Chapter 6: Guilt

When Amy came across Cream and Rouge they asked her why she was crying, she told them before they went separate ways that she was reading a book in the library which was a little tragic in the end that made her tears fall because of the sadness of the story. She did so with her friends in the restaurant. When Amy went to EMBERDAWN's; she tried to make an excuse to tell her co-workers why her face was tear-soaked. She tried convincing them by telling them it was nothing so that they won't press the subject any further.

Since that afternoon Sonic and Amy rose never spoke a word to each other the following day.

Sonic acted his usual way and teased and try to call her his self-invented names. But Amy only snubbed him and didn't even spare him a glance, she continue to focus on what she does and ignore the blue hedgehog.

She was tired of having to tell the blue hedgehog to stop teasing her or insulting her in any way, so she decided to just let him do what he wants but she won't give him the satisfaction of showing how it affects her.

Sonic on the other hand, proceeded with his obnoxious behaviour. He acted as if nothing happened the previous day. He kept on teasing her and even tried playing tricks on her. Amy didn't make any reactions towards it, she only ignored him and didn't dare to look at him even if he has gone far as took her chair when she was about to sit. She fell on her rear, but she only stood up and took back the chair from him and took a seat quietly with nothing to say about it. She didn't scold, yell or growled at him. She acted as if he didn't exist. At that point that Sonic finally gave up and fell silent himself.

The next day, Sonic acted rather shy towards her. He avoided making eye contact with her and surprisingly, he avoided her for the first time. Sonic also noticed that Amy rose is always wearing a frown on her face; she doesn't carry that positive, cheerful and cheeky persona of hers that she always shows to everyone. Well she manages to show those who approach her, a small smile but when they leave her smile immediately drops.

Only a few people noticed the difference of their actions towards each other some of these people are Amy and Sonic's closest friends, who said nothing about it or dared to even mention if an opportunity opens.

Somehow, Sonic regretted of ever making her go through something like that. She must have released all of the emotions she felt while he was trying to irritate her. But it's for a reason, though it may be a selfish reason, one he can't tell her, it's a little too shameful to ever mention to her.

Late in the afternoon...

Since their assignment at the library was now over, Sonic can finally join his team mates in practice. The big game is two days away and he lost an entire week of training, that's why he needed to double his effort on the remaining day.

Their coach ordered them to form to teams and assume they were each other's opponent, and play as if it was the very competition. Both sides played with excellence, but there was a certain blue hedgehog that wasn't completely focused. While his other team mates played, Sonic kept staring at the ground, he still felt guilty of what he did and it was ruining his concentration. He knew it is, but every time he pushes the thought aside it keeps on coming back and invading his mind.

Sonic stood motionless on the side of the field, he was too occupied with his personal concerns that he didn't see the ball hurling towards him.

"Sonic, look out!" one his team mates warned.

Sonic snapped out of his thoughts, but he was too late to avoid what's coming for him. The ball hit him direct on the forehead making him stumble backwards and land on his back. He groaned in pain and placed his hand on his forehead, stroking it gently to ease the pain. He stood up, and saw his team mates including his coach come to him. They surrounded him.

"You alright dude?" knuckles asked putting a hand on his shoulder.

"Yeah," Sonic replied.

"You sure? You seemed a little distracted," Tails suggested.

"I'm fine, just a little tired is all," Sonic lied.

And then their coach showed up and stood before the blue hedgehog with a stern land worried look on his face. "Sonic, what happened?"

"Well, I...was just...tired," he answered shameful.

"Tired of what? You've been released from your punishment haven't you? What could possibly have tired you out?" The coach asked.

Sonic felt himself cornered, he couldn't possibly tell his coach that he was occupied by personal thoughts which distracted him. No! If he said such thing then he won't be allowed to play for the match. If that happens all of his hard work would have gone to waste.

He didn't answer, only look down shamefully while his team and his coach waited for him to speak, but he didn't though.

The coach sighed, "If it's something personal then you don't have to tell me," he placed his hand on his shoulder causing the blue hedgehog to at him. "Just make sure you focus on the game alright." Sonic nodded.

Everyone scattered all over the filed again to resume practice, Sonic tried to concentrate more, he did this time. He just can't help thinking about his feeling of guilt. He couldn't erase from his mind all the things Amy rose said to him.

As he ran to receive a ball which one of his co-player was signalling for him to be ready to get, some of her words rung in his mind.

"You've been insulting and hurting me for all I can remember and I don't know why. I already suffered too much pain for one lifetime and I don't need more from you so please do me a favour and stop!"

It was then that he lost his senses and unconsciously closed his eyes and ran without any knowledge of doing it without the use of his brain.

"I'm sorry," he said desperately.

For the second time, he was hit by the ball, by the same reason. At least it wasn't strong enough to knock him down, only make him back a way a few feet.

Once again he felt disgraced, of making his emotions take over his mind. His comrades once again gathered around him and asked if he was okay. Again he tried to make false replies to stop them from worrying about him.

He saw his coach beckoning him to come to him. He walked over to the side lines on the right side of the field. He feared that his coach might ask about the personal issues he has right now.

He reached him.

"Sonic, I'm a little concerned of whatever is troubling you right now," he said.

"Sorry coach," Sonic apologized.

"I can't afford you being distracted during the match; I have no choice but to exclude you from playing in the game."

"What!" Sonic shouted that almost made his coach jump backwards. "Coach no! I've been training really hard for this game and I just can't let all that training go to waste!"

"I know how hard you have. But what your showing to me today, says otherwise," his coach noted.

"No! Coach you can't! I-I-I promise to focus from now on just let me play,"

The Soccer coach watched as his best player looked so desperate. He remembered in his high school years how he was so excited to play in the big soccer game and how badly he did, just like this young fellow before him.

"Please coach, I promise," Sonic pleaded.

The sight before him reminded him of those days and he fully understood his situation, so reconsidered.

He sighed, "alright, but you have to make sure you'll be in your full performances when the match arrives."

Sonic was greatly relieved, "thanks coach."

Then he ran back to the field and played at his best, only to be disturbed again by other concerns regarding a different person.