A Search For Something More

Chapter 56: The Hunt Begins

I wake up the next morning with my alarm going off. I realize I fell asleep on top of the covers and sigh as I take out my phone and check the battery power. Thankfully, it's only at 52%, so I put it on its charger, knowing its percentage will be around the 80s by the time I'm heading off to school.

On the ride to school, my mom asks me where I'm at with Octavia and Sunset, and I mumble that I don't know. She frowns and says that she worries about me and what I'm doing, and I nod, not looking at her. She has said this many times before, and her bringing it up again only brings back my confusion on the matter as well as my regret for acting so cold to them at Vinyl's house.

When she parks her car next to the school, she hugs and says 'I love you' as always and I robotically tell her that I love her back before I get out of her car. She drives away as I walk to the front entrance, where Soarin and Caramel are waiting for me.

"Hey guys," I say quietly.

"Hey, Rough Draft," Soarin says. "How're you feeling?"

"Not great," I answer, bluntly. "I'm hoping that what we have planned today just ends quickly, but at the same time, I'm afraid of what happens when it does end."

"Like the matter between you, Octavia and Sunset?" Caramel asks.

I nod plainly.

"You kind of overdid it with shaming them for their outburst, dude," Soarin says.

"Tell me something I don't already know," I say as we start walking down the halls to our first class.

"In your defense, though, that was hardly a mature moment for either of them," Caramel says, trying to cheer me up. "All the same, maybe you need to apologize to them before you-know-what."

I nod again before I say, "Yeah, you're right. Though aren't you two still Team Sunset?"

My two best friends look at each other nervously before Soarin answers.

"Yes and no," he says. "We are still Team Sunset, but as your best friends, we will support you in whatever decision you choose."

"Are you sure?" I ask. "You've made your statements before about instantly wanting me to pick Sunset if she came back."

"We know what we said, Rough Draft," Soarin says, placing his hand on my shoulder. "But it's become clear that it's not as simple as it was back then with you going back and forth between the two of them. We support you no matter who you choose. Just don't tell Rainbow and AJ we said this cause we will completely deny it."

"Of course," I say with a small chuckle. "Must not let your ladies know you're only mostly on their side."

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The day dragged by longer than usual. I took notes for finals, but on the inside, I am both dying yet dreading for school to end. It wasn't hard, however, to notice that all the other students are feeling the same way, whether in class, in the halls, or even at lunch. Everyone has the upcoming hunt against this unknown being of magic in mind more than anything happening school-related. We hide it from the teachers, but I think deep down, we all know that we're afraid of what is to come as soon as the final bell rings. Even Sonata wasn't willing to say a word to me when we sat at lunch together, and I dared to glance at the Rainbooms table to see that they are all worried about what is to come. They appear to be deep in conversation with each other, probably discussing what we're up against. I don't think I've ever seen our school so devoid of energy since after the Anon-a-miss scenario.

I didn't glance at Sunset Shimmer during English class out of habit whenever it was 'Octavia's day,' but mostly because I wanted to apologize to both her and Octavia simultaneously. But even without looking at her, I can tell that she is hurting as we are both pretending to listen to Ms. Cheerilee.