One Step at a Time

"Close enough for you to taste . . ."

Chapter Four: A Step and a Half

"Hi! I need your help!"

"Nope."

"Oh, hi there Shadow, I didn't see you there! You think you can help me?"

"Nah, try again."

"Shadow. The fate of the world rests in your hands. You have to help me!"

"Too desperate."

"Shadow . . . please. . . I can't do this without you."

"Whoa. Too deep."

"Oh, for the love of Pete!" cried Amy and she threw her arms up in frustration. Cream only snickered from the couch she was sitting on. It was quite entertaining from her point of view, to see Amy pull a variety of faces and voices.

It had only been yesterday that Cream herself found out about the upcoming Olympics.

'Wasn't really advertised that well," was her thoughts when Amy informed her about it. Her friend entering should have been something she saw coming, but the get-over-Sonic-for-no-reason had blown her mind. Cream was pretty sure she knew Amy well. After all, they'd been through more together than all the rest of the bunch.

But not even she saw that one coming. Imagine her face, when Amy came up to her, announcing that she had gotten over the blue hedgehog and that she was entering the biggest and toughest competition on this side of Station Square.

"Are you completely nuts?!" Cream had shouted at her and it resulted in a ten minute brawl between the bunny and the hedgehog. At the end, Amy won the argument, stating that she was really over Sonic and that entering this contest was her newest goal.

Cream had come to sleep over at Amy's, after she had told her what happened yesterday with Silver. And of course, being the great friend she was, she laughed her little rabbit ass off about it. She herself saw Silver as a funny character, but Shadow was, in her opinion, one hell of a weirdo.

So now, they were in Amy's living room, and Amy had sought the help of her bunny-eared friend as to try and find a way to convince Shadow to help her train. She really wasn't as much assistance as you'd think she would be.

"Amy," Cream began, while she watched her pink-haired friend pace around the room in irritation. "Just go up to him and ask nicely. And if that doesn't work you can always tell him Maria would have wanted him to help you."

"Cream! That's as inconsiderate as it gets," Amy scolded the Bunny who only shrugged in reply. "Besides, I think it would be best if I just get some advice. I don't want a trainer."

"Right," Cream nodded in agreement. "That's what you have me for."

"You're kidding right?"

"No, why?"

Amy just shook her head to herself and plopped herself next to Cream on the mushy sofa. She ran her fingers through her quills in annoyance. She keeps forgetting to make a hair appointment. They were now resting on her shoulders and just long enough to be tied in a ponytail. But she guessed she really wanted to grown them long, maybe even to prove she can be whoever she wanted to be.

"I don't know why you just don't train yourself," Cream acknowledged, crossing her arms with a shrugging motion. "I mean, how hard can it be?"

"Harder than you think."

For the past four days, Amy had been trying to 'train' in any way she could think of. None of it seemed to have made her any faster or have any effect on her speed at all. She was beginning to wonder whether her pride and fear of refusal kept her away from seeking Shadow's help.

"Well just jog around the block every day," the bunny recommended, now slightly irritated with the argument.

"That's not really going to help much."

"Well I don't see you coming up with any suggestions."

Amy only snorted.

"I don't want to make a fool of myself, Cream. If I don't get Shadow's help, I don't know what I'm going to do. I mean, there's no way in hell I'm going to Sonic for help."

"Yeah, you're right. His ego wouldn't be able to handle it."

"No, I mean, he'll have a laughing fit bigger than his ego. And first elimination round is in four months. Who knows how long it will take me to get into shape?"

"Four months is a long time."

"Yeah, maybe to you, but you're young. Now me . . . I'm set in my ways."

"I don't understand what you're getting at."

"Neither am I. Guess I've been watching too much Oprah."

They both laughed at this. It was times like these that made Amy thankful that she had friends to keep her mind off things.

To her immense surprise, her time without ogling at Sonic had been refreshing and it astonished her slightly. As a teenager, her first reaction would probably to go into depression, see a therapist, and become a stalker . . . although she guessed she kind of had been that already. At least she wasn't as dejected as she was a few days ago. Amy presumed her meeting with Silver had helped a lot, and possibly even, her conversation with Shadow and Rouge.

"Amy?"

"Mmmm?"

"Just ask Shadow already. And if he says no, then, so what? We'll just check on the internet for some stuff."

Amy chuckled softly. Really, it wouldn't be the end of the world if he turned her down. Besides, she could always ask Silver for some training advice if Shadow refused. The pink hedgehog smiled broadly at her best friend.

"Alright then."

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Sonic yawned widely and stretched himself out while he groaned. He turned his position and made himself more comfortable under the tree he'd been napping.

He was at the park. His original plan was to go for a nice long run, but he found a nice concealed spot behind the park bench, right behind some bushes. He'd been so lazy he'd thought some well-deserved rest would do him some good. Every now and then some couple or loner would come and sit on the bench and Sonic (who was still concealed) could listen to all their conversations. He felt a bit insecure and maybe a bit rude, but, hey . . . he wasn't hurting anybody . . .

His ears picked up two pairs of footsteps approaching the bench. Next, he heard them sit down.

"Thanks for coming to see me, Shadow," said a sweet familiar voice. Sonics' ears perked up at the tone. He recognised it. It was Amy.

But what was Amy doing with Shadow of all people? You wouldn't exactly consider him a people's person. Was this a date then? But why would Amy pick Shadow? Hadn't she already stated that Sonic himself wasn't good enough for her?

Of course, when Knuckles actually came to tell him that she really was over him, he'd didn't really know what to think at first. His friend had supportably clasped his houlder and had asked him whether he was okay. Sonic had merely laughed and shrugged off the enchidna's hand, laughing.

Sure, it surprised him, but he was more worried about Amy, and whether he had done something to upset her. He'd considered going to her, maybe have a talk, but right now he guessed he could only give her some space and wait for her to come to him.

Not that it really bothered Sonic that the pink hedgehog was over him. After all, he'd been trying to shake her off for months. Sure, maybe he was a bit stunned at first, but all the same hateful . . . I mean, grateful.

"What do you want Rose?" Sneered Shadows voice at her. Sonic almost growled at his tone. Didn't this guy treat anyone with respect?

"I-I-I was, uh, you know, just, uh, wondering if you could maybe . . . help me."

Sonics' eyes widened a bit. Why was she stuttering? It wasn't that cold. In fact, it was a lovely summer's afternoon. The sun was pretty warm today, even with Sonic in the massive tree's shade.

"And why would I help you?"

Sonic almost growled. Really, who wouldn't want to help Amy? How could you refuse someone so sweet?

"Because . . . that's what friends do for each other."

By now, Sonic couldn't take it anymore. He sat upright and scooted closer to the pair hesitantly. Slowly reaching up, he pushed some of the plants and bushes away, and to his view came the back of Amy and Shadow. He half expected Shadow to hear him, but Sonic guessed he was absorbed in his conversation, he didn't seem to be listening that much.

"You consider me as a friend?" It was more of a surprised than a snappish pitch of voice. Sonic saw Amy smile up at the black hedgehog thoughtfully and nod.

"Of course."

Sonic scooted closer.

"Why did you come to me for that sort of help? Wouldn't it be better to ask the faker?"

Sonic almost jumped up to tell Shadow off, but it was only a millisecond later did he realise he wasn't part of the chat. He stayed (with difficulty) in his hiding place, resisting the urge to growl.

Amy looked almost if she wanted to say something else than what she did say.

"I thought you would know more on the subject."

Sonic thought Shadow seemed a little smug about this. What a git . . .

"Very well then," announced Shadow, showing his signature smirk. Sonic could just make it out from where he was sitting. "I'll help you. Meet me here again tomorrow. I'll call you about the time later."

An ear-splitting squeal came from Amy and she grabbed Shadow into a hug. The poor guy never saw it coming and Sonic wasn't sure whether to snarl or laugh at the small blush on the Ultimate Life form's face. Amy soon let him go (not soon enough was Sonics' opinion) she ran off saying a few more thank you's as she went. Shadow smirked again when she was gone.

"You can come out now, faker."

Sonic nearly jumped at this but stood up and came out of the bushes anyway. How long did Shadow know he was eavesdropping? Was he going to tell Amy?

Shadow chuckled at him, standing up from his seat, and faced his enemy.

"You're lucky I didn't rat you out," he said, while Sonic merely glared. "It would be a shame if she had another reason to avoid you." The blue blur stared at him coldly.

"What are you helping Amy with?" he demanded, not caring if he sounded boorish. Shadow barked out a loud yet evil-sounding laugh.

"That has nothing to do with you, Sonic. Just like our meeting had nothing to do with you."

"Are you going to tell her I spied on you?"

Shadow shook his head. "Nope."

Sonic face so surprised, Shadow wouldn't be surprised if it stayed that way permanently.

"Why?"

"I already take comfort in the fact that I had succeeded in making Sonic the Hedgehog jealous."

Sonic's mouth fell open. "You think I'm jealous of you?!"

"It's wrong to be dishonest with yourself, faker."

"I'm not jealous!"

"Then why do you care what I'm helping Rose with?"

Sonic only stared. He wasn't sure if he had a good enough answer to that. He'd never admit he was envious towards Shadow the hedgehog. Shadow only chuckled darkly at his silent response. A zooming breeze followed after that, and then he was gone.

Sonic sighed and sat down on the bench behind him.

What did Shadow have to offer to Amy that Sonic couldn't?

It took him a full minute of thinking to come to the conclusion that he, possibly in his opinion, he was jealous.

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A/N: This chapter was fun to write, although the second scene was a bit tricky. Hehe, it's hard for me to portray jealousy, but I think I got it right.

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I don't own Sonic the Hedgehog or the characters.

Again, please review!