Lunch in the cafeteria of Canterlot High was an experience. The room was so loud, it was almost deafening, ringing with the voices of students shouting to be heard over one another. Free entertainment was almost expected for every lunch. Couples would get together or break up. Friends would fall apart or fall back together. A couple of musical numbers had even taken place in that lunchroom.
Tuesdays were another matter altogether. Yes, it was Taco Tuesday. Students would stampede from the nearest classrooms, eager for their tacos. It was a mad house on Tuesdays.
Tuesdays were also another day: tater tot day. Although clearly not as beloved as the tacos, the tater tots still sold like . . . well, tater tots. The delectable potato treats were treated like gold. In the time that Twilight had attended Canterlot High, she'd seen tater tots exchanged as currency. It was weird.
Weird in a good way.
And there was no one more protective of her tots than Rainbow Dash.
It probably shouldn't have been a big deal. Soarin had been eyeing Rainbow's tater tots the entire lunch. It was obvious he was poised to snatch one or two. Pinkie looked like she was about to join him in his burglary.
It was the perfect moment, too. Twilight could see that from where she sat. Rainbow Dash had just turned to say something to Applejack. She wasn't guarding her tray.
Soarin struck like lightning. The co-captain of the Canterlot High soccer team grabbed four or five tots from Rainbow Dash's tray and hurriedly stuffed them into his mouth. He probably could have blamed someone else if Rainbow Dash hadn't turned around at that moment.
She looked like someone had stabbed her in the back.
"You stole my tater tots!"
Soarin didn't stand a chance. Before anyone could react, her elbow had slammed into his ribs and knocked him out of his seats. He landed, hard, on the floor. Tater tots sprayed everywhere.
Twilight looked on in horror. Applejack and Pinkie Pie were trying to stifle their laughter.
"You stealing jerk!" Rainbow screamed. She stood from her seat and towered over the frightened Soarin. Every eye on the cafeteria was on their table. It wasn't everyday one saw the captain of the soccer team and the co-captain duke it out. "You actually stole my tots!"
"Sorry," Soarin managed to say. He sprayed crumbs everywhere. Rarity looked ready to faint.
Rainbow wasn't happy. She crossed her arms over her chest, glaring. "And you actually thought you could get away with it?!"
Soarin had the nerve to laugh. He slowly, carefully, got back on his feet. His movements were cautious and slow, as if backing away from a ferocious dog. "Nope. But I was hoping."
That only served to infuriate Rainbow further. As Soarin took off running through the cafeteria, Rainbow gave chase.
"Get back here, jerk!"
Pinkie looked on with amusement. "Yup! He's dead."
The rest of the table shook their heads and laughed. Only Twilight seemed concerned.
"Um, is that normal?" Twilight asked. She slid her glasses back up her nose.
Rarity laughed. "For them, yes. I do wish Rainbow Dash would be a bit more tasteful in showing her affection, but . . ."
Sunset Shimmer shook her head at that. "The two of them have been together for years. You'd think Soarin would know better than to mess with Rainbow's food."
Twilight looked up in shock. Soarin was still running from Rainbow, dodging behind tables and using other students as shields.
"Wait. Those two are dating?"
She received five nods.
"It looks like they hate each other," Twilight confessed. Rainbow Dash was constantly elbowing Soarin in the side or shoving him out of her way. Soarin was constantly teasing and heckling her. There was nothing between either one that showed they cared about one another.
Rarity sighed, as if she'd gone through this conversation before. "I'll admit that those two are rather subtle about it." She frowned in thought. "In fact . . . I don't think I've ever seen them be romantic, even on Valentine's Day."
Applejack chuckled. "They have fun, don't they? And that's what counts."
"I wouldn't know about that," Rarity huffed. She folded her arms crossly. "Rainbow's the only one of us who has a boyfriend and does she behave like a lady? No, she does not. Instead, she pushes him around like some ruffian and is constantly smacking him over the head. Honestly!"
"You're just jealous," Sunset replied smugly. She smiled up at the still fighting couple. "I think it's cute. Even if only a few of us know they're actually an item."
Twilight looked around. It seemed that the rest of the cafeteria was just as oblivious a she had been. They were too busy laughing as Soarin desperately tried to lose Rainbow Dash in the ensuing chaos. Rainbow was too fast for him and simply side-stepped any obstacle she came across. She wasn't even fazed by the bits of lettuce he threw at her face.
"Not a romantic bone in her body," Rarity sighed. She pushed her fingers to her temples in frustration. "Such a waste."
Applejack and Pinkie both laughed. Even Twilight couldn't resist cracking a smile.
"I think it's cute, too," Fluttershy spoke up softly. The quiet girl was smiling as she followed the insane chase around the cafeteria room.
"Dash ain't ever been so happy," Applejack agreed. "And at least we know it ain't just puppy love. Dash don't get what it means."
"I noticed," Twilight deadpanned. She pushed her glasses up again.
The chase had reached its climax as Rainbow Dash finally managed to corner Soarin. She took her revenge by pouring ketchup in Soarin's hair. Despite his predicament, Soarin was laughing loudly. He wiped some of the ketchup off his hair and onto her shirt. Rainbow Dash started yelling again.
The entire cafeteria was in stitches, giggling and laughing as the two top soccer players at Canterlot High had a mini-food fight by the snack bar. Twilight was struggling to hold back her own smile.
"I don't see how you find this adorable." Rarity gestured to the mess Soarin and Rainbow were making. "They're just awful."
"You don't get it, Rares!" Pinkie giggled. "It's how they show they care."
"By ruining each other's outfits?!"
Sunset laughed. "By having fun."
Twilight shook her head. It was true that Rainbow Dash and Soarin didn't act like a normal couple. They hadn't stared at each other all lunch. In fact, the only time Rainbow had actually payed attention to Soarin was when he stole her tater tots. Rainbow Dash never kissed Soarin on the cheek. Soarin never brought her flowers or talked about his feelings around her.
Twilight couldn't deny, however, that they looked like they were having fun fighting. They were having fun messing around and being themselves.
They looked happy together. And that was what really counted.