Syntax didn't know how long she had been running, but she eventually found herself at a small park on the other side of the city. She collapsed onto a bench, chest heaving with painful breaths, and tried to collect her scrambled thoughts while soothing her equally scrambled emotions. Her phone dinged with a message and she pulled it out and looked. It was from Aria.

Where are you?

Syntax hesitated. Did she really want to be around her right now? Another message popped up.

I feel like I made you upset by coming to the bakery...

Ok, that was it. No way was she letting Aria blame herself for anything.

You didn't. I just...panicked. it wasn't you.

Syn, where are you? Please tell me.

Sighing, Syntax texted the exact location, knowing it was probably better to just get this over with now that Aria knew something was up.

Stay there and wait. I'll be there in 10.

Pocketing her phone, Syntax buried her face in her hands and tried to steady her breathing, which was rapidly turning to panicked breathing at the thought of Aria knowing her secret crush on her. Well, alright, this was admittedly beyond just a crush. Ugh. What had Rarity been thinking?! Putting her in such a hugely awkward position and trying to force her into a confession of love! Although really, she knew the fashionista had only been trying to help.

She finally got her breathing calmed down, and gazed out over the park, silently hoping she had enough courage in her body somewhere to tell Aria everything in her heart. So lost was she in deep contemplation that she did not even notice she wasn't alone anymore til a hand landed on her shoulder.

"Gah!" She shrieked in panic.

"Whoa, hey, easy. It's me." Aria slid onto the bench next to her. "I said your name, but you were a thousand miles away."

Syntax gulped. "Y-yeah, kind of."

"What happened back there, Syn? Did I do something?" Aria looked genuinely concerned. "I feel like there was something you needed to say but you panicked."

"Heh. Yeah." Syntax sighed, heart racing again. "I just...I don't know where to start."

"Why not just tell me?"

"Because I'm scared I'll mess everything up between us."

"Psh. Please. I got your back no matter what. Now what do you want to tell me?"

Well. It was now or never.

"I...really really like you. I mean I-I have feelings for you."

She kept her head down, face flushed as she refused to look up.

The low chuckle from beside her took her by surprise, and Aria wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

"You trying to say you're in love with me?"

"Y-yes."

Another chuckle. "Idiot. I already knew that."

"Wait, what?! You knew?!"

"You suck at hiding things, Syn. I'm in your head, remember? I can read you like a book."

"Riiiight." Syntax sighed, mentally scolding herself for getting so worked up over nothing. "Ugh. The girls were right, I panicked over nothing."

"Why did you panic?" Aria asked in genuine curiosity. "What were you so afraid of?"

"I thought I mess everything up between us." Syntax admitted. "I thought if I told you I loved you, it's make it really awkward and maybe you would quit talking to me or hanging out with me."

"You really are an idiot." Aria lightly smacked the back of her head. "How many times have I told you that I have your back and I'm not going anywhere, no matter what you say or do?"

"Yeah, I know, I know. I guess I was just overthinking things."

"You think?" Aria chuckled again. "Syntax, listen. I will never stop you from telling your true feelings. You can be honest with me about anything, no matter what it is."

"Heh. So it doesn't bother you that I-" Syntax stopped, uncertain.

"You can say it. Keeping it all bottled up isn't good, because you'll just explode later."

Syntax twisted in her seat, pools of navy locking into ones of violet.

"You're absolutely a joy to hang out with. You're fun, you're funny, you're smart. You know what I'm thinking, feeling, and what my mood is without me even saying anything. You're really good hearted deep down under the rough and tough surface. And I am deeply in love with you."

She flushed but her gaze never wavered. Aria lightly blushed and let out a soft cough before giving her a hug.

"I really like you, Syntax." She said quietly.

"Um...well...I wanted to ask if uh..." Syntax struggled for the words. "I mean, I'm really serious about this. And um, if y-you maybe share the feeling or think you might or...well, would you maybe, possibly want to be...m-more than just a friend?"

She was impossibly red, and fighting desperately to say the right thing, but unsuccessfully. Aria tightened her hold slightly.

"Are you trying to ask me to be your girlfriend?"

"Yeah. Th-that." Syntax muttered, glad Aria knew her so well.

Aria turned so they were making eye contact and then gave her a quick and featherlight kiss on the lips. Syntax inhaled sharply at the gesture.

"I...w-well that s-seems like a yes...?"

"Heheh. I will need to think about that, Syn. But God I really do like you." Aria hugged her tightly.

"That's totally fine." Syntax said, suddenly confident again. "I can be patient. I'll wait for a month, or a year. Hell, I'll wait five years if I have to."

They sat in silence for several minutes, until Syntax suddenly remembered something.

"Oh! The girls!" She exclaimed. "I should probably go assure them I'm good and tell Rarity I'm not mad."

"Eh, ok. I'll come you with if you want."

"You sure?"

"Well...maybe not. You know how I hate interacting with anyone but you on a nice level. Being so nice is exhausting, I don't know how you do it."

Syntax snorted. "Ok fine. You go be a bitch to some people, I'll go handle this and meet you at the pizza place later?"

"Sounds like a plan."

When Syntax returned to Sugarcube Corner, the girls were all still there, though from the looks of things their spirits had been dampered considerably.

"What's up guys?" she asked, sliding into her chair.

"Syntax! Darling, listen, I do apologize if I way overstepped-"

Syntax held up a hand, a silly grin on her face. "Shh. No. It's totally fine. In fact, I am back to thank you."

"What, you mean you're not mad??"

"Nope!"

"So what happened?!" Rainbow demanded.

"Well, we talked. And I told her my feelings. Annnnd you were right. It wasn't awkward and she didn't ditch me."

"Ha! Told you."

"Yeah yeah."

"So what did she say?" Sunset asked.

"She said she really likes me. And we'll, I uh, asked her to be my girlfriend. Kind of."

"What do you mean, kind of?!" Rainbow sputtered.

"Well, I stammered like an idiot and didn't get the actual phrase out, but she understood my meaning. She said she needs to think about it."

"BLARIA FOR THE WIN!" Pinkie screamed.

"...we're not a ship!"

"Yet!"

Syntax groaned. "Ok fine. Yet."

"THEN BLYNARIA IT IS!"

"No." Rainbow shook her head." Pinkie, stop."

"They will have a ship name if it's the last thing I do!" Pinkie yelled in determination.

"Ugh. Ok well, while you figure that out, I'm going on a date." Syntax stood up.

"Ooh, a date?!" Rarity grinned.

"Well I'm calling it one!! Unofficially. In my head."

"Have fun, Aryn*!!!" Pinkie shouted as she left the shop.

"Pinkie..." Rainbow said wearily.

"I. Will. Ship. Them. Blatax will rise!!"

"...I give up."

Author's Note

*Aryn= pronounced like Erin/Aaron.

I'm sorry if the ship names are bad xD if you have ideas for a good one I can settle on, please tell me!

Next chapter to be uploaded soon!!!