//------------------------------// // L'estate // Story: Le Quattro Stagioni // by Cirrus Sky //------------------------------// Spring freshness had traded places with Summer heat and the kind of warmth in her heart Sunset had never in her dreams thought she would experience. (Between disinterest, active disregard and then penitent denial, it hadn't looked likely). The season was racing along at quite the pace though, with college and new situations beckoning on the horizon. There was still time for some of the nicer things though. Like a date. A blanket placed just so, two cushions arranged for comfortable sitting, a picnic basket and a cooler. All in position atop a small hill in the park, just under a tree for a little shade before the sun began to fall. The basket was packed with sweet and savoury treats, the makings of tea and two teacups. The cooler was stocked with lemonade and milk for the tea. Everything had to be just right for this date; Sunset was determined to make it, their last date before college began, a memorable one. Soon her girlfriend would be joining her. Plucking some imaginary lint from her dress, a modern cut magenta number Rarity had supplied, Sunset looked down the path to the parking lot. Her bike was parked up, a note for Octavia there on the seat, hopefully choosing this part of the park would maintain the surprise a little longer. There was an event set to start not long after Sunset had asked to meet her here. A noise nearby caught her attention, she was worried that Octavia had arrived too early, but then Rainbow was halting ahead of her and handing over her guitar. A real relief. “Here you go.” Rainbow kicked her heels. “I can't believe you forgot this, it was in its case by the front door and everything!” “I know Rainbow.” Sunset groaned and pressed a hand to her forehead. “I'm super nervous and I want this date to be perfect! I just had to forget something.” Holding her guitar was calming her down though. It was a good job her friend was so fast. “Thanks Rainbow. I wouldn't have been able to get all this done in time if I'd had to go back for my guitar.” “No problems Sunset. Never leave a friend hanging!” Rainbow shared a fist bump. “I better make tracks, I think I passed that sensible compact your girl drives. See yah!” She shot off in a rainbow blur. Sunset sighed with relief to have her guitar. Realising when she arrived that she had left it behind, she'd called Rainbow and the girl had run over right away. Grabbing a key to get into Sunset's place and racing there, it looked like she'd been in the nick of time. From her vantage point on the hill, Sunset could see Octavia's car on its way. Sitting on the blanket, Sunset took the guitar from its case and checked the tuning, nothing seemed to be the worse for a high-speed delivery. Strumming once, she smiled and settled into a little more Bach while she waited. Hopefully it would help lead Octavia to the picnic. Sunset heard a car parking up and carried on playing from memory, she'd quite often serenaded Octavia with strings. Especially considering how she'd asked Octavia out in the first place, virtually the whole summer ago. It had been a great summer. She'd asked Octavia on a date at camp because she'd seen just how sincere the other girl's feelings had been. She'd felt how honestly the young musician had wanted to have a chance. It had intrigued Sunset, she liked Octavia as a friend, a friend who she had made independent of Princess Twilight's influence. A friendship founded on a mutual interest and appreciation for each others' talent. Having accidentally seen the girl's thoughts and feelings, she owed it to her to take a chance. Octavia was interesting, intelligent and already a good friend. Not to mention rather attractive, caring and pleasant company. That she was mostly reserved with her feelings, but still wanted to try told Sunset a lot. Their date had been wonderful and led to another. Then another. They had gone to prom together and ventured into their first kiss. As summer progressed it became clear to Sunset that they were in love (even without a rock that gave her the super power of mind reading). Still playing and now caught up in her thoughts, Sunset didn't notice Octavia's approach until a light cough interrupted her. “I thought you would be the source of my favourite music.” She smiled demurely. “Hello Sunset.” “Hi Octavia.” Sunset blinked and put her guitar down, standing to greet her girlfriend. Who, as always, looked stunning. She wore a white dress, Fifties styled with a pattern of scattered pale pink musical notes. It was gorgeous on her and Sunset couldn't help a little happy grin at the sight. “You look gorgeous.” She said, punctuating it with a quick kiss on her lips. “You look beautiful as ever.” Octavia giggled and kissed the cheek closest to her. She looked over at the picnic. “All this for me Sunset? You shouldn't have.” “Yes I should, so I did.” Sunset teased, leading her girlfriend by the hand to the cushions on the blanket and sitting down, positioning Octavia close beside her. “And this is only half of the surprise.” “Only half?” Octavia took in the cooler, the basket, the blanket with cushions. The guitar that had led her to the little slice of heaven and the girl who had arranged it all. “Whatever else could there be?” “Well...” Sunset gently turned Octavia's attention across to the other side of the hill, to the outdoor amphitheatre, where workers were setting up. “In about an hour, the Canterlot Philharmonic will be playing. It is their special outdoor performance.” Sunset took a programme from the basket. “I was a little too late for tickets, but Lyra tells me you can hear the music clear across the park, so we have pretty much the perfect spot...” Sunset would have said more, but a kiss was pushed to her lips that became much deeper when a grey toned hand cradled her jaw and caressed her cheek. When they parted, Octavia's eyes shone. “This has to be one of the most thoughtful things... I love you, you know?” For the second time that evening, Sunset just blinked. They had spoken around those three words and Octavia was always casual with 'Love' as a term of endearment, but this had to be the first time either of them had outright said it. That seemed to dawn on Octavia, who looked about ready to panic. Before she could repeat the escape at the lake, Sunset pulled Octavia onto her lap, wrapping her arms around her. “I love you too. I was just a little nervous to say it.” She pressed her forehead to the top of Octavia's head, silken charcoal strands smooth against her skin. “Now we have a picnic to enjoy and soon there will be a concert to listen to.” “Thank you Sunset.” Octavia said, relaxing into the embrace. -*- Music filled the air and dusk had cloaked the sky, Sunset had revealed one last surprise; string lights strewn across the tree branches above them. Their tiny sparkling points illuminating their picnic spot with a firefly like glow. They lay side by side, arms lazily twined around each other as they simply enjoyed their close proximity and the atmosphere around them. Summer might be over soon, college and the future laid out ahead, but their schools were in the same town and they had plans. Plans that certainly included each other. For many seasons yet to come.