Marigold of Mine

Chapter One: How?

"I like you, Sonic!"

Amy claimed, gazing pleadingly into Sonic's eyes in the hopes of getting a positive response. She appeared to have spent her entire life preparing for this moment since her eyes were sparkling and her cheeks were cherry red.

Sonic gave her a blank look before bowing his head. Why don't I feel anything at all? Someone just confessed to me... but yet, I feel nothing like the love described in shoujo manga. The wind blew faster by the minute, forcing everything around Sonic to shift slightly. Sonic stood there, his gaze fixed on the ground, blossom petals dropping around his feet. The grass began to sway together, like a school of fish in the water, but Sonic remained unmoved by Amy's love confession, no matter how many things were moving around him.

"Sonic?" Amy remarks while twitching nervously at her chin.

Sonic again raised his head. I like her, but do I like her more than a friend? I experience no fluttering when I'm around her. Why am I unable to experience this special emotion she has towards me?

"Can you.." Sonic started, cocking his head, giving Amy a half-smile. "Can you give me time to respond?"

"If that's what you need." Yes, this is what I need. Time. I'm just a little late to feeling this. It will happen...Soon.

Amy held Sonic's hand firmly, softly smiling, as she continued, "I'll give you as much time as you need."

...

Sonic sighed, contemplating how to break the news to her politely, "So that's what happened, and I like her, but I don't think I see her romantically."

"How recently was this?" Tails questioned with a raised eyebrow.

"Last week.." Sonic lowered his ears down.

"ONE WEEK AGO?!"  Knuckles spat out his drink in disbelief at Amy's prolonged wait for Sonic's response.

"Hey! You spat on me, Knuckles! And you stained Sonic's carpet!" Tails scowled as he began cleaning his turtleneck with some paper towels.

"Yeah, and I haven't come up with a decent way to reject her," Sonic remarked, slouching down on the carpet of his bedroom.

"That's all right, bro. You'll find a way," Knuckles said, finishing up his drink. "Anyway, I feel like going to Karaoke tonight, to end the summer right! You guys down?" Knuckles chuckled and elbowed Tails. Knowing that they usually give in whenever Knuckles recommends anything, Tails groaned. "Okay, not that we have much of a choice."

"That sounds like a great idea, I suppose," said Sonic, perking up.

Knuckles suddenly sprang to his feet in his trademark heroic pose and strode outside, saying, "AY! Come on then! Let's get going!"

The three of them wound up at a Karaoke booth after being pulled away from Sonic's place, singing their worries away. It was a stress-relieving time until Tails became concerned when Knuckles brought booze and started to consume it.

"We CANNOT have alcohol! We have school tomorrow!"

"Come on, Tails! Stop being such a downer!"  Passing him the can, Knuckles quipped, obviously already wasted. "A little won't do anything!"

Tails groaned; he had always wanted to try alcohol to see what all the fuss was about. He caved in and took a little taste, which was a mistake since it caused him to cough up the alcohol, which led Sonic to grab Tails and save him from passing out.

"That's DISGUSTING! Who could possibly want that?" Tails said as he wiped the wine from his lips.

"Tails, you are so dramatic! Right, Sonic? Is he not dramatic?"  Knuckles questioned Sonic, who was quietly stroking Tails' back, calming him down.