I'm so, so, SO, so sorry for taking so long. Yes, I'm aware it's been a year since I updated this story. Yes, I'm aware this is a really short chapter. Yes, I'm aware there may be mistakes in this chapter. I'm sorry, I had lots of things going on in my life, I was lazy, I procrastinated, and I had writer's block. Please forgive the long wait and I hope this chapter was, at least, a little worth it.

I want you all to know that it probably would've have been a couple more months before I updated this if it weren't for me looking at my reviews again, recently. The people I'd like to thank for encouraging me and letting me know this story is loved is Guest, BadazzAuthor, and most of all TheBoss3254. Thank you guys for loving this story so much. I'd also like to thank my friends Ethempat and aliixo for reminding me that you should never give up on a story you love. I'd also like to thank Thunder Croft for my inspiration and encouragement. Please check out their profiles and read their works.

Now before you read on I just want you to know I do not plan on giving up on this story so please don't think that I'm taking so long because I don't like this story anymore. I assure you I love this story and I really enjoyed writing this chapter. I'm just having difficulties right now. I will try an update more frequently and with longer chapters but I can't promise anything but I assure you I will not give up! Excuse the long author's note and please enjoy!

Twin-books :D

Chapter 5 Silver's House

I was waiting for Sonic outside of school. Another week had passed and I got to spend time with Sonic. I got to know him better. I learned that he had a crush on one of the popular girls in school named Sally Acorn. I learned he rarely got to see his dad because he fought in the war. I also learned he is an amazing friend.

"Yo, Silv!" I dug myself out of my thoughts when I heard Sonic call for me. I looked up but no one was there. Then I smiled and turned to the side. This was the third or fourth time Sonic tried to trick me, using his speed to sneak up beside me and scare me half to death. It worked the first time. Only the first time. "Dang it! You ruined the surprise!"

"Ha! Yeah right!" I cried.

"Hey, Silver, if it's alright with you I was wondering if we could study at your house? You got to see my house, it's only fair I get to see yours." I froze when Sonic asked that. Sonic gave me one of his weirded-out looks. "Um, are you okay?"

I snapped out of my statue-like form and answered Sonic. "What? Yeah, sure we could study at my place." I began walking. Then I heard Sonic call out to someone, telling them he was going to my house. I looked over my shoulder for a second and realized Sonic was talking to his siblings. After warning his siblings he wouldn't be home for a while, Sonic caught up to me and walked a little ahead of me. He then turned around and started walking backwards just so he could talk face to face with me.

"Is there something wrong with studying at your house? I kind of got the feeling you aren't too thrilled with the idea." Sonic asked me.

"Flag pole." I said, warning Sonic that he was close to getting a major headache. Sonic dodged it and thanked me. "No, it's just… never mind. I'm being irrational. Besides, my aunt will be happy to see me bringing a new friend over. Usually I only bring over Blaze or Harry. Tree." Sonic dodged the tree. I didn't feel like telling Sonic the reason I didn't want him over at my house is because my house wasn't as cool as his. Yeah, I was actually worried about what he thought. Can you blame me? He is one of the cool kids.

"Who's Blaze? Don't tell me you've been hiding something from me!" I began blushing as Sonic interrogated me. "You like her! She's your girlfriend, isn't she?" My face was getting a lot pinker by the second, I was sure of it.

"No. She's just a friend."

"A friend you've got the hots for!" After Sonic had said this he tripped over a curb and I stepped over him. "Ow! Why didn't you warn me?"

I gave him an evil smile and merely answered him with, "I didn't notice. Sorry." Sonic gave me a glare but his amused smile gave himself away. He got off the ground as I continued walking and caught up with me. When I was off guard he punched me in the arm. "Ow! What was that for?"

"Sorry. Fist must have slipped." Sonic said as he raced ahead of me.

"Hey, slow down! You know I stink at running!" I called out to him. He ignored me and kept right on running. "Seriously, Sonic! I need to lead you to my house! Do you think you'll find it on your own?"

…o0o…

After Sonic had, finally, let me lead we reached my house. Sonic seemed bewildered at the sight of my house. No. Not bewildered. Enchanted? That's not it… Confused? Eager? Angry? Honestly his emotions were hard to read because the face he was giving me was one of those odd mixed faces. "Nice house." He said, after examining it. I couldn't tell what he was thinking. Even his tone of voice seemed mixed a little.

My house was only one story. It was surrounded by trees and bushes. It was a not-so-flattering shade of yellow. Rose vines climbed its sides. The garden was very beautiful. My aunt loved to keep it nice. The roof of my house looked like it needed to be replaced. The brown fence surrounding it was made of old wood but it was still rather reliable. It still did its job.

I was about to ask Sonic what he meant by 'nice house' when I suddenly heard barking. I smiled and prepared to be pounced on. Sure enough, my prediction was accurate and my Australian Shepard tackled me to the ground. I barely got a glance of Sonic's worried face because my dog started licking my face off. "Are you okay, Silv?

I began trying to push the Australian Shepard off of me, grunting as I did so. I laughed at my failed attempt. Knowing I couldn't use my telekinesis because it scared my dog, I decided to get Sonic's help. "A little help!" I managed to say.

Sonic walked over to my dog and began petting it. Realizing there was a different person to lick, my dog got off me. "Thanks, Sonic. This is my hyper dog, Freedom." Sonic laughed as Freedom licked his face. "He's quite a big fan of people. Especially those who pet him."

"I can see that!" He cried. I soon realized Sonic was now in the same predicament I was in a before. I walked over to Freedom and patted him on the head.

"That's enough. Can we go inside now?" I asked Freedom. The dog seemed to be thinking about it. After he made his decision he decided to climb off Sonic, then he ran off. I stretched my hand out to Sonic and he grabbed it. I pulled him up and back on his feet.

"Dude, you had a dog and you didn't tell me? Boy do I feel out of the loop! How many secrets have you been keeping from me?" Sonic asked. Lots. I thought but I decided I didn't need to tell Sonic that so I didn't answer him. "What's silence supposed to mean?" I just smiled as I walked up to my front door. I pulled out my key, unlocked the door and went inside, Sonic following close behind.

"You're back early. Shouldn't you be tutoring that Sonic fellow or is he all caught up? I hope so. By the way you talk about him he seems like a smart kid, just doesn't focus as well." My aunt must have heard me come in. I heard a chuckle and turned to look at Sonic. Realizing what my aunt had said I started chuckling nervously. That was embarrassing. "Silver?"

I led Sonic to the kitchen and found my aunt under the sink, probably trying to fix a leak. She always loved fixing things. She always said it's a pleasure to help something continue its destiny. "Yeah, it's me, Aunt Mabel. I'm still tutoring Sonic. He's here if you'd like to meet him." I leaned against a nearby counter and watched in amusement as my Aunt Mabel pulled herself out from under the sink, hitting a pipe on the way out, only to reveal her blushing face. I could tell she was embarrassed by what she said.

"Ow!" She cried as she rubbed her head. She reached out her hand to Sonic. "Hi, Sonic! Nice to meet you. Sorry about all my mumbling earlier." After Sonic and Aunt Mabel shook hands there was an awkward silence. The silence must have lasted at least three seconds before my aunt decided she couldn't take it anymore. "Well, Sonic, welcome to my household!"

I cleared my throat. Aunt Mabel took the hint. "Excuse me, our household. Your welcome anywhere. If you need anything Silver knows where to find me and if you plan on going outside, please don't trample the garden."

"Yes, ma'am." Sonic replied.

"Please, dear, call me Aunt Mabel. Any friend of Silver's is like another niece or nephew." I mentally face-palmed as my aunt hugged Sonic. He awkwardly stood there not knowing what to do, then she let go of him and made her way to me. "Now, if you two need anything I'll still be here, honey, okay?"

"I'll be fine, Aunt Mabel." My aunt gave me a big smile and embraced me. As I peaked over her shoulder I could see Sonic smiling at the both of us.

"That's my nephew! Have fun studying." Aunt Mabel let go of me and walked over to the sink then crawled under it. After she had climbed under the sink I gestured for Sonic to follow me through the backdoor to our backyard.

I took in the beautiful scenery in my backyard. Aunt Mabel loved to keep the garden healthy. The yard was 2,000 square feet. On the left was five different kinds of rose bushes. Neptunes, orange About-Faces, Antione Rivoires, Living Easys, and purple Radiances. Growing on the right are fresh, red, ripe, tomatoes. In the middle is plenty of green field for Freedom to run in. In the back planted in the bark dust is three Cedar trees.

Sonic whistled a little and looked at me. "Nice yard." He put his hands on his hips as he smiled at me. I only smiled back and asked him to follow me. "Where are we going?" I pointed to the third Cedar tree on the left where a ladder was clearly visible climbing up its side.

Once we reached the ladder we both looked up to see a fairly old treehouse. I climbed the ladder first, which was technically not a ladder and was really just slabs of wood nailed to the tree. Sonic followed me to the top and soon we were on the floor of tree house. We were surrounded by four walls. The back wall had a large opening so we could walk out on to a small balcony and look over the woods that rested behind my Aunt Mabel's house. The right wall had a small window with no glass and a small cuckoo clock hanging next to it. On the left and front wall was shelves. On those shelves were miscellaneous things.

In the middle of the room we stood in was a small wooden table with a white glass cross, with the words Smile; He Has Come, inscribed on it, as the centerpiece. Three chairs were placed around the table. Sonic walked over to the table and sat in one of the chairs, setting his backpack on the floor in front of his feet. He took a quick glance around the room again then pulled his homework out of his backpack, set it on the little table, and waited for me to sit down.

I walked over to the seat across from Sonic and pulled some textbooks out of my backpack as I sat down.

"So… Your Aunt Mabel's unique." Sonic attempted conversation.

"Yeah." I answered.

"Do you have an uncle?"

"Yeah. Uncle Roy. He fights in the war like your dad. Aunt Mabel really misses him."

"Oh." Sonic was silent for a couple of seconds. "Is he in the army too?

"No. Air Force."

"Oh." Sonic was silent again. He looked like something was troubling him. Like he wanted to ask me something but couldn't find a way to ask. "I like the treehouse. Did you make it by yourself or did your aunt help?" I laughed a little at the question.

"No. Well… Sort of. My dad and I built it but Aunt Mabel brought us lunch." I smiled at the memory of when I was five. I used my telekinesis to make my dad think I was good at construction. He always knew I was cheating but never complained because it saved him some work.

"Cool." Silence again. To be honest I was getting really tired of talking and suddenly stopping. I was about to ask if he wanted to study the history of the long lost Acorn dynasty but he interrupted me. "Silver, if you don't mind me asking, where are your parents? Are they divorced? I'm sorry if it's a sore subject. You don't have to answer." I froze as curious emerald eyes stared at me, waiting for an answer. I wondered if I should tell him. I really didn't want to make him depressed but for some reason I really wanted to tell him.

I eventually decided to tell him. "It's okay. You have a right to ask. Um… well… I lost my parents in a car accident and I was left in the care of my Uncle Roy and my Aunt Mabel… I was only six. They both died from… blunt force trauma to the head." That feeling hit me again as I answered Sonic. That feeling of pure grief. I could feel that little six year old inside me. That six year old that had to grow up too fast. I took a few deep breathes, stopping my awkward shaking. I looked at Sonic.

Sonic's eyes seemed to being missing some of their shine. He seemed to be in dolor. His eyes kept analyzing me. He had so many questions, I could tell. Question marks seemed to form in his eyes but he just sighed and asked me, "You were in the car, weren't you?" I didn't answer him. I didn't answer him for a long time.

After a while I answered, "Yes." Then calmly I picked up the history book and asked him the name of the last Acorn family member to be king. I wanted to escape the depressing atmosphere. Weirdly, though, I was oddly happy because I felt this odd weight being lifted off my chest.

But nothing could lift that burden of knowing I could have done something to stop it but I didn't. Nothing could change the fact that I knew what was going to happen my family that day but I panicked and wasn't able to stop it.