Where'd you go?

by sonaria


Hot Chocolate and Gossip

'Lunch.. could have gone better I suppose,' the fashionista thought to herself as she watched Mrs. Harshwhinny write on the board and lecture the class. She wasn't really paying attention, but even if she wanted to it would be way too difficult. Her mind could barely stay focused on one of her own problems let alone the problems countries faced centuries ago.

'You shouldn't have rushed out like that. It must have left them with even more concern,' she scolded herself, 'they are not going to let this go..'

The girl's eyes widened slightly when she remembered they all had plans to meet at Sugarcube corner after school. Not only would they probably press her with questions about lunch, they would be pressing her for answers right in front of her problem: Applejack.

With a light smack, her forehead landed on her desk in defeat. It's hard enough being ignored and avoided by Applejack, but getting asked about the whole ordeal made it even more difficult. 'Why did I have to say anything? Why did Sunset have to ask about it? Why did Applejack have to be so beautiful so perfectly built, so caring, so-'

"Miss Rarity," a stern voice broke through her thoughts causing her to take her face away from her desk and look up, "keep your head up. There will be no sleeping in my class."

Rarity propped her head up with her hand and glanced at the clock, ignoring the few giggles and murmurs that came from her classmates. Just about 20 minutes were left of her final class of the day. Just 20 minutes until her interrogation.


The final bell rang and the students packed their things and filed out of the classroom. Most of them rushed out, eager to leave the prison also known as school. However, Rarity took a little more time than usual, not exactly thrilled about getting interrogated by her friends.

She followed the rest into the busy halls and made her way through the crowd, careful not to touch or nudge anyone. She took as much time as possible then decided to go to the stair case furthest from her class and locker. Eventually, as the halls began to empty, she made her way to and up the stairs.

As she turned the corner, her stomach dropped and she froze. Not too far away, Applejack stood, staring back at her. They shouldn't be so surprised to see each other. The school might be big, but they would still inevitably run into each other from time to time. Rarity immediately remembered how close Applejack's locker was to this stair well.

'How on Earth could that have slipped my mind?

The country girl stared at Rarity, her expression was nearly unreadable, but it was clear she was a little stunned.

Their eyes stayed in place, keeping contact with the other. The fashionista's expression dropped as her mood did. She couldn't help the pain that appeared on her face at the sight of her friend. She could have sworn she saw Applejack's drop slightly, but she couldn't be sure.

The blonde stepped forward, not taking her eyes away from her friend's blue eyes, and continued walking towards her. This took Rarity off guard, and her expression changed again, to surprise and worry. She wasn't sure to be excited or worried or what. This was the most AJ had paid attention to her all day, was she about to talk to her? It was much too early right?

'She's going to talk to me,' she thought, her heart beating faster with each step AJ took, 'now? Here?' Her stomach flipped with worry, there was so much that could happen that could be said.

Her eyes lost the attention of her blonde crush's. Green eyes moved to the stair case behind her and Applejack walk right passed her with out talking to her.

The moths in her stomach disappeared and her chest became heavy again. No, she wasn't hurt that Applejack didn't speak to her, but that she had purposely ignored her.

She stood in the same spot, listening to the footsteps of her friend becoming quieter and more distant. They never stopped, they never slowed, they never came back to check on her.


After collecting the things she needed from her locker and fixed her make up some, she made her way out to the Wondercolt statue where her friends were waiting for her. She was greeted by Pinkie Pie pointing at her, shouting "There she is!" and frantically waving at her. The rest of the girls looked back at her, Fluttershy giving her a smile and Sunset offering a small wave. A certain rainbow haired girl had commented "finally" when she walked over to them.

"What took you so long?" The same athletic girl asked irritably. Fluttershy and Sunset shared a glance before returning their attention to the dramatic girl in front of them. The fashionista was obviously already upset,

"Excuse me for having to reapply my make up. 'Some' of us like to look our best," she answered with an eye roll landing her gaze on her country friend out of habit. The comment went unnoticed. The blonde had her focus on something off in the distance.

"It's SugarCube Corner! Not prom! Why would you need to look your best for it?"

Rarity gasped, "we will still be in public Rainbow Dash! I have to look my best!"

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes, "no one in a sweets shop is going to care about how you look, Rarity."

"I care!"

The other girls stood and watched them argue. Sunset had watched the two argue for a short time and immediately was tired of it. She stepped in between the two and interrupted them before they could continue, seemingly drawing AJ's attention back to reality.

"She's here now, that's all that matters. Let's get going," the former she-demon said with the tone of a stern mother.


Sugarcube Corner was filled with students from CHS, like it usually was after school. Students would stop in for a hot chocolate, or a milkshake, or some sort of unhealthy after school snack. The six weren't any different. They sat at a table with hot chocolates and various sweets for Pinkie Pie.

"They aren't so bad anymore, I say we give them a chance," a fiery head girl said trying to persuade her friends into befriending their ex-enemies.

"I'm just saying, Sunset, just because you're dating one of the Dazzlings, doesn't mean we all have to be friends with them," Rainbow dash said.

"What? I'm not dating-" Sunset protested before being cut off by Pinkie.

"I don't know, Dash, since Sunset is with one of them, it's only right to be friends with them. They aren't even evil anymore, Dashie, and if they were evil still, why would Sunset be dating one of them?"

"I guess you make a good point," the athlete agreed, "but I still don't trust them."

"I didn't know Sunset was dating one of the Dazzlings," a softer voice said.

"Yah, she's dating Adagio."

"Ooh, Sunset, darling! Why didn't you tell me? How long have you been together?" Rarity asked with increasing interest, temporarily forgetting her own relationship problems for the excitement of hearing of her friend's.

"I'm not!"

Gossip, relationships, drama, all of it was right up Rarity's alley. Even when she wasn't in the best mood, she couldn't let juicy details and relationship news slip away.

And she made sure not to draw attention to herself like she did in lunch, and contributed to the conversation this time around. 'Applejack is talking a little more now too,' she noted. It was rather uncomfortable being in a group conversation with someone who obviously didn't want to talk to her. No one seemed to notice her discomfort, if they did they didn't mention it. Though, she did notice Sunset clearly paying more attention to her and her blonde friend than usual.


After finishing their cocoas and snacks, the group had left the shop and entered the cold air outside. The sun had just dropped below the horizon still offering the light of dusk. Pinkie skipped along beside the group, happily talking about who knows what to Fluttershy. It was an exceptionally cold evening. Rarity stopped caring about contributing to the conversation, she was tired, and cold, and just wanted to go home by this point. She remained quiet and focused on just keeping warm. To her surprise, none of her friends had asked about lunch, or why she had been so down that day. Perhaps they saw she didn't want to talk about it and left it at that (even if that was highly unlikely,) or perhaps it had slipped their minds. Regardless of the reason, she was just glad that they never mentioned it.

They came to a four-way stop, and started to bid each other farewell. Rarity hugged Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie goodbye and waved to them as they walked down the street together. She did the same to Sunset, reminding her to keep warm and safe before she walked back towards Sugarcube Corner. Rainbow Dash waved back to her remaining friends as she ran off in the direction of the school. Everyone was gone now, all but one.

Applejack.

The older girl stood a couple feet from her and eventually brought her attention to her remaining friend. Neither of them spoke, they stood silently waiting for the other to break the silence.

'Why did she stay?' Rarity wondered while she watched Applejack uncomfortably glance around the area. It didn't make sense, just earlier she had walked passed her without a word, now she was standing with Rarity instead of going to the warmth of her home. She couldn't figure it out, but she wasn't going to let this opportunity pass. She needed talk to Applejack and make everything right again.

The farm girl looked back at Rarity like she was about to say something herself, but Rarity spoke first.

"Look, Applejack.. About what I said Saturday.."

"No," she was cut off immediately, just like she was Saturday. She learned her lesson last time. Letting her eyes fall down as her chest grew heavy again, she knew she wouldn't need to continue. It would more than likely end like last time. 'No? Why only no..?' It wasn't harsh this time, just a plain and simple 'no'. Rarity was grateful for that much at least.

The fashionista winced when her country friend let out an irritated groan and pinched the bridge of her nose. Why did she stay if she didn't want to talk? None of this made sense. Her pain had lightened since Saturday, but it had resurfaced. Of course, it wasn't as intense, but it was there

A light wind blew around them, causing Rarity to be reminded of the cold and hug herself for warmth. She wished she had brought a heavier coat. Usually she was prepared for things like this, however her mind had been stuck somewhere else and the thought to dress warmly didn't occur to her.

"Rarity."

Sapphire eyes lifted to meet green eyes once more when Applejack started to speak. Their eyes locked in place, and Rarity waited expectantly for her friend to continue. Something in the way she said her name just gave her hope and made her feel some warmer.

Silence. Applejack didn't say anything else. Rarity could have sworn she saw a faint blush cross her friend's adorable freckled face, but she dismissed as herself trying to find anything to believe Applejack had some feelings for her.

"Ah.. Ah'll see you later," she said finally with discomfiture. Disappointment shot through her again and the familiar feeling of heaviness in her chest returned. Her eyes fell back to the ground and she nodded. No tears came this time, but she felt like they would later. Unlike last time she was the first to leave, turning back towards Sugarcube Corner and beginning her journey home.

The fashionista listened to the footsteps going in the opposite direction not coming back after her.