Listen

Amy decided to listen to the rain.

Pitter, patter. Slowly getting heavier. This continuous downpour could have either a good or bad effect - the good being that her inverted umbrella would revert back to normal from the pressure, or that she would carry on getting drenched, standing awkwardly on the pavement, embarrassed.

It was 1.00 PM. Sonic was supposed to meet her outside the park an hour ago. For the first few moments, Amy decided to be patient and enjoy the new, mild Spring weather. But then the April Showers started.

And for some reason, short, vicious winds accompanied it. At least they seemed to have stopped, but no matter how much Amy struggled with her umbrella, it had to suffer its fate.

What's the point? This always happens. He never...

The girl shut her eyes and sighed. Sonic always loved Spring - she thought it would put him in a better mood around her, make him more... focused and... punctual.

No.

Amy turned around and was about to walk away...

A whooshing sound behind her stopped her in her tracks.

"WAIT!"

As if on cue, a blue hedgehog stopped behind her, heaving and panting. The pink girl turned around to find a soaked Sonic, hands resting on knees, avoiding eye contact. He was covered in leaves and had a small, raw cut on his cheek.

"I'm so sorry," he began. "I-"

"Don't bother," Amy muttered darkly, glancing at the wet ground. "I get it. You went on an adventure and forgot about me."

"Amy-"

"It's fine. Really. This always happens." The pink hedgehog's voice started to waver. "I should be getting used to it. I should remember that you forget me. Maybe don't care at all. Maybe... you never did."

She clenched the handle of her broken umbrella and began to sob quietly, like the sky.

"No! No! I can explain-"

"Let me guess. You opened a history book and got sucked in by a genie to an ancient world and saved it."

"... you still don't believe me about that?" Sonic began to straighten up.

"I- well... NO! It always feels like you're stretching to make up any excuse to avoid me. I'm sick of it!" Amy yelled, finally looking a bewildered Sonic in the eye. "You'll never change! Just leave me alone!"

The girl dropped her arm to her side and let the broken umbrella drag across the sopping ground as she began to whip around.

But she was stopped by an embrace.

The blue hedgehog wrapped his arms around her, making her freeze. They stayed like this for a moment, almost frozen in time, as the rain poured.

"I just realised that I'm really dirty and gross and shouldn't be touching you, but I couldn't think of anything else to do," Sonic finally said.

Amy finally dropped her umbrella and hugged him back, burying her head in his shoulder. Sonic squeaked, forcing Amy to loosen her grip a bit.

Tears fell down like the rain.

"There's a gazebo in the park. Let's sit there, and then I can tell you the - uh - whimsical, fantastical story about why I almost let you down. Okay?" He pulled away and flashed her a big grin.

Amy wiped her eyes with a hand and nodded subtly. "... Okay."

Seeing this gesture, Sonic felt a bit uncomfortable. He didn't think that the girl was actually crying, but rather thought her face was affected by the rain. He hated seeing anyone cry, especially her.