Sandbar took a bite of his apple. He thought about Cozy and how excited she was to ask her friend out. Did she say yes? Did it work out for her? Sandbar thought as he ate a spoonful of oatmeal, savoring the taste. He looked over to the entrance of the cafeteria and saw Cozy sulk through the serving line. Her mane was a mess, her once perfect curls all frazzled and matted down in areas, and bows nowhere to be seen. The teen watched the filly make her way to a corner of the cafeteria and sit on the floor, not even bothering to eat in the special eating room. Sandbar took his tray of food and walked over to where Cozy was eating and sat down next to her.
“I thought you could use some company,” he smiled, not knowing the hell Cozy had gone through the afternoon and night before.
“Why? So you could laugh at me?” Cozy sighed glumly, poking at her oatmeal with the spoon.
Sandbar blinked a couple times. “Cozy, is everything okay?”
“What do you think?” Cozy asked sarcastically.
Sandbar sighed and put a hoof on Cozy’s shoulder. “Well as your friend, I’m here if you want to talk about it.”
Cozy looked up to Sandbar and cracked a smile. She was about to open her mouth when Berry Fizz walked by, giving Cozy a dirty glare, her face still bruised from the confrontation the night before. Cozy noticed and hid her face in the corner as Sandbar looked between the two fillies.
“I assume you’re Fizzy?” Sandbar asked the pink unicorn.
“How did you know?” Fizzy asked defensively.
“Well Cozy told me about her roommate, and your cutie mark happens to be a soda can.”
The filly narrowed her eyes and walked away slowly to eat with her other friends. Sandbar turned back to Cozy and tapped her on her shoulder. Cozy turned around to reveal she was crying again. Without thinking, Sandbar pulled her into a hug and told her to just let it out.
Cozy flinched at first, but eventually started crying, telling Sandbar all about the fight, how sorry she was about it, and that she just wanted her friend back. As Cozy cried, Sandbar listened and stroked her back.
“Cozy,” Sandbar said in a friendly voice, “it’s okay. Friends have fights. Just give it a few days and talk to her again.”
“I don’t wanna wait a few days,” the filly whimpered, rubbing her eyes.
“I know the feeling Cozy,” Sandbar consoled. “It’s a pain to wait, but well worth it in the end. Now, eat up so you have enough energy for the day.”
Cozy smiled and went back to her breakfast, eating the oatmeal at a somewhat slow pace. Sandbar ate some granola, keeping an eye on his younger friend as she ate.
Berry kept on looking over at the two, not sure what to do. She still had feelings for Cozy but wasn’t sure if she still considered her a friend after what happened. The unicorn filly picked up her now empty tray and took it to the tray return before walking to her roommate.
“Hey Cozy?” Berry asked.
“Hm?” Cozy asked looking up to her friend with uncertain eyes.
“I want to say that I accept your apology. And I also want to say that I’m sorry.”
“Sorry for what?”
“Well,” Berry said, pawing at the ground a bit. “That I’m sorry for being a bitch about this whole thing.”
Cozy’s ears flickered at Berry’s use of profanity but looked up and smiled. “I accept your apology, I wasn’t exactly fair after our fight either.”
Sandbar smiled, watching the two fillies making up and healing their abraded friendship. Fizzy walked over and hugged Cozy, and Sandbar. The earth pony hugged both fillies as they cried into each other’s hooves. After a couple minutes, Berry let go and turned to Sandbar.
“Thanks for keeping an eye on her. I can tell she likes you.” Berry smiled and looked to Cozy.
“It’s the least I could do. Seems like what she needs, at least for now, is a sort of brotherly figure in her life.” Sandbar stroked Cozy’s back as he said this. His attention turned to Cozy’s mess mane. “Now, I think she needs a little help with her mane. Think you can handle that before school starts, Fizzy?”
The pink filly smiled as if she was born ready and picked up Cozy with her magic, running to their room.
“Come on, Cozy! Let’s fix those curls of yours!”
Cozy’s only response was a surprised squeak followed by a small giggle.
Sandbar shook his head as he went back to his breakfast. Fillies… he thought to himself. But a part of him kept bothering him for some reason he couldn’t quite explain. He finished his breakfast and took his and Cozy’s empty trays to the proper place before heading back to his room.
Dear Mom and Dad,
I know this probably is a strange letter for someone my age to send his parents, but I feel like it’s necessary. I made a new friend a couple days ago, but she isn’t like my other friends. The best way I can think of to describe it is how that orange filly looks up Professor Dash. She’s hurting inside and I can see it. I feel like I have to be there for her, almost like a big brother. This isn’t weird is it? A seventeen year old hanging out with a vulnerable twelve year old to protect her? It feels weird writing that but in action, being there for her feels right. What do you think I should do?
Love,
Sandbar
Sandbar took the letter and put it in an envelope, addressing it to his home and applying the postage. He didn’t get up though, he just sat in his desk chair contemplating.
“Thinking ‘bout your little sister, there?” Gallus teased.
“Yeah, I guess you could say that,” Sandbar replied, much to his boyfriend’s surprise. “I honestly think she sees me as a brother.”
“Look dude, if you feel you need to look out for Cozy, you do that. Who am I to stop you from doing the right thing?”
“You’re not jealous?”
“Jealous?” Gallus scoffed. “Why would I be? I may be your boyfriend, but I’m not so clingy that I’d get upset over you helping a friend. If you feel being there for her is what you need to do, go ahead.”
“Thanks, Gallus.”
“No problem Sandbar. Now, let’s head to class before we earn ourselves detention.”