The floor of Twilight's bedroom was covered in her own clothes. Jeans, blouses, and skirts were scattered across the room, most of them had been there for weeks by now. There was a bunch of used socks piled on top of each other on a corner of the room, the one opposite to her bed.
There was a weird-looking box on the night table, along with her glasses, her star hairpin, and her cell phone. The box had several cables and resistors sticking out of it. On the top had a bicycle bell and series of multicolored lights, all of them were on, except for the one that was all the way to the right, it was clearly an alarm clock. Twilight had build it all by herself as a school project when she was nine, needless to say, she got the highest score. Since that day this had been one of her favorite inventions, so she brought it with her when she moved into her new apartment.
Spike the dog laid on the bed next to Twilight, his snores were the only audible thing on the entire apartment. Then, the final light on the clock turned on, and suddenly the bicycle bell started ringing. That alarm marked the end of Twilight´s dream, but her eyes were already opened. As every single day since two months ago she had been awake a couple hours before the sunrise. The alarm only meant that it was time to get up and ready for school.
Twilight let out a grunt, rubbed her eyes, and with very little strength she leaved the bed. She dragged her feet to the closet while ignoring the alarm. She picked up one of the blue shirts from her old uniform to replace her “night t-shirt”, as she called it, along with a pair of her favorite purple socks and a new set of underwear. As every single night for the last week she had fallen asleep with her skirt on, so she didn't bothered to pick new one for today.
She tossed the clean clothes on the bed, then alarm stopped ringing, and all of the lights on top of it went off at the same time. With another grunt, Twilight sat on the bed next to her clean clothes.
"Spike... wake up," she whispered.
His ears immediately responded to the sound of Twilight's voice by getting up in a cartoonish way.
“Huh?”
“I have to get dressed, Spike.”
“Yeah… i know,” he said while stretching. “I'll wait for you in the kitchen.”
Spike shook from side to side for a couple seconds, and then jumped out of the bed. “Don't take too long.”
Twilight waited for him to leave the room, then a couple of extra seconds just to make sure he wasn't around anymore. She then removed her “night t-shirt” and the skirt she was already wearing, she changed underwear, and got dressed for school. She did all of it in complete darkness, for as every single day the curtains remained closed, she couldn't even remember the last time they weren't, in fact, she might have closed them since their first day on the apartment.
She let out a yawn as she rubbed her eyes and got up very slowly. She walked to the night table, being careful to not trip with the clothes scattered on the ground, and took her glasses, cleaned them up using only her breath and her shirt, verified they were actually clean, and finally she put them on.
The girl walked out of the bedroom while playing with her hairpin, she dragged her feet through the hallway past the bathroom and past the door to her “laboratory”, which in reality was no more than the spare bedroom that accommodated all the equipment she used to keep at Crystal Prep.
Spike was already at the breakfast bar in front of a bowl with his name on it, he had poured at least three cans of his favorite brand of food on it. Twilight walked into the kitchen while tying her hair and with the hairpin on the mouth, she looked rather silly. Once she finished putting everything in place she opened the fridge and took out the milk.
"So… how did you sleep, Twi?" asked Spike while chewing his food.
She continued to walk towards the kitchen cabinets without even acknowledging his best friend.
"Twi?"
She opened the cabinet, took a glass out of it and closed it again.
"Twilight!"
She jumped out in the air, and almost dropped the glass.
"Huh? Wha... What?"
Spike took a break from his attack to the bowl and locked his eyes into hers. "Are you feeling ok, Twilight?"
"Huh? Yes," she said. "Yes, of course".
She walked very slowly to the bar and sat on the stool next to Spike.
"You don't look ok, are you sick? Are your new classes too easy? Is someone giving you troubles at the school? Because if they are… just tell me who is it and i will take care of him."
"What? No! Gosh no!" Twilight glanced at him in surprise. "Are you serious? Canterlot High is the nicest place I've ever seen. Sunset and the girls are amazing, everyone is. I've never had real friends, besides you, of course. Even the rest of the school seems to like each other."
"Well, what is it then?" asked Spike.
She filled her glass to the top with milk, and immediately drank out of it for a solid four seconds, she drank almost all of it in just that one chug that ended with an audible sigh.
"I... i don't know. Well, i think i do, but i'm not quite sure yet."
"What does that mean? Are you having troubles with a science thing, or what?"
"Not, really. Well, yeah... i guess it is," she paused for a few seconds and looked him in the eyes. "It's really complicated, you don't want to hear the details, just don't worry."
"Do you need any help?” Spike squinted his eyes and raised an eyebrow. “I mean, i might not be as smart as you, but i you know you can always count on me, even if it's only as a test subject, like the time you made a vaccine for my fleas, remember?"
"No, it's not like that, this is just a personal project. Don't worry about it, Fluttershy has been helping me out, she's really sweet."
"I know, right? Every Monday she brings me special vanilla treats from the shelter she works in, they're amazing!"
"Yeah..." said Twilight, as she filled her glass again. "I don't know what i would do without her help."
Once again she chugged the whole thing down on a hurry, then cleaned the remains of milk on her lips.
"Anyway, just finish your food. I'll got get my tie and vest," she said
Canterlot High was just six block away from their new apartment, so she and Spike walked there together, just as every single day since Twilight got transferred. They both kept silent for most the trip, today Twilight didn't had desires to have a one-sided conversation with Spike, since he was not allowed to speak out in public. Every time they went outside he had to behave like a normal dog, Twilight had asked him to, he would only talk around people that already knew his secret, which was really hard for Spike to keep if she wasn't around him all the time, as he loved the sound of his own voice a bit too much. Fortunately for Twilight this gave her some time alone with her own mind, the more time she had, the quickest she would solve her problem. Or at least that's how she saw it.
"Twilight, darling!"
They were already on the fourth block when Rarity's voice surprised them. She waved at them from the other side of the street and runned towards them.
"Oh! Hi Rarity, good morning," said Twilight.
Rarity approached Twilight and greeted her with a friendly kiss on the cheek, to which she blushed a little. "Good morning to you, Twilight."
Spike jumped into rarity's arms while barking, his tail shaking in excitement, and attempted to lick her face.
"No, Spike. No licking," she complained, backing away from him. "I'm also happy to see you, but i just put on my makeup."
"Sorry..." he whispered.
"So... what are you doing around here, Rarity?" asked Twilight, still with some red on her cheeks. "I thought you came to school from the east side of the city."
"Well yes that's right, but today i had to pick up some needles for my sewing machine, they just keep breaking, you know?" she said while pointing to the backpack on her back. "I just bought them, so i guess we can walk to school together, shall we?"
"Sure, i would love to," said Twilight.
Rarity took her by the arm and pulled her closer to her body. "Let's go."
They both walked down the street, Spike in front of them minding his own business, since he knew he had to be silent. He liked to count the cars passing by, not because he find fun, but it was just an old habit of his.
Meanwhile, at his back, Rarity had taken Twilight's arm hostage, making the former antisocial girl somewhat uncomfortable. They were too close to each other for Twilight to not acknowledge it, she could even smell her friend's expensive perfume. As if that wasn't enough, Rarity was keeping Twilight's arm too close to her body, enough for them to feel each other's heat, which was already starting to climb by Twilight's imprisoned limb, very slowly creeping to her elbow, and all the way up to her neck.
“So… what was that about the needles?” she asked, trying to keep her head cool.
“Oh yes, well there's really not much to it,” said Rarity. “My sewing machine won't stop breaking them, it even happened twice yesterday!”
“Really? How long are those things supposed to last?”
“Well, certainly more than a few hours, that's for sure.”
“Are you buying cheap ones?”
“What? No way. Those are anything but cheap,” said Rarity, almost taking offence since she would never cheap out on her passion. “I'm thinking there might be a problem with the machine itself, you know?”
“It probable,” said Twilight, adjusting her glasses with her free hand.
“The thing is... right now i can't spare the time to go get it fixed. I guess i'll have to keep buying needles,” she said with a sigh. “I'm sorry, just listen to me complaining about everything. Why don't you tell me about your morning? I'm sure i almost bored you to death.”
“No, not at all,” Twilight assured her with a nod. “You know… I'm thinking, maybe, if you want me to, i can take a look at you.”
“Excuse me?” she said, raising an eyebrow.
“I… I mean take a look at it for you, at your sewing machine. I might be able to fix it,” said Twilight while sweating bullets. “I've never fixed one before, but i'm pretty good with machines, i just know my way around them so i could do it. Only if if you want, of course. I'm only trying to be helpful.”
“Are you serious? That will be amazing!”
“Just send me a text with the model and brand, ok? I'll see it when i get home.”
“You are my hero!” yelled Rarity while hugging Twilight's imprisoned arm, putting it closer to her chest.
The red color returned to Twilight as her limb was pulled once again, invading Rarity's personal space. Rarity just continued walking, she didn't seemed to care that they were rubbing each others bodies, nor that she had pulled her arm extremely close to the side of her own chest. Twilight was now burning red, she was basically groping her friend.
She wanted bury her face on her palms and run back home. Today she just wished for it to stop, she wanted it as much as every single day since those inappropriate feeling first crossed her mind.
Groups of students were gathered in front of Canterlot High, some around the monument, a couple at the main door, and others just laying on the grass, all of them talking and having fun while waiting for the bell to ring.
Twilight recognized a few faces as she and Rarity walked to the main doors, some of them waved at them as they passed by, but Twilight didn't waved back, she just nodded at them with a fake smile, even at those whose names couldn't remember.
Spike's ears perked up as he stopped cold. Then, in one instant he ran up the stair towards the main entrance.
“Spike!” yelled twilight. “Wait, you can't go inside!”
Without thinking she chased him up the stairs and all the way inside Canterlot High, leaving Rarity behind.
She almost ran over several students that walked peacefully on the hallways, she also came close to slip at least two times, but to everyone's luck her sprint came soon to an end when she took a right turn at the last hallway, where she not only found Spike, but all of her friends.
“Spike! Hi, how are you?” asked Fluttershy while extending his arm to him, an invitation that Spike took without hesitation.
Pinkie, Rainbow, and Applejack were with her. All four were chatting in front of their lockers while taking stuff in and out of them, they had probably just arrived and were too busy to notice her. Unfortunately not all of her friends were there, Sunset was missing and there wasn't any sign of her.
“Could any of you help me finish my homework?” asked Rainbow while scratching her head. “I had trouble with some things.”
“Sure!” exclaimed Pinkie. “History or english?”
“We had history homework too?”
Applejack chuckled and rolled her eyes.
“Where's Twilight, Spike?” asked Fluttershy while playing with him in her arms.
“Over here,” she said from the end of the hallway, and slowly walked towards her friends.
“Oh, i'm sorry Twilight, i didn't see you there.”
“Howdy Twilight!” exclaimed AJ.
“Good morning, girls,” said Twilight to all of her friends with a small wave. “Where is Sunset?”
“Yeah, she sent me a text,” said Rainbow as she showed her cell phone. “She had a thing and is going to be late.”
“A thing?” Twilight walked closer. “What do you mean? Is she ok?”
“Her motorcycle broke on the way here, that's it,” intervened Fluttershy. “Speaking of missing persons, have you seen Rarity? I was hoping she could help me fix a tiny hole in my backpack, but i don't know why she's late.”
“Yes Twilight, where is she?” asked Spike “She was with you wasn't she?”
“Well, i left her behind when you ran inside.” Twilight gazed a killer stare at him. “Why did you ran? You know you can't be here, so you either jump in the backpack or you wait for me outside at the monument.”
Spike smiled in a comical way and lowered his ears. “Sorry, i'll get in the backpack.”
“You know? Spike,” interrupted Fluttershy. “Angel Bunny and his friends are back next to the soccer field. Don't you want to play with them? I mean, if that's ok with you, Twilight.”
“Can i go, Twilight?” Spike turned to her. “Can i?”
She passed her palm down her face. “Yes, sure. Why not?”
“Thanks!” he yelled as he jumped out of fluttershy's arms and then ran away.
“Just don't cause any trouble!” Twilight yelled back, but he was way too far already to hear her.
She sighed, but she was cut off by the ringing of the school bell, which meant that it was time to go to class already.
“Last one is rotten egg!” exclaimed Pinkie as she ran like there was no tomorrow, leaving nothing but a trace of dust behind.
“We'll see about that,” muttered Rainbow and ran behind her.
AJ followed as well, but slower, and while holding her hat in place.
Twilight finished her sigh, now she was standing alone next to fluttershy.
“So… i guess we should get going,” she said.
“Yes, that sound good.” Fluttershy chuckled. “Do you want to...?”
“No. Let's wait till lunch.”
Twilight spent the first four classes sitting at the back of the classroom next to fluttershy, but she was actually inside her own head, as she did every single day since her new troubles appeared.
In history class she analyzed the probabilities of her friends leaving her. On english she beat herself over her image and her stupid glasses. On biology she had the horrible thought of Sunny having an accident on her new motorcycle, maybe that was why she was so late today. Ever since the day she had bought that damn thing Twilight have had nightmares about her friend getting harmed, or worse.
The chances of getting physically injured on a motorcycle accident were sixteen times higher than on a regular four-wheeled vehicle one, and the likeliness of it being a fatal accident were thirty five percent higher. Sadly, Sunset hadn't listened to her and had bought it anyways.
On calculus she did equations.
Technically she didn't had to attend to classes, she was way too smart for that, and everyone knew it, even Principal Celestia. She liked it though, the feeling of being part of a group was something she had never known. Besides, crunching some equations was always fun, and it helped her calm for a while.
The bell ringed for the fifth time in the day, marking the end of the class and the start of lunchtime. Twilight closed her number-filled notebook and put it in her backpack.
“Fluttershy, Twilight, hurry up,” said Rainbow Dash from the doorstep next to Pinkie. “We have to get to the cafeteria before the line gets too long.”
“I'm sorry, Rainbow,” said Fluttershy before Twilight could answer. “We are going to take lunch here while she helps me study calculus.”
“Really, again?” She raised an eyebrow in Twilight's direction. “Are you sure you don't want to come with the rest of us? I'm sure you can study some other time.”
“I'm sorry, but i already had plans with Twilight.”
“I mean, it's not you haven't spend every day with her for the last two weeks…” she muttered. “We haven't had a chance to talk this whole week, and it's already Friday!”
“I'm really sorry, Dash. I really need Twilight's help if want to pass. I promise we can do something tomorrow after i finish work, i'll make it up to you.” said Fluttershy while curling her hair. “Maybe we can go to that movie you wanted to see, i just don't want you to be mad.”
Rainbow gazed at the Twilight for a solid four seconds, whom only smiled nervously in return.
“Fine…” she grumbled. “We'll go to the movies tomorrow then.”
Rainbow rolled her eyes and leaved the classroom along with Pinkie, but not without murmuring at their backs.
Both Twilight and Fluttershy waited a couple seconds after that, they stared at the door in silence to make sure they were clear before talking.
“So…” said Fluttershy with a bit of hesitation, “how are you doing?”
Twilight took a deep breath and cleaned her sweaty palms on her vest. “I couldn't sleep very well tonight.”
“Does that mean… you told her?” Asked Fluttershy as she dragged her seat closer to her friend's.
Twilight sighed and negated with her head.
“I thought you were going to tell her yesterday.”
“I didn't, ok?” She said, very defensively. “Sorry… I didn't meant to.”
“None taken.” Fluttershy smiled. “Tell me, what happened then? Are you backing away from it? Because you said that-”
“I know what i said” responded Twilight with her hand on her forehead. “It's just… I need to analyze this whole situation very carefully, do you understand? There's a lot of variables and so little facts at my disposition. I'm in the dark in here, i just don't know.”
“I mean, i could tell Rainbow if you-”
“No, no, no!” Twilight jumped on her seat. “That'll get us nowhere. It would only create more variables!”
“I'm sorry but i don't know what else i can do for you then. I honestly think that Dash could be of better help than me, after all she was the one that helped me in the first place,” said Fluttershy while playing with both of her index fingers. “I could have never done it without her.”
“I just… i don't want everyone to know about it if it doesn't go the way i wanted, especially if she gets mad at me,” said Twilight almost in tears. “I wouldn't be able to bare with it.”
Fluttershy lowered her head and stopped playing with her fingers. “That's exactly what i said to Rainbow.”
“What do mean?”
“I told her the same thing,” she repeated herself. “When she asked me why i was so afraid of asking her out that's what i told her, that i didn't wanted her to be mad or creeped out or disgusted by me.”
Fluttershy raised her head and looked at Twilight. “That's why it took me one year to ask her out, one long and painful year.”
“I… i would've never imagined how i must have felt...”
“It's ok, now it is,” said Fluttershy. “I guess i'm still afraid of people's reactions. I just can't help to feel self conscious in public, that's why i insist to Dash that we keep our relationship as a secret, even though i know the girls won't judge us.”
“You think they will accept me as well?” asked Twilight as she cleaned her eyes.
“We already did. At the Friendship Games, remember?” said Fluttershy as she took her friend's hand with a smile. “You were so brave for telling me how you felt, but now you have to take the next step, otherwise it will be worse, much worse… ”
The two friends locked eyes with each other and approached for a hug at the same time. They remained merged as one with their eyes closed for at least one minute. Someone else might have thought that was a little too much, but for Twilight it was not only a hug, it was a reassure that her friends would never leave her, that it was ok to be herself.
“Thank you, Fluttershy,” said Twilight when the hug finally ended. “I'll tell her today.”
“No, Thank you. This has opened my eyes as well, i won't be afraid being myself anymore, i want to be brave as-”
The bell rang, marking the end of lunchtime and stopping their conversation in cold. Voices and laughter came from the other side of the door soon after.
Fluttershy couldn't finish her sentence, she only smiled at Twilight, then she stood up and dragged her seat to its original place.
“No, Pinkie. For the last time, mayonnaise is not an instrument,” said Rarity as she entered the classroom.
She then was followed by the pink girl whom looked rather disappointed at the groundbreaking news. Applejack and Rainbow Dash followed, while talking to each other on a lower voice.
The door swung open again and a bunch of her classmates entered the classroom, then another bunch, and another, until every seat was filled with the exception of one.
Twilight kept looking at door for a couple more seconds, then a couple more. She was waiting for the door to open once more, she was waiting for Sunset Shimmer to arrive. It had already passed half a day and she was still missing. Maybe something bad had actually happened to her, there was no way to know since Twilight had left her cellphone at home on the night table.
The door opened one more time, Twilight smiled.
“Good evening, everyone,” said Miss Cheerilee as she walked into the classroom.
Twilight's smile disappeared and a sigh followed.
“Today i have very interesting project for all you, i think you will enjoy it,” she said. “It's about... sustainable energy!”
“Woo-hoo…” mocked Trixie from the back row.
Miss Cheerilee rolled her eyes. “As i was saying... you'll have to create an hypothetical initiative for the city to implement an electrical system that will produce green energy, it can be anything as long as it covers a list of bullet points that i will provide you tomorrow morning via email. I'll give you two weeks, after that you will expose your projects in front of the whole class, ok?”
The room kept silent, and only a couple students nodded in agreement.
“Ok then, i want you to-”
The door busted open and everyone flinched.
“I'm sorry i'm late!” yelled Sunset Shimmer.
The girl's clothes were covered in oil and sweat, her hands blackened in oil, and her hair disheveled. She had a nervous smile and several dark fingerprints on her face, she looked like a coal miner or a tramp.
“Sure… take your seat,” said Miss Cheerilee.
“Thank you.”
Some students ignored her as she walked inside, but some others couldn't. She went straight to her seat ignoring everyone herself, even Twilight whom made a small gesture with her hand as a salutation.
“Ok, if there are no doubts you can start to plan your projects now. Pick a partner and go ahead.”
In one second the classroom was an entire chaos, every student ran towards another one. Rainbow obviously picked Fluttershy, Applejack and Rarity formed another team, Pinkie was tearing her hair out, since she didn't knew who to partner with, she had so many friends that wanted to be with her, and they were almost swarming her. Soon enough most students were arranged in couples and scattered across the classroom.
Normally for Twilight this would have been a stressful situation, but she didn't had to worry about making any of the projects as long as she nailed every exam, so she just stayed at her seat in silence, or at least that what she seemed to be doing, for in reality she was trying to take a glance at Sunset without it being to obvious.
Sunset, unlike the rest, was sitting on the chair looking left and right in confusion.
“Project?” muttered Sunset to herself. “Excuse Miss Cheerilee, what are we talking about?”
“Twilight will explain it to you,” said the teacher as she opened a book and started reading.
“What?” asked Twilight as she overheard her name being thrown out.
“You. Sunset. Together. Now.” Cheerilee ordered without interrupting her reading. “Have fun.”
Both students looked at each other, waiting the other one to speak, until one took the initiative.
“I guess we are partners now, Twilight.” said Sunset scratching the back of her neck. “Right?”
“Ri- Right!”
Sunset stood up and dragged her seat in front of Twilight's. They were face to face now, and even though they weren't that close it was more than enough for Twilight to panic.
“Wait,” said Sunset. “Let me get my notebook.”
Twilight quickly stared at the ceiling as her friend dived head first into her backpack. Her hands were shaking on her lap and her legs dancing as they had life of their own, she had to get a hold to herself, she had to act natural.
“So…” said Twilight, her voice came out like one of Spike's whimpers would've marked. “What was that about your motorcycle?”
“It broke down on my way here.” She pulled out the notebook and looked at Twilight. “It's perfect now.”
“And are you ok?”
“Oh, do i look that bad?” asked with a chuckle. “I'm sorry that you got stuck with me, i must be stinking right now.”
“Not at all, i enjoy it!”
Sunset raised an eyebrow. “You… enjoy the smell?”
“No! Not like that. It's just that i get covered in grease almost on daily basis, so i don't mind it,” she explained. “I don't go around with a cup of oil in my hands actively smelling it.”
“Oh, makes sense. Then i guess it's ok if come closer.”
“Wha-”
Sunset stood up immediately and dragged her seat again, this time right next to her. The side of their arms were rubbing against each other as Sunset adjusted herself in her seat.
“There. Let's get to work now.”
Twilight's shivers went off the roof and her hearth regurgitated all the way to her throat.
“Sure… let me explain it.” She was using every fiber of her body to sound as natural as possible.
Meanwhile, Fluttershy tried her best to spy at Twilight and Sunset while trying to get caught by Rainbow Dash. It was rather difficult since she was sitting in front of her, blocking her line of sight.
“So, how is the calculus going?” asked Rainbow. “Any progress?”
“The what?” said Fluttershy without putting much attention to her girlfriend.
“The calculus, with Twilight, remember?”
“Twilight? Yes, she's nice,” said while still avoiding her gaze.
“What does that mean? Are you getting better? How bad are you doing?”
“I'm … yes.”
“What? Wait, what are you looking at?” She asked while trying to look over her shoulder.
“No, no. Its nothing, i was thinking about work stuff for tomorrow. There's a lot of paperwork at the animal shelter.”
“We're still going to the movies, right? Or do you have something else to do with Twilight?”
“The movies? Yes, sure!” She said while nodding. “My shift ends at two o'clock, we can go after that.”
“Ok then, i'll swing by the shelter and we'll walk from there.” Said Rainbow putting her hand over Fluttershy's, whom blushed at the act.
“I think i get it,” said Sunset Shimmer. “Do you have any specific project in mind?”
“No… not really,” muttered Twilight, still trying to look like a human. “Maybe something with solar energy?”
“Do you happen to be sick, Twilight?” asked Sunset out of nowhere.
“Me? Why are you asking?”
“Because you don't look very well. You've been shaking the entire time, you're sweaty, and your voice is cracking. I think you look even worse than me.” She joked.
At that instant everything inside Twilight broke, her heart, stomach, and brain. Every twitch and drop of sweat had doubled, she was on the spot and her body was of no help. She honestly thought that Sunset wouldn't notice a thing, and now all of her fears were exposed.
“No,” she whispered while avoiding Sunset's gaze.
“It seems like you are not here, you can't even look me in the eyes.”
“It's nothing, honestly.”
“You are worried about something, aren't you?”
“No…” she repeated with her head down.
“Ive known you enough to tell that something's on your mind, something big.”
“I don't-”
“It's better if you let it out, you know? If you don't want the girls to know you can tell me. You could tell me anything and i will listen. I'm here for you, honestly,” said Sunset.
Sunset put a hand over her friend's shoulder and patted it a couple times whom kept silent for several seconds, almost oblivious of the act. Time had stopped for Twilight, the noise of the classroom disappeared leaving only the sound of her heartbeats. She took one deep breath, closed her eyes, and clenched her fists.
“Everything?” asked Twilight, still looking down. “Do you mean it?”
“Everything.”
The troubled girl raised her head very slowly at Shimmer, she gazed at her blouse, her neck, her lips, and lastly she stopped at her eyes, where the girls met each other.
“Sunny…” she said.
Sunset kept immobile while looking at her in silence. It seemed as both were peeking into each other's souls. They spent only two seconds that way, but they felt like two centuries.
“Ever since i…”
Twilight was using every cell on her body to force her words out, but it was impossible. She was covered in so much sweat that every piece of her garments were sticking to her body.
“I'm feeling… things.”
Electricity crawled up her legs and palms until it reached her face. Her cheeks were burning red and numb as her lips.
“Go on…” said Sunset.
The moment she talked Twilight's eyes went red and started to tear down a little. She lowered her head again in shame and put her hands over her mouth, she was about to break down. It was clear that this whole thing had been a mistake. She wasn't ready to take her chances just yet. She had to get out.
“I- i have to go!” yelled Twilight.
She shoved everything inside her backpack in one movement and rushed out of the classroom without any warning while covering her face with her hands.
Everyone else saw her storming out onto the hallway, silence struck the classroom.
“What was that about?” Asked Miss Cheerilee. “Is she ok?”
The teacher stood up and walked to the door, then she peeked out. She look towards the right hall, then to the left one, but Twilight was nowhere to be found.
“I… yes? I think,” said Sunset filled with confusion.
Fluttershy stared wide-opened at the door, she was speechless. She refused to believe that Sunset had rejected her friend, but that would have explained the outburst.
“Ok, Fluttershy,” whispered Rainbow Dash. “You clearly know something about that, and i want you to spill the beans.”
“I don't. Maybe she had an appointment with the dentist,” she said.
“Yeah, sure. You two have been acting really weird lately, now this happens out of nowhere and you expect me to buy that?”
Fluttershy didn't answered back, she simply crossed her arms and looked down.
“Look, I'm not mad at you, nor i'm accusing you of something, but you always used to come to me If you had a problem.” said, Dash. “It's about us, isn't it? Why are you asking Twilight for advice? Is it something i do? Just tell me, i can change for you!”
Fluttershy raised her head and blinked a couple times.
At the same time, Sunset sat in silence while scratching her head, still trying to comprehend the situation.
“Did she called me… Sunny?” she muttered to herself.
Twilight opened the door to her apartment and walked in with Spike in her arms. Her eyes and face were just a little bit less red, but at least now she looked better, except for her hair that was a complete mess.
“Are you going to explain me what happened now?” asked Spike. “I was playing with Angel when you came out of nowhere.”
“I'm sorry that we had to go in such a rush.” said Twilight as she tossed her backpack on the couch. “I was feeling really sick so i had to leave.”
“Well, i guess you do look sick. I think you may have fever.”
“Yes, maybe.” She removed her glasses and rubbed her eyes. “I'm going to take a bath, if you get hungry feel free to eat without me, ok?”
She didn't even waited for his answer, when she was already dragging herself through the kitchen, leaning on every counter while looking down and rubbing her head. Her mind had turned off, it was the only way she could avoid to break down and start sobbing on the floor like a children or mental patient.
When she entered the bedroom it was as dark and disorganized as when she woke up. She didn't bothered to turn the bedroom lights on, just as every single day she returned home after class. The girl removed her star hairpin very slowly and tossed it on the night table where it landed next to her purple cell phone, she did the same with her glasses. She untied the back of her hair, letting it fall free and loose behind her shoulders just as her princess counterpart, the lucky one. The shoes came off next, then the socks, and finally the best and tie, leaving only her skirt and blue shirt on. She tossed all of those clothes on the floor and walked to the closet where she took out her bathing robe.
Twilight entered the bathroom barefooted and then locked the door behind her. She hanged her robe in the towel rack on the wall next to the sink. She leaned inside the bathtub and opened the faucets just a little, enough to taste the water with her palm to adjusting the temperature. Once the tub was filled with hot water she stripped the rest of her clothes off and tossed them on top of the toilet's tank. She got into the bathtub very slowly and one foot at the time, it was hard to recline all the way as she would've wanted because the tub was to small, fortunately it was deep enough to hide most of her body. For a moment she wondered if the other Twilight had ever dealt with a small bathtub, she had have to at least once, before asking her guards to replace it for a bigger one, one made out of gold and diamonds.
After ten seconds of just sitting there she poured water over her head, that's how she liked to star her baths. She rubbed her whole body very gently, starting always from the neck, to the chest, hips, legs and all the way down to her thighs. The strength and speed kept increasing after every time until it almost hurt. The bath was an essential part of her day, she always took one before dinner and it usually meant that the day was over and that she could finally relax at home or work inside her laboratory. Today it didn't meant any of those, today she just needed it, she had earned it, she deserved it. It was not like she had spent her day sitting on a golden throne while a servant scratched her fat and stupid butt.
She slapped herself on the face the moment she had such low and despicable thought. She immediately felt ashamed of her jealousy towards her Princess counterpart, especially knowing she was also a friend of the other girls. In fact, she should be grateful more than anything, since without the princess she would have never met Sunny or any of the girls of that matter.
It was wrong, but sometimes she couldn't help to think that she had gotten the short end of the stick since the day she was born, specially now. Of course that now it was better, now she had friends, acquaintances, freedom, and a nice apartment with a place where she could build and test whatever she wanted. It was almost a perfect life, she had everything she could've asked for, but somehow it was not enough.
She had a roof above her head, but she was filled with terror every second. She had a promising academic future, but that didn't really mattered anymore. She slept on a warm bed, but every night was colder than the last one. She had many friends, but she was still lonely inside. Today, as every single day, she felt disgusted at her own selfishness.
Twilight slid further down into the bathtub until the water covered her chin, and making her legs stick out on the other end of tub. She sighed and closed her eyes.
“Twilight, are you still there?” asked Spike from the outside of the bathroom. “Twilight!”
The girl woke up with a jump that made her upper body slid to the bottom of the tub, her legs wiggled outside of the freezing water in which she was drowning as she fought to exit the tub, she was splashing water everywhere.
Spike barked and whimpered as he scratched the door, he was doing everything possible to break inside the room.
Twilight rolled and fell to the ground once she managed to exit the tub. She laid naked on the cold floor while coughing the water out of her lungs violently.
“Wait i'm coming in, Twilight!” yelled Spike.
“N- No!” she yelled back while still coughing. “Don't! I'm fine!”
It took several seconds of pain and cold for Twilight to be able to get up, she did it slowly while holding herself to the sink next to her.
“Whats going on?” Insisted Spike.
“Wait there,” she said as she put on the robe and then tied it firmly around her body.
She opened the door and immediately was received by Spike jumping into her arms and licking her face.
“You were there for almost six hours!” he said. “I thought you had starved to death!”
“I'm fine, i just feel asleep in the tub.” she rubbed his head and kissed her paws. “What time is it now?”
“It's almost dinner time and you haven't eaten a single thing today. I won't allow you skip another meal, Twi!”
“My hero…” she muttered on a joking manner. “Wait for me in the kitchen while i dress myself, ok?”
He licked her face one more time and then jumped to the floor. “Don't take too long.”
Twilight rubbed the remaining water out of her eyes and made her way to the bedroom where she didn't bothered to turn the lights on, again.
One more time she locked the door behind her, then took a clean set of underwear out of a drawer, a pair of shorts, and her “night t-shirt”. She sat on the bed, took off her robe, and started to dry her body with it from top to bottom. She applied moisture cream and then dressed herself.
She walked towards the night table in order to take her glasses, but just as she was about to pick them up she saw the screen of her cell phone glowing, “23 missed calls” it read. She put on her glasses to make sure the number was correct, which in fact was. The phone showed one call from Rarity, two from Applejack, three from Pinkie, sixteen from Fluttershy, and one from Sunset.
A sigh escaped her lips as she threw herself backwards into the bed. It was obvious that her escape hadn't came out as unnoticed, fortunately she had the whole weekend to come up with a believable excuse to tell everyone, maybe she could use “appointment with the dentist” again.
Out of nowhere, the cellphone started ringing on her hand. She lifted an eyebrow and looked at it. “Incoming call: Rainbow D.” it read.
Twilight didn't answered right away, instead she waited for a couple seconds for the call to stop, she waited five, ten, twelve, but the phone just kept ringing. She hesitated, but after a pair of deep breaths she answered.
“Rainbow?” she asked.
“Hi, Twilight.”
“I had to leave because i had an appoint-”
“It's ok” she said. “It's ok... Fluttershy and I are going to the movies tomorrow, you know?”
Twilight raised an eyebrow again, she was ready to spill her excuse, but Dash didn't cared. Why was she inviting her to the movies? She was legitimately out of words.
“We were wondering if you would like to come with us, ill pay.”
“I'm sorry, but i'm a little bit under the weather. I truly appreciate the invitati-”
“Sunset is also coming,” she said.
Twilight's eyes grew twice as big as she almost vomited her heart out. The room got hotter all of a sudden, and her limbs were starting to shake. She put a hand on her heart and squeezed the cell phone with the other. She took one deep and long breath, then she smiled.
“Ok…” whispered Twilight.
“I'll text you the details tomorrow.”
The call ended just like that, without a farewell or a promise that everything would be ok, but still, the girl was able to felt the sympathy of her friend, a friend loved her, true friend.
Today, as every single day she had woken up drowned in pain, she had walked on an empty street, she had felt ashamed of her orientation, she had avoided numerous sights and given an inappropriate one. She had asked for moral support, she had gathered courage, she had talked to Sunny, she had tried to open her heart, and she had failed. She had returned home with her head low in defeat, taken a bath, dammed her existence, and grown unjustified resentment to her other self. Finally, she had forgotten any problem, learned acceptance and regained hope.
Twilight closed her eyes and sighed, now her face had a big smile and her heart was filled with excitement. The girl rushed to the closet and started searching for an outfit that Sunny would like. She told herself that tomorrow would be the day, just as she did every single day.