The sun seemed brighter than usual. Sonic was already up by the early morning. I could hear him tapping the bed with his shoes straight through the wall. 

“Alright, alright, I’m up!” I groaned, playfully rolling my eyes. 

Sonic smirked and hopped out of bed. 

.

I spent the day continuing to work on costumes and send out messages to the production crew at the Lehron Theater. Sonic spent the day determined to beat his high score. I could tell he was itching to get out. I felt bad for him, but he was a positive little hedgehog. I believed only a real friend would notice his suffering. 

*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*

By dinner time, I had a sudden urge to eat something unhealthy. I took a deep breath and sighed.

“I feel like pancakes this morning. You feel like pancakes?” I asked Sonic.

He poked his furry blue head from behind the couch and grinned. 

“Oh I could definitely go for pancakes!” Sonic winked.

I smiled.

“You mind giving me a hand with it then?” 

“Sure!” 

.

I had to repeat to Sonic numerous times to be gentle, as he was so aggressive with the stirring, pancake batter splattered all over the place, same with the eggs. It was the sausage that he kept in the pan and avoided the spitting grease. Finally, we managed to make three pancakes each and settled down at the kitchen table. I watched him. After having a diet of pure chili dogs, it was nice to see Sonic eat something different. 

.

“You know, I’ve really enjoyed having you here…” 

Sonic looked up. 

“I know it hasn’t been the greatest of circumstances, but…” I paused for a moment, hesitantly. “-It’s been nice…Not being alone…” 

Sonic stared at me for a moment, cocking his head. Then, he grinned.

“Hey, no problem!” He replied, “It hasn’t been that bad here. Like you said, the small town’s kinda nice! Reminds me of home, aside from the lack of greenery and more…beige.” 

I chuckled. Then, I frowned again. I sighed, sadly. After a few minutes of silence, I announced.

“Bracer override, code: 0628.”

.

Suddenly there was a click. Sonic looked down in surprise as the bracers fell off his wrists and clunked loudly onto the floor. He glanced at me with widened eyes.

“I figured out how to unlock them” I said simply, then added, “Wasn’t that hard actually. It’s the time of day I was born…6:28pm.” 

Sonic’s shocked face burst onto a huge grin. 

“WOOHOO!” 

He suddenly sped all around the house, and up the stairs and all throughout, in a streaking blue flashe. Paper kicked up from the living room and scattered all over the floor.

“Sonic!” I exclaimed.

He stopped in the entryway.

“Sorry, my bad!”

Then, he zipped through the back door and outside. I lept up and raced outside. I could hear his joyful whooping and hollering echo throughout the field for miles. Then, in the distance, I saw him bounce up.

“Hey, Luana! Ya see me? I’m more than four yards away from you!”

“I can see that, Sonic!” I called back, shading my eyes from the blinding morning sun. 

He came bounding back, swirling all around the house, dirt flying from all directions. Then, he sped off towards the North, and vanished. 

.

There was silence. Only the wind picked up and blew gently from the East.

“I forgot to tell him we were by the ocean…” I breathed, “and there was a beach nearby…Would’ve liked to go there with him this Summer…” 

Slowly, I walked my way back to the house, and sat down on the front porch steps. I leaned my head against the railing. I reached for my neck to feel the silver heart around my neck. It was given to me as a gift after my Grandpappy passed away. It had his picture in it, along with me on his lap at six years old.. I clutched it. Even though I had Ayanna, she could never sympathize with me. She was always driven, and worked hard to get what she wanted. So even though she had good intentions, I wish she had just listened to me, and not try to motivate me. I also had this massive house, all to myself. I didn’t realize how lonely I felt. 

“It would’ve been nice…” I said aloud, “If I got to know you better…” 

When I returned to the house, I found Luana. on the porch. The sun was going down and the wind grew chilly. I was surprised. She had left her locket open, revealing her grandfather’s photo inside. I observed how gentle he looked. How happy he was. He looked at Luana, six years old, with long hair and bangs. I closed my eyes.

.

An oxygen mask had been placed over my mouth like a muzzle. My eyes widened. I tried to move, struggling to swim out of whatever I was stuck in and flee. But my limbs were too heavy. I was immobilized. I could see three men in white coats, observing me and writing on clipboards. I couldn’t see the room. It was too dark.

“It’s magnificent! This might be called a hedgehog, but it’s nothing like the ones we’ve seen! This is an entire new category!”

“Concentrate on your work Dr. Dockinson,” We’re not here to categorize new species. We’re here to win this war! We need new technology!” 

“…Yes sir.”

Dr. Dockinson began pressing some buttons. The pressure around me changed. My eyelids grew heavier. He looked at me and sighed dreamily. 

“How I would love to show you to my granddaughter” he said.

Then, he left the room. 

“G-granddaughter?” I thought.

My eyes closed, and darkness enveloped me. 

.

I sat next to her. Gently, I shook her.

“Luana…Hey, Luana…” 

She opened my eyes. She was shocked. 

“S…Sonic!?” She gasped.

“Hey, what’re ya doin’, snoozing out here? It’s getting cold!” He asked.

“I…I thought you left for good!” Luana exclaimed.

I shook my head. 

“Nah, I went to get you something!” 

I handed her what I was carrying. It was a sand dollar. Luana gently took it.

“What’s this?” 

“I got it from one of the beaches in San Diego. Thought you might like it!” 

She raised an eyebrow.

“You went from the East coast to the west in one evening?” 

“Two hours specifically, if you count the trip there and back” I grinned. 

“And you did it…to get this for me?” she clarified. 

I nodded. Her eyes welled up. I could tell she was trying to hide it, but I noticed. 

“Are you…crying?”

“No…!” She denied, rubbing her eyes.

 I didn’t buy it. I raised his eye at her and cocked my head. 

“I was just…certain you’d want to go home…” She said.

“I do…”

I paused for a moment, then added: 

“But I figured…I’d stay a little longer…so I can explore a bit before I go back to South Island.” 

“You mean it?” 

“Mhmm” I nodded, then added with an embarrassed chuckle, “Also, I may have a…slight fear of water…”

Luana snorted.

    “I’m sorry, what?”

    “Don’t make fun of me!”

She laughed.

    “Luana!”

    “No! No it’s fine, everyone’s afraid of something!”

.

She stared at me for a long moment. Then, she embraced me. 

“Thank you…!” She squealed.

I froze for a moment, then chuckled, and hugged her back.

“You’re welcome…”