"Okay…so why did you call us all here?" a certain red echidna asked, irritated. He didn't like being taken away from the Master Emerald, but Tails said it was urgent….and well, if it was a first priority, it was a first priority.
"We called you all here because Amy and Cream have been captured by Eggman," Tails explained.
"Why doesn't that surprise me?" Shadow mumbled, not expecting an answer.
"Anyway, before we continue, Sonic has to tell you guys something," Tails cast a glance at his friend, who was fidgeting.
Everyone waited for the blue hedgehog to speak.
"Um…" Sonic tried desperately not to blush. Silence.
"JUST LET IT OUT ALREADY!" Knuckles exclaimed.
"I like Amy."
The blue hedgehog said it so fast; nobody could understand what he said….well, except for Shadow.
The black hedgehog grinned. "The faker…in love…."
"Don't you say a word," Sonic growled.
"Make me."
Sonic forced himself to stay put.
"Will someone please tell me what's going on?" Knuckles asked.
"I like Amy! There, you happy!" Sonic demanded, not intending to yell, but he did.
Knuckles' mouth dropped open.
"Sonic…calm down…." Tails whispered.
The blue hedgehog shook his head and before you could blink ran out of the room, and outside.
Nobody said anything.
"Should I go after him?" Shadow finally asked.
Knuckles broke into laughter. "That is the best joke I've ever heard!"
Everyone stared at him.
"It's not a joke," Rouge informed.
"….it isn't?" Knuckles searched the others' faces for any sign of lying, but none whatsoever.
"I'm going to go talk to him. Tails, tell them two the plan. I'll be back shortly," with that said, Rouge left the room.
……
Running. It was a way of relaxation…well, one of exercising for most, but not for Sonic. When he ran it was like leaving the world he was in and entering a new one, where nothing mattered. It was just the way he wanted…but this time, running only seemed to make his thoughts collide with one another.
Amy. How did she finally make him love her? How? What was it about her that triggered that tug at his heart? It only started today, and he knew that…but what made it happen? Her look? Okay…so she did look good. No, she didn't look good. She didn't look great. She was beautiful. Was it her attitude? Well, she could be stubborn at times….annoying….determined….but, she was kind, graceful and caring. What was it? Then, it struck Sonic. It wasn't just one thing about her. It was everything about her. Sonic would never admit it, but he loved her jade eyes and how they sparkled when she was happy. He loved her perky attitude and her determined spirit. He loved how graceful she was when she ran. He loved hearing her joyous laughter ring through the air whenever he took her running. He loved everything about Amy.
"Sonic!" a voice broke his thoughts the hedgehog stopped running, and turned to see Rouge land in front of him.
"What are you doing here?" Sonic demanded, agitated.
Rouge sighed. "I'm just here to tell you that you need to calm down. Running away like that was uncalled for," the bat informed.
"So?" the blue hedgehog replied, avoiding the bat's stern gaze.
"Sonic…you've got to stop trying to keep everything to yourself! For once, you're actually telling people your inside feelings….and then, you just blew it away once more!" Rouge replied.
"I don't understand a word you're saying," Sonic muttered.
The bat sighed. "Didn't it feel better when you told someone how you felt?" she asked suddenly.
Sonic was taken aback. "Well…sorta…."
"Was it better than keeping all your feelings bottled up inside?" she inquired.
"What are you getting at?" Sonic retorted.
"Nothing. I'm just saying that perhaps it's better to tell someone how you feel than to keep running off," Rouge said.
"Yeah? Well, what do you know? You don't know HALF of what I feel right now! In fact, you probably don't know anything! You always think it's easy to get people to believe you love them, when it's not! You don't understand—"
"YES I DO!"
Sonic jumped in surprise.
"Sonic, it's YOU who doesn't understand! How long do you think I've been trying to get Knuckles to realize I love him? All you realize it, but him and his hard head makes it difficult! I want him to know; I want him to love me back—but he just doesn't get it!" Rouge exclaimed.
Sonic looked down, and murmured. "All least you tell someone how you feel."
"And you can, too. It doesn't take much, Sonic. All it takes is some ears, a mouth, and a heart," Rouge said.
"I know…but it's hard. Back there I told them how I felt…and they made me feel…I dunno. I just don't want to go through that again," Sonic said, leaning against a nearby tree.
"Sonic—"
"No, Rouge. For me, it's better to keep my feelings to myself—and that's that," with that, Sonic ran off, heading back to Tails' workshop.
Rouge sighed. "When will he learn?" she whispered. But deep down, she could feel her heart say, "But when will you learn?"