//------------------------------//
// Chapter 3 
// Story: Echoes in the Soul 
// by FluttershyAllTheWay 
//------------------------------//

Maths. Echo disliked maths on a normal day, but today maths was just intoloerable. The double lesson had lasted forever: it just wouldn't finish. When the bell went for the end of the two tiresome classes, Echo blurted out a bellowing sigh of relief. "Just one more class to go until lunch" Echo pondered in his mind.

After an extensive Science class, Echo met up with Lightning for lunch. "Hey Lightning! You alright?" Echo enthusiastically spoke.

"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" Lightning retorted.

"So what are we gonna do today then?" Echo queried.

"Well... Why don't we go see... Soul?" Lightning said, nudging at Echo's side and winking blatantly. Lightning spoke the latter part of his prose while fluttering his eyelashes, attempting to impersonate an angel.

Echo just rolled his eyes and turned around, setting himself up to trudge away from Lightning. As he began leaving Lightning, Lightning dashed in front of him, stopping Echo in his tracks. Echo just stared at Lightning's stern and serious face.

"Echo, I'm just joking!" Lightning stated, his face remaining serious. "Just take a seat here and we can chat over lunch." Echo blankly stared at Lightning and just silently sat, complying with Lightning's orders. What else could he do?

Lunch slipped away quickly. Once it was finished, Echo waddled his way to Form Class - afternoon register needed to be done. Echo slid into his classroom to see most ponies already in their seats - including Soul. He rushed to his seat, glancing at Soul along the way. As he pulled out the chair with his hoof, he stared at Soul's beautiful Mane, well brushed, well cared for - plus flowing down her beautiful and subtle body as usual.

"Damnit Echo!" He thought to himself. He knew was gawping again; if she caught him doing so then anything could happen - be it positive or negative. Shaking his head wearily, Echo sat down precariously in his chair, pulling of his saddlebags and sliding them under the desk he sat at.

Soul turned to him. "So, what do you have next, Echo?" She asked with big, bright eyes, eyes that were melting Echo's heart.

"Uhh, I... Uhh..." Echo traced his mind. Nothing prevailed. He had no clue about his next class, and he was having something of a mini panic-attack. Echo didn't know what to do. He just continued to stare into Soul's amazing eyes, whilst she stared compassionately back. Echo could feel himself getting flustered and he could sense a blush spreading across his muzzle like a forest fire.

"You could just check your timetable?" Soul said with an understanding aura about her and a warm smile embedded across her face.

"Uhh, yeah." Echo snapped softly. The gears in his mind seemed to just start working as he pulled his saddlebag to above the desk and yanked out his timetable - without a care in the world for tidiness. Unfortunately for Echo, the scrawled drawing from Maths earlier floated out of his bag and landed conveniently in Soul's hoof. She examined the paper, her eyes bulging wider. Echo didn't know what to do. Snatch the paper back? Run away? Confess? All efforts would be futile, so Echo just laid his head in his hooves in shame.

After what seemed to be an eternity, Echo raised his head to meet Soul's gaze. He was surprised to not see a look of horror, hatred and disgust. Instead, he was given the sight of Soul staring at Echo blankly. She then turned her gaze to the front immediately after, handing the scruffy piece of parchment back to Echo. Echo took the piece of paper with his hoof and checked over his work.

The piece of paper contained a scruffily drawn love heart, about half the size of an A4 page. Inside was contained a drawing of both Echo and Soul, locked in an embrace together. Beneath this image was the text "Forever" inscribed in bold writing. What had he done?

Regret smacked Echo in the face just as quickly as realisation did. His chances of anything ever with Soul were surely ruined now: not like Echo ever really had high hopes.

The bell rung for the end of registration. Soul leapt out of her seat, evidently in a rush to bring herself somewhere else. Echo took his time: trudging to the doorway at a staggeringly slow pace. He had a lot of things to think about now. Echo picked up the piece of paper he had scrawled upon and gave it one last, long look.

Tears welled in Echo's eyes. He had ruined it with his love - his love for years. He closed his eyes gently and reopened them, wiping away the tears with his left hoof. Stuffing the paper into his saddlebags once more, Echo stormed off to his next class: which he must be late for by now.

Thoughts dived across Echo's mind - there was a lot to think about. Echo had a strong feeling that Soul would request a move in seating for Form Class. Tomorrow could be a painful day for Echo. As his eyes began to water again, Echo forced his eyes shut and put on a brave face as he timidly approached his next class.