Part 29: how opposites meet - a Shadilver story
During the weekend Silver got sent home by Cosmo because they weren't able to work properly. She wasn't angry but she did it to protect Silver as they clearly needed some time. She still offered to pay but that didn't feel right to Silver so they rejected it.
The rest of the weekend didn't go any better as they tried to make some homework and practise for the music lessons, Silver was just too down to get their thoughts straight.
Every night Shadow passed by the alley to see how Silver was doing. He still cared a lot about them and felt really bad, but it was very difficult to get over this and to think of what he should do. Should he still try to make it work? Or was it all too unknown for him to go further with them. Shadow enjoyed thinking about the good times they had together but the idea that Silver was really a guy was just too strange. He often thought about what the girls told him and he talked with Tails to find out more about this whole situation.
It was a big relief for him to find out that Silver wasn't mad at him.
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Monday Silver went to school again. They still didn't look good but they had freshened up a little. Their fur still looked grubby and dull but the bags under their eyes were gone and after splashing cold water in their face their eyes became less red and swollen.
At school Silver tried their best to participate in the classes, but it wasn't all that easy. When Shadow entered the classroom, Silver's heart started to beat faster but they just couldn't look up at him. Shadow went to sit at the back with his friend Espio. Shadow kept on looking at Silver and saw how bad they looked, that such a beautiful glowing hedgehog can look like this after being heartbroken was just so sad.
Ms Tikal went over to Silver, ``Hey Silver, good to see you in class. I've talked to Ms Blaze, she would like to see you tomorrow morning at 9 am, you can skip gym class for that day.''
Silver nodded, ``Thank you.''
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After class Silver quickly put all their stuff in their backpack and took off without waiting for Tails. Silver just didn't want Shadow to talk to them as they were too afraid for what he might say.
Silver's blood ran cold when they saw who was standing next to the doorway of the classroom where they needed to go. Scourge and Vector, who were soon joined by Jet, were leaning against the wall. They were all busy talking, Silver tried to remain unnoticed and silently tried to pass Scourge who was the closest to the doorway. But all of a sudden the youngster stumbled over their shoelaces and tripped. Silver fell hard and because they had left their last class so quick they had forgotten to zip up their backpack. The contents of Silver's backpack was spread out over the floor. `DAMNIT!' Silver thought and quickly tried to pick everything up to put it back in their backpack as quick as possible.
``Well, well, well,'' Scourge said evilly as he picked something up from the floor, ``How cute, this little fool still plays with stuffed animals.'' Jet and Vector laughed. Silver turned pale in shock as they looked up to see Scourge holding Bunny Bun. ``Ugh, this thing looks disgusting.''
``Give it back!'' A voice behind Silver spoke. Silver turned around to see Shadow who had just arrived.
Scourge just laughed loudly. ``How cute, you're standing up for your girlfriend,'' He sneered. ``I think I will just keep it and have some fun with it.''
Silver looked on with terror in their eyes.
``I said, give it back!''
``What's going on?'' Sonic asked as he arrived for English class and looked at the scene. Silver sitting on the ground with an expression of terror and Shadow and Scourge opposite of each other, staring as if looks could kill.
Scourge looked over at Sonic ``Let's get to class guys, wouldn't want to be late,'' He sneered and wanted to walk of while putting the stuffed animal in his pocket.
``Give it back!'' Shadow yelled and punched Scourge in the gut.
Scourge laughed, ``You really want to lose from me again?'' He said. ``All for your girlfriend?''
Shadow tried to grab the plush. But Scourge punched him in the face.
``What the hell are you doing,'' Sonic said as he intervened and stood between them.
``This doesn't concern you,'' Shadow said and pushed Sonic aside to go for Scourge again. The fight started to escalate and Vector, Jet and Espio got involved as well.
Silver saw how Shadow grabbed the plush but Scourge was holding on to it. They heard an awful ripping sound, Silver's eyes widened and they saw Bunny Bun fall to the floor ripped in two pieces. Silver's heart stood still as they looked at their plush. The gang stopped fighting and looked over at Silver, who looked very pale and tears welled up in their eyes. It felt like time had stopped. Shadow looked shocked and Scourge had an awful grin on his face.
``Don't be so dramatic, it's only a plush,'' Scourge said before leaving for class. Tails quickly knelt down next to Silver.
``Are you okay, Silver?'' Tails spoke caring, Sonic picked up the pieces from the ground.
``It can easily be fixed,'' Sonic said and gave the two pieces back to Silver. Silver pressed the pieces against their chest and looked at it with shock and disbelief. ``Silver?''
Silver quickly stood up and ran away, leaving Tails, Sonic and Shadow behind. The teacher came out of the classroom, ``Class is starting'' She said, Shadow, Tails and Sonic looked in the direction Silver ran off too.
``You two get to class,'' Sonic said to Shadow and Tails, ``I'll go after Silver.'' Sonic went off, Tails went into class. Shadow lingered in the hallway looking concerned.
``Shadow,'' The teacher spoke stern.
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Silver burst out of the front doors still holding their plush, tears streaming down their face, they felt so hopeless. Silver heard someone running after them and call their name. Silver quickly looked around and hid behind a tree. They dropped down in pure grief.
Sonic came out of the building and looked around to see where Silver went, he heard sobbing and spotted an ivory quill behind a tree. Sonic slowly went over and looked behind the tree to see Silver sobbing still with the plush against their chest and squeezing out more tears. Sonic looked down at them.
``Hey, Silver,'' Sonic said caring and knelt down in front of them. ``Please don't cry.'' Sonic lifted up Silver's chin and wiped away their tears. But Silver moved their head away as there were still new tears forming. ``Come on Silver, it's just a plush, we can still fix it.''
Silver looked angry at Sonic, ``I-it's not just a-a plush to me!'' They said frustrated and held the plush even closer.
``Okay, okay I'm sorry, I didn't mean it like that. Please calm down, take a deep breath,'' Sonic said trying to help his classmate in distress.
Silver took some deep breaths in between some sobs. But Silver wasn't calming down yet. Sonic wanted to keep the conversation going, as it was hard to look at Silver who felt so torn and he just didn't understand why this was such a big deal.
``Who gave it to you?'' Sonic asked. Trying to get Silver to talk and try to understand why the youngster was acting so over the top about a plush.
``M-my p-parents,'' Silver stuttered quietly.
``Maybe your mom can help you fix it,'' Sonic suggested to comfort them.
Silver just shook their head as new tears formed.
``Doesn't she know how to repair it?''
``Y-you wouldn't u-understand,'' Silver said feeling angry and upset at the same time.
``Well then, help me understand,'' Sonic begged.
Silver shook their head again in a stubborn way.
``Why not?'' Sonic asked confused.
``I-I don't w-want anyone t-to know,'' they replied
``Silver you should know, you can tell me anything. As class president I signed a pledge of confidentiality, so I can't tell anyone.'' Silver looked up at him doubtful. ``I promise, I won't tell anyone. But please, help me understand.''
Silver sighed deeply to calm theirself down. But just couldn't say anything.
``Please tell me, why is this plush so important?''
``It's from my p-parents.''
``Yes I know, you just said so. But they can probably help you fix it, right?''
Silver shook their head again. ``No t-they can't,'' Silver said silently and rocked theirself a little on the ground, feeling in distress of telling what was going on.
``Why can't they help you?''
Silver went quiet, their ears dropped and they let their head hang down in a desperate way.
Sonic started to understand something. ``Silver? Where are your parents?'' He asked curious.
A tear rolled down from Silver's eye, to their cheek and dripped on the plush.
