My eyes immediately swept across my surroundings. It was easy to notice her by her wonderfully tanned skin and blazing hair, even more so if she wore something more revealing than her usual school attires.
"Wow, that lingerie is not really leaving anything to the imagination," Pinkie whistled, coming up beside me suddenly, at a finger's distance.
"That's not a lingerie, Pinkie," I told her as if to shush her, transfixed on the attractive goddess standing under the light of the moon. I didn't say that, that was your imagination.
"Tomato-tomahto," Pinkie shrugged off with a careless smile that caught my attention. Blinking, I turned back to where I had initially been gawking at, hoping that my cheeks weren't blushing.
Immediately after, I saw Sunset, who looked away as if she'd been staring at me, then headed off to an unfamiliar face.
Must be a student from another school.
Before I could think, my eyes landed on her outift, which was a simple bra and a mini skirt that stopped at her knees. Odd, I sort of thought that a very egotistic person like her would be wearing less clothing. Not that I wanted her to, that is.
I was suddenly submerged into the water, the pressure on top of me proving to be the culprit, causing me to swallow some water by the unsuspected event. I tried coughing, but it only made me gulp the pool water, so I kept my mouth shut, checking in on my supply of oxygen, which was very low due to unpreparedness.
I panicked for a little while, thinking someone was trying to drown me for real, when said pressure was removed and I can finally swim up to the surface. I did so quickly and panicky, as my breath was running short. High-pitched laughter reverberated from behind me, so I instantly knew who was the doer of this.
After a couple of deep breaths, I turned to the bubbly party-planner who was trying to hold back her guffaw as she saw me fume at her.
"Pinkie!"
"What?" She elongated the word innocently, putting her arms behind her back as she looked to the top-right corner of her eyes to avoid my furious gaze.
"You almost drowned me!"
"But I didn't," she snorted cheekily.
My eyes started to narrow as I got ready to swim like a predatory aquatic animal towards the now retreating Pinkie.
"Why, you!" I couldn't help but phrase dramatically before leaping for her, starting a goose chase that lasted a good ten minutes, both on land and in water. Anger turned to laughter as I tried to grab her into my arms, but she was a workout!
It finally ended when I made one last attempt to pin her down by pouncing on her like a panther, which turned out successful as she giggled uncontrollably.
"Gotcha!"
She giggled and struggled to break free, though I knew she wasn't trying her hardest. It was then I noticed that a few eyes were on us, with a mixture of disgust, adoration, and pure hatred.
"You're so cute together!"
"Yeesh, I hate lesbos."
"We support you!!!"
"Aww, that's so childish and sweet!"
"Faggots!"
I immediately scrambled off of Pinkie, frowning at the unwanted attention as Pinkie didn't seem to notice and continued her chuckling. I held my left arm almost instinctively, looking down in insecurity as I tried to block their voices, shutting my eyes and focusing on my breathing.
"That was fun," she giggled.
"Pinkie, I think we should just find the others," I whispered shakily as my eyes darted around, landing on Sunset for some reason, who's on the other side of the pool, this time catching my eyes before turning away.
"Okie," Pinkie agreed, though with less enthusiasm than before.
She stood up and offered a hand to me, which I accepted with a small smile, before it vanished as we passed by the murmuring teens in our way. She took me by the hand to the changing rooms,
"Where are our dresses?" I had asked.
"Ta-da!" She pulled out the sparkling purple dress and the balloon-like pink one out of thin air behind her back.
"What?!?"
-----
We headed back inside after changing into our more decent clothing, returning to her the borrowed bikini. Our heads turned left and right like flamingos in search for our friends, before Pinkie claimed to see them and ran off to said direction, telling me to follow but she was too quick, losing me in the crowd.
Before I could even call her, however, a boy my age, I presumed, blocked my path, one glass of whiskey in hand as he smiled down at me charmingly.
"Hey, beautiful," greeted he, giving me a flash of his non-scientifically pearly white teeth.
"H-hey," I stuttered awkwardly as I glanced around for Pinkie, to no avail. He was blocking my view of where she went.
"How are things?" Again with that flashing grin. Rarity would surely want to meet this guy.
I must've been giving him a wierd look because he shook his head while chuckling, "don't worry, I'm not a kidnapper or anything."
"Good. Things are good, " I said cautiously, frowning a tiny bit at this odd fellow.
"Glad to hear. My name is Nadir Dapperpaws, eldest of the five Dapperpaws siblings, pleased to meet you," he said, taking my hand and kissing it, making flustered, a slight blush already crawling up my neck, I felt.
"Do you always introduce yourself like that," I blurted out without even thinking, clamping my mouth shut with a hand from the unexpected response.
He looked surprised too, but he shrugged it off and chuckled instead, "yes, if that is alright. And you are?"
"What? O-oh, right, uhm... I'm Twilight Sparkle, g-good sir," I grinned awkwardly as I hid my arms behind me in shyness, doing an abrupt curtsy in the hopes of matching up to his introduction, "and yes, of course it's okay."
"Such lovely name," he commented with a soft voice. My cheeks were aflame by then, so I looked down and started swaying a little.
"Oh, i-it's not that pretty," I laughed quietly, my tiptoe now joining in my little dance as it twirled on the floor, face still alight like a lantern.
"Oh, but it is. Do you have anyone accompa-"
Before he could finish his question, there came a high-pitched voice that I would know anywhere.
"Twilight!" It came from behind him.
"Ah, I see, my question has just been answered," he said as he turned around to face the source of the voice.
Pinkie paid no heed to him and rushed to me like she was on fire, squeezing me tightly. I immediately hugged back, with just as much vigor as she, if not lesser, because you know Pinkie.
"Twilight, you had me worried sick! I thought something bad happened when I realized you weren't there, so I started panicking cuz I thought you, well, something bad happened! I started backtracking, well I walked forward like a normal person but, you know what I'm saying cuz you're our egghead, but anyway as I was backtracking -still walking forward- I started thinking of if something bad did happen to you, I'll never forgive myself but then I found you and I was all "YAAAY" but at the same time, "WHYYY?!"
She ranted in a neck-breaking pace, I was barely able to catch onto what she was saying, and I found that even Nadir was quite startled himself.
"Pinkie, don't scare the poor lady!"
"But it's true, Natie!"
My eyes widened in shock, glancing between the two of them.
"You two know each other," I asked in utter confusion.
"Me and Natey go way back, Twilight," Pinkie bragged while slinging an arm over Nadir's shoulders, bringing him down to her height quite forcefully but he only laughed it off. "We're buds," she screeched as if crazed, earning a few glares from the people surrounding them, disliking that the serenity of the "elegant" party was ruined.
"Sorry, folks," Nadir apologized, the crowd going back to their business but not after releasing a few harsh murmurs. He turned back to Pinkie, "if a week ago is way back for you, Pinkie, then yes, I suppose," he smiled at me.
Pinkie suddenly shoved him, glaring at him playfully, "did you try to hit on Twi-Twi?"
I almost choked on my own saliva.
"Well, maybe..." Nadir's eyes glinted mischievously, which was enough answer for both Pinkie and I.
"You know well you can't," Pinkie pouted and batted her eyelashes.
"Alright then, show's over," he sighed, feigning disappointment, before turning to me with a completely new look on him. He seemed more carefree and joyful than formal.
"Hey, I'm Nadir Dapperpaws, the multi-personality expert, both a doctor and a great copy-cat of said disorder as well. That wasn't the real me, Twi. I was merely playing pretend," he cackled, making me blush at the realization that I have been responding well to his amazingly flawless flirtatious approach.
"Oh," was all I said.
"Haha! Isn't this guy just the guy," Pinkie snorted before laughing, with Nadir following closely behind.
I giggled at their antiques, shaking my head. My eyes caught the unwavering gaze of a boy from behind them, who looked much like Nadir, the only differences are the blue hair, yellow eyes, defined jaw, and build, where one is lean and averagely muscular, the other is lanky and tall.
"Good evening, ladies and gentleman," he greeted, catching Pinkie's and Nadir's attention, taking my hand and kissing it, doing it with Pinkie as well. Now I'm kind of cautious whether he's acting too or what.
"'Sup, Capps," Nadir said coolly, giving this fellow-who's name is Capper apperently-a high-five, to which the latter reciprocated less enthusiastically.
"Younger brother, show some formality, remember how mommy and daddy raised us," Capper tutted, either teasingly or genuinely, no one can tell.
"Always the well-mannered one," Nadir rolled his eyes with a huff, folding his arms as he muttered something else underneath his breath. This change of attitude had my eyebrow rising in skepticism. Perhaps he really was an expert in multi-personality. Capper looked at me and gasped slightly, before bowing and taking my hand.
"I'm sorry, how rude of me. I believe we haven't formally met yet,"-he placed his other palm on top of the one his other one held-"I am Capper Dapperpaws, madame. My apologies for that horrid mistake."
I shook my head slightly, "no, it's fine, really, I'm not offended, really."
"For sure?"
I nodded.
"Very well, then," he smiled politely and let go of my hand.
"Hey, Twi-Twi, the girls are waving us over!" Pinkie startled us as we both were snapped back to where we really were, making us look at each other and laugh softly.
"Well, I guess this is a goodbye," I said with a sheepish smile and a side-shrug.
"More like, a "see you later,"" he smiled and nodded at me, "it was nice meeting you, uhm...?" We chuckled after that, "I even forgot to ask for your name. I'm terribly sorry, I seem to be forgetful today."
"It's okay, and my name's Twilight Sparkle," I replied, before Pinkie dragged me somewhere once again. I waved hastily before they disappeared in the crowd.
"Where've you two been." I realized that we're all probably together again, so I turned around to actually face the group, as I had been staring at the mass of people before.
"Swimming," Pinkie giggled. I was stunned at the fact that she possess the ability to say only one word and not an overly dramatic, and exaggerated, hours long speech.
Dash gasped while jumping, "they have a pool, why didnt you say so?!? C'mon, people, lesgo!"
So, I was dragged back to the pool, to which I refused to luxury myself in since I didn't feel like swimming this time, so I decided that I had to have time to myself and sat on one of the tanning benches as they goof around. I didn't bother changing out of my purple dress, so I must have looked wierd to the passersby.
I sat there for quite a while, completely calm and relaxed, laid back as a certain chromatic haired girl would say. All of that vanished when my nose caught a whiff of something that must've been a perfume, for no one could possibly naturally smell that strong and make my heart rattle my ribcage.
But as I cracked my eyelids open to see who or what had interrupted my serenity, I knew why my body was sending me signals. There she was, Sunset Shimmer, settled on a tanning bench beside mine. I closed my eyes hoping to get this feeling away, my breathing becoming unsteady as her mere presence taunted me. It continued on for moments, with me calming myself fruitlessly and my mind drifting off far beyond than any spaceship has ever gone.
"Enjoying the party?"
I jumped slightly at the unexpected intrusion, my thoughts ramming back to me from a million light-years away. I glanced at Sunset, to find that her gaze was directed right at the stars.
"Uhm... Me?" I pointed at myself unsurely.
"Duh," she deadpanned, a slightly irritated look in her eyes, which are now looking directly at me.
I backed away slightly in anxiety before I gathered the courage to speak up, "uh... Y-yes, I... Suppose." I averted my eyes from her and closed it, in the hopes of keeping out those tantalizing teal eyes from plaguing my dreams, which it surely will for a few nights.
Silence strode by, and with each passing second, I found it harder, and harder to restrain my heart. I wondered what it wanted, but the more I focused on the reason, the farther it seemed to drift away. I'm probably only making our little contact a big deal, but I couldn't help it. She's just so interesting, so... Mysterious.
I said so because she seemed to repress herself a lot. I never see her smile genuinely, nor have I ever get to hear her her laugh. The only things she lets out are her anger, ego, and flirtatious attempts. Sometimes I wonder what happens in her life, her relationship with her family, and if she even has real friends that she holds dear to her.
I may sound creepy, but it's just her. She makes life look so... Complicated, when in fact it's so easy. All you needed to do was get good grades, graduate, get a job, start a family, and then you're passing. I always felt like I miss out on life when I think of people like her.
"You look nice," she muttered suddenly, her hesitation apperent.
My eyes felt like they were cartoons as they widened like plates, snapping my head to the side in shock. She had gone back to staring up at the cosmos, but a blush nestled on her cheeks as she avoided my shocked gaze. My own cheeks were blanketed with warmth, her action not helping my poor heart from rampaging, tears pooling at the corner of my eyes as my lips gave way to a quivering smile.
"Th-thank you," I said genuinely.
She took a glance at me, and for a moment I thought I saw worry flash before her eyes, before it disappeared as she turned back to stare at the night sky, this time with a look of sadness, and a little bit of happiness which was a very wierd combination.
I wonder what's going on in that mind of hers.
I felt the tears slowly slide before I swiftly wiped them off and stared at the sky with her, for once taking note of its peace and its beautiful constellations. It was comforting. A peaceful silence engulfed us, not the previous ones that were filled with slight tension, most of them from me because of my ridiculous heart, which has now slowed down from its previously deadly pace. But all good things must come to an end, as a question struck me like lightning. I've been wondering this for a while now, and now I have a chance to have my answer!
"S-Sunset?" Hesitation was clear in my voice, and I bit my lip nervously, not wanting to trigger her unwanted side.
"What?"
"I-I... Can I ask if... W-why did you... Defend me from Hoops and his gang? I-I mean, not that I'm not grateful or-or anything, but... It's been on my mind lately."
Even though I've heard rumors about her being awful, she'd never really done me anything horrible. The most I saw of her was whenever lunch rolled around and side glances at hallways and corridors. I've never met her professionally, even when she sought away those bullies, she never even introduced me her name, nor had she asked mine in return.
This caught her attention apperently, her now suddenly emotion-deprived eyes sweeping over my body. I felt as if centipedes were put in my shoes as I sat there and watched her eyes travel across my body, lingering in some places that I dare not mention which made me feel like something's crawling up my back.
When she spoke again, she broke the spell that I had been tranced in and I felt like waking up from an abysmal sleep.
"I don't know... I just rolled with my gut, I guess," she hummed softly and looked back up the stars. I swear what's with her and the sky?
For some reason, I felt deprived of a good book as I sat there thinking. It's as if I wanted to hear that she actually cared for me. I almost scoffed. Fat chance she would, she couldn't even look me directly in the eyes without breaking it. Does she hate me then? Why do I care even? What am I feeling? I'm so confused!
Maybe we're spending too much time in this party.
"Sunny, hey!" With that said, an obnoxious voice rang me out of my thoughts, causing me to turn to the source of it. Sunset groaned beside me, her mood obviously had dampened. I glanced at her in time to see her roll her eyes. I can tell that Sunset wasn't exactly fond of this guy.
"I'm off now, Vice Pres, see ya," she attempted a smirk at me, which turned to a sigh as the boy strode closer to us. She immediately tried to lose him by brisk-walking, in the process leaving me alone in the cool air. I wonder who that blondie was.
I was left lonely and quizzical at her sudden exit, wondering who that was and why she kept ignoring him the whole time he tried to poke at her. Must be an unwanted admirer. I've read too many novels to not notice the signs. A sudden pitiful feeling of jealousy and anger clouded my being. I didn't know why, but I knew I wasn't happy seeing other people having a deeper bond than friendship with Sunset. It just... Didn't sit right with me.
I shook my head. Twilight, you're acting as if you two are a couple. You're not even friends with her! The next thought had me biting my lip, but the treatment she's been giving me suggest otherwise...
I suddenly blushed furiously as my eyes widened to the size of meatballs. I shook my head and buried my face in my palms, now sitting Indian style on the tanning bench.
"What am I even saying... She's not into me, of all the girls she could have... But what if..." I discontinued, knowing very well that's not why she's acting friendly around me as of late. We're just acquaintances... And yet I felt something... I'm uncertain of.
Shaking my head once again, I sighed and just resumed to laying on my back and stargazing. If only problems were as easy as Jigsaw Puzzles.
I felt like a startled cat as water suddenly gobsmacked me in the face, sitting up and coughing up the pool water. Ugh and now my nose burnt. I looked around for any clue that might lead me to the imbecile that threw water at my face, and I needn't look long as Rainbow Dash smirked on the edge of the pool, clad in her boxers and sports-bra, -obviously not prepared for a dive- arms crossed as she beckoned me to chase her with the typical come hither motion.
I smirked back, relieved that I can set my mind on something else for the moment before I chased after her, our merry laughter audible throughout the pool party, and before I knew it, all my friends have joined in the battle, as if playing tag but with no rules, with fun being the only thing driving us throughout the little game.
-----
After a few hours of frolicking and socializing, we decided to head on home, the whole drive ticket-free and jolly, and when we were dropped off, we said our farewells with a hint of disappointment, but that was quickly fixed as Pinkie invited us all for a sleepover party on Friday. So, we parted ways feeling as if we were kids in a candy store.
I plopped comfortably on my bed with a contented sigh, eyes for a while staring at the ceiling, before I eventually drifted to a peaceful and dreamless slumber.