UPDATED 22/12/08 – certain things have been corrected and/or re-written to what I believe is better

-Here's Chapter 3. You guys earned it by reviewing my previous chapters. So, enjoy ;-)

Chapter 3

Enter Jake

Amy returned to her apartment and plopped down on her couch, phone in hand. "Let's see…who do I know who is willing to go out with me a few times to make Sonic jealous?" She frowned, considering her options. "I guess the only guys available for the job are Shadow and Knuckles. I don't think either of them is particularly eager to do a favour for me." She sighed. "Oh well – here goes nothing." Amy punched in Shadow's cell phone number with her index finger. The phone line had rung three times before someone picked it up.

"…" Silence on the other end.

"Uh…hello? Is someone there?" Amy asked.

"…Hello?" a deep voice replied.

There's Shadow, Amy thought."Good."

"Amy, is that you?"

"Yes, Shadow, it's me. How are you doing?"

"Relatively well, thank you. And yourself?"

"I'm great."

"Good. So…why are you calling, Amy?"

"Well," Amy started. "This may sound a bit strange, but I need you to do me a favour: I need you to go out with me."

Shadow sucked in a breath through his teeth.

Uh oh. "Hear me out! It-it's an emergency!" Amy insisted.

"Oh, really? How so?" He sounded mildly amused.

"I…have to make Sonic jealous."

"Figures."

"Please, Shadow! I wouldn't ask if it didn't mean a lot to me!"

"Amy, I prefer to not get involved with that sort of thing. You know that," Shadow said.

"But-"

"My apologies." He hung up the phone.

Amy bit her lip. One down, one to go. With considerably less confidence, she dialled Knuckles' cell phone number. This time someone picked up the phone almost immediately.

"Hello?" Knuckles answered with what seemed like impatience. He must have been in a hurry of some sort.

"Hi there. Knuckles?"

"Amy?"

"Yep."

"Not to sound rude, but I sort of have to cut to the chase: why are you calling me up?"

This probably wasn't going to sound any better with Knuckles than it did with Shadow. "I need you to take me out on a date."

"Amy, I'm supposed to be on my way to meet a date of mine right now…"

Amy was surprised. "Oh, I see…wait, who are you dating, Knuckles?"

"Uh…"

She laughed, picturing him blushing and sweating at her question. "Hmm?"

"Alright, alright. It's Rouge. Happy?" he told her.

"I knew that you two would get together eventually," Amy remarked, teasing.

"Listen, Amy, ask Tails…someone…ANYONE…just not me. I really have to run."

Another rejection. "I understand, Knuckles."

"If I had time, maybe I would have been able to help you out. But not now," Knuckles offered.

"Okay."

"Ugh, she's probably gonna yell at me for being late…whatever. Talk to you later, Amy."

"G'bye."

This time Amy clicked the phone off. "Tails is way too young. I'm out of candidates," she mumbled, uncurling herself from her spot on her couch and getting to her feet. "What to do, what to do. Maybe some tea will help me think better."

Amy stood on the tips of her toes to open up her cupboard, only to discover an empty box of green tea. She groaned. "And now I have to make a trip to the grocery store. Fantastic." She snatched her pink coat from an armchair and left the apartment, slamming the door behind her.

"This plan isn't working out," Amy admitted to herself. "I may as well quit trying to-"

SMACK!

Someone bumped into Amy head-on, knocking her to the sidewalk.

"Oh, God, I'm sorry! Here, let me help you up." A handsome hedgehog about Amy's age or a little older stood above her and offered her his hand. His fur had a silver shimmer to it, and his eyes were deep violet. His quills were slightly wild, bearing resemblance to Shadow's, and he wore expensive athletic-type shoes.

"I…um…I…" Amy stammered. It took her a moment to see his outstretched hand, and she accepted it, embarrassed.

The stranger lifted her back to her feet. "I'm so sorry about that. I wasn't watching where I was going."

"No, it wasn't all your fault. I was distracted too," Amy assured him. "Please don't worry about it…oooh!" She grabbed her head, a splitting pain coming up all of a sudden.

"Oh, man!" the hedgehog exclaimed, sounding nervous and guilty. "What's wrong?"

"Headache," Amy responded through gritted teeth.

"I feel awful." He frowned. "Can I take you somewhere to sit until your headache wears off?"

She managed to nod her head.

The stranger took Amy's hand boldly and guided her into a nearby café. He eased her into a chair and took the one opposite her. "I don't think I introduced myself," he said sheepishly. "I'm Jake."

"Amy."

"Amy…that's a beautiful name," he mused.

"Is that a compliment, or are you trying to get into my good graces after you pushed me to the ground and possibly caused me head trauma?" Amy asked him sceptically.

"A bit of both." Jake half-smiled.

"Thought so."

A Few Hours Later –

Jake had sat with Amy all throughout her headache (which, truthfully, had only lasted about twenty minutes) and even afterwards, when they got to truly talking.

However eventually, it became dark outside. Jake was the first one to notice. "Well, it's getting late, Amy. I think I should probably make my exit."

"Me too." Amy rose to her feet. "Thank you, Jake, for the coffee, the company, everything."

"No problem."

What are you waiting for? Ask him out! Amy's subconscious nagged at her. You KNOW he'll do a great job of making Sonic jealous! "Ahem, Jake?"

He looked up and met her eyes. "Yes?"

"Would you…like to call me sometime?"

"Uh, sure." Jake looked surprised, but pleased at the same time.

Amy's heart leapt. Yes! The plan was back in action! "Here's my number." She scribbled it down in pen on her napkin and slid it across the table to him.

He took the napkin in his hand and left the café.

Amy smiled. Step One of the plan was complete: find a suitor. Step Two, on the other hand, would be a little trickier: find out about Sonic's next date.

-Hope you liked that. You guys know the drill, 3 more reviews for next update-