Silvershore

Chapter Twenty-Three

"Hi, Sky," Jupiter had approached Sky from behind that night, before she entered her and Kenya's den that night.

"...Jupiter?" Sky turned around, her eyes sparkling with nervousness and anticipation.

"Listen, Sky..." Jupiter sighed. "I'm...sorry. I'm really sorry. I just...I'm in such a bad place right now. I really hope I didn't hurt your feelings..."

"I-I understand!" Sky flattened her ears. "I...really do!"

"I mean...it was kinda dumb of me to just stop talking to everyone. I'm honestly embarrassed..." Jupiter admitted.

"It wasn't even dumb, though! Things...aren't very good right now. For anyone. I get it..."

"Thanks for being so cool about this..." Jupiter sighed.

Sky buried her face in Jupiter's pelt. He was only about average height, but Sky was so small that he was towering over her. His heart fluttered as she pulled him close, wrapping her tail around his back.

Oh my god...she's so pretty... Jupiter closed his eyes gently, wrapping his tail around her back in return. What did I do to deserve her..?

"Thanks...Sky." Jupiter smiled. "...And you're sure your feelings aren't hurt?"

"No," Sky responded, muffled by his pelt.

"O-Okay..." Jupiter began sweating slightly. "I'm sorry for being so rude sometimes..."

"You aren't rude," Sky told him. "You're really nice! And you're smart, caring, honest, and a lot more too!" She glimmered. "Promise!"

What does 'a lot more too' even mean?' Jupiter thought. There isn't really much to me.

"So...I just wanna say..." Sky blushed a bit. "If...you ever need someone to talk to about...well, anything...I'm here for you."

lThank you..." Jupiter sighed. "I...um...right back at ya."

"Yeah! You're welcome! I mean, you've always been there for me, why wouldn't I?" She grinned. "I know I'm not, like...super serious or mature or anything, but..." She paused. "I'll listen to anything you got to say! Anything you wanna get off your chest!"

"Ehehe...Sky...you're so nice to me...no, to everyone...even when they haven't always been to you. I'm really sorry for my treatment of you these past few days, and...oh, I guess I've never really apologized for the way I treated you when we were younger..."

"Huh? When we were younger? What do you mean?" Sky asked, tilting her head slightly to the left.

"Uh..." He began sweating a bit. "Just...looking back on it, I used to be kinda...edgy. Not specifically to you, but to, like, everyone...I guess...you've really had an impact on me. Ever since I decided to start hanging out with you, I've just been...a nicer person. I guess I'm still pretty uptight sometimes, but you've definitely changed me. Even when I was rude to you, you were just so determined to get me to open up...and look at us now. We're, like, never apart...and, honestly..." Jupiter found himself about to get carried away, so he stopped himself. "Never mind that. I just wanna say that you've had such a positive impact on me, so...thanks."

"Hehe..." Sky giggled. "Hehehehehe!" She started laughing harder.

"...Eh?! What's so funny?"

"You're blushing really hard! Hehehe, I've never seen you so worked up!"

"H-Hey..!" Jupiter pouted. "I'm not blushing..! I...It's a hot day."

"It's not really that hot."