A knock on my apartment door interrupted my mope session as I went over to open it slightly, only to see my landlord, Mr. Cake, on the other side...
“R-rent?” He simply asked, somewhat nervous as he spoke.
I chuckled and opened the door, opening my wallet to go through my monthly fee.
“How’s life, Mr. Cake?” I asked him.
He hesitated before responding to me, he also somewhat jumped back when I asked.
“G-good. The store got a bit vandalized last night, we’re suspecting those CMC’s, but... due to their family ties...” He began backing up again as I handed him his money.
I knew why he was so nervous—Sunset kept hassling him despite me actually paying him, so everything I pay him either goes to Sunset for “protection” or to repairing the store.
“I’ll see if I can come down and pitch in a bit later... Look, if Sunset’s giving you a hard time, I can always talk to her. It’s not like she’ll hurt me or anything.” I said.
“No. No, I can’t ask you to do that.” He said, pocketing the annual rent money and went to leave.
“Why? Why do you put up with her when I could just talk to her?” I asked him.
He stopped and turned to me, his eyes bearing a form of emptiness I’ve only seen in a few students and at least one teacher at CHS... a lack of hope that was beginning to spread to everyone around me, slowly pulling me down with it.
“Because deep down, you want to.” He said.
He shut my door as I went to the living room, slouching on the sofa while turning on the TV, enjoying the benefits of the weekend. My phone then went off to see a text from a blocked number. I clicked on it to see that it was from Sunset, possibly one of the many dirty pics she sent me ever since we broke up. I knew she was doing it to try and get me back, but part of me felt like she missed me and she actually wanted me back... but I knew her too well to assume otherwise.
The first one, a pic of her in her bathroom, wearing an all-black bra that was two sizes too small with the text reading “Miss you xoxo” with her throwing a peace sign.
Swipe.
The second one, in her bedroom, facing a mirror with her arms crossed across her chest with the text reading “Do you miss your kit--”
Swipe, with a hint of heat emitting from my face.
The third caught me off-guard—it was a close up of her... personalities. The text saying “Lettin’ it all hang for u”
I coldly deleted it, unwilling to keep anything she sent me on my phone... but now the image was grilled into my head, and with that a fluster of memories that I didn’t want to remember... And some that I couldn’t help but miss.
I was on the verge of caving and scrolling further when the news story caught my attention.
“...reports of a meteorite crash just outside of Canterlot has taken the astronomy world by storm, sources claiming it to be pieces of a larger comet while others state that it may be our first encounter with extraterrestrials. The meteor has been collected by Oscorp Industries due to claims of unsafe elements resonating from the space rock--” I sighed and changed the channel, hoping to find something to take my mind off of everything with Sunset.
My search was answered by another knock on my door. I turned to see if it was Mr. Cake, only to see Pip on the other side.
“Hey, dude.” He said, awkwardly waving as he came in.
“What’s up?” I asked him.
Pip didn’t answer as he came in and shut the door, looking around at my small but tidy apartment.
“Nice place...” He awed.
“Yeah-- Sunset and I bunked here for a few weeks when we dated... well, that didn’t turn out the way she wanted it to.” I recalled.
We stayed silent as a commercial for Oscorp came on, in which Pip simply scoffed.
“That company’s on thin ice as it is...” He muttered.
Another comment on Oscorp... they weren’t my idol or anything, and I knew they had their long string of controversy, but those comments seemed personal...
“Yeah, what is it with you and Oscorp, anyway?” I asked him, eager to know.
Pip went to say something, but retracted it at the last second.
“It’s a long story...” He sighed.
We went back to awkward silence until I suddenly remembered about the mask I saw.
“Oh, yeah—that mask I saw, with your name on the document? Spider-Man's mask?” I asked, hoping he’d remember.
Pip simply sighed and turned to me.
“Okay... so I know how stupid this sounds, but... are you... y’know... Spider-Man?” I asked him.
He chuckled and got up from the couch, looking at the ceiling and...
Flipping on to it.
“Yeah... I guess you could say that I am.” He smiled, keeping one hand on the ceiling while straightening himself and dropping back down.
I was flabbergasted... up to that point I was convinced that it was just some coincidence, or maybe Pip helped design Spider-Man's costume... but no—my best friend is Spider-Man...
“...Flash? You there, buddy?” He asked, waving his hand in front of my face.
“You’re Spider-Man...” I said, still in awe.
“Yeah... I am.” He smiled.
Our short but juicy conversation was interrupted by yet another knock on the door...
“Let’s just have a party, why don’t we?” I grumbled as I opened the door to see...
“Oh! Hey, Aria...” I said, still flustered from our run-in with Sunset earlier.
“What’s up, Flash?” She asked, then looking in to see Pip.
Pip looked back and I was sure I saw Adagio behind her, but I had no way of being sure.
“Oh, that’s Pip, right? Adagio was talking about hi—Ow!” Aria got her shoulder bumped from behind, which told me that Adagio was behind Aria...
“Oh, was she?” Pip asked in the background, with a sly smirk on his face.
Aria chuckled while Adagio came out from behind, her hair now straightened out and running down to her back instead of her large bun.
“There’s a small show going on downtown and we got two extra tickets since Sonata and her boyfriend cancelled out on us... wanna come with?” Adagio asked, occasionally looking up at Pip.
If she was crushing on him, she did a poor job at hiding it, but I think Pip did a good job at picking up on it...
“I’m down—let me just let my mom know.” He said, going to another room.
Does Luna know he’s Spider-Man? I’ll have to ask him a bit later. So many questions were flooding through my mind but I decided to put them on hold so I wouldn’t burst out the fact that my best friend is a crime-fighting superhero...
Okay, that was still too weird to admit.
Aria and Flash were a row above us, leaving me and Adagio with a completely empty row, much to our surprise.
“I guess no-one knows good entertainment, anymore...” Adagio sighed.
“Yeah, I guess...” I said, looking behind me to see Flash and Aria both somewhat grumpy.
“It’s like their resting face.” Adagio laughed.
I chuckled along as the lights dimmed and the curtains rolled. The show was a local magician—I’m sure that I saw her in the halls once or twice—and needless to say, she was... somewhat adequate.
Her tricks consisted of some of the simple things; pulling a rabbit out of a hat, some card tricks with volunteers, nothing too exciting. That was fine by me, since that give me and Adagio time to talk.
“So... how long’s it been since you’ve been out with someone?” Adagio asked, her eyes darting at the show and then at me.
I considered lying about it, but I knew that it wasn’t a smart idea.
“What’s the date?” I asked her.
“Hmm... I’m sure it’s October 4th...” She pondered.
“Then about three weeks ago.” I said.
Adagio let out a simple but complex hum as she went back to watching the show... that time the magician looked back at Flash and Aria, pointing a finger at them before gesturing them to come to her.
“Oh, this should be good...” I said, sitting up in anticipation.
The two went up on stage, facing a small table where they both were gestured to take a seat.
“Of all the magic that I can do... love is possibly the strongest. It cannot be conjured, nor can it be forced-- it must be treated with tenderness and care. For my next trick... I will make these two simple show-goers... fall in love!”
Some gasps and a few “oohs” were heard in the crowd, while Adagio and I glanced at each other.
“Now... love, as I said, is a tricky spell to cast... but it can easily be done once you understand it. All you two have to do is... talk.” The magician tilted her head.
Flash and Aria glanced at each other awkwardly before simply obeying. We couldn’t hear what they were saying, but it seemed very interesting.
“As for those of you in the audience, I’d advise doing the same—I understand there are more than one pair of potential lovers here, tonight...” She said, turning back to Flash and Aria.
Adagio and I simply sighed and started asking each other rapid fire questions.
“So... how long have you been in Canterlot?” I asked her.
“About a few weeks, now. How about you?” Adagio asked me.
“Almost my whole life, my mom moved here with me and my... sister, when she and my dad split up.” I said, hesitating to mention my sister.
Adagio seemed to notice and decided to steer away from it.
“How do you like CHS?” I asked, almost knowing the answer.
Adagio simply let out a groan.
“It wouldn’t be so bad if it weren’t for the super-powered group of Heathers running it all.” She answered.
I let out a short laugh—I never really thought of them like Heathers...
“You said you got out of a relationship three weeks ago... what happened, if you don’t mind answering?” Adagio asked me.
I hesitated, but eventually told her.
“Her name was Twilight, and her mom was... well, different. She wanted her daughter to be the absolute best and pushed her until she broke. She almost killed her mother after she almost killed me, and I haven't seen her since.” I said, immensely watering down the story.
Adagio simply let out a soft gasp as her next question was cut off by Aria and Flash’s laughter. We both turned to see them simply talking, having a good time with each other.
“You see, folks? Love cannot be forced or neglected—it must be protected and allowed to grow.” She signaled the two to return to their seats, and they did—holding hands the whole time.
Adagio and I simply glanced at each other, her seemingly understanding what I was going through.
“My ex was a douche—his parents were worse. Trust me, they’d go down on him for anything, and I guess he let it out on me...” Adagio recoiled slightly.
Needless to say, that angered me—no-one had the right to put their hands on anyone, especially the ones they’re supposed to love...
Except I beat up bad people as a living, so...
I’ll get back to you on that.
“...Then, one day, he tried to attack me. I fought back, gave him a good cut on his eye... my sisters came around and we never looked back.” She said, glancing at her hand closest to me.
I sighed and slowly leaned back, moving my hand as a result, almost asking for permission.
“My first girlfriend was... a very interestin’ individual... She was obsessed with control, somethin’ that helped her fit in with the Rainbooms...”
Adagio quickly turned to me.
“Your ex is one of the Rainbooms?” She asked me.
“Yep... Rarity.” I said, chuckling at the memory.
Adagio then leaned forward, her hand millimeters away from mine.
“So... you and Rarity dated? What was that like?” She asked.
“Latex, latex, latex... that girl has a kink, and it is ugly.” I laughed.
Adagio soon laughed along, her fingers resting on the back of my hand.
My eyes looked back at Flash and Aria, who were now in a full make out session in the very back.
“Wow... that was quick of her. Is your friend... like that? I don’t want Aria to be too forceful because trust me, she will be...” Adagio said, her hand completely resting on mine.
I let out a hearty chuckle.
“Trust me: There is no such thing as rushed or forceful with Flash Sentry...” I chuckled.
Yeah, I knew what he was into— I have my ways of knowing and I'd rather not share them right now...
“Oh, really? Well, they should get along nice, then.” Adagio giggled.
“Eh, his neighbors might complain, though...” I chuckled along and turned my hand around, now properly holding her hand.
“...and with that... The Great and Powerful... Trixie!” She did a little bow and the curtains rolled, ending the show.
There were some claps and we glanced at each other.
“I never got your number, did I?” She asked me.
“No, I don’t believe you did.” I said, sadly pulling my hand away to give her my number.
Flash and Aria practically abandoned us as we both looked at each other.
“HIs parents won’t be home, will they?” She asked me, with a hint of fear.
“Flash’s a... loner—Sunset gave him that apartment when they were dating.” I told her.
Adagio simply let out a hum.
“How about yours?” I asked her.
She looked away and sighed.
“We live alone, too, Pip.” She said.
I immediately stopped talking, and as Adagio saved my number, she gave me a quick peck on my cheek.
“I had fun, tonight. See you Monday, Pip.” She said in my ear.
With that, the double date was over... and I loved it.