9th Grade Nice?
Chapter 2: A Touching Moment
"What'd you bring for lunch?" Cream asks warmly as their Venture class walks loosely in groups of two down the brick steps outside toward the cafeteria. "Tails? Tails?" She stops walking, but he continues on for a few steps before he realizes.
"What's wrong with you Tails? You seem out of it today? It's Friday! You should be glad the weekend's almost here!" Cream begins again. "Now…what's in that lunch bag of yours?" She reaches out for the wrinkled paper bag in Tails' grasp.
"Just a tuna sandwich and some chips." Tails says dully as he begins walking again.
"Are you going rollerblading with Knuckles and Tikal?" She asks as they take seats besides each other toward the end of their designated table.
"Yeah, probably. I like to rollerblade." Tails is doing his best Eeyore impression as he carefully slides his sandwich out of its plastic bag. "Are you ready for your date with Sonic?"
"Yeah, he called me last night. Said we're going to get something to eat and then go for a drive." Cream excitedly explains. "I can't wait until we can drive! What kind of car do you want? Ha, I bet knowing you, you'll just build your own though, right?"
"Maybe." Tails looks straight ahead as he snaps off another bite of his sandwich.
"Tails? I've known you for too long. You can't trick me. What's the matter?" She softly places her hand on his forearm.
"Hey Cream! Guess who?" A pair of white gloved hands slide over Cream's eyes from behind her.
"Sonic! I was just talking about you!" Cream spins around to see Sonic has stealthily slid into the empty seat to her left.
"Still on for tonight I hope?" Sonic sounds almost nervous as he softens his eyes to look at her. Tails stares at him fiercely, but Sonic's attention is elsewhere.
"Of course!" Cream takes her hand from Tails' arm and quickly squeezes Sonic's.
"Whew! I was beginning to get worried there. I always get so nervous around pretty girls!" Sonic says sweetly as stands up and heads back toward his class' table. Cream laughs and waves him off as he heads back across the noisy cafeteria. She quickly turns her attention back to Tails.
"Alright now Tails! C'mon. Tell me what's bothering you?" Cream places her hand on his arm again.
He snatches it away instantly. "Don't touch me Cream." Without a word, he gets up and balls up the rest of his half uneaten lunch and slams it into the garbage can before shoving the door open and storming outside.
Even though they have been sitting beside each other in Venture all week, Tails basically refuses to acknowledge Cream's existence for the rest of the block. He won't even turn his head slightly to the right in any way so he doesn't have to look at her.
What's gotten into him? Cream is distracted by her thoughts as she swaps out a few books from her locker after class. Does he really care that much about me going out with Sonic? It's just one date for crying out loud. She glances at her cell and sees that she's going to have to hurry if they're going to make the 3:30 subway stop. Cream quickly closes her top row locker.
"So!" Amy snaps as she appears from behind the locker door.
Cream flinches and nearly jumps back in surprise.
"When were you going to tell me about this little development?" Amy taps her foot impatiently before placing both hands on her hips and glaring at the rabbit.
Amy's dark grey t-shirt flutters slightly as wind whips into the building from outside as other students head out for the weekend.
"Uhhh….Sonic said you'd be okay with it…" Cream shyly looks away.
This seems to hurt Amy unexpectedly. "Did he now?" Amy blinks quickly to make any trace of tears disappear.
"I'm sorry Amy, I know how you feel about him, but…" Cream begins, but loses her edge.
"Have fun." Amy says with a mixture of anger and sorrow as she spins around and shoves the door open so hard it smacks against the outside wall.
Cream looks at her phone again and sighs, realizing she's missed the 3:30 train.
"Thanks for the ride home Knuckles." Cream beams brightly as he slows to a stop in her driveway. "I really appreciate it."
"Anytime!" Knuckles says sincerely before adding. "You going 'blading with us tonight?"
"Nahh, I've got a date."
Knuckles seems a little taken a back as he looks out of the window at Cream. "Who's the lucky guy?"
"Ohh…a certain blue hedgehog you might know." Cream smiles slyly as she tells him.
"Sonic? Really? I didn't know you had a crush on him."
"We ended up in Geometry together and he asked me out on the first day. I think it'll be fun! I can't wait!" Cream gets amped up just thinking about it. "My first real date!"
"Just take care of yourself, Cream. Dating seniors can be serious business."
Cream frowns at him. "Wha' do you mean?"
"I'm just sayin', Cream. Watch yourself."
Cream furrows her eyebrows at him as he begins to back out of her drive.
"I love how they toss the dressing in with the salad here." Cream comments as she and Sonic munch away on their meal.
"I know! It makes sure there's just the right amount in every bite!" Sonic grins at her before taking a sip of sweet tea.
"Did anything exciting happen to you today?" Cream asks before taking another bite.
"Just joked with Shadow during gym class. You're not taking that this year are you?"
"Nahhh…I might go out for track next year, but I doubt I'll be fast enough."
"It was crazy because Big was the sub in there today and all he did was take us out to that old pond behind the gym and had us fish for an entire hour." Sonic tells her.
"I don't think fishing is really a sport anyway." Cream smirks.
"You got that right." Sonic nods approvingly.
"Sorry to change the subject, but have you talked to Tails lately? He seems like something's bothering him and he wouldn't tell me what it was." Cream abruptly begins.
"I talked to him last week and he seemed okay. I'll see what's up with him on Monday. It's probably nothing. Just freshmen nerves or something."
"About that…" Cream struggles to speak. "I ran into Amy this afternoon. She certainly didn't seem like she knew you and me were goin' out."
Sonic sighs lightly as he finishes off his salad. He looks across the small, sunflower yellow table and smiles softly at Cream. She feels slightly better.
"I'm sorry Cream." Sonic confesses. "I didn't ask Amy because…I thought it would hurt her less. I mean, either way I knew it might break her heart, but I should've been more direct with her. I didn't mean to cause her any pain like that."
Cream feels a small sense of admiration at Sonic for confessing his mistake.
"I'm sorry to you too." He continues.
Cream jolts herself upright in her chair as Sonic reaches for her hand.
"I should've been more thoughtful. I didn't mean to put you in that situation. I shouldn't have lied to you like that Cream. It was just hard…when I like someone the way I like you…you just can't think straight sometimes, ya know?"
Sonic smiles timidly at her, his green eyes avoiding her.
"I think I get it now Sonic. You're such a tough guy on the outside, but inside, you've got a big, soft hedgehog heart, huh?" She jokes with him.
They talk about the rest of their day and enjoy some ice cream for dessert before leaving the restaurant.
Tails checks his cell phone again, hoping for a message from Cream, but none have arrived. He decided to skip out on the rollerblading after all. He rolls onto his back as he lies on his bed, staring hopelessly at the ceiling.
His thoughts flash back to the countless days that he and Cream have walked to school together, since she moved to Station Square back when they were in elementary school.
Doesn't all that time together mean anything? Tails is afraid to wonder as he clasps his hands behind his head. I guess not…
He cuts off the power to his cell phone and clicks off his overhead light and tries to fall asleep as fast as he can so he won't have to think about his feelings anymore.
"You ready to go for a drive?" Sonic asks as they buckle up and he starts the engine.
"Yep!" Cream chimes as Sonic quickly speeds out, up a nearby on ramp, and flies down the interstate.
Cream feels a rush of adrenaline as Sonic zips down the freeway, leaving cars in the distance as he cruises down the Oceanside highway.
"You know Sonic, I never thought you'd want to drive a car?" Cream says jokingly.
"Wha' do you mean?" He asks, before adjusting the air slightly.
"Well, you can run so fast anyway. I just never thought you'd like to use a machine to go fast."
"Ha. Well, as long it's got speed, I'm there. All these things Tails and Eggman build can be pretty cool after all!" Sonic turns to smile at Cream before focusing on the road again.
"Hey Sonic…" Cream feels restless as she fiddles with the frilly edges of the olive green shirt she has on. It blends smoothly with her dull white Capri pants.
"What is it Cream?"
A light rain begins to fall as Sonic continues out into a small park in the hills near the observatory overlooking Station Square.
"What is it that you like about me?"
Sonic silently pulls into a parking space in an empty lot and quickly opens the door before slowly jogging around to the other side. A confused Cream looks at him strangely as he opens the door. Raindrops pelt the black leather interior of the car as Sonic stands still, reaching for Cream's hand without a word.
"Sonic?"
Cream grasps his hand and he pulls her up, gently tugging her along a trail that leads to a massive weeping willow not far from the cliffs overlooking the bay and the town.
"Cream." Sonic says simply before wrapping his arms around her, pulling her close against him.
The rain begins to pitter patter around them faster, with the long, loose limbs of the willow tree only providing them some protection from the precipitation.
"I like you because you're smart," Sonic releases her from his embrace slightly but keeps his arms wrapped around her waist. "You've got a sweet smile. And you're… beautiful."
Sonic stares deeply at her as Cream reaches up to wrap her arms around Sonic's neck.
"Your warm brown eyes and cute floppy 're fun to hang out with." Sonic whispers to her with the rain crackling around them. A heavy drop falls from Sonic's nose and splotches on the ground. "I think…I might…I mean…"
Sonic looks away from her sheepishly.
"What?" Cream feels empowered, pulling on Sonic slightly to get him to look at her again.
"I…love you Cream."
Cream laughs loudly at this. "C'mon Sonic! It's our first date!"
"I'm serious Cream. I haven't been able to stop thinking about you all week. I want to love you. I…"
Cream suddenly stops laughing as Sonic hesitantly leans toward her. She gently moves toward him and brushes her lips against his. Sonic kisses her short but then engages her in a deeper kiss, tightening his arms around her. Cream feels the rush of the kiss as they stay connected for a while before separating slowly.
"Wow…." Cream blushes as she looks up into Sonic's green eyes.
Sonic smirks at her. "Now I can add being a good kisser to the list of things I like about you."
"haha! Right!" Cream shakes her head slightly at him before leaning in to kiss him again.
Sonic slowly tugs on Cream as he slides to the ground against the base of the willow tree. He deepens their kiss by moving his hands gently against the small of Cream's back. She giggles slightly and they continue to embrace. Sonic slowly moves his hands from Cream's back to her front and begins to slide his fingers underneath the frilly bottom of her shirt.
"Sonic…" Cream laughs as his fingers brush against her bellybutton but don't stop. Suddenly, Cream's eyes snap open fully as Sonic's hand brushes against her chest.
"Sonic!" She instantly wiggles back and tugs her shirt down. Her heart is thumping uncontrollably as she still feels the warmth from where Sonic's hand touched her.
"What Cream?" He looks at her nonchalantly.
"Don't do that." Cream stares at him intently.
"I'm sorry Cream, I got a little carried away." Sonic put on his scolded puppy dog face as he slithers his arms around the rabbit's waist again.
"Just watch yourself Mr. Hedgehog." Cream slyly jokes with him as she moves her arms toward his neck.
Sonic begins to kiss her again but slowly moves from her mouth to her neck, planting small, sweet kisses on both sides. Meanwhile, he slowly moves his hand up her side and rests it on her chest.
"Sonic! Stop it!" Cream says more forcefully.
"C'mon Cream. You know you like it." He smirks, looking at her now rain soaked clothes before trying to start making out with her again.
"I don't wanna do that Sonic! Get off me!" Cream shoves him hard enough that he stumbles back slightly.
"What the hell's your problem Cream?" Sonic snarls at her as he steps toward her again, glaring down his nose at the girl just a few inches shorter than him.
"I'm not ready for that kind of stuff Son—"
"That's what you do in high school Cream! Everybody knows that." Sonic looks at her like she's a little girl. "C'mon! You know you want to."
"Get away from me!" Cream yells at him through the now pouring sheets of rain. She flutters her ears together and hovers in the air above the agitated blue hedgehog.
"Fine Cream, but you're gonna regret this."
Fear strikes Cream's heart, wondering what Sonic would do to her.
"Good luck getting home little baby." Sonic flips his hand at her, waving Cream off as he hops in his car before loudly squealing his tires and tearing out back toward town.
Cream isn't so worried about how to get home. Even though it's pouring and she's soaked, she could manage to fly back to her house. As soon as she was sure Sonic was gone though, she slowly descends to the ground and collapses beneath the slowly shifting branches of the willow tree.
What have I done? She thinks ruefully as she covers her eyes and begins to cry as she tries to curl up against the thick, unforgiving bark at the base of the tree. Sonic was just trying to use me. Tails won't talk to me and Amy thinks I don't care about her at all.
As the rain begins to stop, a few stray raindrops mix with Cream's free flowing tears as she sobs softly throughout the cloudy, moonless night.
To Be Continued
Will Sonic carry through on his threat to get back at Cream? Can she do anything to get Amy's and Tails' trust back? Find out next time!
Let me know what you guys think. Is this too silly of a story idea? Feedback and comments are always welcome! Thanks very much for reading! I hope you like it.