The Nerd and the Cellist

Chapter 3

"He did WHAT?!"

I'm at Sugarcube Cafe with Soarin, Caramel, Applejack, Big Mac, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and Starlight Glimmer, and I just told them what happened when I approached Octavia Melody to return her ring to her. Everyone looked at me in shock except Starlight Glimmer, who just looked at me confused.

"Wait, so this Blueblood guy that we're all supposed to avoid invited you to dinner with his girlfriend, Octavia Melody, because she kinda convinced him to?" She asked.

I shrugged and said, "Pretty much, yeah."

Rarity frowned bitterly and crossed her arms in jealousy.

"Well, lucky you," she said. "I don't suppose he said you could bring a friend, did he?"

I gave Rarity a sad smile, knowing that she is hoping I would invite her so she can be close to Blueblood.

"Sorry, Rarity, he didn't," I said. "But if I get the chance to another time, I'll let you know. Promise."

Rarity smiled, satisfied with my answer. Soarin, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash, on the other hand, looked at me suspiciously.

"Rough Draft, did you accept their offer because it means you can be near Octavia Melody?" Rainbow Dash asked. "Tell us honestly. Applejack can tell when someone is lying."

I stared at Rainbow Dash, confused and turned to Applejack, asking, "Is that true?"

"You bet your boots, it's true," Applejack answered. "You twist the truth even just a little bit and I'll call you out."

"She'll do it, Rough Draft," Caramel said. "Take it from a guy who works at her farm. You should never lie to Applejack."

I stared at Caramel, unsure of how to respond before I decide to trust him and say, "Well, I'm curious about the restaurant that I'll get to eat for free, so Octavia Melody isn't the only reason."

"Oh, come on!" Soarin rebuked. "Are you so smitten with her just because she's pretty that you'll stalk her every chance you get even though she's with someone?"

I scratched the back of my head and said, "Yeah, I know. It does seem like I'm only doing this because of her looks, but I want to believe that there's more to her than meets the eye."

"What do you mean?" Starlight Glimmer asked as she sipped on her milkshake.

I sighed and said, "I don't know how to explain it. I just have...a feeling that she's a better person than someone like Blueblood deserves, especially after how she disapproved of the way Blueblood treated Sonata and me. Maybe she's a nice person who wants to change Blueblood's cruel ways as his girlfriend."

"She better not be trying. That's my future job," Rarity snarled.

"Easy, Rarity," Fluttershy said nervously as she rubbed her best friend's back.

Soarin and Rainbow Dash looked at me skeptically before turning to Applejack. The apple farmer looked at them and sighed before she said, "He's telling the truth."

Soarin frowned and said, "Well, you should still be careful. Even if what you say is true, the fact is she's with someone else."

"I know," I said with a sigh. "But I hope I can at least be friends with her like I am with Sonata."

Once again, everyone looked at me, surprised.

"You befriended one of the Dazzlings?!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed.

"Wow, Rough Draft, you have a lot of guts today," Pinkie Pie said with a teasing grin.

"I know how it sounds, but it feels right that I did it," I said. "She told me how her sisters treat her and look down on her, and she just wanted a friend. How can I not understand that after having no friends at all until I met you guys?"