Twilight stood outside her home, with Gilda by her side, looking up at the stars. It was a clear, cool, late spring evening. Perfect to celebrate the fact that Twilight had completed her finals, and with it, high school. Just graduation, and then she was done with that part of her life. Plus, while she had been getting ready for finals, she had not really had much time for socializing, especially dating. So she had not seen Gilda in a while
Except that she did not feel like celebrating, and seeing Gilda was not as good as Twilight would have liked.
After a for more minutes of silence, Twilight decided to use the Sugarcoat method.
"You're going to break up with me, aren't you?"
Gilda shifted enough to look at Twilight from the corner of her eye, then looked back up at the sky. A sigh caused the taller woman's arms to rise and fall.
"Yeah..." she sighed out.
Twilight's own gaze drifted down to her hands. Her right gripped the middle finger of her left, tugging on it, while the right thumb pressed against the left index's knuckle.
"Did... did I do something wrong?" Her grip on her finger tightened. "I know I've been busy lately with finals, and we haven't spent much time together, but that's over now. A--"
Gilda reached down and grabbed one of Twilight's hands. Gently, she pulled them apart to stop the tugging, and then gave it a simple pat on the back. Gilda turned, looking at Twilight now.
"It's nothing like that, Twilight," said Gilda.
"Then why?"
"How many colleges have you been accepted to?"
The question caught Twilight off guard. Her brow furrowed as she counted back through them.
"All five that I applied to," she answered. "Plus there were like seven others that were actively recruiting me."
"Exactly." Gilda let the hand go, turning toward the stars again. "You're a genius. Any college would be lucky to have you, and the smart ones would want you to attend them. And you deserve to go to the best."
There was a moment of silence between them. Twilight felt like she should say something in response to that, but was not really sure what. Denying her intelligence would be false modesty. With her experience from Crystal Prep and talking to others, she knew Gilda was not entirely wrong. If her engineering and inventions led to her gaining fame and wealth (not that she intended to pursue that specifically), then the college which she had attended would be able to use it as part of their publicity.
"It also means that you're going to be meeting a lot of new people," Gilda continued. "Make some new friends. Maybe even meet someone you find attractive."
That got Twilight's attention.
"You're afraid I'll forget you?"
There was a derisive snort as Gilda rolled her eyes.
"Please!" Leaning over, she gently elbowed the other girl. "I was your first relationship, and the first person you slept with. You're going to remember me the rest of your life." The smirk faded as her expression grew sad and distant. "Well... you know... barring any sort of memory problems."
Experience with this subject meant Twilight knew how it was a sensitive one to Gilda. Unless something happened, the larger woman would brood on the matter, thinking about her grandfather, and his ailing health. Memory included. A part of Twilight was tempted to let her. To pretend that everything was normal, and they were just standing out here, enjoying the night and being together.
But that was not something she could actually do, leaving someone she cared about in such an unhappy mood. Even if it meant dealing with something she did not want to.
"So, what is it?" asked Twilight.
Gilda's eyes flicked back to her, thoughts returning to the present.
"You should have that opportunity. To meet those people. Hang out." She turned to look away. "Maybe have a chance to fall in love with someone you have more in common with. Do the whole college experiment thing. Not have to say, 'Sorry, but I have a girlfriend back home.'
"Besides, long distance relationships don't work. Better we end it now than slowly drifting apart until we break up anyways."
Twilight moved closer, pressed a hand against Gilda's arm, and gave it a gentle squeeze. Her first reaction was to claim that it didn't have to be like that. That they could make it work. Talk on weekends. Get together during school breaks.
Except... that was how it normally started in the stories. The couple would make such promises themselves, and at first, they would follow through. At first. Then they would start to get busy with classes, homework, and other matters, making them spend less time together. The couple would talk less, and less, until the relationship came to an end. Maybe one last argument, maybe one would end up cheating, but it would all come to an end. When it was all over, at least one of them would have moved on, having a new, more fulfilling relationship.
"So... this it then?" Twilight asked. "It's over."
Gilda turned to Twilight. Gently, she pulled her so they were face to face, then kissed her on the forehead.
With that, Gilda turned away, and walked to her car.