Note: The following chapter does contain song lyrics. Annabelle nor I (Sky Agua) own any of the lyrics. It is owned by musical group The Backstreet Boys.
On that note, I went to see the Backstreet Boys concert and it was AMAZING! Ohmagosh. And Jesse McCartney was there too. *Sqeals* I love their new album and I really love this Christmas song plus I think we all need to step away from the bit of sadness from my last chapter with something a bit more up lifting so… here is the result of a Backstreet Boys fan girl.
Sonic's POV
While we were heading to the house, it started to snow… a lot.
"Did it say on the forecast that a storm was coming?" Ryan asked.
"Do they ever?"
He smirked. "You really have it in for the weatherman, don't you Sonic?"
"Let's just say he didn't keep his word."
"You were counting on a snow day one time or other weren't you?"
"How did…"
He laughed lightly. "The same thing happened with me and my brother when we were kids… a lot actually. So yeah, I know where you're coming from Sonic." He glanced at me. I smiled.
"Hey Ryan?"
"Yeah Sonic?"
"When you saw my mom for the first time, how did you feel?"
"Like I was back in an old school play, I was nervous out of my mind."He chuckled. "I was never much of an actor anyway."
"How about when you talked to her?"
"I fumbled a lot… but after she said a few things, you know the whole welcoming speech and what not, well… I wasn't so nervous anymore… she actually seemed a little nervous too."
I smiled as I imagined Ma nervous.
"Why asking?"
"Just curious."
He glanced at me with a look like he was interrogating me. "Well let me ask you a few things."
"Um, okay."
"How did you feel when you saw Amy for the first time?" I had a feeling he'd ask that… but how do I answer him? I had a feeling he'd knew if I was lying, but I also knew that he wouldn't pry… but he answered truthfully so it's only fair that I do too.
"I felt bad. I had to push this girl away."
"What?" He looked at me confused before looking back at the road.
I sighed. "Look, I was bitter and I couldn't really have a friend without a bully torturing them and me."
"So you pushed everyone away?"
I sighed. "Yeah."
"Then how is she your girlfriend now?"
"Simply put… my mom made me hang out with her the next day and well… I just couldn't deny her."
I heard him giggle. "That's possibly the sappiest thing I've ever heard come from a thirteen year old."
"You can thank Amy for that. Actually you can thank Amy for something else."
"What's that?"
"For me not trying to drive you away." I smirked.
I laughed at the look on his face. "Oh, come on Sonic, you wouldn't…"
"I don't know. But Amy sure insured it."
"Looks like I owe Amy then huh champ?"
"Big time." I smirked.
"What do you think I can do to thank her?" He smirked back at me.
"Mmm, let me think about it. I'll get back to you." Then there was a jolt.
"Whoa!" I saw the panicked look on Ryan's face. The car swerved a bit before stopping at the corner of my street. "You okay Sonic?" He turned to me with worried eyes.
I saw my dad with that face before I blinked him away. I looked at Ryan… I saw what my dad should be and should've been. "Yeah, I'm fine. No worries."
He sighed. "Sorry about that. Normally, that doesn't happen." He got the car moving again.
"It's okay."
He smiled… kind of. I think he was still shaken by the whole losing control of the car thing.
The snow sure was piling on.
"Think you'll stay for a bit?"
"Maybe until this snow stops." I could hear the worry in his voice. He parked and we made our way to the door. Before we could open it though, Ma opened it up with a worried look on her face.
"Oh, Sonic." She knelt down and hugged me. She started stoking my head and I hugged her back. "Oh, thank goodness you're safe."
"I'm fine Ma."
"Oh, good, because you're in big trouble Little Mister." She pulled away and looked at me sternly.
I groaned, "Can you please punish me when we're inside?"
"Oh… right." I saw her flush a little. "Come on in, both of you." We stepped inside and Ma closed the door.
"Sonic!" I looked and saw Amy coming towards me. She pounced on me and I nearly fell. "Oh Sonic, I was so scared," She cried into my shoulder. I held her and stroked her back.
"Hey, it's okay. I'm here now."
She pulled away a little and she… slapped me.
"Ow!" I held my cheek in my hand. "Jeez, what was that for?"
"For being an idiot, you had us worried sick Sonic." She pointed at me.
"I needed some time to myself, is that so much to ask?" I held my hands out as if shrugging.
"You could've said something." She folded her arms over her chest.
"No, I couldn't have. You don't know what happened so do yourself a favor and butt out."
"Sonic!" I heard Ma yell.
I saw the tears in Amy's eyes but she kept an angry face. "You know, I'd probably have a better understanding if you'd just tell me what's wrong."
I sighed. She had me there. I took a deep breath and took a second to calm down. "I'm sorry Amy, I just had a little… meltdown today and I really need someone right now." I held out my arms to her hoping she'd just hug me.
"You should've just said so." She gently gave me the hug I needed. I nuzzled her and she nuzzled me back.
"I probably would have if you didn't slap me."
She stopped and looked up at me. "I'm sorry about that Sonic. I was just…"
"I know." She smiled at me. "It's okay." I gave her another squeeze. I heard a click. I looked and I saw Ryan with his phone out. "Really?" He cannot be serious.
"I couldn't help it." He shrugged.
"They are cute together, aren't they?" I looked in the other direction to see Amy's moms.
"Oh, hey Mrs. Rose and eh, Mrs. Rose," I said kind of nervously.
Amy took my hand and squeezed it. I looked at her and she was smiling. I couldn't help but smile back at her.
"Hey Ma, I'm going to…" My brother came down and trailed off when he saw me. "Sonic!" He came down and picked me up. "Oh, little brother." I heard him sigh of relief. "You… jerk!" Oh great. He pulled me away and held me at a distance. "You nearly gave me a heart attack, are ya happy?" He glared at me… but I could see the worry in his eyes.
"Okay." I shouted a little. "Just so I get it through everyone's heads, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you all worry. Just don't be mad at me okay? I had a pretty rough day."
"You had a rough day?" Shadow looked at me in disbelief.
I brought out the envelope that had the letter from Dad. I put it in the pocket of Ryan's jacket when we made it to his car. "Yeah." He looked at the envelope in shock before setting me down. "I did and can we please just… not think about it." Shadow, Ma and I shared a look and nodded.
"Hang on a minute," Ryan said before looking at Ma. "There's something I think you should know."
"Wait, Ryan." He turned towards me. "You sure now's the time?"
"It's going to be gnawing at me until I tell her and well, it can't make anything worse."
"What are you talking about?" Ma looked from me to Ryan a few times.
Ryan sighed. "I'd rather we be alone." Ma studied him. "Please Elizabeth." Ma looked away from him before sighing.
"Follow me." She led him upstairs.
In my head, I wished him luck.
"Sonic?" I turned to Amy. She had a worried look.
"There's nothing to worry about Amy."
"You always say that." The cheeriness to her voice was gone.
I sighed again. "Amy, I just want to forget today okay? I don't want to talk about it right now."
She got a look of understanding and disappointment. "Okay." She nodded.
"How about some hot chocolate?" Mrs. Rose asked… the hedgehog one.
We all agreed that we needed it. Sure would be nice right now. I left Amy to hang up the jacket and then made my way to her on the couch. She came close and leaned on me. Naturally I wrapped my arm around her while she rested her head on my chest. I heard another click. I looked over at Shadow who… had his phone out.
I looked at him. "Seriously bro?"
"You can't blame me Sonic."
"He does have a point." Mrs. Rose agreed… the cat one.
I somewhat groaned while Amy giggled. She stopped resting on me but kept herself close to me. Eventually we turned on the TV and a Christmas special was well underway. When the hot chocolate came, Ma and Ryan still hadn't come down. I wasn't worried though. We all would've heard any yelling or something. It's not the walls so much as it is that my Ma makes it a point for you to know she's angry.
When she finally came down I saw the tears in both their eyes. Looks like they both just broke down. I took the guess that Ryan was crying over the loss of his friend, Ma though… I guess it was just out of shock. She didn't know what do but saw Ryan crying so… she joined in.
"Ms. Hedgehog?" Amy asked looking at Ma.
"I'm fine. Everything's okay." She somewhat sighed somewhat groaned. "It's been a hectic day is all."
I think I can say for all of us, it's been emotional and confusing. It's Christmas time… we shouldn't feel like this… We should all be coming together and counting our blessings. I wanted to do something to help us out a bit… that's when I thought of something. I smiled.
"Uh, I'll be right back." I sped up to my room grabbed me acoustic guitar and raced back down.
"Sonic?" They all looked a bit confused at me.
"It's Christmas time. I figured a song might get us back into it."
I started to play and sing. The grown females in the room perked up since they recognized it. You see, Ma started humming it, I asked what it was and it was a new song by the Backstreet Boys… I took a listen to it. Seemed like a good song for the time being.
Frost grows outside the window
First kiss under the mistletoe
Oh Oh, Oh Oh
Bells chime inside a steeple
Open the doors see the people sing
Oh Oh, Oh Oh
And when the snow is falling down, down, down
You know that Santa's back in town, town, town
That's when it's Christmas time again
La da la da da da da, la da la da la la, it's Christmas time again!
La da la da da da da, la da la da la la, it's Christmas time again!
By this time, everyone had perked up. Ma and the Roses sang along with me. I walked up to Amy while playing and singing. She smiled, got up, and planted a kiss on my cheek.
We continued…
I've been checking my list twice
Got plans to give you your gift tonight
Oh Oh, Oh Oh
Wake up under a lit tree
One wish came true you're here with me
Oh Oh, Oh Oh
Yeah
And when the snow is falling down, down, down
You know that Santa's back in town, town, town
That's when it's Christmas time again
La da la da da da da, la da la da la la, it's Christmas time again!
La da la da da da da, la da la da la la, it's Christmas time again!
I looked around at the smiling faces. Now this is Christmas. We repeated the chorus a few more times before it ended.
It felt good. I played to lift everyone's spirits a bit. In return, I felt better about today.
We all spent the night in the living room. Okay well, Amy's moms and Ryan did. Amy spent the night with me. I mean, she wasn't going to pass it up. And to tell you the truth, I needed her. For the first time in weeks, I earned a full night's rest with a happy dream. Course I can't remember it but, I'm pretty sure it was nice.
Either way, I felt better…and before I dozed off, I counted my blessings… at the top… was Amy.
Edited by Sky 'The Fox' Agua.