Flash Sentry entered his studio apartment, feeling like a cursed man. He closed the door behind himself, then leaned against it and slid down, welcoming the darkness of the evening as he sat on the floor. A heavy sigh escaped the rocker's lips as he raised his legs and rested his arms on them.
Another crush. Another rejection.
Flash took his phone out of his pocket and opened the MyStable app.
Another crush. Another rejection.
He went to her page and simply stared at her profile picture.
Rejection. Just like the last crush.
She had been a regular at the guitar store Flash had worked at.
And the crush before that.
She would often come to get extra guitar strings and chat with him.
And the crush before that.
He had asked her out just before leaving work.
Just like every time.
She gave him a sweet smile, which caused his heart to beat a mile a minute.
Just like every goddamn time...
She had laughed softly, then said. "I'm flattered, but I'd just be fine with being friends."
Every goddamn fucking time!
Flash let out a roar of fury as he threw his phone with all of his might into the darkness, and he heard the sound of glass breaking. Silence reigned in his apartment afterwards and he sighed again as his emotions waged war within.
Loneliness. He just wanted someone to love him and be loved in return. Was it too much to ask?
Bitterness. Of course it was! The higher powers forbid that Flash Sentry find the right woman!
Confusion. He had always been a nice guy! Why couldn't he find a girl?!
Those emotions and several others flowed through him as old wounds began to reopen...
Sunset Shimmer. Oh, Flash was good friends with her now, but when they dated? She had been emotionally manipulative. Selfish. Never told him she loved him first, it was always he who did. The rocker had since made amends with her, but deep down in his heart of hearts, he still held it against her for treating him like that. It was a shitty first relationship.
Twilight Sparkle. The Princess of Friendship from another dimension. Flash chuckled despite himself. The one time the attraction was mutual. The one time, and she just had to be royalty! From another dimension! And of course she was the Princess of Friendship! Why couldn't she have been the Princess of Love, if such a princess existed? Then again, knowing his luck, she'd be drop-dead fucking hot and taken.
Twilight Sparkle. Not the Princess of Friendship, but this dimension's Twilight Sparkle. A spitting image of her Equestrian counterpart's human form, save for the wider rose highlight in her hair, hairstyle and glasses. It was almost a cruel reminder of something he knew he couldn't have, which was only made worse at Camp Everfree. There Twilight met up with Timber Spruce, a camp counselor. Right off the bat the two formed a connection, then started dating at the end of the week. He remained calm on the outside during that week, but on the inside disbelief and frustration festered until Sunset gave him the tough love he needed. And yet, even after all these years, Flash still thought of it as a giant cosmic middle finger whenever he got rejected.
Muffins. The grey girl who had always comforted him when he felt down. Flash should have known she was only doing it out of the goodness of her heart! He had set his sights on her shortly after that bizarre spring break in which he went to Equestria just to get back to Canterlot High! As soon as they all left the portal, Muffins once again patted him on the shoulder. It was like she could tell when he needed support! Unfortunately, she just wanted to be friends. Like always.
Those and all the other crushes Flash had had over the years appeared in his mind's eye as their words repeated.
"Just friends."
"Sorry, but I'm already seeing someone."
"I'm flattered, but I'm into women."
Flash grunted in frustration and stood up. It wouldn't do to just stay put, so he decided to jump into the bathroom and take a shower.
The rocker's bathroom was of a modest size with a black and white tiled floor. Right next to the tub was a small linen closet filled with handtowels, towels and washcloths. The marble sink was right next to the toilet with a mirror for the medicine cabinet's door.
Flash heaved a sigh as he took off his clothes. If it wasn't for the women who had asked him out, he'd have really low self-esteem. Nonetheless, it stung all the same being on the other side of rejection...
Vinyl Scratch. Also known as DJ PON-3, she had developed feelings for Flash just before the Fall Formal that made Sunset Shimmer change her ways. She had come up to him, telling him that she thought he was "so hot" and the way he played his guitar on stage made her "heart go like a million BPM!" Flash had told the DJ that he was flattered, but he wasn't looking for a relationship.
The look of betrayal Vinyl gave Flash the day after the Fall Formal still haunted him to this day.
Watermelody. While at Camp Everfree, she approached Flash Sentry and gushed over his kindness to others and his amazing hair. Flash, again, was flattered, but he had to turn her down. He winced right after, remembering Vinyl's expression.
All the other women that had asked Flash out since were those he hardly knew, and some he didn't want to at all. As childish as it sounded, it just wasn't fair. He was in his mid-thirties, and he didn't know how much more rejection he could take!
Flash stepped into the shower, then closed his eyes and heaved another sigh as hot water cascaded down his back.
Holding hands walking together
Visions of what could have been and may hopefully come to pass taunted him. Teased him.
Smiling staring into each other's eyes
Sadly, this was not the first time this had happened.
Confessing love being loved in return
These visions almost always came after a rejection.
Quiet intimate moments
Sometimes they would come out of nowhere.
Passionate lovemaking through the night
Flash had learned to live with them, though he wished to the higher powers that he didn't have to.
Loving embrace falling asleep together
The rocker left the shower as the visions continually cycled in his mind, then stared at his reflection in the bathroom mirror. His reflection stared back, sporting a wistful look. Flash shook his head slowly, then began drying himself off as he recalled a conversation he had with Sunset Shimmer a while back.
Sunset and Flash were sitting across from each other at a cafe, waiting for their food to arrive. The clanking of plates and the scents of coffee and various food wafted around them, and the former had just finished telling the latter about his most recent rejection.
Sunset gave Flash a sympathetic look. "Flash... I'm sure you'll find the right-"
"Don't," Flash said in frustration as he folded his arms. "I've heard that line so many times that it sounds trite and patronizing."
The gold-and-redhead sighed. "Well what do you want me to say, Flash? That it's the world's fault that you're still single? That the higher powers are wrong to not bless you with a significant other?"
Flash grimaced. "Yeah, that sounds way worse."
"Look," Sunset said as she extended a supportive hand towards her friend. "There's nothing wrong with being single."
"And there's nothing wrong with not wanting to be single either."
Sunset rolled her eyes and made a sputtering noise. "Okay, so your mind's made up." She withdrew her hand and cupped her chin in thought. "Ever thought about online dating?"
Flash scoffed. "Nah, I'd rather meet someone the old-fashioned way."
"There's only so many people you can meet that way. I'm just saying that you'd cover more ground on the internet."
Flash thought for a moment, then shook his head. "Nah."
Sunset frowned slightly. "If you say so..."
Flash left his bathroom, wearing nothing but a towel. He walked past his windows, which offered a decent view of Canterlot City. Cars passed by, with the occasional honk from an impatient driver. The lights from a nearby building lit up the apartment floor, allowing the rocker safe passage until he found a light switch. He flipped it.
Flash's apartment lit up, revealing dark blue walls covered in posters of his favorite musicians, flyers for upcoming concerts, and a calendar made by Pinkie, each month featuring a picture of his friends. His dark blue queen sized mattress lay atop a bed frame one shade lighter in color, with a comforter filled with his cutie mark. A few feet away from his bed was his computer and television, with a sofa and love seat.
Flash glanced at his bed, then imagined sleeping and cuddling his dream girl. Something within him snapped, and he realized he had had enough. If he really, truly wanted someone to love, then he'd have to do everything in his power to find her! He'd readily swallow his pride if it meant a lifetime of happiness!
The rocker took off his towel, swiftly put on some boxers, then went online. Feeling excited and determined, he found a website and posted a profile. Flash then spent the next hour or so browsing the profiles of potential dream women until he began to feel sleepy. With a stretch and a yawn, he logged off.
As Flash Sentry turned off the light to his apartment and drifted off to sleep, he felt all the negative emotions wash away, paving the way for a new one...
...Hope.
