//------------------------------//
// The Sunset Sonata, Pt6 
// Story: The Evening Sonata 
// by Daniel-Gleebits 
//------------------------------//

The Sunset Sonata: Pt 6


Sonata Dusk

The next morning saw something of a return of Sonata’s usual dizzy joy. Whilst she couldn’t be said to be entirely easy, the fact that Sunset had found out about the pills, and not abandoned her, or even seemed able to be mad at her, bred in Sonata a deep appreciation for what she had. To be sure, the problem of the paintings even now seemed insurmountable, but at least they had a plan. And Sonata found herself both hopeful and happy that Aria had decided to help them.
“Okay, I didn’t want to have to say it,” Sunset snickered as Sonata offered her the tray of breakfast, “but I think we might be taking this romance thing a little too far.”
“I don’t know what you mean,” Sonata said blithely, walking around the bed and sitting down.
“Breakfast in bed?” Sunset asked, giving Sonata a meaningful look. “Really?”
“You’re welcome!” Sonata trilled, giving Sunset a peck on the cheek. Sunset sighed in a tired sort of way, but looked amused. “It’s just a thank you.”
“For what? If you mean about the paintings, you know I wouldn’t just let you deal with everything yourself.”
“Well that, yeah,” Sonata admitted. “But also about the... you know, the pills...” She swallowed, her toes rubbing together uncomfortably.
“You want to thank me for... the pills?” Sunset asked, confused.
“No, I meant not getting angry about them.” Sonata waited for Sunset to reply, but she didn’t do so immediately.
“To be honest,” Sunset began, picking up her toast, “I was angry. I was scared, angry, and I really thought that I’d be so for a long time.” She took a bite of toast and looked at Sonata as she chewed. Sonata felt a chill. “Some part of me still is mad at you. That part of me doesn’t understand why you wouldn’t just talk to me instead of taking drugs to escape your problems.” Her expression softened a little. “But I guess the rest of me just loves you too much to stay mad. Besides,” she said, giving Sonata a playful shove, “you messing up does have some perks.” She waved the toast and took another bite. “Although, how it is you managed to burn the cereal I still don’t quite get,” Sunset observed, lifting some charred rice crispies out of the bowl with her spoon. Sonata gave a self conscious laugh. 
“Yeah, I misread the instructions,” she said evasively. She ignored the sceptical raised eyebrow Sunset was giving her. “Anyway, lets go and bug Aria for her story.”
“It’s only a quarter to seven in the morning,” Sunset protested before a thought seemed to strike her. “And you’re up. Who are you and what have you done with Sonata?”
“Ha ha,” Sonata said flatly. She leaned over quickly and bit Sunset’s toast from her hand. “I’ll have this back, thanks. I hope I put enough sugar in your coffee.”
Sunset was just taking a sip of said beverage when Sonata said this. It was perhaps fortunate that Sonata chose that moment to look out of the window, because as soon as Sunset’s lips touched the drink, she very nearly gagged.
“How much sugar did you put in this, exactly?” Sunset asked, conversationally. 
“Seven spoons,” Sonata said cheerfully.
“Is that how much you have in yours?” Sunset asked, aghast.
“Yeah. I heard somewhere that’s how many you’re supposed to have. At least I think it was,” she mumbled thoughtfully. “I know it was something to do with seven spoons of sugar. Oh well.”





It was with some little persuasion that Sunset convinced Sonata to visit Aria later in the day, but Sonata would not be confined to the house. Seeing as how Sonata had overlooked her own breakfast, and most of Sunset’s had been inadvertently inedible, Sunset suggested that they go out to breakfast instead.
“What was wrong with the one I made you?” Sonata asked defensively. 
“Nothing, dear,” Sunset said soothingly. “I’m still hungry though. And did you have anything?”
“I had some of your toast.”
“Exactly. Let’s go.”
They decided to show their patronage to a cafe that sat in between two large old shops near to their former apartment; a cafe they had both quite enjoyed. Sonata had still felt the trepidation of the days before, and was just beginning to feel better that morning, when something had to come along and bludgeon her mood right back into disgruntlement.
Against all odds, as though some cruel spirit of vengeance were stalking them, the one thing that could put a pin in Sonata’s growing good mood was sitting in the cafe. Fleur, the prospective girlfriend-thief herself, was sitting at the back of the cafe nearest to the counter, absently reading a magazine. And unfortunately, Sunset hadn’t noticed. 
Sunset sat down before Sonata could begin to point it out. “What’s up?” she asked. 
Sonata sat down as well and tried to lower herself in her seat, sure that Fleur would see her bright blue hair. Sunset followed her gaze.
“Oh, wow,” she said. “That is so creepy.”
“How does she keep following us like that?” Sonata hissed, hiding behind the menu. 
“Just going on a hunch,” Sunset muttered. “I don’t think she followed us. This time.”
They both watched as Fleur sat reading her magazine. Fleur had tried the going-out-in-less-ostentatious-attire thing before multiple times to avoid recognition, but she had still appeared stunning in her own way. Now, she seemed to be trying to cover up her beauty, which was a difficult thing to do, Sonata had to admit to herself. Her silky pink hair was tied back into a bun, which gave her the severe look of a school teacher. She wore a pair of reading glasses that Sonata was sure she didn’t need, an ugly ornamental summer scarf around her throat, and an old and ragged coat. She had also refrained from putting on some details of her make-up: her eyeliner, lipstick, and earrings were all absent.
“Keep down!” Sonata whispered urgently.
“Sonata, if she looks up, she’s going to notice us,” Sunset said baldly, pulling at a lock of her own hair. “It’s not like either of us are exactly low key.”
“Nyeh nyeh nyeh,” Sonata mocked, making mouth-movements with her hand. Sunset rolled her eyes. “Let’s go somewhere else.”
“Sonata, I’m not going to run away every time I see her,” Sunset said severely. “I’m not interested in her, and if she can’t see that, then she’s just going to be disappointed, isn’t she? Stop being so worried about it.”
Sonata fumed for a few moments before throwing herself back in her chair.
Despite what Sunset said, she couldn’t help glaring at Fleur the entire time they were there. Fleur drank coffee and ate some waffles, but she was so engrossed in her magazine that she took a long time to finish her meal. Before she was done, Sunset and Sonata both finished their own, and were at the front desk to pay.
“Oh for goodness sake,” Sonata grumbled as Fleur stood up and stuffed her magazine into her bag. Predictably, she looked up at that moment and saw the two of them. Sunset was busy paying and didn’t notice, but Sonata stood glaring at her, hoping that Fleur would take this as a hint to go away. Fleur looked disconcerted, and took a step back, as though afraid. Sonata blinked, wondering just how ferocious her glare could possibly be, when Fleur suddenly turned on her heel and made her way to the bathroom.
Sonata said nothing in regards to this, but was somewhat surprised by it. For a second she marvelled at her own fear-factor.
“Are you coming?” Sunset asked, holding the door open.
“Huh?” Sonata asked, turning around. “Oh, um, I’m just going to the bathroom first.”
“Okay,” Sunset replied. “I’ll be in Quills and Sofas across the road. I need a new stylus for my tablet.”
With much waving and smiling, Sonata waited for Sunset to leave the cafe before she moved cautiously towards the bathroom. A distinct shift in atmosphere came over Sonata as she approached the suddenly forbidding bathroom door. She didn’t know exactly why she was approaching Fleur on her own, but she felt like she should make her views and stance perfectly clear to Fleur. Preferably, she’d like to do it without Sunset around.
Pushing the door open, she hesitated as she saw Fleur at the bathroom mirror. She was fishing for something in her bag. When she looked up, she saw Sonata in the reflection, and gave a little sigh.
“Hello there,” she said cheerfully. “The stalls are all free.”
“Thanks,” Sonata muttered distractedly. “Err,” she began.
“You want to talk about something?” Fleur guessed. “Your charming girlfriend, I imagine.”
This sobered Sonata’s mood up a little. She closed the door and fixed Fleur with a more determined stare. “Yes.”
Fleur sighed again. “If you wish to dissuade me from continuing my advances on her, then I’m afraid this is going to be a rather fruitless discussion.” She gave Sonata a rueful smile. 
Sonata scowled. “Well you’d better stop it,” she snapped. “Sunset is with me. She’s mine. Go back to where you live and find someone there.”
“I do, darling,” Fleur replied, returning to the mirror for a moment. “I do. All of the time. I’m afraid that the Capital has an effect upon people, and it intrigues me to be interested in someone who is not tainted with that mindset.”
Sonata didn’t know what Fleur was talking about, but she wouldn’t let herself be distracted. “But why Sunset?” she growled.
“I find her attractive,” Fleur said simply, and shrugged, straightening her hair a little. “She is an attractive young woman. And you are as well,” she added kindly. “But she’s... what is the phrase? My type, you might say.”
Sonata was stumped. The lack of aggression from Fleur, in fact the frankly pleasant way in which she spoke was utterly disarming. Sonata felt no frictional confrontation coming from her, no implied challenge, nor any kind of negative feelings at all. It was as though they were both friendly competitors in some kind of sports event.
“What is this to you?” Sonata asked. “Do you want to keep her? Make her happy?”
Fleur looked around in surprise. “My my, what an adult thing to contemplate. If you’re serious.”
“I am serious!” Sonata barked. Her voice echoed around the bathroom. 
Fleur stared at her for a long while, her eyebrows slightly creased. “My word, you two are an unusual pair.” She snapped her bag shut. “You two are so young, I honestly have a hard time believing that anyone so caught up in their youth could be so serious about their relationship. Oh, don’t misunderstand me,” she said quickly, as Sonata colour rose. “Most people in relationships can be serious, if at first. But our first relationships in general aren’t the lasting ones.”
“Are you saying we won’t stay a couple?”
“To be honest, dear,” Fleur began with a somewhat sad smile, “it’s a lovely story when it happens, and when those involved are truly happy. But in reality, a lot of relationships are simply not made to last. We are human, and human beings’ feelings have a tendency to change as we grow.”
“I won’t stop loving Sunset,” Sonata said stubbornly. 
“I think that you might be missing my point, dear,” Fleur said, giving Sonata a somewhat pitying smile. She lifted her bag and moved towards the door, stopping in front of Sonata and giving her a kindly look. “What we feel may be different in a month, a year, or ten years time. Or may not change very much at all. We can only work in the here and now.” She put a hand on Sonata’s shoulder in a surprisingly comradely way. Sonata was so startled that she didn’t shrug her off. “I envy you, my beautiful nemesis, for knowing the love of Sunset Shimmer.” She paused here. “My my, that was rather overdramatic wasn’t it. The theatre never leaves you, I suppose.” She chuckled a little at this and moved towards the door.
Sonata hesitated a moment, and then turned quickly before Fleur left.
“Fleur?” 
“Hm?” Fleur asked, looking back.
“How many...” Sonata paused, and then pressed on. “How many girlfriends have you had?”
Fleur blinked. She seemed to not have expected the question. “Three,” she said. “I’m not with any of them at the moment though, if that’s your concern.”
“Three?” Sonata asked, unable to hide a note of incredulity. 
“Yes.” Fleur said, serenely.
“And do you... did you love them?”
“Certainly,” Fleur said sombrely. “And to some degree I still do. I’m on fairly good terms with all three of them.”
“Oh.” Sonata said, flatly. 
“Yes, I never was one for resenting my exes,” she tittered a little. “We’re on very cordial terms, and one or two of them still like to spend time with me once in a while.” 
When it seemed that Sonata had nothing more to say, Fleur exited, leaving Sonata to contemplate her words.





It was clear that she and Fleur had had a different view of what relationships were. Once again, Sonata felt the almost overwhelming sense of maturity and awareness of the world that Fleur possessed; the flexible, adaptable personality that seemed so unorthodox to Sonata. Ex-girlfriends on good terms, who still spent time with her, whatever that meant. Sonata blushed a little to herself as she thought just what that might mean.
The most frightening thing, however, was Sonata’s awareness of how easy it would be to like Fleur. Had she not been trying to take her girlfriend, of course. She was just so pleasant and affable. She had an infectious kind of friendly charisma that just made it hard for Sonata to regard her in an adversarial light. 
“Maybe that’s what she wants,” she muttered to herself, frowning.
“Huh?” Sunset asked. “Did you say something?”
“What? Oh, no, nothing,” Sonata said with a grin. “Just mumbling to myself.”
“Well okay then.” Sunset raised her eyebrow curiously, but said nothing more about it. “Anyway, it’s about nine now. We can go see Aria if you want to.”
Sonata gave her ready assent to the idea, wanting to go back to her thoughts. Despite the fairly lengthy walk from the cafe and Quills and Sofas to the rehabilitation clinic, Sonata came to no further conclusion on the subject. Fleur seemed utterly transparent and clear in what she wanted, and drive her mind though she might, Sonata couldn’t find any ulterior motive, no secret meaning or desire. The problem with this was that this meant that their conflict really would just come down to the two of them fighting over Sunset’s affections, and whilst Sonata was perfectly confident in Sunset’s affection towards her, she still felt the deep discomfort of having someone hitting on her girlfriend. Friendly though Fleur might be about the whole thing, the fact was that they were rivals, and such niceties between them were utterly meaningless in the pursuit of their respective goals.
Sonata didn’t like this conclusion much. She looked at Sunset sideways for a little while as they walked together along the gate dividing the park from the street. On an impulse, she interlaced her fingers into Sunset’s own, taking gentle hold of her hand. Sunset seemed momentarily surprised, but smiled and gripped Sonata’s hand back. Sonata needed that pressure at that moment. 





“Geez, guys,” Aria yawned. “Give a girl a morning to herself, why can’t you?”
Sonata snorted. She hadn’t lived with Aria for so long that she had forgotten how unkempt she was in the mornings. She herself was not prone to instantly getting up and doing all the thousand and one things women do to make themselves ready for the day until she had had breakfast, but she did at least tie her hair back and wipe the drool from her face. Aria’s rat’s nest threw her bi-coloured hair into a tangle of green and purple that looked like crossed wires, and the silvery streak across her face suggested that she hadn’t looked in a mirror yet. Sonata wondered idly if whether she tried to brush Aria’s hair, it might explode if she accidentally untangled the wrong colour.
“Sonata wanted to come and see you as soon as she got up,” Sunset said, trying to repress a smile. Evidently she found Aria’s untidy appearance funny too. 
Aria set down her half-finished bowl of cereal on her bed, and patted down her pyjamas. “Well, I suppose you’re here about the story.”
“Partly,” Sonata said eagerly. “Is it done?”
Aria grinned, and held up a small pile of double-sided typed paper, flashing it at them. “Is it done?” she mimicked. “Who do you think I am?”
Sonata wanted to see it first, but Aria offered it to Sunset, who flipped through the pages. Sonata watched her face eagerly, but Sunset’s expression gave no inkling of her thoughts. After a few moments, she looked up at Aria. She didn’t say anything initially, but Aria just nodded.
“I knew it wouldn’t be your kind of thing,” she said airily. 
Sonata took it and began to read.
“I’ve seen some of your other stories,” Sunset began. “I wasn’t expecting something like... um... well, that.”
Aria nodded again, smirking a little. “Oh how little you understand,” she said, patting Sunset’s head. Sunset narrowed her eyes disapprovingly whilst Aria just laughed at her. “When writing, it’s important to know who your audience is going to be. Whilst one should never cater to a demographic if you’re going to maintain your self-respect, you should always be mindful of them. They are your judges.”
“Who said that?” Sunset asked.
Aria seemed puzzled by the question. “I did.”
“No, I mean, who are you quoting?”
Aria frowned. “No one.”
“Oh.” 
Sonata peered surreptitiously over the top of the paper she was reading, trying to hide her smile. She watched as Sunset’s face flushed uncomfortably, and Aria’s eyes grew cold.
“What?” Aria demanded.
“It’s just... that was rather profound, I thought.” Sunset tugged at a lock of her hair, not meeting Aria’s eyes.
“Last time I do anyone a favour,” Aria huffed. “If you think I’m stupid.”
“I don’t!” Sunset said hastily. “It was just a misunderstanding!”
“Hmph!” 
“Don’t be so sensitive, Aria,” Sonata interjected, feeling she should come to her girlfriend’s defence at last.
“I’m not sensitive!” Aria snapped without thinking. She flushed as well as she realised how contradictory that statement and action was. “Give that back!” she lunged for the papers, but Sonata pulled it back out of reach.
“Ah-ah!” Sonata warned, wagging a finger. “Not done.”
“You don’t get to read it now!” Aria sneered, reaching passed Sonata’s restraining arm.
“It’s too late,” Sonata laughed, holding the papers up. “I’m already reading it!”
“Rrr!” Aria cried, but even she was grinning now. She made a show of giving up her attempt and held up her hands as though she no longer cared. “Fine, whatever.”
“And so Whiskers stood a top the glass peak of the doomed skyscraper,” Sonata read aloud. “And he knew that he had only one hope for survival. And he must survive. He must return. For his home, his country, his children, were lost should he perish here. You mis-spelled atop there.” 
“Yoink!”
Sonata, expecting a renewed attack from the front, was caught entirely off-guard when Aria feinted that way before diving around the back, where Sonata’s retreating arm practically gave her the papers. Aria danced backwards as Sonata made a lunge for them.
“I wasn’t finished!” Sonata complained.
“Too bad,” Aria cackled. “I wrote it, it’s mine, and you ain’t havin’ it now!”
“Yoink,” Sunset said matter-of-factly, tugging the papers out of Aria’s hand.
Aria blinked. “Hey now,” she said feebly, “double-teaming is against the rules.”
“Oh my,” Sunset said, grinning.
“Fine, take them,” Aria cried, flailing her arms in the air. “I don’t care.”
“Thanks, sis,” Sonata said earnestly, catching Aria in a hug from behind. Aria rolled her eyes and gave a loud sigh, but didn’t throw her off. She did seem a little surprised when Sunset caught both of them in a larger hug though.
“Err... can we stop... whatever this is?” she mumbled through two pairs of limbs.
“No, you like it,” Sonata giggled, beaming.
“And I just like making things awkward,” Sunset added mischievously. 
Aria sighed. “Okay, okay, hugs and loves for everyone,” she groaned as they both let go. “Now get out of my room. I’ve got some blood and gore films to watch. All this lovey-dovey is giving me diabetes.”





Sunset and Sonata returned home with renewed humour each. Sonata had entirely forgotten how much she enjoyed having her sisters around to mess around with. True, sometimes there had been a little more implied violence than she would have preferred, but Adagio at least had always stepped in to stop things before they got too serious. And it wasn’t like either of them could have done any real harm to each other whilst they were sirens anyway.
“I’m going to watch Doctor Whooves,” Sunset said, sitting heavily on the sofa. “Want to join?”
“Maybe later,” Sonata said, still holding the papers. “I want to finish this first.”
Sunset looked at the story askance. “No offense, but I didn’t think it looked too good.”
“I know the kinds of stories you like,” Sonata said sagely. “This wouldn’t appeal to you. But it’s adventure enough for me. She wrote it with me in mind after all.”
Sunset nodded, a little impressed. “That’s clever. Well as long as it works for you. I’m going to work a little then and we can watch the new episode later.”
“Are you still doing Flim and Flam’s accounting?” Sonata asked, suddenly realising she didn’t know.
“Yeah. And their website too.” She repressed a grin. “What colours should their background be this week?”
“They let you make that decision?”
“No.” Sunset smiled pleasantly.
Sonata grinned.





Sunset’s work couldn’t have been terribly extensive, as she arrived upstairs in Sonata’s work room when Sonata had only just finished the first preliminary sketch.
“Err... what is that he’s riding?” Sunset asked, carefully.
“An oviraptor,” Sonata explained.
Sunset stood for a moment, her hand to her mouth. She narrowed her eyes, then opened her mouth, and then closed it again. Then she made a half-hearted gesture with her hand and opened her mouth again. She paused.
“Do you...” she made a considering sort of sound in her throat. “Do you think he... should be riding an oviraptor? Isn’t he supposed to be a historical figure?”
Sonata considered that for a moment. “Yes,” she admitted slowly.
“I only mention it,” Sunset said in an off-hand voice, “because I don’t think oviraptors were around at the same time this guy was.”
Sonata considered this as well. “I suppose,” she mumbled. “I think maybe Aria was going for some artistic licence in that scene.”
“I think so too,” Sunset said kindly. “He probably did ride a horse though.”
“Less exciting, but doable,” Sonata conceded. “How’s that?” she asked, after erasing a few features and adding the likeness of a horse. 
Sunset kissed her on the cheek. “Wonderful, dear,” she said a little patronisingly. Sonata gave her a shove. “What exactly is going on, anyway?” Sunset asked, surveying the scene.
“A battle charge,” Sonata explained. “See, in Aria’s story, this guy is a heroic general who lost his position to the emperor’s son, who thought he was trying to take the throne from him, so he murders the guy’s family and exiles him, but he manages to work his way into the army again under a different name because this enemy country let him infiltrate the kingdom in order to destablisie—“
“Yes, yes,” Sunset said quellingly. “I’m sure it’s very interesting.”
Sonata pouted for a second or two over this, but then returned to her work. And her work was going surprisingly well. With the imaginative scenes she had formed in her own head from Aria’s story, she was able to create scenes as well as she was usually able to, and still fit Hoity’s criteria. Mostly.
Even their friends thought so, as they visited the house.
“It’s quite a scene,” Rarity said delicately, looking at the half-finished painting.
“Looks totally boss!” Rainbow Dash announced approvingly. “Hey Rarity, could you make me some armour like that?” she asked, pointing at a cuirassier galloping in the foreground.
“I’m a fashion designer, Rainbow Dash,” Rarity pointed out flatly. “Not a black smith.”
“I don’t see why you’re looking at me like that, Rainbow,” Applejack asked with narrowed eyes. Rainbow looked hastily away, blowing out her cheeks innocently.
“Well anyway,” Rainbow said quickly, “since all of you guys are here, I have to tell you something.”
“You’re finally going to give me back my pen you borrowed in math class?” Rarity guessed.
“You’re going to buy me that milkshake you owe me?” Applejack suggested, smirking.
“You found Tank a playmate?” Fluttershy said hopefully.
“Okay, stop.” Rainbow raised her hands, annoyed. “First, I gave you that pen back.”
“Didn’t,” Rarity whispered, folding her arms.
“Secondly, I know about the milkshake, okay?” Applejack smiled smugly. “Thirdly, yes I did get him a playmate, but that’s not the thing I have to tell you guys.”
Fluttershy made a gleeful little sound and hugged herself a little as Sunset asked the question Rainbow was longing for one of them to ask. “So what do you want to tell us?”
Rainbow smiled a little more smugly than Applejack had managed, holding her head high. “You might have all noticed that I’ve not been around as much as usual.”
“Not really,” Applejack said, shrugging. “I always assume you’re just napping when you’re not around.”
Rainbow Dash rewarded her with a dark glare. “Actually, I’ve been training in skydiving.” 
This had the effect that she’d evidently been hoping for. Pinkie and Sonata made identical sounds of “Ooooh!” like Dee Dee from Dexter’s Laboratory. Rarity and Fluttershy both looked flabbergasted at the notion, whilst Applejack and Sunset looked at each other as though wondering if they’d heard correctly.
“For real?” Sunset asked, in a tone that made Sonata think she thought Rainbow was joking.
“For real,” Rainbow confirmed. “I told you already Sunset.”
“Well yeah, but you didn’t tell me that you were going to be skydiving. I thought you’d just be at the ceremony.”
“Oh I am. In a parachute. Jumping from a plane. With Soarin and Spitfire!” She gave a squeal of delight and hopped on the spot for a little bit before realising where she was. She coughed, her cheeks turning a little red. “So, yeah. That’s a thing.”
“But Dash!” Pinkie complained. “Why didn’t you tell me about this sooner? I can parachute just fine!”
“Pinkie, this event is for Wonderbolts and Academy students,” Rainbow explained, trying to detach Pinkie’s clutching hands from her arm.
“Well...” Pinkie growled. “We’ll see about that...”





Unfortunately, it wasn’t just their friends who were visiting over the following days leading up to the show. Although she had done it before now, Fleur had taken it upon herself to pay them visits to their house with greater frequency. Sonata could only suppose that since both she and Sunset were staying in a little more in recent days, Fleur didn’t have so many opportunities to talk to Sunset. This was particularly annoying because Sonata hated leaving Sunset and Fleur alone whenever the supermodel visited, but had to work almost continuously on her paintings.
And if that wasn’t annoying enough, Fleur’s little tag-on. Photo Finish, probably having used more data than the entire school’s population of mobile-phoners, was still filming and taking pictures of everything Fleur and Fancy Pants did. Sunset had often wondered aloud to Sonata how her mom, Photo Shop, could not notice what Photo Finish was doing. Even now, As Sunset and Fleur sat chatting together across the coffee table, Photo Finish was seated on the couch next to Sonata, perched forward and staring between them. Sonata found it a little disturbing how anyone could find something so mundane so enthralling. She longed to go upstairs and paint.
“Zat sounds vonderful!” Photo Finish said eagerly, when Sonata told Sunset where she was going. “A first-hand look at ze potentially new flames of ze fashion vurld.”
“She promised you could follow her around,” Sonata snapped, pointing at Fleur. “Not us.”
“Vell zat vas rude,” Photo Finish muttered indignantly, as Sonata stormed upstairs.
“She’s just feeling the pressure,” Sunset said apologetically. “It’s making her a little cranky.”
And despite the fact that this was only said to placate Photo Finish, there was a grain of truth to it.





“Sorry,” Sonata said that night as they got ready for bed.
“It’s no problem,” Sunset answered. “You’ve had a lot to deal with. And with Fleur coming to the house all the time...”
“I don’t want to give Fancy Pants a bad impression,” Sonata sighed, slipping off her shirt and tossing it in the laundry basket. “But sometimes I really do want to kick her out of the house.” She mimed booting someone’s backside.
“I know, and you bear it patiently.” Sunset touched her arm comfortingly. “You really don’t have to sit down with us every time, you know. Nothing she can say is going to make me interested in her. If anything her constant attention is starting to desensitise me to her.”
Sonata smiled to hear that. Sunset looked encouraged by this reaction and stepped forward so they were intimately close. One hand at Sonata’s back, the other interlaced into her hair, the kiss was long and full of meaning. When they broke apart, Sunset gestured to the bed.
Sonata wasn’t sure how kosher it was to have such thoughts, but she appreciated the summer months for it being too warm to exactly wear pyjamas, even with air conditioning. Underwear was the most either of them could manage. As she shuffled up next to Sunset and insinuated her arm around her middle, she could almost imagine her problems melt away against the warmth of Sunset’s bare, golden skin.
Almost.


- To be Continued