>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.