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// Chapter II: Making Eye Contact 
// Story: NOT Doing Harmful Things to Your Waifu: Rainbow Dash 
// by kildeez 
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“What’re you doing?”

Dammit!  I did it again, only this time, I got caught.  Three months into my stay in Ponyville, and my feelings for the Element of Loyalty haven’t abated.  Shit, I’m so freakin’ embarrassed…I wanna just crawl into a hole somewhere and curl up and die…

But then, I notice the light in her eyes, the tiny smile curling up the corners of her mouth.  I remember the near-laughter in her tone when she spoke, giving a little quavering quality to her voice.  I relax.  “I dunno,” I shrug.  “I could be challenging you to a staring contest.”

“Oh, izzat all?”  She puts down the Daring-Doo book she’s been reading and turns on her side, facing me.  That competitive fire ignites in her eyes, and just like that, I can’t look away.  It’s mesmerizing.  She locks her gaze on mine with the accuracy of a bomber pilot from back home.  “I gotta warn ya, I don’t lose.  Period.”

“I know,” I reply with a nonchalant little shrug.  Hopefully, it disguises the utter chaos twisting my insides.  Her eyes stay on mine, and I don’t dare look away.  If I look away, that’ll be it.  I’ll lose my bravery and back down again.

Okay.  It’s now or never.

“Hey, Rainbow Dash…you think we could…go out sometime?”

She blinks.