Sorry that this chapter seems less than the other chapters. I started on it right after episode two and it was about 4am. I promise to make episode four more interesting.
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As high school ends for the day, Sonic is perturbed, to say the least, about Shadow. But he does his best to hide it when Amy and the others are around. In fact, no one else in the group has any idea about Sonic`s true feelings.

Since plans for the day were decided on during the morning before classes started, the group heads over to the elementary school to pick up Tails, Cream and Charmy. Sure there is a big gap in age difference between them, but the Sonic gang have been together for a long time and have a close bond formed with one another. The teens enjoy the company of the young children and the children are thrilled to be able to hang out with teens.

Tails is more or less adopted by Sonic as a little brother. He lives with Sonic at his apartment and is mostly raised by Sonic. Needless to say, Tails looks up to Sonic with complete adoration. He wants to be like Sonic in every way he can. So, Tails is often caught mimicking Sonic. Sonic isn`t bothered by this. He usually lets Tails do as he pleases (of course, so long as it isn`t a danger to him or anyone else).

Charmy and Cream are fortunate enough to still have their families. Their families have an understanding of the Sonic gang and know they will be in safe hands even when they don`t immediately come home. Cream and Charmy`s families rarely worry about them.

The Sonic gang are the very few teens that are permitted on the elementary school property. Sonic`s reputation precedes him so being the hero has many benefits. The group stands outside the doorsteps of the elementary school, along with a few other parents that have come to pick up their children. In a few moments, the elementary children will come bursting through the doors, eager to play.

While they wait, the Sonic gang decide among themselves where to go for dinner this night. Today will be a mall trip since they haven`t been there in about a month. They decide to eat at a pizza shop that is in the mall. This pizza shop has the reputation of having the best pizza in Station Square. The teens of the group make the most decisions and the children are usually more than happy to comply with the decisions. They are certain that the kids will enjoy eating at the pizza shop again.

Suddenly the doors fly open and the children come rushing out of the building. Most of the children zip past the Sonic gang. Some find their parents but most of them will be going home via school bus. The ones whose parents are here, are ones that live within walking distance of the school. The Sonic gang look to the doors in anticipation of the remaining members of their group.

Finally, Tails, Cream and Charmy come out of the school together. They rush to the teens in excitement. Tails heads straight for Sonic like a young puppy. Charmy and Cream do their usual greeting to the group and after Tails has finished his happy re-uniting with Sonic, he does the same. Cream shows Rouge a picture she painted for her in art class. Tails has also painted a picture for Sonic in art class and shows Amy his math test he got an A on. Charmy gives his painting to Mighty and he also proudly shows off his math test. His score isn`t quite as high as Tails` but still an A, nonetheless. Espio gives Charmy an approving nod with a smile over the test and Mighty thanks Charmy for the painting. Sonic rubs the top of Tails` head and messes up his hair with a verbal "Good job, buddy!" Rouge happily accepts Cream`s painting and gives her a hug. Amy congratulates Tails and Charmy on their good test scores.

As their greeting begins to simmer down, Charmy is the first of the children to notice the new member of the gang, Shadow. Being that he is the least shy of the children, Charmy loudly and boldly asks,"Who is this?"

Everyone turns their attention to Shadow and Charmy. The other two children`s curiosity rise over the new guy. Amy smiles and answers Charmy`s question,"This is Shadow. He`s a friend of mine from way back when."

Cream, with her high-pitched innocent voice, looks up at Amy,"You`ve known him a long time?"

Amy nods her head,"A very long time."

Cream is the youngest member of the group and also one of the shyest. She takes Amy`s hand in her own for reassurance and looks shyly up at the gothic guy,"Hello, Mr. Shadow."

Shadow simply nods his head to Cream. Amy introduces the children to Shadow as what she did with the teens earlier. With introductions made, the Sonic gang begin to walk to the mall. It is explained to the children that today`s plans are to go to the mall and eat pizza there for dinner. All three children get excited over this. Tails is especially excited about the pizza.

Everyone in the Sonic gang considers this group a secondary family. For a few, such as Tails, this is their only family. The children always seem more excited and happy to be with the group than their regular families. They always look to the teens for approval and acceptance. Their school projects, such as today`s paintings, are gifts for the teens most of the time. Cream always makes sure to make some things for her mother, Vanilla, as well.

Once they reach the mall, Sonic makes the suggestion that they see a movie at the theatres here after the pizza. The vote is unanimous in agreement. But they will decide which movie to see later. There is shopping to be done!

The Sonic gang visit almost every shop in the mall. Sonic buys a video game for himself and for Tails he buys a book on airplanes in which the book describes in detail on how to build airplanes. Big buys a new fishing pole since his last one broke on his last fishing trip. Espio buys a book on ninja weaponry; not that he needs to learn about them as he already does, but he still likes collecting anything on the subject matter. Vector picks up more music for his music player at a station which allows you to plug your player right in. He also buys a bag of candy for Charmy to keep him busy until it was time for pizza. Rouge, of course, goes to the lingerie store with Amy and buys a new set of a cute outer wear for purposes of flirting. Amy, on the other hand, buys some perfume that smells like roses and she buys a magazine from the book store. Mighty is low on money this week so he decides to save his money for pizza. Blaze purchases a new pair of shoes and a toy for Cream. Silver picks up a new DVD he had been waiting for quite some time to be released. Knuckles places a special order for some boxing equipment at the sports store; they didn`t normally stock the specific items he was looking for but they can order it in and it`ll be delivered to his place. None of the stores will allow Fang to purchase any guns since he is underaged, so he settles for buying a video game.

Amy notices that Shadow has not bought anything. In fact, he has been rather disinterested in all the stores the gang has gone into. This whole time, Shadow just silently walked with everyone in the shops and just patiently waited. As the Sonic gang head to the food court to get pizza, Amy looks to Shadow,"Are you bored? You haven`t bought anything or even said a word."

Shadow`s hands are in his pockets and his head is tilted slightly towards the ground in front of his feet. He shifts his eyes to Amy and quietly answers her,"I`m fine."

"Are there any shops you want to go into?"

"No."

"Well, all right...If there is any place that catches your eye, let us know and we`ll go in. Ok?"

Shadow nods his head.

Sonic finds a table in the pizza parlour that is big enough to sit the whole group in. As the children are sitting themselves at the table, Fang looks at everyone,"Who is going to order the pizza and bring it back?"

Sonic chuckles,"It`ll definitely take more than one person for this job. I guess whoever wants to volunteer to carry the pizza will be fine. Everyone pass your money to me so I can pay for everything."

Everyone begins to hand over some money to Sonic so that he could cover their slice (or two) of pizza and soda. As they do so, one by one, a few of the guys begin to volunteer themselves to help Sonic bring the food back to the table. Going with him this time are Fang, Knuckles, Espio, Mighty, Vector and Silver. Once the pizza and soda are payed for, they return and hand out the pizza and soda to the respective person who ordered it.

Most of everyone has ordered two slices of pizza since they are pretty hungry, but a few like Cream only get one slice. In contrast to Vector`s enthusiastic eating habits, Shadow is eating his slice quietly and without making any eye contact with anyone. But that is fine, most of everyone is too busy stuffing their faces to talk anyways. When Tails finishes his soda, he lets out a decent burp in which Sonic promptly praises him for it.

By the time they finish their pizza, the Sonic gang realize how late it is and have to cancel their movie trip. The children have to be home earlier than the teens do so they have to be sure they are brought home in time. The rest of the night goes uneventful as the children are dropped off to their homes, with the exception of Tails since he lives with Sonic. Then the girls are taken home next. Finally, the guys branch off and return to their homes.

Before returning home himself with Tails, Sonic notices Shadow heading to the small park. He watches Shadow plop down on one of the benches. He leans his head back and looks up at the stars, seeming to be in thought over something. Sonic blinks with a mixture of curiosity and confusion. Shadow should be going home to rest up for school tomorrow.

Home...

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