She sure does.
Knock, knock, knock.
A sharp rapping noise against your door jolts you out of a certain kind of trance.
You let out a sigh. The report you were working on was just reaching a good spot, and then your train of thought flew right out the window with the sudden noise. It can take hours to get into the groove of work, and you prefer to be undisturbed in that time...
"Hmm?"
You see someone peering through the peep hole, stroking her chin. "Are you there?"
You're already at the door, but decide for a moment to leave her in suspense. Payback for interrupting, even if she didn't mean to.
"Hey, you are! Let me in already."
You comply. With a satisfying click, the locks come undone as you open the door to reveal your childhood friend, Rarity. With perfectly curled lavender hair and a stunning outfit, she looked as good as she always did. Not that you cared much for letting this model into your home.
"Why didn't you respond? Oh, you must have developed a hearing problem. My condolences."
You start driving your knuckles into her head, lightly but with enough force to annoy her. Making a mess of that stylish but uppity hair was always good fun.
"I'm kidding, just kidding!" She squealed as she batted at you. "Unhand me!"
Since her nails were certainly long enough to leave marks, you decide to back off for now. Upon releasing her, she flattens her clothes haughtily and straightens her collar ("Goodness, how old are you now?"). The sight reminds you of a cat bathing itself after a scuffle, bringing a discreet smile to your face.
Rarity, after removing her shoes, peers over your shoulder and into your study room.
"Hm, you do look busy." She walks right past you and invites herself into your personal quarters. "What could you doing with this laptop and all the loose leaf?"
You explain impatiently while tapping your foot. A visit you thought would clearly be temporary was turning into what was beginning to look like a permanent one as she dropped her purse and herself onto your bed spread. She sat cross legged, however, maintaining a regal air about her as she established her position as the new monarch of your apartment room.
"Oh, studying for a certificate? I suppose some companies nowadays do require you to have one."
She nodded approvingly, to your annoyance.
"Well, look at you. Good work so far."
As she spoke the "r" in "far" a rather unladylike noise croaked from her stomach. She blushed furiously but passed it off with some dainty laughter.
"Oh deary me, I must have skipped breakfast..."
Liar. She always gets up early to make tea and eggs. At least, from what you remember back during your university days.
"Err— Might you have any refreshments?"
You can't offer what you don't have. The only thing in your fridge is a couple cups of yogurt and some frozen vegetables. Well, you were gonna go grocery shopping this morning, but the report and the certificate and... you know, all sorts of important things. Definitely not procrastination.
You explain as much to Rarity fully expecting her to become agitated, but she simply sighs.
"Well, I kind of expected that... There must be a good place around here somewhere, no?"
She looks at you pointedly as she speaks, arching her eyebrows in a weird way. You're not sure what kind of reaction you're supposed to have to that, so you simply sit back down at your desk and resume working, hoping she'll get bored and leave.
"Hey, you know..." Rarity crosses her arms, staring daggers at you. "It's been a while since we last saw each other but I'm not really feeling welcomed here."
"I know this was a sudden visit, but you couldn't have greeted me with a warm smile and open arms? And some tea, maybe?"
You sigh again, unsure of how to respond to that. You and Rarity have always been on good terms, even close ones being childhood friends and all that, but the distance between the two of you has become particularly poignant lately. You only barely catch up with her on social media, which ends up just being a chore.
"This kind of situation doesn't come by often, you know? A childhood friend coming to visit you after work! With my schedule, too! This doesn't even happen in most TV shows nowadays."
Groaaaan. She just wants something to drink, doesn't she?
You stand up, feeling defeated, announcing in a waiter-esque manner that two cups of Earl Grey are coming right up. You were feeling the need for a little pick-me-up anyway, might as well appease your new queen while you're at it.
...
A few minutes later, you're back at your desk with a steaming cup of tea at your side. Rarity sips contently from her own, still sitting on your bed directly across from you.
"By the way..."
Click, clack, click, clack. Your fingers punch the keyboard as you scan the contents of your screen, then your notes for reference.
"I'm just asking cause I'm curious, but have you gotten a girlfriend yet?"
You freeze.
"Yup, I knew it."
You shoot an annoyed look at her. So what if you hadn't yet? You just weren't looking to date at that moment. More important things in life, you know? Like your career. Like groceries. Definitely not for any other reason.
"What about in the past?"
The question brings back memories. Maybe, just maybe, you might have had one or two sweethearts during your school days. Once in elementary, once in middle school maybe?
"Hmm?" Rarity smiles smugly at you, awaiting your answer. You make a face and return to your work.
"Well, a lot of people out there are like that, so I don't think you should worry about it."
You exhale loudly through your nostrils at that, then turn to her and pointedly ask...
"Me? Well, as for me.."
She uncrosses her arms and gestures to her right hand, where on her ring finger rests... well, a ring. Not a frivolous accessory like you're used to seeing, though, but something with distinctly more weight and substance. No doubt, that ring was a sign of engagement... you somehow know this without asking.
But the sight of Rarity, the girl who used to throw wood chips at you during recess, getting married...?!
"My, you look shocked!"
You tell her she could say that again.
"Well, we won't be getting on the family register any time soon. If you think about our age, it's nothing special really."
Nothing special, she says...
But you can't help but stare at that engagement ring. Something about it just... gave you a bad feeling. A pit in your stomach. Butterflies. Butterflies in the pit. All the weird and bad feelings. Was it just a joke? A prop? But you know already that Rarity isn't the type to pull pranks like this, so it must be the genuine article... but, did she ever have anyone like that? As far as you knew, you guys were always together all the way up until graduation, where you then split to pursue different career paths. She went on to do that modeling gig she was always harping on about, and you didn't get so lucky. Hence the cramped apartment and frantic studying for a certificate so you can apply to one or two more companies...
"So with that... how about you?"
Rarity's words snap you back to reality. You realize you had a death grip on your teacup, and you gently let it back down. You tell her, obviously, that you are nowhere close to being engaged, much less even involved with anyone on such a level.
"Hmm... I see. You're quite the busybody, so you must not give yourself time to carefully think about it."
Sure, that and maybe no girl who will have you— um, never mind. You're just not interested in dating right now. Feeling conflicted, you try and explain your thoughts to Rarity. One thing you do remember about yourself and relationships.
"Oh? But you do have a reason to want a girlfriend?"
She giggled, as if finding the concept incredulous. You go on.
"What, a list of things you'd want a girlfriend to do for you? This is my first time hearing of this."
You puff out your chest in an act of mock confidence, harping on about your ideal girlfriend.
"Yes yes, I bet you just mean cooking and taking care of you when you're sick, don't you?"
You deflate a little.
"How'd I know? Well, I like to think I know how you somewhat well after eight years, so I just made an educated guess. Seems like I hit the jackpot, hm?"
You shift uncomfortably in your seat. Of course you and Rarity knew each other well, but that close distance had suddenly become awkward in light of recent revelations. You weren't sure how to approach her anymore.
"Say," Rarity spoke while twirling a thread of that long, curly lavender hair around her index finger, "what else is on that list?"
...
You pretend she never said anything and keep on taking notes.
"Go on, spill! I won't tell, I swear."
It takes a bit of prodding but you were never good at saying no to her. You reluctantly comply.
"...Ear cleaning? Eh?"
She looks puzzled. "But aren't there places that do that for you? You know, spas and what not..."
It's complicated. You try and explain to the best of your ability.
"Personal preference? That's a thing, huh?" She scoffed like she didn't quite believe you. Which is fine. It might be uncommon, sure, but it's just a thing that you enjoy. Who could blame you for that?
You sigh, feeling as though you'll never truly be understood, and carry on with your work. As you do so, you can hear Rarity fidgeting slightly.
"Well, you know..."
You turn to face her, and she quickly averts your gaze, clearing her throat.
"I— I'm not your girlfriend or anything but..."
You swear she's spun a thread of air about an inch thick around her finger at this point.
"If that's all then... I mean... I'd be willing to do that for you. Just once."
You stare at her blankly. What was she talking about again?
"Ear cleaning obviously, you dolt!"
You fail to see how being unable to read between the lines of a sentence like that makes you a dolt...
Rarity seems to be telling the truth, but it's still mysterious to you.
"No, it's not like I'm used to it... it's just that I've done the same with Spike before."
Ah, that figures.
"Would you like that?"
You consider it for a moment. Getting your ears cleaned, an experience you've missed for quite a long time, by a friend who you've known pretty much your entire life...
You close your laptop and, with fresh resolve, nod towards Rarity.
"Alright. Let me go ahead and find the ear pick..."
To your surprise, she begins rummaging around one of the cabinets near your bedside. To even greater surprise, she actually finds what she's looking for.
"Ah, here."
You get up from your seat as she rummages around in her purse.
"Let me just put a towel on my lap, just a moment."
You pause, frowning.
"Why do I have to cover my thighs? Well, the balance is uneven without something to place your head on, you know..."
She has you there.
"What's with the long face, silly?" She giggled.
She has no idea. She really doesn't. Or— or maybe she does?! That, if true, would be pretty cruel.
"Come," she gestured to her now covered thighs. "Lay your head down here."
You comply, and it begins.
Ear cleaning was something special to you. Those summers you used to spend in your home country as a child, sleeping on your grandmother's lap on the front patio as she carefully and lovingly scratched the exterior and interior of your ears with a wooden pick... the feeling was nostalgic, and sweet like honey. Rarity was no grandma, but you could sense her thin and delicate fingers working as gently as possible around your right ear. She was a natural.
"How is it?"
You make a noncommittal noise of approval.
"Good enough to be on your list?"
Begrudgingly, you nod. Though you hated letting Rarity get too uppity on her high horse, you had to admit defeat here.
She giggled in response. "Good."
"Well, you know, Spike liked it too, way back when. Goodness, he's already in middle school now... time really flies."
Twilight's younger brother was always up to no good, but he seemed to behave himself around Rarity. Well, you knew the reason why.
...
The cleaning goes on for a little while longer. You'd normally feel awkward, with your head nestled so close to the girl who you're just friends with, but her adeptness renders you immobile. You can feel your entire body relaxing as she slowly extracts bits of wax from the inside of your ear.
"Say, I remember you mentioning..."
Your half-shut eyes open back up in response to the sudden conversation.
"You said you were going on vacation soon, right? What are your plans?"
Right, you are getting time off soon. As a proper adult, you probably should use that time to immediately seek another job, but you figured it wouldn't kill you to spend the first few days of freedom away from the hustle and bustle of daily life.
You explain to her that you're taking a cruise to a nearby resort. Get some sun for once, eat some good food, spend some time alone (not that you had a say in that matter).
"Hmm, going on a trip? That sounds so nice right now..."
You scoff at that. Rarity's career probably takes her to places much nicer than a dinky resort after all.
"Are you... going with anyone?"
You shake your head.
"I see. Lone trooper."
Them's fighting words, but you somehow don't sense any malcontent behind them. In fact, something like wistfulness rests on Rarity's words as she continues cleaning.
"Well, I hope you have a good time. Be careful not to get mugged or anything."
...
The cleaning continues. It's getting hard to keep your eyes open. Even with a towel separating your face from Rarity's bare thighs, you can still sense a deep, comforting softness.
"This feels good, doesn't it?"
Too drowsy to argue, you agree wholeheartedly.
Rarity smiled. "Spike used to say the same thing."
You bet he did.
"Okay, next ear. Turn your head this way."
Snapped out of your torpor, you comply and shift your body to face towards Rarity now rather than away. This gives you quite a close look at her torso. The buttons on her shirt appear before you in startling detail.
"I'll start on this side now, alright?"
You nod, already feeling sleepy. She wraps her right hand around the back of your scalp to keep you steady while her left adeptly maneuvers the wooden pick around the exterior of your ear.
...
With your eyes closed, nearly drifting off to sleep, something from the back of your mind resurfaces.
"Hmm? What was I saying before?"
You elaborate.
"Oh, the engagement? Mm..."
She pauses cleaning for a moment, letting her hand rest on your cheek.
"Well... I mean..."
You don't dare open your eyes, out of fear of how awkward you just made the situation.
"You... were really shocked to hear, weren't you?"
A timid nod.
"You... felt something."
You sure did. You're still not really sure what it was. Disbelief, you suppose? Or shock? Maybe even... disappointment.
"I thought you didn't really care... at all."
You open one eye to glance at her. Rarity is staring off into the distance, an unreadable expression on her face. It clears up a moment later, however, as she clears her throat and resumes the cleaning.
You decide it's for the better that the topic of the engagement doesn't resurface. It was wrong of you to bring it up anyway, considering the service she's offering you. As a friend.
That's right, as a close childhood friend. Her face when she was just a grade schooler was much chubbier than her current ultra-refined model's features, with her long nose bridge and defined cheekbones. But, no matter how much she's changed since then, you've always seen her as that child that you first met on the first day of 3rd grade. A rambunctious girl who wasn't afraid to get her hands dirty, who didn't mind playing with you even though you couldn't run fast like all the other boys. Didn't care about the rumors about you two being a couple since she always seemed above it all. You both studied for tests, had play dates, went to see bad movies, pretended to go to prom as a date and end up accidentally becoming king and queen (mostly because of the dress and tuxedo she sewed being several levels above everyone else's), and even got your diplomas together. You had your fights, sure, and there were some long stretches of distance and silence as you both shuffled through various phases of life. Still, you eventually came back around to each other— it was pretty hard not to, living right across the street from each other. Rarity was one of the few, precious constants in your life.
Right, she was.
Now she belongs to someone. She is officially someone else's property. You know that's not necessarily a healthy way to think about it, but there's no sugarcoating it. That ring on her right hand was a sign that you could no longer associate yourself with Rarity the same way you always have at the risk of a scandal, at the risk of breaking her heart.
It filled your heart with grief. And the fact that you were even feeling grief made you feel guilty.
Rarity would soon move past you like a bad memory, and go to a place where you couldn't possibly hope to reach.
But right now, she's here.
And her fingers are so soft, delicate, and gentle. A gentle breath of air tickles your ear as you feel yourself sink deeper into your fatigue...
"Does this feel alright?"
Rarity paused, peering closer at her now...
"Eh...?"
...softly snoring companion.
She sighed, but smiled. "You went and fell asleep on me, didn't you?"
The lavender haired girl set down the wooden pick on the desk beside her. With nothing in her hands now, she simply proceeded to lightly play with the mop of hair on her lap.
"I really wonder how long we're going to stay like this..."
"If you think you're always gonna have your parents and I around, you're going to be in for a rude awakening, you know that?"
She settles for separating some loose ends while she waits for him to awaken. Her fingers softly move through and rub the individual strands like a comb. Rarity had some skill in this, with her hair always giving her much worse trouble than this.
...
"All done."
His hair was now tangle free. Not that it needed much help, but she couldn't sit still knowing there were imperfections that could be fixed. Just before she moved to ease him off of her lap...
"?"
Rarity paused, noticing a dark spot on that pink fabric, right beneath his eyes which now sparkled with moisture.
"The towel's wet..."
A single, silent tear streamed down the side of his face and absorbed into her lap. He didn't appear to be awake, but nevertheless...
"There there."
She stroked his head.
"To tell you the truth.. I don't really have anyone either. And..."
"This thing," she looked to the ring on her finger, "is my mother's."
Rarity sighed, now wondering why she had told such an elaborate lie.
"But, even I have someone..."
She looked back down at him. That face which she'd known for years upon years, one of the few precious constants in her life.
"Someone that's been on my mind for the longest while."
She lightly pecked his cheek. Rarity always thought he looked more handsome while asleep— that scowl didn't suit his features.
"When will you realize, dummy?"
The girl laughed to herself, realizing the futility of talking to an unconscious body but not minding it at all.
"That trip..." she spoke wistfully to the ceiling, twirling a bit of his hair with her index finger, "I do wish I could come with you."
...
"Ah, well."
"I suppose I'll get you a snack. You'll need energy to finish that report, indeed."
Rarity looked around, frowning. "But, of course, you've got nothing here. Remind me to drag you to the market later, won't you?"
She giggled to herself, wondering if that in itself would be a kind of date. She resolved to definitely make him go, no matter what.
But, in the meantime...
The lavender-haired youth gently eased him off of her lap as she stood and stretched.
"I suppose I can grab something from home. Perhaps something homemade will wake you up, sleeping beauty."