9th Grade Nice?

Chapter 3: Rumor Mill

Cream's fur is drenched by the time she flies home, but her mother is in the kitchen as she enters the house, so Cream craftily sprints upstairs and changes into a pair of black mesh shorts and a white t-shirt.

She doesn't even try to text Tails or Amy. After checking in with Marine, Cream finds out that she's busy working the boat show all weekend at the docks.

"Did you have a good time sweetie?" Vanilla asks as she opens the door, smiling sweetly as she sticks her head slightly in Cream's pale pink painted bedroom.

"Yeah, dinner was good." Cream forces her face to smile as genuinely as she can. "I'm tired though."

"Alright dear. Good night. You can tell me all about it in the morning." Vanilla waves softly to her daughter, fearing that she's reaching the age where she won't accept a goodnight kiss anymore. She closes the door with the quietest of clicks.

I can't believe this. Cream thinks as she collapses into her pillow and sobs softly. There's no one to talk to. No one trusts me anymore. Why did this have to happen?

Cream walks sullenly down the sidewalk that passes in front of Station Square High School. She didn't even bother to see if Tails waited for her on the subway platform. She stares down at her orange Nikes as she trudges up the steps toward her locker.

"Hey! There she is!" Cream hears Tikal's voice and some other girls call out. They rush over to Cream's locker.

"So…Cream…" Tikal nudges against her shoulder suggestively. "What was it like? How was Sonic?"

"What?" Cream looks at them mystified. "What are you talking about?"

"Don't be shy freshman! What was it like?"

"Wha' do you mean?" Cream continues to look at the orange echidna with a confused look.

"Sonic told us all about it. He said you were great on Friday night. Said he couldn't keep you off of him."

"That's not true!" Cream yells, louder than she intended.

"You've got guts, that's for sure. I know I wouldn't have dared go all the way with a senior on the first date. Especially since Amy likes him so much."

"I didn't do anything with Sonic." Cream gets angry as she pokes her finger at Tikal. "I thought he actually liked me, but he was just a perv."

"Cream, you don't have to lie. Sonic showed us the video."

"What video?" Cream gasps.

"He had a cam mounted on the dashboard of his car I guess. He sent it to all the upperclassmen. That was pretty hot, the two of your making out in the rain." Tikal raised her eyebrows at the rabbit sarcastically.

"That's a lie! I thought he was just being romantic, but then he touched me an—"

"I think he did more than just touch you!" Tikal cuts off the arguing rabbit.

"No! I shoved him off and told him to leave me alone. He drove off and left me in the middle of a freaking rain storm!" Cream tries to defend herself.

The first warning bell for 8:15 classes rings dully throughout the building. Lockers begin to shut as students push toward their destinations.

"It's nothing to be ashamed of Cream. Lots of freshman try to get with seniors their first week. I just never thought you'd be the type." Tikal seemingly gives her a nod of approval. "Still, I'd avoid Amy if I were you. If she finds out you slept with Son—"

"I did not sleep with Sonic!" Cream yells so loud that almost everyone in the hallway stops in their tracks. A door on the far end of the hall closes loudly. Cream looks over Tikal's shoulder and sees Tails sprinting out across the courtyard in the middle of the school.

"Get out of my way!" Cream shoves Tikal aside and sprints out the door. She sees Tails running as fast as he can across the street and toward the massive Central City Park. Cream is able to keep Tails in her sight as he dashes around the curved concrete paths that weave through the high arching oak trees. Tails is unaware that she's following her as he slows to a jog and then starts to aimlessly walk before plopping down on an empty wooden bench in the shade near a softly streaming fountain.

"Tails?" Cream says gently as she hesitantly approaches, staying a few steps back, standing in the bright early morning sun.

Tails turns his head and sees the beautiful girl looking at him sorrowfully, wearing a sherbet orange dress and a silver necklace with sky blue charms attached.

"Can I talk to you?" She asks without hiding any of her sadness.

"Wha' do you care? Wha' do you want with me anyway?" Tails peppers her with questions as he turns away from her.

"It's not true Tails!" Cream starts to step toward him but stops.

"What? That you didn't sleep with Sonic?"

"Do you think I would?" Cream snaps back quickly.

"I don't know what to think about you anymore." Tails remains seated, but turns his head to look away from her again.

Cream stomps over and stands directly in front of the fox. "What the hell's your problem Tails?"

He turns to look at her instantly as his ears pick up a word he never thought she'd say.

Tails looks at her with bright blue eyes and a shocked look. Cream promptly slaps him hard with her right hand.

"Since when do you care who I kiss and who I don't?" Cream glares at him with her arms crossed.

"Since forever okay!" Tails stands up from the bench, his nose coming dangerous close to brushing against Cream's.

"Wha' does that mean?" She yells back at him. "How would I've known that, huh?"

Cream sticks her face closer to his, her nose brushing against his muzzle.

"What about all the time we've spent together since you guys first moved here? Riding to school everyday? Talking, studying, laughing? Didn't that mean anything to you?" Tails quickly loses the edge in his voice.

Cream pulls back slightly, just now realizing all the memories she's shared with Tails over the years since she and her mom moved to Station Square.

"And I think you're pretty too, okay? Your bright eyes and soft smile. I love it when I can make you laugh…" Tails whispers mournfully, his head still turned away, unable to make eye contact with her. "But I guess all those times didn't mean as much to you…" With a touch as light as a feather, Tails steps away from Cream, meekly letting his hand push away at her. He doesn't even look back as he takes a few steps down the path that winds beneath the expansive shade of a massive, towering grove of pine trees.

"Miles T. Prower!" Cream shouts so loud that Tails freezes in place, his tails whipping up to attention.

His eyes are long and tear filled as he sorrowfully turns toward the voice.

"Whoa!" He can barely brace himself as Cream launches and tackles him to the ground with her arms wrapped around him tightly. They tumble over once as they sprawl out on the still cool morning grass.

"Tails! I'm so sorry." Cream says fully as she lies on top of him with a bashful look. "I never thought…that you'd think of me like that. I didn't know all those times meant as much to you…as they meant to me."

"Then why were you so quick to go out with Sonic?" Tails counters cautiously.

"I don't know…I guess I just liked the idea of going out with someone, but I didn't think about how important it is to make sure that that someone was the right one." Cream whispers as she buries her head in Tails shoulder.

"And you think I'm the good kind of someone?" Tails questions, a lack of confidence evident in his voice.

"I should've known it all along, but…as you know…you are the smart one out of the two of us." Cream makes fun of herself in response.

"Don't I know it!" Tails chirps happily.

"Hey!" Cream pretends to be offended and softly slaps him across the face this time. They both laugh as they embrace while lying on the ground.

"I'm serious though…I'm so sorry Tails." Cream turns serious again as she looks at Tails while lying on her side. "I never meant to hurt you like that. I thought Sonic liked me for all the right reasons, but boy was I wrong!"

Tails wordlessly pulls Cream close again and hugs her tightly. Cream relishes the warmth of his embrace.

"I still can't believe Sonic thought I'd do that with him." Cream shakes her head slightly in disbelief.

Tails laughs at her attitude.

"Plus his kisses and his breath tasted like chili! Yuck!" Cream makes a fake gagging sound.

Tails couldn't help but continue to laugh uncontrollably.

"And the worst part was that he didn't even eat a chili dog for dinner!" Cream explains.

Tails has to unwrap an arm from around Cream's waist to cover his stomach because he's laughing so hard.

"I still can't believe he thought I'd give in to him so easily." Cream shakes her head at the idea.

"Well, you are pretty hot." Tails blushes as looks into Cream's chocolate colored eyes. "I mean cute…err…pretty..uhh..beautiful..yeah…beautiful is what I mea—"

Cream cuts off the stuttering fox as she kisses him deeply, pulling him close against her. Tails tightens his grip around her waist and relishes the warmth and love of their first kiss. As they slowly end the kiss, Tails' hands shake slightly as he keeps them wrapped around the rabbit.

Cream notices and tightens her hold around his neck. "Don't be so nervous Fox Boy. You're only making out with the hottest girl in 9th grade."

"And here I thought you were always such a polite little rabbit." Tails says sarcastically as he pretends to think about the idea.

"I'm only polite when I have to be." Cream raises an eyebrow at him before kissing him quickly again before pulling back. "Are we okay now?"

"Yeah." Tails smiles widely as he kisses her deeply again, gingerly rubbing his arms against the back of her sunset colored dress.

"How are we going to get back to class without getting in trouble though?" Cream asks as they hesitantly begin to stand up.

"Oh no sweat. We learned a little something in Advanced Physics the other day from Silver." Tails tells her simply. "Just watch."

Tails proceeds to produce a spark of sea green energy from his hands and teleport Cream into her seat in Advanced World Geography and himself into his section of Chemistry.

"Wanna come over tomorrow and help me get ready for my first Geometry test?" Cream asks as they sit side by side on the crowded subway ride home.

"It'll cost ya!" Tails says sneakily.

"How much?"

Tails simply and silently places his hand on Cream's and intertwines their fingers. She smiles at him deeply before leaning her head against his shoulder as they wait for their stop.

Together.

The End

Author's Note: This was where I was going to end this, but I could do a follow up to resolve all the stuff going on with Amy, Shadow, Sonic, and Knuckles. Let me know if you guys would like to see a fourth chapter or if you think it's better to end it here.

Thanks very much for reading and any comments/feedback!