You were pretty silent as you completed your job. Being the only Pegasus there it was relatively easy to gather up the branches into one pile. Soon enough you had a rather large stack all bound and ready to go. The only issue was of course….
“Um,” came the familiar voice you had been avoiding the entire job, “I’m sorry but could you help me pick up my branches. I thought you were doing everyone’s so a got a bit carried away and only bucked my trees.”
To Cheerilee’s credit she had not come to you and mouthed off at you. But at the same time you didn’t feel right looking her in the eye. You had not apologized and your throat caught just thinking about it. “Sure,” was all you could muster out as you flew to where Cheerilee’s area.
The work really didn’t take very long with your speeds. The bigger issue was that you would miss a twig or two and there was so much you sometimes dropped a few before getting them in a proper pile. Meaning you had to double back. All the while you stayed focused on the task at hoof and didn’t give Cheerilee a chance to say anything. But as expected, you eventually had to take a rest thanks to moving full speed all the time, and it was then she took advantage.
“Listen,” You heard Cheerilee say as you finished up. “I know I was being a bit pushy before, but I just really wanted the best for you. I still think what you have with Rainbow is unhealthy, but it wasn’t my place to tell you what to do. You are not one of my students, you are-were a friend- and I’m sorry.”
That did it, wither it was Cheerilee’s plan- it was in the back of your mind- or not you had to retort with, “We are friends.” You craned to finally look at her, “That is, if you’ll still be mine.”
“Of course,” she responded with a small smile. “What do you say during the storm you stay over at my place and we can actually hang out for once?”
You thought about it, it would be better than spending time alone in your own place with no food and nothing to entertain you but a book you’ve read too much of. “That sounds like a good idea. I just-“
“What exactly are you doing here?”
Your blood turned cold for some reason and you had no idea why. It was as if a spike of fear had been jammed into your neck but you really didn’t have any reason to fear that quite familiar voice. Well outside the fact that if she was as mad as that tone really portrayed you’d be fired.
Your mouth was dry and you could not turn to see her, which was unfortunate since Cheerilee had decided to talk for you.
“Oh we were just going to head over to my place for the storm Rainbow Dash.” She seemed to look between you and the mare you could feel staring daggers at you. “Um, you are free to come over too if you want. The more the merrier.”
“Yeah yeah sure,” Rainbow answered grabbing your shoulder and spinning you around. “What I still wanna know is why you started without the rest of the team and decided not to stick around when we showed up?”
Mouth still glued, Cheerilee continued. “Oh he was just helping me with gathering branches is all. Look I can see that you and him need to talk so…. I’m just gonna go get everything ready at my house. Feel free to stop by when you’re done.”
Rainbow’s eyes stayed locked on yours as she waved Cheerilee off. “Yeah Yeah sure sure. Now how about you explain things to me in your own words.” Still nothing, but lucky for you a much more suitable set of ponies came to your aid on this one.
“Well howdy Rainbow,” called Applejack trotting up to the two of you. “I see y’all ere here to take back your little boyfriend.”
“He’s not my boyfriend,” Rainbow snapped.
“Well well well,” commented Rarity as she leaned into her lover’s neck, “me thinks that the lady doth protest too much.” The two mares had a good laugh as Rainbow Dash snorted.