Chapter 1 ~ Why Me?
The cafeteria chatter was filled to the brim, students conversing about many assignments, who's going out with who, anything that perpetrated them to talk about something.
There was a table that exhibited three girls planning the next location of their promotion for their group, to put themselves out there.
"Do you really think that's a good place to crusade?" Sweetie Belle asked.
"Of course! It's accessible and so many people would be able to see us do our thing! It will be awesome!" Scootaloo replied. As she glanced to the lunch bar, a nonchalant Rainbow Dash walks by their table, her tray of spaghetti and meatballs with a Sprite soda.
This is my chance! She's right there! Lemme see, uh--
She interrupted her thoughts by leaning back on her chair, crossing her arms, and placing her feet on the table. Unfortunately, a gnat managed to enter in the pink and red tunnel of mouth as the orange girl yawned. She could feel a tickle, an itch in her throat. As she coughed, she lost her balance with the back legs of her chair. Her body nearly flung the cyan girl, but ended up on the cold tile floor.
Think, Scootaloo, think!! But she really couldn't with the ringing in her delicate ears, and a potential welt she at the back of her head.
With a cough in her fist and a swipe at a tear in the corner of her eye, she said with a bravado, "Hey, Rainbow! What's up?" Rainbow Dash merely stared at her. A nervous chuckle escaped Scootaloo. As her eyes wandered, students from a few tables were staring as well.
Rainbow Dash grabbed Scootaloo's hand. "You okay? You gotta be careful next time, kid." She gave her a noogie, hopefully making the experience for the freshman less awkward.
"Sure thing," she grunted. Entranced by the ruffle she was given by Rainbow, she continued absentmindedly, "Anything for you. I would even fall off a bridge for you."
A few students exchanged glances and snickered. Rainbow placed her hand behind her neck. "Hehe, okayy..."
Scootaloo just responded with a red blush that covered her entire face.
"Wha--I mean, I wouldn't actually--" The snickers got louder. "Nevermind," she mumbled, averting her eyes. Before Rainbow Dash could say anything to make her feel better, Apple Bloom interjected.
"Ya good, Scoots? 'Cuz that was one heck of a fall."
"Yeah, are you okay?" Sweetie Belle chimed in.
"Yeah, I'm okay," Scootaloo answers, her eyes still glued to the floor and her face still red.
Rainbow gently placed her hand on Scootaloo's shoulder, gave a soft smile, and walked to her table of her ecclectic group of friends. However, Scootaloo was too embarrassed to reciprocate a smile, much less even notice.
Moving on from what just happened, the girls continued their conversation.
"The Horse Valley Mall is big for a cuppla' banners to be hung," Apple Bloom started.
"And maybe we can grab people's attention. We can wear our costumes. I know my sister would definitely encourage that!" Sweetie added. "What do you think, Scootaloo?"
I can't believe that just happened! What does she think of me, now? I looked like an idiot!
"Scootaloo?"
I've got to keep trying! That was just a mistake--a mistake that'll make her never like me again!
"Scoots?"
What was I thinking?! She wasn't even gonna notice me, anyway!!
"SCOOTALOO!"
The girl's head perked up and put of her palms "Huh?"
"Whaddya' think? Would Horse Valley Mall work with ya?" Apple Bloom motioned her hand out in front of them. Sweetie Belle joined in, placing her hand on top of hers.
"Yeah, sure," Scootaloo replied with fake enthusiasm. She then slapped her hand on top of theirs to come off more convincing. However, the two girls exchanged glances with both skepticism and curiosity.
"Scootaloo, are you okay?"
"Yeah, I told you I'm fine, guys."
"Yer not still upset about ya fallin' on the ground, are ya?"
"Pfft, no...Guys, really."
"I don't know, Scootaloo..." Sweetie responded with more concern than suspicion.
"I promise, guys. Not worried at all. Just a fall."
"Then wah are ya sweatin'?" Apple Bloom asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Because it's super hot."
"It's October," Sweetie Belle chimed in.
"If ya take off yer jacket, you can feel how cold it is," Apple Bloom persisted.
"Guys, really. I'm fine. Why don't we just get started after school? I can find us an arcade at the mall after we finish our job."
"You sure?" Apple Bloom and Sweetie asked simultaneously.
"Yep." Scootaloo gave a smile, but a much more genuine one. Though she was still not being honest with them, she grinned because she knew her best friends really did care.
They all counted "1..2...3!! Cutie Mark Crusaders!! Yeah!!"
The bell rang, so that meant that sixth period lunch was over. As soon as the CMC walked out of the hallway with other students, they said their "see you laters" and dealt with the tides of kids on their own.
To make sure her head didn't actually develop a welt, she entered the closest bathroom she can find. As she walked in, she felt a poke from her stomach, but didn't pay much attention to it.
As she looked into the mirror, she used her hand as a guide to search for any bump.
Oh my God, why is my head so frickin' big? Scootaloo has always been a little self-conscious about the size of her head. That's why she loved wearing her helmet, even when she wasn't riding her scooter. She likes to think that her having her helmet on is like Rainbow Dash having her soccer ball. Unfortunately, the moment she thought about her idol, she began to sweat profusely.
Scootaloo found stomach to churn and her chest to tighten. She felt her breathing to quicken and deepen. The bathroom she was once in started to close in on her. Her vision darkened at the edges of her eyes and created a tunnel vision. Her started to droop, and her feet weakened.
As she tried using the painted brick wall as support, her hand missed, which caused the girl to fall on her hand and knees.
Her breathing incrementally sped up and became more shallow. Every breath she took was stuck in lungs. She felt like her heart was going to swell and burst.
Am I dying! I'm gonna die! She thought as hot tears started streaming down her face.
She crawled to a corner, hugged her knees, and dug her head inside them, letting the tears sting her eyes.
Why me? Why is this happening to me?! Scootaloo muttered, "This is why Rainbow Dash will never accept you. Because you're curled into a ball."
Rainbow Dash, your idol will look down on me even more if she sees me like this
Her thoughts were interrupted by footsteps. The shoes were so squeaky that even Scootaloo can hear through her episode.
"Hey, hey, Scootaloo?" A raspy voice startled Scootaloo because she knew whose it was. She trembled and scooted closer to the corner. Her worst nightmare came true. All the fears of looking weak and vulnerable in front of someone whom she admired had come true.
Oh my God, I don't wanna scare her, but--no, I have to say something again, Rainbow Dash thought with much panic.
"Hey, Scootaloo?"
No response, just coarse and heavy breathing.
The younger girl's back was to her, but that didn't faze Rainbow. The older girl knew what she was supposed to do. She walked up to Scootaloo, knelt down to be at the orange girl's level, and pulled her into a hug.
"Hey, it's okay. I'm not gonna leave you. I'll be right here," Rainbow whispered in her ear as she hugged her even tighter. Seconds later, Scootaloo was wheezing uncontrollably.
Rainbow Dash quickly pulled back to hinder any breath difficulty Scootaloo may have to endure. "Oh, sorry!" She saw her backpack, and specifically the pockets.
Water! That's it!
"I'll be right back, kiddo," she told her softly.
Since she was a feet away from the back, she quickly crawled to it to reach the Aquafina bottle. She was saving it for soccer practice next week, but she knew Scootaloo needed it more. Once she grabbed the bottle out, she scooted to the right of Scootaloo instead of behind her.
Scootaloo was still quaking when Rainbow gently touched her shoulder. She was yearning for this sibling intimacy, but didn't think she'd get it. After all, the senior barely knew her; Rainbow just happened to know the freshman through Applejack.
"Here you go," Rainbow said, "Drink it all up. You definitely need it."
Scootaloo hand shook vigorously as she took the bottle. She took the swig of it. The water may not have waned her anxiety, but it definitely cooled her down. Her stomach stopped churning, and her chest loosened a ton. This caused her to breathe at a normal pace.
Tears threatened Scootaloo eyes. She tried holding them back, but she couldn't.
"Thank...you...so...--"
"Shhh, shhh, it's okay. Just relax. You don't have to say anything. I got you," Rainbow Dash whispered. Every word Scootaloo said had rapid hiccups and sniffles.
About twenty minutes have past by, missing Pre-Calc, but Rainbow Dash honestly couldn't care less. She might get a detention, but she didn't care. She had a very valid reason. Helping someone in his or her darkest hour was worth more than a crappy class that she would sleep through nonetheless.
Finally, as Scootaloo collected herself, she asked very quietly, "Am I weak to you?"
Rainbow's eyes widened when she asked that question. "What?! Of course not! What you just went through! No fuckin' way! Seriously, you're a very strong kid. Trust me.
"Is there something goin' on? I mean, you don't have to tell me if you don't want to," she said softly, not wanting to let the same episode occur again.
"Well...I've always looked up to you," Scootaloo began hastily, but her face was lit up. "And I wanted to impress you by making you see me and think that I'm cool," Her smile faded, "but when I embarrassed myself, and people started staring and laughing at me, I thought you didn't like me. So when I had this happen, I didn't want you to see me like this, but..."
She looked into Rainbow's magenta eyes, "here you are."
"Hey, this" gestering around them and the bathroom, "is between us, okay?"
Scootaloo nodded. "Your secret safe with me," Rainbow added with a wink.
"Can you keep a secret, Scoots?"
"Yes!" No one called her 'Scoots' beside her best friends and her dad, so be called her nickname by someone who she worshipped so much was too exciting to suppress. Rainbow grinned.
"I've dealt with panic attacks, too. I just keep pushing through cuz I know at the end of the day, I'll live. That's why I've got lots of water: because my muscles relax a bit. I mean, it's different for everyone, but..." She shrugged.
"You wanna see after school? You could ride my motorcycle with me. Wherever you need to go, I'll take ya." She winked again.
Rainbow Dash leaned in closer. "If there's somethin' that bothering you, talk to me, okay?" She held her hand into a fist.
Scootaloo returned the fist bump. "Okay!"
"Wanna stay for a bit? I kinda don't wanna go my math class." Rainbow shuddered. "And I'll make some excuse. They always work." She chuckled.
"Okay! I...I trust you!"
Rainbow wrapped her arm around the girl and gave her a soft smile. "Cool!"