Part 20: how opposites meet - a Shadilver story
Drama class had ended and the students were getting ready to leave.
``So what did you think?'' Marine asked.
``It really is something different, it wasn't what I expected but it was a good start.''
``I can definitely understand, it doesn't feel so good to open up like that, but in time it really helps you,'' Silver nodded and swung their backpack over their shoulder.
``I'm going to the library, would you like to come with?''
``No thank you, I'm always too tired after drama class. But the girls and I are going to go out shopping Thursday after school, would you like to come? Tails can also come if he wants?''
``Ow yeah that will be nice, I will ask Tails.''
``So you're in?'' Silver nodded in response, ``Nice! See you again Wednesday at art class!''
``See ya then!'' Silver said and Marine left. Silver walked after her out of the gym hall and spotted Shadow who stood opposite from the doorway, he was just busy with his phone. Silver passed him to go to the library and shadow looked up.
``Ow hey Silver,'' Silver pretended they didn't hear him and kept on walking. Shadow quickly picked up his bag and walked next to Silver. ``So how was drama class?''
``Why would you care?'' Silver said uninterested in a conversation with Shadow.
``Still mad, I see?'' Silver grunted, Shadow sighed a bit frustrated as he always hated when people acted like this. Something Rouge had always been good at. Silver kept on walking and Shadow kept on following. Silver turned left to go to the library. ``Aren't you going home?''
``No I'm going to make some homework in de library.''
``Ow yeah I also have homework to do.''
``Well good luck with that,'' Silver said to end the conversation. They went over to Tails who was studying concentrated leaving Shadow standing on his own in the doorway. He also walked in and sat somewhere else as he didn't want to get on Silver's nerves but could still keep an eye on them. He took out his stuff, now that he was in the library to keep an eye on Silver, he might as well do some homework himself.
``What you're working on?'' Silver asked sitting down next to Tails.
``History. What will you be doing?''
``Probably the extra homework for geography,'' Silver sighed, they stood up to have a look at the geography books for more inspiration. When Silver got to the right row of bookcases they quickly turned around as Shadow also was looking at the geography books since he also had the extra homework. Shadow just saw them leave. Silver went to the other row and looked at some other books, to make it not to obvious that they was avoiding Shadow. Shadow could still see Silver through a gap between the books, Silver looked a bit nervous and was waiting for Shadow to leave. Shadow took out a geography book and pushed it through the gab with the title towards Silver, Silver noticed and looked at the title `Geography of the Earth.'
Silver took out the book.
``This what you're looking for?'' Shadow asked through the gap, with a grin. Silver froze a bit.
``Thank you,'' They whispered a bit apologetic.
``You're welcome,'' Shadow replied.
Silver felt stupid for how they were acting, so decided to apologize. They went to the next row but Shadow was already gone. Silver looked around and saw how Shadow took his place at the table he sat before. Silver followed him and stood next to Shadow.
``Uhmm I um,'' Silver said and Shadow looked over, they looked in his eyes which were just very deep and Silver could drown in them.
``What is it Silver?'' Silver laid the book on table.
``I-i uhm I just wanted to say sorry,'' Silver said a bit nervous.
``For what?'' Shadow asked softly.
``For h-how I've been behaving. It's not fair as you helped me Friday and I have just pushed you away since.''
``It's nothing,'' Shadow said with a smile. ``Just what was going on with you?''
``Puberty, probably,'' Silver said and made a gesture indicating they couldn't explain it in a different way, as they theirself didn't even know what was really going on.
Shadow laughed ``Yeah Puberty can be a bitch,'' he replied, Silver chuckled.
``So are we good?'' The youngster asked, Shadow nodded.
``I really liked playing music with you,'' Silver added and smiled.
``I liked it too, you are really talented, you know,'' Silver blushed and waved the compliment away. ``Don't be modest. It was nice to see you play while having so much fun. I hope you will participate the next time we have a performance.''
``We will see, but Mathilda would probably be playing then, I don't want to take her place,'' They both went quiet for a bit looking at each other. ``Well, I think I should get back to my homework.''
Silver turned around to get back to Tails. Shadow looked how Silver left and took their place. He let out a big sigh and kept on looking at Silver, who was now talking to Tails. Shadow smiled as it just felt nice to look at the youngster. Shadow shook his head to snap out of it and turned back to his own homework but he couldn?t stop himself from regularly looking over at Silver. They just looked so pure and innocent.
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The next day felt much better as Silver wasn't angry at Shadow anymore and they could just act normal to each other. It felt good to know that Shadow was being nice to them, maybe he really had changed. Shadow and Espio even sat with them during lunch, which was something Tails didn't really like because he still didn't trust Shadow. Shadow was even wandering around the school on Wednesday even though he didn't have any classes.
During art class the students and Mrs Rose sat outside with the easels to illustrate parts of the school building and work on perspective. Shadow was sitting on the stairs in front of the building enjoying the weather and reading something on his phone. Silver was just drawing the entrance and smiled as they also drew Shadow in the picture.
Shadow stood up and went over to see what they were working on, but kept his distance. As he noticed Silver had a really good time with the girls and Shadow didn't want to interrupt. Shadow started to have a talk with Mrs Rose.
The art students were all talking about going shopping on Thursday as some of them said they really needed new clothes and shoes. Sally said something about a new ice cream shop which had opened at the mall, she wanted to try out. Silver just couldn't wait to go out with them after school tomorrow because sometimes they just felt really lonely being on their own after school hours.
``Is there somewhere you want to go to Silver?'' Honey asked.
``No, I don't think so, I don't really need something,'' Silver replied, they just really wanted to hang out with all of them.
``Wouldn't you maybe want new clothes?'' Nicole asked. Silver looked down at their clothes which were kind of worn out. But did they really want to spend the little bit of money they had on clothes?
``Maybe,'' Silver said, ``I'll just have a look around tomorrow, but I don't want to spend too much money at the moment.''
``Maybe we should go to the secondhand shop. They sometimes have really nice clothes for almost nothing,'' Silver liked that idea.
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Silver really started to have a good time at college, no weird things had happened since last week. They hadn't seen Scourge around that much either, which felt like a relief.
Even the classes went pretty well. Silver was less distracted and participated enthusiastically.
It was finally Thursday and Silver felt a bit restless because they really wanted to go to the mall that afternoon. Silver had asked Tails to come along, but he said it would be good for Silver to do this on their own, to have their own friends to hang out with and besides, shopping wasn't really Tails' scene.
During the electrical engineering class Shadow sat next to Silver, which kind of surprised them. But it was really nice to have him so near during this class as it was something Shadow was really passionate about and Silver sure could use some help.
``You know I can help you as well?'' Tails said when Shadow had left for a moment to get some more tin.
``I know, but you already help me out with Robotics. I don't want to take too much advantage of you,'' Silver said, but that wasn't a hundred percent true. The youngster just really liked to have Shadow so close at a class he was passionate about. And every time Silver asked a few questions about how to assemble some wires, Shadow moved even closer and took Silver's soldering iron. Their hands touched for a moment when Silver passed the iron and a warm feeling spread through Silver's body. Shadow made a movement and looked over at Silver who blushed, `Did Shadow felt it as well?' Shadow turned back to Silver's project and showed how to connect the wires. Silver wasn't really looking because they already knew how to do it, but it felt so nice to have Shadow help them out. Silver just looked at Shadow and how close he was.
Tails looked over at them and saw how Silver was looking at Shadow. Tails had never seen them look this way at anyone, well maybe at some puppies when they passed a pet shop. He started to feel concerned, what if he was right, what if Shadow couldn't be trusted. It wouldn't be good for them to lose trust in people again.
After digital skills class Silver quickly said bye to them to find the girls to go out shopping. Shadow also wanted to leave quickly as he had to go to his work.
``Shadow can I talk to you?'' Tails asked. Shadow nodded and came over to him. Tails waited until the classroom was empty. ``I wanted to say I'm happy you are being so kind to Silver.''
Shadow looked a bit puzzled, ``It is nothing, Silver is a good kid.''
``They sure is, but I have to say that I don't trust you.''
``Why?''
``You have changed so much in one week time, I don't know what your deal is. What do you want from Silver?''
``Nothing, I just like to hang out with her,'' Shadow said offended.
``Don't try anything funny,'' Tails continued, ``Silver is really naive and has put their trust in the wrong people before. It took quite some time to get over it. So don't let them go through that again. Do I make myself clear?'' Tails asked sternly.
Shadow looked down on Tails, it was refreshing to have someone standing up to him, ``I won't,'' Shadow said, ``I promise,'' He added because Tails still looked doubtfully.
He nodded, ``Okay, I'll be watching you.''
Shadow suppressed a smile, because of the little fox trying to intimidate him. Tails took his bag and wanted to leave. ``You're a good friend to Silver,'' Shadow said and Tails turned around, ``It's pretty brave to stand up for her like this.''
``That's what friends are supposed to do.''
