She couldn't help the flinching when her phone buzzed. Every time her phone vibrated against the wood of her bedside desk, Twilight felt that distinct, ever-familiar sense of dread pool within her gut.
Whenever it happened, she thought about ignoring it. Just... letting her phone sit there, buzzing away incessantly, not daring to take a peek at the picture of Spike napping that acted as her screensaver, the cute, harmless image hiding something foul beneath it.
But every time that happened she was struck with a vivid memory. Of shouting, of pain, of dark, enclosed spaces filled with her books and she couldn't get the door open andwhywasn'thercombinationworking?!-
So, she'd pick up the phone, thumb hovering over the lock screen. She'd stare, just for a moment, at the notifications popping up... then she'd swipe the screen and slowly, ever so slowly, input her password. It would lag, for a second, it wasn't the most up-to-date model-it couldn't be, it would just get stolen or broken, like always-and then she'd be in.
She'd swallow-was it her nerves? Her fear? Something at least-and a quick tap would pull up her messages.
hey teachers pet, ive got a test tomorrow in fifth period. swipe me the answers and i might not shove you down the stairs
Is our project done yet? It better be worth an A this time.
Your on tihn ice, sparkle. That stunt you plled nearly got me caught!
gimme ur notes for history, i sleplt thru class again lol
Sweet dreams, Twilight. Not!
She'd stare at the messages, the only vague connections she had to the people around her. She could delete them. Forget about them. Pretend they didn't exist and hope nothing came of it. But she couldn't. They... they were all she had. They were the only people who knew her, saw her, talked to her. Without them, she had nothing. Nothing that proved she was there, that she was worth something.
The longer she stared at them, the more her hand would start shaking, knuckles going white at her increasingly hard grip. Eventually, her arm would suddenly fall limp, dropping the phone onto the floor. A quiet, shaky breath would escape her, even as she scooted onto her bed, back against the headboard and drew her legs up, hugging them against herself.
She wouldn't cry, no matter how much she wanted to. She'd learned a long time ago that tears would only motivate them.
(She wanted to leave them. Hide away. But she couldn't.)
There'd be a sudden knock at her door. A familiar part of her routine.
"Twilight, are you up still?" the familiar voice of her mother asked. The question didn't mean much anymore. It was really just an excuse to check in on her.
"Y-yes?" She'd stammer. It wouldn't matter how often this had happened, she'd never been able to rid herself of it.
There'd be silence, for a moment, before her door would open. The familiar head of gray and purple would appear in the now open doorway, and her mom might look around for a moment, before her eyes landed on her. She'd breath in sharply, before her eyes softened,
"Are you alright, dear?"
Twilight would shake her head, looking out her window, a frown on her face.
"Everything's just fine, Mom."
~~~~
~~~~
She couldn't help the flinching whenever her phone buzzed. Every time her phone vibrated against the wood of her bedside desk, Twilight felt that distinct, ever-familiar sense of dread pool within her gut.
And then, a moment would pass, and the dread would vanish, replaced by new, unfamiliar excitement. A smile would find its way onto her face-though it was small, she wasn't quite used to smiling again just yet-and she'd be reaching for her phone within seconds.
There was no moment of hesitation anymore-or at least, not one as long as it used to be-her thumb swiping across the familiar picture of Spike. Her password-changed, along with so many other things in her life-hardly took any time to type anymore, and she was in. A tap, one perhaps a bit quicker than those that came before, and her messages opened immediately, the faster speed a testament to the fairly new model.
Hey Twi, I got soccer practice in the morning, u wanna come watch me kick sum butt?
Thank you for letting me borrow that book, Twilight. It was wonderful! I especially loved all the little pictures in it, They were so cute!
Heeeeeeeeyyyyyyyyyy Twilight doya tihnk u could come tastetest my new cherrychangas? they're supes delish!
I was curious, Twilight. Do you prefer a shorter skirt or a longer one? I have so many ideas that the Princess gave me, and I'd simply love to try them out with your help! That is if you're comfortable with that?
Hey Twi, I was wonderin. How are ya settlin in in Canterlot? I know it can bit a be hard movin to a whole new town. If ya ever need to talk to anyone, just say the word!
dont try the cherrychangas, whtevr u do holy crap
Twilight, have you been feeling off at all since that whole... magic-demon-thing? The girls and I haven't had any issues with the magic affecting us, beyond the obvious, but you definitely had a lot more shoved into your system. Do you think you could come over tomorrow? I'd like to test some things to make sure you're not going to come down with something. Is that okay?
A quiet giggle escaped her, even as she gently fell back onto her bed. She sighed contently, thinking about all the things she was probably going to end up doing tomorrow, with the people who wanted to see her, wanted to talk to her, when a knock sounded at her door.
She sat up, just as it opened, giving her mom a soft smile when her head popped through the door.
"Hey dear, just... coming to check up on you," she said, giving Twilight a curious look, "Your father and I finished emptying the rest of the boxes," she added, casting a slow glance around Twilight's room, noting the complete lack thereof. She giggled, "Hmhm, already finished, huh?" Twilight giggled, and nodded,
"Yeah, I finished a while ago," she said, idly bouncing a little. Her mom seemed to notice this, giving her daughter a rather surprised look. After a moment, her eyes slid away from her giddiness, landing instead on the phone currently in her grasp.
Her mom's face softened,
"... Are you alright, dear?"
Twilight nodded at her, eyes sparkling,
"Yep!"
"Are you sure?"
Twilight smiled, and glanced back down at her phone once last time.
"I'm sure, Mom. Everything is just fine."