A/n: Now I wrote this chapter a while back. Then the computer it was on died. Oh well. New ideas. I may be rusty. I hope you're still willing to read. Enjoy.

Boys and Girl (Part I)

Amy sat down and bent over to rub her ankles. The shoes she wore made her outfit look great, but caused her great pain. She sighed and looked across the floor seeing shoes, and legs standing in front of her. She rose up slowly and saw the green eyes staring at her. Eyes that were all too familiar looking at her.

"Hey you." He said. Sonic tried to breathe steadily. Amy got up from the chair slowly and looked at a face she had not seen in a while. She swallowed hard.

"Hey you." She responded. "Long time no see."

"Yeah. Yeah." He nodded. The two stared at another, no words coming to mind. Amy looked down to the ground at her hurting feet.

"What are you doing here?" She turned away trying to quickly avert Sonic's gaze. He quickly grabbed her by the arm and turned her to face him.

"We need to talk. Please." Sonic could feel his cheeks burn as blood rushed to his face. Amy's own cheeks turned a rose colored the same as her hair color. She was upset. She was shocked. She was angry.

"There is nothing to talk about!" She pulled away from his grasp and fled into Rouge's bedroom. Sonic stood there with his eyes wide – filled with a shocking pain he did not expect. She wouldn't even talk to him. She wouldn't even make eye contact. He wondered if she was too hurt to forgive him. He wondered if she already hated him.

Shadow stood in Rouge's bathroom trying to wash the mixed drink out of his good shirt. He mumbled profanity under his breath and thought how much frustration he could have avoided by just staying at home. He wanted to smoke a whole box of cigarettes. Not one – but maybe two. He promised himself he'd quit – but smoking relaxed him. Gave him a sense of peace he couldn't find.

He removed his vest and shirt – tossing them on the counter of Rouge's exaggerated bathroom. He searched his back pocket for a single cigarette. He was certain there was one in the pair he was wearing. Suddenly he heard the slam of the bedroom door.

"Rouge?" Shadow called. He turned around and slowly peeked out to the room. "Hello?" He called again. He heard no answer so decided to head out and see who had just walked in. He was alarmed to see Amy lay in Rouge's California king sized bed sobbing. Her frame seemed so small versus the large mattress – petite. Her body was curved and the tresses of her rose colored hair seemed to carefully cover her back.

Shadow's eyes widened and he called out to her without thought. "Amy." The girl arose and turned to see who had called her. Her cheeks painted by salted tears. Her face a bright red. Shadow felt a rage inside of him that he could not explain. He wanted to hurt whoever caused her to cry so many tears. He wanted to protect her. Make her feel alright. Without thought again, he acted.

Amy was shocked to have blinked only momentarily then reopen her eyes to find her body pressed against Shadow's firm, shirtless chest. He held her tightly, his fingers tangled in her hair. His arm holding her against him. Her tears suddenly stopped and she could smell traces of an expensive cologne as heard him whisper to her. "Who did this to you?"

Amy shook her head and gently separated from Shadow. She looked into his warm crimson eyes. "No. It's nothing…"

"Are you sure?" He held her by the shoulders and she nodded. "Alright."

Amy's heart beat quickly. She couldn't believe what had just happened. She caught herself blushing and turned away. Shadow couldn't understand why she had turned away so quickly and touched her shoulder again.

"What's the matter?" He asked sincerely.

"Uhm…you have no shirt on."

The bronze complexion male felt his own face burn from blushing far too much.

Sonic threw back a third and fourth drink as quickly as possible. His vision wasn't quite as blurred as he wanted. He wasn't impaired enough. Just what was going on? She escaped him so quickly. It all happened in the blink of an eye. No. Faster than that. He felt rage build up in him and found himself unable to count how many drinks he downed. Five? Or was it seven?

Silver looked around the room and sought out Blaze. He had lost sight of her while talking to Tails. He made his way to the bar and asked for a club soda. He wasn't too good with alcohol. Apparently neither was the guy next to him. Silver was going to suggest to the guy beside him to stop throwing back drinks but stopped suddenly when seeing it was Sonic.

"Sonic?!" He said in disbelief.

The blue haired male turned around and eyeballed Silver hard. "Oh. Hey. What's up?" He said with a slur in his voice.

"Nothing – it's been a while. You look…uhm –"

"You. Silver. You know where Amy is – don't you? You're why she doesn't love me anymore – right?" Sonic grabbed Silver by the collar of his blazer and the young man held his hands up.

"What are you talking about dude? I haven't seen Amy all night." Silver shook his head and Sonic could barely make out his face. He released him and fell to his knees. He breathed heavily and Silver stopped down to rub his back.

"I'll get Tails. Just – stay here." Silver arose and turned away, but Sonic had quickly grabbed his hand.

"No. No. Amy. Please find her for me. I need to talk to her. I need to apologize." Sonic hiccupped and Silver looked down at him. Despite their differences he could only feel genuine sympathy for Sonic.

Silver made his way through the crowd as to find Tails. He told him about the state he found Sonic in and urged that he might need to go home. Tails quickly headed to the bar and stooped down as to be eye level with Sonic. He placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Come on big guy. Let's go home."

"No. No. I want Amy. Find Amy." Sonic mumbled.

"Silver can you find Knuckles? He came with me and Sonic."

"Oh, okay. I'll try."

In a few moments Knuckles, Tails were beside Sonic as a small group including Silver looked over at what happened by the bar. Rouge was talking to a few associates trying to distract them from what was taking place.

"Come on kid. Let's go." Said Knuckles as he threw Sonic's arm over his shoulder. He pulled the blue haired male off the floor and brought him to his feet. Tails followed the two as Knuckles made his way to the exit. Sonic grumbled and mumbled incoherent things. The crowd they walked through hardly noticed.

"Amy. I want to talk to Amy." Sonic mumbled. Knuckles stood his friend upright and pushed him into a wall once the three of them made it to the hall.

"Listen. You're making a complete fool of yourself – do you know that? Amy wouldn't want to see you like this?!"

"She didn't want to see me sober either…she hates me." Sonic whispered. He lowered his head and slide down to the floor of the carpeted hallway. Tails looked at Knuckles with concern.

"We should get him home. He's not looking so well." Tails told him.

"Yeah. You're right." Knuckles agreed. He pulled out his cellphone to call a cab. Sonic sat there on the ground. His eyes were welled with tears that he fought to ensure they would not appear on his cheeks. He was sober enough for that much.

Amy and Shadow sat in Rouge's bedroom on the floor talking and catching up on old times. Shadow told Amy about his internship and how he hated law school. Amy told him of her last six months touring around the area doing different venues.

"We did private parties to underground clubs. I mean – we're not world famous yet, but the fans, they're so inspiring. Once, this girl wore an outfit like mine. She was in the front row. Before I performed she reached out to me – and placed a single rose into my hair as I kneeled down to her. She cried. I dedicated the first song to her. It was the most amazing experience of my life. I never knew I could do that to people."

"Do what?" Shadow asked.

"Make them feel that way." Amy's eyes welled with tears as she thought back to the moment. Shadow looked at her as she rubbed away the few tears that slide down her cheeks.

"I'm glad you're living your dreams. At least some of us are."

"Rouge has been amazing at promoting us. None of this would be possible without her." Amy smiled and brought her knees to her chest. She blushed slightly and Shadow was taken aback by her beauty. "She. Blaze, Silver…everyone apart of this is simply amazing."

"You're amazing too you know. That voice. I heard you singing that night. In the Square."

"Did you? You liked it?"

"Yeah. A lot. You were awesome."

"Oh, wow. Thanks Shadow. That means a lot coming from you."

"No problem." He told her.

"I know it's weird to ask…but you think…nevermind." Amy quickly shook her head and tried to changed the subject.

"No – go on. Ask away." Shadow told her.

"You think Sonic heard?" She twiddled her thumbs and bit on her bottom lip. Shadow looked at her from the corner of his eyes and touched her shoulder.

"Maybe. I'm sure he was amazed."

"Really? You think so?" She asked with a sound of hope. Shadow cringed slightly to her joy over Sonic. He was bothered that she even cared. Bothered more than he should have been. Was he jealous?

"Anyway – I'm happy you're feeling better now."

"Oh. Yeah. Thanks to you." She touched his hand and a smile graced her lips. "You've always been so nice and helpful to me Shadow."

He opened his mouth to say something but paused immediately when remembering she was right.

It was a hot Saturday night a few years back. The kind of hot that was not at all because the temperature was high, but the humidity. Most everyone was on summer break from school. Sonic and Tails sat in Vanilla's garage drinking sodas. Amy was practicing with her band "Chaos Roses" who at the time were called "Striking Shades" for the noticeable colors of each member's hair.

Silver, Blaze and a 6'3 green haired man with olive skin and golden eyes named Vector acted as a temporary drummer for the band. He was currently roommates with Knuckles. The group began playing harmoniously as Amy held the mic close to her heart. She listened carefully to the notes as they played and looked at Sonic for reassurance. She was always good during practice – but she had never sung in front of Sonic before. To her disappointment, he wasn't even paying her any mind.

Shadow and Rouge walked in with Knuckles close behind. Shadow had a couple beers and handed one to Sonic who quickly took it.

"Good looks bro."

"You should be looking at your girl." He gestured towards Amy who had been standing there motionless. Her hair covered her face. She looked down though her bandmates waited for her to jump in.

"Huh? She's fine." Sonic said sipping the beer and immediately after started a conversation with Knuckles. Shadow walked over to Amy and rustled her hair.

"Don't worry. Once you start singing – I guarantee he'll notice." Shadow smiled. Amy looked up with dried tears staining her cheeks.

"Okay." She said. "Okay."

She stopped her bandmates from playing and kindly asked if they'd give it another try. Silver told her yes without second thought – and glared at Sonic who paid no mind to anything that took place. He played first followed by Blaze, Vector's drums and Amy's voice.

vibrations you present

startles my understanding

a challenge to my ordinary

unusual to find such a special curiosity

I hold my breath to still the excitement

Can you feel it now

Can you feel it now

parallel connection hiding out

Pulling on my heart

Pulling on my heart

undisciplined eruption

Baby, I know it's comin' around

I'm totally upside down

I can't get it together to tell you what I feel

Baby, my wish on a wing

and I'll send it off to you

search with sensitivity follow the traces

Sonic simply stared in awe as Amy's voice rang out loudly and received applause from their friends. Shadow smiled while Amy continued to sing her heart through the mic in the garage that had their friends. He felt good. He felt happy. He couldn't explain the joy that filled her while the small vocalized untapped feelings. He also couldn't feel Sonic's eyes burning a hole through him.

The blue haired male glared long and hard with fists clenched.

A/n: Bits of this chapter were inspired by Ai Yazawa's "Nana". The lyrics from the song "Wish" by Olivia inspi' Reira (Trapnest) is also from the series. Hope I see you cats for part two. When that shall be?