Chapter Fourteen
"And open your eyes!" Gerald's voice was heard and yes Shadow slowly opened his eyes.
He and Maria, who was standing next to him, gasped at the sight before them. Gerald had set up the picnic in front of the lake on the grassy part then after went to get the two from inside the cabin.
"Wow picnics look so good when positioned in front of a large lake and under a tree." Shadow half whispered with a smile while the three of them approached their picnic lunch.
"Yeah it looks so appetising and attractive." Maria added as they reached there and all took a seat around it on the large blanket.
They all soon began to tuck into their lunch and time seemed to flash by for Shadow as now the picnic was pretty much finished with. He stayed sitting with his legs stretched and leaning back on his hands.
"That was the best thanks dad, you sure know how to put together a tasty picnic." Shadow contently said with a smile as he looked up into the tree above them.
"Yes thank you grandpa, you did good." Maria sweetly said.
"That's quite alright but before you both go jumping into the lake I want you to wait for half an hour so you don't get cramps." Gerald said with a semi firm tone but did have a playful grin on his face.
"Cramps huh, sounds unpleasant. Your the boss." Shadow said with a smile as he changed position to lay down with his arms folded behind his head.
"That's right I am." Gerald laughed lightly.
"It's so peaceful out here." Maria sighed out contently.
"Yeah that's something we could all agree on right dad?" Shadow chuckled then turned his head to look up at his father with a lazy smile.
"Agreed, it's nice to have a break from the hustle and bustle of the busy city." Gerald replied as he looked down at his hedgehog son.
Shadow kept smiling then turned his head back so he could look back up at the tree, silently watching the lush green leaves lightly sway in the cool breeze to this hot summers day. Time progressed within a blink of an eye and without Shadow even realising it over half an hour had passed.
"Come on Shadow let's get ready to have a swim." Shadow heard Maria's voice making him turn his head to look at her.
He didn't question how the picnic was all tidied away and in truth he couldn't care about that so he simply ignored that. He smiled back at Maria and began to get onto his feet.
"I'm pretty much ready, I just need to take my top, shoes and socks off." Shadow smirked smugly at his best friend while talking in a semi teasing voice.
"Skinny dipping is not allowed." Maria teased back with a grin and crossing her arms as she stood there looking back at Shadow.
"I am planning to keep my fur on you know." Shadow rolled his eyes playfully back.
"If we are going swimming you need swim shorts on, right grandpa?" Maria said with a factual tone, grinning a little smugly at Shadow.
"Oh yes and as luck has it I got you a pair for I knew you would want to jump into the lake and swim." Gerald said as he lent against the tree with a book in his hands.
"Cool thanks dad. Ok Maria let's get ready." Shadow grinned then waited for Maria to take the lead back to the cabin.
Shadow followed Maria all the way to their bedroom and he watched as Maria opened a draw where he was keeping his new tops then smiled as she pulled out some swimming shorts.
"Here you are Shadow." Maria sweetly said as she approached Shadow and held out the shorts to him.
"So that's what they were, thanks." Shadow said as he took them with a grin.
"I'm going into the bathroom to change, unlike you I have to strip all my clothes of to get my bathing suit on and I don't have fur just skin." Maria said teasingly then walked out holding something red in her hand.
"Yeah good call!" Shadow called out as he did not want to be in the same room as Maria got changed.
Shadow grinned as he took his time with getting his new swim shorts on then did the cord up so they wouldn't come off. He looked down with a faint smile as he checked himself out. They were a little puffy and blue in colour with two thin peach strips going down one leg.
"These are quite comfortable actually." Shadow muttered with his faint smile turning into a full blown smirk.
"I totally rock clothing." Shadow through then quickly turned around from hearing someone clear their throat.
"You look so adorable in them Shadow." Maria giggled as she stood in the door doorway and wearing her all in one red bathing suit.
"Yeah I am totally rocking these shorts." Shadow smirked and he and Maria locked eyes.
"Come on then let's go while the sun is still warm." Maria giggled then motioned Shadow to follow, which he did.
"You know red is so your colour Maria." Shadow gently said as they both left the cabin and calmly walked towards the lake.
"Yeah?" Maria replied in some surprise.
"Yeah it compliments your complexion and makes your hair look more golden blonde." Shadow said as he looked up at Maria while they walked closer to the lake.
"Aw thank you Shadow, you are adorable you know that." Maria replied with a warm smile down at Shadow.
"Yep and totally awesome too." Shadow smirked playfully.
Maria rolled her eyes then they both looked ahead of them while they got closer to where they were heading. They finally made it and stood a couple of inches from the water.
"Before you both go in I want you to not go too far out ok!" They heard Gerald call out.
"Ok grandpa!" Maria called back.
"And don't spend too long in the water!" Gerald once again called out.
"Sure thing dad!" Shadow called back this time then glanced up at Maria.
"So mad run in?" Shadow asked calmly.
Maria glanced back at Shadow with a grin.
"Definitely a mad run in." Maria replied then she grabbed Shadow's hand and began to run into the lake dragged Shadow.
"Ah wow, cold." Shadow gasped as they got further out.
"But so refreshing." Maria giggle as she let go of Shadows hand.
They got as far as they could by foot then both began to swim a little further out.
"Shadow your quills are going flat." Maria laughed as they stopped swimming and kept themselves afloat facing each other.
"Yeah bet they look just as cool." Shadow playfully smirked as he didn't care all that much on how his quills looked but was sure going to play along.
"Bet I can make them more flat." Shadow said as he and Maria locked eyes.
"Bet you can't." Maria said back with a teasing grin.
"Yeah well watch this." Shadow said then took in a deep breath and went under a little.
Shadow had his eyes closed and mentally counted to ten before swimming back to the surface, eyes still closed when his head broke through. Shadow opened his eyes and found himself in his bedroom all snug in his bed sheets. He sighed sadly then turned to his other side and looked at his clock.
"It's six in the evening, I slept the whole day away which means it won't be long before I can take more so I can sleep tonight." Shadow thought as he began to smile.
"I'll just take a shower to freshen up, check my phone then go back to bed." Shadow muttered to himself as he tore the sheets off his form and got out of bed.
