//------------------------------// // Part Two: Miss Me // Story: Galley Alley // by The Red Parade //------------------------------// Every morning, Apple Split awoke to the sound of a whirring lawn mower outside of his window. When he had first moved to Galley Alley it had been annoying; he couldn’t fathom why anyone would need to mow grass with that level of frequency, or why anyone would start that early in the morning. But in the end he had gotten used to it, like the rest of Galley Alley’s residents. Apple Split sighed, rolling out of his bed with a yawn as the familiar buzz sounded outside of his window. He trotted over to the balcony, which was slightly crowded with potted plants and tree saplings.  Leaning over the railing, Apple Split glanced down at the wide alley which ran in between the apartment complexes. Two paths ran alongside the buildings, and in the middle was a small garden mixed with flowers, trees, and other botanical life. On one of the lawns, a green pegasus was pushing a lawnmower along the grass. Apple Split chuckled, watching him work. He grabbed a sheet of newspaper and crumpled it up before taking aim at the pegasus and tossing it down. The crumpled paper bounced off of the pegasus’ hat. He turned around to glance up at the balcony before locating Split. He took off his ear protection and waved. “Good morning, Split.” “All good, Greeny?” Evergreen shrugged, leaning against his lawnmower. “The usual, I guess.” “Always is with you, isn’t it.” “How’re the saplings?” Evergreen shouted back. Apple Split feigned shock, holding a hoof over his heart. “You don’t even ask how I am?! Do you care more about my plants than me?” “Do you want me to answer that honestly?” Apple Split laughed. “Come up here and I’ll show you.” Evergreen spread his wings and in a few quick beats flew up to the balcony while Apple Split ducked back inside to fetch a watering can. When he returned, Evergreen was crouched by one of the plants, holding a hoof to its leaves. “They’re healthy,” Evergreen said without looking up. “Are you going to take them back to the nursery?” “Tomorrow, yeah,” Apple Split replied as he tilted the watering can over a pot. “Got a fresh batch to lug back here. Hopefully I can get back in time to handle the stage setup for the concert!” Evergreen paused at that. “I see.” He stood up, moving to the other saplings. “Can you handle that by yourself?” Apple Split glanced at him, confusion wrought across his face. “Probably? Why? Are you going to be busy?” “I might be,” Evergreen replied. He offered nothing in addition, so Apple Split continued watering the plants in silence. Once he was done, he returned the can inside and fetched two glasses of water.  “Here,” Apple Split said, offering one to his friend.  Evergreen accepted it, sipping from the glass without meeting Apple Split’s eyes. Apple Split leaned against the railing, stirring his cup gently as a few thoughts crossed his mind. “So,” he finally said. “What’re you doing tomorrow?” Evergreen scuffed a hoof against the balcony’s floor and didn’t reply. “You seein’ a hot stallion?” “No!” Evergreen blurted, eyes going wide. “I’d never do that to you!” Apple Split held his hooves up. “I know, I know, just teasing you,” he chuckled. “But I can only really guess if you don’t tell me.” That got a sigh from him. Evergreen fidgeted with his protective goggles for a few seconds before he spoke. “The park’s looking for a new groundskeeper.”  Apple Split cocked his head in confusion. “I have to go interview for it,” Evergreen clarified. “Tomorrow morning.” “Oh. Oh!” Apple Split perked up. “That’s amazing, dude!” Evergreen slumped over, ears folding. “It’s not! I’d have to live on-site and move out of here.” Apple Split blinked. “Oh… Oh, I see. Well, that’s what you wanted, isn’t it? To be a full time groundskeeper?” “It… it was,” Evergreen confessed. “But that’d mean moving away from… you.” The silence returned as Apple Split considered this. A few birds flew past the balcony, chirping and whistling their signature fall songs. Around them the other residents of Galley Alley slowly began to stir awake, and within the apartment Apple Split could hear the creaking of hoofsteps on wood, groaning of pipes, and muffled voices behind doors. “Greeny, you probably won’t get another chance like that if you say no,” Apple Split finally said. “I dunno. Maybe. Groundskeeping isn’t very competitive,” Evergreen muttered half-heartedly. Apple Split reached out and put a hoof on his shoulder. “Well, sure, but nobody knows what tomorrow’s gonna bring.” Evergreen leaned back and closed his eyes. “Split?” “Yeah?” “If I go, are you gonna miss me?” A small smile fell upon Apple Split’s lips. “I miss you whenever you’re not here, silly.” “You know what I mean.” “Well of course I’ll miss you, but us Apples always find ways to make do. Besides, it’s not like we’ll never see each other again. You know where to find me and I’ll know where to find you.” Evergreen squeezed his hoof and nodded. “Yeah. I guess that makes sense. Thanks, Split.” The two stood and Apple Split pulled the pegasus into a hug.  Evergreen hugged back, nestling his head into Apple Split’s shoulder. Their ears twitched as they heard a faint giggling. Across the way, a trio of pegasi were watching them from their own balcony.  Evergreen blushed a little, but Apple Split just laughed. He leaned in and kissed Evergreen on the lips, drawing some  ‘d’awws’ from the pegasi. They held the kiss until Evergreen pulled away. “I should finish up, it’s going to rain later today.” “Yeah,” Apple Split answered. “I’ve got to get to the nursery too, then I’ve got a million things to do for the concert. Hey, good luck with that interview if I don’t see you tonight.” “Thanks,” Evergreen answered with a smile. “And get some rest! You look exhausted.”  With that, he hopped off the balcony and glided back to the ground. Apple Split watched him for a few seconds with a smile before he turned to re-enter his apartment. Evergreen woke up early the next day. Granted, he always woke up early, but the anxiety and stress had kept him up. With nothing else to do, Evergreen decided to leave the apartment.  The gardens of Galley Alley were sleepy, but the flowers and plant life welcomed him happily nonetheless. Evergreen considered getting a headstart on the grass before deciding that it was far too early for mowing. Besides, it would probably wake up Apple Split, and Celestia knew he needed his rest. Evergreen frowned, chewing on that thought as he walked out of the gardens. Apple Split had been working himself to near death lately, practically slaving over the concert’s logistics. As Evergreen turned out from the Galley Alley buildings onto the city streets he glanced up at the cherry-colored sky. He thought of Apple Split and the times they shared together: the warm dinners at the corner cafe, taking walks through the city, browsing the selection at Lilac’s flower store… A smile formed on his face as he stepped through some puddles. Apple Split made him happy. Apple Split kept him warm. Apple Split loved him. And he loved Apple Split. Evergreen paused on the corner, noticing a lightpost erected on the corner. Its surface had been covered in a series of stickers, with some of the colorations feeling familiar to him. As he trotted towards it, his hoof stepped onto a piece of paper. Picking it up, he realized it was an advertisement for the rooftop concert that Apple Split had organized. Evergreen ran a hoof over its surface, thinking of how Apple Split had stayed up late for nights on end working out the details, fueled by coffee, sheer determination, and Evergreen’s love. A smile tugged on the corners of his lips. He trotted over to the post to reattach the flyer with tape from his utility belt. But not wanting to cover any of the stickers, he ended up sticking it low to the ground, close to the base. The obscurity of it made him laugh.  Apple Split loved him, and he loved Apple Split. Evergreen spread his wings and began to fly home, his mind made up. The next morning, Apple Split awoke to silence. He sighed, listening to the pitter-patter of rain against the roof. A couple minutes passed before he extracted himself from the warm blankets and stumbled to his kitchen. As he fumbled with his box of teabags, he blinked blearily when his ear detected an unexpected noise. Apple Split opened the balcony door and stepped out, the rain not fazing him. Squinted, he observed a figure in a poncho down on the lawn: pushing a lawnmower back and forth. Evergreen turned and looked up at the balcony. He waved at Apple Split before turning off the lawnmower. “Interview done already?” asked Apple Split. “I didn’t go,” Evergreen replied. Apple Split blinked. “Really?” “I’m happy here,” Evergreen replied, gesturing to the buildings. “With you.” Apple Split blushed hesitantly. “Wow… but are you like, sure sure? I mean, I want you to do what makes you happy.” “Yeah, well you’re what makes me happy,” Evergreen replied. “Just… you put so much care into everything. I see how much you care about things like the concert and what you do for this place. And it makes me happy. It makes me want to give as much as you do.”  Apple Split blinked then laughed.  “Aw… I love ya, you big lug.” Evergreen replied with a salute. “C’mon up here when you’re done,” Apple Split replied as the sun began to peek out from behind the clouds. “I’ll make us hot chocolate.”