Here it is guys, the tenth chapter. Enjoy this one!

Chapter 10: Fastest Denial, Slowest Acceptance

It seemed like 6 hours had gone by as I waited for them to come back from Tails' workshop. However, in reality, 1 hour and 39 minutes passed by as I waited. I began to get impatient and started to tap my left foot on the ground. The day was beginning to transform into the evening.

"What's taking those two so long?"

I thought about it, and began to shutter. Is Tails devising some plan to get me to fall in love with her? I immediately shake my head. He can't be doing that, right? He knows I prefer to be free flowing instead of being tied down. I kept going through my thoughts. Maybe because we both remember Cosmo's death, and how devastating it was to him, that he wants me to cherish the moments I spend with Amy, and go out with her. Could that be it? Even Knuckles wanted me to go out with her, because she always wanted to be with me.

I can't believe it myself, but these thoughts are getting my heart racing. I could feel each throb of the heartbeat. Strong, fierce, and quick… It feels like my heart is about to pop out of my chest as the warmth inside of my entire body grows in heat. Is this what it feels like to be interested in someone? Is this how Amy felt towards me? It feels… I don't know how to put it, but-

"Sonic! We're back!"

"AH!"

I immediately jump from Amy's sudden call. Amy giggled at me, and smiled as her and Tails entered the training room.

"Did I scare you?"

"Y-yeah. Don't do that when I'm thinking, Amy."

Amy walks up to me, keeping her smile on her face. Feeling my heart throb, I move backwards a little to keep my distance, but my action causes Amy to look at me a little worried. I didn't pay attention to Tails reaction, but I think he might be getting a chuckle out of this.

"Sonic? Is something the matter?"

"Y-yeah. Everything is fine. Why?"

"You're moving away from me."

"No I'm not."

"Yes you are."

"Want me to prove it to you, then?"

"Yeah, Sonic. Prove it. I'll walk towards you."

I prepared for what could possibly be the hardest challenge of my life. I felt my heartbeat get stronger again, and after I tried to keep the distance between us, she walks toward me again. I tried walking backwards again, but I collided into a wall. Amy gets suspicious, and looks at me with curiosity.

"See? Are you avoiding me? Did I do something wrong?"

"N-no! I just… uh…"

I turned to look at Tails, who had his mouth covered with both of his hands, and was trying hard not to laugh at me. I could immediately tell that he knew I was growing fond of Amy. I blushed, and looked away as she got closer to me. I felt my heart throb more and more until-

"Alright. That's enough you two. Sonic, why don't you go for a run? Your legs might be a bit tired from waiting for us."

I breathe a sigh of relief. Tails had saved me from trying to prove a point to Amy.

"Ok. I'll do just that."

"Sonic! Wait!"

I started to run out the door to the entrance, but I was stopped by Amy. I turned to look towards her, getting caught off guard by her smiling face. Is it me, or did Amy's face become a little cuter the last time I looked at her?

"Y-yes?"

"Can I come with you?"

"Uh…"

I thought about how I should answer her. For the first time, the words "no" couldn't come out of my mouth. As I stuttered to form a pairing of words, Tails answered for me.

"Amy, shouldn't you get started in trying to train your magic? I know you want to have fun and spend time with Sonic. However, we still have to get you prepared just in case Eggman decides to try and take over Mobius, like usual."

"But…"

Amy lets out a pout, and nods her head, walking into the training room. As she waits in the facility, Tails walks up to me with a smirk on his face. I knew I couldn't get out of this one.

"Well, Sonic-"

"Don't say it."

"Don't say what?"

"I know why you came up to me…"

"Is that because I noticed you started to fall-"

"Don't say it!"

Tails started laughing at me, as he held his stomach.

"Why not? It's about time you know."

"Why would it be time for me to-"

I held my breath from trying to say it. Tails looked at me as he kept his smile, while my face was turning red from embarrassment.

"Because you now felt that precious feeling I felt when I had Cosmo by my side."

I looked at him with a bit of a surprised expression on my face, but somehow, I knew he was going to refer to his relationship. I pictured her image as Tails spoke to me with conflicting feelings of both happiness and sadness.

"So?"

"Come on, Sonic. You and I both know that Amy is a precious friend to you, to us. However, she was the first one to come by your side many times throughout our adventures, and was even persistent enough to help you beat Metal Sonic yesterday, even though you wanted her to stay where she was. If the whole world was against you, I'm pretty sure she would be the only one to come by your side and say 'It's okay, Sonic. I'm always here for you,'. It's just like with Cosmo who sacrificed her life to save mine, save all of our lives…"

"Well…"

I looked away while Tails was staring at my reaction. It's true that Amy has been there for me plenty of times, but… What can I do? I never felt something like love before, and even if I ask Amy to go out with me, I'm not sure how I can make her happy. She wants to settle down with someone like me, who prefers to be flowing with the wind, guiding me to new adventures. How can I make someone like her happy? Just being with her makes it enough, but as for being by her side… I felt my heartbeat get stronger and faster as I thought to myself. Somehow, it makes me happy to picture an image like that, but hearing the Cosmo bit makes it hurt. What if she dies? I wouldn't be able to accept that regardless, but would my true feelings come out if she did? Everything about love is so confusing, that it gives you both happiness and sadness.

"Are you still having conflicting feelings about it?"

"I-It's just… It's too much to handle for someone like me…"

"I understand, Sonic. Don't worry. Take your time and think it over."

"Ok. Thanks, buddy."

I smile at him, and he returns it with his own. It's a good thing Tails was able to understand how I feel about this whole love thing.

"You're welcome. So, how do we explain it to Amy?"

"Hmm…"

That was the hardest part: Explaining it to Amy. While I would love to tell her, I have a bad feeling that she might jump for joy. Either that, or she might pass out. I decided to wait until I was comfortable enough to tell her.

"Why don't we wait? I can't tell her up front that I'm starting to like her…"

"If you keep acting suspicious like that, she's bound to know sooner or later, Sonic. She's been around you for years."

"I can't deny that."

"Tell you what. I'll tell her you were having a headache, and you decided that going for run in the cool air might be good for you."

"Alright. I'll check back later. Thanks again, Tails."

"Come on, Sonic. We're like brothers. If I didn't help you, who would?"

"True."

With no hesitation, I take off into the evening light, and decided to think over the situation.

"Forming a relationship with Amy…"

While my heart doesn't think of it as a bad thing, with all the throbbing it did today, I, myself, don't know about love. Would it really work out between us? I… I don't know… I feel like it should work out, but… that's not what I'm feeling… I feel the need to be free, while my heart… My heart's conflicting with me… I don't know what to do… I can't be with her and go out on adventures by myself… It's so hard to decide… The only thing on my mind right now is Amy. Would she be really happy with the way I am now? I can't stop thinking about it. My heart and mind are really only focusing on her.

We've reached an interesting part haven't we? I know you guys been missing out on my story, so I'm working extra hard for the next chapters.