Me: So Izzy, what were you talking to the great Lars about in the last chapter?

Izzy: Oh, I wanted to know where he got that shirt.

Me: ::Suddenly excited:: Did he tell you!?

Izzy: ::Pouts:: No! He said it was a gift! Yeah, right! He just doesn't want other people to wear the greatest fashion statement of the century!

Me: Man, I'd give anything to have a shirt like that. Anyway, enjoy the chapter!

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Last time on The Runaway…

(To the tune of "Unknown from M.E." [Knuckles' theme in Sonic Adventure 1])

Twister: Hiya! Twister Rodriguez here. Uhh... What am I supposed to do?

Me: Oy! ::Slaps forehead:: You're supposed to tell what happened in the last chapter from your point of view.

Twister: Oh, ok! Anyway, Otto and Izzy had a race. The shoobie in the cape gave Ottoman a minute head start. When the minute was done, he ran pretty fast while listening to some song. He quickly caught up to Otto, but my best bro wouldn't give up! He beat Izzy in the first part of the race, but in the second part, the shoobie used some weird move called "Rocket Accel" and beat Otto by turning into that blur thingy that everybody's been talking about. Otto took it pretty hard and now he's locked up in his room! Oh Otto… What's going on in that beautiful head of yours? Wait, what did I just say?!?!?!

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The Runaway Ch. 4: Broken Dreams can lead to Shocking Revelations

"Oh man! Rain again!?" Izzy yelled as he got out of his tent. He immediately activated his Water Shield. The whole area was soaked and threatened to flood because of the heavy rain. "I hope my stuff will be alright. Guess I better find something to do." He grabbed his CD player and turned it on. He then left the park.

It's been two days since the race between Otto & Izzy. Ever since the latter used his super speed to defeat the former, it's been pouring non-stop.

'Why won't this rain let up?' Izzy thought as he walked to find someplace to eat breakfast. 'I'll never be able to do my job and get enough money to leave here at this rate.' After stopping at a crosswalk, he discovered he was across from the pier, where this whole thing started. He just stood there looking.

The bowls in the skate park became little pools. Nothing was moving in the amusement park. The waves washed up on a muddy beach. Everything seemed dead in the gloomy atmosphere. He turned and faced the hill where he & Otto raced. A car sped past and sprayed water at him. It just slid off his barrier. The hill seemed like a tiny river, ending at the storm duct by the crosswalk.

'I wonder how he's doing.' He gave a sigh and continued looking for a place to eat.

At the top of the hill, things weren't going any better.

"Otto please let me in." Reggie pleaded.

"Just leave me alone." She heard Otto's voice reply through the door. She just gave up and went to the living room, where Ray was sitting.

"Still won't come out?" He asked.

"No. I wish he would just come out & be his old self again." Reggie replied, fighting back tears.

"Don't worry. He'll come around."

Since Izzy beat him, Otto has been in his room for the past two days. He wouldn't come out to eat or anything. Needless to say, everybody was worried. Otto was now lying on his bed, staring at the ceiling, letting his thoughts drift around.

'Why did I have to lose? I wanted to shut him up for what he said.' He thought angrily as he went back to the day when he challenged the caped kid.

"I'll run to each destination. It's better than using some toy." Izzy's voice rang through Otto's mind.

'No.' Otto replied to the memory.

"Heh. That proves nothing. Running is where real physical strength is. If you depend on a lousy skateboard for speed, it only shows your laziness."

'That's not true. I sure wasn't being lazy when I was racing.' He thought back to two days ago. He had beat Izzy on the way up to the cul-de-sac, but on the way down...

"Rocket Accel!" Otto heard that voice yell as the memory of Izzy blazing past him and to the pier played in front of him. The memory played over a few times like a broken record.

'He beat me. I lost & proved him right.' He rolled over and laid on his right, watching the rain hit the window like bullets. 'Sam was right. He WAS the one who caused the blur. I guess I can never skate again.' He closed his eyes, but quickly reopened them and sat up.

'Twister! Oh man. I said he was my inspiration and I screwed up. How can I possibly face him? Better yet, why am I even thinking about him for? I don't like him that way…do I?' He then thought back to the dream he had the night after the new guy came into the picture.

Otto's dream…

Otto walked into his room and saw Twister sitting on his bed.

"Hey dude. What's up?" He asked. Twister didn't say anything as he walked up to the smaller boy. They just stood there for a few seconds. Otto looked at him with a longing look. He wasn't aware, but their faces slowly got closer. They were mere inches apart. Otto can feel Twister's breath on his lips. Feeling bold, he closed the gap and their lips met in a fiery passion.

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Otto had a smile on his face as he remembered the dream. He opened his eyes and felt his cheeks, which were burning.

'I guess I do like him. Maybe even…love him?' He thought as realization kicked in. 'I love my best friend, who's a guy, and I'm a guy, but I don't even know if he feels the same way as I do.' He looked down. 'I wish I knew what to do about all this.'

Outside, Izzy was walking up the hill.

'I guess I should make peace and apologize for not telling him about my ability.' He thought. He soon reached the top and looked around the cul-de-sac. 'But I don't even know which house he lives in. Maybe this was a mistake.' He turned around and was about to go back to the park when he saw someone blocking his way.

It was Twister holding a black umbrella. He went towards his house, motioning for Izzy to follow. Hesitantly, the caped boy followed. Twister opened the door and closed his umbrella as he walked inside. Izzy went inside as well, deactivating his shield before entering. He took off his hat in respect as he walked. The house seemed to be empty. It was quiet. He followed Twister into his room. The silence was starting to get to him.

"So, what did you want to talk about?" He asked, breaking the silence. Twister didn't reply as he walked up to his TV, put a tape into his VCR, and hit the play button.

The screen displayed what seemed to be Otto at a younger age. He was surfing; going through the tubes at amazing speeds without falling off. After a few more scenes in the water, the camera went to Mad Town. Otto was taking the half pipe like a pro; doing spins, ollies, fakies, you name it. The camera then went to a snow capped mountain, but before it could show Otto snowboarding, Twister stopped the tape.

"What do you think?" He asked. His voice seemed raspy, like maybe he was crying. Izzy stared at the floor.

"I guess I shouldn't have called him lazy. I must have shattered his pride at the race." He stated solemnly.

"I'll say. Why'd you lead him on like that?" Twister asked. Izzy cringed at the sound of his voice.

"I-I just wanted the job. Otto's dad told me that he takes losing badly, but I didn't listen."

"What?" Confusion was evident in Twister's voice.

"Before the race, he came up to me and asked me to quit. I couldn't do that, even though he offered to give me the job anyway. I knew how Otto was the day before, so if I complied with his wishes, Otto would be even more upset." Twister seemed to be considering Izzy's words.

"But why do you need the job so badly?" He asked carefully. Izzy looked up. He seemed to be thinking about what to say.

"I'm a wanderer, so to speak. I need the money to travel, otherwise I'm stuck here."

"What do you mean 'so to speak?'" Twister asked. "And don't you have parents to take care of you?" The other boy shook his head.

"My parents... They're—" He couldn't finish as he choked back a sob. Twister seemed to understand. Izzy quickly recomposed himself. "I don't wish to bring you into my problems, but I need that job."

"First thing you need to do is talk to Otto." Twister said firmly. "Hopefully, he'll get back to normal and then we'll deal with that job situation." Izzy nodded.

"Yes. I was coming here to speak with him, but I didn't know which house was his." Twister walked to the window and Izzy followed.

"It's that one." He pointed straight ahead. The house he pointed at looked to be the biggest out of all the houses in the cul-de-sac. Izzy stared wide-eyed.

"Woah. I had no idea owning a simple restaurant can get you that!"

"Yeah. Raymundo gets most of his customers at this time of year." Twister said. Izzy just whistled. "Come on. Let's go talk to Otto." Twister left the room. Izzy looked confused for a moment, but got a look of determination and left as well. He arrived at the front door, where Twister was waiting. He was about to go out with his umbrella.

"Wait a sec." Izzy said as he walked forward. His body glowed with the same aura from two days ago. He held out his arm and a clear tunnel encased both Twister and Otto's houses. He walked down the stairs and looked back at Twister.

"You coming or what?" The other boy shook the surprise out of his head and came down.

"Woah. What was that about?" Twister asked. Izzy gave him a smirk.

"I can make my shields and barriers any size I want. This is more convenient, don't you agree?"

"Yeah..." Twister replied as he looked at the rain. It bounced off what seemed to be a wall of light. They walked in silence for a few minutes before he spoke up.

"What are you, some kind of alien?" Izzy gave a light chuckle.

"No." was his only reply. They soon crossed the Rockets' front porch. Izzy's tunnel shrunk so that it only protected the two of them. Twister rung the bell. In a few moments, the door opened to reveal Reggie, who had a look of shock on her.

"Twister…and Izzy?"

"Uhh…hi." Izzy said nervously. Twister nudged him with his elbow. The caped boy bowed. "I would like to apologize for my misconduct at the race. Is there any way I can speak to Otto?" Reggie got a slightly weirded out expression, but bounced back.

"Sure you can, if you can get him to talk that is."

"Why's that?"

"He's been locked up in his room since the race." Twister answered. Izzy felt even more guilty.

"Well, you can try, but I'm not making any promises." Reggie said as she cleared the way. Twister went inside, followed by Izzy, who made his shield disappear. The caped kid got a look at the decor. Pictures of surfers, the Rockets, and surfboards; even a shark's jaw seemed to decorate this house. He and Twister were led up the stairs. They stopped at a door and Reggie knocked on it.

"Otto, there's someone here to see you."

"Tell him to come later!" Otto yelled. Reggie gave Izzy a glance and she moved, allowing him to move towards the door.

'Damn! I'd be able to unlock this if I had my—' He thought as he looked at the door knob. He shook his head and got back to the task at hand.

"Otto, it's me, Izzy." He paused before continuing. "I want to apologize for what happened at the race. I should've told you about my speed beforehand."

"Like he'd believe you." Reggie snorted. Twister glared at her. Izzy continued.

"I also shouldn't have said that all boarders are lazy. You can't possibly be lazy if you can race the way you did, as well as surf and snowboard." He paused again, as if waiting for a response. Not getting one, he continued. "You also proved your intelligence by figuring out the course."

"Actually, that was Sammy." Reggie interrupted.

"Oh." Izzy said. He turned back to the door. "Anyway, that's all I have to say. I was hoping that we could bury the hatchet and be co-workers. We don't even have to talk to each other if you like. At least come out. Everybody misses you."

'Man did that sound cheesy or what?!' He thought.

"Yeah. Please, Otto." Reggie said.

"Come on, Ottoman." Twister added. At his voice, the door opened and out stepped Otto. The other three teens gasped. His eyes were tear-ridden and he looked thinner than ever. He was also really pale.

"Twister…I…" He fainted.

"Otto!" The others yelled. They held him up.

"Dad! Call an ambulance!" Reggie yelled. Twister & Izzy each put an arm around Otto and picked him up. They carefully guided him downstairs to the couch while Ray was on the phone calling 911. Shortly after, the ambulance arrived. Two paramedics assessed the situation and put Otto on a stretcher. To assist them, and to prevent Otto from getting any worse, Twister got Izzy to surround the three in a Water Shield, protecting them from the rain. Everybody, including Sam (who was notified of the situation), got in Ray's car and drove down to the hospital.

At the hospital…

While Ray took care of the paperwork, the four teens were huddled around Otto's hospital bed. The auburn haired skater was in his bed clothes resting peacefully.

"Oh man. I don't believe this happened..." Twister said sorrowfully. The others nodded.

"I hope he'll be alright." Sam said.

"Hang in there, Otto." Reggie added. Izzy kept quiet. He didn't want to draw attention to himself. After all, it was his fault that Otto arrived in this position. Sensing his inner pain, Twister turned to him.

"Don't worry about it. I'm sure he'll forgive you." Izzy gave a small smile in response, but he still looked sorrowful. Twister knew that he must be thinking about his parents. He decided not to pursue the subject further. Ray then came in, followed by a doctor.

"What seems to be the problem?" The doctor asked. They explained the situation. The doctor nodded. "It seems that this young man suffered from malnutrition caused by severe depression. We'll pump some food in him. He should be fine in the morning."

"Thanks doc." Ray said. The doctor left the room to look at his other patients. Everybody looked at Otto for a few moments before he started to stir. He slowly opened his eyes and waited for them to adjust to the light.

"Ugh…Where am I?" were the first words out of his mouth. Everybody breathed a sigh of relief.

"You're in the hospital." Ray answered.

"Oh yeah…" Otto said, remembering when he fainted. "Where's Izzy?"

"Right here." The boy in question said as he walked up to Otto's bedside. "I'm sorry about what happened. If I knew this was going to happen—" He was silenced as Otto held up his hand. Izzy looked at it for a few seconds before taking it and shaking it carefully.

"Apology accepted." Otto said. Outside, the rays of the sun broke through and illuminated the land once again.

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A/N:

Izzy: O    O That was…

Me: Yes…?

Izzy: The corniest ending to a chapter you've ever done!

Me: -   - Anyway, stay tuned for the next chapter of The Runaway.

(Note: I'll be updating this fic twice a week from now on. You'll get a new chapter every Monday and Friday.)