*Shadow's POV*
I froze. I wasn't sure what to say. I knew how these things worked. Maria would make me watch a lot of romance movies while at the ARK and read her romance stories. I was not a fan of them, but she was. So I knew the gist of it.

Had I actually had feelings for him without even knowing? Had I been confusing my feelings all along?

No. That hedgehog really was annoying.

But there was something about him. It's not like I hated him, I never have, he was just annoying sometimes. But I sometimes did catch myself wondering where he was at. Or thinking about him whenever I saw something blue. I created a routine to watch the news every morning, not because of work but because I was sometimes not able to help with Eggmans attacks and would hear about Fakers wins there. I would hear if he got injured or not.

How could I not notice that before? Even before the potion, he was always there. Running laps in my mind.

"Yes. I think so." I said after a long moment of silence. "I think I did."

"How come you were always so mean to him then?" She decided to ask.

"I don't know." I was honest. More honest than I have ever been. I would have never said such things out loud before, but this was really bothering me now. "I guess I didn't realize I did. I guess I was just always angry at myself?" I shook my head. That doesn't make sense. Does it?

"It could still be the potion affecting you now. I don't think you will ever know if what you're feeling now is real or not. But knowing that you did like him before should calm you down a bit." She was right.

Whether my feelings are still enhanced or not, I did like him before. So it doesn't even matter now. What matters is that I knew now that I liked him.

But what happens now?

"It doesn't even matter." I reached for my book again, trying to ignore the brand new crack in my heart. "He's a prince. His brother is probably taking him out to date others, and he doesn't even want to see me." I opened the book just for Rouge to close it again. My ear flickered in anger, and I looked at her.

"It's your fault for not having a bookmark anyway." She chuckled softly. "Go take a shower." She said in a hurry.

"What?" I asked confused.

"Go take a shower. I know where Sonic is right now, we are going to go too but you need to shower. You were working out and smell of sweat."

"How do you know where he is at?" I asked confused. "Where is he?"

"A nightclub." Rouge answered. "I know because Sonic invited Amy. And Amy invited me and Knuckles to go dancing. Go. Shower." She made me stand up then shoved me towards my room.

---
"I am going to talk to Manic. His brother. You wait out here." Rouge said after she finally managed to drag me out to the night club. She had said there wouldn't be any drinking, I wasnt fan of the idea of seeing Sonic intoxicated either. She said it would be just dancing, which I wasnt a fan of either, I was just here to talk to Sonic.

"Shadow?" Sonic walked out to the alley where I was at. His smile was gone the moment he saw me, causing for me to want to leave. "Wait, Manic said someone wanted to meet me, I thought it would be -"

"Already have eyes on someone else, Faker?" I raised a brow. Sonic rested his arms down to his sides and sighed. He seemed sort of disappointed, maybe even tired? Fed up.

"I'll just go back inside now. I thought keeping away from you was what you wanted? You said you were tired of me, dont you remember?" I stayed quiet and looked down, I was hesitant on what to say. I heard him let go of the door, I imagined he had gone back inside with nothing else to say but like always, he had too big of a heart to leave. He walked closer to where we were only a few steps away from each other. "Is everything okay?" He asked softly.

"I am not good with words, Hedgehog. So just be quiet and dont interrupt me." I said a bit harsher than I intended but he nodded. I was finally looking up at him again. I cleared my throat and continued. "I cant stop thinking about you, I cant get you out of my head. I wake up thinking that maybe the potion is still affecting me from how much I think of you." I clenched my fists.

It isnt me to say things like these. I would usually keep it in, never say anything. But wont I regret it eventually if I never spoke up?

"I cant seem to figure out what my real feelings are and what arent. I can't stop thinking that maybe none if this is real, but I realized something. You were right, Faker. I did have feelings for you before you even gave me that potion."

"You finally figured it out?" He nodded, a small smile forming but it seemed rather force. "I like you too Shadow, I do. I just -" He shook his head. "I just don't think there can be a future for us. Even though you liked me, I don't want to be with someone who is forced to love me. And we will never know if what you're feeling is real or not. I forced you to love me, I forced you to discover your own feelings but what if the potion had never happened? Things would be different, you'd still hate me."

"I never hated you, Faker." He raised a brow at my response. "Sonic. I've never hated you. I just wasn't aware thats how I felt. But you're right." I nodded. "Can you just do me one favor?" I asked and turned around.

"What is it?" Sonic asked softly. 

"Don't date anyone for a while. Or if you do, keep it a secret." I chaos controlled away before I could hear his answer. My heart was hurting. It's been a while since I've felt this empty.