Author's Note

Hey all! Just a heads up that it looks like I'm gonna be doing 2 chapters per day! At least until the flashback is over, at which point things may change a little~ >;'3

Turns out that when you're used to pumping out multiple 4000-ish chapters a week, it's pretty easy to do multiple 1000 word chapters a day ^^;

Chapter 6: Waiting

“Good morning, Octavia.” Sunset beamed as she waved towards the approaching girl, the smaller limo departing behind the ebony mane cellist.

“Good morning, Sunset. What are you doing here?” Octavia paused in front of Sunset as the girl pushed off of the horse statue that sat in front of Canterlot High School.

“Well, I mean I am still a student here.” Sunset chuckled as she watched Octavia blush slightly in embarrassment.

“N-No, I meant-”

“I was waiting for you to arrive.” Sunset responded, before motioning for them to head into the school building. “Wanted to make sure you weren't dressed up in a tuxedo again.”

“Ah, well I appreciate the concern, Sunset, but please don’t let it bother you.” Octavia’s voice was calm and level, but her small smile betrayed the small hint of appreciation. “I must say, you certainly have changed a lot.”

“Yeah, well getting blasted into the ground by a massive rainbow laser should be enough to make anyone realize that they messed up.” the pair giggled at Sunset’s comment as they passed over the differently coloured chunk of concrete that proclaimed the spot of Sunset’s “defeat” during the Fall Formal.

“...Did it hurt…?” Octavia asked gently, her gaze remaining forward even as Sunset looked over at her.

“Not enough if you ask some people.” came the quiet response as the pair approached the doorway, Sunset hurrying forward to open the door for her classmate. “After you.”

Octavia responded with a warm smile and a nod as she made her way into the quiet halls of the school. “I always prefer to show up a little early, before the halls become such a mess.”

“Ya, it helped to show up early when I was still helping clean up the school.” Sunset snickered as she came to a pause beside the slightly shorter girl. “So what’s your schedule like?”

“Mine? Well today I start with math, before going to gym. Thankfully I have a spare after that, so I am able to get somewhat showered before lunch.” Octavia recited with perfect clarity, her cultured voice lingering in Sunset’s mind for an extra moment before she responded.

“Oh! So you’re the one still showering!” she chuckled as she looked down at Octavia, resting her hands on her hips. “I have gym third period, and I always wondered who it was that was still showering while the rest of us were changing.”

“A proper lady should clean herself.” Octavia’s features gained a slight blush as she defended herself. “What about yourself? What are your mornings like?”

“Advanced social, advanced english, the gym and lunch. Advanced chem, advanced math, and ending with advanced-”

“Do you not have a spare? S-Sorry to interrupt.” Octavia stepped back a slight as the blush returned to her cheeks, slightly deeper than before.

“Nah. I mean, truth be told I’m not exactly learning anything new here. Well, history, I guess, but chemistry is a lot safer than alchemy.” Sunset subconsciously pawed at her forearms as a phantom burning ran down them.

“Still, that is quite the workload!” Octavia said in amazement, awe glinting in her eyes.

“Heya, Tavs!” the duo turned around to see Lyra and Bon Bon enter the school, a mass of students behind them as a city bus sat disgorging them by what looked like the thousands. “Sunset? What are you doing here so early?”

“I’ve been coming to school early everyday since the Fall Formal. I’m usually off somewhere cleaning or something.” Sunset smirked as the new pair stopped in front of them. “I should let ya get ready for class, Octavia. I’ll probably spot ya at lunch.”

“...What’s her deal of late?” Lyra asked as Sunset departed, the Equestrian feeling her golden eyes staring intently into the her back.

“Oh, hush Lyra.” she heard Octavia chide as Sunset rounded the corner, a small smile on her face.

~Lunch~

“Okay, stopping by to chat is one thing, but this?” Sunset smirked as Lyra sat down while grumbling.

“What? Can’t I sit somewhere different for lunch?” Sunset asked as innocently as she could, earning a cold glare from the girl. “Let me guess, you haven’t forgiven me yet for the last three years, huh?”

“You can’t deny that I’m justified…” the lyrist muttered as the other three girls sat down.

“Touche, though I hope that someday you come to see that I am better person now than I was then.” Sunset gave a small frown. “Truth be told I needed a small break from Pinkie before I went insane.”

“Understanda-”

“I’m pretty sure that like, ninety percent of the school would beg for you to sit with them.” Lyra interjected, holding out a hand to silence Bon Bon. “So why us?”

“The jocks just want to stare, the nerds as well, the fashionistas just want to use me for popularity- should I continue?” Sunset raised a brow as she paused her explanation. Of course, another reason floated around in the recesses of her mind.

“She just needed some normal, non judgemental company for lunch, Lyra.” Octavia said, pausing to take a drink from her water bottle. “Is that too much to ask.”

“...Sunset? Why are you staring at Octavia?” Sunset furrowed her brow as she looked over at Lyra, a pit of annoyance building in her gut.

“Staring? She was talking, I was listening.” Sunset shook her head. “Look, if you’re that uneasy around me, I’ll go, alright?”

Sunset started to stand up, only to pause when she heard a rattle beneath the table and Lyra cry out.

“Ow! The fuck was that for, Scratch!?” the green girl howled as she bent over, hands vanishing under the table. Sunset watched as the DJ stared intently at Lyra, frowning slightly as she shook her head before looking up and nodding at Sunset.

“Stay, I insist.” said Octavia, an apologetic smile on her delicate features, warming Sunset’s body as she sat back down, a warm smile of her own spreading across her face.

“Thank you.”