Morning came on a quiet Saturday. Chris woke up and instinctively looked to his left, but it was clear and Fluttershy was still in her bed, still sleeping soundly. He went through the routine and stepped out without even a sound. He walked down to the park and sat at a bench, pondering about the mysteries of the universe and other paradoxes.
"Oh! A lovely morning to you, Chris!" Rarity broke through his thoughts. She was wearing a light sweater as fall had set in.
"Morning, Rarity." Chris said with a heavy sigh.
"What's the matter? Did you sleep like a baby?"
"Nope."
"Didn't sleep well, huh?"
"Oh no, I sleep beautifully."
Rarity gave him a confused look, to which Chris raised an eyebrow.
"Uh... isn't that a contradiction?"
"If you were referring to the 'sleep like a baby' metaphor, no. That phase implies that I woke up every two hours, crying because I crapped my pants."
"Huh, never though of it that way."
Chris then tapped a finger to his temple. Rarity sat next to him, but the two didn't speak for several minutes. Rarity fidgeted with her fingers, seemingly growing more impatient with something.
"Hey... Chris?"
"Hm?"
"Do...do you know what love feels like?"
Where is this coming from... and where is it going?"
"Well... I can't say that I don't."
"Really? Have you been... you know... in a relationship?"
Chris took a moment to collect his words.
"I've had a girlfriend or two before, but I've never known what it is like to be loved by someone."
Rarity raised and eyebrow with interest, slightly leaning forward to hear better.
"Well... what happened?"
Chris looked at her with eyes that showed mixed emotions that made her feel a slight pang of guilt for bringing up the subject. Chris took a deep breath and sighed.
"When I was in those prior relationships, both the girls cheated on me. It hurt, believe me...and I decided to confront them as soon as I found out. What I told them was this: 'I know you've been cheating on me, but I'm not angry; just...disappointed. Disappointed that my affection wasn't enough for you to be happy, that I couldn't make you happy with the deepest emotions of my heart. But you, today, proved yet again that I am a man that will never experience what it is like to be loved. To have someone to truly care for until the end of my mortal life. There will be no anger...no tears, or jealousy. Just disappointment. Goodbye...and I'm sorry.' After that, they sent me messages and calls. Apologizing for their actions and practically begging me to reconsider. But I refused them both."
Rarity's heart sank and was almost in tears from hearing that. She was not prepared to hear someone who felt that way, which only made that pang of guilt grow.
"And from those experiences, I picked up a phrase that sums up what my relationships then and what's to come."
"And... what's that?" Rarity tentatively asked.
"'Either you CHOOSE me, or you LOSE me. Short, simple and easy to remember."
It was getting harder for Rarity to contain a need to cry, no to bawl her eyes out.
"E-excuse me." She said, standing up and beginning to walk off. She covered her mouth to stifle her tears. She knew that Chris hid something sad when she first spoke to him, but she never anticipated the weight of it.
My god...he's been through really bad days, but manages to keep going with his life. Chris is a really strong person, stronger than most that I have met.
"Hey Rarity?" Chris hollered. She turned around, her vision slightly blurry.
"Don't tell the others about what I said; in time, I'll tell them myself. Rarity was almost taken aback by his straightforwardness.
"Yea. Ok." She responded. She continued to walk before stopping and doing a 180.
"Hey Chris?"
"Something else you want to know?"
"Yes, how would you like to come to dinner?"
She's asking me on a date? After what I said, she looked like she was going to break down right there. Plus, I barely know her.
"Is it just us or are the rest coming?"
"Everyone else will be joining me, think of it as an official welcome to the campus."
"A little belated for that, don't you think?"
"Oh, do you accept or not!" Rarity pouted.
"Hehe... alright, I'll go. It could be fun." He responded, standing back up from the bench, "When and where?"
"Next week, at 8:30. Don't be late. As for where, let me worry about that."
"Formal?" Chris raised a brow.
"Absolutely!"
Chris smiled and walked off back to the dorm room, hands behind his head, looking up at the grey clouds overhead and a single hole where the sun shown through.
Fluttershy sat in her bed, eyes glued to a screen near the foot of her bed. Chris opened the door and became surprised when his eyes gazed across the TV.
"You play Skyrim?"
Fluttershy gasped, then gave a sheepish smile and a light blush.
"Oh, don't let me stop you from playing a great game." Chris continued, "I just didn't expect you to be playing it."
"Yea, I tend to enjoy open world games with a lot a choice involved throughout the story."
"Ah. So what class are you?"
"Assassin."
Well how's that for irony. An embodiment of kindness playing a cold, calculated and silent killer.
"Remind me to show you Assassins Creed next time." Chris said, "Actually, there is something I want ask you."
Fluttershy paused the game and looked toward Chris with attentive eyes.
"I..."
Damn it man!! Just ask her out!"
Chris swallowed hard and took a deep breath.
"I was going to the zoo tomorrow, and it just so happens that I have an extra ticket. And...I was wondering, well...if you'd be interested in joining me."
Fluttershy pondered it for a second, making Chris a little nervous.
"Yes, I'd love to go...I mean, if that's ok with you."
Chris couldn't help but give a wide smile.
"So which zoo are we going to?" Fluttershy inquired.
"Dodge City Safari."
"Wow, I've never been there! But that's quite far from here."
"Don't worry, I got us train tickets to get there. Round trip."
Fluttershy started clapping her hands together and jumping up and down like a little school girl, giggling like she received an early Christmas present.
"Oh, one more thing. Rarity invited me to a dinner party next week, and she said that everyone is going."
"Oh, that will be fun!" She replied, though still more excited about the zoo tomorrow.