Friday, March 11, 2016
Friday, March 11, 2016
Today's Horoscope (Virgo): Nobody's interested in your opinion today, so don't bother offering it.
Early Morning
I wake up stiff and aching all over. I'm lying on Twilight's lap; she's sitting up on my bed, legs stretched out underneath me. "Ugh..."
"Hey," Twilight says. She cracks a huge yawn. "Feel better?"
"Gah. Sore all over." I sit up, hissing in pain. "Damn..."
"Flash? Are you okay?"
I shake my head, rubbing my shoulder. "I'm just...really aching."
"I'm sorry." Twilight hugs me. "Go take a hot shower. I'll get the heat rub and give you a rub-down."
"Do we have time for that?"
"Yeah, it's not even five yet."
"Shit..." I stand up, wincing, and turn to look at her. "Did you even sleep?"
"Mm-hmm." She stands up and stretches. "I'm okay." She pushes on my back. "Go on, take a shower."
I get together my bath stuff and head for the shower. The hot water feels amazing and does wonders for my soreness; I stand under it a good fifteen minutes. I towel off, wrap my towel around my waist, and return to my room, where Twilight is waiting with a jar of muscle rub. By the time she's finished rubbing me down, it's nearly six; she goes off to take her own shower while I get dressed and check Canterbook.
To all tennis team members:
Practice is cancelled today. All GIRLS team members are to report to the CHS practice courts at 8am tomorrow for your trip to Rainbow Falls for your next scheduled match. I will be accompanying you in place of your coach.
I frown at that, then text Coco.
WTF's going on?
I'm already downstairs at the table when I get a response.
You didn't hear? I'm sorry, I should've told you! Coach quit.
She what?!
Well, she said it's a sabbatical, but I got the impression she's pretty much quitting.
We'll talk more about it later OK? I'm running late this morning.
Wow. I hope Coach gets her head together...
Pinkie comes downstairs and flops into a seat in the dining room. "What's up with that message from Principal Celestia?"
"Coach quit."
Pinkie wilts. "That sucks. I guess I don't blame her, though. I mean..."
"Yeah."
Once everyone is downstairs and breakfast is on the table, Sweetie Belle pipes up, "Umm...I'm having a...a friend over this evening..."
"Oh yeah, your boyfriend's coming over tonight!" Pinkie says. "We'll all be on our best behavior, don't worry!"
Rarity raises an eyebrow. "Your boyfriend, hmm?"
Sweetie Belle ducks her head and blushes. "A-anyway...so, umm...yeah..."
Twilight smiles. "We won't tease you."
This evening is going to be interesting...
Lunch
At lunch, I get a text message from Silver Spoon, asking me to come by the shop to talk after school.
Coco joins us at our table at lunch. "Hey guys," she says. "Is it okay if I sit here?"
"Of course!" Pinkie says. "You guys remember Coco, right?"
Everybody welcomes Coco. Pinkie asks, "So...what's up with Coach? Why'd she...?"
Coco shakes her head and sighs. "Well...Principal Celestia and Vice-Principal Luna really got after her about that blow-up the other day. I'm an office aide fourth period, so...I had a chance to talk to her after that. She was in and out of the office all day...
"Anyway, she's...she's not dealing with what happened the other night well at all, and she's...she decided she just needs to get away for a while. She said she's been wanting to go to Hosstria for years—her grandparents were from there—so she's decided to withdraw her savings and...and go. She said she doesn't know how long she's leaving for, but...she won't be back this school year." She looks down at her tray. "Maybe not even until after Christmas."
"Sounds to me like she's decided to move to Hosstria," Rarity says.
"That's...kind of an overreaction to getting dumped," Pinkie says.
"It's not just that," Coco says, shaking her head. "Coach...she says she hasn't really felt happy about her life for a long time now. This was just the last straw. She...she just wants a change of scenery, a fresh start..." She sighs. "The way she was talking, I'm...I'm pretty sure we're never going to see her again..."
"Well...that bites," Rainbow says.
"We should throw her a going-away party," Pinkie says.
Coco shakes her head. "There's no time." She pokes at her lunch. "She's leaving Canterlot today, as soon as she breaks her lease and puts all her stuff in storage."
"Wow, she didn't waste any time," Twilight says, blinking.
"She really didn't," Coco agrees miserably. "I feel sorry for her..."
None of us really feel like talking for the rest of lunch.
After School
I head to the silver shop. Silver Spoon is polishing the display cases. She turns and sees me. "Oh! Hello. Thank you for coming."
"What's up?"
Silver Spoon sets down her rag and sighs. "I'm...having a hard time trying to make friends," she says. "I...I'm trying...with Apple Bloom and her friends, but...it isn't easy. And, well...Diamond Tiara is—"
"I heard," I say. "She's making life hell for those girls and anyone else around them."
"Yeah." Silver Spoon's shoulders slump. "Why was I ever friends with somebody so mean?"
"Were you ever really friends with her?"
Silver Spoon pauses for a long time. She looks away. "I don't know anymore," she says.
"You need to think about that," I say. "And...maybe you should try standing up to Diamond Tiara more. Don't stoop to her level, but...show her that you're not afraid of her. I mean, what can she really do to you except say nasty things?"
Silver Spoon frowns. "That's what I'm worried about," she says. "I'm worried about what she could say or do if she's feeling really nasty."
"Then you need friends," I say. "That's the thing about real friends. They stick by you and help you out when bad things happen."
"Huh. I never thought about it like that." Silver Spoon smiles. "Thank you. I'll...I'll think about what you said, and talk to Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle at school."
The Rich Kid Social Link of the Aeon Arcana has reached rank 3!
Your power to create Personas of the Aeon Arcana has grown!
I decide to stop by the supermarket and pick up a few things I'm low on before heading back to the dorm.
Evening
When I get back to the dorm, Sweetie Belle is shrilly berating Rainbow and Luna in the lounge.
"No, no, NO! You've gotta hide the games! Everything! No gaming while Button's here! If he even SEES this, we've lost him for the whole night!"
"But it's Friday!" Rainbow whines.
"What she said!" Luna insists.
"NO!" Sweetie Belle screams, stomping a foot. "And put some clothes on! Good grief, you two with your boobs hanging out is the LAST thing I need tonight!"
"Okay okay, sheesh," Rainbow says before padding upstairs. Luna gives Sweetie Belle a smirk and a raised eyebrow, shakes her head, and goes upstairs as well.
I clear my throat. "Are you freaking out, Sweetie Belle?"
She turns to face me. "N-no!" she stammers, blushing. "I just...I just..." She covers her cheeks with her hands and shakes her head vigorously. "You just don't understand! Button's..."
"He's kind of a basket case," Apple Bloom says from the deepest, plushest recliner. I didn't even notice her there. "It don't take much t' spaz him out."
"Apple Bloom!" Sweetie Belle whines.
"Well it's true."
"I know it's true, but—!"
"Sweetie Belle, whatever is going on out here?" Rarity calls as she walks in from the kitchen.
"She's wiggin' out," Apple Bloom says. "She wants everything to be jes' right for when her booooooyfriend gits here."
Rarity rolls her eyes. "Well, do try to reign it in, darling. It's a simple dinner affair with a guest who happens to be the boy you like. I'm certain everything will be fine."
I stare at Rarity. "Are you shitting me? You'd throw a much worse fit than this if your boyfriend was coming over for dinner."
Rarity gives me a flat stare and an even flatter frown, then retreats to the kitchen.
"Oooh, touched a nerve there," Apple Bloom says cheekily. I shake my head and go upstairs to put my stuff away.
Twilight's sitting in her room with the door open, reading. I lean in. "Sweetie Belle's on the warpath."
Twilight laughs.
Rainbow walks in, wearing jeans and a baggy T-shirt. "This friggin' kid better be worth all this shit," she says, folding her arms. "Givin' up gaming night when Luna's here!"
"I thought this...what was his name, Button Mash?" Twilight says. "I thought he liked video games."
"I think that's the problem," I say. "I get the impression he's...well...obsessed."
"Yeah, like the two of you and sex," Rainbow says.
"We are NOT obsessed with sex!" Twilight cries. "We just..." She blushes. "We enjoy having it...now and then...because we love each other..."
Rainbow smirks and wanders off. Twilight sticks her tongue out at her retreating back. I shake my head and laugh. "Well...tonight should be interesting."
I freshen up and head downstairs to hang out in the lounge. Fifteen minutes later, the doorbell rings. Sweetie Belle rushes out of the kitchen to answer it. "BUTTON!" she cries happily.
She walks back in, leading the brown-skinned, red-haired kid I've only seen a picture of. Behind him is a smoking hot woman with light cream skin and long, honey-brown hair. She looks familiar...I can't quite place her.
Rarity walks out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on a paper towel. "So, this is your little friend!" she says with a smile, walking up to Button and looking him over.
Button Mash looks at Rarity. "Are you Sweetie Belle's mom?" he asks.
Rarity takes a step back and frowns. "I'm her sister Rarity," she says icily.
"Oh, my bad," Button says.
"You'll have to forgive him," the woman who I swear I've seen before says with a light laugh, laying a hand on Button's shoulder. "After all, he has such a young and beautiful mother..."
That's his mother?!
No fucking WAY!
Rarity seems taken aback. She blinks. "You're...his mother? But...you're so young!"
Button's mother laughs. "Why, thank you, dear." She tilts her head. "Oh my. I've met you before."
"Now that you mention it...you do look familiar..." Rarity frowns.
"Rarity!" Pinkie calls from the kitchen. "I could use a little help here!" She wanders in, sees Button and his mom, and gasps. "Oh my gosh! It's Nurse Love Tap! From the hospital!"
Nurse Love Tap...?
...oh, right! When the Cake twins were born! I remember her now!
"YOU, I remember," Love Tap says. "Have you driven the Cakes completely insane yet?"
"Nah, only partway insane," Pinkie says.
"Please excuse us," Rarity says. "We do have dinner to attend to."
"Need any help?" Love Tap asks.
"Oh, heavens no!" Rarity says. "You're our guest! Please, have a seat and relax! Flash, do offer our guests something to drink, won't you?"
"I'll get the drinks!" Sweetie Belle says. "Button, you want a root beer, right?"
"Sure thing!"
"Mrs. Tap?"
"Oh, I'll take anything, dear."
Before long, the rest of the dorm starts filtering into the lounge to meet Button. Some of the girls remember Love Tap from that one day at the hospital.
As the girls make conversation with Button, I start to understand Sweetie Belle's apprehension. The kid is...a dork. And not in the cute way Twilight is a dork. It's like he's a goldfish who just realized he's in a bowl and everybody is watching him swim around and he doesn't know what he's supposed to do. Half the time, he doesn't quite answer the others; when he does, it's awkwardly, and he trips over his words. He's constantly making twitching motions with his hands that, I soon realize, are game controller input motions.
When Sweetie Belle gets up to refresh everyone's drinks, I follow her. Outside the kitchen, I pull her aside so I can whisper to her. "Sweetie Belle...is that kid autistic or something?"
"Huh? No!" Sweetie Belle looks upset. "Why would you even say that?"
"I'm not trying to be mean! It's just...haven't you noticed, that thing he does with his hands all the time? Like—"
"Like life is a video game?" Sweetie Belle sighs. "Yeah. I think it's just how he deals. He...he's not very good with people." She shrugs. "I'm working on it."
Rainbow Dash walks in. "Sweetie Belle, what do you even see in that kid?"
Sweetie Belle starts trembling. "I knew this was a bad idea!"
"Whoa, hey! Sorry! I didn't mean—"
"Rainbow Dash? You're NOT helping."
Rainbow looks at me, then backs away. "Okay. Okay. Sorry." She goes back to the lounge.
Rarity pokes her head out of the kitchen. "Is something wrong?"
"Minor social disaster," I say. "How's dinner coming?"
"Almost ready. In fact, you should really start ushering everybody to the table."
Sweetie Belle and I wrangle everybody into the dining room. It's a tight squeeze; Cadance joins us. She and Love Tap spend a few minutes catching up while Twilight and I set the table.
"I knew you had a son, but I didn't know he was Sweetie Belle's age!" Cadance says. "How's that even possible? You're not that much older than me!"
Love Tap laughs. "Well...I had Button...fairly young."
Rarity and Pinkie Pie bring out two huge, piping hot lasagnas, two baskets of cheddar biscuits, and a serving dish full of green beans. Button's eyes widen and he starts to drool.
As Rarity and Pinkie start serving everyone, Twilight asks, "So, Button, what are your favorite subjects in school?"
Button frowns. "I don't really...like school," he says. "The teachers are boring and the kids don't like me." He looks at Sweetie Belle. "Except, y'know, Sweetie Belle...and Apple Bloom kinda..."
"We've been told you're quite fond of video games," Luna says as she breaks a cheddar biscuit in half.
Sweetie Belle makes frantic "no!" gestures, but it's too late. Button's face brightens.
The rest of the dinner conversation is dominated by Button, Luna, Rainbow, and Sonata as they talk video games nonstop. Nobody else can get a word in edgewise, so we all resign ourselves to enjoying the excellent lasagna the girls have whipped up while the resident game geeks babble about everything from first-person shooters to RPGs.
After dinner, Love Tap offers to help with the dishes. She and Rarity take care of cleaning up while the rest of us move into the lounge. Sweetie Belle and Twilight try to steer the conversation in directions that lead away from video games, but Button gets so awkward and nervous that Sweetie Belle finally relents and suggests Rainbow and Luna break out the games. Button lights up, and we end up spending the rest of the evening playing video games. Everybody has a good time, even the ones who don't normally really play games.
Finally, Love Tap says, "Button, honey...it's getting late. We need to go home."
"Aww, Mom!"
"Sorry. Don't worry, I'm sure you'll be able to come back and play with your new friends again soon."
"Okay." Button stands up and shuffles his feet awkwardly. "Bye, everybody. I had fun, and the lasagna was good!"
After Button and Love Tap leave, Sweetie Belle sighs. "That was a DISASTER."
"Are you kidding? That kid's awesome!" Rainbow grins. "Well...at video games." She scratches her nose. "Other than that, he kinda..."
"Rainbow," Twilight says with a frown. "Be nice."
"Sweetie Belle," Rarity says, "I don't think Button Mash is quite...well...suitable for you."
"Yeah? Well I didn't ask you!" Sweetie Belle retorts. She runs upstairs; we hear her slam the door to her room shut.
An awkward silence descends. Apple Bloom sighs. "Ah'll go talk to her," she says. "Night, y'all." She leaves as well.
Twilight shifts. "Yeah...I'm going to bed," she says. "Goodnight."
"I'd better get to bed too," Pinkie says. "Gotta get up early tomorrow."
The rest of us decide to call it a night as well.
