"Hmm...this eggplant looks alright." Twilight said as she inspected the vegetable. "What do you think, Spike?"
Spike was standing next to his adopted sister, observing the fresh produce from her hand, "Hmm...I think it looks pretty good!" he smiled.
Twilight smiled back, "Well then, in the bag it goes!" she said as she put the eggplant in the clear plastic bag and into the grocery cart.
Spike and Twilight were grocery shopping in a store that was a two blocks away from the apartment complex, a retail chain name grocery store in the city called "Stop and Clop". After eating breakfast and getting dressed for the day, they made their list and drove in Twilight's car to eggs, milk, bread, and other edible goods. They also shopped for other fresh food ingredients, so she can let Spike teach her to cook something for supper.
The weather was still a little cool, so Twilight was wearing a black leather coat along with a purple long sleeved shirt underneath it, as well as having blue denim skinny jeans and black ballet shoes. Spike had a long blue sleeved graphic t-shirt that had intricate long bodied black dragons on its arms, and dark blue jeans along with his brown shoes.
They're now in the vegetable produce area, their grocery cart almost full of stuff. Twilight looked at the shopping list on her phone as she adjust her glasses, "Hmm...all we need now is some sugar."
"Sugar, huh? What kind?" Spike asked.
Twilight hummed in thought, "Maybe you can get either some brown or cane sugar. What do you think?"
Spike chuckled, "Twi, you keep asking me that. I'm okay with whatever you decide."
Twilight blushed as she sheepishly rubbed the back of her neck, "Well, you're the cook, I'm just the student."
Spike chuckled once more, "You, the 'student'? You taught me everything and helped me with my homework, from math, science, and language! Now you're saying that you are the student? Talk about irony."
Twilight pouted cutely and gave him a little push at his side, "Oh hush, Spike!"
Spike laughed, "Hey, I might as well enjoy this while I can!"
She rolled her eyes, "Okay then, maybe cane sugar then, since you want me to decide."
The green haired man smirked, "Sure thing, Twi! It's at aisle seven right?"
Twilight smiled at her adoptive brother, "Yep! Oh, and since I think we're done with our shopping list, do you want me to go find a check out lane while you get the sugar?"
"Sure! That'll be great!" Spike said with a smile of his own, "I'll go get it right now. Text me which lane you're in!" he says as he walks away from Twilight to go get the sugar.
"I will!" Twilight called back to Spike.
Spike was jogging over to the aisle where the sugar was, and when he found it, he went around the corner and inside the aisle.
"Okay, cane sugar, cane sugar..." Spike muttered as his eyes glide through the shelf that has packages of sugar.
"Spike?" said a bubbly female voice.
Startled, he turned to his left to see none other than...
...Pinkie Pie.
She was wearing a blue shirt jacket and a white shirt with a pink horizontal stripe across her chest. She was also wearing dark denim skinny jeggings that hugged her hips and legs really well. Lastly, she was also wearing ballet shoes, but the color of them were dark magenta. She seemed to be carrying a shopping basket on her left arm as well.
The petite Pinkie looked quite excited to see the young man again, as she had a big grin on her face. "O, M, G! It is you!" she then skipped over to where Spike was, her bubbly infectious energy evident with every step she took.
"Oh! Uh, hi Pinkie! How ar-oof!"
It was then Pinkie jumped and glomped him once more, her arms wrapped around him, the shopping basket still hanging from her left arm.
"Oh my gosh, what a coinci-dink! We just talked like yesterday, and now we're here grocery shopping! What are the odds of that!?" Pinkie said as she gave him a squeeze. She let go of Spike, and stood there in a cutesy way.
Spike blinked as he recovered from the hug attack, "Uh...heh, uh, yeah!"
Pinkie smirked teasingly, "You're not trying to stalk me are ya?"
Spike's eyes widened in shock, "What? N-No, I was just-"
But then the puffy pink-haired girl giggled, "I'm just teasing you, silly! Unless you are stalking me, then don't expect me to go all Pink-Fu on you!" Pinkie said as she posed a karate stance.
Spike raised his hands up in defense, completely caught off guard, "U-Uh..."
Pinkie giggled some more, "Sorry, sorry, I'm just messing with you! You're just so funny to tease! But don't worry, I can tell you're a very sweet guy, just by how you've acted last night!" she winked.
Spike blinked again as he blushed a slight red, until he chuckled, feeling more at ease now, "Well, um...thank you."
"Hehe! No problem! So, in search for some sugar?" Pinkie said with a teasing smirk.
Spike doesn't know if she had a hidden meaning behind what she said, but he blushed even brighter when she asked, "Um, yeah! I was, uh, getting some cane sugar!"
"Ah, okay! Just getting me some of that myself!" Pinkie said as she grabbed a package of cane sugar and put it in her grocery basket.
"Cool!" Spike's phone then vibrated, "Oh, hold on..." he picked his phone out of his pocket and stared at the screen. It was a text from Twilight.
I'm at check-out lane 3! :)
"Okay then." Spike said to himself. He turned his attention back to Pinkie with a smile, "Well, it was nice seeing you again, Pinkie."
"Oh, and it was so nice seeing you again as well!" Pinkie smiled brightly.
As soon as Spike got the package of sugar, Pinkie then spoke up again, "Actually, are you leaving? I'm all done shopping, so I was thinking of following you to the check-out lane, if that's okay?"
"Oh! Um, actually, yeah I am." Spike said with a smile, "And sure! You can follow me to the check-out lane! Twilight is at the third one."
"Wait, you're with Twilight?" Pinkie asked, her tone almost sounding surprised.
Spike chuckled, "Well yeah. She is showing me the places around here."
"Oh!" Pinkie stood there with a head cocked to her side, seemingly perplexed at this bit of information. But then she seemed to realize what he was saying, and started to giggle, "Oh yeah, that's right! Because she's your sister! Silly me!"
Spike looked at her oddly, "Um...yeah, she's my sister..." 'Kind of.' the back of his mind said, which caused him to blink.
"Right, right! Well! Why don't we go to the check-out lane then?" Pinkie suggested and turned around. The jeans were definitely hugging her legs, and the round and ample posterior that was on display for him to see. When she also walked, it gave out an attractive bounce.
'Whoa...' Spike's face was a slight red. 'Pinkie's butt looks like the same size as Rainbow's...only this one is bouncier.'
Realizing he's just standing there ogling Pinkie's fanny, he snapped out of it and hurried on to walk up next to Pinkie.
"So, how do you like Manehattan so far, Spike?" Pinkie asked with a sweet smile.
"Oh, it's very nice! Big for one thing, but it also has great unique places and wonderful history!"
"Hehe! I would like to think this city has great places too, as well as fabulous history! I've been living here for about four years and this place still feels like home a second home to me!"
"Really? Where are you from?" Spike asks in curiosity.
"Oh, just a small town on the countryside in Fillydelphia! Actually, I come from a family who's kind of Amish."
"Really?" Spike eyes widened in surprise,
'Wow...that's kind of a big shocker.'
It was then he realized, "Wait, what do you mean kind of Amish?"
"Well, I'm in an Amish family that uses cell phones, so we're basically using technology. However, we can't use our cell phones around at the dinner table, or when we're doing work around the farm." Pinkie giggled, "You probably already figured it out, but my parents are really old-fashioned. However, they are really cool! They're very understanding when I said I wanted to move to the big city to be a top baker!"
Spike smiled, "Oh, well that's nice. So, do you own the bakery we went to yesterday?"
"I wish! That one is own by the Cakes family! I help work at their bakery."
"Oh, okay. Do you, um...do you ever wish to own a bakery?" Spike asked.
"Oh you don't have to be so shy, Spike!" Pinkie giggled once more, "And yes! I do want to own a bakery! That's why I'm also a part time party planner!"
"Really?" Spike asked in interest.
"Yeah! And I do a pretty good job at it, if I do say so myself!"
"Pinkie Pie?" they heard another female's voice, one that Spike recognized. It was Twilight as they reached the third check-out lane.
"Hey Twilight!" Pinkie said, waving at her with a smile.
"Pinkie! Hey! Wow, this is quite the surprise!" Twilight said as she was unloading up the items on the conveyor belt.
"Hey Twi! I just ran into your cute little brother here at the sugar aisle!" Pinkie said with a beaming smile.
Spike blinked at the compliment and flushed, looking a little shy all of a sudden as he nervously rubbed the back of his neck.
Twilight raised an eyebrow and blinked at her 'brother' and Pinkie. She felt a little twinge of caution when Pinkie called Spike 'cute'...however, she let Pinkie's compliment to Spike go for now as she smirked. She did think this was a good opportunity to tease her brother a little bit, "Well, I hope my little brother didn't try to scoop up some of your sugar."
Pinkie bust out laughing at the joke, while Spike's eyes widened in shock, "Twilight!" he said in embarrassment.
Twilight giggled, "Sorry, couldn't resist."
Pinkie's laughter calm down, as she said, "Wow, Twi, that was a good one! You're getting better with your jokes!"
"Hehe! Thanks!" Twilight said with a grin.
Spike just pouted and mumbled in sarcasm, "Yeah, real funny Twilight."
Twilight rolled her eyes, "Oh come on, you big baby. It's not my fault you really are cute."
Spike blushed even deeper.
"Aww! He's so shy!" Pinkie poked Spike's cheek, which made him go 'eep!'
Twilight felt that twinge again, only this time she felt another emotion...jealousy?
'Wait...does Pinkie like my brother too?' Twilight thought in curiosity.
Pinkie was known as a flirt as well, heck, her personality matches it. But she couldn't be possibly flirting with her 'brother'...could she?
"So, um, want me to help you with the groceries, Twi?" Spike offered, trying not to feel nervous.
Twilight blinked out of her thoughts, "Oh! S-Sure Spike! Thank you!"
"Awwweeeee! You really are such a gentleman!" Pinkie gushed. She turned to Twilight, "Twilight, girl, you're so lucky to have such a sweet man for a brother!"
Spike kept on blushing as he chuckled bashfully, "Heh, uh, t-thanks!"
"Um...yes, I am." Twilight said with a slight wary smile.
Once Spike started unloading the remaining groceries, however, Pinkie said, "So, I'm thinking Spike here likes dragons, huh?"
Spike, while unloading the stuff on the conveyor belt, gave her a smile, "Heh, yeah. What gave it away?"
"Well, the dragon designs on your shirt arms, for one thing. That and you're writing a book about a dragon-ish human! That, or it's just a lucky guess!" Pinkie winked and giggled while Spike chuckled.
It was then Twilight started noticing it.
She examined Pinkie's mannerisms and body language when it comes to guys. Whenever she's interested in a guy, she always strike up enthusiastic conversations with them, and so far, she's paying extra attention to Spike, striking up things to talk to him about. Granted, she always talks to people this way, but something feels...off when Pinkie was communicating with Spike. If that wasn't enough evidence, when she listens to a guy talking, she unknowingly rocks back and forth on her heels with her hands behind her back, having a cute look of puppy eyed concentration.
Twilight's eyes widened as her mouth was slightly agape.
'Wait...oh no...Pinkie's not really...I mean, she doesn't really honestly have interest in my brother...does she?'
"And yeah, I just think they're really majestic looking mythological creatures in general." Spike said, finishing up on why he likes dragons.
"Wow! I never thought of it that way!" Pinkie grinned. She then started to smirk, "You know...you REALLY are sporting that shirt pretty nicely. Do you work out?"
Twilight froze, 'Oh my gosh, she does.'
"That'll be 54.98, ma'am." said the cashier.
"Oh! Um, thank you." Twilight said.
While she got her credit card out, swiped it, and punched in her code, she was hearing Spike chuckle and nervously saying, "W-Well, I uh, I did in my Canterlot days."
"Ooooo! You know, we could use some extra hands at the bakery to carry some goodies around to their rightful places! Would you like a job?"
"Wha...really?"
"Yeah! I mean, we already have some help, what with the Cakes, another worker girl, and my sis!"
"Your sister works at the bakery?"
"Oh! Silly me, I didn't mention that! Yes, my sister lives here in the city as well with her husband!"
"Oh...okay. So, um...you want me to help you at the bakery? Do I need to know anything that involves baking?" Spike asked.
"Well, a little bit. But I'll teach you when it comes to that! What time and day do you want to come in?"
"Uh...I pick a time and day?"
"Well, to tell you the truth, we don't really need any more help, but I just thought it would be nice to have another guy to help us inside the bakery besides Mr. Cake! Maybe we girls can have a little bit of eye candy while you work with us?" Pinkie said with a sly look.
"W-W-What?" Spike stuttered anxiously.
Pinkie then giggled, "I'm joking, I'm joking! Oh, you are just too adorable!"
Spike just blushed at the teasing, "Uh...o-okay...heh."
"Hehe! So, what do you say? I'm certain the Cakes will pay you even more than minimum wage!"
"Really? Wait, so...you're saying that I could just work for one day a week and get payed even more than minimum wage?" Spike asked curiously.
"Yeah! What do you think? Sounds like a pretty good deal, huh?" Pinkie smiled brightly.
Twilight stood there, hearing and witnessing the whole thing while the receipt was printing. She kept feeling that same emotion...jealousy. But why? Well, maybe it's because she did ask Spike if he would like to apply a part time job at the library, ever since he was going to arrive to in Manehattan. They were going to go tomorrow for the part time job opening there, and he did agreed, wanting to help out his 'sister' as much as he can, as well as pulling his own weight to support himself and not relying on Twilight to provide for his needs. They were going to the public library for his scheduled interview tomorrow, and if all goes well, it will make him feel better about paying his own way.
"Um...here's your receipt, ma'am." the cashier said, holding out the receipt to her for a while.
Twilight snapped out of her thoughts, turned to the cashier, and grabbed the receipt, "T-Thank you!"
As she started to put the groceries in the buggy, she listened in to what Spike's answer to Pinkie is.
"Um...w-well, I do think it's a good deal, but I was, uh, going to the public library with Twilight to apply for a part time job tomorrow." Spike explained.
"Oh..." Pinkie said, sounding a little disappointed.
"But hey, maybe I can work a day during the week! I don't have to be work in the library all the time! I really do like to see how a bakery is run."
For some reason, that made Twilight feel a little...hurt.
'Wait, what does he mean by that? Does he want to work in the library with me, or...not? He sounded a little excited when I first mentioned it...I mean, I would think he wanted to work there. I thought since he likes books, then that would be kind of his dream job for now...right? I mean, we would hang out while we work. …I'm...I'm not pressuring him to get this job at the library when he wants to do something else, am I? He's not doing it just for me...is he?' Twilight wondered, feeling a little unsure.
She then heard Pinkie say in a happy tone, "Oh, okay! Well, in that case, what's your number? You can call me if you ever want the part time job! I mean, it's always open, and I don't want to intrude what you already have planned, as well as be in between you and your sister's quality time!"
'Well thank you, Pinkie, that was very thoughtful of you.' Twilight thought stoically as she put in the last bag of groceries in the buggy.
"Well, do you have Twilight's number? I can ask her and she can tell me the number." Spike asked.
"Oh, that's right! Wow, not only you're cute, but you're smart! That's a great combination right there!" Pinkie giggled.
Twilight decided to say something then, "Okay, everything's packed! Spike, would it be okay if you push the buggy?"
Spike turned to her, "Oh, sure!" he then turned to Pinkie, "Well, thank you for the offer, Pinkie! I'll surely think about it!"
Pinkie beamed, "Thanks! Hope to hear from you soon!" she turned to Twilight, "And nice seeing you again too, Twi!"
Twilight smiled, "You too! Bye Pinkie!"
After saying their goodbyes, Twilight and Spike made their way out of the grocery store. They were parked in the parking lot and once they unloaded all the groceries into the trunk, they all went in the car.
Before she turned on the engine, however, Twilight said, "Spike?"
Spike put on his seat-belt and glanced at Twilight, "Yeah, Twi?"
"Do you...do you want to work at the library?" she said a little hesitant as she glanced at her 'brother'.
Spike blinked, "What? Of course I do, Twi."
"Are you sure? I mean, I'm not pressuring you into having a job that you don't want to do, am I?" Twilight asked, uncertainty written on her face.
Spike looked at her stunned, but then he seem to put the pieces together, "Twi...did you overhear Pinkie and I's conversation?"
Twilight looked down at her lap in shame, "I-I'm sorry, I shouldn't have eavesdropped, I was just-"
"Twilight, first of all, you didn't eavesdropped. We were right there in the check out lane, you can probably hear us. And I notice Pinkie is kind of hyper, so she was loud at some times." Spike smirked.
Chuckling, Twilight muttered, "Oh believe me, she's even hyper and loud when she plans a party."
"Oh yeah! She mentioned that! Is that like a job on the side for her?"
"Yep! She plans parties like no tomorrow, so when you ask her to plan for a birthday party, she goes all out."
"Oh, really? Are you planning on asking her to organize my birthday party someday?" Spike teased.
Twilight giggled, hummed, and glanced at him, "Hmm...I don't know! Maybe!"
Spike chuckled, "Well, I'll just have to be prepared then. I'll be keeping my eye on a pink blur who's about to pounce on me."
Twilight chuckled too, but her expression turned solemn. She turned her head at him and asked, "Seriously though Spike, do you want to work at the library?"
Spike frowned, "Twi...I mean what I said. I do want to help you out at the library whenever it's possible. I think it would be cool to work in a historic public library. Besides, we'll be working in the same place together! What's better than that?"
Twilight gazed at him, a smile slowly appearing at her face, "Aw...thanks Spike."
Spike smiled, "Sure thing. But why would you think I didn't want to work at the library with you?"
"Oh, well..." Twilight flushed a slight red, "You sounded like you wanted to know how to bake with Pinkie, and...well, you sounded like you were all for it..."
Spike's smile turned warm, "Aw, Twi, it's just a one day a week job from what Pinkie told me. Besides, I thought maybe it would be a good idea for me to have some part time jobs to keep the money flowing to help us with expenses. I don't want to mooch on you for money, and I do want to help you out in any way I can."
Twilight's eyes grew soft and smiled, touched that Spike would be so devoted to help her out, "Oh Spike...you really are sweet..."
Now Spike blushed, "Awww...I'm just helping out my sis..."
Twilight smile was bright and gave him a kiss on the cheek, "I love you so much, Spike."
Spike, however, was a little stunned at what Twilight did, as well as the words that she chose, "Uh...t-thanks!" He said as he stood up straight, looking through the windshield window.
The older girl noticed that Spike was looking rigid. She raised an eyebrow, "You okay, Spike?"
"Oh yeah! Just...relaxing!" Spike said a little nervously as he leaned back and took a quick deep breath.
Wondering what that was all about, Twilight shrugged, "Okay." She was about to turn on the engine, when she realized what she did a couple of seconds ago.
'Wait...I just kissed him on the cheek and said I loved him...'
Twilight froze at the realization...
...She quickly started the engine.
'Well, of course I do, we're...well, 'siblings' per-say. We say that stuff and give each other kisses on the cheek all the time when we were kids, and still now! ...So...why does that sound and feel so foreign now when I do that?'
Twilight was thinking that as she backed the car away, and drove out of the parking lot.
Meanwhile Spike was thinking about what just happened.
'Okay, honestly, she meant that in a sibling sense! Even though we aren't related by blood, it doesn't mean I can't say that I love her as well and give her a kiss on the cheek...'
Spike turned to Twilight, who was concentrating on the road.
Spike felt a little uncomfortable all of a sudden. He doesn't quite know how to approach this topic with her...he always thought Twilight was a beautiful woman, and one time, when he was thirteen and she was seventeen, he did saw her in a different light...
'Oh come on, stop taking everything so seriously! She's my foster sister! That's what foster siblings do! They kiss each other on the cheek and they say that they love each other! There's nothing weird about that! None!'
Nodding his head, Spike resolved his dilemma and decided to look at the time on the radio clock.
11:20 AM
Seeing that lunch will be soon, he turned his head to Twilight and ask, "So, what do you want to eat for lunch?"
Twilight seem to snap out of her trance and she glanced a bit before looking back at the road, "Oh, well...what do you feel like?"
Spike thought about it for a moment, "Umm...how about Burger Clop?"
Twilight smiled, "Okay then! Let's put up these groceries first, and then we'll go eat! How about that?"
Spike smiled back, "That's cool. Thanks Twi!"
Beaming, she says, "Anything for you, bro!"
Spike smiled timidly as he blushed, "Heh, thanks."
Twilight couldn't help but giggle slightly, "No problem."
They sat there in silence...
Until Spike said, "Um...Twilight?"
"Hm?"
"Was Pinkie...flirting with me?"
Twilight sat there in silence for a moment...
"...Kind of."
"Oh...huh..." Spike said as he looked thoughtful...he then smirked, "Well, that actually boosts my confidence there a bit."
Rolling her eyes, Twilight said, "Well, I don't want Rainbow and Pinkie to be giving you any ideas, Romeo."
Now Spike rolled his eyes, "Oh come one, Twi, let me live the dream for a bit."
"Okay, alright, whatever." Twilight droned with a smirk, shaking her head humorously.
They were silent once more...
Spike then turned to Twilight, looking at her for a moment, until he gives her a sweet smile, "Love you too, Twilight."
Twilight was glad she stopped at a red light, cause she turned her head to Spike for a moment and looked at him, taken aback, "What now?"
Spike chuckled, "I said I love you too."
She stared at him, blinking as her glasses sliding to the bottom bridge of her nose, "Oh...uh-heh, okay." she chuckled a bit, "I-I love you too, Spike."
Spike smirked, chuckling as well, and began to relax on the passenger seat.
Once Spike relaxed on his seat, Twilight turned her head forward to the windshield window, looking at the traffic light and waiting for it to turn green...
She looked on and mused at what Spike had said...it was then she gave out a small smile to herself.
'Thanks Spike.'
The light turned green, and with nothing else said, they drove back to their apartment.