Little ShaDows
Chapter Nine (What's in a word?)
The sun was shining bright in the clear blue sky. A pleasant breeze was blowing, alleviating the heat of the afternoon. The melodious calls of songbirds filled the backyard. It was a perfect day to spend outdoors, just lying in the grass and enjoying the calm of nature. Shadow almost felt like smiling.
And then she had to come.
"Hey, Shadow, wanna play a game?" asked the pink hedgehog, hovering over him so that her head blocked his view of the sky.
He frowned. "No."
"It's a really fun one." she persisted. "But you don't have to do any running around or silly stuff. It's a nice sit downish kinda game."
"No."
"Aw, come on, Shadow. It's real easy. You like words, right?"
"...They serve their purpose."
"Well, it's a word game called Word Association. Have you ever played it?"
He didn't respond. She smiled.
"I'll tell you how goes. But like I said, it's real easy."
Amy took a seat beside him, crossing her legs. "Okay, the rules are simple. I say a word and then you say the first word my word makes you think of. And you have to say it fast. It's no fun if you take too long thinking about it. Got it?"
"What is the purpose of the recorder?" asked Shadow.
"Huh? Oh, that's just so I can...keep track."
He gave her a long, hard look. Her smile seemed innocent enough, but he got the impression that she was hiding something from him. He narrowed his eyes. Fine, he would play along with her, if only to find out her true motive for bothering him with this game. Amy Rose was not about to pull a fast one on him.
"So, are you ready?" Amy asked.
"...Yeah..."
"Okay, here we go." She clicked the voice recorder on and placed it in-between them. "Apple."
Shadow raised an eyebrow. That was a random choice.
"Come on, Shadow. Quick." Amy said, emphasizing her point by snapping her fingers twice. He scowled.
"Red."
"Crimson." she spoke in a heartbeat. When she meant fast, she meant fast.
"Blood." he answered, this time with only a slight pause.
"Warm."
"Eyes."
"Green."
"Pink."
She blinked, staring at him curiously for a moment. Then shaking her head, she continued the game.
"Slow."
"Fast."
"Run."
"Blur."
"Blue."
"Slow."
A wry smile stretched across Amy's muzzle. Shadow kept his expression impassive.
"Small."
"Star."
"Wish."
"Wrong."
"Right."
"Arm."
"Leg."
"Foot."
"Apology."
"Denied."
Amy gaped. The corner of Shadow's mouth twitched.
"Cold." she said, glaring halfheartedly at him.
"Life."
"Good."
"Bad."
"Past."
"Future."
"Bright."
"Eyes."
"Red."
"Blood."
"Heart."
"Cold."
"Want."
Want...What did Shadow want? Two weeks ago he had wished for an end to his solitude, but now he couldn't wait for the day he was able to go back to his life of seclusion. He wanted to be alone...didn't he? Why was he so unsure?
"Shadow." Amy called. He turned his head and their eyes locked. "What makes your heart cold?"
"What does it matter?" he asked, his tone oddly soft.
"Because I care."
"...Why?"
A wondrous smile bloomed nice and slow upon her lips. "Because," she said. "We're friends."
The word took him aback. "...Friends?" he repeated. It sounded foreign on his tongue.
"Mmhm. Is that alright with you?"
Was it? Was a friend what he wanted? Shadow stared into those sparkling pools of emerald. If he were to drown in them, would he mind? It was a strange and irrelevant question he knew, but he couldn't help but wonder. Amy was an annoyance. She was loud and bubbly and everything he hated in a person. But she was his friend...Was that alright?
"I guess..."
"Then so long as you want, we'll be friends." She turned the recorder off and picked up the device. "Game over. You want to come inside now, Shadow?"
Finally tearing his gaze away from her hypnotizing eyes, he looked to the sky. "I'll stay out here for awhile longer..."
"It is a nice day, isn't it?"
"...Yes, it is..."
Amy reached forward and stroked his quills.
