A few days have passed since your moving into Ponyville and you were finally starting to warm up to the place. Your new home had grown nicely on you and you even managed to become friends with some of the school children, including Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle.
For once in your life you were enjoying the pleasures of socializing with others who were relative to the homely town. Your mother has also settled in nicely, probably even more so that you, and too managed to make friend after she met none other than the town's very own pink party-addict and planner, Pinkie Pie who threw a small party to welcome you and her to the town and to get to know the others.
You may have thought to yourself that Pinkie's ponyisms were a little strange but she was still a pretty fun pony to be around. After all, the party is what got you to to where you are now with your new friends.
Along with Scootaloo, your closest friend so far, you hung out more after school and went on some adventures together that you found very enjoyable. The best thing about hanging out with the three fillies was the part where Scootaloo took you all for a ride on her scooter around Ponyville with you crammed in a small cart that was tied to her scooter with Sweetie and Apple Bloom pressing tightly against you in the small space it provided.
Despite how claustrophobic the cart was to sit in with the two fillies, you had a blast as you were all darted around corners, hauled off of jumps after the crazy daring pegaus and having a bit of a joy ride that put everyone in high spirits as she pulled the lot of you along as fast as she could.
The rest of the day was spent with you all together at Sugarcube Corner, all sat at one of the tables together, Scootaloo seated next to you and Apple Bloom beside Sweetie Belle. With thanks to Pinkie, you were all sipping on and enjoying milkshakes, one of the main signature delectables the shop was known for.
Currently, you were all in conversation with Apple Bloom being the one telling you all about a story with a smile on her lips. When she finished, you all burst into laughter, you nearly spitting out your milkshake in the process but luckily managing to swallow before letting out your own laugh.
It was the story of the time Twilight's assistant, Spike, asked them to watch over all their friend's pets and the disaster it ended up in. With all of them getting covered head to hoof in pet makeup and shampoo and getting all their manes in a mangled and scratched at mess. And who could forget that industrial sized pet dryer Winona had a fun time with as it practically glued her to the floor with the heavy gusts of air it produced?
When all the laughter died down, the attention seemed to be turned to you. Confused at first as to why they were all looking at you expectantly, you waited for one of them to speak.
''W-What?'' You asked awkwardly, feeling slightly uncomfortable. ''Why are you all staring at me like that?'' Apple Bloom smiled.
''Come on, it's your turn, Blaze. A colt such as yourself must have some interestin' stories to tell.'' You blushed lightly and her and Sweetie giggled whilst Scootaloo held back a chuckle.
''Yeah, coming from Manehatten, you must have some good stories to tell. Perhaps about a filly or two?'' Sweetie said with a teasing smile and a wink. You blushed furiously, your cheeks turning candy-apple red.
''Aw, come on guys, quit teasing him.'' Scootaloo said from beside you in her soft but scratchy voice and you could detect a sort of jealous tone in her voice. ''If he doesn't wanna tell a story, he doesn't have to.''
''N-No, it's alright, Scoots.'' You gently waved a hoof. ''I do have some stories to tell, It's just that...I don't feel comfortable telling them yet.'' You said simply, much to their disappointment but further curiosity.
''Howcome?'' Sweetie asked, tilting her head to the side a little. You began to feel even more uncomfortable. However, before you could respond, a voice from your side interjected.
''Hey, that's enough, guys!'' Scootaloo said, softly stomping her small, orange hoof on the table, causing the whole lot of you to jump at the outburst and you nearly fell from your seat as both Apple Bloom and Sweetie flinched, eyes wide. It was only lucky that none of the milkshakes dropped to the floor and caused a mess. Suddenly realizing her action, Scootaloo let out a soft gasp before she left her seat and walked out of the shop, leaving the rest of you in shock and you shared surprised glances.
''What do ya think that was about?'' Apple Bloom asked, getting a shrug from Sweetie. She took a momentary glance at you and from that look you saw in her amber eyes, it was almost as if she was trying to comprehend something in her mind as they pierced you ice coloured eyes.
Feeling awkward and worried for your friend, you said one last thing before getting from your seat and heading outside. ''I'm gonna see if she's alright.''
When you opened the door to leave the shop and stepped outside, you looked around to see where Scootaloo may have gone and you didn't have to look far because she was sat with her back against the wall of a nearby house, located from the left side of the shop from your angle with her head in her hooves and her eyes cast downwards.
Concerned and worried about what was wrong with her, you slowly approached her and gently took a seat next to her. For a while, neither of you said a thing. As the silence got awkward, you softly tapped her shoulder with your hoof.
''Scootaloo?'' You asked her softly. To her silent response, you frowned internally, seeing her like this making you upset. For some strange reason you couldn't wrap your mind around, whenever you saw her upset or hurt, it made you hurt inside, too. You couldn't explain it but you brushed the deeper parts of the thought away, passing it off as only worry for a friend. ''Are you okay?''
Slowly, she picked her head up and rested her hooves on her knees, letting out a sigh. ''I'm sorry about that, Blaze. I dunno why I did that. Something inside me...clicked, I guess.'' She didn't look towards you or meet your eyes as she spoke. Your ear twitched.
Clicked? What did she mean by that? You thought. Probably nothing but I best keep an eye on her. ''Scoots?''
This time, she turned and looked but before she spoke, she looked thoughtful and the smallest of blushes burned her cheeks. ''Y-You...You just called me 'Scoots'.''
Immediately, your eyes widened, worried that you have just offended her in some way. ''S-Sorry! I-I-It's just that Sweetie and Apple Bloom call you it a-and I-I t-think it's c-c-cute, l-like you!'' You said but quickly began to stutter upon realizing the last few words you said and seeing her release a soft gasp caused you to panic, thinking she was about to speak to object or possibly say something that may kill your friendship.
''I-I-I...'' You didn't know what to say. For once, you were utterly speechless and more embarrassed than you have ever been before. The blush upon your cheeks was probably the brightest blush a pony has ever managed to achieve and it mirrored Scootaloo's own as she too was speechless by what she has just heard from your mouth.
Trying to find a way to speak but failing miserably to cover up what you said, you began to stutter and mumble like a fool before you darted off away from her. She called your name, telling you to wait but instead you kept running as fast as you could, the start of a tear stinging your eye.
You ran home to your room, not bothering to say hello to your mother who was sat on the couch on the way in and bolting upstairs to your bedroom, slamming the door shut behind you and letting your hyperventilating lungs calm down.
Sliding back-first down the door, you rested your head against it and clamped your hooves against your temples, your mind rolling in anxiety.
You have just made a fool of yourself in front of your closest friend who also happens to be the first pony to ever open up to you and you felt angry and upset at yourself for calling her cute like that out of the blue. For all you know, she probably thinks that you are a weirdo and that she may never talk to or look at you again!
Tears fell free from your ice blue eyes and trailed down your cheeks, matting your fur. You banged the back of your head against the door in frustration, letting out a small scream, feeling mad at yourself.
You're such an idiot, Blaze! Why did you have to go ahead and call her cute?! You've only known her for like three days and there's no way she'll ever like me back! You blinked, some tears attaching to your eyelids before dripping off. She...she won't like me back...
It was true you liked Scootaloo. You knew you did. As a friend, anyway. Since your first meeting, you finally felt so glad to have somepony you could truly relate to and talk with without feeling like a moron. Even though now you would appear as a moron to her because of what slipped from your mouth.
In your eyes, you thought that she was a cool pony. Despite not knowing her for even a week, you already found something in her that you thought you would never find in any pony, especially a filly - a soulmate.
She was the first filly that you have ever called a friend and found many things in that you could relate to. You and her were practically brother and sister at this point. You were glad to call her a friend. You could only hope that she still liked you, yet some part inside you was screaming in fear and anxiety of thinking the opposite.
With a hoof, you wiped your eyes and sniffled. You let your body deflate and sank further down on your rump.
*** *** ***
Back at Sugarcube Corner, the three Crusaders sat at the table they were previously sat at and Scootaloo had her head on the tabletop, a saddened look upon her face and lingering in her glistening eyes.
''Aw, cheer up, Scoots! I'm sure he ain't got nothin' against ya.'' Apple Bloom said reassuringly to her friend, trying to lighten her mood. It didn't help in the slightest bit. She only sank deeper in her seat, planting her face flat against the table, hiding her teary eyes.
With her ears, she could hear one of her friends, presumably Apple Bloom, getting from their seat and walking to her side of the table with a soft clacking noise against the floorboards. She heard her sit next to her silently and lay a hoof on her back, gently rubbing it comfortingly.
Looking across from her at Sweetie, she motioned with her hoof at her to say something. After all, it was her who did the teasing. Taking hint and feeling guilty for the state her friend was in, she spoke.
''Hey, I'm sorry, Scoots. I swear, I am! I-I was only joking!'' Sweetie said, finishing lamely. Slowly, Scootaloo raised her head and looked at her friend with a piercing glare in her purple eyes that Sweetie had never seen before. It sent a shiver down her spine and made her feel cold.
For a moment, Scootaloo looked like she wanted to say something to her friend to possibly hurt her in some way for what she said but decided against it, knowing how sensitive Sweetie can be when it came down to insults. Besides, she didn't really want to hurt her verbally. She was too close to her to try drive her away with a barrage of insults.
Saying nothing, Scootaloo sulkily picked herself from her seat and stomped out of the shop, not once looking back to her friends. Now alone with her thoughts, she found someplace quiet and away from the shop and her friends to think.
She entered the Ponyville park and found a nearby pond, sitting beside it and staring down at her reflection in the smooth, cool blue water. Just staring at it, she screamed out in frustration, thankfully nopony else there to see her like this.
Sweetie was right though. She had only been joking with her as an unintentional painfully embarrassing comment. A part of Scootaloo was jealous at hearing her mention about fillies back in Manehatten that Blaze may have been with. She hated the thought!
And that was the thing - she didn't know why she felt this way.
Since meeting Blaze for the first time and seeing him helplessly get plowed into a wall hurt her to witness and she barely even knew the guy. The only other colt that Scootaloo knew and frequently hung out with was Rumble, and she knew that Rumble liked her. At first, she passed it off as nothing but then he gave more apparent signs and stronger hints how he actually did feel about her.
However, the catch with her and Rumble didn't add to anything: they had nothing in common apart from them both being pegasi.
It was the same in Blaze's case but there was something about him that stood out from Rumble. Something...different.
He liked to scoot. He owned a scooter of his own. He liked racing. He was cool. He was awesome. And...
...He likes me...
Scootaloo's eyes widened.
Oh, Scootaloo, you dodo! You are such an idiot! He called you cute! He called you cute and he likes you! And you like him, too! Now she felt stupid and confused. Why would Blaze of all ponies like her?
She took a while to ponder this but then the realization came crashing down on her.
Looking back to their first meeting, the day she was told she was failing school and he offered to help her unexpectedly, hanging out more frequently with each other and her friends, going on small crusades around town, looking out for each other and how they act when they are in each other's company.
She felt warm inside when she was with him. She knew that he blushed a lot when he was around her and that she did the same but other than that, they both had a lot in common. In fact, they were more like close relatives than only friends. They were two peas in a pod.
A warm and happy smile crossed her lips. She had a great friend. No, a wonderful friend who cared greatly about her and would always try to cheer her up when she was sad.
Is the reason that he ran off because of her? Was it nervousness or something along those lines? Or did he worry that she may think he was stupid or pathetic? Maybe he doesn't actually like her and she was just jumping to conclusions?
She cringed internally at that last thought.
Don't think like that, Scootaloo, of course he still likes you! All that it was was just a huge misunderstanding. Yeah, that's right; a misunderstanding.
She got up from her rump and looked up to the afternoon sky, watching the clouds and the birds that flew through the terrific blue and white.
''I guess I'll find out at school tomorrow.'' She whispered to herself before turning around and heading home.