[EqG] Pizza


                                            >It's Friday night, a month after the disaster that will be known as Canterlot High's Fall Formal.

                                            >You're laid out across your couch, flipping through channels as you try to find a movie or something that's worth your time.

                                            >Of course, you could put one into the dvd player, but that would take work.

                                            >And seeing as the cable box won't let you watch movies on demand FOR SOME REASON, you're having to settle for commercial loaded garbage.

                                            >What a terrible night.

                                            >It only gets worse as a firm knock rattles out at your front door.

                                            >You mute the television and perk up your ears, waiting for them to go away.

                                            >They don't.

                                            >The knocking comes a second time, more insinstant and rapid than before.

                                            >So they're not leaving.

                                            >Well, then they'll just have to wear themselves out!

                                            >Pressing your lips into a scowl, you unmute the television, turning up the volume until it drowns out the steady stream of knocking.

                                            >But eventually it goes quiet.

                                            "Thank goodness."

                                            >Smiling to yourself at your small victory, you squirm deeper into the couch and turn down the volu-

                                            >*BRRRING!*

                                            >Oh...

                                            >*BRRRRING!*

                                            >Oh hell no...

                                            >*BRRRRRRRRRRING!*

                                            >They found the doorbell.

                                            >And they've decided to use it to play out a few bars of some pop song.

                                            >You try to ignore it, but after thirty seconds of ringing you get to your feet and went to shout at whoever it is on the other side.

                                            "WHAT?"

                                            >As you pull open the door, the smell of grease and fat hit your nostrils.

                                            >You can feel your pupils dilate and your mouth begin to water.

                                            >There, hanging in the air, is a pizza box.

                                            >No, not hanging.

                                            >Tearing your eyes away from the cardboard container, you lift your eyes towards the sky and drink in the unfortunately familiar form of...

                                            "Sunset Shimmer."

                                            >You sigh, leaning against the doorframe and looking her over.

                                            >The once vicious vixien of Canterlot High doesn't seem at all surprised at your shouting or your cold reception.

                                            >Though, why should she?

                                            >It's her fault anyway.

                                            >The silence lingers between the two of you until you finally sigh and tilt your head to the side.

                                            "What's up?"

                                            >The girl with the yellow streaks in her hair refuses to meet your eyes.

                                            >Shifting her weight from one side to the other and then cracks the lid on the box.

                                            >The familiar scent of pizza redoubles it's efforts against your skilled sniffer and leaves your stomach threatening to riot if it doesn't get some soon.

                                            >"Anon?"

                                            >You drag your eyes away from the pizza again, this time finding hers as she gives you a determined look.

                                            "Mm?"

                                            >"I"

                                            >Setting her lips, she steadies herself again and asks, "Would you like to have some pizza with me?"

                                            >You flit your gaze between the box and the girl, trying to figure out what her angle is.

                                            >Leanig down, you pick up a piece of the crust between your thumb and forefinger and give it a little shake.

                                            >The entire pie wiggles as a result.

                                            >You're not sure why you did it, but you look up at Sunset again and frown.

                                            "So what, is it poisoned?"

                                            >The color drains out of the beaten bully's face.

                                            >"What? No! I-I would never..."

                                            >She falls silent as she considers those words.

                                            >Your disbelieving stare turns into a flat, disinterested frown.

                                            "You know you're doing this stuff in the wrong order, right? What are you going to do if I say no?"

                                            >A gentle touch of sweat graces Sunset's forehead as she bites her lip.

                                            >"I didn't think that far ahead. But I guess I'd eat it on my own?"

                                            >Something in your heart twists at her words.

                                            >Righting yourself, you hold open the door and step to the side.

                                            "All right, come on in."

                                            >A small smile breaks through the uncertain gloom that had been surounding the red-headed girl as she hurries inside before you can change your mind.

                                            >You shake your head, wondering what it is that you've gotten yourself into.

                                            >

                                            >That had been almost two months ago now.

                                            >Despite your best efforts to stay mad at the back-to-back Bully of the Year, somehow that night she had done the impossible.

                                            >Between the mouthfulls of pizza and the, mostly, harmless stories about your peers, you'd been won over.

                                            >Maybe it was the pained look in her eyes as she recounted catching other students in exploitable positions, not needing to add that she capitalized on them afterwards.

                                            >Or the way she leaned in close when you talked about completely inconsequential conversations you had with your friends about sports, games and girls

                                            >Or maybe it was the way, after the pizza was gone and you both lapsed into silence, her head gently fell against your shoulder as she succumbed to a food coma in the middle of a commercial break of a particularly bad movie.

                                            >But whatever it was, the gentle, anxious fluttering in your chest wouldn't let her be alone.

                                            >You invited her over again next Friday, and she showed up with another pizza.

                                            >And this continued, week after week.

                                            >She'd never let you pay, and she tore into you one day at school after finding out you slipped a twenty into her purse.

                                            >But still the pattern continued.

                                            >And you found yourself looking forward to the Friday night hangouts more and more...

                                            >

                                            "So then Buff just tears into the line to open up a hole and they just run right through!"

                                            >You laugh, recounting another exciting gym story from the week.

                                            >Sunset smiles and shakes her head.

                                            >"He, uh, certainly is a big guy."

                                            >There's a twinge in the back of your mind, but you swallow the words and turn your attention back to the girl.

                                            >Sunset is in the middle of another bite, the slice still hanging from her lips as she notices you staring.

                                            >You lock eyes for the briefest of moments before she smiles and the scene passes, the pizza falling limp as it slips away from her lips.

                                            >Offering her a small smile in response, you shrug your shoulders and reach for another slice.

                                            "So, that's me. How are things going on your end?"

                                            >There's a lengthy pause as Sunset eyes her cheese pizza and then folds it in half.

                                            >Hurriedly tearing into it, she makes a few unladylike gulping grunts before washing it down and shrugging.

                                            >"Things are, fine. They're getting better."

                                            >You raise an eyebrow and immediately see her begin to wilt under your stare.

                                            >"No, really. I only had six students make snide comments to my face this week!"

                                            >Sunset offers up a clearly fake grin, her hands clutching tightly at one another as they rest in her lap.

                                            >"At this rate, everyone might forget before the end of the spring term!"

                                            >For a moment, you can almost see tears starting to well in the frustrated girl's eyes, but a quick blink and she seems back to her (ab)normal self.

                                            >Polishing off the slice in your hand, you give a sigh and shrug.

                                            "Well, there's not really much that you can do about it. Short of buying everyone pizza and spending months worth of Fridays with them."

                                            >Out of the corner of your eye, you see Sunset perk up a little as she turns towards you.

                                            >A lengthy silence urges you to continue, so you look over at her with a small smirk.

                                            "No matter what they say, I think you're pretty great, Sunset."

                                            >She's quick to bite down on her lip, but the upturned corners of her mouth give her happiness away.

                                            >With a gentle laugh, she brushes some of her hair out of her face and collects herself.

                                            >"Well, the fact that I get a chance to sit down and talk and feel, normal, it really helps. Thanks Anon."

                                            "No problem."

                                            >Sunset looks away, and after a moment, you glance down at the box.

                                            >Only once slice left.

                                            >Turning your attention to the television, you reach down to grab it.

                                            >Your fingers grope blindly for a moment or two before you find the pizza.

                                            >And then you feel something bump against your hand.

                                            >You turn, seeing Sunset doing the same, and you both glance down.

                                            >Your fingers are touching.

                                            >Ever nerve from your chest to your elbow fires at once, seeking to jerk away from her, but your fingers refuse to budge.

                                            >That desire for pizza is too strong, bro.

                                            >Sunset seems to flinch as well, but also stands firm and gives you a cold stare.

                                            >"What do you think you're doing?"

                                            >For a moment, fear races through your body.

                                            >You're reminded of how Sunset used to be, cold, cruel, vicious.

                                            >There's a devilish gleam in her eye, just begging you to push her.

                                            >But, that's the old Sunset.

                                            >New Sunset is sweet and kind.

                                            >Right?

                                            >Steeling your nerves, you decide to push your luck and meet her glare for glare.

                                            "I'm grabbing a slice. What do you think you're doing?"

                                            >Sunset gives a tug on the crust and curls her lip.

                                            >"Well it looks like I'm protecting what's mine."

                                            >You pull back on the breaded edge in response

                                            "What's yours? I think this pizza is ours since you brought it to share."

                                            >"That's right, share," Sunset declares, squinting her eyes and pulling again. "I've been keeping count, and you've had five slices already. I've only had four so that means this one is mine."

                                            >Tug.

                                            "Host ought to be able to have preference."

                                            >Yank.

                                            >"Not when the guest buys the pizza."

                                            >Swipe.

                                            "I'm a growing boy."

                                            >Yoink.

                                            >"I have a high metabolism!"

                                            >Back and forth it goes, neither of you refusing to relent.

                                            >As you go on, you see Sunset's glare begin to soften, and by the time you're exchanging good natured insults, you can see she's delighting in the banter.

                                            "Bully."

                                            >"Wimp."

                                            "Jerk."

                                            >"Doormat."

                                            "Ice Princess."

                                            >Sunset stops suddenly.

                                            >Her brow furrows as she tries to come up with some clever quip.

                                            >Grinning, you realize you've got her.

                                            >You make a ticking sound with your tongue and watch as panic enters her eyes.

                                            >She begins to stutter.

                                            >"Uh... uh..."

                                            >Ticking intensifies

                                            >At last, her eyes widen and she snaps.

                                            >"Sweetheart!"

                                            >The room goes still and deathly quiet except for the quiet murmuring of the television in the background.

                                            >As her mind catches up to her mouth, Sunset's face goes beet red and she quickly brings a hand to her mouth, biting down gently on the knuckle in the process.

                                            >Both of you sit and try to process what just happened.

                                            >At last, you clear your throat and ask, in a quivering voice.

                                            "What... what did you say?"

                                            >Sunset gulps and turns to face you.

                                            >You can feel your own face heat up as she struggles for the word.

                                            >"I said... S-S-Slugworth. You're a Slugworth, Anon!"

                                            >Wait... what?

                                            "Slugworth?"

                                            >It shouldn't be possible, but Sunset seems even more perturbed that you’re questioning her story.

                                            >She punches you in the shoulder with her free hand.

                                            >"That's right, a Slugworth! Like in that movie!"

                                            "Slugworth's his name, it's not an actual insult."

                                            >A momentary pause.

                                            >And then the specter of defeat flashes across Sunset’s face.

                                            >"Fine, you win!"

                                            >At that, Sunset gives a huff and relinquishes the pizza.

                                            >Crossing her arms over her chest, she glowers at the corner and turns her back to you.

                                            >Several awkward seconds pass before you try to offer a sign of good will

                                            "You, you can have this slice, if it really means that much to you."

                                            >Sunset refuses to face you and instead waves her hand.

                                            >"Oh no, please, go ahead. You won, I lost. It's only right that the victor gets the spoils."

                                            >Ouch.

                                            >Sighing, you glance down at the pizza in your hand.

                                            "Come on, don't be mad. Look, we can split it. Just give me a minute to tear it an-"

                                            >"No!"

                                            >Sunset whirls on her backside, giving you a small flash between her legs as she shifts her weight to get comfortable again.

                                            >She seems completely oblivious to the fact she just flashed you with her panties as she glares.

                                            >"You're only going to cut it all weird, and then we'll fight over who gets the bigger piece."

                                            "Well then, you can have the bigger piece."

                                            >"But I don't want it if you're just going to give it to me!"

                                            >What?

                                            >Shaking your head, you decide to give up on this whole ordeal and hold the pizza slice back out to her again.

                                            "Look, it's yours, okay?"

                                            >She stares between you and the pizza for a moment before scowling.

                                            >"No, we'll split it. But we're going to do it right, okay?"

                                            "Well sure, how?"

                                            >Anything to get out of this confusing mess of girl logic.

                                            >Sunset goes quiet, biting down on her lip before letting a sigh escape.

                                            >After that, she seems to have collected herself and continues.

                                            >"We'll do it, bite for bite."

                                            >What?

                                            >Sunset nods at your contorted expression.

                                            >"You take one, then I take one. We go back and forth until it's gone."

                                            "That's not very hygienic..."

                                            >Lifting her finger, Sunset taps the side of it against the tip of your nose.

                                            >"It's the only fair option!"

                                            "O-okay...?"

                                            >Sitting back on bottom, Sunset smiles.

                                            >"Since you beat me fair and square, you get first bite."

                                            >With a gulp, you nod and do as she asks.

                                            >For some reason, you're feeling incredibly awkward about the idea of sharing a slice of pizza with your friend.

                                            >Perhaps it's because of the intensity that she's watching you as you chew.

                                            >At last, you swallow and then hold the pizza out to her.

                                            >Sunset reaches out, but instead of taking the offered food, she grips your wrist and steadies it.

                                            >She leans in close, taking a small bite before falling back to chew.

                                            >Your heart thuds away in your ears at the contact of her slick, but slightly calloused fingers.

                                            >As she finishes, you take your second bite, bolder, more confident than the last.

                                            >Everything is fine, it's just Sunset being a little weird.

                                            >Everyone's allowed to be weird from time to time.

                                            >As long as she isn't enslaving the school, everything's going to be just fine.

                                            >Sunset moves in for her second taste.

                                            >By your estimation, there's probably half the slice left, enough for another bite and a half after she's done.

                                            >But as she approaches, Sunset stops just before she reaches the pizza.

                                            >Your breath catches as she meets your eyes.

                                            >That devilish glint returns and your heart begins to pound all over again.

                                            >She wets her lips with the tip of her tongue and then opens her mouth, never taking her eyes off of you.

                                            >Those blue-green orbs you could get lost in for hours never seem to break away, never blink, nev-

                                            >At once, a familiar slick sensation grips your fingers.

                                            >You jerk your gaze away from Sunset and look down at your hand just in time to see her fingers pinch yours together.

                                            >The pizza bunches up Chicago style and Sunset leans in and chomps like a shark, taking it all the way up to the crust in a single bite.

                                            "Damnit!"

                                            >You yelp, dropping the crust on the floor and jerking your fingers back to make sure she didn't take one of them with her.

                                            >Sunset gives a throaty laugh on account of her mouthful of pizza before working her jaw over time, as if you'd want it after she'd drooled all over it.

                                            >Within seconds, she gulps and opens her mouth.

                                            >Sunset sticks out her tongue and shows you that it's all gone except for a single strand of cheese sitting on the tip of her tongue.

                                            >Mocking you.

                                            >And grossing you out too.

                                            "Jeez, Sunset!"

                                            >She laughs and snags the discarded crust, nibbling away at it as she turns her attention the television.

                                            >"I never said that all bites had to be equal."

                                            >You give a frustrated huff and glare at the television as well.

                                            >It takes a minute or two, but Sunset shifts the empty box out of the way and scoots over close to you.

                                            >If it were anyone else, you'd move away, but instead you remain still.

                                            >Stoic.

                                            >Unmoving.

                                            >The eternal anger.

                                            >At least until Sunset forces your arm up and over her shoulders and rests her head against your chest.

                                            >With the crust still dangling for her lips, she glances up at you and whispers, "Thanks for everything, Anon..."

                                            >You wonder if the slow smile on her face is from your blushing, or if she can hear your heart jack hammering away in your chest.

                                            >Just another Friday night with Sunset Shimmer...