Blooming love
Chapter 11 - The sleepover
As the sun began to set, Apple Bloom, Rumble, and Dinky eagerly awaited your arrival at the CMC clubhouse. Your mom had just dropped you off and given you a quick goodbye before trotting away. You and your friends exchanged excited glances as you hoisted your sleeping bags and pillows into the cosy clubhouse.
After a few rounds of "Pin the Tail on the Pony," "Musical Hay Bales," and "Simon Says," the group settled in for a game of Truth or Dare. You decided to go first and chose truth. Scootaloo, always the curious one, asked: "Who's your crush?"
Your face turned a bright shade of red as you hesitated, trying to come up with a clever answer. But before you could muster up a response, you felt your legs start to tremble and your voice begin to quiver. You knew you were about to embarrass yourself in front of your friends.
"Uh... um... I-I don't know!" you stuttered, your face growing even redder. "I mean, I like... uh... all of you guys, as friends!"
The group erupted into giggles and teasing, with Rumble playfully boasting, "Oho! So you're a pony of mystery, huh?" and Dinky chiming in, "Aww, you're so cute when you're all flustered!"
Feeling embarrassed but also relieved that the truth was out, you decided to make a break for it and escape to the bathroom. As you ran out of the clubhouse, you heard the group laughing and chattering behind you, their voices growing fainter as you locked yourself in the bathroom. As you sat on the toilet, staring at your reflection in the mirror, you couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness wash over you. You had been crushing on one of your best friends, Apple Bloom, for as long as you could remember, but you had never mustered up the courage to tell her how you felt. You knew that if you did, it could potentially ruin your friendship and make things awkward.
Just as you were starting to feel yourself tear up, you heard a knock on the door. "Hey, it's me, can I come in?" Apple Bloom's voice called out from the other side of the door.
You quickly wiped away any traces of tears from your face and unlocked the door, revealing Apple Bloom standing there with a concerned look on her face. "Hey, what's wrong?" she asked, noticing your sadden eyes.
"I-I'm just feeling a little down," you stammered, trying to play it off as nothing serious.
Apple Bloom stepped forward and gently placed a hoof on your shoulder. "Hey, it's okay. If you're not ready to tell me who your crush is, that's totally fine. I just wanted to make sure you're doing okay."
Her words of comfort and understanding made you feel a sense of relief wash over you. You realized that you didn't have to be alone with your feelings, and that you had a friend like Apple Bloom who would be there for you no matter what.
"Thanks, Apple Bloom," you said, smiling weakly. "I'm just feeling a little overwhelmed, that's all."
Apple Bloom smiled back and gave your shoulder a gentle squeeze. "It's no big deal. We don't have to talk about it if you don't want to. But if you ever do want to talk about it, I'm here for you, okay?"
You nodded, feeling a sense of gratitude towards your friend. "Okay, thanks. I appreciate it."
With that, Apple Bloom gave you a quick hug and said, "Come on, let's get back to the clubhouse. We can talk more about it later if you want."
You nodded and followed her back to the clubhouse, feeling a sense of comfort and support wash over you. Maybe with time, you would be able to muster up the courage to tell Apple Bloom how you truly felt. But for now, just knowing that she was there for you was enough.
As the night wore on, you and Rumble lay in bed, the soft moonlight streaming through the window and casting shadows on the walls. You were both quiet, lost in your own thoughts, when suddenly you felt a flutter in your chest. You couldn't help but whisper in Rumble's ear, "Hey, can I tell you something?"
Rumble's eyes flickered open, and he looked at you with a hint of surprise. "Sure, what's up?" he whispered back.
You took a deep breath before blurting out your secret. "I have a crush on Apple Bloom," you said, your heart racing.
Rumble's expression changed from surprise to shock. "Whoa, really?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
You nodded, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness. "Yeah, I know it's kind of sudden, but I can't help how I feel," you said, your voice trembling slightly.
Rumble looked at you for a moment before nodding slowly. "I won't tell anyone, I promise," he said, his voice filled with sincerity. "But are you sure you're ready to tell Apple Bloom? She might not feel the same way."
You hesitated for a moment before nodding. "I know, but I have to try," you said, your determination evident in your voice.
Rumble nodded in understanding. "Okay, I'll be here for you, no matter what," he said, his voice filled with kindness.
You both fell back into silence, the weight of your secret hanging in the air. But as you lay there, you couldn't help but feel a sense of relief that you had finally confided in someone. You knew that you had a long way to go, but with Rumble's support, you felt ready to take the first step towards confessing your feelings to Apple Bloom.
The night wore on, and you both drifted off to sleep, the moonlight casting a soft glow over the room. You knew that the next day would bring new challenges, but with Rumble by your side, you felt ready to face anything that came your way.