The Bet2

Study hour next,and his math had been canceled.No one complained.Shadow stretched and went outside and leaned against his favorite tree which only he sat at,or so he thought.Taking out his book 'Hatred's cruel Shadow' by SinderinElf24 (hee hee),he started to read from where he last checked off.Putting his bag off to the side he retrieved a soda from it,opened it and just started to relax...until very few of the people that actually hated him crossed his path.The gray hedgehog,whose name was Leon,stopped in Shadow's light that provided him to read.His girlfriend was Sally who was extremly jealous of Amy for getting Sonic,one of the most popular and loved boys in school.But she only cared for him to make her known,while Amy stuck with him since they were children.Shadow was another popular one,even though he didn't really want to be.

"What do you want Leon?"Shadow asked coldly.

"Shadow!Now is that anyway to greet a friend?"Leon smiled cruelly.

"No,how to greet a friend would be 'hey how are ya?' but then again your not a friend so leave me alone".

"Someone's testy today.Maybe thats why you don't have a girlfriend,because no girl can stand the real you"Leon began laughing.Shadow clenched his fists tightly and was about to stand up when a gloved hand grabbed his shoulder.He looked up and saw the new girl Rouge.

"I'm his girlfriend,and who the hell are you to be all high and mighty when your greatest joy was reaching puberty?"she wasn't french at even though her name was.Leon stopped laughing and looked at the batty beauty.Leon looked from Shadow to Rouge and wasn't convinced until Shadow wrapped his arms around her and whispered in her ear.She laughed and grabbed his hand before sitting on his lap and picking up his book.Leon left along with Sally and some of his friends.As soon as he was out of sight Shadow released her,but she didn't get up.

"How can I ever thank you?"he asked.

"By being my study partner next hour"she smiled.Shadow reflected the smile and took his book back when she handed it to him.

"So what is your name stranger?"she asked,her smile to out showing a fang.

"Shadow t. Hedgehog Robotnik".

"What a mouthful,alright Shadow,I'm pleased to meet you".Shadow smiled again and leaned back against the tree,his first actual friend that was a girl and he could stand.Maybe he could get her to be more.She got up and sat next to him and took out her sketch book,pencil and started to draw.Every so often Shadow would glance to see what she was drawing,but he couldn't tell what it was until it was finished.A black rose in a vase of blood which streamed out over the sides,the thorns looked like snake heads,and the pedals had tiny white skulls on the inside.The moon shown brightly through the window where it was placed,but the shadow of a cloud cast a frowning look upon it.

Rouge saw him looking at her artwork and began to close her book,but his hand stopped her.

"I don't think your weird or anything,its actually quite good".She took the compliment and began to draw another rose next to it,this time a red one with crimson drops,as though it had died and was pressed against the white counter.Shadow continued his reading,and Rouge continued sketching until the bell sounded.Shadow wondered why she just didn't say 'don't look at me funny anymore' as payment or something.Perhaps she really wanted to get to know him.They went to study hall and saw Knuckles and Sonic leaving,who knows what they had next but it was the last class of the day.The libraian hated kids so no one understood why she even took the job,probably because she literally had the power to tell the kids to shut up,even though no one ever talked during study hour.Ironically enough everyone was told to get into pairs or fail class for being a loner.So then that was it,she read what they had to do today and didn't want to fail,so she asked him to be her partner and instead of looking like an idiot doing so he owed her a favor which was even better.His lightened mood seemed to have dampend rather quickly.They had a book report due the next following Monday,and it was Thursday now.Most people were only just starting it now,and the book requirement was over 1000 pages or more.And unlike little kid reports you had to really summarize what the book was about why it happened and if it was real name the time and date it happened yadda yadda yadda.Shadow was nearly finished with his 3000 page book War and Peace (I should know,I was crazy enough to even begin it).Writing down small facts as reference he began to jot down little comings and goings of what happened back in the history of this mortal earth.Rouge was reading 'crime and punishment' another ridicously large book which she was almost done with even though she had just gotten here today.

'How did you know we had a report due next monday?' he wrote on a seperate paper and handed it to her.After reading it throughly she took out her own pen and wrote back.

'I didn't,I was just reading this for knowledge'then passed it back.He nodded,that was always a good thing in a girl,one who had a brain.She smiled lightly before turning back to read as the libraian came to check on them,Shadow had been writing down notes from his book and she was turning the page to read on.She looked from one to the other before speaking up.

"You Robotkick,write quieter,Bat,turn slower"she then walked away.

'She can never get my last name right'Shadow wrote,causing a laugh to erupt from her.The librarian cast dark looks in they're direction,making them have to hold their laughter painfully in.The final bell rang an hour later,signaling that the day was over and get the hell off school grounds.Shadow regretted the day was actually over,Rouge probably wouldn't want to hang out tomorrow,just this little favor and that was it.But instead of leaving completely since she was the first actually out the door she was flying in a sitting position when Shadow got outside.He looked at her a bit funny as to why she was waiting.She flew down and started walking as soon as her boots touched the ground.

"What are you doing after school today?"she asked.

"Umm...well...no laughing alright? There's a poetry club that I go to after school at times"he spoke quietly,but she didn't even chuckle.

"Don't feel so bad,I'm into poetry myself,do you mind if I go with you?"she smiled.Shadow frowned.

"I can't today,I'm supposed to be helping my family set up they're lab...I mean uh,new kitchen.Maybe tomorrow though"he had to do it,he promised Maria he'd help.Rouge frowned slightly then smiled again.

"Well tell me if you can tomorrow then"she handed a slip of paper to him and walked down the hall.Shadow raised his eyebrows before unfolding it. ' (954) 555-1987Call me when you can Rouge'.Shadow's jaw dropped,he had gotten her number without even asking for it,maybe today wasn't such a bad day at all,in fact he felt like running at the speed of light all the way home.

Shadow slowed down as he neared the Robotnik's house,the very people who had created him.Humming a soft tune he got out his keys to unlock the door,but there was no need.The handle had been broken and hung loosely on the door frame.Shadow pushed it open cautiously,broken glass was shattered all over the carpet,causing a large crunch to sound whenever his foot hit the ground.

"Maria?Doctor?Guys?" he didn't say to loudly incase a robbing was in pursuit.His eyes darted from side to side,bullet holes were lodged into the walls,making him even more nervous.He could hear voices but didn't have time to hide,so instead he rolled into a ball and looked like a toy.

"Anything sir?"

"Nothing,who knows what these evil genuieses could have been doing with all of this technology.They could create the ultimate weapon and use it to hold America against our on".Shadow could see them from the angle he was in,the intial G.U.N was stamped across they're uniforms.After making sure they were gone Shadow unrolled and now paniced.

'What did they mean "could have" as in don't anymore' he was shaking now.Turning the corner carefully he caught sight blood spattered walls.His jaw dropped as he eyed a lifeless Maria and the doctor in chains being taken away into a truck to jail.

"You can never stop my newest creation Project Shadow!He's the ultimate lifeform!He will destroy earth for what you have done!He will pursue my wish and you will all suffer!All of you ungrateful humans who took everything away from me...will feel my loss and despair!I swear it upon my grand daughter's grave,you heartless fiends!"Dr.Gerald Robotnik was screaming at them.

'Suffering?Is that what I'm really ment for in this world?'Shadow slumped against the wall and slid to the floor.One minute he was on top of the world,the next he was being dragged into hell and back.Hugging his knees close to his chest he let a silent tear fall...Maria.G.U.N people started to take the good Doctor away,which he caught sight of Shadow.

"Run Shadow!Don't ever let them catch you,my greatest weapon yet!RUN!"But Shadow didn't move,the G.U.N opperatives thought the doctor had cracked,they didn't believe something so small could be so powerful.The doctor was still laughing manically when Shadow got up and actually ran all the way to Sonic's house.Just his luck,it had gotten dark and began to rain,just like his heart.Raining with sorrow in a deep void.

A pounding knock came from the door,making Sonic jump from the sudden noise.He got up from his couch where his movie was playing to answer the door.His eyes widend as he saw Shadow,soaked,scared,and pissed all at once.Grabbing his arm,Sonic pulled him inside,handing him a towel.

"What are you doing out so late this night?And in this weather no less!"but he dropped his tone at the fact Shadow didn't smile for his usual hello,didn't do anything but stared at the ground,an angry expression worn.

"Sh...Shadow?You alright?"

"They're dead Sonic".

"Who?"

"Maria...and the doctor is as good as dead" Shadow breifly closed his eyes and looked back at Sonic.

"Who k...who did this?"

"G.U.N"Shadow spoke darkly,one thing they both hated beyond belief.Shadow clenched his fists.

"Why would G.U.N go after them?"

"Because they fear me.They feared that the good doctor had invented something that would cause him to be ruler of the world.STUPID MORTALS!FEARING FOR THEIR OWN LIFE BUT YET THEY'LL GIVE SOMEONE ELSES!COWARDS!"he screamed out in fustration.

"Shadow...I'm so sorry.You know your always welcomed at my house"Sonic placed his hand on Shadow's shoulder in a brotherly way.

"Yeah I think this may be the only house I'll be staying at anyway,thanks Sonic"but Shadow couldn't smile,it was almost as if he had lost the ability.Sonic looked around then back at Shadow.

"Why don't you go take a shower dry off and get some sleep k?You could use some".

"How do you expect me to sleep after something like this!"

Shadow finished his shower and borrowed some pajama pants from Sonic,since they were the same size.The couch had been transformed into bed style for him,but he just sat up as Sonic came out for a glass of water.He still hadn't told Shadow how he was expected to sleep but he had another plan up his sleeve.Sonic then walked over to Shadow and handed him the glass of water.

"Your going to drug me?"

"No,just hold it.Now close your eyes,relax,think nothing of the good things that happened today".

'Rouge'.Sonic took his glace back but told Shadow to keep his eyes closed.Putting it down on a nearby table he put two asprins next to it.He then went behind him and positioned his hand over Shadow's neck.Making sure it'd hit the right spot his hand slammed down on a nerve system that knocked Shadow out completely.Yeah he was gonna need those asprins,but for now at least he was resting.Sonic yawned and went back to his own room,laying down have trouble falling asleep himself.He felt terrible,the Robotniks had been like family to him to (except Eggman),and Shadow probably felt even worse.Sonic grabbed the back of his throat and clamped down to where his own nervous system would be and didn't stop squeezing till he blacked out.Tomorrow was going to be one hell of a day.

A/N: Yes,Had to make it like the game a bit.How will Shadow now cope with life if he can't bear to stay awake?R&R please.