//------------------------------// // Chapter 5: Sunday Outing // Story: Larkspur Blossom // by Pone_Heap //------------------------------// By Saturday night, Lark’s concern over his hearing on Monday had grown more than he cared for it to have. He’d always been the kind to live in the moment, and he actually didn’t think about the future much. For better or worse, he’d been this way for as long as he could remember. Until then, he’d convinced himself he’d just coast and come what may, what happened would happen. So, it was an unfamiliar feeling to be afraid of whatever decision may be rendered Monday. He’d never thought much of himself, he had just begun to realize. His teacher and aunt and uncle sure felt this way. But Lark had met some foals he wanted to become friends with. He wanted to go back to his class. He knew this now, and it hurt. Having spent the day loafing around, unable to find interest in much of anything, Lark had just finished dinner and was staring at his ceiling. He heard his sisters in their room, practicing their spelling, taking turns quizzing each other. Copper was doing better than Valley, who was getting flustered. Lark couldn’t help but chuckle. They were doing fine… and he continued to stare up a while. Soon, it was late. 8:30 p.m. He didn’t expect his aunt to call him downstairs. He went and found his aunt with the phone. “Uh, Lark, there’s a filly named Medium Waltz asking for you.” Lark was perplexed, Medium? He took the phone. “Hello?” “Hey, Lark! Found your family’s number in the school directory! What are you doing tomorrow?” Nothing… “Nothing.” “Great. Why don’t you meet me and Thunder outside the school playground? I’m calling Misty, too. We’ll have some fun. Bring a few bits.” Having nothing to do and really too flummoxed at receiving a call, “Uh, sure. When?” “11:00 a.m.” “Sounds fine.” “G’bye, Lark.” Click. Lark looked up at his aunt, “Guess I’ll be out tomorrow.” She was happy to hear he’d be doing something. He’d been moping around the whole day. Maybe this would clear his mind. “Any idea how late?” “No.” “Well, no worries. I know you don’t mind leftovers if it comes to that. Now, why don’t you go shepherd the girls off to bed? It’s late.” “Yes, Aunt Fairy. Good night. Think I’ll read a while.” For the first time since he’d been there, she gave him a little peck on the forehead, “Goodnight, Lark. I’m waiting up for your uncle. Hopefully he doesn’t make too much noise when he comes home.” She laughed. Uncle Star had been at a buckball game at the community college. He and his friends would probably be tying a few on, right about then. Lark went upstairs, got his sisters settled down, and decided to read a few chapters of Daring Do. Not his favorite, but a friend had given him a few battered volumes of the series back in Fillydelphia. He fell asleep reading, looking forward to the next day. Lark woke early on Sunday and went out for a trot. Looking forward to seeing Medium, Thunder, and Misty that day outweighed his concerns of Monday. When he got home, he found his aunt and uncle awake, so he woke his sisters and bade them to breakfast. Lark reviewed for a quiz he may, or may not, be around to take Tuesday, until 10:30 a.m. Giving his glasses a quick cleaning, he set off to the school. He found Misty Twirl there, having arrived before anypony else. Her bright pink mane conflicting with her chestnut coat, she was easy to recognize. Staring the other way, she hadn’t noticed him, seeming lost in her own mind. Lark tried not to startle her, calling her name gently, but it happened anyway. Jumping around to about face, wings flapping, her soft blue eyes bugged, and she yelped. But then she focused, and looked at him, “Oh, hey there, Lark. Didn’t see you.” She had said this brightly, as if nothing had happened. Lark had jumped like he was goosed when she moved, “G’morning, Misty. Looks like you’re the first here.” “Yes… The other girls will be here soon. I’m glad Medium called me up. Otherwise, I would have just loafed around. It’s weird seeing you. Haven’t seen you almost a week.” He’d seen her, with her mane, “Yeah… it’s been quite a week. Mr. Chippy’s interesting. I even got away with no homework for the weekend.” “I wish Medium’d called me first. I would have had her ask you for your sisters to come along. I met them the other day, at the library. Copper is so funny. She kept on pestering Valley with her magic. It got so bad, the librarian had to break them up when Valley started chasing her around.” Lark had heard about all the interesting ponies his sisters were meeting over the week. It didn’t surprise him one of them was Misty, considering how Misty had gushed over Valley at lunch on Monday. She went on, “I was thinking about bringing my biggest little sister, Merry Twirl, but I didn’t ask Medium or Thunder. She’s 9, only 13 months younger than me.” “Valley and Copper are the same way. Just when Mom had a foal, another was on the way. It was a surprise to her.” Misty giggled, “My mom actually yelled at my dad when she found out she was pregnant again right away. My uncle told me once when he and my dad were playing cards.” That was pretty funny. Lark laughed along with her and then heard a voice down the street. "Hey!" They spotted her by her creamy coat. Medium Waltz was galloping from up another street as fast as she could, her dark mane flying behind her; she almost crashed into Misty, “Ha! I beat Thunder here! I can’t believe it.” Just then, Thunder Rider dropped out of the sky, “Medium?! Did you cheat? How’d you beat me here? I know you can’t teleport, yet!” “I ran,” Medium answered, gulping air. “You know what that means?” Misty giggled as Thunder sulked, and Thunder said, “Yeah, yeah. I have to spring for toppings when we get ice cream…” Medium was still gasping, “Oh, yeah!” Thunder noticed Lark, “Eep! Lark?! What are you…?” He tilted his head, “Medium… invited me?” Looking to Medium in outrage, the lemon-meringue pie-esque filly flushed and stammered. Before anything else could happen, Medium nudged Thunder, “C’mon, lemon-head, let’s make tracks.” Misty, guffawing at the show put on, followed them. Lark started after them when he got his senses back. Thunder sure was putting up a fuss, getting propelled along by Medium. She sure was acting funny. Keeping to the back of the group, he walked in silence. Their first stop took them by a café. Everypony had breakfast, so they weren’t up for a big lunch and settled for something small. But Thunder, still red and stammering, ran to the bathroom the second they were seated. Medium looked after her, a look of mild regret on her face. Misty glared at her, and she motioned her to the bathroom. Medium went over and in. Lark, looking on with confusion, watched. Misty lounged in the booth they had managed to get and sighed, looking at the table. Before Lark could think of anything to say, she spoke. “I really wish I hadn’t laughed at Thunder back there. She’s so embarrassed.” Lark hoofed the tabletop, “Yeah… I noticed. Why?” Misty didn’t look like she wanted to explain, “Medium. If you thought the way she was acting on Monday was normal, it’s just because she didn’t have a bug in her ear. When she gets an idea about something, she goes all in. I told Medium not to do it, and I was sure she wouldn’t, but she did anyway. She never told Thunder you’d be here today. I knew, but I didn’t think she’d surprise her. After we found out Thunder snuck around to find you at lunch, Medium’s got it in her head to play matchmaker, trying to get you two together. Medium thinks Thunder… has a crush on you.” Lark did a take, “M-me?!” “Well, yeah. It’s pretty obvious, now, isn’t it? I didn’t think so, but seeing that? Sure, she does. I’d have kept quiet, but I don’t think that would do anypony any good.” Lark reeled, “What am I gonna do?” She looked at him oddly, “How the heck should I know? I’m as surprised as you.” “I don’t get it. I’ve talked with her, like, twice. I mean, you three are the only foals I’ve talked to… other than panda-fruit. Why me?” Taking a moment to think, she said, “Since you’re freaking out... and she’s freaking out, I have an idea.” Leaving Lark at the booth, she called back, “Order me a coffee cake and Medium the same. Maybe a couple chocolate milks. Don’t bother ordering for yourself… or Thunder.” Lark sat, unsure of what was about to happen. Misty found Medium, as she expected, outside of a stall, looking lost and anxious. Naturally, Thunder was hiding in the stall, not crying or anything, but mortified. Misty wasn’t happy with Medium, who flinched under her tirade, “I can’t believe you! I didn’t think you’d do it, but you did. I thought things might work out anyway, but it sure doesn’t look like it after this.” Medium was practically dancing in distress, “I know, I know! I screwed up. What are we gonna do?” Thunder could be heard from the stall, “You tricked me, Medium! You never said he’d be here!” Misty knocked on the stall, “Well, you and Lark can go be embarrassed together. He knows.” Silence came from the stall, then, “He knows what?” Misty rolled her eyes, “That you have a crush on him!” Medium cringed at the statement... Did Misty really have to just blurt it out? Thunder cracked the door to the stall, “What?” Medium tried to buck up, “Yes. Lark knows you have a crush on him.” Thunder did a take, opening the door fully, and then she laughed, “A crush? I don’t have a crush on Lark! He’s my friend! That’s just weird…” It was apparent to the girls Thunder was serious. She had no clue. Misty said, “I’m pretty sure you do.” Medium nodded. Scoffing, Thunder went on, “I do not! C’mon.” Thunder trotted out of the bathroom, as if to prove her point, the others in tow. When she spotted Lark again, he didn’t spot her, but she blushed and ducked out of sight. Her face looked like a cherry. Medium and Misty ducked down too, espying Lark from their hiding spot. Thunder was looking like she might die of embarrassment. "Mm-hmm... She's got it..." Misty lamented. "Big time..." Medium looked defeated, “So, uh… Misty? Did you have an idea?” Misty frowned, “Yes… but I don’t know if it’ll work.” Thunder squeaked, “What am I gonna do? He can’t see me like this!” Misty decided to have a little faith, or she was at least willing to gamble, so, “I have an idea, Thunder. You’ll have to trust me.” The coffee cake had shown up. Lark had to convince himself not to eat it. The chocolate milks also looked inviting. Just when he was about to go for it, the fillies returned. Thunder sat down across from him, looking a little more like herself. But it didn’t last long. Misty, starting to shovel in her cake, just said, “Cat’s out of the bag, Lark. She knows you know and you know she knows. Go take a walk together. We’ll catch up later.” Medium’s jaw dropped. That was the plan?! She looked over to Thunder. Thunder again looked like a cherry. Medium was about to do something, but Lark stood up. He grabbed Thunder by the hoof and led her out of the shop. Medium’s jaw dropped even further. Misty shrugged and sucked down her milk. Lark was walking down the sidewalk, now. Thunder was close, yet faraway, unable to make eye contact with him, alongside him. She still looked like a cherry, possibly even worse. She had no idea what to do. After a bit, they were in a park. Nopony had spoken yet. Lark spoke first, seemingly to himself, “It’s just my luck. I make a friend that likes me and I’m probably getting expelled tomorrow. A week! And I’m gone.” Thunder wasn’t expecting him to just say something, so she just murmured. But upon a murmur, she found words, “I’m sorry, Lark… It must have surprised you… I’m surprised… I don’t think I… I didn’t know.” Lark didn’t mean to be cold, “I don’t get it.” “Don’t get what?” “How anypony could like me… especially "like me-like me".” There it was again... that unpleasant... something Lark sometimes emanated. Thunder halted. Lark noticed, “Why’d you stop?” Thunder hadn’t been crying at all that day, but she was starting, “Why, Lark?” “…?” “I don’t get it, Lark…” “What?” For the very first time, the first time in his entire life, somepony asked him, straight up, “Why do you always put yourself down? Do you really think so little of yourself?” That was hard for him to answer. There was no denying he did. Never thinking much about it, he was now faced with it more and more over the last week. The strangest thing, it didn’t faze him, not even a little. He looked up to the sky, searching within. “I do… don’t I?” He took a pause almost long enough for the sun to shift his shadow, “I think I… sometimes… hate myself. And I don’t know why.” The answer devastated Thunder, “How could you? You… You’re such a wonderful pony! I’ve only known you a few days, and it’s clear to everypony you’re special. Your sisters love you. Your family loves you. …I love you. Crush or not, you’re my friend and I love you! The whole class wants you back! We want you to win tomorrow and come back to us.” He was taken aback at her response, “Thunder…” “I said you were a hero, Lark, and you are… You’re my friend… So, please don’t say that. Don’t hate yourself… It’s so sad. If anypony heard you say that… I think it’d break their hearts.” A foreign bloom made itself known in Lark’s chest. He had to sit down. He hadn’t felt anything like this before. Thunder could tell something was wrong, “Lark?” Shaking, his hooves quivering, Lark began to cry. “Lark!” she sat down beside him, off the path, hooves on his shoulders. His glasses dotted with tears, his hooves still quivered, “I’m… scared. I don’t want to have to go. To come all the way out here, make a few friends, meet a few teachers I like, and just lose it all! Over this?! I want to stay. It’s not fair…” She shushed him and leaned on him. Comforting Lark was the last thing she had expected doing. He may have been tough, but… he was still just a colt. After a moment, he settled down. He was ashamed, “I’m… I can’t believe-” She assured him, “It’s okay, Lark. It’s okay. Whoever said colts can’t cry can suck it.” She hugged him, and he patted her hoof. “Thanks, Thunder… I feel better.” She perked up, wiping her eyes, “Good. Now... no more of this negativity. Ready to go find the girls?” “I need to wash my glasses first, but sure. Let’s go.” Misty led Medium towards the park. If she was going for a walk, it wouldn’t be her last place to go. Misty took off, “I’ll just look up high.” Medium watched her friend, shielding her eyes from the early afternoon sun, “Can you see them?” “Oh, yeah! Take a right next block ahead of you and walk a bit. See you in a minute. Medium saw Misty bolt off, so she galloped to get where she was told. After a minute, she spotted all three of them. Panting, she arrived. “Every... pony... good?” she gasped. Lark looked fine. “Yes… Everything’s fine,” Thunder could say this without reservation, and it showed true. Medium and Misty shared a look… Good enough for them. Misty smiled, “Why don’t we go do something fun?” That was their primary purpose for the day, so off they went. They caught a 2:00 p.m. movie at the downtown theater, and they went for ice cream after. Of course, Thunder had to shell out for the toppings. Only a bit or two, but it was a time-honored punishment among the girls for being the last one to show up. By the time they were done at the ice cream shop, they were ready to head back to their homes. Lark lived the farthest away, and they happened to move in that general direction. Misty broke off first, bidding them farewell. Medium split off a few minutes later, leaving Lark and Thunder alone. They walked quietly for a time. Then… “Lark, this is where I leave you,” Thunder glowed. He hadn't been paying much attention; he blinked, “Okay, then… I hope to see you tomorrow.” “Lark… about earlier… If you don’t… like me that way, then it’s okay. I just want you to be my friend. But think about it… I hope things go okay for you tomorrow, so… good luck!” Before he could give any response, she kissed him on the cheek with a giggle, rosy-red in the face, and she took off as fast as he’d ever likely seen a Pegasus fly. So… that happened. Lark was bewildered a minute, watching her disappear to the size of a speck. He felt his cheek, remembering the warmth of her lips. Then, he trembled happily, a shout building in his throat, “…Okay! Let’s see what happens next.” Not feeling entirely hopeless about the next day, he went home. Sunday night was casserole night, and he’d make it just in time for dinner.