Rarity pushed open the door to the boutique, hauling her load of luggage through. Her hair was slightly matted, not having much time earlier that morning to ready herself completely. She dumped her bags into her room and checked the time: seventeen after noon. Sweetiebelle wouldn't be back from Fluttershy's for about another three hours. She took this opportunity to maintain herself.
*****
Rarity ran a hoof through her mane in the shower, mulling over the most recent events on her mind. She leaned against the wall softly, letting the water drip from her muzzle. Her stomach was in knots as she reminisced on the weekend spent with Fleur. She felt confused and dazed. She wasn't sure how she should feel anymore. Fleur's feelings for her clouded the water; she couldn't think straight with the immense pressure bearing down on her.
Rarity sat down in the studio and breathed a long sigh to herself, looking up, watching the clock count by each second. The boutique was all but quiet with it's soft ticking. She left herself alone with nothing but her thoughts to keep her company. Her somber wasn't to last, however. A rap at the door woke her from her stupor.
Rarity turned her head toward the door, pausing for a moment before speaking up, "Who is-" her voice cracked slightly and she cleared her throat, repeating, "Who is it?"
A voice called from the other side as if puzzled, "Rarity? It's Twilight. Can I come in?"
Rarity stood up and slowly walked to the door, unlocking it and opening it for her friend, "Twilight, sorry, just..." she paused looking back, "doing a bit of cleaning up." she returned a small smile.
Twilight raised a brow, "Are you feeling alright?"
"Just a bit tired, that's all."
Twilight nodded. She could tell right away that something was up with her friend, but she decided not to pursue, "Mind if I come in?"
Rarity nodded in return and opened the door up completely, stepping back and inviting her inside. She started back toward her chair and took a seat.
Twilight shook her head and couldn't restrain herself, "Rarity, what's up? You're acting weird. Did something happen in Pear-"
"No," Rarity interjected.
Twilight gave her a scowl, "Okay, now I know something's up." she walked beside Rarity and put a hoof on her shoulder, looking at her with a soft expression, "Look, you know you can tell me anything, Rarity." she managed a caring smile.
Rarity looked up at her and returned the smile, "Thank you, Twilight, but I promise, everything's perfectly fine." her expression seemed more genuine than before.
This caught Twilight off guard a bit and she backed down, "Okay..." she thought for a second, "Where's Sweetiebelle?"
"With Fluttershy. I asked her to look after her while I was gone," she replied.
Twilight walked over to Rarity's workbench, looking at one of the dresses she was working on before she left.
Once again the room was left with a thick tension between the two. Rarity couldn't help but feel uncomfortable. She looked at Twilight and returned the question, "What about you, darling. Are you feeling alright?"
She nodded, "Yeah, just some things I was hoping to talk to you about."
"Like what, Twilight?" Rarity's curiosity piqued.
Twilight glanced off to the side suspiciously, "N- no... You'd think it was dumb."
Rarity blinked in surprise, "I most certainly would not!" she stood up, walking over to her friend in a comforting manner.
Twilight pursed her lips and continued to stare out the window.
Rarity threw a hoof around her and spoke quietly, "You can tell me anything, Twi." she smiled.
"So can you..." said Twilight.
Rarity's heart sank. She hated the feeling of lying to Twilight, but she stood resolute in her denial. Now wasn't the right time. She needed to think about it more before she felt comfortable with telling anyone else.
Twilight turned to face Rarity and looked up at her, "What would you say if I told you..." she trailed off. She seemed panicked and scared, like she didn't know whether or not to tell her.
"Told me what?"
With a deep breath, Twilight exhaled, "I love you, Rarity."
Rarity blinked, puzzled, "I love you too, Twi-"
"No! I LOVE you!" Twilight blared, red-faced, "Like, love love..."
Rarity blushed deeply, she was completely taken aback by the comment. So that's what's been on her mind. Rarity thought. Her heart raced, unsure how to respond to Twilight's sudden outburst of infatuation.
When did this happen? Why is she telling her this now? Rarity's mind flew at a million miles per hour trying to register the bomb-shell of a statement that her friend so sincerely dropped onto her.
How could she ever explain Fleur to her? How could she bring herself to look her best friend in the eye and tell her that she was seeing someone else? Rarity and Fleur hadn't actually made anything official, but she was almost certain that it would happen; that the question would arise soon enough, and now this? She had trouble focusing on the sheer gravity of the situation before her.
Twilight simply stared intently at Rarity for several more seconds before dashing her train of though, "Rarity," she breathed.
Unable to formulate a coherent statement, Rarity stammered for a moment before dropping the first sensible word that she could muster.
"What?"
Twilight turned back toward the window, shaking her head, "I've had a crush on you for the past few years. You were the nicest, most beautiful mare I'd ever seen. I-" she sighed, "I didn't know how to tell it to you. I've never felt this way about any other mare."
Rarity responded, "Why did it take so long for you to tell me?"
"I was scared," Twilight choked, "I didn't want to complicate our friendship by throwing my emotions into the mix."
"What's different now, though?"
Twilight thought long and hard for a minute before speaking, "Because... I'm just so tired of being alone."
Rarity felt the impact of the statement like a physical object. Fleur had said the exact same thing only days prior to her. Rarity began to feel guilty and ashamed. Why am I such an idiot?! She scolded herself. She wasn't in a position to express feelings for Twilight, but she would never think of hurting her. Her mood sank. She didn't have any reaction at all.
Twilight took the silence for what it was, "I think I should get back to Spike," her expression fell.
She turned and started toward the door.
Rarity's face was quite pale, if it could have been noticed behind her white coat. She walked with Twilight to the door, looking off to the side, "I love you, Twilight, but I just need some time to... think." she felt a grave pit form in her stomach the moment it left her lips.
Twilight opened the door and looked at Rarity in a serious manner. With an intense breath, she asked, "What happened in Pearis, Rarity?"
Rarity froze, silent, mulling over each and every detail that could pour from her at any moment, but she suppressed the thoughts. She couldn't bear to see her friend completely crushed by the truth. So utterly devastated that she wouldn't be able to even stand the sight of her without breaking down into tears. She refused to let that happen. She couldn't tell her. Not yet. Maybe not ever.
Rarity opened her mouth and in an equally intense manner, let out, "Nothing," she paused for another second, affirming, "Nothing happened..."
The sound of the door closing as Twilight left was like a trigger, causing Rarity to double over in a bout of tears. The words echoed through her in crystal-clear detail like a hammer with each and every recollection, I love you, Rarity. She stayed slumped into the floor, crying, unable to bring herself to comfort.