“Why is it so cold in this damn library?” Scootaloo mumbled. She sat with her two friends, both equally cold, all three wearing large coats. I sat at my desk in the library reading a book with my own equally heavy jacket.
“Ah don’t know. Probably because the heat ain’t working,” Apple Bloom pointed out with an eyeroll. “Ain’t the end of the world.”
“How anyone can survive in this infernal weather in Alaska and other countries is beyond me,” Sweetie shivered in her heavy coat.
“Please no cussing Scootaloo,” I announced as I turned a page of my book. “I don’t know when the heat in the school will be turned back on. I have hot chocolate if you four want some,” I acknowledged the purple girl wandering the library. Who she was, I have no idea.
“Oh uh thank you,” she gave me a weird smile. “That won’t be necessary, Cheerilee.” I raised an eyebrow and stared at her confused.
“How do you know my name?” I asked. I hadn’t told her my name. At least I don’t remember doing so.
“Uh you told me?” She offered weakly. Scootaloo shook her head.
“No she didn’t,” Scootaloo pointed out. “She’s been quiet this whole time, except for when we talked to her or greeting us.”
“Oh uh okay,” she muttered and started thumbing through some books. Snips snuck into the library and Snails crawled into the library on his stomach. How he could bend his body like that, I had no idea. All I know is that it looked painful as heck.
“What are you two doing?” I asked sternly. “Don’t you have class?”
“Uhh no?” Snips offered weakly. “It’s a free hour for us, just like the other girls and guys in here.”
“What’s a free hour?” Snails asked. I resisted the urge to facepalm. These two were pretty annoying and caused more problems than anything else.
“A free hour is for students who do good enough and get to have a free hour to do whatever they want. Study, read, or talk to their friends in the library,” I explained for the fiftieth time at least. I constantly have to explain the same thing to him but meh. Could be worse I suppose.
“Ohhh okay,” he nodded. Snips grabbed his arm and pulled him away.
“We got work to do. Come on.” I faintly heard. Now I was a bit worried, those two working together on something was almost always a recipe for disaster. My phone started vibrating in my pocket and I sighed. I completely forgot I had an appointment later.
“Cheerilee speaking.”
”Hey bestie!” I yanked the phone away from my ear and winced.
“Please don’t yell next time. That hurt my ears,” I said flatly. “Or at least warn me next time, Storm.”
”Sorry Cheerilee. I got the paperwork you asked for. Had to pull a few strings, but I got. I’ll drop it by later, Storm Rain said and I heard some desk drawers slamming shut.
“Awesome! Thank you. I owe ya one,” I grinned even though she couldn’t see it.
”Got that right,” she agreed.
“I gotta go back to work. See you later tonight when you drop it off if that works for,” I watched Snails fall on Snips and I rolled my eyes.
”Yeah that works for me. See later tonight Cheerilee.”
“See ya.” I slipped the phone back into my pocket and stood up, heading to the book cart I had near the computers. I had almost forgotten about them. I picked up a few books and started sliding them onto the shelf, ignoring the purple girl moving the monitor of the computer around.
“So I just press a button on this and it’ll appear on there?” She asked me. I sighed and took a deep breath.Breath Cheerilee. She’s just curious and probably doesnt have one back home. I shouldn’t judge. I forced a big smile on my face and turned around.
“That’s right dear,” I set the monitor down. I turned around and picked up another book.
“Maybe this world has magic after all,” she said excitedly and I rolled my eyes. She had been talking to me the past few hours about anything and everything this world has to offer. Those are her exact words for the record. She had been really confused by computers and such. Apparently they “don’t have them where she’s from”.
Now that I think about it, she and Sunset used similar words like everypony and nopony. She even asked me where the closest place to get a hayburger was at. Kinda weird really but she wasn’t exactly forthcoming when I asked what she meant. Loud music started playing and I jumped, glaring at the three girls playing the music from a computer.
“Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle. This is a library. No just....no!” I unplugged the speaker and the music stopped. “You can get it back after school from my classroom. And don’t even think about trying to steal it back Scootaloo. I’m going to be locking the drawer this time.” The three girls sighed as I walked away.
“I don’t think that’s what she meant,” I overheard the purple say as the three girls I just talked to run out the library and I sighed, rolling my eyes.
“Gah!” The purple girl shouted as she jumped and fell next to the photocopier.
“Quiet please! This is a library,” I chided as I heard giggling. I glanced over and stared at Snips and Snails recording it giggling. I sighed and stood up, standing over them. “And just what do you two think you’re doing?” They jumped and stared at me nervously.
“Nothing Miss Cheerilee!”
“Just working on our project!” They looked at me with smiles and I rolled my eyes. Whatever project they were doing was really disruptive. Probably a project Mr. Whooves had them do. He always was doing loud, explosive projects in his class. What it had to do with the girl, I had no clue.
“Just don’t interrupt other students please.”
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“Oh yes,” Storm Rain moaned into my pillow. I gave a smirk and leaned in close.
“Do you want it lower?” I asked quietly. She gave a nod and moaned again. The bedroom door swung open and Sunset stared at us.
“What is going on in here?” She demanded. I rolled my eyes and kept pressing my hands into Storms back, working her muscles.
“This is my friend Storm Rain. I’m giving her a massage because she asked,” I explained as I moved my hands lower onto her spine and worked the muscles there. Storm lifted her head and lifted her head.
“Cheerilee gives the best massages. She should open a spa honestly but she likes teaching,” Storm sat up and pulled her shirt back on. “You’re Sunset, right?”
“Yeah. Why?” Sunset asked warily. Her eyes flicked between the two of us.
“Cheerilee has said a lot of good things. Nice to finally meet you,” Storm held out a hand and smiled as Sunset hesitantly took it and shook hands.
“Likewise,” Sunset said coolly. “I thought something else was going on in here.” Me and Storm looked at each other and laughed.
“Nothing like that was going on,” Storm reassured the girl. “Don’t worry. The paperwork is on the nightstand Cheerilee. Thanks for the massage. I got to get home and do more work.”
“Good luck,” I smiled and then frowned at Sunset. “Sit down. We have to talk.” I patted the bed and Sunset cautiously sat next to me.
“About what?” She asked. I sighed and pulled my phone out of my pocket and clicked play on a YouTube video.
“You want Twilight Sparkle to be your Fall Formal princess? What does it say about our school if we have someone like this as our Princess.” I paused the video and stared at Sunset.
“I’m disappointed in you. You’re using blackmail to harm that girls chances and it’s not right Sunset,” I said sternly. “You’re better than this.”
“So? I want it and I get what I want. I deserve it,” Sunset snapped. I was a bit taken back. This is a completely different Sunset than what I was used to. “Not like you can do anything about it.”
“Yes I can. You’re not going to the Fall Formal,” I said. “You’re staying in the house that night and will resign from the competition.” Sunset glared at me and stood up.
“Like hell I will. I’ve put too much work into my plans to be stopped now. I’m going to win and that’s all. I don’t have to stay here after all. You’re not even my mom or guardian,” Sunset ran out the door. I sighed and stood up, chasing after her.
“Sunset! Come back please!” I shouted as she flung the front door open and darted out it. “Stop now.” I grabbed my coat and slipped it on. I stepped outside and looked around. “Where did that girl go and how the hell is she so fast?” I trudged around the house in the thick snow, shivering. In my haste, I had forgotten my hat and scarf. I sighed and pulled out my phone once again. There was one person I could call. I dialed the number and put the phone to my ear.
“Sorry to wake you, but I need help.”