Rising for Sunset [Part 4 - Thursday]


                                            >You wake up to an alarm.

                                            >Your arm sweeps over and knocks the clock off of your nightstand, causing it to conveniently turn off when it impacts the floor.

                                            >Getting up a little bit earlier than normal today was important.

                                            >You get ready for your day in an orderly fashion.

                                            >Clothes on.

                                            >Breakfast eaten.

                                            >Bitchin' new kicks laced up.

                                            >Out the door.

                                            >When you arrive at Canterlot High, the amount of people hanging around this early is a lot smaller than you're used to.

                                            >You walk up the steps to the front door, take a deep breath, and go inside.

                                            >It's like a ghost town.

                                            >It looks like the teachers are in their rooms, but there aren't any students in the halls.

                                            >No chatter, no clanking of lockers

                                            >You walk, nothing to keep you company but your thoughts.


                                            >This week has been a lot of things.

                                            >Stressful.

                                            >Unreal.

                                            >Amazing.

                                            >Satisfying.

                                            >And it all happened because when an opportunity presented itself to you, you said nothing.

                                            >You said nothing and it threw your whole world for a loop.

                                            >All over a girl.

                                            >A beautiful girl with crimson and golden hair.

                                            >A girl who is intelligent and kind.

                                            >This all happened because that girl chose to open her heart up to you and you didn't know how to respond.

                                            >You can't help but chuckle to yourself.

                                            >If you'd said something, anything at all, none of it would have happened.

                                            >But then where would you be?

                                            >If you could go back and change it, would you have?

                                            >Maybe on Monday, you would have.

                                            >But now...

                                            >You're not so sure.


                                            >And now you're here.

                                            >It's the corner of the school where you met Sunset when all of this began.

                                            >It doesn't take long for you to find her.

                                            >She's leaning against the lockers, those cyan eyes lost in thought.

                                            >Those eyes look up as she notices your approach.

                                            >A small smile grows on her face.

                                            >"Hey there, Anon."

                                            "Good morning, Sunset."

                                            >"Thanks for agreeing to meet me."

                                            "I wanted to. I've been wanting to talk to you since Monday."

                                            >"Please, let me go first. I have a lot that I need to get off my chest."

                                            >You nod and listen as Sunset Shimmer tells you how this all of this started.


                                            >"I guess I don't need to ask you if you remember the Fall Formal."

                                            >You do remember it. As does anyone who has been at the school since last year.

                                            >Sunset used to be "popular," but disliked by quite a few people.

                                            >You don't fully understand all of what happened at the Fall Formal, but apparantly it was magic.

                                            >Literally magic.

                                            >She turned into some kind of demon.

                                            >Even more, she started turning the other students into zombies.

                                            >Well, they were LIKE zombies, anyway.

                                            >Something happened where the other girls that make up the Main Six teamed up with that bookish girl that transfered in from nowhere.

                                            >They put a stop to it, leaving Sunset just a vulnerable girl with a lot of people understandably angry with her.

                                            ">You can imagine that I didn't have a lot of friends after that. I was lucky to have anyone forgive me at all."

                                            >It was true. Applejack, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie all became her friends afterwards.

                                            >They gave her a new chance.

                                            >"But even with new friends, it wasn't easy for me after that."

                                            >She looks down.

                                            >"Everyone else wasn't so forgiving. Wherever I went, whatever I did, no one trusted me. They said a lot of hurtful things to my face and behind my back... Except for one person."

                                            >She looks up and her eyes meet yours.


                                            >"You, Anonymous. We had class together, and though we really didn't talk that much, you were never rude to me."

                                            >Hearing this surprises you.

                                            >You hardly talked to her at all, but it was true that you never gave her trouble for what she did.

                                            >You weren't the kind of person who would hang on to the bad things in life, and you certainly weren't going to kick someone else when they were down.

                                            >"To a lot of people, you don't really stand out. You tend to be pretty quiet for the most part, but I saw that you're also hard-working and kind."

                                            >There's a moment of silence as she thinks about where to go from here.

                                            >"Eventually, more people became willing to trust me. I made a few more friends, but it wasn't until the Battle of the Bands that most of the school was willing to forgive what I'd done."

                                            >That was a weird week.

                                            >What's the deal with trouble always starting up after students transfer in, anyway?

                                            >After all of that happened, Sunset became popular again, but this time because she was well-liked.

                                            >"But I didn't forget, Anon. I... I grew feelings for you that I didn't know how to express."

                                            >She sighs.

                                            >"Maybe I was just afraid that you would reject me. I wasn't in a good place in my life for a while there."

                                            >She allows herself just the slightest hint of a smile, her emotional baggage starting to lighten up.

                                            >"But recently things have been good. I started having thoughts about you again, and I felt confident enough to tell you how I really felt."

                                            >Her eyes gaze deeply into yours.

                                            >"So I did. But when you didn't say anything, I was afraid that you would reject me for what I did after all. I just couldn't handle that fear that my past might actually get in the way of my life again."

                                            >"And I ran."


                                            >You can hear the sadness and regret in her voice.

                                            >"I'd been so excited before meeting with you that I told my friends about it. When they saw me come back in tears, they must have assumed that you hurt me.

                                            >There it was.

                                            >The catalyst that had brought you so much strife this week.

                                            >Your staredown from Fluttershy.

                                            >The arm wrestling match with Applejack.

                                            >Destruction at the hands of Rainbow Dash's soccer skills.

                                            >"I never meant to cause you so much trouble, Anon. I hope that you can forgive me."

                                            >Her eyes turn to the floor again.

                                            >"And I'd understand if you never want to talk to me again."


                                            >There it all is.

                                            >Now, you have a choice to make.

                                            >You weren't ready for it last time, you had a lot dropped on you to think about.

                                            >But this time, you've already done all of the thinking that you need.

                                            >You walk up to Sunset.

                                            >You use your hand to lift up her chin and look her right in the eyes.

                                            "Sunset, I've had a lot of time to think since Monday."

                                            >She's staring back at you, her expression unsure.

                                            "I like you Sunset. I really do."

                                            >Her eyes widen in disbelief.

                                            "If you'll have me, I'd love to go out with you."

                                            >The corners of her eyes are starting to water up.

                                            >She throws her arms around you.

                                            >"Of course, Anon!"

                                            >You wrap your arms around her and share an intimate moment.

                                            >You've never hugged a girl before.

                                            >It's warm, and you get a face full of her beautiful hair.

                                            >After what feels like several minutes, you let go of each other.

                                            "So... uh..."

                                            >"Yes, Anon?"

                                            >Her smile is so heartwarming.

                                            >You almost have a heart attack from cuteness overload.

                                            "Do you want to maybe do something after school?"

                                            >She shuffles her feet a bit, you can hear her boots sliding on the tiled floor.

                                            >"I'm sorry, Anon. I'm busy after school today... Will you be at Pinkie's party tomorrow?"

                                            "Of course, Sunset. I'll meet you there?"

                                            >"Sure. Don't be a stranger until tomorrow though, okay? You have my number now, after all."

                                            >You give her a big smile.

                                            "Of course."

                                            >She gives you a wink and takes her leave.

                                            >You can hear the school coming alive.


                                            >Go to history.

                                            >Harshwhinny may be a sourpuss, but nothing's knocking your spirits down today.

                                            >Class passes by without incident.

                                            >Step out into the hall after class.

                                            >Turn the corner.

                                            >Your vision goes pink.

                                            >You stumble, but you don't fall over.

                                            >Fuck that.

                                            >After a moment of feeling good for yourself about not being on the floor again, you realize at Pinkie Pie is RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU.

                                            >But... you're pretty sure you left the classroom ahead of her.

                                            "Pinkie Pie?"

                                            >"Hi, Nonny! Did you and Sunset talk things out?"

                                            "Yes, actually."

                                            >You put on a big smile.

                                            "Things turned out great."

                                            >She gets excited.

                                            >"Oh, that's so good to hear! You're still coming to the party on Friday right? It's gonna be amazing!"

                                            >You chuckle.

                                            "Yeah, Pinkie. I'll be there."

                                            >"Great! I'll see you later, Nonny!"

                                            >She skips off into the hallway traffic.

                                            >You can see that big, poofy hair of hers bob up over everyone else's heads as she gets further and further away from you.


                                            >The next class passes by in a flash.

                                            >Speaking of which, you can't wait to tell that guy about your morning.

                                            https://youtu.be/WB-aNl2-YoE?t=4s

                                            >Wait, did your ring tone actually get MORE BLAND when you weren't looking?

                                            >You have a text from... Rarity.

                                            >[Greetings, Anonymous. Our instructor stumbled through the staging area yesterday and knocked over a few things. Nothing seems to be damaged, but would you be a dear and check it for yourself if you have a minute to spare?]

                                            >You roll your eyes.

                                            >Well, something was bound to happen today, even if none of Sunset's friends are out to get you anymore.

                                            >Who needs the whole lunch period anyway?

                                            >Did you even have lunch half of the days this week?

                                            >You head to the stage.

                                            >Of course there's no one here.

                                            >Rarity just dropped a job on you on your own time and she isn't even here.

                                            >You climb up onto the stage and find a few things out of their normal place, with a little note in Rarity's overly-curly cursive handwriting telling you that these are the things.

                                            >Taking a look, everything does seem to be fine...

                                            >Except for one piece that seems to be missing a nail.

                                            >You quickly grab a hammer and scan the floor for the loose nail so no one will step on it by mistake.

                                            >After a few minutes, your work is done.

                                            >As you return to the toolbox, you notice that there are some papers scattered all over the floor.

                                            >Picking them up, they appear to be a bunch of Rarity's design notes.

                                            >You straighten them out into a neat pile and set them down by her work station.

                                            >Before you leave, you stop and think for a moment.

                                            >You have an idea.


                                            >The rest of your day before Drama class sweeps by without incident.

                                            >Here it comes.

                                            >You have to "act" today to fill in for a missing player.

                                            >Ugh.

                                            >You take a seat with everyone else while Rarity stands up on stage and acts a coordinator.

                                            >She calls out a scene and those players come up to the stage to do a reading.

                                            >She also then calls out the next scene so that everyone reading that one can get ready.

                                            >The first group of players come up to the stage and begin.

                                            >Given that most of the people here double as crew, there's actually some pretty good acting.

                                            >It's too bad that it's just a second-rate play.

                                            >Why on earth would anyone think it would be a good idea to put on a fantasy story about a bunch of high school teenagers, anyway?

                                            >After the first group finishes up, the second group comes up to the stage.

                                            >Rarity steps up to the edge of the stage to call the next one.

                                            >"I'll need Anonymous up here to understudy for Act 1, Scene 8."

                                            >You throw up your hands in outrage.

                                            >That's the scene where Rarity's character and another one try to seduce one another.


                                            >The next scene goes by as you gloss over the part of the script that you're about to do with Rarity.

                                            >"Come up here, Anonymous. This will be the last one for today, everyone can return to their projects afterward."

                                            >You climb up onto the stage and take a position off to one side.

                                            >Rarity looks to you to make sure that you're ready.

                                            >You let out a deep sigh and then nod to her.

                                            >She walks offstage, then back on.

                                            >This is how the scene starts, she comes into the room.

                                            >"THERE you are, darling. You didn't think that you could hide from me, did you?

                                            >She's got her flirty face on.

                                            >Wait, is she not holding a script?

                                            >After a moment, you realize that you're just standing there not saying your lines.

                                            "Darling? Coming on a bit strongly, aren't you?"

                                            >She's sauntering over to you, nice and slow.

                                            >You sometimes forget this because you're usually trying to avoid her as much as possible, but it's true:

                                            >She's gorgeous.

                                            >"But of course. Why shouldn't I when I'm talking to such a big, strong man?"

                                            >She slowly strokes your face with the side of her hand before turning away from you.

                                            >"And besides... are you sure that you don't like it?"

                                            >She's laying it on so thick.

                                            >Is she testing you?


                                            >"After all, a lot of guys would *kill* for a girl like me."

                                            >She gives you a look that screams "come hither."

                                            >But you don't lock up.

                                            >You don't show your anger.

                                            >You are Anonymous, King of the Poker Face.

                                            >And you're going to show her what real acting is.

                                            >You throw down your script.

                                            "Really? Because you seem to be pretty eager to have my attention yourself."

                                            >Rarity blinks in surprise as you step towards her.

                                            "Perhaps it's not just me that you're interested in, but the pull that I have around here?"

                                            >She regains her composure.

                                            >"I don't know whatever it is that you mean by that, darling."

                                            "Oh, I think you do."

                                            >You both step closer to each other

                                            >"And if I were, you understand how well I can also sway things my way."

                                            >She places an arm around your shoulder and gets up close to your face.

                                            "I see, then..."

                                            >You clasp her hand in yours and step away from her.

                                            >You're now standing apart from one another, but connected by your linked arms.

                                            "In that case, "darling..."

                                            >You pull her in, holding her close and dipping her backwards, supporting her with your other arm.

                                            >She looks up at you in surprise as your face contorts into a devilish grin.

                                            "Perhaps we can have something a little bit more... mutual."

                                            >Your face approaches hers and her eyes go wide.

                                            >You can feel her becoming uneasy in your grasp. She almost tries to push you off of her.

                                            >You lean in...


                                            >Her eyes close.

                                            >You lean in and whisper in her ear.

                                            "Scene."

                                            >You prop her up again and she nearly falls over.

                                            >She's extremely flustered.

                                            >You hear a some people talking from the audience.

                                            >"The school will never let us use that scene as is."

                                            >There are a couple of people with pens scratching out lines and re-writing some changes on their copies of the script.

                                            >Rarity finally regains her composure and clears her throat.

                                            >"That's a wrap everyone... Please return to your work."

                                            >The script kids stay where they are and work on editing.

                                            >You go back to building and maintenance.

                                            >Rarity goes to work on her costumes.

                                            >"My word... who did this?"

                                            >Her work table has all of her tools set out neatly, with the materials that she needs for her planned costumes immediately on hand.

                                            >You pause from driving screws into a plank to give her a hand signal.

                                            "You're welcome, "Miss" Rarity."


                                            >Rarity says nothing and returns to her work.

                                            >In fact, she doesn't say anything for the rest of the class period.

                                            >When the bell finally rings, you two are the last ones remaining.

                                            >She walks over to you.

                                            >"Anonymous. Could I have a word with you?"

                                            >She's not using any of her usual flare.

                                            >You don't think you've ever seen her so casual before.

                                            "Sure. What can I do for you, Rarity?"

                                            >"I just wanted to say that I'm was very surprised by your performance earlier. I never knew you could act like that."

                                            >You don't say anything in reply, instead finishing putting away your tools.

                                            >"It's just that... I don't see how anyone as talented as you could possibly lose an audition.

                                            >You look at Rarity.

                                            "It's really a lot more simple than you think."

                                            >"She looks as you, confused.

                                            "I don't like being in the spotlight. I'd really prefer to be backstage helping everything else move along."

                                            >It's like she expects there to be more than that.

                                            >But after she realizes that there isn't, she decides to speak up again.

                                            >"I see. Well, then. I just have one thing that I want to say."

                                            >You look at her.

                                            "Yes?

                                            >"Thank you, Anonymous. For everything that you do around here."

                                            >That's a genuine smile.

                                            >"You're a real gentleman after all, you know If it weren't for Sunset, I think I'd have to snatch you right up."

                                            >She picks up her purse and puts on a scarf that you know she's only wearing because it matches the rest of her ensemble.

                                            >"Have a good rest of your day, Anonymous."


                                            >On your way out of the school, you run into Flash Sentry.

                                            >"Hey, Anon! You didn't show up to lunch again today. So, how'd it go this morning?"

                                            "Let me tell you..."

                                            >You fill in Flash on how your talk with Sunset went this morning.

                                            >When you tell him that you'll be hanging out with her at Pinkie's party tomorrow, he bumps fists with you.

                                            >When you get home, you go straight to your room as usual.

                                            >After you put a dent in your homework, you take out your phone and send Sunset a text.


                                            END OF THURSDAY.