XI – Facing The Aftermath

Amanda's Mansion

East Gate Bel Air, West Los Angeles

- January 17th -

- 9:30AM EST -

Amanda was sleeping like a baby until the sunlight crept through the crack between the curtains of her window and shined directly in her face which caused her to open her eyes slightly. Amanda then yawned but then opened her eyes completely wide when she saw that Sonic was not in the bed. She felt a little angry and jumped off the bed onto the wooden floor. She was feeling a little upset because of the promise he made and he wasn't even in bed the whole with her. She walked down the stairs and suddenly smelled a strong aroma of bacon, sausages and eggs. As she went down the stairs the smell got stronger and she sniffed her nose harder. She walked into her luxury kitchen and saw Sonic in front of the cooker without his shirt on and still only wearing his trousers. Sonic advanced hearing heard Amanda's footsteps and turned around showing his muscular body, which caused her to blush slightly, and grinned at her show his pearl white teeth. She just stared at him mindlessly as his well-toned body, shining emerald eyes and handsome smile left her speechless. Sonic chuckled when he realised Amanda had just be staring at him for 5 seconds without saying anything.

"Amanda, please come back to earth."

Amanda gasped and then blushed even more due the embarrassment she felt about staring at mindlessly. She then walked over to him and looked over to see what Sonic was frying in the pan and saw as, she presumed before bacon, sausage and eggs. Amanda then smelled the food strongly and smiled.

"I'm a bit surprised you know how to cook."

Sonic smiled. "It's not rocket science Amanda, all you have to do is read the instructions. Although, I'm surprised you don't have a maid or a butler or some sort of servant that cooks your food for you."

"I really don't like the idea of having a butler or a maid that would do stuff for me, like making my food or cleaning my house, when I could do it for myself, I mean it's not that hard breaking a few eggs of tuning on a stove and grabbing a brush to sweep up the mansion is it?"

Sonic chuckled. "Well you certainly make a good point. Anyway, I hope I didn't upset you when left you in bed alone. I just woke up a few minutes earlier to make breakfast for you."

Amanda smiled. "Thank you Sonic."

Sonic smiled. "No problem. I hope you like scrambled eggs, pork sausages, with 3 crispy sides of bacon and cappuccino."

"Well I should, since I bought those foods in the first place."

Sonic chuckled and Amanda giggled. "Touché"

"I'm surprised you know how to use cappuccino machine because I don't think I've actually used it myself since I bought it."

"Why?"

"Well being on an international tour takes more of a toll on you than you think. You're on the road for 100 days straight with barely any sleep in between can result have a significant effect on you."

"I'll take note of that. Why don't take a seat the food is ready."

Amanda nodded her head, went to cabinet and pulled out 2 white fine china plates, two forks, two knives pulled up 2 wooden stools that had a soft cushion seat on the end and the right side of the rectangular wooden sink base cabinet and sat on the stool at the end of the rectangular wooden sink base cabinet that had a counter that was made of marble. Sonic turned off the cooker and lifted the pan towards Amanda and with his free hand used a spatula to lift the sausages, scrambled eggs and slices of bacon onto her plate. Amanda smiled at Sonic, who smiled back at her. Sonic then walked over to the cappuccino machine on counter and picked up the white teacup full of cappuccino and placed it near her plate.

Amanda smiled. "Thanks Sonic. But I don't want you spoiling me."

"It's no problem, besides I don't want make the same mistake like I did in past and not properly think about what my friends needs as much I do."

"Oh so were friends? I don't think I ever agreed to that"

"Well I thought that…"

Amanda giggled. "I'm joking Sonic. There no need to worry about the relationship between me and you, its solid."

Sonic smiled. "Nice to know."

"So where is your breakfast?"

Sonic then went to the fruit bowl on the wooden sink base cabinet and picked up 2 bananas, an apple and an orange.

"This is my breakfast."

"Nice to know that you're committed to keeping your body healthy."

"Well it seem as though keeping my body in good condition isn't only for my personal interests."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Sonic grinned. "Well the way you've been staring at me mindlessly and blushing when you see me without my shirt on recently is a bit of an indication that you seem to care for how I look."

Amanda smiled. "Don't act smug."

Sonic chuckled and then sat down and began eating his fruit while Amanda began eating her own breakfast. After he finished eating an apple, orange and banana he paused and looked up at Amanda who had finished her sausages and slice of bacon and was no eating her scrambled eggs.

"So what are planning to do now?"

Amanda stopped eating her scramble eggs and looked up at Sonic. "What do you mean?"

"Well I mean what do you scheduled today are going on tour or appearing on TV or doing an interview?"

"Now that you mention it need to get my BlackBerry Curve and check my planner to see what I have scheduled today."

Amanda finished her scrambled eggs and drank her cappuccino in one go. She then took her plate, tea cup, knife and fork into the sink and washed it. She then walked up stairs back to her bedroom and went into her wardrobe and pulled out Sonic's black jacket and smiled as she began caressing it again. While Sonic was still eating he paused as suddenly remembered that he hadn't called Shadow after what happened last night. Sonic followed Amanda upstairs and into her bedroom and walked into to see Amanda holding his black jacket. Sonic walked up to her and took the jacket out of her hands.

"Thanks for getting out my jacket for me, I just about to look for it."

Amanda smiled. "No problem."

Sonic went into his coat pocket and pulled out his BlackBerry and called Shadow's number. Sonic waited patiently as the phone was still ringing, suddenly someone picked up.

"Hello?"

"Shadow is that you?"

"Sonic? What the hell are calling me this early for?"

"I just wanted know whether everything was sorted yesterday night."

"Well you tell me."

Sonic raised an eyebrow. "What the hell do you mean? Tails I gave the r…I mean, you-know-what to you and any police involvement has been sorted out right?"

"Well you're right and wrong."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that I never knew you and Tails would have would have created a shit storm so big it has led to a manhunt for you two badasses!"

"What?!"

"You heard me! ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox News…it's all over the news! I mean c'mon what were you expecting after the chaos you two tough bastards created last night? A dislocated knee, a broken arm, 2 fractured skulls, 3 broken jaws, 4 concussions, 5 broken noses, 8 black eyes and bullet wound in the shoulder of a star NFL Quarterback! And in the middle of that shit, you caused twenty thousand dollars' worth of damage! It's gonna take a lot of hard work and cost a lot of money for me to calm down the shit storm you two have started! And because of that I'm cutting your take on this job!"

"What!? You can't do that! If it wasn't me you wouldn't have that ring in the first place!"

"I know you're pissed off but I need as much cash as I can get to take care of the authorities. I never thought that it would reach this level sort of level. Please don't think I'm singling you out because as a matter of fact I've actually already told Tails that he's not getting his share of profit either and trust me he beyond pissed off when I told him that! He actually threatened to shoot me but I eventually calmed him down. I'm telling that guy is a real loose cannon just waiting to go off. Anyway, I promise you that you and Tails will get your share just as soon as I take care of the authorities and Knappmiller because if I don't there going look for ALL of us and lock our asses in chains until your bones turn into dust. Luckily, there was no surveillance footage of you two causing the mayhem you did but many people are providing descriptions of how you two look to the news and police so I'll try to 'supress' their testimonies before hell comes raining down on you two. I'll try and be as cost effective as I can but this is LA, so that's really wishful thinking in reality. I hope you understand Sonic."

Sonic sighed. "Yeah…I understand."

Shadow sighed. "I'm sorry Sonic. But I suggest that you keep yourself indoors for at least a week until the heat dies down. If it doesn't I suggest you move out of Los Angeles or try to come up with a new identity. I'll keep you updated on my progress and keep me updated on yours. Good luck Sonic. See you later."

"Thanks Shadow. See you later."

Sonic then ended the call and looked at Amanda who looked at sonic with a facial expression that had a mixture of confusion and slight fear.

"Sonic, what the hell is going on? Who's Shadow?"

Sonic sighed. "He's just a friend that helped me with…well, what happened last night."

Amanda eyes became large in shock. "He planned for that happen?!"

"No he didn't, he just is…well…can I ask you for something?"

"What do want?"

"I need to keep me a secret."

Amanda gave a confused look. "What?"

"Well I just got off the phone with a friend who told me that the police are after me for what happened last night and I need you to help me disguise myself and hide out here until the heat dies down. So will you please let me stay here until the dust settles?"

Amanda paused to think for a second. After all Sonic had done for her was she going to risk the chance of her going to jail and hold a potential fugitive? After spending a minute thinking about the pros and cons of what decisions she could take she finally came at a compromise. She let a heavy and smiled at Sonic who smiled back in enthusiasm of the answer he supposedly though she was going to give.

"Okay, I'll let you stay but…"

Sonic cut off her sentence which a lighting quick hug that took her by some surprise and took her breath away slightly. She suddenly felt the urge to hug him back but he ended the hug and looked at Amanda with sincerity and joy. Amanda smiled brightly back at him.

"Sorry to jump the gun it's just you…well I guess you could call it a premature expression of gratitude considering the situation I'm in right now."

Amanda placed her hands on Sonic's hands. "Sonic, after all you've done for me in this short period of time. Letting you stay here is only a minor way of repaying your sincerity and kind-heartedness. Consider this home your second home."

Sonic smiled. "Thank you."

Sonic's deep voice sent chills done her spine and once again his strong emerald eye and handsome, chiselled, dashing good looks had caused her to, once again, start staring mindlessly at him. But she luckily controlled herself and snapped out it quickly before it turned into something embarrassing. But even after just staring at him for five seconds Sonic began chuckling at Amanda's mindless staring.

"Glad to see you came back to earth faster than usual."

Amanda smiled. "Very funny, now why don't you take a bath because, in all honesty, you smell quite a bit."

Sonic smiled and raised an eyebrow. "You won't be thinking about my smell when you try to secretly look at my naked body when I'm in the bathroom."

Amanda raised an eyebrow and frowned. "Don't act arrogant. I'm not a pervert, so don't act as if just because you're handsome and well-toned, that I'm gonna start peeping on you."

Sonic smiled as he started walking out of Amanda's bedroom and towards the bathroom. "Number one, I never said I was handsome or well-toned, and number two, I was just saying as a joke, I'm not being serious about it. But I'm glad I was able to get your opinion of how I look."

Amanda slightly blushed and quickly went to her wardrobe, opened it, grabbed a white towel and threw it at Sonic's head as he left Amanda's room. Sonic secretly smiled as he took the towel off his head and continued walking towards the bathroom with the white towel still in his hand. Amanda sat on the edge of the bed and began to smile with the blush on her face reducing. She went to her nightstand and pick up a hairbrush and began to brush her long, silky, pink hair. After only thirty seconds of brush the phone suddenly rang and she went to her nightstand to pick it up.

"Hello?"

"Is this Amanda Rose?"

"Yes. Who is this?"

"This is Doctor Douglas Johnson calling from St. Vincent Medical Center and I need to inform you that…"

Beep

"Hang on I have another call to take can you hang on a second, please?"

Beep

"Hello?"

"Amanda Rose, this is Detective Jonathan MacTavish of the Los Angeles Police Department. I need you to come to the station for questioning on the incidents at the Mayan Night Club of last night…"

"Um…could you hang on a second? I have the hospital on the other line and it is very urgent."

Beep

"Sorry to keep you waiting Doctor Johnson, what was it you wanted to tell me?"

"A man called Rico, who claims to be associated with you, is in critical condition here at St. Vincent Medical Center and…"

"Okay I'll be there in a minute."

Beep

"Sorry what was it you wanted to tell me?"

"We need to come to the police station for questioning urgently. We have report from witnesses that you were also present at the occurrence of the events and we need you to come to the station and just answer a few questions."

"Okay. I'll be there as soon as possible."

Amanda dropped the phone and her eyes grew wide in shock as in all the events that transpired after the party that had an effect on her, she completely forget about all the events that transpired during the party that had an effect on her only real close friend. Even worse she was now facing the possibility of having to testify against and turn in the only man that has ever show true consideration, thoughtfulness and good intentions towards her. She took a deep breath out and remained calm and tried to remain calm about the situation but the more she thought of it, the more it agitated her. She quickly took of her white nightgown and then quickly went to her wooden wardrobe and put on a white Calvin Klein bra, panties, socks and long sleeved shirt, light blue Armani jeans, white Gucci sneakers and a beige coloured Dolce & Gabbana leather jacket. She then bolted out of the door but during her rush towards leaving she suddenly realised that she had not driven her car home and it was still parked outside of the Mayan Night Club. She decided to go for Plan B. She went to the garage and she pulled off the sheet that was covering a black helmet that on the seat off a standing brand new 2011 Pearl White Triumph Daytona 675 sport bike.

"I never liked sport bikes, motorcycles or anything with two wheels, but there is a first time for everything."

She put on the helmet, took the keys off the seat, which was also hiding underneath the helmet, opened the garage door, got on the sport bike, started it and decided to first speed off the hospital as she had a dear friend that need her attention greater but she also knew she couldn't dodge the police in fear off them possibly suspecting her more and leading them to finding and probably arresting Sonic. Amanda was truly facing the aftermath.