PoV: Shadow

  Sonic was close to me at all times now. I hadn't left the house in days. Most of the time Sonic would hold my arm as I walked around. He had no weight to him, no mass, so he didn't annoy me like when he did so. I liked having him next to me.

"Sonic, when are you going to see the others?" I asked him as we laid on the couch.

"I don't think they're ready to see me," Sonic sank below the couch. He wasn't wrong, seeing a friend who died may be a shock to the others.

"How long are you going to hide for?"

"Eternity... maybe..." he sighed.

"You can't do that to the others, they miss you," I pulled him up from under the couch and held him.

"Won't I just scare everyone? I am dead..."

"Maybe at first, but I know your bunch of friends, they'll accept you in seconds."

"You think so?" He rested on my lap and hugged me.

"I know so. We can see them tomorrow."

"Yeah..." Sonic nuzzeled against my chest. He was nervous, I could tell.

  I never thought I'd ever have to explain that Sonic is a friendly ghost. It was a weird feeling, and I knew explaining wasn't going to be an easy task. I just hope they don't reject him.

---

  Morning came, and Sonic was quiet. He stayed close to me but was mostly quiet. He had a distant look in his eye.

"Sonic?"

"I don't want to meet them..." he sank below my bed.

"Sonic, I thought that was what you wanted?" I picked him up.

"I can't do it... I don't want them to see me this way. Shadow, please... keep me a secret from them," he was crying. His tears were cold as ice. His semi transparent body, it kept reminding me that he was gone and this was all he was anymore.

"Alright. I'll keep you a secret," I laid down with him.

  It took some time before I could calm Sonic down enough. He followed me everywhere for the rest of the day. There was a knock on my door and Sonic stayed back as I opened it.

"Rouge?" She was at my door with a small bag.

"Hey Shadow... would you mind if I spent the night tonight?" She asked, "Sonic missing, it's messing with my head..."

"Sure... You can take the couch," I let her in and Sonic faded more. He stayed hidden but near me.

"I can't believe he's gone," she started crying, "I wanted to see you finally talk to him..."

"Don't worry about it," my focus was on comforting her now. Sonic was watching quietly, then he vanished. I could still feel him nearby, he was only hiding while Rouge was around, "I have my closure."

"I need to wash the makeup from my face," she got up, "Can I use your bathroom?"

"Yeah, sure."

  I let her go and brought out an extra blanket for her to use to sleep tonight. Sonic's going to be real quiet while she's here. So long as they're both alright there's no problem.
  
  
PoV: Sonic

  Rouge is going to be here now... maybe I should go. I mean I'm technically haunting Shadow.

  I wandered into the bathroom. I had no reflection. I made myself visible, I looked sorta blurry in the mirror.

"I'm made a mess of my make up-" Rouge was at the door... she was looking directly at me... "Sonic..."

  I gulped, it was too late to hide now, "Y...Yeah...?"

  She collapsed...

"Rouge!" I tried to grab her and my hands slipped right through her, "Shadow!"

"What happened?!" He came over and picked her up.

"She saw me... I didn't know she was coming in," I cried and panicked. I just shocked one of my friends as so badly they fainted!

"Just stay upstairs. I'll take care of her," he says as he carried her to the sofa.

"Okay..." I left to Shadow's bedroom.

  Stupid! I should have left the house! I just hope Rouge is okay.

I guess I really would be too much for the others... I least I got to see them while I was alive.

~~~