Chapter 2
The next morning, my eyes opened slowly as the morning light gleamed through the window. My mind was still numb from sleep and it took me a couple moments to finally wake up. I sat up and stretched, rubbing my eyes a little bit and looking around the room. Twilight’s house was a little stuffy but I didn’t mind too much.
I turned to look at the other occupant in the bed. She was still asleep, facing my direction, her bangs slightly covering her face. I smiled softly. Seeing the usually-hyper and always-ready-to-go athlete in such a peaceful state was a rare sight. She and Pinkie were a lot alike in that manner.
Getting up, I brushed my hair out with my fingers and walked over to the mirror. I looked back at the green-eyed blonde staring at me and sighed. “My life sure is getting crazy lately…”
I heard Rainbow Dash move a bit and I looked to my right. She lifted a hand to her face and exhaled, then lowered her hand and looked at me.
“Morning,” I snickered, amused at how tired she looked.
“Who’re you talking to?” she asked, her voice thick with sleepiness.
“Oh, um, myself,” I replied, smiling sheepishly.
She suddenly sat up and groaned, attempting to fully wake up. She got out of bed and stretched, then turned around and smiled at me.
“You’re weird, AJ,” she teased and walked out of the room.
I followed behind and saw that Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie were already up.
“Oh, good morning Applejack and Rainbow Dash,” Fluttershy smiled sweetly.
I smiled back brightly. “Mornin’, ‘Shy.”
“Twilight and Rarity are still asleep,” Pinkie said in her usually excited tone. “We’ve been waiting for everyone to wake up!”
I looked at the clock on the wall. It said 8:12. I was usually up and picking apples by seven every day.
“Hey, I’m sorry everyone but I’d better get going,” I said. I didn’t feel the need to explain why. I figured everyone would know anyway.
“Aw, that’s too bad but okay!” Pinkie said. “I’ll tell Twilight you had to go!”
“Thanks, Pinkie,” I smiled.
“See you later, AJ,” Rainbow Dash said.
I felt bad leaving first but things had to be done. It was apple season and things were really busy around the farm. I really couldn’t waste any time.
After a thirty minute walk, I arrived at Sweet Apple Acres and happened upon my brother who was picking apples.
“Mornin’,” he said when he caught sight of me.
“Mornin’! I’m not too late am I?”
“Nope. Did ya have fun last night?”
“Sure did,” I replied. “I’m gonna go get changed, okay? I’ll be out in a sec.”
A quick change of clothes and an apple for breakfast later, I headed outside and wandered over to where my brother was to help him pick apples. We usually didn’t talk much when we were working— not to mention that Big Mac didn’t talk much anyway. Being around him was nice though. As I picked, I thought about the past, smiling at some of the memories Big Mac and I have shared.
I lost myself in my work, and most of the entire day, apart from the quick lunch break, consisted of me and Mac picking apples. As the sun began to set, I looked at the orchard and smiled with content at our progress.
“Wooee!” I exclaimed, wiping a bead of sweat from my brow. “I’d say today was a pretty darn good day of apple pickin’.”
“Eeyup,” Big Mac replied back, nodding once in approval.
We carried the last of the baskets toward the farm and set them down inside, heading inside the farm house afterwards where Granny Smith had just finished cooking dinner.
“You two look exhausted,” she said. “I made a big ol’ dinner just fer you!”
I chuckled. “Thanks Granny. I can always count on you for making sure we don’t go hungry.”
Needless to say, the dinner was delicious. Weary from the hard day’s work and sluggish from my full stomach, I headed off to bed to finally end the day. I hadn’t closed my eyes for even ten seconds before I fell completely unconscious.
~ ~ ~
“Steeeeriike!” Pinkie screamed, making me whirl around in anger.
A couple days had passed and all of us girls were outside playing a game of baseball. We hadn’t exactly planned for this— it was just another random activity Pinkie brought up and we decided to go with it. Naturally, Rarity wasn’t playing and instead fanned herself as she sat on the bench, complaining about how hot it was.
Fluttershy was out in left field, cowering in fear that the ball would come towards her. Rainbow Dash was waiting in line to bat and I, of course, was up to bat. Twilight was pitching and Pinkie was the catcher/umpire, but to me that only meant basically having my right ear being blown out every five seconds by her screams.
Due to the lack of people fit for a real baseball game, we had invited a couple of our friends over as well— mainly guys. I wasn’t too familiar with any of them; they were friends of Pinkie and Rainbow Dash. Two of the boys were out in the field with Fluttershy, waiting for me to hit a ball. The other guy was on our team, waiting in line with Rainbow Dash.
“Pinkie! Stop screamin’ in my damn ear!” I yelled and turned, only to see another baseball come flying towards me.
Pinkie caught that one as well. “Strike two!”
I gritted my teeth and stared at Twilight, ignoring Pinkie.
“Come on AJ! You can do it!” Rainbow Dash yelled out. I felt myself blush a little bit. She was watching me and cheering me on. Now I had to do it.
Twilight prepared to throw the ball and I gripped the bat tighter, preparing. She threw the ball and I waited for just the right time. Now! I thought and, with all my might, swung out at the ball.
Something hit the bat and it took me a moment to realize that I had actually managed to hit the ball. I stood there for a couple moments, unsure of what to do as I watched the ball go speeding past Twilight.
“RUN APPLEJACK!!” Rainbow Dash screamed from behind me.
I started and then quickly dropped the bat, sprinting towards first base. As athletic as I was, I hadn’t really played baseball much in my life so I was still a little clumsy on how to do it. I looked to my left and saw one of the guys preparing to throw the ball to the one on first base. I pushed my legs to go faster and then, right as the guy on first base was about to catch the ball, I skidded to a stop and touched the base.
I breathed a huge sigh of relief. Safe.
I looked towards the home base and saw that the other guy on our team was up to bat.
Twilight threw the ball and the guy swung, missing it by a hair.
“Strike one!” Pinkie yelled.
The guy shifted his feet and prepared for the pitch. Twilight threw it once again and he swung, hitting the ball and sending it even further than mine had.
I reacted quickly, knowing that I had to run as well. I powered through, speeding towards second base. I looked to my right— I still had time!
“No! Stay on second base!” I heard Rainbow Dash call out.
I stopped quickly, going back a couple steps to stand back on second base. With the other guy safe at first base, they had no one to get out so they threw the ball back to the pitcher.
I looked at third base, knowing that I could have made it. Whatever. I guess it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Rainbow Dash was up to bat next and she emphatically did a couple stretches, a proud smirk on her face. I couldn’t help but smile faintly. Out of all our friends, Dash and I were definitely the most athletic ones, something that brought us even closer together. We were always competing against each other. Although we did butt heads often, I don’t think it ever tore us apart in any way. We were both just naturally competitive.
She grabbed the bat and bent her knees a little, focusing on Twilight. Twilight got in her stance as well, suddenly throwing the ball quickly towards Dash.
Swing! I thought right as the ball was within hitting range but Dash didn’t move a muscle.
“Strike one!” Pinkie called.
What are you doing Dash? I tried not to stress myself out about it but she was our only batter left. Everything relied on her!
Twilight threw the ball again and my heart skipped a beat as it cut through the air. Rainbow Dash suddenly lashed out and, with a huge crack, the ball went flying through the air. I stopped and looked up for a moment, in awe by her amazing hit.
“Run!” the guy on my team yelled.
“Ha! No need to!” I heard Rainbow Dash’s voice call out.
“Damn! Home run!” Twilight said, narrowing her eyes angrily at the ball.
I jogged to home plate and Rainbow Dash jauntily skipped to each base. The guy on our team laughed and joined me at the home plate.
“Yes, you’re welcome,” Dash said and bowed to us once she reached the home plate as well.
“That was awesome,” the guy said. “I think it’s safe to say we’ve won this game.”
I side-glanced at the guy, distrust gleaming in my eyes. The way he looked at Dash… I could tell he liked her. A flare of jealousy ran through me but with a defeated sigh I decided to forget about it. Of course he liked her. Who wouldn’t?
“I gotta say, that was pretty amazin’,” I said as well, flicking her on the shoulder playfully.
The rest of the game went by fairly quickly. Twilight’s team didn’t do all that bad with batting but in the end they only managed to get one point. At the end of the game, we were all tired and sweaty but we forgot about who won and just chatted as friends again.
I talked idly with Pinkie Pie, still jokingly scolding her about how much she screamed in my ear. But something caught my ear while I was talking to her.
“…so do you want to go to the movies with me Friday?”
It was the guy who had been on my team and he was asking none other than Rainbow Dash.
I couldn’t turn my head but my heart sank to my stomach when I pictured Dash’s face in my head, smiling brightly and her cheeks slightly red from a blush.
“Yeah, that’d be awesome!” she replied back.
“Great! Here’s my number.”
A small silence passed between them as, I assumed, they exchanged each other’s phone numbers.
“Listen, I’ve gotta go pick up my little bro’ from his soccer tournament so I’ll see you then?”
“Yeah, totally! I’ll see you later!”
I hadn’t even noticed that by now I was staring at the ground with wide eyes, utterly ignoring the rest of the world around me.
“HELLOOO?” Pinkie’s high-pitched voice interrupted my thoughts. I looked up, snapped out of my trance as Pinkie waved her hand vigorously in front of my face.
“Sorry,” I chuckled.
Soon the rest of the boys had left, leaving us girls as one group. We were about to part ways when Rainbow spoke up, a boastful smile on her face.
“Guess who’s going on a date Friday night with Clad?” she said and all the other girls’ eyes lit up with excitement.
“No way! Nice one Rainbow!” Twilight said.
“Yeah, he’s a total cutie!” Pinkie Pie said.
I felt sick to my stomach. I don’t even think it was from the jealousy anymore though. It was probably from self-disgust over the fact that I was getting jealous of ‘Clad’ to begin with.
“Well, I’m gonna head home you guys. I think Big Mac wanted me to help him out with something,” I said and started walking away. I didn’t want my friends to be around me when I was in a bad mood. They didn’t do anything to deserve it and I’d rather not hurt anyone’s feelings.
I didn’t turn around to look but I assumed that the rest of the group went their separate ways after I left. I was about halfway home when I heard footsteps coming up behind me. I turned around and saw Rainbow Dash approaching me. I stopped and she stopped too to catch her breath.
“Umm, hey. You okay?” I asked, with one eyebrow raised.
She straightened up and looked at me with concern. “Are you okay? You seemed bothered by something when you left to go home.”
I looked at the grass, unsure of how to answer that question. Should I tell her the truth? “Y-yeah, sorry. I guess I’m just jealous,” I chuckled sheepishly and scratched my head.
Dash looked taken aback. “Jealous? Of me?”
Sort of…
“Yeah, right! Applejack, you’re so pretty you could get any guy you wanted!”
I felt my face instantly flush and I looked at her in surprise. “Y-you really think so?”
“Of course,” she said, smiling widely.
“Well, thanks RD,” I breathed and looked down shyly.
I looked up at her and swallowed my nerves. “Do you want to hang out sometime? Just you and me?”
Rainbow Dash snorted a little in laughter, her eyes twinkling light-heartedly. “It sounds like you’re asking me on a date, Applejack.”
I snorted back and put on a sarcastic face. “In your dreams. I’m just saying, we haven’t hung out together in a long time, just the two of us.”
“Yeah…” she said back slightly distantly. “Alright then. How about we do it just like old times and have a good old fashioned contest?” She smirked and winked at me.
I smiled wryly. “You’re on. Swimming contest at the pond?”
“Oh, you’re so on,” Dash said, flashing a cocky smile.
When we were younger, Dash and I happened upon a pretty big pond in the meadow near my house. It seemed no one knew about it so we made it our little hangout spot. We always had contests over there, especially swimming contests. The winner was constantly fluctuating— I was a strong athlete from all the years of working around the farm, but Dash was just one of those girls who was naturally good at sports. Any contest or race between us would end up being so close that we never really did know who the winner was. In the end, it all came down to who yelled the loudest to prove their point. Good times…
“How about Sunday afternoon?” I proposed.
“Definitely!” she said.
By this time, I was feeling a whole lot better than I was earlier. My previous knot of jealousy and depression was replaced with the familiar light feeling of happiness— and of relief— and the smile on my face no longer felt forced. I felt so good, in fact, that it didn’t even bother me to ask what I was about to ask next.
“So about your date with that guy, Clad?” I suggested, hoping she’d get my hint.
“Oh, yeah! I’m so excited!” she said, a huge smile instantly lighting up her face and a slight tint of pink shading her cheeks. “Ugh, I hate sounding like such a girly girl but I haven’t been on a date in forever.”
I chuckled slightly, somehow understanding her glee. “I’m right there with ya, sister. I can’t even remember the last time I went on a date.”
The worst part is that I wasn’t even lying. I think the last time I’d gone on a date was in the early months of my sophomore year, which was just under two years ago. I guess it didn’t help that I wasn’t really looking for a boyfriend either. But right now, even if somebody did ask me out, I probably couldn’t bring myself to say yes. Not when the only person I would be thinking about was the one standing next to me right now.
“Hey, I have an idea!” Rainbow Dash piped up, interrupting my thoughts. “I could ask Clad if he has any hot friends; I’ll totally hook you up. We could have a double date!”
I smiled a little, though it didn’t sound all that great to me. “Heh, maybe Dash.”
A small silence passed between us, but not the awkward kind of silence. Dash and I had been friends for so long, I don’t even think it was possible for there to be an awkward silence between us. We both listened to the sounds of the night around us— I hadn’t even noticed that it was now dusk—, calmly walking side by side towards my house. Pretty soon, my house came into sight.
“Well, I guess this is where we split,” Rainbow Dash said softly, as if hesitant to disturb the tranquility of the night.
“Alright, I’ll see ya tomorrow Dash,” I said, giving her a soft smile.
“Bye,” she said and started to walk away.
I turned and walked the rest of the way towards my house. It didn’t take long and the outside air felt nice. Nighttime air was always perfect here in summer. I closed the door once I walked in the house and saw the rest of my family at the table for dinner.
“Oh, hey there, sugarcube, we just finished eating supper. I was just starting to get out the apple pie,” my grandma said. I smiled in amusement. I loved the way she spoke. Her voice was the epitome of an old person’s and the wrinkles on her face suggested just the same. But I loved her to death. And she made the best apple pies.
I sat down at the table, eyeing the apple pie on the table. “Yum! This looks delicious.”
“You don’t want to eat supper first?” Granny Smith asked.
“Nah, I’m not really all that hungry. I will take a couple bites of this pie though.”
I’d had countless delicious apple pies in the past and the ones made from Granny Smith always tasted equally amazing. It’s hard to say what was the best piece of pie I’d ever had, but with these pies it really didn’t matter.
I sunk my teeth into the soft yet flaky apple pie, and after five bites of pure heaven, I had to put my fork down. As incredibly delicious as it was, it wasn’t exactly healthy to only eat loads of pie for dinner.
I got up and stretched, followed by a quick rinse of my plate. “Thanks, Granny. It was delicious as always.”
I gave her a kiss goodnight and headed upstairs where I took a shower and finally tuckered down to sleep. I thought about Rainbow Dash, of course, but this time it wasn’t entirely about her. Rather, it was about my recent, well, obsession with her. Why had I become so infatuated with her, now of all times? Was it just a phase? I remember hearing somewhere that well over fifty percent of teenage girls question their sexuality. Could I just be questioning myself?
Ugh. This was too much thinking. I rubbed my eyes roughly, exhaustion beginning to drip over my body. As my body entered sleep mode, my mind began thinking astray. Maybe that double date idea isn’t so bad after all. I’ll have to take you up on that offer Rainbow Dash. Date with Rainbow Dash… Wait, who’s dating who again?
I was too far gone at this point to even make sense of myself. But by the time I finally faded into sleep, I didn’t even remember those final thoughts that I had.