Part 22: how opposites meet - a Shadilver story
``I think I should change back into my own clothes,'' Silver said because it was starting to feel a bit awkward. Silver quickly went into the fitting room and started to freak out, `What the hell just happened?!' Silver looked at them self in the mirror. `I let the girls get in my head, I really made a fool out of myself.' Silver started to undress and put on their own sloppy clothes. Silver went out to put the clothes back, Shadow was nowhere to be found.
Silver looked at the hot pants and the price tag. ``Oef, who would pay fifty bucks for this?''
``Why wouldn't you?'' Shadow asked from behind them, Silver was startled as they thought Shadow had left, but apparently he had only been trying on his new trousers.
``No, it's far too expensive.''
``I could pay it for you, if you want'' Silver turned to Shadow a bit shocked.
``Are you mad? Fifty bucks for short pants, no you don't have to. Besides it'll be autumn soon so this will be far too cold to wear,'' Silver quickly hang it back.
``You're probably right,'' They both went to the counter to pay for Shadows trousers. They went outside and stood in front of the shop. ``Do you maybe want to get something to eat?''
``Well I kinda promised the girls to have a meal together with them.''
``But they just left,'' Shadow said confused.
Silver looked around ``They did? When?''
``Before you got changed,'' Silver felt stupid as they didn't have any memory of that. ``So?''
``What?''
``Do you want to get something to eat?'' Shadow repeated.
``W-with y-you?'' Silver asked nervously.
``You don't have to if you don't want to,'' Shadow replied.
``Ow no, that's not what I meant, uhm yeah, I would like that,'' Silver felt excited as this wasn't something they expected.
``Do you like pizza?''
``You bet I like pizza!'' Silver said. Shadow and Silver went over to a take out pizza place.
``So what would you like? Pepperoni, tuna, Hawaii or something else?'' Shadow asked. Silver looked at the menu pictures.
``Well I don't eat meat, so I will have the one with the mushrooms.''
``In that case I'll take a vegetarian one as well.''
``Ow just take what you want, you don't have to adjust to my life choices,'' Shadow ordered a fungi and veggie pizza.
``That will be $18,'' Silver took out their wallet to pay their part but Shadow pushed the money away.
``It's my treat,'' He said.
``Are you sure?'' Silver asked shyly. Shadow smiled and pulled out his wallet to pay for the pizza's.
They went outside off the mall with the two pizza boxes and looked for a place to sit in the park nearby. They sat down on the grass by the lake and took out their pizza's.
``It's always so nice out here,'' Silver said as they watched the sun go down.
``You're right, I should come here more often,'' They both smiled at each other and looked away. Shadow looked at Silver who was lit by the warm glow of the last rays of sunlight. ``I have to say you looked really good in that dress.'' Silver blushed and looked at their knees. ``You should wear something like that more often.''
``W-well, I don't know, i-it feels just so different, I was just trying it on for fun.''
``Well it looked good on you.'' They went quiet. Shadow put aside the empty pizza boxes and sat closer to Silver. Silver looked over from the corner of their eye, the sun went down and it started to get colder. Silver shivered slightly. Shadow pulled off his jacket and wrapped it around Silver's shoulder who looked a bit startled. The jacket still felt warm from Shadow's body heat.
``Won't you get cold?'' Silver asked.
``No, I don't get cold that easily.''
``Thank you,'' Silver whispered. Shadow moved closer, Silver started to feel really hot by now. Silver looked over at Shadow, whose face was very close to theirs, their noses almost touched. ``Hi,'' Silver said nervous.
``Hey,'' Shadow replied and wanted to lean in closer. Silver quickly stood up feeling a bit freaked out. Shadow looked at them confused.
``I should go, school tomorrow,'' Silver said quickly. Shadow looked a bit disappointed. Silver wanted to give Shadow back his jacket.
``You can give it back tomorrow,'' Shadow said, ``Should I walk you home?''
``Thank you, but that's not necessary,'' Silver pulled on the jacket. They looked at each other, both feeling disappointed. Silver felt stupid and guilty for ruining the moment as well. ``Thank you for the pizza.''
``You're welcome,'' Shadow replied.
``I-i s-should go now,'' Silver whispered, but didn't move.
``Probably.''
``I-i will see you t-tomorrow.''
``See you then.''
Silver slowly turned around and put his hands in the pockets of Shadow's jacket hanging their head down. Silver looked back over their shoulder at Shadow. Shadow sat there as a lonely figure resting his chin on his knees and watching the spot where the sun went under. Silver sighed and started walking back home.
___________________________
Silver sat on their mattress lost in thoughts, they were stroking one of the kittens who was laying on their lap. Meowrits was curled up against them and was happily purring. It always comforted Silver to be alone with their cats. Silver looked at their phone, at a still from one of the videos from their performance and looked at Shadow. `What would have happened if I hadn't left like that?' Silver wondered, `Would he have kissed me?' Silver felt warm in Shadow's jacket and wrapped it around them even more, the jacket smelled like leather, tobacco and Shadow himself. Somehow it was a comforting smell. Silver picked up the kitten and put it back in the box with their mother and siblings.
Silver laid down still wearing the jacket, inhaling the scent and started to get tired. They sat the phone against the wall and looked over at Shadow.
``Goodnight,'' They whispered and smiled softly.
