As I woke up the next morning, I looked at myself in the mirror. My hair, which was dirty blond streaked with red, was a mess. Rubbing the sleep out of my teal blue eyes, I made my way out of bed to the living room to see if Sonata was still sleeping there. I prayed she hadn't left under the cover of darkness. To my relief, she was still there, apparently sleeping peacefully. With an eased conscience, I walked back to my room to put on some fresh clothes and freshen myself up some. When my outfit was put on and my hair combed, I returned to the kitchen to cook some breakfast before I woke Sonata up.
"Sonata, wake up. I made us some breakfast," I said, lightly shaking her so I wouldn't scare her first thing in the morning!
As she woke and sat up on the couch, I brought in a breakfast plate and sat down next to her. I had cooked up a meal of pancakes, toast, and scrambled eggs. Sonata nodded in acceptance of the food.
"Did you sleep well last night?" I asked her as she slowly began to eat her breakfast.
"A little, but I-" she coughed into her elbow "-don't feel so well." I was a little surprised by the fact. She had looked so peaceful earlier! Maybe I hadn't paid close enough attention. That again, I did thought she might end up like this before I went to sleep though.
"You might have a cold or fever from sleeping outside next to the dumpster all night," I suggested, resting back of my hand on her forehead.
Sure enough, she had a fever, but I couldn't tell how high it was. My guess, since it didn't seem like she was burning up, it was a slight fever, only 100 or 101 degrees.
"I think you might have a slight fever," I told her my guess as I brought my hand away from her. Sonata only nodded at the news, then continued to eat.
I waited till we were finished eating before taking both our plates back to the kitchen. When I returned, Sonata was redoing her hair into a ponytail.
Is she still trying to leave? I thought, looking at her.
"How 'bout you rest here? A good rest should help your fever," I suggested.
"I can't," she replied in a hollow, sad tone. "You were already nice enough to let me stay here for the night."
"Why not?" Now I looked at her, a questioning look plain on my face. Sonata didn't give any response. She just looked down at her hands.
"Why were those girls attacking you yesterday, than?" The question popped into my mind, and I was sure it would help me understand her situation some, since it didn't look like I would get an answer to my last question.
"Because I hurt them," she explained, her tone full of sorrow. "Not just them, but I hurt a lot of people." Even through her sorrowful tone, her voice didn't quiver.
I was rather taken aback by her response. Sonata didn't look like the type who would intentionally hurt someone.
"A lot? How many people did you hurt?" I asked gently.
"I don't know how many," she answered, coughing a little bit more. The way she looked at me as she did so, told me she didn't want to talk about her issues. I took her coughing as a sign to get up and get her some medicine. I brought back some medicine pills and a glass of water.
"Sonata, you're sick right now, and you said yourself, you don't have any place to go. Why don't you stay here?" I questioned as I handed her the medicine. Once more, Sonata didn't say anything. She just accepted the medicine, than look at me with her sad and hopeless eyes.
"Are you sure you don't mind me staying here? I don't have anything to offer you in return," she told me.
Seeing she was trying to avoid the question I had just asked, I continued on like I didn't notice.
"I don't mind at all." I sat down beside her again. "Plus, I would feel terrible if I let you go back out on the streets after this." Or ever. Sonata gave me a nod of understanding before swallowing the pills and drinking her water after it.
"Umm Blitz, is it okay if I borrow some spare clothes to use and take a shower." She asked when I returned from putting the cup in the sink. My eyes traveled down to her fingers, fiddling around with the strings of her hoodie.
"S-sure," I answered. "I don't know if I have any spare clothes to fit a girl though."
"I just need something to sleep in, that's all." She said, with what I thought was a hint of blush on her face.
Nodding, I went to my room to fetch her some spare clothes. After a bit of searching around, I found a decent looking blue jersey shirt and black shorts. My mind than follow up on underwear for her, but as quickly as that came to me, the quicker I was to dismiss it. Stopping by the hallway closet, I also grabbed a pair of towels and a bar of soap for her.
I saw Sonata waiting for me by the bathroom door. Bring the items out, I looked at Sonata’s clothes, just seeing how dirty they truly was. "Oh, Sonata, leave your clothes in the basket. I will wash them for you, when you get out." I said to her, handing her the clothes, bar of soap and towels. Sonata nodded as she went to go take her shower. I silently waited for her in the living room. While I did, I noticed Sonata's blanket was rather dirty.
After half an hour, Sonata walked back into the living room, now all clean and wearing fresh clothes.
"Hey Sonata, how about you sleep off your fever in my room while I wash these blankets." I told her, lifting the dirty blanket.
"You sure that's okay?" She asked.
"Yeah I'm sure, it's better to rest in a bed then on a couch anyways." Sonata look at the couch, then at me. Noticing I wasn't going to let her argue on it, Sonata sighed and went to my room. When Sonata left, I went to retrieve her clothes from the bathroom. I looked down into the basket where Sonata left her clothes.
This raggedy outfit will need a lot more than just a cleaning. Sonata was going to need some new clothes. Maybe I should take her to Carousel Boutique when she wakes up and feeling better. I thought as I took both her clothes and blanket to be washed.
***
Sonata woke up several hours later. When she came in through the hallway, she was looking way more refreshed than she had when I had brought her back home.
"Are you feeling any better now?" I asked, looking away from my laptop and up at her. I hopefully assumed the answer was yes.
"Yes, and thank you for helping me out," She responded, returning my gaze with a grateful smile. Even with that reassurance, I could see in her eyes that she was still having some type of trouble.
"Here are your clothes, there all clean now," I said, passing her the neatly folded clothes, "but you're going to need some new ones, since those are your only pair. I know a clothing shop that would be nice to go to."
I thought Sonata might try to oppose it or say something like, "You don't need to buy me anything," but she didn't. Sonata said nothing, she just nodded and left for the bathroom to change clothes. After she had changed clothes, we left the apartment and headed to the Carousel Boutique.
***
As we entered the Carousel Boutique, the bells above the door jingled, signaling our arrival.
"Rarity!?" I called as I looked around for her, seeing if she was here.
The store itself was neat and tidy with mannequins on either side of the building. The clothes here were custom-made by Rarity for any customers that order it. She also had some put-together she put out to greet her customers. From shopping with my sister, I knew Rarity kept lessers wear in the back for customs who were just clothes shopping
"Oh, hello darling! What can I help you with today? Oh! Would you like a new sweater or another hoodie, perhaps?" Rarity asked, with a cheerful joking smile.
"Hello, Rarity," I responded. "No thanks. I don't need a new hoodie or sweater. I prefer the one I'm already wearing."
I looked down at the hoodie I was wearing, another example of Rarity's fine craftsmanship. The hoodie was a nice white color, with an icon of three fireballs moving at high speed in a ‘Z’ formation on both the front and back.
"Actually," I continued, "I came because my friend here need some new clothes. She doesn't have any other clothes at the moment." I stepped aside, bringing Sonata into full view.
"No other clothes?" Rarity question, now looking at me curiously.
"Yeah, no other clothes," I confirmed, not feeling the need to bring up Sonata’s problem.
Rarity took one look at her and rushed over. Her fashion sense must have been going off at the sight of Sonata's tattered clothes.
"Oh darling, do you mind removing your hood so I can get a better look at you?" Rarity asked Sonata with an eager, cheerful smile.
Beneath her hood, I could see Sonata's magenta eyes widen. She began to move slowly back towards me, like she had just seen a terrible monster.
"Do you mind removing your hood for me?" Rarity asked again. "I can't get you any suitable outfits without first knowing what you fully look like!"
Sonata looked at me, a fearful expression in her eyes. I wasn't sure what the problem was, but I knew Rarity was harmless. I gave her a nod of encouragement. Sonata's glance was redirected to the ground, as if she was ashamed. Slowly, she brought her hood down while keeping her eyes to the ground. Her blue ponytail sprang up. Rarity's blue eyes went round with shock, surprise, and confusion.
"Oh my!" Rarity now taking in the sight before her.
"Rarity? What's wrong?" I asked, surprised by her reaction.
"What happened to you?" She ignored me and asked Sonata a question. Her tone of voice was laced with worry and caution.
"Rarity, do you know her?" I asked, staring at Sonata.
"I suppose so, though not on good terms," She replied. Placing a gentle hand on Sonata's shoulder, she began, "Darling, why don't you sit-" Before she could finish her sentence, Sonata jerked away from Rarity's grasp. Rarity straightened herself up and looked away.
"I can understand that reaction." She sighed. "What happened to her?" She asked me, her gaze flickering from me to Sonata and back again.
"I don't really know what happened to Sonata here," I replied, still looking at Sonata, wondering if she would ever fill in the details. "All I know is that she was homeless when I met her, and I saved her from two girls who was assaulting her."
"WHAT?!" Rarity shrieked, her eyes growing huge. After several moments, she calmed herself down and recollected herself.
"How could they do such a cruel thing?" She asked, walking back to get something. Sonata and I waited where we were until Rarity returned, bringing with her some tea for Sonata and I.
"Please, will you tell me everything that has happened since you met her?" She asked, her expression a thick mixture of sadness and pity.
"There's not much to tell," I answered after taking a sip of my tea. "Sonata was homeless when I met her out behind the school. The next day, I saved her from two girls who were tormenting her, mostly verbally, and I invited her to stay with me since she say she apparently has no where to go." As I spoke, the memories of Sonata behind the school swept through my mind. Rarity furrowed her brow, looking confused.
"Poor dear," she responded, trying to rub Sonata on the back. Sonata tensed up, but she didn't pull away. "What about her sisters?" Rarity asked, looking up at me. "Were they there too? Are they okay?"
"Her... sisters?" I asked in disbelief, looking at Sonata for an explanation. Sonata's look of wariness morphed into a stone hard poker face, like the mention of her sisters was something she didn't want to think, or talk about.
"I don't know, I didn't know she had any sis-" Sonata dropped her tea on the floor. Her hands was shaking. Rarity and I took this as a sign to leave this subject alone.
"I'll clean that up," Rarity mentioned, pursing her lips. I nodded. Sonata made no movement.
"Anyway," I continued as Rarity began to wipe the floor, "can you get her some clothes? Sonata needs some casual wear and something to sleep in."
"Oh yes, I'm terribly sorry about that! Let me see what I have for you." Rarity threw out the paper towels she used to clean the floor and gingerly pulled Sonata to the back of the store.
As she and Sonata began to try out clothes, I pulled out my phone to check my messages. I wouldn't be much of a help for the next hour.
***
"Thank you so much, Rarity. Sonata needed this. How much will this be?" I asked, taking out my wallet.
"Don't worry darling, it's on the house." Rarity told me, not taking her eyes off Sonata. "I do feel somewhat responsible for her condition, you know."
"Responsible? How so?" I asked, more surprised then stunned. Rarity pondered this for a few seconds, looking at the clock, wondering what to say.
"I don't feel this is my place to say why," she finally replied regretfully. "It might be better if we talked about this with the rest of my friends, the Rainbooms, at Sugarcube Corner after I close shop."
"The Rainbooms?"
"Oh yes, my band. We're all responsible and some way," Rarity explained.
I figured this was a good idea. I'd get answers as to why Sonata was so needy and why those girls had bullied her.
"Sonata, is this alright with you?" I asked her. Sonata didn't seem to reject the invite. She just stood next to me, her hoodie back on, looking at the floor. "You'll be closing your shop in two hours right? We'll meet you at Sugarcube Corner then," I said, looking back at Sonata, who still hadn't said a word.
"Would you mind meeting me back here?" Rarity suggested. "It would be best if I arrived with you instead of letting you two come by yourself." She passed a regretful glance at Sonata before returning to her work.
"Okay then. We'll meet you back here. Bye, Rarity," I said, before turning around and walking out the door.
I had never seen Rarity so saddened before, and as we walked back, Sonata seemed even more distanced.
Why does Rarity need her friends with her to tell me? I wondered as we walked.