Author's Note

Gosh Darn FimFic counting my ~ (How I show a passage of time or space without ending the chapter) as a word! xD

Chapter 2: Lunch With The Girls

Sunset shifted around uneasily at the end of the lunch line, the cafeteria a mess of students chatting and eating at tables, and the remaining few waiting in line to get their food. Sunset made sure to try and stay at the end of the line, the same she had been doing since the aftermath of the Fall Formal. To the credit of the students, they were at least trying to stop Sunset from letting them skip in front of her, which was nice, but she was still insistent that they take her spot in line.

“Haaaa…” Sunset turned around just in time to see four more students enter the cafeteria. “I do hope that Mother will be calmer when I arrive home tonight…”

“I’m- No, I’m not sure that she will be.” came the friendly, teasing tones of Lyra Heartstrings as she playfully swatted at the shoulder of Octavia Melody, the cellist having crossed her arms across her chest. “That banshee is something else.”

“Lyra! Watch your voice!” Bon Bon chided, a slight scowl on her features as she glared at the lyrist, her pink and blue curls bouncing in time with her steps.

“Hey! You all know I’m right! Vinyl? You’re on my side, aint’cha?” the mint hued girl look across the taller form of Octavia at the girl who was busy pressing her blaring earphones against her ears, pausing only to throw a hand her questioning friend, the fore and pinkie finger outstretched while the thumb hold down the middle and ring fingers. “Boss! See!”

“While I am not one to deny her species, I would prefer if we dismissed the subject for the time being.” Octavia said softly, pausing just in front of Sunset as she slowly unlocked her arms. “Hello again, Sunset.”

“Good day, Miss Melody.” Sunset smirked, Octavia pausing and taking a small step back, her entire face scrunching up in an adorable manner and causing the Equestrian to burst into soft laughter.

“Errr… What’s the joke that I am missing here?” Lyra looked around, her brow furrowed as her voice carried a tone of defensive annoyance.

“I ran into Octavia this morning with her dear parents.” Sunset explained between giggles as Octavia stumbled to recover her poise. “Just a reference to that encounter is all.”

“May I ask you to keep that ordeal to yourself?” Octavia said as she finished brushing a few hairs behind her delicate ear, a weary smile on her face.

“Mum’s the word.” Sunset gave a merry wink and causing the four girls to burst into various emotions. Lyra erupted into laughter, Vinyl struggled to not do the same, Bon Bon turned to the side, her body shaking slightly as her hand covered her mouth politely, and Octavia…

Octavia groaned as her face met a dainty palm.

~Later~

“Hey, girls!” Sunset sang out as she approached the table where the rest of the Rainbooms sat. “So sorry that I’m late! As usual…”

“Heh, it ain’t no bother, shugahcube.” came the gruffly warm welcome of Applejack, the farmer bowing her stetson as Sunset took her spot.

“Don’t you ever get anything different?” Rainbow asked as she stood up and loomed over Sunset’s tray, studying the leafy greens dotted with juicy red strawberries.

“Rainbow Dash!” Rarity whispered harshly, glaring judgingly at the athlete. “There is nothing wrong with someone liking a certain food.”

“But where’s all the goodies!?” Pinkie asked loudly as she appeared out of nowhere, flipping Sunset’s plate around dramatically yet somehow not spilling a single morsel. “I don’t see any cupcakes!”

“Did you get a good rest last night?” Fluttershy peeked around the excitable mass of pink, her large opal eyes. “We were up a little late.”

“Eight at night isn’t late, Fluttershy. But thank you for the concern.” Sunset smiled warmly as she unbundled her plastic utensils. “I slept alright, I guess. The victory high had definitely started to wear off by that time.”

“So, uh… No more Equestrian Magic stuff for awhile, alright?” Rainbow Dash asked as she slumped back down into her seat, rubbing at her shoulder that had just been slugged by Applejack. “My studies could use some help, and the Wonderbolts are gonna be starting up indoor practices soon, so the less crazy, otherworldly shenanigans the better.”

“Don’t make me pistol whip you, Dash.” Sunset chuckled as she pointed her fork at the rainbow maned girl. “Seriously, the only one I had any control over was the Fall Formal.”

“Well at least we have Princess Twilight on speed dial now!” Pinkie was back in her seat, sipping away at a collection of taped together juice boxes that she seemed to have procured from her poofy mane of hair. “She can help us if anything happens!”

“I’m afraid I am more on the side of Rainbow Dash.” Rarity said with a slight air of her seemingly copyrighted melodrama. “All this craziness for the last few weeks has left my wardrobe and supplies in an absolutely dreadful state.”

“Well I for one am fine taking a little bit of time to relax.” Sunset said between bites of her salad. “I mean, I still would like to try and maybe look around a bit for the Sirens.”

“Why?” Fluttershy cowered behind her long strands of vibrantly pink hair, her eyes wide. “They’re so scary!”

“Yeah, that’n Princess Twilight made the lot o’ em sound a right bit vicious.” Applejack gave a concerned frown as she looked over at the lone Equestrian of the table. “Ah still believe we should leave em all be.”

“Fiiine…” Sunset groaned, looking over to her left as she put a fresh mouthful of salad in her mouth, pausing when Octavia happened to enter her vision, the girl smiling before bringing a bottle of water up to her mouth, tilting it with her head as she took a small sip.

“Whatcha lookin at, Shims?” Rainbow asked, trying to see what had caught Sunset’s attention.

“Nothin…” the unicorn responded in a blunt manner.