CHAPTER ONE: ALL I DO IS PARTY

"Come on Knuckles, knock on the door already" a loud growl came from Mighty the armadillo.

Knuckles looked at the front door of the large house in a timid but interested stare.
Come on, it's just a party. Not like you are going to get lucky or anything tonight. The Red Echidna gave the door a loud knock with his incredibly large knuckles. Music could be heard from two streets down. There was definitely a party going on, no doubt about that.
Knuckles looked over at his comrades. He was with his best friends, not by choice. Mighty stood tapping his foot in earnestness, while Espio stood calmly a tree.
"Everything alright Knuckles?" Espio asked in a quiet voice. He seemed to read Knuckles mind with an almost psychic grace.

"Yeah everything is fine" Knuckles lied coolly. Just then the door swang open, as Sonic came to greet them. When the door opened the music became nearly three times as loud.

"Well well if it isn't my old pals Knuckles, Espio, and um… um.. Mike?" Sonic said with a sincere voice.

"No no it's Mighty man." Mighty said with an almost embarrassed voice.

"Mighty, sorry slipped my mind. Had a bit to drink if ya know what I mean" Sonic bellowed loudly. "Come on in, there is quite the crowd, I don't even know who half these people are!"

The group came in slowly, as they peered around they saw the large crowd of people huddled around a small DJ. It just so happened to be one of Sonic's best friends Tails manning the turntables. There were a lot of familiar and not so familiar faces on the dancefloor.

"Okay boys I'm heading in" Might shouted over the music as he danced over to the nearest lady he could find, a red headed fox by the name of Fiona. Knuckles watched and rolled his eyes. He almost felt a little jealous of Mighty's forwardness. Espio went off in another direction as he noticed a friend from back in the day, leaving Knucles alone by the door. Sonic had already ran off to please some of his female guests.

Knuckles made his way for the bowl of chips by the snack bar, feeling a little too shy to mingle or dance.

Jeez why do I even bother if I'm not going to be friendly, he thought to himself coldly. He looked over to the girl on his left who had a pink drink in her hand and looked in interest. She had dark purple hair and smiled back at him kindly.

"Hi" she spoke, her voice brought a chill down Knuckles's spine. Seeing how he didn't respond, she added "how do you know Sonic?" She moved her bod to the beat of the music. He tried not to stare in amazement.

"I uh uh…" He was very quiet, but luckily he was saved by the voice of his friend Espio.

"They've worked together in the past" Espio said very friendly.

"Oh wow that's so cool, Sonic's a great guy" she smiled drunkenly. This gave Knuckles a chance to dip his head under Espio and leave quietly. His friend continued to court the girl as he walked away feeling ashamed.

"I'm such an idiot." Knuckles cursed at himself.
"You can say that again Big Red" a cool voice purred over from the corner of the room.

"Rouge? Is that you?" Knuckles looked over in relief. Oh it's just that batgirl. He thought to himself and calmed down.

"You're looking good tonight" She said with a curl of a smile on her lips.

"Uh thanks you look good yourself" He said quickly and gazed at her bodice which was tight in a leathery skin tight dress. There was a bit of a awkward silence that followed.

"So uh it was nice seeing you Rouge" Knuckles lied under his breathe "but I better get going" he made way for the exit.

"Where do you think you're going?" She pulled on his shirt. "Aren't you at least going to get me a beer or a shot?" She demanded roughly.

"What?"

"I said you have to buy me a shot for old times' sake" She smiled coolly, which sent a chill down his spine.

"Uhm yeah I guess so" he said with a puzzled expression on his face, he walked over to the crowded bar while she followed behind him, the music was incredibly loud, and the sound started vibrating Knuckles's whole body. "One shot of vodka please" he shouted over to the bartender.

"Two!" She demanded. "He meant two shots of tequila" she insisted.

The bartender just muttered something under his breath and started pouring some tequila.

"But I don't drink Rouge" Knuckles bellowed into her large ears.

"Lighten up" she shouted over the music, and started pumping her side into his, with the beat of the song. This gave him a bit of a rush, and he smiled back. He still felt a little out of place standing next to her, so she pushed the full shot glass into his hand. "Cheers baby" She smiled and beamed her icy blue eyes at him.

They both gulped down their shots and Knuckles felt the fire burn his throat, and with a rush shook his head. Rouge meanwhile just drank it as if it was just water.

"Wooo!" said Knuckles, as he felt a little lighter and freer. "You want to do another one?" he asked her with more of a happier tone.

"Bar keep two more please" she smiled and winked at the bartender, he poured them two more, and she handed him the second shot. "Here cheers to the new year she smiled and they gulped down another one. This time Rouge coughed a bit, and Knuckles laughed.

"Don't tell me you can't go for one more." He joked at her.

"Oh is that a challenge?" she arched her eyebrows and gave his arm a jab. "You're on big red. First one to quit has to give the other a kiss" she dared loudly over the music.

Knuckles blushed red and tried to hide his smile. "You're on batgirl". He tapped his hand over to the bartender. "Six more shots and make it snappy" he pounded on the bar. Rouge smiled as his courage and scooted over a little closer to the red echidna. Knuckles didn't seem to notice, but he felt an urge to move closer himself, so he tried his best to scoot over closer to where she was standing, and felt a hum in his heart and a warmth of almost touching her. I bet she feels warm and soft. He drunkenly thought to himself.

SIX SHOTS LATER…

Somehow Rouge had ended up sitting on Knuckles' lap as he sat down on a large leather recliner, her body felt warm and soft against his. She put her hand against his chest, and put her face close to his. There foreheads were touching and their eyes seemed inseparable from each other's gaze. He started to laugh.

"Why'd you always try to steal the master emerald?" He laughed loudly but kept his gaze on her.

"Oh you know, it's just the prize of every jewel thief. But those days are long past me. After you saved my life and all?" she grabbed him fiercely and moved his face closer.

"Saved your life?" Knuckles said as if he almost forgot. "Yeah I did, didn't I?" That was pretty nice of me he said drunkenly. He never really thought about it.

"I think I owe you something" she whispered softly into his ear and started making out with him. Feeling loose and not really knowing what was going on he embraced her and followed what she was doing. When she stopped he gazed up at her.

"I uh… thanks" he said softly.

"You want to get out of here and come back to my place"

"Sure!" he said stupidly and almost hit himself for sounding like an asshole. "I mean, yeah that sounds good to me."

She bit his lip and took him by the hand out the door, nearly dragging him away. Knuckles saw Espio smile as he was dragged out stumbling at a loss for words.

TO BE CONTINUED