Walking to work was always a different experience. Everyone was hurrying to their jobs, be it on foot, bike, car or public transport. Slushie was among the city's morning crowd, tapping her bag to the rhythm of the music from her headphones and checking what products were put for show in store windows. Some were interesting, some not, but one shop's window actually shocked her. It only had a few plain black pieces of clothing with a simple, but cool, logo printed on. The price, though, was as if the clothes were made of the purest silk. She hid her gasp and continued her way to the neighbouring building, wondering just how well brand names really seem to sell.
''Oh thank stars you're here!'' Amy Rose called out, and rushed to greet Slushie who had entered the store with a bell chime. ''The store next door just released a new line of clothes and we really need to up our game as well.''
Amy slammed her fist into her palm, showing just how determined she was. Another staff member heard the two girls talk and walked closer.
''We do have new designs, too, but we are understaffed, as you know'', added Blaze, and said her greetings as well.
''Right. I'm assuming - and hoping - that you aren't going to make me actually sew anything. I'm definitely not good enough to make anything worth selling here'', Slushie pleaded, reminding her of her worries earlier in the morning.
''Oh, no, no, don't worry about that,'' Amy said and patted Slushie on her shoulder reassuringly, ''we've got that under control, especially with Omega around! The guy might not seem like it but he's so good at sewing.''
Blaze nodded in agreement. ''Definitely didn't expect it but Shadow clearly knew better.''
The big red robot, named Omega just because it had seemed.. right, somehow, was an old campus robot built by the local university's greatest robotics professor, Ivo Robotnik. He had managed to create an astonishingly realistic artificial intelligence, and the robot housing it had practically become sentient. It, he, wasn't satisfied being only a campus robot, so he soon wanted to try to find his own place in the world. Shadow was close to the professor so he had met Omega early on, and the two got along so well Shadow decided to offer him a job. Unknowingly, Shadow had struck gold - Omega was a sewing powerhouse. Who would have thought?
Having heard the commotion, the aforementioned Shadow, the owner of Maria's, emerged from his office.
''Hello. Let's get the papers sorted and you can get to work'', he said simply, holding the office door open and gesturing inside. Slushie nodded and followed him in, ready to start the day.
She had visited Maria's before - it was her favourite clothing store - but this was the first time she was asked to help. Amy and Slushie were friends even before she moved into town, so Amy knew she could ask her for a quick help.
While Shadow got Slushie ready to work on the store floor, Amy and Blaze joined Omega in the back and got into the familiar groove, cutting fabrics, sewing and pressing mostly space themed prints on to the fresh pieces of clothing. Maria's might not be the flashiest or most colorful of places, but it had style. A bit of an edgy one, but a style nevertheless. It had a decent audience.
The morning went well, and the few customers were fairly easy to deal with. Slushie was trying her best to fold some shirts into a neat pile when a sharp looking jackal entered the store and made his entrance known.
''And who are you, exactly?'' he asked with a sneer and crossed his arms.
Slushie was taken by surprise. ''I'm.. uh, just helping today. Can I help... you?''
''Why would I want your help?'' he laughed before walking further in and peering around the corner.
"INTRUDER. STATE YOUR REASON FOR ENTERING", Omega commanded immediately.
''What are you doing here, Zero?'' Amy sighed, noticing the intruding jackal.
''Just checking competition, if you can even be called that. You're barely surviving! It won't be long until Jackal Squad is the only clothing store in this part of town!''
Zero leaned against the wall and grinned. ''We could use your model, though. She's too elegant for such a sad little shop.''
Realizing he was talking to her, Blaze cleared her throat to cover her surprise and weird delight. ''Is that mockery or a compliment? In either case, I will stay here, thank you.''
Amy got up and stepped forward. ''At least our store has heart! Your store only provides for dumb braggers who pay for your dumb logo!''
''We've got our hands full so if you aren't going to buy anything, the door's that way. I can hear your minions calling'', Shadow huffed and pointed towards the entrance.
Zero stood to pose in the middle of the hallway, pointing his finger at everyone one by one.
"KEEP YOUR MOUTH HOLE CLOSED OR I WILL SEW IT SHUT."
''Hmph. Soon you all will realize that Jackal Squad is the ultimate-!'' his declaration was cut short by a moving clothing rack.
''Sorry, sorry, I tried to get past and not interrupt but you moved so suddenly-'', Slushie apologized fervently, but Zero was already marching towards the door.
''...who was that?''
''Our annoying neighbour who has a bit of a superiority complex'', Shadow replied with a sigh, and retreated back into his office.
''Okay... fun.''
After a while, Amy emerged from the sewing area and knocked on Shadow's door.
''We're going to get lunch across the street. You wanna come?''
He called out a 'yeah, sure', shuffled some papers for a bit and joined everyone for a lunch break at Café Chaotix, conveniently just opposite Maria's. Omega decided to stay and use the break to oil some creaking spots he had noticed.
As soon as the group entered, a loud gasp was heard from the counter.
''Slushie, hi! Did you see the new video yet? It's amazing!''
The source of the enthusiastic voice was Ray, who just got back from his trip with Sonic and Mighty.
''It's not out yet, bro. Tekno's gotta edit it first'', Mighty pointed out from behind him and started to get everyone's orders.
''Ah, right, duh. We did so many awesome things! Sonic took us mountain climbing and then we got to paraglide! I didn't actually need the equipment, cuz I'm a flying squirrel, as you know, but it was fun to glide around with the guys for once!''
''Yeah, yeah, don't spoil everything, dude! The vid's gonna be out soon!''
''Hnnnnnn, okay, but I bet everyone's gonna love it!''
''Can't wait!'' Slushie replied with a smile and followed the others to their table. Espio was nearby, serving a group of students.
Slushie greeted her colleague with a quick 'hello' and a grin. ''It definitely won't get boring around here now that those two are back.''
''Yeah, it won't be quiet either, heh.''
''How long were they gone for, again?'' she asked, making eye contact for a tiny moment before looking at the two in question.
''About a month, I think.''
''Wow, Sonic clearly knows how to entertain his travel buddies.''
Espio agreed, nodded politely and excused himself to go get some food that was ready to be served.
Slushie sat down with the rest of the group and quietly apologized for falling behind. It had been a while since she last saw Mighty and Ray, after all. The group had had a pleasant conversation meanwhile.
''What did I miss?''
''Mighty mentioned Tekno so I was talking about her. We've been friends for ages! You might have seen her, she's studying at the same university as Tails and your brother, but has a different major. She's a canary with green feathers.''
''Right... I think I've seen her. Does she have cool hair? A sharp bob, covers one eye?''
''Yup, sounds like her!''
Amy had a lot of stories to tell about their childhood. The two used to be a raucous pair, the most famous kids around the neighbourhood. Children are bound to be loud and make a mess, but these two apparently took the cake. No window was safe when they were together.
''I thought I was wild whenever I would climb a tree to hide from my tutor, but you were on a completely different level,'' Blaze said with a soft laugh.
''You should have seen Amy in her teenage years. Her emo phase was worse than mine'', Shadow quipped, making Amy hide her face in her hands.
''Oh my stars, Shadow, please don't bring that up! Geez!''
''Okay, okay, but I've never seen a person wear more black than I did, heh.''
The gang continued their conversation and shared some nice childhood or teenage stories before it was time to get back to work. Everyone politely thanked the staff and said their byes, and Slushie added a quick 'see you tomorrow' before heading back to Maria's. There was still a lot of sewing and selling to be done.
''It's time to start wrapping up! Good job, gang!'' Amy called out with a few claps and everyone started to tidy their workspace and get ready to go home. Omega didn't exactly have a place of his own to go to, but Shadow had prepared him a room in the back with equipment for normal upkeep so he didn't have to go back to the campus every day.
"THIS DAY WAS VERY PRODUCTIVE. THAT SAID, LET ME THREATEN THE OBNOXIUS JACKAL AWAY NEXT TIME TO INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY. THAT IS THE ONLY REASON. DEFINITELY."
''Sure, but no violence, Omega. Can't risk a law suit", Shadow replied, clearly sharing the sentiment. Omega was satisfied by that and made his way to his room. "Heh, I'm surprised he even asked. Anyway, thank you for coming to help'', Shadow then told Slushie and shook her hand.
''No problem, this wasn't too different from the café floor work anyway, and I also had an excuse to get a good look at all of your clothes. Ah, right, is it okay to still buy these today before you close up shop?''
Shadow deemed it appropriate and the two went to the counter to complete the transaction.
''I just adore almost every single piece of clothing you guys have in here. Well, I love everything space related, but still!''
''Yeah, me too. An old friend of mine gave me the inspiration'', he sighed and smiled sadly.
Shadow wasn't one to open up, and that one sentence was enough to surprise Slushie. She was curious, but didn't want to prod further.
''I'm glad they did. Anyway, my legs are so sore, I gotta go now if I want to get home today. Thanks for everything. Bye!''
She gave a cheery wave before putting her earbuds on and making her way back home, tapping along to a quick beat. These past two days have been different, but from tomorrow on it's back to normal again - daily work at the café and, hopefully, some nice hangouts with friends. We'll see - next time!