A Love Like Never Before: The Shadow and The Shrek.

Chapter 8: Better Days.

Shrek and Shadow lived better days than they did before in their everyday journey until graduation. Somehow, High School had become something bearable to both of them alike without any sort of issue running up to them. Because things were better, Shrek became able to get caught up with his work and also spend time with Shadow. For Shadow, she saw Shrek as a great friend and someone to rely on. She felt safe with him and there wasn't anyone else to hurt her like the Fionnah and her goons did. Shrek considered a future for both of them, he strongly wished to ask her out by the time that his competition was over. It was like an amazing dream in which both of them lived. Would it be attainable? Perhaps. However, the thought of Shadow rejecting him did not leave his mind. Does Shadow feel the same way towards him? This question filled Shrek with great uncertainty. So far, Shrek did not notice Shadow acting in a special way around him. He knew that she hadn't dropped any clues for him. Shadow didn't like those popular kids, right? Why would she waste her time with someone like him who could have any girl in school? Shrek knew that if he wanted a girlfriend, he could simply steal her from someone or ask any girl randomly. He was the (cough) alpha in the school according to others but not himself. No, Shrek wouldn't describe himself in such a manner. 

Everyone saw Shrek and Shadow together and wondered how did such polar opposites end up together. One was quirky and cringy, and the other one was the epitome of masculinity. Because time had gone by ever since Fionnah and her friends were gone however, the students eventually stopped talking about them. Everyone but Sonic. The blue, spiked hairball had grown jealous of the two. One may wonder why is Sonic holding such ill feelings for her 'best friend', but in reality she never cared about her. Sonic just followed the flow whenever Shadow appeared out of pure hipocrisy. She cared for her image and reputation at the stair she stood in the social hierarchy. Sonic was in between the top and the bottom. The perfect middle of the apple. It was not enough though, she wanted to bite more than she could chew. Fionnah had promised to officially assist Sonic in rising up in the stairwell, only if she cooperated in getting rid of Shadow once and for all. While Sonic was truly a well masked narcissist, the idea of accepting this deal seemed like consuming cyanide for a million bucks. Sonic was tempted and accepted the deal while she hesitated at first.

On a Thursday afternoon, Shrek found himself in the middle of his swimming classes. Mr. Clean had let him know that the swamp swimming competition would officially start within four weeks. This excited and terrified Shrek at the same time. He was eager to compete, yet, they were half way through May and the town's mayor hasn't announced a single word about the competition. Knowing Shrek, he pushed himself to his limits and swam aggressively every single day. 

"Mr. Clean! how long until we're done?" Shrek asked as he floated at the center of the pool.

"Not much, but you gotta keep going! You're the all star of our town, keep your title high!" Mr. Clean yelled from far away.

Shrek then proceeded to swim back and forth with the waves rising and bowing themselves before their king. Shrek then sang to himself to kill time as he swam.

Somebody once told me the world is gonna roll me, I ain't the sharpest tool in the shed.

A wave clashed against Shrek's face, but it failed to destroy his motivation.

Well, the years start coming and they don't stop coming. Fed to the rules and I hit the ground running. 

Shrek dove underwater like a graceful penguin to avoid the waves from clashing against his face and continued singing his anthem.

Hey now you're an all star, get your game on, go play. Hey now you're a rockstar, get the show on, get paid. And all that glitter is gold.

Within the blink of an eye, the water opened itself up to allow Shrek rise like a mermaid.

Only shooting stars break the mold.

Soon enough, he finished his training.

                                                                            +                      +                    +

Shadow sat across a bench in the yellow evening of the summer. The sound of the kids playing baseball in the distance was present just as much as the singing of the birds. When she glanced up at the sky she payed attention to multiple color palettes that composed the darkening sky. Pinks, oranges, blues, and faint violets could be seen romantically hugging each other. How calming. Shadow thought. It was sad to think that the next day there would be school. Everyone knew just how much school ruined the idea of a sweet vacation. Poor Shadow was left with the thought of studying, and meeting Sonic, and hearing the rumors from five days ago, and doing math. Sweet Jesus, math sucked the most to her. The concept of it was completely pointless. Would she be using trigonometry in some near future? The answer was a no of course. What office worker does trigonometry in their spare time for fun?

What she didn't know was that Sonic glanced at her from a distance. Like a tiger among the weeds, her eyes glittered with the delicate sun. Somewhere, something, and someone sparked great interest in her. The fake high school friend stood up from the bushes with a Grinch like smile, Fionnah may be gone, but it doesn't mean I shouldn't act. Sonic planned to get rid of Shadow out of vengeance. Like every narcissistic individual, she couldn't take in seeing someone have a better life than hers. Any sister, brother, mother, father, friend that surpassed her would instantly become a foe. Shadow had taken away her spotlight, her chance to claim a throne in the staircase of the hierarchy, that was her motive. And that's how she found herself stalking Shadow, looking for the chance to humiliate her, if the opportunity presented itself. If nothing embarassed happened to Shadow, then she'd try again, and again each day. Sonic was just salty she didn't have big watermelons like Shadow.

"Gotta go fast." Sonic whispered to herself and dashed away in the blink of an eye.

Chapter 8 End.