Adagio slept in the next day. Sundays were always the day she was out until around maybe noon. She walked out from her room with a loud yawn. Another day waking up to silence… She groaned and made her way out to the kitchen.
“Hey.”
Adagio jumped in shock and spun around to find Aria sitting at the table.
“What was that about?”
Adagio took a few deep breathes to calm her nerves, “I wasn’t expecting either of you to be back until later.”
“Yeah, well… Once you’ve spent one day in the woods, you’ve spent them all.” Aria leaned back in her chair. “So, what did you do while we were out?”
Adagio sat down after getting a cup of coffee. “I went out. Yesterday I visited the mall in town. It was interesting.”
“Sounds kind of boring, honestly… But at least you’re going out.” Aria smirked. “Might actually socialize.”
Adagio couldn’t help but smile at what she knew. What Aria had no idea of…
“I’m back!” Sonata’s voice rang out with the sound of an opening door. She walked in and smiled toward the two.
Aria dismissively waved. “Hey…”
Adagio took a breath. “Am I the only one that understands ‘late on Sunday?’”
Aria rolled her eyes, “Oh calm down. It’s not like you have plans.”
Adagio’s eye twitched, speaking under her breath, “You are certainly lucky I don’t…”
“Pardon?”
Adagio sighed, “Don’t worry about it.” After taking a sip from her mug, she thought for a second. “I’ve been wondering… Why don’t we all go out later tonight? Just the three of us?”
Aria froze, her mouth agape in shock. She blinked back to normal, “What? Are… are you feeling okay?”
“Fine. Why?”
“It’s just… you don’t usually offer for us to go somewhere.”
“Yeah, well… times change, I guess.”
Sonata was grinning ear to ear, “That sounds awesome! What should we do~?!”
Adagio rested her head on her hand, “I don’t know…” She considered introducing them to Flash to see the look on Aria’s face, but she decided against. If it came up, she’d tell them, but she wasn’t going to go out of her way here.
Aria, however, decided to step on some toes. She spoke low, trying not to be heard, but Adagio picked up her statement. “Maybe if you got out more, you’d have a hobby or two. Then we’d be able to go out and do stuff instead of sticking around here like a bunch of friendless losers. You and your dumb superiority complex…”
That’s it! Prepare to eat those words, Aria. Adagio’s eye twitched as she stood. “I’m going to get dressed. Then, we’ll head out and figure it out from there.” When she reached her room, she grabbed her phone from her desk and started to type.
[Flash, do you have any plans today?]
After a while, the reply appeared, [Not as of the moment. Why?]
[Aria and Sonata came back early. We’re going out together and I want to meet up.]
[Why do I get the feeling this is you showing off to your roommates. Sisters? What are you all?]
[I guess sisters works and because I am.] She was fully prepared to write out a lengthy text to persuade him, but he surprised her again.
[Alright. Where to?]
[I’ll lead them through the park and to that big fountain to the south. Should be there in about ten minutes.]
[Sounds like a plan. See you there.]
With her plan set, Adagio reemerged from the room. She wore a purple tank top with matching denim shorts, black thigh high socks, and a pair of short boots. She walked back out and stretched her arms. “Alright. Ready to go?”
Aria rolled her eyes, “Took you long enough. Alright… where are…!” Aria froze in place.
Sonata’s mouth fell open in surprise. She couldn’t find words.
Adagio just looked between the two, confused. “What? Is something on my face?” She followed their eyesight to the base of her neck. Why would they… Oh! Her hand rubbed against the gemstone pendant resting on a black choker.
Aria was suddenly in front of Adagio with hands grasping her shoulders, “Where did you get that?!”
Adagio grabbed her ‘sister’s’ wrists and forced her to let go, “Aria, calm down. It’s not real. It’s just a normal gem.”
Aria took a breath with a few blinks. “I’m good. Just… It’s uncanny.”
“I’m aware. Come on, let’s get moving.” The three left the building in various states. Adagio was smugly awaiting what was to come, Sonata was… Sonata, and Aria was still in a state of shock. In time, they reached the park.
Flash was waiting by the fountain, tapping his heel against the round as he waited. Two of the sirens payed him no mind, just planning to move on. Then, Adagio waved toward him, “Hey Flash!”
Flash looked up and smiled. He stood back up and waited for them to reach him. He waved back with a smile.
Aria raised an eyebrow and looked toward her former leader like she was insane, “Are… What are you…?”
Adagio chuckled as they approached. “Flash, this is Sonata Dusk and Aria Blaze, but you remember them.” She motioned to each as they were introduced.
Sonata smiled, “Nice to meet you~! It’s so cool Adagio made a friend!”
Aria blinked in shock, “Um… Yeah. Hey…”
Adagio was giddy for part two. “Aria. Sonata.” She gestured toward Flash with a palm raised upward, “This is Flash Sentry, my boyfriend~”
Aria.exe has stalled and refuses to be rebooted.
Sonata.exe is confused.
Aria shook her head, “No goddamn way!”
Flash took Adagio’s raised hand and pulled her in to kiss her cheek from behind.
Aria shut down! Attempting to restart!
Adagio simply couldn’t help but feel incredible. Aria just ate her words and her boyfriend was close. It was a glorious combination.
When Sonata finally spoke, she was surprisingly low in tone. “When did this start?”
Adagio saw no reason to hide that. “Yesterday, actually.”
Sonata tapped her chest over her heart and sighed in relief before returning to her normal tone, “Okay good! I was scared you were hiding this from us or something~ Nice to meet you Flash!”
Flash smiled, “Nice to meet you, too.”
Aria turned semi-hostile. Not legitimately hostile, just more aggressive, “No! Hold it right there! Adagio! Since when do you actually care about anyone?!”
Adagio deadpanned, “I believe I just answered that.”
“What the fuck?!”
Flash started to laugh. They kind of reminded him of the relationship he had with his brothers: ragging on each other, but still caring under it all. After a while, he took a breath to finish his laughing.
Aria glared toward Flash. “You expect me to just sit back and…”
Flash held up a small wrapped candy. Aria suddenly went silent. It was a hard caramel, a candy not commonly found in the area. Her teeth hurt seeing it. In about the range of half a second, Flash was holding a wrapper and Aria had a look of bliss on her face.
Sonata and Adagio just blinked in surprise. “What just happened?”
Flash leaned toward his girlfriend, “My buddy Brawley was on her camping trip yesterday. He told me she has a serious sweet tooth.”
“Really?”
“Yep. Ate a day’s worth of chocolate in a little less than an hour.”
Sonata cried out in excitement, “That’s so cute!”
Aria returned to herself hearing that dreaded word, “No it’s not! Shut up!”
Adagio crossed her arms and placed her weight to one side, watching as Aria tried to get Sonata to stop, “Never would have guessed.” She turned back toward Flash, “Trying to buy your way to my sister’s good graces, huh?”
Flash smiled toward her, “Maybe~ Think it’s working?”
“Keep up the candies and I think Aria will warm up to you.” Adagio reached a hand up to pull him down to her level, “Just don’t forget about me, alright?”
Flash smiled and wrapped his arms around her waist, “Wouldn’t dream of it.”
Aria and Sonata took about fifteen minutes to finally settle down again. When they did, they exchanged words with Flash about how he met Adagio and why they decided to date. Adagio never cared to lie for this, so she and Flash told them the story without any reservations.
Sonata grinned after the story ended, “That’s so cute!”
Adagio and Flash were sitting next to one another on the side of the fountain, their hands together with interlocked fingers. Adagio chuckled, “I guess…”
Aria took in a breath. “I… have to admit I didn’t think this day would ever come… But… I’m happy for you Adagio.”
Sonata took Aria by the shoulders and forced her to move off in another direction, “Don’t let us in get in your way! Have fun you two~! Meet you back at the house!” She walked off with Aria, who was screaming at her to let go.
Adagio and Flash laughed at the scene. Adagio smiled and leaned onto his shoulder, “What should we do now that they ran off?”
“Don’t know.” Flash grinned, “Was seeing their faces worth it?”
“Oh absolutely~ I have to say, the kiss on the cheek was a nice touch.”
“Thank you.”
“Think I have one without having to show off to them?”
Flash smiled and turned his body toward her and leaned in to kiss Adagio. “That work?”
“Very~” Adagio stood and pulled him up from the fountain. “Let’s walk. We can figure out what to do later.”
“Works for me.”
Unbeknownst to the couple, Sonata was behind a nearby bush with a stunned Rainbow Dash by her side (super speed has certain advantages, after all). “See?!”
Rainbow nodded but wasn’t sure if she believed. “Well that’s a thinker… Should make tomorrow interesting…”
Flash and Adagio walked off from the park. Adagio tapped her chin, “You know… I wasn’t done getting your opinion on my clothes yesterday.”
Flash thought for a moment, “I guess. Though, if I can be a little cheesy a moment, I already know you’d look good.”
“I know~ and thank you. But that doesn’t mean I don’t want to show off a little~”
Flash chuckled a little, “You’d think we’ve been dating for months the way you talk.”
“Is that bad thing?”
Flash shrugged, “Not necessarily.”
“Good then~” Adagio sighed, “Problem is, Sonata and Aria are kind of random when they’d go back. And I could go to a store for this, but I also don’t feel like buying anything today.”
“We could just postpone for later.”
“I guess we have to…” She smirked and snapped her fingers in defeat. “Oh well…”
“Why the desire to ‘show off’ anyway?”
Adagio thought for a moment, her smirk fading, “Truth be told… It’s because you actually care. I show off, but you see through it. It’s… it’s a crazy feeling. But in a good way.”
“I guess that makes sense.”
The two walked on together for most of the day. That’s all they did. It was all they needed right now.
/\
Monday morning was fairly normal compared to most days. Classes ran on time. Students were studying/falling asleep/etc. Then lunch came along, a lot seems to happen there… This was when two paths meet for the first time in the day.
Adagio walked into the room and looked around. A few students were still weary of her, given her attempted takeover. Most were used to her ritual for lunch by now. She would walk through the doors, find an empty table, and sit by herself. It’s just how she was these days. Today, however, they were out of the loop. Adagio found her target and walked around, avoiding being seen.
Flash was sitting by himself at that moment. His bandmates/friends still getting their lunches. He, however, was lucky enough to have a class next to the cafeteria before this. His ears perked hearing a certain pair of boots sneaking up behind him. He let out a silent chuckle and smirked as a pair of hands wrapped over his eyes.
Adagio leaned over his shoulder, “Guess who.”
Flash tapped his chin as if in thought, but it was clearly a play, “Could it be… the unholy terror that is Adagio Dazzle?”
She smirked and released his eyes, “Got it in one. Though, really? Unholy terror? That’s a hell of a way to talk about your girlfriend.”
“Am I wrong?”
Adagio thought for a moment before nodding slightly, “No, I suppose not.” She sat down next to him and smiled.
The lunch room stared on in sheer shock. Some close enough had heard the ‘girlfriend’ comment and turned fast enough to risk whiplash. Adagio smiled seeing their faces. She couldn’t help that, she was in the spotlight again. She glanced over to Flash and her smile softened. Now she could really put it into words.
Some forms of attention are better than others. If they don’t really care, why bother?