(A/N: Hey everyone its been a while since I've updated has it. Well I'd like to formally apologies for the delay. I finished it a while ago but I had to edit till I was somewhat satisfied with the with it. I'd like to thank everyone who has been reading so far. A special thank goes out to Diddy (you should really read his fics The date debate series and I Love Dixie they're really quite good) whose been there since the beginning and everyone else that's reviewed. Thanks Chapter 5 will be out next week.)

Cream paced up and down the hallway at a frantic pace, occasionally glancing towards the Operating Room where the doctors were working at a frantic pace to save the life of her closest friend. She glanced towards her other friends in the small area, Tikal sat on one of the chairs rocking back and forth at a slowly, but steady pace with her face in her hands crying. Saffron and Hope bowed their heads and were praying for Tails's dear life. While Charmy stomped around the room with a dual expression of Rage and Sorrow as clenched his fist periodical and cursed. As she paced the memories of that day flooded into her mind and one thought kept replaying in her mind. It was all her fault that her best friend was dying.

Earlier that day

Cream opened her locker and grabbed several of her books, before slamming the locker shut and wandering towards a group of her friends. For a few moments she listened half-hearted to the girl's rumors and varies pieces of useless gossip, as she focused the majority of her attention on the two figures that had just entered the busy hallway, Tails and Tikal. Nobody seemed to notice the doe's lack of attention or comment as they happily chatted about the big party at Chaud's house that would be happening later.

Cream was oblivious to everything happening as she started intensively at the couple. As she did this she thought of all that had changed ever since Tikal's arrival slightly more than two weeks ago. Tikal had taken up so much of Tails's time since she arrived that Cream had barely spent anytime time with him in the last couple of weeks and whenever they did get together it was only for a few minutes before he would get called away by Tikal. Her continuous glaring went unnoticed by the duo and she snapped back to reality when Hope's voice brought her back to reality.

"Cream. Cream? CREAM!" She shouted as she waved her in front of the distraught teenager.

"Huh...Huh...What is it." She asked as she snapped out of her trance.

The two moved slightly away from the group. "You were staring...well glaring at Tails and Tikal again. You don't seem to like seeing them together much do you?" She said sly with a grin before adding, you're jealous of Tikal aren't you

"What!! Me! Jealous! Of her why would you say that!?!?!" Cream her voice a crossover of a shout and a whisper as she stared at Hope in amazement.

"Well its true." She said in a matter of fact tone. "Before you introduced her to Tails...Well reintroduced her to Tails you were all super chummy and friendly with her, but now you've been treating her quite coldly ever since she's gotten close to Tails and that's not like you at all. I think your jealous that Tails actually has another best friend that's a girl.

Cream opened her mouth to retort, but no words escaped her mouth. Partially because she was shocked at Hope's observation and partially because it was true, she had been treating Tikal a bit coldly lately for no real reason. Cream bowed her head down.

"Maybe your right I have been treating her unfairly. I guess I should apologies and make up with her."

Hope nodded, her head, in approval before adding with a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Maybe the reason you're treating her this way is because you have feelings in your heart for Tails and you don't want somebody else to capture his."

Cream let out a small laugh before, heading towards her Chemistry class. As she walked down the hall, Hope's remarks kept on echoing through her mind. I don't have feeling for Tails, she mused to herself as she entered the class. She glanced around the room before she found her target and sat next to Tikal. Tikal surprise was by the act and glanced at Cream warily as she sat down.

"Relax." She said as she sat. "I just wanted to apologies for the way I've been treating you.. I mean I haven't been my usual self and treating you coldly isn't the best way to make friends is it?" Tikal nodded, but said nothing as Cream continued on. "So I'm sorry I guess I felt my place as Tails's best friend threatened."

Tikal said nothing for a moment before smiling at her and replying "I forgive you, truth be told I'd probably do the same too."

"Friends?" Cream said as she held out her hand. "Friends." Tikal replied as she took her hand and shook it. Afterwards the two girls entered the lunchroom where they sat down after collecting some food. After a minute or so they were joined by Tails.

"Hey what's happening?" He said as he took a slice of pizza off Cream's plate and slid next to her.

"Not much." She replied as she took a bag of cookies from."

"Hey I was going to eat that."

"Too bad." She replied as she popped one in her mouth. "So are you going to Chaud's party?"

"Yeah, I'm going with Tikal." The odd feeling once again returned to Cream. Tails glanced at watch. "I gotta go. I'll see ya at the party bye." He said as he stood from the table and exited the lunchroom. "Yeah me too." Said Tikal as she followed Tails.

For some strange reason Cream couldn't find herself happy to find this out. She had been trying to find him a date for nearly three weeks, so why was it she couldn't bee happy for him. Hope's words recycled themselves once again through Creams thoughts. Do I really have a crush on Tails? She thought

Hospital

Three figures rushed into the hospital room and distracted Cream from her thoughts, each wore a distinct mark of worry on the face.

"Sonic. Over here." Cream called as he, Knuckles and Shadow rushed into the small lobby. "I'm glad you guys made it."

"Yeah we came as soon as we could when you called. Is Tails alright, where is he?" Sonic fired as he ran over to her.

She shook her head before replying "He in the Operating room now." She sat down on one of the small waiting chair and the memories once again flooded her mind.

At The Party

Cream glimpsed at her watch it was already 10:30 and still no sign of Tails or Tikal. She wandered towards Saffron and Charmy in hopes that they had seen the kitsune and echidna.

"Hey have you guys seen Tails yet." Saffron shook her head.

"Ah sorry Cream, but no...oh wait I think that's him." Saffron said pointing towards the figure that had just emerged through the door. Cream turned and was surprised when she saw him. For perhaps the first time in her life she had taken a good look a Tails. He was no longer the small boy she had spent the majority of her childhood with that cracked jokes with her. He was now a quite attractive young guy now. She cursed herself for not noticing this sooner and cursed Hope even more for making her realize this.

She waved to him and instantly he came by. "So where's Tikal" She asked he drew close.

"She said she'd meet me here she had some last minute things to do." The music started. "Want to dance." He asked and several seconds later they were in the middle of the dance floor with everyone cheering them on. After a couple of minutes the two rested.

"Pant I didn't know you could dance like that Tails."

"Pant pant Sonic's lessons sure came in handy."

The music switched to a slow song and the two remained silent for a moment. Finally Cream attempted to ask him to dance "Hey Tails do---" She was cut off as Tikal entered the room.

"Hey Tails, Cream sorry I'm late. You want to dance?" she said as she approached them.

"Sure" In a flash they disappeared from view. Seconds later she to was on the dance floor with Chaud right next to the couple. After about ten minutes of this Chaud dragged her to an isolated area of the party. She felt creepy being alone with him, but said nothing. For a while they said nothing

"So how do you like the party?" He asked breaking the silence.

"Its cool." She replied feeling a hint of fear as he drew closer to her. With out warning he drew her into a kiss. She instantly pushed him a way. "What are you doing?" she asked him.

"I thought you liked me." He replied.

"I want to go back inside." She said drawing up her courage.

"Too bad for you." He said as he drew closer and tried to off her clothes.

"STOP!" She yelled at him as she fought him, but he was much stronger them her and easily managed to wrestle her down to the ground. "SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME." She cried, but all in vain no one could hear over the loud music that pounded through the house and went on for at least another block.

Fortunately for her Tails and Tikal had just stepped outside and rushed to her sided.

"Tikal go and call Charmy." He barked as leapt towards Chaud knocking him off her. The two boys rolled down the hill exchanging blows with one another. They land with thud on the grass hill, but didn't stop exchanging punches. By know a large crowd had come out to watch the fight. Chaud flipped out a switch bladed from his jacket pocket and lunged towards Tails. Tails took to the air and slammed his feet into the rabbits face sending him sliding. Instead of it dazing him it only fueled his anger as slashed wildly at the fox cutting him slightly on his arm. Tails retailed by sinking fist into his guts causing the rabbit to double over in pain. A skull splitting crack filled the air as Tails's foot connected with the rabbit's head once again this time sending him onto the floor knocked out.

He let out a huge sigh before, twirling his tails and taking to the air and flew towards the crowd. Chaud started to stir and pulled something out his pocket. Cream was the first to see it and called out Tails name the crowd followed trying to warn him. He thought they were cheering him and was surprised when a loud sound echoed through the night air and an immense amount of pain shoot through his entire body. He yelped in pain then blacked out.

Hospital

The next three hours were the longest and most climatic ones in her life as she remained in the room completely helpless to save her friend finally a doctor emerged from O.R.

"Is he alright?" Cream asked the female raccoon.

She looked a Cream before replying with a small smile "Yes, we managed to remove the bullet and stop the bleeding. He's currently resting."

"Can I see him?"

"Sorry you can't. Visiting hours aren't for the next eight hours."

"Please, oh please you have to let me see him." She pleaded with her eyes full of tears.

She looked at Cream and with an extreme reluctance said. "He's in room 114, down the hall." Before walking off. Cream wait no for nothing else before shooting down the hall followed by everyone else.

Room 114 was a fairly large room so all 8 visitors weren't cramped in the room of the sleeping fox. After about half an hour everyone started to leave except Sonic and Cream.

"Come on Cream I'll drop you home." called Shadow as he left the room. She shook her head and replied, "I'll stay with Tails." He shrugged his shoulder before leaving the room. Soon afterwards sleep overtook Sonic, leaving the doe the only person awake, the events of the day started to take a total on her body and she too slipped into the familiar darkness of her mind.