Tails returned home a half hour later and saw that Sonic still wasn't there.

Must be out for a joy run, Tails figured.

He walked to the kitchen to get a glass of water.

How am I going to tell him I'm Amy's... sort-of boyfriend? I mean, it would be unfair to Amy if I told Sonic about her plan to make him jealous, but if Sonic thinks we're actually going out...

Tails considered this thought for a moment. Sonic didn't love Amy anyway (actually, he had barely been all that friendly to her as of late), so what was really the worst that could happen? If anything, Sonic would be happy for his friend. Right?

The phone rang, jarring Tails from his thoughts so suddenly, he nearly spilled his glass of water. Tails ran to the phone and answered it.

"H- hello?" Tails asked.

"Tails?" Amy asked. "Are you okay? You don't sound to well..."

"N- no... I'm fine," Tails answered. "I was just... I just wasn't expecting a phone call. Um, so, what's up?"

'What's up'? Tails thought, feeling uncharacteristically stupid. Yeah, that's real smooth...

"Oh, nothing... I was just wondering if Sonic's there," Amy said dreamily.

"Well... er... n-no. He's not here," Tails explained. "But, um, if we're supposed to be... pretend-dating to get Sonic jealous... wouldn't it make more sense if you didn't call to talk to Sonic? After all, it's going to seem pretty suspicious..."

Amy considered this for a moment.

"Shoot, you're right," she agreed, giggling at herself. "I didn't even consider that. I was going to invite Sonic to go to Twinkle Park with me. They're having that 'cute couples get in free' special, and... Well, since you and I are supposed to be together, do you want to come with me?"

Tails felt his face flush.

"We don't have to hold hands or anything," Amy continued. "We can just go as friends... But tell Sonic it's a date, okay?"

"O- okay..." Tails agreed, already trying to figure out if there was any way he could make it into a date. There had to be some way he could get Amy to hold his hand...

I could always pretend to be startled by something... Or will she think that's too childish?

"Great, then," Amy said happily, bringing Tails' mind back to the conversation at hand. "We can meet up there tomorrow at noon, okay?"

"That sounds good," Tails agreed. "I'll see you then. Bye, Amy."

The two hung up and Tails returned the phone to its holder.

"Who was that?" Sonic asked, causing Tails to jump.

When did he get back? Tails wondered. I didn't hear him come in...

"H- hunh? O-oh... No one..." Tails said, flustered. "Just Amy..."

"You didn't tell her I'd call her back, did you?" Sonic asked, looking nervous.

"Oh, no, she just called to thank me for rescuing her earlier," Tails explained. "That was all."

"Oh... okay, then," Sonic said, calming down. "Well, you wanna hang out tomorrow?"

"Um... I kind of already promised Amy I'd hang out with her..." Tails said. "I'm sorry..."

"Nah, it's fine," Sonic dismissed. "We can hang out some other time."

I can't tell him Amy and I are dating, Tails thought. But we kind of are, and I can't lie to him... Oh, but it would make Amy happy if her plan to get him jealous worked. I want her to be happy...

"... 'kay, Tails?"

The sound of Sonic's voice jarred Tails from his thoughts.

"Hunh?" Tails asked.

"I'm gonna crash early tonight," Sonic repeated. "Are you okay, Tails? You seem kind of... out of it."

"Hunh? Oh, I'm fine..."

Sonic appeared skeptical, but decided to drop it, assuming that whatever was going on with Tails was just a kid thing. Or something relating to an invention, either way, it wasn't something Sonic could help him with.

"Okay, then," sonic said. "Well, 'night, Tails."

"'Night, Sonic."

Sonic went off to the guest room that he usually used when he was at Tails' house, while Tails remained in the living room.

Well, I guess this buys me some time, Tails thought. Still, I need to figure out how to tell Sonic about me and Amy...

The more Tails thought about it, the more he knew that no matter what he ended up telling Sonic, he had to tell Sonic something. Whether or not he was going to ruin Amy's plan was another issue entirely.

If tell him it's just a plan to get him jealous, it would make Amy unhappy if she found out. Then she'll probably want nothing to do with me, which would be counter-productive. I guess I have to just tell Sonic we're going out then.

"Okay, but how am I going to tell him?" Tails asked himself aloud, wondering why this was such an awkward subject. Sonic was his best friend, why was it so hard for him to imagine telling Sonic that he now had a girlfriend?

The dishonesty of the relationship could have something to do with it, Tails figured. After all, I know it's only to get Sonic jealous.

Still, Tails had feelings for Amy and this was his only chance to have a real relationship with her. Besides, if things went his way, Amy would end up falling for him, and Amy's plan to win Sonic's heart would be totally forgotten.

That would be the best-case scenario.

Of course, Tails realized, there was always the chance that Amy's plan would work. If that were the case, then his own plan would fail.

Then again, I don't think Sonic has any feelings for her. He never mentioned anything about it before...

There was also the chance that no one's plan would work. Amy, persistant as he was, would give up eventually if Sonic didn't get jealous, and if she didn't want to be with Tails by that time, then both hers and Tails' plans would fall completely apart. Amy would leave him, and Tails would continue to wish he could be with her, but would be too shy to do anything about it.

Figuring there was nothing else he could do, Tails decide to retire for the night, trying to remain optimistic. He technically had a date with Amy, and if it went well, that was always a step in the right direction.