(AN: Well, hi. I know it's been some time so lemme begin this with another editoral, one of many but one that I'm serious about.
I'm sorry.
I know this frankly took FOREVER to get out and lemme explain. Last month was not good for me at ALL. Not only was I subjected to having builders at my house for three weeks, making most of my house inacessable and frankly leaving me uncomfortable to do anything in my house because I don't like having people I don't know aorund, after all that was done, I moved to a new work schedule where I had to work five days straight (which I'm still miffed about because even though I worked 50 hours straight I didn't TECHNICALLY work 50 hours but that's a story for another day...) and I'm frankly still trying to get used to it, and it's lead me to napping and procrastinating HARD on not just this story but SO much in my life, never mind having to focus on writing commissions before I could get back to this.
So yeah, this explains why this took forever to get out. I'm really sorry.
But enough waterworks, I'm sure you guys want a continuation of the last chapter and here it is. Now, you might notice something interesting, in that this is a part 1 of 2. At the behest of my editor who highly recommended it, I'm going to be splitting up this chapter into two parts, primarily since it's really long but also because it isn't like a huge story advancer like the Vector and Connery fight or the Vandalism chapter. Hell, this first part logged in around 9.2k words, and I'm sure you all want something short.
So, tonight the first part of this chapter will be posted, and Friday evening is when Part 2 will come out. Thank you for the patience and I hope you guys enjoy the next chapter and it's coming parts. I hope the long length and close proximity more than makes up for how long you guys had to wait.)
It wouldn't be until almost midnight when the exhibition at the Museum of Arty Art came to a close. With many of the students walking down the steps of the museum, some of them talking with their fellow peers or staying behind to get advice from other high profile artists or critics, Espio and Valdez were about half way down the steps. Ready to return to campus, the chameleon noticed someone at the base of the steps staring at the moon surrounded by cloudy skies, the snowfall ending by this point.
"Jewel?" he asked, still holding the plaque he had gotten from the jewel beetle as he walked over to her. She turned to face him, a look of confliction on her face.
"Oh… hey, Espio…" she said.
"Jewel, is everything alright?" Mr. Valdez asked. "Your behavior back there was-"
"I know, Mr. Valdez. Unacceptable…" she looked away from the two reptiles. "It's… it's the first time I ever talked back to an authority figure. Heck, what I did back there too… It was… it's also the first time I didn't want an award. I've built so much of my life around being the best of the best, always making top marks, being the top of my class… and yet…"
"This time was different?"
Jewel turned back to look at the fuschia chameleon. "...Espio, I'm not joking when I say you deserve it more than me. Even after all I've done to you this semester, you never once blew up on me. Despite the fact you've fought people bigger than you for your roommate's sake, despite the fact that our upbringings and morals are completely different… Your heart overcame it all and made you a better person than I ever could be to you. Even now, I still don't know how you managed to forgive how I treated you all this time."
Espio blinked, then slightly walked forward.
"In Gojo, we la-ler… lear-n… how do you say that word?" he said.
"Loyalty?" asked Valdez as Espio nodded.
"Yes."
"Loyalty?" asked Jewel, turning her head.
"The people of Gojo, especially of Espio's family, learn the concept of loyalty from a young age. When there is someone dear to an individual, you are willing to stand by that person's side and even be willing to fight and... even die for their sake. It's why Espio cares so much for Vector. He extends that to you because you were one of the first people outside of his village that he got to truly know," Valdez explained. Jewel looked almost in awe.
"Espio…" she said to herself.
"Do you think you understand now why you gave your reward to Espio in spite of you being as you say, Jewel?"
"I… yeah… but, it isn't just that too…"
Jewel looked back up to the moon, looking high into the sky.
"While my French is a little bit rusty, I could understand what the critics from Spagonia were talking about… And when I heard them putting down his art, saying that it looks like something created by an imitator and not an innovator, that it looked embarrassing and that it has no place in a modern art exhibit. I just… it reminded me so much of how I treated Espio before our group project a month back. And I felt so awful that the thing I gave Espio so much flak for was happening again. But this time… I… I didn't want to be the one giving him the harassment or even standing by and doing nothing. I had to defend him for his sake. For those critics to make themselves out to be the victims of harassment as if Espio hasn't been harassed since arriving at Mobius U by people like Connery, or Jet from what I hear from Harvey, or…" Jewel's lip began to quiver, her hand shaking as she held it up to her chest. "Or even… even me…"
The insect started to tear up, softly sobbing to herself. Espio and Valdez both looked at the beetle with a look of concern on their faces before the blue chameleon walked towards Jewel, putting his arm around her and crouching down to reach her height.
"There there. I know you've had a long night, and while I don't approve of how you treated an authority figure, I understand that you just wanted to defend your friend," he said. This was enough to cause Jewel to start crying more loudly, with Espio staring at the two. Never once had he seen someone defend him like this that wasn't Vector or Mark, and the fact that it was Jewel of all people…
Had she been a student of Gojo's ninja school, his sensei may not have approved of her emotions, but he would have acknowledged her loyalty as a true ally that one can depend on.
After letting Jewel cry her eyes out and release her bottled emotions, the jewel beetle wiped her puffy eyes and sniffed.
"I'm… I'm sorry for making a scene, you two…" she said. "I didn't mean for you to be uncomfortable.
"It's fine, Jewel," Valdez said, raising up a hand.
"I still fo-fo-rgive you," Espio added. Jewel stared back at the chameleon.
"Espio… you're…"
Suddenly, the jewel beetle smiled. "You're still the serious dork you are. But you're one that I wouldn't trade for anyone else in the world. Really, I'm super glad I got to meet you this year, even if our first meetings could have been better."
"I hate to interrupt, Jewel," Valdez interjected, shivering. "But you know how us reptiles are in the cold. As do you as an insect. I think we should start heading back to Mobius U. There's less than seven minutes left until midnight."
"Christmas Eve… yeah, that is tomorrow, isn't it? Wait… do you celebrate Christmas?"
Espio shook his head.
"Then… Mr. Valdez… is it okay if I came by his dorm tomorrow morning to give him a present? I did my Christmas shopping online earlier this month for my family and I… I actually got something for Espio too. Is that okay?"
Espio bounced slightly. Was the beetle saying?
"Jewel… I…" he began. "I o-also go-got you a… pu-pre… present."
"You did?" Jewel's face softened. "Aw, Espio… you shouldn't have done that… I feel bad knowing you got something for me when I don't even know your financial state…"
"It is okay."
"Well… if you really don't see an issue with that… then I suppose I'll gladly accept your gift…"
Then, for the first time in quite awhile, the beetle buzzed up to hug the chameleon, almost causing him to drop his plaque.
"I think we should get you back on campus, Espio-kun. You've had a very busy day today, and I'm sure you're looking to get some rest," Valdez said in the chameleon's native language. Jewel undid her hug as Espio walked back to Valdez.
"I'll be busy helping out the university officials tomorrow to help clean out everything before campus shuts down until the next semester begins in January. But I promise I'll find the time to come by and give you your gift!" Jewel said. "Anyway, I should get back to my car. You two be safe on the way back, okay? The weather said there's a chance of black ice on the roads."
"Likewise, Jewel. I'm sure Espio will be excited to see you tomorrow."
Jewel smiled as she turned around, still holding the massive rectangle.
"Okay, let's go back now-"
"Valdez-San, I must know… did Vector win his game?" Espio asked.
"Ha ha, well, let's head back first and check with him. I'm sure he's keeping it a surprise for a reason."
MEANWHILE
To say that Mobius U was abuzz just like a homecoming celebration was an understatement. In fact, the buzz that the Badniks came back to was cutting it short. Students wearing school shirts and holding red solo cups likely with alcohol in them were clear as the eye could see. Even when the Badniks made their first steps on campus, it was like the students of Mobius U rolled out the red carpets, all of them stepping out of the way to let them pass as everyone cheered names of players, the team's slogan, or wanted autographs.
Vector already found his arm tired halfway before even reaching the K building, where flashing lights and very loud music could be heard and seen even from afar. He had already signed multiple notebooks, photos, fan jerseys, even at one point, the bra of one of the sorority girls from the Gamma Zeta Beta sorority house, who almost melted into her fellow sisters' arms after pulling down her shirt.
"Dude this is so kickass!" Brawny said, wearing a cape over his shoulder that someone had thrown into the crowd. "I've never seen a party so lively like this!"
"Ha, I'll say!" Vector replied. "This crowd might as well be partyin' 'till 5 am if ya ask me!"
"There's literally people out in Downtown right now celebrating!" Knuckles said, trying to tell through the loud crowd. "It's trending on Scrambler right now!"
"Let's hope they dun burn down the whole city! I'd feel like shit if they did!"
After walking through the crowd, the Badniks were finally led through to their destination: the K building, where members of the Mobius U cheer squad and marching band stood alongside various other players, some of whom drank with their friends while others were chatting away.
Normally, Vector had skipped out on every party sans the Halloween one this semester. Not so much that he didn't like to party, just sometimes he did other things, like… hang out with Espio. In fact, now that Vector thought about it, that kind of was the main reason he didn't go to the parties… Espio just wasn't going to like the experience, and it was just better to unwind after a long game than stay up until 3 am getting wasted while about six girls wanted your number or your social media accounts. And it was going to be more evident as Vector, alongside Brawny, Knuckles, Thrash, Rotor, and a few other members of the team were not even steps away from the first steps leading to the doors of the K building before…
"Heyyyyyyy, Vectorrrrr~!" a sea of feminine voices called out in unison. "And you guys as welllllll~!"
The crocodile turned towards his right to the sound of the voices, seeing a group of girls from the cheerleading squad and the Gamma Zeta Beta sorority house by the steps leading up to the K building.
"Aw, heya girls~" Vector said, clicking his tongue and shooting the group a finger gun. The group all began to clamor bubbly upon Vector doing so. Thankfully, Julie was nowhere in sight, and even if half the girls from both the squad and the sorority house only just saw Vector as a piece of meat and nothing else, the crocodile knew that unless you majorly pissed him off, everyone deserved basic respect, and who was he to rain on the girl's party? Least of all that sometimes being the heart tease jock was, admittedly, KINDA fun from time to time.
"Aaaahh, so cooooool!~~" the group all said.
"I'm serious when I say this, while I know a buncha people are focused tonight on us, yeh girls did a great job with yer own performances and keepin' up with the marchin' band!" Vector complimented the cheer squad. "And yeh sorority girls sure are doin' yer best keepin' up the team spirit!"
"Rwar, Vector, I didn't know you were tryna smash tonight," Thrash teased, grinning at the crocodile before Vector slapped him upside the head.
"Shut it you fool. I ain't tryna smash, just bein' nice, that's all. Trust me, these gals ain't gonna be the LAST people tonight who want me to take them back to mah dorm and have them scream mah name out all night. It's just courtesy."
"Oh right, forgot you were limp dicked about sleeping with the cheerleaders AND the sorority girls. Ha, more for me then!" Brawny added.
"Least I can get 'em wrapped 'round mah finger like nothin'. What's yer excuse? Waitin' 'till we won fer ya to get some action?"
"Ooooh damn, Vector has the upper hand!" Rotor said. "How will you respond, Brawny?"
The warthog was fuming in silence, nodding his head. "Thanks, Vec… thanks."
"Yer welcome, Brawny, ya know yer mah pal alongside the rest of the team," the crocodile responded.
"Likewise."
"Not to interrupt you boys," Tiara, one of the girls from the squad, said. "But each of us in the squad are introducing one of you guys when you get in the K building. Some of you guys are getting really high cheers and claps in there, and I know you're gonna be popular there! Do you know who's gonna be there out of everyone on your team?"
"Uhh…" Rotor looked up, finger on his lip. "Pretty sure we're all gonna be there? Well, Connery and Axel said no cause those guys never go to one of the parties. Surprisingly, Monk's not coming this time. Said something about how he can't stomach celebrating a degenerate team."
"Of course…" Vector thought to himself, rolling his eyes. It was of no issue to Tiara and the rest of the girls with her.
"Then that's perfect! So many of you guys will be there! Come on, why don't you pick one of us to bring you inside? It's cold too!"
One of the girls from the sorority house, a fox with a large, poofy ponytail, held her gloved hands together. "Oh, you can pick one of us from the sorority house too! Pleasee? It would be so amazing if I got the chance to bring one of you inside!"
"No way Mindy! Me first!"
"No, me!"
Suddenly, a barrage of girls came up to the football players, begging at least one of them to be the special girl to introduce the player to the party crowd. The group of athletes took a brief step back, dumbfounded by what was happening.
"Dude, I am so getting lucky tonight," Thrash said.
"I would be inclined to agree if Rouge were here," Knuckles replied.
"Yeah, she is one hot girl, I'll give you that,"
"Damn… do I gotta pick ONE of you? I feel bad!" Brawny whined.
"A-ahh… oh… I don't know what I should do…" Rotor added, twiddling his thumbs. "Vector, you're the go to guy about stuff like this… what should I do?"
Despite the crowd of girls in front of him, there was something Vector knew felt… out of place. He wanted to go to the party, absolutely, but not seeing that person upon getting back to campus was only making him more anxious…
"A-Actually-" Vector began before the crowd of girls started to whine.
"Oh Vector, don't say you're not going!" moaned Mindy. "You haven't gone to any of the parties this year!"
"I ain't ever said that! I was just… I was actually thinkin' of bringin' mah roomie along to tonight's party."
"Espio? Really?" Knuckles asked. "He hasn't gone to a party since the Halloween one."
"Yeah but… this is like the big one. I feel obligated to bring him along."
Most of the girls in the group looked at each other before nodding their heads. "Yeah… Yeah, we'd be happy if you brought along your roommate. He can hang out with us!" Mindy added.
However, Tiara looked concerned. "Wait a minute, Mindy! You know what Ju-"
"Oh, I'm sure it'll be fine! Promise us you'll be back and that you'll pick one of us?"
"Got mah word on it!" Vector said as he slowly started to back up.
"Okay! Now, as for YOU boys, don't think that we don't know how rabid you guys can get…"
Vector started to make his way back to West Hall in the hopes that Espio would be awake. Considering how late he had gotten back, no thanks to all the interviews the team had to do with reporters from all over the country, not to mention the hour long post game press talk with Coach Augustus and the entire time where he had to speak MULTIPLE times, he wouldn't be surprised if Espio was asleep by now, least of all with how tiring his art show must have been. However, as he started to move past the crowd of people standing and partying outside, he skidded to a halt as he almost crashed into two people coming his way.
"Yo, sorry 'bout that! Excu-" Vector said before he looked down to see who it was. Just his luck…
"Oh, THERE'S the quarterback champion himself," Julie-Su said, staring up at the crocodile with her eyes half-shut. "Where are you off to?"
"Probably some secret party if he's walking away from the K building!" another of Julie's friends, Mina Mongoose, said as she stood next to her.
For Gaia's sake…
"I gotta make a quick detour," Vector said in an unenergetic tone. "Gonna invite mah roomie to tonight's party."
"Oh come on, Vector, I'm sure you're probably cold from all that running you had to do," the pink echidna continued. "Why don't we take you inside to the K building? Tiara was telling me that the girls on the cheer squad and from Gamma Zeta were introducing one of your teammates to a crowd of cheering fans. It'd be an honor if you let me and Mina do it…"
"I'd rather choke on mah own vomit, thank yeh…" Vector thought to himself mentally before speaking up. "Pleasure, but no thanks."
Frankly, he should have been walking past the two. He had already more than enough with his share of Julie-Su for the next month, and the fact that she was acting THIS airheaded as if he didn't tell her multiple times to leave him alone? Sometimes, Vector worried about her…
"Come on, I'm sure your roomie won't mind THAT much if he isn't there!" Mina whined. "You can live without him for a couple of hours, won't you?"
"I can, I just wanna party alongside him tonight with the rest of the guys and whoever wants to come 'round. Now, if ya dun mind…"
Vector walked past the two, not bothering to look behind him if they were sneering at him or making some comment. He was surprised Julie hadn't attempted to stop him just like she had been earlier in the semester. Hopefully, she'd FINALLY get the message…
Unbeknownst to Vector…
"I don't get it, Mina!" Julie-Su growled as they watched Vector walk away. "What is his OBSESSION with that guy?!"
"I'm starting to think that rumor might be true," the mongoose said. "You know the one, right Julie?"
"Yeah, I've heard it in passing."
"If it's true, maybe you should just give up on him and find another guy."
"He isn't gay, Mina! He's bi."
"What's the difference?"
"He still likes girls at least, meaning that I have a chance. But it's that roommate of his that's getting in the way. Argh, if he just wasn't around, maybe I could have more chances to be with Vector and let him see how much I've changed…"
"We can't necessarily make him disappear! What are you thinking?"
Julie pondered for a brief moment before looking off at the A building. "I have my own ideas, but in the meantime, tonight is the night I need to step up my A game. I'm gonna be extra nice to Vector, act as a sort of waitress to him, and after the party-"
"Bang? Oh, please tell me it'll be just as juicy as last time…"
"Unfortunately, doing that at the Halloween Party is what got Vector even angrier at me. As such, I got a NEW approach this time…"
"And if it doesn't work?"
"It will this time. This idea, I'm SURE about…" Julie-Su smiled, imagining her plan going perfectly, as well as her backup idea should things not go her way.
"I'm sure it'll be a good plan, Julie. Your ideas are always good!" Mina clapped her hands.. "Hey, so while we wait for Vector to get back, do you wanna head to the K building with me? I need to know if either Thrash or maybe even Connery is there…"
"I don't think Connery would be there, but Thrash is. Come on, let's go hit up some of the guys on the football team!"
The two friends giggled to themselves as they ran back to the K building, hoping to get refreshed as well as enjoy the company of their fellow football player.
Scanning his ID to his dorm, Vector opened the door as he sighed, glad to finally be back on campus. Just then, he saw-
"Espio!" Vector said, watching as Espio had just gotten dressed into his nightwear, his kimono neatly packed into a suitcase on the floor. "Yo, guess who's back?"
Espio looked surprised and even… looked excited to see Vector back. He walked up to the crocodile. "Ve-Vector! How was… t-the ge-game?"
"I'll give ya a hint. Didja think we won or lost?"
Espio looked confused, partially by the question but also partially because Vector was being hard to read at that moment. Just then, the chameleon was lifted off the ground as Vector grabbed him, twirling him in place.
"Too late! We won, Espio! We're fuckin' champions and we deserve to party tonight!" he exclaimed, laughing as Espio's yukata breezed over his arms. A look of surprise but also happiness appeared on Espio's face as he realized why the crocodile was doing this.
"You won the game?" he asked.
"Hell yeah we did! I can even show ya the pictures to prove it!" Vector replied.
"A-ah! Cong-gratule… no… Congratulations, Vector!" Espio closed his eyes as Vector finally put him down, the chameleon clapped for his friend.
"Dude, I dun know how to tell ya how fucking scared I was. It even seemed like they were gonna win too! But…" Vector reached inside his shirt, bringing out the omamori, now certainly showing signs of wear. "I like to think last minute luck came to me."
"The omamori…" Espio touched the amulet Vector had on, likely in awe of its power coming to fruition.
"So hey, I'll tell ya ALL 'bout how the game went in a bit, but first tell me, how did yer art show go? Didja see a bunch of snobs there?"
Espio turned to the desk, pointing to something on it. "I go-got that."
Confused, Vector walked over to the desk and was in shock at what he saw. There was a gold plaque coated in jewels of different varieties. On it, the plaque read:
"THIS PLAQUE CERTIFIES THAT
HAS RECEIVED THE HIGHEST COLLEGE-BASED ARTIST HONOR OF
THE ART CRITICS ASSOCIATION OF SPAGONIA"
"Hey, this doesn't have yer name on it!" Vector said, confused at why a name hadn't been engraved onto it. Espio walked over to him, looking up.
"I was gi… give… no… how do you say that word… give-n? Given this," he replied.
"Given it? By who?"
"Jewel."
Vector was surprised to hear just who had given this plaque to his friend. Someone like Jewel was the type of person he just couldn't stand, the type of person that always somehow managed to excel at everything while putting others down, the type of person his parents would point to when his grades weren't the best and say, 'Why can't you be more like her, Vector?!', even if he was better grade-wise compared to others on his Middle and High School football team.
And yet, with all that he had been hearing about the jewel beetle from the chameleon, and this… Could it be that Espio truly made himself another friend just like him?
"It's… it's amazin', Espio!" Vector said. "I'm sure ya did a great job on your art thingy, really! Ya were probably the best of the best!"
But Espio looked down at the floor, away from Vector. "...they do not la-like me." he said.
"Huh? Whaddya mean?" Vector's face fell somewhat upon hearing this.
Espio didn't respond, but Vector could easily picture what happened at the museum. As such, he crouched down to the chameleon's height, looking at him directly.
"Hey, I dunno whatever ya were told, but whatever some art snob told ya, it ain't true. I haven't seen a lot of yer drawin's. But what I HAVE seen of them was really incredible. There's a reason Jewel gave ya that, dude. Ya deserve it so much, and no little asshole is gonna try and make ya feel bad 'bout it. And if they do, they're gonna answer to me until they realize just how well ya draw. Ya hear?"
Espio looked up at his friend, his scales growing a lighter shade of fuchsia before nodding quickly.
"Yes… thank you, Vector…" he replied. Vector even noted how Espio didn't struggle as much to say that last sentence, showing to the crocodile how well the chameleon has been learning English.
"Now… if ya wanna stay up with me for a bit, there's gonna be a party fer the entire team in the K buildin' to celebrate out Playoffs win! I didn't get to go to the semifinals one, but I REALLY want yeh to come with me. It won't feel right if ya weren't there, especially since ya really supported me throughout this season. Pleeeeeease?" Vector held his hands together, hoping that Espio would agree. The chameleon turned his head, somewhat confused.
"D-do you wa-want me to go?..." he asked.
"Yeah, to the party tonight! I'm sure yer really tired after tonight cause of everythin' that's gone down, but I'm sure ya wanna wind down! Besides, we haven't been to a party since Halloween!"
Espio took a couple of seconds to ponder it, Vector being unable to read the chameleon's expression.
"Okay."
The crocodile quickly turned his head. "Really? Ya mean it?!"
Espio softly smiled. "You… have wo-won. I ma-must be with you."
"Alright, kick-fuckin'-ass!" Vector grinned as he brought in Espio's hand for a solidarity handshake, the transfer student surprised by the sudden action. "Let's party our asses off and get wasted as hell, tonight is our night!"
Vector opened the door for the chameleon, letting him pass through first as he got his normal geta on. Closing the door behind him, the crocodile smiled as he began to picture the amazing night he was going to have with Espio and the rest of the team. One thing was for certain, the quarterback knew he was going to be a MAJOR center of attention tonight, and he was gonna make sure that Espio would be there along for the ride the entire time.
LATER, IN THE K BUILDING…
The lights of the K building flashed purple and white at an intense rate as the students partying inside the building had just gotten done dancing and drinking to the song played by the DJ of tonight, which happened to be Manic. The green hedgehog adjusted his headphones and looked at the crowd ahead of him.
"Oh yeahhhh, we already introduced them all, but let's give up one more chant for the Badnikssss!" he exclaimed, hyping up the crowd for the next sound as they all cheered, clapped, and roared. Sonic came up next to his brother, shaking a bottle of spray deodorant and lighting a match before igniting the spray into the air above everyone.
"C'MON, EVERYONE! LEMME HEAR YOU SAY IT!" he exclaimed, fire blowing into the air.
The chant of "BADNIKS ATTACK!" echoed and repeated throughout the entire building all while lights shined on the different Badniks players, all of them wearing glow stick necklaces and bracelets put on them by the girls of the cheer squad. Vector was no exception, having about a dozen over his neck and on both his wrists as he hung around Knuckles, Mighty, Espio, and Rotor.
"Now this is what a party should be like!" the crocodile exclaimed as everyone watched Sonic lighting up the flammable spray into the air. It was just as crazy as Vector imagined it to be. There were the usual people partying and drinking, but there were also people dancing on the lunch tables, a group of students holding up a crude effigy of the Dingoes, even at one point, a girl running around flashing her breasts, painted light blue with "MOBIUS U" in white to the different players of the team, much to their excitement.
It was similar in craziness to the Halloween party, but the crocodile wouldn't have it any other way. He and his team deserved this.
With the sea of party goers all beginning to dance and drink to the next song Manic played, almost everyone showing off their Badnik pride, Espio was still trying to get used to everything around him as the loud music exploded in his ears. He had one of Vector's glow stick necklaces that the crocodile gave him in his hands, twisting it around in a confused manner as he tried to figure out how it worked. It was hard to say whether he was having fun. He still wasn't used to all these massive crowds, the flashing lights straining his eyes, and goodness, all the noise. But he was here with Vector and his friends, and he tried to make the best of his very limited knowledge of "parties".
Of course, MANY people came to take pictures with both Knuckles and especially Vector, who was clearly the popular one tonight. In fact, when one of the girls on the cheer squad brought him to introduce to the crowd, to say that everyone went wild is an understatement. And yet, Espio was by his side with next to no one acknowledging his existence.
With the chameleon watching as his friends danced along with the crowd to the song Manic was playing, raising their hands in the air as the lights continued to flash again, Espio wondered what he should be doing at that moment. Should he join along too? He still wasn't quite sure what to do at these occasions entirely, and he felt out of place mimicking what his friends were doing.
But as he watched Vector happily dancing and singing along… it made his heart… almost stop. The crocodile clearly brought the transfer student here for a reason, to enjoy the night with him and to celebrate his team's victory. He could have been with Knuckles or Mighty, his fellow teammates, even some random girl who looked at him with passionate fire in her eyes, but instead, here he was with him…
"I may look foolish for this… but I shall join along for Vector's sake," Espio thought to himself, soon attempting to join along with the crocodile, echidna, walrus, and armadillo. The former quickly noticed it as he stared at Espio.
"Yeah, yer gettin' into it, aincha Espio?!' he yelled over the loud crowd.
It certainly wasn't like him… but hearing Vector acknowledge him like this only encouraged the chameleon to continue mimicking his peers.
However, just as the song was coming to a close…
"VECTOR! KNUCKLES!~"
The two Badniks players turned their heads to see some of the girls from earlier standing in front of them, all of them looking their best in front of the five boys.
"Heya, girls!" Vector said. "Whacha want?"
That's when Espio noticed the crocodile's expression change when he saw one of the girls in the crowd of cheerleaders and sorority girls, a pink echidna. In fact… now that Espio got a good look at her… hasn't he seen her before?
"Don't stand there all lonesome by yourselves, come on! The next song's about to start and we want someone to dance with!" a yellow mongoose said, one that he SWORE he's also seen before.
"E-Erm…" Rotor looked slightly uncomfortable. "I… I'm flattered… b-but… but I… I gotta use the restroom. 'Scuse me…"
The walrus quickly left the group, with Espio wondering why he left.
"Well? What about you three?"
"I dunnooooo…" Knuckles said, elbows behind his head. "Is Rouge there with you?"
"We know where Rougie is, don't you worry! Want us to take you to her?" the pink echidna asked.
"What? REALLY?! Oh fuck yeah you bet!"
The pink echidna giggled as she handed the red echidna a drink. "Here, it's on me. Drink up big guy, you deserve it!"
One of the girls led Knuckles away as Mighty, Vector, and Espio looked on.
"There goes a man who's likely gonna get the shit kicked out of him," Mighty said.
"Eh, dun be too pessimistic, Mighty. I'm sure Rouge will realize he ain't too bad of a guy despite how much of a simp he is."
"Ha! In his dreams!"
"And whadda 'boutcha? Aintcha gonna be lookin' fer that swallow girl ya like?"
Mighty shut his mouth, looking down at the floor. "W-well… I dunno if she's even here…"
"Look, it'll be fine!"
"Easy for you to say! You're seconds from making out with ANY girl from the cheerleading team you want! I guarantee you're getting laid tonight."
"Maybe, maybe not. Leanin' towards the latter honestly."
"Oh, what's this? Vector isn't horny for once? Color me surprised!"
"OOOKAY GIRLS, I think Mighty here said he wants to dance with Wave! That swallow girl who hangs 'round that dickhead Jet?"
"Oh, come on Mighty! Dance and drink with us!"
Suddenly, a large crowd of the girls swarmed the armadillo, who gave the crocodile a horrified look.
"What are you DOING?!" he exclaimed.
"Have fun losin' yer virginity, Mighty!" Vector waved, grinning as one of the girls led him away. Just then, a drink was cast into his peripheral vision.
"Don't think you're getting left out too, big guy," the pink echidna said as she handed Vector a different drink from what Knuckles had. He stared at her, Vector's expression changing to a more serious one.
"I know where I can find plenty of drinks, thanks. Still drinkin' this one right now," he said.
"Oh don't be like that Vector! I saved this one for you! Hell, it's probably better than most of the crappy booze everyone else is drinking!"
"Yeah, come on, Vector! Drink and party with us!"
The remaining girls all now swarmed him as Espio started to walk forward, hoping to intervene and prevent them from making Vector uncomfortable. However, as he did…
"Who is this?" one of the girls asked.
"Espio, what's wrong?" Vector added. However, as he did, Mindy from earlier walked up to the chameleon.
"Oh my gosh… you are… are… so…"
And then, something unexpected happened.
"CUTE!"
All of a sudden, a good six girls all surrounded the chameleon as they all hugged up to him, Espio looking surprised at the sudden action. Even Vector wasn't expecting it, lost for words at the moment.
"How have you kept this cutie hidden from us, Vector?!" the fox girl asked.
"He hasn't… he's always around him…" the pink echidna replied, arms crossed as she looked annoyed. "Now Vector, do you want the drink or not?"
"Come on, Julie! I wanna learn more about this guy! Besides, who would have thought Vector had such a handsome guy for his roommate!"
Espio's scales slightly lit up as he was being hugged from all angles. "A-ah… th-thank yu-you…"
"And he even talks so cute too!"
The crowd of cheerleaders and sorority girls all giggled as Vector elbow bumped Espio's shoulder.
"Now it's like yer a true Badnik!" Vector said. "Who wouldda thought ya been such a lady killer, Espio?"
The chameleon had never heard of the term, lady killer. After all, he would NEVER dare to hurt a woman, let alone kill them. The Historic District was a very matriarchal society, and mothers had a huge rule in how their children and family were brought up. It was impossible for him to be such a thing…
Suddenly, as if to interrupt…
"Yo, Vector!"
Rudy came up walking to the crocodile, another one of the girls from the cheerleading squad over his shoulders.
"What's up, Rudy?" replied the quarterback.
"Brawny wanted to challenge you to round two of Beer Pong in the upstairs lounge. Says it's to make up for his failure during the Halloween Party and he's still not taking no for an answer."
"When will that guy ever learn? Well, that depends… Espio, d'ya wanna com-"
"Oh, let us borrow… Espio is it?" asked one of the girls.
"Borrow?"
"Yeah! We wanna party and drink with Espio! He seems like he'd be a secret party animal! Come on, pretty pleeeeease?" another girl, an eagle, asked.
"B-But Ellie…" the pink echidna asked. "I was gonna-"
"Oh, it'll be alright, Julie! Come on, what do you say, Espio?"
The chameleon looked conflicted. He turned his attention to the crocodile for help, who shrugged.
"Hey, dun look at me! Do whatever ya want, pal! I dun mind whatever choice ya make!"
"Is… is it okay?" Espio asked the girls.
"Sure! We'll show you a good time! We promise!" a yellow cat in the crowd said. As such, they began to lead Espio into the crowd of party goers in a conga line, the chameleon looking confused the entire time.
"Now, 'bout this beer pong game…" Vector said as he watched his friend get led away. "Come on, I'm ready fer round 2! Ready to show Brawny why ya dun fuck with me when it comes to beer pong!"
With that, Vector followed Rudy and the girl he walked with to the lounge as only two people stayed behind. Julie-Su, and Mina.
"Julie?..." Mina asked, concerned about her friend.
"He… he didn't take it..." she said softly, the hand holding the can of alcohol shaking as she almost crushed it out of anger. "I went scrounging for the drink with the highest alcohol percentage for NOTHING?!"
"It's like we talked about… as long as that Espio guy is around…"
That's when Julie stopped. She then turned to see her friends all laughing with the chameleon, one of whom put a drink in his hands, watching closely as they helped him open it and encouraged him to drink…
2:36 A.M.
The party showed no signs of stopping, despite Manic having to tell that crowd that he was being warned by Officer Wachowski to stop the party by 4 otherwise everyone in and around the K building would get written up for trespassing past dark. By now, some people had already left, some were passed out on the floor, drunk, while others still kept up the party spirit.
In the upstairs lounge, Rudy, Bull, three girls from the cheerleading squad and a few others from the Gamma Zeta Beta sorority house, alongside a couple of Mobius U students, watched Vector and Brawny's beer pong game intently. The crocodile and warthog were at each others' throats, neck and neck by score as they tried their best to keep sober. Not wanting to be in the drunken stupor he was during the Halloween party and making himself out to be a total ass in front of Espio, the crocodile made sure to align his shots perfectly so that Brawny would hopefully admit defeat.
"Four drinks in, Vec," Brawny said, slightly slurred. "And we even upped the ante by adding vodka and you STILL aren't scared?"
"Tch, t-talk 'about stupid!" Vector retorted. "Yer just scared I'm gonna win again! And there ain't even girls on the line this time!"
"This time it ain't about girls, it's about restoring my pride! Now here I come!"
Vector watched as the warthog flicked a ping pong ball directly into the middle cup, the crowd of people clapping and cheering.
"Way to go, Brawny!" one of the sorority girls exclaimed as Vector knew his fate. Grabbing the middle cup, he inhaled deeply as he drank the contents, the taste of harsh vodka burning his throat as he coughed and gagged. With it spilling down his lips and snout, he shook his head and stuck out his tongue.
"God, what is it with East Mobius and havin' the strongest booze…"
"No whining like a little bitch, Vector! You know I totally earned that win!" Brawny bragged as the quarterback's eye lowered.
"Ah, bein' cocky? Well two can play at that game! Mah turn!"
Vector grabbed another one of the ping pong balls and got ready to make his move. He was going to make the warthog eat his words, drink that disgusting booze, and-
"Vector?"
Someone unrelated spoke to him.
"Hm?" the crocodile turned to see Kit, a rather straight-faced fennec girl on the cheerleading squad in front of him. "Oh, what's up Kit? Didya wanna play?"
"N-Not really," she replied, turned away from the crocodile due to her shyness. "I just thought I'd like to let you know that y-your friend is on the dance floor hammered out of his fu-fucking mind right now."
"That ain't really new-"
And then he stopped. Time came to a halt as his eyes widened when Vector realized what Kit just said.
"WAIT WHAT?!"
"Ye-yeah... Kinda amusing if you ask me."
"Okay, which friend are we talkin' 'bout?! If its Knux or Mighty or someone on the team I dun give a-"
"Your roommate, E-Espio was it? He's been having a lot of drinks in the past hour and right now, he's wasted out his total mind, clinging onto all the g-girls to stop himself from falling over and speaking some language we can't understand. J-Just thought I'd let you know how he was doing."
Now it felt like a hot knife just jammed into Vector's heart.
"WHAT?! WHY DIDNTCHA TELL ME SOONER?!"
Suddenly feeling the buzz of all the alcohol he drank go away as his blood grew cold, Vector feared the worst at that moment. Espio had never ONCE been drunk before, what was going to happen to him? What would Mr. Valdez do if he found out?
The crocodile knew he was in deep shit, and the best thing he could do now is leave the party early and let Espio sleep off the killer hangover he was going to get.
"Shit! Shit shit shit… fuck!" Vector exclaimed, panicking as he walked in place.
"You alright, Vec?" Brawny asked. "You forfeiting?"
"Sorry, Brawny. I gotta call it quits early."
With that, Vector quickly left the lounge, passing by Kit as he heard the warthog exclaim, "OOOOOOOOOH, TAKE THAT, VECTOR! I KNEW YOU COULDN'T HANDLE THE HEAT!"
But pride didn't matter to the crocodile at that moment. His biggest focus right now was Espio, who he was only becoming more worried about at that moment. He rushed down the stairs, passing by Thrash passionately making out with one of the Gamma Zeta Beta sorority girls, and rushing down to the main party area. Pushing people out of the way and ignoring their cries or complaints as he did so, Vector turned his head left and right as he looked for his friend.
"Espio! Espio, where are ya?!"
That's when Vector spotted him. And he almost gasped upon seeing the chameleon. Espio, just as Kit said, was VERY intoxicated, loosely hanging onto Tiara's shoulder as a look of sleepiness was clear on his face. The girls were all recording Espio on their phones, giggling as they let the chameleon entertain them as he and Tiara drank together. He watched as several of the girls around him proceeded to take selfies with him, one of them putting a Badniks hat over his horn.
"Na-na…. nan d-da… shi… shiii… shirio… w… wa… dou… dooo ko…?" Espio said in a very slurred manner. "Mi-mii… minna… sa… san… one… ga-gai… Wata...tashi wa… shii… shirio… o… saga… gasu… no… o… te-te-tetsudate… ku-ku… kuda… sa-sai…"
"I didn't think he'd be so entertaining, Vector!" said Ellie. "Why didn't you introduce us to him sooner?"
But Vector didn't find humor in the situation, and he quickly rushed up to his friend and grabbed him by the shoulders.
"Espio! Espio, how drunk are ya?!" he frantically questioned.
"A… Aaa… Be-be...Beku… kuta…" Espio slurred, slowly walking towards his friend like a zombie and staring back at him lazily.
"What have ya been givin' him?! Tell me NOW!"
The girls, surprised by Vector's sudden anger, turned towards one another.
"We didn't get him drunk intentionally!" Mina replied, hands raised. "We gave him some light stuff at first but eventually he found a table with a lot of drinks and started taking stuff from there!"
"And ya let him?!"
"We thought he was having a fun time!" whined Mindy. "What, is he not allowed to drink?"
"He ain't ever been drunk before! Look, I gotta take him back to our dorm," Vector grabbed Espio's hand, only for the chameleon to trip on the floor face down.
"Come on, Vector! We were just having fun!" whined Tiara. "Come on, just a couple of more minutes? Your roommate seriously was so fun to be around!"
"Look, I'm sorry. Glad yer havin' fun with him, but this is more important."
With that, Vector tried to get Espio moving, but he quickly caught the chameleon after he almost fell.
"Okay bud, stay close to me… I'll getcha back to the dorm, I promise."
With that, Vector held Espio's hand and waist tight as he walked the drunk reptile out of the party, with Ellie behind him yelling, "BYE ESPIO! BRING HIM NEXT TIME YOU'RE AROUND, VECTOR!"
Unfortunately, with how cold the outside was, causing the pavement to become iced, Vector had no choice but to give Espio a piggyback ride back to the A building as slow as he could so that the two didn't fall to the floor. Vector concentrated carefully, lifting Espio easily but worried about hurting him as the chameleon lazily hung over the quarterback's strong back.
"Be… kutaa…" he slurred in his native tongue. "Nan… de kon-konna n-ni... at-at-attakai… n… da? Ko-Ko… Kono m-mama zu-zu-zutto ko… koko ni i...tai…"
"It's okay, Espio. I'll getcha back to bed soon. I promise. Just sleep this off and yeh'll be better in the mornin'," Vector replied. He wasn't quite sure what Espio was talking about, but he thought it was better to just let the chameleon say whatever he was saying. After all, the chameleon was only becoming more limp as the crocodile continued to carry him back to West Hall.
"Shit!" Vector thought to himself as he started to slip on some ice, quickly regaining his footing as he passed by North Hall and to the A building.
"Na… naze…" Espio shifted his head on Vector's back. "Naze ha-hahaue-s-sama wa... wa-watashi ga ke-kekkon shi… takunai ko… to o ri-rikai shite ku-kurenai no… darou... J-J… Ji… Jibun no he-hen ga okashiika-kara shitak-kunai... n… da..."
Vector was completely LOST on what Espio was saying at this point. He knew all too well that being drunk opened up your true heart on how you felt, something he had seen MANY of the Badniks players, as well as other students at Mobius U, acted like under the influence of alcohol. But lost in the language barrier… it meant something entirely different.
"He's even said mah name a few times… or somethin' that sounds similar? Why? Why s-"
Vector's thoughts were interrupted as, upon not looking at his footing, he slipped on the ice covering the steps up to the A building. With a loud yelp, Vector and Espio fell onto the icy, snowy ground.
"Argh…" Vector moaned out in pain. Falling to the ground was something he was more than used to, but it still was inconvenient to fall onto an icy pavement, especially face down like he did. "Espio, yeh alright?"
As he walked over to help Espio up, the chameleon looked as if he was in a daze, staring blankly at Vector as the crocodile's breathing hitched.
"E-Espio?..."
Then, the chameleon started to softly smile as best as he could.
"Watashi… n-ni wa... rika… idekinai... Dou… doushite, Bekutaa…? Doushite wa wa-watashi o h-hen n-na ki… ki… kimochi ni sa-sa... seru no?"
He continued to look up at Vector, the crocodile starting to feel butterflies in his stomach. It wasn't the first time he had been this up close to the chameleon, but like this… something about it was so different. Though Espio was drunk, the two could feel and smell their breaths in their direction. The smell of alcohol was strong in Vector's nose, but he was so… so close like this…
"D-D'ya nee-need help?!" Vector quickly said, hoping to defuse the situation, holding out his hand. Espio weakly brought up his hand as the quarterback held it.
"Te... An-Anata n… no-no te... To-to-tote… te… mo... oo-ook… kii..."
Vector realized he was still holding onto Espio's hand, not even bringing him up off the ground. He just… stared at Espio, leaving him on the ground as the chameleon just looked up at Vector. The green reptile realized at that moment not only how close their bodies were, but… but so were their faces. He started to feel himself go red, not even sure if it was out of embarrassment or because of the cold. It felt like everything he had been feeling about Espio was starting to circle around him, pushing him to finally act upon his feelings. Here the chameleon was, in a state where he would gladly let Vector commit on what he's been-
Vector stopped, quickly pulling himself away as he couldn't bear to look at Espio. What was he THINKING?! Espio was incredibly drunk at this point, he couldn't consent to what the crocodile was about to do! How could he even think to sink so low as to kiss his drunk roommate who he's been having feelings for, no matter how much he wanted to bury them?
"ARGHHHHH! FUCK, fuck fuck fuck FUCKIN' HELLLLL!" he screamed at himself mentally, blissfully hoping that he would die of hypothermia then and there. Now he wanted to get back to the dorm and forget about how he was acting…
"Le… Let's just get back to the dorm…" Vector softly said, bringing Espio off the ground as he led him up to the A Building, hoping that not only no one saw, but that the chameleon didn't know what was going on...
Back at the dorm, Vector had finished putting Espio to bed, wrapping the covers nice and tightly around him so that he wouldn't get cold during the night.
"Yer alright now, Espio?" Vector asked, looking at his friend, who still looked beyond sleepy and catatonic even in bed.
"Watashi wa... To… tot-te.. temo tsu… karet-te iru. ... Nani… Nanim-mo… kamo... Omoi..." Espio said, eyes very slowly shutting.
"Yeh'll be okay, Espio. Everyone's first time drinkin' is like this. Hell, ya shouldda seen me when I first got drunk. Spent the whole night vomitin' into the trash can in mah room," Vector grinned at the memory. "But anyway, I shouldn't keep ya up. The more rest ya get, the more yer headache won't suck in the mornin'. I'll be sure to getcha some club soda to drink once ya wake up, but I am gonna warn that Mighty and Knux are gonna come by fer our gift exchange, so we'll do that first and I'll see whatever store is open and getcha some, okay?"
Espio very slightly nodded, the crocodile knowing that whatever he was saying was sounding like white noise to the chameleon.
"I'll see ya in the mornin', man. I'm hopin' ya had a great night tonight and…"
Vector lost himself in his words. Everything that had just happened in the past couple of minutes caught up to him, and he turned away from the chameleon. For some reason, he felt… shame. Sure, it had partially to do with how he almost kissed Espio in the middle of the campus grounds while he was drunk, but it had… everything to do with how he was feeling.
Climbing down the steps of the bunk bed, Vector let his tail sink as he truly started to think back to everything. Meeting Espio, becoming his friend, all the drama he had gotten into because of it, and… now this.
It didn't feel fair, it didn't feel right…
So many other people went to college to find their sweetheart, some even went to college with their lovers, but Vector couldn't have that. How could he when the person he was having feelings for was going to leave his life forever in a few months' time? It almost felt like he had to bury how he felt forever, never letting Espio know. Besides, who knew if that would be the thing that would ruin their friendship?
But as Vector looked over from the light switch, watching the now sleepy Espio's chest rise up and down, thinking back to how Espio had been looking up at him, to holding his hand in that intimate moment… hell, he had just been giving him a piggyback ride through the snow…
"Awh… fuck it… Who even gives a shit anymore…" Vector said softly to himself. "I'm hopelessly in love with this guy…"
He turned off the lights, hoping that his declaration wouldn't ruin things, hoping maybe… just maybe… Espio realized that it was possible for men to love men.
TO BE CONTINUED...
