The Syndrome Playlist

“So from what I can tell, it’s like The Matrix, but chockfull of references to eighties pop culture.”

Sunset and Rarity look at each other, then back at me. “The Matrix?” Sunset asks.

“Yeah, Matrix. The sci-fi movie with Keanu Reeves about humanity living inside a simulation?”

Blank stares.

“Virtual reality?”

“Oh!” Sunset exclaims. “I know what that is! It’s video games you play with a headset thingy.”

I nod enthusiastically. “Yeah, like that, but years in the future, so it’s super high tech. Everyone is playing it to try and win this prize. Think the lottery, but significantly more money. I think. I’m not sure if that accounts for inflation.”

“And what’s this called? Ready Player One?” Rarity asks.

“Yeah. They’re making a movie out of it, so I’ve been meaning to read it.”

Sunset closes her locker and swings her bag back over her shoulder. “You guys ready for lunch?”

As if on cue, my stomach growls loud enough for the three of us and everyone in a four-foot radius to hear above the hubbub of a busy high school hallway. Sunset and Rarity laugh as I give them a sheepish grin. “That couldn’t have been timed better.”

“Cafeteria is…”

I hold up my hands in protest. “Wait! Don’t tell me! It’s…” I spin around and point. “This way!”

Rarity starts laughing as Sunset says, “Not even close.”

I shrug. “Eh. It’s my first day. I should get my act together at the end of the school year.”

Sunset points to our right. “This way.”

As Rarity and Sunset head to where the food is, I kinda trail along behind them, content to phase in and out of the conversation, allowing me my own thoughts while also leaving room for smart-ass remarks.

Rarity’s phone buzzes. She gets it from her pocket and reads what’s probably a text. She looks back and forth from Sunset to me and sighs. “Alex, I must apologize. We are not going to be able to eat lunch with you.”

Sunset looks as shocked as I feel disappointed. “What, why?”

“We have, let’s see, band practice.”

“Do we? I thought…”

Rarity quickly leans in and whispers something in Sunset’s ear. Her eyes widen a bit in what has to be comprehension. “Oh. Oh!” She gives me an apologetic look. “Alex, I’m so sorry. I totally forgot about, uh, band practice. We’ll see you around, okay?”

“Yeah, sure,” I say. “No problem!”

With that, the two of them dash off to what I seriously doubt is band practice.

I look around. Nobody else looks familiar and I’m feeling, well, like I don’t want to initiate conversation. Especially considering everyone seems to be with their friends.

Fudge muffins. What the hell am I supposed to do now?

My stomach gives another particularly loud grumble.

“Okay, I get it! Jeez.”

I spin around, following the crowd to what I assume is the cafeteria. I could go for some grub right about now.

I sit at the only empty table with what looks like actual food. I’m absolutely flabbergasted because my entire educational career has been hallmarked by bringing my own lunch in order to avoid eating the parasite farms called school-made lunch. Mystery meat and synthesized mushy vegetables. But this looks great! A cheeseburger, fries, and some kind of cinnamon apple pastry. I’m actually going to be able to eat this without worrying about being out for the count for the next month hovering over the toilet bowl.

I take a bite out of the burger and about damn near choke on my tears of joy. Christ alive, this has to be one of the best! Was it Applejack who said her grandma was head chef here? God, I need to give that woman a hug.

Looking up from my tray, I see three girls sitting across from me with expectant looks on their faces. They’re all younger, probably freshmen is my best guest. The girl on the right, my right, has cherry red hair and a pink bow, the one on the left has curly hair that’s colored kinda like a berry flavored Gogurt, and the middle girl has more of a punk vibe going on with a purple pixie cut.

I swallow my bite. “Uh, hi.”

Cherry Hair grins. “Howdy! My name’s Apple Bloom,” she says in an accent very similar to Applejack’s. Probably related in some form, or there’s a large country farm population in Canterlot.

I get a beam from Gogurt. “I’m Sweetie Belle!”

Hot Topic regular blows a strand of hair out of her face and gives me an aloof, “Hey. I’m Scootaloo.”

“You new to Canterlot?” Apple Bloom asks.

I nod and insert a fry into my mouth. “Yeah, just moved from Los Angeles.”

The three girls’ eyes instantly start to sparkle. “You mean like Hollywood?” Sweetie Belle asks.

“Pretty close, but yeah.”

Scootaloo loses the “too cool for school vibe” pretty quickly, saying “That’s awesome! Do you know any celebrities?”

“No,” I answer truthfully. “Not personally. But I’ve seen a lot around town.”

“Like who?” all three ask at the same time.

I shrug. “Saw Leonardo DiCaprio get some crab legs from Costco, sat near Tom Cruise at a restaurant, and ran into The Rock at a red light.” After a sip of water, I realize how that might’ve come across. “Well, not actually ran into. Just saw him in a very nice looking Ferrari.”

“Wow, that’s so cool!” Sweetie Belle says.

“We’re the Canterlot Movie Club, so we know all bout Hollywood!” Apple Bloom announces.

Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and Apple Bloom all tap their chest with their fist and stick them outward, yelling “Canterlot Move Club, yay!”

I flinch a bit and look around to see everyone carrying on normally. Did no one else hear or see that? “Ah, so you guys, uh, like movies?”

Scootaloo scoffs. “Like? More like love!”

“What are your favs then?” I ask.

“The Karate Kid!” says Apple Bloom, getting into what I think is the Crane pose.

Scootaloo sticks her arms out and pretends to fly around, saying “Top Gun!”

“The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.” Sweetie Belle states flatly.

“Oh, that’s coo…” Wait, what?