So, this is what it's like to have everyone's eyes on her.
Rainbow unconsciously squeezed Soarin's hand as they entered the cafeteria.
Soarin glanced at her. This wasn't the usual confident and cocky Rainbow Dash he knew on the field. This Rainbow Dash was nervous; she didn't look too happy with being the centre of attention- which was unlike her. He could tell she was trying to keep her cool, but it was slipping.
"Hey, Cap?" he said softly.
"Y-Yeah?" she replied in the same tone.
"It'll help if you focus only on me," he smiled. Rainbow Dash looked uncertain, so he gave her a playful smirk. "I just so happen to be the hottest person in the room, so it wouldn't be too hard."
"Who says you are the hottest person in the room?" Rainbow quirked an eyebrow.
"The hottest person in the world, of course," he answered as if it was an obvious fact.
"And who's that?"
"Me, duh."
A chuckle escaped from her lips and just like that she felt the chattering and the point all ceased to exist. She had to admit, Soarin had a way to make her forget about everyone else except them.
The shock from her own thought, made her blink. Why was she thinking so sappy? Nevermind. Soarin also somehow brought sappy narration in her head too.
He joked all the way, which she was guessed was to make her feel at ease. It worked too. Not even the shocked looking Spitfire mattered to her nor Trixie Lulamoon who took a photo of them.
"Shall I carry your lunch tray, Sunshine?" he asked as if all that wasn't enough.
Rainbow wasn't even able to reply, because he took the tray from her hands. It was only at that moment, he had let go of her hand.
Rainbow followed him shyly to where he was heading. He was going to the Rainbooms' table.
The Rainbooms sat there with a shocked state. Even though, they- except Fluttershy- knew about their charade, they didn't expect them to reveal they were dating so soon.
Soarin placed both the lunch trays on the table and sat- well, only after pulling Rainbow the chair to sit.
Rainbow sat right across Fluttershy who was looking at her with mouth wide open.
"H-Hey guys," Rainbow smiled. She took a deep breath. Now was the time for step 2. Her stomach churned in guilt.
Rainbow surprised Soarin by gently taking his hand in hers.
"Um... I know this might come out as a shock to you, but... Me and Soarin are dating," she said. Soarin took this as his queue to squeeze her hand.
Time seemed to have slowed down for Rainbow. Her eyes were only on Fluttershy. She saw her eyes widening ever slightly before her lips formed into a huge grin.
"I'm so happy to hear that, Dashie!" she exclaimed. Rainbow and the rest of the Rainbooms took a sigh of relief; Fluttershy somehow bought it.
The shy caretaker, in fact, was over the moon, as she leaned across the table to bring Rainbow to an embrace.
"You took look really adorable," she smiled.
"Thanks," Rainbow swallowed.
Fluttershy let go of her and looked at Soarin. "Please don't hurt her. Rainbow is the most sweetest girl I know."
"Sweet?" Soarin wheezed. Rainbow elbowed him hard. Soarin coughed. "Of course. You have my word," he gave her a sweet smile.
Applejack was sending daggers at Rainbow. She was still against the idea of Fluttershy being deceived like this.
Truthfully, telling Fluttershy the truth seemed to be the better option. At least there wouldn't be any guilt. But, the thought of even the chances of losing their friendship... That was what scared her.
"Um, if you two don't mind," Fluttershy started hesitantly. "I would love to know about your story."
Rainbow was having an internal panic attack. They hadn't discussed that yet. Can this get any worse!?
"I'd like to know the same."
And it just did.
Zephyr Breeze stood there with his arms crossed. He gave Soarin a scwol before turning his attention to Rainbow.
"Rainbows, you don't have to go that far to make me jealous," was what came from the delusional prick's mouth.
"Make you jealous?" Rainbow scoffed. "Zephyr, what are you even talking about?"
"Awh, c'mon, Rainbows," he said in that annoying tone Rainbow loathed. "Why were you two even holding hands?"
Soarin wrapped his arm around her shoulder. "I didn't know I needed your permission to hold my girlfriend's hand."
Zephyr Breeze's mouth hung open. "GIRLFRIEND!?" he screamed. He closed and opened his mouth a few times trying to form but what came out was a "What!?" and "When!?"
"Since yesterday," Soarin said flatly.
"B-But, Rainbows, you don't even like him do you!?" Zephyr asked.
"Zephyr, I'm in a relationship with him," Rainbow said trying to keep herself calm. "Take a guess."
"Are you doing this grab my attention, Rainbows?" Zephyr asked, which sounded more like a statement. Rainbow couldn't believe how more deluded could this guy get. "Either way you two don't look good together."
Before Soarin or Rainbow could give a proper reply back at his statement, Fluttershy stood up. There was a dangerous aura emitting from her.
"That's it. You've embarrassed me enough," she said in a voice that wasn't soft. It sounded like even Fluttershy was fed up by his antics. "I can't believe you'd say something that awful," she scolded her younger brother.
"But, Sis," he whined.
"I don't want to hear any buts." It wasn't the usual pleads she would say, this was as a command. Giving Soarin and Rainbow an apologetic, she said, "I'm really sorry for his behaviour."
"No prob," Rainbow said. Soarin gave her a thumbs up.
With that, Fluttershy dragged Zephyr Breeze out of the cafeteria, still very much scolding him.
The second they left the Rainbooms bursted into a fit of giggles. Except Rainbow who sat there glued.
"You alright, Crash?" Soarin rubbed her shoulder.
"Y-Yeah," Rainbow said in a shaky breath.
"Told ya, Fluttershy can handle Zephyr," Applejack commented.
"I don't think that's the last of him," Rainbow said.