Hey, friends!

Sorry for the delay in the update. I should probably put up an update schedule, but I guess my goal is to have one every few days or at least every week from the last update. Okay, I think that's fair.

Again, I just want to thank you all for your reviews. Also, don't feel afraid to offer criticism. I liked the feedback from chapter 11, where you asked if Shadow saw Amy when she was at his house. Long story short, I wrote it with the thought that he didn't see her. He was sort of looking through her, or at Mina because of his angle, and it was not until she moved closer that Amy realized that he wasn't looking at her, but rather Mina. I don't know if that makes sense, but that was the intention. But don't worry, you'll get a taste of Shads pretty soon. :)

So read on!

Chapter 12

Maybe it was just me, but I was actually glad to go back to work.

Self-reflection sucked as much as the weather. And although I was no longer feeling bitter or pitiful, sitting around in the apartment got boring a week ago. Keeping busy would keep me happy.

At least, that was the lie I was telling myself.

I ripped off the old dates from my desk calendar. It was only mid-January, but New Years optimism had faded quickly. The office was bustling, and suddenly everyone seemed more concerned about work than returning Christmas gifts or maintaining weight-loss goals.

"Hey, Amy," Pauline said. "Mr. Turtle wanted you to look at these files." She set a hard stack on top of my desk. "Happy new client season."

"Yay."

"I know you're being sarcastic, but you seem happier." Her brown eyes lit up as a smirk found its way on her face. "Did you meet someone?"

I scoffed before grinning. "You wish. But I'm more open to the idea of dating now, I guess." As Pauline started listing off all the bachelors she knew (and boy, did she know a lot), a hand knocked on my desk. My eyes shot upward. Clarissa.

"You should get back to work." She was trying to look indifferent but I could feel the tension surrounding us. We hadn't actually spoken in over a week. And she was probably waiting for me to apologize; I should just apologize. But before I could open my mouth, President Ferret came into view.

"Good to see everyone's working hard." He smiled. I spun over my shoulder, saw that Pauline was actually on the phone with a client. Clarissa had also disappeared from sight. "Could I have a minute, Miss Rose?" He motioned for me to follow him into his office.

Normally, I would have felt anxious. But things were actually going well for once. I had landed two clients just this week and resolved a big contract error. When he didn't ask me to take a seat, I felt even better. He stopped in front of his desk before crossing his arms. His eyes latched onto mine.

"You had one job."

I blinked. "What are you talking about?"

"Oh, Amy," he said, shaking his head. Wait, when were we on a first name basis? "If I have to tell you, then that just confirms how much you don't want your job."

"W-what?" Reality hit me like a brick. "Are you talking about Clarissa?" His hard expression didn't shift.

"I'm talking about you."

I gulped, tried my best to keep my posture and stand my ground. But I didn't know what ground I was on. "What did I do?"

President Ferret sighed. "You've done everything you're supposed to, I guess." He rubbed his chin with his thumb. "But that's the problem."

"I don't follow."

His gaze pierced mine again. "Do you want to work here?"

I fought the urge to hiss. "Of course I do!"

"Then tell me this," he began, moving closer to me. His presence eclipsed over mine. I didn't realize he was so tall when he leaned closer to me. I also didn't realize he was so menacing when his orange gaze pierced through mine. "When a boss makes a simple request, direct or indirect, an active employee would act on it. They wouldn't draw it out, only to lose their chance."

The only thing I could do was raise a brow. What the hell was he talking about? So what if he liked Clarissa? What did he want me to do? Play matchmaker? My eyes widened. Holy shit.

He wanted me to play matchmaker.

Or rather, he thought I was already on his side. That I was advocating their relationship. Why he didn't just ask her out like a man? It had to be because he was testing me. If I really wanted to be in his good graces—just like a lawyer to a judge—I was supposed to pick up on unspoken cues. Law 101.

And I had failed.

I shook my head. But that didn't completely make sense. He wouldn't be mad unless I also wasn't doing my job—which I was, and well at that. It had to be something bigger than me.

I sighed. "I'm guessing Clarissa isn't interested, or is with someone else."

Ferret smiled, but it was glimmering with contempt. Then it faded. Just like I wished this uneven conversation would. "You don't even know the relationship status of your best friend and roommate?"

"If you haven't noticed, we haven't exactly been on good terms lately," I said. This was ridiculous. Mr. Ferret was my boss. How the hell did I get trapped into discussing relationships with him?

"It's not only that," he said. "You've been distant for weeks now. Is there anything in your personal life that is hindering your performance?"

"What are you talking about?" It took everything not to lash out. Why did people pick and choose what version of me they wanted to see? Why couldn't they see that I was really trying now?

I took a breath before turning back to Mr. Ferret. "You know that I've been doing a good job."

"Unfortunately, good isn't good enough. You were in the top five of your class. And your high performance at your internship at UMerc was one of the deciding factors in hiring you." He shook his head. "You were supposed to be better than Clarissa. Be promoted in a few years as one of the execs because you were that good. You're compassion that I saw there was something that I had never seen before. Yet you—"

"I get it, okay?" I bit my lip, fought the tears threatening to spill from my eyes. If I cried, I would just be reinforcing how unprofessional I apparently was. If I cried, I wouldn't be able to forgive myself. "I can't fit the mold that you want me to. But I want to be here."

"Well, I honestly can't say the same." He handed me a file from his desk. My heart dropped to the floor. "I'm transferring you to one of the firms out of town. It's family-law. I think something a little smaller would suit you."

I couldn't speak. If I did, I'd lose myself completely. So I just took the file from him and headed for the door.

"I hope you find what you need, Amy."

So it was official.

I was ruining my life.

I collected my coat, my bag. Gave a fake smile to Pauline before starting my walk of shame. My gaze should have stayed in front of me, but I was in the business of self-destruction. To my left, there was a meeting going on in the conference room. Some of the execs and other lawyers I didn't recognize where smiling, laughing. The person responsible for their high spirits?

Sonic?

A hiss escaped my lips as I saw Clarissa come in to join them. I was supposed to be her, wasn't I? I was supposed to be closing whatever endorsement deal Sonic was making. Instead, I was leaving. I was leaving and I didn't even have anything to take with me. That was how little of a mark I had made here. I opened the door with a sigh.

So be it.

A rush of cold air hit me. This fact discerned me (I was still in the building) until I looked up.

"What are you doing out here?" Sonic blinked at me.

"I could ask you the same thing," I said, masking any emotion I felt. But this was a mistake. Sonic's expression fell. "I just saw you in there." He scratched his head. "I sort of expected you to drop by." His gaze —suddenly critical—seized mine. "You okay?"

"I'm fine." I shrugged. "I have to go pick up some patent files. I didn't want to interrupt—"

"Don't lie to me, Ames."

I bit my lip, turned to the window before sighing. "I've been transferred to one of the other offices. I guess it's for the best."

"Are you sure?" Sonic folded his arms. "You don't sound very happy."

"Because I'm not." I sighed. "I mean, it's not really a demotion. It's just not what I expected." I shook my head. "None of this is."

"What do you mean?" But the look in his eyes told me he was aware of everything. Well, not everything. Just that I was a shadow of my former self. And even if I had Shadow, I didn't know if I'd be better for it. Maybe it was just me. Maybe I was just destined to crap on my potential. Maybe that's why I could never get my priorities straight.

"Go back to your meeting," I said, allowing myself to smile slightly. "Sounded like things were going well. Hate to be the party-pooper."

"Ames."

"I'll be okay." I nodded. "I'm actually more upset with Parker," I said, fabricating a lie to get the blue blur off my back. "We got into an argument about Clarissa's accident. It was dumb. But I was just about to call him."

"So you two are finally dating again?" Sonic was smirking genuinely now. And that's all I could ask for.

I scoffed. "I didn't say that."

"But you didn't not say that."

"Whatever." I motioned toward the door. "Go."

With a reluctant nod, Sonic finally moved to the door. "Alright. I'll call you," he said. "Sally's at the gym if you wanna talk. Or punch something."

"I might have to take you up on that offer."

I really did want to punch the crap out of life.

It seemed like I was always being punished for something. But I knew I had no merit to that claim either. I mean, I had good health and friends that honestly cared about me. I had a job (I guess) and one arguably perfect dating prospect.

I was supposed to be happy.

I was supposed to get over myself.

Then why couldn't I? Even Phil said I should just move on—and I wanted to. But it didn't seem that simple. It seemed like everyone had his or her two cents about what was wrong with me without really listening. And I know Phil listened to me, but he just told me what I already knew; everyone told me what I already knew.

Except Shadow.

I clenched my fist as I walked through Merriment Plaza. Home was too depressing; the air was toxic with my residential bitter thoughts. Here? It wasn't any better. But this town was quiet, and the mall district was the closest thing to a storm.

It was more like a winter storm, however. The shopping season was over, so the streets were as tame as the snow would allow. Store lights hummed to life under thin films of white ice. Every once in a while a cute couple would pass by, chilling my body (okay, my heart) even more than the weather.

"Free smoothies! Get one smoothie free!" A voice spoke over an intercom. I turned toward my old regular, Smoothie Junction.

"Who the fuck wants a smoothie in a blizzard?" It was actually a warmer winter day, but the sun was already beginning to set, so it really was cold as fuck. But like any sane person, I liked free, so of course I walked in.

"Buy one sandwich, get one smoothie free!"

"Fuck," I said. Only, I wasn't responding to the fact that I had been gypped. My eyes locked onto Cream. Wearing her dumb work uniform. She had bad luck with work uniforms.

We stood there in a gridlock. I wasn't surprised, just annoyed. Annoyed that I forgot she worked here. Annoyed this she still worked her. Annoyed that she could keep a stable job. Annoyed that stable wasn't a word in my vocabulary.

"If you're going to talk like a sailor, Red Crab is up the road." Cream turned her attention to the counter she was wiping. "This is a popular family establishment."

I didn't have to look around to see that no one was here. I guess I was the only gullible one. "Said the girl who fucked a guy in my bathroom."

Cream's head snapped up. She narrowed her eyes at me. "Said the girl who fucked Scourge."

If I weren't so exhausted with life I would have annihilated her with a glare. I shrugged. "Touché."

Her expression softened slightly, but she turned to the cash register before I could make much of it. "So are you just here to watch me work, or are you going to order something?"

"Why do you still work here?" I said, folding my arms. "Aren't you getting your fancy-pants Ph.D soon?"

"Try three years." She sighed. "I created a nearly automatic smoothie machine. And I own this particular franchise."

"Well, good to see you're moving up the corporate ladder."

"Like you care about what's good for me."

"You know, it's ironic," I said moving to the register. "You say I'm the bitter one, but you're the only one acting like a bitch here."

"Takes one to know one."

"Fine." Any true irritation had seeped out of my body at work—the place I used to work. "Then tell me the reasons you have for your animosity toward me. I won't fight back."

Cream blinked at me before scoffing. "You think my feelings are that technical? I can't just list off the things you've done to piss me off. It's much deeper than that."

My heart fell lightly. Sonic made it seem like having a frank conversation would make everything go back to normal. Or at least become bearable. How was I supposed to make amends when even they were against it?

"Whatever," I said, rising from my seat. "Maybe coming here was a mistake."

"It was," Cream replied. "So why don't you order something so we can talk about both of our mistakes?"

I hissed. "You sure? You might feel like a huge asshole afterward."

"Or you might." She was grinning. Hopefully, what I had to say wouldn't remove it.

Okay, so Cream the Scientist wasn't deceptive enough to ask about Shadow. Let alone figure out we were even involved. Part of me regretted not coming clean, but when she started talking about Tails, all regret evaporated.

"I know this is hard to believe, but I'm not the first person Tails dated," she had said. "Some girl who worked in his lab had made a move on him, and I thought it was too late. But then it occurred to me that it's never too late—and Rouge said that unless they're married, you're not doing anything wrong by interjecting.

"That is—" Cream had stopped, took a bite of the food she decided I bought for her. "—if you know the guy is The One. Tails is that for me. Have you found yours?"

"I found him," I replied to the wind. Then I knocked on his door.