“Alright, I’ll take a look at the profiles in the morning.”
>”Please do, Anon. Some of our clients are a little frustrated.”
“See you tomorrow.”
>The gruff voice on the other end acknowledges and the line goes dead.
>You slip your phone back into your pocket.
“Not my fault they can’t figure out how to retrieve files in a fucking server.”
>You return your attention to the stove, where placed inside a skillet are four beautiful cuts of pork.
>The meat sizzles nicely in mixture of garlic butter and it’s own fat.
>You flip the pork chops over, admiring the sweet smell that emanates from the skillet.
>Satisfied with the seared crust, you take the skillet off the flame and let the meat rest while the oven heats up.
>As you’re cleaning up, you feel your phone vibrate once more.
>The vibrations send waves of frustration through you.
>Can’t have one hour to yourself.
>It’s very rare that you have an evening to yourself without playing IT to some dumbass who can’t google their problem.
>The buzzing continues as you decide to let it ring.
>Next morning you can just chalk it up to not having your phone on you.
>You always tell yourself that they’ll leave a voicemail if it’s important enough.
>The vibrating abruptly stops and you breathe a sigh of relief.
>Only for it to begin again a few seconds later.
>A heavy sigh escapes your lips as you decide to answer it.
>You prepare yourself to answer whatever inane tech questions will come spewing out, only to stop and read the name displayed on the screen.
>...
>Huh.
>That’s a name you haven’t seen in awhile.
>Last time you even saw her was graduation.
>Better find out what she wants.
“Hello?”
>”Wow, you don’t sound like you’ve changed much.”
“Two years isn’t THAT long, Sunset.”
>”Sometimes feels like it is. How you doing?”
“Pretty good, pretty good. In the process of making some dinner.”
>”Nice, Nice. Hey, listen, this may sound weird but....I need a favor.”
“Ok.”
>”Like...A really big one.”
“Uhhh….Ok?”
>”Like, a really really REALLY huge favor.”
“Sunset, the last time I heard someone say that I had to bail them out, so if it’s that, the answer is no.”
“What? No no no no, it’s-well-kinda-It’s...look, can I come talk to you? It’s better if I explained it in person.”
“Uhhhhhh…”
>You hadn't really anticipated (or wanted) to cook for another…
>But it must be important for her to just call you out of the blue after several years.
>You mumble “Sure” as you bring out another plate and set of silverware.
>”Great. You still living in that apartment?”
“Same place, yep.”
>”Awesome! We’ll see you there. Bye!”
“Bye.”
>...
“Wait...we?”
>...
>...
“No.”
>”Look, Anon. I know that the two of you have some...history, but-”
“No.”
>”I told you he wouldn’t agree to it.”
>”Hush. Anon, please just listen to m-”
“I did. And I said no.”
>”No, you just saw her and immediately went sour. Please hear me out.”
>You cross your arms but say nothing, your gaze fixated on Sunset
>You would rather not look at the girl sitting next to her.
>Sunset shifts uncomfortably under your stare, but continues.
“...I’m listening.”
>”I understand how you feel Anon, I really do-”
“No you don’t.”
>“-But believe me, we wouldn’t have come here if there wasn’t another option.
“I can think of one…”
>”I’m not sleeping in a cardboard box outside, jerk.”
>”Stop it! Anon, please, it won’t be for that long.”
>You rub your temples in an effort to dispel the headache you have.
>But the headache is sitting right in front of you, cross-legged and staring at the wall.
“Can’t she stay with you? Please?”
>Sunsets lips twist into a frown as she shakes her head.
>”My studio is only big enough for Adagio and I. Sonata is with Pinkie Pie, but-”
>Aria decides to cut in again, her tone dispassionate and rude.
>”But none of the other Lamebooms want to take me in. That prissy one said I’m too-”
>Aria takes on a high and regal sounding voice, one you assume is meant to mock one of Sunsets friends.
>”Abrasive and uncouth!”
>You fold your arms over your chest and stare at the girl.
“Gee, no one wants to take you in? What a shock. Wonder why.”
>Aria glares at you before kicking a leg up onto the couch arm and turning her attention back to the riveting wall that had captured her attention previously.
>Score one for Anon.
>Sunset mutters something under her breath before looking back to you.
>”Anon can we step outside for a moment? Just you and me?”
>She’s really persistent about this.
>You glance at the timer you set for the porkchops.
>7 minutes.
“Fine.”
>...
>...
“This is a lot to put on someone, all things considering.”
>”Yes.”
“You KNEW I was gonna say no.”
>”I-Yes.”
>You throw your hands up.
“And yet you still brought her! If it was ANYONE-LITERALLY ANYONE-else, I would have said yes.”
>”But..here we are.”
“Yeah, here you are.”
>You clasp the bridge of your nose between your hands and let out a long sigh.
“God damnit, Sunset.”
>You feel a twinge of shame as you vent out your frustration on Sunset.
>She did put you in this situation, though.
>And brought Aria here.
>An involuntary scowl contorts your face.
>You didn’t want Aria to see how she gets to you.
>Imagining her taking some sort of pleasure out of this makes you cringe.
“Why couldn’t one of the others have stayed with me? I would much prefer either of them.”
>Sunset looks thoughtful for a moment.
>”I had thought of having Adagio stay with you. But…”
“What.”
>Sunset shrugs. ”She was...weirdly insistent on staying with me. Something about being really comfortable with me.”
>How fitting.
>You’d laugh if you weren’t still really pissed.
“And Sonata?”
>”She had already moved in with Pinkie before I had asked.”
“She can move again. I’ve got space for her stuff”
>Sunset gives you an incredulous look, as if you had just pulled down your pants.
“What?”
>Sunset shakes her head. “No you don’t. Trust me. Took them the whole week just to move everything in.”
“It sounds like you’re trying to convince me that there’s no other choice in the matter..”
>Sunset stares into your eyes briefly before speaking.
>”I came here with Aria to ask you if you could. Not make you take her in.”
>You narrow your eyes at the girl.
”You came here with her bags.”
>Another shrug. “We don’t have anywhere else to put them.”
“...Uh huh.”
>”And...I was hoping you...would agree.”
“God...damnit, Sunset.”
>Sunset runs her hand through her hair before turning away.
>”Look, you can...say no, Anon. Like I said, I’m not forcing you.”
>You chew your lip as you turn to look over the railings of the landing that your apartment is on.
>Being on one of the higher levels of the complex offers a more scenic view.
>The town is warmly lit by streetlights and open businesses, beckoning the nightlife in to enjoy an evening of food and drink.
>Out of the corner of your eye, you see Sunset lean onto the railing and look out.
>”You’ve got a nice view up here.”
“Don’t usually notice it too often.”
>”...”
“...”
>”I know it hurt.”
“...It did.”
>The two of you stare out at the landscape, not a single word uttered between the two of you.
>You take in every detail of the surroundings, hoping that you can either distract yourself from this or the answer would somehow appear from the dark.
>You want to say no.
>Even though you already did.
>You want to laugh straight in Aria’s smug face and kick her to the curb.
>Every fiber of your being is telling you to say no.
>...
“How long.”
>Sunset almost slides off the rail, but catches herself as she turns to face you.
>“Anon, y-”
”How. Long.”
>Sunset blankly stares at you for a moment before coming back to reality.
>”I...uhhh….a couple of months I suppose, Anon are you s-”
>You cast a sidelong glare at the girl.
“Sunset, if you keep asking me, I’m going to change my mind.”
>Sunset seems to realize her mistake and bows her head, and stammers out an apology.
>”Right right right....Thanks.”
>You’re met with a tight embrace as Sunset wraps her arms around you.
>”I know how hard it must be. Thank you so much.
“No problem, I guess. But I’m doing this for another reason.”
>She gives you a confused look as she steps away.
>”Huh?”
“It’s...difficult to explain...Let’s just go get her bags.”
>As you make your way towards the stairs, you hear a dull groan.
>Sunset stands there with a sheepish look on her face as she places
>”S-sorry. Haven’t eaten in awhile.”
“It’s alright. I was just getting dinner ready when you ca-”
>Your brain suddenly sends out the equivalent of an air raid siren ringing through your head.
“MY FOOD!”
>...
>...