>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...