> The Nerd and the Cellist
>  by HAKDurbin
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Chapter 1
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Every day I am thankful that I no longer live in Appleloosa.
When my parents announced that my dad was being transferred to the suburb of Canterlot, it was one of the happiest days of my life. My heart was so filled with excitement that I thought it was going to burst out of my chest. I only knew about Canterlot mostly by name, and yet the idea of moving there or anywhere sounded terrific to me. Any place sounded like heaven to me than staying in Appleloosa.
To be clear, I didn't hate Appleloosa just because it was always scorching hot out there or because most of the buildings are very old or there was very little to do outside of home. No. I hated living in that desert area because I was always alone. My parents are as kind and caring as any loving parents should be, but when you put them aside, there wasn't a soul in all of Appleloosa who cared about me worth spit. I always wanted to have friends, but no one my age wanted to be anywhere near me. In their eyes, I was nothing but a weird freak. Someone that should be avoided like the plague at all costs.
And all because I am a nerd.
Since there is little to do here in Appleloosa, my dad would get me movies and comics and video games from out of town whenever he was on a business trip. Thus, I grew up falling in love with all sorts of fiction from comics about superheroes, to fantasy or science fiction franchises like Lord of the Rings, Narnia, Harry Potter, Transformers, you name it. But out of all of them, my favorite was always Star Wars. I loved all the stories that the Star Wars universe had to offer with all my heart to the point that I began to write fanfiction of me as a powerful Jedi who would always save the galaxy from the Sith and other forces of evil. 
But my comfort in all these things cost me whatever chance of a social life in Appleloosa. Movies, comics, and video games hardly interested anyone in that town, even people who were my age. No matter how much I just wanted to make friends, no one would ever say a kind word to me, and so I would always be alone.
So, when my dad was being transferred, I looked at it as a chance to start anew. Maybe in a suburb, I could find someone, anyone who would want to be my friend. My dad showed me pictures of the school I was transferring to called Canterlot High School, and compared to my school in Appleloosa, Canterlot High looked like a palace. Surely with so many students who go to school in this grand, two-story building, I can finally make friends or at least not be treated like an outcast.
But more than finding friendship, my heart wanted a chance to find love. If there were anything I took away from the many fictional stories I would read or watch, it would be that romantic love is something purely beautiful and special. Arwen and Aragorn, Princess Leia and Han Solo, Belle and the Beast, Spider-Man and Mary Jane, Ron and Hermione, Batman and Catwoman, Optimus Prime and Elita-One, these are all fictional couples that made me wish I could find that certain special someone for me. I had lost hope for that in Appleloosa because many girls in my old high school hated and bullied me for what I am, but I hoped things would be different in Canterlot.

This is the story about that hope based on my experience and the testimonies of those closest to me.

**************************************************

On the tenth of August, my parents and I gathered all of our things in a moving truck very early in the morning and drove to our new home in the suburb. My heart was racing with excitement as we eventually entered Canterlot after about four hours of driving. No longer was I in a remote desert where the buildings were old and creaking, and there were few shops worth going to. Canterlot by comparison had so many modern and brightly-colored houses and all sorts of restaurants, video games stores, comic stores, even a mall. We also passed by Canterlot High, and it looked just as majestic in comparison to my old school as it did in the pictures. 
We parked the moving truck next to our new two-story house that looked shiny and brand new in comparison to the one-story house we lived in ever since I was born. By around 4 in the afternoon, we had fully moved into our new home, and I was setting up all of my stuff and began to sit back and relax on my bed in my second-floor room. The only problem left was school was a week away, which meant I had to wait that long to try and make any friends there.
Luckily, right at that moment, I heard rapid knocking coming from the front door downstairs. I was curious as to who could be there as my parents had left to return the moving truck, and I was all alone. I heard someone knocking the door again impatiently, and so I left my room, went downstairs, and opened the door. The next thing I knew, a swarm of colorful confetti blew right into my face, and a pink girl was standing in my front porch with a giant grin on her face.
“Hi, neighbor!” She said in a high-pitched voice. “I'm Pinkie Pie, and I want to say welcome to Canterlot!”
I froze in place for a moment with confetti covered all over me before I managed to said, “Uh, thank you?”
The pink girl named Pinkie Pie squeals out a laugh as if I had just told her a joke. 
“Oh, no thanks are necessary, silly,” she said. “I just love giving new neighbors a big welcome. I just know you're going to love it here in Canterlot.”
“Uh, I hope so, too,” I said, still taken aback.
Suddenly, she went up in my face and asked, “But enough about me. Who are you? Where did you move from? What are your hobbies? What's your favorite ice cream? Do you like red or blue balloons?  What kind of -”
“Pinkie Pie!”
I look behind Pinkie Pie's shoulder to see another girl in farmer's clothing walking up behind her and pulling her away from my face. I was relieved to have Pinkie Pie be dragged away from my personal space, but at the same, time I was utterly bewildered to see two girls standing on my front porch.
“I thought I told you to pick one question at a time when you're introducing yourself to people,” the other girl said in a southern accent. 
“I can't help it, Applejack!” Pinkie Pie whined. “It's been soooooooo long since I've had new neighbors here on this block. I even heard he's transferring to CHS!”
“I know. I heard that too from Granny Smith,” The girl named Applejack said calmly. “But you're confusing the poor guy by suddenly throwing confetti and introducing yourself to him before throwing a bunch of questions out of the blue. Isn't that right, sugarcube?”
It took a moment before I realized she was talking to me, and I nodded.
“See? Just like I told ya,” Applejack said. 
Pinkie Pie frowned and turned to me and said, “I'm sorry. Let's start over. What's your name?”
“My name is Rough Draft,” I answer.
“There. That's better,” Applejack said before offering her hand to me. “Name's Applejack, partner. I live in the apple farm a few blocks from here.”
“Nice to meet you,” I said shyly while I shake her hand weakly.
“Hmmm, that is a soft grip you got there,” Applejack said skeptically. “I guess you don't do many handshakes, do ya?”
“Uh, that was kind of my first, actually,” I admitted.
“Was it now?” Applejack said with a smirk. “Well, we can improve on that. Shake my hand, and this time really squeeze it.”
I hesitated before I shook her hand again, and I tried to tighten my grip. Applejack chuckled lightly, amused with my efforts.
“That's a little better,” she said. “Anyway, where'd ya move from?”
“Appleloosa,” I answered. 
“Really? I have a lot of cousins in Appleloosa,” Applejack chirped. “You know my cousin,  Braeburn?”
“That doesn't ring any bells, sorry,” I said honestly. 
“That's alright,” Applejack said. “He and the rest of the family are usually working in the orchard over there anyway. Did you like living there?”
I flinched at that question and started to worry that she might be mad if I told her honestly what I thought about Appleloosa since she had family there. 
“Not really?” I answered.
Applejack and Pinkie Pie looked at me, confused, and Pinkie Pie asked, “But aren't you going to miss your friends there?”
I frowned and said, “I don't have any friends there. I...I was an outcast in my school.”
Pinkie Pie gasped loudly while Applejack gave me a sympathetic frown. 
“You mean you never had any friends while living in Appleloosa?” Pinkie Pie asked.
“I've lived there my whole life, so I've never had any friends at all,” I confessed.
Pinkie Pie looked at me as if I said a sentence full of swear words. 
“That's terrible!” She shouted. “Everyone should have friends!”
“Well, that's nice if you to say, Pinkie Pie, but it's the truth,” I said. “The thing is I'm a nerd. I'm into video games, comics, and all sorts of fantasy and science fiction.”
Applejack and Pinkie Pie looked at each other confused before turning back to me.
“So?” Pinkie Pie asked.
“So the kids in my school didn't like that,” I explained. “They thought I was a freak for liking things like that.”
“Aw, now that's silly,” Applejack said with her hands on her hips. “There's nothing wrong with liking things like that. I like to play a game or two with our friend Rainbow Dash, and I know my friend Caramel likes comics and play Star Wars games.”
My eyes widened, and I gave Applejack a hopeful look.
“Really?” I asked with my voice a little high-pitched.
“Absolutely,” Applejack said with a smile. “In fact, one of the star soccer players at CHS, Soarin likes playing some big Star Wars game or something or other with Caramel.”
I stared at Applejack, completely baffled.
“A soccer player who likes to play Star Wars games? That's a little hard to believe,” I said. “Does no one have an issue with that at CHS?”
Pinkie Pie giggled and said, “Of course not, silly. At Canterlot High, we don't bully anyone for being different. There's no status quo or anything like that. Everyone treats people the same as long as you're true to yourself.”
My eyes lit up at the sound of this news. I was already looking forward to going to CHS at the start of the new school year, but to hear that there are indeed other nerds like me and no one would persecute me sounded terrific beyond words. But then Applejack cleared her throat and gave me an uneasy look.
“Actually, there are a couple of bad apples you should clear away from at CHS,” she said. “Some of them are a trio of girls called the Dazzlings.”
“The Dazzlings?” I asked, confused. “Why are they called that?”
“Because that's their group name at a cafe they sing at,” Applejack answered. “But don’t get close to any of them. The youngest one, Sonata, seems like a nice girl, but her older sisters, Adagio and Aria, act like they are superior to everyone because of their talent and beauty. The leader among them, Adagio, likes to use her beauty to flirt with any guy just to use them for her cruel means. So whatever you do, do not speak to any of them or believe anything Adagio might say to woo you if she tries to talk to you.”
I thought it odd that there are people like the Dazzlings to watch out for in a school, but I decided to trust Applejack since she was kind enough to tell me all this.
“And who else do I need to watch out for?” I asked.
This time, both Applejack and Pinkie Pie looked serious as they looked at each other for a moment before they turned to me and simultaneously answered, “Blueblood.”
“Blueblood?” I asked.
“Blueblood is the meanest, meanie-pants that could ever step foot in CHS or any high school,” Pinkie Pie said with a pout. “Just because he’s super-rich and handsome and is from Manehattan and is Principal Celestia and Vice-Principal Luna’s nephew, he believes he’s above everybody.”
I blinked in confusion and asked, “Are you serious?”
“Very,” Applejack answered. “I don’t know how he gets away with his attitude, especially since Principal Celestia and Vice-Principal Luna are very nice people, but Blueblood is as uptight and stubborn as they come. Everyone back in Manehattan loves him so much that they called him the ‘Prince of Manehattan’ or some sort of nonsense like that, and that makes him think he’s better than any of us.”
I blinked again and asked, “If he’s from Manehattan, why is he going to school in Canterlot?”
“Good question,” Applejack replied. “No one really knows why he transferred to our school. All we know is that when he did, he convinced his girlfriend and her family to move to Canterlot just so that they can go to school together.”
“And her parents agreed to that?” I asked.
“Guess so,” Applejack answered. “He even made sure the two of them have the same classes and everything.”
“Wow, that’s a strange amount of power this guy has,” I said.
“You can say that again,” Pinkie Pie said. “And you better stay clear from his girlfriend too. Blueblood is very possessive of her because of how beautiful and talented she is as a musician. She’s the only person he boasts about that isn’t him.”
“Okay, I’ll keep that in mind as well,” I said. “What is her name?”
“Her name is Octavia Melody,” Applejack answered. 
“Good to know,” I said. “Is there anyone else I should look out for?”
“Nope. That’s it,” Pinkie Pie answered, suddenly cheerful again. “Other than that, you have nothing to worry about at CHS. Come the beginning of this school year, you'll have the time of your life with already two friends under your belt, or my name isn’t Pinkie Pie.”
“Two friends?” I asked excitedly. “Are you that sure I'll quickly befriend these guys named Caramel and Soarin?”
Pinkie Pie giggled in a high-pitched voice, and even Applejack let out an amused chuckle.
“She means the two of us, Sugarcube,” she said.
My excited look disappears, and I stare at the two girls taken aback.
“Wait. We're already friends?” I asked. 
“Well, of course, we are, silly,” Pinkie Pie answered cheerfully. “Why wouldn't we be?”
I stuttered for a moment, struggling to think of a proper answer. 
“W-w-well, we just met, and you guys don’t know that much about me, and I barely know that much about either of you apart from your names,” I stammered. “Isn’t it a little too quick to say that we’re friends?”
“Aw, that’s silly talk,” Applejack said with a smirk. “Sure we just met, but we can both tell you’re a nice fellow who just needs friends in his life. I mean, you do want friends, right?”
I stuttered again before I answered, “Well, yes. I do.”
“Then there's no need to question it,” Applejack said.
“Yeah, and besides well, have plenty of opportunities to get to know one another at Sugarcube Cafe,” Pinkie Pie chirped.
I looked at Pinkie Pie, confused while Applejack gave her an annoyed look.
“Did you invite everyone to a get together while we were talking again?” Applejack asked.
“Like I said, Applejack, it's been such a long time since I've had a new neighbor,” Pinkie Pie said with her hands behind her back.
“I'm lost again,” I said. “What are you talking about?”
“Why a get together with some of our other friends, of course,” Pinkie Pie chirped. “I just messaged them to meet the three of us at the cafe so that they can all meet you!”
"Really?” I asked.
“Of course,” Pinkie Pie answered with a cheerful grin. “After all, you should make as many friends as possible before school even starts, and Sugarcube Cafe is the place to hang out with lots and lots of friends.”
Applejack rolled her eyes and smirked, saying, “Yeah, she's right. I know it's abrupt, but if you want to make some friends, then what Pinkie's suggesting might be the best way for you to do just that. So what do you say, partner?”
It takes a moment to process what both girls are saying before I replied, “What do I say? Yes, please! Just let me text my parents, so they know what's up.”


********************************************************************************************************

After getting a quick okay from my parents via text, I was dragged to Sugarcube Cafe at inhuman speed by Pinkie Pie with Applejack following behind us. Within minutes, I found myself inside a colorful cafe where other teenagers are drinking milkshakes and smoothies while sitting together on couches and tables and happily chatting away. Before I knew it, I was standing in front of the counter where a couple in their thirties were making milkshakes on the other side until Pinkie Pie spoke.
“Hiya, Mr., and Mrs. Cake!” She greeted out loud.
The two adults turned to us and gave the pink girl friendly smiles.
“Well, there you are, Pinkie,” the woman named Mrs. Cake said. “I have to say you're here later than usual.”
“I know,” Pinkie Pie replied. “I was just greeting my new neighbor, Rough Draft, before texting my friends to meet him.”
Mr. and Mrs. Cake turned to me with warm smiles, and the former said, “Ah, yes. I did hear that a new family was moving here. You came here from Appleloosa, am I right?”
“Uh, yes, sir. That is correct,” I answered shyly. 
“Then welcome to Canterlot,” he said. “I'm sure you're going to love living in our friendly suburb here.”
“Thank you. I hope so,” I said.
Mr. and Mrs. Cake nodded before the latter said, “Now that introductions are out of the way, how about some milkshakes?”
Pinkie Pie nodded vigorously while Applejack gave a simple nod. 
“Alright, what would you like, Mr. Draft?” Mr. Cake asked.
I hesitated, surprised that he would turn to me first before I looked at the sign showing the list of milkshakes. My eyes became as wide as dinner plates to see dozens of flavors to choose from.
“Holy cow, I didn't know there are this many flavors in the entire world,” I said.
“Oh, you're too kind,” Mrs. Cake giggled. “This is a modest amount of options to choose from compared to some restaurants in Crystal City.”
“Are you serious?” I asked in disbelief.
“Well, it's something we hear around these parts, but even so, there's no better place to try all kinds of milkshakes than here at Sugarcube Cafe,” Applejack said with a chuckle. “So come on, Rough Draft. Pick a flavor.”
I felt uneasy with everyone looking at me in anticipation. I struggled to choose because each flavor they showed seemed sweeter than the last. Finally, after racking my brain, I took a deep breath and carefully said, “I'll have a blueberry shake, please.”
“Great choice,” Mrs. Cake said with a smile. “Applejack, Pinkie, I assume you would like the usual?”
“Sure do,” Applejack said.
“Yepperoony!” Pinkie Pie replied.
Mrs. Cake nodded, and we paid for our drinks before finding a sofa to sit on. Before we sat down, the front door opened, and a guy and a girl, both with blue skin, came inside and walked over to our sofa. The guy was tall and had dark blue hair while the girl had rainbow hair and was walking with a smug look.
“Rainbow Dash, Soarin, you made it!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed excitedly.
“Of course, we did. You know I'd never leave you hanging, Pinkie,” the girl with the rainbow hair said before turning to me. “So, you're the new guy in Pinkie's block, eh?” 
“That's right,” I answer.
“Cool. Nice to meetcha,” she says. “Name's Rainbow Dash: captain of all of the sports teams in Canterlot High.”
“I'm Rough Draft,” I replied.
Rainbow Dash turned to the tall guy next to her and said, “And this guy next to me is my second-in-command in the soccer team, Soarin.”
I felt my spirits rise at the mention of that name after hearing about Soarin from Applejack earlier.
“So, you're Soarin,” I said to him.
“That's right,” Soarin replied with a smirk. “You heard of me?”
I hesitated with how to answer before I awkwardly said, “Well, Applejack said that you like to play a certain Star Wars video game?”
Soarin blinked in confusion before Pinkie Pie stepped in and abruptly said, “Rough Draft here is a big nerd from Appleloosa who didn't have any friends because the kids at his school thought he was weird for liking nerdy stuff.”
Soarin turned to Pinkie Pie dumbfounded before turning to me with a friendly smirk.
“Is that so?” He asked with his hands on his hips.
I nodded in response. The next thing I knew, Soarin was standing next to me and patting me on the back in a friendly way.
“Well, not to worry, bro, I enjoy some rather nerdy stuff myself,” Soarin said. “And to answer your question, I like to play a bit of Star Wars: The Old Republic in my spare time.”
My pupils shrunk, and my mouth dropped in shock.
“Wa...wa...wa...really?” I stuttered.
“Totally,” Soarin said reassuringly. “Personally, the Sith Warrior class is my favorite if for no other reason than you have Darth Baras as your arch enemy. He's pretty cool.”
“Oh my gosh, that's my favorite imperial class too!” I say ecstatically. “I love creating a light side character in that class.”
“Yeah, it's pretty interesting to do even though you don't get to kill Darth Baras that way,” Soarin said. “It's more satisfying if you get to off the guy.”
“Oh yeah, definitely,” I said.
The two of us began to talk more and more about the video game even after Mr. Cake brought me, Pinkie Pie, and Applejack our shakes and Rainbow Dash and Soarin made their orders. The more we talked, the more excited I was to find someone who liked something I liked. Even though Soarin was more chill, I could tell he was enjoying talking about it with me as well. Occasionally, I would glance at the three girls in our group and notice they had their own conversations, but they occasionally glanced at us, glad that I am getting along with Soarin so well. By the time we were done with our conversation, it had been a couple of hours, and Mr. Cake had already taken away our empty glasses. I got a text from my parents telling me to come back to our new home and so Soarin, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, and Pinkie Pie offered that they walk me to my new place together, which I happily accepted. Thus, the five of us started walking to me and Pinkie Pie's block while still talking away to our heart’s content.
“So, bro, are you already aware of who to avoid at CHS?” Soarin asked.
I couldn't help but smile at him, calling me “bro” before I answered, “Yeah, the Dazzlings and a guy named Blueblood.”
“Good,” Rainbow Dash said pleased. “Hate to see our new friend unprepared. The last thing we want is for you to face Blueblood's wrath or Adagio's manipulative ways.”
“Amen to that,” Applejack said, crossing herself while Pinkie Pie nods.
I kept my smile for the way they all cared about me before I realized something.
“Actually, what do they look like? Blueblood and the Dazzlings, I mean?” I asked. 
“Oh, that's easy,” Applejack said. “The Dazzlings are almost always together. The leader, Adagio, has an unnaturally thin figure and giant, curly orange hair. Trust me, sugarcube, you'll know it's her when you see her and countless poor boys growing weak in the knees and making love-struck faces at the sight of her.”
“As for Blueblood, he's the only person in all of Canterlot, much less CHS, who has golden hair and wears a fancy tuxedo everywhere he goes,” Soarin said.
I looked at my new friend, confused, and asked, “For real?”
“For real, bro,” Soarin said. “He acts that high and mighty over his family being ridiculously rich.”
I stared at Soarin for a moment before I silently decided to take his word for it.
“Okay, so what about his girlfriend?” I asked. “Pinkie Pie mentioned that I need to avoid her too.”
Soarin and Rainbow Dash's face turned grim, and they look at each other, unsure of what to say. But before they could answer, a voice started shouting at us from behind in a British accent.
“OUT OF THE WAY, PLEASE!”
We stopped walking and turned around to find a girl with gray skin, long black hair wearing a white shirt with a purple vest, a pink bowtie, and a pink skirt racing towards my direction. She was carrying a large cello case on her back as she ran with a desperate look on her face. Neither of us had a moment to react before she rammed right into me, and we both fell to the ground, groaning in pain.
“Sorry! I'm so sorry!” I heard her say panicking while I had my eyes shut after hitting my head with the cement. 
“That's alright,” I moaned. “I should have moved away.”
The two of us sat up, and I opened my eyes to look at who ran into me, only to hear a loud gasp from the girl.
“Oh no! Where is my cello?!” She asked worriedly. 
I turned to her to see that her cello case wasn't with her, and I turned my head and found that it was lying a couple of feet away into the road. I opened my mouth to say I found it, but then I noticed at the corner of my eye that a car was driving by at a fast speed and heading straight toward the cello lying on the road. The girl must have noticed it too because I could hear her gasping again and screaming a loud and desperate, “NO!” At that moment, without thinking about what I was doing, I sprung into my feet and raced toward the cello case. I only had a moment to pick it up before I felt someone grab me by the shirt and pull me away right before the car zoomed by, barely missing me and the cello case. I turned to see that it was Soarin who came to my rescue, and he was livid at me.
“What were you thinking, jumping in like that?!” He barked.
But before I could open my mouth to answer, two soft, gray arms wrapped around my head and pulled me into a tight hug. It took a moment before I realized that the gray girl was squeezing my head while bursting into tears.
“Thank you!” I heard her say. “Thank you so much! I don't know what I would have done if I lost my cello!”
My cheeks began to burn up, feeling my head pressed between her arms and her shoulder until she finally broke the hug.
“Please don't worry about it,” I said as I moved my head back. “It was no trouble at -”
But as soon I got a good look at the gray-skinned girl, my voice died in my throat and my mouth hung open as I stared at the most beautiful face I had ever seen in my life. My green eyes began to stare at her deep, violet eyes with no desire to look away. The girl herself stared back at me, waiting for me to finish my sentence, but I was so lost in her beauty that I had completely forgotten what I was even talking about. But then, the moment was interrupted by the sound of a phone ringing. The girl looked away from me and looked at the phone before letting out another loud gasp.
“I'm so sorry, I need to go,” she said while snatching her cello case out of my hand. “Thank you again.”
I didn't get a chance to respond before she turned around and ran the other direction. By the time I found my voice again, she had turned around the corner and was out of sight. I did nothing but stare at where she was until I felt Soarin grab me by the shirt and turned me around to look at him. 
“Dude, seriously, Rough Draft. Don't ever do that again,” he growled.
“Yeah, you almost got run over trying to save that stupid instrument,” Rainbow Dash retorted, standing next to Soarin. “What in the world were you thinking?!”
I barely processed what they were saying as I was still in a daze from looking at that girl. Applejack and Pinkie Pie rushed to my sides, both looking worried about whether or not I am okay. It took a second before I mumbled out an answer. 
“Sorry, guys. I guess I...I...I wasn't thinking.”
Everyone looked at me funny over the way I responded to them. 
“What's wrong with him?” Pinkie Pie asked quizzingly. “Is he having one of those life-flashing-before-your-eyes moments?”
Soarin, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash, on the other hand, frowned and shook their heads.
“Nope,” Soarin said. “He's in a love-struck daze.”
Pinkie Pie let out a loud, long gasp of horror.
“Oh, no! This is terrible!” Pinkie Pie said, panicking. 
I finally snap out of my daze and look at Pinkie Pie, confused.
“Why?” I asked. “Is something wrong with that girl?”
“I'm afraid so, buddy,” Soarin answered while he let's go of my shirt and sadly pats on my shoulder. “That feeling you probably have over that girl just now? You better forget about it pronto.”
I frowned at Soarin for trying to crush my wishes to see that girl again and demanded, “Why should I?”
“Because that was Octavia Melody,” Applejack answered for Soarin.
My eyes widen, and I felt my spirit getting crushed at the sound of that name.
“You...you don't mean…?” I managed to say.
“Fraid so,” Rainbow Dash answered. “That's Blueblood's girl.”
I froze in place for a moment before I frown again sadly.
“So, she's the fifth person I need to avoid?” I ask, with dread filling my voice.
“Sorry, sugarcube,” Applejack said sympathetically. “I can tell you were beginning to have a crush on that girl right on the spot, weren't ya?”
I nodded robotically.
“That's what I thought,” Applejack said while patting my back like a mother trying to comfort her child. “For what it's worth, she does appear to be a nice girl from what little I've seen of her at school, but we mean it when we say Blueblood is very possessive of her. So, whatever you think could have started happening because of the way you looked at her can't happen. No ifs, and or buts.”
I hung my head sadly, mentally wishing what they said wasn't true. I could tell that they did not want to tell me any of this as they were looking at each other for something to say. Finally, Soarin smiled and patted me on the back again. 
“Hey, don't fret about it, bro,” he said encouragingly. “She's not the only girl that comes to our school. Maybe we'll find someone who is single and most likely better for you than someone like her.”
“Yeah, maybe,” I said nonchalantly.
“Totally,” Pinkie Pie said with a big, supportive smile. 
I don't even bother to respond to the pink girl as I kept a low demeanor, which made everyone uneasy. But then, as I was looking down on the ground, I noticed there was something shiny lying on the sidewalk. I kneeled down and picked it up to see that it was a golden ring with a large sapphire on the top. I stared at the ring intently before turning to the others who are shocked at the sight of it. 
“Where did you find that?” Applejack asked.
“It was right there on the ground,” I answered. “I think it belongs to -”
“Octavia Melody? Oh yeah,” Rainbow Dash confirmed. 
I blinked for a moment and said, “I take it you all recognize this ring?” 
“Oooooooooooooooooohhhhhh, yeah,” Pinkie Pie said. “Everyone knows about Octavia Melody and this ring. Blueblood gave it to her as an anniversary gift for everyone to see one time during lunch period last year. She loves that thing, and Blueblood is very proud of giving it to her.”
I nodded and said, “Well, then we should give it back to her.”
“Most definitely,” Applejack agreed. “Although that might be difficult to do since we don't know where she lives. You might have to find a way to give it back to her when school starts next week.”
I nodded again before Soarin stepped in and said, “Well, enough of that. Let's get you home, bro. I'm sure your folks would like to meet us.”
I smiled and nodded again in agreement before the five of us continued walking. But as we did, I secretly glanced at the diamond ring. A small smile entered my face, and I carefully put it in my pocket for safekeeping. For some reason, I felt happy that on top of getting the very first four friends I've ever had, I have a chance to see this Octavia Melody again. It still was a shame to learn that she already has a boyfriend, but maybe by giving her ring back, I might be able to receive her gratitude again and maybe become friends with her.
And maybe, just maybe, that will be enough.
> Chapter 2
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

My eyes snapped open at the sound of my alarm clock, waking me up at six in the morning. Normally, I would wish I could smash the evil device for waking me up, but this time I was less annoyed while I hit the snooze button. I slowly got up into a sitting position and looked at my calendar with a tired smile on my face. This was my first day at Canterlot High. 
I got out of bed and took a shower before grabbing my backpack and going downstairs to find that my mother had already made breakfast. I ate my food at a steady pace before my mother and I went to the garage and got into her car for her to drive me to school. Usually, I would dread being driven to school, but I couldn't be any more excited to be in a better high school than the one in Appleloosa. My mom parked near the front entrance, and she kissed me goodbye before I got off her car and happily walked to the front door, where I found Soarin waiting for me with a smile. 
“Yo, Rough Draft, wassup, bro?” He greeted as we high-fived each other. “Ready to start the first day.”
“Very,” I said with an eager smile. “I'm sure I'll hate all the school work we'll have to do, but for now, I'm just excited to be in a better and more friendly school.”
“I hear ya, man,” Soarin said. “Why don't I show you to Vice Principal Luna's office since we got time before first period? I'm sure she already has your schedule ready for ya.”
“That would be great,” I said.
Thus, the two of us entered the school and started walking down the halls to our destination. The entire time we walked, I was looking at the interior of the school in awe as if I was looking at a grand palace. Soarin noticed my reaction and chuckled lightly.
“Pretty enough for ya, Rough Draft?” He asked half-teasingly.
“You bet,” I said with a massive grin on my face. “My old school was this small, one-story building that was old and dull. To say that this is a total upgrade would be an understatement.”
“Yeah, the way you've been describing Appleloosa since you moved in, I'm sure this looks like the whole place is covered in gold by comparison,” Soarin said before his face turned serious. “Speaking of gold, did you remember to bring a certain item with you to school?”
“Sure did,” I said while patting my left jean pocket. “The ring hasn't left my side since I found it.”
“Good. I hope we can find an opportunity for you to give it back to Octavia Melody today; the sooner, the better," Soarin said.
I nodded in agreement, but I secretly still hoped that if I see Octavia Melody again, I will be able to get to know her better. At the same time, however, I feel I should be worried about her boyfriend, Blueblood, after the way Soarin, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and Rainbow Dash warned me about how him. We discussed the matter a few times over the week, and it sounds like finding another moment with Octavia apart from Blueblood will be complicated. 
“Are they that inseparable in school?” I asked.
“Pretty much,” Soarin said. “The first two years here, Blueblood has been making sure they’re in the same class at the same time no matter what, so there’s no reason to think this year will be any different. It’s kind of strange. I mean, I can understand wanting to be with the girl you like or love all the time, but most people would agree that this is a bit much.”
I nodded and said, “Guess that shows how being rich and related to the principal and vice-principal has its privileges.” 
“You can say that again, bro,” Soarin said as we entered an office where a woman in dark blue skin is handing out schedules to students. She turned to us and gave Soarin an amused smirk.
“Ah, Soarin. Had a nice summer?” she asked.
“Sure did, Vice-Principal Luna,” Soarin said with a grin.
“And who do we have next to you?” Vice Principal Luna inquired.
“I’m Rough Draft, ma’am,” I answered.
The vice-principal smiled warmly and said, “Ah, yes, you’re one of the two students who just moved to Canterlot and transferred here. Welcome.”
“Thank you, ma’am,” I say with a polite smile.
“Hey, there’s another person who transferred here?” Soarin asked curiously.
“Indeed,” Vice-Principal Luna answered plainly. “We also have another junior named Starlight Glimmer who just moved here from Sire's Hollow. She was just here ten minutes ago, and I had Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, and Rarity show her around the school before classes start.”
“Cool,” Soarin said. “Guess we'll have two new friends to our group with you and Starlight Glimmer, Rough Draft.”
I nodded in agreement while Vice-Principal Luna looked through a folder and handed me two sheets of paper. 
“Here is your schedule, Mr. Draft,” she said before giving the second sheet of paper to Soarin. “Classes will start in ten minutes, so I trust that's more than enough time for Soarin to show you around before you go to your next class.”
“Thank you,” I say politely as I take the schedule and begin to exit the office with Soarin. “Have a good day.”
“You as well,” she said warmly while waving us goodbye.
The two of us walked down the hall for a few seconds before Soarin turned to me and asked, “Can I see your schedule?”
I nodded before giving him the paper, and he briefly scanned through it before pumping his fist into the air.
“Awesome, we have third, fourth, and sixth period together,” he said. “And we have the same lunch period along with the rest of the group. Score!”
“Great!” I said with a smile before something comes to my mind. “Speaking of the group, how many other people are there besides you, me, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash?”
“Let's see,” Soarin said, scratching his chin as we walk. “There's also Caramel, Fluttershy, Rarity, and Applejack's brother, Big Macintosh, who is a senior, but we just call him Big Mac. So that hopefully means there will be ten people in our group total if things go smoothly with everyone else befriending this Starlight Glimmer, which I imagine it probably will knowing Pinkie Pie.”
I chuckled and nodded before I asked, “So how come I haven't met the others before school started?”
“Well, Fluttershy and Rarity have been busy with their jobs over the summer,” Soarin explained. “Fluttershy works at the animal shelter, and Rarity works at a boutique. Big Mac often stays at home and works on the farm. As for Caramel, he's been visiting relatives in Baltimare. I think he only got home yesterday.”
“Wow, that's kinda cutting it close,” I chuckled. 
“No, kidding,” Soarin agreed. “I think you'll like Caramel a lot. He's a little nerdier than I am and loves to play Star Wars: The Old Republic a lot too.”
“Ooooo, I'm excited to meet him,” I said with a smile. “Maybe the three of us could play together sometime.”
“That would be sweet,” Soarin said with a nod. “Anyway, I better show you the rest of the school before first period starts.”



***************************************************************************************


Before long after Soarin showed me around for the entire building, the first bell rung, and so we had to go to our separate classes for first period. The classes started okay with teachers introducing themselves and telling us what we're going to learn throughout the first semester and things like that. I didn't care that much about what we were going to learn, but at the same time, I enjoyed how the teachers were very friendly compared to the ones I had in Appaloosa. Soarin and I saw each other again during our third and fourth periods, which where algebra and physics, respectively, and then I had fifth period before it was time for lunch. I walked into the cafeteria and grabbed a tray of food from a friendly, green-skinned old lady and looked around for a place to sit and eat.
“ROUGH DRAFT, OVER HERE!!!!!!”
I turned my head and smiled to see Pinkie Pie standing up and frantically waving her hand in the air. She was standing next to a long table where, Soarin, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash, are sitting down with their lunches along with a short guy with light amber skin and brown hair, a tall guy with the same skin as Applejack, a white girl with purple hair, a yellow girl with pink hair, and a light-purple-skinned girl with dark purple hair with blue streaks. I eagerly walked over to them and found a spot between Soarin and the amber-skinned guy while Pinkie Pie went back to her place in the table. 
“Yay! We're all here!” Pinkie Pie squealed. “Everyone, this is our other new friend, Rough Draft.”
“Uh, hi, everyone,” I said awkwardly, feeling like I'm in a spotlight.
The amber-skinned guy smiled at me and said, “So, Soarin just told me you play Old Republic too.”
I turned to him excitedly and said, “I sure do. You must me, Caramel, right?”
“That's me,” Caramel replied with a friendly grin. “And I got one thing to say to you.”
“What's that?” I asked.
Caramel suddenly gave me a hard glare and leaned close to me as if he was interrogating me. I grew uncomfortable until he asked, “Second to last chapter of Knights of the Eternal Throne: who do you usually choose to save between Vette and Torian?”
I blinked for a moment before I found myself laughing out loud in disbelief that someone asked me a question about the video game.
“Vette,” I happily replied. “I hate seeing Torian get killed, but I don't think I dare to see Vaylin kill Vette.”
Caramel smiled and said, “Good answer. I always go for Vette too. So does Soarin.”
“Yep, guilty as charged,” Soarin states proudly. “I hate to do it to Torian, but I guess I can’t bring myself to have a kind, pretty Twi'lek girl like Vette get hurt. Am I right, fellas?”
The three of us guys laughed and nodded an agreement. The whole time I was smiling to hear not one, but two people share the things I like. If it were a dream, I would never want to wake up even if it put me in a coma. Our moment of bonding was cut short, however, when Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes and slapped Soarin upside the head.
“Enough with the dorky stuff,” she said. “We gotta introduce Rough Draft to the rest of the group.”
“Great idea, Rainbow Dash,” Pinkie Pie agreed cheerfully before turning to me. “First, we have our beloved fashionista, Rarity.”
“Lovely to meet you, dear,” the white-skinned girl named Rarity greeted politely.
“Next we have, mah brother, Big Mac,” Applejack said. “He doesn't talk much, but he's a good listener and a great help at our family farm.”
“Eeyup,” the tall guy named Big Mac said simply.
“Next to Rarity is her bestie, Fluttershy,” Pinkie Pie said. “She's the nicest girl in town and loves animals with a passion.”
“Um, hi,” Fluttershy said quietly with a shy smile.
“And last but not least, we have another new friend who just moved in from Sire's Hollow, Starlight Glimmer,” Pinkie Pie said.
I turned to the light-purple girl, and she smiled and bashfully gave me a little wave.
“Nice to meet you,” she said. “Guess I won't be the only purple person here in this group.”
I chuckled at the way she acknowledged my purple skin and said, “Yeah, I guess so. So, you're a junior too, huh?”
“Yeah, in fact, everyone but Big Mac are juniors, right?” Starlight Glimmer said. 
“Eeyup,” Big Mac said plainly. 
Starlight Glimmer nodded before she turned back to me and asked, “So, from one transfer student to another, how do you like Canterlot High so far?” She asked eagerly. 
I smiled while chewing on my burger before I swallowed and said, “Oh, there is no competition whatsoever. I hated my old school, and I had no friends in Appleloosa. My only complaint is that I didn't come here sooner.”
“Heck, yeah,” Soarin said before he and Caramel high-fived me. 
Starlight Glimmer couldn't help but giggle at my enthusiasm. I smiled back and asked, “How about you?”
She hesitated before she smiled and said, “I do miss my best friend back at Sire's Hollow, but I'm glad to have a lot of new friends all the way here in Canterlot.”
“And we're happy to be all of your friends,” Pinkie Pie said. “Same to you, Rough Draft.”
The rest of the group all said words of agreement, and both Starlight Glimmer and I smiled appreciatively at them. Thus, we all went back to our meals and entered small talk for about ten minutes before Rarity and Fluttershy finished their conversation and turned to me. 
“So, Rough Draft,” she said. “I heard from Rainbow Dash that you had a run-in with Octavia Melody last week. Is that true?”
I turned to her and swallowed the food in my mouth before I answered, “Yes, that's true.”
“I see,” Rarity said with a frown. “How rude of her to coldly run into you.”
I look at her, confused, and said, “What do you mean? It was an accident. In fact, she was appreciative when I saved her cello from getting run over.”
“Oh, I'm sure she was,” Rarity said sarcastically.
I keep looking at her, confused until Caramel patted me on the back.
“Don't pay any mind to what Rarity says,” he said. “She's not a fan of Octavia Melody.”
“Why?” I asked.
“Because she's with my Bluey,” Rarity growled venomously. 
“Rarity, please calm down,” Fluttershy said quietly yet worriedly as she pats Rarity's back.
“Uh, Bluely?” I asked, even more confused.
“She means Blueblood,” Rainbow Dash said, rolling her eyes again. “You need to get over it, Rarity.”
“Never!” Rarity cries out in an over-dramatic way. “He should be mine! Do you hear me? Mine!”
I stared at Rarity even more confused until I turned to Applejack and asked, “So, she has a thing for Blueblood?”
“You could say that,” Applejack said with a scoff. “Rarity used to live in Manehattan and went to the same school as Blueblood until she and her family moved here in the 7th grade. She's been crushing on that pretty boy for the longest time and thought they are destined for one another. When word got out that he was also transferring here, she thought that was her chance to snag him only to learn that he was already dating Octavia Melody, and they were transferring here together, and she's been holding a grudge ever since.”
“I see,” I said, feeling skeptical about the reason Rarity disliked Octavia.
“Judge me as much as you like, dears. I will never forgive her for beating me to him,” Rarity said, aware of how I feel about her reasoning. 
“Come on, Rarity. Blueblood is selfish and self-absorbed,” Rainbow Dash ridiculed. “Can't you see he's not worth it?”
“I know he is,” Rarity said. “But if he just gave me a chance, I just know I can change him for the better.”
Rainbow Dash groaned in annoyance and turned to me and said, “She says this every time we try to get her to get over the guy.”
I couldn't help but giggle a little at the predicament while Rarity rolled her eyes and went back to her lunch with Fluttershy. I go back to mine until my mind goes back to Blueblood and Octavia Melody, and I decide to ask another question.
“Hey, Soarin,” I started, earning Soarin's attention. “You guys have been talking about what Blueblood thinks about himself and Octavia Melody, but what does she think about him? I mean, does she love him?”
Soarin gave me a skeptical look, likely figuring I was asking out of hope that the girl I was talking about doesn't have strong feelings for her boyfriend.
“I think so,” he said. 
I couldn't help but frown and glumly say, “Oh,” before I go back to my lunch.

**********************************************************************************************

Eventually, lunch ended, and I said my goodbyes to Caramel, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Fluttershy, Big Mac, and Starlight Glimmer before Soarin, and I went to our next period together. Everyone said bye back with my new friends saying it was nice to meet me. Starlight Glimmer seemed to be the most pleased to befriend me the way she said it, which confused me, but I decided not to worry about it as I followed Soarin to our next class, which was gym. The gym teacher, Mr. Iron Will, was a tall and muscular guy who didn't waste any time to make us do twenty laps before having us play dodgeball. At first, I was excited to play the game until it turned out that the dodgeballs were hard to the point that it hurt my arm when I got hit by one on the first game. After that, I began to dodge the balls as if my life depended on it much to the amusement of Soarin, who seemed to be used to playing this game this way.
Thankfully, it was time for my final class before I collapsed on the gym floor. Soarin and I said our goodbyes before I went up to the second floor and walked to the other side of the building, where I had English with Ms. Cheerilee. When I entered the classroom, I looked around and saw an empty desk at the far back, and I decided to sit there out of habit from sitting in the back all of the time in Appleloosa. I took out a notebook and pencil before I laid my head on my desk, feeling kind of tired and ready for the last class to come and go. 
But suddenly, my eyes opened wide, and I felt my heart skip a beat when I saw the last person I expected to enter the classroom. Of all people to be walking in, Octavia Melody came in with a smile on her face and sat down on one of the desks in the front row. When the bell rang, announcing that the final class has started, I looked around the room and mentally shook my fist into the air, realizing that no one in the room has blonde hair and wears a tuxedo. I didn’t bother to wonder why Blueblood wasn’t in this class when Soarin assured me they would always be in the same classes. All it meant to me was I could talk to her after class and give her back her ring without her boyfriend around. 
As the teacher started talking about what books we will be reading in class, I was glancing at Octavia while half paying attention. I began to think of ways to approach her as soon as class ended and wondered if she remembered me. 
My train of thought was interrupted, however, when someone nudged me on the side, and I turned to see a blue-skinned girl sitting at the desk next to me, looking at me with a cute, cheerful smile and holding out a handful of papers to me.
“It's the schedule for the semester,” she whispered to me.
It took a moment before I realized that I didn't notice that Ms. Cheerilee gave papers for us to pass to each other. I shook my head and took the papers, silently thanking the girl with a nod before I took out a sheet and handed the rest to the person next to me before I turned my head to face the teacher, trying to pay attention. But no sooner had I done so that the blue girl leaned close to me when Ms. Cheerilee wasn’t looking.
“I'm Sonata,” she whispered. 
I glanced at her while my head is still facing the board. It was clear that she was trying to befriend me instantly. I felt unsure of how to react since she was so upfront, but since Pinkie Pie and Applejack and the others were quick to befriend me I may as well give it a shot with this girl.
“I'm Rough Draft,” I replied.
“Nice to meetcha, Rough Draft,” she whispered cheerfully. “Did you just transfer here?”
“Yes, I moved from Appleloosa,” I whispered.
“Appleloosa? That sounds like fun,” Sonata said. “I hear they grow some of the best apples in all of -”
“Ms. Dusk, is there something you want to say to the class?”
Sonata turned around to see Ms. Cheerilee giving her disapproving glare with the rest of the class turning to look at her.
“No, ma'am. Sorry, ma'am.” Sonata said quickly.
“Good.” Ms. Cheerilee said before she continued discussing the schedule.
Sonata blushed in embarrassment and back to facing the teacher while I went back to thinking about how to approach Octavia Melody after class. I had my hand on my jeans pocket to feel the ring inside to make sure it's still there while I tried to pay closer attention to Ms. Cheerilee. Finally, after fifty-five minutes of waiting, the bell rang, and we all got up from our seats and gathered our things. Ms. Cheerilee called out to us something about homework for tomorrow, but I didn't pay attention to what she said. All I cared about was Octavia Melody grabbing her backpack and heading straight to the exit. I quickly grabbed my backpack, shoved my pen and notebook in, and tried to squeeze my way through the students who were also trying to make their way to the exit. Once I left the room, I looked around eagerly for Octavia Melody only to find her already walking far towards the other side of the hall. I was about to run when I suddenly found Sonata standing in front of me with a friendly smile.
“Hey, Rough Draft,” Sonata said. “So, as I was saying -”
“Look, Sonata,” I began, trying to hide my frustration. “I don't want to sound rude, but I need to talk to someone right away.”
I don't give her a chance to reply before I went past her and raced toward the gray-skinned girl. By the time I was halfway there, Octavia Melody had already taken a left turn to the staircase. I made the turn as fast as I could to find her already halfway through the stairs before I called out to her.
“Octavia Melody!”
It took a moment before she stopped walking and turned around to look at my direction in confusion, making goosebumps appear all over my body. I quickly shook my head before my cheeks could heat up and promptly went down the stairs to catch up with her. She was staring at me, unsure of how to act until I cleared my throat.
“Uh, hey. My name is Rough Draft,” I said nervously. 
Octavia Melody stayed silent for a moment before she said, “Greetings. Can I help you?”
“Uh, well, you probably don't recognize me,” I said with an awkward grin. “I'm the guy you ran over a week ago.”
Octavia Melody's eyes widened and said, “Oh, I'm so sorry about that. I hope I didn't hurt you too hard.”
“Oh, don’t worry about it,” I said. “I just got a little bump in the head, but it's gone now.”
“Well, that's a relief,” she said with a kind smile. “Though while we’re on the subject, I really appreciate that you saved my cello. It means so much to me, and I don't know what I would have done if I lost it.”
I blushed at the way she kindly said that to me before I shook my head and tried to keep my cool. 
“You're very welcome,” I said. “But now that we are on the subject, there's something else I want to give back to you.”
She looked at me curiously again until I reached into my pocket and took out the ring. Octavia Melody let out a sharp, high-pitched gasp and covered her mouth with both of her hands. Her eyes were wide, and her pupils were the size of raisins. She stayed frozen in this position for so long that I grew uneasy while students are passing by, minding their own business. Finally, Octavia swiftly walked over to me and snatched the ring from my hands. She stared at it in shock for a moment before she smiled joyously and kissed the ring before putting it on her finger. Then she turned to me and pulled me into a tight hug, taking me by surprise.
“Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!” She cried out while squeezing me. “I thought I lost this forever! Blueblood has been so upset that I wasn't wearing it. I was so worried that he would never forgive me for losing it after promising him that I would keep it with me always.”
I felt a numbing pain in my heart at the mention of Blueblood, but the pain felt outweighed by the feeling of her hugging me so tightly again. I can feel my cheeks burning up, but this time I let it happen and hug her back, figuring I should enjoy this moment while it lasts. 
“You're quite welcome,” I said. “I'm glad I got to give it back before -”
“WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING!?!”
Octavia Melody and I broke the hug, and I turned around only to find a white hand grabbing me by the throat and slamming me against the wall. The next thing I knew, I was face to face with a tall guy with white skin, golden-blonde hair, and wearing a tuxedo with a red rose attached to it. The guy had a livid look on his face as he grasped on my throat. 
Blueblood.
“You have some gall to so much as touch my lady, you filthy scoundrel,” he growled.
“Blueblood!” Octavia cried out. “Let him go! This is a misunderstanding!”
“Quite right, my dear. This is a major misunderstanding,” Blueblood snarled as he moved his other arm back, preparing to punch me in the face. “This fool fails to understand that he should never try anything with my girlfriend.”
“He wasn't trying anything!”
The three of us turned our heads to see Sonata walking down the stairs toward us. 
“Rough Draft was trying to give Octavia her ring back,” she protested. 
“And why should I believe the stupidest and the most annoying of all the Dazzlings?” Blueblood barked. “Are you defending this guy because your big sister wants to use him next for her little games? Well, you can tell Adagio that if she wants her toy, she can collect it herself instead of her bimbo pawn.”
My eyes widened in realization, and I turned to Sonata, who is visibly hurt by his insults. I couldn't believe that I forgot that Applejack mentioned that one of the Dazzlings is a girl named Sonata. She looked like she was on the verge of tears before Octavia Melody stood between Blueblood and Sonata and held up her hand that has the ring.
“No, she's telling the truth!” She protested. “Look, dear, he gave it back to me. He found my ring and went looking for me so that he could return it.”
Blueblood's eyes immediately turned to the ring, and his anger slowly melted away. He released me, and I cough violently while rubbing my throat. But on the inside, my heart was hurting more as I watched Blueblood take Octavia's hand that had the ring and kissing it affectionately, earning a smile from her. 
“Oh, how wonderful,” Blueblood said excitedly. “The ring is back. Thank heaven! Oh. What a happy day!”
“Yes, yes, the ring is back,” Octavia Melody giggled before her face turned serious. “But, you owe some apologies for your behavior.”
“Oh yes, you're quite right,” Blueblood said. “Sonata, I'm sorry that I was mocking your sister. Alright, let's go, my dear.”
Octavia Melody frowned and said, “And Rough Draft too.”
Blueblood winced and let out a little whimper. Octavia Melody and Sonata didn't seem to notice it, but it was clear to me that he did not want to apologize to me, in particular. With a forced grin, he turned to me and patted me on the back begrudgingly.
“So sorry, dear boy,” he said with his teeth clenched together. “I fear I have a terrible habit of being overprotective when it comes to the lady of my life.”
He robotically offered his hand to me, and I gave him an unconvinced look before I decided to give him a forced handshake.
“That's alright,” I lied. “I'm sure I would act the same if I saw my girlfriend hugging some dude I don't know.”
“Yes, quite right,” Blueblood said with a nod before quickly letting go of my hand. “Well, now that we have this matter taken care of, we must be on our way.”
Blueblood turned around to walk down the rest of the stairs, but Octavia Melody frowned disapprovingly and walked in front of her boyfriend with a glare.
“Is that all you have to say after he bothered to give me back my ring?” She rebuked. 
Blueblood stared at her for a moment before he let out what I can best describe as a fancy chuckle.
“My, my, what a pickle I'm in,” he said playfully. “My dear Octavia is most displeased. What to do? What to do?”
Blueblood pretended to scratch his chin in thought before he snapped his fingers and winked at Octavia Melody before turning to me. 
“Dear boy, if you don't have anything planned, would you like to join us for dinner?” he asked. “We're are going to this new restaurant called The Tasty Treat, and you would be more than welcome to join us. My treat. Er, no pun intended.”
I raised my eyebrow at how his offer sounded like he just thought of it from watching Titanic, but I also noticed that Octavia seemed to be pleased with Blueblood’s idea. I turned to Sonata, who nodded vigorously like a little child. I didn’t like the idea of being offered to dine with Octavia Melody and her boyfriend in such a superficial manner from the latter, but it did mean I could spend more time with Octavia Melody and get to know her more. Maybe I'll even learn why she is dating someone like Blueblood. 
“Sure, that sounds like fun,” I said with as much genuine enthusiasm as I could muster.
“Tremendous,” Blueblood said with a grin. “We shall see you then at 7:00 sharp. Kindly don’t be late.”
I nodded in response, and Blueblood turned around with his head up high and proceeded to walk down the steps with his arm around Octavia Melody.
“I look forward to seeing you there, Mr. Draft,” She called out as the pair leave.
“I do too, Ms. Melody,” I called out back before they are out of sight.
For a moment, silence filled the area while Sonata and I were still standing in the middle of the staircase. By now, all of the other students were long gone and likely most of the teachers too. I was back to feeling bad from the way I treated her, and she was probably still hurt with what Blueblood said to her despite his forced apology. I decided to break the silence by clearing my throat and turning to Sonata with a humble look.
“Uh, thank you for helping me back there,” I said.
Sonata’s face turned slightly cheerful again, and she replied, “You’re welcome.”
I gave her a small smile back before I rubbed my arm and said, “Listen, I'm sorry about the way I acted earlier. I know you were just friendly and I was rude and -”
“That’s okay,” Sonata interrupted with her face looking sad again. “If anything, I should apologize that I was getting in your way with trying to give Octavia Melody her ring back. I’ve been told that I annoy people all the time. It’s why I don’t have any friends.”
I frown at the last thing she said.
“Who told you that?” I asked.
“My sisters,” Sonata replied. “They always get everyone’s attention even though we’re a team, especially Adagio. All the guys fawn over her, and a lot of girls wish she can be as pretty as her. But me? I’m just the annoying one.”
My guilt grew as she said those words. It sounded to me that Sonata is going through the same I was before I moved here, and what’s worse is that I may as well have supported what this Adagio says to her. I gave her a small smile before putting my hand on her shoulder, which surprised her.
“Tell you what, let’s just call it even, and we can be friends,” I offered.
“Wha..what? Really?” Sonata asked with her voice high-pitched.
“Sure,” I said with a reassuring smile. “I mean, you did help me out and all, and, hey, I know what it’s like to be outcast too.”
“For realsies?” Sonata asked before she smiled brightly and pulled me into a tight hug. “Oh, thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou, THANK YOU!!!!” 
I struggled to breathe until she broke the hug. I rubbed my back while she giggled cutely. 
“Sorry, I guess I don’t know my strength, buddy,” she said with her hands behind her back.
“You don’t say,” I said with a little chuckle. “I guess that comes to show how you don’t get to hug people much like me.”
Sonata giggled again over me talking more about what we have in common. But then her friendly smile turned into a sly smirk, and she walked over to me until our faces are inches apart.
“Speaking of hugs, though, I noticed you were turning red while Octavia Melody was hugging you,” she said teasingly. “Care to enlighten a girl as to why?” 
I feel my cheeks heating up again, realizing she caught me. Her grin grew as she waited for me to admit to my crush on the girl that I know I cannot be with. It looked like there was no way to get around it until…
“SONATA!”
Sonata gasped, and we both turned our heads to see a girl with light, yellow skin, and long orange hair. She had an irritated look on her face and had her hands on her hips as she walked up the stairs toward us. I did my best to keep my eyes on her face as she had an inconceivable figure that I imagined would indeed bring guys to do whatever this girl desired just as Applejack warned me. 
“What do you think you’re doing?” she snarled at Sonata. “We need to be in the cafe now! This is no time for you to irritate this stupid boy right.”
“But...bu-bu-bu-bu-” Sonata stuttered fearfully like a child in trouble.
“No excuses,” Adagio growled. “We’re leaving now.”
Without another word, she grabbed Sonata firmly by the arm and dragged her down the stairs. Sonata whimpered in pain from the grip and turned to me with a sad look. I stand there, unsure of what to do before I give her a small smile as a way of saying, “I’ll see you in class," silently. She seemed to read my facial expression as she smiled back before her sister dragged her out of sight.
With that, I let out a deep sigh and leaned my back against the wall. I felt like a lot of energy was drained from me during the last several minutes with giving Octavia Melody her ring back, almost getting pummeled by Blueblood, offered to come to dinner with them tonight and befriending Sonata before her sister dragged her away. Add all of that with joining Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Soarin, and Applejack’s group and becoming friends with Caramel, Fluttershy, Big Mac, Starlight Glimmer, and sort of Rarity, as this made my first day at my new school a rather exciting one. Now all that was left is figuring out what to do for the next four hours or so before going to dinner with Octavia Melody and her boyfriend.
Just then, I felt my phone vibrating, and I take it out to see I have a text message from Pinkie Pie. I stare in confusion as I was pretty sure I haven’t exchanged numbers with her or any of our friends. After a moment of hesitation, I open the message and read the text.
Pinkie: Hiya, Rough Draft. I hope you don’t mind, but I secretly added me, Dashie, Applejack, Soarin, and the rest of our friends into your contact list while we were at lunch. Anywho, the whole group is about to come to Sugarcube Cafe right now since Starlight Glimmer hasn’t gone before. Wanna come?
I felt a little uneasy at how Pinkie Pie just up and added everyone into my contact list without telling me even though I probably would have asked everyone for their numbers later, but after making a mental note to tell Pinkie Pie to leave my phone alone, I smiled, feeling excited to hang out with my new group of friends.
Me. Sure, I’ll be right there. 
And with that, I put my phone away and start proceeding to the cafe, thinking about how to tell everyone how returning the ring went.
> Chapter 3
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“He did WHAT?!”
I'm at Sugarcube Cafe with Soarin, Caramel, Applejack, Big Mac, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and Starlight Glimmer, and I just told them what happened when I approached Octavia Melody to return her ring to her. Everyone looked at me in shock except Starlight Glimmer, who just looked at me confused. 
“Wait, so this Blueblood guy that we're all supposed to avoid invited you to dinner with his girlfriend, Octavia Melody, because she kinda convinced him to?” She asked. 
I shrugged and said, “Pretty much, yeah.”
Rarity frowned bitterly and crossed her arms in jealousy.
“Well, lucky you,” she said. “I don't suppose he said you could bring a friend, did he?”
I gave Rarity a sad smile, knowing that she is hoping I would invite her so she can be close to Blueblood.
“Sorry, Rarity, he didn't,” I said. “But if I get the chance to another time, I'll let you know. Promise.”
Rarity smiled, satisfied with my answer. Soarin, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash, on the other hand, looked at me suspiciously.
“Rough Draft, did you accept their offer because it means you can be near Octavia Melody?” Rainbow Dash asked. “Tell us honestly. Applejack can tell when someone is lying.”
I stared at Rainbow Dash, confused and turned to Applejack, asking, “Is that true?”
“You bet your boots, it's true,” Applejack answered. “You twist the truth even just a little bit and I'll call you out.”
“She'll do it, Rough Draft,” Caramel said. “Take it from a guy who works at her farm. You should never lie to Applejack.”
I stared at Caramel, unsure of how to respond before I decide to trust him and say, “Well, I’m curious about the restaurant that I’ll get to eat for free, so Octavia Melody isn’t the only reason.”
“Oh, come on!” Soarin rebuked. “Are you so smitten with her just because she’s pretty that you’ll stalk her every chance you get even though she’s with someone?”
I scratched the back of my head and said, “Yeah, I know. It does seem like I’m only doing this because of her looks, but I want to believe that there’s more to her than meets the eye.”
“What do you mean?” Starlight Glimmer asked as she sipped on her milkshake.
I sighed and said, “I don’t know how to explain it. I just have...a feeling that she’s a better person than someone like Blueblood deserves, especially after how she disapproved of the way Blueblood treated Sonata and me. Maybe she’s a nice person who wants to change Blueblood’s cruel ways as his girlfriend.”
“She better not be trying. That’s my future job,” Rarity snarled.
“Easy, Rarity,” Fluttershy said nervously as she rubbed her best friend’s back. 
Soarin and Rainbow Dash looked at me skeptically before turning to Applejack. The apple farmer looked at them and sighed before she said, “He’s telling the truth.”
Soarin frowned and said, “Well, you should still be careful. Even if what you say is true, the fact is she’s with someone else.”
“I know,” I said with a sigh. “But I hope I can at least be friends with her like I am with Sonata.”
Once again, everyone looked at me, surprised.
“You befriended one of the Dazzlings?!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed.
“Wow, Rough Draft, you have a lot of guts today,” Pinkie Pie said with a teasing grin.
“I know how it sounds, but it feels right that I did it,” I said. “She told me how her sisters treat her and look down on her, and she just wanted a friend. How can I not understand that after having no friends at all until I met you guys?”
Applejack sighed and said, “Well, that much I can understand. Sonata does appear to be the nicest one out of the three Dazzlings. Lord knows my Granny Smith is fond of her.”
I looked at Applejack, confused, and asked, “Granny Smith?”
“Oh yeah, I don’t think anyone has told you,” Caramel said with a smile. “Applejack and Big Mac’s grandmother, Granny Smith, is the old woman who works at the school cafeteria.”
“Really? The old woman with green skin is your grandmother?” I asked Applejack and Big Mac, surprised.
“Eeyup,” Big Mac said plainly. 
“Sure is,” Applejack said with a proud smile. “Anyway, Granny seems to care for Sonata since she likes to talk about her sometimes. Apparently, the Dazzlings have lunch period before us, and Granny likes to give Sonata an extra apple on her lunch tray secretly. They don’t seem to talk to each other or anything, but I guess Granny has a feeling she’s a nice girl who’s in a bad situation.”
“Now see, that sounds like something that supports what I’m doing,” I claimed. “I may have just met Sonata, but I know just from her trying to defend me that she’s at least nice unlike Adagio. If Granny can be that confident about Sonata, why can’t I with maybe becoming friends with Octavia Melody?”
Caramel, Soarin, Rainbow Dash, and Applejack gave each other looks of concern. Starlight Glimmer hummed in thought before she smiled and turned to the group.
“Well, if he just wants to be friends with her, then I don't see the harm with that,” she said. “I mean the way you guys talk about her and Blueblood, it seems clear that she doesn't have any friends either. Maybe it wouldn't hurt if Rough Draft tries to be her friend, right?”
“Absolutely!” Pinkie Pie said. “Everyone should have a friend. If Rough Draft has a chance to be a friend to someone who doesn't have one, then he should take it. Right, Fluttershy?”
“Um, yes?” Fluttershy says unsure.
“But aren't you overlooking the fact that Rough Draft still has an obvious crush on Octavia Melody?” Caramel pointed out.
I winced, hoping no one was going to bring it up again.
“Yeah, he does,” Soarin said before turning to me. “So, how do we know you aren't doing this to try to break her and Blueblood up?”
“If he is, then he has my blessing,” Rarity said.
Soarin, Rainbow Dash, and Applejack glared at Rarity before turning to me for an answer. 
“No, I'm not trying to break them up,” I said honestly. “I mean yes, part of me does wish she wasn't with him, but I mean it when I say I'm perfectly okay with just being friends. Besides, even if she was single, how would she be interested in a guy like me, anyway?”
“Aw, come on, Rough Draft. Don't be so hard on yourself. Any girl would be lucky to date someone like you. I'm sure or it,” Pinkie Pie chirped. 
“I agree,” Starlight Glimmer said while giving me a kind smile. “In fact, I'm willing to bet you’ll find someone special long before this school year is over.”
I gave both girls appreciative smiles and said, “That's very kind of you to say, but I should clarify. I mean, I don't think I would be her type since she likes someone like Blueblood.”
Starlight Glimmer frowned for a moment before she smiled again and said, “I understand, but at least you'll have another new friend if you succeed, right?”
“Right,” I said with a smile.
Applejack sighed and said, “Alright, Rough Draft. If you really mean it, then do your best. But be sure to stick to being only friends with Octavia Melody. Remember, Blueblood is still possessive of his girl.”
“You don't need to tell me, Applejack,” I said, rubbing my throat. “Believe me; my throat still hurts from his grip.”
Starlight Glimmer winced at the way I was massaging my neck. Applejack, however, nodded and patted me on the back. 
“You're a good guy, Rough Draft,” she said. “Be sure you stay that way.”
I smiled and gave her a firm nod.

***********************************************************************

My friends and I continued to talk for a couple of hours at Sugercube Cafe even after our drinks were long finished. Afterward, we went our separate ways with Pinkie Pie and I heading to our respective houses in our block. 
“Say, Pinkie,” I began. “Have you ever been to the Tasty Treat?”
Pinkie Pie's eyes lit up, and she said, “Oh yes. Practically a dozen times already. The food is super-duper delicious.”
“Oh good,” I said with a little smile. “Is it a place where you need to dress up at all? I mean, I'm having dinner with a rich couple after all.”
Pinkie Pie giggled like a child getting tickled and said, “Of course not, silly. You can dress normally there. Plus, Coriander Cumin and his daughter, Saffron Masala, are very friendly. They came here from Saddle Arabia to open their restaurant here in Canterlot.”
“Saddle Arabia? That's cool,” I said intrigued. 
“It sure is,” Pinkie Pie said with a smile. “But if you're anxious about looking nice to impress Octavia Melody, I suggest a nice polo shirt if you got one.”
I frowned and said, “Hold on, I didn't say I am trying to impress -”
“You also didn't say you aren't either,” Pinkie Pie said teasingly as she winked and elbowed me. “Good luck.”
Before I could say anything else, the pink girl hopped to her front door and entered her house. I stared at the closed door for a moment before I sighed and started heading to my house, muttering, “Why do I get the feeling I'll never get used to her?”
I went home and found a black polo shirt in my closet that I barely use. I put it on and checked myself in the mirror before looking up directions to the Tasty Treat and headed out. By the time I got there, it was 6:51, according to my phone, and so I decided to stand next to the door and play a game on my phone. 
After a couple of minutes of playing, I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned my head around only to feel my heart skip a beat at the sight of Octavia Melody standing next to me with a small smile on her face.
“Mr. Draft, good to see you found your way here,” she greeted. “You even came here a little early. I'm impressed.”
I smiled and said, “Well, Blueblood did say 7:00 sharp, and this isn't too far from my house, so I thought it best to make sure I'm here early, Octavia Melody.”
Octavia Melody let out a chuckle under her breath and said, “Oh please, just call me Octavia. I know saying my full name can be a mouthful.”
My smile brightened, and I said, “Alright, then you can just call me Rough Draft. No need to address me so formally unless you want to.”
Octavia smiled and said, “Okay. Rough Draft it is.”
The two of us stayed silent for several seconds before we both started to look for something to say next.
“So, uh,” I began awkwardly. “Is Blueblood on his way?”
Octavia's smile faltered, and she turned her head to stare at Crystal City in the distance.
“I hope so,” she said with a hint of weariness in her voice. “Blueblood did have a meeting to go to after he gave me a ride home from work.”
“A meeting?” I asked.
“Yes, Blueblood has a part-time job in his father's company," Octavia explained. 
"Oh, that's nice," I said politely. 
“Yes, it is,” Octavia said. “But, I rarely see him anymore apart from school. He's been constantly late on dates and other occasions because of it. He's even had to have someone record me playing my cello at a concert.”
I frowned at the way Octavia was feeling glum, but then she eyes widened, and she chuckled nervously, shaking her head.
“I am so sorry,” she chuckled. “I didn't mean to dump that kind of personal information on you.”
“Oh, please don't worry about it,” I said, waving my hands. “It sounds like you have kept that to yourself for a while.”
Octavia sighed and said, “You could say that. I feel I should discuss this with him, but I don't want to be a bother when he is working very hard at his father's company.”
I nodded in understanding and said, “If you don't mind me asking, what does he do in his part-time job?”
“Honestly, I do not know,” Octavia answered. “Whenever I ask, he just tells me it's private.”
I frowned again and said, “That sounds strange.”
“I suppose it would sound strange to you, but I think it's clear that whatever it is, it must be important,” Octavia said, trying to sound reassuring before her face turned sad again. “Still, I wish he would try to be around more and find some way to be more open to me about his work.”
My face saddened while Octavia looked away from me, deep in thought about her relationship. I wished there was something I could do besides merely saying, “I'm sorry,” knowing that would do very little. Just then, I heard a car honk and Octavia, and I turned to see a limousine parking on the sidewalk. Octavia sighed in relief as the back car door opened to reveal Blueblood eyeing his watch before looking up and smiling at Octavia.
“6:59. One minute early,” he said proudly. “Am I forgiven for missing your concert again?”
Octavia walked over to him with a soft smile and gave him a quick peck on the lips that made my heart ache. 
“That will depend on how you behave at dinner,” she answered.
Blueblood frowned for a moment before he quickly replaced his frown with a playful smile.
“Very well,” he said before turning to me. “Ah, yes, and here we have the hero of the hour on time as asked.”
I restrained myself from chuckling over him calling me a hero just because I returned the ring and nodded.
“So I am,” I replied. 
Blueblood scoffed and walked over to me so that he could speak without Octavia hearing him.
“Well, it's splendid to know that even common people have the courtesy to be punctual,” he said condescendingly.
I felt my blood boil at his words and wanted to punch him in the face. Fortunately, before my hands turned into fists, Octavia stepped in with a smile, wrapping her arm around Blueblood's arm. 
“Right, now that we are all here, shall we go in?” She suggested. 
I calmed down at the sight of her so friendly and clueless about the way her boyfriend talked down to me. I forced myself to smile for her and gave a sharp nod. 
“Yes, let's,” Blueblood said. “I don't know about you, dear, but I am famished beyond expression.”
Octavia smiled at her boyfriend as the three of us entered the restaurant. As soon as we entered, we were met with a fat, short man with brilliant amber skin and dark raspberry hair.
“Welcome to the Tasty Treat,” he greeted in a Saddle Arabian accent. “My name is Coriander Cumin. How can I help you?”
Blueblood cleared his throat loudly and said, “Yes, I reserved a table at the balcony under the name Blueblood.”
Coriander Cumin looked at Blueblood, confused, and took out a clipboard.
“I'm sorry, sir, but I don't seem to have a reservation under that name,” he said.
“What?” Blueblood growled. “I specifically reserved a table exactly 48 hours in advance!”
“Blueblood, calm down,” Octavia said calmly.
“I'll calm down when this man gives us what I called for,” Blueblood snarled.
Coriander Cumin frowned at Blueblood's attitude and said, “Listen here, young man, you cannot just come here and make a fuss claiming -”
“Father, wait!”
Coriander Cumin, Blueblood, Octavia, and I turned our heads to see a teenage girl with brilliant orange skin, dark fuschia hair in a waitress outfit running towards us. She stepped between Coriander Cumin and Blueblood, Octavia, and I before giving the three of us an apologetic bow.
“I'm so, so sorry,” she said humbly. “I forgot to inform my father about your reservation. I have your table all ready for you.”
Coriander Cumin looked at the girl confused and said, “What are you talking about, Saffron Masala? There is no reservation for -”
But before he could continue, the girl named Saffron Masala covered his mouth with her hand and gave us a nervous grin.
“Please excuse us for one moment,” she said.
Blueblood scoffed and rolled his eyes impatiently as Saffron Masala turned Coriander Cumin around so that their backs were facing us. Octavia frowned in concern while I looked at the host and waitress curiously.
“Saffron, I know for a fact that we did not make a reservation in the balcony,” I heard Coriander Cumin mutter.
“Father, do you not know who that is?” Saffron Masala rebuked quietly. “That's the son of the head of Blueblood Enterprises, the richest company in the country.”
“And I'm a magical genie in disguise. What is your point?” Her father asked.
“Think about it, father!” Saffron Masala hissed. “If we show Mr. Blueblood and his friends great service and they love our food, he'll tell his father about our restaurant, and that will lead to more people will come.”
Coriander Cumin's eyes widened, and he gave his daughter a sharp nod. Saffron Masala smiled brightly, and the two of them turned around to face Blueblood with a bow.
“A thousand apologies, sir,” the old man said. “It seems I looked at my reservation list wrong. If you would please kindly follow my daughter, she will lead you to your table.”
Blueblood turns to the duo and gives them a fake smile. 
“Wonderful. Please lead the way," he said.
Saffron Masala beamed and happily started escorting me, Octavia, and Blueblood, with Blueblood leading behind the waitress. As Saffron Masala was leading us up the stairs to the second floor of the building, however, I couldn't help but glance at Octavia who was being so calm and happy, not notice the way Blueblood was faking his enthusiasm. I began to wonder if Blueblood was hiding the way he treats other people from her. 
As I pondered on the matter, Saffron Masala directed us outside to the balcony where a couple of tables were set next to the railing with candles in the center of each of them. The waitress placed a couple of menus on the table and turned to us, saying, “Here you are. Can I get any of you something to drink while you look at your menus?”
“A glass of water would be fine, thank you,” Octavia said politely with a smile. 
“A soda would be nice, please,” I answer.
Blueblood opened his mouth to answer, but then his cell phone began to ring, and he took it out. 
“Blueblood, please don't tell me it's your father calling from work,” Octavia said worryingly.
“Sorry, dear, but it is,” Blueblood said plainly with his eyes glued to his phone. “I need to take this.”
“You promised me you wouldn't do this," Octavia begged. 
But instead of apologizing, Blueblood turned to Saffron Masala and ordered, “I'll have sparkling water, and I'll have whatever she orders,” before he went back inside.
“Blueblood!” Octavia demanded, but her cries fell on deaf ears. She stared at where her boyfriend exited before her face fell, and she hung her head sadly. Saffron Masala and I looked at each other with looks of sympathy for the gray-skinned girl before the waitress cleared her throat.
“I'll go get your drinks,” she said.
I gave her an appreciative nod before she went back inside. For a moment, Octavia and I just stood there until she glumly turned to take a seat at the table. I put up a chair for her, and she gave me a weak smile before she sat down, and I helped myself to a seat on the other side of the table. The two of us stayed quiet for a couple minutes before I cleared my throat.
“Are you okay?” I asked.
Octavia stayed silent for a moment before she glanced and me and muttered, “I'm fine, “ before looking back down. I frowned, knowing that she was anything but fine. I tried to think of something to cheer her up until she looked up to face me with a sad look.
“It feels like Blueblood has been paying less attention to me,” she said. “He glances at me and smiles when we're in class, but even that doesn't seem to have the same meaning anymore.”
“I'm sorry to hear that," I said.
“Thanks,” she said bluntly. “I was hoping he would have paid more attention after you returned my ring.”
I looked at her, confused, and asked, “How do you mean?”
Octavia lifted her hand that's wearing the ring and said, “He gave me this ring on our first anniversary. It's very expensive, and he made me promise never to take it off. He was agitated when he saw me without it the day I bumped into you, but he was so relieved to find it back on my finger.”
“I see,” I said. “So, you hoped he would give you more attention if you found your ring after accidentally losing it?”
“That was the hope, yes,” Octavia confirmed before turning to me. “Friendly advice, Rough Draft: if you ever have a girlfriend, do everything you can to make sure you’re always there for her and that she’s happy.”
“Oh, I intend to,” I said with a smile. “Nothing in the world would make me happier to be in a close relationship like that. If there was someone that I love and she sincerely loves me in return, I would do everything I could to keep her happy with me as if the existence of my very soul depended on it.”
Octavia giggled while covering her mouth with her hand and said, “My, my. You seem to have a lot of conviction. I envy your enthusiasm.” 
I chuckled and said, “Well, it helps that I know what it’s like to be alone after living my whole life in Applelosa.”
Octavia looked at me, confused, and asked, “What do you mean?”
“Well, if we’re being honest with each other, I was an outcast,” I answered.
Octavia frowned sadly and asked, “Why would someone outcast a nice person like you?”
I smile appreciatively at her before I answered, “Well, I was interested in things that no one apart from my parents was interested in."
“Oh? Like what?” Octavia queried.
I hesitated before I said, “I’d rather not tell you.”
“Why?” Octavia asked.
“You might find think less of me if I told you,” I answered.
Octavia gave me a disapproving pout and said, “Try me.”
I hesitated again, wanting to say no, but at the same time, I wanted to find out if I can be friends with her just like Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Soarin, Caramel, and the rest of my new friends. I gulped and said with the bravest face I could muster, “It was because I’m a nerd."
Octavia looked at me, confused, and asked, “You mean like one of those people who likes video games and comics and all that stuff?”
“Exactly,” I said. 
Octavia looked at me skeptically and asked, “Whatever is wrong with that? I may not big into stuff like that, I grant you, but that’s hardly a reason to think badly about someone. I certainly don’t think less of you just because you are a nerd.”
I looked at her with a small smile and asked, “Do you really mean that?”
“Well, of course,” she said with a reassuring smile. “Why would you think otherwise?”
I frowned and said, “Well, people at Applelosa did think less of me for being one. I never had a day where I had a friend there much less had ever met someone who would date me. I have friends that like me for who I am now at Canterlot High, but back at that lousy town, having anyone care about me worth spit was a pipe dream at best.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry,” Octavia says.
“Thanks,” I replied. “Anyway, my point is a lot of my conviction over what i would do if i had a girlfriend comes from always being alone. So I’m happy with the friends I have now, and I swear to you I would be the same if I ever got together with someone.”
“Well, that’s good to hear,” Octavia said, approvingly. 
I smiled at her, and she smiled back until Saffron Masala stepped in with a kind smile. 
“Have you decided what to order?” she asked. 
Octavia and I looked at each other, realizing we haven’t looked at our menus. We quickly picked them up and looked through them with Saffron Masala waiting patiently before we made our choices. 
“I’ll have the tandoori chicken, please,” I said politely.
“And my boyfriend and I will have the fish curry,” Octavia said.
“Excellent choices,” Saffron Masala said with a friendly smile as she took our menus. “We’ll have your meals read right away.”
“Thank you,” Octavia and I said at the same time as the waitress went back inside.
After that, the two of us were silent for a couple of minutes. I started to think of something else to say before Octavia spoke first.
“You know, I sort of know what it’s like to not have any friends, Rough Draft,” she said.
“You do?” I asked, confused.
Octavia nodded and said, "I have. You see -"
But at that moment, Blueblood came back with his hand held high and said, "Alright, business is taken care of."
Octavia glared at her boyfriend while I looked at him disapprovingly. Blueblood frowned at us and claimed, "Now, don't look at me that way. That was an important call."
"More important than me?" Octavia snarled.
Blueblood waved his hands and said, "Of course not, but -" 
"Then turn off your phone," Octavia commanded. 
Blueblood's frown deepens, and he said, "Now look here, Octavia, I understand that you are displeased, but asking me that is crossing the line."
"I'm not asking you, Blueblood. I'm telling you," Octavia countered.
"But what if there's a call that needs my immediate attention?" Blueblood protests. 
"Then, they will have to deal with it for the night!" Octavia barked. "Now turn off that phone, sit next to be, and stay there!"
For several seconds the balcony was silent. Then Blueblood huffed in annoyance, took out his phone, and turned it off. He then walked over to the seat next to Octavia and silently sat on it with a wooden face. The three of us are silent until Saffron Masala came back with a tray of food.
"Alright, the tandoori chicken, for you," she said, putting down my food in front of me. "And the fish curry for you two."
Blueblood didn't acknowledge that the waitress was there while Octavia and I turned to Saffron Masala and smiled. 
"Thank you," I said. "It all looks delicious."
"Indeed. I'm impressed that you had it ready so quickly," Octavia added.
Saffron Masala smiled warmly and said, "My father and I aim to make sure our customer's food is both delicious and delivered in a timely matter. Anyway, please enjoy."
Octavia and I nodded as Saffron Masala left, and Blueblood gets ready to start eating before Octavia grabbed his hand holding his fork.
"We need to pray first, dear," Octavia said.
Blueblood frowned, and begrudgingly puts down his fork and places his hands together while Octavia and I also placed our hands together and bowed our heads.
"Dear Lord, thank you for this food and bless it to our bodies," Octavia began. "And bless our time together, getting to know Rough Draft, who kindly brought back my ring. It's in your name we pray amen."
"Amen," I said. 
"Amen," Blueblood said nonchalantly before we started eating
For a minute, we ate quietly for until Octavia decided to look at me and ask, "How's the chicken, Rough Draft?"
"It's good," I answered. "How about the curry?"
"It's adequate for a restaurant in the suburbs," Blueblood answered before Octavia can speak. 
"Dear, behave," Octavia said disapprovingly before she turned to me and smiled. "The curry is exquisite. I'm certainly impressed with how they made such a good dish like this in such a short amount of time."
"Well, I guess it comes to show that Saffron Masala and her dad didn't call this place the Tasty Treat for nothing," I said with a smile.
Octavia and I both chuckled, and she said, "Indeed."
Blueblood looked at us, suspiciously over the way we were getting along. As Octavia and I went back to our food, he decided to clear his throat to gain my attention.
"So, Mr. Draft, I understand that you're new to Canterlot," he said.
I looked at him skeptically, knowing he was forcing himself to act like he was interested. I wanted to call him out on it, but I didn't want to disturb Octavia while she's eating, knowing that she's upset with Blueblood already.
"Yes, I came from Appleloosa," I replied. 
"Ah, I hear they produce good apples there," Blueblood said. 
"I wouldn't know because I had little interest in the apples that grew there," I said.
"Oh? And why's that?" Blueblood asked.
I frowned, realizing that my answer would be related to the fact that I'm a nerd, and I didn't trust Blueblood to react to it the same way that Octavia did.
"I was simply interested in other things," I answered.
"Like what?" Blueblood asked.
"Just other things," I said.
Blueblood raised his eyebrow, and his fake friendly smile turned into an amused smirk. My phony smile faltered slightly as I realized that he figured out that I was hiding something. 
"Oh, come now, dear boy. Don't be shy," he said. "You can tell me."
"Don't worry about it," I said. "It's my business."
"Now, now, you shoul -" Blueblood began before Octavia put her hand in front of his mouth.
"Dear, that's enough," she said. "It's rude to pry."
I sighed and gave Octavia a thankful smile. She smiled back while Blueblood frowned and moved Octavia's hand away from him. 
"Honestly, dear, I'm just asking a simple question," he protested. 
"And he doesn't want to answer," Octavia said in a disciplining tone. "If Rough Draft doesn't want to talk about the nerdy things he's interested in, then that's -"
Octavia's eyes widened, and she covered her mouth before turning her head to see me looking back at her, shocked. Blueblood turned to his girlfriend, surprised before he suddenly burst into laughter. 
"Nerdy? You mean you're one of those losers that obsesses in video games and comics and all of those dorky things?" He giggles.
I looked away from him coldly, refusing to answer his question directly. Unfortunately, my silence was all Blueblood needed. He started to laugh harder, making me wince. Even though I don't care about what someone like Blueblood thinks about me, his mockery made me feel like I'm back in Appleloosa. All the times where other kids would make fun of me for being the way I am were flooding make into my memory as he laughed with a wicked sense of glee. 
Octavia gave me an apologetic look before she glared at Blueblood and said, "Blueblood, stop laughing at him!"
"I can't help it," Blueblood said in mid laughter. "It's the most hilarious thing I've heard in ages. To think that we've been having dinner with someone who wastes her time on the most silly and insignificant things is just -"
"At least I don't put things before my girlfriend!" I shouted.
Blueblood stops laughing, and he looked at me flabbergasted as he asked. "What did you say?"
"You heard me!" I barked. "I don't give a crap how important your nice job is! You shouldn't treat your girlfriend as second-rate! I may not have known Octavia for very long, but I know she is a caring person who cares about your relationship and that's more than enough reason for me to think of you as nothing less of an uptight, inconsiderate pig!"
Blueblood and Octavia were speechless at my outburst. I turned to Octavia, who looked at me as if I said a dark secret in front of her boyfriend. I gave her apologetic look, realizing that I went too far before Blueblood grabbed me by my shirt and pulled me towards him.
"You dare criticize me about my relationship?!" He yelled. "I am the Prince of Manehatten! You should be kissing my shoes for allowing you to be in my presence or let you see her face! No one tells me what I should or shouldn't do! Octavia  Melody is mine and -"
"Blueblood, watch out!" Octavia shouted.
Blueblood and I looked at Octavia, confused until we heard the faint sound of fire burning something. We looked down to see that Blueblood's right elbow is so close to the candle that's his suit caught on fire. Blueblood screamed in alarm as he let go of me and started waving his arm, hysterically screaming, "PUT IT OUT! PUT IT OUT! PUT IT OUT! PUT IT OUT!" 
Octavia quickly grabbed her glass of water and ran over to Blueblood to put out the fire with it, but Blueblood was flailing his arm so much that she can't get an opening to where the fire is.
"Blueblood, stop moving!" She cried out.
I looked around to think of something to do until I see my soda and Blueblood's sparkling water. Without thinking, I grabbed them with both of my hands and threw both of them at Blueblood, hoping to get his arm by chance. The drinks hit Blueblood in the face, but it made him stop moving, allowing Octavia to put out the fire with her water. She checked where the fire was and sighed in relief. 
"Thank the Lord," she said before turning to me. "We got it out before it got to his skin."
I let out my own relieved sigh and turned to Blueblood and asked, "Are you alright?"
But instead of responding, Blueblood just stood there like a statue. After a moment, he looked down at his burned sleeve and stared at it. Octavia and I looked at each other concerned before Blueblood let out a scream of horror.
"My suit!" He screamed before turning to me angrily. "You ruined my suit!"
I looked at him dumbfounded and said, "That's what you're worried about? You could have been burned."
"This is one of the finest and most expensive suits money can buy!" He barked while walking around the table to face me. "You intentionally destroyed my suit that costs more than you could make in ten lifetimes!"
I frowned and said, "Dude, I didn't ruin anything. You just didn't watch where your arm was. Heck, if you had just let Octavia put out the fire sooner instead of moving your arm around like a monkey, then your suit wouldn't have been as damaged as it is."
Blueblood's anger rised up and he grabbed me by the throat again. I was choking and trying to push him away from me while Octavia grabbed him from behind and tries to pull him back. 
"Blueblood, stop it!" She screamed. 
But her cries fell on deaf ears. Blueblood was determined to take out his anger on me no matter what it took. Desperate to breathe again, I punched him in the face, and he finally let go of me. He took a few steps back, taken aback by the punch before he started running toward me again. I moved away before he could grab me, and he ran past me and almost lost his balance close to the rail. 
"Blueblood, for heaven's sake, knock it off!" Octavia rebuked. "It's just a suit!" 
But Blueblood didn't listen to his girlfriend. He just looked at me with the intent of beating me to a pulp. He charged toward me again, and I closed my fist and gave him the hardest punch I can muster. Blueblood was so taken aback by the blow that he moved back close to the rail. Octavia and I looked in horror, realizing what was about to happen, and I ran toward him.
"Blueblood, watch out!" I shouted. "You're coming too close to the -"
But before I could get to him, Blueblood fell over the rail and, with a high-pitched scream, fell two-stories off the balcony.
> Chapter 4
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

It is the second day of school, and my mom had just dropped me off at the front of Canterlot High. I looked at the two-story building and let out a sigh, still feeling guilty about what happened last night.
After Blueblood fell off the balcony, I called 911 while Octavia rushed out of the restaurant to Blueblood's side. It took about ten minutes before an ambulance arrived, and we rode to the nearest hospital. Blueblood was wailing like a child the entire ride to the hospital, thinking he had been paralyzed and that his "beautiful" face had been disfigured forever. The paramedic kept telling him that he wasn't paralyzed, and Octavia tried to convince him that he wasn't disfigured, but he kept crying until the paramedic gave him a shot to calm him down.
When we got to the hospital, Octavia and I had to wait in the hall while the doctors were working on Blueblood. The whole time I didn't know what to say to Octavia after punching her boyfriend off the balcony. She just stared at the wall, not moving a muscle. After an hour, the doctor came in and told us that Blueblood broke one of his arms, a couple of ribs were cracked, and they put on a neck brace as a precaution. He then said that Blueblood would have to stay in the hospital for at least a couple of days, and then stay at home for six weeks for his ribs to heal. Octavia asked if she could stay with him for the night and the doctor said yes, so she immediately went to her phone to call her parents. After she called them, she ordered a taxi to drive me home. While we were waiting outside, I decided to finally apologize and say that I didn't mean to punch Blueblood off the balcony. It took a few seconds before she gave me a sad smile and quietly said it was okay and it was an accident. When the taxi arrived, she just said goodbye without looking at me and went back inside the hospital while I got in the cab.
Now I'm on my way to my second day of school, hoping to get last night off my mind. But when I went inside, I noticed everyone staring at me. They looked at me like I'm some violent delinquent giving them an intimidating glare. I became uncomfortable about what is making them afraid of me until I heard a familiar voice.
"Rough Draft, over here."
I turned my head to see Starlight Glimmer inside one of the classrooms, gesturing for me to come in with a worried look. Relieved to see a friendly face, I quickly went in, and Starlight immediately closed the door behind me. I looked around the room to find Caramel, Soarin, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Fluttershy all looking at me. Caramel and Pinkie Pie were looking concerned while Soarin, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash were looking at me suspiciously. Fluttershy was as worried as Starlight while Rarity looked like she wanted to tear me to pieces. 
"Uh, hey guys," I said awkwardly. "What's going on?"
"We could ask you the same thing," Soarin said. "Care to enlighten us with what happened last night at the Tasty Treat?"
I looked at him, surprised, and asked, "You know about that?"
"Of course, we do!" Rarity shrieked. "Everyone knows that you tried to murder Blueblood!"
"What?!" I shouted. "I didn't try to kill him."
"Yes, you did!" Rarity accused. "You wanted Octavia Melody so badly that you wanted to get my Bluey out of the way! I'll tear you to pieces and -!"
"Rarity, calm down!" Fluttershy exclaimed, stepping in front of Rarity before she could storm toward me. "Think happy thoughts! Think about your latest frock!"
Rarity's angry face faltered, and she turned to Fluttershy as if she was instantly the most exciting thing in the world. 
"My latest frock?" Rarity asked like she was in a daze.
"That's right," Fluttershy said calmly, knowing that she had Rarity's attention. "Think of how you made it in such exquisite shades of black and gray. How you did the stitching so perfectly, and it didn't look too showy."
Rarity stared at her best friend, and she slowly nodded, saying, "I was aiming for not too showy."
"And yet so many people were amazed when you were wearing it at the music festival," Fluttershy said with a smile. 
A blissful smile enters Rarity's face as she thought about what Fluttershy is talking about. I watched what was happening confused and turned to Soarin.
"Is talking about dresses the only thing that calms Rarity down or something?" I asked.
"Sort of," Soarin said. "Rarity likes to make dresses, so she usually calms down if you talk about them in great detail. The problem is only Fluttershy can really do that because she is so close to Rarity and understands enough about fashion to describe her work, so we can't really get her to chill out when Fluttershy isn't around."
"Ah," I said. 
By the time Soarin finished his explanation, Rarity had calmed down, and Fluttershy was patting her shoulder before they both turned to me. Rarity was giving me a big smile that looked as creepy as her vengeful glare as she walked over to me.
"Rough Draft, darling, please forgive me," she said as she sporadically pulled me into a hug. "That was no way to act when you didn't get to explain yourself."
I felt awkward over how Rarity was acting as I said, "Uh, that's okay, I guess." 
"Alright, alright, Rarity is chill now, so let's have our answers," Rainbow Dash said impatiently. "What really happened?"
"What I want to know is what have you guys heard?" I asked as Rarity pulled away from her hug. "Does everyone in school think I tried to kill Blueblood?"
“More or less," Applejack said sadly. "Since you’re new to the school and everything, people seem to think you’re some psychopath because one of the first things you have done in the beginning of the year is having dinner with Blueblood and Octavia Melody, and that somehow ended with Blueblood falling off the balcony.”
“Please tell us that you didn’t try to kill him, Rough Draft," Starlight Glimmer begged. 
“No! Of course not!” I exclaimed. “It was completely an accident!”
“How did you accidentally knock him off the balcony?” Pinkie Pie asked, confused.
I sighed before I finally told them everything that happened, leaving out what Octavia and I were discussing while Blueblood was on his phone. By the time I was done, the group was looking at me skeptically until they turned to Applejack. The apple farmer noticed what they wanted from them and sighed.
“He’s telling the truth,” she said. 
Everyone else apart from Rarity sighed in relief, glad to hear what people were thinking about me isn’t true. 
"I hoped this whole rumor was exaggerated nonsense," Starlight said. "I didn't think you were so into Octavia Melody that you'd try to murder her boyfriend."
"Indeed. Now I really feel bad for jumping to conclusions," Rarity said, ashamed. "I'm sorry,  Rough Draft."
I smiled at her, knowing that she meant it this time, and said, "I'm just glad you guys heard me out. Though I wish there is a way I could get rid of this rumor. I don't want to deal with people looking at me like I'm something to avoid like people did in Appleloosa."
"Don't worry about it, neighbor," Pinkie Pie chirped. "We can help clear things up for you."
"Really?" I asked.
"Of course. You're our friend," Applejack said with a smile. "We ain't going to let this rumor tarnish your name in Canterlot High, leastways not while you were starting to enjoy being here."
"I agree," Caramel said.
"I got your back, dude," Soarin assured. 
"Same here," Rainbow Dash said.
"I'll set up banners all over the school and post the truth on social media for good measure," Pinkie said, excitedly. 
"Um, I don't talk to many people outside of our group, but I'll do my best," Fluttershy said quietly.
"It's certainly the least I can do to make up for blowing up on you," Rarity said.
I smiled appreciatively before Starlight grabbed my hand, and clasped it together with her hands as she said, "Rough Draft, I don't know how much help I can be since I'm new here too, but I will do everything I can to clear your name."
I was taken aback by the way she was expressing her proclamation before I smiled at her and said, "Thank you, Starlight. I appreciate you can give."
Starlight smiled back with her purple cheeks turning pink. Suddenly, the bell rang, and we all gasped.
"Oh, man, we're going to be late for class," Rainbow Dash said.
"We better get going," Applejack said.
Everyone quickly grabbed their backpacks, and we all exited the classroom and said our goodbyes as we ran in different directions to our first classes. 

**************************************************************************

The majority of the school day was about as uncomfortable as it was when I entered the building. Students were looking at me funny and whispering amongst themselves in class when the teachers weren't looking. The day slowly got better when Soarin was sitting next to me during third, fourth period and he was telling students that the rumor wasn't true on my behalf. Eventually, the glares started to die down as the rest of my friends did what they could to clear things up. Pinkie Pie even set up banners to get the message across like she said before Vice-Principal Luna had them taken down because she didn't authorize Pinkie to put them up. All in all, I was thankful that my friends were there to help me throughout the school day.
Finally, it was seventh period, and I went into the classroom for English class. I sat down on my desk to find Sonata waiting for me on her desk beside mine. I gave her a friendly smile, but she looked intimidated as if I yelled at her. I frowned, instantly figuring out why she was acting this way.
"Sonata, whatever you heard, it isn't true," I said.
"You mean you didn't knock Blueblood off the balcony?" Sonata asked, worriedly. 
I hesitated and said, "Well, I did, but it was an accident. He attacked me, and I was defending myself. I didn't mean to send him falling over the edge."
"Then you didn't try to kill him?" Sonata asked. 
"I swear I didn't," I replied.
"Oh, thank goodness," Sonata sighed in relief. "I was afraid the first friend I've ever had turned out not to be as nice as I thought he was."
"I can imagine how you would be discouraged," I said. "Hopefully, the whole thing will be completely cleared up soon, and we can all move on."
Sonata's cheerful smile melted into an uneasy frown, and she said, "Um, that might be difficult, actually."
"What do you mean?" I asked. 
But before Sonata could answer, the bell rang, and Ms. Cheerilee told us to take our seats. I reluctantly took out my notebook and pen and started writing notes, but then I froze in place when I realized that Octavia was not at her desk. I frowned sadly as it hit me that she was likely still in the hospital looking after Blueblood. I wished she at least went to school if for no other reasons than because I wanted to know if she was feeling better. I stared at her empty desk glumly until Sonata elbowed me, so that I could go back to paying attention to Ms. Cheerilee’s lecture. 
For the next hour, I listened to the teacher's lecture and took notes like Sonata and the rest of the class. Every now and then, I would glance at Octavia's empty desk and think of her sitting next to Blueblood's hospital bed all day. As much as it pained me that she was still with that guy, I admired her devotion as someone's girlfriend. Though I wondered what she meant when she said that she knew what it's like to have no friends and if it had to do with Blueblood being possessive of her. If that was so, then that made it even more wrong that he was so proprietorial of his girlfriend that he barely spent time with. I wanted to think there was a reasonable explanation about his negligence apart from his job, but deep down, I didn't regret what I said to him that night.
Finally, the bell rang, and students were putting away their stuff and racing out the door. But before I could follow my fellow students, Sonata stepped in front of me, still looking uneasy. It took a second before I remembered that she had something she wanted to tell me before class started. 
"Okay, so as I was saying, you might have something else to worry about," Sonata said.
"And what would that be?" I asked.
Sonata rubbed her arm nervously and said, "I'm not entirely sure how to put this, but I think Adagio has taken a liking to you."
I gave Sonata a puzzled look and asked, "Are we talking about the same Adagio who uses her beauty to get guys to do her bidding?"
"Yup," Sonata says plainly.
I frowned and said, "Well, then it's a good thing I'm aware that she manipulates guys."
"Actually, I don't think she's planning to manipulate you per se," Sonata began, looking away from me while still rubbing her arm.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
Sonata turned her head to face me again and said, "I mean, she kind of likes you, likes you."
I stared at Sonata, perplexed before I asked, "Wait. You mean like she has a real crush on me or something?"
"Well, crush might be too strong of a word, but from the way she's been acting since she heard about you punching Blueblood, she suddenly seems attracted to you," Sonata clarified.
"So, what I'm hearing you say is that she has the hots for me because she thinks I tried to murder Blueblood. Is that right?" I asked. 
Sonata hesitates for a moment before she nods. 
"Why would she be interested in me because of something like that?" I asked. "Does she have a special hate for Blueblood to the point that she would want to see him dead?"
"Not that I know of," Sonata answered. "Adagio has no love for Blueblood anymore than anyone else in the school who aren't his aunts or his girlfriend, but she's never shown to hate him particularly. For all I know, she's hoping that she can become more popular in school with him out of the way."
I scratched my head and said, "Okay, I guess wanting more popularity makes a little bit of sense, but wanting someone dead just for that seems a little extreme. Besides, if that's the reason, I don't see how she would accomplish that by trying anything with me."
"And who says I'm interested in you because of that?"
Sonata and I turned around to find Adagio standing on the doorway with both hands on her hips. Standing behind her was a girl with pale, light grayish fuchsia skin, and moderate purple hair with light brilliant aquamarine streaks on pigtails. She had her arms crossed and was looking away with a bored, impatient look like a child following her mom while she's running errands. 
Sonata looked at the two of them fearfully as Adagio entered the classroom with her eyes fixed on me. I felt my cheeks heat up from the way she was giving me a coquettish look as she walked toward me with one hand still on her hip. I slowly backed away until my back touched the wall, and Adagio placed her hands on the wall on opposite sides of my head, trapping me. My purple face became redder as Adagio leaned her head close to me until our faces were inches apart.
"I'm hurt that you think I want to use you for something, Rough Draft," she said. "Surely, you can't rule out the possibility that a girl like me would be sincerely interested in a boy like you. Can you?"
I opened my mouth to say something, but I was so uncomfortable with how close she was to me while looking at me seductively that I couldn't say anything. Sonata looked like she wanted to say something on my behalf, but she stayed silent like a dog afraid of upsetting its owner. The other girl smirked while still standing by the doorway, amused with the way I was acting. After a few seconds, Adagio leaned her body closer to me and started slowly walking her fingers from my chest up.
"Well, I suppose I can't blame you to a point," she said with a soothing voice. "I admit that I've been a little manipulative to a few boys."
"Pfff. That's putting it mildly," the girl with pigtails said.
"Shut it, Aria!" Adagio snarled at the girl before turning back to me. "As I was saying, I may have done some bad things, but you shouldn't judge me just on what you've heard."
I broke out of my bashful state for a moment and finally brought myself to say, "I could say the same thing."
"Oh? What do you mean?" Adagio asked.
"Whatever you heard about Blueblood and me isn't true," I clarified. "We were having dinner with Octavia and got into an argument. He attacked me, I punched him to defend myself, and he backed away too close to the railing. I didn't try to kill him."
"Huh. That's a shame. I should have known it was too good to be true," Aria said. 
I felt relieved that Aria was quick to believe me, but my relief was short-lived when Adagio started stroking my cheek, making my face heat up again.
"So, you were just defending yourself from Blueblood, and he fell by mistake?" She asked. "My, how brave you are. It looks like you didn't get a scratch on your cute face too. I'm happy to see that."
I let out a whimper with my mouth closed, still struggling to hold myself together as the orange girl kept running her fingers all over my face. Then she placed her hand on my chest while resting her elbow on the wall and her head on her other hand as she spoke.
"It seems we've both judged the other wrongly. Wouldn't you say?" She said. 
"Uh, I guess so," I lied.
Adagio smirked and said, "In that case, let's make a deal."
I instantly become worried as I reluctantly asked, "What kind of a deal?"
"Oh, you don't have to fret about it, Rough Draft. It's a simple suggestion, really," Adagio said. "I think we should start over with a meet up sometime. I don't know if you've heard, but the three of us are singers at this nice place called the Siren's Cafe. You should come see us there after school, and maybe we could get to know each other better. What do you say?"
Once again, my voice died in my throat as I grew uncomfortable again from the way she was flirting with me. I wanted to find a way to say that I'm not interested, but I couldn't think of a way to politely say it. But even if I did, it was clear that she wasn't going to take no for an answer. I turned to Sonata, giving her a look for help, but she was still frightened of what would happen if she said anything. Aria was leaning against the doorway, eager for me to say something so that the three of them could leave. Finally, Adagio lets out an amused hum and moved back a couple of steps, much to my relief. 
"On second thought, this isn't something that should be decided on the spot. After all, it's not every day a girl approaches a guy on his second day at school," she said. "Why don't you think about my offer while you're still settling in? Does that sound good?"
Once again, I try to think of a way to let her down politely, but nothing comes to mind. Ultimately, out of desperation, I give her the first answer that comes to mind.
"Sure, I'll think about it," I said.
"Is that a promise?" Adagio asked.
"Absolutely," I said without thinking. 
Adagio smirked and said, "Excellent. I'm looking forward to your answer."
Finally, she turned around and walked away, announcing to the other girls, "Aria, Sonata, we are leaving." Aria doesn't hesitate to leave the room while mumbling, "Finally." Sonata paused, wishing she didn't have to leave me, but I gave her a reassuring nod as a way of saying that I will see her in class tomorrow, and she smiled before following Adagio out of the classroom. I waited for a minute to make sure the three of them are gone before I let out a sigh of relief.
"Now, one of the people I'm supposed to avoid is hitting on me," I mumble to myself. "Soarin, and Applejack, and the others are going to get a kick out of this."
I chuckled to myself as I finally left the classroom and started walking down the hall in the opposite direction from where the Dazzlings left. But as I was walking, my amused smile turned into a frown as the last few minutes replayed in my mind. I shuddered at the way Adagio was flirting while standing so close to me. If I had known accidentally knocking Blueblood off the balcony, I would have let him hit me or let him insult me without making a comeback. I mentally kicked myself in the head for giving Adagio the empty promise. 
"Ugh, I'm such an idiot," I groaned as I made my way to the exit door. "What have I gotten myself into just because of my stupid crush on Octavia?"
Right as I finished asking that question, I opened the door and stopped walking halfway through the exit as I saw two tall men in black suits and sunglasses standing in front of me with a black car parked behind them. I became nervous as the two men stared at me through their sunglasses while one of them walked toward me.
"Come with us," he commanded.
"Uh, why?" I asked.
"The prince has ordered us to retrieve you upon your release from school," he answered.
I tilted my head, unsure of who he's referring to until I remembered that people call Blueblood the Prince of Manehattan. I let out a moan as I realized that the universe just answered my question. 
"Get inside the car now," the second man said impatiently while still keeping a stone face. 
"Fine, fine, fine," I grumbled as I did as I was told. 
The two men got in the car after me on opposite sides, making me sit in the middle. I grew uncomfortable again as the way I was sitting between them made me feel like I was going to be murdered by the mafia. I silently gulped as another man turned on the car and started driving. 

***************************************************************************************************

For the next several minutes, I did nothing but sit down in silence. I thought about asking if we were going to the hospital just to break the silence, but I decided against it, thinking I would be told to keep my mouth shut. Thankfully, when the driver took a turn to the hospital, I felt less tense, knowing that we reached our destination and I will be out of the car soon. The driver parked by the sidewalk close to the entrance on the left side, and the two men got out of the car with the one closest to the door, gesturing me to get out. I eagerly obeyed and followed them inside the building, where we walked to the nearest elevator. 
We went up to the floor where Blueblood's room is and walked over there to find Blueblood waiting for us in his hospital bed with a brace on his neck, a cast on his arm, and his ribcage bandaged up. For a brief moment, I felt my unease go away and felt my heart leap when I saw Octavia sitting on a chair next to Blueblood's bed, giving me a friendly smile. I smiled back, relieved that she was looking better than she was last night, but my moment of joy instantly vanished when her boyfriend spoke with an impatient humph.
"What took you so long?" He snarled. "Did you have to search the entire school to find him?"
The two men remained silent, unfazed that Blueblood was insulting them. Octavia placed her hand on top of Blueblood's, and he grudgingly removed his annoyed look.
"I suppose the important thing is you've brought him here," he said, trying to sound less rude in front of his girlfriend. 
"Indeed, it is, dear," Octavia said.
I frowned at the way Blueblood was still forcing himself to act friendly as I said, "Hey, Blueblood. Feeling any better?"
"Hardly," Blueblood answered. "You're lucky I wasn't disfigured because of your assault."
I gave him an unamused look and mumbled, "At least you're well enough to show off your askew priorities."
Octavia rolled her eyes, sharing my skepticism and said, "He's been in a lot of pain with his ribs and arm and can hardly move his head because of the neck brace. The nurse has been feeding him liquid food."
"Humph. Calling that stuff food would be over kind," Blueblood grumbled before turning to me. "But, I did not have you brought here to talk about my misery."
"Could have fooled me," I grumbled before I asked, "What did you bring me here for, then?"
"To settle accounts," Blueblood announced. 
"Over what?" I asked.
"Over you paying for my hospital bill and my suit," Blueblood answered.
"What?!" I screamed. "Who says I have to pay for those things?"
"I do," Blueblood said. "It's because of you that my suit is ruined and I fell off the balcony. Therefore, you should make restitution for what you've done."
"Restitution? You attacked me, and I defended myself, you moron," I rebuked. "Heck, I helped put out the fire and tried to stop you from falling over the rail. Surely, you know that I didn't mean for you to fall off the balcony."
"I don't care about your excuses, and neither do my father's lawyers," Blueblood countered. "There is no video or anything to prove what you say."
"What about Octavia?" I asked. "She was trying to get you to stop fighting me."
"I have tried to explain it to the lawyers, but apparently, my word is not enough," Octavia said. "They said something about there needing to be at least two witnesses who aren't the guilty party to prove their innocence."
I looked at her in disbelief and then turned to Blueblood, who was smirking, pleased that I understood the gravity of the situation.
"How do you expect me to pay you back?" I asked.
"I don't," Blueblood said matter-of-factly. "As much as I would like to sue you and your baseborn family, my girlfriend has pointed out that it wouldn't accomplish much, seeing as you are from a pitiful place like Appleloosa."
"Blueblood!" Octavia hissed. "I did not phrase it that way, and you know it!"
"Well, whatever way you phrased it, the point is made all the same," Blueblood said with a wave of his free hand. "In any case, a compromise has been made that appears to satisfy Octavia's need to protect you."
I turned to Octavia, who was giving me a soft smile, assuring me not to worry. I felt less tense by the way her violet eyes were comforting me before I reluctantly looked away to look back at Blueblood. 
"What kind of compromise?" I asked. 
Blueblood's smirk grew, and he said, "You are going to be working for Octavia as her servant."
"Assistant, Blueblood," Octavia corrected with a disciplinary tone in her voice.
"Alright, assistant," Blueblood huffed. "To elaborate, I will be required to stay at home for quite some time because of your assault, and so will be unable to attend school with my dear Octavia or attend any concerts she partakes in or go to any future dates we have planned. Fortunately, she seems to have taken a liking to you, and I would rather she not be alone just because she has to spend so much time away from me."
Octavia gave Blueblood a sweet look that made me wince as her boyfriend continued.
"Therefore, as her serv - er, assistant, you will accompany Octavia in my stead," Blueblood said. "Whatever need she has for school or outside of school such as holding her bags when shopping or watching her perform even when she's only practicing her cello or wants to do anything else without being alone, you will be there and obey her every word to the letter. Do this until I've fully healed, and consider your debt paid."
I looked at Blueblood, befuddled before turning back to Octavia, who gave me a warm smile. My heart skipped a beat again, instantly liking the idea of spending so much time with her. It sounded too good to be true that Blueblood was threatening me to be by Octavia's side, and she helped him make the decision. Even though I knew my crush still cared about her boyfriend, I still felt happy that I could be with her and make her happy however she wanted me to.
"Well, do we have a deal or not?" Blueblood asked impatiently.
I snapped out of my thoughts and answered, "Yes, we have a deal."
"Good," Blueblood said before giving me a warning glare. "But understand that I do not offer this job lightly. It's only because of Octavia that I allow you to be by her side. As soon as I am fully healed, you are never to speak to her or be anywhere near her again. Understood?"
I frowned and reluctantly said, "Understood."
"Very good," Blueblood said before looking away from me and waving his free hand. "Now, get out of my sight."
Before I could say anything, the two security men grabbed my shoulders and started dragging me back to the elevator. I struggled to free myself, trying to show them that I can walk by myself, but their grips are too strong. The man on the right presses the button next to the elevator, and we wait for the door to open until we hear Octavia's voice from behind. 
"Just a moment, gentlemen," she said, making us turn around to see her walking towards us. "I would like to speak with Mr. Draft alone."
The security men looked at each other before they let go of my shoulders and walked over to a waiting room near the elevator. I rubbed my shoulders as Octavia walked over to me with a sympathetic smile.
"Are your shoulders alright?" She asked. 
"Not really," I said. 
"I'm sorry," she said. "I'll make sure that they stop."
I smiled at her appreciatively, and she smiled back before she cleared her throat to change the subject.
"Right. Let's get to the matter at hand," she said. "Firstly, I want you to know that I did everything I could to get Blueblood and his father to drop their frivolous accusations against you."
"I know you did," I said. "And thanks for convincing them not to sue my family or anything.
"Think nothing of it. I wouldn't dream of letting them do something so childish," Octavia said. "Though while we're on that subject, I hope you don't think less of me for coming up with the suggestion of making you work for me because of this."
"Not at all," I said assuringly. 
"Are you sure?" Octavia asked. "You don't have to do it. I could just lie and say that you've been assisting the whole time to save you the trouble."
"I appreciate that, but Blueblood seems persistent enough that he would find a way to make sure that I'm by your side or something," I said. 
Octavia thought about it for a moment and said with a sigh, "That's true. I do have a very stubborn boyfriend." 
I nodded in agreement and said, "And besides, I'm perfectly happy to be by your side. Wouldn't have it any other way."
My eyes widened, and I covered my mouth, realizing what I just said in front of her. Octavia tilted her head and asked, "What do you mean by that?" 
"Uh, duh, that is, um, I don't like the idea of you being alone either," I answered sheepishly. "I think Blueblood made an excellent point when he said you shouldn't be alone while he's healing. I mean, you did say last night how you know what it's like not to have friends, so I could be your friend that supports you however you want while your boyfriend is not there. Besides, I may not be in all of your classes, but it would be a good idea to share you some of my notes from English since you weren't there today."
Octavia continued to look at me confused after I finished my explanation. I became worried that what I said first might have given her a clue about my real feelings for her. Thankfully, she gave me a sweet smile, touched by my words.
"You are a very sweet guy. You know that, Rough Draft?" She asked. 
My cheeks warmed up, and I looked away from her while rubbing the back of my head as I answered, "I can't say I've been told that before."
Octavia's smile turned into a teasing smirk, and she said, "Yes, well, I suppose having a pretty girl say that to you would warrant you acting so bashful."
My cheeks turned redder, and I looked away, making Octavia giggle. But the way Octavia was making me blush wasn't making me uncomfortable like with Adagio. Instead, I felt my heart flutter from the way my shyness was making her laugh. I turned my head to face her, and she was smiling at me out of genuine care as opposed to a suggestive agenda, and I smiled back, glad that I was making her happy. We stared at each other in silence for a moment before Octavia cleared her throat. 
"Anyways, I would be more than happy to have you as my friend," she said. "Understand that I'm counting on you to stick with me to the bitter end no matter what I ask you to do, though."
I smirked and gave her a bow as I said, "I solemnly swear never to let you down, my lady."
Octavia giggled again and said, "Well then, shall we exchange numbers and addresses then?"
"I would be honored," I said with a bright smile.
Thus, we handed each other our phones and added ourselves to the other's contact list. After we gave back each other's phones, Octavia turned to the security men and said, "You may return him home now. But do not drag him by his shoulders. You are hurting him, and he can walk himself."
"All due respect, ma'am, we are following our orders from our boss," one of the security guys said.
"Your boss is also my boyfriend who knows better than to upset me," Octavia countered. "And if I find out from my assistant that you are not doing as I asked, I will be quite agitated and take it out on your boss who will take it out on you. Understand?"
The two men looked at each other for a couple of seconds before they shrugged and said, "Yes, ma'am." 
"Good," Octavia said before turning back to me. "I look forward to our time together, Mr. Draft."
"As do I, Lady Melody," I replied. 
With that, she smiled again before she turned around and started walking back to Blueblood's room. I watched her leave until the security men cleared their throats and gestured me to follow them. But even as we got on the elevator, I still had a smile on my face, excited to be spending more time with Octavia. Even if it's for only six weeks, I hoped I will make her as happy as possible as her one true friend. 
> Chapter 5
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Everyone in the table except for Soarin and me was quiet for two minutes. 
It was the next school day, and I was having lunch with my friends. I told Soarin everything about Adagio and being forced to work for Octavia when we were in class during third period, and now the two of us watched as the rest of our group took in the news. 
"Wwwoooooooooowwwwww," Pinkie Pie said in shock before giving me a teasing look. "You know, Rough Draft, if it weren't for the fact that Adagio is a manipulative meany and Octavia is Blueblood's girlfriend, I'd be teasing you really bad right about now."
Everyone turned to her, confused, and I asked, "You'd tease me? Why?"
"Think about it. Two days into school and a school hottie is chasing you while a rich guy is making you spend time with his girlfriend," Pinkie Pie explained. "If they were anyone else, I'd be like, 'Dang, Rough Draft. You sure you didn't break a few hearts back in Appleloosa? Cause you know to attract them.'"
Soarin thought about it and chuckled, saying, "That is kind of true. You would be looking like a total ladies man right about now if the circumstances were different."
It took a second before I finally understood what the two of them were saying and chuckled too.
"I guess it would look like my love life just sprung to life out of nowhere when you put that way," I said. 
"Indeed. Next thing you know, all of us girls in our group should be watching out for you," Rarity teased with a giggle before her face fell and she said, "But all joking aside, Rough Draft, you are in quite a pickle or two, to say the least." 
My amused smile fell, and I nodded as I said, "I know. I imagine you guys want to ridicule me for getting mixed up with Blueblood, Octavia, and the Dazzlings even when you warned me not to."
"No, we don't, Rough Draft," Rainbow Dash assured. "You did what you felt you had to at the Tasty Treat, and it's hardly a surprise that Blueblood decided to threaten you to do his bidding."
"And as much as I disapprove of lying, you're not wrong about Adagio not taking no for an answer," Applejack assured. "The only thing she understands is adoration, and she will try to claim it no matter what it takes."
"Eeyup," Big Mac said.
I smiled, glad that they aren't upset with me before I asked, "But what should I do if Adagio comes back and asks if I've been considering her suggestion or something?"
My friends looked at each other, unsure of how to answer until Caramel said, "Well, it's obvious, isn't it? Say that you've been busy assisting Octavia Melody too much to have time to consider her offer much less go see her perform at the Siren's Cafe."
"Caramel, what did I just say about lying?" Applejack rebuked. 
"Hear me out, Applejack," Caramel said, holding his hand up for defense. "Since Rough Draft did convince Octavia Melody to take advantage of him being her assistant, he wouldn't be lying. He'd be working hard to obey her every command and be her friend when he's not at school. It's a lot of time dedicated to a girl that he wants to be around with. How is he going to be thinking about Adagio Dazzle worth anything when his focus is as far away from her as it should be?"
Fluttershy looked uneasy and said, "Um, Caramel, not that I want to step on your plan or anything, but, well, um…"
"You make it sound like we should be encouraging Rough Draft to chase a girl he has a crush on even though she has a boyfriend," Rarity finished for her best friend.
I looked at Caramel bewildered and said, "That's true. You made that sound like chasing Octavia for real should be my objective just to stay away from Adagio."
Caramel paused for a moment before he shrugged and said, "Okay, I'm not saying to do that, but you want to be Octavia Melody's friend, right?"
"Yeah," I  answered.
"Then that's what you should do," Caramel said before turning back to Applejack. "AJ, I of all people who aren't Big Mac or the rest of your family know how much you value honesty. I'm simply suggesting that as long as Rough Draft is with Octavia Melody just to be a good friend to her, then he can say for an honest fact that he's too occupied on something nobler to think anything about Adagio. He'd be telling the truth plain and simple."
Everyone turned to Applejack, who scratched her head in thought. Caramel stared deeply into her green eyes as an offer of trust while the rest of us waited. Finally, Applejack gave Caramel a warm smile and said, "You make a well, thought-out point there, sugarcube. I should have known you were thinking of a plan that involves honesty."
Caramel smiled brightly and said, "Well, I would never want to upset you by suggesting something dishonest, Applejack."
"I know," Applejack said.
The two of them stared at each other fondly, forgetting that the rest of us were there. Big Mac cleared his throat, and Applejack and Caramel broke out of their trance and looked away in embarrassment. Pinkie Pie and Rarity giggled while Fluttershy covered her mouth to hide a small laugh. I turned to Soarin with a raised eyebrow, and he smirked at me, implying everything that I suspected between the apple farmer and one of her helpers at that moment was true. Starlight Glimmer looked at Applejack and Caramel curiously and opened her mouth to ask what was going on before Rainbow Dash stepped in. 
"Alright, enough of that," she said. "We're all in agreement that avoiding Adagio is the priority, and focusing on Rough Draft just being Octavia Melody's friend is the most honest method to do it. But since a lot of this did start with Rough Draft crushing on Octavia Melody, we need to be sure that that's the way things are going to be for the next seven weeks or so."
I frowned and asked, "Are you suggesting that I be supervised or something?"
Rainbow Dash flinched and scratched the back of her head as she said, "Well, maybe not supervised so much as, I don't know, having a guide?"
"A guide?" Starlight Glimmer asked.
"Yeah, to help him out with just being a friend to Octavia Melody," Rainbow Dash explained. "I mean, this whole mess did happen without any of Rough Draft's friends to help him."
"Hey, Sonata's my friend, and she tried to stop Blueblood from beating me and warned me about Adagio," I rebuked.
"Er, okay, so only most of this mess was made with no friends around," Rainbow Dash said. "The point is we should be helping him out as best as we can by sticking to being only friends with  Octavia Melody. I mean, no offense, Rough Draft, but this did all start with you taking a liking to her, so someone's gotta have your back and make sure that you don't get into any more trouble. Besides, what's the point of us being your friends if we just hang out and not be there when you need help?"
I thought about her argument and said, "I guess you have a point. I can't deny this all started because of my feelings for Octavia, and only Lord knows what will happen next if I'm not careful. Besides, I'd rather not be by myself the next time Adagio approaches me. After all, Sonata was there yesterday, and she wanted to help, but I think Adagio has too much of a hold on her to do anything."
Applejack frowned and said, "Poor girl. In any case, if Adagio is around, we'll help you get rid of her."
"Thanks," I said.
"Oh, think nothing of it, darling. It will be our pleasure," Rarity said, smirking. "Personally, I love the idea of stopping her from getting what she wants for once. It's about time someone in our school does."
"You said it," Pinkie Pie said. "So how are we going to have someone around when Rough Draft is with Octavia."
"Well, maybe we could try a get-together and see if you guys could become her friends too," I suggest. "She did like the idea of having me as a friend, so who says it has to be only me just because I technically work for her?"
"Now, that's forward-thinking," Applejack said. "So, how shall we start?"
We all thought about it for a moment before Starlight Glimmer cleared her throat and said, "Well, Octavia is in some of my classes, and it doesn't look like she's up to speed with what she missed from not going to school yesterday. Maybe Rough Draft and I could meet up with her so that I could befriend her while exchanging notes, and information for future assignments, and things like that."
"That would be perfect," I said. "I'm planning to do that for what she missed in English anyway, so how about when I see her in class I could make the suggestion, and we take it from there?"
Starlight Glimmer smiled and said, "I like it. Why don't we exchange numbers?"
But Pinkie Pie giggled and said, "You don't need to worry about that, silly. I already had you two added in each other's contacts on Monday."
Starlight Glimmer and I turned to Pinkie Pie baffled before we checked our phones and found that she was right. Rainbow Dash facepalmed and said, "Pinkie, you need to stop secretly adding contacts in people's phones."
"What? They were going to do it anyway. Might as well save them the trouble, right?" Pinkie Pie said.
"Yeah, but it's still rude to do that," I said. "It's our phones, so we should be deciding what goes in it ourselves. Right, Starlight?"
I turned to Starlight, who was looking at her phone with a soft smile before she realized that I was talking to her and said, "Oh! Uh, yes. Yes, that's right. Please don't do that again, Pinkie."
"Eh, suit yourself," Pinkie Pie said with a shrug before going back to her food.
Soarin rolled his eyes before he said, "Well, in any case, it looks we're all in agreement with how to help Rough Draft."
"Sure are," Applejack said.
"Eeyup," Big Mac said.
Everyone else nodded, and the table was silent for a moment before Fluttershy looked at the time on her phone and cleared her throat. 
"Um, guys, lunch ends in three minutes," she said.
We all looked at her in shock and checked our phones to find that she's right. The group paused for a moment before we all started wolfing down our food as fast as possible. 

*************************************************************************************************

Sixth period came and went with Mr. Iron Will having the gym class run laps around the school soccer field. As soon as the bell rang, I quickly changed out of my gym clothes and said goodbye to Soarin before I raced to Ms. Cheerilee's class, where I found Sonata standing outside the door waiting for me. I gave her a friendly smile, and she smiled back for a moment before she gave me an uneasy look.
"Hey, Rough Draft," she said. 
"Hey. What's up?" I asked.
Sonata looked away for a moment before she whined with an apologetic look, "I'm so, so sorry that I just stood there and let Adagio hit on you like that. I really wanted to help, but I just...just…"
I placed my hand on her shoulder and gave her a comforting look as I said, "Don't worry about it, Sonata. I understand, and I know you wanted to step up."
Sonata gave me a cheerful look, relieved that she was forgiven. I smiled at her again before I decided to ask, "Have you always been that way with your sisters?"
Sonata's cheerful face disappeared, and she answered, "Yeah. Adagio has always intimidated me. After a while, I learned only to speak when spoken to or face her wrath. Aria isn't as scary, but it still hurts when she verbally harasses me."
I looked at my blue friend sadly, wishing there was something that I could do. But before I could say anything else, Sonata shook her head and said, "Anyway, I don't want to talk about that. I'm more worried about you. What are you going to do since you promised Adagio that you would consider her offer?"
"Ah, don't worry about that," I said. "I conveniently found a way to avoid her."
"Really? What is it?" Sonata asked.
"Well, it just so happens that shortly after Adagio approached me, Blueblood had some security guys take me to the hospital and threatened me to make me work for Octavia or else he's going to sue my family," I explained. 
Sonata tilted her head, confused, and asked, "But how is that a bad thing?"
"It isn't," I answered. "Octavia and I have started to become friends, so I'm basically helping out a friend for several weeks to avoid getting sued."
"Uh, okay, but I don't see what this has to do with you and Adagio," Sonata said, scratching her head.
"Well, with so much of my time dedicated to being Octavia's 'assistant,' I'll hardly have the time to take on Adagio's deal even if I wanted to," I explained. "Do you think Adagio will keep pursuing me till then?"
Sonata thought about it for a moment and said, "I don't know. On the one hand, Adagio never focuses on a boy for her needs for longer than a couple of weeks or so, but since she doesn't want to manipulate you for something specific unlike all the other guys, she might keep pursuing you.
My confidence faltered, and I asked, "Do you think she's going to be that persistent?"
"It is possible," Sonata said. "She's used to getting what she wants, and I did say that she sort of likes you, likes you. Hopefully, I'm wrong, but honestly, I can't tell you for a fact. It's like I said yesterday; the way her mind is suddenly focused on you is different from other boys, so I don't know what to expect. Even Aria isn't sure about what's going on in Adagio's mind, and she can figure it out pretty fast."
I frowned and scratched the back of my head, discouraged as I said, "Sounds like something very odd is going on with her, and whatever it is might complicate using my time working for Octavia to avoid her."
"I know," Sonata said, sharing my disappointment, "But hey, if I find out anything else, I'll let you know."
"Thanks, Sonata. I appreciate that," I said with a smile.
Sonata smiled cutely, happy that I was showing her gratitude as her friend before I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned around to find Octavia standing behind me and giving me a small smile. My heart jumped, unprepared to see her so close to me.
"Octavia, hey," I said, trying to contain my surprise. 
"Good afternoon, Rough Draft," Octavia greeted. "I trust that you are well?"
"Oh, you know. Another school day," I answered, earning a light chuckle from her before turning to Sonata. "This is my friend, Sonata Dusk."
Octavia raised an eyebrow at me curiously while Sonata smiled cheerfully at the sound of being introduced as someone's friend. 
"Oh, um, pleased to meet you, Sonata," Octavia said politely. 
Sonata smiled brightly and gave Octavia a friendly wave. The gray girl gave her a nod before she turned back to me and asked, "May I speak with you privately for a moment before class starts?"
"Sure," I answered before turning to Sonata. "I'll see you inside, Sonata."
"Totally," Sonata said before she went inside the classroom.
Octavia waited a moment to make sure Sonata was out of earreach and said, "Rough Draft, I don't mean to pry, but you are aware that she's a Dazzling, right?"
"I am," I answered. 
"And you're comfortable with being her friend?" She asked. "Don't get me wrong, she seems a nice girl seeing as she was defending you when you gave me my ring back, but I've heard some things about her and her sisters."
"I have too, and I can testify that her sisters are trouble, but I still want to be Sonata's friend," I replied. "As far as I'm concerned, she is a nice girl who just needs a friend in her life like you."
Octavia was taken aback by my statement before she smiled and said, "I see. You really are a sweet guy."
I smiled at her, not minding that my cheeks were heating up again. Octavia let out a quiet giggle with her mouth closed, amused with my blush before she cleared her throat.
"Right, speaking of which, I wanted to talk to you about getting together after school," she said. "I was thinking we exchange notes in the music room after class."
"The music room? Why there?" I asked. 
Octavia smiled and said, "Well, seeing as you are required to watch me perform by Blueblood, I would like to play my cello for you. I was planning to practice there anyway, and I would like to show my appreciation for you saving my cello last week."
I smiled brightly and instantly said, "I'd love to. Though if you don't mind, I'd like to bring someone with us."
Octavia hesitated and asked, "Do you mean Sonata?"
"No, it's another friend of mine named Starlight Glimmer," I answered. "She's in some of your other classes and was hoping she could bring you up to speed on what you missed yesterday."
"Oh, how nice," Octavia said, touched. "Tell her I would be delighted. I did miss a surprising amount of things yesterday."
"Great. I'll send her a text," I said.
No sooner did I say that then the bell rang and Ms. Cheerilee was telling us that class had started. Thus, Octavia and I quietly went to our seats and began taking notes. As Ms. Cheerilee was teaching, however, I secretly sent a text to Starlight Glimmer about meeting Octavia and me in the music room. 

******************************************************************************************

An hour later, the bell rang, ending school for the day, and I put away my stuff and said goodbye to Sonata before following Octavia out of the classroom. Along the way, I received a text from Starlight Glimmer that she was on her way and was looking forward to meeting Octavia. When we made it to the music room, Starlight Glimmer was already inside, using the grand piano in the room as a desk for her to start working on her homework. I cleared my throat, and Starlight Glimmer jumped in alarm before she noticed that we were standing in front of her.
"Did you forget that we were coming?" I asked with a chuckle.
"No, I just thought I'd get a head start on an assignment while waiting for you and kind got lost into it," Starlight said, blushing in embarrassment. "It's a habit for me."
I nodded in understanding before I turned to Octavia and said, "Octavia, this is Starlight Glimmer. She's a new student like me who came from Sire's Hollow."
"Pleased to meet you," Octavia said.
Starlight Glimmer collected herself before giving Octavia a friendly smile and said, "Good to finally meet you too. I've heard a lot about you from Rough Draft."
My pupils shrank, and I turned to Octavia, who looked at me with a curious look. It took a moment before Starlight Glimmer realized what she said and quickly spat out, "I mean, he's been talking about everything that's happened between you two to our friends and me. You know, like returning your ring and what happened at the Tasty Treat and stuff."
"Oh. I see," Octavia said, satisfied with the answer.
Starlight and I sighed in relief before Octavia asked, "So, which classes do we share, Starlight Glimmer?"
"Math, science, and history," Starlight said with a smile. 
"Oh, excellent. It sounds like I'll have all general studies taken care of with you two," Octavia said. "What a lovely coincidence."
"Yup. And a good thing too. I couldn't help but notice how lost you were in history class in particular," Starlight Glimmer said. "You kept looking at Ms. Harshwinny like she skipped a couple of chapters in a book."
"Ugh, it sure felt like it," Octavia moaned. "How could she go through so much material in one day?"
"Hey, from where I'm standing, I'm lucky to have a history teacher that gives you nothing but important information," Starlight said. "My dad used to be the history teacher at my old school, and he would stop in the middle of his lecture to talk about something completely useless like how he saw some of the items people used in that time period at a museum he went to in Baltimare or when he was traveling overseas and came across smaller museums or antique shops in Prance or something."
Octavia and I looked at each other bewildered with this information, and I asked, "Would that stuff be in your tests or assignments?"
"Every. Single. One," Starlight grumbled. "I couldn't believe how long it took for the school board to realize what he was doing and force him into an early retirement. That's one of the reasons why we moved here to Canterlot. He was pretty bitter that he wasn't wanted at my old school anymore or couldn't express his passion anywhere else in the town for that matter, so he decided my old school wasn't worthy of having me as their student."
"Forgive me for saying so, Starlight Glimmer, but that is a ridiculous reason to move from your hometown over that," Octavia commented.
"Yeah, well, my dad is a very pigheaded human being," Starlight replied. "Personally, I hope he always stays in the house and write on his blog about antiques and stuff. At least that way, he can't embarrass me in public anymore."
Octavia and I couldn't help but chuckle while Starlight Glimmer looked away from us with an annoyed look, lost in thought about her dad. After a moment, she realized what she was doing and shook her head before she said, "Anyway, enough about me. Let's start sharing some notes."
"Capital idea, my friend," Octavia said with a smile.
With that, we sat down in the choir bleachers and Starlight Glimmer, and I started sharing our notes to Octavia. I showed my notes first since I only shared one class with Octavia before Starlight Glimmer began helping her with her other classes. Eventually, I started comparing notes with Starlight Glimmer since we all have the same junior year classes, ultimately turning our get together into a study group. By the time we got to math, however, Octavia and I were struggling to figure out the math problems we were assigned to while Starlight Glimmer tried to help us figure it out.
"Augh! How are we supposed to know when the numbers have to be switched to get the right answer?" I complained.
"I agree. It's unsettling that we have such difficult math formulas to learn right at the beginning of the school year," Octavia said.
"Come on, guys. It's not that hard," Starlight Glimmer said. "You just need a little practice."
"Easy for you to say," I said. "How did you become such a mathematician?"
"Oh, I wouldn't go so far as calling myself a mathematician," Starlight Glimmer said humbly. "I just learned a few things from a guy from my old school, Sunburst, who is the real mathematician."
"I see," Octavia said. "Are you good friends with Sunburst?"
"He was my best friend, actually." Starlight Glimmer answered.
"Was?" Octavia asked. "What happened?"
Starlight Glimmer frowned and said, "He moved to go to a bigger school last year, and we lost contact after that."
"Oh. I'm sorry," I said. 
"Hey, it happens, Rough Draft," Starlight Glimmer said, giving me a sad smile. "I moved on a while ago, so it's fine. Plus, I'm happy where I am now, now that I have friends like you, and everyone else in our group."
I gave her a friendly smile while Octavia asked, "Oh, you two are in a group?"
"Yeah, one of our friends, Pinkie Pie is my neighbor, and she and Applejack made me a part of the group the day I moved into Canterlot," I explained.
"Oh, that's wonderful," Octavia said with a smile. "I imagine you're happy about that since you didn't have friends in Appleloosa, am I right?"
I smiled and nodded as Octavia, and I stared at each other, making Starlight Glimmer uneasy. She cleared her throat the break the moment and said, "Let's get back to the math problems. We still have fourteen more problems to go before we're done."
Octavia and I groaned before we reluctantly did as she suggested. But even with Starlight Glimmer walking us through every agonizing step for each problem, it took an unbearable amount of trial and error just to solve each once. By the time we were finished, it had been more than two hours since we started this one piece of homework.
"Ugh, my brain hurts," I whined.
"Mine too," Octavia complained before chuckling. "In fact, since you are my assistant, why don't you remind me to get some Tylenol on the way home."
"As long as you share some of it with me," I said.
"Deal," Octavia replied.
"Aw, you two are being a bunch of babies," Starlight Glimmer said. "You figured out all of the problems. Just practice a little more, and you'll get the hang of it."
"I wouldn't hold your breath on that, Starlight Glimmer," Octavia said.
"Ditto," I said.
Starlight Glimmer rolled her eyes over our childish demeanor and said, "Would it help if the three of us met here after class all the time?"
Octavia and I looked at each other, and I said with a sigh, "If Octavia is up for that, I wouldn't mind getting help from you from now on if it's okay with you, Starlight Glimmer."
Starlight Glimmer smiled and said, "I'd be happy to do it."
Octavia and I gave Starlight Glimmer grateful looks before Octavia said, "Right, what shall we do now?"
Immediately, I remembered what she and I discussed earlier and said, "Weren't you planning to practice your cello?"
"Oh, my goodness. I completely forgot," Octavia said, and she stood up. 
"You're going to play the cello here?" Starlight Glimmer asked.
"Indeed. Rough Draft is technically required to watch me practice since he is my assistant, and I want to perform for him anyway," Octavia answered. "You're more than welcome to watch with him if you want."
"Sure. I'd like that," Starlight Glimmer said.
"Wonderful. I'll get my cello from my locker. Be back in a moment," Octavia said.
With that, she left the music room, leaving me and Starlight Glimmer alone. The two of us sat in silence,  waiting patiently until Starlight Glimmer cleared her throat.
"So...she wants to perform for you, huh?" She asked nervously.
"Yup," I said plainly.
"She, uh, doesn't want to do that for any special reason, does she?" Starlight Glimmer asked. 
"What do you mean?" I asked. 
Starlight Glimmer played with her fingers and said, "Well, you know. Like in a way where she actually likes you, likes you."
I looked at Starlight Glimmer, surprised and said, "No. Of course not. She wants to because she hasn't had a private audience before, and she wants to show her appreciation from when I saved her cello from being run over by a car when we first met." 
"Oh, okay," Starlight Glimmer said with a hint of relief in her voice. 
"Did you really think it would be because she likes me in that way?" I asked. 
Starlight Glimmer grew nervous again and said, "I just want to make sure where things are between you two. That is partly why I'm here while you're working for her. Remember?" 
I frowned and said, "Well, it's not like that. Besides, she's still with Blueblood, and from what I've seen, she genuinely cares about him. Plus, she said she's happy with the idea of me being her friend while her boyfriend is not around, so it's pretty clear that she does not think of me in that way, and she most likely never will." 
"But, you'd like it if she did, right?" Starlight Glimmer questioned. 
I opened my mouth to reply, but I stopped myself before I uttered a sound. Even though I knew I should tell her no to shoot down her suspicion, there was a part of me that didn't want to deny that I liked the idea of Octavia having any feelings for me. I became uneasy, knowing that my lack of response might confirm Starlight Glimmer's suspicion. 
Thankfully, the silence was broken by the door opening and Octavia coming back, holding her cello case. I mentally thanked God as my crush placed her case on the floor and dragged two stools over so that they were standing a few feet away from Starlight and me. Octavia then opened the case to take out her cello and bow and then sat down on one of the stools. Then she took out her phone, opened the music app, and selected a track before placing it on the other stool.
"You're using your phone while you play?" I asked.
"Yes. I use an instrumental track for accompaniment," Octavia answered. "I usually have a pianist with me when I'm performing at a concert depending on the piece I use, so it's a good idea to have the pianist's track playing on my phone while I practice."
"Ah, interesting," I commented with Starlight Glimmer nodding in agreement. 
Octavia gave me a small smile before her face turned focused. She lifted her head to face the wall above me and Starlight Glimmer and closed her eyes before taking a deep breath. She slowly released it before pressing play on the track she had ready on her phone. While Octavia prepared to play, the sound of a piano started playing from her phone. The track was giving a mellow tune in a high octave that gave a sense of mystery hidden behind the melody. I grew curious about where the music was going before my attention was immediately drawn to Octavia as she started playing her cello. The gray girl's instrument let out a low, long note before Octavia began playing up a couple of octaves, slowly moving her bow back and forth as she played. 
I leaned the upper half of my body closer, intrigued as the notes came out of Octavia's cello with a sense of loneliness and longing behind them. I looked to see Octavia looking down at her cello with a look of melancholy on her face. I tilted my head in confusion as she played as if she was telling a sad story behind the song that she had to tell with a heavy heart. What that story could be, I had no idea, but after a while, I started to wonder if the story was about Octavia herself. I began to imagine if there was something that Octavia wanted to express about herself through her music. Whatever it was, I wanted to find out and somehow save her from the misery she might have been letting out with her precious cello.
But while I watched Octavia play, Starlight Glimmer was looking at me observantly. The purple girl frowned as I listened to the song at the edge of my seat. It was at this moment that I unknowingly answered her question, and it was making her heart ache. It didn't matter that Octavia already had a boyfriend or that I only had to be by her side for a few weeks. The way my eyes were fixed on the gray girl as I listened to her music made her afraid of how I felt deep in my heart. She secretly preferred that all her fears relied on only Adagio trying to obtain me with her manipulative tongue, and thin body. At least with the Dazzling wanting me, she could count on me showing no desire to be anywhere near her. But with my thoughts on Octavia, she was afraid that even if my friendship with her ended once Blueblood was better, I would never truly move on and become willing to give someone else a heartfelt chance.
Before Starlight Glimmer and I knew it, the audio playing in Octavia's phone slowly faded out, and she finished playing with a long, high-pitched note. When it was over, Octavia looked up to face Starlight Glimmer and me and waited for us to say something. My mouth was hanging open for a moment before I said, "That was incredible."
"Oh, come now, Rough Draft. You're being too sweet this time," Octavia said. 
"No, I'm serious," I said. "To tell you the truth, I've never really been one for listening to the cello, but you made it a fascinating experience. You had a deep passion for expressing something with that song, and it made me wonder what it was. Are all the pieces you play like this?"
Octavia thought about it for a moment and said, "Well, typically, I like to play some famous classical music, not paying mind to what the theme is, but I guess I've been feeling a need to play something like that regularly."
"Really? Why's that?" I asked. 
Octavia winced, unprepared for the question, and said, "I'd rather not say."
"Oh," I said, disappointed before I brought back my smile. "Well, in any case, I really enjoyed it. It was a very moving piece. Right, Starlight Glimmer?"
It took a moment before Starlight Glimmer realized I was talking to her, and she said, "Oh, yes. Totally. You're very talented, Octavia."
Octavia smiled appreciatively and said, "Thank you. That means a lot to me, especially with you analyzing what was happening behind the song, Rough Draft."
"Really? Do not many people catch that?" I asked.
Octavia frowned and said, "Not as much as I'd like. Leastways, not with Blueblood."
"Why? Doesn't he like hearing you perform?" Starlight Glimmer asked.
"Oh, absolutely, he does," Octavia said assuredly. "There's not a time where he's seen me perform that he hasn't expressed how much he loves my music, and treasured coming to my concerts, and I adore him for it, but I wish he would try to dig deeper into what is happening behind my music. To realize that I am trying to express something even if he can't figure it out."
Starlight Glimmer frowned and said, "That sounds like a tall order, Octavia. I mean, I don't want to speak for Blueblood, but not everyone can be that way when they listen to music."
"I know, but I want that all the same," Octavia said, looking away from Starlight Glimmer and me glumly. "The truth is it's something that I've always wanted in a relationship ever since I learned to express my emotions through music. In fact, it's something I want even more from Blueblood because it feels like he doesn't really know me deep down, and it hurts that he's been attending my concerts less and less because of his job."
The room became silent as Octavia became lost in thought. Starlight Glimmer and I looked at each other, feeling sorry for the gray girl. I turned to look at Octavia again, feeling my heart ache at the sight of her so discouraged because of Blueblood. After a minute, Octavia snapped out her thought and chuckled sheepishly.
"I'm terribly sorry," she said. "I appear to have rambled about my relationship again."
"Oh, hey, don't worry about it," Starlight Glimmer said with a smile. "You obviously had that built up for a while, and I brought you into letting that out."
"I agree, and it's good to talk about stuff like that to friends," I said. "And hey, I may not be Blueblood, but at least you have one person who notices your desire to express when you play."
Octavia gave me a sweet smile that made my heart flutter, causing Starlight Glimmer to flinch. The room was silent once again as Octavia, and I stared at each other before our moment was suddenly interrupted by a phone ringing. The two of us turned to Starlight Glimmer, who chuckled in embarrassment before she took out her phone and let out an annoyed groan.
"It's a text from my dad," she said. "He's wondering where I am and asking if I got lost."
"Asking if you got lost?" I asked. "Didn't you tell him you'd be staying in school with us?"
"No, and I wish I did," she answered. "My dad likes to treat me like I'm still a little girl, so he worries that living in the suburb as opposed to a small town might be too much for me. I better get home before he starts making 'missing' fliers or something."
"Has he done that before?" I asked.
"No, but I wouldn't put it past him," Starlight Glimmer replied as she put away her stuff in her backpack and stood up. "I'll see you guys tomorrow."
"Alright, I look forward to more studying together with you, Starlight Glimmer," Octavia said.
"Yeah, same here," Starlight said without looking at Octavia or me as she exited the room. 
After she left, Octavia and I looked at each other, unsure of what to do or say until Octavia decided to take out her phone and check the time.
"Goodness, it's after five," she said. "I think I should head home myself before my parents wonder where I am too."
"Heh, come to think about it, I didn't think of letting my parents know that I was staying after school either," I said. "Guess that's what happens when our meet up turned into homework time and then followed up with you performing for me and Starlight Glimmer."
"Indeed," Octavia said. "Now, would my assistant be so kind as to walk me home?"
I smirked as I stood up and took a bow, saying, "It would be an honor, my Lady Melody."
Octavia giggled and asked, "Are you going to bow every time I ask you to do something?"
"Maybe. We have several weeks to find out," I said. 
Octavia smirked back as she stood up and put her cello away before we put our school work back in our backpacks and left the room. As I escorted Octavia to her house, I secretly smiled,  for making her happy because I listened to her music. But then my smile faded as I thought about how her passion was wasted on Blueblood. After seeing him pretend to be nice to people to maintain a positive image in front of his girlfriend, I wondered if there was any sincerity behind whatever praise Blueblood has ever given Octavia in their relationship. If there wasn't, then I wanted to make the most of every opportunity I had of watching Octavia perform so that she had someone who recognized the special passion behind her music with the short time I had. I didn't care if she only saw me as just a friend. I wanted to support the girl I was crushing on to whatever end.
It wasn't until later, however, that I learned that Octavia was looking at me fondly as we walked.
> Chapter 6
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Meanwhile, while I was walking Octavia home, the Dazzlings were performing at the Siren's Cafe. The restaurant was a well-sized place with customers consisting mainly of high-schoolers drinking coffee and sweets. The windows were covered by blinds, and the only lights on were the spotlights shining blue, purple, green, and yellow on Adagio, Aria, and Sonata, who were on a stage. The three girls were singing a soothing melody while they moved their feet back and forth and slowly waved their hands around as if they were performing in a ballet. The song had no lyrics for them to sing, but none were needed, for the audience were entranced all the same just from the Dazzlings vocalizing. 
But while some members of the crowd were watching the trio as a whole, many eyes were fixed on Adagio, in particular, and the orange girl knew it. She danced and sang at the center of the stage with pride as she watched many members of the audience, particularly guys, gazed at her in awe, enamored by her beauty and singing voice. Many she recognized as boys from Canterlot High who regularly came to the cafe to watch her perform, hoping that they might gain special attention for their devotion. Some of them she's manipulated for her evil plans in the past, and yet they still came to watch her sing in adoration, ready to carry out her every command if she needed them to do so. To her, performing in front of them was her favorite part of the day because she took pleasure in seeing those boys watch her perform out of foolish hope that their worship will win her heart.
After singing the last note of the song, the audience roared with applause with Adagio's fans clapping and cheering louder than they needed to and tossing roses at the stage. The Dazzlings bowed, and Adagio blew kisses at her hopeless pawns for good measure. Some of the boys swooned at the gesture, making her chuckle in amusement as she followed Aria and Sonata backstage.
"Ugh, I'm tired of singing that song," Aria complained. "Why can't we get some new material for once?"
"Because Adagio said not to fix what isn't broken," Sonata said.
"That was a rhetorical question, you idiot," Aria snarled. 
Sonata flinched and looked down ashamedly like a little child caught doing something she knew she shouldn't do while Adagio rolled her eyes, annoyed with Aria ridiculing her choice of music.
"Irritation over Sonata speaking aside, she is right. I am the leader, and I say there's no reason to change what we sing," she said. "What matters is how much our audience enjoys our performances, and they rightfully adore us."
"And by adoring us, you mean just you," Aria rebuked.
"What are you complaining about, Aria? You don't care about getting the attention," Adagio said.
"Of course, I don't. I just hate that it's all about you," Aria said.
"Of course, it is," Adagio boasted. "After all, I bring in lots of customers, thus making a lot of money for this cafe. It's just that simple."
Aria frowned in annoyance as the three girls made their way to the employee break room, where they sat down on different sides of the table at the center of the room. Adagio took out her laptop from her backpack lying next to her seat while Aria put on her headphones and listened to music on her phone, and Sonata started playing a game on hers. The Dazzlings took their break in silence for a couple of minutes until there was a knock on the door from the other side of the room. Adagio and Sonata turned to the door curiously while Aria stayed still, having not heard the knocking with her headphones on.
"Who is it?" Adagio asked.
"It's me, Camera Flash," said a male voice on the other side of the door.
Adagio smirked and stood up, saying, "Come right in."
The door opened to reveal a scrawny boy with pale yellow skin and messy light-brown hair and wearing round glasses, holding a bouquet of purple and orange flowers. Adagio gave the boy a captivating smile as she walked over to give the boy a hug that made his face turn pink, and his knees wobble.
"Oh, Camera-Wama, I missed you," Adagio cooed as she squeezed him.
Camera Flash muttered incoherent words for a moment before he brought himself to say, "C-c-come on, Adagio. You saw me yesterday."
"I know," Adagio said as she broke the hug and gave Camera Flash a pout. "But that was precisely twenty-nine hours and forty-two minutes ago. That is a dreadfully long time since I last saw your precious face again."
Camera Flash's blush grew, and he asked, "You kept track of how long it's been?"
"I said I would be counting the moments since we last saw each other, didn't I?" Adagio replied with a kittenish look before turning to the bouquet in Camera Flash's hand. "Are those for me?"
"They sure are," Camera Flash answered as he handed the bouquet to Adagio. "I picked the ones that made me think of you the most."
"Aw, aren't you just a gem," Adagio said. "Did you enjoy the show?"
"Of course, I did," Camera Flash stated. "Your singing was just as lovely as ever."
Adagio looked away and giggled, pretending to be bashful from the boy's praise. Camera Flash gave her a goofy smile before his eyes widened and said, "Oh, I almost forgot. I have the pictures you wanted."
Adagio let out an excited gasp and asked, "You finished already?"
"Spent all night fixing them up with Photoshop and Lightroom," Camera Flash answered proudly as he took out a flash drive from his pocket.  
"Aw, Camera-Wama, you're a marvel," Adagio cooed. "Let's download the pictures on my laptop."
Camera Flash nodded and followed Adagio to her seat, where he plugged his flash drive into her laptop and started copying files into her desktop. Sonata watched the two of them curiously, and even Aria noticed that Camera Flash was in the room and took off one of her headphones to find out what was going on. Once all of the files were copied, Camera Flash took out his drive, and Adagio sat down to look at them while putting down her bouquet next to her laptop.
"Oh, Camera-Wama, this is magnificent," she praised. "These pictures are more stunning than I imagined."
Aria and Sonata grew more curious while Camera Flash blushed again, saying, "I'm glad you like them. It wasn't easy since I was shooting through the windows from outside."
"Well, it's clear that your hard work has paid off," Adagio said. "I can't thank you enough for doing this."
Camera Flash's face turned from pink to red by Adagio's appreciation. But then his blush vanished, and he gave Adagio a worried look while rubbing his arm.
"Listen, Adagio, I feel silly for asking this, but why did you want pictures of you behaving in front of that guy?" He asked.
Adagio pretended not to know what he was talking about before she gasped and said, "Why, honey drops, you don't think I was making any sincere moves on Rough Draft, do you?"
Aria and Sonata became more eager to find out what was going on while Camera Flash answered, "It's just that you were so close to him and looked like you were having fun flirting with him. And besides, I didn't think you would go anywhere near him after he almost killed a guy."
Adagio frowned, acting like her feelings were hurt, and she stood up to look at the boy dead in the eye.
"Camera Tobias Flash, I'm surprised at you," she rebuked. "You should know by now that my heart belongs to you and you alone. This is simply carrying out some important matters I must carry out in order for me to be ready for us to be together. Besides, I thought you would have found out by now how that wretched rumor isn't true. Why, even Applejack herself has discredited it, and everyone knows she doesn't lie."
Camera Flash looked away, ashamedly, and said, "You're right. I'm sorry, Adagio. I wasn't thinking straight."
Adagio gave Camera Flash a sweet smile and placed her hand under his chin to turn his head to face her again while she said, "Aw, that's okay, honey drops. I understand. It must be hard to see me interacting with another boy like that on top of the fact that he might be dangerous to be around. Just please learn to trust me more and remember that I can take care of myself."
Camera Flash smiled, relieved that he was forgiven, and the two of them stared at each other for several seconds before Adagio let go of the bottom of his chin and said, "Now, if you'll excuse me, I better get to work before our next performance."
The skinny boy gave a glum look, not wanting to leave Adagio's side before he forced a smile on his face and said, "Of course. I better get home anyway. It's probably close to dinner time."
"Then you better run along," Adagio said as she sat back down. "Give my love to your family, Camera-Wama."
"I will," Camera Flash said as he headed to the exit. "Love you, Adagio."
"Love you more, honey drops," Adagio called out. 
Camera Flash giggled bashfully before he exited the room. Adagio waited for a moment to make sure he was completely gone before she let out a groan and tossed the bouquet into a trash can.
"Finally. I don't know how I can stand calling him those stupid names," she grumbled. She then started looking through the photos on her laptop for a few seconds before she looked up and noticed Aria and Sonata staring at her. The orange girl rolled her eyes and asked, "What?"
"What do you mean what?" Aria asked. "Did you seriously have that guy take pictures of you and Rough Draft?"
Adagio smirked and proudly said, "I sure did. Have a look."
She turned her laptop around to reveal several pictures of her and me from when she approached me yesterday. Sonata was shocked while Aira raised her eyebrow as Adagio showed them the pictures, ending with a photo of her resting her elbow against the wall while walking her fingers on my chest, giving me an inviting look while I blushed furiously.
"This one's my favorite," Adagio said. 
Sonata was unsettled to see pictures of her sister and me while Aria looked at the images with a puzzled look.
"Okay, normally, I don't care about your stupid schemes, but what are you up to, Adagio?" She asked. "The way you've been acting over Rough Draft is kind of abnormal for you."
"Abnormal? How so?" Adagio asked. 
Aria took a moment to think about how to phrase her answer and said, "Well, normally it's obvious that you want to use the guy you're targeting to get something you want, but with Rough Draft you don't appear to have a self-centered goal at all. It's as if you actually like this guy."
Adagio smirked and said, "That's because I do. I have a genuine interest to chase Rough Draft."
"Um, you don't mean to chase him so you could...?" Sonata asked, unable to finish her sentence.
Adagio looked at Sonata with a raised eyebrow before she realized what she was implying and glowered at the blue girl, exclaiming, "How dare you think I intend to sleep with Rough Draft, you wicked ingrate!"
Sonata flinched and struggled not to cry from Adagio yelling at her while Aria said, "Actually, I'm with Sonata for once. The way you were hitting on him was more suggestive than normal with the finger walking, constantly stroking his face, and standing really close to him."
Adagio frowned and said, "Well, that's not what I'm planning at all. I may be a manipulative girl, but I am a manipulative girl who knows better than to stoop to something so lazy and desperate to get what I want."
Aria was more bewildered than before and asked, "So, does that mean you actually want to date Rough Draft?"
Adagio looked at Aria as if she asked a question with an obvious answer and said, "Of course, I do."
Aria and Sonata looked at each other, unable to believe what they just heard. They turned to look at Adagio as if she changed into a completely different person. 
"Why in the world are you suddenly interested in dating him?" Aria asked. 
"What? Can't a girl play the long game once in a while?" Adagio asked. "Besides, as far as boys go, Rough Draft is cuter than any of my loyal fans. Don't you think? He's certainly worth a little kissing here and some cuddling there."
Aria opened her mouth to speak but stopped herself and thought about Adagio's question.
"I guess he has some decent looks compared to guys like Camera Flash," she admitted. "But I don't see you and Rough Draft becoming a thing. He did say he's heard about what you've done against other guys, and I don't think admitting your deeds is going to convince him to give you a real chance."
"I'm well aware of that, Aria," Adagio replied. "That is why I have a few ideas to use these pictures to my advantage in pursuing him. Of course, how I'm going to do that depends on whether or not he will keep his promise."
Aria looked at her older sister skeptically and said, "I'm not optimistic that he's going to do that either."
"Oh, we'll see," Adagio said confidently. "Speaking of which, you have Rough Draft in your last class, don't you, Sonata?"
Sonata became nervous again as she reluctantly admitted, "Yes, I do."
"Do you happen to know if he's been thinking about my little offer?" Adagio asked while resting her head with her hand.
Sonata hesitated, unsure of what to say, but then she remembered about my plan to use spending time assisting Octavia as a means to avoid Adagio, and a small smile entered her face before she immediately removed it before her sisters noticed. Sonata then took a deep breath and pretended to feel bad for Adagio as she answered her question. 
"Actually, Adagio, Rough Draft has told me that he hasn't had a chance to think about your deal, and he might not be able to for a long time," she said.
Adagio frowned and snarled, "Why not?"
"Well, you see, Blueblood made Rough Draft agree to work for Octavia Melody as her servant," Sonata explained.
Aria raised her eyebrow while Adagio's frown deepened, and she asked, "What are you talking about?"
"Apparently Blueblood wanted to sue Rough Draft and his family for damaging his suit and knocking him off the balcony, but decided to threaten Rough Draft to be his girlfriend's lackey until he's fully healed and able to go back to school," Sonata answered. "It sounded like Octavia Melody is going to make Rough Draft work to the bone to obey her every command, so it doesn't look like he'll have much time for anything much less think about coming to see you here at the cafe."
Sonata bit her lip, hoping that her deception worked. She knew that my title was Octavia's assistant and that Octavia didn't want to take advantage that I had to work for her, but she decided that phrasing it the way she did would raise my chances of getting away with not keeping my promise. Aria looked at the youngest Dazzling suspiciously while Adagio turned her hands into balls of fists and clenched her teeth with her mouth closed to hide her rising anger, believing Sonata's half-lie.
"I don't think you're telling the truth, Sonata," Aria said.
"I swear, I am," Sonata claimed while holding her hand up and crossing herself. "I know how it sounds, but that's what Rough Draft told me. Besides, it's not too hard to believe that Blueblood would do something like that, is it? I mean, he always acts like everyone has to do whatever he wants because he let that whole 'Prince of Manehattan' thing get to his head."
"Heh. That's true," Aria said, accepting Sonata's logic before saying to Adagio mockingly, "Tough break, Adagio. It looks like you're not going to obtain your purple prince charming any time soon."
Adagio's anger rose from Aria making sport of her desires. Sonata became worried again as her older sister looked like she wanted to scream and smash her laptop like a child throwing a tantrum. It was clear to the blue girl that even if Adagio aimed to make me date her, her interest in me did not involve a genuine relationship. Whether it was just for physical desires like kissing or cuddling like she said or something more sinister, Sonata couldn't tell, and she hoped Adagio would move on from me so that she didn't have to find out. Unfortunately, her hopes were crushed when Adagio's anger melted away into a sly grin. 
"Not necessarily, Aria," she said. "I can still get Rough Draft yet."
Aria scoffed and asked, "How do you figure?"
"Think about it," Adagio said. "It should go without saying that it's unfair to be blackmailed by Blueblood over something that was an accident. So, Rough Draft needs someone to comfort and support him while he slaves away. Maybe if I'm clever enough, I could even find a way to save him from Blueblood and his wretched girlfriend so that he doesn't have to be their slave anymore before Blueblood has fully recovered."
Sonata grew afraid of her sister's newfound confidence while Aria looked at Adagio skeptically again.
"Are you seriously thinking of going this far just to get a guy?" She asked. "I think you're becoming desperate."
"Believe what you will, but this will be a win-win for Rough Draft and me," Adagio said confidently. "I'll let Octavia Melody use him for a couple of weeks or so, which by that time he will feel miserable for serving her constantly. That's where I come in and comfort the poor boy and encourage him to hold on. He may still be suspicious over my motives, but when Adagio Dazzle outwits his captives and frees him of his bondage, all his doubt will disappear, and he will finally give me a chance that will lead to him becoming mine. And just like that, I will have my boyfriend and make Blueblood pay dearly."
"Pay dearly? For what? Threatening Rough Draft?" Sonata asked, confused. 
Adagio's confidence faltered for a moment, realizing the last thing she said. Sonata tilted her head curiously as Adagio shook her head and claimed, "Uh, yes. Obviously, Sonata."
Sonata kept her head tilted, not believing Adagio. Before she could say anything else, however, Adagio's face suddenly turned serious, and she gave the blue Dazzling a menacing glare.
"By the way, Sonata, I've noticed how you're a little friendly with Rough Draft," she said. "Maybe he somehow found it in his heart to accept an idiot like you as a friend or just tolerates you. I don't care which it is, but I will not let it interfere with my goals. Say one word about my plan to Rough Draft or anyone else, and I will make your life miserable. Am I clear?"
Sonata felt shivers down her spine as her sister's gaze pierced right through her. She gulped fearfully and reluctantly said, "Yes, Adagio."
"Good," Adagio said, satisfied. 
Sonata hung her head glumly, wishing Adagio didn't think of threatening her not to warn me. She didn't bother considering the possibility that she could find a way to tell the secret to me or my other friends without Adagio finding out, for she believed that nothing could get past her oldest sister no matter what she did. 
While Sonata accepted her defeat, Adagio turned to Aria and said, "The same goes for you too."
Aria scoffed and rolled her eyes before she said, "Fine. Whatever. I just hope you're aware that you probably won't be able to do what you hope to do while Rough Draft is as occupied as Sonata said he is."
But Adagio just turned to her laptop and started stroking the screen with her finger where my face is appearing in a photo as a cunning smile appeared on her face.
"Maybe, but I'm a patient girl. I can wait until Rough Draft is done serving Octavia Melody if I have to," she said. "Besides, that makes plenty of time to think of gestures to woo that boy, and I think I have a good idea of how to do it in a way that involves making my interest in him public."
> Chapter 7
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The rest of the first week of school went by very smoothly compared to how it started. Octavia and I met up with Starlight Glimmer after school again on Thursday and Friday to work on homework. Afterward, I walked Octavia home, which we decided to be a regular thing whether we stay after school with Starlight Glimmer or not. Best of all, I didn't see Adagio again for the rest of the week, and it seemed like I didn't have to worry about her since Sonata didn't give me any new information about her sister pursuing me. All in all, it looked like I didn't have any drama to worry about for a good long while. 
Come Saturday, I started the weekend playing video games on my laptop while my parents were out. I hoped I would be able to do something over the weekend with my group of friends, but no one was able to. Rarity, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie had to work at their jobs, Rainbow Dash and Soarin were hosting tryouts for the sports team at school, Applejack, Big Mac, and Caramel were working at the Apple's family farm, and Starlight Glimmer had things to do with her father. So, that left me to play video games or watch tv at home like I always did on weekends even back when I was living in Appleloosa.
And yet, while my eyes were glued to the screen, my thoughts were on Octavia. I couldn't help thinking of the time I had spent together with her throughout the entire school week. I felt I was already making some great memories with her even when it was just us doing homework with Starlight Glimmer, hearing her play her cello, or me walking her home. I was thankful for how I was able to be around her more when I started school, expecting to only see her once so that I could return her ring. The way fate was playing out, I began to hope that I could be her friend for more than a few weeks. Maybe she could convince Blueblood to ease up and let her have friends like me and Starlight Glimmer permanently. It sounded like a longshot given how Blueblood was so obstinate, but I hoped I could talk with her more and see her smile at me while looking at me with her mesmerizing violet eyes as opposed to only seeing her from a distance at English class. Either way, I couldn't wait to see her again.
Fortunately, as I was playing my video game, I heard my phone vibrating from my nightstand. I paused the game and picked up my phone, expecting to see a call from Pinkie Pie or Soarin or anyone else from the group, but my heart skipped a beat when I saw it was actually a call coming from Octavia. I stared at the screen, unsure if I was looking at my phone right before I answered the call.
"Hello?" I asked.
"Hello, Rough Draft? It's me, Octavia," Octavia said from my speaker. 
I smiled at the sound of her voice and said, "Hi, how are you?"
"Doing well," Octavia answered. "Actually, I'm wondering if you're busy."
My eyes widened, and my mouth opened slightly. I paused for a moment before I said, "Not at the moment."
"Good," Octavia said. "I'm asking because I have some errands to run, and I would like to have my 'assistant' with me."
"Oh? Do you need me to hold your bags and stuff like that?" I asked.
"Indeed," Octavia replied. "Do you think you could meet me at the mall?"
"What time?" I asked.
"How about we meet at the main entrance at one," Octavia said.
"Sounds like a plan," I said.
"Excellent. See you then," she said. 
"Looking forward to it," I replied.
With that, she hung up, and I paused for a couple of seconds before I started beaming with glee. I checked the time on my phone to see that it was half-past eleven, so I decided to use that time to take a shower and find a black polo shirt so that I could look nicer than just my regular t-shirt. After having a light lunch, I walked over to the mall, making it to the main entrance with a couple of minutes to spare. I started playing a game on my phone until I saw someone standing next to me from the edge of my eye and looked up to see that it was Octavia. 
"Again, I find you on your phone, having arrived at our meeting spot rather early," she stated. "I'm beginning to think you're showing off."
"What can I say? I like being punctual," I replied. "Besides, it would be poor form for an assistant to be late when his lady tells him to arrive at a specific time."
"Indeed," Octavia giggled. "Seems I know how to pick them."
"Lucky me," I said.
The two of us chuckled for a moment before Octavia noticed my polo shirt and smiled.
"Mmmm. You look nice," she complimented. "Black suits you nicely."
I felt my cheeks heat up, and I looked away, making Octavia giggle again.
"Honestly, Rough Draft, have you really never had a girl compliment you on your looks before you moved to Canterlot?" She asked.
"Not once," I answered while still looking away from her. "Remember, everyone there thought I was a freak."
Octavia shook her head, still smiling as if she heard me say a silly joke.
"Well, I suppose it's up to me to help you get used to it," she declared. 
I turned my head to face her and said, "I'm not sure that's possible."
"Nonsense. You are a cute, caring guy, and you shouldn't have had to wait until now to hear it from girls your age," Octavia said. 
My blush grew, and I asked, "You really think I look cute?"
"Of course," Octavia said with a friendly smile. "It's like I said at the Tasty Treat; it's frivolous that you were alone just over the things you like. It seems to me that the girls there missed out on admiring a good-looking boy."
I felt my face heating up even more, and my heart melting from her compliments as I said, "Thank you, Octavia, but you don't have to try to make me used to that."
"Perhaps, but I want to," Octavia said. "Besides, you've already been a good friend for me, so I see no reason why I can't do the same for you."
I felt a pinch in my heart from Octavia addressing us as friends, but I brushed it off and gave a grateful smile. She smiled back, and we looked at each other in silence before Octavia snapped out of her daze.
"Right. Let's get down to business," she said. "We have a long afternoon ahead of us."
"We do? How so?" I asked. 
"Well, for one thing, I haven't gone in a shopping spree in some time," Octavia admitted. "And for another thing, I'm looking for an outfit to wear for a wedding that's in a couple of weeks."
"Oh, how nice," I said. "Who is getting married?"
"Principal Celestia and Vice-Principal Luna's niece, Cadance," Octavia answered. "Blueblood and I were invited since he and Cadance are cousins. Now, obviously, Blueblood is unable to attend anymore because of the accident, but I plan to go anyway on his behalf. Plus, I am a part of the music band for the wedding."
"Cool," I said. "Have you ever performed at a wedding before?"
"No. This will be my first," Octavia said. "That's why I'm going to look for a new dress for it. It's going to be a huge wedding with a lot of high-class people, so I need to look my absolute best as both the cellist in the wedding band and as the bride's cousin's girlfriend."
"When you put it that way, there's an awful lot to be expected from you," I commented. 
"Indeed. It comes with dating the 'Prince of Manehattan' I'm afraid," Octavia said. "On the plus side, dating Blueblood also means I get to borrow his credit card."
"Nice," I chuckled. "Hope you're not planning to take too much advantage of that when you're not shopping for the wedding."
"l wouldn't worry about that, Mr. Draft," Octavia replied with a mischievous smirk. "Blueblood and his family are so wealthy that he won't even know that the money is gone. Besides, as far as I'm concerned, he owes me this and more for his failures as a boyfriend of late."
I frowned and asked, "You mean like with not coming to your concerts lately?"
"Right you are," Octavia said. "Now, let's get started. There are some new clothes and accessories I want to get before the stores run out of them. I hope you're ready to carry a lot of bags for me."
I smirked and took a bow, saying, "At your service, my lady."

********************************************************************************

For the next two hours, Octavia and I went to every store in the mall that contained clothes or accessories. The gray girl happily browsed through the products like a child in a candy store while I carried her shopping bags and gave my opinion on various clothes she tried out. Before long, my arms were beginning to tire, and I was running out of space with my hands to carry the bags. By the time we were done, and Octavia decided for us to get a snack from the food court, I was using my arms to carry some of the bags. I struggled to keep holding the bags as Octavia and I were waiting in line at the pretzel stand.
"Are you alright?" Octavia asked.
"Well, I feel like I should have put gloves on or something to protect my hands," I said, forcing a chuckle. "Do you normally have Blueblood do this for you?"
"Oh, heavens, no," Octavia replied. "I don't usually need to buy so many things since I don't go out an awful lot when I'm not with Blueblood or have something like the wedding to worry about. Plus, Blueblood always has one of his security men carry my bags for me."
"Huh. Forgive me for being critical, but that doesn't sound like he does much for you by doing that," I said.
"It's not the most chivalrous thing a boyfriend can do, I grant you, but it's handy since his security men can handle holding so many bags easily," she replied. "Plus, it makes Blueblood able to be by my side, holding hands, or giving me a side hug as we walk from store to store. It's one of my favorite things about going out with him."
I shrugged back at Octavia as a way of saying, "Fair enough." As soon as she turned her back on me, however, I silently groaned, reluctantly giving Blueblood credit for making romantic gestures like that while having his lackeys do the hard work. It was disappointing to hear her say that, really. I rather enjoyed hearing nothing but how Blueblood lacked as a boyfriend. I guessed he had to have some qualities that warranted him dating Octavia besides having used to come to her concerts. 
In any case, we made it to the end of the line, and grabbed some pretzels and sodas before finding a table to sit on with Octavia carrying the food. I put down all of the bags and started rubbing my hands and arms as I sat down. Octavia smirked in amusement as she handed me my pretzel and soda. As I kept rubbing my hands before digging in, Octavia took a small bite out of her pretzel and let out a cheerful "Mmmm," with her eyes closed.
"I take it you like soft pretzels?" I asked, smirking.
"You have no idea," Octavia replied as she opened her eyes to give me a blissful look. "None of the stores in Manehattan had a food court."
"Seriously?" I asked in disbelief. "I didn't go to the mall much in Appleloosa, but even their one-story mall had a food court where my parents and I would get pretzels whenever we went there. The idea of going to the mall without having one soft, salty pretzel feels wrong."
"You're telling me," Octavia said. "Most of the malls Blueblood and I would go to were for high-class people. They had the kind of clothes and accessories where you had to be about as rich as people like Blueblood and his family. Not exactly a place where you can get some delicious snacks like this. I probably was the only soul who wanted to try things like that anyway."
"Clothes and accessories for people wealthy like Blueblood, eh? Sounds like you tend to take advantage that you date him a lot when you go to the mall?" I said with a teasing smirk.
"Uh, well, you could interpret it that way," Octavia admitted sheepishly. "My family is well off as well because my parents are famous musicians, but it's not the same as running an extensive cooperation. I think most of my possessions now are from after I started dating Blueblood."
I gave her a small nod before I glanced at her ring and asked, "So, what makes your ring stand out from your other accessories? I may have only known you for more than a week, but I've noticed that you don't wear other any other jewelry besides that. Is it just because it was for your first anniversary or something?"
Octavia held up her hand to look at the large sapphire on her ring fondly and said, "That's part of it, but it's mostly because I love sapphires, and I adore how he went out of his way to find a ring with the most beautiful sapphire that can be put on a band. It was the first gift he had ever given me too, so naturally, I love how he knew to give me something that I greatly value."
It took a lot of willpower to keep myself from looking sad as she happily talked about the significance of the ring. It hurt how much I couldn't compare to Blueblood with giving valuable things the gray girl loved. Not even if I became a successful writer like I dreamed of being. I started robotically to eat my snack in silence while Octavia went back to eating small bites of her snack, enjoying each one. I was halfway through my pretzel when I noticed Octavia looking at me, concerned.
"Rough Draft, are you alright?" She asked. 
I looked at her confused before I realized that I must have stopped hiding my feelings while I was deep in thought. I shook my head and said, "Yeah, I'm fine."
"Are you sure?" Octavia asked. 
"Absolutely," I claimed with a smile. "Just lost in thought about something. That's all."
"Is it something that has to do with Appleloosa?" She queried.
"Uh, yeah. Yeah, it is," I fibbed. "I, uh, was just thinking how I had never gone to the mall with someone my age before."
Octavia gave me a sad smile, believing my lie and placed her hand on top of mine. I felt my misery disappear as my cheeks heated up again at her soft touch. I smiled and squeezed Octavia's hand, feeling better before she let out a chuckle. 
"You know, it's kind of funny," she said. "I'm from a big city while you are from a small apple farming town, and yet it's in a suburb where we can do things like try some snack food at a mall or to have friends to hang out with or do homework with."
I gave her statement some thought and said, "I guess that's true. Though if we're being honest, I'm a little jealous of you."
Octavia tilted her head and asked, "What do you mean?"
I answered with a sigh, "Well, it's like I told you before; I want nothing more to be in a close relationship like you do with Blueblood. I was used to not having friends back in Appleloosa, but I thought I could be fine with that if there was that one person who meant that much to me, and she felt the same. I can't say I'm a fan of your boyfriend, Octavia, but hearing some of the good things he's done for you makes me feel jealous that you have that one person."
Octavia frowned and said, "And you think I'm not envious that you have a whole group of friends?"
I looked at her befuddled until I remembered Applejack and Pinkie Pie telling me about how possessive Blueblood was of Octavia. I looked down, ashamed as I asked, "Is that something you've always wanted?"
Octavia's face softened, and she turned to a table on the other side of the food court where a group of teenagers were happily eating and chatting with each other. 
"It is," she answered. "My old school isn't what you might consider a lively place in regards to students socializing. Most interests any student has with each other comes from how that other person could benefit you when you're all out of high school, and will become successful in whatever career they will pursue."
"So, basically, you're only socializing enough just to make the right business connections?" I asked.
"Precisely," Octavia said. "That's what made Blueblood different. He wasn't just being polite or anything like that. He showed a real interest in who I was. He devoted so much time to me and never asked for anything in return, apart from never taking off my ring. He's not perfect, I know, but he never showed to have an agenda behind being my boyfriend."
"But that still made him the only one who was like that," I said.
"Indeed," Octavia said sadly. "So, please don't think I have everything when you were blessed with several friends practically the moment you stepped foot in this town."
I looked down at the table, abashed by how I had forgotten about Octavia's own desire to have friends. Nothing but the chatter from the people around us was heard as we looked away from each other. After about a minute, I found myself chuckling, and Octavia turned to me, bewildered.
"When you say it like that, it sounds like we've had one thing we want hand-given to us while still lacking the other between love and friendship," I said. 
Octavia continued to look at me funny for a moment before she realized what I was saying and chuckled.
"I guess so," she said. 
I smiled at her, happy to hear her laugh again. Just then, my eyes lit up, and my smile grew after coming up with an idea.
"Well, if a group of friends is what you want, I think I can help by introducing you to more of my friends," I said. 
Octavia gave me a small smile and said, "That is sweet of you to offer, Rough Draft, but you can't expect me to instantly be friends with all of your friends like you did."
"Maybe, but you've already befriended Starlight Glimmer, so we just need to find opportunities for you to meet my other friends," I suggested. "And I think I know how we can do that today."
"You do?" Octavia asked.
"Yup," I said. "You still need a dress for the wedding, right?"
Octavia's eyes widened, and she let out a loud gasp.
"Oh my goodness, that's right. We didn't find any dresses in the entire mall that are suitable for the wedding, did we?" She said.
"We didn't," I confirmed. "Fortunately, one of my friends works at a boutique and has a passion for making dresses. She used to live in Manehattan too. I bet she could make a dress for you that's perfect for the wedding."
"Really? That sounds great," Octavia said. "Do you know where it is?"
I opened my mouth to answer before I chuckled in embarrassment and said, "I guess I should send her a text about that."
Octavia stared at me for a moment before she covered her mouth, trying not to laugh at me. I felt a light blush as I took out a phone and sent a text to Rarity, asking where the shop she worked at is. I put my phone down next to my food tray, and Octavia and I went back to our pretzels for a minute before my phone vibrated, showing Rarity's reply on the lock screen.
"The place is called Carousel Boutique," I said.
"Ah. I've seen that place," Octavia said. "It's a few blocks from here just past my house. We can drop off my new stuff along the way."
"Uh, how far away is your house from here?" I asked as I glanced down at the many shopping bags.
Octavia couldn't stop herself from giggling while feeling sorry for my misfortune.

*******************************************************************************************

I was rubbing my hands and arms again as we were making our way to Carousel Boutique, having only dropped off Octavia's things at her house about ten minutes ago. Octavia offered to carry some of the bags so that I wouldn't have to carry so much all the way from the mall, and I gratefully accepted. Even so, my arms were sore after carrying so much throughout the afternoon. If Octavia didn't usually buy that much stuff when going to the mall, I wondered how much Blueblood's men really had to carry compared to what I had just gone through.
Regardless, we made our way to Carousel Boutique. It was a fancy-looking shop with the outside of the building painted in pretty shades of blue, pink, and purple. When we went inside, Octavia gasped as she looked around the store to see the various dresses, shoes, and jewelry. She walked over to one of the windows where a lilac dress with mulberry lines on the edges and a blue rose attached to the center of the chest area was on display.
"Now this is more like it," Octavia said enthusiastically. "No wonder we couldn't find the right dress at the mall. It seems like all the creative talent in making dresses dwells in this shop."
I couldn't help but chuckle at her excitement as I said, "I'm glad this is to your liking."
"Hello?" I heard Rarity call out from the second-floor staircase on the other side of the room. "Is that you, Rough Draft?"
"Yeah, I'm down here, Rarity," I called out. 
I heard Rarity walking down the steps, and she immediately spotted me as I walked over to greet her. She gave me a cheerful smile as she pulled me into a hug that knocked the wind out of me. I let out a groan in pain as she squeezed me before breaking the hug to look at me.
"Darling, what a surprise," she said. "Why didn't you tell me you were going to visit when you texted me?"
"Well, I thought I'd surprise you," I said. 
"Well, then consider me pleasantly surprised," Rarity said. "And may I say you look lovely in a black polo shirt. It looks exquisite on you."
"Thanks," I said with my cheeks turning pink. "Octavia thought so too."
Rarity's joyous face disappeared into a look of confusion, and she asked, "Octavia?"
Octavia snapped out of her gaze on the dress after hearing her name and turned to Rarity with a smile. The white girl stared at the gray girl flabbergasted as Octavia walked over to her.
"He means me," Octavia answered for me. "I'm Octavia Melody. And you are?"
Rarity kept staring at Octavia for a moment before she snapped out of her daze and said, "Rarity."
"Pleased to meet you, Rarity," Octavia said before turning to the dress she was looking at. "Tell me, did you make that dress."
"Huh? Oh, yes, I did," Rarity answered, still shocked by Octavia's presence.
"Incredible," Octavia said. "I've never seen such an amazing dress in my life."
Rarity was still in shock for a moment before she shook her head and chuckled with a demure look.
"Oh, please. You exaggerate," she said.
"I most certainly do not," Octavia said. "You clearly put a lot of passion into this dress. Tell me, how did you come up with it."
Rarity stammered for a moment, feeling flattered while still dumbfounded that Octavia was there before she answered, "Uh, well, you see, I went to see the musical, The Tale of Flaming Arrow and Silver Gleam, in Manehattan with my family last month and, well, one of the scenes took place in a castle garden."
"Oh, I love The Tale of Flaming Arrow and Silver Gleam!" Octavia exclaimed. "Are you talking about when Flaming Arrow first meets Silver Gleam, not knowing that she's the princess?"
"That's the one," Rarity answered with a small smile, happy that Octavia knew the play. "Anyway, the garden had such gorgeous flowers in many hues that I felt so inspired to start designing a new gown as soon as I got home."
"Amazing," Octavia praised. "You are an artist."
Rarity's smile grew, touched by Octavia's compliments before she cleared her throat and said, "Yes, well, what can I do for you?"
Octavia and I looked at each other and chuckled sheepishly, realizing we had forgotten why we were there in the first place.
"Right. So, I require a gown for a wedding that's in a couple of weeks," she explained. "You see, it's a very high-end wedding, and I'm going to be performing there as the cellist in the wedding band. It's my first gig for a wedding like this, and I want to look spectacular for it, especially since I'm also the bride's cousin's girlfriend."
Rarity's eye twitched at the word, "girlfriend," making me feel uneasy as she kept a bright smile and said, "Oh my, sounds like you need quite the dress for such a big occasion."
"Indeed," Octavia said. "Now I looked all over the stores at the mall with Rough Draft, but none of the dresses came close to what I need. But then, Rough Draft told me about you and how you make dresses and are from Manehattan like me, and after looking at your dress, it sounds like you're the person to come to for the perfect gown."
Rarity's head snapped toward me, and I became more uneasy as she secretly glared daggers at me behind her cheerful face. Octavia turned to me, noticing that I was afraid, but before she could ask, Rarity took my hand and stepped between Octavia and me.
"Do forgive me, dear, but could I borrow Rough Draft for a bit?" She asked.
"Um, yes?" Octavia answered.
"Lovely," Rarity said with a forced grin. "Please feel free to look at the other dresses. See if any of them fit what you are looking for."
"Uh, sure," Octavia said.
Without another word, Rarity pulled me by the hand to the staircase, leaving a confused Octavia to browse the store. The white girl dragged me up the stairs to the second floor, where she forced me into an office, locked the door behind her, and her smile turned into a menacing glare.
"How could you lead that wicked cow here?!" She snarled.
"What?" I asked. "What are you talking about?"
"You know perfectly well what I'm talking about!" Rarity growled. "Why would you bring the person I hate most here and have her ask me to make a dress for her?!"
I stared in disbelief and said, "Seriously? You're still going on about that, Rarity? I thought everyone in our group agreed to try and become friends with Octavia."
"I agreed to do that as a group. Not for me to actually be a friend to her," Rarity said. 
"Oh, come on, Rarity. That's just being childish," I rebuked. "You looked like you were starting to get along just fine talking about your dress or that musical you two were talking about."
"Uh, well, yes, er, that is to say, I was a little gladdened that she liked my dress, and I always admire another girl who likes The Tale of Flaming Arrow and Silver Gleam," Rarity admitted, rubbing her arm. "But that doesn't mean I'm okay with helping the person I'm jealous of for dating the one boy I love."
"But Octavia needs your help, Rarity," I begged. "You heard what she said. She needs someone like you to make the best dress she could have for the wedding."
"No! I refuse!" Rarity said, turning her back to me with her arms crossed. 
"Oh, come on. You're being ridiculous," I said.
"Oh, so you can express detestation against my Bluey, and I can't do it with Octavia Melody?" Rarity challenged. 
"I have other reasons to dislike Blueblood than the fact that he's Octavia's boyfriend," I countered. "Heck, you said it yourself that you know that he's not a good person, and you want to change him for the better."
Rarity winced while her back was still facing me and said, "That's….true."
"So, what reason do you have to hate my crush other than the fact that she's dating yours?" I challenged.
Rarity bit her lip and said, "None."
"Would you say she's a very nice person that you have a couple of things in common with?" I asked. 
"Yes," Rarity admitted. 
"Would you like to talk more about fashion, The Tale of Flaming Arrow and Silver Gleam, and other things in the future?" I asked.
Rarity hesitated before she said, "I suppose it would be nice. Maybe Fluttershy would like to join in."
I grinned mischievously, knowing that I was winning the argument, and asked, "Would you like to create an extravagant outfit for Octavia that will make her smile and amaze so many high-class people in a luxurious wedding?"
By this point, Rarity was struggling to maintain her straight posture. Sweat began to run down her head as she struggled to accept what she had to do. My grin got bigger as I leaned into her ear and made the final blow.
"Won't Blueblood himself want to know who was the beautiful and talented fashionista that made that dress?"
"Alright! Alright! Alright! You win!" Rarity screamed. "Sheesh. You fight dirty."
"Nonsense. I merely just stated the facts," I said matter-of-factly. 
Rarity rolled her eyes at me before she smiled and said, "In all seriousness, Rough Draft, I see what both you and Starlight have told me about Octavia. She is a friendly girl."
I smiled at Rarity, glad that she finally admitted it, but then her smile turned into a sad frown, and she said, "I hope you know what you're doing by trying to have everyone in our group become friends with her, Rough Draft. After all, Blueblood doesn't let Octavia interact with anyone else when he's around, and he did say that you're forbidden to see her again once he's healed up."
"I know," I said. "But I want to make the best of my time with Octavia, and not just for me but her as well. She told me that she wishes that she has a group of friends just like I did, and I want to give that to her. Besides, I choose to believe that when the time comes, she will stand for herself and tell Blueblood to stop being so possessive and that he has no say on who can or cannot be around her."
"But that would still make you just her friend and nothing else," Rarity pointed out. "Are you sure you can live with that even though you want to be more? You may be okay with it now, but it may be more difficult when Blueblood is back in the picture."
"More difficult than you getting Blueblood and changing him into a decent guy?" I asked, smirking. 
Rarity took a moment to think about it before she chuckled and rubbed the back of her head, saying, "Fair point. I guess in the end, we are both hopeless romantic fools doing what we can while our crushes are still together. Lord help us."
"Lord help us," I agreed. 
The two of us let out heavy sighs and looked away from each other in silence. After about half a minute, my phone vibrated, and I took it out to see a text from Octavia. 
"Octavia is wondering what's taking us so long," I said. "She wants to get started with discussing the new gown with you right now." 
"Well, then let's not keep the lady waiting," Rarity said. "Shall we, Mr. Draft?"?”
I smiled and nodded before the two of us walked back downstairs. Octavia was looking at another dress when she noticed us and turned to face us with a raised eyebrow.
"I was starting to think you forgot about me," she said. "What were you borrowing my assistant for?"
"Uh, I just wanted to show Rough Draft some of the new dresses I made," Rarity lied. "They're for some of our friends, and I wanted his opinion before I give it to them for a big event."
Octavia kept her eyebrow raised and turned to me, asking, "Really?"
"Yes, really," I lied. "We took so long because Rarity had to explain a couple of things like how the colors with the dresses have to blend well with the wearer's skin and hair colors. Let's just say it was difficult because I'm not much of a fashion person."
"I see," Octavia said, unconvinced before turning back to Rarity. "Anyway, I was hoping we can get started talking about designing my gown."
"Ah, yes. Well, I have some ideas for that, actually," Rarity said.
Octavia gave Rarity a look of intrigue and said, "Like what?"
Rarity cleared her throat and said, "Well, naturally, we don't want to go with something very showy since the bride of this said wedding should be the center of attention. Having said that, since you admire the dress we were talking about earlier, I think your new gown could have a somewhat similar design that expresses your passion as a...cellist, was it?"
Octavia nodded before she scratched her chin in thought and said, "That makes sense. Though, how similar are we talking about?"
Rarity smirked and said, "I think it would be best if I show you what I'm thinking in my inspiration room back upstairs. I can also take your measurements too while at it. Of course, we'll need to have Mr. Draft stay here while we discuss it."
"What? Why?" I asked. "Maybe I could help?"
"So sorry, Rough Draft, but this is for the ladies to discuss, and you just admitted that you're not a fashion person," Rarity said. 
"Indeed, you did say that, Rough Draft," Octavia said.
I opened my mouth to protest, but I stopped myself and hung my head in defeat. Rarity turned to Octavia and gestured her to the staircase. As Octavia walked toward the stairs, though, Rarity walked over to me and leaned into my ear with a teasing smirk on her face.
"Besides, it wouldn't do if you find out how lovely your 'friend' is going to look before the dress is even made," she whispered. "I'm sure she'll want to see the look on your purple face when she wears it for the wedding. I know I do."
I felt my cheeks turn slightly pink as Rarity pulled her head back to give me a wink. I looked away bashfully as Rarity followed Octavia up the stairs to discuss her dress. 

*************************************************************************************************

For the next half hour, I waited patiently for Rarity and Octavia to finish discussing Octavia's dress. I paced back and forth across the store before ultimately sitting on a chair and taking out my phone to play a game, accepting that they were going to be there longer than I hoped. I heard them chatter and giggle from upstairs, which made me curious about what they were talking about, but at the same time, I felt hopeful that it also meant that Rarity was taking a real chance at becoming friends with Octavia. Finally, I heard the two of them walking back down the stairs, still happily chatting with each other. Octavia was laughing out loud from Rarity telling a joke before turning to me.
"So sorry to keep you waiting, Rough Draft," she said. "We kinda got lost in conversation."
"It's okay. It sounded like you two had fun," I said with a smile. "Did you two get things figured out with your dress?"
"We certainly did," Rarity chirped. "And I can't wait to get started on it. It's going to be simply divine."
I chuckled at Rarity's enthusiasm as Octavia said, "Indeed, I cannot wait until it is finished, Rarity. I can't thank you enough for your help."
"Think nothing of it, dear," Rarity said with a wave of her hand. "I'm excited to make it for you. Now, given that I do have some other orders to work on, I will do everything in my free time to make sure that it's ready in time for the wedding. I'll have you try it on no less than a few days before so that I have time for adjustments if I need to."
"That's good to hear, Rarity," Octavia said before taking out her phone to check the time. "Now, if you will excuse us, I think Rough Draft should walk me home before my mother starts to worry."
"Oh, yes. Perfectly understandable," Rarity said before turning to me. "Kindly make sure that the lady is brought home safe and sound, Mr. Draft."
I smirked at Rarity and said, "No harm will come to Lady Melody. I assure you."
Octavia smiled at me sweetly before she said, "I hope to see you around school, Rarity."
"Oh, so do I, Octavia," Rarity replied. "See you on Monday, Rough Draft."
"See ya," I said as Octavia and I left the shop.
With that, the two of us started walking down the street quietly to Octavia's place. It didn't take long to get to the house since it wasn't that far from Carousel Boutique, so once we got to the front porch, Octavia turned to me and gave me another sweet smile. 
"Thank you so much for introducing me to Rarity, Rough Draft," she said. "I'm really excited about my new dress."
"You're very welcome," I said. "It sounded like you were having fun talking to Rarity up there. Would you say you've become friends."
"Oh, yes. Very much so," Octavia answered. "It's a relief that we did become friends actually. Before she asked to talk to you privately - well, I'm not sure, but it looked like she wanted to strangle me or something."
"Uh, really? What could have given you that idea?" I asked, with a nervous smile.
"I don't know. Just something about how her eyes were staring at me," Octavia answered. "Ah, well, the important thing is we have things covered with my dress for the wedding, and I've made a new friend. Add that to a massive shopping spree, and I'd say I've had a charming afternoon with you, Rough Draft."
My heart skipped a beat when she said that last part as I said, "I did too. I'm happy that you're happy, Octavia."
"Aw, there you go being so sweet again," Octavia cooed. "Speaking of which, though, I was wondering if I could ask you something."
"Oh?" I asked.
"Well, I thought about it while you and Rarity had your talk, and I was wondering if you could be my date for the wedding," she said. 
My eyes widened, my heart skipped another beat, and I felt my cheeks heating up. Octavia covered her mouth to hide another giggle and said, "I had a feeling you were going to react that way."
"Well, needless to say, no girl has ever asked me something like that before," I said.
"Needless to say, indeed," Octavia said. "As your friend, it pleases me to be the first one. Though in any case, I find your company quite amusing and comforting, and honestly, there's not a lot of people going to the wedding that I know very well. So, it would mean a lot to me if you could come with me and watch me play."
The ache of her only referring to me as her friend was numbed by her complimenting my company and saying that it would mean a lot to her if I was her date. To have someone so kind and talented like Octavia be the first girl to say any of those things just made the experience all the more special. But even if she didn't say those things, I already knew what my answer was going to be.
"I would love to be your date," I said. "Though I don't have a suit."
Octavia smiled and said, "That's okay. We can get you one at the suit shop next time. I'm buying, of course."
"Oh, you don't have to do that, Octavia," I said.
"I know, but I want to, and it's important for you to have one for an event like this," Octavia said before giving me another teasing smirk. "Besides, if you look as cute as you do in a black polo shirt, I can't wait to see how you look in a tuxedo fitting for a luxurious wedding."
I turned my back on her to hide my face, but Octavia laughed, knowing that I was blushing all over without seeing me.
"Are you just doing this on purpose to mess with me?" I asked, still looking away. 
But instead of an answer, I felt two gray arms wrapping around my chest from behind and pulling me into a hug. My blush grew as I turned my head to see Octavia giving me a cordial look.
"I do find your bashful reactions quite darling," she admitted. "But I mean it when I say I look forward to seeing my best friend looking handsome in a nice suit. The thought of it makes me think of how foolish and stiff-necked the girls in Appleloosa must have been to not see you for the charming guy you are. It's unfair that you've never had that special someone in your life, Rough Draft. I hope you will find her soon, and when you do, I'll help you win her heart. I promise."
I could do nothing but stare at the girl I had feelings for, touched by her words as she held me from behind. Never in my life had anyone speak so highly of me or encouraged me so passionately. I felt uplifted that my dream of finding love will come true with her help, but at the same time, I thought that was less likely to happen than before, for having her say those words to me didn't make me believe that I could find someone other than Octavia to fall in love with. If anything, her kind words, firm embrace, warm smile, and the gentle look in her violet eyes made me wish even more that she could be the one for me and that I would be the one for her. If the way she was acting toward me as just a friend was all I would get, then I wanted her to hold me and look at me like that for all time. 
Eventually, I smiled and said, "Thank you, Octavia."
"You're very welcome, Rough Draft," Octavia said before she gave my body one more squeeze and let go. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I best get inside."
I hid my longing to feel her embrace again with my smile as I said, "Of course. I better get home myself. My parents are probably home by now."
"Well, you best not keep them waiting," Octavia said. "Good night, Rough Draft."
"Good night, Octavia," I said before she went inside and closed the door.
With the gray girl out of my sight, I could do nothing but glumly walk home, longing to feel her arms again.
> Chapter 8
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The next day, I was staying at home playing video games again, but for Octavia, it was the day that Blueblood was going to be released from the hospital. The doctor called her to let her know that he was going to be sent home early afternoon, and she decided to come to the hospital and surprise Blueblood with joining him on the ambulance ride back to his house. Thus, she began walking from her house to the hospital, deciding not to ask me to be her escort because she thought I deserved a break, and it would be better if it was just her. 
It was roughly ten minutes until one in the afternoon when Octavia entered the hospital. When she made it to the front desk, the person behind it told her that they were just minutes away from moving Blueblood. The gray girl wasted no time to get to the nearest elevator to go up to the floor, where her boyfriend's room was. She wondered how much Blueblood would be happy to see her as she got off the elevator and walked down to her destination. But as she got closer to Blueblood's room, she heard him yelling inside.
"I don't owe you a bloody thing!" He growled. "It's over! You were nothing but a distraction! An outlet! Now keep away from him as long as he's in my possession! Understand?!"
Octavia stopped just a few feet from the door as she overheard everything Blueblood was saying. She had never known him to be yelling like that before even at his worst, and his words left her confused, wondering who he was talking to. She heard Blueblood let out a grunt and a beeping from a phone, indicating that he just ended a phone call. She stayed still for a few seconds before she took a deep breath and forced a smile on her face before she entered the room to find Blueblood lying on the hospital bed looking irritated. 
"Hello, dear," she greeted.
Blueblood turned to her, and his eyes widened like he was caught in the act of something.
"Octavia," he said. "What are you doing here?"
"I heard from the doctor that you are about to be released, so I decided to surprise you," Octavia answered before she placed her hand on top of Blueblood's head and kissed him on the lips. "I was hoping I could join you when they take you back home if that's alright."
"Uh, well, of course, it is, dearest," Blueblood said. "I wouldn't want it any other way."
Octavia smiled at her boyfriend, but at the same time, she wondered why he was reluctant to accept her offer. Usually, he would accept a request from her without hesitation, further displaying his devotion to her, but that moment of pause concerned her. Was he hiding something? Did he suddenly not love her? Was there something she did? Did it have something to do with who he was yelling at on the phone?
Noticing her edgy look, Blueblood cleared his throat and said, "I take it you heard me yelling on the phone?"
"Yes, I did," Octavia confirmed. "What was that all about?"
Blueblood hesitated again, making Octavia worried that she overstepped her bounds. She was about to say that he didn't have to answer her when Blueblood suddenly said, "It was work stuff."
"Work stuff?" Octavia asked, confused. "How on Earth was that work stuff?"
"It's complicated," Blueblood answered. "There's someone from another company who wants someone essential to my department, and I had just learned that they were trying to get him in my absence, so I called to tell them off."
Octavia looked at Blueblood disapprovingly and said, "That didn't sound like a mature way to act. I would think you handle things more professionally when you're at work. You are the heir to your father's company, after all."
"I do," Blueblood claimed. "That is, I am very professional when I'm at work. I just lost my cool because this person from a rival company is trying to take advantage of my injury. You can imagine the frustration behind something sinister like that, can't you, dear?"
"I suppose," Octavia said. "Though, I would advise you to handle your problems at work better than that in the future."
"You have my word, dearest," Blueblood replied.
Octavia gave her boyfriend an appreciative smile, satisfied with his quick response. Blueblood smiled back before he cleared his throat to change the subject. 
"So, has your so-called assistant been serving you well so far?" He asked.
"Oh, yes, very much so," Octavia said with a smile. "Rough Draft has been a darling when it comes to helping me. In fact, he helped me find a fashionista who is going to make my dress for the wedding."
"Good. Good," Blueblood said. "Speaking of which, I hope you made sure he accompanies you to the wedding in my absence."
"He is. I asked him to be my date yesterday," Octavia said. 
Blueblood frowned at this and said, "What do you mean you asked him? He works for you. You should be expecting him to do whatever he tells you to do."
"I know, but I prefer to ask instead," Octavia replied. "Besides, you know I'm not as authoritative as you, dear."
"You mean like when you 'asked' me to hang up my phone at dinner?" Blueblood challenged.
Octavia frowned and said, "You broke your promise not to take any more calls at dinner."
"It was an important call, Octavia," Blueblood countered. 
"I don't care if it was a call from the king of the world," Octavia retorted. "You can't do that to me, Blueblood. When you say that you will do something for me, I expect you to do it. No excuses."
"Oh, so I'm not allowed to do my job so that I can pursue my goal to take over the company?!" Blueblood snarled. "I thought you were always going to support me on that."
"And I thought you would never miss a single one of my performances!" Octavia countered.
"Hey, I get them recorded so that I can still see them!" Blueblood barked. 
"That doesn't count!" Octavia shouted. "That just means you can put me on hold for your own things."
"Well, what do you want me to do? Quit my job?!" Blueblood asked. 
"No, I want things to be the way they were before we moved to Canterlot, or you had your job where you never hesitated to be with me!" Octavia shouted. "I want you to figure out how to make time for me when I want you to, never miss any of my concerts ever again, and never focus on anything else whenever you are with me! That's what I want, Blueblood!"
The small hospital room became silent after Octavia said her piece. The couple did nothing but glare at each other, waiting for the other to admit defeat. Eventually, a doctor came in, followed by two paramedics pushing a wheeled stretcher.
"Alright, Mr. Blueblood, we're all ready to move you to the ambulance now," the doctor said. 
"About time, doctor," Blueblood said while his eyes were still fixed on Octavia. 
Octavia crossed her arms as she watched the paramedics carefully pick Blueblood up and put him on the stretcher. She silently followed behind as they pushed the stretcher out of the room and headed towards the elevator. Neither Octavia or Blueblood looked at each other as the elevator went down to the ground floor even though she was standing next to him. As far as she was concerned, she was waiting for him to apologize and say that he will try and do better. But he didn't say anything to her. He just looked away bitterly as though his silent treatment will force her to cave. The two of them remained this way as they got on the ambulance, and it drove over to Blueblood's house. 
After twenty minutes, the ambulance arrived at a two-story building that would be mistaken for a mansion. A butler and two maids were waiting at the front yard as the paramedics rolled Blueblood inside the house. The butler and the maids were joyful that their master's son had returned, but Blueblood paid no mind to the help. He was still waiting for his girlfriend to let him win the fight. Once everyone made it to Blueblood's bedroom, the paramedics helped Blueblood to his bed and gave the butler specific instructions on how to take care of him while his ribs were still healing. While they were talking, Octavia and Blueblood finally turned to each other again, staring at each other as though they were silently continuing the fight. But try as they might, they ultimately accepted that no one was going to win. Frustrated and disappointed, Octavia turned around and walked away without saying goodbye. She exited the house and walked several blocks until she found a bench to sit on before letting out a heavy sigh.
"Blueblood, you fool," Octavia whispered as her eyes started to water.
She let out a whimper as she started wiping the tears coming down her face. She hoped that letting out how she felt to Blueblood would make him understand and want to improve as a boyfriend, but his stubbornness just made her more afraid of what's happening to their relationship than before. She started crying louder as she wondered where the Blueblood who made her feel loved unconditionally had gone. She wanted to keep supporting him with his dream, but the more time he was away from her, the more distant he had become.
When her cries turned into quiet sniffles, she looked at the sapphire ring in her hand. She stared at the ring sadly before looking up at the sky and started playing with it. As she did, her mind subconsciously went to the time she spent with me over the last few days. She thought about how I listened to her, held her bags, listened to her music so intently, helped her gain the first two female friends she ever had in her life. 
Octavia's mind then went to when she hugged me from behind after I walked her to her house the day before. She giggled with her mouth closed as she thought about how I was blushing the entire time. Octavia's smile grew when her mind went to the way I smiled, touched by her encouraging words. She subconsciously hugged herself, imagining that she was still hugging me until she realized what she was doing and shook her head, her gray cheeks turning pink.
"What's the matter with you, Octavia?" She asked herself. "Rough Draft is your friend. You were just trying to encourage him because you care about him as your friend. He doesn't even think of you that way. Sure, he was constantly blushing and all, but that's because he never experienced being hugged or flattered by a girl before. Besides, you're in a committed relationship. You're just thinking about Rough Draft like that because you're going through a rough patch with Blueblood. It's normal for couples to go through that. Just give him a while to clear his head while he's healing and everything will -"
'Octavia?"
Octavia yelped and nearly jumped out her seat before she turned her head to find Starlight Glimmer standing next to the bench.
"Starlight. How long were you standing there?" Octavia asked.
"Not long. I was just walking over to you before I spoke," Starlight Glimmer answered.
"You, uh, you didn't hear anything I said, did you?" Octavia asked. 
"No, I didn't catch anything," Starlight Glimmer said.
Octavia sighed in relief before she chuckled in embarrassment. Starlight Glimmer still looked at the gray girl in concern and asked, "Are you okay?"
"No. No, I am not," Octavia said. 
"Do you want to talk about it?" Starlight asked. 
Octavia gave her friend a sad smile and said, "Not really. Thank you, though."
"Oh. Okay," Starlight said. "Well, if you haven't eaten yet, would you like to join me for lunch? I'm on my way to this 50's restaurant that my friend, Pinkie Pie, works at. Maybe some food will take your mind off what's bugging you."
Octavia frowned and opened her mouth to decline Starlight Glimmer's invitation, but then she heard a rumble coming from her stomach. She chuckled nervously again while Starlight Glimmer tried not to laugh.
"I suppose I'm a bit peckish," Octavia replied. 
"Great," Starlight Glimmer said happily. "It's just a couple of blocks from here, so just follow my lead."
Octavia smiled and nodded as she got off the bench and followed her friend. It took only a few minutes before they came across a diner in bright colors with a large pink car on top of the building. It wasn't long after they went inside before Pinkie Pie, dressed in a blue waitress outfit and wearing roller skates,  appeared before them as if she came out of thin air. Octavia and Starlight Glimmer jumped in alarm as Pinkie Pie gave them a big smile.
"Hi, you guys," she chirped. "I see you decided to take me on my offer, Starlight."
"Uh, well, I haven't had a chance to eat lunch yet, and I was in the neighborhood, so I thought no time like the present," Starlight Glimmer replied, still taken aback. "I saw Octavia along the way, so I invited her to join me."
"Ooooooo, two new customers. That's twice as fun," Pinkie Pie said. "Welcome to the Sweet Snacks Cafe, ladies. I know you're going to love it here."
"I hope so," Octavia said. "I could do with something very filling."
"Well, then you're in luck, because nothing beats our food here," Pinkie Pie said as she took out two menus. "Come on. I'll show you to your booth."
Starlight Glimmer and Octavia smiled as they followed the pink girl who rolled her way to a booth at the other side of the diner. The two girls sat down, and Pinkie Pie handed them the menus before she said, "I'll be back in a minute to take your orders, okay?"
"Sounds good, Pinkie," Starlight Glimmer said. 
With that, Pinkie Pie rolled away, quick as a flash, and Starlight Glimmer and Octavia started looking at their menus. After deciding what she wanted, Octavia put down her menu and looked around the restaurant. Many of the booths were full of people happily eating their food and chatting away. A group of couples were dancing in front of a jukebox that was playing 50's music. 
"A very lively place here, isn't it?" Octavia said. 
"It sure is," Starlight Glimmer agreed, putting down her menu. "Pinkie told me that this place has a lot of regular customers, and it's known for having delicious milkshakes. To tell you the truth, I've been curious about how good they are, because there's already some milkshakes at Sugarcube Cafe that are very sweet."
"Indeed," Octavia said. "Perhaps we should try some after we've had our lunch."
Starlight Glimmer nodded in agreement before she thought of something and asked, "You know, I've noticed that you say 'indeed' a lot. Is that like your catchphrase or something?"
Octavia let out a giggle and replied, "I suppose it sounds like I say it too much, but it's quite normal to use the phrase regularly back in Manehattan."
"Oh, I see," Starlight Glimmer said. "I hope you aren't offended that I asked."
"No, of course not," Octavia assured. "If anything, I suppose someone was bound to ask in retrospect."
Starlight Glimmer smiled before Pinkie Pie appeared in front of the booth and asked, "So, you guys ready to order?"
"I know I am," Starlight Glimmer said. "How about you, Octavia?"
"I certainly am," Octavia replied.
"Great," Pinkie Pie said before she reached into her poofy pink hair and took out a pen and notebook. "What can I getcha?"
Starlight Glimmer and Octavia paused for a moment, befuddled that the notebook and pen were stashed inside Pinkie Pie's hair before they shook their heads and picked up their menus.
"I'd like the 'rocking chicken club sandwich' with fries," Starlight said.
"And I'll try the, er, 'groovy burger' with the 'twist and shout' onion rings," Octavia said, muddled with the names of the food. 
"Great choices," Pinkie Pie said as she took the menus. "We'll have your orders ready in a jiffy."
The pink girl rolled away cheerfully, leaving Starlight Glimmer and Octavia alone again. The two of them sat quietly, waiting eagerly for their food with no idea of what to say to strike another conversation in the meantime. 
As they waited, Octavia noticed a young couple sitting in a nearby booth. The two of them appeared to be freshmen from Canterlot High. No older than fifteen. The girl had white skin and curly grayish mulberry hair with pale, light grayish rose streaks. The boy had dark grayish amber skin and was wearing a propeller beanie to cover his moderate tangelo hair that has a streak of bright orange. The two of them were sitting on the same side of the booth with the boy playing a game on his phone while the girl watched with her arms wrapped around the boy's right arm, and her head rested on his shoulder. Octavia noticed how the girl was smiling as she watched her boyfriend press his thumbs on the screen repeatedly. She speculated that the girl was silently excited for her boyfriend, who perhaps was coming close to achieving his goal in the game. 
Suddenly, the boy yelled in panic before letting out a childish cry, having apparently lost the game. The girl frowned sympathetically and lifted her head to say words of comfort to her beloved. It took a few seconds before the boyfriend stopped crying and gave the girlfriend an appreciative look. Then, the girlfriend spoke to the boyfriend in a way that looked like she was giving him advice. The boyfriend thought about what she said before his eyes lit up, and he praised the girlfriend for the suggestion. His praise was spontaneously followed by kissing the girl's cheek before going back to the game. The girl stood in place for a moment with her cheeks turning pink before she beamed and went back to resting her head on her boyfriend's shoulder, squeezing the boyfriend's arm even more as she watched him play. 
Octavia smiled at the couple's moment of encouragement and affection, finding it to be adorable and touching. Her smile faded, however, when her mind went back to her and Blueblood. She thought about the times they displayed affection for each other such as holding hands and him giving her side hugs like she said to me the day before, but she couldn't remember the last time they kissed apart from when she greeted him at the hospital that day. If it was sometime shortly before the school year started, it felt longer than that. She knew that Blueblood hadn't been able to show much affection with his work or after he fell off the balcony, but that just made her miss being kissed even more. As far as she was concerned, the most meaningful moment of affection she remembered having was when she hugged me from behind. 
The gray girl quietly groaned with her mouth closed so that Starlight Glimmer couldn't hear, disliking how her mind went back to me. She tried to shake off those thoughts again, but they were there to stay this time. Octavia then remembered how I admitted to being someone who likes video games and other nerdy stuff and started picturing me focused on a video game just like the younger boy. She smiled at the thought of a girl hugging my arm and resting her head on my shoulder as I played. It sounded like a dream come true for her dear friend that she wanted to see happen, but then, Octavia suddenly imagined herself being that girl. She wanted to slap herself in the face out of hopes that she would snap out of that thought, but there was no way she could do that while she was in public. And yet, the idea didn't sound bad to her. Could she learn to be invested in what I'm passionate about in the same manner as I was about her music? She wasn't sure, but she wanted to find out even if she shouldn't.
Her mind then went back to the argument that she likely is feeling this way because of the problem with her relationship. But even as she mentally told herself that again, she wondered how she could know for sure. Eventually, she decided she needed help and looked at Starlight Glimmer, who was looking away while resting her arm.
"Starlight Glimmer, can I get your opinion on something?" She asked. 
The purple girl turned to her and smiled as she said, "Sure. What's up?"
"Well, there's a… cousin who lives in Manehattan and is going through a confusing situation and has asked me for advice on it," Octavia lied. "I want to help with figuring out the problem, but I think I need a second opinion."
Starlight Glimmer looked at Octavia, confused, and hesitantly asked, "Okay, so what's the problem?"
"Well, this cousin has been dating his girlfriend for a long time," Octavia began. "His girlfriend was very devoted to him and always came to be with him whenever she could and support his dream as a celli - er, actor."
"Was?" Starlight Glimmer asked. 
"Yes. You see, his girlfriend has started this job in this highly-respected fashion business," Octavia explained. "It's always been her dream to work in the fashion industry and even create her own company one day. My cousin was happy that she got the job and has been encouraging her while she started working, but then she started acting less like herself."
"What do you mean?" Starlight Glimmer asked.
"Well, she started spending less time with him, and even when she's around she acts distant and often spends half the time taking calls from work even in the middle of dates and doesn't even come to his plays anymore," Octavia said. 
"Sounds like he should just break up with her," Starlight Glimmer commented.
"You'd think, but he doesn't want to," Octavia said. "They've been together for so long, and he still loves her so much. For all her faults, she's been the best thing to come into his life, and he doesn't want to lose her."
Starlight Glimmer frowned and said, "That does sound like a hard thing to figure out."
"It gets more complicated than that, actually," Octavia said.
"Really? How?" Starlight Glimmer asked. 
"Well, there's another girl," Octavia said. "She's a… a playwright. She's writing and directing the latest musical in Bridleway."
"Really? What's it called?" Starlight Glimmer asked.
"Er, I don't remember. I just know it has something to do with robots and spaceships and warriors with superpowers or something," Octavia fibbed.
"That's pretty unusual for a musical on Bridleway," Starlight Glimmer said.
"Well, she's a rather unusual person," Octavia replied. "Having said that, my cousin is one of the actors for the show and has grown to admire her for her passion even though it's very different and few people in the city are interested in the concept. He also tells me that she's very friendly and seems to admire his talent as an actor in a way that no one does. Not even his girlfriend."
"Ah, I think I see where this is going," Starlight Glimmer said, smirking. "Your cousin has developed feelings for the playwright."
"Er, well, he thinks he has," Octavia clarified. "He doesn't want to believe he has because he still wants to fight for his relationship, and yet there seems to be something special about how much the playwright cares for him. He figures that she's just a good director who encourages her actors because that's her job and he's just thinking he's beginning to like her because he and his girlfriend are going through a rough time while the playwright is giving him the attention he used to get from his girlfriend. He wishes he knew for sure, so he asked me for advice, and I'm not sure what to say. I've never met the playwright, but I've seen my cousin and his girlfriend together before this mess started and they looked like they both thought the world of each other. So, with that in mind, I thought I should get a second opinion from someone who doesn't personally know any of them." 
Starlight Glimmer stared at Octavia for a moment before she looked away and hummed in thought. She analyzed the information in her mind for about a minute before she said, "Before I can give you my opinion, can I tell you a secret?"
"Absolutely," Octavia replied with a smile.  
"Do you remember when I mentioned that I had a best friend from my old town named Sunburst?" Starlight  Glimmer asked.
"I do," Octavia answered. 
"Well, the truth is I never thought of him as just my best friend," Starlight Glimmer said. "I was in love with him."
Octavia looked at her purple friend, surprised and asked, "Really? How long did you feel this way?" 
"Almost as long as we've known each other," Starlight Glimmer answered. "That's honestly the real reason why I'm sad that he left and we lost touch with each other. I want to believe that I might see him again, but I have another problem similar to what your cousin is going through."
"Alright," Octavia said, waiting to find out what's wrong. 
Starlight Glimmer played with her fingers and confessed, "I've developed feelings for someone else. I mean, to be clear, I don't just think I might have feelings like your cousin does. I really, really like this guy even though I haven't known him that long. Like, I'm sometimes shy when I'm around him, and whenever he compliments me, my cheeks are practically as pink as Pinkie Pie."
"Goodness," Octavia chuckled. "Do I know him?"
"No, you don't," Starlight Glimmer lied. 
"What's he like?" Octavia asked. 
Starlight Glimmer thought about it for a few seconds before she answered, "Well, for starters, he's new to the school like me. He's kind and friendly, but he tends to get himself in some kind of trouble. He's also a huge dork, but in a charming way."
"Interesting," Octavia said. "Is he good-looking?"
"Oh, he's very cute," Starlight Glimmer said, feeling bashful for saying it. "The fact of the matter is though, I sort of have some competition. There's one girl who, in all honesty, is a knockout and has been making moves on him. Granted, he knows she's not someone to pursue, but, you can't let your guard down when someone like her is after your crush. Then there's this other girl..."
Starlight Glimmer paused, unsure of what to say, making Octavia confused.
"Judging by your hesitation, I take it she's the bigger threat?" She guessed.
"Well, no and yes," Starlight Glimmer answered. "You see, this girl sees my crush as just a very good friend, but him? He's got it bad. Even though the odds of having a chance with her are pretty much zero, he still wants to be more than friends. I'd like nothing more than to discourage him to the point that he will move on so that he might eventually notice me, but he keeps thinking about her no matter what anyone says to him. The only silver lining I have is that he won't be hanging out with her for very long, but I doubt he's going to let it go even then."
Octavia frowned and said, "That is worrisome, but how does that make it similar to what my cousin is going through?" 
Starlight Glimmer chuckled nervously, realizing that she's gone off-topic. 
"Right, sorry," she said. "The thing is even though I want this guy to see me as more than a friend, part of me wishes I could figure things out with the person I've cared for years. Honestly, there may always be a part of me that wishes I could be with Sunburst and wonders if I like this other guy just because he might be a possibility while my first crush is gone. I don't know, but I won't find out by worrying about it all the time. So, I guess my suggestion is just to take it all one day at a time. Have your cousin get to know the playwright more while also figuring out how to mend things with his girlfriend. If things work out with his relationship, fantastic, but if they don't and he finds himself wanting to be with the other girl after getting to know her so well, then maybe he should just run with how he feels about her."
Octavia hummed as she thought about Starlight Glimmer's advice. She still didn't want to believe that she might be feeling something for me, but it made sense that she should get to know me more while Blueblood is healing, and either way it would be a good idea if for no other reason than to get her mind off of Blueblood while they weren't speaking to each other. 
The gray girl smiled and said, "You're right, Starlight. This isn't a situation that should be decided right away. Maybe just a few weeks focusing on the play instead of his girlfriend is just what my cousin needs to cool off and think about what to do after the play."
"Exactly," Starlight Glimmer said. "Do you think your cousin will take my advice?"
"Yes, I think he will," Octavia said. "Thank you, Starlight. I feel better now that I know what to do."
"Like chowing down on some delicious food?" 
Starlight Glimmer and Octavia jumped in alarm and turned their heads to find Pinkie Pie standing next to their table, holding two plates of food.
"Pinkie, you need to stop startling people like that," Starlight Glimmer said.
"Indeed. You almost gave me a heart attack," Octavia said. 
"What? I thought following up on what you said was a perfect way to get you excited," Pinkie Pie said as she placed the plates of food in front of her customers. "After all, there's not a person in Canterlot who fails to leave the Sweet Snacks Cafe with a smile on their faces."
Octavia glanced at her burger and onion rings and felt her stomach rumbling again as she said, "I'll hold you to that."
"Well, you're not going to find out by looking at your lunch, silly," Pinkie Pie said. "Bon appetit, ladies."
Pinkie Pie skated away again, leaving the two other girls to sigh in relief again before bowing their heads in prayer. After they prayed, Starlight Glimmer picked up her chicken sandwich while Octavia decided to start with one of her onion rings. As soon as she took a small bite, she stood still like a statue with the ring still in her mouth. Starlight Glimmer wondered if something was wrong with Octavia before she devoured the rest of the onion ring in an instant. She then started eating another ring in one bite, followed by another ring, and another ring. Before she could stuff a fifth one into her mouth, Octavia looked up and noticed Starlight Glimmer staring at her. 
Octavia felt her cheeks turn pink as she rubbed the back of her head and said, "My apologies. I don't normally eat like that, but these onion rings are more delicious than I expected."
"I figured that out for myself," Starlight Glimmer said teasingly. "Still, you might want to be careful with how fast you eat. Don't want your food all gone before you have a chance to enjoy it."
"Right. Of course," Octavia said. 
The two of them went back to their food with Octavia eating her onion rings at a moderate pace. When she had finished, Octavia picked up her burger and slowly took a bite, letting out a moan as she happily chewed. Starlight Glimmer couldn't help but chuckle at her friend's behavior as it was clear to her that Octavia didn't normally eat food like burgers and onion rings. By the time the two of them were done, Octavia patted her stomach with a gleam in her eye.
"I think burgers and onion rings are my new favorite food now," she said. "Thank you so much for inviting me, Starlight Glimmer."
"My pleasure," Starlight Glimmer said. "So, you want to try some milkshakes?"
Octavia groaned and said, "I'd love to, but I think I'm plenty full already. Maybe next time?"
"Sure. No problem," Starlight Glimmer said with a smile. "You don't mind if I order one, though, do you?"
 "Oh, not at all. I know you were planning to try one, so you don't need to hold that off on my account," Octavia replied. "It's probably best that I pay my check and head home anyway. I want to discuss your idea with my cousin as soon as possible."
"Totally," Starlight Glimmer said. "I'll see you at school."
"See you," Octavia said.
The gray girl walked over to the other side of the building, where Pinkie Pie was standing behind a cash register. Pinkie Pie was already beaming at Octavia before she pressed the buttons on the register to print off the check.
"I knew you'd be happy with your meal," she said proudly. 
"Indeed, I did," Octavia replied as she handed Pinkie Pie her credit card. "Give my compliments to your chief if you please."
"You got it," Pinkie Pie chirped as she swiped the card and handed it back to Octavia. "I hope you'll come back to try some of our milkshakes."
"As do I," Octavia said. "Until then, have a good day, Pinkie Pie."
"See ya!" Pinkie Pie called out in a singing voice.
Octavia gave Pinkie Pie a wave before she exited the restaurant. As she started the trek home, she let out a happy sigh.
"Thank you, Lord. That was exactly what I needed," she praised. "I just need a little time away from Blueblood to think about our relationship while getting to know Rough Draft more. Maybe I could invite him to come to the Sweet Snacks Cafe with me, and we can use that to get to know each other better. Not to mention he's already my date for the wedding. If Rough Draft turns out to be a better suitor, I'll break up with Blueblood and start pursuing him even if I'm just his friend, and if I don't then he's just my friend, and I either mend things with Blueblood or I have to end it so that I'm not in a broken relationship and no one will be the wiser. Either way, I'm not letting my emotions lead to cheating on my boyfriend, and I'll get to know my very first friend better. Look out, Rough Draft, cause I intend to use Blueblood's stupid deal to spend as much time with you as I want."
With that, the gray girl walked home with a bright smile on her face, suddenly looking forward to school on Monday.
> Chapter 9
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Come Monday, another school week started. Very little was out of the ordinary throughout most of the day until lunch period. I sat down on my spot at my group's lunch table to find Rarity going on about the fun she had talking to Octavia. Fluttershy was excited with the idea of the three girls hanging out when Rarity brought it up, letting out a “Yay” that the group could barely hear. When Rainbow Dash and Applejack asked me if I tried anything while assisting Octavia at the mall, I told them that I hadn’t, and Applejack confirmed that I was telling the truth. I secretly thanked the Lord that they didn’t ask any other questions that would lead me to bring up Octavia asking me to be her date for the wedding, her hugging me at her front porch, and what it meant to me. I didn't see Applejack call someone out on a lie yet, and I didn’t want to risk finding out what would happen if she did. 

However, during English class, Octavia was acting unexpectedly chipper. I talked to Sonata by the classroom door, asking about her weekend, when Octavia walked over with a big smile. She greeted both of us with a gleeful tone, which took Sonata and I aback before we greeted her back. I repeatedly glanced at my crush during class to see her still smiling while listening to Ms. Cheerilee and taking notes. I was glad that she was happy, but I couldn't stop wondering why. Then, about forty-five minutes into class, I remembered Rarity also bringing up during lunch that Blueblood was checked out of the hospital the day before. My heart sank as I thought about how that would make Octavia happy, making me low in spirits for the rest of class.

When school ended for the day, I said goodbye to Sonata before Octavia and I walked over to the music room where Starlight Glimmer was waiting for us. We did our homework together, with math being as hard as ever, but Octavia was still cheerful despite struggling with homework too, which weirded Starlight Glimmer and me out. I started to think that Blueblood being checked out wasn't the only thing on her mind that maybe she talked out the problems with their relationship and it made her happy to be dating her boyfriend again. I thought to myself that was too good to be true for my crush, but when I considered my luck when it came to wanting to be with her, I couldn't rule out the possibility. 

Finally, around 4:30, Starlight Glimmer had to head home before her dad got worried, so we decided to call it a day with Starlight Glimmer heading home and me walking Octavia to her house. The two of us walked in silence for the first couple of minutes with the gray girl still in high spirits, and I decided to take the opportunity to find out if any of my guesses were correct.

"Say, Octavia."

"Hmm?" Octavia asked. 

"You've been acting really happy today," I said.

"Oh? Is there something wrong with me being happy?" Octavia asked.

"No, no, it's not that at all," I said, waving my hands in defense. "It's just a bit of a surprise. Is it because Blueblood is out of the hospital?"

Octavia's demeanor faltered for a second before she turned to me with another smile and said, "Yes, he is, but that's not why I'm so happy."

"It's not?" I asked puzzled. "Then why are you so happy?"

"It's a secret," Octavia answered. 

"A secret?" I asked. "Can't you tell me what it is?"

Octavia looked away from me and hummed in thought, and said with a wink, "We'll see."

I stared at her, more confused than before. I reluctantly let it be while we walked in silence again. I felt better knowing that her happiness didn't have to do with Blueblood, but I still wanted to find out what's going on. Then, as we were about to turn to a corner, Octavia stepped in front of me, her hands behind her back.

"Rough Draft, do you need to be home straight away?" She asked. 

"Uh, no. I just need to be home by seven,  which is usually when my parents and I have dinner," I answered. 

"In that case, would it be alright if we took a little detour?" Octavia asked.

"What did you have in mind?" I asked. 

"Well, Starlight Glimmer and I went to this diner that Pinkie Pie works at called Sweet Snacks Cafe for lunch yesterday," Octavia said. "The food was great, but I wasn't able to get any milkshakes because I was full, so I'd like to go back and try some since Pinkie Pie said they're really good."

"Pinkie said that?" I asked. "That's a shock. She took me to Sugarcube Cafe for milkshakes the day I moved to Canterlot, and those are pretty good."

Octavia giggled, covering her mouth with her hand, and said, "Starlight Glimmer said something similar."

"Really? Did she try a shake?" I asked.

"She said that she was going to try one before I left," Octavia said. "I didn't think to ask her if she did during our study group, now that I think about it, but that's fine. I'd rather we find out for ourselves rather than take her word for it. So, would you care to join me for a shake?"

It took a moment before I fully processed that she just asked me before I smiled and said, "Sure. That sounds great."

"Lovely. Then let's head over there," Octavia said.

I happily nodded before Octavia led me in the direction toward Sweet Snacks Cafe. Unknown to the two of us, the Dazzlings were walking down the street near where we were. The three of them were heading home after finishing work early with only a few performances at the Siren's Cafe during the couple of hours since school ended, much to Adagio's disappointment. 

"I can't believe so few came to watch us," she grumbled. "I thought my fans were more loyal than that."

"Well, it's hardly their fault if they've become busy with homework," Aria said. "I mean, we're in the second week of the school year, and we have a fair share of homework to take care of ourselves."

"That doesn't mean there has to barely be anyone at the cafe," Adagio said. "Not even Camera Flash came to watch us."

"Well, that's not exactly a bad thing," Aria said with a shrug. "Besides, what do you care? I thought your focus is on that Rough Draft dweeb."

"Just because I want a committed relationship with Rough Draft doesn't mean I can't still enjoy seeing other boys fawning over me," Adagio said. "Besides, getting together with him will break their poor, misguided hearts. No harm in making the most of keeping them on the hook before I'm officially taken."

"Whatever you say, Adagio," Aria said.

Sonata became worried about her sisters' conversation while she walked behind them. By this point, Adagio's interest in me had been brought up multiple times ever since Camera Flash gave her the photos, and she wished there was a way she could warn me again without Adagio finding out. Her only silver lining was that Adagio and Aria still believed that Octavia treated me like a slave. 

Unfortunately, the Dazzlings took a turn around the corner and saw Octavia and I walking down the street in the opposite direction. Adagio pushed Aria and Sonata back to the corner of a building before we noticed them and held her finger to her lips for silence. The three girls peaked their heads out of their hiding place to see Octavia and I walked side by side, talking happily. Sonata's blood drained from her face as it hit her that we didn't look like I was enslaved like she said I was to her sisters. She dared to turn to the two other Dazzlings to find Aria looking at her suspiciously and Adagio glowering at her. Before she had a chance to talk, Adagio grabbed Sonata by the collar and forced her against the wall.

"So, he isn't going to think about my offer because he's Octavia Melody's lackey, is he?!" She growled. "'She's going to make Rough Draft work to the bone!' Weren't those your exact words?!"

"That's what Rough Draft said!" Sonata cried out in fear. 

"Then how do you explain Octavia Melody not making Rough Draft do anything for her?" Aria questioned.

"I don't know!" Sonata cried. "Octavia was acting giddy like that during class too, and both Rough Draft and I were confused by it."

"He doesn't look that confused to me," Adagio snarled. 

"I swear, that's all I know!" Sonata whined. "Whatever stopped Rough Draft from being confused must have happened after class!"

"Likely story," Aria said. "I bet you were lying about the whole lackey thing too."

"No, she's telling the truth about that," Adagio said.

Aria turned to Adagio and Sonata stopped struggling to look at her sister, confused

"How do you know?" Aria asked.

"I have a reliable source to back it up," Adagio said before yanking Sonata's hair again. "Which is something you wish you have right now."

"Please, you have to believe me!" Sonata begged. "How am I supposed to know something if I'm not there to find out?"

Adagio clenched her teeth until she saw Octavia and I cross the street. She let go of Sonata and studied the way Octavia and I were getting along. Aria raised her eyebrow at her sister, who furrowed her brow and put her hand on her chin in thought. 

"How are you supposed to know indeed," Adagio said. "Now that I think about it, this doesn't match with what my source was saying either. She's supposed to be using him, and yet they're talking like they're friends. Something else is up."

"Well, whatever it is, it shoots down your plan to 'rescue' him," Aria said with a shrug. "You're gonna have to find another way to get Rough Draft."

Adagio turned to her sister, smirking, and said, "You forget that I still have the pictures of the two of us."

"So what?" Aria challenged. "You said you're gonna use those to make your interest in him public. What good is that if you don't know anything about the guy?"

Adagio stared at her sister for a moment before she put her hand on her chin again and watched Octavia and I while she brainstormed. Then, she smirked and said, "You know what, Aria? That's an excellent point, and I know just how to fix that problem."

With a snap of her fingers, Adagio followed Octavia and me with Aria and Sonata obediently following her. The blue Dazzling became worried as she walked behind her sister, concerned with what was on Adagio's mind and wondered who was Adagio's reliable source. After a few more minutes of walking, they stopped as Octavia and I went inside Sweet Snacks Cafe, and Aria smirked before turning to her sister. 

"So, he has no time to go to our cafe but has plenty of time to eat out at a diner with Octavia Melody. So much for his promise to think about your offer, Adagio," she said. 

Adagio frowned again and turned to Sonata. She took out her wallet from her pocket and put a five-dollar bill in Sonata's hand, saying, "This is what you're going to do…"





**********************************************************************************************





As soon as Octavia and I went inside the diner, I looked around in awe of the bright neon lights, the blue walls, and the jukebox playing music. Only a quarter of the booths were taken with students studying while drinking milkshakes and sports teams eating nachos after practice. Octavia smiled at the way I was looking, figuring out for herself that I had never been to an establishment like Sweet Snacks Cafe back in Appleloosa. 

Before either of us knew it, Pinkie Pie was rolling toward us with her rollerblades, smiling brightly.

"Hey, you guys. You here for some milkshakes?" Pinkie asked.

"Yeah. How did you guess?" I asked.

Pinkie Pie let out a high-pitched giggle and pet the top of my head, saying, "Silly Rough Draft. As you can see, anyone who comes here at this time on a school day is either here for milkshakes or nachos. Besides, Octavia told me that she hoped to come back for milkshakes yesterday, so that makes what you're doing for your date a giveaway."

My cheeks turned beet red, and I shouted, "Pinkie," while Octavia chuckled.

"We're not on a date, Pinkie Pie," she said.

"Sure you aren't," Pinkie said with a smug look. "Anywho, let's get you lovebirds a place to sit."

My cheeks turned maroon while Pinkie grabbed a couple of menus and escorted Octavia and I to a booth with a window before she rolled away. I looked away from Octavia the entire time, trying to hide my blush with the menu, which made Octavia smile. 

"Don't worry about what Pinkie said, Rough Draft," she said. "I'm sure she was just teasing you."

I peaked from my menu to look at Octavia and said, "I want to believe that, but I can never tell for sure with that girl."

Octavia giggled with her mouth closed before we started to look at our menus with my blush fading away. For a minute, I browsed through the milkshake flavors, trying to get what Pinkie Pie said out of my mind. The number of flavors wasn't as many as there were at Sugarcube Cafe, but some of them were mixtures of flavors such as mixing banana with chocolate and blackberry with orange, which looked interesting. 

"Have you decided what you're going to get?" Octavia asked.

"Not really. They have some unique options," I said.

"Indeed. I can't say I've heard of mixing milkshake flavors before. It sounds like it would be an interesting experience," Octavia said.

"You're probably right," I said. "Speaking of which, I'm assuming you've never had milkshakes before?"

"Actually, I have," Octavia answered. "My grandfather used to take me to this little restaurant in Manehattan for milkshakes. It irritated my mother that he was feeding me something like that, but he wanted to spoil me like a normal grandfather."

"Interesting choice of words," I commented. "If I didn't know any better, I'd assume most grandfathers in Manehattan aren't exactly 'normal.'"

"I suppose there is a running theme behind my old life in Manehattan," Octavia said, smiling. "Regardless, I was pretty close to my grandfather, and I enjoyed drinking milkshakes with him, Lord rest his soul."

"That sounds nice," I said. 

Octavia nodded and asked, "What about you? Are you close to any of your grandparents?"

"Not really," I answered. "Most of them died when I was very young. It was just my parents and me for as long as I can remember."

"Oh, I see," Octavia said. "I assume you have had milkshakes before, though?"

"Oh, yeah. There was a tavern in Appleloosa that had milkshakes and floats. It was one of the few things outside of my old house that I liked out there."

Octavia smirked and said, "Now look who's the one with a running theme over where they last lived."

"Heh. Fair point," I said. "Honestly, I have lived here for all of three weeks, and I could write a novel-length book on how Canterlot is better."

Octavia chuckled and said, "I probably can write a novel too, but I bet mine would attract more attention because Manehattan is better known than Appleloosa. Your book would look like a cheap knockoff of mine."

"Hey, them's fighting words," I said, smirking. "Besides, I'm the writer between the two of us, so mine would get better ratings."

"Oh, I suppose that's true," Octavia said with a sly look. "On the other hand, you're my assistant, so I could have you write my book for me so that it would get both the attention and the ratings."

"Hey! That's fair!" I whined. 

"Of course, it isn't. I'm a snobby rich lady from Manehattan, so I get whatever I want," Octavia said.

The two of us were silent for a moment, staring at each other before we burst out laughing. I moved my head back as I laughed while Octavia held on to her gut. By the time we finished laughing, Octavia was wiping away her tears, and I was resting my forehead with both hands while still giggling. 

"How about this? I write both books, and you use your influence as a 'snobby rich lady' so that they both get a lot of attention?" I suggested.

Octavia snorted and stretched out her hand, saying, "Deal."

I shook her hand, and we silently went back to looking at our menus. I struggled to focus on the menu because I was still laughing on the inside. I glanced up from my menu and saw Octavia smiling as she browsed through the options, still ticklish from our jokes herself. I smiled at the sight until I noticed something from the corner of my eye. I turned my head to see Sonata sitting alone in a booth next to the jukebox. She was resting her head with her hand and looking at her menu with a glum face. I was confused about what she was doing without her sisters, but at the same time, I was sad for her that she was alone. The next thing I knew, two gray fingers snapped in front of me, and I broke my gaze before turning to Octavia.

"Rough Draft, I called your name three times," she said.

"Oh, I'm sorry," I said. "What is it?"

"I was asking what is wrong," Octavia said. "You were looking rather glum. Are you feeling unwell?"

"Oh, no. Nothing like that," I said before pointing at where Sonata was. "I just noticed Sonata was sitting there alone."

Octavia turned her head to look at Sonata, puzzled, and said, "That's strange. What is she doing without her sisters?"

"The Dazzlings are usually together, aren't they?" I asked.

"They're about as inseparable as Blueblood and I used to be," Octavia said. "Maybe she's waiting for Adagio and Aria?"

"No, there's only one menu," I said. "I think she's completely alone."

"Oh, the poor dear," Octavia said.

Sonata was starting to play with her menu while we watched. Pinkie Pie rolled over to her booth and asked if she had decided anything, and Sonata forced a smile on her face and said she was still browsing. Pinkie smiled and said that she'd be back to check up on her again before she rolled back to the counter. As soon as Pinkie was gone, Sonata's downcast demeanor returned and she looked down at the table with a sigh. I frowned and took a moment to think before turning to Octavia.

"Octavia, would it be alright if I invite Sonata to sit with us?" I asked.

Octavia turned to me, surprised with my request. She hesitated, preferring to have this time be just for the two of us, but she couldn't deny that she admired my sympathy and was feeling compassionate towards the Dazzling as well. She smiled and nodded with an "Mmm-hmm," and I got up from my seat and walked over to Sonata's booth. She was still playing with her menu before noticing me and forced another smile, saying, "Oh, hi, Rough Draft."

"Hey, Sonata. Here for a milkshake?" I asked.

"Sure am," Sonata replied.

"Well, Octavia and I are getting some milkshakes too, so why don't you come sit with us?" I suggested.

"Really?" Sonata asked, instantly excited. 

"Sure. Come on over," I said. 

Sonata beamed as she stood up, took her menu, and followed me. Octavia smiled at Sonata as she and I sat opposite from the gray girl and said, "Hiya, Octavia."

"Greetings, Sonata. Fancy seeing you here," Octavia said.

"Oh, well, my sisters and I got off work early, so I had some free time and decided to come to Sweet Snack Cafe since I've never been here before," Sonata explained.

"Indeed? Where are your sisters?" Octavia asked.

Sonata cringed at the question and looked out the window where Adagio and Aria watched behind a bush outside. The blue Dazzling could see Adagio glaring at her, sending shivers down her spine before she turned to Octavia with a forced smile and said, "Oh, they're around."

Octavia and I were unsure how to react to her hesitation, but we silently decided to let it go. The three of us picked up our menus and looked again through them for what was the third time for Octavia and me. After a couple of minutes, I put my menu down, having made my decision just in time for Pinkie Pie to roll over to our table.

"Hey, you invited Sonata to join you on your date," Pinkie said.

My cheeks turned red again, and I once again shouted, "Pinkie!"

"You guys are on a date?" Sonata asked, confused.

"No, we're not, Sonata. She's just teasing," Octavia answered before turning to Pinkie. "And yes, we thought it best that she joined us."

"Aw, that's nice," Pinkie chirped. "There's nothing wrong with eating together with more friends. Speaking of which, have you guys decided what to get?"

"I have," I answered.

"As have I," Octavia said.

Sonata nodded with a cute smile.

"Awesome! What can I getcha?" Pinkie asked.

"I would like the blueberry-strawberry swirl," I answered.

"I would like that too, please," Octavia said.

"And I'll have an orange-kiki-cheery blast," Sonata said.

"Excellent choices," Pinkie said while she took our menus. "I'll bring them over in a jiffy."

The pink waitress rolled away, and Octavia, Sonata, and I began waiting patiently for our drinks. I looked back and forth at the two girls, trying to think of how to start a conversation to pass the time until Octavia cleared her throat.

"So, what made you decide on the blueberry-strawberry swirl, Rough Draft?" She asked. 

"Well, they're both good flavors, and I was thinking of trying the blueberry flavor if they had it here to compare it to the one I had at Sugarcube Cafe," I answered. "How about you?"

"Oh, about the same, except my interest is on strawberry," Octavia answered. "It was my regular choice whenever I went out for shakes with my grandfather, so I wanted to get some strawberry even if it's mixed with another flavor."

"Wow, you guys chose the same drink over two different flavors. That's kinda cute," Sonata said. "You sure you guys aren't on a date?"

My cheeks turned red again, and I muttered, "Et Tu, Sonata?"

Octavia giggled and said, "We're sure, Sonata."

"Then why is Rough Draft blushing?" Sonata questioned.

"Oh, he's just bashful over the idea of being on a date" Octavia smiled. 

Sonata turned to me and asked, "Really? How can you get like this just over the idea?"

"Let's just say I didn't talk to girls much before I moved to Canterlot," I answered.

Sonata "Oh" ed in response while I shook off my blush. Just then, Pinkie Pie rolled back to us with a tray carrying out shakes in glasses. She handed the drinks and some straws to us and said "Bon Appetit-e-o" before she left. I shook my head over how she said "Bon Appetit" before I took my straw out from its wrapper and put it in my shake. Octavia, Sonata, and I simultaneously took sips of our milkshakes, and Octavia and I went "Mmmm" while Sonata took a longer sip until she got a brain freeze. 

"Ow. Ow. Owie. Owie. Owie. Owzer, wowzers," she whined 

"You should have paced yourself, Sonata," I said.

"I know, but I couldn't help it," Sonata said, holding her head with her hand. "This is the sweetest milkshake I've ever had."

"I must admit, this shake exceeded my expectations. I had a little trouble resisting the urge to sip more than I should," Octavia said, smiling. "What about you, Rough Draft? Do you like your drink?"

"Yeah, it is tastier than I imagined, too," I answered, smiling back. "I never thought blueberry and strawberry would mix so well. Learn something new every day, right?"

"Indeed," Octavia said. 

We drank in silence again with Sonata taking smaller sips. When she was half done with her shake, Octavia looked at me while I was focused on my drink and decided to take the opportunity to carry out her true plan. 

"Rough Draft?" 

"Hmmm?" I said while still drinking through my straw. 

"Do you mind if I ask questions about you?" Octavia asked. 

Sonata and I looked up from our drinks, looking at the gray girl curiously. I was silent for a couple of seconds before I replied, "Uh, sure. What do you want to know?"

"Well, since we've established that you are a nerd, I'd like to know what nerdy things you're into specifically," Octavia answered. 

I looked at her, bewildered, unsure of whether or not I heard her correctly, and asked, "You want to know what things I'm into specifically?"

"I do," Octavia confirmed. 

"Why?"

"Enlighten me."

I continued to look at her dumbfounded for a few more seconds, still unsure that a beautiful girl of high class like Octavia asked me about the things I was into. I turned to Sonata, who shrugged, and sighed before turning back to my crush.

"Okay then," I began. "If we're talking about specific science-fiction and fantasy franchises and shows I'm into, then I would say I'm into things like the Lord of the Rings, Narnia, Harry Potter, Transformers, and Star Wars."

"Interesting," Octavia said. "Do you have a favorite out of all of them?"

"Uh, well, I would say I have more focus on Star Wars than anything else," I answered. "I do like to play this online Star Wars game called Star Wars: The Old Republic a lot, and I like to write fanfiction of me as a Jedi in the Star Wars universe."

Octavia looked at me, confused, and asked, "Sorry, what's a Jedi?"

"They're these samurai guys with laser swords and mystic powers," Sonata answered before she covered her mouth and turned to me. "Sorry. That was your question."

"It's fine," I said. "Besides, that's more or less the gist of it. Most people refer to them as space wizards, but there are aspects about the Jedi that are samurai-like."

"I see," Octavia said. "And what is it about Star Wars that drives you to write fanfiction on it above all the other things you like?"

I furrowed my brow and looked down at my shake as I said, "I don't know. I love all of the other things I'm into and wish I could be some of the things in those respective universes like an elf warrior or a wizard and things like that. I guess I like the idea of being a Jedi more because they can do so much with their abilities and their lightsabers - er, the laser swords Sonata was talking about, and I like the idea of being more than what I am as a Jedi."

Octavia smiled and said, "That sounds nice."

I looked at her, surprised again, and asked, "You really mean that?"

"I do," Octavia said. "Truth be told, I think I'm similar that way when I play my cello."

"Uh, no offense, Octavia, but being a cellist and wanting to be a Jedi are totally different things," Sonata said.

"I'm not talking about being a Jedi, Sonata. I'm talking about feeling like you're more than what you are," Octavia said.

"What do you mean?" Sonata asked.

Octavia turned to me and asked, "Do you remember when I played for you and Starlight, and you said I had a deep passion for expressing something with the song I was playing, and it made you wonder what it was?"

"How could I forget?" I answered with a smile. 

"When I play a song that has a certain theme like that one, I feel like I'm in my own world where I have more control than I have in real life," she said. "There are times when I want to say how I feel but I either don't have the words to say it, or I know the words, but I can't say them to whomever I want to say it to. So, even if no one understands it, I express it with my cello. Music has the power to move people or let out what the musician has to say, and as the musician, I have control of that power in a way that makes me feel free. It's not the same as wanting to be some magical samurai, but I think writing how you feel, even if it's fanfiction, can be just as powerful in its own way."

Sonata and I were astounded by the way Octavia compared music to fanfiction. I couldn't believe my crush had an optimistic outlook on what I was into without even looking at my stories or having seen Star Wars. Part of me wanted to pinch myself to check if I was dreaming, but I decided against it, thinking I didn't want this dream to end. And yet, the fact that she said those things made it crueler that she was still with Blueblood and I could only be by her side for a short time.

"Wow, I didn't understand what you were saying, Octavia, but it sounded deep," Sonata said.

Octavia chuckled bashfully and said, "Sorry. It appears I have rambled."

"No, don't apologize," I said. "I really appreciate what you said. It made me feel better about who I am."

Octavia turned to me, taken aback by my response, with her cheeks turning red. I was confused that I was making her blush, but I decided to pay no mind, figuring Octavia was just flattered. She shook off her blush and said, "Yes, well, you should feel good about yourself, Mr. Draft. After all, I didn't ask you to be my date for the wedding for nothing."

"Wait. What?!" Sonata shouted. "This whole thing wasn't a date, and yet you're going to a wedding together as a date?!"

My cheeks instantly heated up once more, and I said, "Sonata, she's not talking about a date, date. I'm her plus one while she performs with the wedding band."

"Oh," Sonata said, scratching her head in embarrassment. "Sorry. I get confused, sometimes."

"It's quite alright," Octavia said with a smile. "I suppose we should blame Pinkie for your stupefaction."

"I know I do," I muttered. 

"Thanks," Sonata said. "Who's getting married?"

"Principal Celestia and Vice-Principal Luna's niece, Cadance," I answered. 

"Oh, yeah. I think my sisters and I heard about that," Sonata said. "Their niece is getting married to some guy from Crystal City named Shining Armor."

"Indeed, and it's in a couple of weeks," Octavia said.

"That's exciting," Sonata said. "Are you two going to dance?"

Octavia furrowed her brow and said, "Now that you bring it up, I'm afraid that would be difficult since I'm in the wedding band."

"Aw, that's too bad," Sonata said before turning to me. "Sounds like you won't be able to do much as Octavia's date." I winced at her words, and her eyes widened, realizing that she hurt my feelings. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean it like that!"

"It's okay. I know you didn't," I said. "But you have a good point. I won't be able to do much apart from being there for Octavia. Still, I am glad I will be able to do that on her first gig."

Octavia smiled and said, "I'd expect nothing less from a guy as sweet as you, Rough Draft. Although, I also agree with Sonata, so how about this; after the wedding, we could go somewhere where we can dance together?"

My eyes widened, and I asked, "Really? You want to do that?"

"Absolutely," Octavia said. "After everything you've done for me and especially after being there for me at the wedding, you deserve something as a reward. Don't you think?"

Once again, I was surprised by what she said. By this point, I was thinking the Lord himself was blessing me more and more with how I would spend what precious time I had with Octavia Melody. I smiled back at Octavia and said, "Okay, you have yourself a deal, Ms. Melody."

"Excellent," Octavia said before asking with a teasing smirk. "Come to think of it, though, have you ever danced before?"

My smile disappeared, and I bashfully looked away from Octavia, stirring my milkshake with my straw.

"I'd like to plead the fifth on that," I said.

"That's what I thought," Octavia said. "In that case, why don't we practice between now and when it's the wedding."

I opened my mouth to say yes, but then I stopped myself and looked down to think about it. Octavia and Sonata looked at me, confused, thinking I was going to say yes right away. After a few seconds, I looked up at Octavia and said, "Actually, Octavia, I would like to learn it from somebody else."

"Why?" Octavia asked, sounding hurt.

"Because I want to be the best date I can be for your big night," I explained. "And the way I look at it, that should include dancing with me at my best. You will deserve it too because I know you're going to be great performing at the wedding."

Octavia looked at me, surprised by my answer, while Sonata looked at me as though I had sporadically professed my undying love. I became uneasy with how they were looking at me, wondering if I accidentally hinted at my crush on Octavia. After several seconds, Octavia smiled and asked, "Honestly, Rough Draft, are you going to constantly be sweet to me on purpose just like when I make you blush?"

"Don't tempt me," I replied with a grin, thankful that she was still unaware of my feelings. 

Octavia giggled with her mouth closed again and said, "Very well. I will wait until after the wedding to dance with you."

"But how do you plan to learn how to dance, Rough Draft?" Sonata asked. "I don't think there are classes anywhere in town that can teach you how to dance in so little time."

"I'll think of something," I answered. "I bet Rarity knows a thing or two about slow dancing."

"Mmmm. I think that is a safe bet," Octavia said. "Regardless, I'm feeling more excited about the wedding."

"So am I, Octavia. So am I," I said with a smile. 







*********************************************************************************************





Eventually, the three of us finished our milkshakes and paid for our drinks at the cash register. We exited the restaurant and walked down the sidewalk until we were at the corner, and Octavia turned to Sonata.

"Well, this was lovely, Sonata, but it's high time that Mr. Draft takes me home," she said.

Sonata flinched and forced a smile on her face as she replied, "Oh, yeah, I better go too. My sisters should be expecting me home soon."

"Of course," I said, smiling at my friend. "I'm glad that you could join us, Sonata."

Sonata cutely smiled back and said, "Me too. I had fun, and my milkshake was yummy."

"Yes, our shakes were delectable," Octavia agreed. "We should do this again sometime."

"I'd like that a lot," Sonata said. 

"Same here," I said. "Though are you sure you can make it home okay, Sonata? I could walk you home after I escort Octavia if you want."

Sonata looked away bashfully, touched by my offer, and said, "I'll be fine, Rough Draft. I can make my way home from here."

"Okay. If you're sure," I said. "See you tomorrow."

"Yes, see you tomorrow," Octavia said as the two of us began walking away.

"Goodbye, guys," Sonata said.

The blue Dazzling waved goodbye with her arm while Octavia and I walked away. As soon as we were out of sight, however, Sonata's cheerful demeanor disappeared in an instant. She turned around just in time to find Adagio and Aria already standing behind her. The poor girl flinched and took a step back, startled by her sister's sudden presence as Adagio glared at her with her arms crossed. 

"So, I saw you had a good time," she said.

"Y-y-yes, I did," Sonata said.

"Were the milkshakes good?" Adagio asked. 

"Very," Sonata mumbled. 

"You have some money left, I presume?" Adagio asked. 

Sonata reached into her pocket and took out leftover money from paying for her shake. Adagio snatched it from Sonata's hand and put it back in her wallet before turning back to her blue sister and asked, "Now, what did you find out?"

Sonata took a moment to find the best way to answer Adagio before she said, "Well, Octavia isn't treating Rough Draft like a slave."

"What a shock," Aria said sarcastically. 

"And why isn't Octavia doing that even though you said she was going to?" Adagio asked. 

"Uh, honestly, I'm not sure," Sonata said.

"You're lying!" Adagio hissed. 

"No, I'm not!" Sonata shouted, holding her hands up defensively. "I couldn't get a clear understanding of what's going on between Rough Draft and Octavia. If anything, it was almost like I was the third wheel for a date."

Adagio's menacing glare faltered into a puzzled look, and she said, "Explain."

"Well, for instance, Pinkie Pie was teasing them by saying they were on a date, which made Rough Draft blush because he's never gone out with a girl, but after that, he and Octavia were talking like they were on their first date," Sonata said. "Octavia asked questions about all the nerdy things he was into, and then they talked about their interests in playing the cello and writing fanfiction. Sometimes Rough Draft would blush, sometimes Octavia would blush, and then they started talking about going to a wedding together."

Adagio looked at Sonata baffled, and even Aria showed a hint of confusion in her wooden face. The yellow Dazzling looked down in thought as she said, "This doesn't make any sense. Why would Octavia Melody want to go out for milkshakes and go to a wedding together with Rough Draft if he's supposed to be her slave?"

"Are you sure your source about Rough Draft being her slave is reliable, Adagio?" Aria asked.

"Positive," Adagio said. "The person who told me that Blueblood threatened Rough Draft to work for Octavia Melody couldn't be more legit."

Aria furrowed her brow, still skeptical, and said, "If that's the case, then Rough Draft and Octavia Melody are ignoring Blueblood's demands behind his back. Octavia Melody might be using the time away from him to have a friend for once since he's so possessive."

"Yes, that has to be the only reason," Sonata said enthusiastically, hoping that crediting Adia's assumption might convince Adagio to leave Octavia and me alone. "I mean, come on, it's not like Rough Draft and Octavia are dating or anything."

Adagio was still looking down while her sisters talked, but as soon as Sonata said the word "dating," her eyes widened, and her mouth opened slightly. Sonata and Aria looked at her, confused as Adagio looked as though she realized something horrible was happening.

"Uh, Aria, she does know I was serious when I said they aren't dating, right?" Sonata asked.

Aria frowned and looked at their leader with her hand on her hip, saying, "The way she's been acting lately, I seriously doubt it."

"But I said that they weren't on a date," Sonata protested. "Heck, they wouldn't have invited me to join them if they were. There's no way they could be romantically interested in each other."

"Not necessarily," Adagio said as she looked up and glared at where Octavia and I were last seen. "They might not have gone on an actual date, but if Octavia Melody is so interested in getting to know Rough Draft better and the two of them were blushing during their conversations, they could be beginning to think about each other romantically."

"Oh, come on, Adagio. You're making things up," Aria said. "Octavia Melody is a high-class girl dating the wealthiest guy in school, and Rough Draft is a nobody. You would never have given that guy so much as a sideways glance if you didn't hear about him knocking Blueblood off the balcony. Besides, what does it matter if Rough Draft was blushing? Sonata just said he has never gone out with a girl before, so the idea of any girl going out with him would make him bashful. He was blushing the entire time you made a move on him, for crying out loud."

"Yeah, Aria's right," Sonata said. "The way Rough Draft blushed whenever Octavia complimented him was nothing compared to when you approached him. She only made his cheeks turn red while you made him flush all over his face. He clearly finds you more attractive."

"Of course, Rough Draft is more attracted to me. I am a goddess. No girl can allure guys more than me, and everyone knows it," Adagio boasted. "The issue is Octavia Melody's blushing hints that she might begin to feel something for him."

"Again, I must point out that she's in a relationship," Aria said.

"That doesn't mean she's incapable of giving in to the temptation of cheating," Adagio claimed. 

"Octavia wouldn't cheat on Blueblood," Sonata said.

"And what makes you so sure?" Adagio asked.

"Because Octavia is a good person," Sonata answered. "She wouldn't be disloyal to her boyfriend even if it's Blueblood. The fact that she's been with him for so long proves that."

"That proves nothing," Adagio growled. "No matter how devoted a person may be, you can't trust them to be committed forever."

"How would you know?" Aria challenged. 

"I know," Adagio stated. "Octavia Melody may not see it that way, but she is acting that way over anything Rough Draft says to her. That proves there's something special about him that will eventually drive her to abandon her devotion to Blueblood, and that makes him a bigger prize that must be mine."

"Ugh, you really need to let go of your obsession, Adagio," Aria said. "If you're so obsessed with a guy that you're making up stories about someone being your rival for him, then you need to let him go."

"Never!" Adagio snarled. "I will not back down from a challenge. If anything, I'm thankful that Octavia Melody might be a threat to my goal. It makes it fitting that obtaining the one boy I want to be with would be a real sport compared to the boys that I have wooed with little effort."

By this point, Sonata was resisting the urge to whimper like a frightened dog from the way Adagio talked about Octavia and me. Aria groaned and put her hand on her forehead as though she had a headache. 

"I'm worried about you, Adagio," Aria said. "Not enough to get you real help, but I'm worried about you."

Adagio scoffed and said, "You speak as if I have a care for your opinion." She turned back to Sonata and said, "Now then, who is getting married?"

Sonata paused, hating that she had to continue feeding information, and said, "They're going to Principal Celestia and Vice-Principal Luna's niece's wedding."

"They're going to that high-class wedding?" Aria asked, surprised. 

"Hmmm. That does make sense," Adagio said, her hand on her chin again in thought. "I imagine Octavia Melody is invited because Blueblood is the bride's cousin. Am I correct, Sonata?"

"Er, I don't know about that, but Octavia did say she's in the wedding band," Sonata answered. 

"Huh. Doesn't sound like she and Rough Draft will have much of a date if she's playing in the band," Aria said.

Once again, Adagio lifted her head with a look of realization. Sonata took a step back in fear, and Aria raised an eyebrow as Adagio began to cackle with a devious grin. 

"Excellent point, Aria," Adagio said. "Sounds like I have a perfect opportunity to make my next move at the wedding."

"But you aren't invited to the wedding," Aria said.

"I'm not invited yet," Adagio said confidently. 

"What's that supposed to mean?" Aria asked. 

"Oh, I know a boy or two who would love to have me as their plus one," Adagio answered. "And I know someone in Manehattan who could make a dress for me that will make cute, little Rough Draft adore me." Adagio turned her gaze back to Sonata, who backed up into a wall. She put her hands on the wall from opposite sides of Sonata's face, and she learned her head until it was inches apart from her blue sister. "Now, tell me every little nerdy thing you've learned about Rough Draft."
> Chapter 10
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The thought of dancing with Octavia occupied my mind at school the next day. For the first few classes, I imagined the two of us waltzing alone close together, with me staring at her mulberry eyes and seeing her smile, impressed with me as her dance partner. At the same time, I thought about how best to ask Rarity if she knew how to dance and if she was willing to teach me. I was optimistic that she would be glad now that she and Octavia are friends, but she could also be unsettled with less than two weeks of teaching me. Either way, I was determined to ask her in the halls after lunch, where none of our other friends were around to know about my mission.

Lunch with the group went by with all of us eating and talking like any other day. Soarin, Caramel, and I got into a heated debate over the Star Wars sequel trilogy, which annoyed Rainbow Dash, who rebuked us every now and then. But whenever Soarin and Caramel were expressing their opinions in detail, I would glance at Rarity, who was laughing and giggling with Fluttershy. Eventually, the bell rang, and we all put away our lunch trays before saying our goodbyes with Soarin and me about to head to gym class together. Rarity was walking to her next class in the opposite direction, but I was willing to risk being late. 

"Hey, Soarin, I have something I need to do really fast, so you go ahead," I said.

Soarin looked at me, confused before he replied, "Alright, but don't be late."

"I'll do my best," I said.

I ran to where I last saw Rarity all the way to the main hall just in time to see her walking up the steps to the second floor. I looked around to make sure no one in our group was around before I ran up the steps to Rarity, bumping into students as I went.

"Hey, Rarity!" I called out.

The white girl turned around to see me catch up with her and asked, "What is it, Rough Draft?"

"I wanted to talk to you about something with our friends not around," I said.

"Oh? This wouldn't have something to do with you and Octavia, would it?" Rarity asked with a raised eyebrow. 

"Uh, well, if you want to put it bluntly, then yes," I said, scratching the back of my head.

"I thought as much," Rarity said with a smirk. "Well, out with it then."

I paused to think of the best way to phrase it before I said, "You see, after we went to visit you at the Carousel Boutique for Octavia's dress for the wedding, she asked me to be her date."

Rarity's eyes widened, and she clasped her hands together.

"Ooo. That's marvelous, dear," she said. "You must be very excited."

"I am, but there's more," I said. "Yesterday, the two of us realized that we aren't going to have much of a date since Octavia will be playing with the band the whole time, so Octavia suggested that the two of us dance together alone when the wedding is over."

"She did?" Rarity asked before saying with a playful grin. "My, my, my, Mr. Draft, fate is being very generous to you."

"I know, right?" I said with a light chuckle. "But the thing is, I do not know how to dance."

"Oh, that is a bit of a dilemma," Rarity said. 

"Exactly. Octavia offered to teach me, but I said I wanted to learn from someone else so that she only gets my best as her dance partner," I said. "So, I was wondering if you know how to waltz and if you could teach me."

"Well, I should certainly hope I know how to waltz as a Manehattan girl," Rarity said before she frowned, "Unfortunately, finding time to do that might be difficult. I do have a lot to do at the boutique, and I will be using a lot of my free time to work on Octavia's dress."

My face fell, and I looked down, discouraged. Rarity placed her hand on my shoulder and said, "I'm so sorry, Rough Draft."

"It's okay. I understand," I said. "I'll think of something else. I'm sure there's someone who can help me."

Rarity gave me a sad smile before her eyes lit up and said, "You know what? There is someone who can help."

"Really? Who?" I asked. 

"Fluttershy," Rarity answered. "It just so happens that I taught her how to dance a couple of years ago. She works until late afternoon at the animal rescue shelter on weekdays, so I think we can arrange for you two to meet, and she could teach you when she gets off."

"Really? Do you think she wouldn't mind?" I asked.

"Oh, I know she would be happy to help," Rarity said before adding with a hesitant look, "Although, now that I think about it, it would be best that she knows why you want to learn so she understands why you don't have a lot of time."

I furrowed my brow and asked, "Do you think she can keep this from the others? I don't want them to think that I'm going to try to make Octavia cheat on Blueblood with me or something like that."

"Absolutely," Rarity answered with a confident smile. "Fluttershy is my dearest friend. I would trust her with my life. Why I'd trust her with my career as a fashionista if need be."

"Wow, that's quite the trust. You guys are really tight, huh?" I said.

"Of course, dear. We've been close ever since I moved here," Rarity said.

Suddenly, the warning bell rang, and Rarity gasped before starting to run to her class.

"I'll talk to her during seventh period and send you a text afterward!" she called out with a wave as she ran.

"Great! Thanks, Rarity!" I shouted, waving back.

With that, I ran to my class, feeling giddy that I had a teacher for learning how to dance. Of course, it wasn't long before the final bell rang, and I would be a few minutes late.







***************************************************************************************************





When I made it to sixth period, Mr. Iron Will made me do ten push-ups as punishment for being late. It was a painful experience since I don't usually do push-ups, but it was worth it. Soarin asked what I had to do that made me late, and I made up a story about discussing an assignment with Rarity since we go to the same class at different times. Soarin was skeptical but decided to drop it, and I made a mental note to let Rarity know about the story if it needed to be backed up. As long as Applejack didn't hear about it, I figure it would be no skin off our noses. 

Eventually, school ended, and Octavia and I walked to the music room to meet up with Starlight Glimmer for our usual study group. We were halfway to the music room, talking as we walked when I felt my phone vibrate, and I took it out to see that I got a text from Rarity. I told Octavia I had to respond, and she nodded in understanding before I took it out. 

Rarity: Rough Draft, Fluttershy said she would love to teach you, but she has a later shift at the animal rescue center tonight, so she suggested that she teaches you there since she won't have much to do. Does that work for you?

Me: Works for me.

Rarity: Excellent. I'll send you the address and directions to get there from your house.

Rarity followed her text with the address and directions, and I put away my phone just as Octavia and I were entering the music room. As usual, Octavia and I were struggling with math even with Starlight's help, but as long as Octavia was there and we got our homework done, I was okay with it. Though I wasn't sure if it was my imagination or Octavia was constantly glancing at me whenever Starlight and I weren't looking. After I walked Octavia home, I sent Fluttershy a text to say that I was on my way and then sent a text to my parents to let them know that I would be home late.

After roughly fifteen minutes of walking, I made it to the animal rescue center. I went inside and looked around to see so many animals all around the building. There were dogs, cats, birds, fish, rabbits, gerbils, hamsters; there was even a large cage full of all sorts of reptiles. The dogs, cats, rabbits, and fish I could understand, but seeing lizards and iguanas and the like were a surprise to me. 

"Hi, Rough Draft," 

I turned my head to see Fluttershy entering the room and smiled until I saw Starlight Glimmer coming behind her. The grayish heliotrope girl was startled to see me, which confused me, but I decided to ignore it as Fluttershy walked over to me.

"Hey, Fluttershy," I greeted before turning to Starlight Glimmer. "Fancy seeing you here so soon, Starlight Glimmer."

"Yeah, what a surprise," Starlight Glimmer said, avoiding eye contact with me. "What are you doing here?"

Before I could think of an answer, Fluttershy stepped in and said, "Oh, I'm sorry, Starlight. I forgot to tell you. Rough Draft asked Rarity and me to teach him how to dance before the Fall Formal?"

"The Fall Formal?" Starlight Glimmer asked while I looked at Fluttershy, equally confused.

"You don't know?" Fluttershy asked, pretending to be surprised. "It's the first dance of the school year that takes place in late October. Rough Draft wanted to learn how to waltz since he's never been to a dance before, and our group goes to the school dances together."

Starlight Glimmer looked at me, puzzled, and asked, "Really?"

Fluttershy turned to me and gave me a wink. It took a moment before I figured out what she was doing and smiled at Starlight Glimmer.

"Oh, yeah. When I heard from Rarity about it, I thought I should learn how to dance since I've never been to one, being an outcast in Appleloosa and all," I lied. "After all, there's no reason not to learn when I can dance with all of my friends now, right?"

Starlight Glimmer paused, making me unsure if she heard me before she smiled and said, "Oh, that's nice, but aren't you learning a little too soon?"

I shrugged and said, "Yeah, well, better to learn now while there's time. Plus, Rarity wasn't taking no for an answer when she offered after finding out that I don't dance."

"Oh, that makes sense," Starlight Glimmer said. "Rarity is stubborn at times."

"Duly noted," I said. "How about you? Did you come here looking for a pet?"

"Oh, no, no, no. I'm more of a plant person," Starlight Glimmer said, waving her hands. "My dad just happens to be working late, so since I don't have to worry about him making a fuss over where I am, I decided to go for a walk around town. I happened to be passing by and decided to visit Fluttershy and check out all the animals she takes care of here."

"Cool," I said. "Speaking of animals, Fluttershy, I'm surprised by the large variety of animals you have here."

Fluttershy giggled cutely and said, "Well, there's always all sorts of animals in need, and it's my pleasure to take care of them while they don't yet have a home."

"That's nice," I said. "Anyway, shall we get started?"

"Oh, yes, we should," Fluttershy said, putting her hands together. "Follow me."

Starlight Glimmer frowned and rubbed her arm as she asked, "Uh, is it alright if I join you two?"

Fluttershy and I looked at each other before Fluttershy smiled and said, "Sure."

Starlight Glimmer smiled and followed Fluttershy with me. I, on the other hand, felt uneasy and whispered to Fluttershy as we walked down the hall, "Are you sure we should let her join us when this is supposed to be a secret?"

"There's no harm in letting her join as long as we don't bring up your date," Fluttershy whispered back. "Besides, we do normally go to the school dances as a group, and it's not a bad idea for you to learn now since you would be finished with working for Octavia Melody by then, so there's no reason to learn from that too. After all, you would like to do that with all of us, right?"

"Absolutely," I said with a smile. "I guess it makes sense since she might talk about it in front of the others anyway. Though, would Applejack call us out if learning to dance for a school dance is a half-truth?"

Fluttershy frowned and looked down, hiding her face with her hair. 

"Um, maybe. I've never heard of that happening before," she confessed. "I honestly made up the story on the spot without thinking about Applejack until just now."

I furrowed my brow and said, "So, we're rolling the dice. Great."

"What are you guys talking about?" Starlight Glimmer asked from behind. 

Fluttershy and I turned to her, and I said, "Nothing. Don't worry about it."

Starlight Glimmer tilted her head at me and then decided to drop it, figuring out that we were talking about something private. Fluttershy led us to a moderately sized room at the end of the hall where boxes of animal food were stacked up against the walls. Fluttershy moved some of the boxes to make room and turned to me and Starlight Glimmer with a smile.

"Alright, Rough Draft. Before we get to actually dancing, I'm going to show you the basic steps," she said. "It's very important that you know this since you'll be leading."

"How do you mean leading?" I asked. 

"When two people are waltzing, the guy leads the dance," Fluttershy explained. "You are in control of the way you and your partner move."

"Seriously?" I asked. "That's kinda a bit of pressure for me, don't you think?"

Fluttershy giggled again and said, "That's why we're going to work on the basic steps first and work practice with music another day."

"Good idea," Starlight Glimmer commented. "I learned how to waltz from my dad, and he started with music right away. Lord knows how many times I stepped on his feet just because it was how it was done in the old days.'"

"The old days? You mean like his method is one of those historical things he's obsessed about?" I asked. 

"You can say that," Starlight answered. 

Fluttershy gave a comforting smile and said, "Well, we don't have to worry about it, especially when you've never danced before. Right, Rough Draft?"

"Right as rain," I answered. "Anyway, why don't we get going?"

"Good idea," Fluttershy said before she gestured to me with her hand. "Stand in front of me."

I quietly obeyed, standing two feet away from Fluttershy at the center of the room. Starlight Glimmer stood against the wall to watch as Fluttershy began.

"Alright, Rough Draft, first, take one step forward with your left foot while I step back with my right," she instructed.

"Uh, how far should I take my step?" I asked.

Fluttershy took a second to think about it and said, "Well, depending on the dance, you and your partner can take small or big steps, but let's go with small for today."

The grayish olive girl took a small step back on her right, and I smiled as I took a step forward.

"Good. Now, step to the right with your right foot, and I'll step to the left," Fluttershy said. We take our respective steps. "Next, you're going to close your left foot to your right, and I close my right foot to my left."

"Uh, what do you mean close?" I asked. 

"It basically means you bring your feet back close together," Starlight Glimmer explained. "You're basically standing back in a straight position."

I responded with an "Ah" before Fluttershy, and I simultaneously stepped up straight. 

"Good, we're halfway there," Fluttershy said. "Next, you step back with your right foot, and I step forward on my left."

"Alright," I said before taking my step.

"Then, step to the left while I step to the right," she instructed. "And finally, you close your right foot to your left, and I close my left foot to my right."

We took our last two steps, and Fluttershy clasped her hands together, giving me a cheerful smile with her eyes closed. I looked at her and then turned to Starlight Glimmer, confused, and asked, "That's it? It's just those six steps?"

"More or less," Starlight Glimmer said. "There's a little more movement you can do, but you got a ways to go before you're ready for that."

"Agreed, Starlight," Fluttershy said before turning to me. "And besides, you still have yet to memorize the steps, don't you, Rough Draft?"

I hesitated and scratched the back of my head, not looking at Fluttershy or Starlight Glimmer, which was all the answer they needed. Fluttershy walked over to me and patted my shoulder.

"Don't worry. We're just getting started," she said. "We'll just keep going over it until you have it memorized."

I gave her an appreciative smile, and she stood back to her spot. For the next fifteen minutes, we went through the steps repeatedly. Every so often, I would mistake which foot to take a step with, making me uneasy. Fluttershy was patient with me, being the kind-hearted soul she was, but Starlight Glimmer was concerned with how I kept messing up. Finally, after making one more misstep, the grayish heliotrope girl sighed and stepped between Fluttershy and me.

"Can I try something, Fluttershy?" She requested.

"Sure," Fluttershy answered. 

Fluttershy stepped back to the wall, and Starlight Glimmer placed her hands on my shoulder. She looked down for a moment to hide a blush before she shook it off and stepped back until she was a couple of feet away from me.

"Don't overthink about which step to take," she said. "Pretend that I'm your reflection in a mirror, and we're going to move in the same direction at the same time, okay?"

"Uh, okay," I hesitantly said.

Starlight smiled and said, "I'll take the lead, so just copy me and keep facing straight toward me. Keep my arms straight."

I wasn't sure how her idea would help, but I was willing to do anything to better understand how to dance. I gave Starlight Glimmer a nod before she slowly took a step towards me with her left foot. I took it as a sign to move my right foot back as though she was about to step on it. She then held her right foot up to her side and waited for me until I realized that she wanted me to mimic her movement with my left foot. I took my foot out, and we took a step together before she moved her left foot toward her right, slow at first until I caught up with making the same movement with my right. 

Step by step, Starlight Glimmer slowly moved her feet halfway until I copied her, trying not to move her arms. We continued the process until I started to figure out the order and take each step at the same time Starlight Glimmer was moving. She smiled and began to move a little faster, forcing me to pick up the pace. Eventually, we were moving in sync and at a steady pace. Fluttershy stared at Starlight Glimmer, amazed with how well her method was working. I looked down at my feet and smiled at how they began to move naturally and then looked up at my dance partner with a giddy smile

"Hey, I'm actually dancing," I said.

Starlight Glimmer let out a laugh and said, "Yes, Rough Draft, you are."

"Is this part of how your dad taught you to dance?" I asked. 

Starlight Glimmer scoffed and rolled her eyes. 

"Yeah, right. Like he's that open-minded," she said. "No, Sunburst came up with this to help me waltz better before a school dance. We went together as friends."

"Well, lucky me," I said with a grin. "If we ever bump into him, I'll have to thank him for teaching you."

Starlight Glimmer flinched before bringing back her smile, hoping I didn't notice. I looked at her, confused with how she reacted, but the moment was broken when Fluttershy walked over to us and cleared her throat. 

"Um, I might be jumping the gun, but maybe it's time we take things up a notch," she suggested. 

"You mean like playing music?" I asked. 

"No, I think you'll need to work on rhythm first for that," Fluttershy answered. "I'm talking more about standing close to your partner."

Starlight blushed and looked down so that Fluttershy and I didn't notice and said, "I don't think we need to go that far, Fluttershy."

"Yeah, that seems a little too soon," I said. "I might step on Starlight's feet."

But Fluttershy gave me an assuring smile and said, "Don't worry. That's why we practice. Besides, the way Rarity tells it, it would be a good way for you to be used to being so close to a girl. You don't want to be bashful the entire time you two are dancing, would you?"

Fluttershy used half of her hair to hide a wink from Starlight Glimmer. I furrowed my brow, figuring that Rarity instructed Fluttershy to have that be the next step in teaching me, hoping that a spark between Octavia and me would ultimately break her and Blueblood apart. I mentally sighed at how Rarity was being sneaky, and yet the part of me that was crushing on Octavia was thankful that I had an ally like her while I wanted to make the most of my time with the gray girl.

"Alright, Fluttershy, you make a reasonable point," I said. "What do you say, Starlight Glimmer? Want to give it a go?"

Starlight Glimmer's cheeks turned to a deeper shade of pink, and she hesitated before she said with a smile, "Well, you're the one who needs to learn this, so if Rarity and Fluttershy think it's a good idea and you're on board with it, then I'm okay with it."

Fluttershy and I smiled, and the former gently pushed Starlight Glimmer from behind until she was a foot away from me. Starlight Glimmer put her hand on my shoulder and clasped my hand with her other hand. Fluttershy placed my free hand on Starlight Glimmer's waist, and I instantly blushed. My dance partner smiled at my shy demeanor, feeling comfortable with her cheeks barn red with the two of us close together. 

"Now, just take it slow again until you feel comfortable," Fluttershy said. "And this time, Rough Draft, you take the lead starting with your right foot."

"Got it," I said. "Ready, Starlight Glimmer?"

"Mmm-hmmm," Starlight Glimmer replied. 

The two of us simultaneously took a breath before I looked down at my feet and took a step on my right foot while Starlight Glimmer stepped on her left. I mumbled what the next step was, thinking of making the opposite steps I took when Starlight Glimmer was leading. Within a minute and a half or so, we did all six steps, and I turned my head to Fluttershy, who nodded before Starlight Glimmer, and I repeated the process. 

But while I was growing more comfortable with dancing so close to my partner, Fluttershy's gaze turned to Starlight Glimmer. Our grayish heliotrope friend was smiling as she waited for me to move, finding the way I was focused on my feet to be cute. Fluttershy tilted her head, curious of why Starlight Glimmer was looking at me that way, but her train of thought was interrupted when I stepped on Starlight Glimmer's foot, and she backed away with an "Ow!"

"Sorry," I said with a guilty look. "Did I step on you really hard?"

"Not terribly," Starlight Glimmer said, kneeling down as she massaged her foot. 

Fluttershy frowned and cleared her throat, saying, "Why don't we call it a day and pick this up tomorrow night, Rough Draft?"

"Yeah, I think we should," I said, scratching the back of my head. "Maybe you could tell me the steps again, and I'll write them down on a note on my phone so I can practice?"

"That sounds like a smart idea," Starlight Glimmer said as she stood back up. 

With that, I took out my phone and wrote down the steps as Fluttershy told them to me again. She then walked me and Starlight Glimmer outside to the front of the animal rescue center and said, "I'll send you a text to let you know if I'll be here or at home same time tomorrow, Rough Draft."

"Sounds like a plan," I said before turning to Starlight Glimmer. "And thank you for being my dance partner, Starlight Glimmer."

"My pleasure," Starlight Glimmer said with a bright smile. "Maybe we'll dance again during the Fall Formal."

"Maybe we will," I said. "See you guys at school."

"Yeah, see you," Starlight Glimmer said.

Fluttershy waved as Starlight Glimmer and I walked home in separate directions. As soon as we were out of sight, however, Fluttershy's cheerful smile disappeared. She thought about how Starlight Glimmer was looking at me and realized that she suggested the two of dancing out of hope. Fluttershy covered her face with her long, grayish rose hair, feeling like someone was looking down at her in disapproval.

"Oh, dear," she whispered.
> Chapter 11
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

On Wednesday, I was thinking about the dance steps during the first few class periods. During fourth-period, the social studies teacher, Ms. Harshwinny, caught me drifting off about the waltz and rebuked me in front of the class. I blushed as everyone in the classroom except Soarin laughed. When class ended, Soarin asked me what I was daydreaming about, and I made up a story about me thinking about Star Wars: The Old Republic. He smirked and shook his head before we found ourselves chatting about the game until we had to go to our separate fifth-period classes. 

After fifth-period, our group met up for lunch at our usual spot at the cafeteria. Soarin and I continued our conversation about The Old Republic, which got Caramel joining in. We chatted away until we heard Rainbow Dash loudly clearing her throat, grabbing Soarin's attention.

"Soarin, have you forgotten?" Rainbow Dash rebuked. 

It took a second before Soarin remembered what she was referring to and replied with a sheepish grin, "Oh, yeah. Sorry, Rainbow."

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes before she turned to the rest of the group and said, "Hey, guys, are any of you doing anything tomorrow night?"

Everyone else in the group turned to the rainbow-haired girl, confused, and Applejack answered, "Can't say I have much apart from homework."

"Eenope," Big Mac said.

"Me neither," Starlight Glimmer said. 

"I'm not working then," Fluttershy said.

"Same here," Rarity answered.

"I'm free as a bird," Pinkie Pie chirped.

Caramel and I looked at each other and shrugged before I answered, "I guess we're open."

"Great," Rainbow Dash said. "I know this is kind of sudden, but Soarin and I forgot to tell you guys that our first soccer game is tomorrow night."

"Ooo. That's exciting," Rarity said. "Who are you playing."

Rainbow Dash and Soarin's faces turned serious as they simultaneously answered, "Crystal Prep."

Applejack, Big Mac, Caramel, Rarity, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie's faces suddenly became as serious as Soarin and Rainbow Dash's. Starlight Glimmer and I looked at each other before the former asked, "What's wrong with Crystal Prep?"

"Everything," Rainbow Dash said bitterly. "Crystal Prep Academy is this high-and-mighty school downtown in the city."

"Their sports teams are super tough," Soarin said. "Have us play against a sports team from Fillydelphia or Baltimare high, and we'll take them down without breaking a sweat, but nine times out of ten, Crystal Prep crushes us. They pretty much win all of the championships every year."

"So, as far as high school rivalry goes, this academy is pretty much the Sith Empire to our Jedi Order?" I asked.

Caramel scoffed and said, "The Sith Empire to our Jedi Order, the Slytherin to our Gryffindor, the Decepticons to our Autobots, whatever nerdy good-versus-evil analogy you can think of, Rough Draft, that's what Crystal Prep is to us."

"Oh, wow," Starlight Glimmer said. "So, why are you telling us this?"

"We're hoping you guys can come to the game and cheer us on," Rainbow Dash answered. "This is our first game, and it's against our rival of all schools, so we need as many people as possible to cheer us on."

Pinkie Pie giggled and said, "Of course, I'll be there!"

Applejack smirked and said, "You bet your boots, I'll cheer ya on."

"What Applejack said," Caramel said. 

"Eeyup," Big Mac said.

Rarity hesitated and said, "I do have a project I hoped to work on, but I can't let that stop me from encouraging my friends to the bitter end."

Fluttershy also hesitated before she answered with a smile, "You can count on me."

I looked at Rarity and Fluttershy, concerned, knowing that they were referring to making Octavia's dress and giving me dancing lessons, respectively. I turned to Starlight Glimmer, and she asked with an uncertain look, "What time is the game?"

"It starts at five-thirty," Rainbow Dash said.

Starlight Glimmer turned to me, and I shrugged.

"That's only a half-hour after we usually finish study group with Octavia," I said. "It shouldn't take too long to walk Octavia home after five and come back, so as long as you let your dad know what's up, we should be okay to come. Wouldn't you say, Starlight Glimmer?"

Straight Glimmer's cheeks turned pink from me being considerate of her, which made Fluttershy uneasy. Starlight Glimmer shook off her blush and said, "Y-yeah. Yeah, I'll make sure my dad knows, and I'll be good to go.."

"Awesome," Rainbow Dash said with a grin. "Rarity, I need you to bring some Wondercolt sweaters, ears, and tails? Pinkie, I'm counting on you to lead the cheering."

"Of course," Rarity said.

"You don't even need to ask, Dashie," Pinkie said.

"Sweaters, ears, and tails?" I asked.

"Yup. We wear them for everyone to wear to get into the school spirit," Carmel explained. "Rarity always supplies them for us."

"Ah, cool," I said. "Sounds like we better prepare to get into the school spirit for tomorrow."

"You better believe it, bro," Soarin said.

"Let's show Crystal Prep that they are no match for our school spirit!" Pinkie Pie shouted. "Go, Wondercolts!"

"I second that!" Caramel declared.

"Hear, hear!" Rarity shouted.

"Yay," Fluttershy whispered.

Starlight Glimmer and I chuckled at everyone's enthusiasm before we all went back to our lunches. Soarin and Caramel went bank to talking about Star Wars while I focused on my burger. But then I felt my phone vibrate from my pocket, and I took it out to see that I have a text from Fluttershy. I looked up to see her looking at me, concerned, and I checked to see that no one was looking before opening the message. 

Fluttershy: Are you okay not being able to work on dancing tomorrow? 

Me: A little, but I practiced the steps before I went to bed last night. Maybe we could have longer sessions tonight and on Friday to catch up or something? 

Fluttershy: I guess that could work. I'll send you my address. 

Me: Awesome. I'll let you know when I'm on my way.







***********************************************************************







That night, Fluttershy and I met at her house to go over the dance steps again. Even though I made sure to memorize the steps as best as possible, it was still challenging to dance with my partner close to me. Every time I stepped on Fluttershy's foot, she let out a soft "Eep," and I would be apologizing a dozen times or so, feeling like a heartless monster for hurting a person so innocent and kind. She forgives me with a sweet smile every time, but that kind-heartedness just makes me feel worse for causing her any pain. Regardless, I was improving, and Fluttershy was confident that I would soon be ready to dance to some music, which made me hopeful.

Come Thursday, all of the students in Canterlot High were feeling anxious. Sometimes, I would hear my classmates muttering to each other when the teachers weren't looking, and it wasn't until third period that I found out from Soarin that everyone else was behaving that way because of the game. I was baffled by this information. It was one thing for everyone in our group to be on edge, but the whole school? That was unnatural to me since sports wasn't taken this seriously back at Appleloosa. Not that my old school had teams for sports like soccer anyway.

During lunch, Pinkie Pie and Rarity had set up a stand to sell Wondercolt sweaters, ears, and tails. They gave Starlight Glimmer and me a set for free since we were part of the group. Students were wearing ears, tails, and sweaters during the last two periods until the teachers made them put the ears and tails away. By seventh period, the only people found not wearing them were Octavia, Sonata, and me, though I wasn't surprised when Sonata said that she and her sisters weren't going to the game. Octavia didn't seem interested either, as she treated the day like nothing was going on.

Octavia and I met up with Starlight Glimmer at the music room after class and spent most of our study group studying for a math test scheduled at the end of next week. Octavia and I were getting the hang of the equations at this point, which astounded Starlight Glimmer. The way she was acting, it must have felt like we were struggling to understand that one plus one is two. Once again, though, I had a feeling that Octavia was glancing at me whenever Starlight Glimmer and I weren't looking. I felt uneasy, thinking that it was all in my mind because I wanted to believe that her grayish mulberry eyes were romantically looking at me.

When it was a few minutes until five, Starlight Glimmer said, "Well, we better stop here for today."

I checked the time on my phone and said, "Yeah, you're right. We wanna make sure I come back in time for the game."

Octavia suddenly turned her head to me at the word "game" and asked, "Oh? Are you going to the game, Rough Draft?"

"Yeah, I am," I answered. 

"I didn't know you were into sports," Octavia said.

"Well, I'm not really, but our friends, Soarin and Rainbow Dash, are playing, and they asked us to support them," I said. "So, after I walk you home, I'm coming back so that we can cheer for them with the rest of our friends."

Octavia looked like I said something exciting. Starlight Glimmer and I were confused with how she acted as the wheels in the gray cellist's head turned. After half a moment, Octavia asked, "Would it be alright if I joined you?"

"You want to go to the game with us?" Starlight Glimmer asked.

"I do," Octavia said.

"Why are you suddenly interested?" I asked.

Octavia paused before she answered, "Well, I didn't know that you were going, but since you are, I thought this might be a good opportunity to try something new with my friends."

Starlight Glimmer looked at Octavia skeptically, but I smiled and said, "In that case, sure you can come."

"Hang on, Rough Draft," Starlight Glimmer said. "I don't have anything against Octavia coming, but don't you think the rest of our group would have an issue with her inviting herself to watch the game with us?"

"Nah, I think they would be fine," I said with a wave of my hand. "I mean, she's already pals with Rarity, and they talked about shopping with Fluttershy. I'm sure the rest of the group would be more than happy to meet her. Besides, Rainbow Dash wants as many people cheering for the team as possible."

Starlight Glimmer opened her mouth to counter but stopped herself. She knew that I was using this opportunity to spend more time with my crush, but she couldn't deny that I had a point. Octavia also seemed eager to go, and Starlight Glimmer didn't want to say no to her friend.

"I guess you're right," she said. "Maybe if we text Pinkie and Rarity, they can have a sweater, ears, and tail ready for you, Octavia."

"Oh? Do you think that will be necessary?" Octavia asked, suddenly feeling unsure. "I'm not exactly someone who wears stuff like that."

"Neither are we, but we're here to support our friends no matter what, so we're wearing them to do that for this game," I said with a smile. "Besides, you're trying out more things, so it should be just as well."

Octavia paused before she smiled and said, "Fair point, Mr. Draft. In any case, I should inform my parents that I'll be staying at school a little longer."

I nodded in agreement before Octavia took out her phone and called her parents. While she was doing that, I sent a text to Rarity about Octavia coming with us. She was happy to hear it and told me that, unsurprisingly, Pinkie was going ballistic over the news of another Wondercolt joining in. Octavia, Starlight Glimmer, and I decided to spend the next fifteen minutes studying for the test some more before leaving the music room and making our way to the soccer field. By the time we got there, the bleachers were nearly filled up with students and parents. The majority of them were CHS students, all dressed in their Wondercolt stuff. The rest were a few adults, and a handful of teenagers in fancy school uniforms that I assumed were parents and fellow students of the Crystal Prep team. 

"STARLIGHT, ROUGH DRAFT, OCTAVIA, OVER HERE!!!"

We looked to find Pinkie Pie standing on the right side of a bleacher, waving at us. Sitting beside her were Applejack, Caramel, Big Mac, Fluttershy, and Rarity. On Rarity's other side was a muscular, pale, light grayish blue man with rainbow hair and a slender, pale, light grayish cornflower blue woman with light scarlet and orange hair, whose head reached the man's chin. Both of them had rainbow face paint and wore white t-shirts with blue sleeves that had Rainbow Dash's cutie mark on them. Starlight Glimmer and I felt uneasy with how the couple was grinning at the soccer field in anticipation as though they were wrestling fans excited for a match.

What interested Octavia were the three girls and a boy in their freshman year also sitting with the group. Standing next to the grayish cornflower blue woman was a light gamboge girl with moderate cerise hair also wearing a shirt with Rainbow Dash's cutie mark. Beside her was a light grayish apple green girl with light grayish rose hair tied to a bow. At the end of the row, to Octavia's surprise, was the same white girl and grayish amber boy she saw at Sweet Snacks Cafe. Octavia couldn't believe the young couple was there and wondered how she had never seen them at school before.

Octavia, Starlight Glimmer, and I went up the steps to join our group, and Pinkie Pie guided us to a spot between Rarity and the blue couple. Rarity stood up to greet Octavia by clasping hands and kissing each other's cheeks. She then introduced Octavia to Fluttershy before Pinkie had Octavia sit next to Rarity and Starlight Glimmer sit next to the couple, while I sat in between, Octavia on my left and Starlight Glimmer on my right. I didn't know it back then, but the gray girl and the grayish heliotrope girl were silently thankful that they could sit beside me. Rarity gave Octavia a sweater and Wondercolt ears and tail, while Starlight Glimmer and I took out ours from our backpacks and put them on.

"Starlight, Rough Draft, Octavia, allow me to introduce you to everyone else on our row," Pinkie Pie chirped, pointing at the couple and the four freshmen. "Right next to you are Rainbow Dash's parents, Bow Hothoof and Windy Whistles."

Rainbow Dash's parents turned to us, and Bow Hothoof said, "More pals of our girl, Rainbow, eh? Put er there." 

The rainbow-haired man grabbed Starlight Glimmer's hand and squeezed it as he shook, making her yelp in pain before he did the same to Octavia and me. Windy Whistles shook our hands with half of her husband's strength, and we were left massaging our hands.

"They are super big fans of Rainbow Dash. They love meeting her friends," Pinkie Pie said.

"You don't say," Starlight Glimmer said.

"I sure do," Pinkie chirped before pointing at the gamboge girl. "That right there is Dashie's third super big fan, Scootaloo. She's like a little sister to her."

"What's up?" Scootaloo greeted. 

"Next to her is Applejack's sister, Apple Bloom," Pinkie continued.

"Hiya," the apple green girl greeted. 

"And finally, we have Rarity's sister, Sweetie Belle, and her boyfriend, Button Mash," Pinkie finished.

"Hi," Sweetie Belle said cutely.

"Hey," Button Mash said half-heartedly.

"Pleased to meet you all," Octavia said. She then noticed Button Mash's fingers twitching and asked, "Are you alright, Button?"

Sweetie Belle turned to her boyfriend and said, "Oh, Button's always like this when he doesn't have his Joyboy."

"His what?" Octavia asked. 

"It's a portable video game console," I answered.

Octavia let out a silent, "Oh," realizing that it was the console he was playing at the cafe.

"Yeah, Button promised me he wouldn't bring it with us so that he can focus on cheering for our friends," Sweetie Belle explained before turning to Button. "He's been spending a lot of time on the latest Art of Legends game and wants to finish the battle he's stuck on."

"Art of Legends? That's a really challenging game, isn't it?" I asked.

"Sure is," Button Mash answered. "I think I've figured out what I need to do to win, but Sweetie Belle wants me to hold it off until after the game."

"Oh, wow. You must be really addicted to this game if your hands are acting like that," Starlight Glimmer said.

"Yeah, but I will do my best to stop thinking about it for my lady," Button Mash said.

Sweetie Belle gave him a loving look and took Button's hand before leaning her head to kiss his cheek. Starlight Glimmer, Octavia, and I smiled at their moment with Octavia, particularly touched by how the boy was giving up what he wanted to do for his girlfriend. Her gaze turned to me while I was giving Button an approving look, and she thought about how I said I was willing to be there for her while Blueblood was healing even if I didn't have to. Her smile faded, and she lifted up her hand to look at her sapphire ring, wondering if Blueblood would ever make any sacrifices like that for her. 

Her train of thought was interrupted, however, when Pinkie Pie gasped and pointed to Applejack, Caramel, and Big Mac shouted, "Oh, my goodness! Octavia, you haven't been introduced to everyone on this side!"

Octavia turned away from her ring to look where Pinkie Pie was pointing. The two oldest Apple siblings and Caramel smiled at the cellist as she asked, "Oh? Are they also Rough Draft's friends?"

"You bet your boots, missy," Applejack said. "Name's Applejack, and this here's my brother, Big Mac.

"Eeyup," Big Mac greeted. 

"And I'm Caramel," Caramel said. "I must say, I never thought we'd have the famous Octavia Melody with us. Did Rough Draft invite you?"

"Actually, I asked if I could join after I found out that he and Starlight were going to be here," Octavia explained. 

Applejack and Caramel looked at each other, confused, and the latter asked, "Really? I didn't peg you for someone interested in sports."

"Indeed. It's not something I'm accustomed to," Octavia said. "But I do like to try new things whenever I get the chance, and I do appreciate Rough Draft being there with me when I do."

"Well, that sounds about right. Our Rough Draft sure does aim at being a good friend for ya," Applejack said.

Octavia turned to me with a sweet look and said, "And I couldn't be more thankful."

I smiled back while struggling not to blush at the way the beautiful girl was looking at me. Octavia giggled at my bashfulness, which made Rarity and Pinkie give me teasing smirks, Applejack, Caramel, and Big Mac simultaneously raising their eyebrows, while Fluttershy and Starlight Glimmer were uneasy. I was nervous with how the Apple siblings and Caramel were curious about how Octavia was amused with my blushing, but before either of them could ask, Vice-Principal Luna's voice was heard from the speakers.

"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the first soccer game of this school year," she said. "Tonight, the Canterlot Wondercolts will face off the Crystal Prep Shadowbolts."

Immediately, everyone stands up from the bleachers and cheers as both teams enter the field with Rainbow Dash, Soarin, and the rest of our team waving at us. Bow Hothoof, Windy Whistles, and Scootaloo cheer louder than anyone else, with Rainbow Dash's parents shouting things like, "Go Wondercolts," "Big game against the Shadowbolts! Here we go," and "Go Rainbow Dash! Best! Wondercolt! EVER!" Rainbow Dash looked away from her parents with her cerulean cheeks turning pink, and Soarin patted her shoulder with a sympathetic look.

"Wow, I never thought I'd see Rainbow Dash look embarrassed," Starlight Glimmer said.

"No kidding," I said before turning to Rarity. "Are they always like this?"

"Let's just say you're lucky that you're not sitting next to them back when they would use megaphones to cheer before getting kicked out," Rarity answered.

"Oh, my," Octavia said. 

The cheering died down and sat back down while the teams took their positions out in the field. A referee placed a soccer ball at the center of the field, while Rainbow Dash and a Crystal Prep player stood opposite the center circle. The referee blew her whistle, and within a blink of an eye, Rainbow Dash had the ball before the Crystal Prep player could move. Soarin and the other Wondercolt players ran beside Rainbow Dash, passing the ball to each other before any of their opponents could take it from them. Eventually, they make it to the goal area with Soarin having the ball. The goalie prepared to block Soarin, but at the last moment, Soarin kicked the ball back to Rainbow Dash, who shot the ball where the goalie wasn't blocking, scoring a goal.

Everyone in the Canterlot side got up from their seats again, cheering at the top of our lungs. Rainbow Dash's parents and Scootaloo roared louder than anyone again, with Windy Whistles screaming, "That's our daughter!" The Crystal Prep team and everyone on their side was dumbfounded that they let their opponents score less than a minute into the game. They huddled up and whispered to each other before they retook positions, and the game continued.

"Oh, my, that was really fast," Octavia said. "Is our team normally like this?"

"They sure are," Pinkie Pie chirped. "Rainbow Dash is the fastest soccer player there is, and she takes her role as captain of every team in CHS very seriously. She trains her team so that they keep up with her whenever she has the ball. That's how they were so quick to go on the offense with her to make that goal."

"Wow, that's pretty cool," Starlight Glimmer said. "Looks like we have a chance to win, no problem."

"Actually, it's not that simple," Caramel said.

"What do you mean?" I asked. "Were one goal ahead of them."

"We are, but there's more to it than that," Applejack said. "Crystal Prep is known for being a proud school with a reputation for achieving excellence both academically and in sports. They tend to treat everyone as inferior to them."

"Exactly," Caramel said. "More than likely, Rainbow Dash aimed to score the first goal so quickly to prove that the Wondercolts aren't to be taken lightly. We may be ahead, but now the other team is going to take us seriously. Now that they know, the real game is about to begin."

"Eeyup," Big Mac said.

Octavia, Starlight Glimmer, and I looked at each other, finding their explanation strange before we went back to watching the game. Sure enough, the Crystal Prep team was better prepared for what our team had planned, making it hard for the Wondercolts to hold the ball for long. For fifteen minutes, the ball moved from one side of the field to another. Pinkie Pie took it upon herself to keep everyone cheering for our side. 

Unfortunately, the Wondercolts couldn't keep the ball from reaching their goalie for long. One of our players kicked the ball out of bounds on our side of the field, giving the Shadowbolts the ball. The opposing team used this opportunity to bring the ball closer to the goal area, and they passed the ball to each other multiple times before one of them shot a goal with the ball barely missing our goalie's arms. Everyone grew uneasy from Crystal Prep scoring, but things only got worse when another Canterlot player accidentally kicked the ball off the field during a play, giving the opposing team a penalty kick that led to them scoring another goal. The first half soon ended with everyone rooting for CHS worried that our rival team was up by a goal. I watched Soarin, and the rest of our team sitting on the benches and drinking water while Rainbow Dash stood in front of them, agitated as she talked to them

"I don't like the way Rainbow is talking to the team," Starlight Glimmer commented. 

"Indeed, I fear she may be taking things a little too seriously," Octavia said. 

"Well, the way our friends explained the rivalry between Crystal Prep and us, Rainbow Dash must be extremely determined to win this particular game," I said.

"Actually, it's probably a mixture of that and how Crystal Prep basically scored because of big mistakes like giving our rivals a penalty kick," Caramel said. "It's usually the opponent team that does things like that, so Rainbow Dash is probably upset that the team is giving the toughest team they could face opportunities to score like that."

"Eeyup," Big Mac said.

"Don't worry, you guys. Rainbow Dash has an awesome plan to take down Shadowbolts during the second half. I just know it," Scootaloo said confidently.

"That's the spirit, Scootaloo," Bow Hothoof said. "I betcha Dashie already has a plan to outwit those evil Shadowbolts."

"That's right, honey! Our girl's gonna pulverize them into itty bitty little pieces!" Windy Whistles shouted.

Bow Hothoof grinned and turned to his wife, shouting, "Yeah! And then she's gonna put them back together just to crush them again!"

The couple turned back to the soccer field and let out battle cries even though the second half hadn't started yet. Everyone else in our group looked at Bow Hothoof and Windy Whistles like they were having spasms. Even Scootaloo was unsettled with how far her idol's parents were behaving.

"I changed my mind. These two are taking things too seriously," Octavia said.

"Agreed," Applejack, Caramel, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Rarity, Starlight Glimmer, Scootaloo, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, Button Mash, and I said simultaneously. 

"Yup," Big Mac said.

After a couple of minutes, the second half began with Crystal Prep having the ball. They started off trying to score the same way they made their first goal, but our team was on to them. An opposing player made a shot, but our goalie caught it with both hands and threw it over to Soarin, who made an attempt to score a goal. The teams once again switched back and forth between who has the ball with everyone on our side for ten minutes, worried that our team won't score again before time ran out. 

Luckily, as we reached the last quarter of the game, the Crystal Prep team made a mistake. Rainbow Dash made another attempt for a goal, only for a Crystal Prep player to take the ball before it could reach the goalie. The opposing player passed the ball to a teammate, and she brought the ball to our side of the field. She gave it to another player who kicked the ball towards the goal area only to trip halfway. Everyone on the bleachers went, "Oooo," as one of our players took control of the ball. With one of the Crystal Prep players helping the one who tripped up, the Shadowbolts were on the defense with two players short, giving our side the chance to make it to the Crystal Prep goal post. The player with the ball passed it to Rainbow Dash, and she kicked the ball into the corner of the goal net to score. 

We roared with applause once again with Bow Hothoof, Windy Whistles, and Scootaloo praising Rainbow Dash. I could see everyone on the Crystal Prep team looking concerned with the score tied and the player who tripped feeling low for such an embarrassing mistake. The Shadowbolts grew eager to regain the lead as the game continued while we cheered for the Wondercolts with hope. 

As less than four minutes remained on the clock, Rainbow Dash made another goal attempt only for the goalie to catch the ball again. The goalie threw the ball to one of her teammates, who attempted to pass the ball to another teammate before Soarin could intercept it only to over kick it, setting it out of bounds. One of our players took the ball to throw it at his teammate, who made a drive to the goal area only to accidentally collide with a Crystal Prep player. The referee blew the whistle and held out a yellow card before giving the ball to one of the Crystal Prep players. However, before the teams continued playing, Soarin ran over to Rainbow Dash and whispered something to her ear. Rainbow Dash smirked and said something to Soarin that made him scratch his head with a goofy smile and his cornflower blue cheeks turning pink. I tilted my head as they went back to the game, and I felt Octavia tap my shoulder with a curious look.

"Rough Draft, was it my imagination, or was your friend, Soarin, blushing when he was talking to Rainbow Dash?" She asked.

"You saw it too," I asked.

"I did," Octavia answered. "Does he normally act like that around her?" 

"First I've seen that happen," I said. 

Octavia raised her eyebrow and said, "Indeed? I wonder what his real feelings are for Rainbow Dash."

I gave a befuddled look and asked, "Wait, are you saying Soarin has a…"

"I think it's a reasonable assumption," Octavia answered. 

I stared at my crush for a moment before turning my head back to the field to look at Rainbow Dash and Soarin. It seemed odd to believe that either of them might have feelings for each other, but I couldn't deny that Soarin blushed, leastways, not when Octavia saw it too. The thought then occurred to me that  I didn't see if Rainbow Dash saw him blushing before they went back to the game.

My moment of thought was interrupted when I heard everyone groan, and I looked back up to find that we made another failed score attempt. The goalie handed the ball to a  teammate, and the teammate began kicking the ball toward our side. But while most of our team followed to defend our goalie, Soarin and Rainbow Dash looked at each other and nodded before Rainbow Dash ran over to catch up while Soarin stayed behind on the Shadowbolts' side of the field. 

The Crystal Prep team drove the ball all the way to the goal area, but our goalie once again caught the ball and passed it to Rainbow Dash. The opposing team ran toward her to take the ball, but Rainbow Dash just smirked, having predicted that they would. She kicked the ball into the air, sending it flying over the Crystal Prep player's heads, and it landed right in front of Soarin. Everyone on the Wondercolt side of the bleachers gasped in excitement while the Crystal Prep team's hearts froze, realizing they had no one on their side of the field. We all stood up from our seats and rooted for Soarin as he kicked the ball toward the goal area. The goalie moved to her left, thinking Soarin would shoot in that direction, but Soarin smirked and shot on the right, sending the ball hitting the top corner of the goal net. We screamed and cheered as our team ran over to high-five Soarin. Both teams retook positions, and with the blow of the whistle, the game continued with Rainbow Dash once again in control of the ball. 

"This is great. We're in the lead again," Starlight Glimmer chirped. 

"We might actually win this," Rarity said, beaming.

"Maybe, but there are still two minutes left," Applejack said, "That's enough time for Crystal Prep to score again."

"Oh, dear," Fluttershy whimpered. 

"Don't worry, guys. Rainbow Dash and the others can stop them," Scootaloo said. "We just gotta keep cheering." 

"Excellent idea, Scootaloo," Pinkie Pie said before she stood up and shouted, "Everyone, let's get into the school spirit!"

All of us nodded in agreement and started shouting words of encouragement. The cheering motivated our team as they kept the ball from reaching their side of the field while Crystal Prep grew eager to score one more goal. 

But then, one of the Crystal Prep players decided to run over to our side of the field while everyone was opposite. He waved his hand to one of his teammates who had the ball, and she realized that he had the same idea Soarin had. Rainbow Dash and Soarin turned to the guy and ran over to him, but the ball was already passed. We all got up from our seats as Rainbow Dash and Soarin chased the Crystal Prep player. Bow Hothoof and Windy Whistles, and Fluttershy and Rarity huddled together. The next thing I knew, I felt something grab my left sleeve, and I turned my head to see Octavia grasping my sleeve while she watched in worry. My face turned pink with her hold on my sweater, but I shook it off to go back to watching the game just in time to see the Crystal Prep player take a shot at the goal. Our hearts stopped as we watched the ball fly toward the goal post. The ball flew past our goalie's arms, and my heart sank until the ball bounced off the top of the bar and landed a foot beside the goalie. Rainbow Dash, Soarin, our goalie, and the Crystal Prep player stared at the ball for a moment, dumbfounded until the goalie smiled and kicked the ball to Rainbow Dash. Rainbow smiled, and she and Soarin started heading to the other side of the field with the ball until the timer went off.

"And that's the game!" Vice-Principal Luna announced from the speakers. "Canterlot High wins three to two!"

Everyone on the Canterlot High side of the bleachers screamed at the top of their lungs. Pinkie Pie threw confetti into the air while Fluttershy, Bow Hothoof, and Sweetie Belle hugged Rarity, Windy Whistles, and Button Mash, respectively. Applejack and Caramel also hugged each other, laughing until they realized what they were doing, and backed away, flustered. Octavia, Starlight Glimmer, and I cheered and laughed with joy, but in the midst of it, Octavia realized she was still holding my sleeve and reluctantly let go, blushing. When I noticed that she was no longer grasping my sleeve, I resisted the urge to frown in disappointment. Regardless, we were all ecstatic that our team won, and Rainbow Dash, Soarin, and the rest of our team couldn't be happier.









**********************************************************************************************







After a few minutes of celebrating, people began to disperse and congratulate the team. Bow Hothoof and Windy Whistles pulled Rainbow Dash into a spine-crushing hug before Scootaloo stepped in to hug Rainbow Dash next. The rest of our group went to embrace or high-five Rainbow Dash and Soarin with Starlight Glimmer, Octavia, and I come in last. I high-fived Soarin and Straight Glimmer hugged Rainbow Dash before the two players noticed Octavia. Confused, they pulled me closer, and Soarin whispered into my ear

"Rough Draft, what is Octavia Melody doing here?" He asked.

"She asked Starlight Glimmer and me if she could go to the game with us," I answered.

"And you said yes because it meant more time with your crush?" Rainbow Dash asked suspiciously. 

"Well, partially that, but also because she wanted to try something new," I admitted with a shrug. "Besides, we agreed that I focus only on being a good friend to Octavia, and hanging out with other friends is what friends do."

Both of them were skeptical of my explanation, but before either of them could say anything else, Octavia cleared her throat. We broke our huddle, and Rainbow Dash and Soarin smiled, extending their hands. 

"Sorry about that," Rainbow Dash said. "I'm Rainbow Dash, and this is Soarin."

"Wassup?" Soarin greeted.

"Octavia," Octavia replied as she shook their hands. "Congratulations on winning the game."

"Thanks. It feels good to take Crystal Prep down a peg," Soarin said.

Rainbow Dash scoffed and said, "You can say that again."

"Indeed," Octavia said. "You were rather passionate about winning the game. Not as much as your parents were, though, Rainbow Dash."

Rainbow Dash frowned and asked, "You've met my folks, huh?"

"Met them and sat next to them," I answered.

Rainbow Dash groaned and said, "Sorry you had to put up with them."

Octavia chuckled and said, "They are a pair of characters."

"That's putting it mildly," Soarin said before he changed the subject with a smile. "Anyway, Rough Draft has been telling us all about you."

"Oh? Nothing bad, I hope," Octavia said, turning her head to me.

"Hardly," I assured with a smile. 

Octavia smiled back, pleased before the four of us stood in awkward silence. After half a minute, Pinkie Pie popped up from behind Octavia and me, saying, "Hey, everybody, Rainbow Dash's parents are treating us all to milkshakes at Sugarcube Cafe to celebrate."

"Awesome!" Soarin exclaimed.

"Now there's something about my parents I like," Rainbow Dash said, smirking before turning to Octavia and me. "You guys want to come?"

Octavia frowned and took out her phone to check the time.

"I would love to, but it is getting late, and my parents will want me home soon," she said. "I'm afraid I must have Mr. Draft walk me home."

"That sucks," Soarin said, looking at me. "It would be great if you could join us, bro."

"I'd like to do that too," I said. "Next time you guys win a game, I'll come. Promise."

"We'll hold you to that, Rough Draft," Rainbow Dash said. 

"Don't worry, Dashie. With your first game against Crystal Prep out of the way, there's no way you will lose the next game," Pinkie Pie said.

"Heh. Yeah, the competition should be easy peasy from here," Rainbow Dash agreed. "Anyway, we better get going. See you tomorrow, Rough Draft."

"Later, bro," Soarin said as we fist-bumped. "Nice meeting you, Octavia."

"The pleasure is all mine," Octavia said.

The team and everyone in our group began following Bow Hothoof and Windy Whistles to the parking lot with Applejack, Caramel, Big Mac, Fluttershy, Rarity, Starlight Glimmer, Scootaloo, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Button Mash, saying goodbye to Octavia and me. Octavia had her eye on Sweetie Belle and Button Mash, particularly as they walked to Rarity's car hand in hand. After everyone left, Octavia and I turned around and began walking in the direction toward her house until we heard a female voice.

"Hey, Octavia Melody!"

We turned around to see a pale orchid girl with grayish violet hair held up in a headband in a Crystal Prep running over to us. I looked at the girl, confused, while Octavia stepped forward to meet her.

"Suri Polomare? My goodness, is that you?" Octavia asked.

"You bet it is," Suri Polomare answered with a smile. "I knew I saw you from where I was sitting during the game, okay?"

"Oh, my, what a surprise," Octavia said. "I didn't know you moved to Crystal City."

"I sure did," Suri Polomare said proudly before she looked at Octavia's Canterlot High sweater, ears and tail, smirking. "And may I say never pegged you for someone dressing up for a school game, okay? 

Octavia chuckled nervously and said, "Yes, this is unusual for me, but I wanted to try something new. Frankly, I never thought I'd have so much fun watching a soccer game. It was an exciting experience."

I smiled at Octavia, glad to hear that she enjoyed coming to the game. Suri Polomare, on the other hand, shrugged and said, "Well, don't expect your team to win again. Nothing will stop the Shadowbolts from coming on top."

"I don't know. We beat you once, so we can do it again," I boasted.

Suri Polomare turned to me with an unamused look and asked, "And who are you?"

"Oh, I'm sorry. I haven't introduced you to each other," Octavia said. "Rough Draft, this is Suri Polomare. We were in middle school back in Manehattan. Suri, this is Rough Draft."

"Pleased to make your acquaintance," I said with a smile.

But Suri Polomare raised her eyebrow and crossed her arms, giving me a condescending look.

"Rough Draft, eh? So this is the guy who pushed your boyfriend off a balcony," she said.

Octavia and I looked at Suri Polomare, appalled, and she said, "He didn't push Blueblood. He was knocked off by accident."

"That's not what I've heard," Suri Polomare said. 

"Well, it's not true," Octavia said. "For that matter, who told you about that?"

Suri Polomare snorted out a laugh and said, "Come now, Octavia. You are dating the Prince of Manehattan himself. Do you honestly think word wouldn't get out in the Manehattan high society? I may live in Crystal City, but that doesn't stop my family and me from keeping in contact with our friends there. Everyone knows that a guy named Rough Draft coldly knocked Blueblood off a balcony and has been forced to be your servant as punishment, okay?"

Octavia furrowed her brow and said, "Rough Draft is not my servant. He is my assistant."

"Really?" Suri Polomare asked with a skeptical look.  "It doesn't look like he's your servant assistant or whatever."

Octavia's and my eyes widened, worried that Blueblood would find out that we weren't doing what he commanded. Luckily, Octavia thought of something, crossed her arms, and held her head up high with her eyes closed as she replied.

"That's because I ordered my assistant to take me to the game," she claimed. "In fact, he's just about to take me home on my orders."

"That still doesn't sound right," Suri Polomare said. "From what I've heard, Blueblood has expected you to work this nobody to the bone for what he did."

Octavia frowned again and said, "I don't care what Blueblood expects. Rough Draft is my assistant, not his. I will have him work for me in any way I see fit."

"Like taking you to a game instead of making him do hard labor? Don't you care about what this guy did to your boyfriend?" Suri Polomare questioned.

"Of course, I care. I was terrified when he fell off that balcony," Octavia said, agitated. "But that does not mean I have to make Rough Draft slave away after doing something anyone with half a brain could see was an accident."

"Seriously? The heir to the most powerful company in the world offers you the world, and you won't take his side on something like this?" Suri Polomare said before pointing at me. "This low life is not worth defending."

"What do you know what Rough Draft is or isn't? You're judging him on whatever exaggerated information Blueblood tells people," Octavia challenged.

"And that's good enough for anyone in our world. You of all people should know how respected Blueblood is, okay?" Suri Polomare said.

"My boyfriend may be highly respected, but that doesn't mean he's telling the truth about what happened," Octavia stated. "Rough Draft may work for me, but he's also my friend, and I will not tolerate speaking ill against him."

I smiled at Octavia, touched that she was standing up for me. Suri Polomare scoffed and said, "Now this is incredible. I never thought I'd see the day when Blueblood's girlfriend, whom he holds in such high regard, would behave this way. If you're going to defend the guy who injured him, then why are you even dating him?"

Octavia stared at Suri Polomare, baffled by her question. I didn't know what Octavia was going to do, but it was clear that the pale orchid girl went too far in insulting her. After a minute, Octavia frowned and turned her back on Suri Polomare.

"Mr. Draft, take me home," she ordered in a cold voice.

"Yes, Ms. Melody," I replied. 

Suri Polomare scoffed again, appalled as she watched us walk away from her without another word. She waved her hand and walked in the opposite direction, deciding to disregard Octavia's behavior. As Octavia and I made our way down the street toward her house, I glanced at my crush, who was still peeved over what Suri Polomare said. Eventually, her look of irritation melted into a look of gloom before she stopped walking. The two of us stood in silence until she turned to me.

"Rough Draft, I feel stuck," she said.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

Octavia paused before she looked at her ring and said, "I'm worried about my relationship with Blueblood more than ever. Having him put his job before me hurts enough, but the way he's been behaving lately, especially with what happened at the Tasty Treat, makes it feel like he's becoming less like the person I've been dating for some time. I want to work things out with Blueblood, but after we had a fight earlier this week, it became clear that he doesn't want to change, and apparently, everyone I know from Manehattan believes anything he says against you, even though he knows I disapprove. I don't know what to do."

I frowned, feeling sorry for how depressed Octavia was. A part of me wanted to give her a hug to comfort her, but I resisted the urge, thinking it might not be what she needed. I looked down and thought about how best to reply. 

"Maybe you two could just spend time away from each other for a while? Like maybe go on a break?" I guessed. 

Octavia's frown deepened, and she said, "No, I don't want that. I have been thinking of just not speaking to him for a little while so he can cool off, but I can't take things that far. I may as well imply that our relationship is going to end."

"Maybe, but it sounds to me that you probably should take that risk," I said. "I may only know about your relationship from your side, but if Blueblood is this stubborn, then maybe going on a break will help him understand how serious his attitude has been affecting your relationship. I can't tell you what to do, Octavia, but it's clear to me that this is stressing you out, and frankly, that worries me."

Octavia was silent, still staring at her sapphire ring, and I became worried that I overstepped my bounds. Eventually, the gray girl sighed, and she turned to me with a smile.

"You never cease to amaze me with how caring you are, Rough Draft," she said. I blushed at the compliment, and Octavia quietly giggled with her mouth closed before her glum expression returned. "In any case, you might be right. I don't want to do it, but if I want things to improve, I might have to put my relationship on hold to clarify to my boyfriend that he needs to think about what he's doing. Perhaps not worrying about Blueblood and me will even relieve me of the stress I've been feeling."

I smiled and said, "I hope it does help you that way, and maybe that will help Blueblood become the guy you care for again."

"I pray it will," Octavia said before giving me a determined look. "Alright, it's decided. This Saturday, I'm going to visit Blueblood and tell them that we're going on a break."

I tilted my head and asked, "Why wait until then? Wouldn't it be better if you did it tomorrow so that you got it off your chest the sooner, the better?"

"As much as I would like that, I'd rather think about how best to phrase what I need to say," Octavia answered. "Besides, we still have that math test tomorrow, so it would be best to focus on that first and think about Blueblood and me later."

My eyes widened, and I hit my forehead with the bottom of my palm. 

"D'oh. The test. I totally forgot about it," I said.

"Then I suggest you take me home so you can go home and get back to studying," Octavia said, smirking. 

"Yes, at once, my lady," I said with a bow.

Octavia giggled again, and we continued walking to her house. As we walked, I glanced at Octavia again, who appeared to be feeling better. The thought occurred to me that her and Blueblood on a break could be my chance to develop something between her. Octavia did say that going on a break might imply that she and Blueblood will break up, and with me frequently being there for her, that might make me seen as boyfriend material. But then I realized what I was thinking and shook my head, reminding myself that I'm supposed to be only her friend. Still, whether she mended things with Blueblood or developed something for me, my hope was that she would be happy, and that was more important.
> Chapter 12
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

School on Friday went by like a typical day except for the math test Octavia, Starlight Glimmer, and I studied for. When the three of us met for study group after school, Octavia seemed pleased while I hoped I at least got a C. Starlight Glimmer didn't like my lack of confidence, but Octavia encouraged me not to worry, assuring me that I probably did fine, and I blushed, which disturbed Starlight Glimmer before we started doing homework. 

After study group ended and I walked Octavia home, I met up with Fluttershy at her house again to practice dancing. After about fifteen minutes, my dancing came out perfect without stepping on Fluttershy's feet at all, and she decided that it was time to practice dancing to the beat. Thus we started again with Fluttershy saying, "one, two, three." It felt awkward for me to move to the beat, but both of us were optimistic about how I was progressing when it was all said and done. I asked if we could meet on Saturday, but Fluttershy said she wouldn't be able to because she, Rarity, and Octavia were going shopping together that day. I was bummed that we couldn't have another session then, but at the same time, I was happy to hear that Octavia was going to hang out with other girls.

Come Saturday, I spent the day staying at home, watching tv, or otherwise writing my Star Wars fanfiction. I was eager to finish the chapter I was on and publish it online soon, wondering if anyone would like it or not. Soarin and Caramel had started to read some of my work, and despite having some critiques, they were enjoying them, which made me hopeful. Every now and then, though, I thought about Octavia's plan to talk to Blueblood about putting them on a break and wondered how breaking the news was going. 

As it so happened, roughly around noon, Octavia had left her house to come visit Blueblood, having just finished having lunch with her parents. Rarity and Fluttershy planned to meet her at the mall at one-thirty, so Octavia decided to get her talk with Blueblood done before then. She knocked on the front door to his house, and a maid opened it to let her in. The maid guided her to Blueblood's room on the second floor and left for Octavia to let herself in. Octavia sighed before she knocked on the door.

"Enter," she heard Blueblood say from the other side.

Octavia opened the door and walked in to find Blueblood lying in bed and looking at business documents. Octavia frowned, concerned with how her boyfriend was still focused on work when he should just lie still while healing. Blueblood kept his gaze on his documents until he saw Octavia walking over to his bed from the corner of his eye. 

"Octavia, what a surprise," he said with a smile. "Why didn't you tell me you were coming? I would have one of the maids prepare some tea. 

"I'm afraid I can't stay long, dear," Octavia answered. "Can you put away your papers, please? I have something I need to discuss with you."

Blueblood furrowed his brow, not liking the way Octavia said her last sentence. He begrudgingly put the documents on the nightstand, and Octavia sat on the side of the bed. She paused for a moment before she spoke with sadness in her voice. 

"Blueblood, I've been doing a lot of thinking about our relationship," Octavia began. "Your job has taken a lot of time away from us, and even when we spend time together, you've been distant and sometimes bring work to our dates."

"And I suppose you're telling me to stop doing my job?" Blueblood asked.

"No, I'm not. I know it's important to you, and I'm happy that you're making your way up to taking over your father's business. I really am," Octavia clarified. "But the extent that you have been pursuing it has been making me feel like I'm not important to you at all."

"That's not true," Blueblood claimed. "I've been doing everything in my power to prove that you're still important to me."

"Like recording my concerts?" Octavia challenged. "For that matter, have you watched any of them?"

Blueblood opened his mouth to answer, but he stopped himself and looked away from Octavia. The gray girl's heart broke, and she looked away, fighting the tears.

"I'm sorry," Blueblood said. "I'll watch them all today. In fact, why don't you stay so we can watch them together."

"No, Blueblood. Please, don't try to cheer me up like that," Octavia said. "No matter what you say, I am tired of you doing these things to me over and over and over again. I can't deal with it anymore. That's why I have decided that we need to go on a break."

Blueblood sprung up to a sitting position only to hug his ribs in pain, forcing him to lay back down. He groaned before he glared at Octavia and growled, "Now, see here, Octavia, I can admit things are not perfect, but I cannot allow you to put us on a break."

Octavia made a face and said, "It's not your decision what I can or cannot do about our relationship, Blueblood. I do not want us to break up, but I cannot deal with you treating me this way."

"Nobody put a relationship with Blueblood on a break," Blueblood snarled.

"Well, then I guess I'm the first," Octavia said. "Let me make this painfully clear, Blueblood, I will continue to have Rough Draft work for me just like you wanted, and I will hope your ribs will heal quickly, but while we are on a break, I want you to find time to think about us when you are not using your time to focus on your job. No matter what you say, our relationship is in jeopardy because of you, and it's up to you to make a change."

Octavia stood up and walked to the door without another word while Blueblood screamed, "Octavia, get back here! We're not finished! You can't put us on hold! I will not -!"

Octavia exited the room and closed the door behind her before hearing the last of that sentence. She could hear Blueblood still shouting through the wall as she walked down the hall and went down the stairs to the entrance hall. The maid who escorted her to Blueblood's room bowed and told her to have a nice day, and Octavia told her to do the same with a smile before she went outside. Octavia walked to the end of the street before she stopped and leaned her back against the fence to take a moment to cry. After a couple of minutes, she wiped the tears from her eyes and let out a big sigh.

"Well, he took it about as well as I expected," she said before a small smile entered her face. "Still, it feels good to get that off my chest. I guess there's nothing else to it but to pray that this will help mend things."

She took another deep breath before she took out her phone to check the time to find out that it was one-ten. She muttered, "Blast," under her breath and began racing to the mall. When she made it to the mall, it was a couple of minutes before one-thirty, and she went inside to find Rarity and Fluttershy sitting beside the fountain at the center of the building. Rarity saw her walk in, and she stood up for the two of them to kiss the side of their cheeks. 

"So lovely to see you arrive early, dear," Rarity said. 

"I'm glad I did. I had a little errand to run and got worried I wouldn't make it in time," Octavia said.

"Understandable," Rarity said. "Shall we get started?"

"Yes, please," Octavia said. 

"I would like that," Fluttershy answered with a cute smile. 







******************************************************************************************







For the next few hours, Octavia, Rarity, and Fluttershy went from store to store, looking at all sorts of clothes and accessories. They took turns trying on outfits and critiquing them before deciding to buy some of them. Every now and then, Rarity would choose to take a group picture of the three of them in some of their new outfits and post it on the social media website, MyStable. Eventually, they decided to see a movie at the mall's movie theater and afterward decided to get dinner at the food court. 

The three girls talked about the movie and other things until Fluttershy left to use the restroom. Octavia and Rarity continued eating their food with their conversation with Fluttershy on hold. After a minute, Rarity looked up from her fries and noticed how Octavia was eating her burger in bliss.

"I see you are really enjoying your burger," Rarity said.

"Oh, I am," Octavia replied with a happy sigh. "I don't know if Rough Draft has ever told you, but I've never had a chance to try food like this back in Manehattan."

Rarity smiled and said, "He didn't, but I can understand as a Manehattan girl myself. There are some things that even the wonderful city of Manehattan can't give you."

"Indeed," Octavia said. "I simply love going to new places and trying new food with Rough Draft or Starlight Glimmer, or even go shopping with other girls."

Rarity's smile grew, happy for the gray girl. Her smile then turned into a smirk, and she said, "You've been spending a lot of time with Rough Draft, haven't you?"

Octavia didn't understand why Rarity was smirking, but it made her cheeks heat up. She shook it off and said with a calm expression, "Of course, I have. Rough Draft is my best friend. As much as I disapprove of Blueblood threatening Rough Draft, I am thankful that it has led to spending time with someone so caring and loyal."

"Hmmm, yes, he certainly is that," Rarity agreed. "Definitely a boy worth having as your date for the wedding."

"Indeed, and to think it's only a week away," Octavia said. "Speaking of which, how is my dress coming along?"

"Oh, it's going very well," Rarity answered. "I still have much to do, but I aim to have it done by Wednesday so that you can try it on."

"Are you sure you can get it done with so little time?" Octavia asked.

"Positive," Rarity said confidently. "I work well under pressure. I will have it done in time for you to see it or my name isn't Rarity Joslyn Belle."

Octavia giggled at Rarity's enthusiasm and said, "I will hold you to that. There's a lot that is expected of me for my first gig, including my attire. Not to mention, I want my date to be amazed by how I look."

Rarity smirked again and said, "I don't doubt it. Rough Draft can be quite bashful, but I know whatever he says to you is from the heart. It's a shame you can only see him or any of us until Blueblood recovers."

Octavia flinched, and she looked away, downcast. Rarity grew uneasy and said, "Sorry. I did not mean to sound so pessimistic."

"It's fine," Octavia said. "In fact, I'm not sad because of that.  It's just…" Octavia hesitated for a moment before she scooted closer to Rarity from her seat. "You see, earlier today, I had an unpleasant chat with Blueblood."

"Oh, dear. You mean like a fight?" Rarity asked. 

"Not exactly," Octavia said. "You see after the game the other day, I talked to Rough Draft about how things are going between Blueblood and me, and he suggested that we should go on a break."

Rarity stood still for a moment in a state of shock before she shook her head and said, "Beg pardon, darling, but I'm not sure if I heard you. Did you say Rough Draft suggested that you and Blueblood go on a break?"

"I did," Octavia said. "There are enough problems with our relationship that I agreed that it was the best course of action. I told Blueblood earlier today that this is happening, and my hope is that he will think about where we are and will change for the better, even to the point of not being so possessive of me so that I can still hang out with you, Rough Draft, and all of our friends."

It took all of Rarity's willpower not to scream in joy. Her heart was racing, yet she knew that this was a time to be sorry for her friend. She took Octavia's hand and said with a sad smile, "I'm sorry to hear that you two are going through a rough patch, Octavia. I sincerely would like to see Blueblood be a better person."

Octavia gave Rarity an appreciative look and said, "Thank you, Rarity."

The two girls kept smiling at each other for a moment before they silently decided to go back to their food. A minute later, Fluttershy came back and sat back down on her seat next to Rarity. She opened her mouth to continue talking about the movie until she noticed Rarity incredibly high in spirits. She kept a calm face, but Fluttershy knew her best friend well enough to know that something was on her mind. 

"Did something happen while I was in the restroom?" Fluttershy asked.

Octavia and Rarity looked up from their food, and the former said, "Oh, nothing much. We were just talking about things."

"Quite," Rarity said.

Fluttershy tilted her head, wondering if Octavia and Rarity were hiding something. She looked back at Rarity as she returned to her meal, hoping that she would give her some real answers later. 









***************************************************************











After they finished their dinner, Octavia, Rarity, and Fluttershy browsed through a couple of other shops before they decided to call it a day. Even though Rarity's house was only a couple of blocks away from the mall, she insisted that she and Fluttershy walk Octavia's home, which Octavia happily accepted. They talked about various subjects while carrying their bags full of clothes and accessories until they made their way to the front door of Octavia's house. 

After Octavia went inside, Rarity and Fluttershy began making their way to Fluttershy's house. Rarity was still feeling giddy as she walked, which made Fluttershy more curious. It was clear that something interesting happened while she was gone, and it was time for her to get some answers.

"Um, Rarity, can I ask you something?" Fluttershy asked. 

"Certainly," Rarity said without looking at Fluttershy. 

Fluttershy looked down shyly, feeling nervous about pressing the matter. 

"It's just that when I asked what happened when I was in the restroom, you and Octavia said you just talked about things, but...um.." Rarity turned her head to Fluttershy, curious as her best friend continued. "You looked thrilled, but you didn't want to show it, so…"

"So, you know that something big happened," Rarity finished with a smile. "I should have known you'd figure it out. You know me too well."

Fluttershy smiled back and asked, "So, what happened? Did you two talk about something exciting?"

Rarity smirked and said, "The most exciting thing I could ever hear in my entire life. Something that makes my heart leap for joy."

"Really? Is something major happening at the Carousel Boutique? Was Octavia offering for you to meet someone important in the fashion world?" Fluttershy asked. 

"Oh, pfft. Darling, please. Even if something like that were happening, it would be small fry compared to this," Rarity said.

Now, Fluttershy was intrigued. It was rare that Rarity would be excited about something more than fashion trends or her aim to have a career as a fashionista. Fluttershy stood in front of Rarity so that she stopped walking and asked with a smile, "What is it? What is it?"

Rarity smirked and said, "Before I tell you, you must promise me that you won't tell anyone what I hope to do with this information."

"I promise," Fluttershy said without skipping a beat.

"Do you Pinkie Pie promise that you won't utter a word?" Rarity asked.

"Absolutely," Fluttershy said before crossing herself. "Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye."

Rarity's smirk grew, and she looked around to make sure no one was around before she said in a high-pitched voice, "Blueblood and Octavia are on a break!"

Fluttershy's smile disappeared into a look of confusion, and she tilted her head as she asked, "Blueblood and Octavia are on a break?"

"Uh-huh," Rarity replied with a toothy grin.

"I don't understand," Fluttershy said. "Why would you be so happy about that? It's not like they're officially broken up, so you have your chance to finally pursue Blueblood."

"True, but it gives me hope," Rarity said. "Where there's putting a relationship on a break, there's a chance they might ultimately break up. If they do, then I can take the pieces for myself and turn my Bluey into the man of my dreams I know he can be."

"But why would they go on a break?" Fluttershy asked. "I would think Rough Draft or Starlight Glimmer might have brought something like that up, especially since Applejack, Caramel, Soarin, and Rainbow Dash are always on Rough Draft's case with how he behaves around Octavia."

"Octavia just put the relationship on a break today," Rarity answered. "Apparently, they are having a lot of problems with their relationship, so Rough Draft suggested that they go on a break."

"He did?" Fluttershy asked, taken aback. "Do you think he did that to try to break them apart?"

"I don't think so. He is very considerate of her feelings after all, and the way Octavia told it, it sounded like this is a necessary step for Blueblood to improve as a boyfriend," Rarity said. "I wouldn't be surprised if our friends ask Rough Draft about the whole thing when word gets out."

"So, you don't think Rough Draft hopes they will break up?" Fluttershy asked. 

"Oh, I'm sure he does in some way," Rarity said, smirking. "Besides, as their friend, I frankly want them to get together whether I get my Bluey or not. Rough Draft is a caring boy, Octavia values his company, and they both enjoy doing things together. I simply can't think of anyone I'd rather have be the one who does everything he can to make Octavia happy than Rough Draft. It's not as though there's not much competition when the only girl who wants to be with our nerdy friend is Adagio."

Fluttershy's surprise look turned into an uncomfortable frown, and she looked down again. Rarity looked at her best friend, puzzled, and asked, "What's the matter?"

Fluttershy hesitated and quietly said, "Um, that's not entirely true."

"What do you mean?" Rarity asked. "Are you saying there's someone other than Adagio pursuing Rough Draft?"

"Not exactly," Fluttershy said. "More like someone who has feelings for him but is afraid to show it?"

"How do you know?" Rarity asked.

"Because she acts the same way I did back when...you know," Fluttershy answered.

Rarity's eyes widened, and she covered her mouth with her hand. She stayed in this position for a moment and said, "Oh, my. She must really feel that way about him if you would compare her to you."

"Mmm-hmmm," Fluttershy said, nodding.

"Well, who is it, darling?" Rarity asked.

"Um, I don't want to say," Fluttershy said. It was almost like a whisper.

Rarity frowned and said, "Fluttershy, you can tell me everything. We never keep secrets from each other."

"I know, and I really want to tell you, but I think it might do more harm than good," Fluttershy said. "I didn't have to deal with another girl that caught his attention, and I'm worried about how you'll behave around her if I tell you who it is when you want Rough Draft to be together with Octavia."

Rarity's frown deepened, and she took a moment to think about it before she said, "I see. I suppose I might want to do something about it if I know who it is, and there's no telling how things will go with Octavia and Blueblood, the wedding, Rough Draft's feelings, and this person's feelings for him. If you really think telling me who it is might complicate things, then I trust you, Fluttershy."

Fluttershy smiled and said, "Thank you, Rarity. I just want you to at least be aware of this."

"I appreciate that, dear," Rarity said. "Much has happened in the first couple of weeks of school, and it feels  like things are getting crazier by the day."

Fluttershy nodded, and the two girls were silent for a moment before Rarity cleared her throat. 

"Right. Let's get home already. We both have many clothes to bring back," she said.

"We sure do, Rarity," Fluttershy said with a smile. "Truth be told, I'm wondering if I have enough hangers in my closet for all of this stuff."

"That's why I always have hangers and room to spare," Rarity stared proudly. "One never knows what to expect at a trip to the mall,"

Fluttershy rolled her eyes and shook her head from her best friend's boasting as the two of them went back to walking down the street to Fluttershy's home again. However, unbeknownst to them, three figures were hiding behind the trees a few feet away from where Rarity and Fluttershy were. Adagio, Aria, and Sonata came out of their hiding spots when their targets were far enough with Aria peeved, Sonata's stomach in knots, and Adagio grinning like a Cheshire cat.

"My, my, my, what information," the leader said. "I'm so glad we just happened to be walking by."

Aria huffed and said with her arms crossed,  "Don't tell me, Adagio. Let me guess. You think Octavia Melody put her relationship with Blueblood on hold just so that she's not cheating on him when she's pursuing Rough Draft. Right?"

"I don't think. I know," Adagio declared. "Admit it, Aria. I was right. Rough Draft is so special that Octavia Melody would abandon her devotion to Blueblood."

"You don't know that," Sonata protested. "Octavia and Blueblood could be on a break for other reasons than for -"

"Quiet!" Adagio hissed. Sonata took a step back and whimpered as though Adagio had threatened to beat her for speaking. "Even if that's true, Octavia Melody is still free to pursue anyone she wants, including Rough Draft."

"And how do you intend to get to Rough Draft first when he has a crush on her?" Aria challenged. "Sounds like all she has to do is make one little move, and they're together just like that."

"Not if I can help it," Adagio said. "Thanks to what Sonata learned from the cafe, I have been educating myself on everything Rough Draft is obsessed with, which I wager is more than Octavia Melody has done. So, the next time we speak to each other, I have options for what we can talk about to lure him to me."

Aria frowned and asked, "Wait, that's what you've been doing in your room all week? Watching all of that dorky crap?"

"More or less," Adagio answered. 

"Ugh, this is getting ridiculous. At this rate, I'm thinking of making you stop pursuing this dude for my sanity and yours," Aria said.

"You can try, but we both know that when I decide to do something, I do not rest until I have achieved it," Adagio said.

Aria scoffed, and Adagio turned to Sonata, who felt a shiver down her spine. The leader of the Dazzlings moved closer to her submissive sister, making her back up to a tree, and said, "The next time Rough Draft is doing something outside of school or 'serving' Octavia Melody, tell me. I would like to be around for those moments, unlike with that soccer game."

In her mind, Sonata was screaming, "no," but on the outside, she reluctantly gave her sister a nod. Adagio's grin grew, and she backed away from Sonata as Aria spoke again.

"That's it? You don't want Sonata to find out about this other girl that's crushing on Rough Draft?" She questioned.

Adagio snorted out a laugh and said, "Oh, please. There's no need for that. Even if that girl is only half as timid as Fluttershy, then there's little reason to act like there's a second girl after my prize at all. At best, she would be acknowledged as just one more person whose heart gets broken when Rough Draft chooses me."

Aria raised her eyebrow before she sighed and said, "That might be the only thing you've said that makes a lick of sense in two weeks, Adagio."

"No matter," Adagio said. "Let's get home already. I still have...homework I need to do."

Aria groaned as she followed her sister, having figured out what Adagio meant by homework. Sonata hung her head as she followed her sisters, ashamed that she was still helping her oldest sister behind my back. She clasped her hands together and whispered a prayer that somehow Adagio would stop pursuing me.
> Chapter 13
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

I woke up to the sound of my alarm clock announcing that it was Monday and it was time to get ready for school. I groaned as I turned it off, got up in a sitting position, and stretched before getting out to bed to take a shower. Despite feeling very tired, though, I was ecstatic because there were only a few days left until the wedding. I spent most of Sunday with Fluttershy, and at the end of our session, she said that I was almost ready. I walked home later that evening with a cheerful grin, confident that I would amaze my crush with my dancing.  

Word spread like wildfire at Canterlot High that Octavia and Blueblood were on a break. Many students were dumbfounded by the news, having no idea why it happened. Some of them came up with theories about who put the relationship on hold, with most of them believing that Octavia did it. I grew worried about what Octavia might be going through with so many people making a big deal out of what happened. At lunch, to no surprise, everyone in my group, apart from Rarity and Fluttershy, asked what I knew about what happened. I confessed that I suggested the idea to Octavia but explained that I really thought it would be the best thing for her. Fortunately, Rarity backed me up, telling our friends what Octavia said when they went shopping. To my surprise, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Soarin approved of my decision after Rarity explained what was wrong between Octavia and Blueblood. At that point, they were starting to ease up about my intentions regarding how I interact with my crush, and I hoped they were going to completely trust me before long.

In English class, Octavia looked fatigued, which confirmed my suspicions that people have nagged her all day. Sonata, on the other hand, greeted me with a forced grin, which puzzled me. I spent most of class wondering what was the matter with Sonata as I wrote down what Ms. Cheerilee put on the blackboard. Finally, the final bell rang, and Octavia turned to me with a weak smile as we all got up from our seats. We walked out of the classroom and began making our way to the music room until Sonata stood in front of us.

"Hey, guys, is it alright if I walk with you guys to your study group?" she asked.

Octavia and I looked at each other, confused, and I said, "Sure, Sonata, but won't your sisters be looking for you?"

Sonata stood still, not expecting that question. She looked away in thought before she answered with a smile, "No, because they are staying after school in the library for a big essay they have to do in one of their elective classes. So, I thought I should take advantage of that by spending a little more time with my friends."

Octavia and I were confused by how Sonata was silent for a moment before she responded, but Octavia shrugged and said, "Well, you do like spending time away from your sisters, so I see no reason to refuse, Sonata." 

Sonata beamed, and the three of us began walking again with a skip in the Dazzling's step. I smiled at how cute she was acting before I turned to Octavia.

"So, judging by how tired you look, you had a busy day, huh?" I said with a chuckle.

"Ugh, you have no idea," Octavia groaned. "I know Blueblood, and I are a popular couple, but it's not like I caused the apocalypse just because I did such a thing to the Prince of Manehattan."

"I can't imagine," I said. "How do you feel about going on a break, though?"

Octavia sighed and answered with a smile, "Well, Blueblood didn't take it well as you can imagine, but I do feel better making it abundantly clear how things are between us. All in all, I am thankful that you made the suggestion, Rough Draft."

"I'm happy to hear it," I said. 

"Whoa, whoa, wait a minute," Sonata said, stepping in front of Octavia and me. "Are you saying the break is your idea, Rough Draft?"

"Sure is," I answered. 

"But why?" Sonata asked. 

Octavia and I looked at each other again, uneasy before Octavia said, "Let's just say Blueblood, and I are not the perfect couple everyone thinks we are."

"Oh," Sonata said before she gave Octavia a cute smile. "In that case, I'm happy that you're feeling better too."

"Thank you, Sonata," Octavia said. "Though, if it's all the same to you two, I'd like to stop discussing Blueblood and me from now on. I want to spend our break on completely different matters like the wedding."

I grinned and said, "I concur. I'm looking forward to it."

Octavia smiled warmly at me while Sonata thought about it for a moment before it hit her.

"Oh, my gosh. Is the wedding this Saturday already?" She asked.

"It certainly is," Octavia said. "Rarity informed me that my dress is nearly done."

"Awesome," Sonata said before turning to me. "How about you, Rough Draft? Do you have a tux ready?"

Octavia's and my faces fell, and our pupils shrank simultaneously. Sonata tilted her head while Octavia and I looked at each other in shock. 

"Your tux!" Octavia shouted. "How could we have forgotten?"

"I guess I have been so focused on learning how to dance and the soccer game that it slipped my mind," I said.

Octavia took a moment to think about it and said, "I guess I've been distracted too with the game, shopping with Fluttershy and Rarity, practicing for the wedding, and thinking about how I -" Octavia stopped herself with her eyes wide open. She looked at me, realizing that she almost gave away that she was thinking about how she was feeling about me. She cleared her throat and said, "Well, thinking about other things."

"For realsies?" Sonata asked, dumbfounded. "You better get on that while you have time."

"You think?" I asked before turning to Octavia. "Do you think we would have time to go to a tux store today?"

Octavia took out her phone and looked up Canterlot's tux store, and bit her lip.

"Barely. They close around seven, and it takes about half an hour from here on foot," she said. "That only gives us an hour and a half to have them take your measurements and look for the right tux for you."

"Sounds like the worst-case scenario is we do what we can and maybe come again tomorrow or something like that," I said.

"Indeed, but I'd rather we find your tux the sooner, the better," Octavia said.

"No argument there," I said.

Sonata grew uneasy with how troubled Octavia and I were at that moment. Thankfully, she smiled and said, "I'm sure you guys will be able to find the perfect tux tonight. I mean, I bet you have seen so many kinds of tuxedos just from dating Blueblood that you have a good idea for what would and wouldn't work, Octavia 

Octavia and I smiled, and the latter said, "Thank you, Sonata. I appreciate your optimism, and you might be right about my experience with tuxedos."

"Hope so. It sounds like you'll have time to think about that before we go to the store," I said.

"Indeed," Octavia said before she let out a soft gasp. "Speaking of time, we better get going.  Starlight must be wondering where we are."

I checked the time on my phone and said, "Yikes. Yeah, let's go."

With that, the three of us went back to walking to the music room together. Sonata kept a cheerful smile as we walked, but in her mind, she was thinking of how to tell Adagio that she was right that Octavia and Blueblood were on a break because they have problems. It wouldn't affect how determined Adagio was to get me, but to the bluish-white girl, it was enough that she could discredit her manipulative sister for once. Sonata then hoped that she could find a way to hide that the break was my idea without Adagio figuring out that she was upholding information. She knew that it wouldn't matter either, but she figured Adagio would think Octavia and I were both using the break to ultimately get together if she told her. The way her sister was theorizing the other day, It made sense not to rule out the possibility. 

Eventually, we all made it to the music room to find Starlight Glimmer waiting with her back against the wall. She saw us walking toward her and said, "Finally. What took you guys so long?"

"Apologies, Starlight. We got into a conversation with Sonata on the way here and lost track of time," Octavia explained. 

Starlight Glimmer turned her head to Sonata, who gave her a smile and a wave as she said, "Hi." Starlight Glimmer hesitantly waved and said, "Hi," back, finding her cheerful personality to be odd. She knew everything about Sonata being a Dazzling and being my friend despite that, but it was still puzzling that one of the people we were supposed to avoid was nothing like what she heard about her sisters. Starlight Glimmer decided to put it in the back of her head and turned to Octavia and me.

"Well, as long as you're here, we can get going," Starlight Glimmer said.

"Indeed," Octavia agreed before turning to Sonata. "We'll see you tomorrow, Sonata."

Sonata resisted the urge to show any reluctance to be separated from us and said, "Yeah, I'll see you guys -"

"STARLIGHT! ROUGH DRAFT!" 

I jumped out of my skin, startled by the loud voice before Octavia, Sonata, Starlight Glimmer, and I turned around to find Pinkie Pie racing toward us. The pink girl had tears coming from the edge of her eyes as she ran. She stopped running in front of us and panted with her hands on her knees while Octavia, Sonata, Starlight Glimmer, and I were confused with her worried demeanor.

"Pinkie, what's the matter?" I asked. 

Pinkie Pie took a few more deep breaths before she stood up and whined, "I just got a call from Saffron Masala, and she told me that she and her dad are going to shut down the Tasty Treat!"

"What?!" Octavia, Starlight Glimmer, and I shouted at the same time.

"The Tasty Treat? Isn't that the place where you knocked Blueblood off the balcony?" Sonata asked.

"Yeah, it is," I answered. "But why are they sitting it down?"

"Apparently, Blueblood's dad sued them for Blueblood's suit getting damaged," Pinkie Pie answered. "He demanded restitution, and Coriander Cumin couldn't afford a lawyer to fight back the claim, so they're demanding that they pay for the tux."

"But that's ridiculous," I said. "It was Blueblood's own stupid fault for not paying attention."

"The lawyers said it was Coriander Cumin's fault for not having a lid or something to keep people from getting burned by one of his candles, and there's no proof that Blueblood was at fault," Pinkie Pie said. "Blueblood's dad pretty much believed him over anything anyone else says."

Octavia, Starlight Glimmer, and I took a moment to think about it before Starlight Glimmer bit her lip and said, "I hate to say it, but they have a point with the candle."

"Granted, but this it is no less cold-hearted that Mr. Blood is doing this over a suit," Octavia said with her arms crossed. "I wish we found out about this sooner. We would have testified that it was Blueblood's fault."

"No offense, Octavia, but if Blueblood's dad is only half the guy Blueblood is, he probably will make sure his lawyers discredit our testimonies," I said.

Octavia thought about for a moment before she furrowed her brow and said, "No, you're right. He would."

Pinkie Pie let out a sob and said, "Coriander Cumin and Saffron Masala came all the way from Saddle Arabia to make a living here, and they make such wonderful food. I can't bear to think about what's going to happen if they really shut down the Tasty Treat."

Pinkie Pie rushed to my side and cried on my shoulder. Octavia and Starlight Glimmer watched sadly as I patted Pinkie Pie's back. Though Sonata didn't know Pinkie Pie personally or had ever been to the Tasty Treat, she was downcast to see a friend of mine and Octavia's cry. The blueish white girl looked down and scratched her chin in thought, something she rarely had the chance to do. 

"Well, isn't there a way you could have, like, a fundraiser or something to help them get the money?" She asked. 

Octavia, Pinkie Pie, Starlight Glimmer, and I turned to the Dazzling, and Octavia said with a sad smile, "That's a nice idea, Sonata, but I doubt we can get enough people to donate enough."

"You don't know that," Sonata said. "How much do they owe anyway?"

Pinkie Pie sniffled and answered, "A thousand dollars."

At that moment, Octavia, Starlight Glimmer, and I looked at our friend, puzzled, and I asked, "Only a thousand? I remember Blueblood saying it was worth more than I could make in ten lifetimes." 

Octavia thought about it and shook her head with a sigh before she said, "Come to think of it, he probably thinks that because he doesn't really know how much normal people make, and he does spend a lot of money from his job on many other things besides a suit."

"You think he's that condescending?" Starlight Glimmer asked. 

"It makes sense to me as his girlfriend," Octavia said. "Having said that, a thousand is rather cheap for a suit Blueblood owns."

"Well, Saffron Masala did say they're mostly paying for the coat and shirt since that's what was really damaged," Pinkie Pie explained. 

"Ah, that makes a little more sense," Octavia said.

"Maybe, but I think it's clear that Coriander Cumin and Saffron Masala don't have that kind of money," I said.

"True, but that still means there's hope that Sonata's idea could work," Starlight Glimmer said. "If we spread the word, people might come to eat at the Tasty Treat and maybe even donate money."

Pinkie Pie's eyes shimmered with a look of hope, and she said, "You...you really think so?"

"Sure, Pinkie," Starlight Glimmer said with a smile. "Though, we should advertise the restaurant for people to want to donate. I mean, I've never heard of the Tasty Treat until our group found out that Rough Draft was going to dinner there with Blueblood and Octavia."

Pinkie stared at Starlight Glimmer for a moment and thought about it before her face lit up and said, "That's it, Starlight. Everyone should find out how yummy Coriander Cumin and Saffron Masala's food is. That way, not only will they get the money to pay them back, but business would be better than ever."

"There you go," Starlight Glimmer said with a smile. "You could make fliers to put up here at school and all over town."

"We could make a group or something on MyStable. That oughta grab some attention," I said.

"Excellent suggestion, Rough Draft," Octavia said. "We could even take pictures of the food and share it to our MyStable friends. 

"Ooo. Leave that part to me," Pinkie Pie said. "I've tried so much of their food that I know what would be the best ones to attract people."

"Then it sounds like we have a plan," Starlight Glimmer said.

"Looks that way," I said.

"Indeed," Octavia said.

"Wheee!" Pinkie Pie chirped. "I can't wait to tell Saffron Masala!"

"That sounds great, guys," Sonata said. "I'm glad that you're going to be helping your friend."

"Thanks, Sonata, but we couldn't have come up with it without you," I said. 

Sonata's eyes widened for a moment, and she bashfully looked away, saying, "I-I-I didn't do anything special. I just made a suggestion."

"True, but it was your suggestion that led to us coming up with this idea," Octavia said. "You're the only one who came up with one, for that matter."

"Yeah, Octavia's right. Our friends might have a chance thanks to you," I said.

Sonata's face heated up, still refusing to look us in the eye. Pinkie Pie suddenly pulled Sonata into a bear-crushing hug and lifted her in the air.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!" Pinkie Pie squealed. 

"Ulk! You're….welcome," Sonata wheezed. 

Pinkie Pie put Sonata down, and the bluish-white girl gasped for air. The hyper girl turned to the rest of us and said, "I'm going to tell Coriander Cumin and Saffron Masala right away. See you all later."

With that, Pinkie Pie raced out of the hall before the rest of us had a chance to say goodbye. Octavia, Sonata, Starlight Glimmer, and I stared at where we last saw her for a moment until Starlight Glimmer cleared her throat and said, "Well, now that that's settled, why don't we get going with study group already?"

"Oh, my. We still haven't started yet. Have we?" Octavia chuckled.

Sonata frowned, hating that she had to part ways with her friends again. She forced a smile and said, "It's just as well. I should probably head home before Adagio and Aria are done with their essays."

"Totally," I said. "We'll see you tomorrow then, Sonata."

"Yeah, see you, guys," Sonata said. "Update me with the Tasty Treat." 

"Absolutely," Octavia said. "See you tomorrow, Sonata."

"Bye, everyone," Sonata replied, waving as we entered the music room and close the door in front of her. 

Sonata stood in front of the door before walking down the hall to the front entrance. Her smile turned into a genuine one, and her blush returned as she thought about how Octavia, Pinkie Pie, Starlight Glimmer, and I praised her. But then, she realized that what we were doing counted as something outside of school or working for Octavia, meaning she had to tell Adagio about it. She wanted to hide the information from her, but she knew that Adagio would find out that we were trying to save the Tasty Treat when word got out.

"I'm sorry, Rough Draft," she whispered. "I guess you'll have to see Adagio again."





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During our study group, Octavia, Starlight Glimmer, and I were still thinking about the Tasty Treat while we did our homework. The image of Pinkie Pie crying over what was going to happen to her friends kept appearing in my head. I would glance at Octavia as we worked on an English assignment and see in her mulberry eyes that she was agitated by what her boyfriend's father was doing to the poor restaurant owner and his daughter. 

Finally, about ten minutes before five, Octavia decided to cut study group short so that she and I had extra time at the tux store. Starlight Glimmer forced a smile as she said she understood before we exited the school and went our separate ways. Within half an hour, Octavia and I were inside the tuxedo store, and the owner started taking my measurements before having me try on black pants, shoes, and a white shirt. While I tried them on, Octavia started browsing for vests and bowties. When I came out of the fitting room with the pants, shoes, and shirt on, Octavia gave me a smile that made me look away to hide a blush. After that, she and the owner had me stand in the middle of the store to try on different colored vests and bowties while I decided to strike a conversation. 

"So, Octavia, how do you feel about the Tasty Treat?" I asked. 

Octavia huff and answered, "I could be feeling better. I hope we will be able to help Coriander Cumin get the money, but I would be lying if I didn't say I'm irritated that they have to pay for Blueblood's bloody suit at all." 

"I hear that," I said. "Still, with Pinkie Pie probably taking control of most of the operation, we might get enough people to help out. She is a scary crafty person that way." 

"Indeed," Octavia said. "Personally, though, I'm thinking of donating the money I'm earning from the wedding to Coriander Cumin and Saffron Masala if the worst comes to worst."

I stared at Octavia, surprised as she put a maroon bow tie around my neck and asked, "Really? Are you getting paid a lot for that?"

"Not a thousand dollars, but a big enough sum that it should help," Octavia answered. 

"Are you okay with spending it all on helping Coriander Cumin and Saffron Masala?" I asked. 

Octavia stopped working on the bowtie and looked at me right in the eyes as she said, "The money is of no concern to me, Rough Draft. I took the gig because my music caught the right people's attention, and it will help my talent as a cellist be further recognized. Anything apart from that is a mere bonus. I'd rather use that money to help others than for it to sit in my bank account unused."

I continued to stare at my crush, amazed, until I gave her a heartfelt smile. Octavia smiled back before she went back to putting on the bowtie. As she looked at me with the bowtie on, I drifted off in my mind, thinking of how caring my crush really was. It was clear to me that I was right when I told my friends weeks ago that there was more to Octavia than meets the eye and she's a better person than Blueblood deserved the afternoon before he fell off the balcony. With all of that in mind, I wanted nothing more for her to officially break up with Blueblood for good and let her do whatever acts of good she wants to do. Perhaps that way, there would be no sadness in her music like when she performed for Starlight Glimmer and me. 

Suddenly, as I thought about that, an idea hatched into my brain, and my eyes lit up in excitement. Octavia didn't notice because she was focused on the bowtie, but when she reached out to take it off, I took her wrist, and she looked up at me.

"That's it," I said.

"What is?" Octavia asked

"Your music catches the right attention," I said.

Octavia looked at me like I said random gibberish and said, "I don't follow."

"You know how some people play music in front of a store or restaurant to catch people's attention?" I asked, which Octavia replied with a nod. "What if you did that with your cello? You would be playing in front of the Tasty Treat, and that would help get people's attention."

Octavia stared at me for a moment before she looked away to think about it. I waited for a few seconds before she looked up, smiling. 

"Yes. What a grand idea," she said before asking with a frown. "But how would I have the time? We have study group with Starlight after school every day."

I think about it for a second and said, "Maybe you could take a day or two off of that for you to play? I mean, we don't have anything major to worry about now that we have that math test out of the way, so you could spare a couple of days. Heck, maybe there's a way Starlight Glimmer, and I could help while we're at it."

Octavia took another moment to think about it before she smiled again and said, "That could work. Pinkie Pie is already going to be making flyers, and I assume some of your other friends will take part in creating a MyStable page, so perhaps playing my cello around dinner time will attract more customers."

"Exactly," I said.

Octavia's smile grew, and she said, "I like the way you're thinking Rough Draft. You should text that to Pinkie Pie."

"Totally," I said before something hit me. "Although, you might have Pinkie's number too."

Octavia looked at me puzzled and said, "I don't recall ever exchanging numbers with her."

"Maybe, but it might be on your phone anyway," I said. "Anyway, have you decided on a color?"

With the subject changed, Octavia furrowed her brow and said, "Not at the moment. I can't seem to find a color that works with the color of your skin."

"Why now a black bowtie and vest? You said I look good in a black polo shirt," I suggested.

Octavia smirked and said, "As much as that's true, you'll be wearing more than enough black with the coat, pants, and shoes to go with your black hair." She turned around and browsed through bowties and vests with her hand on her chin. "I feel we need something lighter. Nothing really bright, but a nice contrast to -"

Octavia stopped in mid-sentence, and I looked at her, confused since I could not see what she was looking at with her back turned. She stood still for a few seconds before taking out an emerald vest and bowtie. I grew more confused as I looked at how Octavia was aroused with curiosity as she stared at the clothing. She walked over to me, held the vest and bowtie to my chest, and looked back between them and my face until she looked at me, smiling.

"This is it," she declared.

"Uh, no offense, Octavia, but I'm not exactly someone who wears green," I said.

Octavia raised an eyebrow and said, "Oh, really? Well, if you ever want to find yourself a girlfriend, then I suggest you start now."

"Why?" I asked.

"Because this shade matches your eyes."

The moment she finished that sentence, I could feel my entire face turning barn red, and I looked away. Octavia smirked and said, "Let me guess, no girl has ever complimented you on your eyes?"

"N-n-not unless my mom counts," I stuttered.

Octavia covered her mouth to hide a snicker and said, "Just put these and a coat on."

"Okay," I said, taking the vest and bowtie. "Maybe you can check to see if you already have Pinkie's number while I'm at it."

Octavia furrowed her brow and asked, "Are you still on that?"

"Trust me, Octavia. Pinkie probably put her number on your phone without you knowing," I said while putting on the bowtie.

Octavia rolled her eyes and took out her phone. She scrolled through her contacts without a care until she indeed found one that said Pinkie Pie. Octavia stared at the contact with her mouth agape and opened it to find Pinkie's number and a picture of her beaming with balloons in the background.

"What on Earth?!" Octavia shouted. "Rough Draft, how did you -?!"

As soon as she looked up from her phone, her voice died in her throat. There I was fully dressed in a tux with the emerald bowtie and vest and a black jacket. I grew uneasy from the way she was standing still with her mouth hanging open again. Octavia went to the camera app on her phone without looking at it and lifted it up to take a full-body picture, which only made me feel even more uncomfortable.

"Do I look ridiculous?" I asked.

Octavia snapped out of her gaze, and her cheeks turned pink before she collected herself. She walked over to me and straightened the bowtie and jacket before looking at me with a sweet smile.

"On the contrary, you look dashing," she said. My face turned red, and I looked away again. Octavia put her hand on my cheek and turned my head to face her again before saying in a soft voice, "I mean it, Rough Draft. You look very handsome."

My blush grew, and my heart skipped a beat. At that moment, it felt even crueler that Blueblood and Octavia were only on a break, for I wanted to always hear her sincerely say such kind words with an angelic smile. I made a bashful grin that naturally made Octavia laugh before she turned to the owner of the store and said, "We'll take it." 

The owner smiled, and I went back into the fitting room to change into my regular clothes. Octavia paid for the tux with her credit card, and we said goodbye to the owner before we began walking to her house. The journey was quiet at first, with me still thinking about Octavia's compliment until she spoke.

"Rough Draft."

"Hmmm?" I asked.

"How did you know I have Pinkie Pie's number?" Octavia asked.

I let out a chuckle and said, "I didn't. I just figured you would. Somehow, she can add everyone's contact info into their phones without them realizing it or asking if she could. So, given that you have been around her when interacting with some of her friends like Starlight Glimmer and me, I figured she might have done something like that at Sweet Snacks Cafe or maybe when she came to talk to us about the Tasty Treat."

Octavia looked at me befuddled as we walked and said, "Well, if you're right, then it seems I need to talk to her about that." 

"Don't worry about it. I'll be sure to relay the message," I said. "Odds are all I need is to bring it up with everyone in our group during lunch, and we can all lecture her about it."

Octavia furrowed her brow and said, "I will hold you to that, Mr. Draft. And while we're at it, I still would like for you to discuss me playing for the Tasty Treat to Pinkie since that's your idea." 

"Well, I still work for you, so as you wish, my lady," I said with a shrug. 

Octavia chuckled with her mouth closed as we walked up the driveway to her house. We stopped at the front porch, and Octavia said, "I shall see you tomorrow, Mr. Draft."

"Indeed, you shall, Lady Melody," I said. "And I will update you with what Pinkie thinks of my brilliant idea." 

Octavia chuckled again and said, "I shall expect a text before English class."

"As you wish," I said. "Good night, Octavia."

"Good night, Rough Draft," Octavia said.

With that, Octavia went inside, and I began the journey home. Unknown to me; however, Octavia watched me leave through the front door window until I was out of sight. She went up the stairs to her room and plopped onto her bed, front first, with a sigh. She stayed there for a couple of minutes until she rolled over to her back, took out her phone, opened the gallery app, and selected the picture she took of me wearing my tux. She smiled and felt her cheeks heat up as she stared at the picture. 

"The more I spend time with him, the more tempting trying something with him gets," she said to herself. Her smile weakened, and she rolled to her side, still staring at the picture. "But he really values our friendship so much. What if he doesn't think that way about me?"
> Chapter 14
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Just as I promised, I texted Pinkie Pie about my idea for Octavia to play her cello to attract customers for the Tasty Treat. It isn't overselling it when I say Pinkie Pie was ecstatic with the idea. I texted Octavia to inform her that Pinkie Pie was on board, and she said she was going to be practicing for both the Tasty Treat and the wedding from then on. 

The next day, our group discussed working together to save the restaurant. Pinkie Pie announced that Coriander Cumin and Saffron Masala were grateful that we were willing to help them, but Coriander Cumin was not optimistic that it would work out. Rarity and Fluttershy helped Pinkie Pie make flies and get the okay from Vice-Principal Luna to put them up in the halls. Rainbow Dash and Soarin told all of the sports team members to help spread the word. Starlight Glimmer made the group page, "Save the Tasty Treat," on MyStable. When Pinkie told everyone about Octavia playing her cello, Caramel, Applejack, and Big Mac volunteered to bring sound equipment from Sweet Apple Acres. Ultimately, we all agreed to have Thursday night be the day where we would really attract as many customers as possible with Octavia performing. 

On Wednesday, Octavia had to cut study group with Starlight Glimmer and me to try out her dress for the wedding. Starlight Glimmer hoped that I would at least stay and work on homework together alone. Still, I decided to leave early, too, making up an excuse to hide from Octavia that I would use that extra time to practice dancing more with Fluttershy, much to the grayish heliotrope girl's disappointment. Octavia pardoned me from walking her to Carousel Boutique; however, as an extra precaution from me seeing her dress before the wedding, so Starlight Glimmer offered to be her escort instead, much to my disappointment.

Thus, the three of us said our goodbyes before Octavia and Starlight Glimmer made their way to Carousel Boutique, while I pretended to go home before going to the animal shelter when the girls couldn't see me. Before long, the girls entered the boutique to find Rarity putting a peach-colored blouse and a lead-colored skirt on a mannequin, wearing her red, templeless glasses. Octavia lightly knocked on the entrance door, and Rarity turned her head from her work.

"Ah, Octavia, you're earlier than I expected," Rarity said with a smile. "And you brought Starlight with you."

"Well, it wouldn't do to have my date escort me here when I want him to be clueless about the dress, so Starlight offered to join me,"  Octavia said. 

"Of course, of course," Rarity said. "Anyway, your dress is in the fitting room. I think you will be pleased with the result."

Octavia smiled and walked to the fitting room on the other side of the hall. She went inside and let out a loud gasp before turning to Rarity.

"Oh, Rarity, it's perfect," she chirped. "It's just like you designed it."

"Of course it is, my dear. When I design a dress so divine, I make no alterations when making the gown whatsoever," Rarity boasted. "Now, kindly put it on so I know if I need to make any alterations."

Octavia replied with a nod, beaming before she went outside the fitting room. Rarity smirked with her arms crossed, pleased with the gray girl's reaction.

"Wow, it must be some dress if Octavia's that excited," Starlight Glimmer commented.

"Oh, yes, it is. Rough Draft is a lucky boy to have someone like Octavia to be his date," Rarity said. "Would you like to see a picture of it?"

"Yes, please," Starlight Glimmer answered. 

Rarity took out her phone, opened her gallery app, selected a picture, and handed her phone to Starlight Glimmer. The grayish heliotrope girl looked at the photo, and her smile faded. Never had she seen such a dress, and the idea of Octavia wearing it made her heart sink. More than ever, she wished I wasn't Octavia's date for the wedding, and she regretted helping me learn how to dance. At that moment, she feared what might happen after the wedding now that Octavia and Blueblood were on a break.

"Starlight?"

Starlight Glimmer snapped out of her train of thought and looked up from the phone to find Rarity looking hurt. Starlight Glimmer realized that she must have offended the fashionista with the way she was acting and said while waving her hand with a forced smile, "I'm sorry, Rarity. It's a wonderful dress. I'm just...jealous of Octavia."

Rarity smirked again and said, "I see. You wish you had such a lovely gown too."

"Yeah, that's it," Starlight Glimmer lied.

"Well, not to worry, dear. You'll have an opportunity to have a beautiful gown yourself soon," Rarity said. "I don't know if you've heard, but we have our school's first dance called the Fall Formal in a few weeks."

"Oh, yeah. I did hear about it from Fluttershy," Starlight Glimmer said. "She said our whole group goes together."

"Indeed, we do," Rarity confirmed. "And I make the dresses for all of the girls in our group. Since you're in our group too, that means I intend to make an extravagant outfit just like the rest of us."

"Really? Are you sure it wouldn't be any trouble?" Starlight Glimmer asked.

"Hardly," Rarity said. "Why, I vow to make such wonderful dresses this year that it will make the boys' knees grow weak."

Starlight's smile, and she said, "Wow, that's really generous of you, Rarity. I'll be counting on you to make that kind of dress."

Rarity smirked and said with a wink, "Leave it to me, dear."

With the promise made, Starlight Glimmer had a feeling of hope in her heart. She thought that if Rarity did make her a dress as attractive as Octavia's and my duty to Octavia fulfilled, she could dance together with me. But then, the thought occurred to her that Octavia and Blueblood might still be on a break, and Octavia could ask me to to be her date for the Fall Formal. It was clear to my friend that if she wanted me to go to the dance with her, she would have to make a move before my crush could have a chance.

Suddenly, Starlight Glimmer's train of thought was broken again at the sound of the door to the fitting room opening to reveal Octavia back in her regular clothes. The gray girl was in high spirits as she walked back to Rarity and Starlight Glimmer.

"I take it you are pleased?" Rarity asked.

"It's wonderful," Octavia replied. "If I had any complaints, it would be that the waist is a smidge tight and the sleeves are a little loose, but other than that, it's perfect."

"Oh, of course," Rarity said before walking over to a table and taking out a notepad and pen to write down Octavia's critiques. "Those can easily be adjusted, so it'll be ready in time for the wedding."

"Excellent. Thank you, Rarity," Octavia said with a smile. "Oh, I can't wait to perform my first gig wearing my new dress."

Rarity smirked as she put the pen and notepad down and said, "Not to mention, you have such a gentleman as your date."

"Indeed," Octavia said. "Speaking of which, would you like to see Rough Draft in his tux?"

"Oooo, yes, please," Rarity chirped. 

"I would love to," Starlight Glimmer said.

Octavia's smile grew, and she took out her phone. Rarity looked over Octavia's left shoulder while Starlight Glimmer looked over her right as she opened the gallery app. When Octavia opened the picture, Rarity smirked and let out an "Mmmmm," while Starlight moved her head back to avoid the other girls seeing her blush.

"My, my, my, who would have thought he would look so nice when he's not just wearing jeans and a T-shirt?" Rarity said.

"Y-y-yeah, he looks really nice," Starlight Glimmer stuttered, trying to not sound bashful.

"Indeed. I picked the color for the vest and bowtie myself," Octavia said. "A perfect choice to make my date so fanciable if I may say so."

"You may," Rarity said before looking at Octavia with a teasing smirk. "I'd be careful if I were you, Octavia. You don't want some of the high-class girls to try to take him away while you're performing."

"Nonsense. My Rough Draft is loyal," Octavia said confidently. "He's going to watch me play the whole time, and those frilly girls can't do a blasted thing about it."

Rarity's teasing smirk disappeared, and she and Starlight Glimmer looked at each other, confused before the latter asked with unease, "What do you mean your Rough Draft?"

Octavia's eyes widened, her pupils shrank, and her cheeks heated up. She looked down to hide her blush and said while playing with her hair beside her ear, "Er, I meant 'my Rough Draft' as in my date."

Starlight Glimmer tilted her head and said, "Who phrases it like that?" 

"Oh, uh, it was...something I'd hear from some of my classmates say back when I went to school in Manehattan," Octavia lied. "In any case, Starlight, I don't think of Rough Draft that way. He is a caring and charming boy. I won't deny, but for all of his faults, I do want things to work out between Blueblood and me."

Starlight Glimmer paused for a moment before she smiled and said, "Well, if that's the way you feel, then I trust you, Octavia."

Octavia smiled, relieved that Starlight Glimmer bought the fib. Suddenly, Starlight Glimmer's phone vibrated, and she took it out, letting out an annoyed groan. 

"It's my dad. He's worried about when I'm coming home," she grumbled. "I wish I didn't tell him we ended our study group early."

"Your father likes to keep you at home when you're not at school, doesn't he?" Octavia said.

"That's putting it mildly," Starlight Glimmer said. "I did tell him I'll be helping out at the Tasty Treat, though, so I should be fine then."

"Lovely," Rarity said. "Though, while we're on the subject, what are you going to do tomorrow?"

"Oh, Saffron Masala asked if I could be a waitress tomorrow," Starlight Glimmer answered. "She's pretty optimistic that they're going to get a lot of customers."

"Really? Perhaps Pinkie Pie's cheerful demeanor is rubbing off on her," Rarity said. "Still, it's not a bad idea to have a backup if we are successful in bringing a lot of customers in."

"Indeed. Come to think of it, is Rough Draft doing anything special tomorrow?" Octavia asked. 

Rarity and Starlight Glimmer looked at each other, and the former said, "I don't think we have come up with anything for him." The grayish-white girl then smirked and said, "Perhaps he would like to aid you somehow with your music, Octavia?"

Immediately, Starlight Glimmer grew unsettled and said, "No. Uh, that's not really necessary. Don't you think? I mean, we already have Applejack, Caramel, and Big Mac setting up sound, so what would Rough Draft be able to do there? Maybe he could serve the customers with Saffron Masala and me."

Octavia and Rarity took a moment to think about it, and the latter reluctantly said, "Well, that would be the most reasonable way he can help."

"Agreed," Octavia said.

"Cool. I'll let Saffron Masala know and text the menu to Rough Draft so he can memorize it," Starlight Glimmer said. "Anyway, I better get going. See you tomorrow."

"See you tomorrow," Octavia said.

"See you then," Rarity said.

Starlight Glimmer waved at her friends before she exited the boutique. Rarity waved back until her friend was gone before turning to Octavia, who had a disappointed look in her mulberry eyes despite smiling on the outside. Rarity smirked again as what was on Octavia's mind was as apparent as Pinkie Pie being pink or Rainbow Dash having rainbow hair. The light gray girl started to develop a plan while Octavia sighed and turned to her.

"Well, I better be going too. I need to practice for both tomorrow and the wedding," Octavia announced. "I'll see you tomorrow, Rarity."

Just as Octavia took a step to open the door, she felt Rarity put her hand on her shoulder. 

"Actually, Octavia, I would like to have a word with you about something," Rarity said.

Octavia turned to face Rarity, puzzled as she asked, "Oh? What about?"

Rarity paused to make sure she knew the right words to say for her scheme and said in a calm voice like a parent talking to her child. 

"Listen, Octavia, I know this isn't my business, and you have a lot on your plate with the wedding, the Tasty Treat, and where things are between you and Blueblood," Rarity began. "Still, I can't help but feel like there's something else on your mind that needs to be addressed. "

Octavia grew more puzzled and asked, "Like what?"

"Oh, you know," Rarity said, her smirk returning. "Something that makes you smile, something you find cute, something, or someone, you'd like to have around a lot. That makes your face turn into a deep shade of red."

Octavia began to grow unsettled with the last thing Rarity said. She took a step back and asked, "What are you saying?"

"I'm saying you like Rough Draft," Rarity answered.

"What?!" Octavia exclaimed, her cheeks turning taffy. "Me having feelings for Rough Draft? Are you daft?"

"Oh, pfff, please, dear, don't insult me. I can tell when a girl feels something special for a boy whether she knows it or not," Rarity said. "Calling him 'your Rough Draft,' blushing when you realized you said that in front of Starlight and me, lying that what you said is a phrase from Manehattan, and eager to see him bask in how lovely you're going to look with your dress. Not to mention, I saw in your eyes that you wish Starlight didn't make a suggestion that would keep Rough Draft away from you when we're at the Tasty Treat. No matter what you say, you see Rough Draft as more than just your best friend."

Octavia's blush turned into a deeper shade of pink, and she sputtered incoherent words. Rarity's smirk turned into a grin, knowing that she had her crush's girlfriend right where she wanted her. Octavia bit her lip as she tried to think of a way to convince Rarity otherwise before she gave in with a sigh. 

"I should have remembered that you also come from Manehattan before I made that fib," she said. "Alright, I admit it. I have developed an interest of sorts in Rough Draft."

"Oh, darling, please. You're well past having a mere interest in him," Rarity said. "Or do I need to bring up the evidence again?"

"But what if I still want him to be just an interest for the moment?" Octavia asked. 

Rarity's grin faded, and she asked, "Why? Because you still want things to work out with Blueblood?"

"Not entirely," Octavia said. "I accepted that there was something there the day after we came here for my dress, but I didn't want to jump to conclusions since I could be feeling this way only because things aren't going well with Blueblood. I thought that during the time I have Rough Draft working for me, I could know for sure if it's something real or something I should ignore and focus on mending things with Blueblood."

Rarity frowned and said, "Well, you know what I think? I think you passed being unsure some time ago. We may not have known each other long, heck, I've barely known Rough Draft much longer, but I think it's clear that there's a spark between the two of you. You both like to make the other happy however you can and value the time you spend together. Besides, you and Blueblood are on a break now, which makes you available. All you have to do is make a move and see what happens. Only then will you find your answer on who to choose."

Octavia became unsettled and said while playing with her fingers, "I don't know, Rarity. I'd like to, but I've never done that before. How do I know Rough Draft might be interested in me in that way."

"That's a risk you have to take," Rarity said. "But I advise you not to take long. Others have developed an interest in him."

Octavia's eyes widened, and she asked, "What? Who?"

"Doesn't matter," Rarity said, looking Octavia in the eye with a serious look. "You must take a chance before it's too late. Ask Rough Draft to pursue something with you before someone has a chance to snatch him away."

Octavia became hesitant again, wishing she had more information on how I felt or who else was interested in me. Rarity's confidence started to falter as she grew worried that she might have overdone it. After a minute, Octavia sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose.

"I need to think about this," she said. "I can't decide this right on the spot."

Rarity smiled and said in a soft voice, "I understand. Maybe I shouldn't have tried to put you on the spot like that. I just thought this would help you be happy."

"I know," Octavia said, returning the smile. "I appreciate that you care, Rarity."

"Of course, we're friends," Rarity said. "Anyway, I think I've kept you from practicing your cello long enough."

"Oh, goodness, I forgot," Octavia said and started to rush to the door. "See you tomorrow, Rarity."

"See you, Octavia," Rarity said.

The gray girl left the building and started jogging towards home. Rarity watched Octavia until she was out of sight before sitting down on a chair in front of a mirror. With a sigh, she smiled smugly and turned to look at her reflection in the mirror. 

"Rarity, darling, you're a genius," she said to herself. "Octavia has finally admitted how she feels about sweet Rough Draft, and she's aware that she has competition." She continued with a shrug, "Granted, the competition is Adagio Dazzle, who Rough Draft has no interest in, and a girl who is as shy as Fluttershy was, but Octavia doesn't need to know that. With any luck, those two will get somewhere with their feelings, and they'll have moi to thank for it." She got up from her chair and began walking to the fitting room where Octavia's dress was hanging, about to make the adjustments. "Of course, Bluey will be quite cross and might not be interested in finding someone else for some time, but hey, this is for my friends. I'm a patient girl. I can wait a little longer."









*************************************************************************





When Octavia got home, she went straight up the stairs to her room, closed the door behind her, and let out a loud sigh with her back against the wall. She rubbed her forehead and muttered, "I can't believe I admitted it to someone," as she walked over to lie down on her bed. 

She lay there for a few minutes before she took out her phone and opened the picture of me in my tux. The image made her smile for a moment before she became uneasy again as Rarity's words rang in her ear. She thought of me letting her down because I didn't think of her that way or because I was dating someone else, and the latter possibility made her wonder who else is interested in me. 

Eventually, Octavia sat up and walked over to her cello case, standing against the wall. She opened it to take out her cello and bow and then walked over to a chair in the middle of the room to play. Octavia thought about what background music she wanted to play on her phone but ultimately decided that she only needed her cello for what she was feeling. Once she was all set up, Octavia took a breath and slowly let it out before she began to play. 

The first notes were low and long as though she was letting out a moan through her instrument. Then, the tempo began to speed up, with the cello still letting out low growls as doubt and worry filled her mind. Octavia thought of her and me together, and the music went up several octaves with her mouth curling slightly. The music grew faster as Octavia expressed her confliction, moving between two octaves as though her anxieties and her thoughts of hope were wrestling with each other. Eventually, the song grew louder like it reached its climax, but when Octavia was nearing the end, she played a long, high-pitched note and then stopped playing. 

Octavia sighed and lowered her head, disappointed that she couldn't think of ending the song. She was relieved to have let out everything on her mind through the world of music that she could control, but she was still let down that she couldn't do more. She looked up at her sapphire ring on her finger, and her frown deepened, for though it was her favorite jewel, the appeal of her gift from Blueblood did not have the effect it once did. She was tempted to take it off but decided against taking things that far. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and spoke to herself while resting her forehead against her cello's scroll. 

"After the wedding, Octavia," she said. "Don't think about it until after the wedding."
> Chapter 15
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

On Thursday, the Tasty Treat was the talk of the school. Thanks to the fliers and the MyStable page, some people were curious about the restaurant. A couple of people posted on the MyStable page that they have never been to the Tasty Treat before or that they tried their food the day before and enjoyed it. Needless to say, Pinkie Pie was optimistic about where things were going. 

Starlight Glimmer texted me what my assignment was the night before and I wasted no time memorizing everything on the menu as best as possible. I muttered the appetizers, drinks, main courses, and desserts under my breath in the exact order during classes. I was as disappointed as Octavia was that I couldn't be there when she was performing. Still, I had to remind myself that helping Coriander Cumin and Saffron Masala was more critical. At lunch, Starlight Glimmer quizzed me and was pleased that I had the menu memorized. Rainbow Dash, Soarin, Fluttershy, and Rarity were given spots around town to pass fliers to bystanders. Pinkie Pie volunteered to host with Coriander Cumin if for no other reason than to try to help the owner of the establishment think positively. 

When school ended for the day, Applejack, Caramel, and Big Mac headed to Sweet Apple Acres to get the sound equipment, and Octavia went home to get her cello. Pinkie Pie took out a tower of fliers she had stashed into her locker and handed them to everyone on flier duty. Rainbow Dash, Soarin, Fluttershy, and Rarity were uneasy with how many fliers Pinkie Pie had made, thinking she made too many, but the pink girl just giggled and said, "You never know." After that, Starlight Glimmer and I followed Pinkie Pie to the Tasty Treat. When we went in, we found a few customers already there, and Saffron Masala was serving them. She had just finished serving two plates of oatcake to a young adult couple before turning to us and beaming.

"Guys, you're just in time," she said. "Let me show you your uniforms in the back."

Pinkie Pie grinned like a little kid while Starlight Glimmer and I just smiled and followed the chef to the kitchen. Two uniforms were the same as Saffron Masala's and one that was the same as Coriander Cumin's, but skinnier. The three of us took our respective uniforms, and Starlight Glimmer and Pinkie Pie went to the ladies' room while I went to the men's to get changed. I put my regular clothes in my backpack, changed into my uniform, and exit the bathroom to hang my backpack on a hanger next to the exit door. Starlight Glimmer and Pinkie Pie came out of the ladies' room in their respective uniforms, and the latter turned to me with a cheerful grin.

"Looking good, Rough Draft," she said. 

"Thanks, Pinkie," I said. 

Starlight Glimmer stared at me for a moment before she walked over to me and undid the buttons on my shirt. 

"You put the buttons on wrong," she said as she put the buttons back on in the right order.

"I guess I did," I admitted with a chuckle. "Thanks."

"My pleasure," Starlight Glimmer said with a smile before she looked away to hide a blush.

"Okay," Saffron Masala began with her hands clasped together. "Pinkie, Father is waiting for you at the front. Starlight Glimmer, Rough Draft, do you have the menu memorized?"

"Sure do," Starlight Glimmer said before playfully nudging me with her elbow. "I quizzed this one to make sure."

"Fantastic," Saffron Masala said before taking out two notepads and two pens and handing them to Starlight Glimmer and me. "These are for you. When you write down the orders, keep your writing brief and don't take so much space, especially if you take orders for a large group unless they are paying separately. There's a list taped at the bottom of the notepads for what to write if someone wants extra or no cheese, paprika, or something like that."

"Got it," Starlight Glimmer said before turning to me. "We totally got this. Right, Rough Draft?"

"Uh, I hope so," I said hesitantly. 

"You'll be great," Saffron Masala said as she patted my back with a comforting smile. "Right now, people are here for a late lunch or wanting something to snack on, so you two should use the few customers we have to practice."

"Okay, that's a little comforting," I said.

"Saffron!" Coriander Cumin called out from outside of the kitchen. "We have two tables waiting to order!"

"Coming, father!" Saffron Masala said before turning back to Starlight Glimmer and me. "That's one table for each of you already."

"Alright," Starlight Glimmer said before nudging my side again. "Let's do this, Rough Draft."

"Right," I said with a smirk before turning back to Saffron Masala. "Any last-minute tips before we go out there?"

"Just start out by asking if they're interested in any specials, and if they yes, then say that they are curried oatcake and a mutton sandwich that has been marinated overnight with dijon mustard," Saffron Masala answered. "Otherwise, just make suggestions based on what you've tried here."

I took a second to think about it and said, "I guess I can do that."

"Glad to hear it," Saffron Masala said. "Now go out there and take some orders."

Starlight Glimmer and I smiled and nodded, and we left the kitchen with our notepads and pens in hand. Coriander Cumin was waiting for us, and he handed us menus before pointing at the new customers who had just been seated. One group was an older couple sitting in a booth with their grandchild, and the other, to our shock, was none other than Bow Hothoof and Windy Whistles seated at a table beside one of the windows. Rainbow Dash's parents were grinning in anticipation as though eating out at the Tasty Treat was going to be as epic as the game against Crystal Prep. Starlight Glimmer and I grew uneasy, and the former put hard and on my arm. 

"Why don't I take care of Rainbow's parents while you take the people in the booth?" she suggested. 

I opened my mouth to say yes, but I stopped myself to think about it and said, "No, I'll take Rainbow's parents."

"Are you sure?" Starlight asked. "You don't have to start with very.. unique customers."

"I know, but I think it would be good to start with people I already know," I said. "Besides, if I can get through serving those two, I bet I can handle anything."

Starlight Glimmer was still unsure of my decision, but she eventually smiled and said, "Okay. Good luck."

"You too," I replied.

Starlight Glimmer went out ahead to the booth, and I took a deep breath before walking over to Bow Hothoof and Windy Whistles. Windy Whistles noticed me and said, "Look, honey, one of Rainbow Dash's friends is here to wait for us."

Bow Hothoof turned his head to me and grinned as he said, "Awesome! And it's one of the friends that was sitting next to us at the game, Rocky Dirt."

"Uh, that's Rough Draft, sir," I said calmly. "I take it you heard about what is going on from Rainbow Dash?"

"Sure did," Windy Whistles chirped. "You should have seen her out in the park on the way here. Best flier person ever! We even have a souvenir."

"A souvenir?" I asked. 

Bow Hothoof grinned and took out one of our fliers folded into his pocket. He unfolded it and held it out to me with a big grin as though the paper was made of gold. 

"We made sure to be the first people she handed out a flier to," Bow Hothoof said. "We're getting a frame on the way home and going to hang it in our hall of Rainbow Dash."

"The...hall of Rainbow Dash?" I asked. 

"Oh, yes. It's where we treasure every exciting moment revolving around our little girl," Windy Whistles said. "Would you like to see pictures of it?"

"Uh, maybe some other time," I answered politely. "Anyway, can I get you anything to drink?"

The couple chuckled, and Windy Whistles said, "Oh, dear. I almost forgot why we're here. We'll both take a soda if you please."

"Sure thing," I said while writing it down on my notepad. "Would you like to hear our specials before I get your drinks?"

"Fire away," Bow Hothoof said with a grin. 

"We have curried oatcake and a mutton sandwich that has been marinated overnight with a mustard dijon dressing," I said.

"Sounds delightful," Windy Whistles said. "Anything you recommend?"

"Well, I have had the tandoori chicken, which was tasty, and Octavia liked the fish curry," I answered. 

"Ooo, I like the sound of that," Bow Hothoof said. He turned to his wife, and they nodded before they turned to me. "We'll each have the specials and the chicken and curry."

"Each?!" I asked, flabbergasted.

"Each," Bow Hothoof confirmed. "If our daughter, Rainbow Dash, deems this a place worth trying to save, then we're going to do all we can to help."

"Besides, we intentionally had a light breakfast and held off lunch until we were off from work to come here," Windy Whistles said. "I don't want to speak for my husband, but I'm so hungry I could eat a whole turkey, bones, and everything."

"I'm so hungry I could eat two turkeys," Bow Hothoof said.

I stared at Rainbow Dash's parents, baffled by how determined they were to support the restaurant just because their daughter was. It took several seconds before I snapped out of my gaze and wrote down their orders, saying, "Alright, the specials and the recommendations for each of you it is. I'll go get your sodas now."

"Thank you," Bow Hothoof said as I took their menus, turned around, and walked towards the kitchen, I heard the muscular man say to his wife, "Let's take pictures of our table so that we have a record of where we were to help Rainbow's friends."

"Excellent idea, sweetie," Windy Whistles said in a giddy tone. "Let's make sure that we get a selfie with her friend too and post it on MyStable."

I dared to turn my head to see the couple get up from their seats to take several pictures of their table and chairs with their phones. When they finished, they looked at the photos they took, filled with glee as though they were tourists looking at a famous attraction from a foreign country. 

"Well, I guess as long as they have the money to afford that much food, it doesn't matter. Heck, they're basically giving us a small fraction of our goal in one check," I said to myself.

I gave Saffron Masala the order and came back to Bow Hothoof and Windy Whistles for their drinks. When Saffron Masala finished making the order, Starlight Glimmer had to help me carry multiple food trays to the table. We went back to the kitchen and looked through the door window to see Rainbow Dash's parents wolf down their food like it was a race. Our mouth hung open as we watched.

"And I thought it was only Pinkie Pie who has an unnatural amount of energy," Starlight Glimmer said.

"Heh, right?" I chortled. "I assume your table didn't order this much?"

"Nope, just some sandwiches for the old couple and a little bowl of noodle soup for their grandchild," Starlight Glimmer said with a smirk. "I imagine there won't be as many people who are that extremely hungry when it's dinner time."

"Maybe not, but our friends might grab enough attention that some families or groups of friends will come and end up paying a good amount too," I said. "Those would be just what we need to reach our goal in one night."

Starlight Glimmer turned her head to me with a smile of admiration and said, "I like how you're thinking optimistically, Rough Draft."

I turned my head to look at her with a smirk and said, "Well, thinking positively has gotten us this far. Might as well keep it up till the end."

Starlight Glimmer's smile grew, and she turned her head to face the window before I could see her cheeks heat up. 

"Looks like your table is about ready for their check," she said.

My smile melted into a look of confusion, and I looked through the window and was thrown off balance to find most of Bow Hothoof and Windy Whistles' plates empty, and they were taking large bites of what was left of their curry. I stared at the couple in disbelief until Starlight Glimmer nudged me to go out there. I take a breath to bring up a calm, professional demeanor before I exit the kitchen and walk over to Rainbow Dash's parents just as they finished their curry.

"I take it you enjoyed the food?" I asked. 

"Did we ever," Windy Whistles answered. "I can see why our Rainbow Dash wants to help this place. To think it's in danger of going out of business over a suit. How silly."

"You can say that again," I said, rolling my eyes. "Anyway, I assume you'd like your check?"

"Yes, please," Bow Hothoof said as he patted his belly. 

I took as many of their plates as I could and brought them to the kitchen before coming to Coriander Cumin to get the check with a nod. I brought it over to Bow Hothoof before stacking up more of their plates. When I returned to get the rest of the dishes, the couple was already at the front to pay the check to Coriander Cumin, who swiped Bow Hothoof's card in the cash register. Windy Whistles noticed me coming out from the kitchen and said, beaming, "Thanks for waiting for us. Good luck tonight."

"Thanks," I said.

With that, Rainbow Dash's parents left the building, waving as they went outside. I sighed and muttered, "Well, that wasn't so bad," before walking over to their table to get the last of their plates and their cups. But while I was stacking, I noticed through the window that Big Mac, Applejack, Caramel, and Octavia were outside. Applejack was setting up speakers, Big Mac was setting up the sound system, Caramel was setting up a microphone, while Octavia was sitting on a stool adjusting her cello. I noticed the gray girl smiling as she set up her instrument, and my heart skipped a beat as it hit me that I would be hearing my crush's music the whole night, but then,  I felt someone tapping my shoulder and turned my head to see a determined Pinkie Pie.

"Rough Draft, focus on the task at hand,'' she ordered. "You can check Octavia out later."

"What? I wasn't checking her out," I said with my cheeks heating up.

"You totally were," Pinkie said. "Now get those dishes back to the kitchen. More customers will be coming."

I opened my mouth to protest until I sighed, accepting there was no way I would convince Pinkie Pie… mostly because she was right. I gave Octavia one last glance before returning to the kitchen and waited for more customers to serve.
> Chapter 16
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The next two and a half hours went by pretty slowly. Every half hour or so, we’d get a few customers, which Saffron Masala assured Starlight Glimmer and me was normal around this time of the day. Starlight Glimmer decided to take that time for the two of us to do homework using one of the tables closest to the kitchen. I was reluctant but admitted it was a good idea, though it helped that we would be hearing Octavia play while we did our homework, which was nice for me. 

Finally, sometime past five-thirty, we were starting to get more customers. It started off with people filling up about a quarter of the restaurant, but within the next forty minutes, so many people were coming that Coriander Cumin and Pinkie Pie were seating people in tables on the second floor. Starlight Glimmer and I struggled to handle so many tables at once to the point that we would confuse orders and deliver them to the wrong table. Eventually, Pinkie took it upon herself to join us in serving the customers to lighten our load. 

The only thing that still put my mind at ease was hearing Octavia play outside. Every chance I got, I would glance out the windows to see her calmly play her cello with her eyes closed, lost in her world of music. Some bystanders would stop to hear her play and clap whenever she finished a piece. Not many of them would decide to go into the Tasty Treat after that, but Octavia was glad that they were enjoying her music, and that was enough. Still, some would find out what she was performing for and decide to go in and eat, and I knew that Octavia was happy that she was playing her part.

At six-thirty, multiple customers left at once after finishing their food, leaving Starlight Glimmer, Pinkie Pie, and I to take trips taking dishes to the kitchen before Coriander Cumin could seat more people. The sink was full of dirty dishes that we had to stack the other dishes on the counter. After bringing the last of the empty dishes from the second floor, I was panting and turned to find Saffron Masala moving left and right in a panic, struggling to cook so many orders at once by herself. Starlight Glimmer and Pinkie Pie brought the last of their dishes and began wiping the sweat from their forehead after putting them on the counter. 

“I need help!” Saffron Masala shouted in a panic. “I can only cook so many dishes at once, and I’m going to need more clean plates soon.”

Pinkie Pie whimpered and turned to Starlight Glimmer and me.

“What are we going to do?” She asked. “We can’t serve the customers and wash dishes at the same time with so many people coming.”

Starlight Glimmer bit her lip and said, “I wish we thought of this when we were planning.”

“Well, in our defense, Starlight Glimmer, you and I haven’t done this before,” I said. “Has it ever been like this at Sweet Snacks Cafe, Pinkie?”

Pinkie shook her head, and I furrowed my brow before looking down in thought. 

“Alright, it’s clear we need more people to help out,” I said.

“But where are we going to get more help in such a short amount of time?” Starlight Glimmer asked.

I continued to think about it until I lifted my head to look at Starlight Glimmer and asked, “Do you think Rainbow Dash, Soarin, Fluttershy, and Rarity would be about done passing fliers about now?”

Starlight Glimmer looked at me, confused before she thought about it, and said, “I guess they should be since it’s getting close to seven.”

“Then, we need to text them to come over here and help,” I said. “Pinkie, do you think you can help Saffron with the cooking for a bit?”

“Sure, but what about the dishes?” Pinkie asked. 

“I'm gonna go outside and talk to Applejack and Caramel," I said. "If they're not doing anything to help Octavia perform, then I'll ask them to come over and do the dishes. From there, Starlight Glimmer and I will have to do our best until everyone comes to help us out with customers."

The two girls looked at each other, concerned until they turned serious and nodded before turning back to me.

"Alright, let's do it," Starlight Glimmer said with determination in her voice. "You go get Applejack and Caramel. I'll text everyone else to come over here."

"Got it," I said.

With that, Pinkie Pie rushed over to help out Saffron Masala while Starlight Glimmer took out her phone. I exit the kitchen and head to the front entrance just as Coriander Cumin was escorting a teenage couple to a table. I went outside, where Octavia was still playing in front of a small crowd, and Big Mac was operating the sound system while Applejack and Caramel watched with their backs facing me. Octavia had just finished a song, and people applauded as I walked over to Applejack and Caramel, tapped their shoulders, and they turned their head to see me gesture them to lean close to me.

"We're a little shorthanded inside," I whispered. "Could you guys take care of the dishes since you're not doing anything?"

"Sure thing," Applejack answered with a smirk before turning to Caramel. "I'll wash, you dry."

"As you wish," Caramel said without missing a beat.

I raised my eyebrow as I watched the two of them go inside, finding the way they instantly decided how to work together, and Caramel responded to Applejack's decision to be curious. I took a step to go back inside until I heard Octavia call out to me.

"Rough Draft, is everything alright in there?" 

I turned around to see her looking concerned, having noticed me whispering to our friends. I walked over to her with a warm smile and said, "Don't worry. We just need their help in the kitchen."

"Are you sure?" Octavia asked. "I could come over and help." 

"Positive," I assured. "We're getting the rest of our group to come over. You and Big Mac just keep attracting customers."

Octavia furrowed her brow and said, "I don't want to keep playing if it becomes too much for you."

"It won't," I promise. "Once Rainbow Dash, Soarin, Fluttershy, and Rarity get here, we'll be good. Besides, I know you're enjoying yourself, and it's comforting to hear you play while we work."

Octavia raised her eyebrow and asked. "Is that how everyone in there feels or just you?"

I freeze for a moment before bashfully looking away from her with my cheeks turning pink. 

"That's what I thought," Octavia said, smirking. "I'll keep playing, but if it gets too much, I want you out here telling Big Mac and me to come help. That's an order as your kind of employer. Do you understand?"

"As you wish," I said, still unable to look my crush in the eye. 

"Good. Now get back to work," Octavia commanded. 

"At once, Lady Melody," I said with a bow. 

I heard Octavia let out a light chuckle as I turned around. By this point, I was growing used to hearing my crush laugh whenever I do that, but that didn't stop me from smiling because I amused her. My smile grew as I heard Octavia start another song, and for a moment, I stopped walking and closed my eyes to enjoy the soft melody. It took a few seconds before I snapped out of it and marched back to the front entrance, knowing Starlight Glimmer struggled to handle customers by herself.

As soon as I grabbed the door handle, a pale apple green hand was placed on top of mine. My cheeks heated up, instantly recognizing the color of the skin. With all of the self-control I could muster, I slowly turned my head to see Adagio standing close to me with a flirtatious look on her face that sent a shiver down my spine. Behind her was Sonata, looking uncomfortable with what was happening and Aria looking away with her arms crossed as disinterested as ever. My blush grew as Adagio put her free hand on my shoulder.

"Hello, Rough Draft. It's been far too long," Adagio greeted in a soothing voice.

"Uh, hey, Adagio. You're looking well," I said with a forced grin.

"Feel free to look as much as you'd like," Adagio replied. "I hope you've been thinking long and hard about my suggestion as you promised."

I froze in place, realizing I forgot about my promise to Adagio, and looked away, pretending to be ashamed. 

"I'm so sorry, Adagio. I've forgotten," I confessed. "I don't know if you've heard, but Blueblood forced me to work for his girlfriend. Plus, with my friends and I trying to save this restaurant, I've just been too distracted to think about...us."

Sonata could see it in Adagio's eyes that she was resisting the urge to call out my lie in a scream of rage. Instead, Adagio took a step closer to me with her hand still on my shoulder, making my purple face turn red.

"Yes, my sister has told me about Blueblood blackmailing you," Adagio said before glancing at Octavia. "Though, why is his girlfriend aiding you and your friends, pray tell?"

"Uh, well, you have heard that Octavia Melody put her and Blueblood on a break, right?" I asked.

"Of course," Adagio replied.

"Well, she wants to save the Tasty Treat because it would irritate Blueblood and his dad," I lied. "I mean, it's clear that they want this place shut down just because of what happened to Blueblood's suit when that was completely his fault. What better way to annoy the bratty boyfriend you just put on break than to make sure he doesn't get his wish?"

Aria raised her eyebrow while Sonata was in suspense over what Adagio was going to do. The leader of the Dazzlings pretended to think about what I said before giving me another playful smirk. 

"That makes sense," Adagio said. "Blueblood is nothing if not a childish person who gets irritated easily."

"You have no idea," I said. 

"Oh, I think I do," Adagio said. "Regardless, I forgive you for forgetting about us. In fact, saving this delightful restaurant has been filling up my mind as well."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

Before Adagio could answer, the door suddenly opened, making Adagio and I stand back to find Coriander Cumin coming out. He was looking at Adagio with a bright smile, and Adagio was quick to return the expression, acting as if the restaurant owner was a beloved uncle. 

"Ms. Dazzle. What a treat it is to see you and your sisters so soon," the stout man chirped. 

"Mr. Cumin, sir, how are you?" Adagio greeted.

"Wait, you know each other?" I asked.

"Oh, yes. Ms. Dazzle and her siblings came here last night," Coriander Cumin replied. "She was such a delightful customer. Constantly praising my restaurant and my daughter's cooking. She even took the time to listen about our old life in Saddle Arabia and how we moved here to Canterlot."

"You did?" I asked, turning to Adagio. 

"How could I not?" Adagio said proudly. "We just fell in love with the Tasty Treat, and Mr. Cumin's story was so riveting. My sisters and I are thankful that Rough Draft and his friends have grabbed people's attention for this place. Aren't we, girls?"

The Dazzlings leader turned to her sisters, and Sonata was quick to respond with a smile and a nod.

"Oh, yes. I loved the spicy flat noodle soup," she said cutely.

I couldn't help but smile at my friend, knowing she was telling the truth. All eyes then turned to Aria, who noticed us and scoffed.

"The dumplings were okay," she said in a flat tone. 

Adagio chuckled nervously and stepped in front of Aria to face Coriander Cumin and me, saying, "Please, don't take that attitude to heart, gentleman. When it comes to Aria, okay is amazing."

Coriander Cumin beamed at Adagio's explanation, but I imagined Aria was rolling her eyes behind Adagio's large head of hair.

"Well, however she thinks, I am blessed to see you here again," Coriander Cumin praised.

"Of course. This is a big night for the Tasty Treat. We wouldn't miss this for anything," Adagio said with sweetness in her voice. "And we brought friends."

"Friends?" I asked.

As though on cue, several groups of guys from CHS were walking toward the Tasty Treat. Some were together while others were with their families. Coriander Cumin and I looked at the crowd with our mouths hanging open, while Adagio turned to face the crowd with a bright smile.

"Hello, everyone! So happy you could make it!" She greeted.

All of the guys greeted back, saying things like, "Of course, I came," "I wouldn't miss this for anything," and "I would go anywhere for you, Adagio!" I frowned as it was obvious that these poor souls were all on Adagio's hook. Coriander Cumin, on the other hand, was awestruck by how many more people were coming to his restaurant.

"Bless my soul, are all of them here to eat here?" he asked.

"They sure are, Mr. Cumin," Adagio said. "Many of these boys are regulars at the Siren's Cafe, and we couldn't help but advertise about saving your restaurant after our last show there tonight. Needless to say, they are more than happy to help."

The stout man cheered in delight and opened the door, saying, "Come in! Come in! Welcome to the Tasty Treat!"

I smiled to see more people coming to save the Tasty Treat, but on the inside, I was anxious with so many more customers to serve at once on top of Adagio being here of all people. I saw her watch people go inside, greeting them as they went in. Some boys like Camera Flash stopped to introduce their family to Adagio, and she happily greeted them like the angel they all viewed her to be. Aria continued to look away, disinterested and Sonata took a chance to mouth out, "sorry," to me. I gave her a sad smile and nod in understanding, even though I didn't know at the time what exactly she was sorry for. I bit my lip, imagining what Starlight Glimmer was going through inside, being forced to seat so many customers with Coriander Cumin and me outside.

Luckily, while people were still coming in, I saw Rainbow Dash, Soarin, Fluttershy, and Rarity turn the corner to this street and race toward the Tasty Treat. My face lit up, and I ran over to meet them.

"Looks like we made it just in time," Soarin said.

"Eh, a few minutes earlier wouldn't have hurt," I said with a smirk.

Soarin smirked back before Rainbow Dash stepped forward and asked with a focused look on her face, "What's the situation right now?"

"Adagio Dazzle brought all of the guys chasing her plus some of their families to come over here to eat," I explained. "Pinkie's helping out at the kitchen, so right now, it's just Starlight Glimmer and me serving."

"Say no more," Rainbow Dash said. "Soarin, with me."

"Yes, captain," Soarin said with a salute. 

"Oh, dear," Fluttershy squeaked, imitated by the extensive line of people.

"Come now, Fluttershy. Do not fret," Rarity said, holding out her hand to the timid girl. "Let's serve these hungry customers together."

Fluttershy smiled and took Rarity's hand, feeling more comfortable with her best friend's support. All four of them squeezed their way inside and began helping Starlight Glimmer guide people to their tables. I let out a sigh of relief as I walked back to the entrance, thankful for their' arrival. Coriander Cumin was helping the last of the people in line get inside before turning to Adagio.

"With so many more people coming here, my restaurant might be saved yet," he said. "I don't know how to thank you, Ms. Dazzle?"

"Oh, there's no need. I'm just happy to help you, Mr. Cumin," Adagio said before turning to me with a smirk. "Although, if it's not too much trouble, I would like the same table my sisters and I had last night, and I'd like Rough Draft to serve us."

"Well, of course," Coriander Cumin chirped before turning to me. "Rough Draft, will you kindly take these lovely ladies to their table? Ms. Dazzle will show you where it is.

"It would be my pleasure," I lied. 

Coriander Cumin beamed and held the door open for us, and I walked ahead to grab menus. Adagio took it upon herself to stand close to me and hold my arm like we're a couple, making my entire face turn maroon as she led me up to their stairs while Aria and Sonata followed. With a tug, she guided me to the balcony, and my eyes widened to see that the only empty table was the one I sat at with Blueblood and Octavia. I made another face at Adagio as it was clear she found a way to learn where the same table we were using that night was.  

I opened the door, and Sonata and Aria went outside, while Adagio stayed behind to continue holding my arm. When we went outside, Adagio stopped walking, making me stop, and she let out a blissful sigh while placing her free hand on my arm. 

"Lovely view, isn't it, Rough Draft?" She asked. "You can see so much of the town from up here."

"Uh, divine," I answered. 

"Help me to my seat. Won't you?" Adagio asked.

"Sure," I said. 

Adagio smiled and gave my arm a squeeze before letting go so I could help her to her seat opposite from her sisters. I handed the Dazzlings their menus and took out my notepad, asking, "What can I get for you to drink?"

"Soda," Aria said bluntly with her eyes on her menu.

"Juice, please," Sonata chirped.

"Sparkling water, for me," Adagio said. "And may I ask what the specials are tonight?"

"Sure. We have curried oatcake and a mutton sandwich that has been marinated overnight with a mustard dijon dressing," I said.

"Sounds delightful. I'll take the curried oatcake," Adagio said. 

"Alright then, I'll bring that and your drinks shortly," I said.

"I'll be waiting," Adagio said with another flirtatious look.

I once again resisted the urge to show any contempt against Adagio as I went back inside. By this time, Rainbow Dash, Soarin, Fluttershy, and Rarity had been given notepads and were taking orders despite not having any uniforms. Starlight Glimmer felt better with everyone sharing her load, and even Coriander Cumin decided to serve some of the customers while no one else was coming. I went into the kitchen to find Saffron Masala and Pinkie Pie still cooking while Applejack washed dishes and Caramel dried them and delivered them to the cooks. I gave Pinkie my ticket for the oatcake, and she handed me the dish right after  I finished getting the drinks. Just then, Starlight Glimmer came in with a large pile of plates and silverware and placed it on the counter beside Applejack. She let out a heavy sigh before she noticed me.

"Doing alright?" I asked.

"Oh, you know. Surviving," Starlight Glimmer said with a chuckle. Her weak smile turned into a concerned look, and she asked, "What about you? I saw Adagio holding your arm while you were guiding her to her table."

"She did what?!" Applejack, Caramel, and Pinkie Pie shouted simultaneously.

Saffron Masala's eyes lit up, and she asked. "Adagio as in Adagio Dazzle? She's here?"

"Yup, and she brought a bunch of people with her," Starlight Glimmer said.

"Oh, isn't that wonderful?" Saffron Masala said happily. "She was here last night with her sisters. The sweetest customer we've ever had."

"Yeah, I've heard," I said. "Anyway, she personally requested that I be her waiter this evening."

"Ooo. Holding your arm and asking that you serve her this evening," Saffron Masala said with a smug look. "I think someone's got a thing for you."

"That's...one way to look at it," I said before turning to the rest of my friends. "You guys just focus on your jobs and let me worry about Adagio."

"Are you sure?" Starlight Glimmer asked. "I don't want to speak for everyone else, but I don't feel comfortable leaving you alone with her."

I gave her a kind smile and said, "I appreciate your concern, Starlight Glimmer, but I think I'll manage. Besides, this isn't about me. It's about the Tasty Treat. I'll take on a hundred Adagios if it helps Coriander Cumin and Saffron Masala."

Applejack, Caramel, Starlight Glimmer, and Pinkie Pie were taken aback by my declaration before they smiled. Starlight Glimmer felt her feelings for me grow as she admired my moment of bravery, but the moment was broken when Coriander Cumin came in with his own piles of dishes.

"Rough Draft, quit standing around. Ms. Dazzle and her sisters are waiting," he rebuked. "Starlight Glimmer, there's a customer who has requested that you be his waitress."

Everyone looked at Coriander Cumin, confused, and Starlight Glimmer asked, "Really? Who?"

"He won't tell me. He said he wanted it to be a surprise," Coriander Cumin said. "He's at the small table next to the staircase."

Starlight Glimmer grew more puzzled with this information. She and I looked at each other and shrugged, silently deciding to leave together since I was going in the same direction. We left the kitchen and walked a few feet towards the staircase until Starlight Glimmer stopped and gasped loudly with her hands on her cheeks. Sitting on the small table beside the stairs was a grayish purple man in his forties with streaks of moderate and pale, light grayish aquamarine hair. He was waving at Starlight Glimmer like an excited child, and she covered her face to hide it turning red.

"Who's that?" I asked. 

"My dad," Starlight Glimmer groaned.

"Ooooohhhhhhhhhh," I said. "I guess that explains the request that you serve that table."

"Only too much," Starlight Glimmer said.

"Starlight, over here!" Her dad called out.

Starlight Glimmer whimpered before she put on a brave face and walked over to her dad. He stood up with a bright smile and said, "Look at you, Pumpky-Wumpkin. Don't you just look cutesy-wutesy in your uniform?"

"Dad, what I tell you about calling me 'Pumpky-Wumpkin' in public?" Starlight Glimmer growled. 

"Oops. Sorry, Chipmunk Cheeks," her dad said before turning to me. "Oh, who's this good-looking fella? Your boyfriend?"

"Dad!" Starlight Glimmer screamed.

Her voice was so loud that everyone in the restaurant turned to her. Her face went from red to maroon in embarrassment until she collected herself and said, "Sorry, everyone." The place was still quiet for a moment before everyone went back to their food and conversations, and Starlight Glimmer turned around to her dad.

"Dad, this is Rough Draft, my friend," she said. 

"Oh, I see," her dad said before turning to me. "Nice to meet you. My name's Firelight."

"Pleasure," I said plainly. "If you'll excuse me, I have a table waiting for me."

"Oh, of course. No need to keep you waiting while Sugar Plum is here," Fireflight said.

"Daaaaaad," Starlight Glimmer grumbled. 

"Thanks, though I would appreciate it if you treat her as just your waitress while you're here," I said.

Starlight Glimmer gave me an appreciative look, though her face was still red. I went up the stairs and reluctantly went back outside to the balcony, where Adagio was waiting for me, having watched me through the glass doors.

"Alright, I got a juice here, a soda here, and sparkling water and oatcake," I said as I handed the drinks and oatcake to the Dazzlings.

Sonata gave me a cute smile as a way of saying thanks before she immediately started drinking her juice. Aria began drinking her soda while on her phone, pretending to not have noticed me. Adagio took an oatcake and slowly took a bite with her eyes closed. 

"Mmmmmm. Delectable," she said.

"Good to hear it," I said politely. "Have you three decided what you want?"

"I'll have the flat noodle soup again, please," Sonata said cutely. 

"Dumplings again," Aria said, still looking at her phone. 

Adagio hummed and said, "I don't know. I want to try something new, but I'm indecisive. Do you recommend anything, Rough Draft?" 

"Not especially," I said. "I've only had the tandoori chicken." 

Adagio gave me another kittenish look and said, "Then I'll have that."

I mentally kicked myself in the head, realizing I should have expected her to say something like that. I forced a smile on my face and wrote down the orders before saying, "Excellent. We will have your orders ready shortly."

With that, I took their menus and walked back inside, and went down the stairs to the kitchen. After I placed my note to Saffron Masala, I took a moment to pinch the bridge of my nose and mutter, "idiot," to myself. I turned around to ask Coriander Cumin if there were any other tables in need of a waiter, but then the door burst open to reveal an irate Starlight Glimmer storming to Saffron Masala.

"Saffron, do you know what's the most historically significant dish you have?" She bellowed. 

Saffron Masala looked up from cutting vegetables and asked, "Historically significant?"

"Yes. My dad says he'll have the most historically significant dish on the menu," Starlight Glimmer said.

Saffron Masala tilted her head and said, "I'm afraid I have no idea what that would be. I doubt my father would either."

"Perfect," Starlight Glimmer said sarcastically.

"Do you think you could just make up what is the most historically significant dish?" Pinkie Pie asked. 

"He’ll probably just ask me for more details. Heck, he might ask Saffron or Coriander Cumin,” Starlight Glimmer said.

“Seriously?” I asked.

“Seriously,” Starlight Glimmer replied.

“Good grief. I’m beginning to think you got screwed between me serving Rainbow Dash’s parents and you serving your dad,” I said.

“Oh, I did, Rough Draft. I really did,” Starlight Glimmer groaned.

I frowned and looked down in thought while Starlight Glimmer rested her forehead against a wall. After a minute, I snapped my fingers and asked, “What about a dish that has historical significance to Saffron and Coriander Cumin, in particular?”

“Rough Draft, my dad is into major history, not people’s personal history,” Starlight Glimmer said. 

“Yeah, but maybe something is interesting about their story that’ll make him want to look deeper into the history of that dish, and Saffron and her dad will tell the story if, and only if, he behaves the entire time he’s here?” I suggested. 

Starlight Glimmer lifted her head to look at me skeptically before she thought about it and turned to Saffron Masala.

“How about it, Saffron? Anything that fits the bill?” she asked. 

Saffron Masala hesitated and said, “Well, the spicy flat noodle soup is a dish that my father always makes to cheer me up when I get down. Maybe I could think of something that might interest your father?”

Starlight Glimmer furrowed her brow and shrugged before saying, “I guess it’ll have to do. If anything else, it’ll give me hope that my dad complies with behaving the entire time.”

“I hope so,” I say with a smile. “Now, if only I could figure out a way to do something like that with Adagio.” 

Starlight Glimmer smiled and shook her head, saying, “I think that’s a lost cause from the get-go.” 

“What’s wrong with Adagio?” Saffron Masala asked. “I think you’re very, very lucky to catch her eye, Rough Draft.”

Starlight Glimmer, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Caramel, and I chuckled nervously, and I said, “I’ll explain later, Saffron.” 

The deceived cook stared at me, finding my response to be strange. After a moment, she shrugged and said, “Very well. Regardless, your order is ready, and Starlight, I’ll get started on the noodle soup.”

“Thanks,” Starlight Glimmer and I said dryly. 

I took the tray containing the Dazzlings’ food and exited the kitchen again. Thankfully, I stopped a couple of feet from the entrance and looked outside to watch Octavia still playing. She was smiling with her eyes closed and her head held high while playing an upbeat song. The people were amused with how she looked so free while playing a song so cheerful for them. One man tapped his feet to the rhythm even though there were no other instruments to back Octavia up. My heart fluttered from seeing the beautiful gray girl still enjoying herself out there, knowing people loved her music, and it was attracting them to the Tasty Treat. Suddenly, a light gray pair of fingers snapped in front of my face, and I turned to see Rarity standing in front of me, holding an empty tray. 

“Sweetie, now isn’t the time,” she said.

I sighed and said, “I know. I just wanted this moment before I have to go back upstairs.”

“I understand,” Rarity said with a sympathetic smile. 

I smiled back before she went back inside the kitchen. I gave Octavia one last glance before going up the steps again. By this point, it was no surprise that Adagio was watching me walk toward the balcony through the window door again. I went outside and began placing the dishes in front of the girls. Sonata was given her dinner first out of favoritism, and Adagio went last. The Dazzlings leader gave her dinner a sniff and let out another “Mmmm” in pleasure. 

“Smells divine,” she said.

“Good to know,” I said. “Please enjoy.”

I turned around to go back inside, but then I felt something grab the bottom of my shirt. I mentally groaned and turned to Adagio.

“Do you have any other customers to serve at the moment?” she asked.

“Uh, no,” I reluctantly admitted.

“Do you think you could stay for a little while? Take a break?” Adagio asked.

“I don’t feel comfortable doing that,” I said. “It wouldn’t be fair that I take a break while my friends are still working.”

“Oh, I’m sure they’ll be alright,” Adagio said with a smile. “Besides, most of your friends just got here, and you’ve probably been working for hours, haven’t you?”

I hesitated before admitting, “Yes, I have.”

“Then that’s all the more reason to take a break. It’s not healthy to work nonstop,” Adagio said with a smirk. “Come, sit next to me.”

Adagio patted the empty chair, and I bit the inside of my mouth before I reluctantly sat down. The Dazzlings began eating their dinner with Adagio’s eyes still fixed on me. I looked past her to see the guys she brought with her glaring daggers at me in jealousy from their tables inside the building. It puzzled me how they could have hope that Adagio would sincerely choose either of them in a relationship when they weren’t the only ones on her hook. Then again, a part of me was living in fool's hope with Octavia, so I suppose I wasn’t entirely different from them, even if Octavia was a much better person than Adagio. 

My gaze turned back to the Dazzlings leader when I felt her place her hand on mine, having already finished half of her chicken. I couldn’t help but blush at the soft feel of her hand, leastways from the way she was slowly rubbing my hand with her thumb. She rested her head with her hand and not-so-subtly scooted her chair closer to me.

“Tell me something, Rough Draft, and please be honest with me,”  she began. “How has a nice fellow like you never had a girlfriend before?”

I stopped myself from looking nervous from her asking that question before I answered, “Well, no one has ever thought of me that way before.”

“Why not? I may be biased when I say this, but you are easy on the eyes,” Adagio said.

I felt my cheeks turn pink from the compliment before I shook it off and said, “I appreciate you saying that, Adagio, but looks aren’t everything, leastways not at my old town in Applelosa.”

“And why’s that?” Adagio asked.

I paused for a moment, wondering what Adagio was planning. 

“Because I’m into nerdy things,” I said.

“Like?” Adagio asked.

Aria scoffed and rolled her eyes, making it all the more evident that Adagio was up to something. I turned to Sonata, who focused on eating her soup despite knowing I was looking at her. Adagio turned my head to face her again with her hand on my chin, and I reluctantly gave her an honest answer.

“Things like Star Wars, The Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, that sort of thing,” I said.

Adagio let out a fake gasp and said, “Really? I like that stuff too.”

I furrowed my brow as it became clear what she was trying to do. I decided to pretend I wasn't on to the Dazzlings leader and asked, “You do?”

“I sure do,” Adagio said proudly. "Personally, I am quite fond of Star Wars myself."

"Really?" I asked with a raised eyebrow. "Which movie is the best?"

"Empire Strikes Back," Adagio boasted. 

Right answer, but it's way too easy. She could look anywhere on the internet and learn to say that Empire is the best film. Heck, she could have asked some of the guys who worship her, and she would get the same answer. I wanted to make her slip for taking so many measures to pursue me. Luckily, Star Wars is a franchise that thrives (for better or worse) on people having different opinions, and I wouldn't even expect Octavia to have the same views as me, even in a perfect world where we are boyfriend and girlfriend. If Adagio is trying to make it look like we have many things in common, she picked the wrong franchise to make it seem like we think the same things to a tee. 

"Which prequel do you think is the worst between Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones?" I asked.

"Attack of the Clones," Adagio said without missing a beat.

"Why?"

"Because Phantom Menace is enjoyably bad and has some genuinely entertaining moments, whereas Attack of the Clones is more or less boring."

I squirmed from her response. I had the same opinion between the two bad films, and judging from the way Adagio was smirking, she knew she got it right too. Still, she had a fifty-fifty chance of picking the right film, and I had one more trick up my sleeve. Specifically, a question related to the sequel trilogy. A subject that is so divisive that she would have little idea what opinion to choose from whether she watched the movies or not. If she asked her lackeys, they might even fight over it more than they would fight over who the alluring Dazzling wants to be with. In short, her chances were slim that she could have the exact opinion as I do.

"And what's your opinion on the last film: The Rise of Skywalker?" I asked. 

Adagio's smirk grew, amused with my trap. Aria and Sonata noticed how I asked the question as if answering it correctly was a matter between life or death and stopped eating to hear what their sister had to say. Adagio looked away and rubbed her chin, pretending to be deep in thought, and gave the last answer I expected her to give.

"I think it's a better movie than people give it credit for. From what I've heard, the way they planned that particular trilogy was flimsy, and they had a lot that needed to be crammed into one movie. There's plenty of good moments like Kylo Ren talking to Han Solo in his mind and Rey deciding to call herself Rey Skywalker was a cute idea to end the series. All in all, they could have prepared things better, but you can tell they tried to make a decent finale with what they got."

… You got lucky, Adagio Dazzle.

I made a face that made Sonata uneasy and made Aria chuckled in amusement. Adagio raised her eyebrow and asked, "Why, Rough Draft, do you think the same thing regarding all of those movies?"

"I...do," I admitted.

Adagio made another fake gasp with her free hand on her chest and then scooted her chair closer to me while her other hand was still holding mine.

"Well, would you look at that? It seems we have a few things in common, don't we?" She said.

"I suppose," I said.

"Clearly, if a girl like me can enjoy the things you like, then those girls in Appleloosa were fools to disregard you because of your interests," I said.

"I...can't exactly argue with that logic," I said. "Though, liking one franchise like that doesn't mean we have everything in common, Adagio."

"Oh, you are so right, Rough Draft," Adagio said with a grin. "We will have to spend more time together to find out more about each other." She turned her body to face me and held up my hand with both hands. "In fact, while we're on the subject, I was wondering -"

"Rough Draft!"

Adagio muttered under her breath before we looked to see Starlight Glimmer coming outside. She was looking at me, astounded as she walked over and asked, "What are you doing here?! We need your help back inside!"

I winced at the way she rebuked me and said, "Sorry, Starlight Glimmer, Adagio kinda -"

"Excuse me, but Rough Draft and I were having a conversation," Adagio interrupted. 

"I realize that, but right now, we're getting swamped back inside, and we need him to serve more tables," Starlight Glimmer said.

Adagio made a face and said, "Fine, but he can get back to work after I ask him an important question."

Starlight Glimmer and I became uneasy, and Sonata quivered, already knowing what her sister was going to ask. Aria rolled her eyes and went back to her food. Adagio turned back to me and leaned close with a look that sent shivers down my spine.

"As I was saying, there is a school dance coming soon called the Fall Formal," she said.

"Y-y-yes, I know," I stuttered.

Adagio grinned and said, "In that case, it would make me very happy if you would come to the dance with -"

"He can't go to the dance with you!" Starlight Glimmer interrupted.

Adagio glowered at Starlight Glimmer and snarled, "And why not?!"

Starlight Glimmer stuttered for a moment until she thought of something that made her cheeks heat up and spat out, "Because Rough Draft is going to the Fall Formal with me!"

The balcony was silent. Sonata and I were shocked by Starlight Glimmer's claim, and Aria looked up from her food to look at the grayish heliotrope girl with a raised eyebrow. Adagio glared at Starlight Glimmer suspiciously before turning to me.

"Is this true?" She asked. 

"Yes, it's true," I said right away. "You see, uh, we're already going together with our friends, and Starlight Glimmer and I decided to be each other's dates since we're the new members of our group. Isn't that right, Starlight?"

"Sure is," Starlight Glimmer said, smiling with her cheeks still pink.

"And why have you never brought this up before?" Adagio asked.

"Because there wasn't a good opportunity to," I claimed. "I mean, come on, Adagio, the first time we spoke, I was blushing like crazy that a girl as unbelievably gorgeous as you was showing interest in a guy like me. You said yourself that that's a rare thing to happen. Plus, we both have been focusing on helping Coriander Cumin, and Saffron Masala save their restaurant and then talking about things we have in common. None of those are exactly moments appropriate to say, 'By the way, my friend, Starlight Glimmer, is my date to the Fall Formal.'"

Starlight Glimmer was thankful everyone else was too focused on how Adagio was going to react to see her blush at me saying the word, “date.” The Dazzlings leader kept her suspicious look until she sighed and said, "That makes sense. I wish there was a way I could have found out sooner, though."

"And I'm sorry that there wasn't," I lied. "I would have liked to spare you the disappointment since going to the dance with you would have made you happy."

Adagio's frown suddenly rose to another smile and said, "How sweet of you to be so considerate Rough Draft. I forgive you for letting me down this way. I do have a condition, though."

I grew nervous and asked, "And that would be?"

"I want a rain check for us to dance together that I can use whenever I want on any occasion," Adagio said. "Be it another school dance, a party, or any sort of occasion, if there's dancing involved and you don't have a partner, I want you on the dance floor with me for as long as I want. Understood?

I mentally groaned again and said, "If... that is your wish."

"Then we have a deal," Adagio said.

"I guess so," I said. "Now, I better get back inside."

"I suppose so," Adagio said with a sigh as she lets go of my hand. "I best get back to my dinner before it gets cold anyway."

"Yeah, that would be a good idea," I said, standing up. "I'll check on you girls later, okay?"

"I'll be waiting," Adagio said with a smirk. 

"Of course, you will be," I muttered under my breath. 

With that, Starlight Glimmer and I went back inside and went back down the steps to the kitchen. By now, the restaurant was more packed than ever, and Coriander Cumin was serving some of the tables with Rainbow Dash, Soarin, Fluttershy, and Rarity. Starlight Glimmer and I went inside the kitchen, where Pinkie and Saffron Masala were struggling to catch up with orders, and Starlight Glimmer turned to me with her hands on her hips. 

"What was that about?" She demanded. 

"I'm sorry. Adagio kinda convinced me to stay. I didn't want to, but she made it seem like I didn't have a choice," I explained. 

Starlight Glimmer glared at me until she sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose,  saying, "Okay, I guess I understand that since she's known for being so crafty. Heck, while we're at it, I'm sorry for putting you on the spot with that whole thing about us going to the dance."

"It's okay," I said with a smile. "I mean, we are going with our friends anyway, right?"

"Right, but Adagio will probably go to the dance too, and so we'll have to pretend we are going there as a date," Starlight Glimmer said.

"So? I don't see anything wrong with that," I said with a smile. "I've never had a date to a school dance, and I wouldn't mind my first one being with a friend."

Starlight Glimmer stared at me in disbelief and asked, "Wait…you would like to...go to the dance with me?"

In truth, I would rather have had Octavia ask me to the dance, especially since she and Blueblood might still be on a break by then, but I liked the idea of going to a school dance with a girl who is a friend whether it was Octavia, Starlight Glimmer, Fluttershy, or Rarity. Heck, I'd risk having Pinkie Pie as my date regardless of how unpredictable she is. On top of that, Starlight Glimmer had been so caring about helping Octavia and me during our study group, aiding Fluttershy in teaching me how to dance, and had just saved me from Adagio. If she wanted to, I would like to repay her this way.

"I don't see why not," I said. "That is if you would like to as friends."

Starlight Glimmer was so flabbergasted that she ignored the pain she felt from the word, 'friends.' She stared at me for so long that I was beginning to feel uncomfortable. Finally, she snapped out of it and gave me a shy smile.

"Sure. I'd like that," she said. "Just don't tell my dad. He'll take it as a hint that we're actually dating."

"Deal," I chortled. 

No sooner had I said that than Coriander Cumin came in and saw me, saying, "There you are, Rough Draft. Where in the world have you been?"

"Sorry, sir. I got caught in conversation with Adagio Dazzle after bringing her and her sisters their food," I said. 

The stout man immediately smiled at the sound of Adagio's name and said, "Oh, I see. That girl sweet girl's company is quite captivating, isn't it?"

"It sure is," I lied. 

Coriander Cumin chuckled before his face turned serious, and he said, "Well, you can talk to her all you like later. Right now, some new customers don't have a waiter yet. I need you to serve them pronto."

"Right away, sir," I said with a salute. "Show me where they are."

Coriander Cumin and I exited the kitchen without another word, leaving Starlight Glimmer staring at where she last saw us. Her smile grew wide, and her cheeks turned red before she covered her mouth to hide a squeal of delight from Applejack, Caramel, Saffron Masala, and Pinkie Pie. Starlight Glimmer took a moment to collect herself before exiting the kitchen and served her customers with a cheery attitude for the rest of the night.





***********************************************************************************************







Throughout the next two hours, the Tasty Treat was still jam-packed. Octavia continued to attract customers while some people came in because they saw some of the fliers or heard about the restaurant from their friends who came to eat earlier. It felt like every time a group of people paid their check and left, another group came in. The only customers who didn’t leave were Firelight and the Dazzlings. Firelight bought the fib about the noodle soup and waited until the dinner rush had died down to hear the story about it from Coriander Cumin and Saffron Masala, and even though they finished their food and were given their check, Adagio didn't want to leave either, saying she had a surprise for later. Though staying on the balcony did mean all of the boys that idolized her had to come over and say bye with their families, and she would be there, giving the fools hugs and words of appreciation that made their knees weak. 

Finally, around eight-thirty, things began to die down. People stopped coming in, and Starlight Glimmer, Rainbow Dash, Soarin, Fluttershy, Rarity, and I were able to wash tables and stack up chairs for the night. With Coriander Cumin no longer needing to host, he was able to tell Firelight about how much the spicy flat noodle soup meant to him, and his daughter after Starlight Glimmer apologized for bothering the man by indulging her father's persistent interests. Octavia decided to play a couple more songs for the people who were still watching her before deciding to stop. I glanced out the window while I was wiping down a table to see people clapping while she stood up and took a bow, which made me smile. By the time she and Big Mac finished packing up her cello and the sound equipment, the last of the customers, apart from the Dazzlings, who were still on the balcony, left, and Coriander Cumin was going over how much the restaurant had made. Starlight Glimmer, Rainbow Dash, Soarin, Fluttershy, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Saffron Masala, and I sat together at a large table, resting our heads with our arms or against the table. 

"Goodness, look at all of you," Octavia said.

"Oh, please, don't look at me, Octavia. I don't want to know how bad my hair looks right now," Rarity whined.

"That's not what I meant, Rarity," Octavia snickered before turning to me. "I thought I told you to ask Big Mac and me to come help if it was too much for all of you."

"Sorry, Octavia," I said with a weak smile. "Kinda forgot, focusing on getting the job done."

Octavia frowned with her arms crossed for a moment before she rolled her eyes and patted my head.

"Well, I'm proud of you for being such a trooper," she said.

"Thanks, Octavia," I said, staring into her mulberry eyes.

Just then, Applejack and Caramel came out of the kitchen and walked over to our table. Applejack was acting upbeat despite the fatigue in her eyes, saying, "Woo wee. Now, that's what I call a hard day's work. Ain't that right, Caramel?"

"Right as rain, Applejack," Caramel replied, looking half dead.

The apple farmer smirked and pulled Caramel to a side hug. He gave her a tired look of appreciation before resting his head on her shoulder. I raised my eyebrow, and Octavia and I looked at each other, curious about how close the two of them actually were, while Big Mac just smirked. Everyone else was too drained to notice. 

The moment was interrupted when Coriander Cumin walked over to us with his calculator. Saffron Masala noticed her father walking over to us, and she stood up from her seat to meet him, catching everyone's attention. We all turned to the restaurant owner, who was staring at his calculator with a stoic face.

"How did we do?" Saffron asked. 

Coriander Cumin sighed before looking up to face his daughter and said with a small smile, "Seven hundred."

"What?!" Starlight Glimmer, Rainbow Dash, Soarin, Fluttershy, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Caramel, and I shouted.

"How in the world was that only seven hundred?!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed. "There was a torrent of customers nonstop."

"Indeed, and plenty of people donated too," Coriander Cumin said. "But I went over deductions such as what supplies we need to order and things like that, and that leaves about an estimate of seven hundred that we can spare to pay off the suit."

"Do you think we'll be able to get the rest in time?" Saffron asked.

"We might," Coriander Cumin said. "A lot of people did say that they will come again soon, so I think we'll be okay."

"Aw, but I thought we were gonna get it all in one night," Pinkie Pie whined.

Coriander Cumin chuckled and said, "I know, child. It's okay, though. If anything, I'm thankful that the Tasty Treat has been recognized this way. This all started partially because Saffron and I hoped to gain attention from a big businessman by treating his son with our food. Now I see it was better to be recognized by the community in this town with people like you who care. Whatever happens, I want to thank you, kids, for everything you've done."

Saffron Masala smiled and hugged her father. The rest of us were still down, feeling like we failed from not reaching our goal, and yet we were glad that Coriander Cumin found something important to be thankful for. I looked at Octavia and saw in her eyes that she didn't want to leave things like this. She wanted to protect the restaurant owner and his daughter from her boyfriend and his father's cruelness, and she had no intention of leaving until the job was done. I saw her reach into her skirt pocket, preparing to write a check for the rest of the money, and smiled until we heard a voice coming from upstairs.

"Well, we don't think it's okay."

Everyone turned around to see the Dazzlings walking down the staircase toward us. Adagio gave Coriander Cumin the same smile she had when she came in, while Aria was still disinterested. To my curiosity, Sonata was also smiling as she followed behind her sisters, making me wonder all the more what Adagio was up to. 

"I admire that you have found a silver lining, Mr. Cumin, but I don't think anyone here wants to leave the fate of your restaurant to chance," Adagio said as she finished going down the steps to face Coriander Cumin. "After all, everyone here only planned to help you like this for one special night. Am I right?"

"Well, yes. I suppose that's true," Coriander Cumin admitted. 

"I thought so," Adagio said. "Luckily, you and sweet Saffron haven't been given a donation from my sisters and me yet."

Adagio reached into her purse, took out an envelope, and handed it to Coriander Cumin. The stout man opened the envelope with his daughter looking over his shoulder, and they gasped.

"A check for three hundred dollars?!" Coriander Cumin exclaimed.

"What?!" Everyone in my group exclaimed.

"And not a penny less," Adagio boasted. "That's why we were on the balcony so long after eating. We wanted to make sure we all agreed to chip in each a hundred dollars, and we wanted to wait until you weren't busy to give it to you personally. Imagine our surprise when we overheard you saying that you only raised seven hundred and our charitable donation is just what you need."

I suspiciously stared at the girl pursuing me, figuring that she did overhear us and wrote the exact amount on that check before coming down. I looked at my friends, and Rainbow Dash, Soarin, Applejack, Caramel, Big Mac, Fluttershy, and Rarity appeared to have the same suspicion. Pinkie Pie, on the other hand, was too happy for Coriander Cumin and Saffron Masala to care. I then turned to Sonata, who was still smiling. She noticed me looking at her, and she gave me a thumbs up. I realized that though Sonata knew what her sister was really doing, she was happy that it meant accomplishing our goal, and I smiled back and gave her a thumbs-up before turning to Octavia. She was a little disappointed that someone beat her to the punch, but she also couldn't help but smile for what really mattered. 

"Oh, my, that's so generous of you, Ms. Dazzle," Coriander Cumin chirped. "You and your sisters have surely saved our restaurant."

"How can we ever repay you?" Saffron asked.

"Oh, please don't worry about that," Adagio said, acting humble. "Your happiness is more than enough of a reward. Right, girls?"

"Totally!" Sonata chirped wholeheartedly.

"Sure," Aria said dryly.

Coriander Cumin and Saffron Masala beamed before pulling the Dazzlings into a group hug. Aria scoffed at the gesture while Adagio hugged back to stay in character, and Sonata hugged with a cute smile. When they broke their hug, Adagio said, "Now, if you'll excuse us, we really must pay our check and get going. It is a school night, after all."

"Of course. Of course. Please come again soon," Coriander Cumin said. 

"Absolutely," Adagio said before turning to our group. "Bye-bye, everyone."

"Bye," Starlight Glimmer, Rainbow Dash, Soarin, Fluttershy, Rarity, Applejack, Caramel, and I said halfheartedly. Big Mac and Octavia waved politely, and Pinkie waved energetically. 

Adagio used her credit card to pay for the check, and the Dazzlings exited the restaurant. Adagio went out last, but not before mouthing out to me, "I'll miss you," with a wink. I rolled my eyes and facepalmed, feeling both annoyed, yet also relieved that she was finally gone. Unknown to me; however, Octavia saw what Adagio did and turned to me. She couldn't tell if I was annoyed or flustered that Adagio did that with my hand covering my face. At that moment, my crush began to worry that Adagio might be one of her rivals and I might be interested in her too. However, before she could think more about it, Coriander Cumin clapped his hands, catching everyone's attention.

"Well, now, with the last of the customers gone, how about Saffron and I get you, kids, some dinner to bring home?" He suggested.

"That's mighty kind of ya, sir, but you don't have to do that," Applejack said. "You two must be too tired to cook anymore."

"Nonsense. It's the least we could do," Coriander Cumin said.

"Please, let us do this for you," Saffron Masala said. "You don't wanna go home tired and hungry, would you?"

Almost as if on cue, everyone heard a stomach growling. We all turned to Rarity, who hugged her stomach and chuckling nervously with her cheeks turning red.

"I suppose I'm a bit peckish," she said.

Rainbow Dash and Soarin looked at each other, and the latter said with a shrug, "I could eat.”.

"Yeah, me too," Rainbow Dash said.

"Um, I wouldn't mind," Fluttershy whispered.

"Yes, please," Pinkie Pie chirped.

Octavia and I looked at each other, and I said, "It would be nice to finish what we had last time."

"Indeed," Octavia said.

"I could eat something," Caramel admitted, still resting on Applejack's shoulder.

Applejack looked at Caramel and sighed before she said, "Well, shoot. l guess there's no reason to decline when y'all put it that way."

"Eeyup," Big Mac said.

"Fantastic," Coriander Cumin said.





*******************************************************************************************





Meanwhile, Adagio, Aria, and Sonata were still walking back to their home. Sonata was walking gleefully like a little child, and Adagio had her head up high as she led her sisters, proud of her handiwork. Aria was looking at her phone as they walked until the girls stopped at an intersection and noticed how Adagio was behaving.

"Do you honestly believe you have a shot with Rough Draft just because you helped him and his friends save that stupid restaurant?" Aria asked.

“In a way,” Adagio answered.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Aria asked.

“It means he knows I’m serious about wanting a relationship with him now that I’ve done so much to help him,” Adagio said.

“Yeah, mostly by bringing the other guys on your hook to come eat at that place,” Aria said. “I think he’s smart enough to know that they were only there because you told them too.”

“Oh, I know he’s smart enough,” Adagio said with a grin. “That just makes him a better prize.”

Sonata’s smile disappeared into a worried look and said, “You find a lot of things to make him sounds like such a big pri -”

“Hold your tongue!” Adagio snarled.

Sonata whimpered and hung her head, fighting the tears. Aria, on the other hand, groaned and facepalmed. 

“I can’t believe I’m agreeing with Sonata again,” she grumbled. “You are always making him the holy grail of boys to chase.”

“What can I say? I’m finding new ways to enjoy the game,” Adagio said. “And anyway, Rough Draft being smarter means I have to find new ways to make him ease up. To make him understand, I truly want his heart, and then he’ll want to give it to me. Luckily for me, I secured spending quality time together at the wedding.”

“Secured?” Sonata asked.

Adagio gave Sonata a stern glare for silence, and Sonata squirmed and looked away again. The leader’s smirk came back, and she continued as the crossing signal light said, “Walk,” and they crossed the intersection.

“Yes, secured,” Adagio said. “When I made Rough Draft promise to dance with me whenever I want, he didn’t count on me coming to the wedding.”

“Oh, so you have secured that?” Aria asked.

“I sure did,” Adagio said with a grin. “Turns out Camera Flash and his dad are the photographers for the wedding, and they each get a plus one. His dad’s plus one will, of course, be his mom, which leaves…”

“You to be Camera Flash’s plus one,” Aria finished, slowly realizing Adagio’s plan. “So, with Rough Draft not really doing anything at the reception, and Camera Flash probably too busy taking pictures with his dad, that leaves a perfect opportunity to use that rain check by making him dance with you for as long as you like.”

“Exactly,” Adagio grinned. “We’ll be right there close to each other and getting to know one another the whole night. No other boys around since Camera Flash will be occupied. It will be just dear Rough Draft and me alone on the dance floor, and since it appears Octavia Melody has something for him too, she gets to watch in jealousy.”

Aria looked down to think about Adagio’s plan as she walked until she smirked in a way that made Sonata’s skin crawl.  

“You know, what, Adagio? That actually sounds like fun,” she said. “I still don’t think your chances are great, but if you’re right about Octavia Melody’s feelings for Rough Draft, that would be pretty cruel. Truth be told, I kinda want to see that.”

Adagio let out a mischievous chuckle as they continued to walk home and said, “Oh, I’m sure you’ll find other opportunities, Aria. After all, there’s still a few weeks left until Rough Draft is no longer required to be by Octavia Melody’s side at all.”
> Chapter 17
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

For the next fifteen minutes, Big Mac, Applejack, Caramel, Fluttershy, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Starlight Glimmer, Octavia, and I waited until Coriander Cumin and Saffron Masala finished making dinner for us to take home. Applejack and Soarin had to wake up Caramel and Rainbow Dash respectively when their food was ready. Rainbow Dash and Soarin volunteered to help the Apples and Caramel carry the sound equipment back to Sweet Apple Acres before the two of them went to their respective homes. I called my parents to let them know that I would be coming home after I walk Octavia, and I'll be bringing dinner for myself, so my mom wouldn't have to worry about that. 

Fluttershy, Rarity, Octavia, and I got our meals last, so the four of us left the Tasty Treat together. The girls chatted away as we walked while I carried Octavia's cello and both of our dinners. Eventually, we came across an intersection where Octavia and I had to split up from our friends. After we said our goodbyes, the journey home became quieter, with Octavia and I not knowing what to say to strike a conversation.

Octavia frequently glanced at me while we were walking. I was exhausted and pretended carrying our food, and her cello case wasn’t a problem. Octavia admired my determination to show that I could carry everything for her, but she worried about me coming home alone on an empty stomach after walking her to her house. Fortunately, when we were only a few blocks away from Octavia's house, we passed by a park, and Octavia noticed a table bench. She glanced between me and the table and thought of a solution. Octavia felt her cheeks heat up from her idea before she shook it off, cleared her throat, and stopped walking.

"Rough Draft, let's stop here," she said.

"Huh? Why?" I asked, stopping a couple of feet ahead of her.

"Because you need rest," Octavia answered.

"Oh, don't worry about me, Octavia. I'm fine," I said with a smile. 

"No, you're not," Octavia said. "You've been working all evening and need to eat and rest. I don't want you fainting after you take me home."

"Really, Octavia, I'm fine," I claimed. "Besides, won't our parents worry about us coming home later than we said we would?"

"I think they will understand a need to rest along the way given the circumstances," Octavia said before adding with a smile. "Besides, I like the idea of us on a little picnic out in the park at night."

My eyes widened, and my cheeks heated up at the sound of "us" and picnic" in the same sentence. Octavia made it almost sound like we were out on a date, and for a moment, I began to think she really wanted it to be a date. I quickly ruled it out, resigning to believing she meant it as just friends, and said, "Well, if that's what you want."

"I would really appreciate it," Octavia said. "It would make me feel comfortable with letting you walk home alone."

"Is that so?" I asked with a smile. "Then a picnic we shall have."

With that, I carried Octavia's cello and the food to the table bench, with Octavia following me with a smile. What I didn't know was that Octavia saw my blush and felt a glimpse of hope that I would like for the picnic to be a date. She considered that I was blushing because a girl said that, but she refused to believe that was the case this time. Rarity told Octavia she had competition for my affections, and the cellist chose to think that she had a better chance than anyone to get it. As far she was concerned, this picnic was a date whether I viewed it be or not. 

I placed the food on the table bench and laid Octavia's cello beside it. Octavia and I sat next to each other, and I handed her fish curry and a plastic fork before taking my chicken out of the bag. We took a moment to give thanks to the Lord before opening the containers and started eating. We ate in silence for the next few minutes, with me taking big bites of my food. I didn't want to admit it, but I was hungrier than I thought, and Octavia was glad that she convinced me to stop and eat. She took a spoonful of her fish curry and looked up at the sky as she ate. 

"Look at the stars," she said with a smile. "There's so many of them."

I looked up from my chicken and said, "There's actually a lot more. You can't tell because of all of the town lights."

"I'm sure," Octavia said. "It's still more than I would see in Manehattan, though."

I let out a chuckle and said, "Now that I think about it, this is actually less than what I would see in Appleloosa."

"Really?" Octavia asked. 

"Yeah, Appleloosa is not exactly a place that shines brightly at night unlike here or a place like Manehattan, being a place in the middle of the desert and all," I said. "My family's house was far enough from the center of town that we could see all of the stars from our backyard."

Octavia smirked at me and said, "My word. I think you just said something good about Appleloosa."

"What? No way," I said. "Seeing a bunch of stars at night is no reason to go back there."

"Perhaps, but that's still the nicest thing you have ever said about the place," Octavia said.

I thought about it before I playfully pouted and said, "I guess so, but you better not tell that to anyone. I have a reputation to uphold."

Octavia snickered and patted my shoulder, saying, "My lips are sealed."

My pout turned into a smile, and the two of us stared at each other in silence, lost in each other's eyes. It took half a minute before I realized what I was doing, and I cleared my throat and went back to my food, beet red. Octavia pulled a face, wishing we kept staring at each other, but her pout soon turned into a smile, and she went back to her food, feeling her cheeks heating up. 

"So, I saw a lot of people really enjoyed your music," I said, not looking at Octavia.

"Yeah, they did," Octavia said, playing with her curry. "I've never played in front of an audience for so many hours before. To be honest, I was worried I was going to run out of songs to play. Sometimes I had to wing it to keep it fresh."

"Could have fooled me," I said, smirking. "You looked like you could go on for days."

"Oh, stop it," Octavia chortled. "Believe it or not, I'm not capable of playing my cello forever."

"But I bet you'd like to. You did say you feel like you're in a world that you can control when you play," I said.

Octavia turned to look at me, surprised for a moment, before giving me a sweet smile.

"You remembered," she said. 

"Of course, I did," I said. "You compared playing your cello to me writing fanfiction of all things, and that made me feel more comfortable with who I am. I would never forget something like that."

Octavia's smile grew, and we found ourselves staring into each other's eyes again. Eventually, I cleared my throat and decided to change the subject while going back to my food.

"You know, speaking of music and stories, I've been a little curious," I said. "When we went to see Rarity to have her make your dress for the wedding, you two were talking about a musical you really like."

"The Tale of Flaming Arrow and Silver Gleam?" Octavia asked.

"That's the one," I said. "I wanted to ask; what is it about?"

"You really want to know?" Octavia asked.

"Yes, please," I said. "It sounds like a pretty special musical to you, and I wonder why."

Octavia raised her eyebrow for a moment before she smiled, accepting that I was sincere. She pushed her curry away and rested her head with both hands, looking at the sky with a dreamy smile.

"Well, you're not wrong about it being very special," Octavia said. "To be straightforward with you, I consider it to be the most romantic story there is."

"Really? Now that's interesting. Please, tell me more," I said. 

"You see, it takes place in a fantasy land where people live in a kingdom that's surrounded by evil creatures led by an evil sorceress," Octavia said. "The people are always at war with the sorceress, and she possesses a powerful jewel that gives her monsters power."

I tilted my head in confusion and asked, "Wait, are you actually talking about a fantasy world? I thought I'm the nerd between us."

Octavia giggled and said, "I suppose what I said sounds more up your alley than mine, but the musical doesn't focus so much on the fantasy stuff. It's more focused on the main characters and their relationship."

"Meaning Flaming Arrow and Silver Gleam?" I asked.

"Correct," Octavia said. "Flaming Arrow is a hunter who lives on the outskirts of the kingdom, and Silver Gleam is the princess and heir to the throne. One day, Flaming Arrow and his mother take a journey to the capital on a special business with the king because his mother represents the villages in the outskirts. While Flaming Arrow's mother discusses matters with the king, Flaming Arrow goes on a walk in the castle gardens, and that's when he meets Silver Gleam. She doesn’t wear a crown or any other accessories or clothing fitting for a woman of royalty. She’s just in a plain dress that no one would think a person of high class, much less a princess, would wear. Flaming Arrow thought she was a citizen whose family also has business with the king, so he thought it would be fine if they strike a conversation."

"And they develop feelings for each other at the gardens?" I asked.

"Yes, they do," Octavia said, still looking at the sky with a smile. "They meet regularly at the garden while Flaming Arrow's mother still has business with the king, and the way that they fall in love with each other and express it through music is wonderful to watch. What I love most about it is neither of them knows what the other is. They just know the person."

"How would Flaming Arrow not know what Silver Gleam is if she's the heir to the throne?" I asked.

"Because he lives on the outskirts of the country, where there's little concern for things like that," Octavia explained. "He says in a solo song that she could be the daughter of a lowly baker or innkeeper in the capital, and he would do anything for her no matter what."

"Ah, I like the way Flaming Arrow thinks," I said.

"That doesn't surprise me," Octavia said. "Anyway, they eventually are found out, and the king is displeased with their relationship, to say the least. He wanted to punish Flaming Arrow despite not knowing who Silver Gleam is, but instead of begging to spare his life, Flaming Arrow begs for a chance to prove that he is worthy of being with Silver Gleam. The king thought about it and decided that to prove himself, Flaming Arrow had to travel to the lands of the sorceress and steal her jewel of power."

"Sounds like a ploy to get rid of Flaming Arrow," I said.

"Obviously," Octavia said. "Regardless, Flaming Arrow agrees, and he takes a few companions to the land of the sorceress. They get captured, and his companions are tortured to death, but instead of having him killed, the sorceress took a liking to Flaming Arrow and spent every day visiting his prison, attempting to woo him to become her submissive husband. Through means of magic, Silver Gleam found out about Flaming Arrow's capture and decided to sneak out from the castle and attempt to save her beloved and steal the jewel herself to save her kingdom and fulfill the deal that would earn the right to marry Flaming Arrow."

"Does she have any magical abilities or weapons?" I asked.

"No, she doesn't. She's walking into a land of darkness with nothing but her will to keep her going," Octavia said.

"Whoa, that's pretty brave. What happens next?" I asked. 

Octavia was silent for a moment before she finally turned back to me with a smirk.

"I'm not saying," she said.

"What? Why not?" I asked. "You went this far, so you may as well finish it."

"I may, but I won't," Octavia said. "If you want to know how it ends, you'll just have to see the musical together with me and find out."

Octavia playfully stuck her tongue out at me, and I pouted again, feeling let down after so much build-up. After a few seconds, the two of us laughed at the way the other was looking, and I said, “Alright, we’ll see it together someday, and I’ll find out how it ends.” 

“Sounds like a plan to me,” Octavia said. “And don’t even think about finding out how it ends on the internet or something. That’s a command as your sort of employer.”

“Wow. Two orders from you in one day. Lucky me,” I said. “Regardless, I wouldn’t dream of looking it up online. That’s a sure way to spoil the fun.”

“Exactly,” Octavia said. “Plus, you technically disobeyed my first order, so consider this a chance for redemption.”

“Works for me,” I said. “Anyway, we better finish our dinner and get home.”

Octavia smiled and nodded, and we finally finished the rest of the food. I threw the containers into the park trash can and picked up Octavia’s cello before we went back to walking to her house. I walked with more energy in my body after eating, which made Octavia smile. As we got closer to her house, however, her smile turned into a look of regret. I wondered what was on her mind until we made it to the front porch, and she turned to face me.

“Can I tell you something?” She asked.

“Of course,” I said right away.

Octavia bit her lip before looking away and playing with her fingers as she said, “For as long as we have been in a serious relationship, I thought for sure that Blueblood is the Flaming Arrow to my Silver Gleam. The way he made time for me and treated me like he would do anything to make me happy... I don’t know. I felt so sure that he is someone I would do anything for and spend the rest of my life with.” Her eyes began to water, and her mouth quivered as she continued. “And then he started putting other things before me and treating people like you and Coriander Cumin and Saffron Masala horribly. On the outside, I just show that I’m annoyed, but on the inside, I feel so disillusioned. Now, we’re on a break, and I’m starting to doubt that he’s ever going to change.” Octavia wiped a tear from her eye before looking at me seriously. “Answer me honestly, Rough Draft. Do you think it was wrong to put my boyfriend up to the standards of a fictional character?”

“No,” I said without missing a beat.

“Why not?” Octavia asked.

I hesitated and looked away, scratching the back of my head before I said, “Er, well, I mean, I've never been in a relationship, but I don't think you have to want the guy you like to be just like Flaming Arrow to know that something's wrong. I mean, the things I've seen and  the things you’ve told me about you and Blueblood don’t exactly sound like a healthy relationship, romantic or otherwise.” I chuckled before I scratched my chin and said, “Besides, if I ever have a girlfriend, I’ll consider her as the love interest from some of the franchises I'm into while I’m her special someone. The Princess Leia to my Han Solo, the Arwen to my Aragorn, the Catwoman to my Batman, the list goes on. So, you’re not exactly the only one who brings fiction into their ideas of love, and if it’s a foolish thing to do, then you’re not the only fool.”

The two of us were silent for a moment, and I grew nervous that she was going to hate my answer. Thankfully, she smiled and wiped away the rest of her tears before saying, “Thank you, Rough Draft. I needed to hear that. It’s good to know I won’t be alone.”

I mentally sighed in relief and said with a smirk, “That’s right. You won’t be. It’s a promise.”

Octavia gave me another sweet look that showed she felt better. Just then, before I had a second to realize what was happening, she took a step forward and lightly pressed her lips against my left cheek. The kiss only lasted a second, but the feeling of her soft gray lips left me so stunned that I didn’t notice her taking her cello case from my hand. Octavia felt her face heat up like mine, but I stared too deep into space to notice. 

“Good night, Rough Draft,” she said as she patted the cheek she kissed. “I’ll see you at school.”

I responded by speaking gibberish, and she covered her mouth to hide a giggle. She opened the front door and turned back to give me one more sweet look while I was still looking away before she went in and closed the door behind her. The sound of the door closing snapped me out of my daze, and I looked around to find that Octavia was inside. I shook my head and slapped myself to bring myself back together, and began heading back home. 

As I walked, though, I placed my hand on the cheek Octavia kissed and wondered what to make of it. Was it just my imagination? Did she mean it in a friendly way, or was there something more to it? What would our friends say if I told them about this? I did not know what to make of it, but I thought that if I asked Rarity, she might know what to make of it.

Either way, the Tasty Treat was saved, I got to have a little picnic with Octavia Melody, and I was going to sleep well for the rest of the night.
> Chapter 18
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Octavia was high in spirits when she came to school on Friday. She was proud that she, Rainbow Dash, Soarin, Applejack, Caramel, Rarity, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Starlight Glimmer, and I completed our mission to save the Tasty Treat in one night. Her satisfaction grew whenever she heard students talk about their time eating at the restaurant that night, with some planning to eat at the Tasty Treat again with friends who hadn't been there. It was as though it was a blessing in disguise that Blueblood and I got into that fight for the good of Saffron Masala and Coriander Cumin's business, and she can only imagine Blueblood and his father in sour spirits because of it.
However, when her mind wasn't on the Tasty Treat, it was fixed on her and me. Her heart aflutter when she thought of kissing my cheek. Even though it wasn't a kiss on the lips, the moment that led up to it and how I reacted made Octavia smile. She fought the urge to blush whenever she thought about it in class. All in all, Octavia was hopeful that she would secure a chance to start something with me, especially after I struggled to look her in the eye when we met in English class, for my mind had been on that kiss all day. 
When class ended, we grabbed our stuff and left the classroom with Sonata walking behind us. We walked a few feet from the classroom before I turned to Sonata and asked, "Care to walk to the music room with us again, Sonata?" 
Sonata frowned and said, "I'd like that a lot, but I got to meet my sisters at the parking lot. We're heading to work early."
Octavia frowned and rubbed her arm before reluctantly saying, "Actually, Rough Draft, I think I should skip study group today. Since the wedding is tomorrow, I better practice as much as I can."
I resisted the urge to show my disappointment and forced a grin on my face.
"Totally. I'll fill you in with what Starlight Glimmer and I go over," I said.
"Excellent," Octavia said. "Then I will see you tomorrow afternoon, Mr. Draft. Don't forget, be at my front door at three o'clock sharp." 
"You can count on me, Lady Melody," I said with a little bow. 
Once again, my jester made Octavia giggle. Sonata frowned at the two of us talking about the wedding, knowing what Adagio had planned. She then replaced it with a bright smile and said, "I hope you guys have fun. I'll be crossing my fingers for your first gig, Octavia."
"Thank you, Sonata. That's very kind of you," Octavia said. "Anyway, I will see you all later." 
"Bye, Octavia," Sonata called out. 
"See you tomorrow, Octavia," I said. 
Octavia waved her hand as she made her way to the school's main entrance. She continued to smile as she began walking to her house, thinking of how I would react to her dress for the wedding. Her thoughts then turned to what song she planned to practice first when she heard someone calling out to her.
"Octavia! Octavia Melody!"
Octavia turned around to see a girl with azure skin and cornflower blue hair with pale cerulean stripes running over to her. She tilted her head as the other girl caught up, having never seen her before. 
"Can I help you?" Octavia asked. 
"You certainly may," the girl answered confidently. "The Great and Powerful Trixie wants to know what you know about Adagio Dazzle single-handedly saving the Tasty Treat."
Octavia stared at Trixie, puzzled, and asked, "What on Earth are you talking about?"
"You mean you haven't heard?" Trixie asked. "Everybody is talking about it. Adagio and her sisters brought tons of people to the restaurant to raise money and then pitched in exactly the rest of the money that the owners of the Tasty Treat needed to save their precious restaurant. She has been hailed as a hero throughout the school."
Octavia furrowed her brow and said, "Don't believe everything you hear, Trixie. Adagio Dazzle did bring some people and gave a generous donation, but saving the Tasty Treat was saved through the passion and hard work my friends and I put into making the appropriate money."
Trixie snickered, which irritated Octavia more. 
"Hard work? Trixie finds that hard to believe. Especially with that new kid, Rough Draft," she said.
Octavia's look of disregard evaporated into confusion, and she asked, "What do you mean?" 
"Wow, there's a lot of juicy intel you don't know," Trixie said with a cackle. "Word is he was sitting next to Adagio Dazzle while the Dazzlings were eating dinner. He was there until one of his friends came and put him back to work. 
Octavia looked at Trixie, dumbfounded, and said, "I can't believe that. Rough Draft wouldn't interact with Adagio Dazzle like that."
"Are you sure?" Trixie asked with a smug grin. "There were a lot of people who saw it happen. Personally, Trixie wonders if the queen bee has decided to settle on a real relationship. If that's true, then Rough Draft is a very lucky guy."
Octavia winced and felt a twinge of fear in her heart.
"What makes you so sure? Everyone knows that Adagio Dazzle is very manipulative. Even Rough Draft knows it.” she said.
"Trixie doubts it," Trixie said with a smug grin. "If he is that smart, then he wouldn't have let Adagio hold his hand or do nothing while she scooted closer to her while they were talking. Trixie thinks it's clear she has Rough Draft on her hook, and unlike the other guys on her hook, she wants to reel him in for something serious."
Octavia's confidence disappeared as she watched Trixie walk away. She turned her head to the school, imagining me in the music room with Glimmer, with my focus on Adagio. The thought made Octavia's stomach turn. She shook her head and continued walking to her house, trying to force her mind to think about practicing for the wedding. 
But try as she might, all she could think about was what Trixie said. She looked down as she walked down the sidewalk, trying to make sense of it.
"Now, don't get ahead of yourself, Octavia," she muttered to herself. "You shouldn't trust what Trixie said. After all, you just met her, and she based her opinion on rumors. People will believe anything." 
She stopped waking and bit her lip as she grew uneasy. 
"On the other hand, Adagio was mouthing out 'I'll miss you' and winking at Rough Draft before she left, so something must have happened."
The gray girl clenched her teeth and let out an irritated growl. She massaged the top of her head as she began walking again. 
"Why is this so difficult?" She asked herself. "Rough Draft said he's smarter than to believe a word Adagio Dazzle says. So, why is he spending time with her? For that matter, why would someone cruel and manipulative want to date someone? She can't possibly find Rough Draft so interesting that she genuinely wants to be with him." 
Octavia stops at an intersection, waiting to cross. She stared at the "don't walk" sign as her unease grew. 
"Then again, I find him that interesting, so I guess I can understand. Plus, Rarity did say that other girls are interested in Rough Draft and advised that I don't take too long to try something with him, so that adds up," she said. "But that still doesn't explain what Rough Draft could possibly see in her."
The more Octavia thought about it, the more frustrated she got. Then something clicked in her mind, and she raised her head. She took out her phone, ignoring that the sign went from "don't walk" to "walk," and looked up the Siren Cafe. The cafe was not too far away from where Octavia was and she hesitated before putting on a determined face. 
"I don't know if Rough Draft has heard Adagio sing, but I'll be the better person and find out what my rival is like as a musician," Octavia said. "I don't think I'll be able to practice if I don't at least try to find out something."
With that, Octavia took a turn from the light and walked to the Siren Cafe. At the front of the building, Octavia saw a poster of the Dazzlings on the front door, with Adagio covering most of the picture. Octavia raised her eyebrow at how the oldest sister made it look like she was the star despite her being in a group with her other sisters. She went inside and adjusted her eyes for a moment with the cafe barely lit with dim lights. Most of the tables were filled with boys by themselves or in groups. Some were doing homework while others were staring at the stage, waiting eagerly for the Dazzlings to perform. Octavia shook her head as she found some of the boys going so far as wearing outfits matching the color of adagio's skin, hair, and outfit.
Octavia walked to the barista to order some tea until she saw Applejack and Granny Smith sitting at a table in the far corner away from the stage. Applejack was reading a textbook while Granny Smith was asleep against her chair. Octavia looked at them, puzzled to see them at the cafe of all places. She wondered if any of our other friends were there, but Applejack and Granny Smith were at a table for two, and there weren't many empty tables. 
The barista cleared his throat, breaking Octavia's focus, and she sheepishly chuckled before she made her order and paid for the tea. After the barista gave Octavia her drink, she sat at a table by the windows and away from Applejack and Granny Smith. As curious as she was that Applejack and her grandmother were there, she came to the Siren Cafe to investigate in secret and wanted to keep it that way. Yet Octavia knew she could only hide so much when sitting by windows covered by blinds far away from the stage.
"I wish I thought of bringing a jacket and a hat or something, " she thought. 
Spotlights shined on the stage, and the audience cheered as though they were in a concert. Adagio, Aria, and Sonata entered the stage, with Sonata waving and Aria forcing a smile to hide her contempt. Adagio smirked and blew kisses at the boys in the audience. Some of them squealed and looked away bashfully. One fainted as though Adagio had kissed him, and it was too much for him to bear. Octavia grew unsettled as she worried I would act like one of the guys if I were there, yet a voice in her mind argued I was smarter than that. 
A low, slow tune began to play on the speakers, and the Dazzlings began to sing. Octavia took a sip of her tea as she listened. All three girls had beautiful, soothing voices, yet Octavia couldn't deny that Adagio had the strongest and most enchanting voice. She sang with her head held high and a smile that melted the hearts of her audience. Octavia tilted her head as she realized the Dazzlings weren't singing about anything. 
"Strange. I thought there'd be lyrics by now," Octavia thought. "Is Adagio so proud that she thinks all she needs is her voice and looks to get boys on her hook? Clearly, that's enough for these boys, but I can't imagine Rough Draft enjoying just the vocalizing. Then again, he enjoys hearing me play when it's just me and my cello, so -"
"Hey, Octavia."
Octavia jumped, nearly spilled her tea. She turned to see Applejack standing next to her with a friendly smile, then turned back to the stage where the Dazzlings were still performing, not looking at her or Applejack. Octavia sighed, relieved that her cover wasn't blown, before turning to Applejack.
"Applejack, what a surprise," she said. "Didn't expect to see you here."
"Granny and I come here sometimes," Applejack said. "She likes to watch Sonata perform."
"She does? Why Sonata specifically?" Octavia asked. "Does it have to do with some of us becoming her friends?"
"Actually, no. Granny's been fond of Sonata for a while," Applejack said. "Big Mac and I have warned her about the Dazzlings, but she ignores us, insisting that Sonata is an exception even though she only sees her during lunch. Guess she saw something in Sonata that no one else has seen but Rough Draft."
Octavia smiled at the mention of me being defensive about Sonata.
"So, are you here too because Rough Draft and I have been befriending her?" She asked.
"More or less. Granny never comes to see Sonata after she performs to tell her a good job because she fears that might cause trouble with the other Dazzlings, but I think she considers it enough that there's at least one person here specifically for Sonata Dusk when the rest of the customers worship the ground Adagio Dazzle stands on," Applejack explained. "Speaking of customers, what brings you to the Siren's Cafe?
"Er, well, I heard they have some good tea, so I decided to try a cup," Octavia fibbed.
"Shouldn't you be at home rehearsing for the wedding tomorrow?" Applejack asked. 
"Yes, but I always like having a little spot of tea before I play," Octavia said. 
"I see. Mind if I join you?" Applejack asked. 
"Not at all," Octavia said. 
With a smile, Applejack grabbed a chair from a nearby table and sat next to Octavia. Octavia took another sip of her tea as she and Applejack returned to watching the Dazzlings sing. The three sisters began a new song that was faster in tempo. Halfway through their song, Aria and Sonata stepped back while Adagio stepped up until she was at the edge of the stage. While her sisters performed the backup, Adagio showed off her range as a singer going from one octave to another at a fast pace while sticking to the beat. Octavia hated to admit it, but her rival had unnatural musical talent. Not even she could go up back and forth several octaves with her cello as quickly as Adagio could with her voice. As the Dazzlings performed other songs, Octavia felt discouraged with what I thought of Adagio as a musician compared to her, for not even she could deny that her supposed rival was as talented as she was alluring.
Finally, the  Dazzlings finished their last song, and the audience applauded with some tossing roses on the stage. Granny stood up as she applauded like Sonata was the star. The Dazzlings bowed, and Adagio blew kisses before they went backstage. A member of the staff went to pick up the flowers. No one seemed to mind that the Dazzlings didn't take any, with the boys either thinking they weren't allowed to take them or Adagio simply didn't notice them. 
After Octavia and Applejack finished applauding, Octavia chugged the rest of her tea. She felt she witnessed all she needed to know about Adagio as a potential rival, and she didn't want to pretend around Applejack more than she needed to. When she finished her cup, Octavia cleared her throat, grabbed her backpack, and stood up.
"Well, it was nice to see you, Applejack, but I fear I must be going," Octavia said.
"Hold on, Octavia. I have something to discuss with you," Applejack said.
Octavia flinched, uneasy with how Applejack spoke like a parent who knows her child did something wrong. She reluctantly sat back down and faced Applejack, trying to look innocent. Applejack furrowed her brow and crossed her arms. 
"Why have you been lying to me?" She asked. 
"Lying? What makes you think I've been lying?" Octavia asked. 
"I can always tell when people are lying no matter what," Applejack said matter-of-factly. "Even if I couldn't, you didn't act particularly surprised to see me when I walked over to you, which means you saw Granny and me before. The fact that you drank the rest of your tea and tried to leave so quickly shows you aren't here just to try the tea before practicing your cello. In fact, I bet my boots that you were so eager to leave because you actually did mind that I join you. The only thing you said was the honest truth: you didn't expect to see me here. So, be straight with me. What are you trying to hide it?"
When Applejack finished, Octavia's mouth was hanging agape, and she stood paralyzed. To Octavia, it was as if Applejack had a superpower to do the impossible, not unlike Pinkie Pie. She wondered if it was something that ran in the family, remembering hearing about Pinkie Pie and Applejack being related. After half a minute, Octavia sighed and hung her head. 
"Alright, you got me," she said. "I came here to watch Adagio Dazzle perform."
Applejack raised her eyebrow and asked, "Now, why would you do a thing like that?"
"I heard from someone at school that Rough Draft was sitting next to Adagio Dazzle while the Dazzlings were at the Tasty Treat, and she was holding his hand. She said Adagio might be looking for a real relationship and has her eyes on Rough Draft. I got worried that Rough Draft was letting his guard down with Adagio, and then I wondered if there was something he saw in her. I came here to watch her sing and see if that might factor in Rough Draft potentially liking her."
"Hmmm. I see," Applejack said. "Is there any other reason that you're worried?"
Octavia winced and bit her lip. 
"Well, I might have developed an…interest in Rough Draft…romantically," she confessed. "And I've been informed that there are other girls who share a similar interest in him. When I heard about what might be happening between Adagio and Rough Draft, I grew concerned that she is either misleading him or is sincere about wanting him."
It was Applejack's turn to be stunned. She tried to think of something to say, but her mouth hung wide open. So much time was spent telling me to be careful with my feelings, and Octavia felt the same. The irony hurt Applejack's head. 
"Well…that's…news," Applejack managed to say. 
"Yes, imagine it would be a bit of a shock," Octavia said. "I hope you understand that I want you to be silent about this, Applejack. To be frank, I'm uncomfortable with how many people know."
"I hear ya. I won't say a word," Applejack promised. "Who else knows about this?"
"I'd rather not share that information if you don't mind," Octavia said. 
"Fine, but at least tell me this: do you plan to confess your feelings to Rough Draft? Are you hoping that he'll say yes to dating you if you tell him?" Applejack asked. 
Octavia flushed and played with her fingers. 
"I've been thinking about it," she said. "Do you think he would?"
For half a minute, Applejack said nothing. Part of her was still not entirely convinced that my hopes to pursue something with Octavia could come true. For one brief moment, the edges of Applejack's mouth curled up, but then she frowned as Applejack: the voice of reason, returned. Applejack sighed and stood up to put her hand on Octavia's shoulder. 
"Listen, Octavia. I don't want any misunderstanding with what I've got to say. Between you and someone like Adagio Dazzle, you would have my blessing to try to pursue something with my friend," Applejack said.
"I'm sensing a but," Octavius said. 
"I'm afraid you are," Applejack said. "But whether Rough Draft would return your feelings or not, you still have Blueblood to worry about."
Octavia's concerned face turned into a cold frown, and she said, "Blueblood has no right to be my concern anymore. We are on a break, and the odds of Blueblood changing for the better are slim at best. Full disclosure, I would count on me dumping him whether I confess to Rough Draft or not."
"That may be, but I think we both know that if you dump Blueblood, he won't leave it at that,'' Applejack said. "He'll probably do whatever it takes to make you take him back, and he probably won't stop until he does."
"Let him try. I am not some stock or business product that he can pursue to the ends of the Earth to buy with his money," Octavia said. 
"And what about Rough Draft? Have you thought about what Blueblood may do to him if you date someone he hates?" Applejack asked. 
Octavia's cold demeanor vanished. In all the time she considered pursuing a relationship with me, it never crossed her mind how enraged Blueblood would be if she specifically dumped him to be with me. Octavia couldn't deny that Blueblood would have every right to be upset at best with his long-term girlfriend dumping him to be with the guy that punched him off the balcony, accident or not. As much as Octavia didn't want to admit it, she wouldn't put past Blueblood going back on his promise to leave me alone and not suing my family. Blueblood had failed to keep his word several times as Octavia's boyfriend. It stood to reason that he would show little to no care about his word if Octavia made herself his enemy. Applejack's heart grew heavy as she watched her words sink into Octavia. 
"I don't want to discourage you, Octavia. You deserve someone a million times better than the likes of Blueblood, and Rough Draft is a good guy," Applejack said. 
"I understand and appreciate that, Applejack," Octavia said. "It seems like even if I end things with Blueblood, he would never completely be out of my life unless, by some miracle, he moves on. One thing I know about Blueblood is he is as stubborn as a mule."
"More like a pack of mules if you ask me," Applejack said. 
Octavia snickered before her face turned glum again.
"Well, do you know anything about Adagio wanting to date Rough Draft?" Octavia asked.
Applejack winced and looked away, which was all Octavia needed. 
"I see," Octavia said before standing up. "Well then, at least I can ensure my rival doesn't try anything with the boy I like."
"Wait a minute. You won't try to date Rough Draft, but you'll stop anyone else from trying to get him?" Applejack asked.
"Not everyone, per se. There may be another girl crushing on him, but I've got my sights on stopping Adagio Dazzle," Octavia said. "After all, we both want her to stop trying to win Rough Draft. Right?"
"Yeah, but it sounds like you're going to take out the fact that Blueblood would do something to stop you and Rough Draft from being together on Adagio," Applejack said. "You're sounding as stiff-necked as she and Blueblood are, and you still don't even know if Rough Draft would return your feelings if you confess."
"Then I guess Blueblood, Adagio, and I are going to be stubborn regarding our respective views about Rough Draft, but at least I have his best interest at heart," Octavia said. "If I can't have Rough Draft as my boyfriend, I can at least protect him as his friend. Until then, he'll be mine all night tomorrow, and Adagio Dazzle, Blueblood, and my second rival can't do a thing about it."
Applejack stood flabbergasted as Octavia grabbed her backpack. She opened her mouth to protest, but Octavia put on her backpack, then pulled Applejack to a one-armed hug.
"Thank you, Applejack. I needed this talk," Octavia said. "See you on Monday."
"Wait. Hold on. Octavia!" Applejack called out.
But by the time Applejack called out her name, Octavia was already out the door. Applejack took a step to follow Octavia, then she stopped herself, realizing she shouldn't leave Ganny alone in the cafe. She hung her head and let out a heavy sigh before scratching the back of her head. 
"Rough Draft wants to be with Octavia, Octavia wants to be with Rough Draft, Adagio Dazzle is trying to woo Rough Draft, and Blueblood will do anything to keep Octavia. If that ain't enough, Rarity still wants to win Blueblood on top of a third girl having a thing for Rough Draft," Applejack said before she sighed. "Lord, help us. I fear there's going to be chaos."
"Applejack, get your hiney back over here! The next show's gonna start soon!" Granny Smith called out.
Applejack paused before she walked back to her and Granny Smith's table. Unfortunately, unbeknownst to Applejack, Adagio was peeking through the curtains throughout Applejack and Octavia's conversation. Though lights shined brightly in front of the dazzlings, the leader had little trouble seeing Octavia watch their performance despite sitting in the far back. Adagio relished seeing Octavia be uneasy as she watched her and her sisters perform. As soon as the show ended, Adagio watched behind the curtains instead of going backstage. After hearing Applejack and Octavia's conversation, Sonata looked behind her, uneasy and frightened. All the youngest dazzling could do was look at her oldest sister in silence and fear as Adagio grinned.
"Very well, Octavia Melody. Let there be war."
> Chapter 19
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

It was the day of the wedding, and I was in high spirits as though it were my own wedding. I practiced dancing throughout the night before, even when my legs were tiring. Eventually, I grew so confident that I recorded a video of me dancing while pretending to have a partner and sent it to Fluttershy and Starlight Glimmer. Starlight gave me a few critiques, but apart from that, she and Fluttershy were pleased to see all of their tutoring pay off. 
Come Sunday morning, I woke up with an exhilarated grin. I spent most of the morning doing chores and some homework, but my mind was still on the wedding. It had only been a few weeks since Octavia asked me to be her date, but it felt more like months since I had been waiting to watch her perform at her first official gig, especially for our dance after the reception. It was the first night I would be partaking in a big event with a girl, one I had strong feelings for, no less. I was determined to make it a night that Octavia and I would never forget. 
About an hour after lunch, I took another shower just in case before my dad helped me put on my suit. My mom gave me a few pointers on how to behave at a wedding and toward my date before she and Dad wished me good luck, and I headed off to Octavia's house. I hummed wedding music as I walked down the street with a skip in my step. When I walked to the front porch, I checked the time on my phone to find I was 2 minutes early. I decided to play a game on my phone at the front door until 3:00. 
Finally, at 2 seconds left, I raised my hand to knock on the door when it flung open. Octavia stood in a purple rain dress with medium sleeves and crow shoulders. A navy blue sash was wrapped around her waist, and she exited the front door wearing bright white slippers. I stood gaping as I analyzed her outfit from top to bottom. I already thought Octavia was the most beautiful person I had ever seen in my life, yet seeing her look so extravagant in her dress made me feel spoiled to the bone to be in her presence. I was so stunned that I didn't notice Octavia’s cheeks turning pink, flattered by how I gazed upon her. 
"Like what you see, Mr. Draft?" Octavia asked. 
My cheeks flared up, and I shook my head to break my gaze. 
"Sorry. It's just … you look incredible," I said. 
Octavia's blush grew, and she looked away to hide it as she said, "Thank you. Rarity will be pleased with the results of her hard work." 
"I bet she will," I agreed. "Anyway, has the limo arrived yet?"
No sooner had I asked than I heard a honk behind me, and I turned around to find a limo parked on the sidewalk. The chauffeur got out of the driver's seat and walked over to the end of the car to open the back door, giving Octavia and me a bow. 
"Wow, talk about good timing," I said. 
"Indeed. It's all the more reason I expected you to be here at 3:00 sharp," Octavia said. "Though I must say, I did not expect you to arrive so early that you would wait in front of the door to knock." 
"What can I say? I arrived a little earlier than planned, and I wanted to wait until 3:00 to show that I did what you asked," I said. 
"I appreciate that, Rough Draft, but you don't have to wait until precisely 3 to let me know you arrived. I'm quite pleased that you came a little early," Octavia said. 
"I'll keep that in mind the next time," I said. "Anyway, shall we get the show on the road?"
 "Yes, we shall," Octavia said. 
She went back inside her house for a second and came back with her cello case. We then walked over to the limousine, where I let Octavia go in first. The chauffeur closed the door behind us and then returned to the driver's seat to drive us to Manehattan. The back of the limo was filled with candy, drinks, and a music box installed for karaoke. There were lights of various colors installed on the ceiling. I looked around, surprised at how much of what I'd seen in movies were real. At the very end, beside the driver's seat, was a 4K 30-inch tv. Octavia smiled in amusement as she watched me look at our surroundings. 
"Believe it or not, this is an average limousine as far as luxury goes," Octavia said. 
"You make it sound like you've ridden a lot of limousines in the past," I said.  
"As a matter of fact, I have," Octavia said. "Blueblood always took me on dates in limousines. It's one of the ways that he would show off his wealth and try to make our dates memorable while we were still living in Manehattan."
"Ha! Show off," I said. "Don't you think this is a little much when we're going to Manehattan for your first gig? It's not like we're going to our wedding or something like that." 
Octavia's and my eyes widened, and we looked away, blushing at the idea of us getting married. Octavia then cleared her throat and said, "From the way a representative of Blueblood's father explained it, Blueblood thought it fitting that I should go to my first paid gig in a limo. Though, to be frank with you, Rough Draft, I have my suspicions that I am being brought to the wedding in a limo despite being simply a member of the wedding band because, technically, I am still Blueblood's girlfriend. It's likely Blueblood has kept the fact that I put us on a break a secret from high society, and this limousine is a tool to keep it that way."
"When you say it like that, I feel we shouldn't be surprised if Blueblood's trying to use this limousine to try to keep you from dumping him," I said. "You know. Try to remind you of the benefits you have as his girlfriend." 
"No, we shouldn't be surprised at all," Octavia said before smiling at me. "But let's not dwell on that. We should have a little fun while it's still a long way to Manehattan."
I gave Octavia a smirk and said, "You're right. We shouldn't make this a waste of money on Blueblood's part. Besides, I think he and I can agree; you deserve a little luxury for gaining such a big gig."
"Oh, come now, Mr. Draft. Don't be so biased," Octavia said.
"I think that ship sailed a long time ago, Ms. Melody," I said. "Besides, what are dates for wedding band members for anyway?"
Octavia giggled and put her hand on top of mine. My cheeks heated up as I stared at our hands, not noticing Octavia blushing as well. 
"Then I expect you to be supportive to the very end," she said.
"As you wish, Octavia," I said as I looked up at Octavia. "As you wish."



**************************************************************************


For the next two hours, Octavia and I watched a movie on the tv while helping ourselves to some snacks. When we entered the city, I stopped to look through the window to marvel at the tall buildings and the countless people walking down the street going about their business. For anyone else, this would be a normal megacity, but for someone who lived most of his life in the desert and having only seen cities in film or tv, the buildings may as well be as tall as mountains. Octavia couldn't help but giggle at my amazement, finding it silly but cute. 
The limousine parked on the sidewalk, and the chauffeur exited the car to open the door for us. I got out first and offered Octavia my hand as she got out behind me. As we walked to the building in front of us, I saw a large sign at the top with the words "Goldblood Industries" shining in gold lights. Evidently, Blueblood's lack of subtlety runs in the family. 
We went inside and took the elevator to the top floor. We then went down the hall to a door outside, revealing a venue that filled the entire floor. Lights were hanging above us and there were white, pink, lilac, and sky blue cloudbuster balloons tied to poles or anchored at the center of dining tables. From the other side from where we came were two dozen rows of folded chairs split into two sections and facing an arc standing by the edge. 
I looked to my right, and there was staff setting up the reception, including one man bringing a massive ice sculpture that I assumed was of the bride and groom. I looked to my left to find a large dance floor installed with a white stage in front of it. A group of people practiced music on the stage with a violin, a flute, and a piano. Octavia and I looked at each other and smiled, knowing it was the wedding band. 
"Excuse me, are you Octavia Melody?"
Octavia and I turned around to find a girl our age standing behind us. She had grayish mulberry skin, dark blue hair with a purple and a pink streak, and glasses and a light blue dress. She had a pen in her ear and was holding a clipboard.
"Yes, I am," Octavia answered. "And you're Shining Armor's sister, right?"
"That's right. My name is Twilight Sparkle. I'm also organizing the wedding and Shining Armor's Best Lady," Twilight answered. 
"Best Lady?" I asked. 
Twilight turned to me and looked at me, confused for a moment before it came to her.
"Ah, you must be the person representing Blueblood in his place as Octavia Melody's date," she said.
"That's right. My name is Rough Draft," I said.
"Pleasure," Twilight said. "Anyway, Shining Armor wanted me to take the position as the head of his groomsmen, so to speak, as his Best Lady rather than Best Man."
"Huh. There's something you don't hear every day," I said.
"Indeed," Octavia said. "Anyway, have all the members of the band arrived?"
"Yes, they have," Twilight said. "Why don't you go over and start rehearsing with them while more of the guests arrive?"
"Sounds good," Octavia said. "How about me? I'm all for helping while the other guests haven't arrived if you'll have me," I said. 
Octavia gave me a sweet smile while Twilight hesitated before saying with a polite smile, "That's nice of you, but I'm pretty sure I've got everything under control. Why don't you take your seat at the front of the arc and wait for the ceremony to start while the other guests arrive?"
I furrowed my brow, preferring to help or watch Octavia rehearse with the band. 
"Okay then," I said. "Do you want me to pick a random spot in the back or something?" 
“Actually, your seat is at the very front on the left side, right between Ms. Celestia, Ms. Luna, and Mr. and Mrs. Blood,” Twilight said. 
My frown turned into a feeling of unease, and I turned to Octavia, who was equally concerned. 
Would it be okay if I sit somewhere else?" I asked. "I don't think it's appropriate to sit at the front when I'm not even family."
Twilight's eye twitched, and she pursed her lips before checking some of the papers on her clipboard. 
"I'm sorry, but that would be impossible," She said. "Everybody has been reserved to specific seats, and no one is here without their family and/or business partners. Besides, even if you aren't family, you still technically represent Blueblood, as we established a couple of minutes ago. Now, please follow me."
I squirmed as she used my technical position against me. I turned to Octavia, who placed her hand on my shoulder. 
"I'm sorry. I suppose I should have thought of this when I asked you to be my date," she said. "I imagine I don't have much leeway to try to get them not to harass you since Blueblood and I are on a break."
"Yeah, this is pretty lousy timing," I said. "Is there any advice you can give me about Blueblood's parents?" 
Octavia took a moment to think about it and said, "Honestly, given the situation, I think you should just avoid talking to them as much as possible. Don't speak unless spoken to, and when they demand something from you, always answer with a "yes, sir" or "ma'am." 
I took a moment to think about it and said with a sigh, "Yeah, I guess showing a little respect like that it's probably the only chance I've got of being around these people who threaten to sue me and try to destroy the Tasty Treat."
Octavia briefly smiled before she gave a frown that matched mine. The next thing I knew, she pulled me into a hug, holding me with all her might. Under normal circumstances, I would be comforted and blushing by the girl that I like to hold me so close, but the way she held me felt as though we might not see each other again, and that made me more afraid of Blueblood's parents. I hugged Octavia back, not throwing away the chance to hold her before facing the music. I turned to Twilight, who looked confused the entire time we were hugging, before she cleared her throat and gestured to me to follow her. I looked back to see Octavia head to the stage as I followed Twilight down the aisle. 
Twilight showed me to my seats at the center of the left front row, and I sat down, not thanking her. After a few minutes of staring at nothing, I decided to take out my phone and play a mobile game to ease my mind. As time went by, more guests arrived, and Twilight showed them to their seats. The men were wearing tuxedos a hundred times more expensive than mine, and the women were in various colors and wearing expensive jewelry on their fingers, wrists, and ears. The children also wore nice suits and dresses, but they focused on their phones as they sat down and waited for the ceremony to start while their parents discussed business, politics, and the like with their friends and business partners. Even though I was wearing a nice suit that Octavia liked seeing me in, I felt I was still wearing jeans and a shirt with my cutie mark on it. I felt so out of place with these people. 
Fortunately, as more people came, I felt at ease as I watched Twilight guiding Principal Celestia and Vice Principal Luna to the front row. Vice Principal Luna noticed me sitting down and waiting for them as they got closer and gave me a warm smile. 
"Well, a warm welcome to you, Rough Draft," Vice Principal Luna greeted. 
"Good evening, Vice Principal Luna," I said with a friendly smile. 
"Rough draft? Isn't this one of our new students?" Principal Celestia asked.
"He is. Soarin took me to my office to get his schedule," Vice Principal Luna said. 
"I see. Then you must also be the one who knocked our nephew off the balcony?" Principal Celestia asked with a disapproving look. 
I grew nervous again and bit my lip. 
"Y-yes, but you have to believe that was a complete accident," I said. "Whatever you heard about me attempting to murder Blueblood is not true."
To my surprise, my response was met with a chuckle from Principal Celestia. 
"Not to worry, Rough Draft. Vice Principal Luna and I have run Canterlot High School long enough to know how students tend to create tall tales. Though, I'd be remiss if I didn't say I'm displeased to hear two of my students fighting resulting in serious injury," she said.
"Er, yes. Sorry about that. Though, in my defense, Blueblood was the one who attacked first," I said. 
"Oh, is that right?"
My blood froze at the sound of a cold, condescending voice. I looked past Principal Celestia and Vice Principal Luna to see a couple in their mid-50s walking over to us. The man  had white skin with short, desaturated gold hair and wore a tux with a deep blue vest and bow tie. The woman was lilac-skinned and had streaks of gray in her long, curly, light orange hair. She wore a strapless, sleeveless, blood-red dress that went down to her knees as if to show off her skinny legs even though she had not aged particularly well. Her face looked as though she had multiple plastic surgeries in a vain attempt to maintain what lovely features she had once upon a time. They weren't being guided to their seats by twilight, for there was no need for the man who owned the property. I silently gulped at how the man looked daggers at me with his grayish-blue eyes. On the other hand, Principal Celestia and Vice Principal Luna stood up and greeted the couple with friendly smiles. 
"Goldblood, Pureblood, good to see you, Principal Celestia greeted. 
"And you, cousins," Goldblood said half-heartedly, his eyes still fixed on me. "Which is more than I have the grace to say about the young tramp sitting in our row despite injuring my heir and preventing me from shutting down that little restaurant."
"Now, now, there's no need to be that way toward Rough Draft, Goldblood," Vice Principal Luna said. "Plus, from what I hear, you got the money you wanted out of the Tasty Treat, and, having tried it the other day, we can honestly say it would be a waste to shut down a good-hearted restaurant that lives up to its name."
"Perhaps, but I, for one, would still prefer proper retribution for my boy and for his suit, Pureblood said. 
"They are Blueblood's parents, alright," I muttered to myself. 
"What was that boy?" Goldblood growled. 
I froze again and responded with a twinch of fear, "N-nothing."
"That's what I thought," Goldblood said. "And while we are talking, let us make something perfectly clear. The only reason you are here is that my son wanted you to be so that his girlfriend isn't alone on her first gig, but that will hardly save you. They may be on a break, but I expect Blueblood to man up and keep Ms. Melody in line before long. Regardless, you are to keep your mouth shut, speaking only when spoken to, and not to forget that no matter how nicely dressed you are, you are nothing but a lowly commoner who has no right to be within 50 miles of my property regardless of what you have done to my son. Do I make myself clear?"
"Perfectly," I replied without skipping a beat. 
Goldblood and Pureblood gave condescending smirks, pleased that I was kept in line. They help themselves to their seats, with Goldblood sitting on my left side. I kept my gaze on Principal Celestia, Vice Principal Luna, and the arch, but I could feel Goldblood's gaze upon me like a vulture waiting for the right moment to eat the flesh of a wounded animal. The only thing that gave me an inkling of comfort was Principal Celestia and Vice Principal Luna sat next to me on my other side, knowing they would defend their student again if necessary. 
Eventually, the chairs were filled up, and the wedding band began to play for real. A cerulean blue, hunched, balding old man with glasses walked down the aisle to stand at the arch while holding a bible. He was soon followed by Twilight walking down the aisle with the Maid of Honor, and then the other groomsmen and bridesmaids walking down the aisle in pairs. Last came the groom, Shining Armor, who walked tall, proud, and dressed in a red military suit. He stopped at the arch's right side with Twilight and the groomsmen. Twilight straightened the sash around Shining Armor's shoulder, earning a brotherly smile from him.
Finally, Octavia and the band began playing the wedding march, and everyone stood and turned around. Three eight-year-old girls walked down the aisle tossing flower petals. Behind them was a boy a year younger than the girls holding a pillow carrying two gold bands. Lastly, a light grayish cerise woman with violet rose, and pale gold hair walked down the aisle in a white and gold dress with a four-foot-long train. Members of the crowd gasped and whispered among themselves, discussing how beautiful the bride looked. The groom stared at her in awe with a goofy smile as if she were a goddess in human form. Twilight nudged Shining Armor with her elbow to snap him out of his trance. For my part, there was only Octavia when it came to pure beauty, yet I couldn't deny that the bride looked lovely.
When the bride got to the arch, she stood next to the bridesmaids and faced Shining Armor as they took both of each other's hands. We all sat down as Octavia, and the band finished the song, and the pastor cleared his throat. 
"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to unite Shining Armor and Mi Amore Cadenza -"
"Oh, just Cadance, please," the bride interrupted. 
Members of the crowd lightly chuckled, and the pastor cleared his throat.
"And Cadance in holy matrimony," he said.
The pastor continued with a speech discussing love and marriage, half of the time using quotes from famous writers and passages from the bible. Halfway through the speech, I looked back to see Octavia and the band watching from the stage. Octavia noticed me looking and waved with a smile. I smiled back, then turned back to face the bride and groom again, but as I watched, I began to wonder what it would be like if, by some miracle, Octavia and I got together and married when we were older. I could see myself wearing the suit I was wearing now, and I imagined Octavia wanting a simpler dress than Cadance. It was a fool's hope, to say the least, and yet the idea put a smile on my face despite her boyfriend's parents being right next to me, waiting for the right chance to do anything for revenge. 
Little did I know at the time that Octavia was entertaining herself with the same idea. 
My daydreaming was interrupted when I noticed the ring bearer handing the rings to Cadance and Shining Armor. Shining Armor repeated a vow that the pastor said to him before he put a ring on Cadance's finger, and then Cadance did the same before putting a ring on Shining Armor's finger. The couple held hands while facing each other again as the pastor smiled, closed his Bible, and cleared his throat.
"By the power invested in me, I now pronounce you man and wife. Therefore, what God has brought together, let no man break apart," he said before turning to Shining Armor with a smirk. "You may kiss your bride."
Shining Armor and Cadance smiled and Shining Armor stepped in to put his hand on Cadance's cheek and pressed his lips against hers. Everyone applauded as Cadance wrapped her arms around Shining Armor to deepen the kiss. When they parted, the newlyweds turned to face their guests, giving them warm smiles while Cadance waved at Shining Armor and Twilight's parents, who were sitting in the front row on the groom's section. Octavia and the band began playing wedding music as Candace and Shining Armor walked down the aisle, followed by the ring bearer, the flower girls, Twilight, the groomsmen, and the bridesmaids, in that order. 
A staff member then came to the front and guided the audience down the hall, starting with Twilight and Shining Armor's parents, Blueblood's parents, Principal Celestia, Vice Principal Luna, and me. We walked down the aisle together, with me making sure to stay close to my Principal and Vice Principal, but I could still feel Goldblood and Pureblood's gaze behind me. The guests surrounded Cadance, Shining Armor, Twilight, the bridesmaids, the ring bearer, and the flower girls as two photographers began taking pictures of them. 
But as they took pictures, I noticed one of them was a guy my age with pale yellow skin and messy light-brown hair and wearing round glasses, and the one right next to him looked similar in appearance but older. I mentally scratched the back of my head as I wondered if I had seen the younger photographer somewhere at CHS. 
> Chapter 20
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

After taking photos, Twilight stepped up as a staff member handed her her pen and clipboard, and she began directing the guests to their tables. Eventually, Twilight came to me, Goldblood, Pureblood, Principal Celestia, and Vice Principal Luna and told us to follow her. I softly whimpered as it hit me that I was going to dine with Blueblood's parents, but at the same time, it was still comforting that Principal Celestia and Vice Principal Luna would be joining us. Guess it pays for Blueblood to have some family members with decency. 
My dread  softened when we followed Twilight, and she stopped before a table next to the dance floor. She guided Principal Celestia and Vice Principal Luna to take seats with their backs facing the dance floor while I was to sit facing it with Goldblood and Pureblood beside me. My dread returned when I realized I was to be surrounded by Blueblood's parents. I wondered if they did this intentionally as some form of punishment or if it was planned to be this way if Blueblood hadn't fallen off the balcony. Either way, I was still trapped by the parents of my enemy for Octavia's affections. The only comfort was that I practically had a front-row view of seeing Octavia perform during the wedding reception.
Once everyone was seated, dinner was served, containing soup, chicken, and salad. I was thankful there were all the same spoons and silverware for the specific course of the meal. It may not be the 1910s, but after Blueblood decided to use a reference from Titanic to reward me for bringing back Octavia's ring, I wouldn't put it past his parents to arrange it that way in a high society wedding. 
After dinner, Cadance and Shining Armor cut the wedding cake before the servers served slices of the cake to the guests. Shortly afterward, the bride and groom had their first dance. Cadance rested her chin on Shining Armor's shoulder and rested her head against his as they danced. She smiled with her eyes closed as Shining Armor held her close. The hopeless romantic in me smiled as they danced, for it was clear as day that Cadance and Shining Armor were filled with sweet love for each other. I noticed Principal Celestia and vice principal Luna watching with fond smiles, happy for their dear niece.
I looked in Octavia's direction and noticed that while her bandmates played with eyes closed and their chins held high, Octavia also watched the bride and groom with a serene smile. She wasn't playing the song for money or notoriety but because she felt the couple's love and joy for being united and holy matrimony. Seeing Octavia enjoying her role on this occasion so much made me smile. At that moment, I didn't care if Blueblood's parents were sitting beside me, waiting for an excellent cause to punish me or talk down to me. It was worth it just to see Octavia be happy doing what she loved. 
The song ended, and Cadance and Shining Armor kissed as the guests applauded. The newlyweds returned to their table while guests walked to the dance floor. The wedding band began to play a calm, soothing melody as the couples began waltzing. Principal Celestia and Vice Principal Luna hummed to the tune as they watched people dance until Vice Principal Luna whispered into her older sister's ear, and they glanced at the remains of the wedding cake. Principal Celestia rubbed her chin before whispering back, and the sisters quietly excused themselves before casually walking over to the wedding cake, hoping to get another slice or two. 
I felt uneasy again as it was just me and Blueblood's parents again, but I kept my gaze on Octavia, wanting to focus on her music as if there wasn't any trouble. Unfortunately, Pureblood snapped her fingers in front of me, startling me to gain her attention. 
"So, tell me, have you been serving Ms. Melody obediently?" She asked. 
"Y-yes, ma'am," I said, feeling like I was under interrogation. 
"And do you regret laying a hand on my Blueblood?" Pureblood asked with venom in her voice. 
"Yes, ma'am, I do. Full-heartedly," I said. 
"Good. My boy is the future of Manehattan. You should be grateful that Octavia Melody was there to protect you from giving you and your family the punishments you deserve," Pureblood said. 
"Yes, ma'am. Very grateful," I said. 
Goldblood uttered a growl with his mouth closed that sent a shiver down my spine and he said, "Speaking of Octavia Melody, what can you tell us about this childish matter of her and Blueblood on a break?"
"What do you mean?" I asked. 
"Did you talk Octavia Melody into thinking she can put her and our son on a break?" Goldblood asked. 
"Me? Why do you think I would have anything to do with that?" I asked. 
"Don't play innocent. You have been by Octavia Melody's side on Blueblood's orders for weeks," Pureblood said. "She had never shown any contempt with Blueblood before you came along. The only logical conclusion is that you tried brainwashing her into thinking it was a good idea." 
"Brainwash? Excuse me, Mrs. Blood, but that is ridiculous," I said. "Even if I wanted to do that for the sake of argument, how would I know how to brainwash somebody?"
"Stop playing ignorant with us! It's all too clear that you are responsible for this little mishap between them!" Goldblood growled. "You had the motive, if nothing else, to get back at Blueblood for making you be his girlfriend's servant. It's the only reason you would attempt to use her against him, knowing how important she is to him and his social status."
At this, I furrowed my brow and stood up, giving Goldblood a cold glare. 
"Let's get one thing straight, sir. I admit I am not on great terms with your son, but whether Octavia decides to put her relationship with Blueblood on a break is beyond my control. Octavia can decide how to handle things if her relationship has any problems. If Blueblood is causing issues with their relationship, the only blaming party is your son. If I were you two, I'd consider even the 1% chance in your mind that Blueblood is not this perfect Prince of Manehattan that everybody in the city deems him to be!"
The blood drained from my face as soon as I let it out. Goldblood and Pureblood looked at me, astounded for a moment before their faces turned barn red with Goldblood's teeth clenched. He stood up from his seat, establishing how he was ahead taller than me, grabbed me by my suit, and pulled me until our faces were close to each other. 
"That does it, you mulling pissant!" He snarled. "I've been more than tolerance dealing with your presence and my property, but if you dare to speak to my son and air that way, then I shall -"
"Excuse me."
My heart froze. If it were virtually any other person, I would be thanking the Lord that someone was stepping in, but the familiar voice only made matters worse. Goldblood, Pureblood, and I turned to see Adagio walking toward us. She wore a red wine, off-shoulder dress with a black belt and a right knee-high slit. She walked tall, wearing black high heels with the yellow gem from her cutie mark at the center. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Why? Why did Adagio Dazzle, of all people, have to be here? It was as if fate ruined the night I looked forward to with Octavia by dealing with her boyfriend's parents and now the last girl I wanted to see. A part of me hoped Blueblood's parents would tell her to go away even though Goldblood was about to do who-knows-what to me, but while Goldblood was irritated, Pureblood smiled and walked over to meet Adagio. 
"Adagio Kristina Dazzle. What a pleasant surprise," she said.
"Mrs. Blood, good to see you too," Adagio said, mimicking Pureblood's mannerisms.
"Sweet Pea, you know this girl?" Goldblood asked. 
"Of course. This is the young singer from that little cafe near Blueblood's school," Pureblood said. "Remember when I said how she has such a lovely voice?"
"Oh, come now, Ms. Blood. You're too kind," Adagio said. 
"Nonsense. I know a talented musician when I hear one, and your singing is as beautiful as Octavia playing the cello," Pureblood declared.
"Adagio's right. She is too kind," I thought. 
"I see," Goldblood said, unfazed. "And how pray tell, are you a guest for this wedding?"
"I'm one of the photographers’ plus one," Adagio said, pointing at Camera Flash. "Dear Camera Flash was so kind to ask me to be his date so I could enjoy such a wonderful wedding. Had I known that you are related to the bride and are hosting this event, I surely would have tried to find a way to let you know so my presence would not be such a surprise."
"Well, I don't mind, because this is a lovely surprise," Pureblood said. "Are you here with anyone else?"
"Nope. It's just me, Camera Flash, and his parents," Adagio said before her eyes turned to me. "Though, with my date and his father at work and his mother interacting with people I don't know, I must admit I've been feeling rather lonely. That's why I was coming to Rough Draft, not knowing you two are with him. I was hoping that he and I could dance."
Pureblood's friendly smile evaporated in a blink of an eye, looking at Adagio as though she had directly insulted her. Goldblood furrowed his brow again and stepped up in front of me. 
"I'm afraid that is out of the question, young lady," he said. "This boy is not permitted to do anything outside of sitting here where we can keep an eye on him."
"Aw, why would you keep him from doing anything to enjoy the festivities?" Adagio asked. 
"Have you not heard? This is the scoundrel who pushed my Blueblood off the balcony," Pureblood said. "He also brainwashed Octavia Melody to put her relationship with Blueblood on a break out of vengeance."
Adagio stared at Pureblood for a moment before she burst out laughing while holding her gut. Goldblood and Pureblood looked at her appalled, and even I was surprised, thinking she had suddenly ruined her positive relationship with the rich and powerful couple. 
"Brainwashed? Rough Draft brainwashing Octavia Melody?" Adagio chortled. "With the deepest respect, my gracious host, surely you jest. The concept of brainwashing is pure science fiction, and no offense to Rough Draft, but he is a teenager from a little town far away in the desert. Does it really make sense that someone from some run-down town like Appaloosa would know how to do something that is practically witchcraft or some sort of mad science? A boy of poor class?"
I glared at Adagio for her condescending words until I saw Pureblood rub her chin and Goldblood look away, humming.
"I suppose it's a little far-fetched when you put it that way," Goldblood admitted. 
"Indeed, and as a classmate, I know Rough Draft is kind-hearted. He is not the type of soul who would intentionally hurt anyone. I mean, has Blueblood given you any special reason why Rough Draft would hate him?"
"Well, I suppose our son has told us more about why he loathes this boy rather than what issues he has against our son," Pureblood admitted. 
"And has it occurred to you that Octavia Melody would decide for herself if she thinks she and Blueblood should go on a break?" Adagio asked. "After all, she is human and can think things for herself."
"But why would Octavia Melody want to do that? My boy is the most handsome, rich, and of the highest class. A girl should fear him putting his relationship with her on a break or ending a relationship rather than the other way around," Pureblood said. 
"I couldn't agree with you more, Mrs. Blood. A chance to date and maybe one day marry a handsome and charming guy like Blueblood is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. To throw that away is just inconceivable," Adagio said.
"Exactly. So, why on Earth would Octavia Melody do that to our boy?" Goldblood asked. 
Adagio let out a dramatic side and said, "Alas, I wish I knew. Regardless, as a girl myself, I can testify that Octavia Melody can make her own decision, whether it's rational or not. Thus, it is only reasonable to say that the fault should rest on Octavia Melody and not Rough Draft, no matter how long he's been around in Blueblood's absence."
I raised my eyebrow at the extent of how Adagio was speaking in my defense. Then I looked at Goldblood and Pureblood and saw, to my surprise, that they were seriously considering Adagio's words. After half a minute, the wealthy couple looked at each other and nodded before they turned back to Adagio. 
"Ms. Dazzle, you speak with wisdom beyond your years," Goldblood said. 
"Quite so. I dare say it's clear we have been laying blame on the wrong party," Pureblood said. "We shall have to take measures with Blueblood to ensure that Octavia Melody will see reason."
My frown deepened from the condescending way they spoke about helping Octavia, completely missing Adagio's point about Octavia being allowed to decide things for herself. 
"Happy to help, Mr. and Mrs. Blood," Adagio said while moving closer to me. "And now that we have that cleared up, I presume it would be no trouble to you if I do borrow Rough Draft for just one dance?"
Goldblood and Pureblood's smiles disappeared again, and Pureblood asked, "Why are you so insistent on wanting to dance with this low life? You said that he is a poor boy with few skills."
"You misunderstood me, Mrs. Blood. I didn't say anything about Rough Draft having no skills," Adagio said. "His family may not be wealthy, but what Rough Draft lacks in wealth, he makes up tenfold in caliber. Besides, it just so happens that he owes me a dance. Isn't that right, Rough Draft?"
My hands turned into balls of fists, and I kept my mouth closed to hide clenching my teeth. I wanted to scream "no" and accuse Adagio of maliciously ditching her date just to pursue me using our rain check. I didn't know for sure then, but I didn't put it past Adagio finding out about me being Octavia's date and using Camera Flash to get to the wedding. It was cruel she picked now of all times when I wanted no one to dance with me but Octavia. Goldblood and Pureblood were waiting for me to answer, leaving me with no choice. 
"Yeah, that's right," I said.
"I see," Goldblood said. "Very well. You can borrow him for a little while."
I mentally groaned as Adagio grabbed my wrist and pulled me toward the dance floor. She led us to the center and put my hands on her waist before wrapping her arms around my neck to pull me closer to her. Adagio gave the count of three at the beat of the music as she began leading. I glanced at Octavia, playing with her eyes closed, and began stepping off-beat, making it look like I couldn't dance. Adagio kept her cool, adapting to my clumsy dancing, making it as though we were performing a goofy dance together. I thought of trying to make my dancing worse, but from the confident way Adagio looked at me, I could be moving like a drunk person, and she would adjust her body so that we would dance close together no matter what. All I could do was keep up my act out of hopes that Adagio would make a mistake and embarrass herself at some point.
"You know, Rough Draft, you need to watch your temper when being around Blueblood and his family," Adagio said. "You worried me when I walked over there, and you were arguing with Mr. Blood."
"I worried you, huh?" I asked flatly.
"Of course. Mrs. Blood is a dear friend, but she can be unreasonable, to say the least," Adagio said. "Not to mention you're still in hot water from knocking Blueblood off the balcony. I shudder to think what his father would have done after you spoke to him that way on his property."
 "I can't help it if he was being irrational. They think so highly of Blueblood that they thought I used Octavia for revenge," I said.
"I hear you, Rough Draft. I think calling them irrational is being charitable. I mean, brainwashing? Call me quick to judge, but I don't think grown-ups more than twice our age can get sillier than that," Adagio said. "Still, I am concerned that you will get into worse trouble if you stoop to their level. So, please be more careful. If not for me, then at least your friends."
I gave Adagio a suspicious look at how she acted concerned, yet I couldn't deny that Applejack, Soarin, Rainbow Dash, Caramel, Rarity, and the others would say the same thing. I could only imagine how Octavia would have reacted if she saw me disregard her warning against Blueblood's parents. It came to show that I wasn't keeping my cool if Adagio Dazzle, of all people, was telling me to watch my temper. 
"You're right," I said begrudgingly. "My friends wouldn't want me to be so reckless. And thank you for saving me back there." 
"You are most welcome, Rough Draft," Adagio said sweetly like a comforting lover. 
My suspicion grew, but I hid it from her to show my appreciation. After half a minute, she cleared her throat to create small talk. 
"So, Mr. and Mrs. Blood aside, are you enjoying yourself?" She asked. 
"I suppose so," I politely replied. 
"The bride and groom look lovely together. Don't they?" Adagio said. 
"They do," I said. 
"Have you ever thought about what your wedding would be like, Rough Draft?" Adagio asked. 
I paused and thought carefully about how to answer. 
"Sometimes," I admit. "Nothing as big as this, though."
"Why? You don't want your wedding to be as big and special as possible?" Adagio asked. 
"Sure, but even if I had half of Blueblood's wealth, I'd have no reason to make it as big and fancy as this," I said. "I'd be perfectly happy celebrating it with my parents and friends back at CHS."
"That does sound lovely when you say it like that, '' Adagio said. “Just as well, too, I suppose. I can't imagine Mr. and Mrs. Blood using a venue like this for anybody that's not family at the very least, even if things between you and Blueblood aren't fragile at best."
"You think? You and Octavia might be the only people I know capable of talking any sense to him or his parents," I said. 
Adagio chuckled and said, "That's nice of you to say, Rough Draft. Considering their pride, wealth, and lack of reason, the apple hasn't fallen too far from the tree. Has it?"
I couldn't help but snicker. 
"No, not very far at all," I said. "Actually, when you say it like that, it sounds like you've had some experience dealing with Blueblood."
Adagio's smile disappeared before I finished that sentence. Her eye twitched, and I thought I felt her hands turning into balls of fists behind my head. Adagio let out a low growl with her mouth closed until she took a deep breath and regained her smile. 
"Let's just say while I did donate to save the Tasty Treat because I wanted to make you happy, you aren't the only reason I wanted to do that," she said.
"Oh? Care to tell me what the other reason is?" I asked. 
"Maybe when you begin to trust me," Adagio said.
I furrowed my brow again. I was curious about what sort of beef Adagio had with Blueblood, but hardly enough to let my guard down. As we danced, I decided I had enough of beating around the bush. Perhaps expressing straight out why I will never return her feelings without bringing up my feelings for Octavia might get the leader of the Dazzlings to back off. 
"You know what, Adagio? If that's the way it is, let's settle a score as to how trusting you, much less having an interest in you, is a tall order. 
"I'm listening," Adagio said without skipping a beat. 
I paused momentarily, taking a back from how she was unfazed by where I was going before I continued. 
"Well, ever since I moved to Canterlot, my friends didn't hesitate to warn me about certain students in our school for me to stay away from and why. Those said people being Blueblood, Octavia, you, and your sisters."
“Really? It seems you've done an abysmal job taking their advice," Adagio said with a chuckle. 
"Duly noted," I said. "That said, in your case, you approached me, except it wasn't right away. You were there when I was talking to Sonata on the first day of school, and you didn't even notice me. Then suddenly, after my fight with Blueblood, you pursued me. 
"Uh-huh," Adagio said. 
"Therefore, considering how my friends warned me that you woo guys to get them to do what you want and you that you just admitted that you have bad blood with Blueblood, it is obvious that you are trying to manipulate me, and it's as a means to agitate Blueblood. That's your angle," I said.
For several seconds, Adagio said nothing. I hoped calling her out would leave her worried her plan wasn't working. Maybe be irritated because I kept saying I was on to her. Instead, Adagio laughed in amusement and began leading. 
"That's one of the things I admire about you, Rough Draft. You have your wits about you more than most boys," she said. "In fact, since we're being brutally honest with each other, I think it's only fitting to know where I'm coming from with tricking boys and then suddenly wanting to be by your side."
"Oh really? What, pray tell, motivates you to do what you do?" I asked, amused.
"Simply put, I don't believe in love."
My amused face melted into a look of confusion. I expected her to boldly claim that she was seeking love or something that contradicted her deeds against other guys. How could anyone react when the person you know likes to play with other people's feelings to get what they admit that they don't believe in romance while trying to pursue a romance with you? She may as well have called herself a coldhearted, manipulative skank to advertise herself. Adagio chuckled again, knowing she had taken me off guard.
"Allow me to elaborate," she said. "It's not that I'm entirely against love per se. A lifetime of being with someone you want to be with always and willing to do anything to make them happy, and they do the same? That sounds like a pleasant way to live. And to act that way unconditionally and can trust that person to always be faithful? Even better. That said, I believe it’s not real. It's in our nature to believe those kinds of emotions we feel are something special, and thus we will do anything to gain that person's affection, even if only one side benefits from that. Yes, I've used the feelings of some boys to get what I want, but the reality is they only adore me because of my looks and my attitude around them. So, even if I wanted to start something with them, the foundation of their wish to be with me is shallow at best. And it's not as though whatever experience I loosely have with love, in a sense, is solely on me manipulating gullible guys. I know what it's like to be tricked into thinking I'm in love myself. 
"Wait a minute. You've been tricked into thinking you're in love?" I asked. 
"Twice," Adagio said. "It's not as though my case involves the guys being so handsome that I was fawning over them practically on the spot like the boys who pursue me. My exes and I had a lot in common. We spent a lot of time together. We had fun together. I thought there was something real, but reality eventually sank in. Both were already in serious relationships long before they met me."
"For real?" I asked with suspicion in my voice.
"For real," Adagio said. "My first ex didn't just have another girlfriend. He had been seeing her since middle school. One of those childhood friends-turned-lovers type of deal, or so he claimed. The other wasn't even really affectionate toward his girlfriend from the get-go. He's only committed to the relationship, pretending to be in love, just because of the publicity he would gain if they married. And where did I fall in? I was their escape. They wanted company with someone more fun to be around whenever they could. And, if you pardon me for blowing my own horn, what better company than a girl who is 10 times more attractive than their girlfriends could ever be?"
"You're right. You are blowing your own horn," I thought.
"The point I'm making is those two were in committed relationships, and yet both of my ex's girlfriends and I had one thing in common. We were nothing more than a means to an end. Even when one of my exes was "in love" with his girlfriend, he still wanted more than just what he had with her. That she wasn't enough, and neither was I. And that's when I accepted that the whole concept of unconditional love, to be with it somebody wholeheartedly, is nothing but a mere illusion. You're just using one's assets to entertain each other to get with the other ones. Boys get\ time with someone as incredible and easy on the eyes as me, and I get whatever I want in return."
"Which means I'm right that I have something you want in exchange for me to be graced with your presence or however you put it. Right?" I remarked. 
"On the contrary, the only thing I want from you, Rough Draft, is you," Adagio replied. "Whether you believe me or not, you stand out from any guy I've ever known. You dare to stand up to bullies like Blueblood and his parents, even when it gets you into trouble. Plus, while you were bashful around me when I first approached you, you had the willpower to think of more than my beauty. Granted, you weren't thinking anything positive, but you still see me as a person. That's more than I can say about most guys. Even my exes to an extent."
"That sounds incredibly sad when you say it like that," I said.
"Oh, it is, but I still like that about you," Adagio said. "You know I'm not a saint, and I know you're not gullible, which means we can take each other seriously. And if all that I've listed so far isn't enough, then there's the factor of how kind you are. You supported your friends, Soarin and Rainbow Dash, by going to their soccer game, and you didn't hesitate to be Sonata's friend when no one else would. Also, as I understand it, you supported Sonata's idea of your friends building the fundraiser. Bottom line, I mean it when I said I couldn't believe girls thought so little of you before you moved to Canterlot. It's so unfair that girls only recognize your value in the past couple of months. Me, Starlight Glimmer, Fluttershy, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Sonata -"
"And Octavia," I added. 
Adagio froze and took a deep breath through her nose. 
"Yes…her too," she said with her teeth clenched. "No matter what, there's more to you than meets the eye, and I want that. You've grown so special that I believe you can prove that love is real. That's why I pursue you even when the odds of you returning my feelings are bleak. You are my only hope."
"Hope for what? For better amusement than any of the other guys?" I challenged. 
"Better amusement? Haven't you been listening? I view real love, if it exists, as a lifetime of being with someone you want to be with always and willing to do anything to make them happy, and they do the same," Adagio said. "When I say that you're my only hope, I mean that you're my only hope for something that falls perfectly into that description. No manipulation, no using you or vice versa, no playing with emotions. It's two people together forever as their true selves. Now, I'm no fool. I am perfectly aware of how you feel about me because of my mistakes, but I want you to someday see past that and give me a real chance. If we try this together and what we have is real love, then I will always be yours, and you will never have to worry about me manipulating other boys. I will always be faithful. I won't even look at another guy. You will never feel alone again."
It took the first few seconds of silence before I realized she had finished saying her peace. Adagio kept her smile with evident confidence that what she said would persuade me. I am ashamed to admit it now, but a part of me thought she was telling the truth. Maybe she was a lost soul who needed to be truly loved. If nothing else, her logic behind how I view her compared to most other guys made sense. After all, I didn't hear anybody who resisted Adagio's charms apart from Soarin, Caramel, and Big Mac, and neither of them said anything about her chasing after them. At that moment, I considered letting her down by confessing that I didn't want to be with anybody but Octavia Melody and hoped somebody out there would lead her to believe in love. However, as soon as that moment passed, I remembered my friends' warnings about Adagio's tricks and knew how to respond. 
"It's not that I don't appreciate that or that I don't want a girl to talk to me that way, Adagio, but you're hoping for too much," I said. "How do I know what you're saying isn't a means to manipulate me? How do I not know that you've said words like this to other guys who might have been suspicious of you at first before they let their guard down? Even if what you're saying is true, it doesn't overlook your past. I know far too much to be able to trust you. So, if you want someone that will want you to help you believe in love, you're better off looking for someone else because that guy is not me."
"That will never happen, Rough Draft,” Adagio said. "When I set my mind to pursue something, I do not give up on the fly simply because it looks dead on arrival, and I have less reason to give up on what I can have with you. And if that isn't enough, I have never confessed my views on love to anyone else. Ask any of the other boys. They will be shocked to learn that I ever had any boyfriends before, much less reveal about them to anyone. I'll even give you a list of their names. You can go talk to Camera Flash right now as a start."
"Even so, that doesn't guarantee anything," I said. "For all I know, this is a new method to woo guys and the fact that you've never said it to anyone before is supposed to be your advantage against me. 
Adagio let out a low chuckle with her mouth closed and said, "Your cautiousness is very sexy."
"You don't help your case by saying that," I said. 
"I'd be disappointed if I did," Adagio said. 
My suspicious look faded to another look of confusion. I opened my mouth to ask what Adagio meant but stopped myself when I realized the music had ended and Adagio had stopped leading. The other dancers turned to face the band and clapped, and I quickly joined with my eyes on Octavia. Adagio halfheartedly applauded, then looked around to ensure Camera Flash was not around before she stepped closer toward me. 
"Well, I'm glad we got to dance and had our heart-to-heart chat, Rough Draft," she said. "Consider yourself officially forgiven."
"Thanks," I said flatly. "I should get back to my table now."
"Of course. Be sure to keep your temper around Mr. and Mrs. Blood," Adagio said. "But before you go, there's one more thing."
Before I could ask what, Adagio put her hands on my cheeks and smashed her lips against mine. My eyes widened, and I froze in shock. Adagio moaned as she put her tongue in my mouth. At the same time, Octavia and the band began playing a new song. Octavia smiled as she was in the zone until she noticed Adagio and me from the corner of her eye. She gasped sharply and moved her bow forward too hard, making her cello's strings squeak. Her bandmates looked at Octavia while still playing, and she flushed as she went back in tune. Octavia looked away from her bandmates to pretend nothing had happened, but inside, her heart ached. When Adagio pulled her head back, she looked at me with a pleased smile. 
"For the record, that was my first kiss too. Not even my exes can claim they have that," she said in a flirtatious tone. "I hope you will put that into perspective for the next time we meet Rough Draft."
With that, Adagio walked away, most likely looking for Camera Flash. I, however, remained still, processing what had just happened. I had my first kiss. My first kiss. It was with Adagio Dazzle, not Octavia Melody, and I didn't do a thing to prevent it. I tried to reason with myself that it was beyond my control, and there was no way of knowing she would have the gall to kiss me then and there, but no matter how I tried to reason with myself, there was no denying the cruel truth that the evil queen bee of my school stole my first kiss. 
Eventually, I snapped out of my frozen state and returned to my seat at Goldblood and Pureblood's table. Fortunately, Blueblood's parents were out socializing with guests, so I was left alone to sit down and ponder what had just happened. Octavia wanted to strangle her rival for attending the wedding, danced with me when I was Octavia's date and stole my first kiss. Still, it was a comfort that I took no pleasure in Adagio's move. It gave Octavia hope that she still had a chance. Applejack's words about not trying anything were still in Octavia's mind, but she didn't care. Her enemy struck first, and she wasn't going to let the unknown third girl make another move. 
"Tonight when we dance. That's when I will tell him," she thought to herself. "He might say yes, or be interested in the third girl, but I won't be the last girl to make a move. You better watch out, Rough Draft, because tonight you’re getting your first confession, and hopefully your last.”
> Chapter 21
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The rest of the wedding reception was a blur for Octavia and me. I stayed seated at Goldblood and Pureblood’s table, still shocked that Adagio gave me my first kiss abruptly. Octavia’s eyes fixed on me as she played with the wedding band. The kiss distracted her, but staring at me didn’t keep her from continuing to play perfectly. Octavia knew how to play the songs without concentrating, like she didn’t need to concentrate on breathing. The only thing she had on her mind was what would come after the reception.
Eventually, the wedding reception ended, and the guests rallied together to toss rice into the air as Cadence and Shining Armor raced to the elevator. A limousine awaited them on the bottom floor for their honeymoon in Saddle Arabia. The guests waited a few seconds after the elevator door closed before they grabbed their stuff and said goodbyes to each other before heading home. Twilight organized the staff taking down decorations and clearing tables while Goldblood began writing checks. 
Adagio stood beside Camera Flash while Goldblood each wrote a check for him and his dad. I watched Adagio whisper into Camera’s ear after he took his check, and Camera’s face turned beet red. She either told Camera he did a great job taking pictures or said he looked handsome. Regardless, she played her role as the gullible photographer’s date well. Camera Flash, Adagio, and Camera’s parents headed to the elevator, with Adagio and Camera’s mother holding their date’s arms. I looked away while still sitting at Goldblood and Pureblood’s table, but I could feel Adagio looking back with her eyes fixed on me as she got on the elevator. 
Principal Celestia and Vice Principal Luna said their goodbyes to me just as the wedding band put their instruments in their cases before getting in line for their checks. I got up and walked over to Octavia as she put away her cello, not wanting to wait to be near her again. When Octavia saw me walk over to her, she smiled and hugged me. We were still tormented by Adagio kissing me, but we put it in the back of our minds, focusing on the success of Octavia’s first gig.
“You were great,” I said.
Octavia felt a pinch in her heart, knowing I wasn’t focused on her the entire reception.
“Thank you, Rough Draft,” she said. “Did you enjoy the party?”
I hesitated, not wanting to bring up Adagio, and said with a forced grin, “The food was good, but the company was lousy.”
Octavia choked out a chuckle. I offered her my arm, and together, we walked to the table where Goldblood was writing checks. We waited with the other band members, getting their checks before Octavia’s turn. When it was Octavia's turn, Goldblood saw Octavia holding my arm and glared at me suspiciously. Immediately, Octavia let go of my arm, preferring to act like nothing happened than to explain it was okay because I was her date. Goldblood eased up, but Octavia and I wished she could hold my arm longer.
“Ah, dear Octavia. You played beautifully. My wife and I are honored to be your clients on your first professional gig,” Goldblood said.
The band members gave Octavia disapproving stares, and Octavia mentally groaned at her boyfriend’s father’s lack of subtly. 
“The honor is all mine, Mr. Blood,” Octavia said, smiling. “It’s a shame Blueblood couldn’t be here to see me play, but at least my servant could watch me on his behalf.”
Though I knew Octavia only called me her servant to please Goldblood, my heart ached. Goldblood looked between me and Octavia with an edge of a smirk before he wrote on his checkbook and ripped out a check for Octavia. Octavia reached out for the check, but Goldblood pulled it back a split second before she could take it. Goldblood reached into his coat pocket with his free hand and took out a gold keycard with a fake friendly smile. 
“Oh, by the way, Octavia, my wife and I decided to give you a little bonus as our son's girlfriend,” he said. “This is a key card to one of our best suites in the hotel section of the building just six levels down. Mrs. Blood and I would like you to stay the night there with your servant before we have you brought home to Canterlot.” 
“What? Oh, no. I couldn't possibly accept such a gift,” Octavia said.” Besides, Rough Draft and I don't have any extra clothes for the next day or utilities.”
“Oh, please, don't fret about it. We have utilities and nightwear prepared for the two of you,” Goldblood said. “Besides, our limousine drivers are already home for the night, and we wouldn't want to bother bringing any of them back here to have them drive all the way to Canterlot and back. Would we?”
I felt that if it were anyone else, Blueblood and his parents would be more than happy to wake up their limousine chauffeurs in the middle of the night to make them drive clear to the other side of the country. Octavia and I looked at each other, irate with how far Goldblood and Pureblood were going in an attempt to convince Octavia to stay with Blueblood. Still, it was clear that Goldblood would not take no for an answer. Octavia sighed and begrudgingly held her hand out for the key card. 
“In that case, we would be honored to accept your gift,” she said. 
“Excellent”, Goldblood said. “The suite is on floor 66, room 647. Please, enjoy your stay, Octavia.” 
Octavia kept her forced smile and nodded as she took the key card and then Goldblood gave her her check. She and Goldblood bade each other good night before Octavia and I walked to the elevator with the other band members. The band members glared at Octavia, bitter that she was spending the night in a suite while they either paid for their own rooms at other hotels in the city or were going to take a taxi to wherever they lived. Octavia avoided eye contact with him as the elevator took us to floor 66. We bade them good night as we exited the elevator, but they did not respond. As soon as the elevator door closed. Octavia sighed heavily and slumped her shoulders. 
“Well, I think it's a safe bet that they will not want to play with me again after tonight,” she said. “They probably expect me to always get special treatment after every gig.”
“Well, you certainly should expect that whenever Mr. Blood is your client for sure,” I said. “Though, it's not like you're getting paid more than them, right?”
“No, I'm paid the exact amount that my fellow band members and I were offered,” Octavia said. “Still, I worry I will gain a bad rep for this on my first gig.”
“I'm sure you won't have anything to worry about as long as you get gigs that have no connection to Blueblood and his parents,” I said. “Besides, special treatment or no special treatment, you still played beautifully.” 
Octavia looked at me with a sweet smile and said, “Thank you, Rough Draft. I appreciate that. And hey, you get to spend the night in the suite, too. I'd say that's a very nice way to spend your first night in a major city like Manehatten. Don't you agree?”
"Hmmm. You know, you're right. This is a nice addition to my first time in a big city," I said, smiling. "Plus, it's good compensation for putting up with Blueblood's parents. I can only imagine the look on Blueblood's face when he learns the suite is for both of us."
Octavia chuckled and nodded in agreement. We soon found our room on the right side, and Octavia used the card key to unlock the door. We went in and took a few steps before we stopped, and our faces lit up in awe. The massive suite had an attached bathroom, a living room, a kitchen, and a dining room. The walls were gold and white, the dining table was made of glass, and the bathroom had a hot tub. Octavia and I looked around, dumbfounded that we were staying there for the night. 
We went into the bedroom at the very end of the suite and saw a king-sized bed, a 72-inch TV hanging on the wall, and a glass wall where we had a great view of the city. A smile covered half of my face until I noticed there was only one golden night robe folded on the bed. I wondered if there was another bedroom with a golden night robe for me until I looked to my left and saw an air mattress lying in front of the bed with a small pillow, thin white sheets, and a green lobby boy uniform folded on it. I turned to Octavia, who looked daggers at the mattress with her teeth clenched. 
"Of all the stiff-necked, condescending discrimination," Octavia snarled. "They would have you lying on a little mattress with a lobby boy uniform as your pajamas? I ought to go back up there and demand that they give us a place with your own bed!"
"It's okay, Octavia. We should have expected something like this," I said calmly. 
"Maybe, but that doesn't make it any less wrong," Octavia said. "If this bloody suite is a means to convince me to call off the break with Blueblood, Mr. Blood has done more harm than good."
"I hear you, but you deserve the suite more than I do," I said. "Besides, I'm perfectly okay with my 'pajamas' not having the same color as your night robe. I mean, if I see any more gold-colored stuff here, I might go colorblind. Heck, I bet if Mr. Blood wore this night robe, he could blend in with the walls."
Octavia covered her mouth to hide a snicker. The snicker turned into a high-pitched giggle as she leaned on the door frame. I chuckled at my joke before Octavia quieted down and wiped a tear in her eye. 
"You got a point. Gold isn't my color either," Octavia said. "In any case, if we end up in a suite again, I'll make sure you have your own bed to sleep in."
I smiled and said, “I'd like that.”
“Good,” Octavia said. “Anyway, if memory serves correctly, you, Mr. Draft, owe me a dance.”
My eyes widened. In the midst of dealing with Goldblood, Pureblood, Adagio, and the surprise of Octavia and me spending the night in a suite, I had forgotten that we planned to dance after the wedding. I quickly returned my smile before Octavia realized I had forgotten and straightened my jacket to look as though we were still at the reception instead of getting ready for bed. 
“You're right,” I said, imitating Octavia’s accent. “How do you propose we handle the music?”
“Oh, I have a few tracks on my phone of me recording some of these songs I played tonight,” Octavia said. “I was thinking of dancing in the living room before bed.”
My smile grew and my heart became warm, loving the idea of Octavia and I hearing her play her cello while we dance. It was all too fitting as I grew to love hearing her cello whenever Octavia performed. I offered Octavia my arm again, and she smiled as she took it before we walked to the living room. She took out her phone, opened the music app, and scrolled until she found a track she wanted for our dance and pressed play.  
Octavia took my right hand, put her left hand on my shoulder, and I wrapped my left arm around her waist. My cheeks grew warm from being so close to the girl I liked, but I forced myself to hide it. Octavia saw my red cheeks before I shook it off, and her heart skipped a beat, hopeful that she had a chance to claim me after our dance. As we moved back and forth, I fought the urge not to look down at my feet to look like I had not been practicing for several weeks. Fortunately, I did not need to because, by this point, how I danced felt natural after memorizing everything Fluttershy and Starlight taught me. About a minute into our dance, Octavia looked at me with a smile that made my heart race. 
“You dance very well. I'm impressed,” she said. 
My cheeks heated up again, and I said, “I had good teachers.” 
Octavia’s smile stretched out to the sides of her face. Then her smile slowly faded, and she looked down at the ground. As much as she was enjoying the dance, it occurred to Octavia that it may be the only time she could dance with me. Either I rejected her feelings, or something was going to happen that would compel her to stay with Blueblood, or, most painful yet, Adagio might have successfully won me over. If this was to be our only dance together, she was determined to make the most of it. I opened my mouth to ask what was wrong, but then she moved closer to me, resting her head on my shoulder and wrapping her left arm around me. My blush grew, covering my face, and I felt goosebumps on my arms and legs. 
I couldn't believe Octavia was holding me so close. Did she not realize that only couples are so close to each other when they dance, or could friends of the opposite sex do this too and I did not know because I was still new to having friends? Either way, this was too good to be true. It was as if fate allowed me this moment of the girl I liked holding me close. I didn't know if this made it okay for me to move closer to Octavia, but if this was the only time I could I was willing to take the chance. 
I tightened my hold on Octavia and moved my head closer to hers. Octavia was taken aback before she smiled and tightened her hold on me. We became lost in our own world, not wanting this moment to end for fear of what would happen next. All that mattered to us was refusing to let each other go for fear of never getting to be close together again, not knowing we had the same feelings for each other.
I don't know how long we were like this, but Octavia eventually noticed her phone playing a different track. She smiled briefly, realizing we'd been dancing longer than planned until she realized we needed to stop. She hated that we had to stop, but we couldn't dance forever, and she was on a mission. She squeezed me before she shut her eyes, dreading what she had to say.
"Rough Draft, the song is over."
I opened my eyes and turned to Octavia's phone, realizing she was right. I sighed through my nose and reluctantly let go of Octavia. She took a few steps back and took a moment to force herself from showing any sadness before giving me a sweet smile. 
“That was lovely,” Octavia said. “Well worth the wait, I'd say.”
“I think so, too,” I said with a small smile. “I'm glad that my hard work paid off. I really wanted you to enjoy dancing with me.”
Octavia's smile grew, and she said, “I did. And I am honored to have been your first official dance partner, Rough Draft.”
My cheeks began heating up again, but I didn't mind. The room became silent as we did not know what else to say to each other. I awkwardly coughed and opened my mouth to suggest that we turn in for the night, but I stopped when I noticed Octavia playing with her fingers and giving me a hesitant look.
“Listen, Rough Draft, there's something I've been meaning to ask you for a little while, and I want you to give me the honest truth no matter how painful it is,” she said. 
I looked at Octavia, confused and said, “Okay, shoot.”
Octavia looked away and bit her lip while still playing with her fingers. Her hands then turned to balls of fists before she turned to me with her eyes shut as though she were bracing herself for someone to poke her with a needle or punch her gut. 
“Are you in love with Adagio Dazzle?” she asked. 
My heart sank as it was apparent she saw Adagio kiss me. 
“No,” I said without skipping a beat. It was almost as if I shouted it. “No, not at all. I swear.”
“Are you sure?” Octavia asked. “Because I couldn't help but see you dancing with her at the reception.”
“Adagio tricked me into dancing with her,” I said. 
Octavia frowned and asked, “How can she trick you into dancing with her?”
“Uh, it's a little hard to explain,” I said.
“Try me,” Octavia demanded. 
I hesitated and said, “When we were doing the fundraiser at the Tasty Treat, Adagio almost asked me to the Fall Formal before Starlight stepped in, claiming that we were going to the dance so that I could shoot her down. Adagio said she forgave me for already having a date on the condition that I would dance with her the next time there was an opportunity.
“And you two settled on dancing tonight?” Octavia asked. 
“No, she just declared she had a blank check to dance whenever she wanted. She never told me that she was going to the wedding,” I said. Apparently, she was Camera Flash’s date. 
Octavia raised her eyebrow and crossed her arms. 
“Indeed? Then explain to me why you kissed her,” she said with a hint of venom in her voice. I flinched, feeling as though Octavia punched me in the gut. My worst fear came true. Of all the things Octavia witnessed during the reception, it had to be that heaven-forsaken kiss. The only hope I had now was the truth behind it, but I feared nothing I said would convince Octavia. 
“I didn't kiss her. She kissed me without my consent,” I said. 
“You didn't seem to resist her,” Octavia said. 
“I was taken by surprise,” I protested. 
“Did you enjoy it?” Octavia asked venomously. 
“Enjoyed it? I'm tormented by it,” I said in annoyance. 
“What? Nothing was pleasing about a beautiful girl like Adagio Dazzle giving you your first kiss?” Octavia asked bitterly. 
“How could I be pleased? My first kiss was stolen from me,” I said. “If I had known it was going to happen, I would have run away because there's only one girl in the world that I would even consider wanting as my first kiss.” 
My eyes widened, and I covered my mouth, shocked by what I said. Octavia’s suspicious glare faded into a look of unease. It was comforting to hear I hated that Adagio kissed me, but now she feared that I could be talking about the second girl Rarity told her about. She clenched her arms while they were still crossed to resist any show of concern about who I would want to kiss more than anyone. For all that she knew, I might not be talking about the second girl, and perhaps I might change my mind if she expressed her feelings. 
“Oh, is there? Do tell,” Octavia commanded, keeping her suspicious tone. 
“W-w-well, I'm not sure how to explain it,” I said bashfully. 
“Oh, please, try,” Octavia said. “Is this a girl from our school?”
“Yes,” I said. 
“How long have you known her?” Octavia asked. 
“Since before school started,” I said. 
“Did you become friends right away?” Octavia asked. 
“No, we became friends later on,” I said. 
Octavia pursed her lips and turned away from me, rubbing her chin in thought. 
“Saying he's known this girl since before the school year hints that it could be Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, or Starlight, but he became friends with him right away. He became friends with Sonata after the school year started, but they didn't meet before the school year,” Octavia thought. “Rough Draft is very sweet to Sonata, but I can't imagine either of them seeing each other that way. Could this other girl be someone our friends don't know about? No, that can't be right. Rarity knows.”
Octavia mentally growled in frustration, feeling her head hurt from how hard she was thinking about this. Her demeanor confused me, leaving me unsure of whether I should be nervous or curious about why she was asking these questions. 
“So, you've known this girl since before school started, but you didn't become friends with her until later,” Octavia said. Would you say this girl is shy?” 
“Hardly,” I answered. 
“Book smart?” Octavia asked. 
“I wouldn't go that far, but I do think she's smart," I said. 
“Would you describe her as beautiful?” Octavia asked. 
“The most beautiful person I've ever seen in my life,” I said. 
“More so than Adagio?” Octavia asked. 
I scoffed as though the answer was obvious. 
“As far as I'm concerned, Adagio Dazzle has the combined beauty of a pig and a goat compared to this girl,” I said. 
“Do you think there is a chance this girl would return your feelings?” Octavia asked. 
“Oh, I should be so lucky,” I said. This girl is one of the sweetest people I've ever known, but I am not worthy of her affection.”
“I see,” Octavia said, still rubbing her chin. “And, what, pray tell, would you do if she liked you back and wanted you as her boyfriend?”
“Er, I don't know. I guess I would hope to kiss her, but my chances are so small that I haven't really imagined what I would do if she said she likes me,” I said. 
“You think that highly of her?” Octavia asked. 
“With all my heart,” I said.
Octavia furrowed her brow, growing more perplexed with my answers. In her eyes, the only girls in CHS that people would describe as indescribably beautiful or considered out of a guy's reach are Adagio and Rarity, neither of which I was interested in. At this point, Octavia accepted that she was getting nowhere with these questions, and it was time to rip the Band-Aid.
“Tell me who she is,” she said. 
My cheeks heated up again, and I looked away uncomfortably. 
“I don't think that's a good idea,” I said. 
Rough Draft, I'm not asking you. I'm telling you,” Octavia said, facing me again. 
“Why are you so bent on finding out who I have feelings for?” I asked. 
“Just answer the question,” Octavia said. 
“But, if I tell you, things are going to get awkward, and I don't think anything's going to be the same, and -” 
Octavia growled and stormed toward me. She grabbed me by the jacket and pulled me toward her. My eyes widened as her violet eyes pierced through my soul. 
“Rough draft, I really don't care about things being awkward or anything like that,” Octavia said. “For several weeks you've had me worried that Adagio Dazzle has been wrapping you around her fingers, and now you are telling me that you have feelings for someone else. I am tired of only getting bits of information about whether or not you have feelings for anyone, and I demand that you come clean with me. If you don't, I am kicking you out of this suite right now and after we get home I am never going to speak to you again. So, for goodness sakes, will you just man up and say -?”
“It's you!”
Octavia's voice died in her throat, taken aback from me screaming. I covered my mouth in shock, and Octavia let go of my jacket, allowing me to take a couple of steps back. My purple face turned beat red and my pupils shrunk to the size of grains of sand. I couldn't believe it. I confessed to Octavia that she's the person I like. Octavia’s cheeks turned pink as she stared at me, unable to believe what I said either. 
“Do you mean that?” she asked. 
I stayed still with my hand still covering my mouth. Then I shut my eyes, lowered my hands, which had turned into balls of fists, and took a deep breath. 
“Y-y-yes, I mean it,” I stuttered. “I-l-l like you… Octavia. The truth is I've had a crush on you since the moment we met. You are the most beautiful girl I have ever met in my entire life. I honest to God can't imagine how anyone could come close to your beauty, both inside and out. When our friends told me you were someone to avoid because you were dating Blueblood, I couldn't help but still want to see you again. They warned me multiple times to suppress my feelings, but the more time we spent together I got to see what a kind, level-headed, talented, passionate person you are, and that just wanted me to be around you more, even as just a friend. And it's not like I've been feeling this so strongly that I've been trying to manipulate you into dumping Blueblood so I might have a chance. I really would be happy for you if Blueblood changed the error of his ways and worked to make you happy with him again like he used to. And I'm not an idiot. I know I don't have a chance with you. You are thousands of miles ahead of me with what you want to do with your life. Your family is highly respected, and I've lived most of my life in a tiny town in the middle of the desert. But even so, I've been more than happy to be your friend because you need friends in your life more than I do. You need people to support you, to make you laugh, to help you have fun, and I'm happy that I've been there for you when you need it and that my friends have become your friends. I would love nothing more for you to see me the way I see you, but I value your happiness over anything else.”
The suite grew silent again. My face felt like my blush had covered my head, and yet it felt so freeing to finally confess my feelings to Octavia. I hoped that, at the very least, she was willing for us to stay friends and we could move past this. But my mind was so wrapped around confessing my feelings that I didn't notice Octavia's blush covering her cheeks and turning from pink to red. I closed my eyes and prepared for Octavia to shoot me down, but instead, I felt too soft hands take mine. I opened my eyes and my heart jumped as I saw Octavia standing close and staring at me nervously. 
“One more question,” she said softly. “Can I kiss you?”
“W-w-w-what?” I stuttered. 
“Can I kiss you?” Octavia repeated. “You said Adagio gave you your first kiss without your consent, right? I'm asking for your permission to give you your second kiss.”
I was motionless with my mouth hanging open. Octavia Melody asking if she could kiss me? This couldn't be right. My mind must have been in denial, wanting to hear the best-case scenario instead of facing reality. And yet, Octavia never tried to deceive me or mess with me in any way, and her eyes gave me this hopeful feeling that she really wanted to do it. After a few seconds, I concluded that if Octavia was serious, then there was no way I would throw away this opportunity. 
“Yes,” I said. “Yes, please be my second kiss.”
Octavia smiled and stepped closer to me. She put her hands on my cheeks, and I let out a bashful whimper. Octavia chuckled with her mouth closed, finding my reaction to be cute. Her blush grew as she leaned toward me and closed her eyes. I closed my eyes, bracing myself before our lips connected.
Octavia’s soft lips against mine were a sensation beyond what I could have imagined. Adagio’s kiss was firm in its own right, but kissing Octavia was something I never wanted to end. It felt as though our mouths were destined to connect like pieces of a puzzle. I wrapped my arms around Octavia and pulled her closer to me, desiring to deepen the kiss. I thought to pull back, thinking I shouldn't have without her permission, until Octavia put her hand on the back of my head, wrapped her other arm around my neck,  and pulled me closer to her. My heart raced as Octavia softly moaned, relishing the pressure against my lips. 
The girl of my dreams enjoyed kissing me. Me. At that point, I wasn’t kissing Octavia for myself but for her. I said her happiness was all that mattered to me, and if kissing me filled her heart with joy, I would kiss her till my dying day. 
Eventually, Octavia and I pulled back due to lack of air. Octavia’s cheeks were beet red, and she breathed heavily as she stared at me. My cheeks flared up as I processed what had just happened like I had woken up from a dream. Then, Octavia smiled and pulled me closer, resting her head on my shoulder. I froze for a moment with my face heating up, then I smiled and tightened my hold on her. 
"I have something to confess," Octavia whispered in my ear.
"What?" I asked. 
"I like you too."
My face fell, and Octavia and I moved our heads back. She gave me a sweet look while holding my cheek and her arm still around my neck. 
"You're…you're serious?" I asked. 
"Very," Octavia said.
"H-h-how long have you felt this way?" I asked. 
"Shortly after school started," Octavia said.
"Seriously? I’ve been telling our friends time and time again that I wasn’t trying to break you and Blueblood up,” I said. “You mean to tell me the whole time I’ve been hiding my feelings you developed feelings for me?” 
“I suppose it’s a little ironic when you say it like that,” Octavia said.
“I...I don’t know what to say,” I said.
“How about, ‘Will you be my girlfriend, Octavia?’” Octavia said.
I froze in place again as Octavia moved closer to me again with a flirtatious look with her hands behind her back. I backed away until I was up against a wall, and Octavia placed her hands on the wall on opposite sides of my head, trapping me. It was clear from how her violet eyes sparkled that she would not let up until I asked.
“I-I-I mean, I’d love to, but are you sure?” I asked. “You’re only on a break with Blueblood and -”
“Stop,” Octavia commanded, putting her finger on my lips. “As of this moment, there is no Blueblood, his parents, Adagio Dazzle, or anyone else that might take issue with how we feel. Just us alone in this suite. If you meant everything you said, Rough Draft, seize your moment. Ask me.”
I hesitated, while Octavia moved her finger away so I could speak. My legs shook as I mustered the courage to ask the words I thought I'd never ask.
“Octavia…will you be my…girlfriend?”
Octavia smiled and leaned her head until our noses were almost touching.
“I will.”
Octavia tilted her head and pressed her lips against mine again. I let out a sound of shock muffled by Octavia’s mouth. I stood stupefied like a statue while Octavia’s lips caressed mine. Then, the edges of my mouth curled up slightly and I closed my eyes and wrapped my arms around Octavia. She pulled me toward her with her arms around my neck as the kissing intensified. This time, our hearts fully understood each other. We no longer had to hide our feelings or act as though this was the only time we would ever be intimate with each other. This was our time in each other's arms, and our lips locked, and as far as Octavia and I were concerned, we could make it last for eternity.