Man, I'm exhausted. If I thought I was spoiling you guys before...

I was mistaken.

But I love what I do, and I'm glad to share the fun with you guys. Better to over update than none at all I suppose. However, when I write my other stories, I hope you don't assume that I will be able to update quite as frequently. Since I'm going to have to adjust to my first year of college, I really wanted to get the complete story out, to prevent you guys from waiting weeks for something I already have pretty much written. It didn't seem fair to keep you hanging. So even though I may seem like the best now (like a boss) I just don't want to seem like I'm saying that I'm going to be some sort of super hero updater-writer for all my other works.

But that's another story. Literally.

I just like to tell what's on my mind. Anyways, thanks for reading and reviewing, it means EVERYTHING to me. And writing this is way more fun than packing. Which I'm still not done yet...

So thanks to DIM666 - Insane Leader, TextMessage, AN-DoubleRainbow-NA, xXxJAMIE-JULIA-RAVENxXx, and anonymousWriter37 for reviewing the last chapter. Sorry if I didn't get to everyone. Sometimes, I put up the chapter before checking for new responses. I'm only human.

So no cliffhanger. Good sign? Bad sign?

Read on.

Disclaimer: I don't own SEGA. Or their characters. Duh.

Chapter 14: Trade Mistakes

"Get up!"

I could hear a voice above me yelling, tugging against the bed. Who?

There appeared to be another figure too—I couldn't see them. But their grunts of disdain told me that they were fighting against the inaudible voice. Darkness.

Why couldn't I see anything? There seemed to be some sort of commotion around me. Was this a dream?

No. A person could actually see in a dream. I was reliant on my ears. The feeling was weird—unnerving. If I was dreaming, I wanted to be awake. If I wasn't, I guess this was a nightmare. An invisible nightmare. Scary.

"Get the hell out!" I heard a voice yell—I couldn't tell if it was the same as before. Scourge? What was if this was real, and he was telling me that he didn't want me anymore? I felt my head shake against the bed, but I still couldn't see. That would only happen in my worst nightmares. This had to be a nightmare.

And I had to wake up.

I tried to shake my still body awake with my very lost mind.

Must wake up.

Must wake up.

Must wake up!

MUST WAKE UP!

MUST-

There was a bang on the wall. Real, or a figment of my dreaming mind, I didn't know.

But when my eyes sputtered open, I knew.

Now I had to be dreaming.

Sadly, I'm pretty sure I wasn't. Scourge was pinned to the wall. And the person pinning him against the wall was non other than Sonic the Hedgehog. I jolted out of bed, screaming.

"SONIC!?" I yelled, as the blue blur glanced at me before returning his attention to the hedgehog he was trying to choke the life out of.

"Go put some clothes on, Ames," Sonic said, as Scourge stared down at me, before glaring at him. "I'll handle this."

I glanced down at my naked body, feeling even more mortified. Ripping the blanket from my mattress to shield myself, I turned back to Sonic. "Handle what!?" I practically screeched, pulling Sonic away from Scourge. "Stop it! You're going to hurt him!"

Sonic shook his head angrily, fending off my unsuccessful attempts to bring him away from Scourge. "Oh, I plan to do a little bit more than that."

Scourge began to gasp for breath as I tried to reason with Sonic. "Why?! Why are you doing this?" I asked frantically, fearing for the life of Scourge. "Why are you even here?"

Firming his grip against a dying hedgehog's neck, Sonic turned to me. "I'm here to protect you." I sighed, angered by his late and unnecessary timing. Apparently this enraged Scourge too. With a growl, he decided to play dirty, delivering a hard kick to Sonic's groin. Sonic fell back with a defeated groan, wincing in pain.

"Is that the best you can do?" Sonic said, still trying to regain his composure, as a naked Scourge stood before him. It would have have been a funny sight if it wasn't for the circumstance.

"What the hell, man?!" Scourge spat, inhaling deeply as he soothed his neck. He turned to me.

"Who invited blue boy over here?" I shook my head, wrapping the blanket securely to my body.

"That's what I'd like to know," I said, looking at Sonic as he finally rose up. "What are you doing here, Sonic?"

Sonic blinked at me, as if to study my expression. "A better question is what is he doing here. And why are the two of you naked?"

I turned away from him as Scourge came closer to me. "You're the trespasser, I believe we should be asking the questions."

"We?" Sonic shot back, his emerald eyes looking towards me in disbelief. "Amy, don't tell me that your with him—''

"We'll she is. We're a couple. And as to why we're naked...couples have sex," Scourge stated, a sly smirk evident on his lips, "Mind blowing sex."

I felt my cheeks turn red as Sonic's face spoiled in disgust. "I don't believe this. Don't you know that he's dangerous, Amy? And you're dating him? You're having sex with him?

"So you can't have me, so you sleep with the enemy? You go for my anti?" my eyes darted at Sonic.

"This has nothing to do with you!" Sonic scoffed at my words.

"But it has plenty to do with you. I came to check on you, saw the door open and wanted to make sure you were okay, Only I didn't think you'd be in bed with him," Sonic said, before shuddering. "Naked."

"It's not like you're a virgin either," I shot back. "Why don't you continue live you're life, and I'll live mine?"

"Amy, look I'm sorry," Sonic said, realizing how childish he was sounding. "But this isn't right. it has to stop."

Scourge opened his mouth, stepping further, but I held my hand out to block him. I was sick of Sonic's convoluted righteousness. He had already stepped on my heart once. He wasn't going to do it again in my house. In front of my boyfriend. "No. You have to leave."

"But Amy—''

"NOW," I said, pointing out the door.

"This is madness, Amy."

I shook my head, trying to stand my ground. This was my home, and Scourge was my partner. Deal with it.

"Fine, because I'm crazy in love."

Sonic looked at me again, that look of not being quite sure how to respond, but I knew he wasn't happy.

"This isn't over Amy," Sonic said to me, however, his fierce gaze was settled on Scourge. "I'll be back."

With that, Sonic shut the door behind him, leaving me more emotionally detained than usual.

Scourge took me in his arms. "Nice one, babe." I nodded, felling tears beginning to stream my face.

"What just happened?" I asked, holding back a sob. "What was he—how did he—Why?" I questioned in a babble, trying to make sense of everything. I sat down on the mattress in an effort to regain my breath. In an effort to regain any control in the slightest.

I shook my head, battling my baffled mind. Why was I so worked up? It was just Sonic.

I gulped, staring down at the carpet. But the way he looked at me...it was if he didn't know me anymore.

I threw a fist down on the mattress, shaking my head once more, my body consumed in anger. What gives him the right to look at me like that? What about him?

I blinked back my scorching tears, before Scourge wiped them away.

"That bastard made you cry," Scourge said with venom on his voice, throwing on his clothes. "I'm going put him in his place."

I shook my head, "No, there's no reason to," I gazed up at him, rubbing my puffy eyes. "I love you, and there is no reason why I should be upset. It was just unexpected." I decided, rising from the mattress.

"But how?" I went on, Scourge coaxing me. "Why, would he be in here? Why now?" I continued to ponder. "I locked the door...didn't I?"

Scourge shrugged his shoulders lightly, but the intensity in his eyes had not faded. "I'm pretty sure, but considering how we came in last night...there's a chance we didn't."

I thought back to last night. The kissing, the moaning, the desperate, lustful drive to do it...

Scourge was carrying me bridal style, as I continued to kiss him frantically, paying special attention to his neck, and chin, moaning wildly but not too wildly—I didn't want to bother the neighbors—as Scourge pushed the door open. His eyes were half hidden, as a smirk relayed on his lips. I wanted to reach out for them with mine, and suck them as hard as I could, but before Scourge groaned.

"Careful Rosie, if you push me too far, I might drop you," he cautioned, as I giggled a seductive laugh in his arms.

"That's not helping." I kissed his forehead, as we continued into my home. As for the status of the door? I was too blinded in bliss to care.

I slapped my hand against my forehead. Shit. Maybe it was left open. I shook my head. But whether or not the door was open (even it might have put us at danger) it didn't explain Sonic's uncalled for presence. True, we we're friends, but because he knew of my previous intentions to be more than that, Sonic wasn't a frequent visitor. He wouldn't be checking up on me. He wouldn't even come to my apartment to drink his favorite beer.

Something didn't add up and I wasn't going to stay here and cry about it. I knew that this whole thing with Scourge was happening quickly, but maybe it was to compensate for the turtle pace I was in for the race to win Sonic's heart. Slow and steady doesn't always win the race, unlike the lesson, the experience taught me. Instead it only increased and smudged the expectations of what the two of us should have had. And ultimately didn't.

Now I was a hare. And I was happy. Again, I hated to use that elementary word, but that's what I always wanted, and I wasn't receiving it from Sonic. So was I suppose to remain miserable under his supposed self-righteousness? No.

I had Scourge.

But I had to admit, I was still flustered by the whole thing, like being doused with a sprinkler on the middle of the sidewalk on a chilly day, I wasn't going to brush this off so quickly. I had to do something.

I peered down at my body. Well, maybe I should get dressed first.

"Scourge," I said, walking toward my closet. "I'm going to dress," I alerted, as he headed toward the door.

"Do you want me to leave?" he smirked, as I rolled my eyes.

"Your choice," I offered, it's not like he hadn't seen me naked. After all, I was naked right now. "But Sonic's right about one thing."

Scourge's brow rose, probably a bit taken back that I would agree with Sonic after what happened."What?"

I pulled on my outfit, before turning to my boyfriend.

"This isn't over."

Scourge decided to stay in my apartment. Said that he wanted to avoid Fiona for the time being which I didn't have a problem against. Maybe if she didn't see him, she'd finally realize that no one wanted her, and she would go away. In leaving, I told him not to open the door for strangers (which he snickered to and I took it as a yes ) and I was off.

I had to find Sonic, I had to set everything straight. Even if it was none of his business.

I was out of the apartment, preparing to go to the one place that started this mess, but liberating at that.

Opening the car door open, and casting away any doubt from my mind, I knew that this had to be done. I should have fessed to what I had seen when it happened, especially since Sonic had no problem doing so to. And we were sleeping. Not having sex. Even though we had earlier...

I mean, I practically spared Sonic. He only saw the two of us naked because he had to be physical about it. Nearly strangling Scourge against a wall, completely catching him off guard. When he was sleeping. I on the other hand had to be both exposed and repulsed to Sonic and Sally's jungle sex. And I kept it to myself. I started the engine to my car, venturing to a familiar, but lately unused path.

Well not anymore—

A ringing cut me off as I stopped in the parking lot to dig into my purse. I swear to God it better be Sonic apologizing for what he's done...Instead, I got even better.

Blaze.

My heart fell slightly. What if Sonic had started blabbing to the others about this? I shook my head. No, Sonic wasn't one to talk down about others, unless it was Eggman or one of our foes. I sighed. But at one point, Scourge was his foe, and regardless of the fact that I was involved with him, I didn't know if that would keep Sonic to his silence.

The phone rang again, and as much as I didn't want to answer...I picked it up. Blaze could be calling to demand why I was such a bitch to her yesterday. Sadly, that would be a far better alternative to the whole Sonic thing.

"Hello—look Blaze, I'm so sorry about yesterday. I know that you are concerned, it's practically your personality trait, and instead of bitching on you, I should just be thankful that I have a friend who cares so much about me, even though I haven't been returning the favor. I'm sorry, and I love you, Blaze. You're the sister I never had. Please never forget that. I was just having a bad day-the future has been weighing heavy on me. Law school, relationships, I've been an emotional wreck—"

"It's okay Amy," Blaze intervened, cutting off my sincere ranting. "I've just been worried about you, and I'm glad to here that you are okay," she said, her concern in her voice lessening. "I can just sense when something is wrong, and for these past few days I've been receiving that vibe from you. But you sound better."

I shrugged my shoulders on the other end. Barely. But once I talked to Sonic, once I fully freed myself from him, I'm sure that I would be. Better at last. "Yeah, I think I will be, I've been cooling down, taking it fairly easy..." I assured her, practically feeling her nod on the other end. "In fact, listen. I need to tell you something about S—"

"Oh Sonic," Blaze interrupted as I felt my heart beat rapidly. Maybe he did tell her. And before I did? Blaze would never forgive me; she's was probably just been playing coy until now... "I hope you don't mind, but I called Sonic to check in on you. Since we were at odds yesterday, I knew that he would be the only one to bring you back to yourself. So I gave him the spare key you gave me, and told him to lie that the door was open and check in. I'm so sorry, I went overboard, but I didn't want you to do something rash," she said softly, in an effort to justify her actions. I was speechless. "Amy? Look, I'm sorry."

My breathing increased as my eyes widened. She did what?!

"So now I'm suicidal? You know what, Blaze? What the hell is wrong with you!? God, can't you see that you're unbearable?"

Only I didn't say that. Because I was unbearable too. How else could Sonic waltz in my home like that thinking that he was saving me? Because he always had. And even as much as I hated this, he deserved an explanation too.

"You still there?" Blaze called, the natural worry back in her tone. And so did Blaze.

So instead I said: "No, you had every right too. Because I haven't been completely honest with you."

"Why? What is it Amy?"

I sighed, bracing myself for what I would say. "I'm in a relationship with Scourge."

Only I didn't say that either. I didn't know what Sonic had told her, and I had to know before I unveiled this big truth to her. "Has Sonic said anything to you?" I asked her, ignoring her question.

"Um, no. Not since I had him come to your apartment. Which I'm very sorry about. Is there something I should know?"

Yes. But I didn't know if I should tell her. I mean, Scourge and I just became an item some hours ago. And Blaze was already breathing down my neck for supposedly acting funny. How would she respond when she discovered the reason?

"No," I said, before adding, "Not yet. But I appreciate your concern. I'll talk to you later, kay?"

"Okay," Blaze agreed. I could tell that she was not entirely satisfied by my response but it was better than what I offered yesterday. "Just don't be afraid to—"

"Tell you anything. I know," I said, trying my best to reassure her. "Bye."

"Bye."

So I was back to lying again. Part of me was mad that I hadn't taken the opportunity to tell my friend the truth, but I didn't want to jinx it. I wasn't ashamed of our relationship or anything, but I didn't feel that it was particularly necessary for her to know. Yet.

I still had that showdown with Sonic.

The front of his house.

Now that I had calmed down, I was beginning to rethink this. What was I going to say?

I'm in a relationship with Scourge? Screw you?

Then in the likely hood that he would respond with a why, what would I say then?

This happened because I saw you screw Sally? So screw you? Again?

Right.

I walked up to his porch, remembering the chilli-dogs I threw at his door. His window. His shoes.

I wasn't completely innocent in this whole altercation, but that didn't give Sonic the right to barge into my home like that. Even if Blaze gave him my key.

I had never realized it, but our whole relationship was screwed up. I was using that word a lot. Screwed up. I mean, we made a promise. Nine years ago. And even though it has never been fulfilled, Sonic was in a relationship with Sally that I was too ignorantly in love to realize. I have delivered chilli-dogs to him at least once a week since the day of that promise, I sneak into him having sex with Sally because the door was open. Sonic walks into me sleeping with Scourge because he happened to be God so upstanding.

And now I'm here. In front of the cobalt door that I stood in front of only five days ago, now with a boyfriend who was not my self-proclaimed boyfriend, as I try to make sense of the relationship Sonic and I now have. If we ever had a real relationship.

Because men, relationships, and of course, doors knobs, would always be my undoing—

"Amy?" I blinked at the open door that I had been staring past as I focused on my own mental deliberations about a certain blue blur and I.

"Sally?" I called out, as I was presented by the squirrel, chipmunk, badger—"Just pick one!"

The Acorn girl's mouth grew slightly ajar as her eyes settled suspiciously on mine. I would have been mortified my my random, very unnecessary outburst about her species, but I had more important issues weighing on my mind.

I had a boyfriend, and instead of being with him, I was here, trying to make sense of the broken relationship Sonic had shown me time and time again that he was not interested in. God, I was so stupid then. Just five days ago...

Bouncing up and down to an inaudible beat playing from her headphones, Sally propped them out of her ears, allowing them to fall against her hot pink sports bra. Stopping in place, she smiled graciously at me, looking even better than the radiant athletic, divinity I had met a few days ago on my way to Merriment. I sighed. It was confirmed for a second time. Why he picked her, over me, I mean. I shook my head mentally. But it didn't matter. I didn't want to be with Sonic. Not anymore.

"Oh, hey Ames," Sally said, as I tried my best not to roll my eyes. When was it okay for her to call me that? I was having trouble tolerating Sonic calling me that now, let alone her. And besides we weren't friends. I didn't come here for her. "Did you need anything?"

Just your trespassing boyfriend, I thought to say, but I didn't have a bone to pick with her."Not from you," I said, trying not to sound as agitated as I was. "I need to see Sonic."

Sally's sky blue orbs fell slightly as she closed the door behind her. "I'm about to go for a run, but Sonic should be in the backyard," she informed me, adjusting her matching headband. "Why?"

I sighed. Here I was explaining myself to someone I owed no explanation to. "Nothing that you need to know," I said, asserting my right. He was her boyfriend, and I knew how possessive girlfriends can be, but I didn't want to deal with her questioning. I was restless. And Sonic was the reason why I woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning.

Sally's eyes widened slightly, as she walked closer to me. "Look, Amy. Is this about your crush on Sonic? I'm sorry that we never actually told you about our relationship, but I didn't want your feelings to be hurt. Plus I didn't know how exactly you still felt about him. He said you made a promise like ten years ago, but he didn't think that you would still take it to heart. I'm sorry if you still did."

I shook my head, my mind slightly soaring. So Sonic did remember? I shook my head. It didn't matter know. I feel in love with Sonic because I loved the idea of being with him. Being with my supposed hero. But now that the hero was losing his appeal, I couldn't say if I had any true love for him, more than my superficial teenaged reasoning. And I was pretty sure that I didn't.

I glanced at Sally, for the first time seeing true sincerity in her eyes. It was fair to say that I didn't hate her anymore. "You didn't do anything wrong. I don't love Sonic. I loved the idea of being with him, but I realize that I don't want to be."

Sally smiled softly, "What made you realize this?" I shook my head rapidly.

"You don't want to know. Trust me."

Sally nodded. "Okay, I do. You know, I'd like for us to be friends Amy."

I returned her smile. It was fair to say that there was no more animosity between us. It was a slightly unsettling feeling, but I appreciated it. "Me too."

With another gracious smile, Sally began to jog in place again, preparing for the run that I had interrupted. "Well, I'm going to go out then. See you."

I replied with a single nod, waving as she exited. Sally made it to the driveway before turning back.

"Oh, Amy?" she called, as I spun around to meet her.

"Even though I'm his girlfriend, know that Sonic cares for you a lot. He's been mumbling about you in the backyard, but I wanted to give him some space. But if there was any monkey business between the two of you, I'll kick your ass!" she said with a laugh, before turning back, feet pounding against the road. "HARD!"

I couldn't help but laugh back, enlightened by this new Sally I was seeing. Well...Sonic did technically see me naked, but he didn't seem to pay much attention...

"Go put some clothes on, Ames," Sonic said. "I'll handle this."

I rolled my eyes before waving at Sally. "Not if I kick yours first!" I yelled back, as Sally disappeared further from my sight. I breathed a sigh of relief. It was official. Some cocky banter and we were now friends.

Now that just left her boyfriend. I began to walk around the house, hoping that this would be as easy as the conversation I never would have hoped to have had with Sally.

When I saw the cobalt hero pacing around the backyard, as opposed to running the town like he did when he was happy, I knew this wasn't going to be easy.

But when his emerald orbs settled against mine, I didn't think it was going to be this hard.

He was in tears.

Crap.

Pretty much a role reversal from chapter 1 and 2. Only Amy didn't confront the Sonic and Sally. And Sonic didn't have to see Amy and Scourge...you know.

Have to say, I think this may among the best cliffhangers. I'm pretty proud.

And I hope you are too.

Please review. And see you a little later for the final two chapters.

~Koko B