I Want To Be Alone On Valentine's Day

Part 7: Two Boys and One Get-Well Card

It was around 1 PM on Thursday that Knuckles had traveled to Central City to go into a small card shop. There were multiple cards in there for Moms, Dads, Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, Spouses, holidays, birthdays, celebrations, and of course, get-well cards. There were also many racks of envelopes and extra paper for those who want to write letters with the cards. There were several desks within the store for people who want to make their letters. There were also pencils, pens, crayons, and stamps that a person could use freely if they had bought VIP passes to the shop. They could come in and make their cards extra special right there and then. It's perfect for people who are used to procrastinating and don't write letters or make cards often. It's also perfect for creative people to come in and express themselves in an artistic way. The card shop was successful in its business because of that.

Anyways, Knuckles was there as he wanted to buy a get-well card for Amy. He had heard from Vanilla that she is recovering well, but she still needs some bedrest to fully recover. He figured that Amy could use some encouragement while she is recovering. So, that's why he's here in this store. Although he's also here because he is bored and got nothing else to do. He is looking around in the store to find the get-well card aisle. He took his time to look at some of the cards at the other aisles because he does admire the creativity in the design of the other cards. He soon found the aisle of get-well cards and looked at each of the cards to see what he likes to give to Amy. He picked out some cards to check and see them much closer. If he didn't like it or wasn't interested, he puts them back onto the shelf.

While he was doing this, he didn't notice that another person is also looking for a get-well card in the same aisle. The reason that he didn't notice it was because he came into the aisle quietly and was also checking out the cards. Once Knuckles had soon found a get-well card that he liked, he put the other cards away and reached out for the card on the top right shelf. As he grabbed one edge of it, he noticed another person's hand was also grabbing the other edge of the same card that he was holding. Looking surprised, Knuckles turned to his right, and his eyes went wide in shock.

He saw Sonic holding the same card that he's holding.

Sonic's eyes also went wide in shock. He also wore the same surprised expression that Knuckles was wearing at the moment. They stared awkwardly at each other for a moment. They were both quiet as they felt confused and surprised that they would meet each other at the same time and in a unique place no less. It was silent between the two of them as they were in their own thoughts.

Just what is Sonic doing here anyway? Oh, great. This is going to be awkward. I just know it. Knuckles pondered calmly in confusion and in annoyance with a little frown on his somber yet sheepish face while he kept staring awkwardly at Sonic.

Just what the heck is Knuckles doing here of all places?! Oh, no. I don't like where this is going. I can already feel it. Sonic pondered solemnly in confusion and in annoyance with a gaped mouth and with wide eyes as he felt shocked at seeing Knuckles.

After a few minutes had passed, Sonic decided to break the silence by asking calmly yet awkwardly in confusion with a sheepish expression on his face, "So...Um...What are you doing here, Knuckles?".

"Ummm...Buying a card for Amy," Knuckles answered calmly yet awkwardly in sheepishness with a little frown on his bewildered face.

"Oh! Uh...Um...Ooooohh yeeeeeaaah...Urk...Um...Me too. I'm also...buying a card for her," Sonic replied calmly yet slowly in coyness with a sheepish frown while feeling embarrassed as he awkwardly looked away from Knuckles.

"Oh! Um...Um...I see then. Uh, well then...Hmm..." Knuckles responded calmly yet slowly in awkwardness with a sheepish frown as he too looked away from Sonic out of embarrassment.

They soon fell silent again. Some other customers came in and had strange looks on their faces as they passed by Sonic and Knuckles. Some of the customers kind of felt bad for them. Once the two of them had finally recovered from their embarrassment, they both sighed tiredly in exhaustion and looked back at each other.

They then both muttered calmly yet simultaneously in somberness with solemn looks on their faces, "We need to talk".

CHA-CHING!

They both bought the same card that they were holding, and they both wrote their names on the card together as a way to show that they had formed a truce between them. They soon walked out of the store together with Sonic carrying the card with him. They both decided to go behind an alleyway to discuss in private. Once they saw that no one from the streets was watching them, they soon leaned back on opposite walls and crossed their arms while looking away from each other. They would rather not be making eye contact right now considering how awkward the topic is going to be. After a few moments of sighing and clearing their throats, Sonic decided to be the first one to speak.

"Say, Knuckles? ...How is Amy doing?" Sonic asked calmly yet shyly in awkwardness with a little frown on his sheepish face while staring at the streets as he kept his arms crossed.

"Um, you do know that she's sick, right?" Knuckles replied calmly yet awkwardly in confusion with a little frown on his solemn face while staring at the backwall of the alleyway as he kept his arms crossed and as he glanced at Sonic with a raised eyebrow.

"No, no, no. I didn't mean that! I meant...How is she doing now that she's...Um...dating you?" Sonic asked again calmly yet awkwardly in confusion with an annoyed yet sheepish look on his face while shaking his head a bit as he clarified.

"Oh! Um...Doing...fine," Knuckles answered calmly yet slowly in sheepishness with an awkward frown on his coy face while blushing a little as he held his arms uncomfortably. He knows that he couldn't tell the truth right now since they are still fake dating to get back at Sonic. So, he was being vague in his answers while trying to tell some parts that were true.

"Ah. I see. I see. Well, that's good to hear. I suppose that you are taking good care of her then?" Sonic replied calmly in understanding and in curiosity with a sad frown on his sheepish face while feeling a little ashamed as he rubbed his arms awkwardly.

"Um, yeah. …...Yeah, I guess so," Knuckles replied calmly yet slowly in awkwardness with a little frown on his somber face while looking down on the ground as he kept his arms crossed.

…...

They fell silent again. This is the most uncomfortable conversation that they ever had. Still, Knuckles decided to keep it going with him telling Sonic next.

"You know, Sonic. Amy was feeling very hurt when I had heard her say that she doesn't believe that you will marry her while I was on a date with her last Saturday. She told me that she was doing some reflecting and said that she thinks that you don't really love her at all. To be honest...I was really speechless that Amy would say something like that. She always had believed in you for so long that it seemed impossible to have her be doubting you. …...Sonic...I think that you really messed up. Big time," Knuckles muttered calmly yet solemnly in somberness with a grave frown on his face while he kept his arms crossed as he stared at the wall on his right.

Sonic cringed a lot once he had heard that. He soon felt guilty again. He knew that he had messed up, but he didn't think that it would be this bad. He then agreed with Knuckles.

"Yeah, I know. I think that I had messed up too. I want to at least comfort her a little by sending her this card. I still care for her, you know," Sonic agreed calmly yet seriously in understanding with a solemn frown on his grave face while he kept his arms crossed as he stared at the streets.

"Hmph. Well, I hate to burst your bubble here, but that little card isn't going to make her forgive you. You have to apologize to her at some point. If you really care for her, then you need a lot of making up to do," Knuckles replied calmly yet bluntly in somberness with a solemn frown and with a slight shrug as he kept his arms crossed.

"I know! I...I know," Sonic replied irritably in annoyance and then calmly in shame with a frustrated yet sheepish expression on his face while he kept his arms crossed as he cringed a lot again.

He knew that Knuckles was right. He just hoped that tomorrow he would be brave enough to confront her and ask her to forgive him. After all, it is Valentine's Day. It's a day to show how much you care for another person, and sometimes being humble and asking others to forgive you is proof of how much you care about someone.

…...

Another stretch of silence came between them. Sonic rubbed his arms awkwardly again while Knuckles just sighed tiredly in exhaustion as he continued to stare at the wall with a solemn expression on his face. Sonic then decided to open up to Knuckles.

"Hey, Knuckles? Did you know that I felt jealous when I heard and saw you dating Amy?" Sonic confessed calmly yet quietly in curiosity with a little frown and with downcast eyes while blushing a little in embarrassment as he stared down at the ground in shame.

Knuckles' eyes went wide, and he actually turned his head to look at Sonic for the first time since this conversation started. Meanwhile, Sonic continued to confess.

"Yeah, that's right. I felt jealous of you. I honestly thought at first that maybe...maybe that I did had feelings for Amy when that happened. However, as I had continued to ponder to know whether that was true or not, I soon realized that it wasn't the case," Sonic continued calmly yet solemnly in somberness with a little frown and with downcast eyes while feeling sad as he kept staring at the ground at his right.

"Huh? What do you mean by that?" Knuckles asked calmly out of curiosity while having his arms crossed and while staring inquisitively at Sonic as he looked confused.

"I meant that...I actually don't feel that way towards Amy," Sonic answered calmly yet solemnly in shame while he kept his arms crossed as he frowned deeply in sadness.

Knuckles then felt even more confused. He raised an eyebrow at Sonic and frowned a little as he replied calmly yet solemnly in confusion while he stared curiously at him, "Um, that isn't news to me, Sonic. I already know that you don't like Amy. It's pretty obvious".

"It's not that! Look, I know that you know that I don't like Amy, but you don't know the real reason for it. …...The truth is...I only see Amy as the little sister that I never had," Sonic confessed solemnly yet slowly in slight annoyance and in somberness with a grave look on his face while he kept his arms crossed as he turned to face Knuckles for the first time as well.

Knuckles' mouth gaped wide as he felt shocked by Sonic's confession. He didn't know what to say to that. Sonic decided to continue as he saw that Knuckles isn't saying anything.

"Listen, I do care for Amy. I really do. But I'm not attracted to her like that. When she had told me that she was dating you on your birthday, I didn't even want to believe it. It sounded too stupid to be true. But when I saw you two together at the café...for some reason...I can't help but feel jealous that she's spending more time with you than with me. I denied my feelings at first saying that I don't feel that way towards her, but when you told me that you were actually dating Amy last Wednesday, that was when I had decided to figure out my confused feelings. When I had finally discovered my answer, I understood everything. I understand now why I had felt jealous of you in the first place. It wasn't because I was interested in Amy as well, but rather...I just felt protective of her just like any older brother would do. I was worried for her as she was dating you. It was just my big brother instincts kicking in. Kind of like how I would feel protective over Tails if he was scared of lightning or was getting bullied by others. That is the kind of love that I feel for Amy. She's like family to me just like Tails is. I couldn't let anything bad happen to her. If I had ever seen you being hurtful or mean towards her, then I would have gladly stepped in and defend her. I probably would have kicked your butt if you did something horrible like taking advantage of her and her body. I didn't want her to get hurt by you as you are her friend," Sonic confessed calmly yet solemnly in somberness with a grave frown on his face while he kept his arms crossed as he stared at Knuckles directly.

Knuckles' mouth was still agape as he stared wide-eyed at Sonic. He soon replied to him as he had finished speaking.

"But! But I wouldn't do that! I would never take advantage of a lady like that! I take pride in being honorable towards ladies! I respect them that much!" Knuckles yelled back defensively in alarm while having his arms crossed as he looked shocked.

Sonic smiled sadly at Knuckles while he stared at him with half-lidded eyes as he replied calmly yet quietly in understanding and in somberness, "Yeah. Yeah, I know. I know in my heart that you wouldn't do that. But I guess that is just my big brotherly instincts being active in suspecting you. I know that you wouldn't hurt Amy. You're a good guy at heart, Knuckles. That is why I'm friends with you in the first place. You really care about others very much even when you don't admit it, and when you do, you are very loyal and passionate about them in your own special way. That is why I trust you to take care of Amy even when I'm not around to protect her. You'll look after her. If for some crazy reason that I'm gone for a long time and that there is no one else to look after my friends, I know that I can depend on you to take care of them in my stead as the leader of the group. Heh. Besides...".

He soon winked at Knuckles and teasingly ended the sentence with, "...You're the 'Dad' of the group".

Knuckles then felt rather embarrassed as well as touched as he heard Sonic say that about him. He couldn't believe that Sonic thought so highly of him like that. He also couldn't believe that Sonic sees Amy as his adoptive, little sister.

Still, he covered up his embarrassment with annoyance as he replied calmly yet tiredly in exhaustion with an irked expression on his face, "Ugh. How many times do I have to tell you that I'm not your Dad?".

Sonic then smirked playfully while he stared mischievously at Knuckles as he teased calmly in amusement, "I don't know, Dad. You tell me".

"You're pushing it, Sonic! Now, quit it!" Knuckles yelled back a little angrily in annoyance with a grimace and with furrowed eyebrows while he kept his arms crossed as he slightly glared at Sonic.

"Fine! Fine! Chill out! Please!" Sonic exclaimed back in alarm with wide eyes and with a gaped mouth while holding his hands up in the air in mock surrender as he stared back at Knuckles.

"(Sigh)...Fine," Knuckles replied calmly yet tiredly in exhaustion with a solemn frown and with closed eyes while he kept his arms crossed as he sighed a little.

Sonic then scratched the back of his head awkwardly and looked away from Knuckles as soon felt and looked sheepish while he replied calmly yet quietly in guilt, "Um, Knuckles? About what I had said to you on your birthday...Um...I...Um...I'm sorry. I'm sorry that I had said those hurtful things towards you. Things like you can't get serious relationships right. That was uncalled for, and I apologize for saying that. That was wrong and way out of line for me. Could you please...forgive me?".

Knuckles jolted as he heard Sonic apologizing to him. He blinked a bit as he stood there feeling very awkward at the moment. He blushed a little and looked away from Sonic while he thought calmly yet awkwardly in sheepishness as he felt embarrassed right now. Okay. Now, that I didn't see coming.

He then sighed tiredly again in exhaustion as he replied calmly yet quietly to Sonic in understanding and in guilt with a somber look on his face, "(Sigh)...I forgive you. Also...I'm...sorry too".

"Heh. Thanks," Sonic muttered calmly yet quietly in a grateful tone of voice while he kept scratching the back of his head as he smiled a little at that.

…...

Yet another stretch of silence came between them. Sonic then stood straight up and got off the wall.

Knuckles was rubbing his left arm awkwardly while looking at the streets instead of Sonic as he asked calmly yet quietly in curiosity with a solemn expression on his face, "Hey, are you going to...tell Amy the truth? About how you really feel towards her?".

Sonic frowned solemnly while he looked back at Knuckles and stared straight at him as he put his hands onto his hips.

He then lowered his eyelids halfway while frowning deeply in graveness as he answered calmly yet solemnly in a sad tone of voice, "I...I can't. As stupid as it sounds and probably is, I think that it's best to never tell her the truth. Not until she moves on from me. Listen before you say that I should tell her regardless, let me explain. I'm pretty sure that Amy loves me, but I don't think that she realizes that what she feels is just a huge 'big brother crush'".

"Wait! What?! What the heck are you talking about?!" Knuckles yelled back in shock and in confusion while having his arms crossed as he quickly looked back at Sonic with a baffled expression on his face.

"I know. It's weird. But it's actually a real thing that could happen! And Amy has it bad. Listen, since you don't know, a 'big brother crush' is like when you're really infatuated for your older brother just because you think he's the coolest, kindest brother that you ever have. A sister could love him if he regularly protects her from bullies or enemies. Since Amy was once kidnapped by one of Dr. Eggman's robots such as Metal Sonic for example, she sees me as her hero. She already saw me as her hero before I came to Little Planet, but after I had saved her, her view of me had changed dramatically. She then developed a huge crush on me just because I had saved her just like a big brother would. I have always saved her whenever she's in trouble, and every time I do it, her crush gets bigger and bigger. She would always admire me for being so cool and so caring towards her. A little sister would just idolize her big brother and would imagine him being like a prince in her own little fantasyland of hers..." Sonic answered and explained calmly yet wisely in somberness with a solemn frown on his grave face as he looked towards the streets with his hands behind his head.

"..." Knuckles was just speechless as he kept listening to Sonic with a stunned expression on his face.

"...If you really think about it, it's mostly harmless. Weird, but harmless in the end. That is why I couldn't date her or marry her. I mean. We are already close enough without being in an intimate relationship. I mean! Look at us! We practically bicker and fight with each other almost daily! She would also bother me by running to see me each day. That was why I told her that she should spend more time with friends in the first place because she had been bothering me every day, and I needed a break. Of course, now, I miss her because of how lonely I am without her, but that's beside the point!" Sonic continued calmly yet a bit impatiently in somberness with a solemn frown on his grave face as he kept staring at the streets with his hands behind his head.

"..." Knuckles was still speechless as he continued to listen to Sonic's explanation while looking stunned yet intrigued.

"…...I would also bug her by teasing her or by running away from her whenever things get awkward. So, you see, we behave more like siblings than as a romantic couple, and...if I really did date her, then she would be so heartbroken when she realizes that she doesn't really love me like she thinks she does. I just don't want to ruin her silly fantasy of hers by confronting her with reality. I just don't want to be the one to make her cry. She should figure out her feelings for herself, and if she did realize the truth, then it is better for her to cry at her own realization than to realize that while we're dating. In a strange way, it will be less painful for her if she discovers the truth by herself. It will give her solace that way. But for now, I'm going to keep playing in that strange fantasy of hers until she grows up. That is what I'm planning to do for now," Sonic finished calmly yet wisely in somberness with a solemn frown on his determined face as he stared at the streets with his hands behind his head.

Knuckles listened carefully to Sonic's entire explanation while gaping at him like a fish. He was stunned beyond words on how bizarre yet understandable Sonic's logic was for not dating Amy in the first place. It did show beyond a shadow of a doubt that Sonic really did care for Amy. He just loved her as a sister. That was all. No mysteries behind that. Knuckles then looked down at the ground as he felt astonished. Maybe Amy did the right thing and try to move on from Sonic.

Knuckles then looked sad as he brooded calmly in sympathy.

So...Sonic feels that Amy doesn't fit into his heart either, huh? It seems that I'm not the only one who has big void in the middle of their heart. It seems that Sonic has a hole in his heart too. I guess that we're very desperate into trying to fill in the void of our hearts by caring for Amy.

Sonic then took a deep sigh and put his arms down next to his sides as he looked back at Knuckles and asked calmly in curiosity with a solemn expression on his face, "(Sigh)...Hey, Knuckles?".

Knuckles looked up at Sonic when his name was called while he calmly asked back in confusion with an intrigued expression on his face as he kept his arms crossed, "What?".

Sonic then smiled genuinely at Knuckles and stared at him in fondness with twinkling eyes as he replied calmly yet gently in gratitude, "Thank you for talking to me. I'm glad that we had finally gotten all of that negative stuff off our chests. Also, thanks for paying for the card with me and signing your name in it. I'm sure that Amy will be grateful. I'm going to go to Tails and Cream to let them sign their names too on this card. I'm sure that Amy will appreciate it. Thank you".

Knuckles looked surprised as he stared back at Sonic. He didn't smile, but he did nod to him before he looked away while replying calmly yet quietly in shyness with a little frown on his coy face, "It's no problem. Just give the card to Amy when you're done, okay?".

Sonic smiled broadly as his eager spirit came back once the tension of the serious topic was lifted. He then winked and raised his usual a thumbs-up to Knuckles as he exclaimed cockily in amusement, "Heh! You can count on me! Anyways, see you later, Knuckles!".

He then dashed away from the alleyway while carrying the card in his hand. Knuckles then looked at the streets where Sonic dashed to with a solemn expression on his face while having his arms crossed and while leaning against the wall coolly. He soon closed his eyes and sighed tiredly once again in exhaustion as he pondered calmly in somberness.

Well, at least, that cleared some things up. I would never have thought that Sonic is very self-aware of what he is doing with Amy. I guess that he is trapped in his own prison too. Playing as a "prince" to Amy while he doesn't really love her that way. If Amy is realizing right now that Sonic doesn't really love her, then I guess that I don't have to tell her the truth myself. Of course, if she did decide to fall back in love with him, then I guess that I should let her go into her own fantasy just like Sonic had said and let them have their own fun. I can't convince Amy to move on from Sonic if she is in love with him. It would be too wishful for me to have her... Ugh. What am I thinking? I know that Amy won't choose me. Why should I even bother? I would only try filling my heart again just like I did with Rouge. It's not right. It's pointless. …...Ah, oh, well. Valentine's Day is tomorrow. I guess that I should go back home. I wonder what Amy and I should do for Valentine's Day? Perhaps coming back to this city would be a good idea for a date. Taking a walk through the city is a simple enough idea for a date. Maybe going to an ice cream parlor would also be nice. Yeah, that could work.

Once Knuckles had made his decision, he soon got away from the wall and walked out of the alleyway. He soon walked back home to his island where he prepares himself for his special date on Valentine's Day.

Oh, man. Final chapter approaching! I can't believe that I'm actually going to finish this story on time! I thought that it was going to be done later in February, but I suppose that I was persistent this time in finishing it. Well, if you like this, please R&R to show your support! I'm sure you guys had enjoyed this short story since it is currently the most viewed story so far. But I'm sure that my current and future fanfics might surpass this one! It was a short journey, but a fun one at least for you guys!

Also, I would like to thank my two faithful reviewers for this short story Lady Shadamy and Abril378. Thank you so much for your support in this. To Abril378, I know you want Shadow to make an appearance in the story, but I hadn't had that planned in mind while making this story. So, sorry, he won't make an appearance even though it would definitely be hilarious if Shadow felt jealous that Rouge likes Knuckles more than him. But in my head cannon, I think he doesn't care. He's too busy protecting Sonic's planet as a Neo G.U.N. Agent (Again, that's the name for my head cannon of the government in Sonic's world).

Secondly, I could see that you are confused Abril378 considering what Knuckles is like in the boom universe. You see, the main cannon Knuckles and Boom Knuckles are two completely different characters, not the same person. Boom Knuckles is from a different universe. The same can be said of Sonic X Knuckles. Although Sonic X does have some parallels from the games. It is still technically a separate universe. It's kind of like comparing the Archie Sonic comics to the IDW comics. They may look similar but are totally different from each other in what is cannon or not.

In other words, Boom Knuckles is already good with interacting with ladies while the game Knuckles or Sonic X Knuckles is still socially awkward. So yeah, it's very easy to get confused to what is considered cannon or not in the Sonic franchise. So, don't feel so bad if you got mistaken. Now, if you are wondering if Sonic X Knuckles will get better with socializing with girls, well, he does, but it's just not in this story. But I won't say why until I post the final chapter of this story. Speaking of different universes, Sonic doesn't have any siblings in Sonic X or in the games. Only in Sonic Underground that is the case. So, that is why Sonic had said that Amy is like a little sister that he never had.

And to Lady Shadamy, I know you wanted to see Sonic and Knuckles fight over Amy, but I think that it would be a nice change of pace if they held a truce and talk it out like gentlemen. It may be slightly disappointing, but hey, you win some and lose some in these stories.

So, thank you so much for your support and understanding. Hope you enjoy the last chapter!