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// Just a Different Day 
// Story: Some Doors Don't Swing That Way 
// by Infinite Affection 
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Monday brought the start of a new school week for Apple Bloom. And the young Apple was already at her personal locker in the hallway, a punctual 10 minutes before the homeroom bell would ring. Every passing school week usually brought the illusion for her that it would be business as usual but Apple Bloom knew that reality was forever gone. Not after the events at the Fall Formal. Now her life was quite unpredictable and she couldn’t be happier. There she stood, cleaning her locker out of the books that she would need for the day while whistling a merry tune.

“Hey Apple Bloom!”

Apple Bloom recognised the voice, her happy demeanour fading slightly. She gulped nervously in anticipation of what would soon follow. Peeking her head out from her locker, she saw Sweetie Belle walking towards her. Apple Bloom scanned her face for anger but to her surprise, there was none.

“Oh, hey, Sweetie Belle.” Apple Bloom greeted casually, trying not to let herself sound deflated or so happy.

“I wanted to talk to you about what happened.”

Apple Bloom closed her locker door, books in hand. “Ah thought ya might, I-”

“I’m really sorry, Apple Bloom.”

Apple Bloom was stunned. “You are?”

Sweetie Belle bobbed her head. “I overreacted. Your kiss just left me scared and confused. I took all my anger out on you and I’m sorry for that.”

Apple Bloom couldn’t think of what to say. Sweetie Belle however didn’t seem to be finished.

“I should have given you a straight answer rather than beat around the bush. I mean, we’re best friends and I wasn’t much of a friend to you by not being honest. But, I’m going to say it now. I love you as a friend, Apple Bloom. Somehow, I think I could love you like that but I’m just not into girls. I’m really sorry.”

Apple Bloom smiled. “That’s ok, Sweetie Belle. Ah was very persistent so ah understand completely. Ah was just in ma own dream world thinkin’ we might be tagether without really thinkin’ o’ much else.”

“Well, at least we understand each other now.”

“Yeah.”

Sweetie Belle stepped forward. “Can we hug it out?”

Apple Bloom rolled her eyes and gestured to her books she was still carrying.

“Oh. Well, I’ll just do it for us.”

Sweetie Belle wrapped her arms around Apple Bloom and squeezed her in a friendly hug. The two separated shortly after and briefly chatted as Apple Bloom put the books away in her rucksack. She stood back up with rucksack in hand and spotted Scootaloo coming towards them.

“Hey, Scoots.”

Sweetie Belle turned to greet Scootaloo also. “Oh, hey Scootaloo.”

“Hey, guys.” She looked at Apple Bloom and blushed, then turning to Sweetie Belle to avoid any unnecessary embarrassment. “I never saw you after the dance on Friday, Sweetie Belle. How did things go with Button?”

“Well…” It seemed Sweetie Belle was trying hard not to look at Apple Bloom as she said this. “Apart from a small mishap that happened… it went fine. We are thinking of doing something similar sometime.”

Scootaloo grinned. “SWEETIE BELLE AND BUTTON SITTING IN A TREE < K I S S I N G>!”

Sweetie Belle blushed. “Stop that!”

“Scoots, cut it out!”

Scootaloo was still smirking. “I’ll stop when I want to.” She continued chanting.

Apple Bloom marched right up to Sweetie Belle and kissed right on the cheek. The chanting stopped abruptly and Scootaloo’s face turned rosy red.

“H-hey…” came her response.

Apple Bloom whispered in her ear. “It’s quite dangerous ta tease others when ah’m watchin’.”

Scootaloo said nothing and could only hang her head in defeat. Apple Bloom smiled but almost laughed out loud when she saw the gaping hole in Sweetie Belle’s mouth.

“W-w-what? H-huh? Y-you t-two? Huh?”

Sweetie Belle took a deep breath. “Don’t tell me you two are?”

Scootaloo stared right at Sweetie Belle. “If you value your life, you’ll keep this to yourself.”

Sweetie Belle was on the verge of bursting a laugh but managed to giggle inside herself, letting out a few squeaks here and there. Scootaloo’s blush turned to a minor annoyance and Apple Bloom’s grinned widened.

This is gonna be so much fun!