The train ride to Station Square was a bit more relaxing than I thought. The seats weren't as cramped as those reality TV shows made them out to be, and the other passengers were actually pretty nice; an old, sweet fox across from me even gave me some hard mint candies.

But even the ride couldn't quiet my mixed feelings for not only being forced to move away almost five hours from my hometown, but to a place I only visited once at a very young age. And not only that I'm staying with a friend that I only kept in touch with via email or text. But for some reason I was more nervous than fearful.

The train came to a screeching halt as the panoramic view of Station Square's train station was rushing into view. Crowds of people came rushing on and off as I quickly took my bag, and walked through the line of people exiting the train car. I finally got off the train and was met with an onslaught of people of different species: Bears, goats, cats, dogs, lizards, and even dragons? I thought their race existing was just a rumor.

I was staring in awe around the area, until someone grabbed my arm and I nearly attacked them with my safely kept hammer. I looked back to find myself staring into the aquamarine eyes of a white bat. She was dressed in a rather tiny black skirt, hot pink tank top with the phrase 'I'm a boss' written in black glitter, and black stiletto heels.

"R-Rouge!" My voice was faint but loud enough for her to hear.

"Well, well," Rouge looked me up and down examining my simple attire of a white dress, beige sunhat, and cream-colored sandals. "I see you've really grown up. I still remember you crying over being the shortest amongst everyone else."

I couldn't help but smile and give Rouge a hug, for rescuing me from having to live on the streets.

"Thank you, so much Rouge. You really saved me. But I can't help but still feel a bit nervous starting new in the city."

"Don't worry, honey. I can't really blame you for your mom's weird habits; I even remember her being like that when I last saw you over nineteen years ago."

Rouge grabbed me as she started to guide me away from the crowd and out of the train station. The city of Station Square was just like how I saw it on TV: the skyscrapers looked like they were using clouds to cover their peaks, restaurants and stores lined the entire area, and people were swarming to-and-fro to their destinations. I was so caught in looking at my surroundings, again, that I nearly missed what Rouge was saying.

" . . . And you're going to be working for your housing so I hope you know bartending. And don't worry about the cleaning and lifting up wine cases I have the guys to do that."

"W-wait working for housing, what do you mean?" Rouge pulled my arm again as I nearly walked into oncoming traffic and received a vicious honk along with a line of inaudible curses from the car that nearly crushed me.

"Well sweetie, I'm running a business and from what I understand you have no job, which means no money to pay for your bills in living anywhere in the city. So since you are my friend, I've decided to let you stay with me and, to kill two birds with one stone, you also work for me to take over that much needed bartending position."

The place Rouge was talking about was her nightclub, Club Rouge. The place was already lined with people and dusk had barely even settled. The bouncer at the door was a red echidna, dressed in all black, who acknowledged us with a nod and turned back to evaluating the club goers. We walked past the entrance and to a side door that said "Club Personnel Only."

We walked into the club and I was greeted with a grand dancehall with glaring blue lights and a light spectacle in the center. The area was surrounded by wandering clubbers, glass tables, and even stripper poles? I looked at Rouge as I hoped she wouldn't make me do that.

"Don't worry; strippers come only on Friday nights. Tonight is when the drinkers come out so let's hurry up and get you ready."

I followed her through the back and up a fleet of stairs into a hallway that had a few doors on either side. She took me into a room closest to the end of the hall. The interior of the room was white with black bed sheets and white carpet. There was only a single window along with a small bathroom. The blinking ceiling lights and bathroom light were the sources of luminance in the whole room.

This room was in serious need of the "Amy Rose touch."

"Alright, your clothes are on the bed. Hurry up and get changed, and then come downstairs so Shadow can give you a crash course in drink mixing."

By time I got downstairs the whole dancehall was full of moving bodies. People were bumping and grinding to a variety of beats that could easily hide the fast pounding of my heart. I also took into account that many of the female clubbers were dressed possibility more skimpy than what Rouge was wearing at the train station. I actually started to feel modest in my black vest and white long sleeved shirt, black mini skirt, and black six-inch high pumps.

I noticed Rouge waving to me as I walked over to the bar counter. The area behind the counter was filled with all forms and colors of alcoholic beverages. Rouge had changed into a revealing strapless red dress with heel's similar to mine. Next to her was a black hedgehog wearing glasses, a black dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, a red tie, and black jeans. He looked at me with piercing red eyes and turned to a couple that was happily drinking shots of tequila and whiskey.

"Oh, don't you look pretty sexy? I think I did do a good thing by putting you as the bartender, what do you think of Amy's outfit Shadow?" Rouge turned to the black hedgehog as he turned away to finish clean up the shot glasses.

I walked to Shadow and smiled at him, taking his silence as an act of shyness. "Hi, I'm Amy Rose. You're Shadow, right? I look forward to working with you." I held out my hand for him to shake but he just ignored it.

"Rouge, do I really have to work with this pink brat? I thought she was one of the strippers,' and you were teaching them boundary rules for the male workers?" Shadow didn't even bother turn around as his rude statement left a prickle in my spine. I felt like breaking that glass over his head.

"Be nice Shadow, she's an old friend of mine. And from now on you'll be her partner, so get busy." Rouge had left the two together and then Shadow finally turned around.

"Alright, let's get this straight: Never ask me or bother me with anything, and if you need help with mixing a drink just watch what I'm doing, got it?" Shadow's cold stare could've well made the glass he was holding freeze over.

"Right, got it." I put on a fake smile to hide my violent feelings. I made my way beside him, but kept my distance far enough to not tempt me in grabbing him and slamming his head against the counter.

The echidna bouncer came up to the bar counter as he took a seat in front of Shadow and ordered a glass of scotch. His attention then pivoted to me as he took a shot of his drink and smirked.

"So you're the new girl Rouge was talking about," He held up his hand and I took it a bit hoping that Shadow would be jealous of his courteous greeting. "Knuckles."

"Amy Rose. So what do you exactly do around here? I thought bouncers' were on duty until the club closed down."

"Yeah, but Vector is taking my shift for the night, so I'll be inspecting the drinks." I giggled at his statement as I seen Rouge waltz back over to the counter with someone under her shoulder. The yellow fox looked like he was only about 12-years-old, far too young to even be near a night club, but the look Knuckles gave him was similar to an older brother welcoming his younger sibling.

"Ah Amy about that blinking light in your room, Tails here is excellent with electronics. So he'll be fixing up some of the appliances in the club and your room for the week. And if you want to buy something that needs installing don't be afraid to call him."

Tails was wearing a gold and brown hoodie, blue pants with large cargo pockets, and red and white shoes. Tails looked up at me with an innocent smile as I seen his fuzzy white cheeks flush. I smiled back as I heard Shadow say something and then the bar was suddenly bombarded with half-drunk customers. I turned back to find Rouge and Tails disappear into the back probably heading up to my room to check the light.

I turned back as I started to take orders, and grab glasses and liquors, I've never even seen in my life, and started mixing. I just hope I won't get fired on my first day for mixing a drink that killed someone. But it's not my fault, my partner is an egotistical freak who doesn't seem to care if his partner does a good job or not. I pray that I can go on with this before killing him.

"Heeeeyyyy! This isn't Vodka Blacck!"

"Yeah! And where's my lime?"

"S-sorry!"

The last of the drunkard clubbers left the club as I started to clean the mess from an earlier drinking competition that turned into a miniature bar fight. When the club is empty it looked far bigger than when it was packed with people. And clean-up, alone since Shadow left as the last bar customer walked out the door, took nearly two hours and I didn't even change till well past three-in-the-morning.

As I lay down, my eyes couldn't even close since I still had jitters from my first day, and job, in a new city. My mind was a bit fuzzy, as I sighed and turned on my side to hopefully finally get some sleep. After all, I'm going shopping with Rouge tomorrow. And that's a nightmare all on its own.

I groggily opened my eyes to the piercing glow of the godforsaken sun. I barely could even move when I heard my "tickle-me pink" cell phone beep a couple of times. I reached my hand out from under the warm comforting sheets of my new bed to check who could even message me at . . . 2 p.m.!

I urgently got up from my bed and jumped into a cold shower, to hopefully wake me up faster. I hurried out and dug around my suitcase for something to throw on. I settled on a pair of jeans, a white lacey top with a white bolero, and white thong-sandals. I took five minutes to fix up my hair, which looked like a gorilla playhouse, and brushed it back into a messy bun.

I picked up my cell phone after another set of rings and headed downstairs into the kitchen area of the club, for some coffee.

When I arrived I was greeted with the pessimistic stare of Shadow the Hedgehog. Today, he was dressed in black, again: He was wearing a black and red jacket with a red wife beater underneath, black jeans with a silver skull buckle in the front, and red converses. Wow, for a guy whose main color scheme is so monochrome, he actually knows how to dress pretty well.

I quickly tensed up as I noticed he put a dark green mug to his face and turn his head, most likely bored with my presence now. I shook my head and cautiously proceeded to the steaming kettle, on the stove, across from the kitchen's serving area. I rummaged through the cabinet above me and pulled out a bright orange tea cup. I poured my coffee into the cup and mix about 12 packs of cream and sugar into my coffee, turning it from deathly black to diabetic-prone milky beige.

I could hear Shadow grunting as he shifted on his stool. I ignored him and begun to drink my coffee the warm, sweetness of it all causing me to briefly forget all my problems and issues. I was swollen interrupted from my minute paradise by an abrupt humph. I turned my head to find Shadow staring at me, again.

"What?" I asked him, tempted to run back upstairs and get my hammer.

"White looks good on you." I nearly spitted out my coffee from the sudden and awkward statement.

"W-what do you mean?

"I'm not entirely a dick, you know. Last night, I wasn't exactly in the best of moods, and having a new partner made me more vex than I already was."

I stared at him, in question, for putting emphasis on the word 'partner' like it was a word used only for purposes that involved executions or lynchings. Shadow noticed my look and slowly turned his head away from my dull expression to the open area that was the serving counter, for the club's main eatery. He turned back and swiftly got off the stool.

"It was a pleasure, but I must get going. I'll see you tonight, and then maybe I'll teach you how to make a Pina Colda. Quite a few came to me last night, complaining about your little "imitation."

My face puffed up in both embarrassment and anticipation, as Shadow placed his green mug in the sink and walked away.

"Oh and one more thing. Rouge was impatient this morning so she went shopping for you herself. She should be back in a half-hour, or so." Shadow disappeared passed the kitchen door, and seconds later the slam of the front glass doors echoed.

Well at least I don't have to worry about him, anymore. But Rouge went shopping for me? From what I seen her wear yesterday, that's by far the worst thing that's happened to me, yet. Maybe I can pose as one of the strippers' after all . . .

I hope you guys enjoyed this story. I wrote this when I had about five pages of homework to do, and I didn't finish till past twelve. Because of that, I feel that this chapter was a bit shallow, but it was an introduction, in a way. I might also be having a fan character contest later on.

I'll try to update a chapter every Thursday, but that is if I get at least a good amount of reviews. I don't want to post a story that no one wants to read.

So please R&R it's like the written form of ecstasy.