Chapter 11: Overcoming pressure

Days had passed, practice went on. But at the first day and following ones, not much was done. Every time practice would take place, a certain blue hedgehog kept ruining the flow of each scene. Everybody grew tired of his attempts to destroy the beautiful story, his rigidness always got in the way of things.

Only three days left before the actual play and they haven't had a proper practice. None of their previous ones made any progress although most of the other characters did and supporting people did their greatest to take part in it. There was just one person who get on the way of things—Sonic.

Now, another day was wasted. Only two days left and still, the blue hedgehog wouldn't drop his usual irritable air. Everyone is getting really worried. And they can't really force Sonic to do as they tell him because of their fear of him and partly because of his popularity. They were out-ranked.

"Sonic, could you at least 'pretend' that you're enjoying what you do," said Amy when Sonic ruined another scene between them.

"How can I possibly 'pretend' to be enjoying this when the truth is I don't? Not one bit?" he replied harshly.

Amy face-palmed, "as much as you do hedgehog I'm also disliking the part where I have to be close to you, but for the sake of our play and grades, I have no choice!"

Sonic made an hmph sound.

"She's right Sonic," one of the class said catching the hedgehogs attention.

"Yeah, we only have two days left and we didn't made have of the story done," another one said and more and others also expressed their thoughts towards the blue blur.

"Other sections and other years are already having their final rehearsals whereas we are still having our practice."

"So are you saying I'm holding us back?" Sonic sneered.

"No were not saying that you are, we mean that perhaps you should stop complaining and do as what you are told," Christian said carefully not to arouse the blue hedgehog's temper.

Sonic crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes in anger. "In other words, it's my fault we still haven't did much progress?"

"No that—

"Yes Sonic it's your fault!" Amy snapped cutting Christian off. "If not for you, we would have finished this yesterday and the day before!" She mimicked his voice, recalling each one of his complaints and protests. "I can't do this, it's out of my league, this is too embarrassing to say, can we have a break, you're not the boss of me! UGH! Don't you ever get tired complaining? Don't you know that everyone here is trying their best to make the play a success and all you do is thinking about yourself?"Amy's anger is erupting in a powerful burst not being able to hold herself any longer.

Everyone stood silently, watching Amy heave her chest, speechless after witnessing her loss of herself. Then they turned to Sonic who displayed the same expression in his face yet there was something else under that. They couldn't really pin point what emotion it was. Scorn, anger, disbelief and...No way...hurt?

Sonic hung his head and didn't stare at her. Amy also realized what she had done, making it more obvious as she widen her eyes and dropping her gaze at the floor.

Silence hung in the air. No one dared to say a word.

Seconds later, Sonic moved ending the dreadful silence and walked out without saying a word, feeling the same feeling he felt (whoa, tongue twister) when Amy burst her feelings out right after their library assignment.

The sound of the door closing was heard.

"Amy, are you okay?" Cream dared to asked, full of concern for her best friend.

"...I...I'm going to need some air," with that Amy left as well leaving the rest of the class without a prince and Snow White.

"Now what do we do?" Christian sighed.

Time passed, it was four o'clock on the afternoon Amy and Sonic haven't returned. The rest of them decided to call it a day and they all agreed that tomorrow, they would ask Miss Brown to cancel their performance.

Four o'clock Amy was lying on the spot where she and her friends love to hang out during free period—under the cherry blossom tree a few istances from school. She leaned on its trunk and watched as the petals of the beautiful pink flowers were blown by the breeze.

She sighed deeply. "I really need to control my temper," she said with despair. "I think I should go back now." She stood up and went back to school to start practicing with the others.

But when she returned to her classroom, it was empty. She stood in front of the door seeing an empty classroom. The seats were arranged the way they were before. She wondered where could everyone be, then figured that they must have gone home since the protagonist and his prince in the play was out addressing their own feelings.

Amy decided to go home. Since her shift at work is being covered, she can go straight to her house. Just as she was about to enter, she heard someone groan in frustration. She turned around to where it was and saw the source—Sonic. She observed him for a few moments to know what he was doing.

He was uttering words which were very familiar to her, as if he was talking to someone, making gestures and his tones varied. She realized he was practising on his own! He stopped every time he made a mistake or forget a line. Once in a while he gazed at his script and resume.

Amy felt bad for saying he was selfish before. I guess she only misunderstood him. He was just pressured and uncomfortable of acting femininely. And it was a difficult task for him since, for sure; this is his first time to get this role and an important one at that.

She remembered saying he would help him address his problems. She's always true to her words and she would always fulfil them if she could.

Amy walked silently towards the blue hedgehog.

Sonic punched the wall for making another mistake. "Why can't I get this right?" he said gritting his teeth in frustration.

"Because you're pressuring yourself too much," someone answered.

Sonic gasped and leapt to his feet. He hoped it was not one of his friends, but worse it was Amy. She was walking closer to him, her face serious.

He said nothing as the pink hedgehog neared. He opened his mouth but words wouldn't come out. She was now not more than a meter in distance from where he is standing.

Finally summoning a large amount of energy he could find, he spoke," What do you want?"

"Help you with what's troubling you," Amy answered plainly. She took the script from him but he did nothing as she did. She looked at it briefly then diverted her attention to her companion.

"What are you having trouble with?"

Sonic avoided her eyes. "Why do you care?" he hissed.

Amy sighed. "I think you know."

"I'm the hindrance to the improvement of our play?" Sonic answered with so much distaste from his tone.

"No," Amy said flatly. "Because you need help and I, for one, don't want to see you make a fool of yourself."

Sonic turned his head to meet Amy's eyes. He could feel her willingness to help him with his problems and the spark of light in her eyes and beauty of her smile was enough proof that she really wants to.

"I hate you Sonic, yes, but that doesn't mean that I should leave you there and get yourself laughed at or worse. I'm the only one who can do that to you."

Sonic sighed deeply saying that he is open to take her offer of help. Amy smiled.

"So, what are you having trouble with?" Amy asked, repeating her words earlier.

"Everything," Sonic answered.

"Be specific," Amy insisted.

"I don't need to, I think you already know."

She did, she just wanted to hear it from him. "Okay, so how is it? Any better."

"No," Sonic answered flatly.

Amy smiled. She took hold of Sonic's hand, her eyes shining and full of affection.

Sonic's head went black; he didn't know what to do. His heart began to beat at an amazing speed. This only worsened when Amy brought it to her face and kissed his knuckles, he blushed madly at the act not knowing how to respond. The he heard her speak.

"Oh lovely maiden, blessed are you with such beauty. I am obliged to witness such gentle grace."

...

...

"Sonic, say your lines!" Amy said bringing him back into the real world.

"...what?" he wasn't able to speak.

"Pay attention,"

"What?"

Amy sighed. "I thought we were supposed to be practicing?"

It took Sonic a few seconds before he could pull himself together, "We?"

"Yes, what better way to help you than address your problems directly? So?"

"So, what?"

"Your lines,"

"Oh." Sonic cleared his throat, "Th-thank y-you my pr-prince, I shall—

Amy cut him off, "Sonic you're too tense. Try to relax a little,"

"I can't,"

"You know, it helps to think about something." Sonic didn't quite understand what she meant.

"What do you mean?"

"Try to think about what are the things that make you scared, happy sad, depending on the emotion required. That way you won't have such a hard time pretending. Well, at this moment, think of what makes you happy." Amy said.

Sonic paused for a moment to think, searching his heart of the things that made him happy. He already knew what those things are and this very moment is one of them. I don't need to look, because it's already right in front of my eyes.

Sonic smiled a very genuine smile. "Alright got what makes me happy, let's do this,"

"Okay then, I'll start again."

The two practiced for hours until night came. When Sonic finally got better Amy was relieved, and a little impressed. Though he did not mimic a female's voice, Sonic did quite good. At 7:00 they stopped and decided to go home. Sonic offered to walk Amy home to thank her for her help, which of course, Amy accepted.

"Well Blue boy, I got to say, you did pretty well," said Amy.

"Yup, I always knew I had it in me," Sonic boasted. They made a left turn.

"Was it before, or after I helped you?" Amy pursed her lips. Sonic didn't reply.

Amy giggled. "Well it certainly took a lot of my time, but it was worth it. At least now no one would worry about you complaining all the time."

"I guess, now all they have to worry now is how they're going to keep up with my talent." Amy rolled her eyes; she wondered where he got all this confidence all of a sudden.

"Aren't there any street lights here pinky?" Sonic asked, again not using her name.

Yes indeed there were none. The path they're going is dark, you can hardly see anything.

"No, but I'm used to it," Amy answered.

"You should really avoid going home late at night," he began, "you never know what danger hiding in the 'dark'," Sonic whispered the last word into Amy's ear sending shivers all over her body.

"Don't do that!" she yelled stopping. "You know why don't you just go home and I'll go on from here," she turned and continued walking.

Sonic chuckled, "love to pinky but I'm afraid I can't leave you alone."

"Why not?"

"Let's just say I owe you," Sonic answered putting his hands behind his head.

"But aren't you afraid to go home all by yourself?"

Sonic shook his head.

Amy half-lidded her eyes and smirked. "Probably because anything scary would be scared of you before you do."

"Are you scared of me?" Sonic suddenly asked.

"No, why?"

"Because you, yourself is scary and if you're not scared of me them maybe—

"Oh shut up!"

Sonic chuckled. He thought for himself for a while, remembering that this was the second time he spent time with Amy during evening. The first was when he saw her walking alone on the streets late at night. Then he thought what was she doing so late that night? She definitely wasn't out to slack off, and her friends weren't with her that time.

"Hey pinky," Sonic began, "what were you doing that night when I saw walking all by yourself?'

Amy stopped. She definitely didn't see that one coming. She tried to think of a lie to cover the real answer to his question. He can't just tell him that she works part-time as a waitress; he would use it against her.

"I was...um...well...I," Amy stammered. "I just went somewhere that's all," she lied.

"Where?"

"None of your business,"

"Aw c'mon," Sonic insisted.

"No!"

"What're you trying to hide?"

"Nothing! Any way I'm here." Amy opened the gate to her house and ran towards the entrance. Before she went inside she turned to Sonic's direction who was looking at her. "Do your best in the play okay," she reminded him.

"Sure," Sonic responded.

"Night," Amy said to him before entering her house and closing the door.

"Good night," Sonic whispered. This is another one of the moments he will cherish—when it was just the two of them.

Hallelujah! Praise the Lord for always guiding me in my everyday life!

Shocks! How long has it been? Months I know, really weird of me to take this long to update. Well, I have been busy and it's so difficult to manage your time effectively. Anyway, thanks for all the encouraging words guys I'll try my best to make every chapter worth reading.

Next chapter will definitely be the play! Thank you and GOD BLESS YOU!