The sun was setting as Pinkie slurped up the last of the cupcakes left over from today's sales. The frosting had developed a light crust on the upper layer and the treats were heading towards being more solid than fluffy, but they and an assorted selection of similarly fading doughnuts had sufficed nicely as a makeshift meal for the pink pony and her stallion friend.
Night and day were giving each other a brief greeting and goodbye as Luna's starry sky replaced Celestia's. The sight was truly something to behold. In the higher stratosphere was a deep blue dotted with scintillating spots which melted into various shades of purple before hitting an orange sunset that was lingering lazily on the horizon.
Pinkie sighed happily as she licked her lips savouring the last of her dinner/desert and settling firmly on her belly to begin digestion.
Joe couldn't help but smile as he watched her. He still couldn't believe he'd managed to spend a whole day with her without feeling any hint of annoyance. It may have sounded mean, but while Pinkie Pie could be a lot of fun, Joe had no illusions as to the boundaries which Pinkie ignored in her social interactions.
"This has been really nice." She said softly, startling Joe from his musings.
"I agree."
"Maybe we could do this again tomorrow?" She suggested hopefully.
Joe raised an eyebrow. "Don't you think you'd get sick of this if we kept it up?"
Pinkie giggled softly and inched her body closer to his. "Oh, Joe! I could never get tired of spending time with you."
Joe felt his heart flutter involuntarily as he saw the way she lowered her eyelids playfully while glancing at him.
He stammered. "I... That's very sweet of you. I only meant that maybe we should do something different?"
Pinkie's face lit up. "For real? You really want to go out with me again?"
"That's what I said, isn't it?"
Pinkie sighed dreamily at the stallion who was smiling softly back at her. Without a second thought she moved herself right next to him on their picnic blanket, her side pressing lightly against his.
The sun was beginning to look like a broken yolk as it spread its final rays along the horizon, surrendering itself to the evening with a powerful display of colour which almost hurt the ponies eyes... Had they been watching it.
Joe's attention was currently preoccupied with the pink mare beside him who was nestling her head, rather unexpectedly against his neck. Her eyes were closed firmly.
Joe felt the flutter grow stronger beneath his breast. It had been a long while since a mare had been so affectionate towards him. He didn't like to dwell on the thought for too long, but there had been more than several occasions in the past few years where he had longed again for this kind of company. His chest surged with delight at the thought of a new romance.
Unfortunately for Joe, his heart was not in any position to make demands or take the lead in dishing out orders. His head was still firmly placed upon his shoulders and more than aware of the dangers involved in romances. Even now, his mind was recalling past scenes which reinforced its cautions to take things slower yet.
Joe decided to make conversation.
"Why do you have your eyes closed like that?"
Pinkie rubbed her face firmly against his coat once more before answering, still not daring to pull away.
"If I keep my eyes closed, then I'm shutting out one sense so that I can allow my others to be further indulged. Besides, I can't see you from this position. It would be a total waste of the moment." Pinkie spoke as though it were the most obvious thing in the world.
Joe was slightly taken aback by her frankness. After taking a moment to recover himself and once again remember he was in the presence of one of the less predictable beings in Equestria, he felt a desire to ask; "And what exactly are you savouring so intensely?"
Pinkie pressed her muzzle into his neck, giving him the gentlest of kisses. "You, of course."
Pinkie had almost planned out that moment. She had figured that after her light gesture and undeniably salient admission of affection that she might begin to shower him with her love more unrestrainedly. However, she had not accounted for the slight chance that Joe may respond the way he in fact did.
Feeling the warmth of her lips on his coat, Joe's mind demanded that defence positions be assumed. Without warning, he jolted away from Pinkie in a state of alarm which caused Pinkie to feel suddenly as though the stallion before her had no recollection of ever having met the mare before.
"What's wrong?" She asked worriedly.
Joe swallowed the lump in his throat as he processed his reaction. "Sorry, Pinkie. I just need some more time..."
Pinkie smiled sadly.
"Okay, Joe."
Joe wiped his brow, feeling a shadow of guilt drift over him and linger like a yoke.
"Maybe it's time we headed back. I'll walk you."
Pinkie jumped up in alarm. "Oh no! I couldn't possibly let you do that. I've kept you out late enough. After this morning it's obvious you need some extra rest." She noticed Joe look as though he might protest. "I'll be fine. Really." She smiled reassuringly and simultaneously gave Joe a look which warned him that he had better not say another word on the matter.
He sighed, defeated. "Alright." He said softly. "And, thanks for looking after me."
Pinkie grinned, "No problem. I..." She bit her lip and looked somewhat bashful. "I like looking after you."
*************
Joe stared at his reflection in the mirror.
He had hung up his uniform upon arriving home, and promptly gone to brush his teeth. But before he went to bed he had caught his reflection in the mirror and hadn't so far managed to get away from it.
Joe was by no means a vain pony. In truth, he barely used his mirror. But right now, his reflection had him captured. Not because he liked what he saw but because he was wondering what exactly it was that he saw and furthermore what it was that she saw.
It was somewhat like an out of body experience to stare at oneself for so long. Joe tried very hard not to become too philosophical as he gazed, questions concerning matters of consciousness and being all forced to one side of his mind as he focused on things that seemed more realistically understood.
He was not what he considered to be handsome. And given the amount of attention mares gave him, he was certain that others felt similarly. He had let himself go somewhat, a rounded edge appearing on his jaw and belly.
Now that he was evaluating himself he realised how tired he looked. His eyes seemed to be constantly drooping as though he hadn't gotten enough sleep. Not to mention the lack of defining colour within them. Other ponies seemed to have such striking eyes compared to his.
Thinking on his eyes, he recalled again the eyes of Pinkie Pie. They were so big and blue. They seemed sometimes as though somepony had just freshly polished them. Her eyes made him smile.
The smile contorted his less than satisfactory face further.
What did she see in him?
His mane needed a brush.
Joe shook his head.
These things are all so superficial. Does it really matter how my mane looks? Surely mane's and personalities have no proven correlation.
He sighed.
Okay, so my personality. What is there to that? I work, I eat, I sleep. I don't have any dreams. I don't have any hobbies outside of baking. Heck! I don't even have friends...
Joe focused his gaze squarely on his reflection. His eyes peering into the eyes before him.
What is it that dictates life and what it means to live? Am I living?
He shook his head again. Was he going too deep?
No.
Life is about risks, its about little things. It's about making mistakes and messes, its about feeling the wind in your hair, running till all your muscles ache, crying till your eyes are red, making friends, making enemies... It's coffee in the morning, and tea before bed. It's the smell of old books being reopened, the sound of a pencil scratching out a message, the chirping of birds in their nests...
And I suppose at the end of everything, its about being able to laugh at all these things. Laughter is the culmination of the joy that comes from even the worst things in life. Laughter is hindsight and contentment with all that is past. Laughter is the thing that holds all those inexplicable other things together. Laughter is...
Joe smiled.
Laughter is Pinkie Pie.
He climbed into bed still grinning when his mind began berating him again. As he settled under the covers he couldn't help saying aloud;
"Give it a rest. She's a nice mare."
********************
"Oh goodie! You're awake!"
Joe groaned as he attempted to roll onto his back, his senses slowly returning to him as sleep fell away. As he went to move however he felt himself catch against something outside his blankets.
Did somepony say something? That voice, it was...
"Pinkie Pie?!" Joe's eyes shot open.
Pinkie was standing above him, her forehooves on either of his shoulders, her face leaned down towards him so that her muzzle nearly pressed against his.
His tired ears were hit rudely by the sound of her high pitched giggling.
"Good morning, sleepyhead!" She chimed happily. "You look sooo cute when you're sleeping!"
"What in Equestria are you doing here? Were you... How long were you standing there?"
Pinkie was startled as she realised Joe's eyes had narrowed. His tone was disapproving and suddenly she wondered if she had over stepped some kind of boundary.
"I... I only wanted to help. I thought that..." She stepped off of his body and sunk to her haunches at the end of the bed, Joe sitting up to face her. "After yesterday, I didn't want you to sleep in again."
He looked at her pouting face and almost felt sorry for her, but then again she couldn't get off so easily, he needed to tell her what she had done.
"Pinkie, haven't you ever heard of personal space?" He sighed running a hoof through his mane.
Pinkie cocked her head. "Plenty of times! My friends used to bring it up a lot, but not so much anymore..."
"Not so much anymore?"
Pinkie shrugged, "I suppose they're just used to me."
Joe wasn't sure how to respond to that so he just stared at her for a while in thought.
"Well I'm not." He said finally.
Pinkie gasped a little, her front curl drooping downwards. "I've upset you, haven't I?"
Joe grimaced, he really couldn't stand seeing her upset. But he also couldn't stand the thought of a mare he had only recently become acquainted with, bursting into his home and watching him sleep. He shivered.
"Don't you see how what you did is a little... Creepy?"
Pinkie raised a hoof to her chin in thought. "Hmm... Not really..." She said sadly.
Joe's ears flopped back against his head as he groaned.
"Well then, imagine it yourself. You wake up in the morning, and some stranger is standing over you, watching you sleep! How would you feel?" He hadn't meant to raise his voice, but that was how it had come out.
Pinkie's face dropped. "I'm a... Stranger to you?"
Joe rolled his eyes, "Is that all you heard me say?"
"... No."
Joe didn't feel the need to say anymore. Without a further grumble, he got out of his bed and pulled the sheets back in place, Pinkie jumping off as she saw what he was doing. Her eyes were glistening with tears, but Joe knew he couldn't keep comforting her.
He sighed. "Just go back to the castle and get some sleep. I'll see you in class."
He avoided eye contact with her as he went to his wardrobe getting out his uniform. It was a few moments before he heard that Pinkie had heard him, and she was silently making her way out of his house.
As he pulled at his collar he found himself in a tug-o-war between his head and his heart once again as his heart berated him for for turning her away so brusquely, while his head applauded his affirmative action taken to straighten out her personality kinks.
"Just be quiet." He said aloud. He was growing weary of this inner ambivalence. He also was not looking forward to seeing her in a few hours...