It was several days later. Around the village square, a young male hedgehog was walking about. It was the young Hedgehog Prince himself. He was now free from his first punishment, of being grounded, so he was allowed freedom from the palace again. For the first time in a good while, Masevar felt the slightest bit happy, with even a tiny smile on his face. It was so great to be out here again. He couldn't wait to see his friends again, and do stuff. And speak the devil (well, not really), just then, he spotted a familiar face, like he thought he would. But... however... that particular face wasn't one, he was expecting to see, nor was he sure he wanted to see... But at the same time, that face brought such a rising hope inside. It was her.. Aleena. There she was, standing close by. Masevar could've bawled at the sight of her. He'd missed her so! Now here she was at last, in front of his eyes. He wanted to run up to her, sweep her in his arms, tenderly kiss her and say how much he loved her!... *-Wait NOOO!!* His brain snapped him back into reality. *You can't do THAT!! She BROKE UP with you!! She doesn't want that!!* His hopes immediately sank like the Titanic, into the deathly cold Atlantic. *-She... doesn't want... ME...* Masevar felt like a cold knife had just been slammed into his gut... He choked on the dry air, felt his throat ache horribly, and slightly turned away for a minute. But then he decided that he still wanted to see her. She was still his FRIEND at least, right? So he figured there could be no wrong it that. How little he knew...

Aleena suddenly felt a gentle tap on her shoulder. She calmly turned around to see who it was, only to nearly pass out at the sight of who it was. Masevar slowly smiled at her. "-Hi Aleena." Her mouth hung slightly open, gazing at him. "-Masevar..." Oh, how she had missed him! Now there he stood, before her. She could've rushed into his arms, thrown her arms around his neck, kissed him deeply, and told him how she loved him so... *-NOOO!! STOP!!* her mind screamed. *What are you DOING to yourself?? You BROKE UP with him! You can't do THIS!!* At thinking this, Aleena then realized she was practically swooning at him. She quickly shook herself out of it, and said a different response. "-I mean, hello Masevar," she said, in a more dignified way. Masevar nodded, "-So... it's... been awhile.." Aleena nodded in turn. "-I suppose it has." The male swallowed, nervously. "-Ummm.. so... how are you?" The female replied, "-Just fine... erm.. and yourself?" Masevar shrugged, "-I'm good." They both realized how stiff and uncomfortable the conversation was getting. This wasn't what Masevar wanted to happen. However... it was 'slightly' what Aleena wanted. She didn't want to get 'friendly' with him... she wanted him kept at a distance... If she was going to 'get over' him... she needed restraint. But nonetheless, Masevar wasn't one to give up. He tried again to break the ice. "-What you been up to?" Aleena simply shrugged it off. "-Oh, nothing much... you?" "-Ah... same old, and that," he responded. Another dead-ended questioning. He decided to try something a notch 'higher'. "-You look good," he told her, about her looks. This nearly killed her. *Oh Masevar! Stop it... I don't want to hurt you anymore! ...Why can't you just go, before I say something horrible??* Aleena thought sadly. As long as he kept talking to her, she had to keep blowing him off. She bluntly said, "-Thank you." Masevar slightly expected she'd say a similar sentence to him... but she didn't. This was turning out worser than he thought it could possibly get. He tried one last time. "-Uhhh... are you busy right now, Aleena?" Maybe we could... hang out?" We could get some food... or something?" Normally, Aleena would've loved nothing better than to spend time with him (but of course)... but... with the whole 'situation' hanging over her head.. she was reluctant. So, she forced herself to perform a last finishing blowoff. "-No." I can't." She hadn't refused him like this in months. So naturally, Masevar was a little shocked at her refusal. "-Oh... umm... alright." Feeling that her reply had been TOO harsh, Aleena made up an excuse. "-I'm sorry... I.. I just have... arrangements already... so..." "-No that's alright, I understand," insisted Masevar. "If you have plans already, you should keep them." Don't let me stand in the way." Aleena nodded. Masevar put his hands in his pockets. "-Well... maybe some other time, then?" In her head, Aleena sighed. *How am I supposed to get over you, when you won't leave me alone?? I don't WANT to go anywhere with you!* But to be polite in someway, she simply said, "-Perhaps." "Sounds good," said Masevar. "-Well... guess I'll see you later then." Then suddenly by an old reflex, he started to lean over to kiss her, like he used to bid her farewell, when they were together. Aleena saw this, and moved back. "-What are you doing?" she questioned, a tiny bit, startled. Masevar then realized what he just did, and turned an even brighter red than his fur. *-Oh my god, you IDIOT! What was THAT??* he thought furiously to himself. He stuttered out, "-Oh gosh... Aleena... forgive me, I just..." I... I need to go." "-Uhh... goodbye," Aleena spoke quietly, and Masevar walked off, dazedly, shocked at himself for what he'd almost done.

He saw her again that day. She was walking by, and he said hello to her again, and stopped to talk. But she just went right by him, as if she hadn't seen him at all! Masevar was rather crushed by this, but he tried to shake it off, by convincing himself that Aleena must've been busy or something, had things on her mind, and was distracted, so she hadn't noticed him. But he came to find the next day, that he was wrong. He saw her standing in a line, somewhere, and had called her name, and waved at her. He thought she looked back to see him for an instant, then turned back around, not even waving back or anything. Then once again, he spotted her in the village crowd. He slowly waved at her, this time. She looked at him for a second, then just started walking the other way. This whole ordeal hurt Masevar something awful. Why was she doing this to him?? He couldn't understand it... It felt terrible and unfair, and Masevar was hating every minute of it.

That evening, Masevar reluctantly agreed to go out with some of his pals to the bar, hoping it might take his mind off of Aleena or something. It didn't. While Buckthorne and Tyler played a round at the pool table, he, Charles and Bullseye sat at a table. Masevar miserably slouched his head in his arms, on the table surface, staring off distantly at nothing. The blue hedgehog looked at him, with concern. "Hey Masevar... you okay?" The red hedgehog groggily lifted up his face. "Eh?" Oh... yeah... I'm fine," he murmured. Charles certainly didn't look convinced. Neither was their warthog friend. Bullseye pushed a glass over to Masevar. "-Yo Masey... here... have some 'morphine' for the pain." The young Prince looked blankly at it. Then he picked it up, and without a second thought, he swiftly chugged it down all the way, even though it wasn't exactly a shotglass. A cringing look came over Masevar face, but he shook it off, with a cough, and a few grunts. Bullseye looked impressed. "-Holy!" Look at you, go!" If you weren't supposed to be sober, I'd challenge ya for a round of shots!" he grinned. At the remembrance of this, his friend groaned, and put his head back on the table. The warthog looked on, thoughtfully. "Hmm... doesn't look like that did ya any good... want another?" The hedgehog shook his head. "-No... I better quit while I'm ahead." Bullseye's eyebrows twitched. "-What?" How's anyone gonna know anyways?" They gonna do a blood test on ya, as soon as you get home, or what?" Masevar sighed, and ran his hand over his face. "-No... but I think I've put my mother through enough, already." Bullseye nodded, understandingly. "-Ah." Okay then... suit yourself, tiger." Charles nodded as well, in turn, to show his understanding. Only a few minutes later, the Prince groaned outloud, "-Oh screw this shit," and rose to his feet. His warthog friend cast a quizzical look. "-What you sayin' there, Masevar?" Masevar absentmindedly waved a hand at him. "I gotta go throw up," he said, with a pained quietness in his voice, and walked off numbly, towards the bathroom. The two watched him go. Charles was actually a bit relieved for the break. He turned to Bullseye. "-Gosh... would you just LOOK at him??" the hedgehog said, shaking his head, empathetically. Bullseye looked at him blankly. "-Huh?" What am I lookin at?" Charles gave an exasperated look. "-Masevar!" The light went on in Bullseye's head. "-Ooooh!" Him!" Aaaahh... I see now." Yeah, Masevar." ...Ummm... what about him?" Charles rolled his eyes back, and put a hand over his head, sighing. There was no question about it, sometimes Bullseye could be such a dimwitted dumbfuck. WHY he found it SO damn hard to spare just a FEW minutes of his time, to listen to what people had to say, was beyond Charles. It was certainly annoying... especially at the present moment. Thankfully, not being an impatient sort or easy to anger, the hedgehog simply explained, "-About this whole thing with him and Aleena!" Bullseye rolled his eyes, and snorted, "-Oh for cripes sake... this AGAIN??" Charles gave him a stern look. "-Yes, THIS again... in case you haven't noticed Bullseye, it's still a major issue here." The warthog raised an eyelid, lazily. "-How so?" "Well it's still affecting the main people." "-Who are?" "-THEM!" yelped Charles, speaking of Masevar and Aleena. "Who do you THINK??" Bullseye grumbled, and averted his eyes in another direction. His hedgehog friend took little notice of this, and kept talking. "Honestly Bullseye, like I said, just LOOK at Masevar!" He's no better, or heck, maybe even WORSE than he was when Aleena had just broken up with him!" It's been going on for the last two days... see... Masevar's ran into Aleena, about four times." Three times, she didn't even talk, wave or anything to him... she just walked right on by, turned around, or pretended she didn't even SEE him there!" And the one time she DID actually stop to talk, she was totally rude, and completely blew him off!" Cripes... I feel so 'torn' here!" Part of me sides with Aleena, since she's my sister, and I care, and I know she's just doing this, for a perfectly good reason." But another part of me wants to just SCOLD her for treating Masevar like this!" It's just AWFUL!" I mean... we've gotta DO something for the poor guy here!" Try to talk to him... cheer him up... just 'something'!" You know what I'm saying, Bullseye?" There was no response. "-Errm.. Bullseye?" Bullseye wasn't listening to him, however. His attention was now focused on a beautiful female tawny-furred rabbit several tables away, who seemed to be making eyes at him. The young warthog smirked casually, and slowly raised his eyebrows, showing her that she had his attention. She smiled, bashfully, playing with her hair, stroking back the long curls. Bullseye gave her the 'stare', in which he smiled that 'lady-killer' grin, and darted his eyebrows up a little, making his own 'eyes' back at her, with a slight nod in her direction. Charles stared at him for a second, not knowing what he was doing. "-Bullseye?" What are you-" He looked in the same direction his friend was, which was all he basically needed. The hedgehog rolled his eyes at the sight. "-Oh geez... should've known." Bullseye's eyes were still firmly locked on the girl. He muttered, contently, "-Dang... now THAT's what I'm talking about!" Charles sighed, in a tinge of disgust and disappointment. "-Seriously.. I feel SORRY for her already!" Bullseye replied, blankly, "-Yeah... sounds like a good plan you got there Charles... but it looks like I'm gonna have to take a 'raincheck' on this." Think you can handle it on your own, maybe?" His friend shrugged, "-Sure... whatever." "-Great!" Thanks a lot, Chuck!" I owe ya one." "-Yuh-huh," murmured Charles, not caring, really. The warthog gave him a pat on the shoulder. "-Well then, since that's all taken care of... I'm gonna go make a new 'friend', if you know what I mean!" I'll seeya later, Charlie." "-Buh bye, Bullsy," mumbled the hedgehog, as he watched Bullseye walk over, meeting up with the girl. Charles just shook his head.

After his ordeal in the bathroom stall, Masevar staggered out, and wandered back to the table, where Charles was sitting alone. He plopped down into his seat, and chugged down a glass of water. His friend sighed. Masevar had been practically drowning himself in water, all night, since he was supposed to be on 'probation'. It WAS better than him guzzling on booze and getting liquored up again, Charles had to admit... but still... THIS much water somehow just COULDN'T be good... The blue hedgehog finally dared to speak. "-Welcome back, buddy... you doing okay over there?" It took him a minute to snap out of it, but the Prince then slowly turned his head in Charles' direction. "-Oh... yeah... I'm.. oookay," he muttered, dazedly. "Oh... really?" You sure, Masevar?" questioned Charles, to make certain. Masevar's ears lowered. "-Actually... I lied." His friend raised an eyebrow. "-How so?" The red hedgehog sighed deeply. "-Well... I... just..." he stammered, not being able to finish. The blue hedgehog looked at him. "-Yeah-huh?" ...Come on, Masevar... don't be shy to say what." What is it?" That's when Masevar's face just kind of squinted up, all funny, and then... he did a very peculiar thing. Out of nowhere, he just quickly leaned over to Charles, threw his arms around him, and buried his face in his friend's chest. "-Hold me!" Masevar whimpered, in agony, wanting the comfort of practically ANYONE at this point. Charles was even MORE taken aback, when his friend then started to sob, like a child. *-Is there something in the water here??* the startled hedgehog wondered. He couldn't deny that even HE was a little creeped out here... but on the other hand... he couldn't just let poor Masevar suffer all alone. A true friend wouldn't let that happen. So he just let his depressed friend stick onto him, like saran wrap. "-Erm... okay then-" That's... this is good.. you're getting it all out." That's great for you... you just... get all those bitter feelings out." Charles tried to sound genuine... but was having a bit of difficulty. "-Ummm... maybe if it's not too much trouble... could you uh... pass me my drink?" I... kinda can't reach it, when you're-" his voice trailed off, not wanting to be rude. Masevar gave a sniffle, "-Oh... sure thing.." And still clinging on to his friend, he reached back, feeling around, until his hand fingered Charles' glass, which he clutched onto, and handed it over. "-Here... sorry about this, man-" he said, in a sad, tiny voice, sniffing. Charles took the glass, and replied, "-Thanks pal... and hey, don't say that... it's okay." Masevar choked up again, "-Nnoooo, it's NOT!" That got him wailing again, as he clung tightly back on Charles. His friend took a long swig of his drink, and just proceeded to be patient and understanding to him. He gently patted Masevar's back, as he continued to howl mournfully, while taking some sips and saying a few reassuring words in between. "It's okay, buddy... you're gonna be alright..." As he bawled onto Charles, Masevar then noticed nearby, two people staring at them, gawking as if they were freaks or something. Angered, Masevar lifted his head up, tear stained and furious. "WHAT THE FUCK IS YOUR PROBLEM?!?!" he screamed at the top of his lungs, at them. The two Mobians jumped in their seats, startled and shocked. "-Huh??" What... you think we're GAY or something?!?" the hedgehog hollered on. "GODDAMNIT AND SCREW YOU TOO!" NOW FUCK OFF!!" Without a moments hesitation, they quickly scrambled out of their seats, and flung out the door. Charles was sitting there, stunned at his friend's rather astounding outburst. "-Masevar..?" "-WHAT?!!" snapped the Prince, then realized who it was, and repeated more softly, "-I... I mean, what?" The blue hedgehog swallowed, "-Ummm... I think that was a little harsh... I mean.. I KNOW they were being rather rude by staring and all... but THAT little outburst was a little... y'know?" Masevar's ears lowered. "-Yeah... you're right..." I'm really sorry you had to see that... it's just... I'm feeling so... and they were like... y'know?" Charles slowly nodded. "-I guess so," he agreed. "-I'm sorry too... tonight's been a real bummer, huh?" Masevar gave a nod, in turn. "Yeah... it kinda has." His eyes strayed to something on Charles's vest. "-Awww crud!" he groaned. His friend's bushy eyebrows raised. "What?" What is it?" Face flushed hot red with embarrassment, Masevar motioned, "-Your vest... I... I got 'something' on it." Charles looked at his clothes. There was a noticeable wet stain on it. Knowing that this had been the place, where Masevar had been howling into, he looked back to his friend. "-Ermm... is that what I think it is?" Masevar groaned louder, and slapped his face into his palms. "-Yeaah... aww man!" I'm so sorry Charles... I didn't mean to get that crap on ya..." Argh!" I'm such an IDIOT!" Charles tried to keep his friend calm. "Hey, hey, Masevar, it's okay!" Just settle down, it's alright, honest!" I'm not mad!" But... could you just do me ONE favour?" Masevar agreed, "Totally, whatever you want!" What??" Charles looked at his vest, ruefully. "-Could you maybe hand me a tissue or something?" I think it's still pretty... 'moist'." His friend immediately snatched a wad of napkins, and gave them to Charles. "-Here ya go... I really AM sorry, man..." Charles took them, and started to wipe at his vest. "-I told ya, Masevar.. it's O-K!" he insisted. "It was just an accident." I know you didn't mean to do it." The red hedgehog didn't look too convinced. "-You know what... I'm just being a troublesome nuisance in here." He rose to his feet. Charles looked quickly to him. "-Where're you going, Masevar?" The Prince shrugged. "-Ah... outside, I guess... I just... wanna be alone for awhile." His companion closed his eyes, and gave a small sigh. "-Well... if that's what you want." Alright then." Masevar then turned in the other direction, and walked around to the back.