Stay With Me Always

By: Alakittynya

Chapter One: Unwanted

Amy had been lying in bed on her stomach sobbing and sobbing into her pillow for what seemed like days now. She slowly looked up, her eyes very swollen and bloodshot from crying so hard, then turned her attention to her bedside clock which read 4:45. From what happened earlier till now, it felt like her sorrow would go on forever, as if time had slowed painfully down and the next day would never come. If only she hadn't been there to hear what had torn her up...

~Flashback to 11:30 AM~

16 Year old Amy Rose with her below shoulder length hair was sitting under the shadowy arch of the raised gazebo in the Hero chao garden, teaching a shiny blue and pink chao whose name was Skye how to read and write in English. She was wearing a sleeveless red zip up hoodie and white jeans, along with some red boots with black lines running along side the bottom. She had still liked her dresses here and there, but these clothes were more comfortable for her everyday simple life and she felt like they best suited her now more curvy figure. Her signature red headband still kept most of her long quills from getting in her face except for a few bangs. She enjoyed watching the Chao do it's best at learning to read and couldn't help but smile at all of Skye's attempts.

"Uhhaaa-ppppuuullll?" the little chao slowly sounded out the word she was trying to read from a toddlers book and Amy smiled even bigger at hearing the correct pronunciation,"Yes! Very good Skye! You're a quick learner."

Skye beamed at Amy from the other side of the small arch, "Thank you, but that's because I have a very good teacher."

"Aww..." Amy blushed happily, flattered at the compliment and the two giggled happily. They quieted when they heard familiar voices and foot steps coming from the gazebo above them.

"... I dunno man, settling down really isn't my thing. I like running to different adventures much better," Sonic's voice could be heard apparently talking to someone else. Amy perked up excitedly at hearing the blue blur's voice and silently giggled with Skye.

"Well, don't you ever get lonely SOMETIMES Sonic?" Tails asked, not really satisfied with the answer he heard. Knuckles was also not easily convinced, "Yeah man. Even I here and there wish I had a babe by my side. It gets kinda lonesome and boring having to watch the Master Emerald all the time. I don't really have the time to find someone, so it is what it is for me."

Sonic sighed and petted a red Chao sitting by the edge of the gazebo which cooed at him. "I... Guess it would be cool to have a nice girl by my side sometime... You know how things went between Sally and I, so it's not like someone is gonna just show up and be like 'Hey! I'd like to be your girlfriend!'"

Knuckles and Tails started chuckling which Knuckles mumbled, "There's always Amy..."

Sonic scoffed at the mere suggestion, "Hahaha, very funny guys! Seriously though, we all know that she's way too clingy, helpless, immature and obnoxious to even CONSIDER her as my possible girl friend."

Amy's heart sunk as those hurtful words stabbed her, one right after the painful other while the chao Skye cooed at her sadly. She had heard quite enough, so she got up quietly, tears streaming down her pink face, and walked towards the exit of the garden with Skye flying behind, who seemed to be unnoticed by the three talking amongst one another at the moment.

Sonic continued as she walked away, looking as if he was getting ready to walk past his friends, "When you guys actually think of or find someone that I might be remotely interested in, ya know where to find me."

Tails was the one who noticed her moping after Sonic finished his sentence and shook his head disappointed, "Uh Sonic... You really should think before you speak sometimes..."

"Huh?" Sonic didn't know what Tails was getting at until Tails motioned with his head to look towards the exit and saw Amy. She stared at him sadly for a moment, which he became completely frozen by her stare with utter guilt, then watched as she turned away and left hurriedly.

"Nice... Real nice..." Knuckles said sarcastically and punched the blue blur in the arm.

"Ames..." Sonic felt like the biggest jerk in the whole world right then and had never wished so much to be able to take back all those hurtful words. Even though he didn't like Amy as she liked him, he still thought of her as a friend and little sister. Now though, he probably just ruined that friendship for good...

~End Flashback~

"Am I really that bad towards Sonic still? "Amy whispered to herself, "I thought I had gotten better now that I've grown a little... Even if it is true, he didn't have to say such mean things out loud like that." Amy laid her head down on her pillow and stared at the wall directly next to her bed feeling utterly bewildered and heartbroken. Sonic sure knew how to drive a stake into her heart, she knew that for sure. She knew that she was far too old now to keep acting such a way towards Sonic, especially since it really wasn't getting her anywhere with him... But that wasn't quite what was hurting or bothering her. It was the words he said... and another worry that kept tugging at her heart: "Since Sonic doesn't love me, will I ever find anyone to love who will return my feelings?" That nagging thought kept lingering in her mind... The feeling that no one would ever love her. Like... She was just too different and weird to ever have someone decent love her. She sighed heavily while another tear ran down her cheek yet again at the lonely, bitter thought.

Perhaps it was better this way...

Amy suddenly jumped at the sound of the doorbell hitting her ears. "I bet it's Cream here wanting to go out and do something..." Amy sighed and slowly rolled over to her bedside and sat up.

She wiped her eyes and blew her nose before she got off the bed, then headed from her bedroom in the back of her apartment, through the living room and then finally to the front door. There instead, she saw Rouge the Bat outside her door, smacking on some bubble gum with a bored expression on her face. She was wearing thick mascara, blue eyeshadow, some light pink blush and pink lipstick and a pink heart hair clip accessory clipped next to her right ear, her still short hair pulled into two little pig tails on each side of her head. She also had on a one shoulder, no sleeve style top that was black and hot pink with diagonal stripes, which you could see her black bra straps completely showing too, not to mention her famous giant cleavage out there as clear as day. Her right wrist bore one black pearl beaded bracelet and she was also wearing black booty shorts which her little tail poked out from behind, and hot pink wedge high heels with light pink hearts on the tops of the shoes that helped show off her well toned legs. Her delicate toes and finger nails were painted with black and pink diagonal stripes at the tips with little heart jewels glued on her thumbs and big toes. The bat's appearance almost made the little hedgehog feel plain in comparison, but then again, she wouldn't dare dress as... "boldly" as the jewel thief always did.

She just stood there staring down at her flawlessly manicured nails while she asked nonchalantly, "Hey girly, I was wondering if I could borrow some..." As she was talked, she briefly glanced up to see the tired and depressed look on Amy's face and stopped mid sentence, noticing that her eyes looked puffy and tears were welled up in her eyes, then changed her tone from bored to worried, "Hey hun, is everything alright?" Amy couldn't hold back her raw emotions and buried her head into her hands while sobbing bitterly which caused Rouge to hurriedly rush in to hug her. The bat held her there gently in her arms, rubbing her back and reassuring her in a soothing tone, "There there Amy dear... It's all right. Come on, let's go sit down and you call tell me all about what's got you like this," The two went back inside Amy's apartment and sat on her living room couch while Amy cried for a bit, then when she had finally composed herself enough, the pink hedgehog told Rouge all the events that had happened earlier on.

After Amy was finished, her friend had all but exploded from rage from what she had heard. "Ugh, that blue horrible, insensitive jerk! I'm gonna give that stupid blur what's coming to him the next time I see him!" Rouge spat while shaking a clenched fist in the air, completely pissed at how Sonic said all those mean things about her friend while all Amy could do was look down sadly with tears still in her eyes.

The white bat gently grasped Amy's hand and told her, "Don't listen to what that idiot has to say... He wouldn't know what a true lady is even if it hit him directly between the eyes! Sweetie, you are nothing but a priceless gem that I'm know any sensitive, genuine and caring guy would love to have. Don't you ever forget that, okay?" She finished with a warm smile.

Amy looked up into Rouge's intense yet caring eyes then smiled weakly and gave a small, humble nod before saying in a quiet, cracked voice "Thank you, you're too kind..."

"It's true," rouge stood up and smirked , "I wouldn't be a good friend if I didn't tell the truth now would I?" She ended her sentence with a wink, causing a small giggle to escape from Amy as she replied, "I suppose not." For some reason that reminded the hedgehog of the reason why Rouge came over, "Wait, what exactly did you need to borrow again?"

Rouge was glancing at her nails again and automatically responded, "Hmm?" Then the question sunk in, "Oh yeah! I need to borrow your jewelry cleaner kit~ I need it for an antique jewel I want to clean up and sell."

Amy replied not surprised, "Ah okay," and walked to the back of her apartment to retrieve the item in question while Rouge hollered after her rambling on, her eyes gleaming, "I have my eye on this large, gorgeous pink Diamond necklace that I'd like to wear for an annual formal dinner coming up that GUN is hosting for its employees. Oh it will look dazzling with the dress I'm going to wear!" Rouge finished with a little squeal in her voice as she daydreamed over her jewel obsession. Amy just shook her head as she returned back with the cleaning kit and handed over to Rouge. At least she knew her expensive kit it would be in good hands since Rouge didn't kid around when it came to anything that had to deal with jewels. Why she let herself be sucked into that silly infomercial selling the stupid thing was beyond her. She didn't even wear jewelry that often. Perhaps she should just let Rouge have it since her friend would definitely get much more use out of it than she herself did...

"Thank you~ I'm sure no one will be able to resist the antique once I'm done giving it a good cleaning!" Rouge happily thanked her friend while gazing down at the item for a second, then back at her friend to see that she still had a saddened look on her face. Rouge's face became sad for her friend as she felt bad that she was asking so much of her while the pink hedgehog was in this state. She wanted to help Amy get out of this funk somehow...

She got an idea and safely tucked the cleaning kit into her purse, then perked back up saying, "Come on..." Rouge waved with her hand towards the front door, "Why don't we go for a cup of coffee or get something delicious to eat or something? My treat!"

Amy looked back up and hesitated at the idea, "I dunno..." She didn't really feel like going out, all she wanted to do was stay indoors and just sleep her worries away. Rouge didn't wanna hear it and said, "Ugh, come on!" And flew up and behind her, giving her a few gentle nudges towards the door while Amy looked at her surprised, Rouge continued to scold her, "It won't do you any good if you stay in here and keep moping around all day!"

Amy just sighed saying, "Well... Okay," she gave in and started to walk forward with Rouge. Her stomach started to rumble a little since she hadn't eaten since early this morning and she held it wearing a small, embarrassed blush on her face while admitting, "Hehe, guess I am a little hungry~"

Rouge gave a small chuckle while opening the door for Amy "Ah! See? It is good that I'm getting you out of the house! You would have starved if I hadn't come along!"

The two exited the apartment and walked downtown to a little cafe that served good food and beverages. They talked for a little while longer and venting about things and talking about how she was doing seemed to help Amy perk up a bit, not to mention the food and iced coffee was really good too. Yet, Amy still felt pretty down despite all of Rouge's attempts to help her feel better. Soon after they stayed a while at the cafe, Amy thanked her friend and they parted their separate ways. Amy trudged on home with a full belly, yet her heart felt worn and empty still. It was really unsettling to her and wished it would just vanish into thin air.

"How cruel life is..." She thought as she passed by the Station Square hotel and gazed out at the beautiful sunset that was taking place over the ocean. She witnessed a few couples sitting on some benches, watching the romantic sunset and wished that was her with someone, and her depressed thoughts continued, "Even the nicest person can't find someone to love them back..." She continued her lonely walk home and reached her house by nightfall, still depressed as ever. She didn't really feel like doing much else, so she got herself ready and dressed for bed and climbed into bed. She closed her eyes and as much as she tried to shut out what happened today, those hurtful words kept echoing in her mind until she started to sob again quietly to herself for a little while. Eventually, her sobs quieted down and she was slowly starting to drift off to sleep.

One last tear fell down her cheek as she whispered before falling completely asleep, "I'll always be alone..."

~End of chapter one~