This chapter has been updated as of 09/08/2020

Monday, November 15th, 12:46pm, Station Square Academy

Amy knows that she should be focusing on her school work, she really does, but it's just so boring! Her weekend was so fun, and this weekend will be even better! How can anyone expect her to focus on the finer points of grammar when she has such a cute new swimsuit to woo Sonic with?

On Friday, Amy had called Sonic after school and see if he wanted to go on a date the Saturday of Rouge's party, only to find out that he would actually be attending it. Just because he won't be swimming doesn't mean he doesn't want to listen to music and hang out with his friends, he'd pointed out. Which makes sense, now that she thinks of it. Still, she'd been pretty disappointed to find out that she wouldn't be able to get some one-on-one time with him, until she'd realized what a perfect opportunity for wowing him it would be. They'll both be there, which means she can wear her cutest swimsuit for him. Even now, the thought puts a smile on her face.

She'd immediately called up her friends and asked if they wanted to go to the mall with her to buy new swimsuits for the party, and they'd all agreed. Saturday was spent shopping: since her previous cutest swimsuit—a red and two-piece with little yellow hearts all over—had failed to catch his eye, she'd gone with something entirely different this time. A red and white two-piece with very high-waisted red bottoms and a modest white top with a big knot in the front. If he didn't like showy bikinis, then it stood to reason that cute and classy was the way to go. At the mall, Amy and her friends took selfies together and got into shenanigans, and then Sunday was spent scrapbooking their adventures.

Even now, on Tuesday, the only things Amy can focus on are her recent mall trip and the upcoming pool party. This week can't go by fast enough as far as she's concerned!

Eventually the day ends, and Amy heads to the front of the school to meet her friends. Maybe Sonic will be there today! He'd said that Tuesdays are free….

Sonic isn't there when Amy reaches the front of the school, but neither is anyone else. Since Cream is going to Blaze's house today, Sonia to Rouge's, and Manic is who-knows-where, Amy decides to wait. Maybe Sonic's just running late? He does that sometimes. A lot of times, actually. He's very busy.

At fifteen after Amy determines that he probably isn't coming, mainly because she really should get going if she wants to have a snack before Shadow gets there. Though, perhaps he'll be less strict today? He did agree to stop being a butt, after all, and only butts don't let people have their snacks. Still, best not to chance it until they're actually friends.

...

Shadow is reading a book on the bench in front of her building when she gets there, and for a moment she just stares, caught off guard by his hair. The red streaks, normally so subdued in her condo, practically gleam in direct sunlight; they're so vibrant they don't even seem real. He glances up and a flicker of surprise crosses his features. Amy hastens to say something, hoping her staring can be misconstrued as trying to recognize him. As if she'd ever forget such striking features.

"Shadow? What are you doing here?"

He raises an eyebrow. She's really starting to hate that expression. "It's Tuesday," he points out.

"Well yeah, but you're early."

He shrugs. "What am I supposed to do? Go home for fifteen minutes and then head over?"

She... hadn't actually considered that. "So, what, you just wait out here until three?" He shrugs, expression neutral, and returns his attention to his book. "Oh, well... do you want to come up now?"

He blinks at her for a moment before checking his phone. "It's only two forty-three," he points out.

"Yeah, but there's air conditioning inside and dad bought gelato. That gives us plenty of time for a pre-study snack."

The slightest furrowing of his brow indicates consideration, and she reminds herself to give him a moment to think. "What flavour?"

"We have salted caramel and red velvet."

If Amy weren't watching his face so intently she might have missed the way Shadow's pupils dilate ever so slightly at the words 'red velvet'. She's not entirely sure she didn't imagine it, to be honest. He frowns for a moment as if debating something before finally putting his book in his bag and getting up. "I suppose it makes more sense to wait in your condo, if you are not opposed to my company."

She gives him a funny look. "Why would I offer if I were," she asks as they make their way into her building. He snorts, but otherwise ignores her question. Probably for the best, it was rhetorical anyways.

Amy doesn't bother asking before getting Shadow a bowl of red velvet gelato and herself the salted caramel, hoping she'd read him correctly. If not, she could always hand him the other and play it off as a joke. He's unable to mask the flicker of surprise that crosses his features when she hands him the bowl, and she's unable to mask her triumphant smile. "That's the one you wanted, right?" she asks as sweetly as she can manage.

"Yes," he answers slowly, a frown overtaking his features. "How did you know?"

She knows it's wrong, but seeing him off balance, even if it's only the tiniest bit, makes her want to tease him. Just a little, mind you. "You were very obvious," she says with a shrug while taking a bite of the salted caramel. He doesn't say anything else as they eat, but his brow doesn't unfurrow until the dishes are in the sink and they've taken their usual places at the table. Apparently the idea of anyone being able to read him is more than a little unsettling, which is... interesting. Knowing that he can be unsettled makes him less intimidating. He still is, but more in the way that Rouge is and less in the untouchable way that celebrities are.

After they eat, the first thirty minutes are spent just going over what Shadow taught Amy last week and then, true to his word, they take a five minute break.

"So have you just been waiting out there before each study session?" Amy asks as she brings them each a glass of water.

"Yes. Is that a problem?"

"Not at all, it's just surprising. I didn't see you last week."

Shadow shrugs. "To be fair, I doubt you were keeping an eye out for me."

"I guess. Still, you should walk home with me on Thursday."

For a moment it looks like he's going to protest, but he must realize that there's no polite or logical way to do so given the circumstances, because he eventually says "I suppose I could do that."

She grins. "Awesome, meet us by the main entrance after school."

"Us?" Shadow repeats, a sharp edge creeping into his voice.

"Oh, yeah. I usually walk home with my neighbour Cream, along with Son-" she cuts herself off, remembering her promise. "...ia. Sonia. And some other people, if they don't have other plans."

The corner of Shadow's mouth quirks up into something dangerously close to a smile. "Nice save."

She ducks her head for a moment, before peeking up at him through her eyelashes and giving him a tentative smile. He blinks at her for a moment before turning his attention to the window with a bored expression, and Amy wonders if maybe it's all just an act. Maybe, secretly, he's just shy around new people. She decides to let him off the hook this time and spends the rest of her study break playing a dress-up app she's mildly addicted to. You don't befriend people by blowing past all their boundaries in one sitting, after all.

They study for another thirty minutes and then take another break. Amy tries to crack her back but can't quite manage it. She gives up after a minute and turns to Shadow. "So, how did you spend the weekend?"

"I worked on a personal project."

She waits for him to elaborate, but he doesn't so she moves on. "That sounds fun." Is it rude to tell him about her own weekend unprompted? It seems rude. Then again, if she doesn't, what should she say instead? "My friend Rouge is throwing a pool party on Saturday, so I bought a new swimsuit," she tries. He glances up at that.

"Any idea how many people are going?"

"Ah, not really? A lot, probably. She's friends with, like, half the school. I mean she's really hot and funny, so it makes sense. But, uh, I know Blaze and Cream are going, and Sonia and Sonic. Not sure if Manic's going, though. But, um, probably a couple dozen others too?"

Shadow nods, though something in his expression seems... troubled? "That's not surprising, Rouge knows everyone."

"Are you going?"

He grimaces. "Unfortunately."

Amy frowns. "What do you mean?"

He gives her a funny look. "I am aware that we don't know each other very well, but I feel like it shouldn't come as a surprise to you that I am not enthused about large social gatherings."

"But, why go if you don't want to?"

"I told Rouge I would."

"But... why?"

He leans back and runs his hand over his face. When he speaks the sharp edge in his voice is back with a vengeance. "Because she asked me, and I'd rather not get into this right now."

"Okay, sorry. I guess you'll get to see my new swimsuit, though."

"I can't wait. Can we study some more?"

Amy frowns, knowing it hasn't been five minutes yet. Still... "Okay. But, Shadow?" He cracks an eye open to look at her. "If Rouge cares enough to be upset about your absence, then I'm sure she also cares enough to understand it. So if you really don't want to go, I'm sure it would be okay."

He sneers and opens his mouth to make a no doubt scathing remark, but catches himself. "I know," he says instead, and Amy's happy to see him attempting to keep his end of the deal.

"Nice save," Amy teases, and the look she gets is somewhere between murderous and amused. She takes that as a win. "So, you were telling me about the naming conversions of the ancient Mobians?"

"Naming conventions," Shadow corrects. "About three thousand years ago, Mobians believed that each family had a nature spirit guarding them, and noble families would take that spirit as their family name. Many of those bloodlines are still around today, which is where last names like Hedgehog, Fox, and even Rose come from."

Amy listens as Shadow goes over what she should have learned in class, and something about the timbre of his voice makes it much easier to focus on what he's saying. His voice doesn't drone like her teacher's does, and he never stumbles over his words. That coupled with the breaks makes focusing so much easier, and when Shadow leaves Amy feels like she actually managed to absorb something this time. She tells her dad as much over dinner, and he rewards her by promising to take her to her favourite restaurant tomorrow.

...

Wednesday, November 17th, 12:36pm, Station Square Academy

Wednesday passes by agonizingly slowly, and Shadow finds himself struggling to focus on anything. Normally, he'd think about whatever project he's currently working on, but he's done as much as he can with the skates at present, and he doesn't really have any other ongoing projects.

After parting ways with Manic on Saturday, Shadow had spent the rest of his weekend tinkering on the hover skates and trying not to think about the power supply they'd found. He couldn't get the feeling of it out of his skin and veins—still can't, really—and working on his skates didn't help. Every time something misfired, Shadow's mind had run to the easy solution he'd let Manic keep. Granted, Manic had been the one to obtain it, but still. He'd resisted the urge to text Manic and ask for it; the almost compulsive desire to handle it again being proof enough that it wasn't safe.

Instead, he'd continued to make minor adjustments to the wiring and streamline the physical design as much as he could with his existing resources. Eventually he determined that without better parts he'd have to settle for faulty wiring and rockets that do not enjoy being run for more than fifteen minutes at a time. After that, he'd decided to set up an actual lesson plan for tutoring Amy; the capacity to learn was there, she just lacked focus. Not that Shadow could say much right now, seeing as he hasn't been hearing anything his teachers have been saying all day. The difference, though, is that Shadow already knows everything that's being taught. The odds of him missing anything actually important are very low.

Shadow perks up when it comes time for PE; a run is just what he needs. His good mood dampens when he finds himself running through the forest with Sonic, again, but a run is a run. True to form, Sonic takes advantage of Shadow's inability to leave and starts up a conversation.

"Have you given any further thought to joining the track team, Shads?"

Shadow frowns at the nickname, but decides not to waste his breath protesting it. "It's Tuesdays at lunch and Thursdays after school, right?"

Sonic grins and nods. "Glad to see you've done your research."

Satisfaction flares in Shadow at knowing that he's about to disappoint his rival. "I can't, then."

"What? Why not?" Sonic seems genuinely disappointed, but he'll just have to deal with it. For a brief moment he feels a sense of gratitude to Amy and her terrible history grades.

"I tutor your girlfriend after school on Thursdays."

Sonic gives him an incredibly perplexed look. "My girlfriend? I don't have a- Oh. Right. My girlfriend. Amy. That girlfriend. Yes. Right."

"I didn't think having a girlfriend was something so easily forgotten."

"I try not to think about it," Sonic admits, which is more than a little surprising given how Amy goes on about him. Then again...

"You don't like her, do you." It's stated as fact; a question with so sure an answer that it no longer needs asking.

"Of course I like her," Sonic protests. "I grew up with Amy, she's as much a part of my family as Sonia and Manic are."

"So, your feelings for her are platonic then?"

He hesitates a moment before answering softly. "She's family."

Shadow nods. "Look, it doesn't matter to me what you do with your life, but dating someone as fond of you as Amelia seems cruel."

"You think I don't know that?" Sonic asks, frustration clear in his voice. "Of course I do! But I can't just break her heart, ya dig?" If he were inclined to give Sonic advice he'd point out that leading Amelia on will eventually break her heart far more than being honest with her would, but it really isn't any of his concern.

"Like I said, it doesn't matter to me. I honestly couldn't care less; your life, your girlfriend, your problem. As long as it doesn't become my problem, I won't interfere." With that Shadow picks up his pace, hoping that Sonic will realize that he's serious and that this is all so trivial to him. Sure, on some level it bothers him that Sonic is leading Amelia on, but only because of the needlessness of it, and not enough to do more than he already has.

Thankfully, Sonic doesn't seem inclined to pursue further conversation today, and they complete their run in silence. He doesn't even say anything when he tosses Shadow his spare water bottle, which is new. Shadow makes a mental note to bring up the Amy situation again the next time he wants Sonic to leave him alone.

After getting cleaned up and attending homeroom, Shadow heads home and spends his evening doing homework, double checking tomorrow's lesson plan, and reading. Perhaps taking a couple days to just relax will give him the new perspective needed to make actual progress again.

Thursday passes a little more smoothly than Wednesday; the decision to relax making Shadow less antsy about not making progress. Before he knows it, he finds himself heading to the front of the school where he sees Manic, Sonia, and a dainty little girl that must, by process of elimination, be Cream. Shadow approaches the three of them, earning a startled look from Manic.

"I knew it," the green haired youth greets after a moment. "You want that power supply, don't cha?"

Shadow snorts. "I'd rather not get radiation poisoning, actually."

Manic frowns. "Then, why are you here? Do you actually want to hang out again?"

"Amelia wants me to walk home with her," Shadow says, bypassing the question. Hanging out with Manic outside school hours had certainly been exciting, but Shadow isn't entirely sure if it's an experience he should repeat.

Sonia and Cream seem unsurprised by this news, so they must have gotten prior warning. Manic, on the other hand, looks baffled. "Why?"

Sonia speaks up first, and Shadow's happy to let her answer. "He's her tutor, so he's going to be joining us on Tuesdays and Thursdays from now on."

Manic considers this for a moment before grinning. "Cool."

Amy shows up a few minutes later, running and a bit breathless. "Sorry I'm late," she puffs out. "Mr. Bailey wanted to know how the tutoring is going."

Shadow raises an eyebrow. "And what did you tell him?" he wonders, causing her to giggle.

"That you're a rude jerk that's never heard of fun," she teases with a wink.

He stares for a moment, unsure how to feel about her being so publicly friendly with him. "I am not rude," he finds himself saying, earning further laughter.

"Just a jerk that's never heard of fun, then?"

"Precisely."

"I see, I see," she laughs, flapping her hand at him while trying to regain her composure. Once she's mostly stopped giggling, she shoots him one of her ultra-bright smiles. "So have you met everybody yet?"

"I eat lunch with Manic most days, and am in the same literature class as Sonia."

"Oh, that's really cool! Well," she gestures at the dainty girl. "This is my neighbour, Cream. Cream, this is Shadow."

Cream gives Shadow a small curtsy. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Shadow."

His mother's training kicks in. "You as well, Miss Cream" he replies with a slight nod in her direction.

Walking with a group of people is strange. The topic roams all over the place and people jump in and out at various points. Sometimes, the conversation splits into two separate ones, only to merge back after a minute- and this is only with four active participants! The pool party is looking less and less thrilling every moment. Still, he'd told Rouge he'd be there. Come to think of it, he'd told Amy as well.

Once Sonia and Manic leave, Shadow finds it much harder to keep out of the conversation.

Cream smiles up at him. "Thank you for taking the time to help Amy with history, Mr. Shadow."

Shadow doesn't really want to add to the list of people who might approach him at school, but he can't bring himself to be rude to such a polite young lady. "You're welcome."

"How long do you think you'll be tutoring her for?" Cream asks, earning an indignant squawk.

"Don't talk about me like I'm not here!" Amy protests.

Cream turns beet red. "I'm sorry," she squeaks, "I was just curious!"

"As long as it takes for her to get an A," Shadow answers, ignoring Amy's outburst, causing her to turn her glare on him. He raises an eyebrow at her and she flushes, seeming to struggle to find words.

"You are such a jerk," she informs him, and the corners of his mouth twitch in amusement.

"I thought we established that already."

She makes an aggravated noise but returns his smile.

"Oh, I wouldn't say he's a jerk. It's really nice of him to spend his free time helping someone with their studies," Cream points out.

It's Shadow's turn to glower at the tiny girl. "You say that as if I'm doing it by choice."

Cream cocks her head to the side. "Aren't you? If you really didn't want to tutor Amy, couldn't you work with someone else?" Shadow frowns, but Cream continues, "Plus, you said 'as long as it takes to get Amy an A', not 'as long as it takes to get out of this'. That implies that if she doesn't have an A by the summer, you'll continue helping her next year."

"I- I suppose it does," Shadow concedes, unable to fault her logic. Sure, he could go back and amend his statement but somewhere inside he realizes he'd already accepted the same conclusion that Cream had come to. "Just don't mistake it for kindness. Once I say I'll do something, I'm dedicated to seeing it through, and it would reflect poorly on me if my pupil never got satisfactory results."

Amy laughs, "And the only satisfactory result is an A grade?" She looks a touch bewildered by the prospect. "Honestly, I was just expecting to get, like, I dunno, a C+ or something. Maybe a B. I don't see myself ever reaching an A."

"Why not? You catch on quickly when things are explained the right way, so you certainly have the capacity. Don't settle for mediocrity when you're capable of excellence."

If anything, Amy just looks more bewildered. "Was... was that a compliment?" she finally asks, and Shadow gives her a funny look.

"It was a statement of fact. No more, no less," he replies as the tips of his ears heat up. Her ability to leap to conclusions with minimal information would be impressive in an academic setting—when she's right, at least—but when she does it during regular conversation, it's just disorienting.

She grins at him, then turns to Cream. "Perhaps he's not a jerk after all," she says with a giggle. Shadow rolls his eyes.

"I thought we weren't talking about people as if they aren't present," he points out, and Amy cackles.

"Don't be a hypocrite, Shads; if you and Cream get to do it then so do I." He's not sure which he likes less, her giving him the same nickname that Sonic had, or the false-sweetness in her tone.

"Shadow," he corrects.

"Amy," she retorts, and he blinks at her. "If you get to give me a cutesy nickname, then I get to give you one."

"I wouldn't call the use of someone's proper name a cutesy nickname, but if you insist."

Amy blinks at him, "Wait, really?"

Shadow nods, keeping his expression carefully neutral. "Of course, Miss Rose."

She groans. "I think I preferred Amelia.".

Cream laughs at both of them. "It's a wonder you two get any studying done at all, if this is how you behave," she teases.

Shadow flushes, realizing that he has let things get friendlier than he intended. He can't help it, though; Amelia is very easy to tease, always responding with just the right amount of indignation while never actually getting upset or making an issue out of his words.

"Oh, Shadow's very good at being all serious and junk. When we're studying, I'm not allowed to so much as fidget if he doesn't think it'll be conducive to learning."

Shadow gives her a look. "Just because you're bad at staying on task doesn't mean the rest of us have to be."

Amy laughs and loops her arm through his. "Well no, but that's what I have you for," she teases, gently bumping her hip into his.

He raises a stern eyebrow at her. She flashes him a smile but, thankfully, does not persist in hanging off of him the way she does with Sonic. Instead, she releases his arm and moves over to loop her other arm through Cream's.

"So, what're your plans for the day, Cream?" she asks, and they launch into a discussion about Cream's homework and chores that lasts until they part ways at Cream's door.

"See you later, Amy. It was nice to meet you, Mr. Shadow."

"You as well," he replies as Amy says "Bye for now."

Inside the condo Amy offers Shadow a plate of raspberry scones, and it would be rude to refuse. "Have as many as you like," she says as he finishes one off. "I ate way too many this morning, and mama can always make more."

"I'd rather not gorge myself while we study," Shadow replies as he begins pulling his books out. The scones are tasty enough to make coming up to the condo early well worth his time, but there's such a thing as overindulgence.

"Then take some home," Amy suggests, popping up to fetch him a bag. She packs up half the plate, and he gives her a guarded look. She seems to read his mind at times, and he still isn't entirely sure what to make of it, but instead of dwelling on it, he changes the topic.

"We could start studying now," he suggests, "then we can finish early and you'll have more time to..." It occurs to him that he has no idea what Amy actually does in her spare time.

"To...?" she prompts, looking entirely too amused for Shadow's liking.

He makes a flippant gesture with his hand. "Moon after Sonic." It wasn't supposed to make her laugh, but he's pleased when it does.

"Oh, come on!" she protests. "I'm not that bad." He raises an eyebrow, and she gives him a wry smile. "Well, perhaps some days," she concedes, and in the face of her candour a small hiccup of laughter escapes him. Amy shoots over a sharp look. "Did you just laugh?" she asks, and a wave of heat rushes through his entire body.

"Don't be ridiculous," he protests. "I've never even heard of fun, remember? Why would I be laughing?"

She flashes him another grin, and a part of him is tempted to return it, just to see what she'd do. "Good point."

He nods, before pushing one of his books in her direction. "Now then, since I'm sure you have a busy evening of mooning ahead of you, let's begin."