(A/N): Sorry long update, but wow! 100 reviews! Thanks everybody! Never thought this story would be that popular. Yay, though! Forgot to mention that pictures of Amy's room, house, and link to the song Shadow sang are on my website. Check them out, after you read this chapter and review of course.
Everybody returned to school and everything about Amy and Shadow were still hush-hush. It was now December and everybody was dressing more warmly. Amy walked into the English building and shivered. Since the island was high in the sky it snowed everywhere. Even on the beach. Amy walked into her English class and sat next to Manic.
"Hey," Manic said as Amy smiled at him.
"Hey, how was your Econ test?" Amy asked as Manic grimaced. "Not good?" Amy guessed.
"No, just boring as hell," Manic said scratching the back of his head. Amy shrugged her shoulders before listening to the teacher. She watched out of the corner of her eye to look for Shadow. Football season was over and the team would just goof around for PE. Shadow was lifting some weights in the weight room as he watched the coach.
"Dude, why do you keep looking at Coach Vec?" Knuckles asked as he did some push-ups with weights on his back.
"I'm just waiting for him to tell us to go run, I'm tired of lifting weights," Shadow said smoothly as Knuckles shrugged his shoulders.
"I'm cool with staying in here. It's freezing out there," Knuckles said as Shadow rolled his eyes.
"Take two laps around the track," Coach Vector said as the guys groaned. Shadow was the first one out and he ran right onto the track. He looked up to Amy's class. Amy turned her head and smiled at him. Shadow smiled up at her as she slyly blew him a kiss. Shadow quickly ran the first lap, but he would always slow down when he got close to Amy's class room. Knuckles rolled his eyes at how obvious they were, but he was just going to let them think that they were keeping it a secret. It's not like anyone else knew.
"How does this make us a better host?" Elias grunted as he and Reese stood holding pals of water and standing up straight.
"It gives you good posture," Sonic explained.
"We have good posture!" Reese exclaimed. "This is just slowly ripping my arms off," Reese complained as Sonic shook his head.
"Trust me on this." Sonic said as he walked away.
"You place book on their heads for good posture not make them hold gallons of water." Blaze said as Sonic shrugged his shoulders. Blaze rolled her eyes before going back to her work.
"Ugh, another ball?" Amy said as she looked over Blaze's shoulder. "Don't you think Formal is enough?" Amy asked as Blaze turned around.
"Here's the thing, the school banks on Homecoming and Prom because those are the most popular events. So, they use the bare minimum for Formal; resulting in a crappy dance. The guys host the Winter Ball which is basically a better Formal." Blaze explained.
"Doesn't the school get mad?" Amy asked.
"Not really because people go to both. Most people go to Formal because they want to get the pictures and stuff and it is still a dance." Blaze said as Amy nodded her head in understanding. "Are you going to go with Manic again?" Blaze asked as Amy shook her head.
"I might just go by myself," Amy said with a shrug of her shoulders. Shadow would be working anyways and she didn't really want to go with anyone else.
"That's no fun," Blaze said.
"Well, not all of us have a boyfriend like Silver." Amy said as Blaze laughed. "When is this Ball anyways?" Amy asked.
"In two weeks, better start finding a dress," Blaze said as Amy frowned. "What? Just saying," Blaze said.
"You want me to what?" Shadow asked in confusion.
"Ask Amy to Formal," Sonic said simply. Both hedgehogs were sitting in their dorm just chilling.
"Why…?" Shadow asked slowly.
"Hello, you like her," Sonic said as her laid on his bed. He was throwing his basketball up in the air and catching it as Shadow rolled his eyes.
"I've told you, and Knuckles, and Silver, and Tails that Amy and I are just friends. I got over her," Lie, lie, lie, lie, lie, lie.
"Sure…" Sonic said. "Dude, I'm not saying take her to the Ball I'm just saying take her to Formal. We're all off duty anyways," Sonic said.
"Are you going to ask someone?" Shadow asked.
"Maybe one of the MVGs," Sonic said as Shadow groaned.
"If no one asks her within a week, I will," Shadow said as Sonic smirked. "Not because I like her, but because I don't want her to go alone," Shadow said as Sonic snickered.
"Whatever you say, Shads," Sonic said. A week past and Sonic stood in front of Shadow with the biggest Chester Cat grin ever. Shadow groaned as he saw his blue friend smiling at him.
"Fine," Shadow groaned, but inside he was dancing with glee. "I'll go ask her," Shadow said as he started to walk over to Blaze's desk where Amy was sitting.
"Whoa there, you're just going to ask her?" Sonic asked stopping Shadow.
"Yeah…wasn't this why you put this stupid task on me?" Shadow asked.
"You can't just up to her and ask her like that, you have to do it in someway special!" Sonic exclaimed.
"What are you, a girl?" Shadow asked as Sonic rolled his eyes.
"Shut up, you should know this that girls like all the surprise shit," Sonic said as Shadow sighed.
"Alright, alright, I'll figure out something," Shadow said as Sonic smiled. "For the way you're working so hard on this it seems like I'm going to ask you," Shadow said as Sonic flipped him off.
"I think this is the dress," Rouge said as she stood in front of a three-paneled mirror. She was wearing a deep magenta-purple dress with was haltered. The straps were beaded and the belt blow her bust was beaded the same way. The dress reached the floor and had a slit up to her thigh. It was true Rouge fashion.
"Woo," Amy said bored out of her mind.
"You're no fun shopping with," Rouge grumbled.
"That's because I don't like to shop," Amy said.
"Why not? It's fun!" Cream exclaimed as she stepped out in a strapless blue and white dress. The bust was white with little beads sown on and a blue and white belt under the bust. The skirt reached the floor and was white with blue flowers at the bottom.
"Oo…nice, Cream." Blaze said as she sat next to Amy.
"Ya think?" Cream asked looking at herself in the mirror.
"Yep, Tails will definitely like it," Blaze said as Cream blushed.
"Whoa, you're going with Tails?" Amy asked sitting forward on her chair.
"No, he didn't ask me, Blaze is just being stupid," Cream said before huffing and going back into the dressing room.
"He's going to ask her," Blaze whispered to Amy who laughed silently. "I guess it's now you and I who have to go dress shopping." Blaze said as Amy slumped in her chair.
"Great…" Amy groaned. After hours and hours of shopping Amy and Blaze finally found dresses. Amy's dress was a deep purple and had a sweetheart neckline. The bust was wrapped, but the fabric flowed down to the ground. There was a jeweled strap that wrapped around one shoulder and went through the center of the bust and connected on the other side.
Blaze's dress was a long red dress. It fit her body like a glove and was simple enough for Blaze. It had a diamond strap on one shoulder and a diamond belt that was diagonal under the bust. All the girls got their shoes and accessories and left the mall. Amy plopped down on her bed and let out a relieved sigh.
"Next time I'm just going to have my mom wire the money to you so you can just go ahead and buy it," Amy mumbled through her pillow.
"Hey, be happy you found a good priced dress. You didn't even break your budget." Rouge said as she hung up both dresses.
"Yeah, I'll give you that," Amy said. Rouge was about to say something when she furrowed her eyebrows in confusion.
"What the hell?" Rouge said as Amy sat up and faced her.
"What?" Amy asked as Rouge pointed out the window. Amy scooted forward on her bed and opened the window. There standing out the window was Shadow surrounded by circles and circles of candles with his guitar on him.
"Oh wow…" Rouge said in astonishment. Amy just stared in awe as Shadow pulled his guitar forward.
"Hey," He sang as he played a simple melody. "Girl I know that I haven't known you for a while, but you got me love-struck with your smile," Shadow sang as Amy smiled. "I know this is kind of cheesy, but please just make this easy, 'cause I'm on this crazy limb and not some lame whim, because girl I want you to know…" Shadow said. "I want to go to Formal, with you, yes it's very normal, and it's true. Don't you roll your eyes 'cause this took me a while, but I don't care 'cause I want to see that smile," Shadow sang as Amy just laughed. Shadow sang a bunch of la-la's and doo-doo's before he finished and looked up at Amy. "So, Formal, wanna?" Shadow asked.
"Well, after a song like that, how could I say no?" Amy said as Shadow fist pumped. Amy and Rouge laughed as Shadow threw a bouquet of roses to Amy. Amy caught them and shook her head at his antics one more time.
"Well, that out-did everything I ever saw," Rouge said as Amy rolled her eyes. Everybody was in the club finalizing plans for the Ball which was in the next three days.
"No! We should have to have the blue and white scheme!" Rouge exclaimed as Sonic growled.
"Why? It's so cliché!" Sonic retorted.
"It's winter, those are the colors that are complementary to winter," Rouge explained as everybody watched the heated argument.
"We would still have white, everybody likes white and black," Sonic said as Rouge groaned.
"Why don't you just make it black, white, and blue?" Tails suggested.
"No!" They both yelled.
"You guys, this is getting ridiculous, just go with Tails' idea." Silver said trying to break up the feud.
"Fine," They both finally grumbled out.
"Ok, now what should we do for music?" Blaze asked.
"Shadow you and Chaotix are still performing right?" Silver asked as he watched Knuckles trying to balance a pencil on his nose. He was really bored.
"Yeah, we got it cleared." Shadow said.
"Amy should perform with them!" Rouge exclaimed. Everybody's heads snapped towards Amy as Amy blushed.
"You can sing…play…perform?" Tails asked.
"No I can't sing," Amy said.
"Yes, she can," Rouge said as Amy glared at her.
"You guys, if Amy doesn't want to perform then don't make her," Shadow said as Amy smiled a bit towards him.
"Fine, fine, besides Shadow performing a few songs we'll have a DJ," Silver said.
"You have to get Ash!" Elias exclaimed.
"No one asked for your input!" Sonic yelled as Elias sighed and went back to bowing exercises with Reese.
"Shut up, Sonic," Blaze said as Sonic huffed. "What were you saying about Ash?" Blaze asked.
"He's the best DJ I know; he makes the sickest beats," Elias said as he continued bowing with Reese.
"I've seen him too, hella sick," Reese said.
"Ash…as in Mina's boyfriend?" Amy asked as Elias and Reese nodded. "Aw…" Amy said remembering her first client. Sonic rolled his eyes before sighing.
"Ok, Blaze you get on that and the budget is 20 bucks an hour," Silver said as Blaze nodded. "Knuckles, what have you done with endorsement?" Silver asked.
"Well, with the rumors out it wasn't that hard to get the word out, but I put up a shit-load of flyers and made an announcement on the school's news," Knuckles said still trying to balance a pencil on his nose. Rouge finally grabbed it off his nose and hit him on the head with it.
"Pay attention," Rouge said as Knuckles made a face at her.
"Ok, we've talked food, decorations, music, and now all we have left is…" Silver said trailing off as he checked everything off his clipboard.
"MVG!" Cream exclaimed as Amy looked at her confused.
"MVG?" Amy asked in confusion.
"Most Valuable Girl, every year for our Winter Ball we have all the guests vote for the best all-around girl and whoever wins gets to dance with their chosen Gentlemen," Shadow explained as Amy nodded.
"Are there nominees? Or is it every girl in the school?" Amy asked.
"Nominees, if we did every girl in the school they'd all vote for themselves," Rouge said with a roll of her eyes.
"Oh, who are the nominees?" Amy asked.
"Well, from a blind poll we gave to 30 girls, we narrowed it down to Regina O'Conner—a varsity swimmer and peer counselor, Jennifer Lee—a violinist, soccer player, and coach for the Special Olympics, and finally Mina Mongoose—in leadership, tutors elementary kids, and also coaches for the Special Olympics." Silver said as Amy nodded.
"Sounds like a nice group of girls," Cream said as Silver nodded.
"Yep, Tails did you set up the poll on the website?" Silver asked.
"Yeah and so far…" Tails said as he checked his computer. "956 people have voted," Tails said as Silver nodded.
"Well, that's about all, is everybody good?" Silver asked as everybody nodded their heads. "Ok, meeting adjourned," Silver said as everybody got out of their seats.
"Amy, Knuckles, Sonic, Cream, and I are going to a sushi place for dinner, want to come?" Rouge asked as Amy shook her head.
"Nah, I'm not into sushi that much," Amy said. "I'll just grab something from the cafeteria. I have a lot of homework anyways," Amy said as Rouge shrugged her shoulders. Amy walked out, but soon was greeted with the presence of Shadow. "Thanks for sticking up for me," Amy said as Shadow held her hand.
"No problem, but you need to get heard sometime," Shadow said as Amy grimaced.
"No, I don't. Just because I'm a good singer doesn't mean I want to be one." Amy said as Shadow shrugged his shoulders.
"True, but you shouldn't hide one of your talents," Shadow said as Amy rolled her eyes.
"Yeah, yeah," Amy said waving it off. Shadow just chuckled and kissed her cheek. Amy returned to her dorm and basked in the silence. She collapsed on her bed before starting some homework. She just finished when Cream burst into the room. Amy raised her eyebrow when she noticed Rouge wasn't with her. Probably somewhere with Knuckles…
"Hey, is there something you need?" Amy asked slowly as she looked at the energetic bunny.
"I'm going to audition for the school play!" Cream said excitedly.
"That's great! What's the play?" Amy asked as she got up from her desk.
"Romeo and Juliet," Cream said as Amy raised her eyebrow. "I don't care about the kissing scenes that much, well, depends on the guy, but I practically know everybody auditioning and none of them are creeps." Cream said.
"Wow, I already commend you. I could never just kiss someone casually," Amy said as Cream shrugged her shoulders.
"It's not that big a deal," Cream said. "I'm so excited! Auditions start tomorrow!" Cream exclaimed. She and Amy talked for a bit before Cream left. Amy laughed a bit at her friend's excitement before she thought about something. The next day in Amy's Latin class Amy sat next to Tails who was studying his notes.
"Hey," Amy said as Tails looked up and smiled.
"Hey, what's up?" Tails asked shutting his notebook.
"Did you know Cream's trying out for the play?" Amy asked as Tails raised his eyebrow.
"Romeo and Juliet?" Tails asked as Amy nodded. "Who is she trying out for?" Tails asked anxiously.
"A part…" Amy mumbled as Tails leaned toward her.
"What part?" Tails asked.
"Juliet…" Amy said as Tails fell back in his seat. He started to stutter and blabber as Amy tried to calm him down.
"Tails, Tails, relax it's not a big deal," Amy said as Tails looked at her with wide-eyes.
"Not a big deal? She's going to make out with some guy!" Tails whispered harshly.
"Tails, there's only two kissing scenes," Amy said.
"No! Three! The whole honeymoon scene! Oh God!" Tails freaked as he clutched his head.
"Jeez, if you're so freaked why don't you just audition?" Amy muttered as Tails stared at her. "Oh no…Tails don't…" Amy said.
"No! That's brilliant!" Tails exclaimed.
"Can you even act?" Amy asked.
"How hard can it be?" Tails asked with a shrug of his shoulders. Amy sighed as she slapped her forehead. She needs to learn to keep her mouth shut. After school Cream was sitting in the auditorium running through her lines when she felt someone sit next to her.
"Tails?" Cream said in confusion. "I didn't know you were auditioning?" Cream asked with a smile.
"Yeah, thought I could use some more extra curricular activities." Tails said with a shrug of his shoulders.
"Why? You already have the club, math team, chess club, class secretary, robotics, inter-school council, cross-country-"Tails interrupted Cream from the never-ending list.
"Might as well add drama to the list," Tails said with a shrug of his shoulders.
"Welcome children to the theater!" The drama teacher—Mrs. Bagley—said dramatically. "I'm not going to bore you with an introduction speech and give you the details of the auditioning process," Mrs. Bagley said. "You will all read a section from the play and then perform a dialogue with another. After this weekend I'll have a callback list." She explained as everybody nodded. "Very well, let us start with…ah! The dean's daughter herself, Ms. Cream the Rabbit," Mrs. Bagley said as Cream took a deep breath. Cream walked onto the stage as she held the script in her hands. She looked at it before looking out to her audience.
"Shall I speak ill of him that is my husband? Ah, poor my lord, what tongue shall smooth thy name when I, thy three-hours wife, have mangled it?" Cream began speaking eloquently and fluidly. "But wherefore, villain, didst thou kill my cousin? That villain cousin would have killed my husband. Back, foolish tears, back to your native spring! Your tributary drops belong to woe, which you, mistaking, offer up to joy." Cream said as she began to walk around stage. Tails was memorized by her as much as the audience. She was so passionate and convincing.
"My husband lives, that Tybalt would have slain; and Tybalt's dead, that would have slain my husband. All this is comfort; wherefore weep I then? Some word there was, worser than Tybalt's death, that murd'red me. I would forget it fain; but O, it presses to my memory like damnèd guilty deeds to sinners' minds! 'Tybalt is dead, and Romeo-banished!' That 'banished,' that one word 'banished,' hath slain ten thousand Tybalts. Tybalt's death was woe enough, if it had ended there; Or, if sour woe delights in fellowship and needly will be ranked with other grieves, Why followed not, when she said 'Tybalt's dead,' Thy father, or thy mother, nay, or both, which modern lamentation might have moved?" Cream said as Tails found himself on the edge of his seat.
"But with a rearward following Tybalt's death, 'Romeo is banished'-to speak that word is father, mother, Tybalt, Romeo, Juliet, all slain, all dead.'Romeo is banished'-There is no end, no limit, measure, bound, in that word's death; no words can that woe sound." Cream ended as everybody in the theater applauded. Cream smiled and bowed before walking off stage. Tails was purely hypnotized and it wasn't until Mrs. Bagley called his name. Cream smiled at him and he gulped. He hadn't realized how nervous he was until now. Tails slowly walked up to the stage as he held the script in his hands.
"I-Is it even-n so? Then I-I defy you-u, stars! Thou-u know'st my l-lodging: get me ink a-and paper, and h-hire post-horses; I-I will hence to-night." Tails finished and received the minimum applause. Tails huffed as he trudged off the stage. It was bad enough he stuttered, but his voice even cracked. God embarrassing. After a few more single auditions they started the dialogues. Great…Tails had to be embarrassed more. Why the hell did he decide to this?
"Mr. Prower and…Ms. Cream," Oh yes…that's why. Tails and Cream walked up and flipped to the appropriate page. Mrs. Bagley gave them the sign to start as Tails took a deep breath. He found his hands shaking again, but he looked up and felt calm. Cream's soft smile and eyes made him relax and feel confident. It was only her and him and no one else.
"If I profane with my unworthiest hand this holy shrine, the gentle fine is this: My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand to smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss." Tails recited looking at Cream's eyes, but quickly flashed them to her lips before looking back at her eyes.
"Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much, which mannerly devotion shows in this; for saints have hands that pilgrims' hands do touch, and palm to palm is holy palmers' kiss." Cream said as she stepped closer to Tails. Tails placed his hand on her face as she looked up at him.
"Have not saints' lips, and holy palmers too?" Tails whispered as Cream flickered her eyes to his lips.
"Ay, pilgrim, lips that they must use in prayer." Cream recited as she placed her hand on Tails' arm.
"O, then, dear saint, let lips do what hands do; they pray, grant thou, lest faith turn to despair." Tails said as he stared at her lips. Cream watched him as he stared at her.
"End scene," Mrs. Bagley called as Tails and Cream broke free. Everyone applauded as Tails blushed. The auditioning process soon ended and everyone was leaving. "Mr. Prower," Mrs. Bagley called. "Come here for a moment," She said as Tails gulped. He walked over to her as she removed her glasses. "You are quite interesting, Mr. Prower," Mrs. Bagley began. "Your monologue was completely horrendous, but when the dialogue began you were marvelous." Mrs. Bagley said.
"Thank you ma'am." Tails said.
"Tell me, Mr. Prower, do you have a fondness over Ms. Cream?" Mrs. Bagley said as Tails' scoffed.
"What? No!" Tails said scoffing again.
"Ah, well then Mr. Prower, bravo," She said before walking away. Tails let out a big breath before walking out of the auditorium.
(A/N): Sorry for taking so long, but now you guys have a lot to look forward to. Tails and Cream and the Winter Ball! Pictures of the dresses are on my website.