"Sorry, Fluttershy, but I'm not into you like that," said Rarity.
"Like what?" Fluttershy asked.
"Like… romantically, you know?"
Fluttershy blushed. She wasn't interested in Rarity romantically either. Clearly, she hadn't done a good job communicating what she meant.
"No, see, I—"
"It's all right, really. I mean, I know that I'm gorgeous, and rich, and successful, and, well, just me, generally, and I hate to disappoint you, but a relationship must be built from a foundation of trust. Why, if I said yes just because I didn't want to make you feel bad that would only lead to further hardship down the road. Please understand that this is best for the both of us."
"But Rarity, I don't—"
"Know how you could live without me? Obviously it will be hard, and I will help you with the transition, but know that there is someone out there for you. Granted, they won't be nearly as great a catch as I am, but if you put in the effort you could maybe find somepony who’s three or four notches below my level."
"Rarity. I am not coming on to you."
"I certainly hope not, dear, after I've laid it out to you plainly exactly why we wouldn't work together. Why, if you kept at it I might think you somewhat pathetic. You don't want that, really. Please, retain your dignity. If it's any consolation, you gave me the fourth best proposal I've ever received, and the second best was from a griffon prince. I could have been nobility if I had neglected my true feelings."
"I didn't… wait, if that was the second best, then what was the first?"
"Why, that was back in high school. His name was Night Hawk. The others made fun of him mercilessly, as he was an earth pony with a pegasus name. There was this nasty rumor that his mother cheated on his father because pegasus genes are dominant. Absolute nonsense, as you know. It's a flip of a coin if you're a pegasus from one parent or not. But that didn't stop the others from gossiping about it incessantly.
"So it's senior year, and I'm thinking about all the stallions who asked me to go to the prom with them, when this awkward little pony walked up to me in the hallways and asked me to prom. I felt he might collapse, with the squeaking in his voice."
"And you said no to him?" asked Fluttershy.
"Naturally. I have never spoken to him before, and had much better options for the prom. I only learned about him later, after I asked around. So I show up to school the next day and he catches me in a one-on-one conversation. He tells me that this other pegasus had bet him fifty bits that he couldn't convince me to go to the prom with him, and he wasn't really interested in me. He just wanted to use me to win this bet and prove himself to this other pony. He completely understood why I rejected him and said he would never hold it against me."
Fluttershy took a moment to process the story. "But why was that the best one?"
Rarity gave her a knowing look. "Because he is the only one who has ever convinced me to rescind a previous rejection."
"Wait a minute," said Fluttershy. "Does that mean…"
Rarity nodded. "I went to the prom with him, and he split the fifty bits with me. I bought a lovely sewing kit with it. I still have it, actually. I don't use it much, but when I'm on the go, I always pack it with me."
"But why were you okay with that?"
"All the other stallions were jerks. When I went with Night Hawk, at least, I didn't have to worry about him getting all clingy or thinking we were something more."
"Because he had a different motivation."
Rarity looked surprised. "Well, yes, but mostly because he was gay."
Fluttershy didn't know what to say to that.
"You would think," said Rarity, "that being cultured, beautiful, and popular would be benefits. I'm not going to say they're not. Goodness knows how much harder life would be for me if I lacked those attributes. But there are downsides too, and one of those is that I had to learn how to let ponies down easy. Not because there's anything wrong with them, but because I've been down that road before and know what's down it."
"That's all well and good," said Fluttershy, "but I think you misunderstood me."
"How so?"
Fluttershy gulped and tried to think of a good way to put it. "I, uh… I'm not… I wasn't interested in you."
"I expected better of you. Just because you got rejected doesn't mean you need to pout. It's perfectly all right to acknowledge the fact that we wouldn't make a good couple. There's no need to deny your feelings."
"Rarity, do you remember what I said?"
"Of course dear."
"Think about it."
Rarity scrunched up her nose, thinking about it. Fluttershy thought she'd been clear when she walked into the boutique and said to Rarity, "I need some advice on love, you are the only one who can help me."
Finally, Rarity said, "I just cut to the chase, dear. I've heard enough ponies dance around the point until it was far too late. Timing is key, and yours, to be frank, wasn't up to snuff."
Fluttershy took a deep breath. "Rarity, my squirrels aren't getting along."
Rarity blinked. "Excuse me?"
"Mr. and Mrs. Nuts are mad at each other, and I don't know why. Usually I know how to handle unruly squirrels, but something must have happened between them. I wanted you to take a look and help me, if it wasn't too much trouble."
Rarity stared at Fluttershy for a good long while.
"So, you weren't… interested in me?"
Fluttershy shook her head.
"I, uh…" stammered Rarity. "Sorry. I'm just so used to it, you understand. If I had an apple for every time a friend wanted to go out with me, I would have some money."
Fluttershy didn't think that's how the saying went, but didn't feel the need to correct her.
"I… huh." Rarity seemed deep in thought.
Eventually, Fluttershy saw fit to break the silence.
"Do you think you could help me?"
"Hm?"
"With the squirrels."
"Oh. Of course. I'm… I'm sure it's no big deal. Nothing to worry about. If you just… just give me a moment."
Rarity sat still, staring at nothing in particular.
"Rarity?"
"Yes?"
"I know what you're feeling. I've not always been the best at talking, and I've made some… assumptions about others in the past."
"Oh, Fluttershy, I'm so sorry. You must think me a self-obsessed fool, blabbering on about all that."
"Not at all. If I may be so bold, I think that maybe you're just not used to rejection."
Rarity scoffed. "Ridiculous. I've been rejected a lot."
"Romantically?"
"Well… no. I've always been the one hit on, or the one who did the breaking up. I've never… huh." Rarity wiped a tear off her face. "I hate to be presumptuous. Let's just focus on those squirrels."
Fluttershy didn't push it. She knew how hard it could be to talk about messing up a social interaction. Rarity would talk about it when she was ready, probably to somepony else.
"I hope there's nothing too serious wrong with them," said Fluttershy.
Rarity lit up, clearly glad for the change of subject.
"I wouldn't worry too much about it, dear."
"How come?"
Rarity smiled.
"It's probably just a misunderstanding."