Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot and some OC's.
Chapter 2: Good Enough
Amy woke up feeling even more exhausted than before, she glanced at the clock it was one in the morning. She felt the urge to pee, but knew there was no way she could get out of bed with how weak she felt.
Shadows words still rang in her mind. 'There will always be someone who cares for you, you just need to open your eyes.'
Just what had he meant by that? Sure she knew in the back of her head she was being selfish by doing what she did, but being alone with her thoughts always drove her to the darkest parts of her mind and heart. Why couldn't she just get over that stupid hedgehog, forget all the ways he made her feel from absolutely ecstatic to so completely depressed she wanted to kill herself.
She noticed a glass of water on the nightstand and took a few sips, before remembering her earlier urge. It was starting to get overwhelming so she rolled herself to the side of the bed, before slowly sitting up.
She pushed herself from the bed slowly, her arms shaking from the effort. Once she was on her feet she very nearly lost her legs. "Come on, you can do it." She urged herself on.
When she reached the door she was out of breath, her heart racing. She now wished she had eaten some of her soup, as her stomach gave a painful grumble. She shuffled slowly to the bathroom, using the wall as a guide.
When she reached the door a voice very nearly made her heart leap out of her throat. "Why are you out of bed?"
"Shadow!" She squealed, her heart rate doubling. "I have to use the bathroom, if you don't mind." She retorted trying to regain her composure.
"You could have called for some assistance," he sighed.
"I did just fine on my own," she replied stubbornly. "I've never needed help before, I don't need any now."
Her words held a deeper meaning than just using the bathroom.
"Well I think that's not anyone's fault but yours," Shadow said a bit harshly. "It's not like you've ever actually asked anyone."
"Why would I...why would anyone want to help me," she said softly, a hard edge to her voice. "All anyone seems to say when they think I'm not listening is how useless I am."
"I doubt that," he said with a lilt suggesting a smirk. "You're friends just worry, you are quite the danger magnet."
"Shut up," she grumbled, disappearing into the bathroom.
Shadow chuckled to himself, shaking his head at the obstinate tone she held toward him.
"Tails it's been nearly three weeks since anyone's seen any trace of Amy." Sonic said his feet jittery, itching to run.
"She clearly said she's safe," Tails said attempting to calm his brother. "Why does this bother you so much? It's obvious that she's tired of how you treat her."
"I don't treat her any different than any of you guys." Sonic said offended.
"Exactly," Tails said with a hard laugh. "You obviously didn't get the meaning of her letter."
"You make it sound like I'm oblivious to something important." Sonic said his tone vague.
"You're just missing the bigger picture," Tails sighed. "She's just feeling like she's had enough of being just a friend, but that's all you see her as."
"I don't get what you mean." Sonic said scratching his head.
"Well if you don't know, then I can't help you." Tails said amused as he walked away.
"What?" Sonic felt like a complete moron. "Does that mean," he paused trying to think it through," you think I like her?" Sonic gave a frustrated growl. "Who knew chicks were so complicated! I'm going for a run!"
"Whatever you say!" Tails yelled from another room.
"Why is this so hard!" Amy exclaimed as she tried to get off the bed once again.
"You have no energy," Shadow sighed. "You weakened yourself with your rash decisions."
"Well doesn't make it any less irritating," she grumbled. "How long will this take?"
"As long as it needs to," Shadow replied bored. He was reading the paper, trying to ignore Amy's little whines as she tried to prop herself up comfortably. "Might as well get used to that bed for awhile."
"Easy for you to say," she growled. "You're not the one stuck here."
"Be quiet and eat your soup," he said simply turning the page, not even glancing at her.
"Can we at least do something...other than this silence?" She asked as she slowly spooned soup into her mouth, knowing it hurt if she ate too fast.
"Like what?" He asked still not looking up.
"I don't know," she shrugged. "Become better friends?"
"And how do you suggest we go about that?" He asked amused, barely glancing at her.
"Um, tell each other stuff?" She said meekly. There was a silence after that, just the crinkling of paper and a small slurp every time she took a spoonful.
"Despite what anyone knows," he started, if she looked close enough she could see the barest of blushes staining his muzzle. "I like to garden, especially flowers."
"Really?" She giggled.
"If you must know, it's relaxing."
"What are your favorites?" She asked softly, smiling that he was actually sharing information about himself.
"Roses," he said shortly. "Tell anyone and I will deny it."
"Wouldn't dream of it," she replied cheekily. "Well something that no one knows about me is...I've had two boyfriends...trying to get over Sonic."
"Two, really?" He looked surprised.
"Well we only went on a couple dates," she blushed. "But they turned out to be real jerks. So I just gave up on finding love."
"You shouldn't give up," Shadow said softly. "On another note, I like classical music." This made Amy giggle.
"You're a big ol' softie aren't you?"
"Well when you're dubbed the ultimate life form, gotta live up to the expectations." He said humor in his voice.
After about an hour Amy was done with her soup, and she was laughing like she hadn't in quite awhile.
"I never knew..." She sighed, not knowing how to say it.
"That I could be a normal person?" He asked amused as she flushed.
"Well it's just...you've always been..." She scowled as he laughed.
"It's hard not to when your rival is faker," he said, which caused her smile to falter. "You know we'll have to talk about him eventually."
"But-" she sighed knowing he was right. "I just don't know if I could ever face him after..."
Sonic stopped his run as he came upon a large forest. He didn't know what made him stop, but he knew if he didn't slow down he might miss something important.
He decided to take a walk through the forest, try and clear his mind from everything that's happened the last week.
'I don't understand why she would just leave,' he thought as he kicked at the dirt. 'She never seemed unhappy.'
"You're just missing the bigger picture." Tails' voice bounced around uncomfortably in his head.
"But what am I missing?" Sonic grumbled to himself. As he was walking he stopped when he heard an odd squelch. "What the-" he looked down startled. What he saw made his stomach turn.
He knew it had rained recently, so the ground was wet, but what he stepped in wasn't mud.
"Blood?" He reeled back. That's when the scent hit him, it was familiar. "Amy?" He wondered aloud. He took another look at the blood, and noticed the volume of the stains. "Is she-" he couldn't even fathom the thought of what the blood could mean.
He pulled out his communicator and dialed Tails.
"Hey Sonic what's-"
"Tails I need you at my location now." And he signed off, he felt lightheaded.
He was alone with his thoughts for about ten minutes before he could hear the sound of Tails' plane overhead.
"Sonic what's wrong?" Tails asked as soon as he was landed.
"Look." He pointed down at the ground, but kept his gaze up.
"Wha-huh?" Tails gasped seeing what it was. "That's a lot of blood. Where-"
"Smells like Amy...could you check?"
Tails whipped out a portable scanner and took a sample. When the results came up he felt his heart skip a beat. "It's hers. But with that amount-"
"Well she's not here so..." Sonic said his voice muted. "She could have..."
"I don't wanna sound harsh but..." Tails started softly. "I wouldn't get your hopes up."
"She can't be," Sonic shook his head, his features set in a determined look. "I'll find her, she could still be in trouble."
Amy groaned again as she flipped onto her other side, trying to get comfortable was a waste of time.
The door to the bedroom opened once again. "Your groaning, moaning and yelling is not helping anyone. Would you mind keeping it down, I'm trying to watch my show."
"Oh gee, thanks," she mumbled rolling her eyes. "This bed sucks."
"It's not the bed that sucks," he sighed.
"Well maybe I need more pillows," she suggested sitting up and glaring at her host. "I can't get comfortable no matter what I try."
"Amy..." He stopped and shook his head, disappearing.
She sighed loudly as she fell back to the bed. It wasn't Shadow's fault, and she knew that. Suddenly two pillows hit her in the face.
"There will you shut your mouth now." He said challenging.
"Why you-" she glared at him, still barely able to sit up, there was nothing she could do. She rolled over. "I guess I'm totally useless now."
She hadn't meant for him to hear that, so when she felt a weight on the bed next to her she jumped.
"Why did you go through all that trouble?"
"Because...I don't know..." She sighed her voice shaky. "Because I know deep down everyone must care about me...but I do hear what everyone says when they think I can't hear.
"Amy's such a pest, so annoying, why doesn't she get a clue? And you know what? It gets to me...I've never been to that point where I...you know...but it's like why can't I be good enough? All I've ever done is tell my true feelings. And all I ever get is an annoyed glance, or laughed at.
"And this isn't supposed to bug me? I'm not allowed to feel low or sad? I mean the reason I ran away to begin with...my intention was to find someone to help make me stronger, but I found myself alone one night...and everything just came crashing down." By now new tears were streaming down her face, as she lay there staring up at the ceiling.
"I've never been a number one choice, and I know I'm not pretty or graceful...but I hoped that maybe I had a good enough personality that I could draw in someone like Sonic." She sighed. "But he made it very clear that he doesn't like me one bit, I know I annoy every cell in his body."
"You can't know that," Shadow sighed thumbing away some tears.
"But I do," she laughed bitterly. "The night before I ran off, I asked Sonic to meet me somewhere special to me. He came and was not happy at all. He told me that I'm just some whiny little stalker, who needs to get a life and stop wasting it being annoying." By now she was almost gasping as she cried. "So I told him fine, I'd leave him alone forever if that's what he wanted, so I ran home, wrote him a letter and left."
"You're not a stalker," he said softly. "A little annoying at times yes, but I know you're genuine." He tapped her chin so she was facing him. "And you know what, faker doesn't deserve someone who would give her heart so completely only to have it smashed by the one she hoped would hold it safe." He wiped more of her tears away. "Now go to sleep, you need plenty if you ever plan on leaving this bed."
He got up and walked to the door, flicking off the lights.
"Shadow," he stopped and looked back. "Thanks." She was surrounded by pillows, as she turned and closed her eyes.
"Anytime Rose." He closed the door quietly.
As he walked back to the living room, all that went through his mind was that faker better be damn lucky he hasn't left this house in about three weeks. He decided if he didn't run into Sonic sooner, he would be paying him a visit.
