The Bet

Chapter 8

Shadow's House

2:07 p.m.

"And what exactly do you suggest we do?" Shadow asked.

"Uh…" was all Amy said, rolling her eyes to the side, thinking. She thought of a couple of things, but they were all something that was better enjoyed with more than two people. Knowing Shadow and his "fear" of PDA, he wouldn't agree to being around anyone other than herself longer than necessary.

"Uh really isn't being specific." he replied. He just simply crossed his legs and arms and laid back on the couch.

"I'm thinking!" she exclaimed. Something we can both enjoy…while being by ourselves…harder than it sounds. "What about a movie?"

"You and I both know there is nothing we could possibly agree on seeing." Shadow said, lazily.

"Okay…what going out to eat?"

"Didn't I just take you to a restaurant?"

"Right…well, you're not making this any easier…" Amy protested.

"I didn't know I had to. It was you're idea for us to go out, not mine. Normally when this happens, the person actually has somewhere to go." Shadow retorted. Amy could only pout knowing he was, in his own way, right.

"So, what exactly do you suggest we do?" Amy asked, mocking his tone and posture.

"Well, you go back home and I have a moment's peace without a pink fur ball invading my privacy. Sounds pretty good, don't you think?" he said. The pink hedgehog referred to as a 'fur ball' wore a blank expression after his statement.

"Just know that this adorable pink fur ball is the one who is also you're girlfriend. And if you want to keep this fur ball, privacy will be invaded; doesn't whose it is." she said, adding a girlish 'hmph at the end. He retorted with the same gesture and rolled his eyes.

"You have to go home to change clothes anyway. You want to wear the same outfit three days in a row?" Shadow asked.

Amy's Apartment

4:29 p.m.

By the time Shadow drove Amy back to her house, they still hadn't decided on where to go. Amy wanted to bring up the task of finding available friends and hang out while Shadow opposed to instead being alone. They argued leaving his house, driving to her apartment, and even getting inside. So, Shadow decided to drop the conversation for the time being.

"Do you have any idea as to what you what to do…yet?" Shadow finally asked.

"You should know by now that I don't…" Amy said, lazily.

"Figures…" Amy went back to looking in her closet for an outfit. Having no idea what they were going to do made it harder to pick something. She had a sundress for the movie, a semi-formal dress dinner, and shorts and a tee for a casual shopping 'date'. She held up each and tried to decide on something to do to make this easier. Movie, dinner, or shopping…?

"Hurry up." Shadow called. Amy blew an exaggerated sigh and picked up shorts, a tank top, and a mini jacket. Turning towards the impatient ebony hedgehog, she held it up gesturing she was done and went to change into it. All Shadow did was roll his eyes, shifting weight from one leg to the other.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxX

"I've decided that we should…ride around…" Amy concluded.

"I swear if this wasn't for you, you'd be dust particles by now…" Shadow said, shaking his head.

"…how would you do that?"

"Is it absolutely necessary to take the motorcycle?" Amy questioned, looking back at the machine.

"You want to ride around for no purpose, then the answer is yes. I have the car for specific reasons and this is not one of them." Shadow explained. He took the helmet off the handle bars and held it out towards Amy. She looked at it as if it were a foreign object. "It's not going to jump on your head…"

She pouted before taking it and putting it on her head. Shadow left and dug around in another box sitting in the garage. Soon, he pulled out an identical helmet to the one Amy wore. After placing it on his head, he straddled the seat and pushed Amy back. She groaned, and wrapped her arms around his torso.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxX

Amy had to admit, as much as she didn't like riding in the back, it was nice to see everything pass by in a colorful blur. It was like the movie graphics from time travel. She also liked the fact that she could lay her head on Shadow's back while riding. She had done so about twenty minutes into the ride, and he's said nothing so far; not even a grunt or sigh. This also led to the question: where were they going?

"…Rose, wake up." Amy's eyes fluttered open. She sat up allowing Shadow to finally stand up and get off the bike. Amy yawned and stretched before getting up too. Then she was able to get a good look around. It looked like they were ride for a long time seeing the darkened sky and stars.

"Where are we…?" Amy muttered.

"It's just a cliff I found a couple of years ago. I sure you remember the time Sonic put dye in shampoo and gave it to me, making my quills turn blue…" Shadow half asked, half said.

"Yeah." she giggled.

"I didn't want any one to see me, so I left and I ended up here. The reason I don't come out here anymore is because of the long ride…"

"Are you taking me out on a second date?" Amy asked, batting her eyelashes.

"…No, you wanted to go somewhere so I took you somewhere. Now please shut up before I change my mind." Shadow said, walking off. The pink hedgehog couldn't help but giggle and twirl her hair around her finger while trailing behind him. He walked to the cliff's edge and sat down in the grass. Amy plopped down next to him and leaned on his shoulder.

"Are you scared that your 'bad boy' reputation will be ruined because you took me out?" she asked, making a fake pout.

"No…"

"So, it's because you don't want to admit you actually like me?" she guessed. He remained silent and looked away. She smiled a little and laid back on him. "Don't worry…I won't tell anybody…"

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxX

"Earlier you said if I was someone else, I'd be dust particles by now. How would that be possible?" Amy asked, out of the blue.

"Chaos Blast annihilates everything around-"

"You mean like in the opening of your game?"

"…" Shadow remained silent. He wore a blank expression as he looked over at her.

"Oh, right. You haven't played it. Continue…" Amy laughed off.

"…Or I could just shoot you with a Chaos Spear."

"I thought you can't use Chaos Energy without an emerald?" she questioned.

"I have one. You just don't see it." he answered.

"Why do male hedgehogs keep stuff in their quills? It's not like you have pockets in there…" Amy asked, changing the subject. Shadow gave her another look. "I'm curious about a lot of things I don't ask. I guess since we're alone, we could just have a normal talk…" she explained. He shrugged, before continuing.

"That I can't answer because it comes to me sort of by instinct." Shadow answered.

"Wow…Can you run at super speed without your shoes?" Amy asked. Shadow shook his head.

"Yes, but I choose not to, because I'd have to take off my inhibitors."

"You mean our bracelets?"

"No…my 'bracelets' are rings, not accessories."

"Oh. Do you enjoy chocolate and ice cream just as much as I do?" she asked, looking up at him. He sighed and closed his eyes.

"I think that's enough questions…" Shadow insisted.

"I'll just ask you tomorrow." Amy clarified.

"I think it's time we went home. I'll just use Chaos Control." he said, standing up. The rose-pink girl dropped her head to the side and raised her eyebrow. For once, she's not hyperactive, and he's bored? It's only been two hours… "Come on, Rose."

"Alright, alright, I'm coming…"

Back in Station Square

12:32 a.m.

Sonic, dressed in a plain t-shirt and jeans, walked casually through the park. He wore a confident expression even though on the inside he was nervous. He received a phone call hours ago from a male telling him to meet someone in the park. Of course, he showed up late, but he was still there. Stopping in front of a tree, he looked around. As far as he could see, no one was there and he was just steps from the south park exit.

"This is ridiculous…" he muttered to himself.

"Really? What's ridiculous is that you were told to be thirty minutes ago." The blue hedgehog turned around to face another hedgehog who looked similar to him in appearance; only he was green.

"Well, sorry. I had things to do…" Sonic said, idly.

"Whatever. I thought I told you that to stay in this club, you had to bring a potential member. The Boss doesn't like extending the hazing period." the hedgehog snared.

"You and both know that this particular person will take some time-"

"You're still trying to recruit Stripes?! That waste of fur isn't fit for this and you know it!"

"Neither am I! You got hazed into dragging me into this, now I'm being hazed and he's the only one I know capable of dethroning this guy. 'The Boss' has plans for my team and I intended to stop him, whether you're with me or not…and only Scourge gets to call him that…" Sonic exclaimed.

"Whatever. Unlike you, I don't have money. I need this job so, expect me to snitch. You should have just left him alone." the green hedgehog turned and walked away.

Hiya! New chapter eight is up and nine is on the way. I hope you like the different story plot rather than the other for those who read The Bet before renovation. Anyway, I'll work on getting this together before I work on RHA. There are probably a lot of questions as to where I'm going with this and the answer rest in the chapters ahead. So, until then… -D.A.K