When we arrived at the farm, Applejack’s brother was out, her sister was at a friend’s house and it was just her dear sweet grandmother at home. Granny Smith sat us down on a bale of hay smiling into a camera. “Hold good and still now, we want to gets it juuust right.” Granny Smith wanted pictures of Applejack with all of her friends for her “Apple family scrapbook”. Granny looked at us through the camera’s lens, “Don’t be shy young man, scooch in she don’t bite.” I obliged and even dared to put an arm around Applejack’s shoulder. AJ looked at me briefly with a smile, then back to the camera. “Oooohh isn’t that just the sweetest dern thing I ever did see.” Applejack and I couldn’t help but blush and the picture was snapped.
Midafternoon came around, it was just us hanging out sitting against the barn, Applejack was playing her bass guitar and I was content to enjoy the sunshine and listen. Just as I was about to fall asleep, Applejack’s voice filled the air. “So how come y’all moved out here in the first place?” I opened my eyes carefully and looked up at Applejack, I always thought she was cute, lots of the girls at CHS are somehow, but seeing her in the fading afternoon light, guitar across her lap, with a curious look on her face. That was something else.
I sat up and replied “Well…Pops and I had to move away because…” The content disappeared from my face as I tried to elaborate on why I moved to CHS. Eventually I found myself staring at the ground in front of me, I almost forgot Applejack asked me a question. “…Moms died in a car accident…about a year ago. We…” I shook my head at the ground in silence. “We couldn’t stay.” I sighed and sniffled, doing my best to hold back the tears welling up in my eyes. AJ set aside her bass, she scooched closer to me and put an arm around my shoulder.
“I’m so sorry to hear Sugarcube. I know what you feel.” I looked up revealing my face had been streaked by a few tears, but I still hadn’t given up holding them back. I wiped some from my eyes and asked.
“You do?” She nodded and wrapped her other arm around me in a sympathetic embrace, an embrace I was happy to return. Her touch was gentle and sympathetic, but her grip was strong and reassuring, a cowgirl’s embrace.
“Me, Applebloom, and Big Mac, well…ma and pop are long gone. Us and Granny Smith though, we still got each other, we’re still family.” With my face on AJ’s shoulder, I finally decided to surrender to my grief. After a few minutes I composed myself, I tried to dry my eyes but as soon as I raised my head, AJ was dabbing my eyes dry with a handkerchief which smelled faintly of apples.
“Thanks Applejack, I been so preoccupied, I didn’t realize how much I needed a friend.”
It was only 9 PM when I arrived home, as usual there was Pops waiting to see what kind of trouble I was in today. Although, he definitely didn’t expect me home so early. “Well were they already giving out tickets when you got there or what?”
I huffed and rolled my eyes. “I was just out with a friend Dad, relax, I didn’t go crazy.” I tried to go to my room but he grabbed my arm.
“I’m not stupid. Just remember, next time you get caught, I’m destroying that car.” I ripped my arm free from his grip and glared at him, then turned to go to my room to fall asleep at a reasonable hour.
At lunch time the next day, I was set on sitting with my beautiful new friend, my drop dead gorgeous “friends” however, had other plans. “There you are. Adagio’s been looking ALL. OVER for you!” Sonata chirped at me, and before I could protest, I was being yanked to the Dazzlings’ table. Having been warned about them, I yanked my arm from Sonata’s grip only to be then gripped by my shoulders from behind.
“No worming your way out of this one pretty boy.” Aria huffed. Forcibly sat down, I found myself across from Adagio, her chin resting on her intertwined fingers staring seductively at me.
“Thank you for finally making time for us, your dearest friends. We missed you soo much.” She feign pouted and her two friends sat on either side of me.
I glared at the two of them and demanded. “What do you want from me?”
Adagio played angry. “Hmph. Every time we try to hang out with you, you always think we have some Ulterior motive…”
“You DO always got a ulterior motive.” I interrupted, folding my arms in an effort to keep them away from my other two “friends”.
Adagio chuckled “Well, since you brought it up, the girls and I…we’re a little short on cash. I’m sure a handsome chivalrous young man like you would just LOVE to help these damsels in distress.” She blinked softly at me, probably an effort to further entice me. I admit, that compliment about being handsome was pretty nice, although clearly insincere.
“Forget it, nothing I can do.”
For some reason this made the two girls to my sides giggle, until Adagio gestured for their silence. I stood up to try and walk away but the girls on either side of me gripped my shoulders and yanked me back into my seat. “Oh we happen to know there is something.” She layed both her palms on the table and slid them across, leaning into me. She purred to me “We know all about those games you play. You boys and your toys. We also know how much cash changes hands.” She reached a hand out to me while one of my hands was reached out to hers thanks to Sonata. Adagio wrapped her fingers around mine and held them less than an inch from her lips. This time, I didn’t dare resist, she had me completely captivated then whispered. “All we want, is just a cut of your winnings. A pittance really, just to keep us hungry girls off the street.” Well, I somehow wouldn’t feel right leaving them out to dry. Maybe I can win a few dollars for them to last until they can stand on their own. Adagio backed off and gracefully released my fingers. “Just think about it. Go enjoy your new best friend’s company.” She cooed and like magic, with her out of my face, I was thinking clearly again. No way will I help them, not after what AJ told me and especially not after the way they make me feel manipulated every time I talk to them. I’m wise to their game.
The days went by, Applejack and I have grown even closer. With her sister always having slumber parties with her friends and her brother at the races which I’ve all but given up on, and Granny Smith always in bed by 4:30, it’s usually down to just us. We spend a lot of time on the farm together, though today I wanted to do something different. I brought my car to an aggressive halt, locking up my brakes in the last few feet. “This is me.” I smiled at Applejack and she smiled back. I tried my new house keys on the front door, finding out it was unlocked, letting myself and Applejack in. “Hey Pops.” I shouted from the hall, with AJ close behind. I grabbed her wrist and led her to the kitchen and called out again. “Pops, I got a guest.”
My dad emerged from his room having just got home from work. “You’re home early.” He remarked before pulling me into a hug.
“You sound disappointed.” I quipped. “Dad this is AJ.” I gestured to my cowgirl friend. My dad reached out to shake her hand and was surprised by her vigorous cowgirl greeting.
“Name’s Applejack, a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”
“A pleasure Applejack.” My dad looked at me “Shes pretty and she got you home before nine.” I could feel my cheeks turn a light shade of red and I could tell AJ was holding back a giggle fit. My dad pulled out some cash and handed it to me. “We’re running low on leftovers, why don’t you go pick up a pizza for dinner.” I pocketed the cash and pulled out the keys from my pocket, twirling them around my index finger.
“Sure thing Pop.” I was out the door leaving AJ and my dad alone together. It wasn’t long before they could hear me start my car and drive off.
My dad sat AJ down at the kitchen table with him and sighed. “You dating my boy?” He asked.
“No sir.” AJ folded her arms acting unmoved by my dad’s bluntness and my dad followed up.
“You in love with him?” Applejack looked at the ground bashfully.
“I guess maybe I got a teeny tiny school filly crush on him.”
My dad smiled. “All the same, I’m glad he’s got someone like you to spend time with.” AJ looked confused.
“How do you mean like me?” My dad rested his head in one of his hands.
“Someone who keeps him out of trouble. Someone who cares. Feels like he can barely stand to look at me anymore.” My dad sighed deeply.
“Your sons a mighty fine young man. He’s a delightful person to be around, and we at Sweet Apple Acres, well, I like to think he’s part of the family.” Applejack smiled warmly at my dad.
I returned pizza in hand, seeing my dad and my best friend already around the table. “Hope y’all are hungry.” I chimed setting the pizza down in the middle of the table. All through dinner I noticed AJ would look at me thoughtfully. I didn’t think anything of it until we sat down to watch a movie afterward. When I sat down next to her on the couch, she leaned into my shoulder. Now I knew something was up, unsure of what else I could do, I put my arm around her shoulder and rested her head against my chest. She fit beautifully under my arm, and by the end of the movie we were both losing sight of the waking world. We sat up and looked at each other with half open eyes. I was resting my hand on her back, and she had a hand on my chest. “You look tired, I’ll take you home.” She nodded and took one of my hands in hers and I hoisted her to her feet.
I was careening down the road to AJ’s farm, I could tell she was nervous but she wasn’t panicking or holding on for her life and I was so sure I had everything under control. The road was level with flat plains stretching out on both sides of the road. I was cruising at a buck twenty, I smiled at AJ and she smiled at me. Then I noticed an orange sign on the road, of course I was going too fast to read it but then I saw in front of me, a patch of the street was torn up, I braced myself against my steering wheel and clenched my teeth but before AJ knew what was happening…THUD! I wrestled with the steering wheel trying to keep the car pointed forward while my wheels struggled to grip the road. The car was swinging violently from side to side and the tires screamed out in pain, I tried to look at AJ, and I could see her panic, frantically reaching for something to hold onto. I could barely hear her scream over everything else, soon the tires gave up and we went into a spin which took us off the road narrowly missing a light post.
We spun to a stop having torn a trail in the field, AJ and I took a minute to catch our breath. I punched the steering wheel a few times and rested my face against it, feeling ashamed. AJ must be furious with me. I could have killed her, I ALMOST killed her. I was choking back tears when I felt AJ’s reassuring hand on my back. I dared to look up at her and instead of outrage, I saw compassion in her eyes. This only made it harder for me to hold back my tears. Who am I kidding, shes Applejack, I don’t need to hold anything back from her. She took me in her arms again as I let go. “I’m so sorry AJ…” I shook my head. “It’s so stupid. Stupid to risk you and everything else for nothing. I just don’t know what else to do anymore.” AJ let me cry into her shoulder a while longer.
When I calmed down she rubbed her hand on my back and in a soft voice said “Come on now, why don’t y’all get me home. Theres something I want to give you.” I sniffed back the last of my tears and nodded.
Thankfully, my car was still in working order, so I set off for Sweet Apple Acres, much more cautiously this time. When we arrived AJ put a hand on my knee and insisted “Wait here.” I watched her disappear into the farm house, when she came back out she jogged to the car and I turned on the map light. She climbed in with a pen in one hand and a picture in the other. She started writing something on the back of the picture and I leaned over to try to see what, but my vision was obscured and she didn’t take long to finish. She offered it to me and I took it between my thumb and forefinger.
It was the picture Granny Smith took my first time on the farm with AJ. I couldn’t help but smile with my mouth slightly agape in disbelief. I look up at AJ appreciatively and she motioned for me to turn it over. On the back, she had written “AJ loves you.” My smile slowly grew wider. I couldn’t help but shake my head “Nah, you gotta be foolin me.” I showed her the message and she shook her head with a hopeful smile on her face. My smile shrunk down to be the same kind of hopeful smile as hers and I looked at the message again, then back to AJ. “For real?” She nodded, I put my hand over my mouth still in disbelief. Of course I had a crush on AJ, shes beautiful, kind, and best of all shes my best friend. I never thought she would feel like this, it’s definitely a welcome feeling. While all of this is running through my head, I can only imagine AJ is dying to the anticipation to know how I’ll respond.
“I love you too Applejack.” I smiled at her, still in disbelief, I could see her cheeks turning red. I leaned over and pulled down the passenger’s sun visor. I slipped the picture into a band which would hold it in place. Still leaning into her, I looked back down at Applejack. She closed her eyes and slowly started leaning into me. I leaned in closer and closed my eyes, until our lips met. They fit together like pieces of a puzzle, AJ planted her lips firmly against mine, in a way only she could. I could feel everything else…go away. No school, no Dazzlings, it was just…us. It only lasted a few seconds, but it felt like forever and it was enough to get me hooked. For a few minutes, we sat, staring into each other’s eyes, I gently caressed her blonde hair, more of a mane really, and I rested my hand on her cheek. She took my hand and held it to her face, all was right with the world.