//------------------------------//
// Chapter 2: Hint Droppers 
// Story: The Story of 3 Hearts 
// by Flutterbat276 
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It had been a week since I let Jack through the TARDIS doors. I felt all bottled up at that point, like a paintball air tank full on compressed air or an over filled tire. I felt like all my thoughts would erupt out of me at one point or another. It was getting harder and harder not to tell the Doctor how I felt, but I stayed strong! I knew I had to tell somepony before things went wrong. "Carrot Top? No, she's a very bad drama starter. Octavia? No. She'd tell Vinyl, and Celestia knows what'd happen if the top DJ in 3 cities knew that!" I thought to myself. I considered telling Lyra or BonBon, but they would be all up in my business after I told them. "I could always tell Jack...he seems pretty trustworthy. And he knows the Doctor pretty well. Maybe he'll give me hints or tips on how to find out if he likes me back," I said softly to myself. "But what if I can't trust him?" I protested to myself. My inner thoughts were battling, throwing pros and cons at me like they were cannon balls. I couldn't let my emotions get the better of me. This must have been one of the things that happened while my true feelings were trapped inside of me. I decided that I would tell Jack about my crush on the Doctor, just to let it out. I couldn't just tell a pillow, it had to be a living being to get this stress out of me.

The next day I walked into the main area with a brown bag of fresh muffins. The Doctor and Jack were chatting as Dinky lay down studying the sleep spell. She had passed the auditions for advanced magic school and was now preparing for the academy. I asked if she wanted anything when I entered the room, and she simply shook her head. I let her be, cause I knew how much passing this exam meant to her. I walked over to Jack and Doctor and asked if they'd like any muffins. "Sure. I'd love one," said Doctor, smiling at me. I wondered whether it was a hint about something. "What were they talking about while I was gone?" I thought. "Was it about me?" That gave me something to ponder over during breakfast. I took this chance to ask Jack to meet me in the other room for a bit after he ate his muffin. He nodded, having had a mouthful of blueberry muffin. I waited in the other room and popped back out. The first thing I heard was "I can't tell" come from Doctor. I pondered what that could mean. Did it mean he can't tell me something? Was it important? I couldn't tell. Doctor turned when I tripped over a ball Dinky had played with. His ears were down against his neck when he saw me, which wasn't a good sign. He ran over to help me, asking me if I was alright. I nodded and walked over the Jack asking him if he could hurry. "Welp, if you'll excuse me Doc, I gotta take care of something right quick," said Jack, getting and walking into the room. I left seeing Doctor start to help Dinky with her studying.

"So, what's wrong? Anything happen?" Asked Jack. "N-nothing's wrong...just..." I stammered, quite nervous. My words almost slurred together, and I talked faster than any normal pony would. Jack noticed this and sat down, wrapping a wing around me as if to comfort me. Man did I wish that it would be the Doctor! I calmed down a little bit, and after a moment or two I regained my posture. I believed I could tell him at that moment. "T-thanks Jack. Your a good friend," I said, smiling slightly as the pegasus beside me closed his wing. "No problem, Derpy. Now, what's on your mind?"

I told him everything, I could feel this emotion tank being drained slowly, which made me even more calm and collected. I knew this was the right thing to do, and I couldn't be happier to say anything. I felt relieved, less stressed, and overall, glad to let it all out. "Do you get it now?" I asked. "I...I suppose so. I guess that you just needed someone...pony...to tell it to. Now, as for some tips on how to go about  letting him know, get him in the mood, or drop a few hints. It helps so much!" Jack said, giving me a few bits of advice. I was glad he was doing this, listening to me. Almost like a shrink or something. He listens, then gives me advice on how to handle my problem. "Thanks for listening to me, Jack. I don't know how much longer I could've held my emotions in like that," I said, a slight smile etched into my face. I knew everything would be alright from there. With the upcoming gala, I could easily ask him to go with me. Even if he said no, I'd have jack to take with me, as a friend.

I decided that the first step to drop a hint is to make something he loves. I dreaded this, but I knew it'd be better off this way. I would make English muffins. I shuddered every time I heard this, but I looked up the recipe while Jack and Doctor were walking around in Ponyville Park. They said they were going to the gazebo for a bit to sightsee over the edge of the hill it sat on. I passed that place every time I delivered mail to Fluttershy. I always saw a couple under the canopy of the gazebo. It was beautiful, perfect for dates and such. I would daydream about me and Doctor sitting underneath that canopy those couples would kiss under at sunset. I fantasizes over it so often that I usually bump into a tree on the way up the hill that Fluttershy's house sat on. Sometimes a pony would stare at me, then walk off with a snicker. I wanted to yell out saying that it isn't my fault I daydream about my crush, but I resisted the urge to.

After about thirty minutes, I took out the muffins and set them down. They didn't look exactly like the picture, but it was close enough. I put some butter down on the table and the tray of English muffins on the counter. I set out a few plates, my apron swishing around all the while. I knew they'd come through the doors any moment. I asked Dinky to come into the kitchen for a moment. "Coming mom!" She called from the main area. She ran in levitating a book on magic spells, a princess Twilight bookmark was inside it, somewhere in the hundreds no doubt. "Try this new recipe I made for daddy," I said to Dinky. She was confused but her magic caught hold if the spoon in my hoof. She ate the muffin chunk off of it and a look of delight was spread on her face. "I love it!"

"I knew you would. Now here you go," I gave my filly a few English muffins, butter spread on top. She took them into her room, along with her books to study once more. "She really loves learning doesn't she?" I asked myself.

Then, I heard hoof steps in the main room. Doctor ran in, obviously smelling the English muffins, with Jack right behind him. Doctor's mouth was agape as I set the plates of muffins in the table. He was speechless.

A few moments later, we finished up and I washed the dishes. I blushed as Doctor came up to me and started helping. He leaned closer to me, and it seemed as if he'd rest his head on my shoulder, but to my surprise he whispered to me, "Thank you, Ditzy. You are one of the best companions I've ever had." With that, my heart raced. I felt the sudden urge to tell him how I felt. I just said "Thank you," and let it be. I regretted that so much. I loved him more than any pony, and I had the opportunity to say something. I thought of the way he said it. He said it sweetly, not like he would to any pony else. Was he taking a liking to me? Did he love me back? So many questions fought for attention in my mind, my heart nearly drowning out the commotion. I was probably red as a tomato when Doctor laughed at something.

"W-what is it?"

"Oh, nothing really. Just your face is quite a pretty shade of red now," he snickered.

"W-what? No it's not!" I protested trying to hide my face. I lied. I knew I was blushing very badly.

"It's alright, Derpy. No reason to feel bad about a bit of blush," he said that as if he knew what it was like. Then I noticed that his face wasn't the brown it always was. Between his eyes and nostrils and down to his cheeks was all red. I smiled at this, thinking that maybe he liked me too.