Velvet Step hummed to herself as she pranced down the halls of Canterlot Academy. Her wandering eyes enjoyed the sight of pretty mares and handsome stallions all around her. While her friends seemed to only have an interest in stallions, Velvet found herself pleasantly aware of what both sexes had to offer. Mares were soft, and the shiny lip gloss that most tended to wear seemed so inviting. On the other hoof, the idea of a stallion's strong, sturdy forelegs wrapped around her sent shivers up her spine.
Though she had yet to really enjoy the company of another pony in a more intimate way, that didn't stop her from daydreaming, which she did frequently. She gave a quick shake of her head to clear the heated thoughts and instead focused on navigating her way toward the gymnasium. Today, she had tryouts for a spot on the cheerleading club.
There were a few stallions waiting in line outside the gym for their chance to make the team, but primarily she was surrounded by mares. Sweet-smelling, lithe, athletic mares—just her type. Velvet smiled at her fortuitous spot in line; she stood behind one particularly gorgeous mare, her mane woven into several overlapping braids and her tail perked to show off her equally perky rump.
Velvet sighed happily. Canterlot Academy was such a wonderful place.
However, right then was not the time to be distracted. She cleared her throat and lifted her head to force her gaze away from the cute little butt in front of her. What was the cheer again? Wondercolts something something yay? Perhaps she should have studied more, but that would require her to care enough to put forth the effort. All of this was just for fun.
Making the team didn't really matter to her, but having fun did. She'd already tried out for several of the exclusive clubs to no avail. She was no good at sports, though she did enjoy the post-tryout locker room showers. Water dripping from perfectly fit bodies...
She rolled her eyes. What happened to focusing? She was only two ponies away from showing off a cheer, which meant she didn't have much time to come up with something that looked remotely like she had paid attention to the cheers and not just the cheerleaders. Maybe she'd throw in a few ballet moves for good measure. Those looked impressive to most ponies, right?
When it was finally her turn, she moved across the floor on the tips of her hooves. Ballet had given her enough grace and poise to make a statement when she walked, and she relished the attention on her. Of course, they were really just waiting for her to begin a demonstration of the cheer and couldn't care less how she walked, but it was nice to pretend otherwise.
---
"'Wondercolts something something yay'?" a voice asked from behind Velvet. "Really?"
Velvet closed the gym room locker and turned to face the voice's owner. It was that curvy-rumped mare from before. She was just as pretty from the front, and the faint scent of honeydew melon perfume radiated from her. Velvet licked her suddenly dry lips. "Yup. Turns out that wasn't right."
The mare just stared for a moment, disbelief plastered on her face. "Why the hay did you try out if you didn't even know the cheer?"
Velvet replied with a shrug. "I dunno. For fun?"
"Is this just some kind of game to you?" The mare frowned. "Some of us are trying to start our careers here, you know."
Pretty rump, pretty face, pretty perfume... not so pretty personality. Or maybe it was just because Velvet had upset her and she was normally a very nice pony. Right then, Velvet wasn't sure the personality part mattered, though. The mare's lips sparkled with glittery lip gloss and Velvet wondered what it tasted like.
She had also forgotten the question. There was a question, right? Emerald eyes were staring at her expectantly, so there had to be one. "Uh, sorry?" She grinned lopsidedly.
The mare snorted. "Seriously, I don't know why I even bothered. You didn't make it, thank Celestia. I guess I just hoped you had a better reason than 'uh, sorry'." She scrunched up her nose and started to turn away. "My mistake."
"Wait, I—" Velvet had to stop her. She had to make amends so she could ask her on a date or something. That was what ponies did, right? Go on dates? It sounded unnecessary when all she wanted to do was kiss her, but if that's what it'd take, then she'd try it out.
Unfortunately, the signals got crossed somewhere on the way to her hooves, which she had intended to use for simply grabbing the mare by the shoulder. Instead, Velvet grabbed her, tugged her back, and kissed her right smack on the lips.
Cherry. Her lip gloss tasted like cherry.
The mare pushed against her and sputtered for a moment. "What—I—you—" She sneered, her wits returning. "What the hay is wrong with you?!"
Velvet swallowed. "I'm sorry, I didn't—"
"Don't even talk to me!" she shrieked, slapped her hard across the face, and pivoted on her right hindleg to run out of the room.
"Wait, I—"
The door to the locker room swung shut, and the sound echoed somewhat ominously in the otherwise empty room. Velvet's ears drooped and she slumped back against the lockers. "Idiot," she muttered under her breath. She sniffed and rubbed at her eyes that stung with embarrassed tears, then hugged herself and glanced around to ensure nopony had seen what just happened. To her bittersweet delight, she was alone.