HAHA!

I'm back!

To those who are still around. I have had a long college run and let me tell you. I'm almost done and graduating soon! I started writing this chapter back in Christmas of 2018 and recently finished it! I've been super busy! I'm sorry!

Also, I have been thinking about making a sequel for one of my stories "Bittersweet", but also about creating a new story which I haven't done in four years. I'm still thinking about it, because I have so much in mind, but with so little time. What do you all think?

"Good Things Fall Apart"-Illenium

Chapter 18: Tough

She wasn't able to sleep.

She had kept turning and twisting in bed and before she knew it, it was seven o'clock and it was another day of school. She could barely even remember the event that unfolded the day before. So much happened in one day.

She could remember last night vividly and how she wasn't able to control herself. As his lips touched hers and how soft they were. She had watched movies before where couples would go ham on the kissing and touch each other everywhere and one thing leading to the next…

But Sonic only kissed her lightly and then stepped away before kissing her hand and telling her goodnight.

She was left as stunned, but he meant it. Nothing else was said or done. He had meant that kiss.

She damned the feeling in her stomach and the shivers she'd get just thinking about it. She almost didn't want to face him, because she could already picture his cocky grin.

She arrived to school finally, walking passed the gates and kept her head low. She was alone today. It was nothing like the day before. There was this emptiness to it, but she had to continue with school! She had to continuing moving forward, as her promise to her mother.

"Amy!"

She stopped and her heart almost jumped right out of her chest. She didn't want to turn around, because she knew exactly who it was.

Cream approached her feeling a little uneasy.

Amy didn't want to show her any weakness. She didn't want to let her know she wasn't truly fine. "Hey Cream,"

Cream looked around the area and slowly said, "I saw what happened yesterday,"

She felt tense. There were two things that were situational in Amy's mind, trickling back and forth. It was the dispute she and Sally had gotten into in the cafeteria and the kiss that Sonic gave her. She didn't know which one Cream was talking about. Amy faced her and raised an eyebrow casually.

When Amy didn't answer, Cream presume to continue. "Sally…" She said lowly.

She could hear her pounding heart simmer but feel heavy. She didn't make any reactions Cream was expecting, but she shrugged and turned around to begin to walk to her class. Cream followed behind, now comfortable enough to walk right next to her.

"How much did you see?" Amy asked, her eye peeking over her shoulder at Cream.

"Most of it…" Cream paused, "I heard what you told Sally…"

Amy didn't say anything.

"Amy you didn't have to defend me-"

"I spoke the truth." Amy interrupted. "I was tired of her ignoring it. She's not a real friend and you are,"

Cream watched as a small grin plastered on her friend's mouth as she turned to look over at her. Cream's vision suddenly deteriorated. Water droplets formed in the corners of her eyes and she wiped them away quickly. She felt so grateful to have her friend back in whole!

"I really missed you Amy,"

"Let's go out later for some dessert?" Amy queried.

"Sonic!"

Sally called out for Sonic, who turned around. Unexpecting, it was Sally as she trotted over to his side. Sonic felt his lips frown, but stopped himself half-way before she was able to note it. He smiled really quick and she smiled gracefully at him as she spoke, "Hey! It's been some time,"

"I saw you two days ago," Sonic said in a very normal tone trying hard not to show much of a close friendly personality. He could also feel that Amy would pop out of nowhere and see them. That was the last thing he needed right now.

"How funny then, that we keep meeting like this!" She laughed.

Sonic didn't laugh, he almost felt awkward by it. He looked around hoping that Amy wouldn't appear from anywhere.

"You're going to class, right? Let's walk together,"

She didn't ask, her tone clearly was imposing. Now he understood clearly why Amy had been 'stuck' in this friendship for so long. She was demanding and enticing as a character. She had a lot of charm and wit. And now she wanted to suck him in.

"Hold up Sal—"

"Sonic,"

A deep voice spoke before them, making both their heads glance to the side. Sally's eyes widened as her eyes came face to face with narrowed purple ones. Sonic looked away to the side and held his head upward.

"Knuckles…" Sonic began

He watched as Sally's face changed colors, from blue, green to red with anger and Knuckles looked closely at Sally before recognizing her.

He then turned to Sonic and without mentioning her he said, "We're ditching school today. Shadow and Silver are already waiting outside. You coming?"

Sally was left in a state of shock at the fact that Knuckles had completely noticed her and ignored her presence.

But Sonic was fast and completely stepped in and said, "No, actually. I'll pass today. I have an exam,"

"Cool, cool," Knuckles said with a simple nod and to Sally's surprise. Knuckles hadn't made fun of Sonic, but simple respected his answer. "I'll see you later,"

"Yea, man," Sonic replied and just like that Knuckles left.

Sally looked up at Sonic, meeting eyes with him.

"You good?"

It came out without him thinking, but he knew watching Knuckles ignore her like that must have hurt her. Sally looked a little sad, but she looked to the side and cleared her throat.

"Yea," She said and paused while rubbing her arm. "Thanks,"

Sonic couldn't help but smile. She looked at her realest at that moment. She lightly smiled at Sonic and smiled back saying, "Anyway, I've got to head to class. I'll see you later,"

He left quickly before Sally could say another word and left her there. She stared at him as he disappeared into the crowd. She sighed and held in a whimper.

Right after class was over, Sonic rushed around school wondering where Amy was. He really wanted to see her.

Was she hiding from him?

He arrived to the hall to where Amy's locker was and how hopeful he was when he saw her there putting her books away. Sonic could feel something tugging at his chest, but he was far too excited to approach her that he didn't mind it so much.

"Amy-!"

Mina rushed over to Amy from the other side and Sonic immediately hopped away to a corner. Amy turned to Mina and her eyes widened. She wasted no time, closed the locker door shut and turned around, about to walk away when, "Please, wait!"

Amy froze and winced.

Mina stopped in front of her. "You have to apologize to Sally! Please! And everything will go back to normal!"

Amy turned around, with a straight face. How absurd was it of Mina to even tell her to face Sally again? How absurd of her to assume this was all her fault and a single 'sorry' from her would fix everything. Amy rolled her eyes and without saying anything turned around and walked away. She was official done with that group. Mina's ears fell and her face stared at her appalled.

"I-I'm just trying to help you! Listen to me!" Mina shouted, causing drama again that Amy didn't need. She was about done hearing her blabbering. Any conversations with her was going to make her grumpy. Facing her and narrowing her eyes, her tone turned ominous, "Leave me alone, Mina,"

Mina flinched from her reaction. Amy wasn't someone who showed a lot of her emotions and especially not in front of the entire student body. Although, this was different, she was showing anger which is something Mina herself, wasn't familiar with.

Another reaction that was unexpected; Mina reacted back with the same.

"Gosh why are you acting the victim?!" Mina clenched her fist and it rose up, but before she could do anything, Sonic was standing before the two, his hand detaining Mina with a strong grip of her wrist.

Sonic glowered down at Mina, his eyes penetrating hers. Mina gasped and yanked her hand away, taking steps back. Amy examined Sonic features at that moment. There seemed an indistinct darkness to him and she could see by the way he stood in front of her protectively that he was done with all this that was going on.

"I don't think you're helping her. You're making things worse than they were yesterday," Sonic said indignantly. "Before you try helping with anything, you should try understand the circumstances."

"W-Wha?" Mina fumbled in her words. Left in utter confusion, Mina was speechless. Sonic was defending Amy. 'They know each other?'

Amy cursed at Sonic's presence, but praised him for his help once again. Amy approached Mina slowly and stared at the confused mongoose before saying, "You'll see it on your own with Sally soon,"

With that Amy turned around and Sonic followed leaving Mina standing in the hallway with a bunch of other students sneaking peeks at her.

She was shaking. She could feel it in her thighs. She tried her hardest to keep composure, but he read her like an open book. "You don't have to act like you're tough all the time. Sometimes it's good to show emotions,"

"I know," She said in whisper staring off to the floor. His side-glance gave a worried look, because Sonic knew Amy had been trying hard to hide the fact that they knew each other. Now, everyone knew.

The bell rang and she stopped eruptively. The entire floor of students all scattered around, passing by the two who stood still in the middle of the hallway. She stared at the floor feeling something prickling in the corner of her eyes, but nothing was coming out. Instead it was blurring her sight. His hand grasped on to hers, pulling her out of the hallway and dragging her down the hall. Sonic led her out of the building through an exit door and into the back of the school.

He knew she needed to be away from everyone, but he didn't know how to comfort her at that moment.

"I'm sorry…" He said rubbing the back of his neck. "I just didn't want her to hit you…"

Amy finally looked up at her and her eyes scared him so much that he flinched. Her eyes were red and watery, but none of those tears were coming out. Her face had puffed up into a bright red and she made an ugly face. It was inappropriate to say that she looked cute at the moment, so he only gave her a smile and brought her in for a hug.

It was such a comfort to her that she rested her head on his chest and finally those tears came out.

The sunset shined across the lake. It's pastel colors of orange, yellow, and pink made the scenery majestic. Amy's eyes glistered as she watched the birds fly over and disappear into the sunset. It made her wish she was a bird, flowing high above the clouds, without a care in the world. She felt a presence next to her.

She turned and found Sonic criss-crossing next to her on the grass in front of the lake. He held two ice creams and passed one to her. She grabbed it as she thanked him. She also thanked him for taking her to this view. It was beautiful and relaxing.

"How much was it?"

"Don't worry about it. It's on me," He told her with a grin. Gosh, how she was starting to love that grin. She sighed and shrugged. She didn't bother trying to argue that. She knew he wouldn't let her pay him back.

She licked the ice cream top. Yum. Vanilla. "Thank you for being so kind to me,"

Sonic raised an eyebrow. "Aren't I always kind?"

"Yea, but this time it's not annoying."

Sonic laughed so hard that he rocked back a bit. He held his stomach with his left hand. "I guess." He licked his ice cream. "On a lighter note: Tails told me Cream is a bit concerned over you. You should go talk to her."

"I already have. We spoke today! Even so, she's scared that Sally isn't going to take it too well. She'll pull off something up her sleeve against me like she did with her. I told her not to worry. I can take care of myself." She said defensively.

Sonic shook his head. "If you won't budge. She might keep trying again and again. Like she has with Knuckles. How long can you last?"

Amy's head whipped around intensively, her eyes glowering at him. "I can last!"

Sonic noticed his choice of words and chuckled nervously before saying, "I-I mean you can keep holding it all in forever, but that can really hurt you,"

His words once again left her stunned. She took a big bite off her ice cream avoiding looking like she was stunned. He had a point in a way. She had always been good at keeping her emotions contained, but lately she'd been cracking. Her emotions have been showing more often lately and that scared her. She also knew Sally more than anybody, and she knew she was good at pulling strings and controlling others. When Sally felt betrayed, there was nothing she wouldn't do to get back at you.

Amy swallowed the melted ice cream and sighed. "I'll be careful not to"

Sonic frowned. "You're so stubborn,"

"And you're so persistent," She retorted back.

"I know," He said with full confidence. "Because I care,"

….

It didn't take long before Sally got word of what had happened. The more she asked around, the more information she got and the more it broke her heart.

That all this time Sonic and Amy had been close?!

How come she didn't see the hints in the beginning. When she lied to her about her not knowing why Sonic was talking to her. When he had confronted her when Rouge was there. All the times Amy had gone missing for a while. That group of boys couldn't be trusted and now Sonic had Amy. She knew it all along. First, they took her, then they took Cream and now Amy. It was a plan, she thought bitterly. She clenched her fist thinking that in the end she was played with. She thought Sonic was different, but he was trying to get her too! Trying to make her fall for him, as in a way of getting back at her.

Nothing hurt her more than how hurt she felt right now.

She really liked Amy! She was the only one who really understood her, she thought. Tears ran down her cheeks, but she rubbed them away. There was no room to cry. She needed to take action. She needed to confront Knuckles and his whole team.

She slowly approached a bat that was closing the door to her locker. When the bat noticed her, she looked a little shocked at first, but slowly turned her entire body around and flashed a smirked.

"Sally," She began as she placed her hands on her hips. "You're looking duller than ever,"

"Can it, Rouge." Sally replied drearily. "I didn't come around to fight,"

"Of course not, as if your fight with Amy wasn't enough," Rouge remarked back. She watched as Sally's fists clenched and Sally shook from anger. It was the first time she had pushed a strong bottom on Sally's part. Sally clenched her teeth.

"I just came to ask one thing. Where's Knuckles," She asked.

"You're looking for my boyfriend?" Rouge raised a skeptical eyebrow.

"I need to ask him something,"

"Well, whatever you want to ask him, you can ask me?"

"How long have Sonic and Amy been dating?"

Rouge laughed, "That's your question?"

"Well? "

"You should go ask Sonic himself. That's not a question for Knuckles. I'm going to class," Rouge turned around, but Sally said something that stopped her, "We both know you don't like Amy. And now she's in your group now,"

Rouge peeked from behind her shoulder, a frown on her lips.

"Your cousin. Does she still work downtown?"

Rouge took a moment for her to finally look forward and then waved her hand up in the air."Yea. If you're going to go meet her. Tell her I said hi."

With that she walked away, leaving Sally glaring daggers down the hall at her until she disappeared.

JUICE JUICE JUICE!

I want to thank everyone who still supports and eagerly continue to read everything. A lot probably gave up on this story like I did once.

Again, I probably won't update till next year again, so

Until Years Pass

Take care everyone and stay safe!