Chapter 26

The painful memory still fresh in his mind, Sonic made his way down to the beach, spotting Amy sitting cross-legged in the sand down by the water. Her tank top was torn across the back, revealing a few lines that had been cut into her skin in the madness. Her shoulder, still wrapped in a bandage, was bleeding again, and Sonic knew she'd torn the stitches hours ago but hadn't told anyone. He sat down next to her wordlessly and glanced at her face. Her emerald eyes were set on the horizon where the ocean met the atmosphere.

She smiled, so quickly he almost didn't see it. "I remember one time when we were kids, Blaze and Silver came down here to visit us and we all taught the both of them how to swim."

"Oh, I remember that," Sonic mused. "I don't think I've ever seen Blaze look so angry."

"Silver liked it," Amy noted. "Remember? He was levitating himself 20 feet off the surface and then dropping giant cannonballs."

"Leave it to Silver to make me look like a wuss for hating swimming," Sonic mumbled, catching another glance of a grin on Amy's face. Her rose-colored hair had long past come undone from its ponytail, the pieces around her face fluttering in the breeze coming off the waves.

She exhaled. "This was a good home."

"It should have been your home for a long time," Sonic shook his head. "It could have."

"You didn't make me leave," Amy interrupted. "I mean, you were part of the reason, but I chose to leave. You didn't run me out of here. Let's be clear on that."

"Do you think you would have stayed, if it weren't for what I did?" Sonic asked, suddenly curious.

Amy thought about it for a moment. The ghost of a smirk appeared on her face. "Yeah, I think I would have. God, what a boring life I would have had."

Sonic narrowed his eyes at her.

"No offense," she offered. "But I'm not you. I wouldn't have had much to do here."

"Fair enough," he shrugged. "In all honesty, there wasn't a ton for me to do here, either. You can only kick Eggman's rear so many times."

The two of them were silent for a bit. Amy tilted her head back and closed her eyes, relishing the feeling of the evening sun on her skin.

"This is where it happened, ya know," Sonic said suddenly, feeling his face heat up. "The first… the first time I kissed you."

She opened one eye and he had a sudden feeling that she was either about to break his neck or ignore him. He didn't know which was worse.

To his surprise, and to her credit, she closed her eyes again. "I remember," she acknowledged, though not enthusiastically. "I'm almost surprised you do."

"Oh, come on." He narrowed his eyes at her.

She glanced over at him. "Do you really blame me for thinking that?"

He sighed. "No, I guess not."

"Why'd you come down here?" she asked. "Just to ask me if I remember that? Because if you're going to tease me for it, you're going to regret it, I can promise you that."

Sonic sighed again, frustrated. "No, for the love of- I didn't come down here to make fun of you. You've gotten ruthless, you know that?"

Amy shrugged, unconcerned.

"I just wanted to see if you remembered is all," he finished, somewhat irritated.

"Of course I remember, dumbass," Amy shook her head. "I haven't spoken to you in years because of it. How would I possibly forget that?"

"Right…" Sonic trailed off.

She exhaled heavily. "Looking back, maybe not the most mature thing I've ever done. Running away like that. Not that it didn't end well for me, but still."

"Amy, admitting she was wrong?" He slapped a hand to his chest in mock surprise. "I'm shocked."

She glared at him before punching him in the bicep with her good arm. "Never said I was wrong."

"Fine, fine," he relented, leaning back on his elbows, his arm throbbing now. Damn, she had some power in those arms. "You know, you act all tough, but we both know you kissed me back the other night in the woods."

Amy arched an eyebrow. "Your word against mine. Who do you think they're gonna believe?"

"You're so different," Sonic blurted, sitting up and meeting her gaze. "Six years ago you would have been all over town, telling everyone within earshot. Did you really change that quickly?"

"I grew up, Sonic," Amy challenged, turning her head towards him. "Didn't have much of a choice."

He was quiet for a moment, and Amy was just starting to hope that she'd finally shut him up when he spoke.

"No."

"What do you mean, no?" she asked, incredulous.

"I mean, no, you had a choice," he argued. "Silver, he didn't have a choice. Blaze didn't have a choice. But you, you chose to leave and grow up. So don't try and pin the whole thing on me."

"You shut your mouth," she exploded, standing up so suddenly, she almost lost her balance. "You don't know jack shit about me anymore, you idiot. You haven't seen me in six years."

"I know enough!" he spoke angrily. "I know I miss the old Amy, the one who was my best friend-"

"The one who would follow you around like some stupid puppy all day, you mean," Amy argued. "You just miss having someone to boost your ego-"

"That's not true and you know it," he growled. "You're just a completely different person now."

"You're damn right I am!" Amy cried, towering over him as he stayed sitting in the sand. "I liked who I was before, before you chased me out of here, and you think I wanted to change? Look at this!" She gestured to herself. "I would have loved to stay the same happy, adorable little 15-year-old forever. And I tried, you know."

"What do you mean, you tried?" he asked crossly.

"For two weeks, I was the same person," she yelled. "I was doing just fine, until Rouge and I got into it with Metal Sonic. I looked at him, and for a second, you know who he looked like?"

He remained quiet.

"You!" Amy screamed. "He looked like YOU. And I hesitated, got shot through an artery, and almost got myself killed, all because I still had a soft spot for you."

Sonic noticed, for the first time, the long scar trailing its way down the inside of Amy's thigh like a vine.

She snorted and shook her head. "Even after I left, you were still managing to get inside my head. So yes, Sonic, for my safety and everyone else's, I had to become a totally different person. And if you don't like it, sucks for you," she finished, storming off down towards the water.

"Hey," he yelled, running after her. He finally caught up just as they were at the water's edge, the ocean reaching their toes. "I never said I didn't like it. I just said it was different. You don't ever listen!"

"At least I'm not an arrogant ass," Amy countered, her green eyes flashing.

"Oh, I'm arrogant?" he questioned, acting wounded. "God, I've never heard that one before. At least I'm not stubborn as shit!"

"You just miss having me around because you want someone to constantly tell you how perfect you are," Amy shoved him backwards with her good arm. "Go find someone else to be your adoring little pet, you jerk!"

"No, you're wrong," he shouted, catching his balance. "You're so wrong, it's not even funny anymore, Amy. You know what happened after you left?"

"What happened after I left?" she mocked.

"I lost it!" he yelled, angrier than Amy had ever seen him before. "I did love you back then, Amy, believe it or not. You up and left and it tore me apart! I haven't been the same since, and I haven't stopped loving you!" He shook his head fiercely. "So there. There's your answer. I don't think I can be any clearer with you!"

She narrowed her gaze at him. "And since when have I believed a word you said?"

Sonic sighed, all the fight gone out of him, before plopping back down in the sand. "Since before you left."

Amy was quiet, the anger leaving her body as well, before sitting down beside him again. "This beach is bad luck for us, I think," she sighed, looking out over the water.

"Yeah," he agreed.

"So what do you want from me?" she asked, looking at him seriously. "What is it that you want? You have to tell me now, before I leave again."

Gathering all his willpower, Sonic opened his mouth and told her exactly what he wanted.