//------------------------------// // Denial // Story: Diamond Days // by Bysen //------------------------------// “If… if any of you need to take today off…” Cheerilee stumbled over her words, trying to be strong for her students. She wasn’t closer to Twist herself than any other pony in her class. But had it been any other pony, she’d have been just as distraught. It was hard on her, but she needed to be strong for her students, and the parents of the deceased.”You may be excused.” “Miss Cheerilee?” called Snips from the back row, sitting next to Twist’s old chair. His hooves raised high and fast, strained by the urgentness of his question. “It wasn’t Twist is it?” he asked. Caught up in her own pity Cheerilee had neglected to say who it actually was. “She’s not…?” “I’m... afraid it was.” Cheerilee confirmed for the young colt. “Twist Drops is no longer with us, and has passed away. She was…” she cut herself off. Cheerilee may’ve been told more of the details but they didn’t need to know how and when the filly been found. Just the word ‘found’... Cheerilee thought she may need what she was about to offer for her student for herself. “If you need to speak with somepony, we have a councilor in this morning to help us through this time.” Though Snips had been the first to ask, Snails was the first to cry. Everypony turned to look at him. None of them passed a single bead of judgement. Hell, a few of them were close to that themselves, and shortly after Snips was crying too. Cheerilee, for her part, managed to keep it inside as she walked to the back of the class, whispered something to them both, barely getting an intelligible answer of some sort before they stood and she walked them to the front of the room. Before she left she called back to the rest of the classroom. “Does anypony else want to come see the counselor? I’m sure he’ll be able to help.” she was about to add more before Applebloom jumped right over her desk and galloped the short distance over other, a few tears falling out in the process. “It’s alright… you’re allowed to cry Applebloom.” Cheerilee added, putting a hoof over the filly. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo stood up too and walked over to their friend. A few more ponies shuffled in their seats but none stood up. A few had been thinking about just using this to get out of school but to their own credit, none of them did. Snails sobs got louder as he grabbed Snips and pulled him in close. “She can’t be dead!” he called out. And with that, Cheerilee thought it was time to leave. “I’ll be back shortly. We’ll… today will be a light work day.” she said before walking the five children out of the room and towards the school’s staff room where the youth counsellor was waiting for them. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo didn’t really know Twist that well, if at all, but wanted to be there for Applebloom. Snips and Snails never hung out with her outside of school, but had been sitting next to her since… forever. They considered her a close friend. But Applebloom, she barely even knew Twist anymore. But she used to… now she never would again. The two colts continued to cry long after they’d been introduced to the councilor, Applebloom too shed a few tears every so often and even Sweetie Belle let a few out. Cheerilee, though wanting to speak as much as these five, had spent enough time away from the rest of her class already and quietly stepped out. When she got back to the classroom, just outside of the door was Diamond Tiara, looking around confused until she saw her teacher. “Are you doing alright Diamond Tiara?” Cheerilee asked as DT walked over to her, trying to not look her in the eyes. “Cheerilee?” she asked in response. “It’s alright Diamond… it’s alright to feel sad. Do you want to speak with somepony about it too?” Cheerilee asked in her usual comforting voice. Of all the ponies to be broken up over this, Diamond Tiara was probably the last she expected. Diamond didn’t reply, she just looked up at her teacher. Her face looked as calm as normal, but Cheerilee could tell she’d cried a little. Silverspoon and Diamond Tiara where the only two ponies their age to wear make-up and DT’s was smeared around her eyes. “Alright, let’s take you to the staff room with the others.” Despite what Cheerilee thought of Diamond Tiara and her bullying ways, she couldn’t help but take a small bit of pride in her for still caring this much about another of her students. It was bitter-sweet though and before Cheerilee could take a step towards the staff room “I know where it is.” Diamond Tiara said in her usual tone as she began off. It may have sounded snide but it wasn’t. Not deep down at least. Diamond just didn’t want to show how much like crap she really felt right now. Cheerilee decided to let her go, she had a class to attend to and the office was barely twenty seconds away. But like she had this morning, DT trudged there slowly. She even stopped a few times and looked back towards the classroom before she made it there. Unfortunately though, before she could go inside the door opened, and out stepped Applebloom. She was walking slowly too as she went to the nearby water fountain and took a drink. Once she finished, she turned and saw Diamond Tiara. Applebloom had splashed and washed her face at the fountain, wiping away most of her tears, along with getting a drink. Her mane was slightly wet as well. She stared, not really focusing, at Diamond Tiara for a few moments. Until her expressions changed. “Why are you here?” she demanded. “T-to…” Diamond stuttered. She didn’t want to show it to this blank-flank but she was in just as bad of a state as the pony she was talking to. Diamond Tiara may’ve been the last pony that Twist had spoken with… and what she’d said to her... but she wasn’t going to let this hick know that! “To speak with the counselor, what do you think I’m here for, a hooficure?” “This isn’t a joke Tiara! An’ ah don’t appreciate you turnin’ it inta one.” Applebloom replied as she marched up to where DT stood by the door. “Go back ta class.” she stated. “What?” “Go back ta the class. This ain’t just some excuse fer ya ta get outta doing work,” Applebloom said as she marched right up against Diamond. “Dang it, she’s dead! Have some gosh darned respect fer once in your miserable life!” she added as more tears began to flow from her already reddened eyes. “I-I am…” was all Diamond Tiara could get out before Applebloom continued. “You don’ give a damn about her. You never liked her an’ you a’ways made funna her! Ah won’t let you crap all over her now that’s gone! Ah shouldn’ta let ya dun it before neither!” despite how quietly she was saying all this, so that the still crying Snips and Snails didn’t have to hear it, Applebloom was furious! “But I want to…” “Go rut yourself.” Applebloom repeated what Diamond Tiara had told her yesterday, then didn’t give her a chance to respond as she opened the door and slipped back inside. Closing it behind her, in Diamond Tiara’s face. ~ ~ Nearly three hours passed before anypony left the staff room again. It was lunchtime when they did. The five of them were leaving early that day and going to Twist’s house along with Twist's older sister Bon-Bon who’d showed up not long ago now. They took a moment to speak with Cheerilee and tell her they were leaving with the mare. Cheerilee grabbed six of the notes she’d been writing for her students to give to their parents. The notes where to inform the parents of the death and give them some possible warning to look for signs of depression or give their children the death speech. As she went to pass out the six notes, she noticed something looking over the group but wasn’t the first to voice it. “Excuse me Cheerilee?” came Silverspoon. “Where’s Diamond Tiara? I thought she was with all of you?”