Little Secret
Chapter 2
Our Date

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Yes, that was a moment I will never, never forget. Our date was the following Friday, and the evening weather was iffy, at best. I don't wear shirts often, since I don't really have any, but I brought my coat in case the weather decided to turn ugly and rain on our parade. Rose and I used to be five years apart in age, but then I was cryogenically frozen twice, putting my life on hold for a year each, which actually is convenient for me. I was frozen first before the Metal Overlord fight and Eggman managed to capture me the second time and put me in his cellar to leave me there for who knows how long, and I was freed thanks to the efforts of my friends.

Now I'm twenty and Rose is seventeen; that beats twenty and fifteen. Even then, we aren't getting "intimate" for a few more years, because I think neither of us is old enough for that. And we just started dating.

Our date was going to be at a decent restaurant. A rather average date, but it was our date. Some date it turned out to be...

I had my coat folded up and tucked beneath my arm, since I needn't wear it until it was raining or hell froze over. My date had her hand in my own, and I felt awkward holding hands with her. She loved to hold my hand, and I liked it also, but it felt just... plain weird. Her hand was thin and graceful, mine was big and clumsy. We held hands often, which were a change from my former dates with Rouge, who would simply put my hand around her shapely waist...

Rose looked marvelous. I gasped when I first saw her as we joined hands at her house. A flowing, silky, wine-red dress covered her pleasant frame, and her quills were nicely brushed, stopping at her shoulders. Her eyes looked all the more marvelous with her outfit, and I found they held a glint of peace in their depths when she saw me. I wasn't wearing anything save my black pants, my dress shirt and shoes, my coat in tow. My shirt was not buttoned to the top, and my patch of fluff subtly puffed out in a soft tuft of white.

"Amy, you look absolutely majestic. I love your outfit," I praised my date, causing her to blush and shyly smile back at me, revealing her shining white teeth. The rose grabbed my hand and squeezed it in hers.

"Thank you so much, Shadow! I am glad you like it."

"Of course Amy. You always manage to be beautiful and graceful in my eyes." I grasped her other hand, observing that she wore a bracelet of pearls.

"Shadow, you are so sweet. I love that about you!" I received a firm hug from my date, causing me to blush from her close contact. With a turn of her feet, we both walked blissfully to our goal.

The restaurant we dined at, I can't even remember the name of the darn place. I just remember we were seated in a comfortable dark room at a booth for two. The booths were shiny black, and the table was covered in white, one lonely candle next to the wall, with its bright yellow flame silently dancing in reaction to any turbulence nearby. We simply sat there, watching the other.

The order was almost immediate, and that partly explains what I was paying for. I hastily picked my order to get the waiter away from us so we could be alone. There were no loud or annoying people nearby, no one to laugh too loudly or scream, or yak too much. We were in a good spot as far as I was concerned. I turned to Rose and rested my hand palm up on the table. Only a moment passed when our eyes met and hands met simultaneously, as if showing something symbolic in their unity.

She hypnotized me. The way the soft candlelight reflected into the emerald green of her eyes, it reflected back to me in a startling palette of rich shades, vibrant hues, highlights and dancing, flickering green fire. My date and I stared at each other. "Amy," I began, interrupting the silence. "You have such lovely, emerald eyes. They shine with a brilliant fire that is more beautiful than any Chaos Emerald I will ever lay my eyes upon."

"Shadow..." The girl whispered before pausing to release a contented sigh. Her soft hands gently squeezed my own. "Thank you. I don't know what to say..." I gave her a brief smile.

"I love your eyes, Shadow." I got out of my thoughts and returned my attention to the rose before me.

"My eyes are scary, Amy. You don't need to lie like that," I sadly replied as I looked away. How many harsh remarks I have gotten for my eyes... But I also have received many compliments. Amy put her free hand on my cheek, turning my sight back to her as a hurt look filled her pupils, her mouth was caught in a frown as her eyes widened in response. I felt my heart flutter from her gentle touch.

"Shadow... Your eyes are absolutely gorgeous..." I heard the rose whisper softly. Her voice gradually rose in volume, to a more audible level. "I love your eyes. They are such a deep, beautiful red. They have this shining fire that's burning hot, so full of emotion. Your eyes are much more valuable than even the best choice of rubies." Her comment made me smile.

Rose smiled in return, her brilliant eyes shined even more with her pleasure.

"I love you, Amy," I admitted as I squeezed her hand in my own.

"And I love you, Shadow. You're cute..."

"Uh..." The hot blush on my face was rewarded with a lighthearted laugh from Amy...

To be continued...