Chapter 6: Wanna go out?
Starting at the window, the sunlight slanted across the room and fell on Sonic's closed eyes. He squinted and turned over in his warm bed, and pulled the pillow over his head. He did not feel like waking up today, especially after the ordeal of being taught by Antoine for the duration of yesterday's evening. The guard had acted so know-it-all, and Sonic had to beg Antoine before the coyote even considered. Imagine begging for help from someone you utterly disrespect! It had dealt a severe blow to his ego.
"I am
not teaching you for YOU," the smug guard had stated, "but simply
because ze princess weel be accompanying you."
Well, at least the trial in Hell would have been worth it tonight.
Then he remembered.
"Whoa! Almost forgot…"
He quickly slipped into his shoes and jacket. Moments afterward, he was standing next to Sally's hut. The morning air was chilly, and his breath came out in a mist. It was only a few months till Christmas. The sun had risen at the horizon, and the forest (including Knothole) was just beginning to stir. Animals chattered in the depths of the woods. Birds began their sleepy morning song. Droplets of morning dew covered the blades of grass and leaves, giving them a fresh, shimmering look. All was peaceful.
"This will be a truly happy Christmas, if I pull this off…"
He stood there for several minutes, shuffling his feet. He was so panicky about asking the girl he loved on this date. He had dated her many times before, but this particular date was not going to be and ordinary walk in the woods. Of course, he reassured himself, she would accept, but what about the date itself? He earnestly hoped that he would remember all that Lazer and Antoine had taught him yesterday. He wrung his hands in anxiety, and shoved them into his pockets. The VIP passes were still there. Sonic glanced at the door. He could barely resist the urge to knock. However, he wanted her to be awake for the invitation. All part of "etiquette" or whatever Antoine had called it.
More minutes passed. Sonic was becoming convinced that she had heard him outside and had snuck out through the roof. His stomach felt as if someone was tying it in knots. His heart was beating so loudly; he wondered if it had woken her yet. He leaned next to her door, fervently hoping she would come out before he died from self-inflicted cardiac arrest. He was a hedgehog with nerves.
The door opened!
"Sally!"
"WHA!"
"Hey!"
Sonic jumped away from the door.
"Oh, Sonic! You frightened me!" she groaned. Sonic felt blood rush to his face.
"What an idiot I am!" he thought. "Now she'll never allow me to take her out!"
"Uh, Sally! I'm sorry…"
"Hey! Why were you standing by my door?" she murmured, rubbing sleep from her attractive eyes.
"Well, uh, you see…"
He fumbled in the jacket pocket and displayed the passes. Sally forgot about her sleepiness.
"Th-the Cliff Dome!? Where on Mobius did you get those?"
"Remember that guy I saved yesterday? He owned the place."
"Well, that's great!"
"Yeah…" he stared at the ground and kicked it.
Sally looked at him. Her boyfriend was anxious, an emotion that was practically wiped out from his psyche.
"Is something wrong, Sonic?"
"What! Oh, no, it's just that I want to ask you something…"
She smiled. So that's what those passes were for, she deducted correctly.
"To go on a date?" she asked hopefully.
Sonic gaped at her.
"Bu-but that's the SECOND time someone took the words outta my mouth! What's going on here, a conspiracy against me!?"
Then he caught himself. She was looking at him with those eyes again. The same way she had looked at him after they kissed by a waterfall some days ago. By the Ancient Walkers, he loved her. He smiled back affectionately.
"Sal, you know I would do anything to make you happy."
"So, it's a date then?"
Sonic was intensely aware that she was drawing nearer to him.
"Um, yeah, you could call it that. I can pick you up at eight?"
"Well, Sonic," she said, slurring the words in a way that made his heart melt, "I'll see you tonight."
She leaned forward and planted a kiss on his right cheek. After which she went back inside and closed the door.
Darn, she thought to herself
as she stared at her room, I don't have an evening dress!
Sonic stared blankly forward. So that was it. It was a date. He had wished that kiss had been a little more intimate.
He turned away from the door and stared up at the clear blue sky. Now there was no turning back. He felt a peculiar floating sensation, as if a great weight had been lifted from his heart and mind. His worrisome attitude had been for naught. She wanted to go out with him, and he would sooner give up his sneakers than let something go awry.
When he went for breakfast, his mind was so far off, thinking about Sally, that he tripped over his own foot on his way to the table. He ended up splattering his meal over Antoine's freshly ironed uniform. It had caused a scene, with Antoine whipping out his sword and threatening to remove Sonic's clumsy feet permanently. The proud guard then stamped off to scrub the stain. Sonic's euphoric mood had not been altered one iota. He skipped breakfast and went straight to work, with a smile fixated on his face. Nothing could spoil his mood.
Or, so he thought…