"Chapter Eight:
Father's Anger"

The next day, Knuckles went to school, steamed, and annoyed. When he got to his locker, and got his stuff he slammed it shut, nearly busting the door. "Knuckles? Are you okay?" Sonic asked.

"No!" Knuckles said, angrily.

"What's wrong?" Sonic asked, walking with him to their homeroom. Knuckles sighed.

"It's just my foster dad. The Intels, whom I live with are planning to adopt me, and I'm just angry. My "dad" yelled at me because I was helping Rouge in physics." Knuckles replied.

"You're good with physics?" Sonic asked.

"Forced to study it the most." Knuckles said.

"Oh. Was there anything else that happened?" Sonic asked.

"Well, we were caught together... when she... began to... kiss me." Knuckles replied, nervously, scratching the back of his head.

"Seriously?!" Sonic asked. Knuckles nodded, and sighed. "Proud of ya! You got a girlfriend!" Sonic said.

"Rouge isn't my girlfriend!" Knuckles barked at Sonic. "She just kissed me, okay? I never said anything about liking her." Knuckles said, whipping sweat off his forehead.

"Right. So, you plan on talking to him?" Sonic asked.

"Not a chance." Knuckles said, shaking his head. "I don't intend to talk to someone who will only yell in my face about it." Knuckles added.

"Alright." Sonic said.

--Power Practice

Power Practice is the end portion of the day. Each person had a course.

Sonic had a large running course, so he could use the sonic boom more frequently.

Tails was trying to use telekinesis on heavier objects, things heavier than Shadow.

Rouge had a flying course, so that way, flying would not only be easier, but it would also get faster.

Blaze was using her reflexes to dodge pillars, which she could do, easily.

Amy was using her power of matter to turn all sorts of objects into things she liked; roses, dresses, shoes, jewelry, technically, everything a girl likes.

Silver was in a meditative position, using levitation on several fragile items.

Midnight was using solar energy, and turning it into a light show.

Shadow was high up, forcing his chaotic powers into devices that absorbed it, only when they explode is he really done.

And, lastly, Knuckles was practicing his raging strength on several dummies.

Midnight got a shiver down her spine. "Midnight. You may stop for a second." Miss Thought said. Midnight stopped her light show, and walked towards Sonic's course with a water bottle in her hand.

"Sonic?" She called to him. Sonic hit the brakes, and ran up to her.

"What is it, Midnight?" Sonic asked.

"Why is Knuckles so angry, today?" She asked.

"You felt that, huh?" Midnight nodded. "It's because of his foster dad, soon to be adopted father. They had an argument because he was helping Rouge study in physics." Sonic answered.

"Why would his father be mad at him for that?" Midnight questioned.

"Because, he doesn't like Rouge, I guess, adding to the fact, he wants Knuckles studying 24-7, by himself." Sonic answered.

"That's so stupid! I bet he's doing better in gym, than in physics." She said.

"I know, but he doesn't get that, I guess." Sonic said.

"Sonic!" Miss Thought yelled.

"Gotta go!" Sonic said, getting back to his running.

--The Walk Home: Knuckles' POV

I began my walk home from school, still a bit annoyed, but glad I got most of it out of my system. When I arrived to my brown, two-story house, I noticed that my mom's car was gone. I also remembered that my brother, Crease, went on a four day field trip in the mountains. That meant I was home, alone, and with my dad.

"There goes my freedom." Was my only thought. No way my dad would forgive, and forget so quickly. I walked inside to see my dad, waiting for me, right in front of the doorway,... very weird. "Dad, I thought you'd be at work." I said.

"Left early." He said,... his voice sounded dark.

"Where's Mom?" I asked.

"Business trip in Hawaii." He told me.

"OK, then, why are you here?" I asked, hesitantly.

"A man can't come home, and see his son?" He questioned, walking up to me.

"No, it's just,... look, I'm sorry about last night." I told him, growing scared.

"You will be." He said. He was now in front of, and shut the front door. He smirked, looking at my face.

He grabbed my hair, and tugged me into the living room. He threw me down the floor, then grabbed the back of my shirt. He began to kick my stomach, which was really painful. He dropped me, and stomped hard on my back, which hurt even more. He tugged on my hair, again, and bashed me into the wall. He moved his hand, and gripped my shirt, tightly. He began to punch me at different angles across my face. I groaned loudly. He just let me go, and let me drop to the floor.

"That's what you get." He said, walking away from me. The pain was too unbearable. My eyes were forced shut, and I was brought into the world if unconsciousness.

Gotta feel bad for him. Plz R&R!