Best Left Forgotten

Sunset ran her washcloth back and forth across the table, wiping away crumbs and little drops of sauces. It was one of many tables in need of cleaning, but as soon as she was done, her shift would end and she could go home.

Her heart fluttered as she thought back to last night, and the night before that, and the night before that. Every evening for weeks, Sunset had come home and been pulled into a warm embrace by Wallflower. Now, though, those hugs were punctuated by a soft, loving kiss.

Every time Sunset thought about those special moments they shared, she was shocked and enraptured all over again. As much as she had been trying to take things slow for the sake of caution, Wallflower definitely wasn’t making that easy. What began as occasional kisses and spooning in bed had quickly evolved into passionate stretches of kissing and touching, all at Wallflower’s constant encouragement.

Wallflower’s enthusiasm was as confusing as it was enjoyable. Sunset would have expected her to be extremely restrained or even uncomfortable, but her actions had been the complete opposite. Brief flashes of memory were enough to turn Sunset’s face red, even as she was in the middle of wiping down tables. The few times Wallflower’s hands found their way under Sunset’s shirt, Sunset had barely been able to stop herself from leading them lower instead. She couldn't blame herself for the thought, though. Self-control was difficult to maintain while being felt up by her girlfriend.

Just thinking that word still felt so strange. She had a girlfriend, someone to hold her and kiss her and say she loved her every day. If Sunset was being honest with herself, it was extremely surprising. Romantic intimacy was the last thing she would have expected Wallflower—or even herself—to have wanted, and yet here they were, partners in a blossoming relationship. Maybe it was a sign that Wallflower was moving forward by not allowing her trauma to prevent her from expressing her feelings.

Those feelings were communicated often and clearly, much to Sunset’s delight. Whenever she was home, not an hour went by without Wallflower telling Sunset that she loved her. Less than a week ago, Sunset had never heard those words spoken to her before—now she was hearing them every day, and her heart soared every single time. Maybe one day soon, Sunset would be able to say it too.

She sighed as she moved to the next table. How strange that it took something so horrible to bring her and Wallflower together. Her life had changed so much since the night Wallflower remembered, and she was almost ashamed to admit it was for the better.

As Sunset finished cleaning off another table, her drifting thoughts were grounded by a voice behind her. She turned around to see familiar purple curls bobbing ever-so-slightly as Rarity approached her.

“Sunset!” Rarity smiled, giving her a brief hug. “Oh, it’s so good to see you darling. It’s been far too long!”

“Uhm, yeah. Good to see you too,” Sunset said. “What, uh... What are you doing here?”

“I figured I’d stop by and see if you were around,” Rarity said. “I would have sent you a message first, but—ahem—you haven’t been very responsive as of late.”

Sunset frowned. She had planned to return to Wallflower as soon as her shift ended, but Rarity would no doubt make that difficult. “Sorry. I’ve been pretty busy,” she said. “Here I am, I guess.”

“And I am so glad to see that, dear. After such a long stretch of silence, I was starting to get worried.”

“That’s nice of you,” Sunset said. “But as much as I appreciate it, you really don’t need to be concerned.”

“We haven’t heard from you in over a week,” Rarity said. “You stopped responding to calls or texts or anything. How could we not be concerned?”

“I dunno,” Sunset said. Her mind lingered on memories of how her friends had acted after forgetting her, of how she had watched them from afar, of how they continued enjoying themselves as if nothing was missing from their lives at all. A sudden bitterness clung to her heart as she responded. “I figured you wouldn’t really mind.”

“What?” Rarity said. “Of course we do! Things just aren’t the same when you’re not around.”

Sunset rolled her eyes. “If you say so.”

“Sunset, please.” Rarity’s voice softened. “I can tell something’s been wrong, and I’d like to help if I can.”

With a drawn-out sigh, Sunset turned away and resumed clearing the table. “There’s nothing wrong, Rarity. I’ve just had my hands full, is all.”

“With that Wallflower girl, correct?” Rarity asked.

At that, Sunset paused her task, anxiety clawing at the fringes of her thoughts. Rarity was definitely heading towards the one topic Sunset really wanted to avoid. Keeping her promise of silence to Wallflower was difficult enough without Rarity prying for information, but short of walking away entirely, Sunset didn’t see a way out of the conversation. She tightened her grip on the washcloth, frowning. Might as well get it over with.

“Yeah, she’s been staying with me,” she said flatly. “Is that a problem?”

“Of course not, darling,” Rarity said.

“Alright then,” Sunset said. As nice as it would be for the conversation would end there, Rarity was never that easy.

“Well, I mean... It’s not a problem, but if you have been so busy, perhaps there’s something the rest of us could do to help? I did have the most marvelous idea of putting together a monthly care package for the both of you, though I thought it best to ask first.”

Sunset groaned. All she wanted was to finish up her shift and go home to Wallflower, and every second this conversation continued was delaying that goal. Still, Rarity’s offer was obviously rooted in genuine concern. Turning her down would just be rude. “I’m okay myself, thanks,” she said. “But if you wanted to get Wallflower anything, I could give you some ideas.”

“Wonderful!” Rarity’s eyes lit up. “Perhaps I could make her an outfit other than that oh-so-drab sweater of hers. Earthen tones are difficult to work with, but her complexion would just be perfect!”

“I’m sure she’d love that, Rarity,” Sunset said. “Maybe run any designs by me first, though. She’s pretty picky about what she wears.”

“I’ll do you one better,” Rarity said. “I can run them by her myself when I come over to take measurements!”

At that, Sunset grimaced. There was absolutely no way Wallflower would allow Rarity to touch her at all, let alone take her measurements. Even the idea of inviting anyone else into their apartment would make Wallflower really uneasy, and at this point it even made Sunset a little uncomfortable.

“I don’t think that’s gonna be possible,” Sunset said. When Rarity’s face immediately fell into a pout, Sunset tried to choose the best words to let her down easy. “Wallflower’s just pretty shy, is all. Besides, the more I think about it, she wouldn’t be very interested in an extravagant outfit anyway.”

Rarity deflated a little more. “It is what it is, I suppose,” she said.

“Maybe instead you could get her some flower pots and seeds or something.”

“Oh, that’s right,” Rarity said. “She’s all about plants.”

“Uhm... Yeah.” Sunset shrugged. “I’m sure she’d appreciate, uh... Plants.”

“I’ll get right on it, darling,” Rarity said. “Perhaps I could hand them off to you at Pinkie’s little soirée this weekend?”

Of course Rarity would try to invite her to something. The notion returned Sunset’s thoughts to how well the rest of the girls got on without her, and didn’t take long for her mood to sour once more.

“I can’t make it, sorry.” Sunset turned away from Rarity, moving to the next messy table.

Rarity blinked, almost as if she was surprised. “Well... That’s a shame, then.” She perked up. “Oh, but perhaps we could move it to a time better suited to your schedule?”

Sunset frowned, her mind stuck somewhere between exasperation and anger. “I’ll be busy for a while,” she said.

“Alright Sunset...” Rarity sighed. “I’ve been patient, I really have. All of us have. But at this point, it feels as though you’re deliberately avoiding us.”

Sunset almost laughed. There was a sense of irony at her friends being upset by her doing anything without them, and the thought only pulled her further into bitterness. Whether or not Rarity would admit it, they didn’t need her, and she didn’t need them. The only person she needed was waiting for her at home.

“I’m not avoiding you, Rarity,” Sunset said, her voice stiff and measured. “I just have my own things going on.”

“What things, dear?” Rarity asked. “All you’ve said is that Wallflower has been staying with you.”

Sunset refused to meet Rarity’s gaze. “Because that’s all there is to say,” she said.

Rarity moved around the table and back into view. “That was over a month ago,” she said. “We’ve hardly seen or heard from you since.”

“I told you...” Sunset gritted her teeth. “I’ve been busy.”

“Too busy to even speak to your friends?” Rarity said. “Somehow I doubt that.”

Anger flared in Sunset’s chest, and she turned around, glaring daggers at Rarity. “Alright, you’ve clearly got something to say,” she said. “So say it.”

Rarity sighed, her hands fidgeting. “I suppose there’s nothing else to do than put it bluntly. You’re spending all your time with Wallflower, and we never see you anymore. I’d like to know why.”

For a brief moment, Sunset froze up, and when her apprehension thawed, her expression beneath it was hardened and stern. “That’s none of your business,” she said.

“I beg to differ,” Rarity said, causing Sunset to tense up even more. “It’s keeping me from seeing my friend, and as such it is very much my business. Whatever’s going on, I think I deserve to know.”

Sunset’s frown fell into a scowl. It was one thing for Rarity to be concerned about Sunset’s absence, but it was another entirely for her to say she deserved to know what Wallflower had been through. The only other person who knew was Fluttershy, and that was only because Wallflower herself had told her. The idea that Rarity wanted that same trust, for no other reason than she felt like she deserved it, wasn’t just laughable—it was insulting.

“You don’t deserve to know anything,” Sunset said, irritation dripping from her every word.

“Sunset, please...”

“I have work to do, Rarity,” she said. “You said you wanted to see me, and you saw me.”

“I wanted to speak to you,” Rarity said. “Not just lay eyes on you.”

Sunset rolled her eyes. “Well you did that too. Mission accomplished.”

“Honestly,” Rarity said. “Now you’re just being rude.”

“I’m being rude?” Sunset raised her voice. “You’re the one who accosted me while I’m trying to do my job!”

“If this is how you’re going to act, then fine,” Rarity said. “I hope Twilight and Rainbow Dash have better luck talking some sense into you.”

“Seriously?” Sunset scoffed. “What, are you all gonna take shifts harassing me at work?”

Rarity sighed. “Must you assume the worst? No one wants to harass you, Sunset. We just miss our friend.”

Sunset finished clearing another table and moved on to the next. “That’s really sweet Rarity, but showing up here unannounced and berating me when I won’t fuel your gossip habit is pretty close to harassment in my book.”

“I never meant to upset you, Sunset,” Rarity said. “I just wanted to reconnect. Is that so wrong?”

“When I want to reconnect, I’ll reach out to you,” Sunset said.

“If that’s what you want, fine,” Rarity said. “Just don’t expect all the other girls to stop looking for you.”

“What, did you form a search party?”

“I, uhm... I suppose so?” Rarity said. “Pinkie and Fluttershy are checking around the school, Applejack wanted to drive around to check a few other places, and I decided to look here. Rainbow Dash insisted on being the one to check your apartment, and Twilight went with her.”

When she heard that, Sunset’s heart almost stopped. “They’re looking there right now?”

“Maybe? I think they’re heading over after Rainbow’s soccer practice ends,” Rarity said.

All at once, every muscle in Sunset’s body tensed up. Rainbow Dash was going to show up at their apartment, demanding Sunset answer the door. Sunset stiffened even more when she realized that the girls knew Wallflower was there too. They may demand she answer—and Wallflower was there all alone.

Sunset dropped her washcloth. “I need to get home,” she said, her voice wavering. “Did you come here in your car?”

“I did,” Rarity said. She crossed her arms, frowning. “Though with how you’ve been talking to me, I’m not so sure I should—”

“Rarity!” Sunset snapped. “Wallflower’s there by herself and Rainbow Dash is gonna show up pounding on the door!” Desperation seeped into the cracks in her rising voice. “Please, I need to get home, right now!”

For a split second, Rarity was silent, her eyes widening. Then, she nodded. “I parked just outside. If we hurry, I think I can get you there before them.”

Sunset turned, glancing briefly at all the tables she had yet to clean off. There was no time to tell her manager she was leaving—a text sent from the car would have to do. She bit her lip, scolding herself in hindsight for not getting Wallflower at least some kind of cheap phone.

Without a word, she started towards the parking lot with Rarity not far behind. In her head, Sunset obsessively ran over scenario after scenario of how long it might take to get home, what she would have to say to Rainbow Dash and Twilight, and—Goddess forbid—what she would find if the two of them got there before her.

Sunset shook her head, her brisk pace breaking into a run.