CHAPTER 15

AT FAULT

The next day at the Chaotix, Tonya was sitting at her desk typing on her computer until she saw Rouge walk into the lobby. She arched an eyebrow when she saw her making a small smile while she texted on her cell phone. Judging by her happy expression, she figured she was talking to Shadow. "I know that face", she spoke with a sly smile. "You and Shadow made up."

Rouge took her eyes away from her phone and approached her. "Well, ever since our little spat, Shadow has been talking to me but he's been distant. I was starting to worry about us…but he just sent me a text saying he wanted to meet up with me and just talk."

"Talk?" Tonya repeated blankly. "Aw shit…"

The bat woman gave her a puzzled look. "…What?"

She looked away from her computer and gave Rouge her full attention. "Well, when a guy tells a girl he wants to talk, it usually ends up with him breaking up with her or vice versa."

Rouge couldn't imagine Shadow doing anything like that at all. She laughed a bit, "Tonya, please! It's me and Shadow remember? He and I always get into fights and we eventually make up. Like Espio said before, Shadow just needed to cool off a bit and now he's ready to get things straight with me."

Tonya crossed her arms and continued to give her a worried look.

"Shadow and I have been through this before. Why would this time be any different?"

She made a nod as she wanted to believe that everything would be okay for her and Shadow. "Okay if you say so." She then saw her gather her things within in the lobby. "Um…are you going somewhere?"

"Yeah", she replied. "Vector gave me the okay to leave early today."

"Oh wow! I wish I could leave early to go see my boyfriend", she spoke sarcastically.

She pointed down the hallway. "Espio's just down the hall."

She gave Rouge a disgusted look. "That's not funny."

Rouge couldn't help but to giggle as she teased her. "You really need to give that guy a chance, Ton. You never know. He could be the one."

She made a sarcastic laugh. "Yeah right!"

Rouge giggled softly as she walked over to the door. "See ya tomorrow, Ton!"

Tonya watched as she left the building. Afterwards, she resumed typing on her computer. "I guess I'll never understand relationships", she murmured softly.

Later on, Rouge was at her house getting ready for Shadow to arrive. She sat in a chair at her kitchen table while she sipped on a glass of water. She had to admit that she was feeling uneasy. The two haven't seen each other since their argument and that was days ago. However, she had a hopeful feeling that everything would go back to the way things were after her talk with him. She had suddenly heard a knock on her door. Her heart raced as she knew it could only be Shadow. She got up from her chair, walked over to the door, and opened it. There was a long pause as she gave the hedgehog a relieved expression.

Before he could say or do anything, he was embraced lovingly by her.

"It's so good to see you, Shad."

He hesitated before he could return the hug. He wrapped his arms around her and held her close to him. "…You too, Rouge."

She slowly pulled away from his body and studied his facial expression. He had looked so upset. It had almost seemed like someone close to him had died. "Come in." She watched him made his way inside of the house. When she closed the door behind him, she watched him sit down at the small table in the kitchen. She leaned her back against the refrigerator and stared at him while he rested his head on his hand. He looked so upset and frustrated. She had wondered what was on his mind. "So", she began. "How have you been, Shad? We haven't seen each other in days."

He looked up at her sadly. "I know…and I'm sorry. I just…" His words trailed off as she started to speak.

"No, no. I should be the one apologizing." She sighed heavily and crossed her arms. "I should have never said those things to you. I was just so worried that something would happen between you and Lien-Da."

When she had said that he felt like he couldn't look her in the eyes. He felt so guilty about what he and Lien-Da had done yesterday.

"Shadow, I should've never had thought of you in that kind of way." She smiled warmly when he had looked down at the table. "To be honest, you're one of the best boyfriends I've ever had. You're very sweet, loyal, honest, and trusting. I couldn't ask for anything else." She suddenly saw him shaking his head.

"I'm sorry, Rouge…I'm so sorry…"

She arched an eyebrow in confusion, "Huh?"

He took his eyes away from the table and looked in a different direction from her. "…It only happened once."

"Well, I'm sure you had a lot going on. With the drama with us and your new job, I can understand that you're starting to drink a little more. It'll be okay. I'll help you get through it."

He slowly shifted his eyes over to her, "…You think I'm talking about drinking?"

She shrugged her shoulders, "Well yeah?" She suddenly saw him sighing heavily and directing his eyes back down at the table. "…What? This isn't about your drinking?"

"…I'm sorry, Rouge. I'm really fucking sorry…"

The sadder he had gotten, the more worried she had got. "What's wrong, Shad? Talk to me, sweetie."

When she had thought that he was talking about drinking, that just made his situation that much harder for him. He took a deep breath before he started to explain. "…Something happened regarding me and Lien-Da…"

Her heart raced as he began to explain why he was acting so strange. Just by having him beginning to explain, horrible thoughts came rushing back to her mind. It was so painful for her, tears started to swell in her eyes. "…No…you…"

He figured by her reaction that she had knew what he was about to explain. "…I was just so angry and stressed out."

"This is why…why you've been so distant? Why you haven't been talking to me much? Because you were busy fucking Lien-Da?"

"We just needed some time apart…I didn't intend to…" He looked over to her who had tears streaming down her face.

"Please tell me you were just drunk…" she said while she began to sob.

"…No, I was very much sober."

"…What did you two do to each other?" She asked with a sniffle.

The hedgehog bit his lip. Did she really want to know every detail that happened between them? He really didn't want to tell her. He had a feeling it would just make everything worse. "Well, we made out…she sucked my dick…"

Rouge regretted asking him what the two had done together. "Shut up! I don't want to hear anymore!"

"…I didn't mean for this to happen."

"That's bullshit Shadow, and you know it!" Warm tears continued to stream down her face. "Why would you do this to me, Shadow?"

He shook his head and knew the real reason why he had done it. He was just simply angry with Rouge at the time and Lien-Da was just there. Tears swelled in his eyes as he regretted every moment that he had spent with Lien-Da. "Because I'm a piece of shit..."

She shook her head slightly and sobbed softly into her hands. "…Get out…"

As he saw her sobbing, he stood from the table, walked over to her, and attempted to reach out to her. "Rouge, I…"

She smacked his hand from her and began to yell and scream at him. "I said get out! Get the fuck out!"

After hearing her demands, he sadly turned away from her and walked out of the door.

With tears dripping from her face, she walked over to the door and locked it. She leaned her head against the door and began to break down crying.

In The Next Chapter...

Trevor: No one here as ever acknowledged me before...

Shadow: Aren't you curious to know what's in there?

Trevor: Is something wrong, sir?

Shadow: I feel like I've been making a lot of bad choices lately...