Chapter 4
- - - - X
Heavy breaths release out of my chest as I sprint across the track, feet pounding hard with each step I took. My rasping throat was as parched as a dead lizard in the desert sun. But that didn't matter. All I knew was that I had to keep running forward. Not stopping for anything.
"Come on, Rob O'!" I hear Sonic shout from the sidelines, clapping his hands to cheer me on. "Remember what I taught you!"
I nodded in acknowledgement and followed his grueling pace without complaint.
I cross the finish line and take the towel Sonic has holding out to me, stopping as I lean my hands on my knees. Breathing in and out quickly as I try to catch my breath, looking up expectantly at Sonic who is grinning down at me with timer at hand.
"Eight minutes and twenty seconds," he turned bright eyes and a quietly beaming smile on me, "a new record!" He announced, raising his hand up to me for a high five.
I did. "It's only been two weeks and I've already gotten a lot faster!" I say, throwing the towel over my neck and wiping my sweat.
"And you'll get even faster if you follow that diet I gave you!" Sonic says, walking over to me and I jump with pink cheeks when I feel him slap my butt. He doesn't seem fazed at all as he goes back to writing my new record on his notepad. "Just you watch!"
"Yeah…" I say blankly as I look away from him so he doesn't see my flustered face. Relax. This is a common gesture between guys.
"You guys are running in this heat?" A voice questions from above the steps that lead to the track and my eyes follow only to be met with the amber eyes of Silver and the rest of the guys.
"Silver, my man!" Sonic booms, slapping Silver's hand as they enter the track with us.
"Don't you guys get heat strokes running in this weather?" Knuckles complained, sweating heavily as he slapped a hand over his forehead to clean off sweat. "It's at least ninety degrees now and I can't stand it!"
"We can handle a little heat," Sonic mocked with a grin. "Right, Rob O'?"
"Oh, uh, right!" I say confidently even though I feel myself warming up even more after that run as I open up my water bottle. Knuckles only glares and I look away. He's kind of intimidating.
"Why don't we go to the lake?" Knuckles offers, stealing the water bottle I was about to drink and spraying the water behind his neck. I glare at him. This guy really holds a grudge over something that happened almost a month ago.
"The lake?" Sonic repeats with a thoughtful look, stealing the water bottle back and throwing it over at me. I catch it and I can't help but smile at how he defends me. "I don't know about that."
"That seems like a good idea!" Tails add in with a bright smile, no device in hand this time. "It sounds like fun. Come on, Sonic, let's go!"
"Well if you really want to go I see why not?" Sonic said hesitantly, rubbing the back of his neck. The guys high five each other and grin but I take this time to sneak away and get my things to go.
"Aren't you coming along, Rob O'?" Tails asks, stopping me from trying to sneak away.
"I actually have a lot of studying to do," I lie, gathering my belongings into my backpack. As much as I would love to swim since it actually seems like a lot of fun but too risky. If I get in the water I'm sure my bands will come undone and my quills will go back down. "Plus I don't feel like getting my quills wet."
"You won't have to swim," Silver explains as he takes my backpack away from me. "You can just relax in the boat."
I'm uneasy. "Really?" I wonder.
He nods, offering me a friendly smile. "Yes, really."
I bite my lip unsurely but smile up at him. "Well if I don't have to get in the water then that seems fine…"
"Great! Then let's go!" Silver says with sudden excitement and grabs my hand. I don't have time to blush at the contact though. His grip tightens and I immediately know I did a big mistake because before I know it I'm struggling to get away from him.
"You said I didn't have to swim!" I say when Silver drags me and the guys through the edge of the yacht, the one that apparently belonged to Sonic and the one they are currently dragging me into.
"Gosh, you're worse than Sonic." Silver laughs as he tugs me over to the edge more. "Stop being such a sissy!"
"I don't know how to swim," I lied, trying to keep him from tugging me clothes off which makes me turn pink. "I refuse to get in the water!"
"Are you really that terrified?" Sonic asks, taking his shirt off, giving me a sexy view of his abs and arches his eyebrow, giving me a half smile. "Swimming isn't my favorite thing either," Sonic admitted, throwing me a pair of swim trunks. "But it has been getting really hot lately and I won't go deep in the water without a life jacket. So I see why not?"
My cheeks flush Just looking at his abs but I force myself to look away before I start to drool. "I have aquaphobia!" I said quickly as some of the other boys jumped into the lake.
"Really?" Sonic asks, blinking his eyes. "You have a fear of water?"
I try to ignore the fact that Silver immediately releases me with a look of disgust. He probably thinks I don't shower, but that's okay. At least it made him let me go but Sonic on the other hand doesn't seem to convinced.
My eyes flash to him desperately. "Please don't make me get in there." I really cannot risk being caught.
I think Sonic noticed the fear in my eyes because he pats my back, saying, "I'm not going to force him to jump in," as he walked past me and got his own towel. "Stop trying to force him, Silver."
Silver rolled his eyes but gave a sigh of defeat, walking over to the edge and jumping into the water with Tails. It really seems like a lot of fun. I really wish I could of but I really can't but I'm glad Sonic has my back on this.
"Positive you don't want to join us?" Sonic asks for a final time as he turns over at me curiously.
"Positive," I reply with a smile as I motion for him to get n the water. "You guys have fun
He hesitates but nods. "You should really take off your shirt though with how hot it is out," Sonic explains and my cheeks flush. If only he knew I really couldn't do that. Still, he continues, "wearing a long sleeve especially is really going to warm you up."
Another thing that sucks right now. I can't wear a short sleeve without the guys seeing my scrawny arms or having a better chance at seeing my chest. But I fake a smile and nod, "I'm fine right now." I lie even though it's already pretty hot.
He nods and laughs when Silver shoots him with a water gun from the water. "Aw, Silver you're on!" He states as he quickly puts on a life jacket and grabs his own water gun from within the yacht, jumping into the water after him.
I shake my head but smile them battling one another and switching things up.
They spend their time either floating on water in their inflatables or racing each other around the lake in wave runners. I've honestly never ridden one before so I feel slightly envious that now that i have the opportunity to ride one I can't. I shouldn't complain though. I had never even gone to the lake before and especially not on a yacht.
It was fun watching them anyways even if I couldn't join in.
It's only noon when we get here and now it seems close to four o'clock and the sun is still beaming. It radiates off my body in the most uncomfortable way possible. I tug at my collar for air as I let out a breath of air. It really is hot and getting hotter with every hour. I bet it's at least a hundred degrees now.
Sitting in the sun wasn't helping either.
My ears twitch at the sound of the side of the boat clanking and I steal a glance over to see Sonic climbing back into the yacht with a huge smile on his face. "You sure you don't want to get in the water?" He asks, running his hands through his wet quills. I don't have time to appreciate the water droplets running down his body as he removes his lifejacket.
I blink over at him slowly and shake my head, leaning into my hand as I take in a breath, feeling light headed. "I'm good."
"You alright, Rob O'?" Tails, who's in the water with a worried look, asks. He's so cute! But I can't appreciate that either right now and simply nod.
"Yeah," I say weakly as I place a hand over my forehead. "Just a little dizzy…"
"You're looking a little pink," Sonic says then hesitates thoughtfully. "I mean, pinker than usual."
I nod but don't bother answering. I have the sudden urge to throw up and the swaying of the yacht isn't helping either. My eyes shut as I lean against the chair and try to cool off.
"Here drink this," he offers as he appears before me with a glass of water. "It might help."
My fingertips tremble as I reach out to hold the glass of water and my vision begins to blur. And just when it's almost in my grasp, my hand slips just when Sonic lets go of the glass of water and it comes splashing all over me. My eyes open wide at the contact. Now that wakes me up!
I feel the shiver down my spine as the water spills over my jeans and drenched all the way into my underwear. Immediately I jump to my feet but regret it instantly when I stumble over my own feet.
"Chaos sake," Sonic hisses through his teeth as he catches me stumbling. "You're most definitely not okay, Rob O'."
"Where are you going?" I hear Knuckles call out from the water but I shut my eyes so I'm not sure if it could maybe be Silver talking instead.
"Rob O' doesn't feel good so I'm taking him into my room to cool him off." I hear Sonic say as he drapes one of my arms over his shoulders and pull me up to walk beside him.
My eyes blink open.
That's right.
I could have gone inside to get some shade the whole time. I slap a hand over my head.
Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.
My head aches and I automatically regret hitting myself on the head. It only makes things worse.
He opens the door and leads me to the bed, laying me gently on the cream colored duvet. Immediately, I turns onto my side, curling into the fetal position.
"Here," He says, taking the water and pills from his pockets. "These should help."
He unscrews the cap on the water and punches one pill through the silver packet before handing one to me. I take it, pop the pill in my mouth and chase it with a gulp of water. I shiver and hand him the bottle. "Thank you."
"You should be feeling better soon."
He sets the water on the bedside table and I groggily watch him sit by a nearby chair and watch me worriedly. My eyes hurt though so I shut them briefly and I feel drugged when I crack my eyelids again to look around. Something is shaking my shoulder. Gently.
It's Sonic, speaking to me, urging me to take another pill with a sip of water. Dizzily, I comply and then lay my head back down. Sleep comes quickly.
Some unknown amount of time later, I stir again, groggy and confused. I see Sonic watching me from the chair. A million things go through my head and through my heart, but I don't want to think about any of them. I don't have the energy.
Comforted that I'm being cared for, that Sonic is close and not upstairs or out with the guys in the water, I relax and go right back to sleep.
Then I'm awake again. I don't know how much time has passed. My head feels heavy and my vision is fuzzy, but at least the room seems a bit more stable. That or my stomach has learned not to care.
I know exactly where I am. And that the chair Sonic was sitting in when I drifted off the last time is now empty. I'm both relieved and disappointed, if that's even possible. I kind of liked having him take care of me or at least him paying attention.
I reach for the bottle of water, taking a big swig to rinse my mouth before swallowing. Then gingerly, taking great care to move slowly in case that horrific nausea hasn't completely abated, I roll onto my back.
"You awake Rob O'?" I hear someone call from outside the door and I sit up as soon as I can, leaning on the edge of the bed to get up. I need to appear less weak. Like a dude!
"Ah, yeah, come in!" I order as I quickly fix my quills in place and deepen my voice as best as I can.
"Well how is the macho man doing after fainting?" Sonic asks smirking as he kicks the door closed with his foot. I notice he's carrying something in his arms and try to glance at what it might be but his remark makes me cringe.
That's right.
Macho men don't faint or at least I don't think so.
Still I try to play it off. "I'm fine but I was just recharging my energy. No big deal. No fainting." I don't think that made any sense.
"Whatever you say, man." He smiles but it looks like he's trying not to laugh. "Here," he says as he holds out clean folded clothes. "These were the one I used to wear back when I was a middle schooler. They're pretty small but you're a pretty small guy so they might fit you. It's the only thing I've got."
My eyes lit up when I take the clothes into my hands, glad I can finally change out of these wet clothes, and give him a smile. "Thanks, Sonic." I say in appreciation.
"No problem. But if you need anything else I'll be right outside where the chairs are at." He says in reference to when I had been drained by the sun. "You've been out for almost two hours so the guys are kind of worried so it'd be nice if you come out and tell Tails you're fine. He was freaking out for a while."
Tails… he's such a sweetheart.
I nod but then look up at him. "Just don't come in," I say and hesitate when Sonic gives me a funny look. That's right. Guys change in front of each other just like Shadow did before. "I uh am super shy when people look at me."
He believes it. "There isn't even anything to look at," Sonic laughs and slaps my back pretty hard and I grimace internally. "Besides I'm into women not men." He jokes and I laugh with him but inside I'm crying that he said I have nothing to look at.
It's not like I can blame him.
I am pretty scrawny and have no curves. At least not like that Mina girl or any super model. I'm pretty below the basic line. Plus he thinks I'm a boy. Not that that would change his view much of I was a girl. Like I said, I'm not the best looking compared to other girls.
"Alright though," Sonic says and gaining my attention as he walks over to the door to leave. "But if you need anything let me know." I nod and with that he leaves the room.
I feel a weight off my shoulders as I am left alone. Being in these wet clothes was making me feel clammy and gross.
I pull my baggy jeans down and they flop around my ankles, kicking them off of me along with my wet underwear and replacing them with the boxers Sonic brought me. It feels weird wearing some but I'm just glad they're not loose on me. My eyes fall back to the mirror as I look myself over.
My legs are thin but also slender, I note as I admire myself in the mirror. It looks like all that running was doings wonders on my body. I smile as I check out my butt in the mirror in the tight boxers. It's nice and perky for once and then look up at my chest in the mirror.
I sigh. My chest is bounded but even if it wasn't there wouldn't be much there. At least I have the butt to make up for that, I think as I giggle to myself. That is until I realize that none of that matters. It's not like I can wear clothes to show that off.
I grab a hold of the jeans that Sonic brought me and begin pulling them on. They already feel to big but that's perfect so the natural feminine legs I have don't show, I think as I bend over to pull them better when I hear the creek of the door open.
My cheeks flush when I see Sonic from the mirror. He's standing perfectly still, watching me. Cheeks flushing pink and looking me over from behind with intense and focused eyes aimed at my rear.
I shriek, pulling my baggy pants up quickly and turning around to glare at him. "I told you to knock!" I yell out at him, turning red and doing my best to look manly.
"Sorry!" I hear him yelp out in surprise and in an instant he's gone and I'm alone in the room, breathing heavily and in shock.
Once the door shuts I let my knees fall to the ground as I try to process what just happened. Did I just get caught? He did seem taken aback but he didn't see me shirtless or my front area where something is missing. What was with that reaction then?
I bite my thumb as my nerves go haywire. This cannot be happening to me. What if he goes and tells the rest of the guys what happens? What if he tells his dad? Will I get kicked out now? Would Sonic tell on me? Will all my studying and efforts be in vain?
I take in a breath and try to relax. He probably didn't see anything and just thought I had something on my butt and that's why he was looking so intently at them or he was shocked at how scrawny my legs are! That made more sense, right?
I just need to pretend nothing is wrong.
I take in another breath of faith as I walk back to the outside area of the yacht. The heat isn't as bad anymore. Maybe around seventy degrees now but I still feel warm with nerves as I walk out and see Sonic sitting in one of the sofas hitting himself lightly on the head with his fist. Almost like he's lecturing himself but he seems to hear me as his ears flicker when I walk over.
He looks deep in thought as he glances quickly at my legs hidden behind the baggy pants he let me borrow. I can't help but feel suddenly self conscious as I hold my wrist over my pelvis and I sit next to him and instantly regret it since the sofa is small and making our knees touch a tad bit.
Pretend nothings wrong, I think and swallow. "Sorry about that. You startled me.
He nods, his eyes on my legs pressed against his.
"Did you need something?"
"I was going to ask if the jeans fit since Tails had a smaller pair on the yacht," he says to my legs.
I cough to make him look at me. He blushes—playing it off. "These are fine… but is everything fine with you?"
His smile fades. He blinks. Once. Twice. Then he swallows. "Y-y-yeah, it's just… you kinda… never mind."
"Okay."
His eyes drop to my legs again.
"So want to go back?"
"Huh?"
"Sonic."
He finally looks up.
"Something wrong?" I really hope he didn't figure me out.
He swallows. "Nothing," he says suddenly as he grins at me. I've known him long enough to know that he's forcing it but I make no comment as he ruffles my quills. "Lets just hope you don't feel sick again."
And he's right.
For the rest of the day, I sit in the yacht watching them have fun in the water and I feel fine. They are all having fun and found their own thing but it's nice just watching them. Especially Sonic.
Sonic's face lights up when he zooms full speed in the wave runner, enjoying himself. My heart warms with his laugh of delight as he passes in front of me. Back and forth he goes, with Silver chasing behind him in his own waverunner. He seems in complete bliss.
That is, until he turns his handsome face to look at me.
As he stares at me, the color leaves his handsome, peach face, taking with it the smile that he was wearing. His mouth drops open a little and lets out a huff of a breath as he releases it. If I didn't know any better, I'd say he looks taken aback with me watching him. I just don't know why he would be. Normally I would do the usual thing and wave, but at the moment my thoughts are all scattered and it's hard to catch my breath.
He's handsome, yes. He's built well, yes. I'm sure in another life or if I were someone else, I'd be chasing after him. Only I'm not looking for that type of relationship. Not Right now. I'm not supposed to like him..
So then why can't I breathe? Why do I feel like I just fell into a black hole that sucked all the air from the world and dropped hot boulders into my stomach?
Finally he offers me small smile and zooms away again. He doesn't get to see the way my cheeks blush again or how I'm having trouble breathing. He doesn't get to see the way I watch him afterwards.
What do you guys predict will happen next? Also I will update based on reviews :)