//------------------------------// // This is NOT a date! // Story: Gildaloo // by Bysen //------------------------------// “Hello?” “Hey Gilda, it’s Scootaloo.” “Sorry, there’s no ‘Gilda’ here. I think you’ve got the wrong number.” “Nice try, but I recognise your voice.” Scootaloo replied with a bemused tone. “Alright, alright. So what’s up?” Gilda asked as she flopped down onto the couch. Naked. It was early Saturday morning and had been over two weeks since she'd last heard from Scootaloo. “You know I was starting ta worry I had given you the wrong number. What took ya so long to call?” “Gee, I can’t imagine…” Scootaloo replied, hoping her deadpan expression transferred over the phone. She assumed it did as Gilda laughed. Scootaloo sighed as Gilda quieted and added “Anyway, I heard Soarin’’s gonna be in town this weekend and I’d bet my bike he’ll be at that pie place that opened a few months ago.” “So, you wanna meet up the mall about lunch and see if we run into him?” Gilda asked. “Yeah, sounds like a plan.” she said before pausing for a moment, not quite wanting to but knowing she had to say this next part. “This isn’t a date though. Just wanna make that clear.” “Sure, whatever you say.” “Yeah well, I’d bring my other friends but the only person I even know who likes the Wonderbolts said he has plans this weekend and I… you’ve already hung up haven’t you?” ~ ~ They met up at a table in the food court, next to the cinema. Scootaloo had arrived early and looked over the movies showing. Nothing looked good, except one thing but due to the stigma on vampire movies these days she wasn’t going to be seeing that one. Especially not with Gilda. Even if it was based on a true story about one of her old friends from back in Ponyville. After a fist-bump and hello “You gotten lunch yet?” Gilda asked as she took a seat opposite scootaloo, all the while looking at the shops around them. Wak Arnold, Good Burger, A Fish Called Rhonda, Pho Sizzle Ma Noodles, Lord of the Fries and/or Onion Ring, The Thai Tanic, Burger Princess and of course some Fu King Chinese Restaurant that was named Wok This Way. It was just before twelve at this point and the place was just starting to get crowded. “Na, not yet.” Scootaloo replied. “We were gonna try to find Soarin’ at that pie shop. Figured we’d have lunch there. ‘Less you want ta grab something to eat now I say we head over there. It’s like a ten minute walk from here.” “Sounds like a plan ta me. ‘Cept want to just drive there instead?” she asked as she leant back in her chair and pulled out her keys, flashing a grin. “In your junker? Nnno…” Scootaloo answered with her own grin as Gilda’s disappeared. “Eh, your loss.” she replied as she threw them back in her purse and stood up. All females, even her, carry a purse. That’s just scientific fact. Pink croc leather by the way. Joke was on Scootaloo though as Gilda hadn’t taken her car here… she’d even brought a spare helmet. “Let’s blow this joint.” she said as she stood and began off slowly. Scootaloo got up too and fell in line beside her friend. The two started up a conversation about which of the fast food shops had the stupidest name and why every shop’s name seemed to be some horrible pun. They were leaving the shopping centre when Scootaloo abruptly changed the topic “The place’s down this way.” she said and pointed a thumb to her right and continued walking off in that direction. They walked and talked for a while, turning a corner at one point along the way as the subject changed a few times too. From the Wonderbolts, to Soarin’ himself to even laughing about the pub they’d met in and how Gilda had still managed to get her number out of it. “This is the place.” Scootaloo said as she looked up at the big hanging sign that read ‘Season On Piatus'. Seriously, ever god damn shop! Scootaloo in the lead turned into the shop, but not before Gilda reached a hand up and slapped the sign slightly before she followed inside. Soarin’ wasn’t here. Shocker! It was a small shop, just a straight line to the counter and display case with a few small tables and seats off to the side. Along with a variety of pies they had various other treats. “So what d'ya want?” Gilda asked as she pulled out her purse. “Uhh…” Scootaloo uhh’d as she took a look at the menu board before finding “Oh! Raspberry cobbler split.” she said more to the younger woman behind the counter than to Gilda. “I’ll just grab an apple pie.” Gilda told the waitress as well. she nodded and tapped some thing into the register before it showed the total price to them. Gilda grabbed out her purse once more and so did Scootaloo. Gilda however stopped her by saying “Relax, I got this.” as she handed over a fifty. “No, it’s cool. I can pay for my own lunch Gilda.” “Really? You got a job?” she asked her younger friend. “Uh.” Scootaloo replied, not wanting to say no. “Bet you still live with your folk too.” “Uhh…” “Yeah. I got this.” Gilda smirked. Truth was Scootaloo had about ten bits and bus fare. Which was only about 5 bits less than she had the night they’d met. Gilda remembered how tight money could be after she had finished and/or dropped out of school. But as nice as she was being, it was just as much meant to annoy Scootaloo too. Gilda hated it back then whenever someone paid for her. Something about dominant pride or some psycho-mumbo-jumbo. The waitress came back with their orders within a minute or so and neither had said another word since. The two took their plates, Gilda following Scootaloo as she walked over to a table off to the side. They sat mostly in silence, almost opposite of the last time they’d drunkenly gabbed at one another. It wasn’t awkward silence, just regular silence. “So… what? Too good to let me pay for your lunch?” Gilda finally asked, breaking the silence at long last. Scootaloo just continued to chew what she had before replying. She’d been eating rather fast and a third of her sunday was already gone. “No. It’s not that, it’s just…” Scootaloo trailed off and looked away. Was she?... she was… “Are you blushing?” Gilda asked. “Oh my Celestia you are!” “Shut up!” Scootaloo replied as Gilda laughed at her. “This isn’t a date okay! I don’t need you trying to be chivalrous and…” Scootaloo paused as she noticed a second thing about Gilda paying for her too. “What makes you think you’re meant to be the guy in this was! Paying for me like I can be bought.” “Geez… be more pound-sign whyineedmarenism why don’t ya?” Gilda snidely replied. “What makes you think this is meant ta be a date anyway?” she added with a furrowed brow. “You wer…” Scootaloo started but was cut off. “I made one mistake, that was kinda your fault too, and now what? I’m trying to turn you gay?” Gilda said, actually starting to sound offended. “Seriously! On the phone, you said it wasn’t a date, you punch me in the face when I tried to kiss you, what the fuck makes you even think I’m interested in a scrawny little dweeb like you anyway?” Gilda snapped as she firmly planted her hands on the table and stood up, locking her narrowed eyes on Scootaloo. Scootaloo for her part cowered back at first, she quickly pulled herself together though. There was no way she was going to let this woman yell at her like that. She was about to stand up but before she could Gilda just started laughing, almost hysterically as she slowly sat back down. It quickly turned Scootaloo’s rage to confusion as she had no idea what was with this crazy chick, then she realised… “Oh.. man! You should’ve seen the look on your face Scootaloo!” Gilda laughed with a strong smile. "Poh-ho man was it priceless!” she added almost having to wipe a tear from her eye she’d laughed so hard from it. “Chillax, alright. This ain’t a date. What the hell even made you think it was?” Scootaloo just stayed silent for a couple of seconds as she turned away slightly. “Well…” she began, still looking away. “the night we met. You were definitely trying to pick me up then. And like, you were paying for all my drinks. So you know… paying for my lunch.” “That all?” Gilda raised and eyebrow to that reply, still laughing a little bit. “Dude. I was trying to be nice and you know, make up for that night.” she said with a smirk. Scootaloo clearly felt like an idiot at this point. “Right… sorry, I guess, for jumping ahead there.” “Forget about it. Listen, I know you’re straight. I ain’t gonna try to ‘pick you up’ again. Just, try not to act like a total dweeb and freak out over nothing like that agai… holy shit! He’s here!” Gilda said as she pointed behind and slightly to the side of Scootaloo to Soarin’ just walking in the door with a few people following him. Scootaloo followed her finger. The first thing she saw however was something else. “Oh no…” “Huh? Yo, he’s the whole reason we’re here. What’s wrong with you?” “See that guy with the gelled up jet-black hair?” Scootaloo asked, referring to one of the younger people wandering in with the Wonderbolt. “I know that guy from school. There’s absolutely no way I can let Rumble see me here on a date with another girl!” “I thought this wasn’t a date…” Gilda replied smugly. “Just shut up and help me hide!”