The chatter around the table kept the dining room full of noise, however I remained silent and idle as I poked at the strange food with my fork, refusing to eat from the fact that I didn't feel hungry at all.

Actually, I haven't felt hungry for awhile. Instead inside my stomach something stranger was churning, unsatisfied by any treats my friends could cook up and try to feed me. I didn't think I was sick. Since all my older friends made sure that I took lots of precautions when I took care of Cosmo, the one who seemed to be the cause of all this weirdness.

Cosmo…

The strange feeling rushed through my empty stomach again, churning over and over until it was in a tight uncomfortable knot, satisfied by making me feel awkward. Ever since that one night I felt stranger around her, and got overwhelmed with this unwelcomed feeling just by the mention of her name.

It was scary. My mom wasn't around to guide me through this state, and I couldn't muster up the courage to tell anyone, as strange as it is. Normally I was happily as open as a book, but this time around I was shut tight and uncharacteristically quiet.

My brown eyed gaze flicked over to Amy, watching as she giggled and played with Sonic's quills, much to his obvious displeasure. However everyone around seemed to be laughing at the two and joking about their 'true love', and I couldn't help but crack a smile as well and let a giggle out. She really loved the teen, with all her heart…but maybe she didn't really respect his space yet. And mama told me one thing boys loved would have to be space.

Focusing back on poking the unappealing food item before sticking my tongue out at as if it would go away from just that action, I felt a silence creep throughout the room, but I didn't understand why. Curiously I glanced back up with my big brown innocent eyes, taking in the surroundings to find the sudden disrupting change.

Chocolate brown eyes locked on perfect blue ones.

I felt my cheeks go hot with a flowery pink blush, before my natural instincts kicked in and I looked down, breaking the eye contact as soon as it connected. I didn't understand my reaction, yet I didn't question it.

It didn't take long for the silence to be broken, by a familiar orange vixen's young voice.

"Cosmo? What are you doing out of bed?" His tone sounded worried and concerned, and the feeling switched and shifted around into another painful sensation. How could he talk as if he had been the one taking care of her for the whole past week? It sounded as if he was there every step of the way holding her hand, but that was me. It was my accomplishment.

Why did it make me feel so oddly upset? It wasn't like Cosmo even knew this; she seemed mostly asleep while I cared for her, only awake for some of the time. But it really shouldn't matter who she thought cared for, as long as she got better. I had to remind myself of this.

Tiredly the girl glanced around with a weak yet reassuring smile, seemingly out of place amongst us. She wasn't in the best condition still, and everyone knew it. Her green hair was ruffled around and her normally shining blue eyes were dulled down a few shades, and the dress that normally hung onto her petite frame was replaced with a long dress that appeared to be nightwear. The flowery girl had probably just woken up from another nap.

The room stayed silent for a few moments longer, waiting for her to respond.

After a few more long seconds, her quiet voice finally broke the empty silence. "I was hungry; and no one was there in my room, plus there wasn't any food placed down for me. I thought it'd be okay…I'm very sorry." She gave a small curt nod, a little rosy pink blush forming on her pale cheeks, as if she had just now registered that she was center of attention for everyone in the room, and got embarrassed.

My heart sank a little. I was taking too much time, stalling going there on purpose to check on her. For some reason ever since that night, the urge to avoid the girl I really wanted to be close to and become good friends was extremely high. I could feel some accusing stares at me; however they vanished immediately when the peppy voice of Amy snapped them to all focus on her.

"That's no problem! Maybe you just got up a bit earlier," For a moment she paused, smiling sweetly at me. The pink hedgehog was always on my side, and she was easing the blame off me. "So why don't you and Cream pick up your food, and eat together? After all, I'm sure you'd love company while you eat."

But with those words, the feeling only got worse, my emotions and reactions spinning around too much for me to understand them. I gave Amy a distressed glance, however it converted to a forced smile at seeing how friendly and happy her expression was. She could tell I wanted to make friends with Cosmo, as she and Tails were.

But she had probably read my sad body language as that it was not going as plan and making me feel blue, instead of that I felt too strange to be around the green plant girl for a comfortable while. My body seemed to tense and relax on a set timer, unsure of how to be portrayed.

"I would love that. If it's okay with Cream, of course." Her blue eyes seemed to light up momentarily as she turned her face back to look at me, her smiling widening just a little bit more. All I could muster was a quick nod; however that didn't seem to make anyone worry about or stop me as I stood up and quietly shoved my chair in, a slightly forced smile on my lips as I kept shaking as minimal as possible.

I could hear people chat happily with Cosmo as I walked past them all to grab some extra food for the pretty plant girl, while my knees felt weak and wobbly with every effort filled step I took. Absent mindedly I scooped some of the pasta onto a plate, before placing it on top of the clear metal tray. It was the same one as always I used to bring food to Cosmo. Sometimes I wished it was prettier or nicer, but I wasn't sure why. A flower would make it near perfect.

Snapping myself from the tracks of the daydream train I turned on my heels, nobody noticing I was walking back with Cosmo's food. Instead my ears twitched a little as I listened in on the conversation. Of course it was mostly about the seedrian's wellbeing.

"Are you sure you are feeling better?" Amy asked. A few other voices tried to mash and mix over hers, but overall her tone dominated them all.

"Yes. Just fine, maybe even in a few days or so I'll be ready to return to helping." There seemed to be a pause. I slowed down a little more, wanting to eavesdrop just a little more before making my presence known to all the others. It seemed it wasn't hard for everyone to forget I was there.

"Really? That'd be great –" Tails's excited statement was cut short by someone else.

"I don't know, Cosmo. You took a pretty hard hit…we all know this." Surprisingly someone else's voice cut in, before a few chimes of agreement sounded around. "It struck you deep. Do you really think you'll be fine in just a few days?" With this question, I could almost feel Cosmo's hesitation, as if she was considering this deeply from not thinking of it before.

"Maybe you are right…" Her voice sounded quietly meek, sad, and thoughtful all mixed in together. It made me feel upset, as if I was going through the same emotional phase as she was. The room was full with silence. I couldn't listen in any longer to the unknown reasons as the topic easily changed to happy idle chatter, yet Cosmo did not join in.

Quietly I made my way over to the still standing green girl, trying to keep the noise of my feet shuffling very low. I was not noticed as she seemed to be glancing longingly into nothingness; I almost didn't want to break it. But I had to. Mustering up some confidence and courage I reached up, and tapped her shoulder once.

Immediately she flinched as if I had just hit her, however when she noticed it was me she gave a soft smile that made my heart thud, making me afraid if she could hear it or not. As if it was a normal everyday thing she carefully laced her fingers into my free hand, which only made me tense up and blush a shade darker and the dull thud turn louder and louder. But none of this she noticed. With her, it was all fine.

Quietly she whispered, to only me for once, "Let's go." I tried to open my mouth and respond, but suddenly my throat felt dry, and I merely nodded as a replacement for the words that wouldn't come.

The young lady turned around carefully as if she would fall over and bring us both down with one misstep, and lead me out the door, even if I knew the path probably much better than her, I let her do so. It made me feel warm and fuzzy being so close to her. My mind searched through thoughts for something proper to say to her; however it always came up blank.

I didn't notice when she said something in her quiet tone, acquired probably from the fact of whatever sickness she encountered. It made me feel embarrassed, as if I should be hanging on to her every word instead of floating around in a daydream. Clearing my throat I hesitantly asked;

"W-what was that?"

For some reason, my mind was expecting much worse to play out. Like as if the world would come crashing down, and the small bridge that was creating our friendship would crumble down as if nothing from the fact I hadn't been listening, and had the audacity to ask her to repeat herself. Instead I was met with a gentle smile, and an equally as gentle voice easily repeating what had been said to me before.

"I said, thank you."

My heart seemed to skip a couple beats at just that little sentence, as her attention went back to picking out the correct route. However in my own little world, it felt as if I was the queen, as a childish smile showed on my lips for the first time in awhile.