Chapter 3: I Don't Like It Like This
For the next week, Spike and Scootaloo would meet at her secret spot near the ravine. They would often talk about the orange pony's day at school and about how it was becoming increasingly bothersome for her to hang around Applebloom and Sweetie Belle because they were becoming too girly for Scootaloo's taste. Spike would listen and often agree with her statements. The dragon actually told the pegasus that the two girls once kidnapped the dragon to dress him up in a few of Rarity's old dresses and made Spike model for them. Upon hearing that tale, Scootaloo saw that Spike understood where she was coming from.
One day, the pegasus and dragon were lying in the grass and watching the clouds roll slowly by in the wind. While they did make some small talk, it was really quiet between the two new friends. Finally, Spike broke the silence.
"Hey, Scootaloo," Spike called out.
"Yo?" the orange pony replied.
"Can I say something to ya?"
"I think you just did, Spike," Scootaloo joked.
"No, I'm kind of serious."
"Well, spit it out, dude."
Taking a deep breath, the dragon spoke, "I know this may sound weird and sudden, but….I think I like you, Scootaloo."
Scootaloo's ears perked up a bit as she continued to lay in the grass, "Well, duh. You wouldn't be here if you weren't my friend."
"No, it's not just that," Spike rolled up from his back to a sitting position, stretching his wings out and light flapping them, "I mean, duh, you're my friend and all. But I like you more than just that."
The pegasus felt a chill run down her back. She because nervous.
The dragon tried not to trip over his own words as he closed his eyes to speak, "I like you a lot, Scoots. I mean, you seem like a really awesome kind of girl and I know it's weird but I think I lo-"
The dragon was cut off when a hoof was shoved into his mouth. It was Scootaloo, and she had gotten up to stop the dragon from speaking further. She was giving him a glare that paralyzed Spike, "Don't you dare finish that sentence when I move my hoof."
The hoof was removed from Spike's mouth. "What's wrong with me saying all that?" he asked.
Scootaloo didn't answer right away. After a few seconds of looking elsewhere, away from Spike, she replied, "Look, Spike. It's not you that I'm having an issue with, it's with being in a relationship with somepony. I just don't want to deal with anything like that for some time right now, alright?"
"Deal with anything like that?"
"Stupid relationships! It's why I'm not hanging out with Sweetie Belle and Applebloom right now because they not shutting up about the stuff! I don't care for that junk right now, and if you dare bring this up again, I will tear your tail off you!"
Spike gulped and hugged his tail closely to him.
Scootaloo's appearance went from frustration and anger to a small smile, "I'm joking, I'm joking! I wouldn't hurt ya!" Spike still was not convinced, holding to his tail as he relaxed. "But really, dude, it's just not something I want to deal with right now. Nothing personal."
Giving a small smile back, Spike spoke, "Alright. Sorry about all of that. Just pretend that it never happened."
"No worries, Spike, already forgotten," Scootaloo said with a wink and a warm smile.
"Alright, awesome," Spike looked up at the sky and saw that Celestia's sun was getting lower in the west, "Oh no! I need to hurry back to the library, Twilight needs me to help her with some of her studying later tonight! Sorry I can't stay longer, Scootaloo!"
"It's alright, Spike. Go on ahead, I'm going to stay here for a bit," the pegasus replied.
The dragon nodded and started to run off back towards Ponyville, "See ya, tomorrow, Scoots!"
Scootaloo waved her hoof back to her dragon friend, "Laters!"
As soon as Spike was out of sight, Scootaloo laid right back down in the tall grass and continued to view the clouds in the sky. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, allowing her mind to wander. As it did, she continued to think of the previous incident that just had happened with Spike. Scootaloo softly laughed to herself as she thought about the event and how Spike was shy as he was confessing his feelings for her. The moment she thought Spike was cute, the smile disappeared from her face. 'Wait, what am I thinking? Spike is just a friend. Sure, he's kinda cute and all, but nothing more! We are friends and that's it. Nothing more, Scootaloo thought to herself, 'Besides, I already said I don't need to have some sort of coltfriend to make things weirder for me right now. Now, I'm going to open my eyes and not think about the thing that just happened, Spike being cute, or love at all!'
Scootaloo opened her eyes up to the blue sky that was full of slowly moving clouds. Among the clouds, Scootaloo's eyes were drawn to a cloud that was in the shape of a heart.
"Oh, come on! That's so not cool!!" Scootaloo shouted in disgust as she sat up and trotted to her scooter. Placing her helmet on and starting the motor, she scooted off toward Ponyvile, "That is so unfair!"