Happiness and Tears
Ink Mage
Chapter 36: Popular vs. Athlete
"So, Scoo..." Sweetie Belle started a few days later as the three friends entered the large college grounds. "The Fall Formal is coming up..."
Scootaloo sighed. "Oh yes. I should begin working on my Princess of the Fall Formal campaign," she said, turning to Apple Bloom. "Would you be willing to help me, Bloom?"
Apple Bloom nodded. "Of course, Scoo. It'll be fun!"
"Who were you thinking about asking?" Sweetie Belle nudged, winking at her best friend. Scootaloo groaned.
"I have no idea. And don't the stallions usually ask the mares?" she pointed out. Sweetie Belle shrugged.
"Well then, who are you hoping will ask you?" she asked.
"The better question is, who is she hoping won't ask her? We all know Scoo's one of the, if not the most popular mares in all of the college," Apple Bloom said in a hushed whisper. Scootaloo laughed.
"Oh well, I'll just see where time takes me, am I right?" she said, sticking out her tongue. "Though I am hoping for a... flattering, date."
"Why not just ask Speedy?" Sweetie Belle shrugged. Scootaloo instantly broke into a giant blush.
"Oh! I... uh... oh look, the bell! I should get going to class now, see you girls later!" she said quickly, grabbing her bags and making her way inside the building.
Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom stared after her.
"She's so totally obvious," Apple Bloom said. Sweetie Belle could only nod dumbly.
"Hey Scoo! Dinner tonight at my place?"
"Uh... no thank you."
"Scoo! Be my date to the formal?"
"Thanks for the invitation, but no."
"Scoo! Hi! Would you like to accompany me to the Autumn dance?"
"I'll pass."
"Hello there, Scoo. Please be my date to the dance!"
"No thanks."
"My friends will laugh at me if you don't be my date to the Fall dance!"
"Tell them to stop, then."
"This has been eating me out from day one! Scootaloo Dash! Be my marefriend!"
"Don't call me that."
"Hey there beautiful. Want to go at it?"
"Absolutely not."
"We're just totally meant to be! Be my date!"
"How about no."
"Remember me? From Class Three engineering? Please go out with me! I'll die of shame and embarrassment if you don't!"
"I'll see you at your funeral, then."
"Do you have a date to the dance yet?"
"As of now, nope."
"Would you like to be my-"
"Nope."
"Hey! Remember me?!"
"Sorry, what?"
"We sat together in freshman year!"
"Uh huh..."
"Be my date to the dance! We have so much in common, and we have so much history together!"
"No thank you."
"You're totally my type, gorgeous! It would be a shame to see you not with your very best at the Fall dance in a few weeks. Allow me to escort you."
"No thanks. I'll pass."
"You're beautiful."
"I know I am... what's it to you?"
"I'm pretty smoking myself."
"I think you're getting this a little mixed up..."
"Allow me to be your date to the dance!"
"Goodbye."
"Scoots!"
Scootaloo groaned, prepared to reject yet another naïve stallion wishing to be her date. She turned around, closing her eyes and trying to make this as painless as possible.
"Look, I'm sorry. But I won't be your date to the dance," she said in a confident voice.
"What? What are you talking about?"
Scootaloo's eyes shot open, just in time to see the figure of Speedy Skies in front of her. She blushed, coughing to cover up her mistake.
"Never mind, I thought you were somepony else," she explained.
"Oh... kay... anyway! I wanted to ask your opinion about my new shoes!" Speedy said with a cheeky smile.
Scootaloo lifted an eyebrow. "Your... shoes?" she asked, looking down to his hooves. They were completely bare.
Speedy suddenly burst into a fit of laughs. "Ha! Made you look!"
"You're so childish!" Scootaloo yelled, throwing her bag at his face. This only made him laugh harder.
"Oh and what's this about the Fall dance? You don't have a date yet?" he asked, giving her a look. Scootaloo huffed, turning away from him and crossing her hooves.
"What about you, then, Mr. Oh-So-Modest? Who are you accompanying to the dance?" she asked with a sad smirk. Speedy sighed.
"Nopony, I'm going solo," he said simply, swinging a hoof around her frame, "although, that could change at any moment."
"You haven't been asked yet?" Scootaloo asked. Speedy bit his lip nervously.
"Uh... no! No I have not!" he said.
"Hey Speeder!" a random voice called out. Speedy groaned, turning around to face a beautiful pink-coated mare. He sighed, shooting a wink at Scootaloo before looking at her.
"Yes?" he asked.
"I heard you didn't have a date to the dance," the mare said shyly, "maybe you and I could...?"
Speedy shook his head.
"Actually, I do have a date. This lovely mare right here," Speedy said, backing up to stand besides Scootaloo. Scootaloo's face erupted into a giant blush as she gaped at him.
The mare scrunched her eyebrows and looked at Speedy.
"You're taking Scoo to the dance!? What? But she's so mean! She rejected all of her invitations, and it turns out she's going with you?! I bet you everything I have she's only doing it because you're so famous and-"
"Stop right there," Speedy said in a harsh tone, stepping forward and spraying his hooves in front of Scootaloo protectively. "I happen to think she's one of the nicest mares I've ever met. And no, she is not going with me because I'm a famous athlete, she's going with me because we are childhood friends."
Scootaloo was satisfied with the look the mare gave to Speedy after that. She quickly scurried away without another word, leaving Scootaloo and Speedy alone again.
"Uh... I didn't know I was going to the dance with you," Scootaloo said pointedly. Speedy laughed, putting a hoof behind his head.
"Well now you do!" he said cheerfully.
Scootaloo frowned. "But I was never asked by a Speeder Skies. Who even is that? I've never heard of him-"
"Well then, would ya' like to go to the dance with me?" he said, nudging her.
Scootaloo blushed as Speedy laughed once again.
"Fine," she said at last, "but only because I'm so nice."