Chapter 1: Are You Calling Me a Chicken?

"This is gonna be great!" I thought to myself as I gathered my towel, lemonade, and big plastic floating raft.

I headed toward the sliding plastic door on the side of the house ready to enjoy a quiet afternoon in the pool. I was completely occupied with myself as I set everything down to open the door. But when I looked outside, I saw someone sitting on the edge of the pool I never expected to see there. I quickly left everything where it was and darted upstairs. I slowly eked open the balcony and stepped outside to look down on Sonic from above.

"Ahhh...maybe this water isn't so bad." I heard him say as he plunged both off his feet into the water while he sat on the edge of the shallow end of the pool.

I snickered to myself as I saw him get up a few minutes later and slowly go down the steps as he held onto the rail that divided them.

He must be pretty determined to do this. He even put those swim trunks on. I noted in my mind. Seeing Sonic even close to water was surprising enough. But going further into the pool with an actual swimsuit on was beyond belief! After a few minutes (I guess he was gathering up his courage), he moved to the bottom step. He was submerged almost up to his waist.

"Gahhhh! Hhaaaaaa!" He yelped as flew back up to the top of the steps.

I guess the water was a little too cold. I could watch him like this all day. I finally decided to stop my spying when I headed back downstairs and gathered up my swim stuff and headed outside. When I opened the screen door, Sonic had resumed his place sitting on the side of the pool. I quietly walked toward the pool and sat my stuff down on one of the tables shielded by an umbrella. Sonic was startled by the noise and tried to stand up, but slipped into the pool. His head popped up above the water as he looked helpless.

"Gahhhhh! Splash! Splash! Splash!"

His hands pounded the water in his vain effort to swim. I shook my head in disbelief that a fifteen year old couldn't swim to save his life as I jumped in off the side feet first and kind of propped Sonic up on my lap letting him get a few good breaths in. "Cough...Cough...Hahhhh...thanks Amy." He breathed deeply as I slyly moved him where I was holding him like a baby.

The water made it so much easier to hold him. I don't think he noticed what I was doing.

"You surprised me. What are you doing out here anyway?" He asked.

"I'm going swimming baka! It looks like that's what you were trying to do."

"Well, I'm not very good at obviously. I think I'm just hydrophobic that's all."

"I could help you, you know? It's really not that hard to learn I promise."

I was slowly stepping out into deeper water. "Let's just start out by playing a game though. Just to get you used to the water."

"Whaa..." He was obviously hesitant. "Or I could just let you go..."

I let him go from my arms seeing his eyes panic for a split second before I caught him again. Even in that short moment, Sonic grasped at my arms and held onto me for dear life!

"See, it's not so bad. The water feels kind of warm now once you get used to it, doesn't it?" I told him kindly. "Ok, this game is pretty simple. And don't worry. There's no actual swimming involved." I grinned as I reminded him. "I'll hold you like this in my arms and think of a color. Now you have to guess the color. If you do, I won't dunk you under the water. But if you guess wrong, kersplash!"

"Okay...gulp..." He looked horrified.

"Alright Sonic, I've thought of a color, what do you think it is?"

"Pink?" He closed his eyes.

"haha! Nope! Hold you breath! SPLASH!"

I dunked him under the water for a second before pulling him back up. His quills felt so nice as the rested against my arms and hands. He took another big breath as I smiled at him again.

"Alright, try again Sonic!"

"Purple?"

"No! Wrong again!" I plunged him underneath the surface again as his cheeks puffed out with a mouth full of oxygen.

"Now it's my turn." He said after I brought him up again.

"Alright." I took a few steps to the left and dog paddled for a minute while Sonic gathered up the intestinal fortitude, courage, or whatever it took to stand up in the almost head high water.

Once he was comfortable, he took me in his arms as I lay cuddled across his lap.

"Alright Amy, what do you think?"

"I'm gonna guess blue."

"Blue was the correct answer." Sonic looked shocked. "SPLASH!"

He dunked me under the water anyway.

"Hey!" I wiped the water out of my eyes as he laughed.

We played our game and for the next hour or so continued our swimming "lesson." We finally headed for the steps and Sonic didn't even grab the rail. I know it's not a big accomplishment, but remember people, baby steps! Baby steps! I was lost in my thoughts as I mindlessly dried off and took a sip of my partially watered down lemonade. A few minutes later after I changed, I headed downstairs and saw Sonic watching TV.

"Mind if I join you?" I stood patiently beside the couch.

"Sure." He said nonchalantly.

"Whatcha watchin'?" I plopped down on the cushion next to him.

"Nothin really. There's not much on." He then turned off the TV and tossed the remote on the table.

"Amy," He looked at me straight in the eyes, causing me to freeze in place. "I had a lot of fun today."

"Anytime Sonic."

"I don't know how to say it, but, thanks. I mean, I don't think I'll be swimming any laps for a while, but if nothing else, at least I'm not afraid of getting in the water now."

"You're welcome." I blushed at him complimenting me.

"Amy?" He stood up in front of the couch and pulled me up by the hand.

"Yeah?"

Without a word he stepped in closer and wrapped his arms around me in a hug. I felt him rub his hands slowly up and down my back.

"Amy, I know I don't say it enough, but I really care about you. There's a lot of things...I couldn't do without you."

"I care about you too Sonic. I love you. Do you..., love me?"

He nuzzled his nose against mine and then kissed me quickly on the lips. He brushed a few of my forehead quills that were still a little wet from our afternoon swim before kissing me again.

Then I knew his answer was yes.