Chapter 7, finally! No more going away now so at least I'll get more done. Thank you, silverdawn2010, marylolsmith, ChReNiC, Mana the Cat Magician, Playingstars, XoxoSonamy4440oxoX and IHeartSonAmy for your reviews. They make me happy so I thank you personally and publically to hopefully make you happy! ^_^ (Although I like to thank you all anyway!) ;)
I did strugle a bit with this chapter, I just wasn't feeling motivated because the whole Twinkle Park thing wasn't actually part of my original plan, but I think it turned out okay. :)
I know I said there'd be a Sonic and Tails chat but it made the chapter too long and it just didn't feel right to add it. But I have written it so don't worry, the next chapter should be out a little faster than the rest, with the promise of a heart to heart between Sonic and his lil' bro'. ^_^
Read on, and see Jecht annoy the hell outta Sonic! :P (Still paragraph errors, sorry can't do anything about it, the end :P)


Chapter 7 – Seal of the Deal

Sonic grimaced. Stuck alone with Jecht; did the world love to punish him? He held his gaze locked onto the ground; it was the closest he could get to escape from the other male. There was the possibility of running straight out of there, but what would his friends make of that? They wouldn't be too happy, and Tails had asked him to come along. Plus, it would make it blatantly obvious. He wasn't even sure what he was supposed to be keeping in the dark, necessarily. But before he could think about it, Jecht spoke.

"So, how long have you known Amy?" he asked.

Sonic replied before he considered it properly. "Why do you need to know?" he demanded.

Jecht laughed, flashing his teeth. "I was making conversation, Sonic; it's something that people do. There's no need to get so defensive," he stated, a patronising glint in his eye. He was provoking Sonic and he knew it, and he got exactly the reaction he'd expected.

"Okay then, let's make conversation! Maybe you could talk about why you're acting like such a slime ball!"
"I'm sorry if my charm and wit offends you, Sonic," Jecht said with a grin.

"You've got about as much charm as Eggman's-" Sonic managed to hold off the rest of his sentence. He sighed, gradually calming himself. As difficult as it was, he tried a more civil approach. "Look, Jecht, I just want to know why you're trying to…" he forced himself to continue, "Get her affection."

Jecht grinned. So Sonic was trying the nice guy? Good on him, but he wouldn't last long. "Why do you think? I like her. I like her a lot. Who knows – maybe my feelings will grow even stronger. But why does it bother you?"

"It doesn't bother me," Sonic said, as his civility began to sink away from him. "I'm her friend and I don't want her to get hurt."

Jecht snickered. "I'd say you're protective, aren't you? Protective, obsessive, that kind of thing," he said.

Sonic froze, paused in anger.
Obsessive? his mind screamed. He hurriedly fought to control himself. He let out a chuckle and said, "Watch it, buddy. I'm anything but obsessive and I'm not going to talk to you about that kind of stuff."

Jecht shrugged casually. "Alright. Let's talk about you. Give me a proper intro of the real Sonic the hedgehog; hobbies, interests, you know the rest."

"Jeez, if it's a profile you're looking for, search for me on Wikipedia," he said, his sarcastic humour mixing with his annoyance. A scowl was already setting on his features.

Jecht narrowed his eyes slightly and said, "It wouldn't hurt to tell me a little about you."

Sonic let out an exasperated growl under his breath.

Why is he asking me all these questions? he thought. What is up with this guy?

He decided to voice his thoughts. "Why do you keep asking me stuff? It's not me that you're interested in," he said.

Jecht maintained his casual look, though panic darted through him for a moment. It was soon replaced with confidence as he thought, Sonic's too worked up about me being near Amy to get suspicious; he's probably trying to faze me.

"No, it's not. But Amy wants us to get along so I want that too, he said. "It'll make her happy; isn't that what you want for her?" he added cunningly.

Sonic was nearly fuming already.

He's twisting everything I say against me! he screamed mentally. He couldn't conjure even a small response but was saved the task as he spotted the rest of the group running to them, soaked from the ride. His anger slipped away as he was able to forget Jecht for the moment. He laughed at the state of his friends. Knuckles and Rouge were shaking themselves to try and unsettle the liquid beads that were stuck to them. Amy was giggling as she wrung out the hem of her dress, which literally poured out water. She shook her head, spraying droplets from her bang quills. Small drips were still clinging to her eyelashes, lining them in a way that made her eyes sparkle even more than usual, Sonic noticed.

Tails was laughing too, despite his two tails being so sodden that they clung together in a soggy clump. He turned his head to examine them and grinned, before whirling them round like propellers. The water flew off, leaving them dry and fluffy again but drenching his friends once more, including Sonic and Jecht.

"Tails!" yelled Knuckles.

The fox smiled sheepishly. "Sorry," he laughed.

Sonic's eyes were wide with shock as he realised that he'd been soaked. He couldn't utter a single word as he looked at himself with horror. Amy saw his expression and burst into another fit of giggles.

"Oh, Sonic, you look so funny!" she howled.

Her laughter could only encourage a small gasp out of him, astonishment still plastered on his face. Jecht then spoke up, shattering Sonic's hope that he'd evaporated while they were laughing.

"You didn't need to go on the log flume, you got soaked anyway!" he snickered.

Sonic felt his frown returning as he surveyed the other hedgehog. He was just as wet, but for some insane reason he seemed to be enjoying it. Although Sonic hated to admit it, Jecht did look good with water droplets stuck to his forest green fur. Sonic couldn't help but notice that Amy was no doubt thinking the same as she too looked at the green male. She then turned to Sonic again, with that hint of something in her eye that Sonic had never quite grasped. He'd always assumed it was positive though, matching with the smile that played on her lips.

Rouge glanced about the group. "I don't know about you guys, but I'm starving. Let's go and get something to eat," she said.

They agreed and started looking for a café or a fast food stand. Sonic's ears perked up as he thought of the possibility of his favourite food somewhere in the park.

"Let's find a chilli dog stand!" he said, a hopeful glimmer in his eye.

Cream smiled up at him and said, "You really like chilli dogs, don't you, Sonic?"

He grinned. "Only 'cause they're the best food on the planet!"

"Your favourite?" Jecht asked.

Sonic glanced at him, his face already taking a slightly more serious look. "Yeah," he stated as if were obvious to the green hedgehog.

They all continued to walk in a group, and Jecht turned away again, ignoring Sonic's dislike for him. If he was honest with himself, he thought Sonic was a jerk. The blue hedgehog was clearly jealous of him when he was with Amy, but he didn't really care for her, did he? It didn't seem like it. He probably just missed the attention.

Sonic forced himself not to glare at Jecht as they walked onwards. Unusually for him, he focused on each step that he took, unable to stop imagining that Jecht's head was the ground. He thought Jecht was a jerk. The green hedgehog was clearly trying to win over Amy, but he didn't really care about her, did he? It didn't seem like it. He probably just wanted the attention.

Sonic noticed Rouge walking fairly close to Knuckles, as her hand linked with his. The hedgehog's eyes widened and he walked in line with the echidna. "Knuckles," he said in his ear, "Are you going out with Rouge?"

Knuckles blushed as he regarded his friend. "I guess so," he whispered. "I'm actually not that sure but I think we're together."

Sonic chuckled despite his surprise. "Dude, if you're holding her hand, you're her boyfriend. Good going! I never knew you had it in you!"

The echidna shrugged, slightly bewildered himself but clearly happy. "Jecht helped. Of course I was the one who did it, but he helped a lot," he said, exaggerating his own input.

Sonic felt his mood drop as he predicted yet another conversation about the wonderful Jecht. "Did he really?" he said, sounding just as uninterested as he felt. His tone gave off warning signals that said 'Rhetorical question – don't answer because I don't want to know' but – naturally – Knuckles missed the hint and continued.

"Yeah. He helped Tails fix his machine and he even helped Vector win a chess game! He's helped everyone!" he said brightly.

"Sounds like a real fairy godmother," Sonic said dryly.

"Yeah, something like that," Knuckles smiled, and he turned back to Rouge, blushing again.

Sonic let himself drift into thought. He was still quite surprised that Knuckles had found somebody, and Rouge of all people. But most of all he was annoyed.

So Jecht's been sucking up to everyone! Jeez, he should be a leech, not a hedgehog! Why am I the only one who can see through it?

Another short while of walking led them to exactly what Sonic had hoped for: a chilli dog stand. His eyes lit up as he eagerly raced forwards, handing over some money in exchange for the much-awaited chilli dog. He swallowed it down in two mouthfuls, earning a raised eyebrow from Amy.

"Sonic! Do you always have to eat them like that?" she scolded.

He winked and licked his lips. "No other way, Amy!" he grinned.

Jecht watched Sonic eyeing the stand again.

Wow, he really likes those things. Maybe that could be of some use? Dr. Eggman did say that I should write down everything.

He reached backwards to feel the papers rolled up, hidden in his back quills. They were still there, thankfully. He'd have to fill in some more of them in the bathrooms later.

Once everybody had finished their lunch, they went on several more rides that spun, dipped, twisted and soared, leaving them either laughing or clutching their stomachs. Jecht had a blast, laughing along with them, and generally enjoying himself. Of course his mission wasn't forgotten but he was surprised that he could have fun while accomplishing it. He'd almost never had fun in all his life and he couldn't help feeling a little pleased that he'd found people who hung out with him by choice. Although, every time he thought about it, he sternly reminded himself of his objectives.

The sky had already begun to gain a few streaks of orange as the evening introduced itself. After a few minutes of indecisiveness, the company agreed to try some of the fairground-type stalls that were around, at Charmy's suggestion. Amy took particular interest in a stall that had several teddies hung around inside as prizes.

Jecht smirked, seeing an opportunity and strolled towards it. He learned that he was supposed to knock over a stack of tin cans with a rubber ball and he'd win one of the prizes. He nodded at the stall manager, handing him the money and picking up a small orange ball. They all watched as he raised his arm, sizing up the distance, before throwing it as hard as he could. The ball smashed into the cans, easily knocking them all down. He smirked again as the stall manager handed him a brown teddy with a red bow tie.

That was easy, he thought, And it'll pay off, too.

Jecht looked at Sonic as he moved towards Amy with the little bear, watching for his reaction. He held it out to her, displaying one of his charming smiles. "I think you'd like this more than I would," he purred. He grinned in triumph as she accepted it and Sonic narrowed his eyes.

"Oh, Jecht, thank you!" she cried happily. "It's lovely."

Jecht nodded and winked. "No problem. I thought it would make you happy," he added, enjoying the growing scowl on Sonic's face. He turned to face him directly, his eyes dancing teasingly.

Sonic - for some reason - felt the urge to strangle Jecht until his stupid green face turned blue.

He is trying to wind me up! he thought crossly.

He said nothing, tensing his mouth to prevent any words escaping. The rest of his friends seemed oblivious to the dislike between the two male hedgehogs. Though it wasn't dislike between them. Sonic was unsure of it, but he felt disappointed as well. Whenever he saw Jecht with Amy, he'd feel a little saddened, maybe even panicked that she might have set her sights on somebody else. But of course he wouldn't admit that, not even to himself, yet.

Sonic was brought out of his thoughts as Vector coughed loudly to get the group's attention and held up his digital camera.

"I want to take a picture of everyone before we go so shuffle over here!" he barked.

They did as he asked, messily arranging themselves into a small mass. Amy was delighted to notice that Knuckles and Rouge were standing together, Rouge holding his hand, making Knuckles blush. The pink hedgehog beamed at Jecht as she moved to stand beside him, thrilled at the affect he'd had on the bat and echidna's relationship. And he'd barely known them, too!

Sonic's expression was more or less neutral as he stood next to Tails and Cosmo, who were smiling as they all were. Try as he might to control it, his gaze kept drifting to Amy, who was giggling with Jecht. He'd always loved to see her happy but it seemed tainted by the green hedgehog. He sighed, literally feeling a weight on his shoulders. It was if Jecht was a wasp; he kept stinging Sonic whenever possible and he would not go away. Jecht was smirking again, and he moved closer to Amy, making Sonic tense every muscle of his body. He suddenly noticed Vector shouting, "Smile!" and tried to force the corners of his mouth upwards as the shutter clicked. And when that shutter clicked, it was like the closing of the deal, the cherry on the cake. Jecht had been included in a group photo, and surely that meant that he was part of their group? In that second, Jecht had joined with his friends, and consequently, he'd joined Sonic's life – and there was nothing that Sonic could do about it.


Haha! Jecht's like a disease, too! He's come to get you, Sonic and you can't escape it! Mwa ha ha ha! So, Jecht's an official guy now. In the next chapter, Tails will be giving his big bro' 'The CHAT' lol. Aw Sonic gets consoled by his younger foxy friend ^_^ It's been written, as I said, so keep your hair on! :D
Thanks for reading! Sonic says review! :P