"Amy. Rouge. Thank you for getting me the essentials," I thanked. "I love my new pajamas."

"Anytime, sweetheart," Rouge replied. "It is what heroes do."

Amy was strolling towards us, carrying a plate of cookies and a big bag of chips, her glare warning me to not cross her. "A hero does not try stealing the Master Emerald on her days off." She then flashed me a warm smile. "Alinta, sorry if the pajamas are too big. I figured that you were a large, but Rouge argued that you were really a medium." Her smile vanished once she gazed back down at the bat. "I suspect that she wanted those pajamas and your other clothes."

"Ha! You would not catch me dead in pajamas..." Rouge pointed her thumb at me. Specifically, my new pajamas. "...especially those hideous ones."

A chunk of my self-esteem instantly died...which was not the first time. I studied my pajamas.

"Rouge!" Blaze blurted. "Hey, Alinta, those pajamas look fabulous on you. I am jealous."

Amy put the cookies and chips on a wooden table behind Blaze. "I should have bought matching pairs for both me and Sonic. We would have been sooo cute! And Rouge, I would smash this plate on your head if I wanted to waste the cookies."

"Hush, Amy. Alinta has gone through more than enough today," Rouge reminded the girls. "Violence between her new girlfriends is the very last thing that she wants." She squeezed my shoulder. "Only you look stunning in those pajamas, sweetie. Any other girl would look fat."

"Are you guys complimenting me just to cheer me up?" I challenged.

"If Amy and I thought that the pajamas would make you look fat - and ugly to Shadow - we would not have gotten them."

"What about Shadow?"

"Let us get this sleepover started already!"

Amy handed us each a snickerdoodle and joined our girl circle. I was sitting between Rouge and Cream, and Amy and Blaze were across from us. As we snacked on one of the most scrumptious cookies that I have ever tasted, we talked about what girly activities we would do before the boys showed up. Actually, I listened. I had never been to a sleepover...so I had no idea what exactly to contribute. The only reason why I was at Amy's sleepover is because Shadow convinced me. Either he is super convincing...or I did not want to disappoint him.

So Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, and Silver were all expected to arrive an hour later so the ladies could do...what do girls do at a sleepover? I was living under a rock. When it was bedtime, the boys had to leave or sleep in another room. Amy's room was off-limits. I was about to ask the guests why they would invite boys to a girls' sleepover, but I did not want to sound like another buffoon. The boys would probably make the sleepover more fun, I guessed.

At least that Shadow was not attending. Shadow brought up that he and Omega would be on a mission that night. I did not press him about their mission. If he wanted me to know something, he would tell me. Though that I was sad that they would not be present, I was mostly relieved that Shadow and I would not be constantly colliding into each other. We were on good terms...but I still felt awful for putting him in an awkward situation. If he came...his friends would never let us forget.

Next time that we encounter Metal Sonic, I will kick him where the metal does not shine. Better yet, I will just ask Shadow to do it so I do not hurt myself.

"Is that okay with you, Alinta?" Blaze asked.

I was playing with my purse's zipper. "Huh?" I looked up at the gals. "Oh, sorry. I was listening, but then my mind wandered."

"What were you thinking about, honey?" Rouge said. "A boy? A cute boy from your world - or ours?"

I frowned. "I do not have a crush. If you are trying to get me to confess that I...have a thing for Shadow because of a hedgehog's prediction whose predictions are definitely one percent inaccurate..."

"Uh...how do you know about Silver's prediction?" Blaze questioned. "Did somebody tell you? Did any of you girls tell her?"

Amy and Rouge shook their heads.

Blaze tilted her head to the side and quirked an eyebrow. "Rouge."

Rouge put one hand on her chest. "I swear on the Master Emerald that I never spoke a word of it."

Cream was trembling. If I ratted her out, would the girls be angry with her? Would Shadow also be angry?

"No one told me," I fibbed. "I overheard villagers talking about how Shadow and I would make a terrible couple."

"Likely the obsessed girls hoping to wind up in Shadow's bed," Rouge theorized.

"Um...why would any girl want that? Besides them being obsessed. I prefer sleeping by myself to get a guaranteed good night's sleep."

Amy, Rouge, and Blaze stared at one another.

"I agree with Ms. Alinta," Cream piped up. "Only I share my bed with my plushies. And Cheese whenever he has a nightmare."

Knock, knock, knock!

"Oh! That must be our boys," Amy said, standing. "I will let them in - after teaching them how to read clocks."

"We did not even get to do any girl stuff," Blaze groaned.

"Or talk about boys," Rouge added. "I totally understand Knuckles because frankly, he cannot read a clock to save his life, but the others, especially Tails..."

"What are we going to do with the boys?" I asked.

"Well...if Tails does not bring one of his inventions...that tries to kill—" Rouge began, but Amy interrupted.

"Girls! You will never believe who showed!"

In walked Omega...

...and Shadow.

"Ooh! This sleepover just got spicy!" Rouge declared.

Why did none of you readers tell me that Shadow would show?!

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]