Book three of "Who We Become."
Sunset's life is far from glamorous, but when she learns that Fluttershy has it even worse, Sunset can't help but take it upon herself to solve her friend's problems and give her a safe place to live.
For Fluttershy, t...
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Fluttershy inhaled sharply as she awoke. Her eyes shot open and she found herself unable to move. She was clutching one of the pillows tightly, curled into a ball around it. Whether from the cold or the dream that hadn't fully left her, she was shaking slightly.
The feeling didn't escape when the dream did. She was certain if she turned around, he could still be there.
But it was just a dream, and he wasn't there. She wasn't in her bed, she was on Sunset's couch. The air didn't smell of alcohol, it smelled of pancakes.
That was odd, to say the least. It convinced Fluttershy to sit up and look around, which helped dispel the lingering fear from the dream. She looked around Sunset's living room, noting that Sunset herself was not there. All signs pointed to her being in the kitchen. It was strange to imagine her making breakfast, as Sunset seemed to mainly stick to frozen meals and take out.
Removing her blanket only made her colder, so Fluttershy immediately grabbed the jacket she'd left on the coffee table. The floor was frigid beneath her feet as she stood up, but she ignored it. As curious as she was about what Sunset was doing in the kitchen, Fluttershy instead walked to the bathroom.
She turned on the sink and stared into the mirror as she waited for the water to come out hot. How long would it take? When would the nightmares go away? It had been just over a week since she moved in with Sunset, but it didn't feel like it. More like an extended stay at a friend's house. Any day now, she'd have to go home, and nothing would be any better.
She placed her hand under the water and found it too hot, so she turned the hot water faucet back a little bit. Once the water came out suitably warm, she cupped some in her hands and splashed it on her face. It helped pull her away from her worries and wake her up a little bit more.
When she was done in the bathroom, she fixed a smile on her face and walked into the kitchen. Sure enough, Sunset was standing in front of the stove keeping an eye on pancakes. "Good morning, Sunset."
Sunset turned to her and smiled. "Morning, Fluttershy. Perfect timing, just finished with the first batch. Happy birthday."
Fluttershy smiled and looked away. "Thank you, but you didn't have to do this. I know you don't like to cook."
"It's not a big deal. Besides, it's not every day you turn nineteen."
Fluttershy took a seat at the kitchen table. It had been a long time since anyone had made her breakfast on her birthday. "You're sweet."
Sunset placed a stack of pancakes and a bottle of maple syrup in front of her. "So, last year as a teenager. How's it feel?"
"I don't know. A little strange, I guess. I still don't know if I really feel like an adult."
"Eh, nineteen isn't that old anyway," Sunset said as she returned to the stove.
"That's easy for you to say." Fluttershy realized Sunset forgot to get any silverware, so she stood up and got it herself. "You're still eighteen."
