EMERALD FOREST

Disclaimer:

I don't own any characters in this story

CHAPTER 13: ANOTHER GIFT

'And what do these pieces do?'

'Those are "knights",' Rouge explained. 'They can move two forward and one to the side, or one forward and two to the side.'

'They look like horses.'

Amy stared at the chess board. 'And these ones move on diagonals, right?'

Rouge nodded. 'The bishops move on diagonals.'

'Okay, I think I've figured it all out now,' said Amy. 'Can we play?'

'Sure. You can make the first move...'

As Amy played she suddenly remembered when she saw Rouge and Sonic through the window. 'So...what do you think about Sonic?'

'He's okay, I guess,' said Rouge. 'At times he can be a bit annoying…'

Amy thought about what she was going to say next. To Rouge it looked like she was thinking about what her next move was, which was why she found it strange when Amy absent-mindedly moved one of her pieces into the path of one of Rouge's. 'I...once I saw you and Sonic...kissing.'

Rouge stared quizzically at Amy. 'What?'

'I think it was the day after that night out, and Shadow got angry at Sonic. You were playing a video game, and then Sonic leaned forward and…'

'Oh! I know what you're talking about!' Rouge laughed. 'I was just telling Sonic something.'

Amy blushed. 'I thought...you and him...'

'Don't worry 'bout it Amy,' said Rouge. 'It was an easy mistake to make. Your move.'

'Checkmate.'

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Shadow browsed the chocolate store, amazed that there could be so many. Why oh why didn't I figure out what Rouge liked first?

Finally he decided to get a box of Ferrero Rochers, and went to the counter. 'Hey, I remember you!' said the person at the check-out. Shadow looked up to see the same grey bunny that was there when he chose the ring for Rouge.

'You were at the jewellery store!' said Shadow. 'How come you're working here?'

'I have a lot of different jobs,' said the bunny, smiling at him. 'So, what can I do?' Shadow put the box on the counter. 'You going to eat all of them yourself?' the bunny joked.

'Err, no, they're for someone else,' Shadow said.

'Your girlfriend?' the bunny said, still smiling.

'Nah,' Shadow replied nervously. 'Not yet anyway.'

The bunny laughed. 'Well, good luck! That'll be two dollars.'

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'How do you do it?' Rouge wondered.

'Am I any good?' Amy asked.

'Good? You've beaten me six times in a row!'

'You might just suck at chess,' Amy said innocently. Rouge was about to say something when the door burst open.

'It works! It –' Knuckles looked around. 'Why are you playing chess?'

'Amy wanted to learn,' Rouge said.

'What works?' Amy asked, looking up at Knuckles.

'Uh, nothing,' he replied. 'The lawnmower wouldn't work and I fixed it…' He took a deep breath. 'Well, see you later.'

'See ya Knuckles!' said Rouge. Knuckles walked out the front door, along the concrete path and past some bushes that rustled with the wind. He ignored the fact that there was no wind blowing and walked on.

How am I going to drop off this present? Shadow wondered. He watched as Amy and Rouge sat playing a board game of some sort. He sighed as he observed Rouge, admiring her in every way possible… 'Ah, Rouge...' Shadow said dazily.

Rouge's ears twitched. 'What's wrong?' Amy asked.

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'Nothing,' said Rouge. 'I have the strangest feeling that I'm being watched...'

Sonic sighed. 'Why are we still waiting?' Tails asked out of curiosity.

'I have no idea,' Sonic replied. He stood up and walked over to the receptionist desk. 'Excuse me, but we've been waiting here for nearly half an hour, and you said someone would come to take us to our rooms.'

'Sorry for the inconvenience sir,' said the lady hedgehog. Sonic sat back down, and she picked up a phone. 'Send them down. Now.'