As yet another long, tiresome day of track comes to a close, Rainbow Dash, the team’s star runner, packed her gym bag and was ready to head home. Her mind continued legging laps around the course, reimagining herself destroying the competition over and over again. The locker room was damp and quiet, not a soul but the rainbow haired girl, closing up her locker with a click. The rest of the team had left about ten minutes ago, including the coach, which left the star athlete alone for the time being. Not minding the solitude, she closed the metal door behind her, walking her way down the vacant halls.
The late evening sun peered through the overlooking windows, casting shadows down the corridor. It would be dark soon, and last she needed was another scolding. Picking up her pace, she took notice to the light pitter patter of footsteps from around an isle of lockers. Curious as to who could possibly be here at this hour of day, she went to a halt, waiting for the intruder to turn the corner.
A pale faced boy presented himself; a tan jacket clung to him as the stripped pattern of his sleeves stood out in the evening sun. His backpack dangled haphazardly, swaying back and forth. He wore a look of true… nothingness. His face was still as stone, emotions unable to depict.
Rainbow stood still for a moment, watching as he edged his way further down the hall, growing closer and closer towards her. She didn’t recognize this boy, and that was strange. She knew just about everyone, so a new face was normally welcoming. But this boy looked anything but welcoming.
He slowly raised his drooped head, staring a dead look into the girl’s magenta irises. “Hey,” he said; his voice hoarse.
“H-hi,” replied Rainbow, rather stunned by his macabre entrance, “I’ve never seen you around school before, what’s your name?” Her look of confusion vanished and was replaced with a warm smile.
“I’m Toby, I’m new here,” he said, his face and tone slightly brightening.
“Well, welcome to Canterlot High!” she cheered, “My name’s Rainbow, Rainbow Dash.” She stretched out a hand, awaiting his shake.
Toby had completely lost what once stood as his forlorn attitude, smiling a warm grin. “Rainbow Dash…” he said, repeating the name, “That’s a nice name.”
“Meh, nothing special,” she giggled, hiding her flattery. The two shook as Toby scanned the girl before him.
“Your hairs really nice,” he said, meekly.
Not used to such fawning, she couldn’t help but release the slightest blush. “Oh, well, thanks.”
“You on the track team?” Toby asked, noticing her gym bag marked with the track team insignia.
“Oh, yeah, I am. Fastest on the team,” she bragged, poorly holding back the hubris that bubbled within.
Toby placed a hand under his chin, wearing a sly grin. “You’re the fastest, huh? Bet you can’t beat me in a race.”
Rainbow froze up for a second, surprised by such a sudden, yet daring choice of words emanated by the boy before her. “Is that a challenge?” she growled.
“Perhaps.”
“You. Me. Track. Now.” she demanded, “if you think you can just beat me in a race, you’re gonna have to prove it.”
“Fine by me, hope you’re a not a sore loser.” He stifled a chuckle before walking past Rainbow, heading for the track. “You coming?”
Normally an attitude such as this drove Rainbow into a spiral of annoyance, yet something was different about this boy. Something… daring.
Something… awesome.
***
The track circled itself around a football field, overlooking the quiet freeway below. The warm autumn air grew still as leaves slowly fell one by one. Everything wore an orange tint, the sky, plants, even the field.
Rainbow stood in her lane, taking in the weather. “Hurry up!” she shouted down to Toby, still trudging up the stairs. He didn’t respond as he slowly made his way towards a lane. He flung his backpack off to the side. “You gonna take your jacket off?” Rainbow asked, confused.
“Nah, I always wear this,” he said, eyes locked on the red pavement before him.
“You’re loss,” she shrugged, doing a few stretches before preparing herself. “Whoever gets a full lap around the track first wins, got it?” she said sternly.
“Yeah, yeah,” Toby yawned, looking down at his invisible watch, “let’s just get this over with.”
No matter how arrogant, Rainbow couldn’t find the nerve to feel mad at him. His rudeness wasn’t true, just playful, and she could tell with ease. She respected that.
“All right, on my mark,” announced Rainbow, bending downwards in starting position. Toby still stood upright, staring up at the sky.
“3,2,1, GO!”
Rainbow darted down the track, not having the time to look back at her opponent. She assumed she was winning, not able to hear the footfalls of Toby from behind. She wore a look of victory, even though she was only a quarter way down the track.
Suddenly, the echoing bangs and running feet quickly picked up from behind her. Toby whizzed by her like a bullet, cutting through the air as if molding it to his advantage. Rainbow watched in awe as he passed the finish line. She was only halfway-round the track. She slowly walked back to him, watching as he sat back on the bleachers waiting for her.
“Where’s the drugs?” she asked.
“Huh?”
“The steroids, where are they?”
Toby let out a laugh. “Aint’ no pills, just talent.”
“Where the hell did you learn to run so damn fast?!”
“Cops.”
“Huh?”
“Yeah, I run from them a lot.”
She couldn’t help but chuckle, “You’re crazy, man.”
“I know… I know.”
***
The two walked down the darkened streets homebound, not a car to be seen. A few street lights flickered under a dying bulb, crickets chirping from beyond the tree line. “Man, my mom’s gonna kill me,” groaned dash, adjusting the strap of her gym bag.
“What, little girl got a bed time?” Toby mocked, letting out a chuckle.
“HA HA, very funny. But seriously, I’m gonna have to do the dishes for a week.”
“That’s not too bad, at least you got your pretty hair to keep you company.”
Rainbow giggled, “Enough with my hair already!”
“Ok, ok, jeez,” he laughed.
A heavy silence befell the two of them before Rainbow broke it. “You know, you’re a pretty cool dude, Toby.”
“Meh, I’m nothing special.”
“You kidding!?” she yelled, “Your fuckin’ awesome!”
Toby looked up from the pavement he walked over,” Really?”
“Sure, you’re crazy fast, you’re funny, you’re cool, you’re—“ Rainbow cut herself off, noticing how long she had been rambling, turning red from the embarrassment.
“You really mean that?” Toby asked, coming to a sudden halt.
A long pause settled for a moment. “Yeah… yeah I do.
“You know, Dash, I got to tell you something too.”
“What’s that?” she asked, raising a brow.
“I… I don’t think we should—,“ Police sirens suddenly cut through the still wind like a hot knife through butter.
“Shit!” Toby yelled, grabbing Rainbow by the arm and pulling her into an alley between two wooden fences. She didn’t have time to react as he pressed his hand against her mouth, silencing her as the police cruisers zoomed down the road.
After being freed from Toby’s grasp, Rainbow gasped for breathe. “Toby, w-what the hell is going on?!”
He stared her in the eyes; a look similar to the one he wore when they first met. “Rainbow, I need you to listen to me. When I told you about running away from the cops… I wasn’t joking.”
“What!?”
“Listen!” he snapped, “I don’t know how they found me so quick but… I have to go.”
“T-Toby, what’s going on?! I-I don’t understand.”
He rested his hand on her shoulder, his stare growing deeper. “I need you to go home, forget you ever met me before. I wasn’t supposed to grow attached to anyone, cause I knew this kind of thing would happen. But Rainbow… I think you’re an amazing girl.” He planted a soft kiss on her lips before backing away.
Rainbow watched silently as Toby reached into his bag, pulling out a mouth guard and pair of orange tinted goggles. He slipped on the two disguises, now obscuring most all his face. “I’ll see you,” he said before hopping the fence, jumping his way from roof to roof till he vanished within the woods beyond.
Rainbow sat still, looking on, not knowing what to think. She had met this Toby, she was told to forget about him, but she couldn’t. Though the two would never cross paths again, she couldn’t help but feel something strong for the criminal she had grown so close to over that one afternoon.
The criminal named Toby.