How long has it been? Since this feeling started? Has it been about 6 years? I can never recall. All I can recall is that he is and will forever be my best friend.

Vector the Crocodile, the big boss in our Chaotix Detective Agency and the family eldest. Our small yet strange family that composes of him, our youngest Charmy the Bee and me.

2 years. It has been 2 years since I met Vector. Our meeting was quite memorable yet not so pleasant but none of us are to blame.

Well, I could blame myself but it's still not my fault. Just how I was raised by Ferrell.

Yes, I, Espio the Chameleon, was raised by that scoundrel but it was not my choice. Well, it was but I had no other choice.

When I was young, my father was a samurai and my mother was a ninja, resulting me to be a strong warrior myself. When I was about 5 years old, however, I fearfully witnessed my own father slaughter my mother then he saw me and killed himself. I was young and scarred by the memory. All I could do was bury my parents and leave home.

I was in the streets when Ferrell and his pack found me. I was like a lost wolf, sniffing around for food and money. He took me in and raised me to do cruel things.

Honestly, I never thought or even dared to realize the horrid consequences. I was too busy learning and living my life to what I had.

Ferrell not only raised me but also a lime hedgehog with some spiky bangs on his head. He was 4 when I met him. His name is Manic and he became my best friend.

Well, for 11 years at least.

The day I met Vector was the day our friendship faded.

I was only 17 and Vector was 18 when I stole his headphones and golden chains. I grabbed them while he was sleeping but as soon as I ran off, he rushed behind me to get his things back. He had me pinned to the wall then he took his stuff and threatened to call the police on me if I try to steal from him again. I had no choice but to return to the pack empty-handed and the other thieves didn't share so I was hungry. Ferrell was out hunting with Manic, who was his favorite student as much as I am, so I had no company. I had to go back to the streets.

That was the first time I experienced my own stomach eating my intestines, little by little.

My skin was pale when I looked at myself in the puddle. My horn looked worn out and I was thinner than when Ferrell found me, even if it was only a few hours but I HAD been hunting for the WHOLE day so it's not surprising that I was getting skinnier and hungrier by the minute.

I was a thief but after a while, I acted like a beggar.

I sat by the sides of building, leaning against the wall as I open my palms for food. I look around with pitiful eyes but I was a teen, not a kid anymore so it was hard to ask others for their pity and their mercy. There were those who give me coins and food leftovers while there were those who would kick me down until I bleed then they would leave me, yelling at me to get a job.

Those were the cold-hearted aristocrats. They act like they're the most important and most sophisticated beings in all of Mobotropolis.

Luckily, I had bandages and easily wrap my wounds with them but I knew they were infected with germs already as they bled.

Hours passed more and I passed out on the streets because of hunger, thirst and, for some reason, blood loss.

A miracle came after that. I woke up in an apartment, on a couch with a blanket around me to warm me up for it was August, Autumn time and it was getting colder because it was nearing September.

I was confused, surprised and most of all, terrified. I had no idea who would have taken me in while I was knocked out cold. I didn't know anyone that wasn't a thief that time other than my parents but they were dead so it was obviously not any of them.

To my surprise, it turned out to be Vector, who soon explained to me that even if I DID try to steal from him, he wasn't going to let me starve to death. He served me some food and water, even if he didn't have much.

I was speechless and grateful as I let him serve me. I didn't even know other mobians could be THIS nice before…

He told me his past, describing emotionally how he was forcefully separated from his family since he was 6 years old because of Robotnik's dictatorship. He cried hard and I comforted him but when he asked me to talk, I froze up and my tears became an endless waterfall.

I didn't want to talk and the best part was that he didn't force me to.

We changed the subject and chatted more. My heart pumped quickly in my chest as we talked, my cheeks heating up and my body changing color whenever he threw in his jokes and laughed at the very corny ones.

I fell for him. I know I did but he didn't know.

At those hours, I found a new best friend. A best friend that was a better influence than anyone I've ever known…

Unfortunately, when good things come, there's always a reverse effect.

When I got back to the pack, Manic was very upset. Everyone was taken and he blamed me for the unfortunate event. I packed my things then he kicked me out.

I never felt so betrayed in my life…

Vector took me in his apartment but since we were two, the rent was higher. After two months, we were evicted. I managed to get us an old shack and we were able to remake it to a humble home to stay in for a while.

Three months later, we met Charmy.

Charmy was a young bee that was 8 years old. He was an orphan, his parents taken and roboticised by Dr. Eggman Robotnik so he was left on the streets. I felt pity and took him in to live with us.

Unfortunately, Vector didn't trust my actions around Charmy because I was raised to be a thief.

Again, I felt betrayed…

But all was in the past. We now have the Chaotix Detective Agency but that doesn't raise my probability of me being with Vector.

I have these reasons;

One, he ONLY sees me as a best friend.

And two, he likes Vanilla.

Yes, Vector Likes Cream's mother, Vanilla the Rabbit. He told his crush on her to me and Charmy one time at dinner.

My eyes were wide. My arms were quivering and my heart was shattered and broken.

Despite all this, I smiled and gave him some advice to try to get Vanilla.

It was painful. It hurt me more than it hurt him. I wonder how much it'll hurt him to know that everything I'm doing is fake…

Anyway, right now, our agency was empty. Vector and Charmy were at Cream and Vanilla's place while I was left at our home/Chaotix Detective Agency HQ.

I am reading my favorite book of Ninja Tactics when suddenly, the door burst open. I jump with wide eyes then turn to see Vector and Charmy cheering like crazy.

"Why so happy?" I ask as they shut the door.

"Cream gave me a kiss!" Charmy cries out with a bright smile.

I smile back, knowing that Charmy has had a crush on Cream ever since he was 8 years old and she was 6. "Well, aren't you lucky?"

"Totally!" Charmy buzzes all around the room. "I THINK SHE LIKES ME BACK!!!"

"That doesn't beat what happened to me!" Vector brags with the grin that I always love to see.

"So…what DID happened to you, Vector?" I ask, knowing that it'll hurt me later anyway.

"Well," Vector blushes, his snout as red as Knuckles. "Vanilla and I were talking about parental hood and other adult stuff, since I was 23 and she's 22, when she complimented how good of a parent I was to Charmy. She really thought I could be a father to a child and she was even thinking I could be a father figure to Cream! I was so happy! Then, she told me that she may consider something in the future then…she kissed me!"

Heartbreak. Guilt. Those were things I can never take away from my body, which quivers in jealousy but I try to hold it in. Emphasize on 'try'.

"That's…great!" I force happiness but I knew it'll never last as I stand up and turn. "Well, now that you're here, I am off to bed. Farewell, and good night,"

I walk to my room without another word and close my bedroom door with a clicking lock. I sigh and collapse on my bed, curling myself as I hug my long, curly tail.

I love him…but he'll never love me…