"Ugh, it's even smaller once you're inside," Dash groaned, though clearly relieved to escape the unexpected shower. She gave a brisk shake and fine droplets flew everywhere.
It really was crowded. Even moreso than Scoots had anticipated. Intended. Whatever.
"Uh, yeah," Scootaloo improvised, suddenly far more anxious than she'd expected to be: Not just worried that the plan now seemed ill-conceived and doomed to backfire, but unexpectedly nervous that it might work. She heard herself say, "I'll just- I'll take this side."
She laid down and shimmied face-first to one edge of the tent, though not so far as to offer Dash more than half of the bedroll. She hoped it was a sufficiently subtle gesture. Her limbs felt rubbery and shook as she moved. Deep breath, Scoot.
Scoots tripped Dash as she was sealing up the doorway, and got kicked and stepped on as she maneuvered in the cramped dark.
"Umph- Sorry, heh," Dash chuckled, but Scoots hardly processed the apology; didn't notice her nervous laugh or uncharacteristic clumsiness.
Her head was reeling. The excitement of Dashes' unfamiliar proximity; the terror of rejection. The trap had been sprung. The next few moments would change everything between them. Oh my gosh, what if she- Oh, this was a bad idea. Please, please, please-
She felt unidentifiable pokes and prods across her back as Dash struggled to get comfortable in the claustrophobic space. Come on, come on, please-
Then, there was no mistaking it: Dash was facing away. They were back to back. A tangible wave of disappointment came over her. Her eyes burned and she bit her lip, crestfallen.
Dash continued to harrumph and wriggle into place, clearly oblivious to what she'd said with this simple choice. Her being oblivious felt tantamount to rejection.
Yes, they would be close tonight. They'd never been this close before. They were touching. But suddenly it was torture; a bitter consolation for an unrequited longing. If she wanted to get close to you like that, she'd never have a better opportunity. But no.
As if on cue, Dash squirmed away from her. Given the tiny space, it couldn't have been by accident. Scoots did the same on trembling joints, determined to make herself as small as possible. She doesn't want to touch you.
A pair of tears welled up, unstoppable. You're her little sister. And you're not even that - not really. It had been stupid to think otherwise. Going in different directions? Dammit. Stupid...
Raindrops. Crickets. Everything had gone wrong. This was always going to be the best or the worst night ever. She knew the risks when she hatched this plan. At least now she had her answer. She'd done everything but outright beg to be held by her.
Maybe she'd be able to move on. Maybe someday she'd meet someone else who could make her feel this way. As if. Maybe this apocalyptic pit in her gut would eventually go away.
After a fruitless attempt to find a suitable position, Dash groaned in frustration and started shifting again. At first it just knocked Scoots around; an errant blow to the kidney punctuated the emotional injury.
"Okay yeah, this isn't gonna work," Dash mused, breaking the silence and pulling Scoots out of her head. R.D. rose to kneel under the low ceiling.
Great, she'd rather sleep in the rain than-