Candy Hearts
"I can't believe Valentine's Day is tomorrow!"
"Oh? Who are you going to ask out?"
"Dude, ya gotta take her on a date!"
Sigh.
I cover my ears. It's another day at lunch, and I'm stuck in another infinite reminder that tomorrow is the Festival of Saint Valentine.
Ahem. Valentine's Day, my friends have told me.
Right now, I'm hanging out with my friends after school in the cafeteria. With our hectic schedules, the lunchroom is the only place we can meet. And plus, a lot of the school is here as well. They have this "fun" pre-Valentine's Day event going on, and most the school is obsessed with the holiday.
I feel a sudden hand on my arm. Turning around, I see the gorgeous purple locks that could've only been curled by Rarity. "Twilight, darling, why are you covering your ears? We are in the middle of a conversation, you know."
I take the other hand off my ear and set my arms on the table. "Well... I just stayed up studying all last night. I just had to make sure I'd pass that history test if I ever want to graduate and make it to college."
"Study, shmudy," I hear the brash and raspy voice of Rainbow Dash mock, "who cares about a history test? I probably aced it!" She props her rainbow sneakers onto the table for... I don't know why. Is this a popular thing?
A pair of yellow hands set themselves onto Dash's shoes, gently cupping around them and lifting them off the table. "Rainbow Dash, you do know that passing your history class is necessary if you want to graduate from Canterlot High." She brushes some hair back into the high ponytail her hair is styled in today. "And learning about the history of the world is very interesting. We weren't there for those events, so we have to learn about them."
I twist my head slightly away from the conversation to look off into the lunchroom. People are going to and fro, and the only thing I can hear is about Valentine's Day. There's a table somewhere that is selling these little candy grams they call them to be delivered tomorrow. I know I'm probably the newest face in Canterlot High, but I'm still holding my hopes up that maybe I'll get a little gift from...
...from her.
Augh! Don't think about her! It'll just get your face red, Twilight!
"Twilight, are you okay? Your face looks a little overheated," Sunset Shimmer's caring voice asks.
Dang it.
I turn to Sunset and give her a tiny nod. "Uhuh. I'm feeling pretty fine today. I'm just a little tired." I give her a hopefully convincing smile. "Gotta study for that test!"
Sunset returns my smile. "You're so bookworm-ish, Twilight. I bet you would've passed regardless of if you studies last night." She adjusts her worn leather jacket and folds her hands onto the table. "So, does anyone have any plans for Valentine's day tomorrow?"
Dash makes a 'snrk' noise like she's trying to suppress her laughter. Of course, knowing Dash, she fails. Horribly. "Valentine's Day?!" She stops to laugh with an added snort. "Of course not! My only true love is the basketball game tomorrow?"
"But what about that thing with Soarin' in seventh grade?" Flutteshy asks meekly.
My sport friend aims a pseudo glare at Fluttershy. "Listen, 'Shy. That was only a one-time thing." She regains her compose and slams an arm and elbow on the table. "So for me, no. I'll be carrying the Wondercolts to victory tomorrow on the court."
Sunset looks to someone else at the table. "Flutteshy? What about you?"
"Eep!"
"...okay, that's a no," the redhead responds. I can't help but feel sorry for Fluttershy: that's literally how I feel right now. Except it's all mental.
Rarity's eyes light up with life and little hearts. "Oh, Valentine's Day! I have a perfect line of new outfits I've doodled in my sketchbook and I'm almost done with them!" She takes her phone out and starts texting. "Granted, I will admit I don't have a significant other to spend the day with this year... but luckily, I have my creative designs to help me cope rather than last year's little incident." She slides closer to Fluttershy and puts her hand near her mouth. "We don't speak about the time I devoured an entire gallon of ice cream on the drama couch..."
"Hey, Twilight? You got any plans for tomorrow?"
I let out a little yelp of surprise, but then I settle down and readjust my glasses back onto my nose. "Um... not really. I'll probably just study, maybe curl up with a good book by the fireplace... just a normal day."
I punch myself mentally. Although it's really hard for me to accept this- even in my head- that's the last thing I want to do tomorrow.
"By the way... where's Pinkie Pie? And Applejack?" I feel my cheeks flame into a ruby inferno. Her name... it's something to swoon over.
Dash shrugs. "Pinkie's out in the gym planning that big Valentine's Day dance with her lanky curly-brown-haired boyfriend in the polo shirt. And Applejack... I'm actually not sure." She takes her phone out and starts texting. Maybe she's texting Applejack?
Rarity starts picking the dirt out from underneath her perfectly polished nails painted pink, red, and white for the holiday. "I heard Applejack is helping Pinkie out."
She's just in the gym? What would she be doing in the gym rather than helping Pinkie... which I'm pretty sure she's not doing because Pinkie's practically impossible to work with. Maybe I could go say hello...
I stand up and sling my backpack over my shoulder. I look to the girls and wave. "Well, I'm going to say hello to Pinkie and Applejack... so I guess I'll see you guys tomorrow." I smooth my skirt out nervously as I'm one-hundred percent certain I'm blushing like a maniac, then start a sprint out of the crowded lunchroom.
*~♥~*~♥~*♥*~♥~*~♥~*~♥~*~♥~*~♥~*~♥~*~♥~*~♥~*~♥~*~♥~*
I peek into the gym and look around. Already, there are streamers, hearts, and banners everywhere. It's like someone has been in here decorating for the past month, yet I'be heard that Pinkie's only been working for three days.
...how fast does this girl work?
I stride into the open room and take a better look. The bleachers are out to probably gauge where not to stick a giant teddy bear for the basketball game. In the corner,a multitude of music stands are circling a giant disc jockey's table with giant speakers. I guess the basketball pep band and the disc jockey are going to work together for tomorrow's game. And I know that Pinkie was here: even the music stands have pink ribbons spiraling around them.
As I take in the sights, I feel a hand on my shoulder. I turn around-
"HI, TWILIGHT!"
"Ahh!" I shriek. I clasp a hand over my heart and hunch down. "Pinkie, you scared me! What was that for?"
Pinkie's bouncy hair bounces along with her. "I couldn't see your face, so I didn't know if you were a big 'ol lump of sad! But now that I know you're not, I won't scare you again!"
I grab the straps of my purple backpack and nod. "That's a relief. Now, I heard from the other girls that Applejack is helping out here?"
"Oh, you smart cookie-" She stops. "Wait, what kind of cookie would you be? You don't look like a chocolate chip cookie... but you're not a sugar cookie, either." She gasps in her famous crazy way that would perplex scientists on her lung capacity. "I KNOW! You're a raisin and oatmeal cookie because scientists are boring and that's what boring people eat!"
I give an airy laugh. "Ah ha ha... Pinkie, I'm not here to discuss what cookie I would be. I'm came here to see Applejack-" I slap my hands over my mouth.
Red face, activate. It's really unfortunate how often and hard I blush...
Pinkie slides closer to me... without moving her feet. Remember, Twilight. It's just Pinkie Pie. She hovers her lips uncomfortably close to my ear. "Why do you want to see Applejack?" she asks in a hushed whisper.
I feel my face blow up into nothing but red. "Um... I, uh... borrowed... a book from Applejack! Yes! I did in fact borrow a book that I must now return to Applejack!" I give a big toothy grin that will hopefully convince her I'm not lying. It'll probably work considering Pinkie.
The pink-haired party animal quirks an eyebrow at me and gets way too close to my face. In less than a second, she snaps back to normal. I'm calling it now: Pinkie is a human being that doesn't understand science- and science doesn't really understand her, either. "Okie-dokie-lokey! I'm sure Applejack went out the same door that you came in! I'm pretty sure Cheesy went out that door, too, but Cheesy isn't Applejack!" She bounces back to her ladder and starts hanging up those ribbons and streamers all around. "Tell Applejack that I have the rest covered. She was a super-duper-luper great helper!"
"Will do, Pinkie," I respond. I walk out the door, my hand brushing over the long handle. I hear something drop on the floor behind me, but I don't care about the small things right now. I need to see Applejack.
*~♥~*~♥~*♥*~♥~*~♥~*~♥~*~♥~*~♥~*~♥~*~♥~*~♥~*~♥~*~♥~*
The hallways are so different after school. Nobody's here... it's dead silent... if the lights were turned off, it would be like I'm walking through the set of a horror movie. I see a discarded study guide on the floor covered with an impressive variety of dirty shoe prints. There's a notebook paper with a cheesy I love you message, cowgirl boots-
Me and my heart freeze.
It's her.
Standing in front of her locker. She's there. She's wearing a green and white crop top flannel and jeans that fit just right on her slender yet toned legs. Her boots are a brown leather color with tiny golden apples printed onto the shoes. And to top it off, her classic Stenson hat is perched onto her head and hair that is done beautifully into a messy braid.
Her shining green eyes lock with my magenta ones. It's like they sparkle with their own light...
"Well howdy, Twilight!" she greets. "What are y'all doin' still out at the school this late? Ah know yer a nerd, but this is takin' it really far if ya plan to hang out at campus until dinnertime."
I instinctively twirl a piece of my indigo hair around to relieve all this stress. "Well... I was hanging out with the girls and I wanted to... y'know... say hi." I awkwardly clear my throat. "So... hi, Applejack," I barely squeak out.
Applejack closes her locker door and smiles. "Well, howdy again, Twilight." She adjusts the straps on her backpack and focuses on me again. "So, ya'll have any plans fer tomorrow? It is Valentine's Day, after all."
My breath hitches. I expel a dry cough. "No. I'm just... y'know... gonna hang out at home and study. Like usual."
"Um, Twi? Yer actin' a bit... cuckoo. Ya sound so nervous." She pokes her hat and props it back onto the perfect spot on her head. "Did ya spend all night studyin' again? Ya really need to stop doin' that to yerself. Yer already lots smarter than I or Pinkie or Sunset. Heck, ya probably know the answers to every question in the universe!"
Like that, I feel my whole face and ears set on fire. I shuffle a foot backwards and bend down a bit to maybe restore my face to an acceptable color. "Oh, Applejack... I don't know that much. I mean, I do know some things like how to channel another world's magic which no scientist even thought existed, but I still don't have an answer to every question."
Applejack gives me a deadpan stare. "So... do ya really need to learn that relativity theory thought up by Einstein to pass a public high school?"
"It could show up on a test one day," I rebuke.
My friend sets an arm on my shoulder. Instantly, the feeling of her soft skin brushing against mine is enough to make my heart beat at the speed of sound- or light. "Twi, ya don't need to overwork yerself by studyin' all the time. Instead of buryin' that nose in a pile of dusty books, why don't ya try buryin' it in the fun that me and all the other girls are teachin' ya to have?"
I swiftly remove Applejack's arm from my shoulders. Is she saying that I don't spend enough time with my friends? I mean, sure. I promised that I'd learn all about friendship with the six girls that helped me realize what it was... but ever since I really got to know Applejack... I've just been studying and studying to keep my mind off of something.
It's only now I realize it was someone I was trying not not occupy my mind with.
"Twi? Yer spacin' off."
I snap out of my thoughts and give a smile. "Whoops. I was thinking." I make sure my bun is nice and tight like I did it this morning. Still good. "And don't worry. When I find the time off of my reading, I'll definitely join you and the girls for some fun."
Applejack gives me a double thumps-up. "That's the spirit!" She puts her hands down. "Say, ya up for tomorrow? Just got a text from Sunset, she just said that we're plannin' a gatherin' for tomorrow. She said that we can spend the day together lovin' each other as friends and we can even have a sleepover later at Pinkie's home!"
Tomorrow? With my friends? Maybe I can spend time with my best friend... alone... and maybe tell her...
"Sure, I'll be there!" I decide.
Applejack slips her phone back into her pocket. "That's nice to hear! Just make sure to meet us at Pinkie's home at around six o'clock tomorrow night, that's when we start the fun! Now, I'm gonna head out now as it's gettin' real late, so take care gettin' home, Twilight!" She turns around and gives me a wave of her hand before walking the rest of the way out of the hallway.
Okay. So, tomorrow I'm going to have a sleepover with the girls. Applejack will be there.
I can already feel it. If everything works out... this is gonna be a good night.
I turn around to head towards my usual exit- wait, what's... what's that on the floor?
It's pastel colored. Pink, to be exact. It's in the general shape of a heart. As I bend down to look at it closer, there are capital redish-pink letters sending me a message.
YOU ROCK
Oh. Just a candy heart someone dropped.
I position myself upright again and smooth my plaid skirt out. A little piece of condensed sugar and calories isn't of my concern. I just gotta get home, I've spent enough time in the school building today.
*~♥~*~♥~*♥*~♥~*~♥~*~♥~*~♥~*~♥~*~♥~*~♥~*~♥~*~♥~*~♥~*
I can't relax.
Even spending the past two hours and forty-seven minutes studying hasn't gotten anything out of my mind. She's still there in my head. Although I've pretty much cleared everything from my thoughts, she still lingers up there.
It's really hard to pinpoint certain things in life. Sometimes, I wonder if it really is that feeling known as romantic attraction. The attraction felt that is aimed towards a specific person and as a result, you want to take them on a romantic date. You want to hold them close, whisper sweet nothings into their ear, lock lips in an exchange of feelings...
As far back as I remember, back at Crystal Prep Academy, I once did have a crush on another one of my female peers. I really wanted to talk to her, get to know her in an intimate way, hold her hand as we braved the adventure and trials of love together... she was really something. I don't think about her as much because... because a new person has entered my life.
Before I met Applejack, I thought me liking that girl was just a one time thing. A once in a lifetime sight. Before Applejack, I thought it was a phase that most people went through when that age came around where that part of you becomes aware to you. I mean, there's no harm in experimenting with your thoughts, right? Maybe everyone goes through a time where they feel a certain way towards the same gender. And then after that, you find out who you really are. I really thought it was a phase I went through.
But once I saw Applejack after I transferred... I saw her in an entirely new way. It just took me back to that one girl at CPA.
For the past few months after transferring, I went through some internal turmoil. That girl at CPA was one girl. But now... knowing that it wasn't just coincidence? Despite how many times I put the phrase through my head, I could never accept it at face value: I like girls.
I like girls.
I actually like females.
But like any other story I've read about other girls finding this part of them, I did feel that eventual acceptance that they documented. I just learned that it's just something that makes Twilight Sparkle Twilight Sparkle. Beside, it's just a small part of me. I still have science with me, so all those nervous and scared feelings I felt before subsided. General acceptance took the place of my previous nervousness as I continued my studies of whatever was on my mind at the time.
So when I finally remembered that Valentine's Day was coming up... I knew that the Festival of Saint Valentine would be my chance.
Applejack is one of my closest friends. She's kind, caring, hardworking, but what drew me towards her was her honesty. Her honesty is almost as beautiful as her. I see her honesty always shining through those vibrant green eyes. They say the eyes are the window to the soul. In that case, I can see her stunningly beautiful soul.
I flip over to my back on my bed. Spike is here with me, curled up beside me. I fold my arms behind my head. I know that I'll be seeing Applejack later tomorrow, and I feel like that's my best chance to tell her. But how?
Do I just tell her straight up?
Do I subtly jab at the confession?
Do I formulate a scientific way to do it that has a zero percent chance of failing?
Do I just kiss her and hope she gets the message?
This is one of the harder decisions I've had to make. Agreeing to the Canterlot transfer was way easier than what I'm going through right now. I could've messed up the transfer, but I would still make it to Canterlot High, albeit with some delays. But if I mess this up... if Applejack doesn't think about me the same way... tomorrow could be the end of our friendship.
I gulp my nervousness down and take some deep breaths. One, two. One, two. One, two... okay, I feel a little better. Now... time to apply science to the problem to find the solution!
I sit up straight and reach down at the foot of my bed for my backpack. I keep my notebook in there, so I'll just use the scientific method to weigh each option of how to tell Applejack how I really feel with scientifically correct statistics and a general hypothesis based on the facts and evidence gained from the face value observations. I unzip the front pocket, where I keep my pencil- huh?
Another candy heart is in my bag.
But... how? There's no scientific way a candy heart can just teleport into my bag. Things can't teleport, it's scientifically proven that things don't teleport! It just doesn't obey the known laws of physics!
Regardless, I pick it up with curiosity and read the message this one has decided to send me.
MY LOVE
...whatever. I'm not going to distract myself with the question of how this heart got into my bag. I need to focus on what I'll do tomorrow night.
Because tomorrow night will most likely be the most important night in my whole life.
*~♥~*~♥~*♥*~♥~*~♥~*~♥~*~♥~*~♥~*~♥~*~♥~*~♥~*~♥~*~♥~*
Option 1: tell Applejack straight up.
Hypothesis and statistics: If I tell Applejack how I feel, then she will react in an honest way just as straight up. She may tell me that she likes me too. She might not. Friendship has a theoretical 28% chance of ending if subject is not attracted to other girls but open minded, theorized 85% chance if subject hates girls attracted to other girls.
Option 2: tell Applejack, but in a quiet and subtle way.
Hypothesis and statistics: If I indirectly confess my love for Applejack, then she may get the message. There is also the possibly of her not understanding, subjecting me to embarrassment. It will make the general confession very very awkward and there is a theorized 49% of me freaking out with fear if subject does not get the message.
Option 3: kiss Applejack.
Hypothesis and statistics: If I kiss Applejack, then she will definitely get the message of how I feel about her. Refer to Option 1 for statistics relating to the state of friendship if subject is not attracted to females. A kiss back is a definite yes on her feelings.
I read through my writings again. Despite all the chatter of what people have gotten their loved ones, I can still focus on my science. I've counted that the party will start in three hours and thirteen minutes. And taking the weather and surroundings into consideration, I have also formulated that the best time to tell Applejack will be around eleven twenty-one on Pinkie's porch.
I close the notebook and shove it back into my bag. My friends are all around our lunch table, Pinkie and Applejack here this time. We all just got back from that end of school Valentine's party and dance. We're all discussing the sleepover... well, except Dash. She's just reading her book about the adventurer that goes places and gets treasure. I also heard that Fluttershy is a basketball team manager, so she won't be there, either.
Pinkie slides a paper towards me. "Hey, Twilight! Make sure to write here that you'll be there if you want to go and what kind of pizza you want if you end up going! It'll be super-duper fun, so pleasey cheesy lemon squeezy be there!"
"Relax, Pinkie," Applejack says from beside her. "I already convinced Twi to go with us."
Like in the gym, her massive and unreal lung capacity pierces the mostly quiet atmosphere with a loud gasp. "Ohmygosh! Now the party's gonna be even more supery-dupery fun!" She stands up and throws confetti she got from... somewhere. I'm not even gonna question this shenanigan...
Sunset turns to me and smiles. "You'r actually going? That's really nice to hear. Maybe there, if you feel out of place, I can recommend a few books to you where it's quieter. But I feel like you'll fit in just fine, considering we're all your friends."
"Why, Twilight's finally coming out of her shell! What a pleasant surprise." Rarity gives me a wide grin. "I've made a few things for you, darling, so I'll give those little accessories to you during the party where it's most convenient."
I feel myself blushing due to all the attention. I grab my collar and laugh a bit. "Yep... I'm going. Just figured that I'd try this slumber party thing for once. And..." My eyes grace the gaze of Applejack's for a second. "And I'd like to get to know my friends better."
While my friends keep talking about how they're gonna make this sleepover the best, I pull my notebook out again. I know the exact time and place where I'm going to say it... but how do I do it? I have three options. They all work in some way, they all fail in another. Despite how close me and Applejack are, I don't know if she's like me. I don't know if she likes girls as well. Even if she does, she could like Sunset or some other girl. It's a little awkward going up to someone and asking who they like... it's a bit nosy.
The bell then rings. Everyone except me stands up and starts heading out. While I read my findings for what feels like the millionth time, I feel a shadow lingering over me. I turn around, and my heart ceases.
"We're all glad yer comin', Twi. See ya there." Applejack adjusts her Stenson and follows the others.
Deep breaths. One, two. One, two...
Once I feel my face cool down, I close the purple spiral bound notebook and put it into my bag. I zip the bag up and sling the straps over my shoulders- and right across from me... is that...
It's another candy heart.
What's with the candy hearts following me? I get that many people like to share candy hearts on this day, but every yesterday, these little sweets have been everywhere I have. I read the tiny pinkish print this one has on it.
YOU & ME
I don't get it. There's no way to explain this! I believe I knocked one onto the floor as I left the gym, there was one of the hallway floor after I talked to Applejack, there was one in my bag's front pocket, and now there's one on our table! Where are they coming from? There is no way science can explain four coincidences happening in a row-
Wait.
One time is random. Two is pushing it. Three is fishy.
But four coincidences in a row isn't random.
That's called doing something with a motive and purpose behind it.
So someone's been putting little candy hearts wherever I've been on purpose. There are two options now: I wait and catch the candy heart admirer or I find them myself.
Okay. So, option one's hypothesis: if I don't catch them today, then I'll probably never know who's sending me the literal candy grams unless they're the type of person who hoards the discount candy the day after Valentine's Day.
And hypothesis two: if I try to find the candy heart admirer myself, I will perhaps find them. Really, all I need to do is move somewhere alone and a candy heart will probably follow.
But I can't linger on catching this person. In approximately three hours and five minutes, the slumber party will start. Applejack will be there. I've already committed to Applejack, so this admirer will have to wait.
Applejack can't wait.
And I can't hold these feelings back anymore. I just have to tell her.
And I'm telling her tonight no matter how I do so.
*~♥~*~♥~*♥*~♥~*~♥~*~♥~*~♥~*~♥~*~♥~*~♥~*~♥~*~♥~*~♥~*
I know I need to do this tonight, but just standing outside Pinkie's home is making me feel queasy. It almost makes me want to run back home, where me and Spike can curl up with a good book near the fireplace.
But I can't. I need to do this. I have to walk into that house, wait a few hours, then really tell Applejack what's been on my mind ever since I transferred to Canterlot High.
I walk up to the home, nervously and with careful steps. To distract myself, I look at the path that leads to her home. As it's February, the grass is brown and lifeless. Yet the house is the complete opposite: I can already hear some loud and peppy music and pretty much every light is on. I climb up the small set of three stairs and walk towards the wooden door on the porch.
Before I can knock, the door flies open- how it's still on its hinges is beyond me. An exuberant pink smile forces its way into my field of vision. "Twilight! You came!"
I adjust my glasses nervously. "Yep. Decided to spend some time with you guys." My eyes fall downwards towards my shiny Mary Jane shoes- oh, hello. What's this? I bend down and curl my fingers around it. Yellow and pinkish.
BEST DAY EVER
Wait.
Pinkie grabs my hand and drags me inside, the candy heart I was looking at no longer in my grasp. Once inside, she never lets go of my hand as she continues to pull me through various rooms and hallways. Eventually, she stops and we enter a flamboyant room. In the room, three different sets of eyes lock onto mine, one particular set making my heart race.
"Twilight!" Sunset stands up still with hair curlers in her fiery locks. "You actually came! I was thinking that you'd back out last second... but we're all glad you didn't. Come on over here! We're painting our nails," she explains as she displays her nails. They're red with yellow stars. Definitely Rarity's work.
Nervously, I set my backpack and rolled up sleeping bag onto the bed with everyone else's stuff and round over to the other girls. I sit criss-cross applesauce and pull my high ponytail tighter. As soon as I take just a glance at Applejack, that nervous feeling in the pit of my stomach starts eating at me again.
It now only occurs to me that I'm so close to this moment I've planned.
"Hey, Twi!" Applejack shows me her fingernails. "Ah know that Ah don't really do all this glitter girly fu-fu stuff, but Ah gotta admit, Rarity did a fine tootin' job of doing mah nails!" Her nails are made of a green base and have glittery golden apples on top. They're almost as beautiful as her...
I give her a small nod as a feel a blush creep up to my cheeks. "I really like them. Rarity did such a good job."
Rarity grabs my hand and sets it gently on the floor. "Darling, you don't even know what I'm capable of." She uncaps a bottle of indigo nail polish and wipes off the excess liquid. "When you see your nails after this, you'll just love them!"
As I sit while Rarity paints my nails, I wander off into my thoughts again. As soon as Rarity's done, I have to get my plan rolling into motion. And according to Newton's first law, my plan should stay in motion because it's a proven scientific principle that cannot be disputed. Simple. Unless... you know, friction occurs. Then everything halts and I'm left looking like a fool and possibly without a friend I've grown to care for and... and love.
What if she doesn't share those feelings? What if she looks down at girls who like other girls? What if she likes someone else in general? It now dawns on me that there are so many options that I don't want to happen- I'm looking for one outcome in the vast sea of rejection and embarrassment. I don't want to be rejected.
I just don't want to be outcast again.
I remember when I was the outcast at CPA. It was like I was invisible. My existence wasn't even acknowledged. And even then, those who saw my thin and unclear outline were rude and cruel towards me. I know that Applejack sees me. I'm not invisible to her as she's smiling at me right now, but those who saw me saw me as the nerd you could pick on without any consequences.
I'm so afraid that will happen if she rejects me.
"Twilight?" the fashionista asks to snap me away from my thoughts, "you were spacing off. Besides, I'm finished."
Huh? Already? I look down and see how my nails turned out. Indigo base with a tiny pink star on each nail. They're really pretty! No wonder Rarity was so excited to do my nails.
But my nails are the least of my concern right now.
Applejack is.
*~♥~*~♥~*♥*~♥~*~♥~*~♥~*~♥~*~♥~*~♥~*~♥~*~♥~*~♥~*~♥~*
Darkness. That is all that surrounds me.
Slowly, I rise from my sleeping bag. I fumble around for a bit as I try to feel for my glasses on the floor next to me. I find them and swiftly nudge them onto my nose. Even then, the darkness doesn't go away.
I slip out of the fabric bag, wrap a fluffy blanket around myself, and quietly tip-toe over and around the other sleeping girls. I hear Pinkie's snoring from her bed. But that isn't what I'm focused on at all.
Using my knowledge of when Pinkie dragged me into her room, I navigate towards the front door. As quietly as I can, I unlock the door and step outside, the crisp and cold air whipping past me. I shiver and pull the blanket closer to my body- although it's above average for a February night, the wind chill factor still bites at me.
So here I stand on her porch. The clouds have rolled in, something that was never in my plans. Well, the weather can be unpredictable, so I'll roll with this. There's a porch swing, so I go over to it and settle onto the slightly creaky suspended bench. I slowly breath outwards. My breath condenses and vanishes all within two seconds.
And then the door opens again.
Walking out of the door is another girl with a blanket wrapped around her body. Her blonde hair, out of any up-do, dances with the wind and makes my heart race.
"Twilight? What are ya doin' out here? It's freezin'!"
I watch my breath continue to condense to gauge how fast I'm breathing. I'm breathing fast. "I just needed some fresh air."
Applejack quirks an eyebrow, then she shakes her head. "You're really somethin', Twi." She approaches me and sits down on the porch swing with me. "So, did ya have a good time in there? Ya gotta admit, sleepovers are really fun!"
"Yep," I respond while nodding. "Having that pizza was good, and Rarity did such a good job with my nails."
Without words, she grabs my hand and examines my nails. My face rapidly flushes and my heart pounds at my chest. She sets my hand down and leans back, still not uttering a single word.
Okay. Applejack is out here with me. We're right next to each other, and everything is calm.
So it's now or never.
My heart crawls to my throat, but I swallow my nervousness down. "H-hey, Applejack? Can I-I... can I tell you s-something?"
Applejack leans forward a bit and pulls me closer to her. "Yer stutterin' and shiverin'. Are you sure you wanna stay out here-"
"Yes!" I blurt out. "I mean... yes." I clear my throat. "You know my transfer to Canterlot High, right?"
She nods.
I fidget with my thumbs under the blanket. "Well... ever since then... I've appreciated your friendship. To a loner like me, it was so amazing to have someone who cared about me. You cared about me as a friend, something that I had never felt before. It was so welcoming, and with the other girls, I had never felt so... so alive. And especially you. You're like my best friend. I can remember every time you took me to your family farm, and I can remember every time we went to the library together. All the times I tried out those delicious apple fritters I helped your family make, and all the times we picked out books together so we could read and talk about them. It made me feel... something."
She stays silent, but when I look to her... is she blushing?
"And that something... I need to tell you about." I scoot a little closer to her and ignore my glasses falling down my nose. "Applejack... I..." I feel tears pricking at the corners of my eyes. "I'm... sorry. I can't say it..."
Applejack shifts around a bit, then exposes her hand to the bitter wind. She takes my hand again and transfers something into my hand. When she pulls her hand away, I inspect the item and gasp.
A candy heart.
I turn my head to face her. "What... you mean... you're the one that's been...?"
"Guess Ah gotta admit it here." She leans down a bit to reach my eye level. She then uses a thumb to wipe my tears away. "Twi, it's only been recent. But Ah... Ah really like ya. Ever since yer transfer, Ah kinda saw you differently. Ya became more... more beautiful, almost. I really wanted to tell ya, but I've never been that good with love. And since it was Valentine's... what better way to say it?"
I feel the tears again. But not of sadness if my wide smile says anything. "Applejack... I..."
Before I can finish, she turns the heart over to the side with written words.
KISS ME
She leans back a bit- but not so far to separate us. There are only inches between us.
"...I love you," I finally manage.
And a second later, our lips lock together. I completely drop my blanket as I wrap my arms around Applejack's neck, and she likewise as I feel her firm but gentle arms hug my waist. Pulled closer together, I twirl some of that beautiful blonde hair around my finger as our kiss continues. The feeling of one of her hands running through my hair is sensational. Her warm breath on my skin seems to dispel the cold around us, and she probably feels the same.
It's all I've ever dreamed of.
I pull away to finally fill my lungs with cold air. My breathing is rapid, but a smile is plastered to my face. Applejack has a similar face, like she's also on cloud nine.
She grabs my blanket and wraps it around me. "Ah think ya lost this." She pulls the other end over her, so we can be closer while still keeping our warmth under our blanket.
While intertwining our fingers, I nuzzle my head onto her shoulder. Seconds later, I feel a little tap on my knees. On my lap, I see a green candy heart. I use my other hand to pick it up and read it.
LOVE YOU
"I love you too, AJ," I whisper.
With that, my visible breath flutters away, and if I were to look closer, I can see all my worries vanishing with it.
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