A Search For Something More

Chapter 31: A New Story

It's the day after the concert and school just ended. Soarin and Rainbow Dash have practice again for their long-anticipated first playoff game this Saturday, and since I don't have anything else I feel like doing today, I decided to watch them at the benches while doing homework. As I work on my math homework, I give the team a couple of glances and notice how devoted Rainbow Dash is to keep the team in good shape while occasionally making glances with Soarin when their teammates aren't looking, which makes me smile. It is so satisfying to see Soarin happy knowing that his girlfriend loves him back. Caramel and I agree that we've never seen him in such bliss in all the time that we've known him.

But as I watch them admire each other while preparing for their big game, I frown a little as I think about my dilemma. Ever since the concert last night, Sunset Shimmer has been stuck in my mind. All-day I have been debating with myself about how I feel whenever I talk to her or when we were flying or whenever she hugs me. I think I know why, but I'm scared to admit that it's a possibility. Maybe I need someone to talk to about it.

"Hiya, Rough Draft!"

I jump in surprise as I find Sonata standing right next to me with a gleeful look on her face.

"Sonata, what are you doing here?" I ask.

"Well, Applejack and I are dropping off some apple ciders for the team, and I just thought I'd say hi," she answers, pointing to Applejack, who is at the front of the stands, setting up a table for cider. "What about you? You looked like something was troubling you."

I chuckle nervously at her question.

"Was I?" I ask.

"Yeah, you looked like you couldn't tell if you should be smiling or worrying about something," she says. "Are you thinking about the next Star Wars movie again? That's still like, forever and a half away."

I smile at her question until I consider what she's asking. I don't want to bring this up to Caramel or Soarin yet, and I don't want to bring any of the Rainbooms into this since they're Sunset's closest friends, so if I was to talk about this to anyone, it probably should be Sonata.

"Okay, I'm gonna tell you something, but you can't tell anybody," I say.

"Ooo, a secret just between the two of us?" Sonata asks excitedly.

"Yes, and it's important that you don't say a word," I say.

"Don't worry, Rough Draft, my buddy," Sonata says cutely with a salute. "I will be as silent as I am incapable of singing."

I give her a sad smile as I know she still wishes she can sing again before I sigh and speak as cautiously as I can.

"So...I think I have a crush on someone."

"Ah, so you finally realized your feelings for Sunset Shimmer?" Sonata asks bluntly.

"What? How did you guess that?" I ask, shocked.

Sonata makes an adorable laugh before she answers.

"Aw, come on, Rough Draft, it's obvious," she says. "You've been hanging with her a lot over the past couple of weeks, and you guys did decide to stay behind when we were heading home from the concert last night."

I think about her statement for a moment before I chuckle.

"Yeah, I guess it's pretty obvious when you put it that way," I say.

"Are you kidding? It's as obvious as Rainbow Dash without her rainbow hair," Sonata says. "First, you couldn't tell that Octavia was so deeply in love with you, then you only realize now how things are going between you and Sunset? I realize you were a major outcast in Applelosa and so spent zero time with any girls, but come on. In fact, why are you only realizing this now?"