Thank you so much to: The High School Hero, starrysunsets, Mobius Freak, Savvy0417, Yasmine155, DidntMakeDeletingAccountsEasy, TheMidnightShadow, Steve993, Chaotic hedgehog, ShadowsAngel1, Fables-and-FairyTale, Dovewing01, Eli Swafford, Guest, M, The Shadow of Wyvern'sHold and SpeedsMyGame! I adored reading the reviews! They were so sweet!
The High School Hero - Things are getting tense up in hereeeee! It is indeed - seconds story around and the stakes are getting a lot higher! Ooh, you'll have to find out in this chapter!
starrysunsets - Hahaha! Shadow to the rescue! xD
Mobius Freak - Don't be silly! Ha, I think everyone is feeling like that about Scourge! X'D Aw, poor all three of them! Hahahaha! I think Knuckles would call it 'lad banter' XD
Savvy0417 - The twists are quick with this one! xD
Yasmine155 - Awww :( Thank you!
DidntMakeDeletingAccountsEasy - Scourge hasn't learnt much from MMG, huh? You're utterly right about Tails, and definitely that Cosmo would feel awful if she knew what she'd done! Hahahaa, your description of the Mean Girl pouring gasoline on a fire is perfect! That's exactly how to describe it! Thank you very much! :D
TheMidnightShadow - Oooh, now that would be tense! Tails Vs Shadow? Haha, I'm afraid so! X'D
Steve993 - Thank you very much! Haha, I like your premonition for Scourge! Aw, Tails is breakin' my heart with this, I'm glad I'm not the only one! :'(
Chaotic hedgehog - I am a cruel, cruel writer xD I write cliffhangers because I love my readers, I swear! The continuation will be all the more sweet! ;D
ShadowsAngel1 - Aw, thank you very much! :3
Fables-and-FairyTale - Sonic-speed would come in handy here! Aw, thank you!
Dovewing01 - TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE!
Eli Swafford - Thank you so much!
Guest - Haha, that's the reaction I like to hear! ;D
M - Awww, that's so sweet, thank you very much!
The Shadow of Wyvern'sHold - I'm so glad you think so! :D
SpeedsMyGame - This is true - updates are happening, in that I'm continuing with my Summer Renovation (details on my profile). Chapter 9 has now been edited!
Chapter 9: Don't Mess With the Boy in Blue
(Sonic)
Afterwards, it all happened so quickly.
My mind was set on confronting Shadow about all of this. I'd settled my qualms with him, about everything that had happened with Amy, but I couldn't stand the thought that he'd broken Tails' heart, using Cosmo.
He knew that Tails liked Cosmo. He knew! Why had he betrayed Tails?
I didn't know what I was planning to say to Shadow — I hadn't thought that far ahead. I wanted him to explain that it was all a misunderstanding, and there was an explanation. But I also kinda wanted to slam him into a wall.
I was shaking with fury, but my thoughts didn't go much beyond that. Skirting around the edges of the crowd, I heard someone call my name.
"Mr Sonic!" Cream was staring at me, with wide eyes, tugging on my arm. She yelled over the thrumming music, "Amy is in trouble!"
"Amy's what?" I couldn't hear her.
"Mr Scourge is with Amy! You need to help her!"
I urged her on, "Where did they go?"
"Out into the hall."
Crap. I nodded my gratitude to her, before speeding around the drunken groups. Everyone seemed a lot more hammered than they had been earlier. I wondered if Amy had ended up the same way, which would explain why she would willingly follow Scourge.
Frantic, I escaped into the hallway. The corridor was like a ghost-town, compared to when Tails and I had been there. Halfway down, my eyes fell on Scourge and Amy, far too close for my comfort. It was painful to see.
Scourge had his arms hugged around her hips, rubbing down her curves, getting near to her ass. Although I hated to admit it, he was supporting Amy and stopping her from falling over — Amy's expression was glazed and out-of-it, as she lolled back and sloppily hiccupped. Scourge whispered something to her, low and sleazy, but she just laughed, feebly batting her hand against his chest.
I felt sick.
Not being able to stand it any longer, I sped towards them and tore Scourge away, shoving him into the wall. He smirked.
"Hey, Blue. Enjoying the show?"
I growled in response, "What did you do to her?!"
"Nothing, actually. She was way too drunk to be alone. Lousy boyfriend you are..." Scourge jutted his chin in Amy's direction. I turned my head and saw that, without Scourge's support, she'd collapsed on the floor, dead to the world, asleep. I raced over and sat her up.
"Amy..." I whispered.
"That girl really can't handle her drink," Scourge leant against the wall, amused.
"Shut up, Scourge."
"Or what? What's a fuckin' loser like you, gonna do to someone like me?"
"Watch your mouth!"
"Touched a nerve? Listen up, Sonic," Scourge grabbed my shoulder and swung me around, forcing me to stare him in the face. He grinned, bright and malevolent, "Next time, I won't be so polite to her."
That was when I exploded. I punched Scourge in the stomach, sending him flying back. A couple of people had come into the hallway, out of the party, and their jaws dropped open at our brawl. Scourge hacked up some fluid, clambering up and swiftly tackling me to the ground. I skidded away from Amy, wrestling with the green hedgehog.
"Give it up," Scourge snarled, "You won't win!"
"Just watch me," I bent my legs and kicked Scourge off of my body. A bigger audience was starting to amass, and I heard a few gasps at our violence.
Scourge ran into me, attempting to smack me down again, but I rolled out of the way and he just punched the floor. Swinging my leg out, I knocked him over, making him smash into his chin. I was about to head back to Amy, but he grabbed me from behind, hurling me towards the crowd. The crowd darted back, avoiding me, but drinks were spilt. I was doused with coke, wine, vodka and lemonade. It was disgusting.
I grimaced, wiping the coating off my arms, but I leapt onto my feet once more, "You'll regret that."
"Will I?" Scourge straightened his jacket, "Make me."
"He'll have to beat me to it."
Shadow was suddenly at my side, coiled and tense. Staring for a moment, I finally collected myself and faced Scourge again.
The green hedgehog barked out a laugh, "Really, Blue? You've gotta call on Shaddie-boy to deal with me? Fuckin' tragic."
"You wish," I growled, "I just want him to get some satisfaction too, when we beat you into the ground."
"You couldn't kick my ass if you tried!"
"Shadow's done it before."
"Don't make me laugh. When?"
Shadow grunted, "Sally's house party. If I remember, one single punch knocked you out for a couple of hours."
"Oh, yeah, now I remember!" Cockily, Scourge poked his finger into my chest, "That was when I kissed Amy. Because you pissed her off. Are things really gonna be different, this time, Blue? 'Cause, to be honest, I'm getting a sense of deja vu!"
"We'll happily knock a different type of sense into you," Shadow threatened.
Scourge's eyes swivelled between the two of us, narrowed and defensive, but he ultimately took a step back and dropped out of his fighting stance. His jaw was clenched, and I knew that he wanted to lay into us, but he clearly didn't like his chances.
"Whatever," He spat, defeated, "I'm done with you two. Being 'round you makes me feel a little sick." Scourge strutted off towards the kitchen, attention fixed onto something else. The crowd's interest disappeared along with him.
"Are you alright?" Shadow asked me.
I nodded, "Soaked, but fine. I'd better go and check on Amy—"
"Cream took her back to her room, while we were dealing with Scourge. She might have sobered up a bit by now,," Shadow watched me head towards the exit, but he called out to me, "Sonic. You should know that there's more to all of this. With Cosmo and Tails. He doesn't need to give up hope."
Frowning, I walked back to him, "What do you mean?"
"I can't tell you that," He looked uncomfortable about it, "You'll know soon enough."
I reluctantly decided to let it go, and leave him alone about. Amy needed me, and he'd already helped me with Scourge, so I couldn't interrogate him any further. But this was far from over.
Zooming over to the girls' flat as fast as I could, I bumped into Cream on the way. She told me that she'd taken Amy to her room and put her to bed, but the pink hedgehog was rather inconsolable and had asked to be left alone. I reassured Cream that I would take care of Amy, and that she should head back to the others, so that they knew where she was.
When I arrived in the flat, and swiftly walked to Amy's door, I could hear the sound of her quietly crying. My heart ached, and so I tried the door handle, but it was locked from the inside.
"Ames, please," I rested my forehead against the door, "It's me. Will you let me in?"
"No," She blew her nose, "I can't face anyone."
"You know that I'm not anyone," Patiently, I spun around and slid down onto the floor, pressing my back against the solid frame, "Please let me look after you."
"I don't need looking after. And I don't deserve it."
"That's ridiculous," I had no idea why she would think that. Of course she deserved it — she hadn't done anything wrong. I wasn't sure how much involvement Scourge had had in her intoxication, but he'd taken advantage of her, no matter whether he had or hadn't done something to her drink. This was his fault, entirely.
"N-No, it's not."
"What are you embarrassed about? You didn't do anything."
"I s-shouldn't have gotten drunk like that. Not with S-Scourge there. It was stupid."
"We've all done stupid things," I started, "I know that I have. So, so many stupid things. But you can't beat yourself up over them - especially when they're not even your fault. You should be allowed to drink without having to watch out for people like Scourge. And you know that I'm always here to protect you, no matter what. We all are. Just like you are for us. If this had happened to one of the others, you wouldn't blame them in the slightest. So give yourself a break, too."
Standing, I waited for a reply. Instead, there was a click and the door opened.
"Why are you so wise?" Amy sniffed, hugging her tissue to her chest and suddenly looking very young. I smiled, warmly.
"What can I say?" I pulled her into a hug, "It's a gift."
She glanced down the flat's corridor, "Where is everyone?"
"Either at the party, or just leaving," I leant down and kissed her on the forehead, "Don't worry. Shadow's keeping an eye on everyone. I came alone because I didn't want you to feel embarrassed."
Her expression softened. Gently taking hold of my hand, Amy led me into her room and shut the door, gesturing for me to sit down on the bed, despite the strewn bedcovers. It was dark, without the main light, but fairy lights twinkled around her bed post and desk, so I could clearly see her.
Amy sat beside me, "You're too good to me. I'm so sorry..."
As her voice wobbled, and tears threatened to start falling again, I wrapped my arms around her and stoked the back of her head, "Don't, Ames. You've nothing to be sorry for. Scourge did this. It's his ass that I wanna kick."
"I hurt you," She whispered, hardly audible, "I saw your face, when you found me."
There was a guilty pang in my heart. I hadn't meant to make her feel bad, "I'm sorry. I reacted badly, at first. I didn't see the whole picture."
"Don't even go there," Reaching up, Amy caressed my cheek and moved closer, "You have nothing to be sorry for."
"Neither do you," Leaning back, I shifted my body so that Amy was lying down. Then I proceeded to scoop up her legs, tuck her in, and smooth the sheets on top of her, "Come on, you need rest."
"Thank you, Sonic."
I smiled at her sleepy expression, as her eyelids fluttered briefly, tired. Pausing only for a moment, I settled down on the bed too and laid beside her, on top of the covers. Automatically, she rested her head on my chest and snuggled closer, but she still looked at me, questioningly.
"What? I'm tired too," I grinned, wrapping an arm around her shoulders, protectively.
Amy reached over and kissed me. It was sleepy and languid, but somehow there was something extremely intimate about it. Eyes drooping, I savoured the feeling of her lips against mine, but the pure bliss was making me even more settled and tired.
Breaking away, I snuggled closer to her and let myself sink into the pillow. In that moment, drifting between reality and slumber, things seemed like they were going to be okay.
(? ? ?)
"You fuckwit!" I hissed, leaning into Scourge's face, as he lounged on the chair in front of me. His similarity to Sonic infuriated me, but his attitude couldn't have been any more different.
"Cool it, babe," He smirked, unfazed, "I did what you said."
Throwing my hands onto my hips, I straightened up, "Oh, of course you did. Because I asked you to let Sonic kick your ass in a fight. And I definitely asked you to allow him to 'save' Amy."
His expression darkened, "Amy got drunk. I made Sonic jealous. That was what you wanted."
"Shit!" I spun on my heel, stomping my foot on the ground in rage. This whole plan had gone haywire, "This is a fucking disaster. I want to throw them all into chaos! I want Amy to be in tears. I want to rip out Sonic's heart! I want my revenge!"
"Heh," Scourge reached over and squeezed my thigh, "Now that's my kinda girl."
I batted him away, "Not now. You'll get what you want, when I get what I want."
"How do you know what I want?" Raising an eyebrow, he leant back, curious.
"Please. You haven't exactly tried to hide it," I clambered into his lap, slotting my thighs around his hips and grinding myself against him. My arms were wrapped around his neck, and my chest was close to his face — he couldn't help but look. I grinned, "Perv."
He smirked back, "Alright, fuck's sake. I'll admit, Sonic's taste in girls ain't too bad." Scourge's eyes lit up with an idea, "How 'bout I kiss Amy again? Really rub it in Sonic's face."
"No," I snapped, climbing off of him, "That's not needed."
But Scourge started to laugh, "You're kiddin' me."
"What?"
"You're jealous!"
"Oh, whatever."
"You'd better believe it, baby!"
SLAP.
"I am not jealous!" Grabbing the lapels of Scourge's leather jacket, I tugged him closer and growled out, "Don't think for one second that I am jealous of Amy."
"Jeez," He shook me off, "Calm down, already. I'm just joking."
"Did you actually find out anything useful, at your stupid party?"
Scourge mulled it over, "Sonic was super protective; Knuckles hasn't got the balls to ask Rouge out; Tails left early, and he seemed pissed off. Eh, the green chick kept hanging onto Shadow's arm, but he seemed disinterested. The last three aren't worth mentioning."
"This tells me... what, exactly?" I frowned, "I already know that they're fucking losers."
Dangerously cocky, he rolled his eyes, "You're missing the bigger picture. Sonic was protective 'cause he's more insecure than he lets on. After last night, he'll be worried that Amy's gettin' sick of him."
I considered this. Scourge might have been onto something. He was better at reading people than I'd expected.
"Knuckles ain't worth explaining. Tails? Now that's an interesting one. It's something to do with the seedrian. 'Probably crushin' on her," He settled into his jacket and lowered his sunglasses, looking at me over the rim, "And Shadow? Here's a juicy stuff. I heard that he likes Amy. And, clearly, he got rejected."
Now that was a useful piece of information.
"Good work," I praised, surprised by his proficiency in psychological analysis."
Heading towards the door, I was formulating a plan based on the information that Scourge had gathered. I was anxious to get started, and it seemed like a prime time to break down Sonic's relationship. I just needed to get Sonic and Amy away from each other, and then I could start breaking down the trust between them.
"Are you jealous 'cause I kissed Amy, or 'cause Sonic likes her now, instead of you?"
I twisted back to confront Scourge — but he was gone. The window had been slid open, letting a light breeze flow into room.