"It's quite peculiar. She's usually the first one up out of all of us."
"I guess she was, like, twenty percent more tired than usual."
"Oh dear, maybe the game was too much for her. Poor Applejack, she must be exhausted."
"Hey! She took off the bonnet! The game said all night! Doesn't that mean she loses? So, who won then!?"
"Maybe we should head upstairs to change and let her sleep. Sunset said she'd meet us at the pancake house in an hour, so she has some time."
Applejack slowly opened her eyes and was greeted again with the dark. It took a second to realize that she had her stetson on her face. Groaning slightly, she slowly sat up and adjusted her hat to its rightful place on top of her head. Blinking, she turned and took in her friends who were sitting up in their sleeping bags as well. Twilight looked at her apologetically, and Pinkie looked somewhat irritated. Rarity, Fluttershy and Rainbow looked at her with amused expressions. Rarity smiled at her before speaking.
"Good morning, Darling. We were just deciding what to do with you. Sunset Shimmer called and we're all going to meet her for brunch in an hour."
Applejack just nodded, sleep still holding on to her. Rainbow noticed Applejack's lack of awareness and began to speak. "And...we've all decided that you're going to pay for everyone." When Applejack nodded again, Rainbow Dash continued. "And we're gonna order you the super massive five course combo...And…whatever you can't finish, you'll take home….in your pockets!"
Unable to contain herself, Rainbow Dash burst into laughter. Rarity shook her head as she rolled her eyes at Rainbow, despite the small smile on her own lips. Turning back, she crawled out of her sleeping bag and towards Applejack. She stopped in front of her and had to remind herself that the others were present before she reached a hand towards Applejack's face. Resisting the urge to caress the freckled cheek of her best friend, Rarity began to lightly pat her instead. "Applejack?"
"H-huh? What?" Coming to her senses, Applejack focused in properly and her eyes immediately met with Rarity's. Rarity began to smirk, her hand still on Applejack's face. "R-Rarity? Wha-"
"My word, Applejack! If I hadn't seen it myself, I would have never believed you work on the farm. You are certainly not a morning person." Applejack was then made aware of the laughter beside her when it multiplied. Turning, she took in the laughing faces of her friends. As her eyes passed over Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy, the events of last night came rushing back. Looking at them, her thoughts began to swirl again as she began to think. How long have Rainbow and Fluttershy…been together? Are they even 'together' together? What started it? Who started it?
Looking back to Rarity, Applejack realized her hand on her face and blushed slightly before looking down. Seeing Applejack blush, made Rarity realize she hadn't moved. She leaned back, straightening up so that she was on her knees, and dropped her hand in the process. Looking back up, Applejack's eyes met with Rarity's again. She was brought back to the self-admission she had made last night. She noticed Rarity was gazing back at her with a small smile and she found that her heart began to beat much faster as they looked at each other. It was another second before she broke eye contact, not wanting to reveal anything.
Applejack waited until she could trust her voice before speaking. "I'm sorry y'all. I guess I was more tired than I thought." Sighing, she gave everyone an apologetic look before continuing. "Actually, I think I'm gonna head home. I'm still a mite tired." Not wanting to explain herself anymore, Applejack stood up, walked around the couch, and made her way upstairs.
By the time the others started making their way upstairs, Applejack had changed and finished packing her things. After assuring the others that she was okay, she made her way downstairs. Once she came down, she noticed that Rarity was still in the living room, and was now sitting in the couch, seemingly lost in thought. Applejack bit her lip, looked at the front door, and hesitated for a moment. Sighing, she decided to move to stand in front of the petite fashionista. As long as we don't talk about me, it should be fine. Kneeling down, she placed a hand on Rarity's knee, giving a gentle squeeze before speaking. "Rare? You okay there, Sugar?"
Rarity's train of thought was cut off when she realized she was once again staring into the emerald eyes of her best friend. Applejack had a look of concern as she waited for a reply. Rarity also saw another look along with it; It was a familiar look Rarity had seen countless times before, but this time it seemed more… intense. Rarity felt her heart leap slightly and began to smile as she thought about the girl in front of her.
Rarity had long since established that what she felt for the farm girl was an affection that went beyond friendship. She recalled the first night three years ago when she had called Applejack out to the park after fighting with her parents just to let Sweetie Belle go on a class trip. Rarity was anxious as she waited for Applejack, worried that she was being a bother by calling her out so late. She was about to change her mind and text Applejack not to come, when the farmer appeared under the streetlight by the entrance. Rarity felt a surge go through her body as their eyes connected in the short distance, despite the dark. Poise and grace went out the window, and Rarity found herself running towards Applejack, tears already flowing. Without thinking, Applejack had opened her arms and caught Rarity. They had stayed like that, with Rarity's head on Applejack's chest as Applejack had one hand on Rarity's back, and the other stroking her hair. Even though she was crying, Rarity found herself listening to Applejack's heartbeat. It was fast at first, and then it slowed to a rhythmic lull. She found that the beat of Applejack's heart calmed her, even after she had stopped crying. It was another minute before she reluctantly pulled back, and she found that she missed the sound already. She felt a pleasant tug in her chest as she looked at Applejack once again under the streetlight.
Bringing herself back to the present, Rarity kept her eyes on the kneeling girl in front of her. There was something about Applejack that Rarity found herself drawn to. She was also a girl, yes, but Rarity found that it didn't change the fact that she would always find a way to be close to her when they were with their friends, or to touch her whenever they talked. She now found it harder to keep her feelings in check the more time they spent together.
She gave a smile before speaking. "I'm quite alright, Jacqueline. I would just rather wait to change than maneuver around the others. Despite what Rainbow Dash says, it does not take me forever. Unlike her, I do wake up like this." To emphasize her point, she lifted her hand and flipped her hair over her shoulder before letting out a small giggle.
Applejack chuckled as she watched Rarity's curls fall naturally down her back. "Watch it, Missy." She raised an eyebrow at her in mock warning, referring to the use of her name where it could be heard by the others. She was happy that Rarity was feeling better than the night before. "Still," Applejack continued, keeping with the light mood, "we both know that you're not walking out of this house without considerable accessorizin'." She laughed again as Rarity rolled her eyes.
"Oh please, Applejack. There's nothing wrong with adding earnings to accent an ensemble, and a belt….maybe some rings….oh, and I do have that new bracelet that I packed…."
Applejack watched Rarity with an amused expression as her 'simple list' grew longer. As Rarity continued, Applejack watched her contentedly, her expression easing into a smile. Really now, accessories are nice, but you should know that you are just as beautiful without them. As soon as she finished the thought, she saw that Rarity had abruptly stopped talking and was now staring Applejack with wide eyes.
Applejack wanted to kick herself once she realized what happened. She had thought out loud. And Rarity had heard her. She stared at Rarity, her own eyes widening at her realization. All at once, Applejack was made aware of the silence, of their proximity, and of the fact that she still had her hand on Rarity's knee, her thumb absently rubbing small circles. Neither of them spoke for a moment, as they looked at each other. Finally, Rarity made a move to speak, and that seemed to snap Applejack into action. Before Rarity could say anything, Applejack stood up, blushing as she removed her hand, and quickly stepped back in the direction of the front door.
"Uh, I-I didn't mean…" Applejack stammered as she backed slowly towards the entrance. "I mean ya a-are, but…not…um, I-I ahh, I should probably get going now." Applejack turned and opened the door just as Rarity stood up.
Standing quickly, Rarity reached a hand towards Applejack, trying to stop her. "Applejack, w-wait!" She took a step forward, then stopped suddenly when Applejack seemingly flinched away. A mixture of hurt and confusion at Applejack's reaction coloured her features. "Applejack?" Applejack gave her one last look in response before turning and leaving Pinkie's house, closing the door behind her.
Rarity just stood there, shocked and dazed. That last look she had seen caused her stomach to twist unpleasantly. Everything had happened so quickly, but as Rarity tried to process it, one thing stood out in her mind; Applejack had called her beautiful.
She had been complimented numerous times before. The other girls had always said her accessories were cute, and, although she never reacted, the words, 'hot' and 'sexy' floated in the air at school and on the street. But no one had ever called her beautiful before, not even her own parents. It was so unexpected, that she didn't know what to say. She wanted to stop Applejack before she left. She wanted to say thank you, or something to her, but the look she had given stopped Rarity in her tracks. It was a sad, almost regretful look. Did Applejack regret saying that? Did she not mean it? Rarity felt her head spin as she thought about it. It wasn't long before she heard the sound of her friends making their way downstairs. Dropping her hand, she quickly composed herself as Pinkie Pie entered the living room.
"Rarity?" Pinkie began, "Why haven't you changed yet?"
Turning around, Rarity looked at Pinkie Pie with a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "Don't worry Pinkie, I'll be ready in no time at all."
Rainbow Dash spoke up as she came down the stairs. "I doubt that. By the time you finish, we'll be heading out for dinner." Rarity just rolled her eyes before heading towards the staircase. As she passed Rainbow Dash, she flipped her hair, purposely letting it fly in Rainbow Dash's face. Rainbow sputtered, and Rarity ran upstairs before the athlete could retaliate.
As she reached the top floor, she heard the hallway bathroom open, and looked to see Twilight walk out, sighing heavily. "Twilight?" Rarity began, "What's the matter?"
Twilight looked up and smiled at Rarity as she made her way towards her. "Oh, I'm fine. I was just thinking that I need to work on my timing." As soon as she spoke, Twilight made her way downstairs before Rarity could question her further. Rarity watched with furrowed eyebrows, as Twilight left, before heading towards Pinkie's room. As she reached the door, she stopped. Fluttershy was standing in the middle of the room, seemingly lost in thought, her face a deep shade of red.
Rarity entered the room and stood in front of Fluttershy. "Fluttershy, darling, are you alright?" Seeing no response, Rarity placed a hand on her shoulder, shaking her gently. "Fluttershy?"
"Rainbow!" Fluttershy said suddenly as she came back from her thoughts. This caused Rarity to step back, startled by her sudden outburst. Realizing that Rarity was standing in front of her, Fluttershy went red again. "O-oh, Rarity. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you. Are you okay?"
"I could ask you the same thing." Rarity replied. "What happened? Did Rainbow Dash do something?" Rarity watched quizzically as a flurry of emotions raced across Fluttershy's face at the mention of Rainbow Dash's name.
"Uh, no...well yes, but….I mean….nothing….really?" Rarity just watched, confused as Fluttershy's voice began to taper off. Taking advantage of the silence, Fluttershy stepped around Rarity, and left the room. Rarity tried for a moment to process her friends' string of strange behaviours. it was hard enough considering she was still trying to figure out what had just happened between her and Applejack. Sighing, she gave up, grabbed her bag by the bed and walked to the bathroom in Pinkie Pie's room.