I made a tiny edit at the end of the last chapter that changed the whole course of this chapter. Feel free to review it!
All characters belong to Sega/Archie except my OCs.
Chapter 11
The wooden stairs creaked under Amy's sneakers. She tip-toed down the steps into the basement. Her foster mother was standing in front of a makeshift table. She was stirring a steaming concoction in a silver pot.
Amy crinkled her nose from the foul smell of the various ingredients. "What are you making," she asked.
"It's a healing elixir. When someone drinks it, the potion eases their pain, closes their open wounds, and ultimately heals whatever damage has been done."
"Do they have to drink it?"
"Not always. This one can be injected if the person is unconscious. Even if they are awake, most people prefer the needle. I heard it tastes awful."
"No offense, but it smells pretty bad."
"Yeah, the ingredients don't mesh well aesthetically – but they get the job done." She smiled at Amy. "I heard you went on a date yesterday."
Amy rolled her eyes. "It wasn't a date. We went out for ice cream."
"Sounds like a date to me."
The teen shook her head. "We're just friends," she insisted. "He invited me to a football game tomorrow night."
"Is he on the football team?"
"Yeah; he's the running back."
"That's nice."
"So…can I go?"
Amber sighed. "Amy, I know Felix has talked to you about getting attached to these humans."
"I'm not getting attached! I'm playing my role as a normal teenage girl. Normal girls hang out go to school events like football games."
"Is that what you're telling yourself? You're playing a role?"
"You and Felix told us that we had to act normal. I'm acting normal. People would think it's weird if I turned down everything I was invited to – especially being the new girl. In some of my books, the new girl seeks to fit in at her new school. I've found a clique where I'm accepted, and it's only right I hang out with them."
"In your books, the new girl seeks to fit in because that's her new reality. She needs to belong somewhere. For you and Adrian, this is temporary. I thought you understood that."
"I do understand, Amber. But, I'm not getting attached. Why are you and Felix so concerned about that?"
"Because we worry about you, Amy." Amber left her brew and approached the teen. "You, and your brother, have been through a great deal of trauma. Although you may not remember it, I can see it's still affecting you. Hanging out with mortals may seem like a good distraction from the chaos going on in your head, but you must remember that you'll have to leave them behind one day. I don't want that day to be another brick on the weight you're already carrying."
"It won't," Amy promised.
Amber sighed. She pushed a stray curl behind the teen's ear. "Alright. You can go to the football game. Just be careful, okay?" She snapped her finger. "You should take your brother with you!"
Amy smiled. "That's a great idea! I'll go ask him!" She hurried up the steps to the lower level of the house. She shot an innocent smile at Felix when she passed the kitchen. Then, she raced up the carpeted steps to the upper level. Her acute ears picked up the music blasting from her brother's earbuds as she approached his door. She made sure to knock loud enough that he could hear her.
"What," he yelled.
"Can I come in," Amy asked.
"Yeah!"
She pushed the door open and smiled at her younger brother.
He was lounging on his bed with his head buds in his ears. His eyes were rimmed with red, and his flushed cheeks were moist with salty tears.
Instantly, Amy's smile fell. "What's wrong," she asked. "Are you okay?"
He rubbed the excess moisture around his eyes. "I'm fine." He sniffled. "What do you want, ugly?"
She took a seat beside him on the bed. She tried to wipe at his wet cheeks, but he swatted her hands away.
He aggressively rubbed his cheeks. "I'm fine," he repeated. "Are you here to gush over your mortal boy toy?"
"No. I was going to ask if you wanted to come with me to the football game tomorrow night."
He raised an eyebrow. "Since when are you interested in football?"
"Well, one of my friends is on the football team and –"
"The ugly mortal you went out with yesterday?"
"He's not ugly!"
"You're right. Sorry, that was too kind. He's hideous."
Amy rolled her eyes. "Just because you're homely doesn't mean he is. It's not his fault you look like you got hit by the ugly train."
Adrian playfully shoved her.
She giggled. "So, what do you say? Will you go?"
He shrugged. "I guess."
Cautiously, she wrapped her arms around her brother. "Are you sure you're okay," she asked in a gentle tone.
"No," he admitted. "But, I'll get over it."
"Adrian, this isn't something you get over. You can talk to me."
He sighed. "I just…I miss them. I miss you…the old you – no offense." He looked down. "I miss my friends. I miss Olivia. I miss…" Another tear rolled down his face. "I miss being happy."
She squeezed him. "I'm sorry, Adrian."
"Can you…can you stay in here for a little while?" He whispered. "I don't want to be alone with my thoughts right now."
"Of course," she replied. She pulled him closer as more tears fell from his eyes. "I'll stay for as long as you want."
Adrian curled around her like a child. He pressed his face against her chest and released the sobs he'd been holding in.
Amy only held him as he cried. She was reminded once again that he was nothing more than a mere child. He'd only been fifteen when he'd was "killed." The poor boy was just hitting puberty. He shouldn't have had to watch his parents be brutally murdered or separated from his sister or cruelly tortured. Amy couldn't imagine the mental torture he was enduring.
He had been right before when he said she'd gotten lucky. While the crime scene photos haunted her brain, the real events of that night replayed through his mind. He remembered every little detail from the time the door was broken down to when his own world went black from his injuries. He couldn't shake the bloody images and the terrified screams. Hell, even the pain from his punishment was still fresh in his mind. Unbeknownst to the rest of his family, he'd had awful nightmares about the origins of his scars. He kept promising himself they wouldn't go back there. They couldn't. He may not have broken the first time their captor tried, but he wasn't sure he could guarantee he wouldn't if he were to go through it again.
Amy ended up staying in Adrian's room for the entire night. Long after he'd fallen asleep, she didn't let him go. She cradled him in her arms and wished she could take all his pain away.
The following night, Felix drove Amy and Adrian to the stadium. Amy was intrigued, and overwhelmed, by the masses of mortals milling around. Still, she eagerly hopped out of the car and dragged Adrian into the chaos.
Her brother wrinkled his nose from the abundance of smells – and his general annoyance at his sister's excitement. He allowed her to tug him towards the red bleachers that were teeming with mortals.
Amy spotted Cream, Sally, and Rouge sitting near the top of one of the bleachers. The girls noticed their friend and called her over.
Cream greeted Amy with a hug. "We didn't know you were coming," she said. "You've been so quiet all week."
Amy took a seat beside her. "I know. I'm sorry. It's just been one of those weeks."
Cream nodded. "I understand." She peeked around Amy to her brother. "Is this your brother?"
"Yeah." She tilted back a bit, so her friends could get a good look at him. "This is Adrian."
Sally smirked. "Amy, you failed to mention how handsome your brother was."
Unwanted blush spread across Adrian's cheeks.
"Yeah, Amy, he's a cutie," Rouge chimed.
"You two look alike," Cream observed.
"No, we don't," the siblings yelled in unison.
The other girls laughed.
Adrian rolled his eyes. He rose from his seat. "Whatever. Ames, do you want anything from the concession stand?"
His sister shook her head. "Nah, I'm good. Thanks!"
Cream got up. "I'll come with you! I'm dying for some cotton candy."
Adrian raised an eyebrow. "Oh…okay."
Cream shot him a soft smile before hopping down the bleachers.
Adrian wordlessly followed her.
"Did she just steal my man," Sally asked.
Rouge giggled. "Guess you'll have to be quicker than that."
Amy watched Cream and Adrian disappear into the crowd. "Maybe she's just being nice."
Sally scoffed. "Yeah, okay." She nudged Amy. "But, speaking of just being nice: we heard you and Sonic had a little outing on Wednesday."
"Who told you that?"
Rouge held up her hand. "I did! Knuckles and I saw you get into his car after school." She crossed her arms and raised a brow. "We all know he didn't just drive you home. So, what happened?"
"We went out for ice cream." Amy shrugged. "It wasn't a big deal."
"For who? If you haven't noticed, baby boy hasn't dropped that goofy ass smile since then."
Sally nodded. "It's obvious he likes you." She tilted her head. "Do you like him?"
Blush spread across Amy's cheeks like wildfire. "I like him as a friend."
Rouge scoffed. "Girl, why are you lying? In math class, you're all on him like this." She pushed her chest against Sally's shoulder and pretended to write on her palm. "Okay, Sonic, this is how you do this equation. First, you do blah, then you do blah," she mocked Amy's voice.
The vampire glared at her. "I don't talk like that! And I don't sit that close to him!"
"Honey, if you moved any closer, you'd be on his lap."
Amy rolled her eyes.
"It's okay if you like him," Sally said. "Unlike some of the other fuckboys in this school, Sonic has a sincere heart."
"It's not his intentions I'm worried about," Amy admitted.
"Then what are you afraid of," Rouge asked.
Amy looked down. "My family moves a lot because of my father's job," she lied. "I just don't want to start something that I won't be able to see through."
Rouge put her hand on top of Amy's. "Amy, you've got to stop thinking so hard about the end. You've got to cherish the now. You're not going anywhere yet. There's plenty of time for you to experience what Sonic is offering. Wouldn't you rather take your chances with him as opposed to moving and wondering what could've been?"
"Well, yeah."
"Then do it."
Sally nodded. "You won't know what will happen unless you give it a chance."
Amy shook her head. "Did Sonic pay the two of you to be his wing women?"
Rouge scoffed. "Absolutely not. If he did, then we wouldn't be hooking you up with him. Men who need to pay others to put a good word in for them are usually fuckboys."
"He didn't ask us to do anything," Sally explained. "We've just noticed your connection, and as your friends, we're helping you do something about it."
Amy smiled. "Well, thank you for the pep talk."
"But, you still didn't answer our question: do you like him," Sally inquired.
Amy jumped as the marching band began to play. She watched the band members make their way across the field.
Following the moving orchestra were the football players. They ran out on the field in their red and white uniforms cheering and yelling.
Around the girls, the crowd went wild for the boys. Even Rouge stood up and screamed for her boyfriend.
Despite the bulky helmets, Amy easily identified Sonic. He was scanning the crowd, searching for his crush. When he found her, a smile bloomed on his lips and he waved. Amy smiled back and returned his greeting.
"Yeah," she answered Sally's question. "I guess I do."
Amy watched the game with a tiny smile. She still didn't completely understand all the rules and motions of the games, but she was able to get a gist through the crowd's reactions. She noticed Sonic played football like a pro. What she'd seen in the park had only been a small demonstration of his abilities. The boy was fast. He ran across the field like it was nothing. His opponents could barely keep up with him. Even when they were close, he'd dodge to the side as they were about to leap on him. Each one of them received a mouthful of grass. Amy couldn't help but to smile and cheer whenever he made a touchdown. She stood up and screamed when he made the winning touchdown.
After the game, Adrian was ready to go home. He tugged Amy through the crowd as she continued to converse with her friends. He'd enjoyed talking with Cream for most of the event, but the mortal's scents were starting to cloud his senses.
"Knuckles just texted me and said they're having a bonfire to celebrate their victory at the park," Rouge said. "Do you guys wanna go?"
"Hell yeah!" Sally exclaimed.
Cream smiled. "Yeah, I'll go." She turned to the siblings. "Are you guys coming?"
"No," Adrian replied. "It's been a long week, and I'm tired."
"I'd like to go," Amy said. "Let me ask my father first. Can you guys wait for me?"
"Sure," Sally said. "My car is over there! We'll wait there!"
The three girls left the siblings alone.
Adrian raised an eyebrow at Amy. He didn't express his comments of uncertainty; it'd be a waste of his breath.
Felix was waiting for the two near the hood of the car. He smiled at them as they approached him. "How was the game?"
"Fine," Adrian grumbled. He climbed into the passenger seat and slammed the door shut.
"What's wrong with him," Felix asked.
Amy shrugged. "One of my friends was flirting with him all night. He's probably a little flustered." She waved her hand. "Anyway, there's a bonfire happening at Lake Highland Park to celebrate our team's victory. Can I go, please?"
Felix frowned. "Who are you going with?"
"Some girls from my classes. We won't stay out too long, I promise."
He sighed. "Okay," he said. "I want you home by eleven-thirty."
"Thank you!" She pecked a kiss on his cheek. "I'll see you later." She jogged to Sally's waiting Chevrolet. She hopped in the backseat, and her friend pulled off from the stadium.
The four girls drove down to the local park. Amy held Cream's hands as they trekked their way through the fields towards the lit fire pit. The orange light lit up the smiling faces of the football players, cheerleaders, and other students. In the distance, more silhouettes eagerly flocked towards the fire.
Rouge left her friends to leap into her boyfriend's arms. Sally and Cream spotted Sonic sitting a few feet away from them. Sally nudged Amy in his direction before leading Cream away.
Sonic smiled at Amy when he saw her. "Hey," he said.
"Hi. Great job out there."
"Thanks." He put a hand behind his head and rubbed his neck. "I'm glad you came."
"Of course! After the teaser you gave me at the park, I had to see the full feature." She smiled. "I wasn't disappointed."
He chuckled. "Good." He followed her as she wandered closer to the fire.
As Amy took a seat by the fire, the heat radiating from the flames kissed her cheeks. She admired the orange sparks spurting from the flame and the sound of the crackling wood. If she closed her eyes, she could imagine herself sitting by a fireplace on a couch with a blanket over her body and her head on a lover's chest. In her head, it was Christmas Eve. The house was quiet, and a golden retriever sat at her feet. Her eyes were drooping, but she didn't want to go to the bedroom. That would disrupt the peace. She wanted to cherish it for just a little while longer.
Her fantasy was broken by Sonic's touch. She looked down as he intertwined their hands. His bones felt like glass in her grip. One wrong move and she could break it into a million tiny pieces. She rose her gaze to meet his.
The fire reflected in his eyes. The orange glow illuminated the topazes in his emeralds. The warmth and sweetness of his smile poured out through his gentle stare. She drowned in the pits of his irises, and she didn't fight to get back to the surface.
Their gaze was broken by an abrupt chorus of cheers from some of their classmates.
Blushing, Amy turned her gaze back to the fire. Her foster parents' words echoed through her head. She grappled with the advice, struggling to hold them in her hands. Like her memories, the words slipped through her fingers. Or did they? She tried to make the statement an extravagant, glowing sign at the front of her mind. Hey dumbass, don't get close to the humans! But the sign fell flat. Not because it wasn't stable, but because she'd knocked it down.
She glanced at their intertwined hands. This wasn't supposed to be happening. They shouldn't be holding hands. He shouldn't be sitting so close. She shouldn't be enjoying his company. She shouldn't even be there right then. If she was smart, she'd be home in her bed with a book in her hands. It would've been safer that way. Then, she wouldn't have to worry. But, she also wouldn't feel so warm.
She looked up at Sonic as he scooted behind her. He placed his legs on either side of her and wrapped his arms around her torso. "Is this okay," he whispered in her ear.
His breath on her sensitive skin sent a shiver down her spine. "Yeah," she whispered. "This is fine." She leaned her head back against his chest. With a sigh, she followed her friends' advice. Her eyes fluttered closed, and her body relaxed in his hold. The world slowly slipped away. There were no more classmates or cheering or even the singing crickets. It was only Sonic, Amy, the crackling fire, and the warmth that Amy finally decided to call love.
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