//------------------------------// // Chapter 3.5: Beach Day Antics pt. 1 // Story: Campus love // by LightningChaserRaikage //------------------------------// Chris was waiting in the sweltering heat at the train station. He was glad he wore his grey cargo shorts and a light blue shirt. His sunglasses did little to dampen the sunlight and the hat was just shy of giving him a lack of blood to his brain. "If I stay in this heat for long, I'm probably going to be welded to the fucking bench!" He muttered. "Sorry to keep you waiting!" Rarity hollered from down the loading dock. She was followed by everyone else including Twilight. They were all dressed in short shorts and small t-shirts, tank-tops and sunhats, or wearing sundresses. Chris took off his hat, nearly ripping his face off, ran a hand through his already sweaty hair and then replaced the cap. "Is that hat too tight?" Fluttershy asked, her face plastered with innocent worry. Oh...there goes the arrhythmia... "A little." Chris responded, "But like watches or belts, there are only two setting of tightness: either so tight that blood will cease to flow or so loose that I would loose it without noticing." Fluttershy giggled at the thought, which only made Chris's heart beat faster. "Train to leave for Hoofington Beach. ALL ABOARD!!" "Sounds like that's us." Chris stated as he began to jog to the train, the girls following suit. The train was rough and bumpy. Pinkie was practically bouncing off the walls, Twilight was reading her book; have not said a word yet and the rest sat in silence. After two hours of the uncomfortable, coxis breaking ride, Chris and the girls finally made it to the beachside hotel they rented out for the vacation. "Ok, lets get the room assignments." Rarity said, pulling out a series of purple ribbons, "Matching lengths will determine your roommate." The others began to draw the ribbons while Chris was discussing with the front desk about the rooms, getting frustrated and flustered the longer the conversation went on. When he walked back to the group, head hung in defeat, the pairs were decided: Applejack/Fluttershy, Rainbow/Pinkie and Rarity/Twilight. "So how did the rooms go?" Applejack asked. "Not good. Apparently the budget Celestia gave you was only enough to send you six alone here. Why was I invited again? 'Cause I sense some confusion and pain in the near future." Chris responded. Applejack and Fluttershy instantly and subtly averted their eyes. "Well..." Fluttershy started, "Remember the first day we met?" "I remember I getting tackled twice and close to getting my ass handed to me on a silver platter." Applejack blushed in reminiscence and slight guilt. "I mean after that." Fluttershy continued, "When you sat outside our room, staring at your necklace." "Uh huh?" "You just seemed so sad, and I thought you needed cheering up. So I asked Pinkie to invite you." Pinkie stood there nodding like a bobble head with a large grin on her face, barely able to contain the excitement building up. "So where the hell am I going to sleep? The way I see it, any option I choose; and I'm fucked... figuratively speaking." Chris questioned. "I'm sure I can't handle Ms. Sugarbuzz over there." Chris continued, pointing at Pinkie who was already zipping around the lobby. and gift shops, "I don't want to be drowning in 40,000 different smells to the point where my nose falls off altogether, no offense Rarity." "None taken." She replied. "AND I'm sure if I'm in the same room with AJ, she'll kill me in my sleep." "Ya wanna say that ta my face?" AJ grudgingly questioned, scrunching up one of her sleeves. "I rest my case." Everyone began to think of a solution when Twilight finally spoke up. "What about drawing a ribbon? Have three different colors and pull it from a hat to decide." "Excellent idea Twilight." Rarity chimed, "Oh if only I had other colours." "Oh I got it!" Pinkie popped in, pulling up the rug they were standing on and pulled out a green, yellow and white ribbon. That seems a little TOO convenient. "Where did you get those?!" Chris inquired, amusement on his face. "I always have ribbons stashed somewhere; y'know, for ribbon emergencies." She replied with a snort and a giggle. Rarity took off her sunhat and placed the ribbons in them. Chris covered his eyes and reached in. The felts were confusing, but he eventually grabbed one. He opened his eyes as he pulled out the yellow ribbon. "Then it's settled. Chris will be in Fluttershy's and Applejack's room." Twilight commented. A sense of relief and dread flowed through Chris. "Well, I better start writing my will before tonight." He stated with a light, nervous chuckle. While Chris was unpacking his backpack, Fluttershy and Applejack decided to take a bath together. In the short span of time he had, Chris changed to a pair of cotton sleeping pants, but kept his shirt off from the humidity of the southern city. He looked around the hotel room with awe. Two queen sized beds, a desk with computer functions, a flat screen hanging on the wall and a mini fridge under it. Chris walked over to the other side and found the couch, laid down, and almost instantly fell asleep. "Chris? Are you still out there?" Applejack asked, only to receive silence, "Chris?" AJ then creaked the bathroom door ajar and peeked outside, only to see the closet. "Oh, he must be asleep." Fluttershy whispered. "Hm... Still seems risky." AJ responded. She then grabbed a large towel and wrapped it around herself before stepping out of the bathroom. She eyed Chris's feet hanging over the side of the couch, and slowly tiptoed to her bed; her eyes locked on Chris's face. When she turned give Fluttershy the all clear, she found a shock that she was already walking to her bed fully nude. "Fluttershy!" AJ whispered, "What are ya doing!" "Getting ready for bed." Fluttershy whispered back. "What if he wakes up an' sees you?!" "Oh don't worry, he's a pretty heavy sleeper." AJ wasn't convinced but she got dressed in a pair or orange panties and a brown tank before slipping under the covers. "G'night." "Good night Applejack." The lights went out and the room was silent except for slow breathing. For minutes on end, AJ tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep. God dangit! I can't sleep knowin' HE is in the same room with me! I feel hot, my heart won't calm down... ARGH. Okay. Just calm down... he wouldn't do anything. He's too much of a- "Of a what?" Chris asked. "AAAH?!" Applejack yelped. "I heard you talking shit." "When did you? Nevermind why are you-?" Before she could finish her line, Chris was already inches away from her. AJ reflexively jumped back, only to be caught by Chris from behind. She tried to get away again only to be back within his reach. "How are you-?!" "Shhh." Chris cooed, placing at finger on AJ's lips, "Don't speak. Just feel." He leaned in close, AJ's face getting hotter by the second. She could say anything despite her struggle to produce sound. He mind started to go blank while her strength left her arms and legs as she could barely stand. She was unable to do anything but close her eyes as a warm feeling spread through her body. Applejack couldn't breathe, but it took a few seconds before she flung her head out of her pillow. Heaving from the lack of oxygen, see looked around. It was still the middle of the night, the moonlight peeked it's way through the curtains; some shining on Chris's chest, right where his heart was. Applejack noticed that she was sweating profusely and flung the covers off. Her tank was wrinkled and her panty was almost sliding off her body. In light frustration she laid back down and stared out the window to a mostly calm seaside, the waves gently colliding with the sand. She suddenly heard a slighted shaking sound, making her jump; but only found that it was Chris, shivering in his sleep. Without second thought or reasoning Applejack took her blanket and laid it over Chris. Almost instinctively she leaned to kiss him on the forehead, but caught herself and shook her head violently before going back to bed and falling into her deep slumber.