Part 11: how opposites meet - a Shadilver story
Silver entered the classroom a bit nervous, they had math with their mentor class this morning, which means... Shadow will be here and Silver really didn't know what to expect. Was he going to bully them again, was he going to be nice from now on or, even worse, was he still going to act on what he said to the gang that first day?
Tails and Silver sat next to each other in the classroom. The lesson had already started but Shadow was nowhere to be found. `He will probably be late again,' Silver thought, and how right they were.
Shadow entered the classroom and Silver froze. Shadow looked like his tough self in his denim jeans with a metal chain, an AC/DC band shirt and his leather jacket, he was still wearing his sunglasses. `He really looks cool,' Silver thought while watching Shadow move through the classroom.
The teacher was just writing out the principles of angle calculations on the schoolboard and didn't notice Shadow coming in late. When he walked to his seat at the back of the class with his buddies, he passed Silver. Silver looked a bit hopeful at him just waiting for a sign, or just a small gesture that he noticed them. They didn't care what it was, Silver just wanted to know where they stood. But nothing happened, Shadow didn't look over, didn't nod, heck he didn't even knock their pencil case off the desk like he had done earlier this week.
Silver kept on looking towards Shadow as he fist bumped his buddies and sat down. Silver growled on the inside, `What the hell! After what had happened Tuesday, after what he did for me, how he helped me, how his friend betrayed him, just nothing. He didn't even look!' While Silver was still looking at Shadow, the ebony hedgehog just ignored Silver completely, `He isn't even trying anything funny like he did on Monday during class.'
The ivory youngster was absolutely confused, as if he wasn't confused and frustrated enough already after what happened on Tuesday.
``Silver!' The youngster snapped out of their thoughts and quickly looked to the front of the classroom. ``Since you were paying such close attention,' the teacher said a bit sarcastically, causing some students to giggle and Silver's muzzle to turn red, ``You can probably tell me which formula to use when you want to calculate the longest side on this uneven triangle?'' he asked pointing at the schoolboard.
Silver looked at the board and everything that was written on it, to be honest the youngster really wasn't paying attention to the lesson until now. Looking at the triangle and the values which were given, ``Sines,'' they answered nervously.
``That's correct,'' The teacher spoke and some students looked at Silver with disbelief, as some of them had noticed the youngster hadn't paid any attention to the lesson. The teacher continued his lesson, Silver sighed with relief.
Even though the lesson was interesting Silver kept on looking to the back of the class where Shadow was sitting. But he still didn't give any sign of recognition towards the ivory youngster. `Why does it feel so important to me that he gives me a sign,' Silver thought, and turned their attention back to the class. `Well maybe after all that had happened it would just be nice to know where we stood,' Silver looked back and saw Shadow playing with his zippo lighter, opening and closing it and lighting it on fire. `I just thought that he would be nice from now on, or just stay a bully. But I didn't expect this. Why didn't he do anything, it would even be better if he just started to bully me again, but ignoring me, it just doesn't feel right.'
_____________________________________
The next lesson they had electrical engineering which wasn't a mentor class, but to Silver's surprise Shadow was taking this course as well. Of course Shadow came in last, and while passing the youngster he still didn't do anything. Shadow sat at the back of the class all by himself, apparently his friends weren't in this class. It was a good thing this lesson was more practical instead of theoretical. They had to illustrate a small lighting circuit with a switch and had to start realising it with soldering irons and tin, all the students were given a kit with all the basic materials. They all worked in silence but Silver just couldn't get their mind straight.
``OUCH!!'' Silver yelped after a while and quickly put their left index finger in their mouth.
``What happened!'' Tails asked.
``Urgh nothing, I just burned my finger because of the freaking soldering iron,'' Silver replied. While they did burn their finger, it was because they were looking at Shadow who was working really concentrated which Silver found a bit weird. They hadn't really seen Shadow pay attention in any class the whole week.
``Are you okay, let me see,'' the teacher quickly came over to them. Silver pulled out their finger and showed it to the teacher. ``Yes that's a second degree burn, come, quickly put it under the lukewarm tap. That will prevent forming blisters.'' the teacher explained as he knew first aid.
Silver walked to the tap in the back of the class which was near Shadow and turned it on. Silver had a feeling someone was looking at them, but when looking over their shoulder everybody was just working. Silver's eyes rested on Shadow for a moment, `I could have sworn Shadow looked at me, but if so, why not let me know or give me a sign.' Silver sighed and held their finger under the water.
``Don't hold the burn directly under the tap,'' Silver heard Shadows voice from behind, but when looking over he was still focused on his circuit.
``What?''
``The stream from the tap shouldn't hit the burn directly, let the water flow from your other hand over the wound, a direct stream could damage the affected skin,'' Shadow continued while he still didn't take his eyes off his project.
``How do you know that?'' Silver asked and did what Shadow had told, it started to feel better already. Shadow held up his hand so Silver could see it, but still didn't make eye contact. His hand and the part of his forearm which Silver could see were covered with small burn marks. Silver looked shocked, ``What happened?''
``I work at a garage, it's part of the job.''
``That must have hurt,'' Silver replied.
``You get used to it.''
Silver didn't know what to say anymore and turned back, but with a slight smile on their muzzle.
__________________________
``You're acting weird today,'' Tails said during lunch.
``What do you mean?'' Silver asked absentmindedly.
``Well, you're not paying attention in class, you're mumbling to yourself, you burned your finger, you are constantly looking over at that Shadow guy and you didn't even answer me every time I asked you if everything was okay.''
``When did you ask me that?''
``That's precisely my point, what's going on with you?''
``It's nothing, really,'' Silver sighed deep and looked over at the ebony hedgehog who was sitting outside with his gang on the park bench as he took a drag from his cigarette. Tails followed Silver's gaze to see they were looking at.
``You can't be serious right?''
``What?'' Silver said snapping out of it.
``You don't like that guy right?''
``What!? No of course not how can you say that,'' Silver spoke indignantly but Tails just looked at his friend.
``Did something happen?''
``What do you mean?''
``Between the two of you.''
``What are you aiming at? I'm non-binary, not gay! Those are two completely different things!''
``Okay, okay sorry I mentioned it. You just seem so off today. You know I worry about you.''
``You don't have to worry about me, I'm fine really.''
``You would tell me if something was wrong or did happen right?'' Tails asked. Silver went silent for a bit and felt guilty for all the things they kept from their friend. It was a good thing the bell rang at that moment so Silver quickly stood up to get to the next class.
Tails stopped Silver, ``You would tell me right?'' he repeated.
``Y-yeah, of course,'' Silver lied and immediately felt ashamed of their answer, as there were just so many things Tails didn't know. Silver just didn't feel ready to tell him, where would they even start.
Tails looked into their eyes, ``Okay, if you say so, I believe you.'' Tails turned around and as Silver followed him they quickly snatched some leftover food from the tables they were passing without Tails noticing.
