//------------------------------//
// A Few Weeks Later 
// Story: Bookmarks and Sweatbands 
// by Frizzy 
//------------------------------//

It was that time of the week again. Blitz made his way to Butterscotch's cottage, occasionally stopping to make sure no one was following him. Sure, there was nothing weird about him visiting his friend, but they had been having these secret meetings for a while now, wasn't ready for anypony to find out. Not yet at least.

Rapping three times in quick succession upon his friend's door, the normally stoic pegasus nervously looked around. What would everyone think of these secret meetings? Would he become a laughing stock? 'No, Blitz,' the stallion thought to himself. 'No one is going to think you're a laughing stock. No one would even care. Right? This is perfectly normal... Isn't it?'

The cottage door swung open to reveal the butter yellow pegasus. "Oh! Hello, Blitz! What brings your here today?" Inquired Butterscotch.

"H-hey, Butters," Rainbow Blitz began. "It's... You know... That time of the week again." Blitz chuckled nervously. He had been coming here every week for the past month, this should be normal by now. Why the hell was he still nervous about doing this. After all, it was a fairly normal activity. Everypony did it, at least a few times.

"Oh goodness!" Exclaimed Butterscotch. "I didn't realize. The weeks have been flying by so fast! I didn't realize it was that time again. Please, do come in." Butterscotch stepped aside to allow his friend entry into his home. The usual animals scurried and played about, oblivious to what the two ponies were about to do. "So... A-a-anything in particular that you're interested in this week?" The smaller stallion asked, timidly.

Rainbow relaxed a little. Away from the prying eyes of his neighbors, Blitz felt that he could open up a little bit more. Reaching into his saddlebag, he produced a worn, paperback book. "Just something better than this one. The plot was very dull, and the characters were so annoying! Not to mention, the clop scenes were so stupid!" Blitz replied.

For the past few weeks Butterscotch had been inviting Rainbow Blitz over to borrow romance novels, which had recently become a guilty pleasure of his. He was still a little bit shy about it. After all, somepony as awesome as him couldn't be caught dead reading, much less enjoying, something as sappy as romance novels!

"Of course!" Butterscotch said, smiling brightly. "I'll admit, I'm not too fond of that one either. The relationship never really develops beyond physical attraction. Anyways, you know where the bookshelf is. Take whatever you like."

Blitz trotted over to his friend's bookshelf, excitement building over the next story he would read. 'Let's see, 'Lost in a Stranger's garden'? No, I've already read that one. 'To Love a Princess'? Nah, I've also read that one. Come to think of it, I've read all of these!' Blitz began to panic. Butterscotch was the only person who knew of his interest in this type of literature. He couldn't be out of books to read! That would mean he would have to talk to someone else about getting his fix! "Butterscotch!" The rainbow maned stallion called out. "Is this all you have?"

"I'm afraid so." The quiet stallion said. "Maybe you could talk to someone else to see if they have any books you can borrow? Dusk has a a whole library you could borrow from!" Butterscotch said, excitedly. They could go to the library together, and he could also check out a new book for himself. He had been meaning to read this one called 'Twilight' for a while, anyways.

"B-but then Dusk would know about this! I don't think I'm ready for him to know about this yet!" Exclaimed Rainbow.

"Oh, come on. Rainbow," Butterscotch sighed. "I doubt Dusk would care that you read romance novels. In fact, I think he would be a little bit excited that you're reading something other than 'Daring Do'.

Blitz calmed down a little bit. "R-really?" He asked, tentatively. "Are you sure he wouldn't, you know, laugh at me?"

Butterscotch smiled, reassuringly. "I'm positive he won't. I know for a fact that he too reads them from time to time as well. And don't worry, I don't think he'll tell anyone if you don't want him to."

...

Rainbow Blitz and Butterscotch entered the Golden Oaks library together, eagerly looking for their purple unicorn friend. Despite Butterscotch's words of encouragement and reassurances that Dusk wouldn't judge him, Blitz was still a bit nervous. What if this would lead to Dusk getting him to try other books that he wouldn't normally go near, like classics or educational books? The polychromatic pony gulped audibly. Maybe he could quickly run away without anyone noticing. "Oh, hello, guys!" Dusk called from the top of the stairs. "What can I do for you?"

'Dammit! There goes that plan!' Thought Rainbow Blitz, as his escape plan shattered into a million pieces. "Uh.. Hey Dusk!" He said, waving at the librarian. "Scotch and I are just here to, um... Check out some books! Yeah!"

Dusk giggled. "Well, this is a library after all. Anything in particular you two are looking for? The new Daring Do doesn't come out for at least another month."

Butterscotch spoke up. "Actually, Dusk, we're here to check out some romance novels. Blitz has already read all of mine, and is looking for something else to read.

Dusk stood there, shocked. "Oh. I, uh, wasn't aware that you read those, Blitz. Really, you could have asked me for some recommendations any time. They're over by the window by the kitchen. I have clean ones and... Ones that aren't suitable for foals. I'll be upstairs... studying if either of you need me for anything. Take anything you like."

With that, the purple, erudite unicorn walked back up the stair into his bedroom, closing and locking the door behind him. Once he was sure neither of his friends would walk in, he burst into raucous laughter. "Rainbow Blitz reads romance novels! HAHAHA! Never would have taken him for the type!"