//------------------------------//
// Ch. 4 Heart Skipped A Beat 
// Story: Love And Mathematics 
// by Closer-To-The-Sun 
//------------------------------//

Chapter 4: Heart Skipped A Beat

Celestia's sun was up in the sky and all the ponies at Sweet Apple Acres were pulling their fair share of the work around the farm. One orange pony, however, was absentminded during her work. She would buck a tree to allow apples to fall, only to realize that the tree had already been bucked. She shook her head, her blonde mane flying as she did so.

'Come on, Applejack, snap outta yer funk. You'll be able ta ask Caramel later, but right now, ya got some buckin' ta do.' the earth pony said to herself as she moved to a tree she knew had apples.

Applejack continued her work, keeping an eye out for the tan colt that gave her feelings she never felt before. As the day moved on, she was able to focus more on her work around the farm. The day went smoothly for the mare, allowing her to relax and even forget about Caramel and the what she wanted to say to him.

By mid-afternoon, the rest of the ponies who worked on the farm were leaving and Applejack was in the barn, taking inventory. She was deep in thought when she heard a small, yellow filly's voice.

"Hey Applejack," Applebloom called out as she and Spike the dragon entered the barn, "Spike an' ah were wonderin', is it possible t' get a cutie mark fer spyin' on somepony?"

Applejack turned to see the two youths, "Well, ah'm not sure about that. Why don't ya two go an' find out? Ah'm curious to what it would look like myself." Applejack entertained the idea of the two youngsters.

"Alright! Come on, Spike!" Applebloom shouted excitedly as she rushed out the barn.

"Hey, wait for me!" the purple dragon ran to try to catch up with the yellow filly.

"Oh, hiya Caramel!" Applebloom said, which caught the ear of Applejack.

"Hello there, Applebloom, good luck finding your cutie mark!" the familiar voice of the tan colt said before he entered into the barn, "Hello, Applejack."

Applejack turned, visibly nervous yet she tried to mask in with her speech, "A-Ah, Caramel! How are ya doing, partner?"

"I'm doing alright," the colt said in a calm tone, quite the contrast to Applejack's voice, "Are you okay? You seem a bit….stirred up."

"Ah, i-it's nothin', ya just startled me is all. Ah though all the other ponies had left quite some time ago," Applejack admitted.

"Well, I just came by to see if ya needed any help is all."

Applejack thought for a bit, "Hmm, ah actually think ah got it all today, but ah do thank ya for offerin' to help me out again. Mighty kind of ya to offer."

"Oh, alright then," Caramel's voice dropped slightly to a crestfallen state.

Applejack noticed this and then thought to herself, 'Come on, gal, ya can do this. Jus' tell this colt how ya feel about him and be done with it! Remember what Rarity said, just let him know so ya don't haveta think what it'd be like if neva told him!' Applejack was having a small battle with herself and her fear of rejection in her head. Taking a deep breath, she turned around to face Caramel.

"Hey, Caramel, ah got something ah would like ta say if ya don't mind…." Applejack's voice trained off.

Caramel interrupted, "Actually, let me go first. Applejack….I think I'm in love with you." Caramel's eyes were closed and his face a bright red.

The colt's words caused Applejack's heart to skip a beat.