//------------------------------// // Chapter 28 "How?" // Story: "Just Kiss Already!" And Other Rumbaloo Tales // by Candy-Sweets_12 //------------------------------// "You did what?!" Apple Bloom exclaimed. "I woke him up early. He said he needed to practice more." Scootaloo stated, shutting her locker closed. "I don't think that he meant it like that." Sweetie Belle said. "I only wanted to help him." "And making him do laps around the neighborhood is the way to go?" Apple Bloom asked. "Well, when you put it like that..." Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle both smacked their hooves to their heads. "Oh Scootaloo," Apple Bloom sighed. "Hey, I just want him to be recommended. I know that he felt down after Soarin' said he needed more practice. I just wanted to help him practice some more." "That's nice of ya and all, but did he want that?" "Well," she hesitated. "no." she sighed smacked her hoof to her head. "I messed up didn't I?" "Yeah." Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom agreed. "I'm such a terrible girlfriend." Scootaloo mumbled. "At least you're concerned for him, I think that-" Sweetie Belle said. "Wait," Apple Bloom butted, stopping all of a sudden. "did you just say 'girlfriend'?" "Yeah...?" Scootaloo said questionably. Sweetie Belle gasped. "you actually consider yourself his girlfriend?!" "Yes, why are you making such a big deal out of it?" "Scootaloo, you and Rumble hardly show any affection to each other. I mean, you're always pushing him around, and he just takes it." "And you're a bit rough with him." Apple Bloom pointed out. "Okay, so what?" "So you are actually softening a bit. You've always been edgy around other ponies Scoots." Sweetie Belle agreed. "Am I really like that?" Scootaloo asked. "Yes." the two answered in unison. "You should soften up around him. I mean, you don't want to bully him around do you?" "Of course I don't want to do that. I'm just...rough." Scootaloo mumbled. "You could be a little bit more..." Apple Bloom thought for a moment. "gentle, with the way you act around him. 'This is like Rainbow Dash's all over again." Scootaloo sighed. "Okay, so I have my flaws, and I may have went a little far-" Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle both rose an expectant brow. "Okay, over the top." Scootaloo admitted. "I just thought that it would work. It seemed like a good idea in my head at the time." "Well, ta be fair, we have our fair share of moments like that, but you should probably work this out with Rumble." Apple Bloom mentioned, wrapping an arm around her friend and giving her a supporting smile. "You're not going to let me live this down, are you?" Scootaloo asked. "Nope." Sweetie Belle grinned. Scootaloo groaned. "Um...hey." Scootaloo said. She bit her lower lip and sat across from Rumble, who said nothing and groggily looked up to her. "Hey." he eventually said. "Um, pretty nice day isn't it?" Scootaloo said, basically beating around the bush. "Yeah." Rumble agreed, before slouching back into a lazy position. "Look," Scootaloo said, breaking her voice a bit. "I'm sorry Rumble." she mumbled. "Huh?" he asked, perking his ears up. "I'm sorry." Scootaloo quickly said. "I...I shouldn't have forced you like that. And I went over the top. I didn't mean to be so rough with you. I'm just, really sorry." "It's okay Scootaloo." Rumble groggily said. Scootaloo looked at him in disbelief. "How?" "What?" "How is it okay? I push you around all the time and you just let me. I woke you up for no reason and forced you to do things. How is it okay?" Scootaloo asked. "I know you meant well, Scootaloo." "So? That doesn't mean you can just let me do it. How are you able to put up with that?" "The same way you have to put up with me." "That doesn't really help you know." "How come?" Rumble asked. "You're an easy going guy, you don't force me to do things, and you're not rough with everyone all of the time. How are you able to put up with me?" "I don't know," Rumble admitted "I just do. I know you don't mean to hurt anyone. You just tend to be pushy from time to time." "If by pushy, you mean this morning don't you?" "Well...yeah. But that's okay, I forgive you." "I don't understand how you're able to forgive me so easily either. Why do you put up with me?" "Because I like you for being you." Scootaloo stopped. "What?" "I don't mean that in a cheesy way-well, sort of, I mean I don't mind if you tend to be a bit bossy at some times. You just mean well for other ponies. Even though you do tend to go over the top now and then, and cocky at other points. You're still caring. I know that you want me to be recommended, and that you wanted to help by getting me to practice more often. Even though it's a bit over the top, in the end, you just want me to be recommended. Right?" "Right." "I can tell you only wanted to help. You know this is important to me. That's why I can forgive you. Even though you're bossy, tough, and edgy, I know that you have a soft side. You're always so confident in other ponies and want the best for them, especially those you care about." "That's a nice way of looking at it. Though, you're probably just exaggerating. I'm not all sunshine and rainbows as you're making me out to be." "True. But even though you don't go around helping whoever you can, you still care." Rumble pointed out. "Then you must be trying to flatter me, aren't you?" Rumble shrugged. "Call it what you want to. I'm still standing by what I said." "Whatever you say." Scootaloo said. She looked down at her tray and picked up one of the cookies on it. She spilt it in half and set one side on Rumble's tray. "What's this for?" "For eating." Scootaloo remarked. Rumble smiled, sitting up and taking the treat. He looked at Scootaloo, who became more interested with what was on her tray than him. "You definitely have a soft side." he smirked.