I sighed as I entered the school. There was no luck finding the notebook in the field, meaning someone found it. Here's hoping they brought it to the lost and found. In hindsight, I should have put it away when eating, though it was Wallflower who dragged me away. No, can't blame her for this. Well, I can't make a fuss to her about it at any rate. Come on. Better go find it.

Along the way I noticed Pinkie and a few of the girls sitting together on the floor. Curious about it, I quietly walked up to them and heard a few snippets of their conversation.

"Pinkie, I don't know what's the big deal with that notebook," Rainbow told her.

"Wait until you see what's inside Dashie."

"Um Pinkie shouldn't you take it to the lost and found, if that is ok with you," Fluttershy suggested.

"After I show you girls what's in it," Pinkie responded before opening the notebook.

"Pinkie, darling It's wrong to just open someone's notebook," Rarity scolded the pink girl, "Who knows what could be written in..." Rarity paused after glancing at the notebook and her eyes lit up in what seemed to be excitement, "Look at all of those incredible drawings. Those outfit designs are just brilliant," She grabbed the notebook from Pinkie and scrolled through it, becoming more and more excited.

Great, looks like someone likes the drawings I did. I don't quite know how to feel about this. On one hand it's nice to see someone actually like them, but It's a little embarrassing to have someone look through it like that.

"Rarity, those are great drawings and all, but why are you acting like you struck gold?" Rainbow asked with raised eyebrows.

"Because Rainbow darling, I have been having trouble coming up with new designs for outfits and this notebook is the key to all that. All of these designs to use and to help me get more inspiration. With this I just have to worry about getting more clients." Rarity answered.

"Um Rarity we should give that back to its proper owner. Maybe they will be willing to help you, if that's ok."

Rarity was about to respond when I walked right up to the girls. I was going to let them know it's my notebook, but I found it easier said than done. I took a deep relaxing breath. I can do this. Just let them know and get it back, so you don't have to worry about this.

"Marky!" Pinkie shouted before I could find the courage to speak up and before she tackled me in a hug.

"Pinkie," I answered nervously.

Ever since the kiss, I have been more nervous around Pinkie. My mind is full of emotions I can't make sense of and I don't quite know how to deal with her crush on me. Thankfully, she seems to be treating me with the usual amount of affection, so I can hopefully figure it out.

"What's going on?" I asked.

"Oh. After school yesterday while out in a nice field of flowers, I stumbled on a notebook. Being curious about it, I picked it up, which was strange because it seemed like an ordinary notebook, but I still picked it up and when I opened it, I was shocked to find amazing drawings of different outfits. There was even one in a similar style to my dress from the fancy party, where I finally kissed you. Anyway, I thought it was amazing, so I decided to show my friends here, before taking it to the school lost and found and you stumbled upon us, making me happy to see you. Are you all caught up Marky? Did I do a great job recapping everything?" Pinkie explained quickly with a large smile on her face.

"Yes, you did Pinkie," I answered, managing to catch every word from her mouth.

"Oh goody." She responded before nuzzling me, making me blush.

"Geez Pinkie go cuddle your boyfriend in private," Rainbow Dash teased with a chuckle.

Pinkie started blushing before she let go of me and I got up.

"What's wrong Dashie? Jealous?" I asked with a smirk.

"No, why would I be jealous?" She denied with an embarrassed blush, "Why would I be jealous of a stud getting hugged by one of my friends?" She continued before covering her mouth, "I mean I'm not," She finished before looking away.

"Calm down Rainbow he's only teasing you back," Applejack told her before chuckling, "Though it's nice to see you be on the receiving end."

"Oh, shut up!" Rainbow growled angrily, "He just keeps getting lucky."

"Sure, keep telling yourself that," Applejack simply said with a smirk.

I looked at the rest of the girls and Fluttershy was simply nervously watching this whole thing go down, while Rarity had her eyes glued to my notebook, completely unaware of the outside world.

"Anyway," I began awkwardly before finding the courage to continue, "You girls are looking for the owner of that notebook, right?" I asked for getting nods from every girl; even Rarity nodded, showing she was actually paying attention, "Look no further because it's mine," I managed to finish.

"Really?" Rainbow asked with raised eyebrows, "I find that hard to believe."

Rarity removed her eyes from the notebook and looked at me, "I'm afraid I must agree with Rainbow. This doesn't seem like yours."

"What makes you two think that? I mean you hardly know me and what I can do," I pointed out.

"Point taken, but I just can't picture you actually drawing these," Rarity told me, "If you could prove it to us, we will be more than happy to admit we were wrong."

I took out my backpack and pulled out another notebook from it.

"I believe you Marky," Pinkie told me.

"Thank you, Pinkie," I answered before opening the second notebook.

"What is another notebook going to pro..." Rainbow stopped when she saw the notebook I was holding was also filled with drawings of the same quality.

"I... I stand corrected," Was all Rarity muttered before taking the second notebook from my hands and scrolling through it like the first one.

"Since this seems to be enough proof for you, can I have them back?" I asked, holding out my hand.

Instead of answering, Rarity just scrolled through to the end of the notebook before she looked at me like she hit the jackpot at a casino.

"Marcus, Darling I'm truly sorry for not believing in your artistic talents. You have a gift and it's terrible of me not to think you had them," She apologized.

"It's fine I forgive you," I responded.

"No, darling it's not fine!" She argued before getting right up in my face, "You need to share this to the world and let everyone else know all about it. I will even help you as my way of saying sorry. You can help me come up with designs for new outfits and I will credit you as the artistic designer." Rarity offered with a charming smile.

"More like you want to use him to improve your business and are disguising it as a way to make it up to him," Applejack scoffed.

Rarity gave her a dirty look, "Don't be silly Applejack. I would never dream of using a handsome, talented, and kind boy like him... " She paused to gently rub my chin, "... for personal gain. I am only looking out for his best interests. We can both help each other out." She gave me another charming smile, "What do you say Darling? This will be good for the two of us."

"I... I guess it won't hurt," I managed to say nervously while blushing.

"I am glad to hear you agree, darling," She giggled with a smile, before giving me a quick kiss on the cheek, "Here's to our new partnership," She continued cheerfully before giving me only one of the notebooks back, "I hope you don't mind if I keep one to look closely at to try and come up with ideas of my own. That way we both can bounce off each other and make them the best they can be," Rarity placed the notebook into her backpack, "Well, see you later girls and Marcus. I can't wait for us to get started."

I was completely stunned. What just happened? All I wanted was to just get my notebook back and somehow, I got roped into helping another with their aspiring business. I touched the cheek that she kissed. That's another thing that confuses me. Does she also have a thing for me? She did call me handsome and talented, after all. I sighed in frustration. Why is it that whenever I try to do something simple it escalates into something else that changes my life up.

"Wow dude. You just got yourself into something crazy," Rainbow simply said.

I looked at the other girls and to my slight bafflement, Pinkie seemed annoyed by something. Is she jealous that Rarity kissed me?

"Figures Rarity would pull something like this. Here's hoping she actually has good intentions for you," Applejack commented.

"Um... I think we should trust Rarity. She wouldn't intentionally take advantage of someone and not have mutually beneficial business relationships with them. At least I hope so," Fluttershy put in her two cents.

"At any rate dude. Things might get wild with the two of you. Are you sure you can handle it?" Rainbow teased.

"I handle you, don't I?" I responded.

"Hardly," Rainbow chuckled with a grin, "Though, that's still enough to handle anything else."

"Pinkie, you haven't said anything. Are you ok?" Applejack asked her.

"Oh. I'm fine. I just think it's great that two of my friends are going to help each other," Pinkie answered simply in a neutral tone of voice.

"Ok," Applejack responded confused.

Suddenly, the bell rang signaling the start of the first period.

"Well, we better get going," Pinkie said before rushing towards me and giving me a quick kiss on the cheek, "See you later Marky," She told me in her usual cheerful voice before returning to the neutral tone one, "Let's go girls."

"What's with her?" Rainbow asked.

"I think it's jealousy, Dashie," I answered before making my own way to class.

That's just great. Now I have to deal with possibly two girls liking me and one of them being jealous. What am I going to do? Hopefully, I figure something out soon. Now to just get through the rest of the day.

A much quicker update than usual. Here's hoping it stays that way, though not making any promises. Here's an important chapter to help set up a major character arc for Marcus to get him to interact more socially. With that and the friendship games approaching will he be able to handle it?

next chapter- Marcus and Rarity start working together while he starts reaching out more to Wallflower.