Wallflower
A person who, because of shyness or lack of a partner, stays on the sidelines at social gatherings.
Blue, Sonic's mind repeated the word carefully. Why blue?
Sonic tightened his grip on the railing as he stood beside Amy on the bus.
She sat, ankles crossed, hands folded in her lap, smiling as she looked around eagerly.
Everything was so new to her. Even a bus ride was enough to dazzle.
Sonic looked her over once more, hoping he wouldn't be caught.
She wore a blue dress, it was halter top, loose, and silky.
It didn't hug her curves at all. What was provocative about it was how it ended just at the higher end of her thigh, directing one's attention there.
Sonic gulped.
The dress showed off her legs while still leaving room for imagination: vivid imagination.
What did she curve like? What would she feel like? If you were to wrap her in your arms would you need to be gentle or was she strong enough for you to be rough?
Such expert creation of questions and direction to assets was a skill too corrupt for Amy to possess. Sonic's obvious suspect, then, would have to be Rouge.
He looked up at the bat who was smirking at him from her seat nearby.
"Sonic," Rouge began, "you haven't said a thing since we left. Shouldn't you at least try to make polite conversation?"
"What should I say?" Sonic asked, pretty sure he knew her answer.
"You could start by giving Amy a compliment."
Sonic turned and looked back at Amy who smiled at him nervously.
The poor thing. They had to have been putting her up to this.
"You look nice," he told her sincerely.
Her smile broadened as she looked away modestly.
Why had she ever agreed to this?
His gaze, warm and inviting, was far more affective than it had been before.
Maybe she would have been better off if she just accepted the role of little girl beneath his wing.
These emotions she felt, a mix of joy and fear, her reactions to his looks, words and touch, even these social statuses that Rouge kept mentioning, were all so confusing.
She should just turn around, she told herself. The party scene probably wasn't for her anyways.
"Chaos District," a recorded woman said through the bus' speaker.
Amy bit her lip.
Too late to go back now.
"Finally," Rouge sighed, standing up and grabbing her boyfriend's hand. "Let's go, Knuckles, before all the chairs are taken."
Everyone scurried off the bus and Amy stood, going after them to join the party.
That is, before a hand stopped her.
Sonic's fingers had only lightly brushed Amy's shoulder but it was enough to make her gasp and turn.
"Sorry," Sonic apologized. "I didn't mean to scare you."
"Oh, no," Amy excused him lightly. "It's not your fault. I'm just a little..."
"Nervous?"
"...Yeah."
Sonic smiled and let his hand fall down to her shoulder and over her arm until his hand wrapped around her's.
"Don't worry, Doll. I'll take care of you."
Amy frowned.
He'd take care of her? Like a child? Like a helpless girl with no inner guidance?
Amy had come to Union so she could learn to do things on her own.
It was great that she had friends to depend on but she wasn't completely incapable.
Amy blinked, shaking the idea from her head.
She hadn't thought this before, the other times Sonic had helped her.
What Rouge said earlier was probably just getting to her.
Sonic surely didn't think she was a baby in need of caring. He was just being kind.
"Amy?" Sonic responded carefully to her lack of response. "I can take you back home if you want."
"No," she insisted. "I'm fine. Let's join the others."
He gave Amy an unsure look but nodded. "Alright. I hope they found somewhere to sit."
"This is beautiful!" Amy yelled to be heard over the pounding music.
"Is it?" Sonic asked, looking around.
They were in the oldest part of the Chaos District.
People danced on closed cobblestone roads, walked on the side walks nearby where lanterns hung above their heads, lining the streets.
Local businesses, cafes, restaurants, put out tables and chairs outside for the guests and party goers to sit, all in hopes that some might wander in for a drink or dinner.
Amy was mistified by the firelit party, blaring music and beautifully clothed bodies entangling rhythmically on the dance floor.
"It is! I've never seen anything like it."
Amy looked over to see Sonic chuckling. "Obviously you've never been to Chaos then."
Amy shook her head. "I've never left Piko until I came to Union."
"Well, welcome to my World," he laughed, putting an arm around her shoulder playfully.
Amy didn't flinch away.
Maybe she had grown used to it or maybe she just grew to like the way his touch felt. There was probably truth in both.
"So," Sonic continued, "can I have the first dance?"
Dance!?
"Wait! Sonic! I-"
"Come on!"
Before Amy knew what to do she was being draggrd by the hand into the dance.
People crowded around, jumping, stepping, twirling to the beat of the song.
Amy looked around. It was overwhelming. Her heart beat faster and her breath became rushed.
"Hey," she heard a voice whisper.
She froze, feeling Sonic's breath tickle her ear as he spoke.
His voice was low, quiet, laced with possibilities.
It brought on a warm feeling in Amy, something that boiled uncomfortably inside her.
Was it anger? No. It was something she didn't know, something new. It was just as strong.
"Eyes on me," he instructed, fingers capturing her chin and bringing her face-to-face with him.
It's like the spinning of the Earth, the chaos of the party, paused for him so that he could look at her, smile, calm her.
She felt his hands rest on her hips, a place that had never before been touched. The gesture burned as he began to move. It was a good burn.
Is this wrong? Amy asked herself.
Any answer her brain could have produced was immediately replaced with the beat, his hands, the dance.
She smiled, laughing out loud as liquid joy flooded her chest.
She found her hips swaying, her spine twisting, her body doing whatever it pleased in synch with Sonic.
The song intensified and swaying turned in to jumping, flipping hair, doing whatever felt best without any judgement whatsoever.
Eventually they were knotted together. Her arms around his neck, him pulling them close together.
It was the most fun Amy'd ever had. She couldn't help but squeal in total glee.
Why had she never done this before?
Why had she never been allowed to do this before?
The song ended, leaving Amy to slowly come down from her high.
Excitement buzzed through her as she viewed the World anew.
It was amazing.
He was amazing.
"You see? Now was that so bad?" Sonic asked, still holding her.
"No! That was so much fun! We have to do that again."
Sonic couldn't help but feel satisfied that he had put a smile on her face. Plus, as an added bonus, she was being loud, expressive. He didn't know she could act like that.
"Yeah, I'd love to," he chucked. "But first, let's get something to drink."
As they left the crowd Sonic pointed towards a nearby cafe.
"It's my favourite coffee shop," Sonic explained. "They always give me a discount."
The two went toward the store, walking in and up to the counter.
The place had a classic charm, Amy noted. It looked just like the illustrations of Spanish reateraunts in books.
Sonic made an order as Amy took in the scene.
She liked this place. She'd have to ask for its name.
"Ames, what do you want?"
"Hmm," she was brought back to the task at hand as Sonic asked.
"What do you want to drink?"
"Oh."
Amy looked up at the menu board. There was so much there. She had never had this many options. Besides, all the drinks seemed a little pricy to her modest pocket.
"I'll take a water please," Amy answered.
Both the server and Sonic looked at her strangely.
"You sure, Doll? I can get you something else."
Amy declined. "It's alright. That's all I need."
Sonic shrugged and turned back. "Black coffee and water on me."
After grabbing what they needed Sonic and Amy found a place to sit down.
"Can we go find everyone after this?" Amy requested. "I don't want them to get worried."
Sonic nodded before giving her a wide grin.
"You really are getting along with them well, aren't you?"
"Yeah," Amy chirped excitedly. "The girls have been so nice to me, especially after that rumour. They've all helped me out a lot."
Sonic looked down at his drink.
That's right, the rumour.
It was kind of his fault. He's the one who kissed her on the cheek.
Sure it was innocent but he knew that rumours spread fast around here. The ones that involved him and girls spread even faster.
"I'm sorry about that," Sonic apologized, scratching the back of his head. "I know it must be weird having people talk about you like that."
Amy opened her mouth to respond when she was interrupted.
"Hey, Sonic!"
A group of girls Amy didn't recognize had approached heir table and were beaming at her friend with all their might.
"We were wondering if you'd come dance with us," the girl at the head requested.
Her friends behind her giggled and Amy frowned.
She wasn't sure why but she didn't want Sonic to do it.
Amy checked herself. He could do whatever he wanted.
Her feeling anything about his choices would be over dramatic.
"I can't," Sonic replied. "I'm with a friend."
The girl's smile twitched but she remained mostly composed. "Oh?"
Two of her friends whispered to each other and Amy was startled by what she heard out of it.
"It's true."
They were talking about her and Sonic, how they thought she was easy or completely attached to him.
Neither was true. Although Amy wanted to be close she didn't want some strange lies spreading or getting worse.
"It's alright," Amy told Sonic, nodding out the door to the dancing. "Go ahead."
"Would you like to come too then?"
Amy had a feeling she wasn't welcome.
"No, I'll just rest here for a while. Maybe I'll look for everyone else."
Sonic ears pinned back.
"You're sure you'll be okay on your own?"
"Positive," Amy insisted, faking through acceptance. "Go on."
One of the girls lead Sonic up and away by the hand, giggling all the while.
All of them hovered around him and chattered in his ear.
Before Amy knew it, they were gone.
She sighed.
Being alone was worse than being in the spotlight, that's what she had learned.
In the spotlight everyone's watching when you slip up.
She tried to wash away that worry with her last sip of water. It didn't work.
She had come close to blowing things just a few days ago.
That temper and that cursed hammer that came with her was sure to be her undoing.
Amy got up, taking a deep breath.
She just needed fresh air.
She was all stressed out when she should have been having fun.
Go out there, she told herself, find Rouge or Cream or Blaze and have some fun.
As soon as she walked out the door, however, that became harder than it sounded.
Not only were they nowhere to be found, Sonic was smack dab in the middle of the dance floor smiling and dancing with those girls.
It was innocent. He barely came into physical contact with any of them but still Amy blushed just looking at it.
Heat gathered in her gut and she looked away.
What was this? It's not like it was wrong to dance with other people.
Other girls, her mind corrected.
Yeah, that wasn't a good thought.
Amy walked away, scanning the crowd for her friends.
She saw some of them, Knuckles and Rouge, Silver and Blaze, but she didn't want to intrude. They were couples, they didn't need a third wheel.
As for Tails and Cream, the pair that thought they weren't a pair, they were nowhere to be seen.
Amy just continued down the road.
She'd find something to do, something to invest herself in. She knew at least that much.
The crowds got thinner and thinner as she moved farther from the music and shady figures started popping up.
Couples in alley ways, men at street corners, smokers, stumbling people with beers in hand; you name it and this place had it.
Amy looked back. Maybe she should turn around, find Sonic.
He wouldn't mind walking with her again, right? They might even be able to fit in another dance.
She cringed, remembering the looks on those girls' faces as they whispered.
"It's true."
What was true?
Amy wasn't easy or loose. She wasn't weak and dependent either...or was she?
She showed all the signs of a weak girl to be honest.
Sonic ran to her rescue three times, charmed her, stood up for her, kept a watchful eye over her.
What had she done? She hit a guy in the balls. Gee, Amy, how original!
Calm down, Amy ordered herself.
This wasn't getting her anywhere but a bad place, both physically and mentally.
As she worked herself into a flurry Amy walked father and farther down the road. It was dark and filled with the wrong kind of night life.
A petite girl in a nice dress was a good target. At least, that's what the eyes of the men around her said.
She did not want to have to use this hammer tonight, or ever again. Besides, it was getting dark. It was time to go back.
"Amy Rose?"
She turned her head sharply to see the shadow of a man leaning against the brick walls of a bar.
His head rose lazily as smoke lifted up from the end the cigarette between his teeth.
His eyes were closed as he removed the object, exhaled, and stood up straight, throwing it on the floor and stamping it out.
He approached, piercing red eyes now open and fixed on her.
"Shadow!" Amy exclaimed, relieved. "I'm glad you're here."
"You should be," he huffed. "You're parading fresh meat in front of these thugs."
Amy looked around, shivering at the thought of anything they might do to her.
"Come on," he said, pressing a hand between her shoulders and pushing her back towards the party. "Let's get you back to your boyfriend."
"No!" Amy yelled, wriggling away from the boy and stumbling back.
Shadow's eyebrows were raised in astonishment as she looked back at him, breathing heavily, determined and scared all at once.
"I'm sorry," she squeaked, stepping back towards her classmate. "I didn't mean to yell. I just-"
"What?"
Amy flinched.
That had come out harder than Shadow meant it to.
"Sonic's not my boyfriend," Amy whimpered. "I don't need to go back to him. I'm fine as I am."
Shadow gawked at her.
Was this happening? Did she just deny Sonic the Hedgehog?
He couldn't help but smile, then chuckle. Eventually he was full on laughing.
Amy stared, confused at him as he began to contain himself, shaking his head and clapping his hands.
"Is the pet rebelling?"
"I'm not a pet."
"Then why do you eat from his hand like one?"
Amy crossed her arms over her chest and squeezed her feelings in.
"I do not."
"You do," Shadow spoke matter-of-factly. "I think just now is the only independent thought you've had since he got his hands on you."
Amy frowned. "I think!"
"And what do you think, Amy? Tell me and I'll believe you."
"I...I-"
"I'm waiting."
"I don't need to tell you anything."
"Fair enough," he shrugged, beginning to turn away. "...Pet."
That was it.
"You wanna know what I think?" Amy snapped. An overwhelming desire to prove him and everybody else wrong swelled inside her. "I think you're being an asshole! God, she's great, but Rouge is a nosy little bugger! Sonic treats me like an incapable baby and the whole school think I open my legs on command for him. I hate it!"
Amy, screamed and cried. The tears stained her muzzle as she wiped them away furiously. "I just wanted to prove them wrong...everybody at home who thought I couldn't do it...who thought I was a monster. But...I'm not entirely sure they're wrong. I don't care though. I just want to be...normal."
That was enough independent thought for Shadow.
"Do you feel better?" He asked, staring back at her straight faced.
Amy nodded, sniffling. "Just a bit."
"Good," he offered her a weak smile. "Sometimes all you need is an argument to make things clear."
Amy wiped the final tear off her cheek and let out a dry laugh. "I guess so."
"But seriously, let's get you back," Shadow went stony again. "Sonic would have my head if he knew I found a stray and didn't bring it home."
Amy frowned.
Shadow spoke of Sonic so harshly, as though he was possessive and cruel. What's worse is that it sounded like Shadow knew him.
Amy brushed it off.
Her wood shop partner seemed like a gloomy guy so he probably just hated everyone, right?
But he wasn't too bad.
No, in fact, he reminded her a bit of herself...if that made any sense.
Amy snuck a peak from the corner of her eye as she met stride with Shadow.
With the little comfort she had maintained she managed to muster a little smile.
"What?" He hissed, turning his head towards her at the sight.
She jumped.
She didn't think he'd see her. He wasn't paying her much attention; or, at least, she thought he wasn't.
"I just...I wanted to say thank you." Amy stuttered out an explanation, wringing her hands as she did.
"For what?"
Again, Shadow found himself sounding a lot harsher than he meant to be. He mentally slapped himself for that. He really didn't want to scare her off.
She obviously wasn't just some Sonic crazy drone. She had feelings and obviously those feelings were being rough on her. That's something he could relate to.
"No one else asked me how I felt about all this," Amy admitted, looking down at the road beneath her feet. "Not once. I guess, I appreciate it, Shadow."
Her eyes went up, worried that he'd reject this offer of goodwill, possible friendship.
He got the vibe that she was used to that kind of brushing off. It was a familiar look.
He stopped dead in his tracks, fists squeezing nervously in his pockets as he looked at her.
Her head swung up, eyes meeting his.
For a split second he was glad for his standoffish nature. If he wasn't so hard he'd be a stammering mess.
"If you ever need to talk about anything, anything at all," Shadow said, voice low, hushed. He took a step closer. His face hovered inches above her. "I'll be here for you...Rose."
A lump formed in Amy's throat. She was speechless.
She could feel her heart thud in her chest, her breath grow shallow. Something about him scared her in a good way.
His red eyes were warm, not an overbearing heat, and he just seemed so honest in this moment.
"I'll definitely take you up on that," she smiled.
Shadow sighed, as though with relief.
"Good," he spoke briskly, trying to hide the surprise in his voice. "Now let's get you back. Sonic will be worried by now."
Amy nodded and the two continued on their way.
Shadow looked up into the starry night sky.
Well, this was a new feeling. It almost felt like...joy.
Maybe this could go somewhere, he thought. That was, of course, only a maybe.
I'm so sorry I haven't updated in a long time. I promise, my stories are still going. You can blame computer problems on the late chapter. :P Luckily, I fixed it. Now here's the update.
I hope you guys enjoyed it. Thank you for reading. :)