//------------------------------// // Resolute But Disappointed // Story: You, Me, and Cozy // by bahatumay //------------------------------// Summer was over, school had started. Students returned to their classes, Vice Principal Luna resumed her usual warning of ‘no student parking in the faculty lot’.  And Wallflower was just as single as ever. But you know what? She was determined to change that. Wallflower marched out to the garden, eyes narrowed, fists clenched. No more delays, no more putting it off. She was going to ask Sunset out, and she was going to do it today.  She kept it in her mind like a mantra as she weeded. “I’m going to ask her. I’m going to do it.” Too late, she realized she was speaking out loud. She looked nervously over her shoulder to see if the others were listening. They had, and they were wearing knowing smiles. “You got this!” Rose affirmed.  Muffins gave her a thumbs up and an encouraging smile.  “Muffins is right,” Rose said. “We believe in you.” Had she said anyth-? Wallflower shook her head, deciding to not think about it. It was good to know they had her back, but her cheeks still burned with embarrassment as she turned back to her work. Before long, Sunset jogged up, looking a little harried. She knows She knows and she doesn’t want you to “Hey, Wallflower,” she started. “Sunset, I…” “Look, I know I said I could stay today, but someone called out at the restaurant and they asked me to work and I could really use the cash.” “No problem,” Wallflower found herself saying.  “Thanks. You’re a great friend.” Sunset turned and ran off.  Wallflower deflated. She didn’t get the girl and got called a ‘friend’. That was a kick in the confidence. Muffins came over and gave her a gentle pat on the shoulder.  “You’ll get her next time,” Rose said. Wallflower wilted. She turned to look over her shoulder. “What if I can’t?” she asked. “What if it never happens? What if I die alone and single and surrounded by plants?” Yeah, that did sound really lame when she put it into words.  “Muffins?” Rose said liltingly. “Give her some encouragement.” Muffins narrowed her eyes and hit her fist into her open palm. Wallflower froze. She didn’t really know Muffins all that well, but honestly she couldn’t put it past her.  “She didn’t say that,” Rose said exasperatedly. “She’s saying that you’re a lot stronger than you think you are. You’ll get it next time.” They’re just saying that Wallflower shook her head to clear that thought. “Thanks,” she said.  The next day, Wallflower walked outside, her hands in her pockets and her lunchbox looped around her wrist. Sunset’s friends liked meeting up outside before lunch so they could all eat together.  She was early. The only other person there was Rainbow Dash, who was juggling a soccer ball and making it look easy.  And then Wallflower got a much closer look at the ball than she wanted. “Oh my gosh!” Rainbow nearly shrieked. “I’m so sorry, Wallflower. I didn’t see you there.” “It’s fine,” Wallflower said, rubbing her nose. “Have you seen Sunset?” “Not recently,” Rainbow said with a knowing smirk.  Wallflower blushed. She hated this.  “I think she’s helping VP Luna with something,” Rainbow said, resuming her juggling. “Cozy’s around, though.” Wallflower may have flinched.  Rainbow noticed. “What, don’t like her?” she asked.  “I don’t know,” Wallflower said, uncomfortable at being put on the spot. “Something about her seems… off to me.” “Off like how?” Rainbow asked suspiciously.  Wallflower remembered how many ‘off’ things they’d had. Magical problems. Which recently had included her. It wasn't like that, and now she felt awkward even bringing it up.  But thankfully, Cozy chose that time to start clapping excitedly at one of Trixie’s tricks, and Trixie was clearly eating up her attention. “Well, now that you say that,” Rainbow mused.  Wallflower cracked a half-smile.  That smile had faded, though. Turns out Sunset was talking to Luna to get permission to leave campus.  To take Cozy to lunch.  So Wallflower trudged down to the lunchroom, lagging behind the others, who didn’t seem to notice her disappearance.  She felt oddly… down. Did she want Sunset to take her to lunch? Well, of course. That would be dating. Which is what she wanted. That was her goal. But the longer Sunset was gone, the less likely Wallflower would be able to ask. She could feel her nerve sapping away already. By the time Sunset got back, she’d be lucky to get any further than eye contact. Twilight was already at the edge of the table, so she sat down next to her and started pulling out her lunch. She opened the container with a pop.  This made Twilight jump. “Oh, Wallflower. Didn’t see you there.” “It’s fine,” Wallflower said, stabbing at her baked potato. Twilight noticed. “You doing ok?” she asked. “I’m fine,” she said.  “Are you sure?” she asked. “You said that kinda quickly.” Wallflower gave her a sideways look. This was lunch, not an interrogation! Twilight hesitated. “Was that one of those things where I was just supposed to believe you?” she asked. “I’m still working out this whole ‘personal interaction’ thing.” Ah, a fellow walking bundle of awkward She’s not that bad, Wallflower thought defensively. She shook her head. “No, it’s not you. It’s Cozy. I mean, those dresses, the hairstyle; that’s a little weird, right?” she asked hopefully. Twilight gave her a wry look. “I don’t think I’m the right person to ask about fashion. I’m pretty sure I would still be wearing my old Crystal Prep uniform right now if it weren’t for Rarity.” “Who’re we talking about again?” Rarity asked, sliding delicately into her seat.  “You,” Twilight said, before realizing how awkward that might have sounded and quickly amending, “Well, not you you, just, fashion-you.” “Well, I have been known to dabble,” Rarity said lightly. “And you know who has been most helpful recently?” Don’t say Cozy, Wallflower pleaded internally. “Miss Cozy Glow.” Figures. “She’s such a perfect little lady,” Rarity fawned. Wallflower felt her shoulders sag. Seems like Cozy was everywhere. “I mean, Sweetie Belle is a dear, but her sewing abilities and her attention span could use a little work.” She paused. “Also her organizational skills,” she added. “I don’t know how that much spandex could just disappear.” Twilight coughed. Rarity gave her a sideways look. “Not the, um, losing stuff… I mean… Cozy was helping me out earlier this week, too,” she said.  “Oh, fun.” And just like that, the conversation wrapped around Cozy Glow. She’s not even here and she’s ruining your lunch As a general rule, Wallflower tried to ignore those intrusive thoughts, but that one did have a point. She continued eating. “Wallflower, you haven’t said much.” Wallflower looked up, startled, her mouth full of baked potato. Finding herself the unintentional center of attention, she swallowed, winced in pain and briefly regretted not having chewed first, then spoke.  “Me?” Brilliant. Really “I don’t see any other Wallflowers,” Twilight teased.  “I don’t know. Something just seems… off about her to me.” “Her dress?” “Her speech patterns?” “That cute little gap in her front teeth?” “About her… everything,” Wallflower admitted.  “Why? You think it’s an act?” Rainbow asked. “If it is, she’s certainly putting in quite the effort,” Rarity commented. “Those ringlets are not easy to put in, and she does them every day.” “It’s possible it’s a coping method,” Twilight suggested. “She’s been through a lot. Maybe it’s just familiar to her, or something she can control.” “Or she just likes wearing dresses,” Rarity offered. “There’s certainly nothing wrong with embracing traditional femininity… even if it is rather, er, traditional.” That was probably a nice way of saying ‘old’. Wallflower, whose entire makeup supply consisted of a stick of dollar store mascara that had long since sealed itself shut from disuse, cracked a half-smile. She didn’t often want lunch to be over quickly, but today was an exception.