Back to Sofi and Knuckles. Let's see how this date at the amusement park will go, shall we?

ultimateCCC: No. Tails does not have a girlfriend in this story. He does have a crush on a popstar and (in the far future) a slight crush on Cream. But Sticks does not appear in this story (unfortunately).

Blue: Yes Shadow! Isn't it wonderful? I have friends who don't do fanfiction either, and there is nothing wrong with it. (I've been scarred by some fics. I'd rather not dwell on that right now…) Unofficial big brother! I really hope we get to elaborate on that. (Oh, we will, Era. I'm gonna have so much fun when Manic comes into the picture…)

Maxi-T: The wait is over! (then again maybe not. You may have been talking about Shadow showing up.)

Autumn: Is he really? Note to self: watch more Sonic Boom. (Eh, I can see him like that in the Boom universe. Personally for Boom, I'd ship Knuckles and Rouge if she ever showed up; Knuckles, being the big teddy bear he is, would definitely be able to tame her.)

Zosonils: I don't feel bad for Knuckles either, but laughed my head off. That's sort of the point… They are so close it's so Chaos FRUSTRATING. Well, everyone has their opinions, and I respect all of them. I love Sonamy… Shadow! Not now, but later! (perhaps much later…)

Gwencarson126: I'm yelling at Sonic to move on too. Seriously, just ask the gal out already! Then again, I am writing him so… Yeah. (Yeah Sonic, you're supposed to be this big confident ladies man. ASK HER OUT! AND MAKE IT ROMANTIC!)

Wafflesbelike-NYANCAT: I knew everyone was going to be like: yay! Shadow! But I didn't expect this much feedback. I do love Shadow though, and I'm not complaining.

Caisha12: Yellow! That made perfect sense. It's so frustrating! (And that's why it's so much fun to write. Hee hee hee…)

StarlightSparks: Thanks! I'm glad you are enjoying the pacing, because I know some people who don't like long plots. (here's a secret: the pacing is going to take FOREVER. I'm trying to shorten it and have. Believe me. (Believe her.) As for Sonic with his powers… Okay, so Chaotic abilities in this fic are a little hard to explain. If you haven't read 'Miles from Home' go and find it and read the Author's Note at the end of the chapter labeled, "Chaos, it's an Emerald?" Then if you still have questions, I'll PM you to explain it. It's confusing. (Yeah, she had to explain it to me like five times for me to get it. You're not alone in your confusion on the properties of Chaos.)

Sofia's POV:

The soft knock on my door alerted that Knuckles had finally arrived. I did a quick check in the mirror, before berating myself. 'We're just friends. Calm down.' But I still fixed my headband, pulled at my red shirt, and checked my designer jeans for tears.

I opened the door and gave the echidna a smile, "You're late."

Shyly, Knuckles looked at the ground, "Sorry, I got distracted."

"Let me guess… was it this Sonic character I'm always hearing over the phone?" I grabbed my purse and closed the door behind me.

"You guessed it," he grinned. "The hedgehog won't stop bugging me about you."

"And why is that?" I asked as we entered the elevator.

Knuckles hit the ground floor and shrugged, "Seems to think you'd like to meet him."

The doors closed with a small thud and the room began to descend, "And why would he think that?" I smiled and peered in my purse, making sure I didn't forget anything.

"Have you ever heard of Sonic the Hedgehog?"

My face scrunched up in confusion and pondered the question. After a second, I vaguely recalled the name from some conversation at school. "Isn't he some kind of hero of GUN or something like that?"

"Pretty much," Knuckles just stood with his arms crossed, watching the numbers count down until we stopped with a ding. "He's got a bit of an ego problem."

I laughed and the doors opened. We exited the elevator and went out of the building. "Certainly sounds like it."

Knuckles chuckled. "What can I say? But he's an old...um…"

"Friend?"

"I wouldn't say friend, he annoys me too much. But ally would work."

I pulled out my keys and walked over to where my motorcycle was parked. Awkwardly, Knuckles cleared his throat, "Um… I took the bus here so I don't have my Extreme Gear board."

Last week at the park, Knuckles had introduced me to his flying hoverboard that was his main use of transportation. Imagine my surprise as a red echidna seemed to swoop out of the sky right in front of me. He even let me have a go on it and then demanded if I'd ever ridden one of them before. To his surprise and shock, I promised I hadn't. It was after that experience that I decided I needed to be a little more careful about using my abilities around Knuckles.

The last thing I wanted was him thinking I was some kind of freak. I mean, how many people would like a freak? Not a lot, and this guy was probably no exception. Okay, so he could punch, but maybe he just worked out at a gym every day.

Anyway, I swung my leg over and scooted forward, patting behind me. "Plenty of room for you on the back. Come on. I am NOT taking the bus. The last time I did, I got stuck in a three-hour traffic jam."

Knuckles laughed and got on. I started the engine and looked up ahead. "You might want to hang on."

"I might to wha- WOAH!" Knuckles hurriedly grabbed my waist as I shot out of the garage and weaved through traffic. "ARE YOU CRAZY?"

I smirked and sped up. "Oh come on, don't you trust me?"

"YES, OF COURSE, BUT THIS IS INSANE!" Knuckles held on for dear life as we turned a sharp right.

Five minutes later, we pulled up in front of the amusement park. I got off the bike and shook my hair loose, pulling my headband out then replacing it. "That was fun."

Knuckles didn't move, but just stared at me, "You have a problem." He got up and walked over to the park entrance. I frowned and followed.

"Sorry, but I like a little bit of excitement. I've had a dull life thus far."

The echidna paid for two tickets and we walked in. "Well, I don't like to think I'm going to die on the streets. So next time, please calm down on the steering."

"Come on, where's your sense of adventure?" I smirked and gently poked him.

Knuckles glared, "I like treasure hunts, not crazy adrenaline rushes!" He took a deep breath, and shook his head, "Look, let's just move on. What do you want to do first?"

Deciding it was probably wise to move on from our disagreement, I looked around. "Well, we could do a ride, or a carnival game."

"Or get food." Knuckles added as he nodded over to a concession stand.

Actually, now that he mentioned it, I was hungry. "Food sounds amazing right now."

The two of us got some popcorn and cotton candy then sat down at a small picnic table. We chatted about the weather and the food, but there was this awkward tension between the two of us. I guess I could see why Knuckles was a little angry, but hey, I didn't know he'd have such an issue with my riding. No need to flip out.

After we finished our food, Knuckles suggested that we play some of the games. Personally, I felt like going on some of the roller coasters, but I'm not against playing a good old-fashioned rigged carnival game.

First up was the bottle toss. After paying the carnie for three tries, Knuckles pitched the ring at the bottle, it landing on top of one of the bottle necks… then bouncing off. The next two tries were exactly the same, ending in me needing to drag Knuckles off before he tore that poor college kid apart.

I kicked butt at the rifle range, beating Knuckles fifteen to three in twenty seconds. He was kind of sore at that, but cheered up when he won the ball toss on his first try- and accidently took out the back wall with his ball's impact. Initially, the carnie wouldn't give him his prize because he wrecked part of the game, but quickly changed his mind when Knuckles brandished the trademark barbs on his fists.

The games got boring after a little while, and we ended up just walking around most of the fairgrounds talking. Our conversation started innocent enough, but it somehow evolved into a heated debate on whether or not it was possible to win a rigged game.

"I'm telling you, it can happen! Not often, but every once in a while, sure." said Knuckles.

"They are literally built so that you can never win. It's how these goons get their paychecks," I said.

The park was going to close soon, and I was getting tired of us bickering. Most of the games and rides had shut down or were in the process, so we were running out of options.

"Look, let's just drop it." I said, holding my hands up in surrender. "How about we go on a ride before the park closes?"

"Most of the rides are down."

"Not that one," I said, pointing to the Ferris wheel. Knuckles looked to where my finger was pointing and froze, a wary expression his face.

"I dunno…" he mumbled.

"Oh come on, it's not scary at all. Besides, it'll be fun!" He tried to protest, but I dragged him into line anyway. It was only us and two other couples, so we got the next ride.

I pulled Knuckles' arm and he reluctantly got in the seat. The door shut and the safety bar was lowered.

As we started to go up, I leaned out slightly to see the horizon better. "See, it's a pretty view."

The echidna tightened his grip on the railing. "That's what I'm afraid of."

"What?" I asked a little confused.

"I'm… I'm afraid of heights."

Now a lot of things started to make sense. "But you ride a hoverboard!"

"Well, I'm sorry, but just because I ride something doesn't mean I like it!"

Annoyed, I folded my arms and glared, "You could have told me!"

"I tried! You wouldn't let me talk!"

"Oh, well I'm, sooo sorry that I thought you were just being a jerk who didn't want to do anything fun!"

"Me? What kind of girl drives in crowded traffic like you did?"

"Someone who's had a boring life, that's who!"

We were about halfway to the top at this point, but neither of us were paying attention to the view, but glaring at one another.

Knuckles rolled his eyes, "You lived in a small town, so what?"

"So what! My parents died when I was six!"

"Well, news flash! My dad disappeared when I was ten and I don't know what happened to my mom. So you're not the only one with a sob story, princess."

My mouth dropped open, too stunned to talk.

He raised an eyebrow in a questioning manner. "What's wrong? Cat got your tongue?"

And I think that's when my anger snapped, "Look, I'm sorry. There! I said it! I'M SORRY! I didn't know you'd react like that, so don't freak out at me because I was so naive about your delicate little feelings! I would have slowed down if I knew! I'm a southern girl! I don't understand you uptight city folk!"

Suddenly, the ride jerked to a stop at the very top. A low voice came over the intercom informing us that the ride had malfunctioned and that they were attempting to find the problem.

Knuckles slumped in his seat. "I knew we shouldn't have gone on this thing."

I glared at him, "Oh, shut up."

"Well, sorry if I hurt your feelings, but I'm not exactly a social person either. I have no idea how to act around people! So don't go and blame me for this problem!"

"Are you saying this is my fault?" I demanded.

"Hey, if the shoe fits."

Whirling around, I pointed at the echidna, shaking my finger, "I ought to throw you off this cart right now, but I ain't gonna! You know why? Cause you ain't worth it!"

"Oh please, what you think of me isn't worth my time. I don't need to care about what you have to say either!"

We glared at each other, faces bright red and pulled into a fierce scowl.

After a moment, I spoke again, "So I guess it's true what they say about redheads. Bad temper issues."

"I'm the one with temper issues? Well, I guess what they say about fashionistas are true too. You're all a bunch of self-centered divas."

"What did you call me?" I demanded angrily.

"A Diva! D-I-V-A!"

"Well, aren't you just a knucklehead!" I knocked on his head, rather hard.

Knuckles growled and his fists bunched up. "If you weren't a girl, I would have slugged you by now."

I scoffed, "I'd like to see you try, pointy-hands."

"Sorry, your highness, but I think you'd lose that fight."

"You wanna bet?" I punched him in the arm, hard. "You're not the only one who knows how to fight, thank you very much."

We fiercely stared the other down (or at least tried to). Finally, I growled. "You're such a Knucklehead."

"Well, you're a snobby princess!'

"Jerk!"

"Diva!"

"Idiot!"

Knuckles just gave out an angry scream and I screamed back.

If anyone asked me what happened next, I wouldn't have been able to tell them clearly. One second we were sitting nose to nose with angry expressions at each other, the next thing I knew the two of us had our arms around the other and were locked in a kiss.

Now let me point out, that I had never kissed a guy before this. Like, ever. So I guess I now had something to add to the game of two truths and a lie. "My first kiss was on top of a ferris wheel after screaming insults at the guy." Go figure.

My brain went a little fuzzy at that point. I felt the car jolt slightly and pulled myself away from the echidna, my face red with embarrassment. We were moving again.

Knuckles stared at me, the shock evident on his face. "Uh… I- uh…"

That was all either of us said as we descended back down. At the bottom one of the park agents apologized for the thirty minute long wait and gave us both a free ice cream cone for our trouble. My mind sort of zoned out at the words, 'thirty minute long wait'. Had we really been up there that long?

No words were exchanged until we were out of the park and standing next to my bike.

Knuckles started the conversation, rather awkwardly, "I swear, I don't know what came over me. Really sorry about that."

I fingered my purse strap nervously. "No, I'm sorry. It was my fault. I was being stubborn, and-"

"No, I should have told you what was wrong. I'm used to staying quiet when I have my problems. It's my issues, no one else's, so... I guess I just think that no one will care."

A small smile appeared, "No, I shouldn't have been so pushy. It's just that... my whole life, I've had to be pushy to my Uncle or nothing would ever happen the way I wanted it to. But you're not my Uncle." I shrugged, "I guess we both have things to learn about social situations."

Knuckles chuckled, "Such as, 'don't kiss a girl you were just yelling at'." He smiled, which turned into a look of regret, "Sorry I called you a diva. You're actually one of the nicest people I know."

I blushed, "I'm sorry too. My temper can get the better of me sometimes."

"Join the club."

Our eyes locked for a second, before I smiled and brushed a stray hair back behind my ear. "So… do you want a ride?"

Knuckles gave me a look and I laughed, "Relax, I'll go easy this time."

His expression softened and the smile reappeared, "Sounds good to me."

We pulled up to a pretty good sized house with a white picket fence out front and a shop in the back. Knuckles smiled and got off the bike, "Thanks for the ride, Sofi."

"Anytime, Knux."

"So… are we still on for next week? Or would you rather take a break?"

I hesitated, then smiled, "No, we're still on. Come by my place at five. We can go to this cool restaurant I found and the walk around the park afterwards."

"Sounds like a plan."

On an impulse, I stood up and gave him a quick hug. Knuckles was a little surprised at first, but he hugged me back, smiling as we pulled away.

The echidna was about to say something when out of nowhere, a loud voice suddenly chanted out, "KNUCKLES HAS A GIRLFRIEND, KNUCKLES HAS A- OW! Amy! That hurt!"

"Don't you know when NOT to interrupt? Grow up already!"

I smiled and peered at the two shadows on the porch, unable to make out the exact features. "I'm going to take a wild guess and say that's Sonic."

Knuckles had turned an even brighter red than he already was. "Yeah, ignore him. He's an idiot."

Boldly, I smiled, "Maybe… but maybe not." Before he could respond, I gave the shocked boy a quick peck on the cheek. Turning away quickly, I swung a leg over the side of my bike and gave a small wave, "See you next week!"

The engine roared and I tore off down the street.

When I reached my apartment that evening, I shut the door and leaned against it. Part of me wanted to start squealing like the girl I was while the other part of me wanted to slap myself.

Honestly, what the Chaos was I thinking? A relationship was something I did not need right now. Finding Manic was the top priority right now, not some incredibly cute echidna who made me feel like I was on Cloud Nine.

Ugh!

I shoved my handbag onto the side table and stared at myself in the small mirror. "Get it together, Sonia. You're not Sofi, you are Sonia. Sonia Aleena Hedgehog, who isn't some dumb chick who falls for a random guy she met by running into him on the street." I grabbed my keys and went to my room to get ready for bed.

But unfortunately, my thoughts just couldn't stop drifting back to Knuckles. Yeah, he was a hot-head, but so was I. And to be honest, I didn't really think much of him at first, but over the past few weeks I had started to notice a few things that hadn't stuck out at me before. For one, he was kind enough to pay the difference on my bike when that jerky salesman raised the price. And he would defend a lady when she was threatened by some drunk idiot (even if she didn't need defending, to be perfectly honest). Overall, a really nice guy.

And if I was being very honest with myself, I actually enjoyed the kiss on the ferris wheel. Shut up, me. Manic is the top priority.

Right?

Okay, before some of you flip out and say, 'You said there wasn't going to be kisses and hugs with this couple!' First of all, I didn't say that. Second of all, calm down!

I said that the main love languages with them would be gift-giving and quality time, not the ONLY love language. So yes, there will be a few small kisses and hugs with all of the couples. Also, this is how I write my 'romance' scenes. You get a vague description of what happens and if you want, you can add in the colors. This is just because, I really hate the detailed descriptions of that stuff. It's just DISGUSTING.

Halo… well, I have no idea how she writes them, so she's in charge of Manic and Rouge's… interactions.

Relax, Era, I'm all for PG love scenes. The main difference between Manic and Rouge's romantic synergy as opposed to the other couple's is that they express their love in a more physical manner, because when it comes to compliments and stuff, lying just comes WAY too easily to those two. Words are cheap, but allowing someone to even be in close physical proximity to you is a sign of vulnerability(and neither Rouge nor Manic have any desire to EVER be perceived as weak or vulnerable, at least not to the general public). That's a level of trust that you wouldn't have at all except with someone you're very close to emotionally. The other couples will obviously have that type of physical trust as well, but it's simply more prominent in Manic and Rouge's relationship than everyone else's.

Anyway, hope you enjoyed. Please review!