Chapter 2

Why couldn't I have been an only child?

I wake up Monday morning infused with dread and tension. I don't want to see Scourge, or pretend as if everything is fine after what occurred on Friday. I don't feel like pretending at all, but since I've already ditched so many days, one more and I'll be kicked out, I sit in front of the mirror and prepare my mask for the day.

I catch a glimpse of Sonic from my window again. He's already dressed and shoving a big book into his backpack. He's wearing an ugly Christmas sweater. I can't believe he wears that stuff to school, even if he does look pretty great in it. I'm probably one out of two people who think that. His cobalt quills are raised behind his head, so its messy as I try to get his attention by coughing or sighing loudly.

He doesn't acknowledge me at all, which I try to act fine with. I don't know why I want his attention so much. He's made it perfectly clear that he doesn't see me in that way, and I don't blame him after what I did. I may swBdn and sway as I look at him from across our windows, but in school, if I even glanced in his direction, I'd get shit for it.

I whirl back to the mirror and let out a sigh—a real one this time. The bags under my eyes make it look like I've been on drugs for the past few days, when really, I've just been up every hour recalling those few chilling seconds in Scourge's unrelenting grasp. My long, pink quills are matted and knotty from not brushing it after my shower last night. Do I have my work cut out for me this morning or what?

I plug in the flat iron and get up to dig through my closet. If I'm going to make people I'm fine, I need something short and sexy, pushing the boundaries of the dress code. I slip on some floral bloom shorts and a black deep V slit tank bodysuit and assess the outfit. Besides the horror that is my face and quillas, I look pretty damn hot. Just like the girls in those movies. We're on the right track, baby!

My quills take me a good twenty minutes to untangle, and I apply pounds of makeup to cover my raccoon eyes. Perfect and just in time, too. First period starts in fifteen minutes. I throw my purse over my shoulder—only losers wear backpacks—tuck my Algebra II book under my arm and head out the door.

My car isn't in the driveway, though. Great, this shit of a morning keeps getting better and better. Even though I know it's really childish, I stomp my foot on the cement.

Rosy!

I could strangle her until her brain starts functioning. It had to be her. It's not the first time she's snatched my car to ditch school. Being unlicensed doesn't stop her from swiping my keys the second my parents leave for work.

And now I'm going to be really late. I kick off my pumps and curl my fingers around the heels as I walk barefoot down the sidewalk. Just when I think my day couldn't get much worse, I feel a light splash on my arm. How cliché. I pick up the pace as the rain starts to fall and fold my body around my book to keep it from getting wet. So much for taking time to do my hair. Oh, I'm going to kill Rosy!

A shiver runs up my spine, and I'm instantly regretting the short and slinky outfit. I'd take wearing my own ugly Christmas sweater over freezing to death. I consider turning back and staying home for the day, but the possibility of getting expelled propels me forward.

Why can't I graduate without actually going to school?

I start running. The balls of my feet smack the pavement, and I pray I don't end up stepping on anything that would cause serious damage. Rain water splashes up my legs as I run through the puddles. If I slip and fall, that's it for my morning.

The glow of headlights flickers behind me. Maybe some fool will take pity on me and give me a ride to school.

"Amy?"

His voice always sends a wave of butterflies through my stomach, and I can't help the dorky grin that forms on my face.

"Yeah, it's me!" I shout back over the weather.

"Get in!"

He doesn't need to tell me twice.

"Thanks," I say once I'm in.

"No problem." Sonic puts the truck in first gear and eases back onto the road. Driving stick adds the sexy to this wonderful geekboy.

"Feeling better, I see." He smirks out of the side of his mouth, and I roll my eyes.

"Shut up." I wring out my hair on the leather seat and give him a fake grimace. He laughs as he wipes it up with one of the warm weaters he keeps in the cab.

We don't talk for a few seconds while Sonic messes around with the radio. How he does that while driving a manual, I have no idea.

"You know, there's a new Werehog documentary on this weekend."

No freakin' way! How did I not know about this? My heart jumps through a hoop of excitement, but I keep my face composed. "So?"

"Maybe we could watch it together. Just like old times."

Is he for real? My dorky grin almost comes back, but I keep it restrained.

He steals a glance at me and says quickly, "It'll be a bunch of us. Sally's coming, I think."

I want to go—oh boy, do I want to—and if it was just going to be the two of us, I probably would say, "Heck yes!" But it's not, and that's social suicide. If I'm going to watch it…scratch that, when I watch it, I'll do it hidden in my room with the curtains drawn and the door securely locked.

I force an amused "as if" chuckle and gaze at the raindrops slipping down the window.

"Well, you'll miss out. Naoto Ōshima is hosting it."

"Who?" My voice drizzles with sarcasm, and he lets out a booming laugh.

"All right. I won't bug you about it."

He shifts gears again, and I see the muscles on his forearm ripple. When did he get those? He certainly didn't have them when…ah, never mind.

My phone buzzes between my cleavage. I pull it out, trying to emphasize the fact I'm touching my boobs, but Sonic focuses on the road in front of us. His indifference makes my face heat as I slide the phone open.

I need ur help! I'm about a block away from Shadow's house. Plz hurry.

Rosy. What has she gotten into now? Even though I'm pissed at her, I suppose I should at least answer her urgent message. I puff my cheeks with air and let it come out slowly as my fingers fly across my keyboard.

I can't. I'm gonna B late for school. Call Mom or Dad.

"You okay?" Sonic looks at my face, which is still half blown up.

"Yeah."

"You sure? You always do that when you're frustrated."

I narrow my eyes. "Do what?"

"Hold your breath." His bright eyes shine with amusement, and I wish I was in the mood to appreciate that he still remembers things like that about me. Blowing up my cheeks always helped with the anxiety when I was called names in middle school.

"I'm fine."

My phone vibrates again.

I can't. Please! They'll kill me if they find out I ditched school. I need you Amy.

Argh! Curse my sisterly nature. Sonic is about to pull into the school parking lot, but maybe he won't mind being late.

"Ames?"

Oh, I love it when Sonic calls me that.

"Yeah?"

He pulls into the parking lot and shuts off the truck. When he takes his hand off the gear-shift thingy, he rubs the sweat from his palm on his jeans. "You sure everything is okay?" He keeps his eyes locked on his knees. "'Cause you don't look okay."

Apparently, I'm transparent. "Could you take me somewhere else? My sister needs help with something."

He cocks an eyebrow at me. Man, I wish I could do that without looking like a complete dork.

"Don't you have enough tardies?"

"Yeah, but it sounds like she's in trouble."

Sonic nods and starts the car, but instead of heading out of the parking lot, he pulls up to the school doors. I open my mouth to snap at him, but his concerned face stops me.

"You go to class. I'll get Rosy."

"But—"

"Don't argue with me, Amy. I can afford to be late, but you can't. I don't want to see you get kicked out because your sister ditched to see her boyfriend."

"How did you…?"

"It's not hard to guess."

I want to kiss him. Yeah, I totally want to smack one right there on his nerdy lips. I want to wrap my arms around him and let him know how much I appreciate his concern, because I don't deserve those worry lines he's got on his forehead.

Okay, so I lied. He's nothing like Clark Kent. He's a bajillion times sexier than Clark Kent Super-Man ain't got nothing on Olgilvie Maurice Hedgehog.

But we're right in front of school. It's bad enough I'm in the truck with him. To be seen kissing King Freak? I may as well wear my Secret Rings shirt to class.

So I mutter thank you, tell him the address Rosy just sent, and get out of the truck before anyone can see.

x.X.x

School really isn't so bad. Class is my favorite part. I like learning new stuff, especially if I connect it to Secret Rings or The Black Night. But I fail most of my tests on purpose. Not enough to fail the class, but to eke by without being called an egghead or a moron.

I make it to first period right as the bell rings. Ms. Sue isn't even here yet. I take my seat in the back, where I'm usually surrounded by my self-righteous friends, but they're all late today.

"Hey, Amy." Cream waves at me, and I try to crook my eyebrow like Sonic does, but I'm sure I look ridiculous. To cover, I give a demeaning little wave back. Cream is not in my social circle. My brief acknowledgment causes her face to flush. I fight the urge to care about it. That Amy can't exist at school.

"Turn your phones off now unless you want me to chuck them against the wall," Ms. Sue says as she finally walks in. She's wearing a tight mauve dress, and her red quills are done up in an elegant braid. Her red lipstick and perfectly formed lips make her face look flawless. Needless to say, she's the hot teacher all the boys drool over.

My phone is tucked safely between my boobs, Sonic's not in this class so I don't pull it out to turn it off. He probably wouldn't look anyway.

Ms. Sue dives into her lesson about Ancient Chaos Emeralds, and I find myself leaning forward, enthralled with the information, but trying to keep my face nonchalant. Halfway through the lecture, Sonic walks in like he's just run a freaking marathon.

"Mr. Hedgehog," Ms. Sue says, folding her arms over her waist. "I believe you are in my fifth period class. You're a tad early."

Giggles float through the air, but Sonic takes no notice of them.

"Sorry to interrupt, but they need Amy in the main office."

Ms. Sue turns her back on him and continues to write on the whiteboard. Sonic waves me over. I take Ms. Sue's lack of response as an okay and grab my purse.

Someone wolf whistles, and I throw the bird out behind my back and laugh, trying to play it light so they don't think I'm enjoying company with King of the Freaks, even though being inches from his cologne makes me drool like a darn puppy dog. A loud "Oooh" echoes around the room. People are so stupid, but I'm glad Sonic doesn't grab my arm to pull me into the hallway. More whistles would have ensued, and I can only do so much here.

I'm pretty sure I'm the only one who looks past his dorky sweaters and personality. Or thinks that adds to his cuteness level while everyone else writes him off. But Sonic and I…we used to be stitched together in middle school. The two geeks who spoke Japanese and played Super Smash Bros. Brawl in the band pit. Gah! It took forever to rid myself of that reputation. Sure, it was fun and stuff, but I was never invited to the cool parties or asked out, like…ever.

Totally changed now, thank you very much. But I still have major anxiety attacks when I think about the stuff people said behind my back. To my face, too, I guess. Sonic kind of held me together back then. Every time I'd have an "episode," he'd pull me into the janitor's closet—not for "seven minutes in heaven," that's so not what happened—and rub my shoulders till my breathing calmed, and make me recite the different shortcuts in various video games. Totally took my mind off all the nasty stuff people called me, and got rid of the tears, too. Sonic was awesome like that. Always seemed to be there when I needed him.

I still don't get what's wrong with him, though. I mean, didn't it hurt him, too? All the stuff people said about how dorky and loserish we were? Because it hurt me. It hurt a lot. He doesn't seem to care. I wish I could not care, but it's not possible. People want to be me now. Well, fake me. This is much better than crying over what people say about my Chao backpack.

Then I think about Scourge and wonder if it really is better, but shove the thought from my brain before I revert to Freak Amy.

"What is it? Is Rosy okay?"

Sonic shakes his head. "I got there just as the ambulance arrived."

My heart drops. "What?"

"She crashed your car, Ames. I'll take you to the hospital. Don't worry, she didn't look too bad when I saw her."

"I've gotta call my mom," I say, yanking out my phone. I don't care that this time he isn't looking at me.

"Come on," he says, pulling my arm. "You can call her on the way."

I nod and wiggle out of his hold.

I never knew Sonic was capable of driving over the speed limit, but we could hydroplane with how fast he zooms through the neighborhood.

"Are you sure she's alright?" I ask as I cling to the seat for dear life.

"Yeah," he says, but he's short with me. Guess I shouldn't talk to him right now.

We get to the hospital and Sonic drops me off right at the ER doors. As I'm clicking the seat belt, he clears his throat awkwardly. "Uh…I hope everything's okay."

"You're not staying?" The words are out of my mouth before I can stop them. I need him to stay. I should tell him thanks for the ride and let him go, but I can't. I need him in case Rosy—

"Only if you want me to."

He's giving me another chance to tell him to leave. I search myself for that fake persona, but I'm too panicked over my sister to act on it.

"Just go park the car. I'll need a ride home." That should be an okay response. I fly out of the truck before I can make more of a fool of myself.

The ER smells like death. I know that's a horrid thought when walking into a hospital, but I can't help it. A woman pukes in a bucket in the corner, a little boy holds his arm, which is bent at an awkward angle, and there's a man who is so drunk he can't hold his head up straight. Dude, it's nine in the morning!

The man behind the desk is organizing charts. When I get to him, I can already tell his Monday morning is way busier than he wants it to be.

"Put your name on the list. We'll be with you in a minute."

"I'm here to see my sister. She came in with the ambulance."

"What's her name?"

"Rosy."

His eyes finally flick to look me up and down. He raises his eyebrows at my wet outfit, and his face flushes. "Um, she's in room one-thirteen. I'll take you to her."

I'm used to guys falling over me, but I'm not in the mood to appreciate it. The receptionist or nurse or whoever he is leads me through the back doors and down the smelly hallway. When we get to room one-thirteen, my heart is pumping in my throat.

Rosy has a few tubes sticking in her arms. Her head is bandaged and she's got stitches on her left cheek. She's silently crying as she stares at the picture hanging on the wall.

"Rosy."

She turns to look at me, and her silent tears grow into sloppy incoherencies. "Amy, I-I don't know… I didn't mean… I really am sorry. Please… don't, don't tell… they would kill me."

Thank heavens for the sister translator. "I can't not say something. You won't be able to hide this."

"Please," she begs.

I shake my head and sit down next to her. I grab her hand, the one without the IV in it, and rub it. "Are you okay? What did the doctors tell you?"

"I'm fine. They have to scan my head or something 'cause I hit it so hard."

I suck in a steady breath through my nose. "You know, Mom and Dad probably already know about all of this."

She shoots me a dirty look. "You called them?"

"Yes, but they didn't answer. Rosy, you're in the hospital. They need, you know, insurance information, parental consent, that kind of stuff to treat you. And if you're getting an MRI, I'm almost positive Mom is on her way right now."

Her face gets twisted, and she yanks her arm from underneath my fingertips. "You suck, Amy! I thought you had my back, and you go and call Mom."

"I do have your back. That's why I'm here."

"You don't! You called Mom when I told you not to!"

"What do you want me to do? They're going to find out about this. How stupid are you, Rosy?"

Tears stream from the corners of her eyes. She folds her arms and turns her face away.

"Leave me alone."

I shake my head and storm out of the room. I don't have to deal with this right now. Little brat didn't even appreciate I didn't yell at her for wrecking my car. If she doesn't want me here, fine, but she can't be alone. I swing the doors open to the ER lobby and find Sonic standing awkwardly by the exit.

"Let's go," I say as I pass him.

He doesn't question it; he doesn't say anything at all. I whip my phone out and dial my mom's number again. She still doesn't answer, but I leave her a message.

"Hey, Mom. Rosy's in the ER. She's in room one-thirteen and she seems okay, but I need to go back to school. Call me when you get this."

I ask Sonic to wait in the hospital parking lot till my mom calls. We don't have to wait long, but the few minutes of Sonic rattling off things he hopes Naoto Ōshima talks about on Friday—while I hold back all my geek knowledge—calms me down. Even after our falling out, my nerdy, sexy next-door neighbor makes things better.

I wish I deserved it.

x.X.x

You just gotta love Rosy since she just did something that is going to bring these two freaks together. Muahahaha!

Stay tuned for the SonAmy romance to come!