," Fiona was more defenseless than she'd ever let herself be before and she was desperate for Silver to understand.

"Watch me," he tore his eyes away from hers and trounced off.

"Excuse me," Julie said as she tried to slip around Fiona to get one of the history books. In a rage Fiona hit the book out of her hands, stomped on her feet and stormed out of the library. "What the hell is her problem?"

…

There was light drizzle falling from the grey stratus clouds listing lazily above the bluestone school buildings that morning as Ray emerged from Emerald Café with a cardboard cup of hot coffee. She blew softly before he took a generous sip. That was the last moment he wore a smile on his face.

"Ray, Ray, Ray," Clove called out his name as she sprinted down the winding pathway and almost crashed into him outside the café's doors. She held her hands on her knees and wheezed. She was out of shape after hardly doing any exercise while she was carrying around the baby.

"Whoa, whoa, Clove, what's gotten into you? Are you alright?" Ray laughed harmlessly as he helped her steady herself. Rouge waited slightly back, observing the two teenagers talk. She didn't want to interfere. This was Clove's relationship.

"I need to tell you something, and I'm glad I caught you first," Clove breathed.

"First?"

"Look, Ray. I love you. I really do. You know I would never do anything to purposely hurt you, right?"

"Of course I know that. I love you too."

"Good. Because something happened and I've been keeping it a secret from you and I think it's time you knew. I should have told you as soon as I found out but I didn't know how to tell you and then I thought I could hide it and we could put it behind us but I was wrong. The truth is–"

"Ray!" Mighty's voice cut through Clove's sentence and drowned her out as Ray's gaze suddenly shifted to the teenager closing the gap between them with his hands in his navy tracksuit pants.

"Mighty?"

"Oh no," Rouge slapped her forehead from afar as she watched. Amy joined her as the two watched the trio confront each other from under the shelter of the tree's leafy branches.

"Did you know?" Mighty asked.

"Did I know what?"

"Ray, that's what I've been trying to tell you. I–"

"That she was pregnant," Mighty, again, interrupted Clove and dropped the bombshell onto Ray.

"P-p-pregnant?" Ray stuttered.

"I didn't know either until just a few minutes ago. This whole time Clove has been pregnant with my child ever since her and I broke up last term."

"Pregnant," Ray repeated dumbly again, his eyes flicking to Clove's belly. He lifted his head to peer into Clove's eyes but the pain shimmering in her iris' told him everything he needed to know.

"It's true," Clove hung her head.

"Why don't you look pregnant?"

"I got an abortion the other day," Clove admitted. Now it was time for Mighty to get angry.

"So you admit it!" Mighty exploded like a long dormant volcano finally erupting after a millennia.

"I'm sorry," Clove whispered.

"Oh, you're sorry, well that makes everything better then," Mighty yelled. "That was our baby, Clove. As in you and me. You can't just abort it without telling me."

"It was my choice."

"It was our choice! It was half mine. I can't believe you kept this from me."

"I didn't want it to ruin anything."

"You knew that growing up all I ever wanted to be was a father. You knew how much that meant to me ever since my own dad left my mother as a child. I wanted to have a kid and be the best damn dad there has ever been. You robbed me of that."

"I'm sorry," Clove was in tears. "I didn't know what to do and I knew we weren't on speaking terms and I was dating Ray and I didn't want it to come between us and I didn't want a kid and I just did it," Clove rambled.

"Mighty, please calm down," Ray whispered. "Clove, you too."

"Ray?" They both turned to him.

"This is a lot to take in," he said surprisingly calmly.

"You seriously can't tell me you're okay with this?" Mighty bellowed.

"Ray, baby, I'm sorry. I was going to tell you, I swear. I just wanted to put this whole ugly mess behind me so I could focus on us before I told you," Clove pleaded.

"I just can't believe it's all true. It seems like some sick joke."

"Are… are we over?" Clove asked.

"Are you okay with this?" Mighty questioned.

"I-I… I need time to think," Ray said. "I can't talk to either of you right now. I need time to be alone and process everything. I'll call when I'm ready to talk," Ray finished. He walked off in a trance, ignoring both Clove and Mighty's calls.

"Mighty…" Clove finally tore her eyes away from the boy she loved and addressed the boy she used to love. "I'm sorry."

"You wanna hear something funny?" Mighty said, the rage subsiding. "Even despite everything, I would have said yes."

"What?"

"To the abortion. Even though I've always wanted to be a dad, and even though we've been through everything we've been through this year I still would have said you should have the abortion."

"You would have?" Clove asked in surprise.

"I would have," Mighty nodded. "I would have gone along with anything you wanted. I would have helped you raise it if you had it. I would have raised it by myself if you wanted nothing to do with it, and I would have gone with you to support you if you'd told me you wanted to get the abortion."

"I'm sorry," Clove repeated.

"I just wish you told me. It was my baby too."

"Mighty, I…" Clove trailed off, unsure how to finish her sentence.

"I just can't believe it. I can't. I don't ever wanna see your face again."

"What?"

"You, Clove. This was too far. I never want to see you again. Even if I don't see you until I'm eighty, that would still be too soon. I… I hate you." With those soft, harsh words, Mighty turned his back on the girl he once loved with his entire heart and left her alone with her thoughts and regrets outside the café.

"I hope you're happy with yourself," Rouge snorted in disgust as she strode over and helped walk Clove back to her room.

"Not as much as I thought I would be," Amy frowned.

…

"Alright, I'm here," Jet called out to the empty storage room tucked away behind the science labs. He glanced down at his phone to make sure he had gotten the time right. Eleven am. The text he'd gotten from Nack instructed him to be in this room at exactly eleven that morning. Despite Jet's better judgement he came. Nack had said he had something Jet would like to see and Jet would lie if he wasn't curious.

"I didn't think you'd come," a taunting voice purred from the corner as a shadow stepped out of the darkness. Jet flicked the switch and artificial light flared from the bulb to illuminate the dusty room. Nack was standing in the middle with a sadistic smirk stitched to her face.

"Well I am here, so what was so important that you needed to arrange a secret meeting to show me?" Jet demanded.

"All in due time, my dear Jet," the corners of Nack's mouth stretched even further upwards and he flashed his blinding white teeth.

"Cut the crap," Jet snapped. "I don't want any of your bullshit. If you aren't going to be straight with me then I'll just leave."

"If you leave then I won't be able to give you that which Cosmo gave me." Jet's eyes twitched and Nack knew he had taken the bait.

"What did Cosmo give you?" Jet asked cautiously. Nack fished through his grey blazer pocket and pulled out a glittering necklace that Jet recognized immediately. "How did you get that?" Jet gnashed his teeth together in fury and stepped up to Nack. He seized the scruff of his shirt and lifted him into the air. Nack's collar restricted his air flow as it tightened around his neck and he began to choke.

"I… already said… she… gave it to me," Nack spluttered. Jet released him and he fell to his knees, coughing and sucking up air. He gathered his composure and brushed off the dust.

"Why would she do that? It was a gift for her. A symbol of my love."

"I'm well aware. That's why I found it an equivalent bet for her to win all of her money that she'd lost to me that night in poker."

"She's still playing?" Jet was shocked and disappointed.

"Of course. She never stopped."

"She lied to me."

"It would appear so. She does that a lot."

"No she doesn't," Jet defended her.

"Signs point to the contrary it would appear," he shook the silvery necklace.

"Why?"

"Because it's in her nature. She can't help but lie. She did it when we were kids and she does it now. But I'm nothing if not a fair man. I propose a test."

"A test?"

"To prove to you what I already know about her. Here," Nack handed Jet a small stuffed animal – a dog – with a red-hearted collar.

"What's this?"

"A love puppy," Nack explained. "Some couples give them to each other as a sign of their love. Approach Cosmo and ask her about the necklace. She'll lie to you and say I don't have it–"

"No she won't," Jet interrupted.

"Okay, she might come clean. But if she lies, which she will, then give her this and say it is a token of her love. I bet you I'll have it in my possession by week's end."

"How do I know you won't just steal it?"

"You have my word. And Honey and Storm's."

"I don't trust any of you."

"Do you trust Rouge?"

"What does she have to do with any of this?"

"She comes to my poker nights. What if she sees Cosmo give me the love puppy?"

"Then I'd have no choice but to trust you."

"Good. I guarantee that she'll lie to you, then bet the stuffed animal and lose it to me within a week. Especially if you tell her how it's a token of your love."

"How do you know?"

"Because I know her. Do we have an accord?"

"A what?"

"A deal," Nack rolled his eyes. "Uncultured swine," he whispered under his breath.

"No. I trust her. I'm not like you, Nack. I don't need to test my girlfriend to know that she wouldn't do that," Jet said.

"Suit yourself. But take it, just in case," Nack forced the animal into his hands. Jet stared down at it with conflicted eyes. "Goodbye Jet. I have a feeling I'll be seeing you soon enough."

…

The humungous house dwarfed Bernadette's in comparison. Her humble abode, that would soon keep three teenagers and two single mother's warm within its walls, wouldn't even be fit to serve as a pool house for the Acorn Drive manor.

Bernadette stalled the car and hopped out. She didn't expect to be long. She just wanted a chat. She couldn't stand idly by as Amadeus and Rosemary threatened to destroy the school that so graciously hosted her son and all of his friends after the tragic fire burned their old school down to its charcoal structure.

Bernadette sauntered up the manor's driveway like a mother on a mission and used the grand bronze handle to loudly knock against the door. She could hear flustered footsteps approach with a hurry and a disheveled Rosemary opened the door with haste.

"Bernadette?" Rosemary answered.

"Rosemary, hello," Bernadette greeted formally. "I need to talk to your husband." She didn't notice Rosemary's discoloured features or her sunken eyes. Rosemary's face wasn't caked with make-up like usual and her cheeks and eyes remained un-mascaraed and un-blushed.

"What are you doing here?" Rosemary said in a hushed whisper. "You can't be here. You need to leave, now," her wide eyes pleaded. Before Bernadette had time to question Rosemary's strange behaviour a loud grumble could be heard from down the hallway as heavy feet stomped down the marble staircase that twisted up the tall walls.

"Rosemary, who is disturbing us? Ah, Bernadette, to what do I owe this displeasure?" Amadeus hiss when he laid eyes on his uninvited guest.

"She just–"

"I didn't ask you," Amadeus grunted as he seized Rosemary's wrist and pulled her forcefully towards him. Bernadette noticed her wince silently. He whispered something she couldn't quite make out in Rosemary's ear before Rosemary gave Bernadette a small nod and disappeared down the hallway.

"Rosemary wait, I–" Bernadette took chase but was stopped in the doorway by Amadeus' body.

"I don't remember inviting you into my home," Amadeus said forcefully. "Now, I repeat, what are you doing here?"

"I came to talk to you," Bernadette didn't flinch under his gaze. The two strong people never quite saw eye to eye but they had an unspoken friendship because of their children growing so close together. After what had happened between Sonic and Tails, Bernadette and Amadeus showed their true distaste for each other.

"Well? Out with it."

"You can't sue the school," Bernadette cut to the chase.

"I can and will."

"It's a place of learning and solitude for the youth. For some students that school is all they've got. My son has told me about the suffering of some of the student's who attend that campus and I can't sit by and be content knowing what life they'd be returning to if the school were to be shut down. Sonic–"

"If you came here to talk about the boy that killed my son then I'll slam the door in your face right now," Amadeus snarled.

"Sonic didn't kill Tails."

"He was the last person to see Tails alive. My boy, Chaos rest his soul, loved your son. He was confused and unwell, but his heart did beat for your boy and Sonic used that love and manipulated Tails. If it wasn't for Sonic my boy would still be alive right now."

"Don't pretend to grieve," Bernadette narrowed her eyes. "Sonic told me how you abandoned your son. If anybody did this to him, it was you."

"How dare you?"

"I won't back down. You might intimidate others to do as you whim but I won't be frightened that easily. I demand that you drop this case."

"Oh, you demand it, do you? Well in that case I simply must call the trial off then," Amadeus mused.

"You truly are a horrid man."

"A grieving man," Amadeus corrected. "That school, and your boy, transformed my Miles. They polluted his soul and I can only pray that Chaos has looked down fondly on him. In the meantime I can grant him justice by shutting down that accursed place."

"You can't."

"Just watch me," Amadeus concluded as he slammed the door in Bernadette's face.

…

To say she was nervous would be an understatement. She played with her fingernails and rubbed her hands together anxiously until they were raw and throbbing. Blaze watched Sally from afar, practicing the words she was going to say in her head. She just couldn't work up the courage to get her legs to start moving.

Finally, after an hour of staring, Sally had collected her belongings and began to exit the library. Blaze knew this was her chance. It was now or never. With a belated breath and a bit of buried courage she threw caution to the wind and hastened over, calling out the squirrel's name.

"Blaze?" Sally turned curiously, her eyes narrowing with distaste as she laid eyes on the teenager.

"Sally, please, can we talk?" Blaze asked.

"There's nothing you or I have to say to each other," Sally disregarded her. "We've been over this. I don't like you and you don't like me. We've done things to hurt each other but we'll remain civil… for Sonic." Sally turned her back on Blaze and began to walk off but Blaze caught her attention.

"I came to talk to you about Sonic. And Tikal." Sally froze in her tracks, deliberated for the briefest of moments before turning back to Blaze.

"Okay, you have my attention. What about them?"

"Sonic finally confronted Tikal about what happened to Tails that night."

"Good. And did he call the cops on her?"

"No, quite the opposite. He decided to forgive her," Blaze explained. Sally's expression was unreadable. Blaze couldn't tell what she was feeling, but if she were to hazard a guess it would be a mixture of confusion, pleasure, disappointment, anger and happiness. A strange combination indeed.

"Why would he do that? Last time I spoke to him he wanted to kill Tikal himself," Sally said.

"I know, but he told me that Tails' spirit visited him in his sleep last night and led him to a clearing in the forest where he saw Tikal. Apparently Tails' ghost had been haunting her too."

"You seriously can't tell me you believe in all that ghost nonsense."

"Not really," Blaze admitted. "But if it helps Sonic grieve healthily and helps him move past this then I'll play along with it."

"I never thought about it that way," Sally thought as she bit her nails in contemplation. "I guess I should do the same."

"Either way, he told me that Tails would want him to forgive Tikal, and so he has."

"And what do you think of that?"

"It doesn't matter what I think. This is Sonic's decision."

"But you were Tails' friend too. We all were."

"And nobody was closer to Tails than Sonic. Do you trust his decision, or do you think we should go to Razor anyway?"

"I…" Sally paused for a few moments. Blaze shifted awkwardly, her hands behind her back as she waited for Sally's response. "I don't know. I can't bring myself to forgive Tikal, but I do agree with you. If Sonic is okay with it, then so am I," Sally decided.

"Alright."

"Is that all?"

"I… I also wanted to apologize… to you," Blaze said.

"For?"

"For everything. For fighting with you, for coming up with the plan to switch your low-fat energizer bars with ones that Fiona and I bought knowing that you were going through a hard time with your weight and self-image. I just wanted to hurt you, mentally and physically, like you hurt me. But revenge is wrong."

"You should have just talked to me," Sally said.

"I know that, now. I shouldn't have fought back. I was just hurt and confused and… and a part of me wanted to see you suffer. A dark part of me that I'm working hard to keep under control."

"I guess I forgive you," Sally smiled finally. "You accepted my apology about the fire. Again, I'm really sorry you got caught in that blaze. I didn't do it to spite you, I swear."

"I know."

"And I'm sorry about everything I said about you and Sonic and Tails. I judged you too harshly. I was just hurt and confused and… well, I guess I felt the same way you did."

"Life really has been putting us at odds this whole term," Blaze laughed lightly.

"More like this whole year. Ever since I moved to this school it seems there's been some force placing us at odds with each other, whether we knew it or not."

"We really have tangled together a lot. I'm sorry about everything I said about you and Julie. I'm really glad you two have found each other."

"And I'm sorry I tried to tell Sonic that you weren't right for him. He's my best friend and I can get a bit overprotective."

"Me too."

"Friends?" Sally offered her hand.

"Friends," Blaze affirmed, swatting Sally's hand away and embracing her in a quick hug.

…

Their voices echoed through his head, words splintering his insides more painful than any symptom of his disease. Recently, Eclipse had thought about mounting an expedition into the forest to find the place where he knows Sonic has hidden the heroin. An overdose would do. Just enough to help him shuffle off this mortal coil and onto a feathery-lined cloud listing above the heavens.

Everybody he ever cared about hates him, and now Chaos has struck him down with a terrible sickness as punishment for his sins. At least, that's what Eclipse thought. Those creeping, nasty thoughts had been polluting his brain like a poison for days now. Once they had their sharp tendrils into his brain they had been slowly injecting him with heinous ideas.

Eclipse had gone back and forth on the idea but he couldn't continue any longer. Everything had just become too hard. Limp extremities cracked underneath his aching body as he rose from his bed like a lifeless corpse and he roamed across the creaking floorboards to the window like a corpse. He lifted the latch and pushed open the window, the afternoon breeze flowed into the room bringing a scent of bitter apple.

Streaming tears began to trickle from his eyes and stain his red cheeks as the salty release calmly flowed into his open mouth. He could feel the bitter, unforgiving pain as he silently screamed out for somebody. But nobody was there. Nobody cared about him.

"Nobody cares," Eclipse whispered silently to himself as he peered out the fourth story window down to the unforgiving pavement below. It was cold and uninviting. Exactly what Eclipse though the deserved.

"My brother hates me. My mother died hating me and the one girl I loved more than life itself hates me now more than ever. I'm useless," Eclipse cursed himself aloud. "This pain is too much to bear. So why should I any longer?"

"I've been there," a voice perforated the thick quiet and pricked Eclipse's ears. He jumped back from the window with an embarrassed fright and turned around to come face to face with Jet standing in his doorway.

"Jet… how long have you been standing there?" Eclipse asked.

"Long enough," Jet nodded sadly. "But I did mean what I said. I've been there."

"You have no idea how I feel," Eclipse tore his gaze away.

"More than you think," Jet sighed as he rolled up his sleeve and showed the multitude of cuts and scars that emblazoned deep into Jet's skin. Eclipse gasped. "I cut myself for months. So much so that I locked myself in a bathroom with a shard of broken mirror and tried to end it all. If it wasn't for Cream stumbling upon me that day I wouldn't be alive right now," Jet admitted.

"My Chaos," Eclipse breathed. "Why are you telling me this?"

"Because I saw what you were thinking of doing. I know those thoughts. Trust me, it isn't worth it. It won't solve anything, and it will only hurt those who love you," Jet tried to reason.

"Nobody loves me."

"That's not true," another voice responded. This voice was unfamiliar to Jet but Eclipse's eyes widened tenfold when he recognized who it belonged to.

"It can't be…"

"It is," a dark figure stepped through the doorway. "Hi, little bro."

"Dusk? Is it really you?" Eclipse rubbed his eyes.

"It's really me, Lipsey," Dusk mused. Eclipse couldn't hold his composure any longer and broke down, running into the open arms of his older brother and crying his eyes out. Dusk said nothing, but rested his chin on the top of Eclipse's head and squeezed his little brother tightly.

"I'm so sorry," Eclipse moaned. "I'm so sorry for being angry with mother, and not being at the hospital, and not being at the funeral, and not being there to scatter her ashes and… and… and…" Eclipse began to babble.

"Hush now," Dusk soothed. "It's okay. I forgive you." Dusk was mature for his age. Life does that to you when you grow up having to support your parents and little brother. Ever since he was sixteen he had to provide for the family and it taught him to grow up quickly. However, it also taught him compassion.

"Why couldn't I overcome my stubbornness? Why couldn't I put my pride aside?" Eclipse wallowed in pity.

"Hey, hey," Dusk sat Eclipse down on the bed and knelt down on the floor in front of him, drying his tears with a gloved thumb. "You were angry. You should have come to see her, but mother would have understood."

"Would she? We always fought. She hated me."

"She didn't hate you," Dusk said firmly. "You and she didn't see eye to eye, but she loved you. Like I said, her last words were about you."

"Yeah, she was asking where I was, because I wasn't there for her. I let her down."

"Then make it up to her."

"How?"

"Live your life to the fullest," Dusk affirmed. "Mum wouldn't have wanted you to wallow around here. She couldn't beat her sickness, but you are. You can get better, and then you can turn your life around and do something to make her proud. I'm sure she's up there somewhere smiling down on us."

"But what can I do?" Eclipse asked.

"That's for you to find out. But the first step would be to take a shower. You stink," Dusk laughed as he sniffed Eclipse's shirt and faked a gag. Eclipse dried a stray tear and snorted a little himself.

"But Dusk, how did you get here?" Dusk shuffled aside and the door creaked open and Rouge waved from the doorway with a proud smile on her face.

"Rouge? You?" Eclipse asked.

"At your service," Rouge curtseyed.

"Hey, don't give her all the credit. I helped," Jet said.

"You have friends love you, and they have your back," Dusk smiled. "They reached out to me and said you weren't doing well and that I needed to come and whip you back into shape."

"That does sound like Rouge," Eclipse laughed. "But how did you know about Dusk? I never told either of you about my brother."

"I spoke to Tikal," Rouge admitted.

"And she helped?"

"Just because she dumped you doesn't mean she doesn't still care about you," Rouge explained. "She told me about your relationship with your mother and brother and thought that Dusk might be the only person that can help."

"Thanks. For everything. How can I ever repay you?"

"Get yourself cleaned up first," Rouge said.

"And then give this person a call," Jet pulled out a scarp piece of paper from his pocket. A number was scribbled on it in pen.

"What's this?"

"It's Wave's phone number."

"Jet and I thought that the best way to get out of this rut was to jump back on the horse and try your hand at dating again," Rouge added. "You need to forget about Tikal."

"I've been subtly talking you up when I've been with Wave and I think she might be interested," Jet winked.

"And by subtly he means he basically flat out asked her to give you a shot," Rouge laughed.

"Wow… okay, sure, if you guys think I should give it a shot then maybe I will," Eclipse smiled.

"And if she turns you down, I'll be there with a bottle of Vodka," Jet grinned.

"And to make fun of you a little bit," Rouge said.

"Hey, guys, seriously, thanks for everything. I don't know what would have happened if you weren't there for me. But, could you do me a favour? I haven't properly seen my brother in ages and I'd like to speak with him in private."

"All good. We'll catch up later," they said their goodbyes and slipped out into the hallway. But, as they began to walk away Dusk slipped out through the door and caught up to them.

"Rouge, Jet, I know he's already said it but thank you for everything you've done for my little brother," Dusk said. "I know he can be a bit stubborn and hard to handle sometimes but I can see how much he cares about both of you."

"Anytime," Jet and Rouge smiled. Dusk quickly grabbed them both and hugged them tightly, much to Rouge's chagrin. With that, Dusk nodded one last time before he retired back into Eclipse's room and locked the door behind him.

"Well, doesn't that just warm your heart," Jet mused.

"That's my good deed for the year. There's only so much mush and gush I can take," Rouge shuddered playfully.

"You think he'll take our advice about Wave?" Jet asked.

"No idea," Rouge shrugged as the two waltzed lazily down the hallway. "I don't really know her that well."

"Isn't she your roommate?"

"Yeah, your point?"

"Nevermind." They slipped into silence as they descended the staircase together when Jet finally spoke up again. "Hey, you go to Nack's poker games don't you?"

"Sometimes. Why?" Rouge queried.

"He said something to me earlier today that has got me confused. I don't know whether to believe him."

"Jet, I do know Nack and I can tell you that whatever he told you it's probably a lie to further some selfish gain. I trust him as far as I can throw him."

"Then why do you play with him?"

"For fun," Rouge stated plainly. "I don't trust him, but that doesn't mean I can't play cards with Honey, him and Storm."

"…And Cosmo."

"Yes… and Cosmo. Is that who this is about?"

"Yes," Jet admitted. "Could you just do me a favour? If Nack hosts another poker game this week can you make sure you attend."

"Why?"

"Please?"

"You want me to spy on Cosmo or something?" Rouge asked. She knew exactly what he wanted but she just wanted him to say it.

"Just do it," Jet grunted in frustration. "Please. I just… I need to know something."

"Okay, fine, I'll do it. But if this is about Cosmo, not saying that it is, but if it is, I think you should talk to her. Forget about whatever seed Nack planted in your brain and just worry about you and her. Don't let him ruin what you two have. I've seen it with my own eyes and I know what love looks like. Trust me."

"Okay, I'll talk to her. Thanks Rouge. I never thought I'd say this but you are a true friend," Jet draped an arm over her.

"What did I say about mushy things," Rouge grunted as she slapped his hand away and the stairwell was filled with his lighthearted laughter.

…

Wave sat alone at one of the cafeteria tables with a dry turkey sandwich clenched between her arms. She devoured the sandwich with less than ten bites in as many seconds. She didn't know why but recently she had been famished. Wave was still working through her body image issues but with the stress and distraction of exams and the school's trial just on the horizon her appetite was winning her internal battle. However, before she could even think about going up to the sandwich bar to make herself another one a tray was slammed down on her table.

"This is my table," a nasty voice pierced.

"S-sorry Lien, I d-didn't know," Wave stammered underneath Lien-Da's intense glare. She hated how timid she became whenever she was around Lien but she never could quite grow past her childhood trauma.

"I think you did," Lien sneered.

"I swear I didn't. I always sit here."

"Not anymore. You and your little friends took this table before I enrolled in this school but now I want it."

"Why do you want it?" Wave asked. "It's not even a good table."

"Because you have it," Lien smiled. "And you know the rule. What's mine is mine and what's yours is mine too."

"O-okay. I'm sorry. I'll move," Wave sighed as she hung her head low and got up off her seat. However, when Wave went to walk away Lien stuck out her leg and Wave tripped over her big, black boots and hit the ground with a thud. She wailed out in pain and Lien simply laughed.

"Watch where you're going next time. You almost scuffed my boot. You should apologize," Lien remarked. Wave picked herself up off the ground and glared at Lien. She couldn't take the torment anymore. Lien was like a bad caricature – just nasty for nasty's sake – and she was sick of it. She knew Lien wouldn't stop tormenting her. She still had no idea why she was targeted but if she didn't do something to stand up for herself she was doomed to repeat the same song and dance.

"You tripped me," Wave said quietly.

"I'm sorry, what did you just say?" Lien narrowed her eyes.

"Y-you heard me," Wave spoke a bit louder. "You tripped me. It is you who should apologize."

"I don't think you know what you're saying."

"No, I finally do," Wave said without stuttering. She clenched her fists and stood up to Lien. "I'm sick of the way you treat me. I've never done anything to antagonize you and yet you seem to make it your mission to make me miserable. Well I'm sick of it."

"You really don't know what you did? What your family did?"

"We didn't do anything to you!"

"You ruined my parents marriage, you ruined my mother and you ruined my life," Lien spat.

"I don't even know your mother."

"I'm sick of you walking around like an innocent little princess. You might have everybody here fooled but I know the real you. I know how horrible you are and what you're capable of," Lien hissed. "You're despicable. You're ugly on the inside and I think it's time I finally made your outside mirror that ugliness."

Lien took a step closer to Wave and began to roll up her sleeves, cracking her knuckles in preparation for a fight. Wave stood her ground at first but when she saw the anger and pure hatred in Lien's eyes she faltered slightly and began to back up. She slid backwards until her back was against the wall. The last thing she saw was Lien's sadistic smile before she would up her fist and Wave clenched her eyes tightly and tensed herself.

However, no impact came. All she heard was a small grunt, but it wasn't Lien's grunt; no, it was a males grunt. She peeked open one eye and saw somebody's back to her, their arms outstretched protectively to protect Wave.

"S-Scourge?" Wave gasped in utter disbelief. There, standing between her and Lien, was Scourge the hedgehog. He put his body on the line to shield Wave and took the brunt of Lien's punch right in his gut.

"What are you doing?" Lien grumbled.

"What does it look like?" Scourge said. "I'm protecting my friend." He grabbed Lien's fist, twisted her arm around and pinned it to her back. She let out a gasp of pain before he pushed her away and she tumbled to the floor.

"Friend? Us?" Wave couldn't believe what she was saying.

"Not really," Scourge took back his words as he turned to her. "But let's just say that now we're even."

"Even for what?"

"You're good friends with Sonia and Jet. I've done some horrible things to the both of them so this is my way of apologizing. I helped Fiona drug Sonia that night of Elias' party, and I used the knowledge of Jet's parent's death to further my own agender. I shouldn't have," Scourge said.

"I never thought I'd see the day that Scourge the Hedgehog would apologize," Wave mused. "Why the sudden change of heart?"

"Let's just say an old friend has helped me see that maybe being a complete dick to everybody I meet isn't the best way to live life," Scourge smirked as he shifted his gaze over to Silver watching from afar with a smile plastered on his face.

"I'd say pushing a women to the floor is being a complete dick," Lien grumbled as she picked herself up off the floor.

"I give what people deserve," Scourge sneered.

"If you knew what that bitch has done to me then I bet you'd give her what she deserves and would be fighting on my side."

"What did you do?" Scourge whispered.

"I've no idea."

"So she's just crazy then," Scourge asked. Wave nodded. This boiled Lien's blood. With an angered scream she ran at Scourge in a blind fury, dodged around his arm when he swung it at her and barreled into him. Scourge lost his balance and fell backwards and crashed to the floor.

"Bitch," he winced.

"You've got nobody else to protect you now," Lien grunted. "It's just you and me. I'm sick of waiting and playing games. I've had enough. It's time you get what you truly deserve." Lien got ready a second time to deliver a painful punch but, again, Scourge had other plans. Still lying on the floor he swept her leg across the ground and tripped up Lien-Da as she readied herself. Her body flipped forward and her head clipped the side of the table. Lien blacked out.

"Th-thanks again," Wave breathed.

"Don't expect it to happen again," Scourge replied.

"Should we do something about her?" Wave asked as she tilted her head towards Lien's unconscious body lying on the floor.

"Whatever," Scourge shrugged as he sauntered off. Wave seemed unsure. Lien wasn't bleeding, but she had received a hard knock. Wave would be lying if a small part of her wasn't a bit worried.

"Don't worry, I've got her," a junior appeared and slung Lien's arm around her, struggling to life Lien's body up off the floor. Wave didn't recognize her.

"Are you sure you don't need any help?" Wave asked.

"No, I think you've done enough," the junior said as she slowly hobbled away.

"Wait," Wave chased after her. "Who are you? Are you a friend of Lien's? Do you know why she's so angry?"

"My name's Lara-Su," Lara said. She paused for a moment and contemplated answering the other questions. Before she could decide what she wanted to do a couple of her friends rushed up and helped her support Lien's body.

"We've got her. C'mon, let's go to the infirmary Lara," the taller one of the two said. Lara nodded and her friends walked off with Lien's still unconscious body.

"I'm sorry about her," Lara said finally before she left the cafeteria.

…

Usually, when the screen falls black after another episode of the most recent show that Mephiles and Shadow were binging together on Netflix Shadow's body would become rigid and his arm would flail to find Mephiles'. Likewise, Mephiles' body would pine for Shadow as his mouth would call his name so they could be tangled in a desperate dance of lust.

But no this time.

No, this time there was an awkward silence when the music ended. These silences were not uncommon to the pair, but they were rarely awkward or thick with tension. They normally served as a tool to heighten the drama to deprive their senses of everything but touch and taste and smell.

"So," Mephiles said sullenly, breaking the silence. "Should we watch another episode?" The blinds were drawn, the lights turned off and the door locked and barricaded – as usual. Everybody seemed to be either in the cafeteria or the library these days but they still didn't want to take any chances. They'd be lying if they said they both weren't looking forward for some alone time. But it was different now. Something was off.

"I guess so," Shadow shrugged. They never normally make it past one or two episodes before one pounced on the other, but guilt ate away at both of them. Before the screen flared to life they both spoke up in unison.

"I need to talk to you." They both let out an uneasy laugh.

"You first," Shadow smiled.

"No, you, I insist," Mephiles replied.

"Well, I…" Shadow trailed off, unsure how to word his thoughts. He wanted to tell Mephiles everything. He wanted to tell Mephiles about the deal he made with the commander. He wanted to tell Mephiles about the truth with his adoptive sister Maria. He wanted to tell Mephiles about rejoining the organization that tortured him and abused him. Basically, he wanted to tell Mephiles everything, but most importantly that he loved him more than anything in the world. But he didn't.

"Nothing, really, just a dumb thought," Shadow said finally. Mephiles sighed. "What did you want to say?"

"I just wanted to tell you that…" likewise, Mephiles trailed off. He, too, wanted to tell Shadow everything. He wanted to tell Shadow about Mina's predicament and Nack's involvement. He wanted to tell Shadow that he wasn't sleeping with Mina, but instead was trying to help her be prepared for her father. He wanted to tell Shadow about the deal he made with the commander. He wanted to tell Shadow that he took a job at the organization that Shadow walked away from because of him. But he didn't.

"It's about Sonic," Mephiles thought quickly. Shadow seemed dejected, but didn't show it on his face for more than a moment.

"What about him?"

"I woke up in the middle of the night and saw him talking."

"Wow, talking, so strange," Shadow rolled his eyes sarcastically.

"No, I mean he was talking to Tails." That got Shadow's attention. "He said Tails, wait, don't go. But nobody was there. He was just talking to thin air, and then rushed over to the window, and then sprinted out down the hall."

"He's still seeing ghosts that aren't there," Shadow sighed. "Thanks for telling me. I'll have a talk with him tomorrow."

"Anytime," Mephiles forced a smile. They looked at each other for the briefest of moments before they both turned away, guilt still eating away at both of them.

"So, another episode?" Shadow coughed.

"Loading it up right now," Mephiles said without a second thought and both boys went back to half-mindedly watching their show in silence.

…

The restaurant was full and bustling when Manic and Sonia pushed open the glass door. The ceiling fans mounted to the wall were spinning into overdrive as the melodic jazz notes filled the interior of the summer afternoon restaurant.

The siblings studied the full tables. There was a group of seniors laughing at a booth still in school uniform with loose ties and untucked shirts while a stern woman dining beside them frowned and shook her head in disgust. Their gaze shifted to another table with an elderly couple sharing a fish meal with a half empty glass of white wine in hand. Patrons dressed in brown loafers, white polos and branded sunglasses crowded around the tall bar tables outside lighting cigarettes and downing pints of beer. The noise, smoke and ambiance was high, but Sonia and Manic didn't mind. Anything to distract them from the lunch they'd promised.

Manic saw him first, sitting at a corner table with a wide smile on his face. His callous skin juxtaposed the crispness of his neatly ironed white shirt hidden beneath a charcoal suit tailored to perfection, likely from a high-end Westopolis tailor. Despite his family issues, he was doing fine financially.

"Manic, Sonia, it's so good to see you again," Jules stood to greet his children. Sonia reluctantly accepted his hug but Manic dodged his embrace and instead extended a hand. With a nod, Jules shook it and gestured for them to sit down.

"Hi, dad," Sonia said curtly.

"I've taken the liberty of ordering for you," Jules smiled as the waiter came over and placed two ice-cold glasses of lemon lime and bitters in front of his children followed by a double-decker beef and pickle burger with chips for Manic and fresh salmon on a salad bed.

"How did you know this is what I was craving?" Manic asked while licking his lips and picking up the monster burger in his grubby mitts.

"You're both still my children. I think I know you well enough," Jules replied.

"Actually, mum told us about the divorce papers and how she got custody," Sonia said and noticed Jules falter and his features sour. "So legally we aren't your children anymore."

"You'll always be my little girl," Jules said. "And Manic, you'll always be my Spartan. But enough talk about that, I want to know what you too have been up to. How're your drums going, Manic? And Sonia, how is the baby?"

Slowly guarded talks turned to open conversation and laughter. For the first time in forever it felt like they had the father they remembered from when they were kids back. Words came easily and they found themselves relaxing. Throughout the lunch Sonia almost forgot why they'd decided to cut him out of their life in the first place. He was still their father after all.

"Thanks," Jules took back his credit card from the waiter and walked out into the sunshine with his children.

"Well, thanks for lunch, dad," Manic said.

"We should be getting to the bus stop. It's about an hour's ride and we need to get back in time for dinner for Manic's performance," Sonia added.

"Performance?"

"Not really. Just helping out a friend," Manic downplayed it.

"This friend wouldn't happen to be Espio Chameleon, would it? I've heard him on the radio."

"Yeah, that's him," Sonia replied. "Manic is actually the one on the drums in some of his songs."

"Sonia, seriously, it's cool let's just not talk about that right now."

"No, that's awesome. I'm so proud of you," Jules smiled. "That makes me like those songs more than I already did. C'mon, I'll give you a ride back to school."

"Dad, it's fine," Manic shook of his offer.

"If you need to get back earlier it'll be much faster if I drive. It's the least I can do."

"I don't know if–"

"We'd love to," Sonia interjected. "Thanks dad." Jules smiled and led them to his sedan.

"Are you sure?" Manic whispered to his sister as their dad told them to wait in the shade while he went to pull the car around. He didn't want Sonia to have to walk further than she needed to.

"I want to trust him that he's changed. He is our father, after all," Sonia couldn't believe she was defending the man she hated not one month prior.

"I want to believe it too, but are we being too easy on him because of nostalgia? He used to be a good dad to us, but he was a horrible one to Sonic. We saw how he reacted when seeing Sonic again. How can we love a man that can have that hatred in him?" Manic asked. He wanted to believe his father had changed too.

"I want to believe in him."

"I do too."

"I think I have an idea," Sonia suggested. "We invited him to come visit us at school in a couple days and we can see if he really is a changed man."

"What are you thinking?" Manic asked.

"Just follow my lead," Sonia said as the car pulled up beside them and Jules rolled down the window with a wide smile on his face.

"Hop in kids, we've got a bit of a drive ahead of us."

…

The dull fuzzy greyness slowly subsided as the piercing white light broke through her cloudiness and slowly Lien-Da began to come to her senses. It took her a couple seconds to figure out where she was and what happened. Suddenly all her memories came back and she sat up quickly with an intense rage.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, take it easy," a younger voice said in worry as a hand went to Lien's shoulder and helped relax her.

"Lara?" Lien questioned as she rubbed her eyes. "Where… where am I?" It was only now that Lien-Da let herself take in her surroundings. She was lying in a white bed in a room that didn't look familiar to her.

"You're in the infirmary," Lara explained. "Do you remember what happened?"

"I remember that bitch stepping up to me and I wanted to wipe that smug grin off her face and then… and then everything went black," Lien trailed off as she tried to remember what exactly happened.

"Scourge tripped you and you smacked your head on one of the tables. I helped cart you off to the infirmary. I… I was worried," Lara whispered.

"Thanks. I always can count on you," Lien smiled and leant forward to press her lips against Lara's, but the younger girl quickly pulled away. She could see the hurt in Lien's eyes. "Lara?"

"You said you wouldn't keep getting in fights and hurting that poor girl," Lara said timidly.

"Wave is definitely not a poor girl," Lien hissed.

"Still. I can't stand by and watch as you keep hurting people."

"I don't hurt everyone. Just those who deserve it."

"That's not good enough," Lara shook her head and fiddled with her thumbs in her lap. She peered up and studied Lien's eyes for an answer, but all she found were ones she wouldn't like. "You aren't going to let this Wave thing go, are you?"

"I… I can't," Lien admitted. "She ruined my life."

"I know, I know, but you need to find some way to move past this. If you can't let this go, then you'll have to let me go," Lara sighed. She could see the heartache written on Lien's face.

"But Wave–"

"You can't keep dwelling on the past. You were a victim of circumstance, but now Wave is becoming your victim."

"All villains start out as victims."

"You're not a villain, Lien."

"Then why can't I stop hurting people… why can't I stop hurting you?"

"Just try to find it in your heart to forgive Wave," Lara finalized. "You don't have to like her or even tolerate her, but you can't keep targeting and hurting her. It's either this grudge, or me, but I can't keep sitting by and watching as you get into fight after fight. I'm sorry," Lara exhaled as she rushed out of the room before Lien could reach out and grab her.

"I'm sorry too," Lien let her head drop. She loved Lara. She really did, but she didn't think she could really ever forgive Wave. Not after all she's done.

"Knock, knock," Razor called as he pushed open the door.

"Principal Razor, what are you doing here?" Lien asked.

"I came to check if you were okay. Mr. Ash told me what happened at the cafeteria today. No brain damage I hope."

"Don't think so. I'm fine. Thanks for checking in on me, but I'd like to be left alone right now," Lien waved away his worry.

"That's good," Razor heaved a sigh of relief. The last thing he needed was another serious injury for Claire to hook her nails into. "That's good." He stood still in thought in the middle of the infirmary.

"Um, Razor, is there anything else?"

"Hm, what? Oh, yes. I'm sorry to do this but I need to give you your second strike."

"What? I was the one that got hurt, not them!"

"It's a turbid time right now and I can't have you running around causing fights. If you're involved in one more incident then I'll have no choice but to expel you. I can't have any loose threads right now. Do you understand?" Razor threatened.

"Y-yes," Lien melted under his intense stare. "I'm sorry, Razor. I'll behave. Just don't send me back home."

"As long as we understand each other," Razor nodded before he made his leave without another word. Lien waited until she knew she was finally alone before she let her emotions take over and buried her face into her pillow, screaming her lungs out until the waterworks started and tears damped the pillow.

…

Breezie walked through the halls of the dormitory absentmindedly, completely unaware of the terrible shadow that stalked her every move, keeping just out of site. Breezie could feel the hairs pricking up on her neck but ignored the feeling as she reached for her key in her purse and turned the lock to her dorm room.

"Mina? Tikal?" Breezie called out as she walked into the room. "Lien-Da?" None of her roommates were around. With a shrug of her shoulders she let her purse drop from her shoulder to the floor, kicked off her boots and walked over to open the window and let some fresh air into their musty dorm room.

She inhaled deeply, enjoying the crisp late-spring air when she heard the door slowly creak open behind her. She turned happily and opened her mouth to greet her roommate but froze in shock and fear when the door opened and she came face to face with Trever Burrow, Spike's father. Immediately she opened her mouth to scream but he whipped out a pistol, the sunlight glinted off its silver sheen. A round silencer adorned its barrel.

"Don't scream," Trevor whispered quietly and placed an index finger to his lips as he kicked the door shut with his foot and took a step closer. Breezie's eyes grew wide but she obligingly shut her mouth. She was frozen in fear. "Close the blinds. Please," Trevor asked with frightening politeness. Breezie moved like a robot over to the window and pulled them closed without a word.

"Wh-wh–" Breezie stuttered and swallowed. "What are you doing here Mr. Burrow." Breezie was trying to steel her nerves but she shook uncontrollably like a leaf, petrified.

"Please, call me Trevor," Trevor bowed. "I'm sorry, Breezie. I really am. I don't normally like to get my own hands dirty, and I never kill a child. But you're eighteen now, and you've wronged me. You've wronged me more than any person has ever wronged me."

"What did I do?" Breezie whispered, her words showed no emotion but tears began to trickle down her face. "I only just met you."

"I think my misguided son has filled you in. Your family took something special from me. Someone special from me. She was innocent in this but that didn't stop your father. He murdered her, and so it's time to take somebody special from him."

"But you already had him killed," Breezie managed to find her words. "What do I have to do with any of this. This whole mess is between you and them, and you won. You've won. You've won," Breezie's anger pushed through her fear and her tears turned to those of anger. Her face grew red and her words more confident. "You killed my mother. My father was just doing what you're trying to do now. An eye for an eye."

"Exactly. An eye for an eye," Trevor nodded. "In my work I've learnt many things. I couldn't get to where I am without knowing how to tie up loose ends. You, my dear, are just that – a loose end. An eye for an eye. If I don't do this, you'll come back later and get revenge, and that will probably come in the form of my son. I've already lost one kid. I can't lose another."

"I would never kill Spike!" Breezie countered.

"You say that, but I've seen firsthand what a mixture of grief and anger can do to a person. If I let you live now, you'd come back years later and take my Spike from me."

"I wouldn't."

"Why not?"

"I just wouldn't."

"But you would. There's no reason you wouldn't."

"I wouldn't because I love him!" Breezie said. She couldn't believe the words came out of her mouth. She was so sure of her feelings. She hated him, hated him because of his father. Trevor was right, his actions did make her hate him. But she didn't hate him. She couldn't hate him. She couldn't hate his goofy smile, or his childish laughter, or his kind amber eyes, or his warm loving arms. "I… love him," Breezie reinforced it to herself. She did.

"Love is the one emotion more powerful than hate," Trevor shook his head. "I'm sorry. Truly, I am, but I need to do this for my son. Goodbye, Breezie." Trevor raised his arm and aimed the pistol at Breezie's head. His trigger finger itched. However, just before he squeezed the trigger the door was pushed open and Trevor was knocked to the floor, his gun spinning from his hand. He crawled over to it but a shoe stomped his fingers. Trevor winced in pain and shuffled backwards. The intruder reached down and picked up the pistol.

"Spike?" Breezie and Trevor gasped in unison.

"What are you doing here?"

"I saw him follow you into the dorm from the library window and I got worried," Spike said. "And I was right to be."

"How much did you hear?" Breezie asked.

"Enough," Spike replied cryptically. He turned the gun on his father, who was still kneeling on the ground. Trevor raised his arms.

"Son, what are you doing with that thing. Be carefully," Trevor said slowly as he rose to his feet and took a step towards Spike.

"Not one step closer," Spike warned.

"You wouldn't shoot me."

"Don't test me. You were going to shoot her! How could you. We had an agreement."

"An agreement?" Breezie asked.

"We did, and I honored it. You told me I couldn't harm her because she was the love of your life." Breezie gasped. "But she dumped you, so all deals are null and void."

"I don't work the same way you do, dad," Spike grumbled. "I don't care about semantics or getting revenge for our family."

"This isn't about revenge anymore. This is about protection."

"Protection? Protection from what? Breezie can't hurt you."

"Protection for you!" Trevor said.

"Me?"

"I know how anger and grief can change a person. She would grow cold and bitter. When you told me she dumped you I knew why. I knew the anger was already beginning to fester. If left unchecked she would grow dangerous and you'd be caught in the crossfire."

"But I love her."

"It's not about you loving her, it's about how she feels about you. And how she feels about me."

"She probably feels the same way I do about you. She hates you."

"Don't say things you'll regret, Spike," Trevor warned.

"The only thing I regret is not fighting back sooner," Spike narrowed his eyes. "I can't believe you came here and tried to kill her. After everything. I… I… I hate you." Trevor looked hurt.

"I'd rather have you hate me then not have you at all."

"You're impossible!"

"I can't lose you, too. I've already lost one child; I refuse to lose another. I'd rather die than lose you."

"You didn't feel that way when Demi killed herself."

"Don't say her name," Trevor growled, anger surging in his blood. "Don't you ever say her name to me."

"Demi! Demi, Demi, Demi!" Spike taunted. "You don't get to feel guilty about her. You don't get to feel sad. She died because of you. She took her life that night because you wouldn't help her. Because you demonized her. Because you made her feel like she was alone in the world and that she couldn't go on."

"I was helping her."

"You were condemning her! If it wasn't for you, she'd still be alive."

"Don't you think I know that," Trevor shouted. "Don't you think I curse myself every day for the way I reacted when I found out about what she did. I thought by punishing her it might make her grow up. I wasn't thinking. I was confused. Don't you think I hate myself enough already."

"Well, that makes two of us," Spike said.

"I… I'm sorry son." As Trevor apologized he reacted swiftly. Noting Spike's guard was down he lunged forward and swept Spike's legs. He lost his balance and tumbled to the ground, the gun flying through the air. With cat-like reflexes Trevor snatched the gun from the air and trained it back on Breezie.

"Dad, no!" Spike shouted helplessly.

"I've already made enough mistakes in my life. I've lost one child; I won't lose another."

"If you kill her I'll… I'll… I'll kill myself," Spike threatened weakly.

"Spike?" Breezie whispered. She didn't know how to process anything that was happening.

"I mean it. If she dies, I do," he said with more certainty. "I love her. Whether she loves me or not, I don't care, but it won't matter if she dies by your hand."

"Spike…"

"You're not a bad guy, dad. You might do some evil, evil things, but I know your not a monster. But if you do this, there's no turning back. You'll not only lose your humanity, but you'll lose me too."

"She really means that much to you?" Trevor asked. Spike turned from his father to Breezie and their eyes met. They searched each other, peering deep into each other's souls. It was then they knew the truth. Breezie knew how she felt about him, and he knew how he felt about her.

"She does," Spike confirmed without breaking eye-contact.

"I… I guess I have to trust you," Trevor sighed as he lowered his weapon and pocketed it. "I'm sorry." Breezie let out a shaky, scared breath as Spike rushed to her and embraced her tightly, standing between her and his father.

"I think you should leave," Spike said as he held his arms out protectively.

"But Spike, I just wanted to say–"

"I said you should leave," Spike repeated forcefully.

"I understand. I'm sorry," and with that, Trevor slipped out of the room without another word. Finally, Breezie and Spike let themselves relax.

"Are you alright? Did he hurt you?" Spike asked as he checked Breezie for any sign of injury. She shook her head. "I'm so sorry about him." Still, Breezie said nothing. Spike sighed. "I understand if you want nothing to do with me now. I won't keep bothering you any longer. I just wanted to make sure you were safe."

"Wait," Breezie finally found her voice again as he turned from her and reached for the doorknob. As Spike turned around Breezie flung herself at him and wrapped her arms as tightly as she could around him, pressing her lips violently against his. Spike fell underneath her weight and the two crashed to the floor, Breezie lying on top of him.

"Breezie?"

"Thank you," she said simply as she kissed him again, softer and deeper this time.

"I love you," Spike replied as he kissed her back with his entire soul.

"I love you, too. Truly."

…

The cafeteria, like usual, was packed to the brim with hungry students that dinner time. All day rumours had been flying around about why there were ambulances at the schoolgrounds the night prior and it had led to quite the tall tales about students murdering each other to teachers going insane.

"I heard Razor went crazy and stabbed Blaze because he couldn't deal with the knowledge of her being his daughter," Honey gossiped at the table.

"That's dumb. Also Blaze is right there," Scourge grumbled. "She's fine."

"I heard Mina attacked Manic because he refused to support their child," Storm added. "The ambulances came to take him off to an insane asylum."

"Then why is he standing over there next to Knuckles laughing?" Scourge tore down another rumour.

"You guys are ridiculous," Rouge sighed. "I know exactly what happened. Espio had a heart attack."

"But Espio's over there," Honey pointed out as they watched Espio walk up to Manic and Knuckles and the three boys raced out of the cafeteria.

"What about you, Silver?" Scourge asked as he nudged the boy sitting next to him. "You've been awfully quiet today."

"Just got something on my mind. Ignore me," Silver replied, his gaze fixed on Fiona sitting at the table. He was curious exactly what she was going to do, but he remained reserved. Meanwhile, Cream sat with Sonia, Jet, Cosmo and Wave at their usual table when Mighty wandered over to them.

"Hey Cream, do you mind if we talk?" Mighty asked.

"I don't think that's such a good idea," Cream replied.

"Just for one minute," Mighty pushed.

"Mighty, you heard her, she said no," Cosmo interrupted.

"But I–"

"Mighty," Wave cut him off. "She said no."

"Please," he flashed Cream a confused and lost stare. With a sigh Cream reluctantly agreed.

"It's okay guys. I'll be a minute. C'mon Mighty," Cream stood and followed him to the corner of the cafeteria. "Okay Mighty, what did you wanna talk about?"

"Us. We have something special, Cream, and I know you can see it," Mighty began.

"Mighty, please, we've been over this. I'm flattered but you and I can't be together," Cream replied.

"But we've had such a good time together. I refuse to give up without a proper reason."

"I don't need a reason. The answer is no."

"If you give me a reason why you don't want to give us a try then I'll back off, I swear, but after everything we've been through you need to give me more than just two letters."

"Mighty…"

"Let's play three questions. I'll go first," Mighty tried desperately. "Why don't you want to go out with me?"

"C'mon, don't be like this," Cream pleaded. It broke her heart seeing Mighty like this but she knew a relationship between them wouldn't work. It couldn't.

"That's not an answer. You know the rules. You have to answer."

"I don't wanna play that game anymore. Mighty, just forget about me, it's better off if you do. I'm sorry, I do really like you but this won't work," Cream sighed as she turned to leave. Mighty wanted to chase after him but he felt somebody tap him on the shoulder. It was Bean.

"Come on Mighty, it's time," Bean said. Mighty looked back at Cream returning to her table and, with a heavy heart, silently agreed to leave her alone and slumped after Bean.

"We're all here now," Espio said when he saw Bean and Mighty make their way over towards him. "It's time to finally put Fiona in her place and embarrass her in front of everybody like she used to do to us."

"Can you guys give me a hand pushing this into the cafeteria?" Knuckles grunted as he pushed the makeshift stage. It was a long black platform on wheels. A drum kit, three microphone stands and a set of speakers sat atop of it and a heap of wound up cables sat ready to be uncurled. Together, the five boys silently wheeled the platform through the double doors and into the back of the cafeteria just as Fiona decided to make her move.

Fiona searched the cafeteria and met Silver's gaze from across the room. He wanted to look away but he held eye contact long enough for Fiona to nod at him. She inhaled deeply and climbed up onto the table. This was it. Her turning point. She'd spent far too long putting others down to help her feel better and using every student in the school to further her own agenda. Lumina and Void were right, she needed to turn a new leaf. She was going to keep the promise she made to them and at least try. She didn't want to be her mother's daughter.

"Can I have everybody's attention?" Fiona bellowed over the raucous crowd of senior students. Voices fell silent as they all turned to look at Fiona.

"Fiona's gonna oust somebody again, isn't she?" Honey rubbed her hands together with a smile, laughing as Scourge scowled at her.

"I know most of you know me as the bitchy queen of school who always has dirt over everybody. You're probably all expecting me to divulge somebody's deep secret in front of everybody and embarrass them out of school and ruin their life," Fiona continued. "But I don't want to be that person anymore. The truth is…" Her words trailed off as a loud screeching mechanical sound pierced through the room.

"Hello seniors," Espio's voice chimed through the room, spluttering out of the speakers at the front. "I hate to interrupt Fiona, well, no, I don't, but I have something to say."

"Espio, please, let me say what I need to say," Fiona urged.

"Shut up, Fiona," Bean growled through the mic in front of him and a gasp washed across their crowd. Nobody had ever said that to her. They didn't think you could. Manic, Knuckles and Mighty smirked to each other up on the stage.

"Thanks Bean. As many of you know, Bean and I used to be best friends and then we suddenly hated each other. The truth is, Fiona manipulated us. She manipulated all of us and ran this school with an iron fist, putting down anybody that dared to challenge her," Espio continued his rant. "Well, I think I speak for all of us when I say no more!"

"Yeah," Wave chanted.

"No more," Breezie agree.

"Preach!" Sonia shouted.

"Karma's a bitch, Fiona. And I think it's time it caught up to you," Bean said. Before Fiona could reply, Manic tapped his drumsticks together and begun to beat out a tune on his drums while Mighty and Espio started to strum on their guitars and Knuckles plucked his base. Hearing the commotion, the students from the ninth, tenth and eleventh grade pushed into the separate seniors room.

"Hey guys," Lara-Su called as she poked her head through. "Espio's playing a tune for the seniors. Get in here!" Suddenly a swarm of students all piled into the seniors' cafeteria and bodies were back in like sardines. The five boys on the platform smiled at each other as Espio stepped up to his mic and begun to sing his new song – Karma.

Espio: We're serving the devil his food,
But there's a plate he saved just for you.
You're feasting with the wolves,
Partaking in festivities of the fools.

Bean: The errant downpour of misfortunes,
Seeks revenge for all your mistakes.
Heartache you caused, others weren't unscathed,
It's bad karma you will now have to face.

Espio: So could you…
All: Tell us, where's your sympathy,
how'd you ruin lives so spitefully?
Show us, why you chose villainy,
And why you dumped all this negativity,
on everyone that way.
Come what may, you will pay,
'Cause karma will come for you one day.

Espio: You steal emotions, make us weak,
Your actions like knives, words cut deep.
You sink your teeth like sharpened daggers into our hearts,
Tearing with malice, ripping apart.

Bean: Stabbed my back, severed our connections,
Two-sided mirror to see your true reflection.
Apologies, always rehearsed,
It's too late to revert, you're getting what you deserve

Espio: So could you…
All: Tell us, where's your sympathy,
how'd you ruin lives so spitefully?
Show us, why you chose villainy,
And why you dumped all this negativity,
on everyone that way.
Come what may, you will pay,
'Cause karma will come for you one day.

Espio: Someday you'll cry,
The same way you made us all cry,
Someday you'll repent, but we won't care,
No we don't care
Someday you'll apologize,
But we don't believe your lies.

Who am I kidding?
Now let's not play pretend,
You've always been incredibly selfish.
Here's a newsflash, you suck,
And you've dug your own grave.
So basically, leave us alone!

All: So tell us, where's your sympathy,
how'd you ruin lives so spitefully?
Show us, why you chose villainy,
And why you dumped all this negativity,
on everyone that way.
Come what may, you will pay,
'Cause karma will come for you one day.
Karma's gonna come for you one day.
Karma's finally come for you today!

All students from the four grades nodded their heads and rose their hands as they danced to his pop-rock song and laughed as Fiona's face grew red with anger and embarrassment. She jumped off the table and sprinted out of the cafeteria, ignoring the jeers and smiles from all the students that she'd made enemies of in the past.

"Good riddance," Blaze snorted.

"Glad she got what she deserved," Jet said.

"She got off easy if you ask me," Shadow said. As all the students booed Fiona out of the cafeteria and cheered the boys on the platform, Silver remained silent, his eyes transfixed on Fiona's fleeing body. He didn't know how to feel, but he did know one thing. Espio shouldn't have done that.

---

A/N: Hello again! Honestly this didn't take me as long as I thought it would have. This was a BIG chapter to write, but it only took me a month in a half. For my standards that's pretty quick, especially for this chapter because guess what? This is my first chapter to pass 20,000 words! That's, like, more than a short story. Just one chapter. And tbh most chapters will probably be around this length going forward until the trial, which I've split into two parts. Why are they all suddenly so long? Well, before only half the cast appeared in each chapter and I spread storylines out but since we are getting to the pointy end I have essentially 35 main characters whose story needs to be concluded. So buckle up, there may only be 3 more normal chapters and then the 2 part finale left but I wouldn't be surprised if I've still got 50,000+ words to write before this story, and myself on this site, sing our final swan song. Anyway, on with the A/N!

First up; sorry about the Espio fake out. I wanted to leave on a massive cliff hanger and I know it might have seemed like a bit of a cop out but, y'know, in life sometimes we have false alarms. I just wanted to scare you all a bit, and moreso I just needed a way for Geoffrey to be able to take a blood sample from Espio so I can deliver probably one of the biggest reveals of this entire story, and one that's been 45+ chapters in the making. Espio is the father! Yes, that's right, it wasn't Mephiles, it wasn't Spike, it was Espio. I've gotten some really fun and interesting theories from you but nobody guessed Espio. If you go back and read Chapter's 12 and 13 (the party where it all happened) you'd notice that after Espio flees the stage after his song he's mysteriously absent for the rest of the night. That was done intentially. Obviously i wasn't going to make it some random guy, the father was always going to be one of our main characters, but everybody's whereabouts or alabi's were noted. Except Espio. So, what do you think about him being the father? Love it? Hate it? How will this affect Sonia's new relationship with Knuckles? Or Knuckles renewed friendship with Espio? Also, I hoped you liked Espio's new song :P

Breezie and Spike are back together, and he finally stood up to his father. That was probably one of the more tense scenes, since it almost ended with child murder, but luckily Spike was there to fight his father. Is this the last we'll see of Trevor? Who knows?

Eclipse found sollace with his brother and is ready to start getting better. Nack has planted a seed of doubt in Jet's head. Will he finally get what he wants - for Jet and Cosmo to break up? Or will their love prove to be too strong? Lien needs to move past Wave if she ever wants a chance at keeping Lara, who's slipping away. And Manic and Sonia are giving their father one last chance.

Mighty and Ray both know about Clove's deception. It's been a long time coming, but we all knew they would all find out eventually and Clove's world would come crashing down. Who do you think is in the right in this situation? Who are you rooting for?

QotD: Okay, I've had this story fully planned out for over two years now but there a few endings that I'm still unsure about. For a few specific characters I have two endings planned out and I still can't decide which path I want to take. One of them is Tikal, and I think you can guess which two endings I'm tossing up over. However, the big one involves Mighty and Ray. For how their story pans out, which also includes Clove, naturally, I have 3 possible endings that I've planned out and I can't decide how I want to end their story. I know what I want to do regarding how they end up with every other character but the specific character dynamics between Mighty and Ray (and Clove) I just can't decide. I won't ask you to choose which ending because I don't want to give it away but I do want to ask this: If you were writing this story, how would you end Mighty and Ray's plotline? Friends? Enemies? Clove and Ray break up? Stay together? Mighty and Ray hook up? :O I'd love to hear what you guys think. Who knows, it might help me narrow down my final outcomes from 3 to 1. There's kind of a super happy ending (depending on your perspective), and realistic, average ending and a depressing for all ending, if I'm being honest.

Thank you all so much for sticking with me. I guess we didn't get this done by the end of the year, and this will be the last release for 2019. Hope you've all had a great year, have a merry christmas and a sick new year. I'm hoping to get the new chapter out by end of February, but we'll see. I'm taking a three week break from work and going away and I'm not sure if I'll do any writing or not but either way we have 5 chapters left and 12 months of 2020. Mark my words. This will be done by the end of the year! Don't forget to leave a review, they help keep me motivated and I love reading your reactions. Until next time, thanks for reading.

Next time on SH:EL

Blaze discovers why Cream has been so distant

Bean and Espio figure out just how they feel about each other

Things come to a head when Blaze's darkside is released against Fiona

Flashback of Lien and Lara when things were happier

Scourge helps Silver figure out how he feels about Fiona

Jet tests Cosmo

Espio makes a proposition to Sonia and Knuckles

Claire continues to dig up dirt

Shadow seeks advice

...And somebody gets expelled! (Hint: It's not Lien-Da)

All this and so, so, so much more next time on Chapter 62: Expulsion