Chapter 5: The Misunderstood Party

"Why do I have to go?" Willow whined.

"Well, you were part of the game. Plus, I think Dash likes you. Which is very rare." Flint said as he turned into Dash's street.

"What do you mean?" She questioned again.

"You ask so many questions." Flint chuckled.

"Flint!"

"Okay! Okay! You see," he began as he put the car in park, "Ever since Dash and Sapphire broke up, he didn't 'like' anyone. His personality never changed, but the way he acts around girls is so…"

"So what?"

"Unlike him. He used to always flirt with the ladies, but not to the extent of kisses and what not. Before he tried his best to push them away. The way he's been acting suddenly made the ladies love him more, if that's even possible."

"I see…" pondered Willow.

"Ready to go on in?" He asked.

"Might as well as get it over." She said.

Flint and Willow got out of the car and went over to the front door. The house was gigantic, and from behind there was an entire ocean. The two story door opened. Dash came out from behind the doors. "Dad, you won because you tripped me!" He then noticed Flint and Willow and ran down the stairs to them. "Hey guys, you came."Dash said as he mostly looked at Willow. "Come inside, the party is waiting for you." Dash grabbed Willow's arm and dragged her in. She looked behind her to see Flint covering his laugh.

From inside the walls were covered in game posters. The floor was marble and so were the pillars that held up the second floor. Leading up to the second floor was a staircase covered by a long red carpet. "Hey!" Dash waved his hand in front of Willow's face.

She shook her head and looked at Dash, "Sorry."

He smiled, "I have someone who would like to meet you." He leads Willow into his kitchen to see a pink hedgehog with a yellow padded apron. She wore a red bundled bandana and a red puffed out dress that almost swept the floor.

"Why, hello! My name is Amy Rose." She went up to Willow and clasped her hands around Willows. "Dash has told me sooooo much about you!" Amy then gave one of her genuine grins.

"Mom!" Dash said as he blushed. "Don't embarrass me!"

"Oh stop," Willow said. "It's cute." She smiled at him. Giving her attention back to Amy, "What are those?" Willow said, looking at the tray of cookies.

"Oh!" Amy began, "Those are my homemade double chocolate cookies. Want to try one?"

Dash butted in, "Mom, not enough time. Willow has to meet some of my other friends."

"I'll have some mommy!" Said a small violet hedgehog. "Who's that?"

"That's Dash's Girlfriend."

Dash threw his hands up in the air, "Okay were done." He grabbed Willow's hand and left the kitchen. "Come on, party's out back." He said with a smile as they walked out of the kitchen to the back yard. Willow gave a smile back. Once they entered music was pumping. People were dancing around the pool, others were talking at the snack bar. "Wanna dance?" Dash asked.

A scream came from out of nowhere. A group of girls came up to Willow and Dash. One of the girls squealed, "It's Dash!"

"Why is he holding her hand?" Said a pink cheetah

"He's soooo cute!" said a small yellow bird.

"Merry me Dash!" said a red hedgehog.

All the girls lunged out at him "Let's dance" said the cheetah.

"I guess I'll catch you later." he winked at Willow.

Willow began to feel a sudden urge to take Dash back from those girls. "Looks like you put an influence on him." Willow turned around to see Flint. "He looks like he never dated Sapphire. Thanks. He's been so moody." He said as he patted her on the back.

"Oh, no problem." She bit her lip. He was having fun with all the girls when he should be having fun with Willow. She shook her head, I shouldn't be jealous. I should be happy for him. She grinned at that thought. She then headed for the snack bar. The people who were chatting near the table just looked at her coming their way. They slowly walked away, making the area clear of people. She grabbed a cup and sat down on a bench near the table. Her knees touched together and her elbow rested down on one of her knees. She casually sipped from her drink and looked up to see Dash having the time of his life. From a distance Dash caught Willow's eye, making her wave and blush.

From the corner of her eye she saw someone grab a drink.. She turned to see Cole. "Hey, congrats on the game."

She held her cup in the air, "Congrats to you too." She suddenly dropped her drink. Willow covered both her eyes with her hands.

Cole sat down next to her, "Willow, what's wrong?"

"My head feels like it's going to explode." Willow moved her hands from her eyes to the side of her head."

He gently tilted her head up, "Open your eyes." Willow did so. She looked up with her almost teary eyes. Where her eyes should be red were black, and the veins in the eye were also black instead..

She tore away quickly from him. "They hurt so bad….."

"Willow please." He put his hand on her back and began to rub. "I know it hurts, but I need to see your eye's again, I think…" Willow stopped shaking, and looked up slowly. "Willow? Are… you okay?", he leaned in closer.

She hesitated, "Yea… Yea. That… was weird." She looked over to him. From behind him she saw Sapphire enter the back yard. She quickly looked away, "Oh. Crap."

"What?' Cole looked behind him. "Phhh. It's just Sapphire."

"Yea, my sister."

"She's your sister? Are we talking about the same hedgehog?" he questioned.

"Yes, and as much as I know, she doesn't exactly like me at the moment."

"Why is that?"

Willow slouched in her spot, "I took her role. I didn't even want it."

"Then why did you take it?"

"I was sucked in. The best part is since she hates my guts for taking her spot, but now, wait for it, she thinks I took her man."

"Dash?"

"Yup."

Cole looked back at Sapphire, who was obviously looking for Dash. "What are you going to do about That?"

"Nothing."Willow said as she slouched. "It's none of my business." Willow said as she looked back at Dash dancing the night away.

"Here, I'll distract Sapphire while you go off and take Dash." Cole then got up from his seat and made his way over to Sapphire. He then blocked her way of Dash as he tried to talk to her.

Willow just stared as Cole talked to Sapphire. From behind, he motioned his hand for her to get moving. Willow looked to her left to see a bush opening. She then looked back to make sure nobody was looking and ran right into the opening.

She walked down a very steep path. She was forced to stop because of a large tree had fallen. As soon as she got up and over the tree, she saw an opening. Willow jogged slowly to the opening. There she saw two swings hanging off a tree branch. She looked to her left to see the beautiful ocean that glowed with shades of red and orange. Willow sat on one of the swings and gently pushed herself. From where she was, she could hear the party from above. Still active, just like when she entered.

What happened to me earlier? Willow pondered. Her eye's still ached as if she was crying for hours. Willow stopped swinging. It's as if I got hit by a truck when I had that headache.

Willow heard footsteps from behind, making her turn around. "Looks like you found my secret hiding spot." Dash said as he approached Willow. He then sat down next to her on the other swing.

Willow giggled. "Well, I guess it's not a secret anymore, huh?"
"I guess not." He began. "Why did you leave the party?" he questioned.

"I wasn't feeling good." Which was only half the truth. What she really wanted to say was because of Sapphire, but she bit her tongue. "How did you know I was here?"

"Cole told me." Willow face palmed. It then went silent, all that was heard was the crashes of the small ripples in the water hitting the sandy shore.

Willow blurted out. "Why is Sapphire here?" She quickly regretted her question, but what else was she to say at this moment?

"I invited her." He said. "I don't want to be rude." He rubbed his feet against the ground. "Why? Is that a problem?"

Willow was struck by how he questioned her. "Well, it's just, I don't know." She said shyly.

"Do you not like her?" he asked.

"I'm afraid of her."

Dash stopped swinging. He turned his head to look at Willow, "What?"

"She threatens me. She says I can't be anywhere near you or she'll make my life a living hell." Willow said. Dash had no response. "I don't know what she'll do. She already hates me for taking her spot in the family."

"You know," He began, "When I dated Sapphire she was very, distracted. She never wanted to really be with me as much as I wanted to be her. I really liked her. We haven't even gone on a first date." Willow looked over at Dash. "The day after she broke up with me, she became clingy. I want nothing to do with her. She never tried as hard as I did when we were dating." He then watched Willow begin to take off her boots. "What are you doing?" he asked.

"I'm going swimming. You are going to join?" She then walked into the water.

"What!?" he responded.

"Dash, it's a 'yes' or 'no' question." She giggled. She was now knee deep in the water.

"I'll… Just watch." He said with relief.

"Come on Dash. Why not?" She was now chest deep in the water.

"I just don't want to." He said.

"Please." Dash rolled his eyes.

Willow was suddenly sucked under. She fought to swim up, but her hole forced her down even greater. She panicked, and rapidly pulled on the her foot to get free. She shockingly felt a hand clasped around her wrist, pulling her out of the water. Willow began to cough up water.

"What do you think you were doing?" He asked angrily. Willow, not responding, grabbed her ankle. It was filled with pain. Willow looked up at Dash to see that his blue quills had turned pink. "Willow, answer me!"

"My ankle, I think twisted it." Willow said as Dash carried her back to land.

"Well, swimming was a stupid idea. Look at what happened. You could have gotten killed." Willow just looked at Dash. She felt horrible. Dash set her down. Willow made no eye contact. She just got up and sat on the swings facing away from Dash. "Why are you not surprised?" he asked.

"Surprised about what?" Willow said as she rubbed her ankle.

"My quills are…. pink... and…you just don't… care?"

"I don't care if your quills are pink." Willow said as she tried to stand, but winced when her foot touched the ground. "It wouldn't matter if you were orange, purple, red or green. You're still you."

"Thanks Willow."

"Why did you think I would be surprised?" questioned Willow.

"Because you're the first person who knows my real quill color."

"Is that so pinky?" she teased.

"What did you just call me?" he said angrily as he blushed.

"Your new nickname! It's cute!" she said with a big smile on her face.

Dash just looked at her. "Whatever." He said as he shook his head.

"So, does anyone else know that you're really pink?"

"Nope."

"Not even Sapphire?" she questioned.

"Nope."

"I wonder what she would do if she knew." She pondered.

Dash walked right up to Willow, "You better not tell anyone about this." Willow was shocked. She limped back a few steps. She never meant to threaten Dash about her new findings, she was just curious as to what would happen. Like, would Sapphire still like him for him, or just for his looks?

Willow just looked at Dash as he angrily stared. In a low tone she said, "Sorry." And walked away. She knew Dash wouldn't follow her back up to the party because of his quills. Willow turned around to see Dash still staring at her. "You know, you should get back together with Sapphire. You make a perfect pair."

"Why do you think that." He yelled back.

"Because you both threaten me when I've done nothing wrong." And with that she ran up the steep trail. She didn't care that her ankle was twisted, she just wanted out.

As Willow approached the opening, she heard the music get louder and louder. She walked though the opening to see Flint, Cole, and Sapphire, staring at her with blank faces.