Amy sat in her seat at a cafe, quietly looking down at her half-empty beverage. She sighed in disappointment and anger. Sonic's late AGAIN. She stood up and threw away her drink. "I give up!" she hissed to herself, "He's probably just ditching me...like all those other dates that he didn't show up for!"

A grey fox looked at her with curiosity and blinked. "..."

Amy noticed his stare and blushed in embarassment. "Sorry, I was taling to myself."

The stranger nodded his head and left. "What a strange girl..." he mumbled.

Amy returned to her own "conversation" and stared at the sky sadly. "But still... I DO wish that he'd show up." A few tears fell from her eyes and she sniveled.

An onyx hedgehog with red-streaked fur and spikes noticed her and stopped. "You," he stated darkly.

Amy turned around and faced the hedgehog's fiery orbs. "Shadow!" she gasped, "What a surprise to..uh...see you here. What are you doing here?" Forgetting that she was crying, she blinked, causing some tears to fall.

Shadow noticed the droplets and scowled. "Why are you crying?" he asked, trying his best to keep his voice deep and grumpy.

Amy quickly wiped her tears away and shook her head. "N-no reason," she uttered.

Shadow knew better and rolled his eyes in annoyance. "Faker let you down again."

Amy looked up at him, stunned. "How did you-"

"It's obvious." He waved a finger at her, pretending to draw something on her face. "It's written all over your face." He then folded his arms and started to leave.

Amy, without thinking, grabbed his arm to stop him. He turned around, his face showing both confusion and anger. "Wait, I'm sorry!" she quickly said, "Um... Would you like to stay a while first? Y-you know..before you go?" A deep blush tinted her light face as she cast her eyes to the ground.

Shadow was shocked at her offer, but didn't show it. Should I accept? If I do, she'll probably think of me as a weak-hearted being. But if I don't, she'll be miserable because of that blue flea. "..."

No response came and Amy sighed. "Oh, it's okay," she muttered, her heart heavy, "I understand if you're busy." She gave him her best smile, trying to hide her sad face. "Well, goodbye...Shadow..." Her lips quivered and turned to a frown. She turned around and walked away, wiping her tears as they flowed uncontrollably. She then got a small idea.

"IT'S OKAY," she sighed in aggravation loudly, "I AM NOT UPSET. I WILL JUST GO BACK HOME AND MOPE...THINKING ABOUT MY SMALL BROKEN HEART. EVEN THE ULTIMATE LIFEFORM WOULD NOT HELP ME, BUT I UNDERSTAND PERFECTLY. HE IS MUCH TOO BUSY WITH OTHER THINGS THAN TO HELP CHEER ME UP. I AM NOTHING BUT A SPECK OF DIRT IN THIS WORLD...WORTHLESS...ANNOYING..." She turned around a bit and gave Shadow a small puppy pout. She then sighed again and turned back around, continuing to leave.

Shadow felt his eye twitch in irritation. That annoying pink...THING... She's making me field guilty! Through gritted teeth, he called out, "Rose!"

Amy halted in her tracks and turned to face him. Rose? What the heck? She pointed at herself. "M-me?"

Shadow resisted another twitch and grumbled, "YES, YOU." He cleared his throat and walked up to her. "Would you...like to...go to this...place?" He held back a blush and averted the pink hedgehog's gaze. "I heard it's uh...really nice."

Amy blinked in surprise and pretended to be innocent and unexpecting. SCORE One for Amy Rose! She giggled mentally and smiled a bit. "Umm...sure! But how are we going to get there? Taxi?"

Shadow could not believe what happened next. He picked her up bridal style and sped off. "This is much more convenient."

Amy held on to him tightly, blushing. "Thanks, Shadow," she whispered, loud enough for only him to hear.

Shadow heard her, but didn't respond. He was too busy holding back a blush, but was failing miserably. Damn!

Sonic arrived at the cafe where Amy used to be and looked around. "Huh? Where is she?" He spotted a grey fox and asked him, "Excuse me sir, have you seen a pink hedgehog? She goes by the name Amy Rose."

The fox nodded and replied, "Well, I don't know who this Amy Rose is, but I HAVE seen a pink hedgehog. She was quite lovely. Though, I cannot say the same for her companion."

Sonic's ears twitched in interest. BAD interest. "If by companion you mean DATE then that's me! What did this guy look like?!"

The grey mamal shuddered and quickly said, "Black fur...red streaks! He appeared to know this Amy of yours very well!"

Sonic's eyes widened. Shadow! "Which way did they go?"

"I think they were headed for Sunset Hill. Just north of here!"

Sonic nodded. "Thanks," he said hastily and ran off top speed. Amy, what have you gotten yourself into?! Please be all right. Minutes passed by and still no sign of-

"This is so cool!" Amy's voice squealed with delight.

Sonic stopped in his tracks and found himself on top of a hill. Below, he saw a very familiar pink hedgehog sitting next to the lake with a black, red-streaked hedgehog. "What are they up to?" he asked himself and decided to watch them for a bit.

Amy watched as a swan swim past her and dip its beak in the water. "Wow," she sighed, "You're such a graceful bird." The swan looked at her and swam away. Amy giggled.

"Are you done?" Shadow asked, annoyed that she was taking so long. What is she interested in?!

Amy looked up at him and sneered, "But Shadow, I thought that YOU were the one who took me up here."

Shadow looked away, scowling. This girl...she's just getting on my nerves with her back-talk! "Watch your step..." he growled.

Amy giggled yet again and splashed water on her companion. "Haha!"

Shadow froze, shocked at her bold and careless actions. Why that insolent little- He looked at his damp soft fur and scowled scornfully. "What was that for?! You know, I could kill you for that!"

Amy pouted sweetly and batted her long eyelashes. "But you wouldn't want to hurt me, would you Shadow?" she asked in a baby-ish tone. "I'm too pwetty and sweet!"

Shadow popped a vein. "I'd hurt you even if you were of my blood!"

"You mean...your mother?"

"SHUT UP!" Shadow bared his sharp teeth and clenched his fist.

Amy moaned and rolled her eyes. "Awww, you're no fun!" She layed down on the grass and closed her eyes. "Always so grumpy! Sheesh!"

"Then why'd you ask me to CHEER YOU UP?!"

"You were the only one I knew that was around so...yeah. That's pretty much the only reason."

"YOU ARE THE WORST AND MOST ANNOYING LITTLE CREATURE IN THE WORLD! ALL YOU DO IS FLIRT, CHEER, AND GIGGLE! YOU NEVER DO ANYTHING RIGHT, EITHER! DON'T YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY FOR YOUR PITIFUL SELF?!"

Amy opened her eyes half-way and yawned lazily. "Sorry...I was sleeping. Did you say something?"

Shadow lost his temper and rose his fist. "THAT'S IT! I'VE HAD IT!" He then brought it down.

Sonic couldn't stand it any longer and jumped in between them, stopping Shadow's attack. "Hiya, Ames!" he greeted Amy and then turned to Shadow. "Hey, Shadow!" he greeted as well, trying to sound friendly, "How's it going?"

Before Shadow could answer, Amy screamed, "SONIC! WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?!"

Sonic tried to reply, but then Shadow cut in, "Yeah, faker. She's been buggin' me all because you missed out on your DATE." He huffed. "Can't say I blame you. She's annoying as hell. But still, thanks to you, I lost valuable time!" He balled up his hard fist again. "AND NOW YOU'RE GONNA PAY."

Sonic sweatdropped. They're both against me... "Well...you see...um..." he stammered and looked at Amy then Shadow, and Amy again. He took Amy's hand and said, "Amy, I'm sorry for missing out on our date again. Eggman was on the move again and I had to stop him."

Amy wasn't convinced and frowned. "Sonic, this is the eighth date you skipped. Do you really expect me to forgive you that easily?!"

Sonic thought quickly and gave her his "cool" smile. "C'mon, Ames," he said, "I know you can't stay mad at me for long."

Amy blushed. "I...uh..."

Strangely, Shadow felt something burn inside of him. He also felt the urge to beat up Sonic and kill him. "Gag me!" he spat, making a disgusted face, "If you're satisfied, Rose, then I'll be going." He started his exit.

Amy tore away from Sonic and grabbed hold of Shadow's hand. "Shadow," she said, smiling, "Don't call me Rose. Call me Amy."

"Like it matters," Shadow grumbled, not looking at her.

"And...thank you. I had a great time today."

"Hmph." Shadow shrugged his hand away from her and ran to who-knows-where. Idiot.

Amy watched as Sonic's gemini disappeared. "Bye, Shadow!"

Sonic looked at Amy. "Hey, let me make it up to ya. I'll take you out to dinner. I'll pay- of course."

Amy shook her head. "No, it's okay." She looked up at the grey skies and felt the cold wind blow on her body. "It looks like a storm is coming. I have to get home." She smiled. "And so do you, Sonic."

Sonic looked at her apologetically. "I really am sorry, Ames. I didn't mean to be late." He then lit up a bright smile. "Hey! That's it! Let me carry you home!"

Amy nodded. "I'd appreciate that." What is wrong with me?! I should be more enthusiastic! Ugh! Before taking Sonic's hand, she glanced behind her. Yet, a part of me wishes that Shadow and I can still hang out together.

A raindrop fell and landed on Sonic's sensitive nose. "C'mon, Amy," he urged.

Amy snapped out of her trance. "Oh, right. Sorry." She held onto him tightly as he ran to her house with lightning speed. Hehe... Today was great! A smile crossed her lips and she hugged Sonic affectionately.

The reviews said that I sped this up and it's true- I did. lol So I replaced the old version with this new one. Hope it's all right. Hehe. I made Shadow a bit of a short-tempered guy.

Ja-ne:o