Shadow of a Doubt

Girl Talk and Shopping

(Maria)

"Blaze should be home soon, it's almost one o'clock. Then we can head to the mall to get you some clothes!" Amy reminded Maria excitedly.

Maria smiled, amazed at Amy's enthusiasm. Her mind running over the new information she had learned, she didn't realize Amy was still talking.

Amy had told her that Silver was dating Blaze, but Shadow refused to date. Shadow and Sonic are twins but Shadow is the oldest and Silver is the youngest. Why doesn't he date, I wonder? He probably could get anyone he wished. Weird.

"Maria?"

"Hmm?" Maria looked to Amy dazed.

"You Ok?" She asked, concerned.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just thinking..." Maria said, smiling over at Amy.

"MmmK... Oh! I think Blaze is home!" She said, skipping to the door. Maria followed and was behind Amy as she unlocked and opened the door.

Outside stood a purple cat with a jumble of keys in her hands, inches away from where the lock stood seconds ago. She stuffed the keys into the purse slung across her chest as she addressed the pink hedgehog in front of her.

"Hey, Amy."

"Hey, Blaze! This is Maria. Maria, this is Blaze." Amy said, as Blaze entered the house.

"Nice to meet you, Maria."

"The pleasure is mine, Blaze." Maria greeted back.

"Blaze, do you wanna go to the mall with us? We need to get Maria some clothes and stuff, she'll be staying with us 'till she gets her memory back." Amy asked, as she grabbed her own pair of keys off the coffee table.

"Sure!"

"I'll drive!" Amy said dashing out the door, leaving Blaze and Maria to lock up.

"I'll sit in the back, you can sit up front, Maria." Blaze told her as she locked the door.

"Are you sure?"

"Positive." She answered, smiling.

~!~

"I've already made a list of the things we'll need to buy you, Maria. So all you have to do is pick the style that fits you!" Amy explained excitedly, as they pulled into a parking lot.

"Don't worry," Blaze whispered to Maria. "All you'll need to do is say yes or no. Amy will be showing you stuff most of the time."

"Ok," Maria said as they got out of the car. "What's first?"

"Under garments." Amy answered, walking to the doors.

"Lord help me." Maria muttered walking behind Amy with Blaze. Blaze giggled.

~!~

"Alright! Now onto outfits. What do you prefer, Maria? Pants or dresses?" Amy asked as they left the store they had already bought underwear, bras and PJs.

"I feel like I usually wear dresses, but it's always good to have both just in case."

"That's an encouraging sign! Dresses are the closer of the two, we should start with that."

"So, Maria, how old are you?" Blaze asked as they walked toward the next store.

"I don't know. I feel about young, but I can't be sure. Maybe in my late teens?" Maria answered. "What about you two, how old are you guys?"

"I'm 24." Answered Amy.

"And I'm almost 26. I think you must be early 20's too. Maybe tails can do a DNA scan and find out." Blaze pondered aloud.

"I agree, you look older than you think you are." Amy nodded. "So what colour dress do you think you'd like?" Amy asked as they entered the store.

"I really like blue; I vaguely remember owning a blue dress. I think so anyway." She said looking over at a rack full of blue dresses.

"Alright, let's start there!" Amy said, grabbing Maria's hand and nearly skipping over to the hanger.

After picking out a couple she liked, Blaze and Amy lead her to the change rooms. Maria walked into the farthest stall and started to change.

"Don't forget to show us the ones that fit!" Amy reminded sitting on the bench beside the mirror.

"I won't." Maria answered as she slipped into the first dress. "What do you think?" She asked, stepping out of the stall.

"The better question is what do you think?" Blaze asked looking her up and down.

"I like it. It fits and looks kind of familiar, like I used to have one like it." Answered Maria.

She wore a light blue dress that ended below her knees with a low neck and short sleeves. Twirling once in the mirror and looking it over, she stepped back into the stall to try the next one.

After finding four more she liked, they left to go find some pants and t-shirts. They bought a bunch of black yoga pants and many colourful t-shirts, then a pair of light blue flats, black flats, and sneakers.

"So is there anything else we need before we leave?" Maria asked holding multiple shopping bags.

"Nope." Amy replied looking the list over just in case.

"How long have we been here, anyway?" Blaze wondered aloud. She pulled out her phone to check. "Wow, it's already six o'clock! Thank goodness we don't have dates tonight."

"Yeah, Sonic and Silver wouldn't be too happy if we were late. You know how impatient Sonic is." Amy added with a giggle.

"So why don't we head home and make some supper?" Blaze asked taking a few bags from Maria, who was looking very ragged and tired. "And then maybe get you to bed, Maria. You look about ready to pass out."

"I'm fine."

"She's right, Maria. It's been a long day for you plus the blood loss on top of that." Amy agreed also taking bags from Maria.

They loaded the trunk and headed out. After arriving home, Blaze and Maria went upstairs to put away the new clothes while Amy started dinner.

After eating, Maria got into her new PJs and slid into bed. Her room was the closest to the stairs so she could still hear Blaze and Amy chatting beneath her.

"You think she's asleep yet?" Maria heard Blaze ask softly.

"Yeah, she looked exhausted when she went up, why?

"'Cause I wanted to ask you how you reacted when you heard that her name was 'Maria'."

"I was surprised, but I made sure not to show it. What are the odds that a girl shows up with no memory, is blonde, and is named Maria?"

"I know! I mean, she's more curvy and full-figured than the old pictures, but still! If it really is her imagine how happy Shadow would be! He's starting to slip into a depressed state again, and his brothers are getting worried..." Blaze trailed off as they started a movie and Maria was left to wonder.

She couldn't figure out why, but that one sentence made her a little uneasy and sad as it ran through her head. As she slipped into unconsciousness it ran its last course, sighing...

He's starting to slip into a depressed state again, and his brothers are getting worried...