//------------------------------// // ~Chapter 3~ // Story: Everytime // by Tranquil Stone //------------------------------// "What's up with Rainbow Dash?" asked Soarin nudging Lightning Dust, as they watched Rainbow trudge off to class. Lightning shrugged. "Who cares? As long as she's out of our way to winning, it's all good" replied Lightning, casually tapping away at her phone. Soarin narrowed his eyebrows, and walked to Rainbow Dash. "Hey Dash. 'Sup?" he said, draping his arm around her neck. Rainbow shoved him off. "Back off" she said, continuing to walk on forward. Soarin caught up to her shortly. "Is something wrong?" he asked, jogging backwards. Rainbow shook her head, and stopped in her tracks. Soarin stopped as well, then stumbling backwards and falling down. Dash rolled her eyes, and extended a hand. Soarin slowly placed his palm in hers, sending shivers down his spine. He blushed furiously, and Rainbow gulped- both of them could feel the tension. Getting up, he dusted himself off, blush slowly fading away. "Nothing" coughed Rainbow Dash, then dodging Soarin to continue walking, as he resiliently kept following her. "Look, I know you're not one to use words, but please. Talk to me Rainbow Dash" he said, stopping firmly in his tracks, blocking her path. There was barely an inch of space between them, as Rainbow turned away. For the first time, she felt small, and weak under his powerful tall structure, and she considered herself to be one of the tallest with her friends. "Stop pretending to be my friend to stop the act!" yelled Rainbow, stepping back, "You just don't get it, do you?" "I won't if you don't explain!" shouted Soarin, anger flashing in his emerald eyes. He looked at the ground, blinking, anger slowly subsiding. Rainbow stumbled backwards, and Soarin noticed something in her eyes. Fear. Fear of him. "I'm gonna stay over at Fluttershy's tonight" she mummbled, turning the other way, clinging her books dearly to her chest, as she walked off. "Rainbow, wait!" Soarin cried after her. Rainbow looked back, stopping. "Save it" Buzz...buzz...buzz Soarin groaned as his phone vibrated on his bedside. Lightning Dust. Reluctantly, he picked up the phone, placing it to his ear. "Hey..." he said, trying to mutter enthusiasm. A loud and excited voice replied to him. "Hi boo!" giggled Lightning Dust. Soarin rolled his eyes. Honestly, the only reason he was with Lightning is because she was going to help him secure a place in the Cloudsdale team. Soarin's parents always wanted him to make it big in soccer, and now was his chance. To finally make them proud, at least once. The day was fresh inside his head. He had met up with Lightning at his locker, and they talked for a bit. Finally, Lightning Dust threw the bomb... "Look Soarin, I think you're really cute" Soarin was taken aback, and blushed, from the fact that a girl was interested. "Ew, I wouldn't be interested in someone like you" Soarin's smile instantly fell, "I need to boost my popularity with the 'hot exchange student' everyone's been talking about" "So what are you saying?" asked Soarin. "Be my boyfriend" she said bluntly, as Soarin rolled his eyes. "Wow, discreet much?" Lighning Dust narrowed her eyes, staring right into Soarin's eyes, "I know what kind of family you have. Okay, I need you, you need me. I'll get you a spot on the Cloudsdale elite soccer team" Soarin gulped anxiously. This was huge. Be someone's fake boyfriend? He guessed he could do that...he didn't like anyone else for now right? A rainbow headed girl's image flashed in front of his eyes. No no, it couldn't be. Plus, dating Lightning would get the idea of Rainbow Dash out of his head, perhaps. He blinked. "I'll do it" Soarin's heart sank, thinking of what kinds of things he'd had to do just to keep 'dating' Lightning. "What's the deal?" he said, voice hardening. Lightning Dust must have caught onto where he was getting at. "Okay then" Lightning put off the act, and returned her steely attitude, "That Rainbow Dash is ruining my shot at winning the next championships. I've heard her loss and pain is making her a better player than ever, I can't let that happen. Don't flatter yourself, but I know for a fact she likes you" Soarin instantly stood up, "What? No, no, never!" he denied. Yeah right. Someone like Rainbow Dash would like him? She's tough, loyal, funny, beautiful, strong, amazing... "Whatever. Either way, rubbing our success in her face is gonna bring. Her. Down. Once and for all" snapped Lightning, "I need you to come with me to Pinkie's party this weekend and gloat. Rub her defeat in her face" "That's just downright evil!" spat Soarin, repulsed. Lighning Dust laughed. "It may be a bit extreme," She sighed contentedly, "But oh, it is so much fun" "Still! I'd never hurt Dash like that" shouted Soarin, pacing around the room. "Aww, seems like Soarin has a little crush" taunted Lightning, as Soarin growled on the other side of the call, "Guess what? If you don't do what I say, your final chance to make things right with your parents is gone. And that could cost you your precious Dash's life" Soarin sighed, feeling defeated. Despite he wanted to think, he knew Lightning was right, "It's horrible and stupid, and will not work, but fine. I'll do it" "Excellent" sneered Lightning Dust, hanging up. Soarin felt tears sting his eyes, but he quickly blinked them away. Falling onto his bed, thoughts raced through his head. Had he made the right choice? Of course, saving Dash's life was worth inflicting a little pain onto her. Still, if this whole thing would hurt her, it would killing him inside. Because whether Soarin had a thing for Rainbow Dash or not, he genuinely cared for her, more than anything. It seemed funny, him doing all this just to keep a spot on a soccer team, but that spot meant so much. His pride, his parent's pride, his family, friends, everyone back home. And they weren't good people. He knew that. Except for his butler, Alfred, the only man he could trust. But for now, improving relations back home was a priority, to save Rainbow's life. And she was worth everything in the world. If only he could show that.