All characters belong to Sega/Archie except my OCs.

Chapter 21

I'd almost forgotten what a stomach full of butterflies felt like. Their wings fluttered against my ribcage constantly, tickling my bones and summoning a smile on my lips. They bounced giddily around my tummy, creating waves of nausea and alerting almost every nerve in my body. The fuckers refused to rest. From the moment I woke up till the second I fell asleep, they were causing torment.

At first, I was annoyed by their never-ending party. My random smiles and sudden bursts of energy were unlike me. My spontaneous actions earned some quizzical stares from my classmates and teammates. Only Tails seemed to have an idea of the cause of my happiness. With every smile and enthusiastic rant, he sent me a coy smirk. He must've remembered my frantic call a few weeks ago – back when the thought of kissing Shadow scared the living daylights out of me. Thankfully, he kept his cheeky comments to himself. I had no doubts he was waiting for the perfect moment to bombard me with questions about my new beau. I'd just have to be mindful of my answers.

Within a few weeks, I grew fond of the sensation. The giddiness transformed into motivation to survive the tedious parts of the day. The ridiculous student council meetings. The tiresome basketball tryouts. The boring academic lectures. All of them simply became a small hurdle I had to endure before I could see Shadow. Watching him doodle in eighth period or picking him up from work after basketball practice were the little things I looked forward to.

In school, I did my best to keep up the façade that we were only classmates. We chatted during free time about the assignments and whatever new songs he wanted to show me. During lectures, he'd doodle small sugar skulls with my name on them or scribble humorous notes. Each time it was harder to contain my grin.

Outside of West Brook, I always greeted him with a short kiss or a peck on the cheek. With every gesture, a hint of color rushed to his brown cheeks. Our short ride to his house was usually silent. Both of us were too tired to entertain any real conversation. Still, Shadow used his music to speak for him. I noticed he chose playlists with particularly romantic lyrics whenever the two of us were alone. He'd watch out of the corner of his eye while I digested the new beats and words, seemingly waiting for a reaction to the feelings he couldn't say. After a song I particularly liked, I reached over and squeezed his hand, silently thanking him for the thought.

Despite our constant interaction, we'd never gone out on a real date. I'd realized the fact as I was driving him home from work on Friday night. I'd been squeezing his palm to the beat of the song, contemplating what we could do the next day since I finally had a day off from pre-season basketball training.

"How come we haven't gone out on a date?" I asked in the spur of the moment.

Shadow glanced at me. "Because you're being a pussy and haven't asked me out on one."

I playfully gasped. "Who said I had to do it?"

"You kissed me first, so that means you have to ask me out. Obviously, you're the one who has a crush on me."

I rolled my eyes. "Do you wanna go out…on a date?"

A smile spread across his lips. "Of course. I've been waiting long enough."

I chuckled.

We agreed to have our first "date" at Shadow's house. As we were brainstorming ideas, he noticed the uncomfortable frown tugging at my lips whenever he mentioned any public restaurant. Most of the ones he mentioned were well-known places around town where most of the student body and their family members either worked or frequently dined in. I didn't want to risk the possibility of being seen with Shadow – not yet. Sure, we could have a nice dinner and pretend we were only friends. But, I didn't want to restrict myself – or him – on an occasion where we're supposed to be making googly eyes at each other. For once, I desired to spend time with him the way I wanted – with his hands in mine and my lips on his.

"We could hang out at my house," he suggested with a shrug. "I can cook dinner and try to make the dining room look like a fancy restaurant."

I smiled at him. "Sure. That sounds nice."

On Saturday, I fussed over my appearance. Earlier in the day, I made sure to get a haircut and take an extensive shower. Though I doubted we'd be ripping each other's clothes off, I still wanted to smell good. I tossed on a plain gray dress shirt, jeans, and a pair of Jordan's

My mom poked her head into my room as I sprayed some cologne on my collar. She raised an eyebrow at my attire. "Where are you off to looking so sharp?"

"I'm going to a birthday party," I lied. "The rest of the basketball team is going. One of the cheerleaders is hosting at her house. It's supposed to run late, so you don't have to wait up."

A smile graced her lips. "It's nice to hear you're going out with friends. Drive safe, alright?"

"Will do."

I nearly blew the speed limit on the way to Shadow's house. The butterflies in my stomach were raging at the possibilities of what the night could bring.

I briefly stopped at a local floral shop to pick up some flowers. I wasn't sure if he'd be fond of the red roses I'd brought, but I didn't want to show up empty-handed.

I fiddled with the roses as I waited patiently at his front door. It was only a moment after I knocked that he opened the door.

I nearly lost my breath at the sight of him. His curls, usually long and tousled, were trimmed and neatly brushed away from his face. For the first time, I could see his ruby eyes clearly without any curly strands in the way. A black dress shirt hugged his torso and biceps in all the right places. The top few buttons were undone, exposing a peek of his chiseled chest and defined collar bones. His sleeves were pushed up to his forearms, allowing me to examine the intricate veins poking out from his brown skin. A simple pair of black jeans – surprisingly without any holes or tears – covered his legs.

"Damn," I whispered under my breath.

His cheeks darkened. He averted his gaze and put a hand behind his head. "What's up?"

I smiled. "You clean up nice."

He rolled his eyes. "Thanks."

I pushed the flowers towards him. "Here. I picked these up for you."

"Oh. Thanks." He stepped aside to let me in.

As I passed him, the scent of his Old Spice body wash and rosewood cologne wafted through my nose. The smell wrapped around me, whispering sweet nothings into my ear. I fell under its seductive spell and moved closer to Shadow. Gently, but firmly, I grabbed his arm and pushed him back against the door, closing it in the process. I pinned him against the wood with my body and pressed my lips against his.

The mint from his gum was fresh on his lips. The taste exploded on my tongue as I eagerly begged for entrance into his mouth. He chuckled against my passionate kisses, happily granting me the access I desired. Skillfully, he slowed my fast, lustful kisses and transformed our dance into a sensual waltz. The fire in my stomach ignited more flames as his arms wrapped around my torso, pulling me closer. My hands were busy groping at the muscles beneath his shirt, anxiously exploring above the restraining fabric. Instinctively, my hands lowered from his chest to his waist. Cautiously, my fingers tugged at the button of his jeans.

He pulled out of the kiss with a laugh. "Can we eat dinner before you try to rip my clothes off," he teased.

Blush spread over my cheeks. "Sorry." Reluctantly, I let him go.

His hand wrapped around mine. "Are you hungry?" He tugged me towards the dining room.

I hadn't noticed the mouth-watering array of spices wafting through the air. "Hm, whatever you made smells good."

He smiled. "I hope you like Latin food."

"I'll eat anything as long as you've got some hot sauce nearby."

He pecked my cheek. "You're my type of guy."

We entered the dimly lit dining room. Two lit candles sat in the middle of the wooden table. An empty glass vase sat between them. On either side of the table were navy blue placemats with an arrangement of silverware and napkins. In the corner of the room, a small speaker gently blasted one of his Spotify playlists.

Smiling, I watched Shadow drop the bouquet of roses into the empty vase. "You're cute," I told him.

A bashful smile tugged at his lips. "Thanks." He motioned one of the empty chairs. "Have a seat. I'll be right back with the food."

I obeyed, taking a seat in the closest chair. From my spot, I could see through the doorway into the kitchen. My eyes followed Shadow as he bustled around the room. I raised an eyebrow when he pulled wine coolers out from the refrigerator. "Your uncle lets you drink those?"

"No, but he won't notice they're gone."

I shook my head. "Aren't you afraid he'll murder you if he finds out?"

"Of course. That's fun part."

He finally returned to the room with two steaming plates in each of his hands.

I looked down at the savory meal, examining the assortment of items on the plate.

"I made chicken empanadas, pulled pork, and fried rice," he explained.

"Mmm, it smells delicious."

He sat down across from me. "Try a bite of the empanada."

I picked up the breaded delicacy and took a small bite. A moan nearly escaped my lips from the heavenly taste. I was pleasantly surprised at the gooey cheese and spicy jalapenos. The two mixed in with the tender chicken and buttery fried dough made for a delightful party on my taste buds. "Holy shit," I said. "This is amazing."

A smile took over his face, emphasizing his dimple. "Really? You think so?"

I took another bite. "Mhm. This…this is good. Do you have more of these? I'm gonna need more than two."

He chuckled. "Yes, I have plenty more in the kitchen."

"Where did you learn how to cook like this?"

"My mom and I used to cook together all the time. Our church used to have social functions all the time, and my mom would always volunteer to make a dish. Usually, we made the empanadas. We'd have chicken, beef, potato – spicy, not spicy. We'd spend all day in the kitchen listening to a bunch of oldies." His smile dimmed. "Cooking makes her happy. It distracts her from…everything else."

I tilted my head. "Did cooking make you happy?"

He shrugged. "I just liked spending time with her. We used to be close before…before I moved down here."

I frowned. "Do you miss living with her?"

He poked at his rice with a fork. "Yeah," he murmured.

"Do the two of you still talk often?"

He nodded. "She tries to call at least once a week. Most times, she'll call after church and we'll chat about our weeks. If I'm having a bad day, I'll call her and vice versa. Usually, we end up calling almost three days a week. But, if not, there's always Sunday's."

"What's your mom like? Is she tough like your uncle?"

He scoffed. "She's tough all right – but not in the same way as my uncle. She's five foot nothing and a sweetheart. She's always looking out for everyone else. Everyone at church practically calls her 'mama' too." He smiled. "Emotionally, she's strong. Despite everything with my dad and my brothers, she's always managed to keep a smile on her face."

"She sounds like a nice lady."

"Mhm."

"So, church…? Are you religious?"

"I was raised in a Roman Catholic church – predominantly populated with people from Latin backgrounds. Growing up, I enjoyed going to church. I liked the songs and the pastor's stories. I wouldn't say I'm heavily religious, but I have my beliefs and values that come from my church."

"Did your beliefs ever conflict with…you know…?"

"Surprisingly, no. My church is less rigid about their beliefs of same-sex marriages and relationships. My congregation has always sought to accept everyone. There was a time when I was afraid it would. I remember visibly shaking when I went to confession after my first kiss with a boy. I thought my pastor was going to beat my ass." He stabbed a piece of the pork. "But he talked me through how I was feeling. He helped me understand it wasn't a bad thing to like boys. As long as I was protecting myself and being kind, he said it was something I should embrace."

"Your pastor sounds awesome."

"Yeah, he's a good guy." He shoved his chin towards me. "How about you? Religious?"

"Uh, not really. My parents were both raised in very strict Christian households, but they didn't raise us the same way. They do have their beliefs…and they're very strong to say the least."

His brows came together. "Do they know…about you?"

I nodded. "They just choose to ignore it. They set me up with their colleagues' daughters and pray one of them will fuck me straight."

"That's awful."

"Sometimes it's not so bad. Most times, the girls are good company. I don't have sex with any of them, but I do try to form a friendship – before one of us breaks it off." I looked down. "Pretending isn't easy, but it's better than…"

Shadow patiently waited for me to finish. A crease formed between his brows, and his lips were pulled into a deep frown.

I sighed. "It's better than being sent back to a conversion camp."

Fire lit up his eyes. "They did not do that to you."

I nodded. "They shipped me off the summer after freshman year. During the school year, they forced me to speak to a therapist who specialized in conversion. It was…absolute hell."

He reached over the table to grab my hand. "Sonic, I am so…so sorry. You didn't deserve to go through that. There is nothing wrong with you. Please tell me you know that."

I lowered my gaze. "Some days I do," I murmured.

He tightly squeezed my hand for a moment and released it.

"So, um, have you been with many other guys before – like dating?"

A smirk graced his lips. "Already talking about exes on the first date? You must really like me, huh?"

I rolled my eyes. "I'm just curious. When we talked before, you said you've never really been with anyone."

"I haven't. Not seriously. Sure, I've kissed a few boys here and there, but it was never anything more than a stupid kiss." He tilted his head. "How about you? Any other guys besides the one from Dave & Buster's?"

"A few," I admitted. "I wouldn't call them serious relationships, but…"

"What would you call them, then?"

My cheeks grew hot. "Well, um, they were more of…um…casual hook-ups…"

"Fuck buddies?" he asked with a grin.

I kicked him under the table. "Friends with benefits," I clarified. "Like I said before, I've never truly dated guys before. I have to keep my sexuality as private as I can. The boys in the past were okay with sneaking around and spending most of our time alone."

"You mean, most of them enjoyed fucking without the commitment and feelings?"

"Don't say it like that. You're making me feel like a hoe."

He chuckled. "I'm just messing with you. I…I didn't take you as the type of care more about the physical."

"It's not that I prioritized sex in my past endeavors, that's kind of just the way the boys I've encountered preferred our interactions to go."

"Were there any of your past exes who didn't want sex from you?"

"One," I whispered. "He was…um…he was actually the first boy I'd been with."

"Do you wanna talk about it?"

"We…we met at a basketball camp in Philadelphia the summer before freshman year. The camp was meant for all-star players who wanted to improve their skills. We had workshops with some of the pro-ballers and spoke with some of the professional coaches. It was cool.

"Trey…um…his name is Trey… He was one of the best at the camp. Apparently, he'd been going for years before I came along. On the court, I was his perfect match. He used to despise me for taking his spotlight. We started a rivalry over the first month of camp. We'd always trash-talk each other and try to outshine each other on the court. Hell, we almost got into a physical altercation a few times because we'd purposefully knocked the other over to make a shot."

I laughed at the memory. "But, then one night, I took a walk down to the blacktops to practice and he was there. He seemed upset, so I sat down and asked him what was wrong. He confided in me about his home-life and all the worries he'd tried to distract himself from. In return, I did the same. We sat on the black-top all night, staring at the stars and lamenting over our troubles.

"After that, we slowly became friends. We shared our secret moves and practiced together. It was nice, having him as a teammate rather than an opponent. But, then…I…I started having feelings for him. I started taking more notice of his body and his smile and his hair and…

"One night, when we were practicing on the black top after-hours, I was trying to block him, and we ended up falling over…and my dumbass kissed him, and…after that we were practically inseparable. We, um…we were good together for the rest of the summer. But, towards the end, one of our coaches caught us together and told our parents and…" I let out a shaky sigh. "Well, you can guess how they reacted."

"Have you talked to him since then?"

I shook my head. "Nah, we haven't spoken. He lives in California, so…"

"I see." He chewed on his lip. "Do you miss him?"

"Some days," I admitted. "He was…um…he was the first guy I'd ever fallen in love with."

A sad smile appeared on his lips. "I'm sorry it didn't work out."

"No, no. Don't be sorry." I smiled at him. "Tell me about your first kiss."

"Oh, one of the boys from my church kissed me behind the bleachers at a football game." He shrugged. "Nothing spectacular, really."

"How many boys have you kissed?"

He smirked. "Why all these questions about my past? Isn't it enough to know that the only lips I'll be kissing from now on is yours?"

A grin conquered my lips. "It's more than enough. I'm just…curious."

"Mhm." He looked down at his food, picking apart the empanada crust with his fingers. The lighthearted smirk on his face vanished. "You know…you know I want us to be exclusive…right?"

"Yeah. I…I know." I reached across the table to grab his hand. "Don't worry. I'm all yours."

After dinner, I joined Shadow in the kitchen and helped wash the dishes. We stood side-by-side in a content silence, him washing and me drying. Every now and then, he'd accidentally splash me, and I'd swat him with the washcloth.

He raised an eyebrow after the fifth time. "Is there a problem?"

"Keep splashing me and there will be."

He flicked his soapy fingers at me, flinging wads of soap onto my shirt.

I glanced down at the water stains. "Now, you have to fight me."

"What's up with it? You know I'm down."

I rolled my eyes. I wrapped an arm around his waist and kissed his cheek.

"Nah, don't try to butter me up now." He playfully pushed me away. "I'm not gonna forget you were talking shit."

I avoided his nudging shoulder and wrapped both my arms around his waist. Pressing my lips against his ear, I whispered, "Let me make it up to you."

His muscles stiffened under my grasp. A hitched breath escaped his lips as my own pecked soft kisses from his earlobe to his neck.

Cautiously, I nipped and kissed at his warm skin. My arms tightened around him, pulling his body closer to mine.

A chuckle rumbled in his throat. "Get off me," he said. He softly shoved me away. "Kissing on me isn't going to get you anywhere."

I raised an eyebrow. "Do you wanna bet?"

His cheeks visibly darkened. He finished scrubbing the last piece of silverware. "Dry this off," he commanded.

I couldn't contain my grin as I obeyed. Reluctantly, I glanced at the clock. Ten o' clock. Probably time to go home. A frown replaced my grin.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"It's getting late," I replied. "I…I should probably start heading home."

He pushed back imaginary bangs. "Or…you could…stay over…if…if you want…"

My eyebrows shot up. "Really?"

His eyes fell to the floor. "Well, yeah. I mean, my uncle won't be home until tomorrow afternoon. He's out of town with some friends. I have the house to myself." His hand drifted through his hair to the back of his neck. "And I don't really want to be alone."

I smiled. "Okay. I'll stay."

"Cool." He grabbed my hand and towed me up to his room. "Do you want to borrow some pajamas?"

I sat down on his unmade bed. "Yes, please." I watched him shuffled through his drawers for a moment.

He pulled out two pairs of plaid pajama pants and two plain tee shirts. He tossed one set to me.

Shamelessly, I unbuttoned my shirt and slid it off my shoulders.

"Damn, can I leave the room first?" Shadow asked. His eyes were wide as they examined my biceps, more defined now that basketball season had started.

I smirked. "Why? Afraid of a little sneak peek?"

He scoffed. "Shut up." He undid the buttons of his shirt.

I watched with a grin as he slipped out of his shirt and tank top. My eyes scoured every muscle on his torso, from his sculpted shoulders to the curve of his v-line. "Come here," I murmured, beckoning him with my finger.

Blushing, he approached me.

My arms snaked around his waist. Wordlessly, I fell onto my back, taking him with me.

He chuckled as I rolled the two of us over.

I silenced his laughter with a kiss. Hungrily, I devoured his lips, licking up every lingering spice on his mouth.

He moaned into my mouth as our tongues erotically wrestled.

Like earlier, my hands eagerly explored his torso, this time lingering over his chest and abs. I shifted myself between his legs, settling my hips on top of his. Between our jeans, I could feel his bulge. The pressure against my thighs increased the heat of my kisses. With one of my hands tangled in his curls, I used the other to travel down to his jeans. Again, I gently tugged at the button of his jeans, silently asking for permission.

He pulled away at the question. His crimson gaze burned with the flames of lust, but his frown was tinted with worry.

"Are you okay," I asked.

"Yeah. I just…I…" He looked away. "I'd just like to take things slow. I've never been intimate with anyone before, and I…I don't know if I'm ready."

"I understand." I pecked a kiss at his lips. "I'm sorry." I shifted to roll off him, but his arms tightened around me.

"No, don't apologize. I like…I like making out. I just… Can we only do that for right now?"

I nodded. "We can do whatever you want, Shadow." I kissed him again. "Whatever you're comfortable with." Softly, I eased him back into our intense kisses.

We weren't tangled together for much longer. Shadow reluctantly pulled away and let out a quiet yawn.

I smiled at him and nuzzled my nose into his neck. "Someone's sleepy," I commented.

"I spent all day cooking for you," he replied. His fingers traced the bones in my spine. "I'm exhausted."

I pecked one last kiss at his lips before finally rolling off him.

We changed into pajama pants and returned to the bed. I wrapped my arms around Shadow and hugged him close. My face fell into his curls, and I inhaled the sweet scent of his shampoo. "Goodnight, Shadow," I whispered.

"Goodnight, Sonic."