Chapter Two: Distractions
"Hey, are you okay?" My eyes quickly found the ground as I reached out, taking her hand in my own. It appeared that she caught off guard by my weight as she tried to pull me to my feet, which led her almost falling on top of me. Fortunately, luck was on our side as she quickly regained her balance and I rose to my feet. Now that I was standing, I could see that I was a good foot taller than she was. It's not that she was really short, I just happened to be one of the tallest guys in Ponyville; I have puberty to thank for that.
I brought the side of a closed fist to my eyes, quickly wiping away my tears, "I-I'm fine." I croaked. As my eyes searched frantically for a distraction, I noticed that my little spectacle had attracted a few onlookers. Oh great.
"I can tell you're lying; I'm not stupid." My eyes snapped back onto the girl who now had a hand resting on her hip, "People who are 'fine' don't come running into town crying like a baby, and collapse in the middle of the street. You're not fine."
"Why do you even care?" I spat defensively, watching in mild aggravation as a thoughtful expression crossed the young girl's face, and she began to drum her index finger against her chin.
"Because... it's the right thing to do." I watched with curiosity as her face seemingly lit up with realization, before falling faster than a bit dropped from the top of Canterlot Castle. Her eyes —much like my own a few moments ago— had locked onto the ground below us. "Hey, my name's Diamond Tiara, by the way." She muttered.
"And my name's Spike. Uh... what are you doing?" I watched with a raised eyebrow as she shuffled awkwardly before meeting my gaze.
Our eyes stood locked for a few seconds before she turned away, "Hey look, I, like, gotta go. I'll see you around, or something." She took off in a fast walk, leaving me alone with my thoughts; thoughts of Rarity.
I needed a distraction, and fast.
"That's a load of crap and you know it, 'Bloom! Dash is way stronger!" I watched as my friend threw her arms up in exasperation. I had run into two out of three of the Cutie Mark Crusaders when I was wandering around town, —after I had showered and changed, of course— attempting to find some distraction or another. Now I was sitting in their club-house, watching them argue.
"Nuh uh, Aj is the strongest! Right, Spike?" I blinked as both Applebloom, and Scootaloo turned to me expectantly.
Talk about being stuck between a rock and a hard place."I think they're both pretty strong." Both 'Bloom and the chicken seemed unsatisfied with my response, eliciting a sigh from my lips.
"Ah didn't ask ya that, ah asked if ya agreed with me." Looks like I'm not gonna luck out this time... think, Spike, think!
"He just doesn't wanna hurt your feelings! Everybody knows Dash is stronger." Scootaloo smiled smugly, watching as Applebloom's face contorted in anger.
In an attempt to drop out of their conversation, I began to slowly wiggle away, "You know, I think I'll just go sit in that corner over there, that way, you two can do your thing and I won't get hur-"
"Oh no ya don't!" Before I could get very far, a hand grabbed the collar of my lavender shirt and pulled me back to the group.
"So what's it gonna be Spike? Applejack, or Rainbow Dash?" Scootaloo's cocksure grin had faded back to an expectant glare.
I scratched the back of my neck, avoiding eye contact, "Does this really matter?"
"YES!" They both shouted in unison.
"So I have to answer?" Ah, procrastination at it's finest.
"Stop delaying!" Clearly both Scootaloo and Applebloom were losing their already non-existent patience, which meant it was time for an answer.
"Alright, alright, I personally think that," They both leaned towards me expectantly.
"Yes?" They both asked in unison, leaning even further forward.
"If I had to choose between the two of them," I felt my lips tug upwards as they continued to lean forward.
"Yes?" Once again they spoke in sync.
"That Spike's the strongest." I chuckled as both of them face-planted on the floor.
It was a few seconds before they regained their composure and began to voice their protests. Applebloom was the first to speak, "Y'all are a jerk, ya know that?"
"What? I'm just telling the truth." I paused briefly, furrowing my eyebrows, "Hey, do you girls know where Sweetie Belle is?"
"Uh, yeah, she's back at Rarity's; said she couldn't make it today." I winced at the mention of her name.
"Oh." I could tell they were worried about my reaction, but I really wasn't ready to talk about this with anybody yet.
"Something wrong, dude?" Scootaloo had a brow raised in inquisition.
"Nah, I'm just thinkin' about some stuff." I lied through my teeth.
"Ya sure?" I nodded, and both of them seemed content to drop it.
I stood up, stretching as I made my way to the other side of the room to grab the bottle of water that I had brought with me. "So girls, I ran into somebody today," I looked over my shoulder to see them both looking back at me with curiosity. "I was wondering if you know her; she looks like she's about your age, so maybe you guys have class together or something."
"Alright, what's her name?" Scootaloo asked.
After a quick sip of water, I turned back to face them, "I think she said her name was like, Diamond Tiara."
"What?!" Both of them shouted, rising to their feet and glaring at me.
"Um, so do you know her, or not?" I chuckled nervously as both of them marched towards me with their fists clenched. Uh oh.
Scootaloo was the first to speak as she poked my pecs, "Oh, we 'know' her alright; she's made our lives a living hell for the last five years!"
"Yeah! She's that bully we're always tellin' ya about!" My eyes drifted over to Applebloom who looked just as worked up as her friend who was still poking me angrily.
"She's terrible!" My attention steered back to Scootaloo, who's poking was starting to irritate me.
"And mean!" I grabbed Scootaloo's hand and put it back to her side as Applebloom spoke.
As I looked up from her hand, Scootaloo spoke again, albeit more quietly, "Spike, promise us you won't hang around her."
"But, she didn't look so mean when we bumped into each othe-" I was quickly cut off by Scootaloo, who had went back to poking my chest to really drive her words home.
"Promise, Spike!" Jeez, I've never seen Scoots so worked up before.
"I uh... I don't know, Scoots', she really doesn't seem like a bad perso-" She cut me off again while Applebloom seemed content to simply watch in silence for the time being.
"She's bullied us for five years! If she 'doesn't seem like a bad person', how do you explain that? Huh?" I groaned as she decided to get all up in my face. Does she ever brush her teeth? Damn her breath stinks!
"Yeah!" Applebloom finally added.
"You know you can't tell me who I can and can't 'hang' around, right?"
"We can if we're savin' ya from a whole heap of disappointment." Oh, my heroes! That mean old girl was going to steal my wonderful pink dress!
"Is that right?" Irritation laced my words as I arched an eyebrow in mock curiosity.
"Seriously, Spike, we're just looking out for you." I turned my attention back to the girl in front of me.
"Look girls, I'm gonna head back home; it's getting kind of late, and I'm kind of hungry." I sighed as I made my way around them and towards the door.
"Don't say we didn't warn ya, Spike." I looked over my shoulder to see Applebloom staring at me, and Scootaloo still facing where I was standing a few moments prior. Deciding not to pay heed to her words, I opened the door and made my way out into Sweet Apple Acres, fully intent on heading back home and getting some well deserved rest.