Wallflower ran down the street, keeping herself moving. She just had to do it. And if she couldn’t do it at school, she’d do it at Sunset’s house.
She burst through the door, eyes scrunched tight, half from the exertion and half from fear. “I love you, Sunset! I don’t know why, and I know I said I hate you but I take it back, and I’ve never had a girlfriend before, and I know this could ruin our friendship but I have to just come out and say it, so please go out with me!”
There was a brief pause.
Wallflower’s cheeks burned red, suddenly incredibly ashamed at her awkward word choice. That had sounded awful, even to her.
This was only made worse by the fact that there had been no response.
Slowly, painfully, she forced one eye open.
Sunset wasn’t there.
But to her horror, Cozy Glow was. She was sitting at the table, an energy drink can halfway to her lips with her pinky extended.
And she was definitely smirking this time.
“Gee whillikers, Wally,” she said with a little giggle. “You’ve got it bad.”
“You weren’t supposed to hear that,” Wallflower said, mostly because she wasn’t sure what else to say.
“No fooling,” Cozy agreed with a little giggle. Clearly amused, she took a dainty sip.
“That can’t be good for your heart.”
Cozy gave her a simpering look. “Wally, after that little performance, I don’t think you’re qualified to talk about anyone’s heart.”
“Hey,” Wallflower protested, but found herself unable to defend herself further.
Cozy finished her drink, turned to face Wallflower, and pressed her palms together. “I’m going to say this as nicely as I can,” she said delicately before saying flatly, “You’re hopeless. That was hopeless. I haven’t even hit puberty yet and I can tell that you’ve got a better chance of seducing a brick wall than Sunset Shimmer.”
Wallflower winced. Cozy may have been a little girl, but Wallflower felt like she’d just been aerated by words.
Cozy continued blithely. “Lucky for you, Sunset was not here to watch you crash and burn, so you get a second chance. And I’m willing to help you.”
“You are?” Wallflower asked, taken aback.
“Sure am!” Cozy said brightly as she slid off the chair. She crossed in front and held out her hand for shaking. “All I’m asking in return is a promise that I can be a flower girl at your wedding.”
“Wedding?” Wallflower repeated dumbly. She hadn’t thought that far ahead, to be honest. Sunset still seemed out of her league. She’d half expected to be summarily shot down, whereupon she’d remain single until she died, alone among her plants.
She’d had that thought a lot recently.
“Oh, I know you’re nervous,” Cozy simpered. “And for good reason. But even though 98% of high school sweetheart marriages end in divorce doesn’t mean-”
“Say what?” Wallflower choked.
“Oh, you can beat the odds,” Cozy said comfortingly. “You are part of the two percent who are going to make it. I believe in you!”
Wallflower didn’t like any of this. And she really didn’t like that statistic. Or the fact that Cozy knew it off the top of her head.
But honestly, she was desperate enough to try.
And with the odd sensation that she was actually selling her soul, she shook Cozy’s hand. “Ok,” she said. “What do I do?”
Wallflower couldn’t suppress a little frown. She was desperate enough to be open for anything, sure.
But this?
She pulled the brush through Cozy’s hair.
“Gently,” Cozy said warningly.
“Sorry,” Wallflower said, though she wasn’t exactly sure what she was apologizing for. She continued brushing. “So, not that I’m complaining or anything,” she said hesitantly, “but how does this help me, exactly?”
“I’ll tell you when you’re done,” Cozy said pointedly. “Just keep brushing my hair.”
“What about my hair?” Wallflower wondered.
“Ah, don’t worry about it,” Cozy said. “Your hair is fine. Besides, your personality is your best feature.”
That made sense. Sunset wanted to be her friend because of who she was, not because of-
Wait. Her brow furrowed as she parsed this. Was Cozy saying she was… unattractive?
She peeked over Cozy’s shoulder to get another look at herself, and pursed her lips. She wouldn’t say ‘unattractive’.
But it wouldn’t be wrong
She shook her head to clear that thought. ‘Plain’, maybe.
Generous
She found this thought harder to push away. Maybe that was too generous. Someone attractive wouldn’t have been pushed aside, invisible to the world like she had been.
Cozy gave her a nudge, and Wallflower quickly continued brushing.
Wallflower didn’t mind not knowing the plan, but it had been a long day, and she was still very much out of the loop. Cozy’s maddeningly cryptic answers had gotten her nowhere.
She caught sight of a familiar hairstyle and turned to Cozy. “Here she comes,” Wallflower said urgently. “What do I say? What do I do?”
“Just follow my lead,” Cozy said confidently.
Wallflower did not find this comforting.
Sunset passed by, not noticing the two huddled there. Wallflower wondered if this was somehow part of the plan.
And then she felt two small hands pressed against the small of her back.
Before she could fully process this, Cozy shoved her right into Sunset.
Both girls let out a startled yelp as they collided. Arms, legs, and schoolwork went flying, and they went down.
Eyes still closed from the impact, Wallflower gritted her teeth. That was it. If she’d still had the Memory Stone, she would have erased all memories of that girl from everyone.
One eye flickered open. She saw Sunset, looking at her, a bemused little smile on her face. She tried to smile back. This was all wrong, her sitting her, on top of Sunset, her hand on Sunset’s breast, trying to-
Her hand was where?!
Eyes widening, she snatched her hand away and held it tightly against her chest, terrified of Sunset’s reaction.
“Whoa, there, Wallflower,” Sunset said with an amused grin. “At least buy me dinner first.”
That had to be an opening! “Yes!” she blurted.
Sunset’s brow furrowed.
Behind her, she could hear a soft slap as Cozy facepalmed.
“I mean… no?” No, that was worse!
Just stop talking! Run!
“I mean… yes, I’ll buy you dinner. I want to take you to dinner, I mean. But it’s not like I’m obligating you to go, or anything, I don’t even have any plans… not that you’re an afterthought or anything like that, I mean-”
She was suddenly startled into silence as Sunset pressed a fingertip on her lips.
Sunset gave her a gentle smile, and though Wallflower was painfully aware that she’d been rambling, she felt suddenly at ease. “Sure. Dinner it is. Just text me the details.” Her eyes flicked to one side, and her smile widened slightly. “But you should probably let me up. Mr. Doodle would be all too happy to give me another tardy.”
“Oh, right.” Wallflower pushed herself up, stumbling and slipping on a piece of paper. But she managed to get on her feet. She held out her hand, Sunset took it, and she helped her up.
“See you then,” Sunset said, and she headed to class.
Wallflower sank back against the wall, in shock. That had worked?!
Cozy came up beside her and patted her cheek. “And you didn’t trust me,” she said condescendingly.
But Cozy could have said anything and Wallflower still wouldn’t have cared. She had a dinner date with Sunset.
She had a dinner date… with Sunset.
Oh, no.
She had a dinner date with Sunset!
She whirled around to face Cozy. “You’re going to help me with that, too, right?” she asked desperately.
Cozy grinned impishly. “What are friends for?