//------------------------------//
// Creating Friendships 
// Story: The Reject Club 
// by Eggtaro 
//------------------------------//

Celery stood outside the girl's bathroom, patiently waiting for Aria to return from washing her face. He glanced at his watch. It was already pretty late. He wondered if everyone else in the club were still waiting for them to return. The whole chase-after-Aria thing took longer than he expected, but at least there was some progress. 

There was a vending machine near him. Celery headed over and dug out some change from his pockets. He only had enough change for one drink though. 

She needs it more than I do. Celery thought, as he inserted his last remaining coins into the coin slot and selected the beverage of choice. As he bent down to retrieve the can of chilled juice, the approaching sound of footsteps reached his ears. He looked up to see Aria glancing down at him, a look of curiosity on her face. 

"Here." Celery said, as he passed the can to Aria. "Drink up."

Aria accepted the can with both her hands. She held it closely below her chin. "Where's yours?"

Celery brushed the question away with a wave of his hand. "Don't worry about it. How're you feeling?" 

"M-much better, thanks." Aria blushed a little, staring at her drink.

Celery nodded silently and started walking. "Well, best we don't keep everyone else waiting." He had only walked a few paces when he felt a sudden tug on his shirt. He turned his head around to find Aria holding on to the hem of his shirt. 

"Aria?" he asked, puzzled by Aria's sudden action. "Is everything all right?"  

"Y-yes! E-everything's fine! It's just...it's just that..." Aria's voice trailed off, and instead she lifted her unopened can of juice at Celery, her face looking away from him as she does so. 

"D-do you...do you want to share this drink together?" she stuttered, her hands trembling a little. 

"I don't really mind but, can't we do this when we're back with the others? They are still waitin--" Celery didn't manage to finish his sentence, for he was suddenly interrupted by Aria.

"Please! J-just a little longer! At least...at least until this drink is done!" Aria pleaded. She looked at Celery. "I'm not ready to go back in there...not yet." she said softly, and she let go of Celery's shirt. 

Celery let out a sigh. A part of him wanted to go back to the club as soon as possible, but the other part of him wanted to stay. He decided to go with the latter. After what had happened, it might be best to stay by Aria's side for the time being. At least, until she's feeling better. Surely, the rest of the club will understand. Right? 

"Where should we go then?" Celery asked.

Aria's eyes brighten, and she pointed in the direction leading to the soccer field. "We could sit on the bleachers." she suggested. 

Celery gave her a shrug. "Lead on then." 


* * * * * *


"How much longer must the GREAT, and POWERFUL TRIXIE, wait for that Celery?"

Snips looked up at her, feeling a little irritated, he was busy writing down some notes on a piece of paper. "You were the one who sent him out, remember?" he went back to his writing, "If you're so worried about him, why don't you go look for him?"

"Me? Search for him? The GREAT and POWERFUL TRRRIIIXXXIIIEEE, does not do such menial things." 

"Then would you please be patient, and just wait for him to return?" 

Trixie huffed at Snips, but said nothing more. She returned to her seat and sat down. 

"I don't understand why he's taking such a long time to search for Aria." Trixie said to Fluttershy. She crossed her legs and arms. "It's almost been an hour since we sent him off."

Fluttershy shifted nervously in her seat. "Do you think something terrible has happened? Oh, I hope nothing terrible has happened. What if something terrible has happened?" Fluttershy asked, her eyes wide with worry. 

"Calm down, Fluttershy. I'm sure he's probably just lost somewhere," Trixie turned to Bulk Biceps, "right, Bulk Biceps?" she asked.

"YEAH!" Bulk Biceps shouted, making Fluttershy go "Eep!" 

"But I wonder what made Aria leave like that." Trixie said, ignoring Fluttershy's trembling. She rubbed her chin softly. "I thought you and the Rainbooms had made friends with the Dazzlings." 

Fluttershy shook her head. "Aria is the only one who wouldn't accept us. We tried talking to her, but she keeps on avoiding us. We had even asked Adagio and Sonata to help us out, but they kept on saying that there is nothing wrong with her, saying that she always acts like that." 

"Acts like what?" Trixie asked, curious. Bulk Biceps stopped flexing his muscles and leaned in closer as well, trying to hear more.

"Like she always does, like she's not happy." Fluttershy said softly. "She always seem so...sad." 

"Sad? Really? I thought she was just mad at everyone." Trixie said, while Bulk Biceps nodded in agreement behind her. "She always seemed to be in a foul mood." 

"I think she's just shy..." Fluttershy said, looking at the both of them. "Or maybe, she's just scared of showing us her true feelings." 

Trixie raised an eyebrow at Fluttershy. "What makes you say that?" 

Fluttershy gave her a shrug. "I can't really explain it. But it's just the kind of feeling I get every time I see her." 

"Well, it's definitely not the feeling I get when I see her." 

"We should at least give Aria a chance to explain." Fluttershy said. "Everyone deserves a second chance." 

"It's not her second chance that I'm worried about, Fluttershy." Trixie said, placing her hand on Fluttershy's shoulder. "It's how many of those chances we had given her, and how much of it that's left."

"But.." Fluttershy started, but Trixie held up a finger to her lips. 

"You might have the patience and the determination to hear her out. But not everyone can wait as long as you can, Fluttershy."

Fluttershy dropped her gaze and stared at the floor. She had never thought of it that way before. Ever since the Rainbooms made it their goal to show the Dazzlings the meaning of friendship and forgiveness, Fluttershy was determined to give it her best. 

Fluttershy remembered how happy she had felt when Sonata and Adagio finally opened up to them. It was a great accomplishment for the Rainbooms. Not only had the Rainbooms taught the magic of friendship to the two of them, they also became their friends. 

All of them, except Aria.

Fluttershy knew from the instant she saw her, that Aria was very, very sad. Though she does not know the reason why Aria was sad, Fluttershy was set on becoming friends with Aria. There wasn't much luck though. Every opportunity that came to Fluttershy always ended up with her either saying nothing, or simply running away to hide. 

I must do better! Fluttershy thought to herself. She and I are going to become great friends!

"Hey guys..." Snails said suddenly, looking back from a window and pointing at it. "I think I've found them." 

Everyone scrambled for the window Snails was pointing at. Bulk Biceps, being the largest among all of them, waded his way through with relative ease. His huge frame was enough to block the entire window from view.

"Move, Bulk!" Snips shouted, trying and failing to push Bulk Biceps away. "You're in the way!" 

"Make way for TRIXIE!"

"Erm...sorry...if you don't mind...can I just...can I just have a teensy peak? If it's okay with you that is..." 

Snails took a few steps back, watching the rest (except Bulk Biceps) struggling against each other to get a view. They could've just ask Snails what he saw. He shrugged, and returned to his seat. 

"Tell us what you see Bulk!" Snips cried. 

"SOCCER FIELD!"  

"What else is there?" 

"BLEACHERS!" 

Snips smacked his forehead. "Is there anyone on the field?" he asked.

Bulk Biceps turned around and nodded before turning back to stare at the window again. Trixie rolled her eyes. 

"WHO?!" Snips and Trixie shouted together. 

"It's Celery and Aria." Snails said loudly. "They're sitting on the bleachers."

"Sitting?! They're just sitting there? How dare they make the GREAT, and POWERFUL, TRIXIE wait for them!" Trixie stormed towards the door. 

"Come on! We're going to have a nice chat with them!" Trixie said to everyone else, before opening the door and disappearing.


* * * * * *


Aria took a sip from her drink. It was apple juice. Not her favourite, but it was enough to sate her thirst. She stared at the sky above her, taking deep breaths. 

What a day... she thought to herself, gazing at the clouds. She wanted to forget what had happened back in the hallway, but the memory stuck like glue. 

Had Adagio and Sonata really forgotten about her? Did the promise they made no longer held any value? What is she to them now? She had a lot of questions on her mind. Everything in her head was messy and blurry. It was making her head hurt. 

Aria shook her head and took another sip. She glanced at the boy beside her. Celery Stork... if he hadn't came for her, she might have done something stupid. Something dangerous. If he hadn't came for her, she might still be crying in the hallway. Alone. 

But he did. Aria remembered the words he whispered to her. She felt her cheeks becoming warm. Two words. Those two words that kept on replaying over and over again in her head. 

We're friends. Aria smiled softly. For some reason, those two words made her happy. But why from him? Didn't the Rainbooms wanted to be her friend as well? Why did she loathed their friendship and not Celery's?

Aria sipped her drink again and took another glance at Celery, only to find him staring back at her. Aria immediately coughed and spluttered her drink. Celery smiled and laughed loudly. 

"You know, you're very different from what I imagined." he said, smiling at her. 

"Wh...what do you mean?" Aria asked, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. 

"I dunno. Back in the club, I thought you were someone who was always grumpy." 

Grumpy?

"But now...you're very different. You seemed more relaxed, and...well, less grumpy." 

Aria felt the heat in her cheeks rise. She quickly looked away. "W-why did you come after me?" she asked, hoping to change the subject. 

"They sent me after you. Trixie and Fluttershy saw you crying, and blamed it on me." Celery shifted his gaze to the field. "I know this is a bit to late but...I'm sorry." 

"W-what? No! It wasn't...it wasn't your fault!" Aria stuttered.  

Celery looked at Aria. "Really?" 

Aria nodded. "It was a completely different matter." 

Celery let out a sigh of relief. "Thank, God! And here I was, cracking my brain open, thinking of a way on how to apologize to you." 

They both said nothing for a moment, listening to the wind blowing gently on the field and on their faces. 

"So...why were you crying?" 

Aria remained silent. She wanted to let him know, but something was stopping her. She couldn't bring herself to say anything about Adagio and Sonata. About how she felt everyday. About the pain she goes through. About...everything. She wanted to release all of the sorrows and troubles inside of her. But she couldn't. She can't. 

"I...I'm sorry." Aria apologized. "But---"

"It's okay, Aria. I understand. I shouldn't have asked." Celery said while holding up a hand at her. "But if there's anything bothering you, you can come talk to me, okay? We're friends right? And friends help each other." 

We're friends. It was those two words again. Aria's heart skipped a beat. It was a strange, yet wonderful feeling. Friends. All her life, Aria had only two friends. Her only friends. She always told herself that she needed no one else except Adagio and Sonata. But now, here she was, sitting with another person who had called her his friend. 

Were they really friends though? 

Aria felt her drink disappear from her grasp as Celery leaned over and gently took her can away. She watched as Celery pressed his lips against the top of the can to drink from it. 

Indirect ki-- Aria shook her head before finishing her thought. Celery noticed, and jiggled the can at her. 

"Did you want another sip?" he offered. Aria shook her head again. 

"N-no thank you! I had plenty already." 

Celery shrugged and drained the rest of drink away. "Something bothering you?" 

Aria looked at Celery. There was something that was bothering her. Celery had said they were friends. But were they really, really friends? She wanted to be sure. 

"Are we really friends?" she asked. 

Celery raised an eyebrow at her. "Yeah..." he said slowly. "of course we are."

"Then...then I want you to promise me!" Aria said, turning around to face Celery, with her eyes pleading. 

"Promise you what?" 

"Promise me that you will always be my friend!" 

"W-what? Why?" Celery asked. 

"Just promise me!" 

"Okay! okay! relax." Celery cleared his throat before continuing. "I, Celery Stork, promise that I will always be your friend." Celery fought the temptation to roll his eyes. 

"Do you promise to always be there when I need you?" 

"I promise."

"Do you promise to help me whenever I'm in need of help?" 

"Yes, I promise." Is this an oath or a promise? Celery thought to himself. 

"Do you...do you promise to always be by my side?"  

"Yes, Aria. I promise to never leave your side." Except on toilet breaks, and when I'm going home.

Aria blushed. Her heart was pounding loudly. Is this what friendship feels like? Does making new friends always felt like this? It was a very different feeling for when she made the promise with Adagio and Sonata. Maybe she needs a little getting used to this new and sudden feeling. 

"Then, from this moment on. You will keep that promise with you, all the way, to the end of your days." 

Dramatic much? Celery thought, but he still replied. "I will."

They said nothing again, the silence lasting longer than the previous one. Celery wondered if they should start heading back, he was starting to get sore all over. 

"Thank you." Aria said suddenly. "For making that promise with me. I just...never thought I will find someone else to be friends with." 

"Are you kidding me?" Celery said, as he stood up to stretch his body and arms. "Everyone needs a friend, no matter who they are." 

As Celery stretched, he spotted a small group heading towards them from a distance. He narrowed his eyes. He recognized the walking bag of muscles. Celery smiled, and got off the bleachers. Talk about perfect timing. 

"Everyone needs a friend, Aria. Even rejects." Celery said, smiling at Aria.