Chapter 8, already! :O Thank you, Mana the Cat Magician, silverdawn2010 and Playingstars .. making you happy again lol ;)
Aw man I forgot the disclaimer recently.. I don't own any of the characters except Jecht ^_^
So yeah I did add more to the chat because, as ChReNiC pointed out, there was no mention of Jecht.
Oh and I decided to seperate paragraphs by putting a period/full stop in a space... so the gaps are kinda big but it might help you read it easier.
Get ready, readers, for THE TALK :P
Chapter 8 – Not a Dress Rehearsal
The sun set as quickly as it had risen, Sonic noticed. The day had literally flown past, despite Jecht tainting it. Sonic lay on the roof of the workshop in his typical resting position, with his hands supporting his head, one leg crossed over the other. He watched the sun sinking gradually behind the horizon, leaving a bright pool of red and orange, tinted with pink. He smiled as the pink hue reminded him of Amy, as it always did - without fail. Amy. She'd hardly changed at all since he'd known her; her smile, her beautiful voice – all the same as it was years ago. She still had the exact same determination that had first caught his eye; it was as strong and unfazed as ever.
Yeah, you'd notice those things, wouldn't you? taunted a voice inside his head. Because of how you feel…
He ignored it, blotting it out. It distracted him, but for once he didn't let it stop him thinking about her. He pictured her face, still reflecting on her strong personality. She was still kind and caring, but had that incredible will to protect those around her against all odds. She was brave and true of heart. Sonic smiled at the thought of her, and all that she'd go through for the ones she cared about.
Maybe that's why I love-
Whoa! Where had that thought come from? He readjusted his vision to his surroundings, shaken out of his thoughts.
Easy on the fantasising, Sonic.
.
He tuned back into his mind, as it suddenly led him to 'The Creep.' Sonic couldn't help but snicker at his new title for Jecht, as he imagined his challenging gaze, his maddening grin that made you want to rip all of the quills off his head. Yep, 'The Creep' was a perfect name for him. Sonic instantly felt the newly recognisable feelings of annoyance and jealousy rush through him at the thought of Jecht. He felt a frown merging onto his expression.
Damn, creepy little-
"Hey, Sonic?"
Sonic blinked in surprise as the voice dragged him back to reality. He was met with darkness as his eyes focused once again, and he realised that the night had already fallen upon the city. The sky had turned into an inky blackness, lit up only by the tiny orbs of light created by the stars. He must've been lying there thinking for a long time, he realised. He turned his head to meet the owner of the voice, who propelled himself next to the hedgehog using his two furry tails.
.
Sonic's mouth titled upwards in a sideways smile of relief as the fox settled beside him. "Hi, Tails."
"You seem kind of quiet today," Tails remarked thoughtfully. He met Sonic's gaze steadily as he continued. "And I think I know what you're thinking about," he said, causing Sonic to raise an eyebrow. "You're thinking about Amy, aren't you? And Jecht, too."
Sonic said nothing, startled at how easily Tails had figured him out. He finally uttered a reply. "Why would I think about that?" he said.
"You don't have to hide it, you know," said Tails quietly.
Sonic stared at him. He was practically ransacking his mind for some form of denial, some kind of excuse, anything. He couldn't understand how Tails knew.
How he knows what? a voice jeered. Your feelings?
For once, Sonic didn't completely silence the voice. He held it back for the moment, still baffled for a response to the younger boy. "H-how… I mean… How could-" he stopped, wanting to hit himself for acting like an idiot.
Tails smiled comfortingly. "I've seen the way you look at her. We all have." Noticing the sudden panic in Sonic's expression made him rephrase his sentence. "Well, I'm sure that not everyone gets it," he assured him. "You know, Knuckles probably doesn't know," he said helpfully.
Sonic found himself looking at his sneakers, noting the face in his reflection. He looked slightly different, in a way. Usually, if he was found lying in one place, he would no doubt be relaxed. But if anything, he looked confused, lost even.
It really isn't that complicated. Just look inside yourself; the answer's staring you in the face!
Sonic finally allowed himself to take some notice of the voice: his conscience wasn't it?
Huh, maybe I should start listening to that guy, he thought.
.
He remembered that Tails was watching him intently, and he looked sideways at him.
May as well stop denying it, he wouldn't believe me anyway. "You… you're sharp, you know that?" he laughed.
The fox's eyes lit up, relieved that Sonic had finally managed to say it. "It can only be a good thing to admit it," he said encouragingly. "You have to admit it to yourself, as well."
Sonic contemplated this.
See? Even Tails knows it!
It was a little intimidating to be uncovering all these feelings that he'd kept at bay for years. To have to have them all released at once was almost frightening, yet somewhat relieving as well. He let a smile play around his lips. It was as if a weight had been lifted off his shoulders, leaving him light and free. "You know what? I think I already have," he said, pleased.
"So, the next step is to tell her," Tails said, lowering his tone, knowing that the hedgehog might not take it too kindly.
Sonic felt his whole body tense at the very idea.
No-no-no-no. Nuh-uh. Nope. Not going to happen. That's it, conversation over.
Don't be so dumb! Just hear him out!
.
Sonic almost winced. His heart was already beginning to hammer in his chest by just imagining confessing to her. And besides, surely she must have got some kind of hint? Then again, if she had then she wouldn't be anywhere near 'The Creep.' "I don't need to. I mean, she doesn't even need to know that, right?" he said nervously.
Tails paused, deciding not answer that exactly, but instead battling any other excuses that Sonic might bring out. "You shouldn't feel so threatened by Jecht," he said.
Sonic breathed a frustrated sigh. "I- I'm not threatened by him, Tails, I just..." He sighed again.
"I don't think Amy would ever want to be with anyone but you."
"I don't know about that," Sonic said, "She does kind of like him, doesn't she?" He bit his lip, slightly annoyed at himself for talking to Tails about this. He was a hero; he wasn't supposed to need consoling from someone younger than him.
.
Tails smiled reassuringly. "So maybe he knows his way with words. But she'll always care for you, not him," he said. "We both know how much she cares about you. She'd love it if you told her, and you probably would too."
"Yeah and what about Eggman? I bet he'd love it too, for one of those crazy schemes of his."
"Sonic, you know we can handle anything that Eggman dishes out. We've always been able to stop him."
Sonic fixated his gaze on the fox. "It's been a little too close sometimes," he said quietly.
Tails searched Sonic's eyes carefully. He registered something that he hadn't seen often before: fear. His eyes widened slightly as he regarded the hedgehog.
He's really scared of losing her, he realised.
"I know," he said, "But we always come through in the end. And it's good that you're worried about her, but don't you think that it's her decision of how much danger she puts herself into?"
"She puts herself into way too much danger, and it's usually running after me."
"But that's what you do for her," Tails pointed out softly. "You'd risk everything for her, so doesn't she have a right to do the same for you?"
"Yeah but, Tails-"
"Life's not a dress rehearsal, Sonic. You only get one performance."
.
Sonic paused. He replayed the quote in his mind, carefully taking it in. What Tails had said was true, and didn't Sonic pride himself on living life to the fullest? Plus, if he was honest he that knew, deep down, that Amy deserved to know. Any other problems they could sort out together, but she deserved to know.
Tails was still fixated on him, trying to encourage him. "So are you going to tell her?"
Sonic rolled his eyes, but he smiled. "Tomorrow," he said firmly. When Tails began to question him again he held up a hand and said, "I will tell her. Tomorrow."
The young fox grinned. "I knew you'd admit eventually!" he cried, making Sonic chuckle lightly.
"Yeah, yeah. So do I get a hot chocolate as a reward?"
"Okay," Tails giggled. "But you might want to come inside," he teased.
They both laughed as they climbed back into the workshop. Sonic found himself unable to stop smiling, even when they at last called it a night and he laid back in his favourite spot on the roof. He let his eyes drift over the stars, tracing shapes in their constellations. It was kind of funny, he mused, that the shape that stuck out the most, was a large heart drawn out in the middle of the blackness.
.
Sonic slept peacefully through the night, without a hint of frustration as he had in the past few days. In fact, if anybody was to come across the sleeping hedgehog, they would have seen a small, contented smile on his face. He continued to sleep like that until the sun rose, and it spread its rays of light across his face, as if to wake him. His eyelids flickered before opening and he yawned. He stretched out his arms and surveyed the view from the workshop roof. Not many people were about, it was still too early, he mused. His thoughts drifted idly for a while, but were suddenly stopped by the memory of his 'heart-to-heart' with Tails. He gulped.
Today's the day, Sonic, he thought.
As if on cue, a rush of nervousness and mild panic tugged at his insides.
You know what? Maybe I shouldn't do this today….
The thought was cut off by yet another memory of telling Tails that he would do it today.
Aw, man… What have I got myself into?
Doing something that you should have done years ago, the voice answered him.
That conscience guy's a smart-ass.
He considered that for a moment.
Even though it's sort of… me. Great, now I'm losing it, he thought, and let his hand slide down his face. He reflected back on difficult moments of his life, realising the ridiculous amount of times that he'd defeated Eggman. It made the task of talking to Amy seem easy, so why was he finding it so daunting?
.
He hoisted himself upwards, and out of nowhere a new found confidence took over his body. His mouth formed into a grin, oozing with his typical attitude. He jumped down, his sneakers making a dull thud on the ground, and without wasting another second he raced out of the city and onto the grasslands. The fields went on for what seemed like miles, and the sun made every single dewdrop that clung to the grass sparkle. But the reason that he'd come to that field, was for the thousands of wild flowers that stretched out across the landscape. He knelt down to observe some of them further, straining his memory for what little knowledge of flower meanings he'd been given by Espio. He'd been surprised that the ninja chameleon knew of such things, but then it just went to show how many hidden talents or passions people might have. He smiled, partly from excitement, as he began to remember what some of the types and colours meant.
.
Amy would love this, he knew. It was no doubt the way she'd dreamed of him confessing to her.
Wait… does she dream about that kind of thing?
He smiled, recognising the obvious answer to that question.
This is Amy we're talking about. She does.
As he planned what he'd do in his mind, he was more or less making an agreement with himself. He wasn't going to back down, this was it.
Life's not a dress rehearsal, he reminded himself. So I'm going to make this the best performance I've ever given.
Yayy! ^_^ Tails had to encourage his big bro' XP Sonic is finally going to confess... but what will happen when he reaches Amy's house? :O Find out next in Sonic X! Oh sorry, it's not Sonic X! :P Wish it was, though... :D
It would be helpful if you could please tell me (in a review if you want) if the new paragraph spacing helped you read or not.
Review!
Wait! I didn't say 'Sonic says'! ... Oh well you can do it anyway :D
