//------------------------------//
// Chapter 2 - The Next Morning 
// Story: My Feelings Have Shifted 
// by rarityxspike 
//------------------------------//

The next morning, Spike woke up feeling worse than the night before.

“Great! I was hoping it was a nightmare”. Spike said to himself as he walked out of his bedroom and into the kitchen. Spike poured some milk on his cereal and started to eat.

“Morning Spike”. Twilight said as she walked into the kitchen. She noticed Spike wasn't his upbeat self and that he was eating his cereal rather slowly.

“Everything okay, Spike?”. Twilight questioned. Spike looked up from the bowl to see Twilight with a concerned look on her face.

“Yeah, I'm still waking up”. Spike replied with a chuckle. Twilight smiled at the young dragon's response.

“Okay, well, I am going to study, so if you need me I'll be in the main hall”. Twilight informed. Spike looked up and nodded as he had a mouthful of cereal. Twilight smiled and made her way to the main hall. When Spike was sure Twilight was out of earshot he let out a sigh of relief.

“I don't know how long I can keep lying to Twilight like this”. Spike said as he put his head in his hands.

Rarity was pacing around her inspiration room. Her mane was a mess, her eyes were bloodshot with bags underneath them, her coat was untidy and she had makeup smeared all over her face.

“I should go and see him”. Rarity went to walk out of her inspiration room and then backs away.

“But he hates me”. Rarity thought out loud.

“So, I'll go and talk to him and work things out”. Rarity again makes her way to the door and again backs away.

“But he has probably told Twilight what I have done and she'll... she'll probably cast a spell to make me... explode or something!”. Rarity said with panic in her voice. The sun broke through Rarity's curtains and caught her eye. Rarity winced and raised her hoof to shield her eyes.

“My goodness! What is the bright light about?”. Rarity walked over to the curtains, pulled them back and what she saw shocked her.

“It's morn-- Have I bee-- How is-- What times is it?”. Rarity looked at the clock on the desk it read 7:03 am.

“I've been awake all night!?”. Then a thought came into Rarity's head.

“Oh my!”. She ran to the closest mirror to see her reflection. When she looked she gasped and raised her hoof to her mouth to hold back the urge to scream. When she was sure she wasn't going to scream, she slowly lowered her hoof.

“I look like I've been thrown into a dumpster, brush all the trash off of me and walked three miles to get home!”. Rarity took a deep breath and thought about what she had been doing all night.

“Maybe I'll be able to think straight after a bath”. Rarity reluctantly put her thoughts on hold as best she could and made her way upstairs to run her bath.

Spike was sat on his bed trying to read a comic, but he couldn't concentrate.

“I have to try and do something to take my mind off it!”. Spike said with annoyance. Spike put the comic book away and went to the main hall to see if Twilight needed any assistance. When Spike entered the main hall, he saw the purple alicorn with her wings tucked in and her eyes glued to a book. Spike took a deep breath, put on his best smile and walked towards Twilight.

“Hey Twilight, do you need any help?” Spike said in his best upbeat tone.

“Hmm...?”, Twilight looked up from her book. She saw the young dragon standing next to her.

“Oh, Spike. Umm...”, Twilight looked at everything she had in front of her.

“No, I think I am okay, but thank you, Spike” Twilight smiled.

“Oh, okay Twilight. I'm going to go for a walk”.

“Okay, Spike, but make sure your back in time to have some lunch”.

“I will, Twilight”. Spike made his way out of the main hall and out of the castle.