Chapter 2

Carrying a poster that read, WELCOME AMES AND FRIEND PERSON, Sonic the Hedgehog met up with me for the first time in three years.

"You can cut the theatrics," I said, a smile tugging at my lips.

"Alright," Sonic offered me lop-sided grin. He pulled me into a hug. It was weird, but familiar. I had forgotten the ease that came from a friend's embrace. We released after a while, stared at each other for a while.

"Long time no see," he said, studying me. "You look great."

"Same to you."

He really did look the same, truthfully. Though a few tired creases tugged at the corner of his eyes. Probably from parenthood. The fact hit me like a boulder. Sonic. A parent. A father.

Fuck.

"How are the twins?" I then asked.

"Chase and Sawyer are walking now," he said proudly. "Think they'll start running soon."

"Hopefully not faster than their old man," I said, letting myself laugh.

"Hey," Sonic warned, but his emerald eyes were gleaming. "They better."

"That's good."

I sniffed in the over-sanitized airport air, forcing myself to feel okay. I didn't want our first encounter in so long to be awkward...But it sort of was. Sonic had insisted on taking Clarissa and me back into the town (after somehow finding out I was returning). So I didn't know if this was a friendly gesture or a ride to our doom.

I spun around, almost forgetting about the bobcat. "Um, this is my friend Clarissa." I patted her shoulder, leading her forward. "We attended law school together."

"Hi..." And this was when Clarissa lost her cool. She was wide eyed, practically drooling at the sight of him. I rolled my own eyes.

"It's just Sonic—"

"I know," she said sharply, recovering from whatever was suppressing her brain. She nodded in his direction, shaking his hand before he could offer it. "Clarissa the Bobcat, it's an honor to meet you."

Sonic grinned wider. "Nice to meet you. Any friend of Ames is a friend of mine."

"Really?"

"Anyway, let's get out of here," I said, drawing my suitcase behind me. It's not like I wanted to draw this reunion to a close so quickly, it was just my unwarranted eagerness. After all, I was safe in this airport. Once we were out in the city, I knew I was in store for far more unpleasant encounters.

"Hold your horses," Sonic said, taking my suitcase from me. When I blinked he was facing me, his eyes surveying mine. "I can see the tension in your eyes. It's practically radiating off you."

"It's nothing," I assured him, turning away. "It's just weird being back."

Sonic shook his head. "It's only weird if you make it that way. Everyone's missed you."

The urge to scoff traveled up my throat, but I caught it in my mouth. "You don't know that," I said instead. "I wouldn't miss me."

Sonic's brow narrowed before he sighed. "Stop being so hard on yourself." His voice was low, but serious and cautious in a way I didn't remember him being. I guess everyone really did mature. "I don't know what happened before you left, but it's done and over with. Hell, it's been done and over with for years now. No one's upset. And if anyone still is, then they're the ones with the problem, okay?"

I closed my eyes, considering his words. But I couldn't bring myself to believe them. "But—"

A cough stunted my response. I turned to my left, watched Clarissa utter another one of those I-still-exist-and-I-can't-stand-being-neglected-for-more-than-two-minutes coughs. Her eyes touched mine before she turned to the baggage claim.

Sucking in a hiss, I nodded at Sonic with something of a forced smile. "Thanks. And you're right." I paused. "This one time."

The blue hedgehog laughed. "Well, I've gotten smarter with age. I can only hope you have too."

"Well, you can stop your hoping, because I did," I assured him, nudging his shoulder. "Right, Clarissa?"

"You're headed toward the ENTER door," she said, pulling me to the glass exit. "And sure, if you say so."

I was trying to know so.

Sonic had upgraded. Or at least, gotten a nicer, toddler-proof car that he actually knew how to drive. Since Confident Clarissa was apparently too shy to claim shotgun, I had taken the passenger seat. Which meant that I had taken to being the center of attention.

"So how was law school?" Sonic asked, his voice in a smirk. "You must think you're a fancy as fuck, don't you?"

"Said the spokesperson for practically every athletic label on Mobius," I snorted. "What do they pay you anyway, five million mobiums?"

"Try fifty." Clarissa said, rather matter-of-factly. "And that doesn't even include commission."

"You really know your stuff," Sonic said, making a turn. "I'm also an ambassador for global relations. But we're not here to brag about me."

"Then why does it feel like it?" I said, smiling. The fact was that as long as we weren't talking about the others, even bricks would make an interesting topic for discussion.

Sonic shook his head. "You're probably eager to know how everything's turned out. Sadly not much has changed."

I nodded, letting my glance fall to the window. Same trees. Same boring blur of people. Only difference now was that it was nearing December, so there were less people. Frost-coated trees.

The outskirts of the airport blended into the main city, and I held my breath. Holiday time definitely was full throttle—it wasn't even evening and a slew of small business wore their Christmas lights. I squinted my eyes, watched some workers assemble a large tree in the city square. The windows were drawn up, but I could swear that I could hear them laughing. I turned toward Sonic.

"How's the rest of the gang?" I bit the inside of my cheeks—the only way I would get relief was if I attacked this head on. Even if it would kill me. Just like Sonic's lack of response was.

"They're fine," Sonic said after a while, scratching his head. "Sally's just about as busy with the twins as I am, but she owns a fitness center now. Rouge and Knux are the proud parents to two sassy little girls, though I think Rouge is pregnant again—she's nicer when she's pregnant.

"Blaze and Silver are pregnant, and Cream spends most of her spare time jealous that she isn't pregnant while working on her Ph.D in mechanical engineering in Tails lab. Think he'll pop the question any day now. Thorough enough?"

"Plenty," I said, not knowing what to do with this information. I mean, I knew most of it—I wasn't that out of touch, and I think he just wanted clue in Clarissa. Sonic was my information middleman; but it was news to me that Blaze was pregnant. She didn't tell me much (if anything) anymore, so I didn't know why this fact tugged at me.

But then I realized it wasn't her—but something Sonic forgot to mention. Or someone.

"How's—"

"Parker?" Sonic guessed, stopping at the light. "Pretty well, he actually delivered the twins. He asks about you whenever I see him."

"Really?" but it wasn't me who responded to this. Clarissa batted her eyes at me. "Looks like Amy has an admirer."

"Had an admirer," I replied, shaking my head. "No, that's making it out to seem more scandalous than it actually was. We just went on a date once."

"Tsk, tsk, Amelia," the bobcat shook her head in turn. "Keeping boy secrets from me? I thought we were besties."

"I wouldn't call it 'keeping secrets' so much as not telling the unasked truth." I allowed myself to grin. "There's a difference, you know."

Clarissa grunted. "We're not in a courtroom—you can cut it with the technicalities."

"Speaking of the courtroom, F.F Corp is up ahead." Sonic said. I glanced out of the window, watching the law headquarters for F.F CORPORATION grow in size. Very huge size. Each building had at least three stories, each dawned with reflective windows that I feared would blind and bake you if you stood to close. Yet, I couldn't help but feel a rush of accomplishment as we zoomed pass it.

"Pretty huge," said Sonic, smirking. "Can't believe my little Ames has made it to the big leagues. Guess I can expect you to read through my contracts, right?"

"Only if I get half of your income."

"You drive a tough bargain..." Sonic said, rubbing his chin. "But no."

"Drats," I said, snapping my fingers. Peering out of the window again, I could see our destination come into view. "Looks like we're home."

Like most of the town, my apartment complex had stayed the same. A HAVE A HAPPY RE-NEW YEAR AT MABLE PLACE promotional banner was the only thing that differed. That and the new car in my parking space. A maroon crossover car. Next to it was a pale green SUV, belonging to Clarissa. So there were some changes.

Sonic parked in front of the main complex. He exited the car in a flash, strolling the suitcases behind him. But he clenched his teeth in the cold air, as if being the fastest thing alive didn't cause him to produce more body heat of something.

"Any day now, ladies," he said. I rolled my eyes, starting for the entrance.

"Hold your horses," I mocked him from earlier. But he was right—it was cold as hell out here, but Clarissa seemed too busy taking everything in. Funny, because she usually was the sharper one. When she woke from her daze, she started on without us.

"This place is so beautiful! I still can't believe you went to school in Mercia. There's nothing there."

I didn't have to turn to know that Sonic's glance was burning against my form. "I can't believe you went to school there either," he said. Though his tone was without spite or anything really, I couldn't help but feel defensive. But I suppressed this feeling too.

"Hey, I just went to the better school," I said with a shrug as we entered the elevator. "And if I stayed here, I wouldn't have meet you. So I consider it a win-win."

The elevator door opened before the discussion could go further. Which was good, because it only reminded me that no matter how much everyone said things were "fine" or "good" or "not that horrible" they weren't. Apparently, I had hurt everyone more than they had hurt me.

"This place is huge!" Clarissa called out to us in the hallway. What the? The woman was swift, so swift that I could only imagine that was why she kicked my ass in Criminology. Last I checked I was the one with the keys...

Offering the blue hedgehog a forced smile, I walked forward. I left my old apartment behind me—upgraded like the rest of them had. Okay, so maybe purchasing the penthouse suite was a flashy move, but it was the only thing that could accommodate me and a roommate. And Mable Place was the closest proximity to work. So, yeah, I'd like to think I made good (ok, expensive) decisions.

The space was mostly decorated, spare a few move-in boxes. The walls were a warm tan; the sofa was a plush burgundy. Some abstract paintings (Clarissa's doing) hung on the walls, and all of the stainless steel appliances had been put in. The place wasn't screaming with character, but that would change. I was here, after all.

Vibrant and trying not to be confused.

"Well, it has been great getting to see you two," Sonic said, pulling me into a light hug then Clarissa. She squealed. "You're probably tired and want to get ready for work tomorrow. I'll treat you guys to dinner sometime." He offered me a serious look. "Sally's more eager to see you than you might think. So are the others."

"Do they even know that I'm here?" I asked, almost feeling foolish with this whole ordeal. I was coming home after years. But it felt more like I was sneaking back in than being welcomed.

"Don't know," Sonic considered, his gaze falling to the kitchen. "But they will soon if they don't already. Just brace yourself."

Easier said than done.

But I nodded anyway. At least he was still my friend.

"Sorry I couldn't do more, but I gotta jet," Sonic informed us. "Twins throwing things, some endorsement deals I need to look into..." he sighed. "Welcome to the real world."

With a wave he was out of the door, and probably out of my life. And then there were two.

"Can you believe Sonic the Hedgehog touched me?" she squealed again before probably realizing how absurd she was being. She coughed, diffusing her giddy energy. "Screw packing, I manna go out."

"Where?" Immediately a feeling of exhaustion and panic washed over me. It wasn't up to five, but the days had gotten shorter. Nightfall would be coming soon, and I wanted to be out like a light with it.

"That place we passed by with the lights. What was it called, Merriment Plaza?"

Merriment Plaza. I didn't know what to make of the place anymore.

But I was cut off before I could make a decision. Clarissa led (or dragged) me to the door, jiggling her keys in her free hand.

"You need some holiday cheer," she informed me, pushing me into the passenger seat. "I mean, really. The un-depressed Amy I know would have fought tooth and nail not to go out if she didn't want to." She turned on the ignition. "I might as well have been some sexual predator offering you candy in my van."

"Well, do you have candy?" I asked, feeling my stomach grumble.

Clarissa's face spoiled. "You need help." A smirk then destroyed any evidence of distress on her lips. "Good thing you have me."

More like I only had had her. But I was trying not to be pessimistic.

I didn't see the point in drinking coffee at six at night.

Granted, the temperature seemed to fall twenty degrees every minute the sun was fading...But I found myself feeling more anxious as usual. Like the time our Court Relations professor told us our mock murder trial was real.

Taking lazy sips from a raspberry mocha at stressed, I viewed the sight around us. The one waiter I liked (we were in stressed) had upgraded too, and apparently was the owner of the three local chains or something. I sighed, pushing away the beverage. Why did everyone else have it figured out?
I was fine. I was here. I knew that life changed—I had changed.

But I couldn't put a finger on what was actually bothering me. I was borderline excited to come here, now everything, even the walls were pissing me off—

"You gonna smile anytime soon?" Clarissa asked, biting the head off a gingerbread cookie. She washed it down with her latte. "Your life is really nice. Don't push your friends away."

"Like I said, you're my only real friend." I tapped my fingertips on the counter. "But honestly, I would prefer—"

"Prefer what?" Her hazel eyes narrowed. "You're not like this Amy. Please don't tell me that just being here is making you a total pain in the ass." I wrinkled my nose at her bluntness. "If so, we're gonna have to look for a new job."

"Hey, I like our job," I said. "It may be the only thing I have to look forward to."

"So you're a career woman now?" Clarissa shook her head. "Next thing you'll be working on Christmas."

"I'm only twenty-seven." I replied. "And if I find work more interesting, then why not?"

Clarissa gasped. "More interesting than me? Why I never."

"We have to be up at six," I said, rising from my seat. "You know how those corporate law firms are about punctuality."

More like, you know how sleep is the only thing helps me escape reality. I bit my lip. I had to cut it with all this self-pity.

"Whatever," she said, dusting off her skirt. "But I want to look around a bit. My older brother used to take me out to see the holiday lights."

"Fine," I said, feeling like an adult giving into a child's request. "How's your brother?"

"Chris?" Clarissa said, exiting the building. I gritted my teeth at the cold. "He's okay. Still in jail though." Her tone matched the pained expression she was trying to hide.

I nodded, following her out into the plaza. But I felt like an inconsiderate jerk. Here I was, complaining about practically nothing when she had real problems.

Law school for her was a means to bring justice to a wrongly convicted brother. Law school for me was mostly just a way to channel my overbearing nature, to escape the people that had already let me go.

Clarissa's mood improved as we passed a few well-lit boutiques, and when I agreed that Sonic would follow through with his dinner offer. She spoke about a lot of random things, like if we'd like our jobs, how much she wanted to meet the others—but I took her words in bits and pieces. It was too cold to think. Too crowded (yes, even on a Sunday evening) to listen.

"Hot guy alert," Clarissa then said, nudging my shoulder. "Maybe we should go talk to him. And by we I mean me." She brushed a hand through her fur to smooth it, pursed her lips in an invisible mirror.

"Who?" I asked, peering through the crowd. But it took about five seconds for hot guy to materialize into view. And my heart nearly burst at the sight when he did.

It was Shadow.