One Step at a Time
"So close . . . but so far away . . ."
Chapter Three: the First Step
Amy sat upright against the comfortable park bench, yet her neck was slouched and her head bent down low. Her quills hung over her face as she had removed her headband. She was twirling it between her fingers, not really bothered with her surroundings.
Shade fell over her, produced by the huge tree which hung over beautifully, leaves puffed with life. Birds hopped on the ground in front of her, hoping for any piece of bread or food she would throw. But she had nothing, and payed the birds no attention as they searched curiously at her feet.
The sun was setting, casting the tree's shadow slightly away now, and yesterday morning felt like a different time to her. A different life she had always lived in with the goal of trying to find love.
That goal existed no more.
She was so young anyway, what did she know about love? What was love in the first place? A desire? A need? A necessity?
Her heart simply couldn't answer those questions.
She sighed as she watched the sunset sink into the non-existent earth. The moon was already up and the first stars were starting to appear, twinkling aimlessly in the canvas known as the sky. Regardless of the time, the park was still filled with people. Kids ran around, laughing and giggling, chasing each other while their mothers ran after them, calling for them to put in their jacket. Amy smiled at this sight. At least they were enjoying the summer.
"Well, look what the cat drug in," sneered a dark voice behind her. She didn't turn around or gave any knowledge that she had heard him. Amy knew who it was, and quite frankly, she really wasn't in the mood for him now.
"Oh, don't be like that Rose." She could just feel the smirk and sarcasm coming from him. Her mind told her to just ignore him; just stay quiet and he'll eventually get bored and find someone else to taunt.
But her depression got the better of her. Perhaps it was her longing for company . . . or maybe fate just hated her.
"What do you want Shadow?" she asked, still not looking at him. He slid in next to her on the varnished bench and she jerked her head up resentfully. To say the least, the look she gave him wasn't really attractive.
"Nothing Rose," he replied, a smirk still tugging at his face. "I have the fullest right to sit here."
"I never said you didn't."
"But you were assuming."
"You don't even like me."
"You are correct. I don't."
"Then, why are you sitting here?"
"Do you see another bench that isn't occupied by someone I can't stand?"
She ignored him. His company was the last one Amy wanted right now. He rested his hands behind his head and lay back, seemingly comfortable with his position. Amy felt her eye twitch with irritation.
"So," he began in a dull tone, not looking at Amy.
"So what?" Amy snapped back, making his presence to her very disapproving. Shadow only raised his eyebrow at her, not too fazed by her catlike attitude.
"No need to bite my head off, Tiger," he taunted and put on that stupid smirk Amy was starting to hate . . . a lot. "I was just wondering why you're here and not chasing the faker like you normally do."
Amy felt her throat tighten and her eyes become glossy. Her head was getting a bit dizzy and she could feel the tears coming. She didn't respond until a few moments later.
"I'm over him," she mumbled softly, and put her headband back on her head. She stroked her hair with her finger tips. The heart-broken girl hadn't bothered to comb it in the last few hours, so it was tangled pretty badly.
"Good for you," he huffed, not really caring much. He glanced at Amy for the first time and what he saw, staggered him lightly. Her eyes looked tired and there were clear bags under them; a clear sign of no sleep. Her hair looked dirty but they were a little longer than the last time he saw her. He's always known Amy to be very jubilant and possess a very electrifying spirit. Could the fact that she got over the blue blur have driven her away from the core of her personality?
Shadow mentally snorted. Did he care anyway? There was no doubt in his mind that Amy had been a big influence on his life, even though she didn't know of it. The world wouldn't be here today if she hadn't reawakened Maria's voice in him, and for that, he would always be grateful to her; even though he didn't like to show it.
He heard her sigh pitifully. He knew he should probably comfort her in some way, but it would possibly scratch his inner pride.
"So," said Amy's toneless voice next to him. "Did you hear about the Olympics?"
Shadow snorted. "O course. Who hasn't?" She cringed a bit at this. "It's all this blasted town talks about these days. I can't even go to the damn super market for bread without the cashier telling me 'to have a nice day and I hope you enjoy your athletics – I mean bread'!"
Amy laughed out loud at this. Nowhere in her dizziest daydreams would she have thought for Shadow the Hedgehog to own a sense of humour. It was unpredictably reassuring to know.
"I hear it's going to be big," Amy said conversationally, looking up into the sky in a searching manner.
"Apparently, it's an earth idea," Shadow replied, following his companion's gaze into the darkening sky. He could see the few stars that were already out, dazzling him with their sufficient beauty.
"I'm actually kind of looking forward to it," said Amy. "Did you hear there's a hedgehog division?"
"Don't you mean 'Sonic Division'?" Shadow said distastefully and furrowed his eyes.
"Don't be like that Shadow. I bet you could beat that faker any day," Amy reassured him in a friendly tone. Shadow chuckled at her.
"What's so funny?"
"I'd thought you'd be the last person to call him a faker."
"I also thought pigs could fly. But it seems we both were wrong." She folded her arms and looked dead ahead of her, nose slightly raised in the air.
Shadow only smirked, wanting to laugh but thought better of it. He didn't know how violent Amy could get.
The park had cleared out in the time of their conversation. It was practically empty now, and they were the only ones left to enjoy the warm summer's night.
"So, are you going to enter?"
He looked at her confusedly, a look that was considered too unfamiliar with someone with his calibre. She only smiled at him sweetly, the colour returning to her face.
"I don't know. I'll consider it," he admitted, staring at his hand as he did.
"Oh. Well I'm going to."
Shadow looked at her as if she was insane.
"Are you serious Rose? Won't it be a bit embarrassing to be beaten by you ex-love interest?"
She only shook her head smugly and smiled a little. "Nope. He's not allowed to run with his shoes. I'm a hedgehog too and I'm tired of not having a purpose in my life anymore."
She stood up from the bench and turned to walk away. The next thing she heard was so unexpected; she almost didn't think it was Shadow who said it.
"Good luck, Rose."
She only smiled behind his back and very much out of her character, threw a piece sign over her shoulder and she heard Shadow lightly chuckle. Slowly, embracing the soft breeze through her hair, she continued on her path down to the exit of the now-empty park.
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A/N: Oh, yeah. I like this chapter. It was surprisingly easy to get Shadow's personality right. I thought he would be the trickiest.
Please review, I need all the help I can get. Tell me what you think and don't be shy.
And I don't own Sonic the Hedgehog or the characters.
PLEASE REVIEW MY PRETTIES!!
