Wallflowers Rose

Valentine’s day is legitimately the worst day ever. I mean, people can’t stop talking all about their loved ones. And I mean that seriously.

Why do people think we need a single day to show our significant others we care about them? Don’t we do that every day? Not that I have a significant other.

I’m a wallflower, literally and figuratively. My name is Wallflower, after all. I’m not really good at that whole social interaction stuff. I have like, two friends. And that’s really it. Thank God for Roseluck and Derpy, man.

Anyway, off topic. I don’t date. Too shy and awkward to make a move on anyone. But that doesn’t mean I haven’t found some people attractive. Like Big Mac, whoof. Talk about a tall glass of water, am I right?

But he’s seeing some girl at Crystal Prep apparently that he met helping set up the Friendship Games. Sugar something. I very briefly met her once. Purplish hair. Or I think it’s purple. We have so many names for colors when they’re legit only a shade away from another.

“Wallflower!” Roseluck shouted and I cringed as some people glanced at me before going back to whatever they were doing. I was too caught up in my musing to do what I normally do: people watch.

You can learn a lot about people by simply watching. That sounded a lot less stalkerish at first, sheesh. Downgrading from erasing memories to stalking. Way to go, Wallflower.

“Hi,” I paused next to Roseluck at her locker, watching her adjust her bright red dress with a bow tied around her waist. Wow, I wish I could wear something like that. I don’t really think my body looks good in well, anything. I don’t like my legs. I don’t like my arms. They all just look weird and remind me how gross my body is.

“Good morning!” Roseluck sang happily and I internally cursed. Roseluck had mentioned today was her favorite day. I will admit, the chocolates were nice and the flowers were pretty. When the chocolates didn’t taste like cardboard at least and the flowers were real. “How are you?”

“I’m alive. You?” I brushed a green lock aside. I should take Derpy’s advice and brush my hair more.

“Oh, just dandy!” Roseluck giggled and she focused her green eyes on me. “You’re not dressed up or anything?”

“Why would I?”

“Today’s Valentine’s Day, Wally!” Roseluck spread her arms out and spun around, narrowly avoiding hitting someone. “Never know who’s interested in you. I mean, Derpy is going on a date with Time Turner. Raspberry is dating Thunder Bass. Blueberry is with Flash. Even Sunset has a date with Twilight!”

That was news to me. Last I heard, Twilight was dating that one guy from Camp Everfree. The weird one who’s sister had the whole plant glow up shebang. He always struck me as creepy, to be honest.

“The first Twilight,” Roseluck added and I made an oh sound. That made a lot more sense now. Even I could tell there was something there. “I overheard her and Fluttershy talking about it. Sunset seemed pretty nervouscited.”

“I don’t know. Dating isn’t for me, Rose,” I hugged myself and she frowned. “I mean, look at me. I’m ugly. My hair is a mess. I’m not gifted in the whole large chest area like you or Derpy is. I’m just me. Wallflower. And besides, I highly doubt anyone will forgive me after-” I looked around before leaning in closer. “Memory Stone.”

Roseluck narrowed her piercing green eyes at me and I gulped. It always did intimidate me when she looked at me like that. It always meant she was going get upset about my self depreciation.

“You are far from ugly, Wallflower.” Oh boy, I’m in for it. She only uses my full name when she’s being serious. “We just have to clean up your hair, get you out of these drab pants and sweater and into something more freeing. Like a dress or a skirt.”

I don’t even think I owned a single dress or skirt. It wasn’t really my speed. I think the last time I wore a dress, I was five years old getting family pictures done. And I looked pissed.

“And all due respect, but fuck what our classmates think,” Roseluck continued and I jumped. I have never once heard Rosie swear in my short time of three months of knowing her. Now that I think about, Derpy hasn’t either. I think the only one in my weird group of friends that swears like a sailor is me and Blueberry Pie. “You are coming over after school to my house. I will show you just how beautiful you really can be with a little bit of work. Oh! And I got you a Valentines Day Card!”

She grabbed a brightly colored card from the top of her locker and handed me it. It was handwritten in beautiful cursive and had my name on it along with a cheesy saying next to a drawn cactus.

“Dear Wallflower, you don’t succ!” I read aloud and I gotta admit, that got a giggle out of me. “Okay, that was funny. I uh made you one too.”

I haven’t made a Valentine’s Day card since gosh, middle school. Maybe longer. I had to employ Trixie, my sister and Lavender Lace to help me with making them for my friends.

I still don’t know what Trixie and Lavender are to me. Friends? Acquaintances? Enemies still? I’m not sure. Maybe they just are interested in seeing me beg for help as punishment after all I did. I mean, I did erase Trixie and Lavender’s memories of me.

If someone did that to me, I’d hate them.

I handed Roseluck the card and watched her read as I nervously shifted on my feet. It was pretty poorly made and I had made a dozen versions for all four of my friends before Trixie got irritated and made me settle on one. And believe me, Trixie has a temper.

“I freaking love this!” Roseluck hugged me and I tensed up. I wasn’t really fond of the whole touching thing still, but getting better. Being friends with Derpy made me accept the fact I’d be receiving random hugs. And Derpy was very huggy. Her little sister, Dinky, was the exact same.

That kid was definition of fucking adorable and weaponized cuteness, pardon my language. Not even Trixie could resist Dinky.

Lyra and Bon Bon walked past us holding hands and I bit back a small smile. I wasnt entirely expecting a candy maker to be interested in a club surrounded by flowers and dirt, but Bon Bon was surprisingly all for it. Still not sure how she thinks of me. Bon Bon is a hard girl to read.

Lyra on the other hand, is crazy. If I met her four years ago and heard her sprouting her nonsense about unicorns being real and mythology too, I’d have laughed. But that was four years ago and knowing what I know now, using Sunset as a prime example existing as a unicorn pony, Lyra isn’t all wrong.

“Okay,” I conceded and Roseluck beamed at me. There’s not fighting Roseluck when she gets an idea in her head. “Will your crazy sisters be there too?”

“Lily and Daisy?” Roseluck blinked and I nodded. “Daisy has a date with Caramel and Lily is gonna be watching romance movies in her room eating chocolate and crying while I have to calm her down because Thunderlane didn’t give her anything again so one will be there yes.”

“Oh, okay.” A moment passed and Roseluck continued to stare me down. “I’ll be there. I don’t have anything to do today anyway.”

“Yay!” Roseluck cheered and turned a few heads. Or a few more heads, I should say. People have been looking at her the entire time we’ve been talking. “I’ll have to text some people. We’re gonna make you gorgeous!

For some reason, that worried me.

The school day went surprisingly faster than I had anticipated. Chemistry was fun, but it always is for me. Had some after school Valentine’s Day party Derpy dragged me to with her boyfriend.

Pinkie had been unsurprisingly excited to see us and hugged us as she did with everyone who came. Rarity was absent as was Sunset but the rest of the Rainbooms were there.

Pinkie was the only one I interacted with. Rainbow is scary, Applejack is intense in her own weird way that I can’t explain. Fluttershy, I’m not sure why I avoid her. Twilight talks about stuff I don’t even understand as does Rarity.

I avoid Sunset for the obvious reasons. Things are awkward between us. Getting off topic. Roseluck’s house is nice.

A bright white with a green roof and green trim. A flowerbed full of roses, lilies and daisies lined the porch and I licked my lips anxiously.

I don’t know why I was so nervous. I’ve been here dozens of times.

“You know, we can just come home, right?” My sister, Fuchsia commented and she folded her arms across her chest. “I can lie pretty well if needed.”

“Tempting offer, but we’re already here. Might as well,” I sighed and went to knock when the door opened to reveal Derpy holding a red headed baby. “Oh, a baby.”

“Mhm,” Derpy hummed and stepped aside, gesturing for us to come in. I expected Roseluck or Lily to open the door, if Roseluck was right about Lily being here.

“Thanks,” I bowed my head and stomped the snow off my boots onto the mat on the doorstep, Fuchsia mimicking me. It was freaking cold out and snowy like a mother. The snowbanks were at least seven to eight feet high.

It was thankfully pretty damn warm inside. They even have a fireplace. We sure as hell don’t have one. I didn’t even think houses came with working fireplaces anymore. I took my boots off along with my coat, hanging my coat up.

“Who’s kid?” Fuchsia hung up her coat. I should have seen that. Babies were her biggest soft spot.

“It’s a cousin of Roseluck’s. Violet Dawn,” Derpy held out the baby as the child ran a hand through my hair and I winced. Stupid tangled hair. “Hold the baby. I’m gonna brush your hair. Rarity’s orders.”

I froze.

“Rarity?” I whispered and Derpy nodded as she sat me down on a chair. “Rarity is here?”

“Mhm,” Derpy confirmed as Fuchsia sat down on the floor with a giggling baby. “Roseluck can dress people up good on her own, but Rarity is the expert. You should have seen the work she did on me, Lyra, Bon Bon, Rose and Amethyst.”

I will grudgingly admit Rarity is the best. But I will also admit she probably despises me. A large part of me wonders what Roseluck offered her.

“Ow!” I yelped as Derpy pulled hard on a knot.

“Sorry, but your hair is messy Wallflower. Comes with the territory of brushing your hair is pain,” Derpy pulled again with a brush and I gripped the edge of the chair.

The next hour it felt was filled with her brushing my hair and me trying to not cry out. Apparently, it was only twenty minutes. Or at least that’s what the clock on my phone says.

“Is she ready?” Rarity called out and I tensed up visibly.

“Mhm!”

“Send her in,” Rarity ordered and I felt myself being shoved up the stairs into Roseluck’s bedroom where the white girl waited. Honestly impressed I didn’t faceplant on the stairs.

Oh, this is gonna be terrible. What I assumed was a dress laid covered up by a black bedsheet sat next to other instruments of torture. I’m talking makeup(I think), nail polish and other things I don’t even know the name for.

“Hey,” I couldn’t meet Rarity’s eyes. “Uhm fancy seeing you here?”

“Hello darling. How are you?”

Ah, small talk. The cornerstone of two former enemies meeting. Or so this book I read claimed. Rarity will either do great or intentionally make me look awful to laugh at me. Roseluck wouldn’t though. Or I hope not. She’s a friend.

Or so I hope. Gosh, I need a therapist. Roseluck made a move to hug me and I tensed up.

“Right, no hugging unannounced. Sorry,” Roseluck retreated back to her bed. “Rarity, have at it. And be gentle, Wallflower isn’t fond of being touched.”

“So I’ve heard,” Rarity chuckled and she eyed me critically as she started walking around me. “We could do a full make over, but the natural look suits you well and brings out your natural beauty. A neutral color would well with your skin color on your nails, what do you think Roseluck?”

“Agreed. Nail polish and make up won’t help her in her garden,” Roseluck agreed and she put her makeup kit away in a drawer and I licked my lips.

Nervously, of course.

“You seem tense,” Rarity mused as she stood in front of me and placed her hands on her hips. “Do you not want to do this, darling?”

“I.... don’t know,” I coughed out and risked a glance at her. “I’m more nervous about you, honestly.”

Rarity raised an eyebrow slightly before crossing the room and hesitated before placing a hand on my shoulder and squeezing. Wow, her hands are soft.

“Don’t be. The memory stone incident is behind us darling and I am well versed in forgiving people using magic. Sunset and Twilight are both prime examples in that,” Rarity reassured me softly and Roseluck nodded her agreement.

“I mean, look at who Sunset used to be. Think of what she had to build herself back up from. You got this.” Roseluck squeezed my hand. Why does everyone have such soft hands? Roseluck works just as hard as I do in a garden. Impressive.

“I don’t really deserve it,” I admitted and Rarity narrowed her eyes. “I’m just gross looking.”

“Nonsense. No one looks gross, as you put it. Exposing beauty is my job, after all. Sit and let me work. I will make you see how beautiful you truly are,” Rarity smirked and steered me to the bed to sit down. “Roseluck? Get my stuff.”

I don’t even barely remember what happened next. The last thirty minutes to an hour seemed like a blur. Lots of Rarity telling me when to move, when to sit still and when to raise my arms.

I had grudgling agreed to have my nails done a green that matches my hair, to Rarity’s happiness.

“And done!” Roseluck announced and I looked in the mirror.

And holy shit. I actually look kinda nice. My hair was brushed and went to my shoulders. I had a light green eye shadow on. Normally I hated eye shadow, but it actually matched my skin tone perfectly.

“Wow,” I breathed out and Rarity chuckled.

“Don’t go thanking us yet. You still have your dress to try on,” Rarity nodded next to me. “We will give you privacy to change. And I say this with no offense, but do consider washing your sweater. It’s very uhm, ripe.”

I cringed and hugged myself. When you’re as depressed as me and feel worthless, hygiene isn’t something you really care about. I was just grateful no one bullied me for it. Fuchsia was the only who genuinely tried to help me before I had friends.

I watched them leave and shut the door behind I inhaled, pulling my sweater off to reveal my brown bra, kicking my pants off to reveal my matching underwear and I cringed more.

My arms and legs just look so weird and long. It’s hard to explain. My fingers look kinda weird too. Like spindley, I suppose. It’s hard to get me unless you feel how I do.

I unzipped the bag and gently laid out a white dress with green stripes, a green bow tied around the waist. It seemed to be long enough to cover my arms and fully cover my legs.

“Uhm Roseluck?” I called out after I picked it up and she poked her head in cautiously. “I uh don’t really know how to put this one. Can I-?”

“Say no more,” Roseluck waved a hand and the two slipped back in. “I’ll take that.”

I blushed and handed her the dress, covered my self as Rarity examined me.

“You have nothing to be embarrassed about. You look gorgeous, darling,” Rarity smiled as the pair went about helping me into the dress. There was something about Rarity complimenting me that almost seemed unreal.

Rarity, the girl who has literally hundreds of guys and girls alike interested in her. Rarity, the one girl who is considered the most beautiful girl at CHS just called me gorgeous. Mind-blowing.

I listened to a zipping sound and the two stepped away, Rarity positioning me in front of a mirror again and wow.

I was right about it covering my arms and legs. Thank god. But I wasn’t focusing on that. I looked pretty

Actually pretty. I really liked the green details and the bow. It wasn’t too much like I see others wearing.

“Are you okay?” Roseluck asked and I sniffed before nodding. Damn it. Stupid body and making me cry. I apparently didn’t hide it well enough because Rarity handed me a box of tissues. “You look adorable!”

“Indeed,” Rarity nodded smugly and she stepped back. “You want to show Derpy and your sister?” I wiped my eyes with a tissue and tossed it into a trash can.

I gave a weak nod as I turned around to look at myself. Contray to what I thought earlier, I even had a decent sized chest like Roseluck. I suppose that sweater was a bit loose and hid it well. I almost forgot what it was like to wear clothes that fit me.

Roseluck opened the door and I allowed Rarity to hold my hand down the steps as my sister looked up with Derpy, Fuchsia’s eyes widening with a slack jaw.

“Woah,” Fuchsia muttered as she stood up, the baby sleeping in Derpy’s arms. “Wallflower?”

“Y-yeah?”

“You look freaking beautiful,” Fuchsia whistled loudly as she hugged me. “I mean, sheesh. I always knew you were but seeing you like this is just mind-blowing.”

I faintly made out Rarity and Roseluck smirking at each other smugly as Derpy stared with a stunned expression.

“Wow,” Derpy breathed out and flicked her blonde hair. “I never thought I’d see the day Wallflower dresses up.”

Me neither, honestly.

“Keep it,” Rarity told me and I raised an eyebrow. “I made it specifically for you in mind. Only one exists in the world, and it’s yours. Consider it a gift from a friend.”

“I can’t. At least let me pay you or work it off,” I pleaded and Rarity shook her head. “I made you turn on Sunset. Surely there is something I can do.”

“Be my friend and be happy,” Rarity answered with a smirk. “That is what you can do for me. And don’t talk about yourself again. That is my price, darling.”

I could feel my brain short circuiting.

“Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go watch my sister have her date with Button Mash and if she tells me it was anything less than perfect like Sweetie deserves, then all hell will be raised,” Rarity clenched a fist and her expression hardened as she frowned hard.

Never in my life did I think I’d hear Rarity swear.

“You feel beautiful yet?” Roseluck hugged me from behind and I felt her slip her hand into mine, squeezing it reassuringly. It felt nice, to hold her hand honestly. I wouldn’t mind doing that more in the future. Roseluck nuzzled my cheek or whatever the cheek rubbing thing was called. Eskimo kiss, maybe? Wait, no. That’s the nose rubbing like I do with my cat.

I don’t know what the hell it’s called. But I do know I was grateful to have Roseluck, Rarity, Derpy and Fuchsia as my friends.

“Yeah, I do actually.”