Cheerilee
Broken Hearts and Busy Hooves
by Littlecolt
Chapter One - Cheerilee
“It’s lovely! And so... big!” said Cheerilee as she gazed with bewilderment at the massive heart-shaped card before her. To call it a card didn’t seem quite right, though. It was almost like a blanket made out of paper and glitter. Three of her students had made it for her as a gift for Hearts and Hooves Day, and she was honestly touched by the amount of effort they had put into making it.
“We just wanted to let you know that we think you’re the best teacher in the whole wide world!” said Apple Bloom, one of the students standing in front of the progressively sagging decorative piece of art.
“And that we think you’re super! And that we love you so, so much!” continued Apple Bloom as her two friends, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle failed in their attempts to keep the giant heart from toppling forward on top of them. It came crashing down as Apple Bloom finished speaking.
“And we want you to have the best Hearts and Hooves Day ever!” Apple Bloom finished, despite being covered in a glittery pile of paper and frills.
“Ever!” her two friends said in unison with her as Cheerilee lifted the edge of the heart back up off of them.
Goodness gracious! Cheerilee thought to herself. These girls really go all out when they decide to do something! It reminds me of that performance they did at the school talent show. Quite the flashy display.
“Thank you so much, girls!” Cheerilee said with sincerity. “I love it! I really do.”
Sweetie Belle stood up and leaned in towards Cheerilee. “Oh, I bet it’s nothing compared to the gifts you gotten from your very special somepony!” she said, nudging Cheerilee with her elbow.
Cheerilee felt a twinge in her chest. Of course, I knew this was going to come up somehow. she thought. Just brush it off, maybe they won’t ask any questions.
“Oh, I don’t have a very special somepony at the moment,” Cheerilee said nonchalantly as she turned away from the three fillies and walked towards some of her other students.
“Really?” asked Applebloom, her voice laced with surprise.
“How could a pony as amazing as you not have a very special somepony on Hearts and Hooves Day?” asked Sweetie Belle. Cheerilee dropped the decoration she was holding and rolled her eyes.
You should have known better, Cheerilee. she thought to herself. Its those three, so of course there would be follow-up questions. I really don’t need this, and of all days, it had to be today, of course.
Cheerilee turned back to the three fillies, regaining her composure. “It’s all right, Sweetie Belle. I have lots of good friends and wonderful students who care about me very much,” she said, as she accepted a Hearts and Hooves Day card from another student. “I’m going to have an absolutely terrific Hearts and Hooves Day!”
Yeah, terrific, she thought. Sitting at home alone drinking cheap wine and trying to forget how lonely I am. Despite this, she kept a smile on her face for her students. She refused to let them see her upset.
“Alright, everypony!” she announced, turning towards the rest of the class. “Who’s ready to play pin the heart on the pony?” Her students enthusiastically responded, and soon things were back to normal, and away from any uncomfortable subjects. The rest of the school party went by without so much as a peep from Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, or Scootaloo regarding Cheerilee’s relationship status, much to her relief.
Finally, the students had all left, and Cheerilee was alone in the classroom. She sat down in front of her desk and pulled a stack of papers from a drawer, assignments that needed grading. She would normally take this sort of work home with her, but she really didn’t want to go home any time soon. Not on Hearts and Hooves Day.
She glanced around, making sure no one was left inside, and then pulled a small glass bottle from the back of her bottom desk drawer. She pulled the lid off of it with a pop and took a swig of the amber-colored liquid inside. She set the bottle down on her desk and gave the flavor and aroma a moment to permeate into her sinuses before swallowing.
“Ahhh...” she exhaled, a smile crossing her lips. “Okay. No more dwelling on the past. My little ponies are counting on me, so let’s get these graded.”
She genuinely loved all of her students. Sometimes, like any children, they lacked tact, but she loved them all the same. Hearts and Hooves Day was just a particularly touchy day for her, that was all. She couldn’t help but think about what they had said, though.
“How could a pony as amazing as me not have a very special somepony on Hearts and Hooves Day?” she asked herself, pulling the bottle back up for another sip. The mouth of the bottle made another pop as it left her lips. “See, I shouldn’t be thinking about how I don’t have anyone today!” She took another pull and then slammed the bottle down onto the desk.
“It’s the other part! The amazing part!” she said, her voice increasing in volume. “That’s right! I am amazing, or at least my students think so! That’s good enough for me! I should go out there and live a little tonight! I should really make this Hearts and Hooves Day terrific!”
She lifted the bottle up again, and began to take a big chug from it when she heard the door to the classroom opening. She quickly tossed the bottle into a drawer and slammed it shut. She looked up and swallowed the spirits that were left in her mouth down as hard as she could. Her eyes were slightly glazed over from the sudden intake of alcohol, but she recognized Sweetie Belle approaching her desk.
Cheerilee cleared her throat. “Hello there,” she said with a smile. “What can I do for you, Sweetie? Do you have a question about something?”
I sure hope that’s all this is about, Cheerilee thought. And here’s hoping she didn’t hear me just now.
“Actually, Miss Cheerilee, the girls and I need some help identifying a tree we found over by the gazebo,” said Sweetie Belle with an innocent smile on her face.
Thank Celestia, thought Cheerilee.
“I’d be glad to help you with that, Sweetie Belle,” said Cheerilee, “But I have to finish grading these papers first. Can you go wait for me for a few minutes?”
“Sure thing!” said Sweetie Belle. “We’ll be over by the gazebo waiting!” She then rushed out the door, giggling as she went.
Cheerilee raised an eyebrow. I wonder what’s so amusing about that tree that’s got her so giddy. she thought. I better give this buzz a few minutes to cool down before I head out there, in any case.
After a few minutes, Cheerilee stood up and hobbled towards the door. She caught herself against the door frame, took a deep breath, and then walked out the door. It took all of her concentration just to walk in a straight line, but once she was outside the classroom, you would have to be very observant to even tell she was under the influence.
As she walked down the road towards the park where the gazebo was at, she began to see couples everywhere. Holding hooves, sitting on benches together, there was even a couple hiding behind a bush making out in broad daylight.
Cheerilee rolled her eyes. Get a room, for crying out loud! she thought, but then sighed and looked at the ground as she trotted along slowly. But it’s not like I haven’t done that before, myself. Of course, it’s been years, now. You know, it was even on Hearts and Hooves Day, too.
It was at least four years ago, back when she was still a new teacher in Ponyville...
Cheerilee read the note in front of her again, still suspicious of its contents.
Cheery, she read to herself. Cheery was her nickname at the time, though she didn’t usually like anyone calling her that. Still, for her good friends, she would allow it, despite the fact that they had invented the nickname all on their own, supposedly based upon her cheery personality.
I am totally going to hook you up with a nice, attractive guy for Hearts and Hooves Day. Seriously, I just about flipped out when I heard you didn’t have a special somepony! I just don’t get how someone as sweet as you wouldn’t! she continued reading, and rolled her eyes a bit.
Just come to the park, by the fountain, at noon, and leave the rest to me. I’ll have a total hottie lined up for you waiting by the fountain! she finished reading.
“Well, if anything, it’ll be amusing to see just who Junebug thinks I should be dating,” she said to herself with a laugh. “Might as well get this over with.”
She stepped out of her house and headed towards the park. She arrived just before noon and scoped the fountain out before approaching it. There were several ponies around it, some of them were couples spending time together on Hearts and Hooves Day.
She walked up to the fountain and glanced around nervously. She could count three stallions that were there without mares. None of them seemed to pay her any mind as she took inventory. The first was a lanky fellow with a hat and a bow tie leaning back against a tree. Not her type, really, so she hoped it wasn’t him. Of course, it would be like Junebug to play a joke like that on her, so she looked away from him quickly to be certain to not make eye contact.
The second was a rather large, stocky red stallion who was leaned over a bench trying to fix a plank that had been knocked out of place somehow. He was obviously there to fix the bench, not to look for a date. Cheerilee noticed his cutie mark was a big apple with a slice taken out of it, and thought to herself.
Now that’s strange. Now that I think about it, isn’t that one Applejack’s family? she thought. What’s he doing out here fixing a bench? I figured he’d be working over on the farm.
She shook her head with confusion and looked at the last stallion who was alone. He was not too bad, to be honest. He was clean cut with a dark brown mane, and handsome in the face. She didn’t have much time to admire him, though, because he turned his head and spotted a gray pegasus mare across the park and ran towards her.
Well, there goes that idea, she thought. Looks like he’s got a little flier girl. Lucky him.
She looked back at the lanky pony under the tree and groaned, getting the feeling that it was definitely him, and this was definitely Junebug’s idea of a joke. The stallion lifted the brim of his hat and glanced over towards her with a smile.
Geh! she thought, turning her head back to the red stallion, who had now finished fitting the plank back into place on the bench. She walked over to him and sat down on the bench.
“Nice job fixing the bench,” she said with a smile, glancing over at the stallion under the tree, who had thankfully put the hat back over his eyes and leaned back again. “Do you do this sort of work a lot?”
“Yep,” said the stallion, very plainly with a slight southern drawl.
“So, you work out here in the park and on the farm?” Cheerilee asked.
“Nope.” said the stallion, just as plainly as before.
“Wait, so you don’t work on the farm?” Cheerilee asked, now genuinely confused.
“Nope.” said the stallion.
Cheerilee blinked, not even sure how to interpret that. “Nope you do work on the farm, or nope you don’t?” she asked, now determined to get more than a one word out of him at a time.
“I do,” he replied.
“Well, that’s two words. We’re making progress, now!” she said aloud, laughing. The stallion laughed with her.
“Sorry,” the stallion said, and cleared his throat. “I guess I’m just not much of a talker.”
“A man of action, huh?” said Cheerilee, now studying him a bit more closely. He had a big, curved jaw, a golden-colored mane, bright green eyes, and freckles on his face.
He’s actually kind of cute, in a way. Cheerilee thought to herself. Gah! What am I thinking? Though I did come here for a blind date...
“So... if you’re not here to work, why were you fixing the bench?” Cheerilee asked.
“Just somethin’ to do while I was waiting,” the stallion said, glancing towards the ground.
“Ahhh...” said Cheerilee as if she’d figured something out. “You must be waiting for your girlfriend, eh?”
The stallion shrugged his shoulders and continued to look towards the ground. Cheerilee could make out the slightest discoloration on his cheeks.
Wow, he’s blushing! she thought, and felt a bit disappointed. Guess I hit the nail on the head. Too bad for me.
“Well, I should probably be going,” said Cheerilee. “I don’t want to give her the wrong idea. It was nice to meet you, though, um...” she said as she extended her hoof towards him.
The stallion raised his head and lifted a hoof to touch hers. “Big Macintosh,” he said.
“Big Macintosh!” she repeated. “It was very nice to meet you. My name is--”
“Cheerilee,” Big Macintosh finished for her. “You’re the Ponyville school teacher.”
Cheerilee smiled. “Ah yes, I suppose you would know who I am from Applejack. You one of her uncles?”
“Nope,” said Big Macintosh. “Older brother.”
“Ah, right, well that’s nice,” said Cheerilee. “Well, anyway, like I said, I better go. Don’t want your girlfriend getting mad at you!” She turned and began to walk away from him.
“Wait,” she heard him say from behind her. She turned around and looked back at him. He was standing there with his hoof still stretched out towards her, seemingly at a loss for words.
“I was waitin’ for you...” he finally said, quietly, as he turned his face back towards the ground. Cheerilee could see his face turning a brighter shade of red than before, and could feel a bit of warmth in her cheeks as well.
This is the guy Junebug set me up with? she thought to herself, and began to feel nervous with the realization of that fact. She started to back away from him slowly, her legs acting on their own will.
“Oh,” she said nervously. “So you’re the one I was supposed to meet here?” She was still backing away as she spoke, and Big Macintosh had begun to walk towards her.
Big Macintosh nodded his head slowly as he approached her. She kept backing away, all the same.
Stop, stupid legs! Quit shaking! she thought, while her eyes stayed locked onto Big Macintosh.
“Hold on, you’re gonna--” Big Macintosh started to say, but it was too late.
Cheerilee felt one of her back hooves hit an incline and she lost her footing. With a slip and a trip, she fell backwards down a short hill and over a hedge. The world was spinning for a moment. She shook her head to try and regain her senses as Big macintosh’s big red freckled face hovered into her field of view.
He bent over and leaned his face towards hers. “You okay?” he asked, his eyes full of concern.
Maybe it was the adrenaline from falling down the hill. Maybe it was her nervous energy from realizing she’d been talking to the guy she was supposed to be meeting with for a few minutes before realizing it. Maybe it was the bump to her head when she hit the ground. Whatever it was, though, just took control of Cheerilee at that moment.
She lifted her head up, closed her eyes, and pressed her lips against his. Big Macintosh’s eyes shot wide open and his jaw began to shake. Cheerilee raised her hooves and wrapped them around his head, hoping to keep him there for just another second before he would inevitably pull away.
Well, this is over, now, Cheerilee, she thought to herself. You’ve forever creeped him out and made him think you’re some sort of hussie.
To her surprise, though, he didn’t pull away, but instead reciprocated, kissing her back and ceasing any resistance he’d attempted in the first couple seconds. The two of them would lie there kissing for minutes, partially hidden by a bush, as the sound of the leaves in the trees and the water in the nearby pond filled their ears.
Cheerilee shook her head and continued to hobble towards the park. Just old memories, now, she thought to herself. Those days sure were great, but had to come to an end.
As she walked up the hill towards the gazebo, she could see Sweetie Belle waiting for her, along with Apple Bloom and Scootaloo.
“Hi, girls!” she called out to them in a cheerful tone. By this time the alcohol had partially worn off, so it was taking much less effort to act normally.
“Hiya Miss Cheerilee!” the three fillies said in unison.
“You three said you need help identifying a tree you found here near the gazebo?” she said, looking down at them. They nodded their heads and quickly pointed towards a large apple tree in the distance.
Cheerilee tried her best to stay calm as she stated the obvious. “That’s an apple tree.”
“Is it?” said Apple Bloom, which caused the three fillies to burst into a giggling fit.
She shook her head towards them in confusion, but was startled by the sound of something metallic being placed beside her. She looked up and had to hold her breath to keep calm.
It was Big Macintosh, who had just set a tool box down on the ground.
What is he doing here? Cheerilee thought to herself. Like I need to be seeing him today, especially after remembering our first kiss! Not to mention I’m kind of buzzed. Ugh...
The red stallion didn’t seem to take much notice of her as he flipped open the lid to his tool box and pulled out a hammer. He turned his head toward the Gazebo, a puzzled look forming on his face.
“Oh, sorry big brother!” came Apple Blooms voice from behind him. “We went and fixed up the Gazebo all on our own. See?” As she finished that sentence, she butted her head into Big Macintosh, pushing him forcefully towards Cheerilee.
Cheerilee just stared up at the Gazebo, the situation sinking in, and the real reason why they called her out there finally starting to dawn on her. She kept her eyes locked upward, hoping that somehow this would all be some sort of alcohol-induced dream. That thought was shattered as Scootaloo’s head pushed into her from behind, nudging her towards Big Mac.
“As long as you’re here, why not have a bite to eat from this romantic looking picnic?” the orange filly suggested not too subtly. The spread included miniature apple pies, complete with heart decorations, and chocolate covered cream horns. Not to mention the bowl of heart candies sitting beside a vase of flowers. A small table sat next to the checkered blanket with a wind-up record player sitting on it. It certainly would be romantic, except Cheerilee wasn’t in any state of mind to appreciate it. Not to mention the fact that he was there...
“Oh, gosh!” Scootaloo added, “Seems like there’s only room for two!”
What a shocker... Cheerilee thought, trying to not look at Big Mac directly.
“I, uh, guess we’ll just be goin’ then!” said Apple Bloom with a chuckle, and then the three fillies darted away, only to be punctuated by Sweetie Belle rushing back to place the needle on the record. Sappy instrumental music began to pour out of the player’s tiny speaker. Cheerilee stared at the device blankly, still unable to believe this was happening.
She glanced over her shoulder towards a bush, noticing immediately that her three students were hiding behind it, watching them intently. She could feel their eyes burning into her skin.
Well, I’m not sure this could get any more awkward, she thought to herself, turning back towards Big Mac, a look of disgust across her face. As he swung into her field of view, she noticed that he was staring right at her. Her eyes widened a bit as she made eye contact.
Oh Celestia, not good! I’m in no state of mind to have him looking at me like that, with those big shiny eyes of his... she thought, the alcohol’s effects having been amplified by the sudden turn of her head. She caught herself, though, and stopped her train of thought. Okay, well, I have to at least say something to him. Make some small talk, then leave. Yes. I can do this.
She averted her eyes again, turning her head away. “Beautiful day we’re having,” she said.
“Yep,” she heard him say in response after a moment.
That single word somehow caused her to turn back towards him, blurting out the first thing that came to her mind.
“Any... big plans for tonight?” she asked, then cringed internally.
You idiot! she thought. Don’t ask him that!
“Nope,” he replied, shaking his head.
What sort of mess could I possibly be getting myself into? she thought to herself as the record player continued to play its tune. I’ve all but asked him out at this point. Should I follow through? Would he even consider it after what we’ve been through before?
She looked right at him and raised her head towards him. The buzz from the alcohol hadn’t worn off nearly as much as she’d thought, and now her head was getting even lighter thanks to the sudden rush of adrenaline as she slowly gave in.
“Big Mac...” she said softly, her eyelids drooping down lazily. She stared into his eyes, getting lost in their flowing green hues.
“Yep?” Big macintosh responded, gazing back into her eyes, his usual serious expression plastered on his face.
This is it. Just ask him! This can’t get any worse, anyway! Cheerilee thought to herself. She raised her tongue in her mouth, began to part her lips, and then realized what she was about to do.
No! I just... can’t!
“You have something stuck in your teeth,” she said, pointing with her hoof and then dropping her gaze towards the ground.
Augh! Corny! she thought to herself. His mouth wasn’t even open! At least come up with something believable!
“Oh come on!” came Sweetie Belle’s voice from behind her, followed by the rustling of a bush. Cheerile instinctually glanced back towards the sound.
Looks like they bought it, anyway, she thought, then turning back to Big Mac, who was now picking his teeth with a piece of straw. Gee, I guess he did, too!
“Well, this has been... strange,” she said nervously.
“Eeeyup!” said Big Macintosh, a look of bafflement on his face.
“I need to get going,” Cheerilee said, “but it’s always great to run into a good friend.”
“Yup,” replied Big Macintosh, as the two of them turned and began to walk away.
Cheerilee smiled as she walked past the bush her three students were hiding behind, still refusing to let them see just how frazzled she felt.
It’s best this way, she thought to herself as she trotted back towards Ponyville. It’s just not meant to be with he and I. Maybe I’ll tell the girls about it someday when they’re older, and they’ll laugh as they remember the situation they just put the two of us in.
Yes, Cheerilee loved her students dearly, even after what she’d just gone through. However, she could never guess what was going to happen later that day. Those three weren't quite done with their schemes yet, and their next plan would tear at the very fabric of Cheerilee’s heart.