A Story of Love (Among Others)

by TheMareWhoSaysNi


Where the Sidewalk Ends

Never again had I seen this place so crowded. Although you think you're used to it, each time you're confronted to the truth, you realize this is real life. They all came here to see this person you know so well, and for them that person is like a foreign deity, a picture impossible. For you, that's just the goofball you're in love with.

A large dais had been raised. Barriers were put all around in order to precise this event was reserved to a certain part of the population. In front of our eyes, down the dais watched by security men in black, the crowd of privileged fans and others stretched out of my field of vision and the persons around ended up looking like smashed berries in a tiny can.

Yet nothing could attack my sunny mood. Yeah, this day was even sunnier than any other Spring days. I was going to see Soarin again.

He and the main cast of "The Greatest Show Off" were signing a special edition of the DVD of the first movie. It wasn't alvailable yet but it was possible to order it in advance within the scope of this special day. They probably didn't know it would be so successful. The DVD already was out of stock even before its official publication.

Rarity and I had received one copy of it, coming from Soarin and Sandalwood, whose goal was different than my boyfriend's. They had a few occasions to meet and each time, sparks flew between them. Everyone knew they were fond of each other but they never could admit the truth. Maybe that was about to change but if I had to be honest, I had other things in mind.

The sun was at its top and made me frown. In a regular basis, phones or cameras raised above the crowd and their clicks were meddling with enthusiastic declarations of love.

I wanted to control myself but I couldn't. I stretched my neck as if I were my turtle Tank - he lives in Clousdale with my "family". We were finally almost there. From down the dais, in the new wave of impatient fans ready to meet their idols, I finally could see him... Yet, his eyes that I was barely able to distinguish from where I stood were stuck in my direction.

Casually, I fixed my hair. I swallowed a gulp of my bottle of water. I tried hard to get a composure so that no one would guess that I wasn't a common fan. I never had anything common, anyway.

He was the second person in front of who you had to go in order to get an autograph. Sandalwood was the first. This predestined disposition allowed us to act without suspicions. When I was going to appear in front of Soarin, it would be Rarity's turn to get a sign for her DVD. This way, whatever they wrote to us, no one would knew except us since only two persons at once were allowed on the dais.

When I finally was face to face with him, it has to be said that I hadn't seen him for two months. Two months without a call, without a Skype session, nothing. He didn't even have an Instagram account. I wanted to ask him how he was doing, I wanted to do so many things that I had to keep inside of me. That was a good thing that I already was very good at keeping things inside of me, because I hate that when strangers are able to see right through me. I'd rather be a mystery...

Like all the others, he smiled at me. Though it looked like his usual "fan" smile, I knew that smile was different. That was the one that he only gave to me, when we were together in a room. Face to face, with no one around. He asked for my name, for the scene had to be perfect.

On the frontpage of the booklet inside the box of this Special Edition, instead of the usual inscription, with a nervous hand and a few spelling mistakes though I knew he never made any, he asked me to meet him in one hour in one of the alleys close to the main avenue, the one with a closed restaurant at the very back, the narrowest of them all. I wished we could touch...

The moment was too brief and already I was gone. I didn't know what Sandalwood told Rarity and I didn't ask, well, not while we were where we were. Here I was, frustrated again. Everything looked paler, less exciting. I was suddenly aware of how unsually hot was the spring, of how uncomfortable it had been to be tight inside that thick crowd and of what all those girls fantasied about when they were in front of the boy I was in love with.

The hour went on slowly. Second by second, minute by minute. Waiting never been my forte, I was born impatient (two weeks in advance). And on this day, it was the worst of all the waiting hours of my life. Like I didn't know what to do with my own body. I, Rainbow Dash, the Queen of all Sports.

I got off the stairs I was sitting on as soon as I saw him and I flew in his direction. I knew what risks we were taking. In these apartments and restaurants along the alley, there could be anyone, even fans who went to the autograph session. But that was a risk we were willing to take.

I wrapped my arms around his neck and our lips sealed in a discontinued kiss.

"On the letter you sent with the DVD, you said everything was arranged so we could meet somewhere, but you didn't mention it would be here..."

He held me in his arms, embracing me completely, as if he was trying to cover my whole body. I buried my face against his chest, breathed in his perfume. I wanted to print this moment in my mind, for when I'd get bored (and I get bored easily). It felt as if I was awake but in a strange dream, half-real half-unpredictable.

"There was a change in the plans. Too much people, it's too dangerous. But let's not care. I'm here now. I have ten minutes."

Ten minutes. Ten f*cking minutes. I needed and wanted more but I had to be satisfied with it, to think that ten minutes was better than nothing at all.

Words we were saying were atrociously common and had nothing of the romantic flight that could be expected from a couple like us, the star-crossed lovers of downtown Canterlot. Flowery declarations and beautiful words were good in books and movies, with characters bigger than life. But I was no Scarlett and he was no Rhett Butler. So, instead of talking, we kissed.

The worst with kisses was that, then, time went by too quickly. He was barely with me again that already, I knew we had no other choice than to part. We had to go back to the path we drew for each other. Our lives was waiting for us. The life we had out of us two, the one that also made us complete. Soarin and I we never been the type of couple to think that the main focus of our existence was our relationship. Our relationship was part of a whole. But don't get me wrong, we considered we were important to each other even so. Only, we knew we also had to give energy to the other things we liked about life.

"I have to go, or my manager's going to look for me."

"When will I see you again?"

Our hands were sealed. I could feel a sting in my eyes, but I did my best, as always, to swallow back the tears. I always try not to cry in front of people so they wouldn't see and exploit my weakness. But the reason why I never cried in front of Soarin was different. I didn't want him to feel sorry, or guilty.

"I don't know. Soon, I promise. I'll do my very best for that, alright?"

We were running out of time. Reluctantly, I stepped back. Our palms were still touching but already getting away. We didn't even have time for one last kiss. But it was better this way. No more room for regrets, we had to get on with our lives now.

"See you soon," he whispered.

"You'd better," I answered with a wink, trying to sound as if I were okay.

Our fingers parted and, without a look behind, I saw him running away from the alley, this alley that before meant nothing special to us and was now an odd memory, bittersweet in the most literal sense.