Fall Arc: Boys' Soccer

A ball whirled right by my head. If I wasn't sure, I'd think that the guys are trying to…

SMACK

Ouch…

Knocked to the ground, I lifted my head up to see several of my teammates on the ground in hysterics. Jet and Storm screeched and cackled loudly, while Sonic himself offered a few chuckles while helping me up.

"Not so on top of your game after that horrible injury, are we, Silver?" Storm joked after I was up again.

"Shut up, man." I pushed him lightly, rolling my eyes.

"Yeah guys, come on." Sonic interceded. "It's not Silver's fault he let little Julie beat him up!"

Quickly I lifted the soccer ball in my hand, aimed it right at Sonic's head, and toppled him over in one smooth throw. Suddenly it turned into an all-out war with me defending myself against dozens of balls being thrown right my way.

Coach ran in the middle, viciously blowing his whistle and waving his hands wildly in a drastic attempt to get us all to stop. All balls were immediately put down save one faulty throw that had already been in progress, which sailed above the fence and knocked over the nearest port-o-potty.

"Now since you whipper-snappers can't seem to control yourselves, I want seventeen campus laps, finished in fifteen minutes! Now go, get on and…"

The athletics director then jumped out of the port-o-potty, his normally pale face as red as an apple. His mustache curled up in anger as he shouted at the top of his lungs, "WHO DID THIS?"

Coach Chuck looked away in panic, raising his white eyebrows in fear. "Uh…on second thought boys, lets get out of here!"

We gathered all our equipment together as fast as we could, piling it all on top of the freshmen as the rest of us took off to safety. "Sorry, guys!" I called back as they struggled to escape the sight of Mr. Robotnik. Ah, freshmen. As captain I felt bad about letting them take the blame but it's a bit of a time-honored tradition.

I remember my freshmen year, when the whole soccer team snuck onto the roof of the main school building to hang a giant poster after we had won the championship title. Unfortunately, we had barely finished hanging half until the night janitor caught us from the front lawn. The upperclassmen all ducked out immediately, locking the doors so that all us freshmen and one unfortunate sophomore got a mop to the face. Oh, and suspension for a week.

We should've ratted them out, but what would that really have done? At least we got some props so early on in high school. That reminds me…I sure hope those freshmen don't rat us out.

I contemplated just running away and jumping in my car now to avoid any possible trouble but then I remembered that I promised Shadow a ride home. From where? What time? He didn't even let me know. I sigh, heart pounding as I realize I will have to risk running into Mr. Robotnik as I wander around the gym and maybe even the school.

I quickly ducked into the side entrance to the gym, double-checking to make sure the athletics director was absent before running across the gym floor. I passed the girls' locker room as I pushed open the double doors leading to the courtyard. Being so distracted, I accidentally slammed the door on the back of a girl carrying a pole outside for volleyball practice. Damn, what is with me and knocking people over lately?

The purple cat tumbled forward, face-planting to the ground. The pole landed right across her back, pinning her in the dirt and causing her to slightly whimper in pain. Immediately I snapped to action in terror and lifted the pole off of her as delicately as I could. Teammates crowding around, I apologized profusely as she turned to face me.

"I am really so sorry! Are you alright? Please forgive me, I didn't even…" My brow rose slightly in surprise and my heart skipped a whole two beats in that very moment. I paused, unwittingly staring at the lovely girl lying on the ground.

Her intelligent eyes stared in to mine and I noticed they were near perfect copies of my own golden irises. She batted her swooping eyelashes shyly as the smallest of smiles starting to form on her pretty face. Blushing, her tiny black nose crinkled with pleasure, ruffling the creamy white hairs surrounding it. She seemed to glow, despite the fact that her fur was matted with dirt.

In the moments I helped her up, time stood still. We seemed to be in another galaxy, on a different planet far out in space. The light shined only on us; we were the only two in the whole school, and possibly the world. While our eyes passed unspoken words that could never be expressed in speech, I realized that she and I shared something important. What it was I couldn't discern at the time…but it was there.

Her delicate hands sent blissful bursts of electric through mine. I was completely entranced by her; her smile, her perfect face, her flawless figure. To top it off, the red gem on her head shined as it caught the sunlight, causing my mouth to hang ajar at the beautiful wonder. I could've stood there, just watching her forever.

"Uhm…are you okay?" Amy brought us back to reality as she looked at the cat, tapping her on the shoulder and making her jump. She immediately threw her hands to her sides, blushing as she stared at the ground. Oh, but how I wanted her to just look up so I could she her shining eyes again!

"Of course she is!" Rouge cut in, grabbing the petite feline by her elbow, "just rub some dirt in that, and go get the net for Pete's sake!"

"T-th-thank you" Her sweet voice rang out as she was dragged away and pushed back through the gym doors. I could only stand there, dumbly, the feeling of undying attraction intoxicating my being. I waved back at the air, moments too late.

"And…uh…you?" Amy looked at me and giggled. I blinked slowly, still fascinated by the girl who just showed up and stole my heart.

"Who is that?"

"Blaze, she's new here."

"Blaze…" I sighed in dreamy wonder. "She's…amazing."

Amy crossed her arms, that certain look of trademark mischievousness plastered across her face. "Silver, she's the team klutz." She chuckled, lowering her eyes slightly "Not too talkative either. I mean, she must be nice. But we know nothing about her really."

I put my hand to my chin, thoughtfully looking at the double doors through which she had left. "I don't mind. She can't be that bad."

"Really? I invite you to come to one of our games this season" she said.

"Okay." I shrugged. "Hey by the way, you seen Shadow around anywhere?" Amy, Shadow, Sonic, and I all kind of banded together as the main hedgehog group on campus when we were freshmen. Even though we aren't as close as we all used to be growing up, we all still usually keep tabs on each other.

"Uh, actually yeah; he said something about going to the weight room" she nodded with certainty.

"Thanks, I have to go take him home" I responded, about to take off.

"Shouldn't he have his license by now?" she questioned, turning slightly to rejoin practice.

"Ah Amy you know how he is…not one to take initiative right away. See you." I turned to run back inside the entrance, climbing up the stairs by the gym floor to access the stage. Our school is old and not very well-funded, so we just had to convert some unused spaces to serve other purposes. The small stage that used to be used for important meeting was now the weight room, with the addition of a few machines and a large curtain to hide it all.

Turning the corner I found Shadow running away on the treadmill with earbuds placed in his ears.

"Shadow! I've been looking all over for you" I waved a hand in front of his face, causing him to stop his workout and pause the music.

"Hmph. What did you say? I was kind of in the middle of something here" a look of disdain passed over his face, as if it was his valuable time that I was wasting instead of my own.

"Dude it's time to leave. What are you even doing here anyways? Don't you know you're not allowed to use the equipment unless you're on an actual sports team?" As I said this, his face hardened and he jumped off the treadmill. Back faced to me, he crossed his arms and looked straight ahead at the wall in front of him.

"What?" I asked, wondering what I could have possibly said that would've offended him.

"…I joined a team." He mumbled so quietly that I could barely make out his words. But oh, when I heard them, a huge giddy smile formed within seconds on my face.

"You? You…joined a sports team?" I laughed slightly, trying to hold most of it in.

He turned swiftly on his heel, holding up a threatening finger to my face as he stood in close proximity to me. "Shut up. It was the only way I could use this equipment." His eyes flashed with genuine anger at this statement, as if I had just given him the worst insult possible.

I put my hands up slowly, backing away. "Okay, fair enough, but why did you want to use this gym so badly? Why now?"

His eyebrows went together as he scowled, "God knows I couldn't afford to keep my gym membership anymore. With how hard things have been lately, paying for school and dinner every night is about all I can manage."

I scratched the back of my head, regretting even asking in the first place. "Well, Shadow, you know you're always welcome to move in with me if you need to." I always felt bad for him. Shadow never really had anyplace to call home, so growing up he just had to stay wherever he could. And while 'wherever he could' was usually Sonic's, mine, or Amy's house, he would never stay too long. Now he just lived in a dingy apartment downtown.

"No," he waves his hand dismissively, "we aren't kids anymore. I need to be learning to take care of my own business."

"Shadow, you don't need to be doing any of this. Do you think most kids in high school have to do the things that you do?" In a rare moment, his expression softened. His ears drooped ever so slightly and I was moved with sympathy for my childhood friend. I went to put my hand on his shoulder, an action which immediately made him tense up and go cold. Our touching moment had sped away without a second notice and I realized it was back to our familiar rigid discourse.

He shrugged my touch off, turning from me once again. "Before we go, you need to see Vector. He came barreling by looking for you earlier, saying something about getting information."

My spirits immediately dropped to the floor. My vision went black and my mind turned to mush. I didn't want to do this, not now. But I knew if I didn't go, he'd hunt me down anyways. Why did I ever agree to do this awful thing?

I departed the weight room, telling Shadow that he needed to be in front of the gym in ten minutes or I was going to leave without him.

I frowned, walking as slowly as I could through the courtyard to delay this meeting by any means. Everyone had left the school building early, seeing as it was still summer vacation. No one had a key except the editor of the school paper and his unfortunate top photographer.

A feeling of guilt passed over me as I entered the building and descended to the basement. The shady croc had set up his editing office there by a deal with the school janitor, who allowed Vector to use his cave only after hours. Our janitor worked at Mobian High for fun, as he was actually the millionaire owner of a very successful business. All the guys on the sports teams, myself included, think of him as just one of us. Or, better yet, our leader. He'll occasionally come up to practices and join in or even break us out of class for no reason other than to start up a secret kickball game up at the field.

Seeing the janitor's familiar hangout where so many hours of brotime have been passed normally would fill me with happiness, but the degenerate sitting in his classically disheveled desk had changed all of that. His feet were kicked up carelessly and his crooked, sharp teeth were bent into an upwards frown as he motioned for me to sit down.

I lounged back on the red coach, a place where so many high school fantasies had been carried out by excited couples in the thrill of the moment, right behind the knowing back of our janitor. He disliked but accepted it, the only clue of his knowledge being the warning to 'keep the basement clean'. I have only known a few couples who have been so desperate as to do this though the thought of it made me squirm uncomfortably in my seat. With all these thoughts in my head I tried instead to focus on the blank flat screen TV opposite me and tune everything else out.

Still, Vector managed to bring me back, staring up the beginnings of a conversation that could only end badly. I hate him. I hate what he is forcing me to do, making me seem like some monster. If only I had known why the last photographer for the paper quit, I would have never volunteered to take his spot. Not in a million years.

Vector looked at me presumptuously, obviously enjoying my hatred of this moment. His eyes…they hold no compassion. No empathy, even, or regret for what he is doing. I felt even more disgusting than I already did just by being in his presence.

"So, Silver…" he rubbed his greasy hands together all too eagerly, "did you get our friend Julie-Su to agree yet?"

Ah, I hope you all like how I am characterizing these guys. I actually had a lot of trouble with this chapter because I realized I needed Vector to serve another purpose in a sub-plot with Cream and her mom, but I couldn't find another sleazeball candidate to take his place on the newspaper. I actually still need a good nasty male character, so if anyone has any suggestions feel free to tell me! Please leave a review if you like this story, I really love knowing that people are really reading and enjoying what I write. As always, thank you!