Sonic Series Fan Fiction ❯ Disappointment ❯ Short story ( Chapter 1 )

Surge got dressed up in a long sleeve black shirt and skirt with black leggings and combat boots.

 This was the first Valentine’s Day she was going to spend with her boyfriend Manic.

 She had thought it was just a cheesy holiday to justify selling greeting cards, candy, and flowers before. Now, she was excited for the day for the first time in her life.

 Her roommate and little brother Kit walked by her as she snapped her black studded wristbands over her black fingerless gloves.  

 “Aww, is Manic taking you out for valentines?” Kit asked.

 “Yeah.” Surge said, letting her spines down. “I like the holiday better now that I have someone to go out with. It’ll be nice to finally go out, just us. I like his kid, but we haven’t gone out on a proper date in months.”

 Kit smiled. “I’m happy for you.” He replied. “So where is he taking you?”

 “Well, I told him we had to go to this taco sushi place I saw online.” Surge said. “I’m hoping we’ll do that and go to the stores we like, maybe explore downtown and see what’s new. Do you think he’d pick up on that or should I have asked directly?”

 “I think it’s obvious.” Kit replied. “Does he need a sitter for Nikòs? I’ll be happy to babysit him.”

 “I’m sure he’s got that covered.” Surge said. “Alright, I’ll see ya later.”

 “Have fun.” Kit replied.

 *

 Surge arrived at Manic’s little house behind his uncle’s home.

 Manic greeted her at the door with roses and a card he had made. “Hey, babe, happy Valentine’s.”

 Surge grinned. “Thanks, cute stuff.” She replied. She handed Manic the card she made. “Happy Valentine’s Day.”

 Manic led Surge inside as he opened his card. “Ah, thanks, babe.” He said. “I’ll have to frame it.”

 Surge read her card. “I love it.”

 Seven year old Nikòs ran into the kitchen and hugged Surge. He let go, then looked at Manic. “Dad, are we ready to go?”

 Surge furrowed her brow. “Are we taking him to a sitter or with us?” She thought.

 “Almost.” Manic said. He looked at Surge. “You don’t mind if he goes along, right? I thought it would be nice to-”

 “Didn’t we take him out last week?” Surge asked. 

 “Oh, that was for his adoption day.” Manic replied. “Today’s Valentine’s.”

 Nikòs frowned. “Surge?”

 “It’s… it’s fine, kiddo.” Surge said, looking away. “I… you have fun. I… I don’t feel like it.”

 Manic motioned to Surge’s outfit. “But you’re all dressed up.”

 “It just hit me.” Surge said, rubbing her stomach as if she had bad cramps. “Thanks for the card and flowers. It’s… it’s nice.”

 Surge left the house.

 Manic frowned. “Babe?”

 Nikòs stepped over to Manic. “What just happened?”

 Manic looked at Nikòs and shrugged. “I have no idea.”

 “Does she hate me?” Nikòs asked.

 “I don’t think so.” Manic replied. “I thought we had a great time last week.”

 Nikòs nodded. “I did too.”

 “Come on, we’ll ask Unc to come along.” Manic said, leading Nikòs out the door.

*

 Surge wiped her eyes as she ran to her house. “It was stupid to think he’d planned something different.” She thought. “He’s sweet and I appreciate the gifts. Maybe I should’ve gone along. I just… he’s doing that a lot lately. Am I being selfish? Was it wrong to want a romantic day, just us? Should I have told him what I had hoped we’d do? What difference would that make though? He’s been trying to make every outing a family event for the past few months.”

 Surge finally made it home.

 Kit saw her and turned the tv off. “Oh, no, did he dump you?”

 “No, he wanted to drag Nikòs on our date.” Surge said, sitting down beside Kit. She laid the flowers down. “I love the kid, but we took him out last week for a special day and I thought we would have the day to ourselves. He has something to do next week and can’t take me anywhere, but it probably wouldn’t matter because he’d try to drag Nikòs along too.”

 Kit hugged Surge. “I’m sorry.”

 Surge sighed. “It’s not your fault.” She replied. “I just… maybe I’m expecting too much from him.”

 Surge settled back in her seat. “I know he was a dad before I dated him, I just thought he wouldn’t turn nearly everything into a family event.”

 “I’m sorry.” Kit said, getting up. “I’ll get you some gelato.”

 “Thanks, Drippy.” Surge replied.

 Kit picked up the flowers and carried them to the kitchen.

*

 Uncle Chuck gave Manic a puzzled look.

“Where’s Surge?”

 Manic shrugged. “She said she didn’t feel well and left.” He said. “She seemed fine until I said Nikòs was coming along.”

 Uncle Chuck smacked his hand over his face and shook his head. “Manic, what’s today?”

 “Valentine’s day.” Manic said.

 “You don’t think she wanted to go to dinner or spend the day with just you?” Uncle Chuck asked. “It’s not exactly romantic to drag your son along.”

 Nikòs looked at Uncle Chuck. “So she doesn’t hate me?”

 “No, she probably just wanted to go on a date with your dad.” Uncle Chuck said. “It probably disappointed her.”

 Manic slumped a bit. “Ah, man… I didn’t think of that.”

 “Listen, I’ll take Nikòs out for the day.” Uncle Chuck said. “You can take her out, then take Nikòs out tomorrow for ice cream or something.”

 Nikòs hugged Manic. “That’s fine with me, Dad.” He said. “I know sometimes I just want to hang out with you without her, but I do like hanging out with her sometimes.”

 “Right.” Manic replied.

 Nikòs pulled a card out of his pocket. “Give this to her, please.”

 “Sure, little dude.” Manic said, hugging Nikòs. “Have fun with Unc. I’ll pick you up later.”

 “Have fun, Dad.” Nikòs said.

 Manic left the house.

*

 Manic showed up at Surge’s duplex and knocked on the door.

 Kit let Manic inside. “She’s in the shower.” He said, closing the door behind him. “She was pretty upset, I think she’s crying.”

 “Ah, man, I made her cry?” Manic asked.

 Kit nodded. “She had thought you’d take her to the taco sushi place and then go explore town and shop.” He said. “She never had anyone to go and do that with besides me. Other guys wouldn’t talk to her long enough to do anything fun for valentines or they’d stand her up.”

 “She put more thought into it than I did.” Manic admitted. “I didn’t… oh, she had mentioned it before.”

 Manic and Kit sat down on the couch. 

 “How can I make it up to her?” Manic asked.

 Kit shrugged. “Do everything she hoped to do, I guess.”

 “I thought she was just making a comment.” Manic said. “I’ve done that, I guess she was telling me without telling me, but I didn’t think of it as that.”

 Surge, now in sweats, shuffled out of her room. “Manic?”

 “I’m sorry, I should’ve known you wanted a romantic dinner.” Manic said.

 “I should’ve said something.” Surge replied. “I guess you didn’t pick up on it, but I felt weird asking you outright and I kinda thought it was obvious.”

 “Uh…, not really.” Manic admitted. 

 “I know.” Surge said. “The reason I didn’t say anything back at your house was because it put me on the spot and I didn’t… I guess it’s kind of a tantrum. I do appreciate the card and the flowers, I really do.”

 “If… if I can say something.” Kit said. “She kinda hoped for something like this for a while, like before she met you. She never made me go along with her because she said it just wasn’t the same because we’re kinda siblings.”

 Manic nodded. “Ah, I see.” He replied. He got up and hugged Surge. “I’m sorry. I guess I just don’t want to neglect either of you and since you two got along so well, you and Nikòs are important to me, and we’re gonna be family soon, I thought-”

 “What?” Surge asked. 

 Manic knelt down and pulled a box out of his pocket. “I’m so sorry.” He replied. “I’m gonna do my best to be a good husband for you going forward if this goes the way I hope.”

 Manic laughed nervously. “Will you marry me, babe?”

 Surge nodded. She held her hand out to Manic.

 Manic slid the ring on her finger, then hugged her.

 Surge hugged Manic.

 Manic smiled weakly. “Do you want to get ready and go?”

 “Yes.” Surge said. She ran back to her room. She quickly changed clothes and hurried back to Manic.

 Manic took Surge’s hand. “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure she’s home in one piece.”

 “Have fun.” Kit said, grinning. “Congratulations.”

 Manic and Surge left the house.

 *

 Later that night, Manic walked Surge to the door. 

 “I’m sorry the restaurant was closed to remodel.” Manic said. “But you had fun, right?”

 “Yeah, thanks.” Surge replied. “I’m sorry about earlier.”

 “Don’t worry about it.” Manic said. “I’ll get better at balancing all this.”

 Manic kissed Surge. “Love ya, Babe.” He said. “Happy Valentine’s Day.”

 “Love ya too, Cute stuff.” Surge replied. She hugged Manic. “Happy Valentine’s Day.”

 Surge went inside her house and stood at the door until Manic got in his car and drove away. 

 Surge closed the door.

 Kit looked up. “Did you have fun?”

 “It was amazing.” Surge said. She headed back to her room, changed into her pajamas, and headed back out to the living room. She sat down beside Kit. “What are we watching?”

 “News bloopers.” Kit replied.

 Surge shrugged. “Fine with me.”