A Search For Something More

Chapter 32: Another Night to Remember

After discussing my plan and looking up movies with Soarin, we both went home, ready for the next day. The next morning, I met up with Soarin and Caramel before going to our first-period class as always, and Soarin secretly winks at me to confirm that Caramel has no idea about the plan, and I grin. Caramel's ignorance is essential to the plan.

Hours later, it was lunchtime, and the three of us met up to grab our lunches before sitting in our usual spots with Sonata, Rarity, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Rainbow Dash and Sunset. We eat and talk with our friends like we usually do until we're about halfway through our food when I text Soarin, "now," and he clears his throat.

"So Rough Draft, did you enjoy seeing us practice for our first playoff game yesterday?" Soarin asks.

"I did," I answer with a fake grin. "You guys look like you're pretty pumped to crush your first opponents."

Rainbow Dash overhears our fake conversation and raises an eyebrow.

"Not that you're wrong, Rough Draft, but how would you know?" She asks suspiciously. "By the time we were done, you were glued to your notebook like you were writing another one of your stories."

Suddenly, Applejack, Caramel, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Sonata, Rarity, and most importantly, Sunset Shimmer stop their conversations and turn to me. In our minds, Soarin and I grin, knowing things are going according to plan.

"You're writing again?" Caramel asks, surprised yet happy. "When did this start?"

I pretend to hesitate before I answer, "Yesterday. I had an idea for a new story, and I just took my notebook and began to - ack!"

Sonata and Pinkie Pie suddenly appear from the side and behind me respectfully and hug me so tightly that I thought they were going to break my ribs.

"I'm soooooooo happy to hear you're writing again," Pinkie Pie squeals as she practically tries to make my eyeballs pop out of their sockets with her hug.

"Me too! Me too!" Sonata squeaks.

After one big squeeze from both of them, they let go, and I gasp for air.

"Tha...thanks, I guess," I pant out. "Though you really shouldn't be so excited, it's still Star Wars fan fiction, to be honest."

"But it's something that you love to do that you haven't been doing since Octavia dumped you," Sonata explains cheerily. "We know it's not something you want to do your whole life, but it's still great to know that what happened didn't completely bring you down."

"Sonata is right," Rarity says. "I'm not big into your nerdy stuff in the slightest, but after that whole thing with Octavia Melody dating another boy, it's lovely to know that you're acting more and more like yourself. "

I look at everyone surprised.

"You're really glad that I'm writing Star Wars fan fiction again?" I ask.

"It's a part of who you are, sugarcube," Applejack says, smiling. "You shouldn't have to be ashamed of it just because it's a little different."

Everyone nods in agreement, and I can't help but smile.

"Thanks, you guys, that means a lot to hear that," I say.

"What are friends for?" Fluttershy quietly says, smiling.

I smile, happy with the compliments. I continue to eat my food with their words wrapped around my head until I feel my phone vibrate in my pocket, and I take it out.

Soarin: Loverboy, aren't you forgetting something?

I stare at the text, confused until it hits me; I've heard comments from everybody except Sunset. Before I can do anything about it, however, the bell rings, and Sunset is already standing up and saying her byes to us and leaves.