Once again, over the past few days, Star and Shadow continued to go out on their dates, still keeping their relationship a secret from Sonic. It's not that they were ashamed of their relationship. If they were ashamed, they wouldn't be dating in public. No, they were only waiting still for Sonic to calm down from his rage, as the blue hedgehog still currently was pissed off for how Shadow had treated Star before they were an official couple.
"When are we going to tell him?" Shadow asked Star one day as they walked through the park together.
Star sighed. "I don't know. We clearly can't keep waiting for him to calm down, he's not going to. But he's starting to get suspicious. He's been hearing rumors about us dating again. He confronted me about it yesterday and I had to lie to his face about it… It felt horrible. I've never had to lie to him before."
"Then don't. I'd prefer it if he knew the truth about us."
"Even if he wants to beat you to a pulp?"
Shadow scoffed. "Please. I can beat that Faker with one hand behind my back."
"Shadow…"
"Sorry, I know, I know. He's your brother and I know you'd prefer it if I didn't fight with him. But if he starts it, I can't promise that I won't finish it."
Star chuckled. "I don't doubt it for a second." She sighed, her ears flattening a bit. "I just wish people would stop talking about us and looking at us like we're zoo animals."
"Well can you really blame them?" Shadow shrugged. "I mean, you're the twin sister of my rival. There's bound to be some gossip about us just because of that."
"I know… I just think it's rude."
"Pfft, they're humans. It's in their nature to be rude."
"Maria?"
"Of course Maria was never rude! She was the most sweetest, kindest…" Shadow stopped for a moment and smirked at her. "Oh that's dirty. That is a dirty trick, Star the Hedgehog." Star laughed and he chuckled back. "But I see your point. Not all humans are rude."
"No. Just the ones that love to gossip."
"Especially about things that don't concern them."
"And things that are more than likely to get us in trouble."
"That too."
The two hedgehogs chuckled at their own joke, refusing to pay attention to the stares they got.
Suddenly, a small child, a little girl, ran up to them. She looked up at them with a bright smile, showing that she was missing a few baby teeth, before she held up two beautiful crowns made of peony flowers. "These are for you." She giggled.
"Oh how lovely." Star gasped, bending her head down and accepting the crown.
"What's the occasion?" Shadow asked as he too bent his head, letting the girl place the flower crown upon his temples.
"I just think you're a very nice couple, and my mommy says that these flowers mean love, prosperity, luck, and good fortune." The girl giggled again, swaying her hips back and forth. "Even if she doesn't think you're good, I think you are."
Star and Shadow smiled at each other before smiling back down at the girl. "Well thank you very much." Star nodded. "What is your name?"
"It's-"
"Missy!" A woman suddenly shrieked, rushing over and picking the girl up in her arms. "What are you doing? I told you to stay away from them."
"I was just giving them flower crowns, mommy."
The woman scoffed and glared down at the hedgehogs, noticing the flower crowns of peonies. "You two should be ashamed of yourself. Poisoning the minds of our children with your outrageous relationship."
"With all due respect ma'am, we are doing no such thing." Star shook her head. "You're the ones poisoning the minds of your own children by teaching them that we are wrong to love each other. Why is it so wrong? It's not like we're a same sex couple, which I don't see a problem with either."
"But you are Star the Hedgehog, the twin sister of Sonic the Hedgehog, the hero of our planet. Shadow is his rival and almost destroyed us. How could you be in love with a villain?"
"Shadow is not a villain. He's just misunderstood. You'd know that if you took the chance to get to know him, and so would my brother." Star frowned. "And besides, who I wish to spend my time with and give my heart to is my business. Nobody else's and especially not Sonic's."
"Star…" Shadow gently placed a hand on her shoulder. "It's alright. We knew that some people were going to have some nasty opinions about us. Remember your motto. Let words slide off your shoulders like water."
Star took a breath and let it out before smiling at him. "You're right. It doesn't matter what others think. Thank you for keeping me level headed." She then looked back at the shocked mother. "You see? He's a good man if you just give him a chance." And with that, they both walked away. "... I'm sorry I lost my cool back there."
"It's ok." Shadow assured her, his hand still on her shoulder. "You had every right to get upset. It's not in their place to judge you."
"But they're going to anyway because that's just how people are." Star sighed. "We are clearly making a lot of people uncomfortable, I just don't understand why. Is it really just because you're my brother's rival?"
"Well… that and maybe a few things I've done in the past. I mean I do still work for Eggman every now and then, but only when it's beneficial to me."
"You see that I can get over with. You explain why you work for him and it makes sense to me. It's not like you're actually trying to help him, you only do it if there's something in it for you."
"... Yeah well… I've been thinking lately about breaking off my alliance with him."
Star smirked. "Oh really? Any particular reason?"
"Oh nothing much… just the influence of someone very close to me." Shadow smirked back, placing a kiss on her lips.
Star hummed happily and kissed back. Suddenly, their kiss was interrupted as they were both hit in the back of the head with a styrofoam cup. "Oh, what the hell?!" Star growled.
"Walk away. Walk away." Shadow gently pulled her away by her elbow.
Star huffed. "This is getting ridiculous. Now people are throwing things at us? Come on! Why can't people just be civil?!"
"I know it's hard." Shadow lowered his ears in sympathy. "You're not used to criticism over who you date. But I know… I promise… one of these days, this will all blow over… One of these days we won't have to stay a secret from your brother anymore… One of these days… our relationship will be normal in the eyes of the public."
Star smiled at him. "You know what… I think you're right… and I think we should show the public that we're not ashamed of being together."
"You mean something other than what we're doing now?" Shadow tilted his head. "What did you have in mind?"
Star smirked and suddenly started to sing. "Oh. La-la-la-la-la. Oh. Yeah."
Shadow smirked back at her, realizing what she was doing as people started to stop and stare. A new song started to bubble in his heart, the lyrics immediately appearing in his head as he started singing with her. "I know it might be crazy. But did you hear the story?"
"I think I heard it vaguely."
"A star and a shadow, baby."
"Oh, tell me more, boy. Sounds like a fantasy."
"Oh, what could go so wrong? With a star and a shadow, baby."
"You're from the perfect paradise. And I'm living on the darker side."
"Ooh, I've got a feeling. If you get to know me."
"Right from the start you caught my eye. And something inside me came to life."
"Ooh, I've got a feeling-"
"If you get to know me. Someday."
Star looked around at the people staring at them in disgust. "This could be, this could be ordinary."
"Someday."
"Could we be something extraordinary?"
Shadow took her hand and pulled her close to his side, smirking at her with those pearly fangs of his. "You and me side by side."
"Yeah, yeah." Star laughed.
"Out in the broad daylight. If they laugh, we'll say. We're gonna be someday." Suddenly, the two started dancing a quickstep with each other, causing the crowd to get larger as more people stopped and stared. "We're gonna be someday. Someday, someday. We're gonna be someday."
"We're gonna be someday."
"Girl, you look delicious." Shadow teased, then laughed as Star playfully punched his chest. "Oh, I mean gorgeous."
"Well, now you're getting fearless." Star smirked.
Shadow shook his head. "No, I'm just rooting for us."
"If different was a super power-"
"We'd be so flawless. Yeah, we could make these two worlds ours. I'm rooting for us."
"Two lonely hearts meet in the dark. Imagine it now they start a spark."
"You got my attention. What happens next, then?"
"Movies and long walks in the park. Hanging out anywhere we want."
"I like the way you're thinking. I can almost see it."
"Someday."
"This could be, this could be ordinary."
"Someday."
"Could we be something extraordinary?"
"You and me side by side."
"Yeah, yeah."
"Out in the broad daylight. If they laugh, we'll say. We're gonna be someday. Someday, someday."
Star giggled and glared at the humans as she and Shadow decided to continue their walk, continuing to sing the entire time. "So let them talk if they wanna. Let them talk if they're gonna."
Star and Shadow suddenly came face to face with the mother that had spoken to them in the first place and glared at her. "We're gonna do what we wanna." The woman held a hand to her heart in shock, but she said nothing as the two hedgehogs continued walking away.
"Let them talk, let them talk. If they wanna, they wanna."
Suddenly, Star and Shadow found themselves nearby the water fountain. They looked at each other and smirked, both having the same idea as they suddenly climbed onto the rim of the fountain and continued to dance and sing together.
"Someday."
"This could be, this could be ordinary."
"Someday."
"Could we be something extraordinary?"
"You and me side by side."
"Out in the broad daylight. If they laugh, we'll say. We're gonna be someday. Someday, someday. We're gonna be someday. Someday, someday. We're gonna be someday. Someday, someday. We're gonna be someday. Someday, someday. We're gonna be someday."
Though most of the audience scoffed and walked away in disgust, a few others stayed behind and actually took the chance to applaud the two hedgehogs. Star and Shadow smiled at their approval and took a bow right there on the fountain. Suddenly, Star's foot slipped and she went tumbling back, grabbing Shadow's arm out of instinct and accidentally pulling him down with her into the water. There was a big splash as they fell, soaking themselves and some of the people who were kind enough to at least try and catch them. They came back up from the water, shaking their quills out of their faces and blinking water out of their eyes. They looked at each other… and Star started to laugh.
"I'm so sorry, Shadow. I was clumsy again."
Shadow laughed. "You know what? I'm not angry. Your clumsiness is kinda cute. Plus, now I get to do this." And he suddenly splashed her, causing the light blue hedgehog to squeal.
"Oh you brat! You're so gonna get it!" She cried playfully, splashing him back.
They continued to play and wade in the water fountain, ignoring all the stares they were getting as the crowd started to disperse. They were having so much fun, only for it to suddenly be ruined by the blow of a whistle.
…
Sonic rushed to the front door as he heard a heavy knock coming from it. When he opened the door, he was surprised to see his sister, soaking wet and a cop standing behind her with a hand on her shoulder. "Star, what happened?"
"Oh nothing, I was just having some fun with a friend at the park until Mr. Killjoy here ruined it all." Star huffed at the officer.
"She was 'playing' on city property." The officer clarified. "The park's water fountain to be specific."
"With all due respect sir, but do you realize that even if it's city property, it is also public property and do you realize how many actual children play in it daily?" Star frowned at him. "Sounds to me that you don't really know your city all that well."
"Heh heh, I'm so sorry, officer." Sonic quickly piped up, grabbing Star's arm and pulling her into the house. "I'll make sure it doesn't happen again."
"See to it that it doesn't." The officer nodded before walking away.
"Bye! Thank you for your service." Sonic called before whispering under his breath, "even though I do most of the work." He then closed the door and glared at his sister. "What on Earth were you thinking?!"
"Oh please, it was just harmless fun." Star rolled her eyes.
"In city property?! Are you nuts?! You're the good child! You don't break rules! What's gotten into you?!"
"Nothing. I didn't think it was such a big deal. Like I said, children play in the water fountain all the time."
"Because their parents don't teach them right from wrong. You, however, are much better than that." Sonic frowned at her. "It's Shadow, isn't it?"
"What?" Star frowned back.
"He's influencing you. I heard the rumors that you two are back together. I heard the rumors of how you two were seen at the park. You said that you weren't dating again."
"And we're not. Do I have to remind you of what that black Faker did to me?" Star hissed. "Do I have to remind you of how he broke my heart by stringing me along and making me believe he actually felt something?! I wouldn't get back together with him even if he begged me to!"
"Then what are you doing? Are you stringing him along now? Is this some kind of revenge plot?"
"No, Sonic. I don't know what you've heard, but Shadow and I are not together. We haven't even been hanging out. You wanna know what actually happened? I tripped and fell into the fountain! I was clumsy once again, and instead of looking like a fool I decided to pretend that I meant to do it and started playing with the kids, splashing them a little when they got too close. It was just harmless, clumsy, fun. Nothing to do with Shadow."
"So you're really not back with Shadow again?"
"No, Sonic. People will gossip what they wanna gossip. They'll gossip about our relationship because yes, we did use to have one. But not anymore. I want nothing to do with Shadow. Not after how badly he hurt me."
The twins stared each other down, silence filling the room between them. When Star went unblinking, Sonic sighed and nodded. "Ok… Ok… I believe you… I have no choice but to believe you… I don't think you'd lie to me but… if you say that you and Shadow aren't together again, then you're not together again. He's still on my hit list, so if he bothers you, let me know."
Star nodded. "I will. Thank you, little brother."
"Only by fifteen minutes." She and Sonic chuckled.
…
That night, Star sat up in her bed, looking down on her lap as she read her new novel interest, ZOO by James Patterson.
She was still having a hard time believing that she had actually gotten away with lying to Sonic, again. She felt horrible. She hated lying to her brother, and privately prayed to God to forgive her sins every time she did, but she couldn't let Sonic know that she really was dating Shadow again. He would flip a lid if he found out after how their relationship ended the first time. And if Sonic were to find out that Shadow made the first move, well, she was sure that he would beat him so badly nobody would be able to tell if the red was from Shadow's stripes or his own blood.
Star sighed and placed her book down, rubbing at her face a bit in frustration. "What am I gonna do?"
Star's ear twitched when she heard a tiny clink against glass, directing her attention to her balcony doors. She sat still, watching for a moment and twitching her ear in confusion when this time, she actually witnessed the tiny rock hitting against her doors. She got up from her bed and went up to the doors, opening them and stepping out onto her balcony. When she looked down, she smiled. "Shadow."
"Hey." The black and red hedgehog smiled back up at her. "Sorry I didn't bring the guitar this time. I know you react better to it but I didn't want to alert your brother that I'm here… Plus I got the idea of throwing pebbles at the window from movies."
Star giggled. "It's ok. Did you get in trouble with Rouge?"
"No. She applauded me actually when I told her what happened. Did you get in trouble with your brother?"
"Yeah." Star rolled her eyes. "He thinks you're influencing me, but he still doesn't know that we're together again."
"Heh, that idiot." Shadow cleared his throat a bit. "Sorry."
"No. No, it's ok. You're right. He is an idiot."
"Never thought I'd hear those words come out of your mouth. Never thought I'd hear you talk badly about your brother in general."
"I'm not talking badly about him. I'm just stating some interesting facts about him." Star chuckled. "Don't you remember the song I made for him? He's crazy? He's a little bit off?"
Shadow laughed, shaking his head before looking back up at her. "... We gotta tell him, Star."
She sighed. "I know we do but… not right now… He's mad at you enough, I don't wanna give him another reason to be angry right now."
"I can take him."
"I know you can but… I don't want the two most important people in my life to be fighting."
"Things won't get resolved until we tell him."
"I know." Star laid her head on the rail of the balcony, sighing in melancholy. "I feel like we're Romeo and Juliet."
"We are so much better than them." Shadow remarked, making Star laugh. He smirked and chuckled before singing softly. "I know we might be crazy but did you hear the story?"
Star smiled and started singing softly too. "I think I heard it vaguely."
"A star and a shadow, baby."
"Oh tell me more boy. Sounds like a fantasy."
"Oh what could go so wrong with a star and a shadow, baby."
Shadow then started climbing up the lattice to get to her. "You're from the perfect paradise. And I'm living on the darker side.
"Oh I got a feeling if you get to know me."
"Right from the start you caught my eye. And something inside of me came to life."
"Oh I got a feeling-"
"If you get to know me." Star helped Shadow climb over the rail of her balcony and let him stand up, face to face with each other as they smiled, their eyes warm with love as they held each other's hands in front of their chests. "Someday,"
"This could be, this could be ordinary."
"Someday."
"Could we be something extraordinary?"
"You and me side by side."
"Out in the broad daylight."
"If they laugh-"
"We'll say. We're gonna be someday."
"Someday, someday."
"We're gonna be someday."
"Someday, someday."
"We're gonna be someday."
"Someday, someday."
"We're gonna be someday."
"Someday, someday."
"We're gonna be someday."
Star gently led Shadow to her bed, taking the book off the bed and setting it on the table by the lamp before pulling the covers back. He allowed her to crawl in first before laying down beside her, pulling her close to him as they cuddled under the sheets. Star sighed happily, feeling at peace with her boyfriend by her side. Shadow reached over and turned off the lamp before laying his arm back around her, nuzzling into the back of her neck. "Goodnight… My Shooting Star."
Star did her best to hold back the gasp that bubbled in her chest. She's never had a boyfriend give her a pet name before, especially not one so beautiful. She smiled and scooted back a little closer to him, closing her eyes. "Goodnight… My Dark Galaxy."
But as they both fell asleep, once again, they were unaware of the secret camera that was watching them the entire time.