//------------------------------// // Chapter 6: Night and Day // Story: Street Dreams // by DJDJ //------------------------------// Adagio did eventually wake up to the sound of loud music, squealing tires and roaring engines. Adagio looked around having just woken up, she was confused as to where she was. When she was more awake, it hit her. “What are we doing here?” I smirked at her “I had time to think about it, if I’m your only friend, I’m the only one who can help.” Adagio grinned at me but I was too busy picking out who to race to notice it was more of a smirk. I arrived at the starting line, lined up with another car, A light green sports coupe emblazoned with a gold lightning bolt. I turned to Adagio and asked “So whats up you want to tag along or what?” She opened her door and looked at me with her sultry eyes. “I’ll be fine to just watch, but…” She leaned in and grabbed my chin and gave me a long tender kiss on the cheek. “…for good luck,” She giggled softly as she stepped out, I watched her sway her hips as she made her way to the crowd, then turned my attention to the girl standing between our cars. The same blue girl with silvery hair and a cape, whose name I learned was Trixie, pointed at me, then to my opponent. When her hands dropped I dropped my foot on the gas. The other car struggled for traction at first, giving me an immediate advantage. Once the other car’s drive wheels had a solid grip on the ground, the driver started closing the gap. Before she could even get neck and neck with me however, my turbo was wound up, and was dumping 40psi of oxygen into the fuel mixture. I let that other driver eat my dust on the quarter mile, unlike normally however, instead of flying off into the night, I stuck around to collect my two bills. I went on to make money winning even more races for a few more hours. Adagio cheered me on from the front of the crowd all night until I decided to call it a night. Adagio climbed back into the passenger’s seat and I took her home, driving like a maniac. I parked in front of her house and took a good look. “Not bad for three hungry girls,” Adagio opened her door, turning on the dome lighting “Well ever since we lost our magic, it’s been an effort to keep it,” She held out her hand to me and sighed playing the damsel in distress “We’re going to need all the help we can get, just to get by,” I reached into my pocket and pulled out a stack of cash I had won from racing. I counted out $300 and put it in Adagio’s palm. She turned to me with a smirk on her face “Really? For me? Are you sure?” Before I could pocket the rest of the cash she swiped another $100 and pocketed all $400. She grabbed my face with both hands by the cheeks, I resisted and she ended up kissing just to the side of my mouth. When she did, my resolve melted and I let myself enjoy the feeling of her tender lips. She looked at me seductively and ran her hand gracefully down my face. “I’ll be calling you soon cutie.” She winked at me and and climbed out of the car, she closed the door behind her and I rolled down the tinted window to get a better view of her hips which she was no doubt swaying for my benefit. When I arrived home late in the night, my dad was not up waiting for me. Even when I turned the hallway lights on, the house was still and quite save for the gentle humming of the fluorescent lights. I grabbed a snack from the fridge and dumped myself onto the sofa to quietly watch some TV and wind down from today’s events before going to bed. Adagio really knew how to push my buttons. I knew she was trouble but against my better judgement I decided to give her the benefit of the doubt and not blow off her and her friends all the time anymore. The next morning when I got up and came down stairs, my dad was finishing his breakfast. He caught my glance and spoke up “You were out late last night.” “You were in bed early last night.” I hastily retorted. “Applejack’s been good for you. I’m starting to think I don’t have to worry about you getting yourself into trouble all the time anymore.” “Thanks for the vote of confidence I guess.” “Just hate for you to throw away something this good. I know how hard you’ve been taking this whole thing.” It irked me that he was tip toeing around the subject. “What whole thing? Come on say it old man.” My dad sighed “Your mother, I know you’re still hurting about losing your mother and I’m sorry.” “Don’t try to guilt trip me with Moms, we both know that’s all on YOU,” I was fully facing him and without realizing I’d taken an aggressive stance. “Whats it to you who I hang out with old man?” My dad looked down at the table and held his forehead with one hand. “I’m trying to look out for you. I don’t want you to do something stupid.” “Yeah I wouldn’t want to do something stupid and kill someone else you love,” I pointed at him accusingly. He stood up abruptly and raised his voice at me. “You’re my son, you’re all I’ve got left.” “And you have no one to blame for that but yourself.” I snapped. My dad started outright shouting at me. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry, I messed up, I’m sorry your mom died. I’m sorry my wife died. There hasn’t been a single moment that I didn't wish I could turn back the clock…” I noticed tears start to well up in my old man’s eye. “…but I can’t,” He shrugged. I decided he’d had enough, and frankly, I’d had enough too. Without another word I left to go for a drive. I choked back my tears until I got out to my car, I rested my head against the steering wheel and let a few tears stain my cheeks. After a minute I sat up and wiped them off, then reached for the passenger’s sun visor and grasped the picture of me and AJ. I read the message on the back “AJ loves you.” Having calmed myself down I replaced the picture and the visor. I started the car and made my way around, driving calmly and carefully. Before long I realized I had put myself on track to Sweet Apple Acres. On the way, I spotted the construction sign then inevitably the torn up patch of road. The bump was rough but I wasn’t going fast enough to lose control this time. After a few more feet I saw the tracks I left when I spun off the road the other day. I didn’t slow down or even take much time to dwell on it. I simply sighed and kept driving. When I arrived at Sweet Apple Acres, I parked by the farmhouse and stared at it, thinking of what happened yesterday and how AJ would feel about it. I knew I should tell her I hung out with Adagio, but I really wasn’t sure if I should go into much detail on what happened. She’d probably be furious if she found out I was racing and I don’t think she’d be too happy about how handsy Adagio was. I was snapped out of my deep thought by Applejack emerging from the house and making her way to my car. I rolled down my window, she leaned into the opening and rested her arms on the door. “Well ain’t this a nice surprise.” She beamed with an eager smile on her face. I smiled back as best I could. “Pretty surprising for sure,” I motioned for her to get in next to me. As she came around I rolled up my window and AJ climbed in next to me. We leaned into each other for a strong embrace “So whats good AJ?” I said trying unsuccessfully to mask my mood. We unwrapped our arms from each other but AJ held onto my hand. “Everything alright Sugarcube?” I sighed and looked down, still unsure how much of yesterday’s happenings I should disclose to her. After a moment I looked back up at AJ and smiled meekly. I squeezed her hand and mumbled “I’ll be fine.” I know she didn’t believe me and I didn’t care, she just held onto my hand and kept smiling at me. “So what’d y’all get up to yesterday? Had a chance to spend time with the Dazzlings yet?” I nodded and told her that is was just me and Adagio yesterday, we had a late lunch together and I told Adagio why I transferred to CHS. I told AJ we just hung around for a few hours and she told me what life was like for them now that they’ve lost their magic. Then I lied and told AJ I took Adagio straight home. AJ kissed me on the cheek and squeezed my hand. “I’m proud of y’all. It sounds like they really been needin someone to open up to.” She let go of my hand and cracked her door open. “Well, I got chores what need doing. You’re more than welcome to stay and keep me company.” I opened my door and we both stepped out of the car. “Am I welome to stay and help?” I smiled at AJ. She jabbed my shoulder playfully as I followed her to the barn. “I know you’ll ignore me if I say ‘no’” I bumped her shoulder back and she let out a giggle. The day was spent with Applejack working the fields, I learned that she was as strong as at least three of me. Together we had finished all of her chores in time for lunch with the family. I’d just about had all the apple pie I could take, when Granny Smith put more at my place. I smiled earnestly at Granny “Oh I couldn’t possibly take another bite.” “Nonsense…” Granny pinched my arm. “…you need to build up some meat on those bones, poor child ya look like ya been skippin meals. Don’t you fret young man Granny Smith will have you fit as a fiddle in no time.” She chimed, stacking even more apple based treats in front of me. AJ who was still sitting next to me despite her brother and sister having already left, chuckled at me and Granny. “Come on now Sugarcube, Granny just wants to make you big and strong.” She teased holding up an apple fritter to me with a smirk on her face. I smiled back and started munching on the fritter. No doubt all of Granny Smith’s apple concoctions were the best, but I just couldn’t eat another bite. Finally AJ and I convinced Granny to let me leave the table under the condition that I take the leftover treats with me and that I didn’t leave the farm until I’d finished them all. AJ and I retreated to her room, with Granny’s treats, so I could recover from the afternoon’s eating. I groaned as I lay down on AJ’s bed with a full stomach. “Go on without me AJ, I’ll only slow you down.” I waved at her lazily. She chuckled and took a seat next to me on the bed. “You should be takin drama with Rarity.” She mused as she stroked my hair. AJ then lay down next to me and rested her head on my chest. I wrapped my arm around her to hold her close. She reached for another apple treat and held it up to my mouth. When I reluctantly took a bite she put it back and sighed, happily enjoying the gentle rise and fall of my chest. The afternoon continued with me snacking and eventually AJ had fallen asleep. I looked at her smile as she lay on my chest and rubbed her back slowly. I absent mindedly reached for another apple treat but to my relief, they were all gone. I sighed and laid back triumphantly, my stirring apparently woke AJ. The first thing she did was look up at me with a perfectly content smile, eyes half open. I gazed into her eyes with a similar smile, after what felt like years, I lifted the plate that was stacked with treats when we got to her room to boast that I had eaten everything. She giggled as I put the plate back down on the bed “Guess this means you’re ready to go hm?” I turned over and wrapped my other arm around AJ’s back and lost myself in her welcoming emerald eyes. I leaned in and kissed her firmly, savoring the feeling of our lips perfectly locked together. I took in her aroma of apple cider then unlocked myself from her lips. Immediately, I let myself get lost in her eyes again but I could still find words. “I don’t think I’ll ever be ready to go,” I mumbled in a low breathy voice. “Aww, you’re too much,” She cooed as she rested her ear against my heart. We were both content to stay in each other’s arms until we were woken up by Granny Smith calling us to supper. We made our way downstairs hand in hand and took our seats next to each other with the rest of the family. Granny was happy to see me still around and happier still to hear I finished my desert from lunch. Dinner went by, sitting close to AJ and listening to Granny Smith tell stories and of course home cooked food. I insisted on helping Granny with the dishes despite thinking she intended for me to explode by making me eat all those apple treats. She got to telling me more of her outlandish but amusing stories. Eventually the subject got to Applejack. “You know Applejack lost both her parents just after her little sister was born.” I glanced at her as we kept up work on the dishes. “Made her sour as a lemon it did,” She said in her sweet creaky voice. “Didn’t last though,” She began to smile. “The three of them together picked each other up and dusted each other off. We always had each other, and that’s always been enough for us.” I could feel a smile creep across my face as well. “Applejack told me bout what happened, how come you started going to school with her. You poor thing,” She pinched my cheek with a soapy latex glove. “Must’ve been feelin all by yer lonesome this whole time.” Granny Smith pulled me into a strong hug. “We’d all be happy to have another apple in our little bushel.” “Thanks Granny Smith,” I hugged her back “Moms always said I was good at finding my own way.” “Now why don’t y’all run along now. I bet your pappy could use his family.” She let me go and patted my shoulder. I met AJ outside by the barn where she was strumming on her bass. When she saw me, she rested her guitar against the barn and rushed to embrace me. We kissed briefly “I gotta bounce AJ. Thanks for lookin out for me, I should get back to my pops I got some apologizing to do.”