Missing Out
Sonic the Hedgehog and all related characters © SEGA and Sonic Team
Any characters you don't recognize belong to me.
Here's replies to the anonymous reviews from the last chapter:
To Pretty Ricky: Yes, I love that song and I love Bleach. XD Glad you reviewed. Don't worry about the whole love rectangle thing– it will be present in this chapter, be assured. reads over the rest of the message Oh, you're from Detroit too? Hey! Shout out to you!
To Sofia: Ah, ah, ah! I never said whether or not Kano and Amy broke up. snickers quietly But you know how hardheaded Sonic can be sometimes...
To Yuki-Kun!!!: I'm glad you love my story, and even more glad that you've reviewed! Yeah, well you're right that Kano has shown signs of cheating on Amy for the past couple of chapters. And as for Kano and Amy breaking up? Well...you're about to find that out in this chapter.
Chapter 11: How Do You Really Feel?
Ring around the rosies, a pocket full of posies! Ashes, ashes! We all fall down! Ring around the rosies, a pocket full of posies! Ashes, ashes! We all fall down! Ring around the rosies, a pocket full of posies! Ashes, ashes! We all fall down!
--
It was normal sight to see those two play their 'cat and mouse' game all across the city. Moreover, it's pretty hard to ignore the blue and pink blurs zooming throughout the metropolis.
The frilly fabric of her orange skirt brushed upon her tiny pink legs, as her petite black shoes clacked against the concrete surface. Her short bangs and quills moved in rhythm with the wind as she pursued her chase for her "love".
"Sonic!", the girl cried out. She panted as she ran. "Sonic, wait up!"
The boy merely smirked. "Catch me if you can, Amy!"
She huffed. Those five words were the usual ignition of their frequent game.
"Come on! That's not fair! You know that I can't run as fast you!"
"Hahaha!", the boy laughed as he sped off ahead of her, a trail of neon blue coloring his path.
Young Amy Rose slouched onto the dry grass and sighed in defeat. "Oh, that Sonic! Always running away." She pouted as she gently ran her gloved hands through the blades of grass. "All I wanted to do was talk to him..."
"Well then talk to me then!"
The pink hedgehog gasped at the figure standing above her. "Sonic!" she huffed once more. "What are you doing here? Don't you have somewhere to run to?"
"Um, no.", the young royal blue hedgehog retorted. "I just ran off ahead to get these." Amy watched intently as he pulled out two popsicles seemingly out of nowhere.
Sonic smiled, as he handed her the orange one. "Orange is your favorite flavor, right?"
Amy nodded. "Yup!" Just as she about to the lick her frozen treat, a nagging thought struck her. A sly, childish smirk curved at her lips, as she flashed Sonic a coy stare.
Sonic soon felt the uneasy burden of 'being watched', and oddly rivaled her glare with a confused glance. He was beginning to become a bit nervous. Of course, he wasn't going to let her know that.
"What are you looking at me like that? What's with the weird stare?"
She grinned widely. "You can't deny it anymore, Sonic! I know you love me! How else could you have known that my favorite popsicle flavor was orange!"
"LOVE YOU?" The two words were practically spitted out of his mouth, as if he just drank some flat soda. "Oh c'mon Amy, everybody knows that you always get an orange popsicle from the ice cream truck!" He stuck out his tongue in disgust. "I-I don't love you! Especially with you giving me all of those cooties hugging me all of the time!"
Amy stuck out her tongue as well– which was now colored a tangy orange.
"I don't want your stinky boy cooties on me either! Hmph!"
"Good!", Sonic exclaimed as he continued to chow down on his cherry-flavored treat. "Hey Ames, let's have a contest. Last one to finish their popsicle has to buy the winner a chili dog!"
She flashed him a playful frown, before finally giving in to his request.
"All right, you're on!"
With that, the two hedgehogs engaged in a popsicle eating war. Both of them sloppily licked their cold treats as the fruity juices from it splattered all over their faces.
Suddenly, at the same time, Sonic and Amy both threw down their popsicle sticks to the ground, stuck their fingers in their ears, and yelled,
" Ah! Brain freeze!"
What?!
I can't believe that just happened... I cannot believe that just happened...
No, no, no, no, no... I let this happen twice? Twice?!
I sighed in defeat as I slowly slumped onto the rough, concrete street. My fists were balled up in a tight, sweaty grip, moisture literally dripping onto the ground.
This is so stupid.
How could I have let this happen? Something must be wrong with me. There's something wrong with me. I mean, for me to lose... twice? To him? Shadow?!
I'm Sonic the Hedgehog, the fastest thing alive. I don't lose. I don't fail at anything. I don't get tired.
Pathetic, he says.
Heh, pathetic? I'm damn sure not pathetic. The asshole wins me over a couple of times, and now all of the sudden, I'm inferior to him. Bullshit.
Tails placed a hand on my shoulder. "...It's okay, Sonic. It was just a race...no big deal..."
No big deal? No big deal?!
I scoffed. "No big deal? Tails, this is the second time I lost to Shadow! If that's not a big deal, then I don't know what is!"
"It's not a big deal.", Tails stated again. "You and Shadow run at pretty equal speeds- er, well Shadow skates but same deal." I groaned irritably. "Point is that Shadow is pretty much the only one who can beat you in a race. It's not that surprising that he won."
I sighed again, as I gradually rose from the ground. "...I guess. Whatever."
Even if he is just about as fast as I am, that still doesn't sit right with me that he won over me... twice. Two times. The thing that really gets me is why... I'm so angry in the first place. I never used to get this worked up if I lost a fight... even if it was against Shadow.
I sighed once more. Yet another thing that has changed about me.
Tails pumped his fist together enthusiastically. "C'mon Sonic! You just can't sit around here moping all day! Let's go do something!"
I cast him a confused glance. Since does Tails want to hang out on a Friday night? Usually whenever I would ask Tails if he wanted to hang, he would sigh and give me that 'Sonic, I'm only nine years old! I don't want to watch Die Hard with you!' or 'I only have a few more remodifications to make to the X-Tornado. Give me 'bout ten minutes!' I would like to see the day that fox actually "finishes remodifications on the X-Tornado" in ten minutes.
"That's my line...", I finally muttered, slightly annoyed. "And since when are you so gun-ho to do something on a Friday night?"
"Since right now!", Tails exclaimed. "Anything to get you out of this slumped state!"
I scowled. "You make it sound as if I'm some emo."
He cast me a sly smirk. "The way you're acting right now, you might as well be one."
What the –?! Why the little...
"Why you–!" I quickly locked Tails in a painful yet playful noogie. I knew he was just joking, but still. Nobody gets away with calling me an emo! "Take it back!"
"Ahahaha! Sonic!", Tails shrieked through his fits of laughter. "Cut it out! I didn't mean it! I didn't mean it!"
I laughed as well. "Are you sure?"
"Yes! Hahahaha!"
"So, have you learned your lesson of insulting Sonic the Hedgehog of being an emo?"
"Hahaha! Why are you talking in third person?"
"Answer the question!"
"Okay, you're not an emo! Now, let me go!"
I smiled satisfied as I released my flustered friend from my torture.
That actually felt kind of good. Sure not on Tails' part, but on my part. Sure. I mean, I don't even feel as down about losing to Shadow...again. Well, I'm still pretty pissed about it, but for now...I guess I can set that situation aside.
Wait. Wait a minute... it's Friday night? Really? Oh crap... I think I was supposed to do something tonight... I think. Shit...
"Sonic?", Tails scrunched his nose in confusion. "Why so tense? What's the–
"The party!"
"The what?"
The party? Did I just blurt that out? I don't remember being invited to any– oh yeah, that's right. That invitation Knuckles and I had gotten at the Emerald Coast last Friday. And then, I remember telling the people in charge of the bash that I would be there. Damn it, how could I have forgotten? I could've sworn it was like Tuesday or something like that still. This week went by fast. A little too fast...
"You were invited to a party?", Tails questioned. "What party were you invited to? A chili dog fest?"
"Haha, very funny.", I retorted wryly. "No really, it's this party at this club I was invited to last Friday."
He gasped. "The club? But you just turned fifteen in June! You have to be at least eighteen to get in—
Jeez, sometimes I think he thinks he's the fifteen-year-old and I'm the nine-year old. Heh, Tails, Tails, Tails. I swear, I don't know what I'm gonna do with him.
I ceased his ranting by placing a finger on his ips.
"Chill out, buddy. It's some teen club that's hosting this huge party for this teen sponsorship program. Nothin' big."
"Oh...", Tails murmured. I frowned at the downcast look in his eyes. "Are you going?"
I nodded. "Yeah. I already gave my word that I was coming. You know that I never go back on my word."
"I know.", Tails retorted, flashing me a disappointed smile. "I was just hoping, you know we could...you know." He hesitated a bit before continuing. "We don't hang as much as we used to Sonic..."
"What are you talking about, Tails?", I inquired, kind of surprised. "Of course, we hang out a lot. I go over your house enough times for you to be sick of seeing my face!"
Seriously, I don't get why Tails would say something so...stupid. What would make him say that we don't hang out a lot anymore? We're hanging out right now, aren't we? Jeez!
"Tails?"
He shook his head. "Mm, nevermind. Forget I said anything about it! Hahaha!"
I frowned. "Tails..."
"Oh come on, Sonic!", Tails exclaimed, as he playfully slapped me on the shoulder. "As you said yourself– chill out! Don't worry about what I said, I wasn't thinking! Go on to the party! I'll just go over Cream's house and play with her there."
I decided not to crack some crude joke about him "playing" with Cream, and merely waved him off.
"If you say so, Tails. Later." I stated as I sped off.
We don't hang out as much as we used to Sonic...
Tails... I wonder what's up with him. It's not like him to be so somber so suddenly. Meh, it's probably not too bad. I'll just swing by his workshop tomorrow. No sweat.
Besides, right now I have to focus on this party.
I groaned. I've never actually been to a huge, blown-out party. Sure, I've been invited to like a million, but I never actually went to one. The biggest party I've ever been to was that one huge summer Tails and I threw last summer at his house. At least I knew everybody there.
At this party, I won't know but a few faces– yet, everybody will know me. What joy. Gives me less of a chance of being a wallflower, I guess.
7:46 PM
The party starts at 8:30. Damn, I need to get ready. But I don't know what to do to be ready. Man, where's somebody with class when ya need 'em?!
Amy Rose
Station Square City Park- 7:38 PM
I eagerly poked my head out from my dwindling deck of Uno cards. For the last two hours, Cream and I have been at it, battling each other in the risky, frustrating "war" of Uno.
I know, I know. We probably look like old ladies playing cards in the freakin' park. Who cares? This is what Cream and I do when we hang- a thing which we haven't been doing very lately. I admit, I have been spending a bit of time away from her lately, so today I thought would be a good to day to catch up. While I had the time at least.
So far, out of the seven games we've played, I have won four of them. Cream managed to pull two wins over me, and we only had one draw.
Anyways, I was down to my last three cards: two blue 5s and a yellow 3. Heh, no sweat! This game has been in my favor although Cream is putting up a pretty good fight. Too bad it's not good enough. Fifth win, here I come...
A tight smirk curved my lips. "Your move, Cream." She too, had three cards left.
She nodded, returning my smirk, as she gently laid down a red 2.
Dang it... now, I have to draw. I could feel her anxious glare boring right into me, waiting for my reaction to her play. I tried to keep a straight face, but I knew I couldn't keep up the facade for long.
Cream grinned with delight as she watched me draw a card from the deck.
"Yay! Get ready Amy, I'm gonna win this time!"
Cheese cheered. "Chao, chao!"
"Ha, I wouldn't count on it!", I exclaimed equally enthusiastic.
I looked at the random card, I just drew. Man, it better be a red or two...
Green 4.
I'm screwed.
Cream eyed me suspiciously. "Do you have a red or two, Amy?"
I shook my head hesitantly.
"I do—
Ring! Ring! (My ring tone is irrelevant.)
I sighed a big sigh of relief. Saved by the bell– sort of literally.
"Ah...", I grinned sheepishly as I reached for my cell phone in my pocket. "Excuse me."
Cream and Cheese nodded.
I hurriedly stepped off to the side. I didn't even bother to look at the caller ID.
"Hello?"
"Amy! Amy, where are you?!"
I cringed at the loud voice through my phone.
"Chill out Rouge, what are you trying to do make me deaf?"
A wry laugh came from across the line. "Where are you at?"
"I'm at the City Park with Cream and Cheese, playing Uno."
"Uno, eh? Well, while you're playing Uno, I hope you didn't forget where you're going tonight."
"What are you talking about the party?", I questioned.
"No Amy, I'm talking about sex. Yes, the damn party!"
I huffed. "I know I'm going to the party tonight, okay? But, I've got plenty of time. The party doesn't start until 8:30. And right now it's–
"7:50."
"What?!" I gasped. "No way! I could've sworn it was still like seven..."
"Time flies when you're having fun, honey. Something told me to call your disorganized ass."
I growled irritably. "Rouge, why you—
"Rose, while you're muttering your angry curses, you might want to start heading back to your house, to get ready."
I looked back at Cream, whom was playing with Cheese in the leaves. Oo...I don't feel right leaving Cream alone like this. Not to mention, we're right at the climax of our game! Even though, I was gonna lose...
"Amy? Amy, come on. You're still going right?"
Cream
I... I guess, I can go. No, no, no. What do I mean, I guess? I am going to that party! I have to have time to enjoy myself too! Cream will understand.
Rouge let out an agitated sigh. "Amy? Amy, did you hang–
I pumped my fist into the air. "Don't worry, I'll be there alright!", I exclaimed.
"Mm-hm, I knew you'd come around. I'll see you there."
"Bye." I rushed back over to where Cream and Cheese were, and grabbed my purse and jacket.
Cream cast me a peculiar look. "Where are you going?"
I glanced at her. "...I'm sorry, Cream. I have to go.", I stated.
"Aw...", the hazel-eyed rabbit pouted playfully. She cast me an understanding smile. "I understand. We can play another day. Right, Cheese?"
Cheese swirled around in delight. "Chao, Chao!"
I smiled. Well what do ya know? She is okay with it. I knew she would understand! At least, now I won't have some guilty conscience on my shoulders the whole time I'm there. I just wonder how long 'later' is going to be...
"Well in that case, I'm off!", I yelled as I began to dash out of the park. "You know how I take an eternity just to pick out what I'm going to wear! Tell your mom, I said hello!"
Cream and Cheese waved after me. "Goodbye, Amy! I'll be sure to tell her that!"
"Chao, Chao!", Cheese squealed.
Jeez, I knew I should've brought my watch with me! If it was 7:50 when Rouge called, then at least three minutes have passed– which means less time in the shower! Crap!
Sonic the Hedgehog
8:35 PM- Da Club
I agreed to go to this party. What I didn't agree to, was getting dressed up.
I mean, it wasn't like I was in a fancy tuxedo or anything to that extreme. (I don't even want to think about it.) Just a casual white buttoned down shirt with black slacks. Of course, I still had on my nifty soap shoes. I even had on my silver and green glasses back from when I was competing in the EX Grand Prix. All outfit compliments go to Kiyo; the only one on our team with some sense of fashion. I do have to admit, I look pretty cool.
I irritably fidgeted with my collar. It was so itchy!
Knuckles eyed me weirdly. "Why are you fidgeting around so much? You have a rash or something?"
I shook my head as I continued to fidget. "No, it's just this damn collar..."
"Quit moving around, and the itch will go away.", Kiyoshi stated. "People are looking at you, like you're crazy."
I shrugged. "So, who cares?", I grunted. "What are they gonna put in the news? 'This just in! Sonic the Hedgehog is seen outside the local teen club, Da Club, fidgeting with his collar! What a fool! Ahahaha!"
They both let out a hoarse chuckle. Too bad, I wasn't the one they were chuckling at. More like, the group of girls behind us whom were giggling annoyingly in a bunch. The ones who were actually laughing at me. Go figure.
Heh. I guess it wouldn't hurt to play with these girls' hearts a little. I slowly turned around to the girls, and showed off my trademark smirk. Their giggling only increased, unfortunately. Jeez, that was a bad move.
"Great job! You're really smart you know that hedgehog?", Knuckles hissed under his breath. He punched my arm. "Now they're giggling even more! God, what I would do to shut them up!"
I grinned sheepishly. "Ehehehe, sorry!"
Just then, the line began to move up. Ugh, finally! We're going in!
The club wasn't actually half-bad looking. It was like one big room, the room being pitch black besides the multiple neon lights shining down upon all the guests. Signs and advertisements of the teen sponsorship company running this party, The SS Teen Relief Fund, were decorated all over the place. There was even a long, large bar along the back wall. It seemed to have some tropical theme to it, with miniature palm trees scattered around it, and the bartenders wearing colorful leis. Already, the oversized stereos were bangin' and filling the room with loud music. Right now, some hot hip hop song was being played. Kind of funny, how once somebody stepped through that door, they just automatically busted out dancing once they've shown their ticket. I wasn't even fully in the club yet, and I was already beginning to dance a little bit.
We all pulled out our special 'black ticket' to gain access into the club, called the Da Club. I scrunched my nose funnily at the name. Da Club?
"Well, that's an original name.", Kiyoshi remarked, glancing at the multicolored neon sign. He snickered. "I wonder what genius made that name up?"
"Hey, it may be a dumb name, but the name sells. People like it. Business is business. Thought you would've known that pixie."
Knuckles groaned irritably. I snickered aloud. Ha, I knew that voice anywhere.
Kiyoshi laughed. "Haha, figures you two would be here." He dug his hands into pants pockets. "Especially you, Rouge."
Rouge smirked, placing a hand on hip. Her tight, black mini dress clung to her body as she moved. "Well hey! A girl can party can't she?" She winked at Knuckles. "Besides, when I heard this knucklehead was coming, I had to come see it for myself."
He growled. "Knucklehead? This knucklehead is going to bust you upside the head, if you don't go away!", Knuckles scowled, putting his fists up.
"Chill out, Knuxie.", Rouge lightly shoved him in the shoulder. "It's a party! Don't be lame. Live it up some!"
Knuckles huffed. "Whatever." Kiyoshi just laughed.
Amy was giggling a little too, standing silently beside Rouge. She was so quiet... I had almost forgotten she was there. I don't get it. We're all her friends. She may act quiet around me, but with Rouge? And Knux and Kiyo? Wait, what am I saying? She's quiet because of me. I could feel my heart starting to go on autopilot, it was beating out of control. I couldn't even really see her, cause she was standing in a dimmer light. She may not want to talk to me, but I at least have to say something.
I grinned. "Hey, Ame-Amy. Amy. Long time no see, eh?"
I felt grateful for her to even look at me, casting me a small grin. When she smiled, the lights beaming on her suddenly shone brighter, revealing just how beautiful she looked at that moment. Sure, what she was wearing was pretty casual: a short-sleeved silver silk blouse with a short jean skirt with sparkles and silver flats. Her quills have grown a little longer, and were pinned up in a spiky bun, along with her silver jewelry glimmering in the light.
I wasn't eye-goggling her or checking her out, or nothing perverted like that. I didn't even bother to check out how her boobs were or how close or far off she was to having that "perfect shape". I just... couldn't look away from her.
I almost didn't catch what she had said.
"Oh come on, you make it sound two years have passed! We just saw each other at the Chaos Festival, remember?"
Yeah, but that was a week and half ago.
I grinned sheepishly. "Oh yeah, I remember. Ehehehe, you know how quickly I forget things." I cast a stray over to Knux and Kiyo. They had moved over a little bit with Rouge, still talking. I growled under my breath. Those jerks. They didn't have to move away.
"Sonic?"
I turned back to her absent-mindedly. She frowned a bit, as she began to turn her back to me.
"...I guess, I'd better get going. Later."
I don't get it. Why does she wanna walk away all of the sudden? We just started talking!
I nodded, and waved. "Yeah, I guess so. Later." I had one last thing to say. "But hey, Amy..."
She looked at me intently. "Hm?"
That same sheepish grin began to curve my lips again. "Amy." I spoke a louder. "Amy...you look really nice." I gave her a thumbs up and giggled. Her small grew a little wider than before.
Before she could even utter whatever form of 'thank you', she was going to, a random hand rested on her shoulder, and briskly turned her around.
The light behind her was dim, so I couldn't see who had just turned her around like that. I almost was about to turn her right back around, just in case it was some horny bastard tryin' to put his hands on her. I was just about to... until my arms fell short of their reach. Her arms were circling around the shadow's figure.
"Hey."
I heard him once, and I already knew who the mystery guy was. I frowned, allowing a faint growl to escape my lips. Seriously, of all the people...
Amy murmured softly. "Hey. Listen, I'm sorry I didn't call earlier. I got caught up in something I was doing, and I sort of lost track of time."
"Heh. What were you doing? Shopping?"
She fell silent for a bit. "...Yeah."
The voice chuckled a bit, and gently moved her hands from around him, taking her hand.
"Hey c'mon, this isn't a slow song! This song is hot! C'mon, let's go out there."
Amy nodded enthusiastically, allowing him to pull her away into the crowd. For that brief second, the he was in the now dimming light, flashing me a cocky smirk, as he ran into the crowd.
My frown distorted even more. I tell ya, that guy really pisses me off. That Kano.
Sorry for the long wait. Life is being a bitch again. But that's an excuse. The real delay? My computer broke down all of May, and just got fixed a couple of days ago. Playing my Pokemon Diamond game also held me up. But now I've finished the chapter... and already beginning to plot the next chapter!
I'm really not feeling the chapter title right now, so sooner or later that's going to change. I'm just braindead right now...
The beginning of the chapter, with the scene featuring Sonic and Amy as kids is actually what's going on in Sonic's head as he is racing against Shadow. I was just going to skip to scene following the flashback, but it didn't work out quite as well. I know, I know, this chapter just featured the beginning of the party, and the SonAmy moment wasn't really that big of a deal. Don't worry, next chapter is where things will start heating up. I might put up a oneshot later on following this chapter. That is... if I write it out enough to my satisfaction.
Till then, peace out.
