Sorry for the late update. As far as the notes at the bottom of each chapter here and afterwards, you can read it or not, doesn't matter. Comments are welcome for individual chapters, too!


The Bet

Chapter 11


Tails' Workshop

11:49 p.m.


Rouge knocked on the door of Tails' house, next to his workshop in Mystic Ruins. Hopping from one foot to the other was Amy, not use to standing in the thick soil in such high heels. Knocking again, the girls heard nothing behind the door.

"Where are they?" the ivory bat asked, frustrated. All the rose-pink hedgehog could offer was a shrug and looked towards the little workshop besides the house. There was a light in the only window on it, and from the looks of it, she could see someone's shadow.

"When Shadow text you that he'll be here, did he say the house or over there?" Amy asked smugly.

"Uhhh…"

"Yeah." Rouge just rolled her eyes and led the way. Once over there, she knocked on that door and this time, Tails answered it.

"Hey, you got the flyer?" he asked.

"Uh-huh. It has the address he went to and everything." Rouge said.

"Great, come on in then." Stepping aside, the fox let them enter while he was handed the flyer. Closing the door, and locking it, he went over to his desk and pulled up Google Maps. "With the exact location of wherever, we should be able to tell where they're hiding out and report this to the police-"

"We can't go to the police." Shadow stated.

"And why not?" Rouge argued.

"Because things like this get found out by the press, where it ends up on the news and they'll know someone associated with us sold them out. If that happens, they'll turn to Sonic, he gets killed, and we're next." he explained. Rouge gave a him a know-it-all look, and returned her gaze to the computer screen. Now, it held the picture of a rundown warehouse.

"Where's that supposed to be?" Amy asked.

"I think that's in the industrial district downtown. But the question is, which one…?" Tails mused.

"How many are there?"

"If I had to guess, I'd say three. I figured this one is downtown because of the buildings in the background." They all studied the picture and concluded that would be the best place to start. "Warehouse 2-19."

"Well, that's all fine and dandy, but won't Sonic notice that Amy still never showed, thus making his and Scourge's deal void making him come after you?" Rouge asked Shadow.

"I have that figured out already, thank you." he replied shrewdly. She just rolled her eyes.

"How about we meet up tomorrow? If he doesn't find you, he'll more than likely come to me then spread out. Nobody really knows but us…and Knuckles, I guess." Tails said.

"Sure, I'll tell Knuckles the details and such in the morning. After the scene I saw tonight, I need a nice bath and some sleep to forget that." Rouge exclaimed. This reminded Amy of the club, causing her to shudder.

"Fine, just meet us there around nine then we'll head over there together. Try to avoid Sonic at all costs, though." the fox stated. Nodding, the two hedgehogs and bat made their out of the little workshop and left the teenage boy genius to himself.

"Okay, you lovebirds, I'll see you tomorrow. Amy, I want the dirt if anything interesting happens. Tootles!" And Rouge was gone.

"That's where you got that 'tootles' shit from…" Shadow sneered. The rose-pink girl could do nothing but stare.


"I guess you did have this figured out…" Amy muttered. Now standing in the scene of a luxurious hotel room, it looked like it would be her "home away home" for the next few days. She even saw two bags, probably filled with clothes. "When did you find time to do this?" the girl asked, puzzled.

"Around five this morning. I was just getting back by the time you woke up," Shadow answered.

"But…your shoes and jacket were…"

"I used my Chaos Emerald and got everything together. I got the room when you left with Rouge," The ebony hedgehog explained effortlessly. Tilting her head, she figured it made sense. "I assume you don't mind staying here for a couple nights." Shadow stated.

"I would more than love to stay here, but why go through all the trouble to find a real fancy one?" Amy asked curiously.

"…Well, I never got to take you on that second date…" he said, scratching his head and looked away. A small smile played on Amy's lips hearing his small confession of affection for her. Technically, counting just two days ago, on the cliff, that was their second date (whether he admitted it or not), but instead of further embarrassing him, she simply grabbed her bag and went to put her things away.

XxXxXxXxXxXxX

"I love being simple, Camille. Being a simple country boy is a lot easier than a complex city boy."

"But Bailey…I thought this was supposed to be a learning experience. Your mom said it'd help with problems at school…"

"I did learn something. That even though I'm nothing special…someone took the time to make me realize my potential."

"Awww…how sweet…" Amy interrupted. Shadow rolled his eyes and adjusted the blanket covering the two. The lights of the living area of their room were off and nothing but the TV was aglow. Ebony and pink hedgehog curled up on the sofa watching a chick flick Amy so obviously picked out. Shadow just had a hard understanding the title and it's meaning towards the plot.

"I don't get this," he said, voicing his thoughts.

"What's not to get?" Amy questioned.

"It's called Nothing Special, but how does trying to get some country boy into the lifestyle of one who lives in a city explain its meaning?" Shadow asked, face scrunched up from confusion and anger.

"That's the whole point. He's a boy who lives on a farm and at school, he gets picked on. So, a girl who lives in that city tries to teach him how to live like a city boy so the kids respect him," she tried to explain. Seeing as his blank expression was her only response, she dropped her head in defeat and pressed play on the remote.

"So, you'd rather have them pick on you all the time?"

"As long as I'm being who I'm supposed to be, that's just fine with me." [Bailey smiled at Camille, and she returned his smile.]

"Alright, as long as you're okay with it…" [Time skips ahead to where Bailey and Camille are getting ready to graduate from high school, the night before the event]

"You don't belong here. Go back to that dirt sack you call a home."

"You ain't got no right to talk to me like that! My mama put me in this school to learn and that's just what I's gonna do."

"Look at ya! Talking country already. Camille didn't do anything to you. Boys, go ahead with plans…"

"You city boys stay 'way from me! You ain't getting away wit this…!"

"…What?" Shadow suddenly called out. This even surprised Amy, who didn't know he was paying attention. "This makes no damn sense! They go through how he learns city ways, yet gets killed in the end because of that?! What the hell?!" he exclaimed. The girl couldn't help bit giggle at his outburst.

"Shadow, calm down. It's just a movie." she said in between laughs. Realizing what just happened, he went back to his emotionless face, feeling ever-so stupid.

"This is why I don't watch these kinds of movies. They make no sense." he stated more calmly. Amy shook her head at him and looked for another movie. "Uh, I think that's enough for tonight." Shadow spoke up.

"But-"

"We have somewhere to go in the morning, remember?" he interrupted her sharply. Amy sighed but wrapped herself in the blanket before standing up. Shadow followed suit and together the two made their way to the bedroom.

"Well, it's only eleven and I'm still not sleepy." Amy protested on the way in. Shadow simply ignored her and closed the door behind him. "I might not going to wake up in the morning…" she taunted.

"Just close your eyes and you'll be sleep before you know it." he advised, climbing into bed. Sighing, the rose-pink hedgehog jumped into bed and laid besides him for about thirty seconds.

"I tried that, it didn't work." she spoke. The ebony hedgehog gave her a look even though her back was turned. "Maybe if you did something…" Amy trailed off.

"Something like…?" Shadow asked impatiently. Why can't she just sleep?

"Well, it's something my dad used to do for me when I was little. On Sundays, I'd still be hyped, so he would cradle me in his arms, rock back and forth, and I'd listen to his heartbeat until I went to sleep…" she explained softly.

Amy hid behind her bangs, knowing he wouldn't do such a thing, but Shadow surprised her when he grabbed her. First thinking that he was just bringing her closer to himself, but he sat up a little and put her in his lap. Arms securely around her waist, he sighed as he began to rock back and forth, just as she described. Putting a shy ear against his bare chest, Amy listened to his strong, but steady heartbeat. Going back into her short childhood, she remembered the last time her dad did this…she was eight…the night before Eggman first reeked havoc on Station Square. The last time she saw her parents…but slipping back into reality, Amy soon felt herself drifting off to sleep as Shadow planted a kiss on her temple.


The next morning came peacefully for the two sleeping hedgehogs until Shadow's phone had begun the ring and Amy's played loud music for whoever was calling. Eyes still closed, both felt around for the other's phone, landing on the bedside table, and handed it to one another. Obviously not getting it fast enough, they finally went off. So, being the first to crack open his eye, Shadow checked the time on his phone's screen. 9:19 a.m. They were late…

"Rose…" he spoke groggily. The pink hedgehog's head just continued to descend from the original position.

"Amy." Shadow said, more awake. Eyes started fluttering, but didn't open. Sighing, he shook her slightly.

"Alright, I'm up!" Amy exclaimed. She checked the time and also saw that they were late. "I thought…you set an alarm?" she asked.

"I did…" The silence grew as Shadow double checked this fact finding it was true and it was snoozed.

"Guess I'm not the only one that isn't a morning person…" Amy teased.

"You were just as much sleep as I was, Rose. Don't go there." he grumbled, getting out the bed. Just then, Amy's phone rung again, this time, she answered.

"Hello."

"Where are you guys?"

"Um, well, you see what had happened was…"

"Amy, everyone's here but you two."

"We overslept alright! Jeez, Tails, when did you become the parent?"

"Shadow…overslept? That's unusual even for him…"

"Yeah, big surprise, but the longer you talk to me, the longer it takes for me to get there. Goodbye!"

"Amy wait-"

*Click*

Throwing off the covers, Amy gathered her clothes just as soon as Shadow came out the bathroom she didn't even know he went in. It was clear he just took the shortest shower in history and you could still tell he smelled of soap. Standing there dumbfounded for a minute, Amy finally went in the take one herself.

XxXxXxXxXxXxX

Tails impatiently look at his wristwatch. 9:52 a.m. He wasn't one to get mad at people for something so simple as oversleeping, but when it comes to Shadow, it shouldn't even become a possibility. Just as he sighed, he saw Shadow's motorcycle in the distance and in front of him in the matter of seconds.

"Finally…" he said to himself. Everyone beside him; Rouge, Knuckles, and Cream went to approach the two.

"After going through the trouble of discussing a time, you of all people show up late." Rouge criticized. Shadow gave her one those shut-the-fuck-up-bitch looks. Instead of voicing his thoughts, a simple finger was flicked in her direction.

"Well!" she gasped. She looked to Amy for any reason behind his sour attitude, but all the girl did was shrug.

"It's fine Rouge. We have all day and the industrial district is pretty big, so it'll take some time to search the place before we find the right one. Warehouse 2-19, remember?" Tails asked. Everyone nodded to confirm. "Okay. If anyone finds anything or the actual building, text us your location, and wait until everyone has regrouped to act. Got it?" Once again, they nodded in unison and split into groups of two.


Once Amy saw that she and Shadow were out of earshot, she looked over to him. He face as calm as ever, before Rouge said something anyways. "What was that back there?" she asked.

"What was what?"

"Oh, you didn't realize you flicked Rouge off just two minutes ago?" she asked sarcastically.

"Oh, that. She just needs to mind her own business." Shadow stated simply. Raising a skeptical eyebrow, she figured there was more than he was telling but decided not to push it any further.

Minutes turned into hours and that turned into two, four, and so on. The sun was just setting as the friends regrouped near their vehicles. All of them were worn out from looking for a building that didn't seem to exist. So, they thought it would be best to search the other districts until they found the hideout.

"This was a total bust…" Rouge stressed.

"But it still is technically progress, right?" Cream suggested lightly.

"I suppose so, but the more time we spend looking, the more time they have to catch us off guard and Silver, Blaze and the others still don't even know." Shadow said. The others sighed knowing this was true.

"Well, it's partially my fault we searched this whole place for nothing, so what about dinner on me? You're probably starving." Tails offered. Agreeing, they all set off.


Well, hi guys! I've now caught the story up and all chapters have been rewritten and reposted. I feel proud of myself. Now as far as Raising Hope Academy is concerned now, I believe it'll be discontinued because I've been focusing on this one story, I've lost all interest in it, so…yeah. ANYWAYS, please be sure to be here for when The Bet finally moves on and is eventually finished. You guys don't know how much this means to me. You're all awesome! Don't forget to leave a little comment, please. Until next time… -D.A.K