Ruby's POV.
I walked down the semi-busy corridor, my toes curled up at the ends of my ballet flats to stop them from falling off my feet as I walked as they were still too big for me. My backpack was slung over one of my shoulders — I hadn't adjusted it since when I had put it on when I got off the bus some minutes previous. I stuck my hands in the pocket of my hoodie, avoiding eye contact and physical contact from everyone.
I stopped outside my new locker and took my hands out of my pocket to open it. It was completely empty and a bit smaller than the one I had at my old school (but I didn't mind). Immediately, I felt glad that I had my Harry Potter and Marvel sticker sheets tucked into my new Captain America Civil War folder that my parents had bought me a week ago.
I double-checked my new timetable and slid some of my unnecessary books and other items into my locker to get rid of any extra weight that I could easily be rid of because my bag was already weighing me down a lot.
I had a free period first — that was the kind of luck I never had, but I was happy to have. I'd been given a map from Principal Celestia — though I was unsure if I would need it because Canterlot High was much smaller than my old school, but I liked that a lot. I decided to just wander around for my free hour and maybe find a library and maybe find a copy of Harry Potter to smile at and see if I owned a copy with that cover (spoiler alert, I own a lot of copies of Harry Potter).
The bell rang after a short time of me being stood at my locker, so I picked up my bag (I'd put it on the floor while I sorted out my locker) and rested it on my shoulders. The corridor began to empty as students and teachers hurried along to class, so I started walking around.
It was really nice to wall around Canterlot High. It was much more welcoming and bright than the school I had attended until less than a month ago — Manehattan Academy (or M.A for short). M.A was at least double the size of CHS and had maybe three times as many students. So these quiet and empty corridors that weren't glorifying the school made me feel joyful, even if it was admittedly a little strange.
I started walking around the school, making mental notes at where places were and I soon ended up at the library. I stepped inside and looked around. It was quite a big library, surprisingly it was bigger than the one at M.A, which definitely shocked me — but there was no way I could complain about it. I made eye contact with a girl with red and gold hair and she motioned for me to go over. After hesitating for a moment, I walked over.
"Hey, sorry. You looked a little lost and I was wondering if I could help." the girl explained.
"Well, I have a free period, so I was trying to look around." I said, "I'm new here." I added quickly.
"Well, it's nice to meet you. I'm Sunset Shimmer, by the way. Feel free to sit." the girl smiled and motioned to the chair opposite her.
"Thanks." I smiled.
I sat down and dropped my bag next to me.
"I'm Reyna Laine. But almost everyone calls me Ruby — which is my middle name," I replied, "It's nice to meet you too," I added.
Then we got talking more. We sat talking for the whole of the free period we both had. We compared timetables and I felt a wave of relief when I realised that me and Sunset had very similar timetables, so we'd be having quite a few classes together throughout the week. I felt nothing short of overjoyed that I was barely an hour into my first day at this new school and I already had a friend. And Sunset seemed really nice and nothing like the girls I used to hang out within Manehattan.
After the hour was over, the bell rang and Sunset and I packed up our things (we didn't have many things on the table in front of us but whatever) and then we left the library and we headed to class together.
Sunset and I walked down the corridor to our lesson. It was so much fun talking with Sunset. At M.A, me and my... friends? I wouldn't necessarily call them my friends... they were just the girls that picked me to hang out with them. You know how that kinda thing works, right? Like in Pretty Little Liars when Alison DiLaurentis assembled the 'perfect group' to be her friends. That, you could say, is almost what my time at M.A was like — but we didn't accidentally blind a girl and we didn't create monsters. But those girls were bitches, and that's why I came to Canterlot High. Well, one reason why.
Anyway, it was just a really nice change to be able to talk to someone who was actually a genuinely nice person — and didn't care about her popularity and that stupid rubbish.
We arrived at the classroom and entered with everyone else. Sunset sat down at a seat at the back of the classroom and motioned for me to sit in the empty chair next to her, I walked (quickly) to the back and I sat down in the seat. We sat quietly for a minute or two while the teacher started the register.
"It's nice to finally have a friend in this class," Sunset whispered as the teacher did the register.
"We're friends?" I whispered back, flummoxed at this confirmation.
"Obviously," Sunset smiled.
We had only talked for an hour and we were friends? That was quite incredible. And I couldn't stop grinning like an idiot, so I tried to hide behind my short ginger hair.
"Come on everyone, settle down and stop talking so we can do this lesson," the teacher said and the class fell quiet.
An hour or so later, the lesson finished. Unfortunately, me and Sunset didn't have the next lesson together — I was upset, but I tried not to show it. However, though Sunset's next classroom was far from mine, she walked me to class, which was super sweet.
"Do you want to sit with me and my friends at lunch after this lesson?" Sunset offered.
"I'd love to," I smiled.
"That's great," Sunset grinned as we got to my class, "I'll meet you here after class, 'kay?"
"Okay, I'll see you later," I smiled.
Sunset nodded and smiled, then she headed to her own lesson. I entered the classroom with the rest of the class and I sat at the back of the room, waiting for the lesson to start. Maybe it was because Sunset wasn't there, but the lesson was quite uninteresting and (to make it arguably worse) it passed slowly. Eventually, the bell rang and I waited outside for Sunset. She turned up a minute later, looking slightly out of breath.
"Sorry, I got let out a little late," Sunset apologised.
"It's fine. It's not your fault," I smiled.
Sunset smiled back and pushed her hair out of her face.
"Let's go then," Sunset said.
I followed Sunset down the corridor, keeping pace with her as best as I could (as she was a little taller than me and quite a fast walker) as we walked to the cafeteria together for lunch.
Author's Note
This is an updated and improved version of the same fic I have on Wattpad! I was going to keep the same format here as in there, but I decided not to. I hope you enjoy.
Sunset's POV.
I walked with Ruby into the cafeteria. I watched her eyes scan the room — I could only guess that she was surprised to see a much smaller cafeteria than what I knew she faced at Manehattan Academy. I researched the place last lesson and consequently got told off by the teacher (because my subtlety skills were out of practice and I wasn't careful enough, it was my own fault really) which was the real reason I was late to meet up with Ruby — but I didn't want to tell her the truth and spoil what seemingly positive view she had of me.
"Do you want anything to eat?" I asked Ruby.
We both looked at the long lunch queue, "I'll get something in a bit," Ruby said quickly.
"Okay," I smiled, "I'll introduce you to my friends. C'mon," I led Ruby over to our usual table, my five friends already had their lunches and were eating and talking, "Hey, guys!" I said brightly as we approached
"Hey, Sunset," my friends replied in near unison.
"Hey, you're the new girl!" Pinkie said to Ruby and gasped.
"Yep. That's me," Ruby nodded.
"Hi! I'm Pinkie Pie!" Pinkie appeared next to Ruby and pulled her into a tight, bone-crushing hug.
"Nice... To... Meet you... Can't... Really... Breathe..." Ruby gasped, trying to get air into her lungs.
"Oops, sorry!" Pinkie apologised, promptly "I guess I don't know the strength of my own hugs!" she giggled, "Anyway, let's introduce everyone!"
Pinkie bounced around the table, tapping each of our friends on their heads while announcing names. Ruby nodded gently, visibly taking in all this new information. "It's nice to meet you all," Ruby smiled, "I'm Reyna Laine —but I go by my middle name, Ruby." I glanced sideways at Ruby and I looked at her smile for a moment, it was beautiful and contagious and made me smile too.
Pinkie started giggling and we all looked at her with baffled expressions, "Sorry," she apologised, "I just think it's very clever — Laine, like Madelaine. Tell me I'm not the only one! I suppose alternate universes and fourth walls are the fastest way for people to not understand your revelation."
"Anyway," I said, dropping into my usual seat before motioning for Ruby to sit in the nearest available seat.
"So, Ruby," Rarity said, leaning a little closer to Ruby in interest, "Where did you transfer from?"
"Manehatten Academy," Ruby replied with a subtle and almost undetectable sense of loathing.
"Oh wow," Rarity gasped, "I've always wanted to visit Manehattan. Is it really as wonderful as it is said to be?"
"Uh, well, it's a matter of opinion. Some people I knew could gush about the city for hours, me... not so much. But, I suppose, the city is quite remarkable, especially when you haven't been there before. And, uh, there are some... decent people there, I guess... if you're looking in the right place..." Ruby's voice trailed off and her eyes drifted to the lunch queue, "Oh look! The queue has gone down. Sunset, are you coming?"
I shook my head, "I'll get something in a bit. I'm not that hungry yet."
Ruby nodded and got up from her seat before wandering off to stand at the end of the lunch queue. My eyes vaguely followed her until she was in the queue, then I turned back to my friends and clasped my hands together and rested them on the table.
"So," Rarity said with a small smirk, looking straight at me.
"So, what?" I said slowly.
"You like Ruby!" Rarity grinned.
"W-what?" I spluttered, "I-I've only known her for a couple of hours. We're just friends!"
"Yeah, right," Rarity laughed, "You like her."
I shook my head quickly and firmly, "N-no, no. Certainly not."
"Okay, how did we get onto this?" Rainbow asked.
"Did you not see how Sunset looked at Ruby? I cannot be the only one who noticed!" Rarity sighed.
"Since when gave you been a love expert?" Applejack asked.
"Since Sunset has failed to hide her very unsubtle crush," Rarity retorted, "But come on Sunset. I know there is something you're not telling us."
I sighed, "Fine. There is something. But I'll tell you guys later, okay?" I reasoned.
"Sounds good," Fluttershy added, "Especially because Ruby is coming back."
"And that's when I said that of course whipped cream can go on a pizza!" Pinkie said, a little loudly, as Ruby rejoined us. She set her tray down and sat back down in her seat.
"A what goes on pizza?" Ruby said, completely puzzled and she started eating.
"Whipped cream!" Pinkie repeated, "Try it, it's super good!"
"You know what — I think I'll have to pass," Ruby chuckled.
Soon lunch was over. Ruby and I had the same lesson, so we walked together. We arrived at the classroom and took two of the empty seats at the back. This lesson was a double lesson, which was not fun in the slightest — however, I had Ruby to talk to, which made everything so much better. After two hours, the bell rang. Most of the class disappeared out of the class before the bell had stopped ringing. Ruby and I were the last out of the classroom but she had to leave quickly so I was on my own. I headed home and no sooner than when I had left the school building, my phone was buzzing with incoming notifications.
Rarity:
SPILL, SUNSET!
Applejack:
Rarity, calm down. We've all barely left the classroom.
Rarity:
I don't really care
Rainbow:
Shh! My class is being held back and my phone keeps beeping!
Fluttershy:
Can't you put it on silent?
Rainbow:
Why would I do that? Besides, there's no need — the teacher just let us go!
Rarity:
Anyway. Sunset? Come on.
I saw Ruby leave
Answer your phone!
Sunset:
Jeez, Rarity. Chill.
Rarity:
Not until you spill this secret and admit that you like Ruby!
Sunset:
Fine. Fine. Fine.
Rainbow:
Wait! I want popcorn for this!
But I'll never get home in time. Damn it. If only I could run faster.
Sunset:
When I was Princess Celestia's student back in Equestria, I didn't have many friends. I only really had one. Amethyst Ruby. She was my best friend and I always took studying breaks to hang out with her — which was something I did for no one else except Celestia. Anyway, me and Amethyst were super, super close. Like sisters. But even closer. But then everything changed. I realised that I liked Amethyst - as much more than a friend. One day, I kissed her and immediately regretted it. However, we started dating a while, but it didn't work out. We broke up and lost our closeness. In a mixture of emotions, I put everything into being the best and I stopped hanging out with Amethyst. Then I left Equestria.
Then, this morning, I saw Ruby. And she is a mirror image of Amethyst. Ruby is clearly Amethyst's human counterpart. I didn't know what to do — I still don't know what to do. I loved Amethyst so much and I ruined our friendship. I don't want the same thing to happen with me and Ruby. I really don't want it to happen again.
Once was enough.
Rarity:
Oh, Sunset. I'm so sorry.
Sunset:
It's okay. Nobody knew.
Pinkie:
But you like Ruby then?!
Sunset:
Yes. I do. Pretty obvious. I'm not great at hiding things like that all the time. Especially not with Amethyst/Ruby.
Read
Guys?
Read
Really guys?
Pinkie:
Hush! We're plotting!
Rainbow:
Pinkie! Shh!
