Part 26: how opposites meet - a Shadilver story
`I'm really doing this, I'm kissing Shadow,' Silver thought. Silver wrapped their arms around Shadows neck to lean more into the kiss. Silver felt Shadow's tongue gently licking their lips and Silver pulled away a little startled and nervous. Their cheeks were a bright red colour.
``Something wrong?'' Shadow whispered while stroking their quills.
``I-I don't think I'm ready for that,'' Silver said feeling uncomfortable.
``That's okay, I'm just glad you finally let me kiss you,'' Shadow replied, Silver smiled softly.
``It's the first time someone ever wanted to kiss me,'' Silver said shyly.
``Those guys don't know what they have been missing,'' Shadow said and pulled Silver closer to give them a soft kiss. Silver opened their eyes and looked into Shadow's ruby ones. ``Come on, it's getting late, I'll bring you home.''
``That's not necessary, I know where I live,'' Silver joked.
``I don't want you walking the streets on you own at this hour.''
``Well I've done it before, you know,'' Silver replied, as they didn't really want Shadow to know where they lived.
``I don't care, I don't want anything to happen to you,'' Shadow said.
``Well, okay then,'' Silver said nervously.
They walked all the way back to the flower shop. ``Do you live here?'' Shadow asked confused.
``Yeah, I live above the store,'' Silver lied
``Then I hope they pay your travel expenses,'' Shadow joked. Silver chuckled and got the keys out of the box next to the door.
``Thank you so much for this lovely evening,'' Silver thanked him, ``You really spoiled me.'' Silver gave Shadow his jacket back.
``It was my pleasure.''
Silver went over to Shadow and kissed his cheek, ``Goodnight,'' They whispered and went for the door.
``Goodnight,'' Shadow replied and watched Silver go inside. `What a girl,' Shadow thought and turned to walk away to his motorcycle which he had parked a little back in the street. Shadow got on it and looked at the apartment above the shop, waiting to see a light turn on, to be sure they got home. But that didn't happen. Instead, the door of the shop opened again and Silver got out wearing their regular clothes. They closed the shop and put away the keys. `What's she doing?' Shadow thought and got off his motorcycle. He quietly followed them. `Where is she going so late?'
It was quite a long walk and Shadow really tried not to be noticed and he moved silently. But every time he made a small sound, Silver looked around to see where the noise came from. After a while Silver looked around one last time and disappeared into a dark alley. `What's she doing, doesn't she know how dangerous it can be to go through alleys this late?'
Shadow went to the alley and slightly looked around the corner. Silver stood in the dark and stroked a cat, ``Hey Meowrits,'' Silver said and got on their knees to get greeted by their other cats. Shadow recognised one of the cats from the picture Silver had shown. ``You wouldn't believe what a nice evening I had. I'll tell you all about it, but first, you guys must be hungry.'' Shadow saw how Silver went to the mattress which was laying in the alley underneath a balcony and pulled out one of the bricks from the wall and rummaged around in the hole. Shadow took advantage of this moment to quickly climb up the fire escape in the alley to not get noticed. Silver pulled out a can of cat food, a candle and matches.
`What's going on?' Shadow thought confused, while Silver lit the candle so they could see better what they were doing and gave the food to the cats. Silver laid down on the mattress on their stomach so they could look at the cats and stroke them while they were eating.
``You remember I said I was going out with Shadow, right?'' Silver said and Meowrits purred as a response. Silver smiled bright, ``Well it turned out to be a date,'' Ms Prume looked up at Silver. ``Yeah I know, I didn't expect it either, but he was so sweet, he can be a real gentleman,'' Silver giggled, ``Who would have thought.''
Shadow smiled as they listened to the conversation, it was cute for Silver to talk to their cats like that. `But is she living on the streets?' Shadow thought shocked.
Silver quickly sat up straight excitedly, ``And you wouldn't believe it,'' Silver said and the cats looked a bit startled from the sudden movement, ``We kissed!'' Some of the cats who were done eating went over to Silver and curled up against them on the mattress while purring. Silver pulled out their phone and played a video from their performance constantly watching Shadow as they sang. ``Who would have thought that someone like him, would like me,'' Silver whispered, but they didn't get any response. Silver looked over at the cats who were asleep. Silver put the phone against the wall, took Bunny Bun out of their backpack and held it tight while blowing out the candle. Silver laid down and looked at the phone which showed a still of Shadow. Silver's face was lit by the blueish shine from the screen. ``Goodnight Shadow,'' Silver whispered.
Shadow looked down at the scene and sat with his back against the wall on the fire escape. ``Goodnight Silver,'' Shadow whispered softly and concerned for them. Silver looked up because they thought they heard something, but didn't see anything and laid back again and quickly fell asleep.
Shadow noticed Silver sleeping restless and shivering as the evening started to get colder. Shadow felt really bad to see Silver like this. He really wanted to help them out. But Silver probably won't let him.
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Silver yelped when waking up because of their usual nightmares. Shadow woke up startled because of Silver's out burst, first Shadow looked a little confused why he was sleeping outside on a fire escape. But the memories of the evening before came back quickly. Shadow looked quietly over at Silver. Silver rubbed their eyes and yawned cutely, Shadow smiled while looking over.
``Morning,'' Silver said to their cats who were also a little startled, but some were getting used to it.
The sunlight shone from the other side of the alley, you could see the water of the canal at the back of the alley between the buildings. The sunlight shone on Silver, who grabbed their bag and pulled out a sandwich they collected at school, took out the meat and gave it to their cats. Silver took out their phone and looked back at the video's from the performance, they always got a good feeling when doing so.
Silver finished their breakfast and collected their dirty clothes because they still had time to wash them before going to work. ``Be right back,'' Silver said to the cats and they went over to the canal to wash their clothes.
Shadow took his chance to get away unnoticed and walked all the way back to his motorcycle near the flower store. On the way he thought about what he could do to help Silver. They probably didn't want anyone to know, so Shadow decided to protect their secret, but he will make sure that Silver will not be hungry or cold anymore. Shadow also felt a great respect for Silver, as they took care of theirself and the cats all on their own and still they looked so hopeful and innocent. `She must be very strong.'
Silver just arrived at the flower shop, Shadow looked over as he was still thinking about Silver while sitting on his motorcycle. Silver was putting the flowers outside and sniffed all of them, Shadow smiled as he thought it looked really cute, ``I will help you,'' Shadow whispered and started his motor and drove away.
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Silver still was very enthusiastic the whole day and told Cosmo about everything. ``I can really see you had a good time,'' She smiled, ``I've never seen you so happy.'' She added.
Silver went silent for a moment and thought about their drama class and they smiled, `My issue is turning around already.' They thought.
After work Silver went to the supermarket to get some more food for the cats.
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Shadow was waiting excitedly for Silver to come home. `Hopefully Silver will find all the things I left for her.' The whole day Shadow had been busy to think of different things he could buy which Silver would need. He was sitting on the fire escape waiting and he brought a pillow for himself so he could stay the night and make sure nothing happened to Silver.
Shadow looked at his phone, `6.15 pm, she should be here any minute now.' Ten minutes later Shadow spotted Silver walking the streets. Shadow looked hopeful and watched what happened.
Silver was carrying a bag from the supermarket, they crossed the street and looked at a passing couple. Silver wanted to walk on but noticed a ten dollar bill laying on the ground. Silver picked it up surprised and looked at it and to the couple who just passed. ``Excuse me sir!'' Silver said towards the couple, who looked around. ``It think you may have dropped something,'' Silver went over and held out the ten dollar bill.
The man took it by surprise, ``Ow thank you,'' He put it in his pocket and moved on.
Shadow sighed and facepalmed `Why is she so damn naive,' He thought, as Shadow had put that bill there for Silver to find.
Silver came back, went into the alley and greeted their cats. ``Who's hungry?'' Silver asked and all the cats started to meow and bump their heads against Silver's leg, ``Daw did you guys miss me?'' They asked. Silver sat on the mattress and took out the cans of cat food. They hid a few cans behind the loose brick in the wall and opened one can for the cats to enjoy. Silver took the cardboard box and looked inside to see the tiny kittens, ``You are getting bigger already, I should start giving you names soon,'' Silver stroked them, luckily the kittens didn't eat can food yet as they only needed the milk from their mother at this point. Silver stroked them carefully.
Silver's stomach rumbled. ``It's such a shame I need to start saving money to get you all sterilised and castrated,'' Silver said as they hadn't bought food for theirself. Silver pulled the last bit of food they had left out of their backpack and wanted to take a bite, but then suddenly noticed a cloth hanging from the garbage container in the alley. Silver put down the sandwich and stood up to have a look. They opened the container and pulled out the cloth which turned out to be a blanket, ``It looks brand-new! Why would someone throw it away?'' Silver looked back in the container, ``Wait a minute!''
Shadow was looking excitedly as if he was watching his favourite movie for the very first time. Silver pulled out some cans of food and looked at the date. Silver's expression was surprised, ``No way! It's not even expired!''
Shadow thought it was so cute that Silver got so excited over a few cans of unexpired food. Silver went back to the mattress with the blanket. They got the cardboard box and carefully took the kittens out, they placed the blanket in there and laid the kittens back in the box. ``Now you are all warm and cozy,'' Silver smiled at the kittens.
`That blanket was for you, Silver,' Shadow thought a bit disappointed, but it was very sweet to see how Silver was taking care of those little creatures. Silver went back to the container and looked inside it again. Silver hung over the edge with their feet dangling in the air as they looked to see if there was more useful stuff in there. ``Is that what I think it is?!'' Silver lost balance and fell face first into the container and the lid closed.
``Ow shit,'' Shadow whispered and wanted to go down to help. But Silver quickly pushed the lid up again, excitedly popping out of the container.
``That's so cool!'' Silver yelped and pulled out some sneakers and a bag filled with clothes. Silver got out of the container and sat down to have a look at all the clothes and to see if the sneakers fit. They took off their old sneakers, the soles were so worn out they always felt their socks getting wet when it had rained. The sneakers looked almost new and had a blue colour. They put them on and stood up to see how they fit and walked around in them. ``They fit!'' Silver took their old sneakers and put them in the container.
Silver kept on looking at their new shoes. ``They look so nice!'' Silver went back to the mattress to look inside the bag and pulled out a piece of clothing. It was a nice warm knitted yellow sweater, ``Ow that's good timing,'' Silver said as it was starting to get colder everyday. Silver looked excited in the bag. ``Is this what Christmas feels like?'' Silver said and pulled out another piece.
`Has Silver never experienced Christmas?' Shadow thought shocked.
Silver had already pulled out a new pair of jeans, sweatpants, a T-shirt of Queen and..... Silver went silent for a moment and pulled out a skirt with a yellow floral pattern. Silver smiled surprised and stood up to hold it in front of them. ``This will match so nice with the sweater!''
Silver pulled off their shirt, Shadow quickly looked away startled and his cheeks changed colour, he didn't want to invade their privacy even further. After a few moments Shadow looked again, Silver was wearing the sweater and skirt. ``Wow'' Shadow whispered softly, while looking over the edge of the fire escape.
Silver went to the streets and looked around a bit nervous, but when they didn't see anyone, they stood in front of a closed shop and looked to their reflection in the mirror. Silver smiled shyly at their reflection and went back into the alley, ``Who would ever thought I would wear girl clothes,'' Silver said to theirself and chuckled a bit. Silver looked at all the new stuff that laid on the mattress and felt happy tears. Silver sat down and wiped away the tears with the sleeve of their new sweater.
Shadow looked concerned over at Silver, he really wanted to go over to comfort them but Silver probably wouldn't be happy that Shadow had been spying on them. Silver's tummy rumbled again and they looked at the cans, there was one filled with noodles, which looked really good. They pulled some old papers from the garbage and lit them on fire with a match, they pulled open the can and placed it on the paper to warmed it up a little. ``It's been a while since I had so many hot meals in one week,'' Silver said happily. Shadow just felt bad for Silver, but Silver just felt like the richest person alive, they had food for a few days, new clothes, a blanket for the cats and a new pair of sneakers!
