Chapter 6 - Romantic Conflictions

Dusk walked into school the next day with a smile plastered on his muzzle and a bounce in his trot. He spied Petal going through her locker at the other end of the hall and he hurried down to her.

"Hey, Petal," Dusk said.

Petal jumped at the sound of his voice.

"Oh, hi, Dusk," she replied.

"How are you today?" Dusk inquired, wondering whether she had gotten over Saturday's events yet.

"I'm fine, Dusk," Petal replied. "What about you?"

"I'm good," Dusk said. "But I know you're not fine. Talk to me, what's wrong?"

"There's nothing wrong, Dusk," Petal replied.

"Come on, Petal. I know you're troubled, look at you! Your mane is frizzled, and your tail isn't combed. Your eyes are bloodshot, and you look like you've been crying," Dusk said. "What's wrong, Petal?"

Petal sniffed, and Dusk could see tears reach her eyes. His already fading smile dropped from his face as he took a step forward and place a hoof on her shoulder. Petal placed a hoof over her eyes and sobbed quietly. Dusk moved closer and wrapped her in a comforting embrace, stroking her back, soothing her as she broke down and sobbed uncontrollably into his shoulder.

"Hey, it's okay. It's okay," Dusk reassured.

Petal felt Dusk's firm embrace, and squeezed him as hard as she could, not wanting to let go as she spilled her tears onto his coat.

Dusk and Petal stood entwined for a few minutes, Dusk cooing, trying to reassure Petal as she cried.

After a while, Petal regained control of her emotions and mumbled something into Dusk's shoulder.

Dusk pulled away from her and asked, "What did you say?"

Petal mumbled something under her breath.

"Speak up, Petal," Dusk said, although he knew he may not want to hear what she was saying.

"I said," Petal began. "I l-l-love you."

"Oh, Petal," Dusk said, sighing.

Tears rolled from Petal's eyes as she continued, "But I know you don't love me. And I know you don't want me to be your special somepony, and I know I hurt you on Saturday. I'm sorry, Dusk, I'm a waste of time. I'm not confident at all. I'm just a silly, lovestruck, mare who doesn't deserve your attention. And I know no matter how much I love you, you'll never love me. I know it's all so soon. We barely know eachother, and I know that if you loved me, this would be moving too fast, so I know this must be a shock to you and I know that-"

"That's enough," Dusk said, cutting Petal off. "That's enough."

Petal quickly shut her mouth and looked down.

Dusk placed a hoof under Petal's chin and moved her muzzle up, so they were looking eye to eye. Petal's gaze darted to the side.

"Petal, I know you have feelings for me, Monroe told me about it, but I know how hard this is for you. Unrequited love is the worst kind of love, and though we may never be a couple, I want you to know that I'll always be here for you. I'll be your shoulder to cry on. I can't promise that I'll ever be anything more, and I can't say that I love you, because I would be lying. But I won't just leave you because I don't love you. I had a crush on a mare back in year 6. She rejected me and sent me into a spiral of depression. I don't want that to happen to you. You don't deserve that."

A tear rolled down Petal's cheek.

"Look at me," Dusk said.

Petal squeezed her eyelids shut, dispelling any tears, and then re-opened them, and stared into Dusk's eyes.

"Petal," Dusk said. "I may not love you, but I do like you a lot. You're a beautiful mare, with an amazing personality, and I think one day, you'll find a stallion who loves you as much as you love them. But that stallion probably won't be me."

"I know," Petal said.

"I'm sorry for this, Petal. I don't want to reject you, but I don't want to give you false hope," Dusk replied.

"It's okay," Petal said. "I was expecting worse."

Dusk wrapped Petal in another tight embrace and held her for a minute, before letting go and saying goodbye. He then walked down the hallway, shaking his head.

"Dear Celestia, I hated saying that," Dusk thought. "I felt like I was crushing her dreams. I just hope she understands."

Dusk continued down the hallway a short while before he heard a familiar voice behind him.

"Hey, Dusk," the voice said.

Dusk turned around and saw Lavender standing there, smiling. She had taken off the makeup she had been wearing the previous night, but her hair was still curled.

"Oh, hey, Lavender," Dusk replied.

"What was that, back there?" Lavender questioned.

"Petal?" Dusk asked. "That was nothing."

"You sure?" Lavender prodded. "It didn't look like nothing."

"That mare, Petal, has a crush on me," Dusk explained. "I told her that I liked her a lot, but I didn't love her. I hated having to do that."

"That's a shame," Lavender said. "She looks like such a nice pony, too."

"Yeah, well, I'm just not sure about her. I mean, she seemed cool and all, but lately she's just been distant and sheepish. I hate sheepish mares, but I also don't like flirtatious mares, either," Dusk said.

"What about me?" Lavender asked. "I'm flirtatious."

"You're not too bad. Besides, you're a lot gutsier than Petal," Dusk said.

Lavender giggled and tapped Dusk on the chest.

"Well, you're a lot cooler than any stallion I've ever known," Lavender said, smiling.

"Glad to know," Dusk replied, smiling contentedly.

"Hey, last night you said we should go out again," Lavender began. "How does Saturday sound to you?"

"Hmmm, maybe. I'll have to check what I've got to do," Dusk replied. "Lunch or dinner?"

"Dinner sounds more romantic," Lavender replied, smiling alluringly.

"I'll see what's on," Dusk said. "But if there isn't anything on, sure, I'd love to have dinner with you. By the way, isn't it the colt's job to ask a mare out, not the other way 'round?"

"Oh, shut up," Lavender said, playfully. "You should feel special that anypony's asking you out!"

Dusk dismissed her comment with a wave of his hoof and said, "Come off it, I'm not that unpopular!"

"Well then, Mister Popular, why don't you ask me out next time?" Lavender said.

"Will do, ma'am," Dusk replied.

Lavender giggled and playfully punched Dusk in the shoulder.

Dusk continued down the hall, Lavender now walking beside him, the two sharing friendly banter and joking like good friends.

It was now lunch time, and Lavender sat across from Dusk at a small cafeteria table.

"I can't believe Dumbbell did that in Phys Ed!" Lavender exclaimed.

"Yeah. Dear Celestia, he's such an idiot," Dusk replied, laughing.

Earlier that morning, during second session, an earth pony named Dumbbell had managed to knock himself out with a basketball. The class was playing basketball, and Dumbbell went to shoot. He threw the ball a little too hard, and it rebounded off the ring, and smacked him in the face, knocking him flat.

"What the buck did he think he was doing?" Lavender said, giggling.

"Bucked if I know," Dusk replied. "He probably thought he was gonna get an epic three-pointer or something."

"My god, what a bucking idiot," Lavender said, shaking her head.

As Lavender finished her sentence, a loud voice called out over the cafeteria.

"OI! WHERE THE BUCK IS DUSK FIRE!" the voice yelled.

Dusk recognised the voice.

"Shots, bucking great," he said.

"What does he want?" Lavender asked.

"I don't know, probably a rematch," Dusk said, snickering.

Lavender giggled and said, "Like he could beat you."

The voice called out again, this time it locked almost everyone in fear. No one wanted to move, for fear of being beaten up.

Dusk sighed and stood up.

"I'm right bucking here, mate," He said. "What the buck do you want?"

"I want a bucking rematch, asshole!" Shots yelled in reply.

"Do you really think that's a good idea?" Dusk said, confidently.

"Buck you!" Shots yelled.

Dusk looked at Lavender and whispered, "Get the headmaster, I'll stall these idiots."

Lavender got up and quickly scooted out the door, evading Shots' line of sight.

"So then, asshole, why you wanna rematch?" Dusk asked, sarcastically. "I thought you'd be smarter than to piss of the stallion that bucked you up!"

"You used magic! That's not fair!" Shots yelled.

"Yeah, what's fair about two big earth ponies beating up a single unicorn?" Dusk yelled in reply.

"Go buck yourself!" Shots yelled.

Dusk shook his head and said, "Is that really all you have?"

Shots yelled in fury and began to cross the room, flipping a table, sending food and cutlery flying. Dusk tensed and got into a defensive position.

Shots got closer.

Dusk squinted and grinned.

Shots rushed at Dusk, preparing to knock him flat.

Dusk shot him with a paralyzing bolt and slid underneath Shots, flipping up behind him.

Shots staggered forward and turned. He threw another punch at Dusk, who deflected it and returned the gesture by punching Shots square in the face.

Shots staggered back and rushed at Dusk who jumped into the air and dove over Shots' back, landing behind him. Shots ran full tilt into a table.

Dusk turned to see Shots wiping several kinds of food of off his face and coat.

"You're gonna get it now," he growled.

Dusk only grinned and tensed up once more.

Shots rushed Dusk once again, and Dusk flipped around and kicked him in the face. The kick stopped Shots in his tracks who grasped at his face, screaming in agony.

"Come on, Shots," Dusk said. "You're making this too easy!"

Shots landed a wild punch on the side of Dusk's head, sending him flying into a table.

Shots shook his head vigorously and turned on Dusk. He grinned devilishly as he walked towards Dusk's limp body.

"I'm gonna enjoy this," he muttered.

"SHOTS!" an authoritative voice yelled. "STOP RIGHT THERE!"

Lavender had returned with the headmaster, both of whom where now running towards Dusk and Shots.

Lavender slipped on some spilled soup and skidded past Dusk. She got up and ran to his side.

The headmaster walked up to Shots deftly, his horn glowing.

"Get to my office," he growled. "NOW!"

"Buck you," Shots said as he walked out of the cafeteria.

The headmaster stayed and tried to calm the now riled students as Petal, Monroe, Crystal, and Lavender stood around Dusk's limp body.

"Is he gone be okay?" Monroe asked no one in particular.

"I don't know," Petal said, stunned.

"I'm sure he's fine. He dealt with Shots so professionally, I'm sure he could take a punch like that," Lavender said, a tinge of uncertainty in her voice.

"Dear Celestia, he's such a fool!" Crystal said.

"Now be nice, Crys," Monroe said. "I ain't never seen a pony move like that in mah life. And to think a week ago he was brawlin' like an amateur."

"Maybe he was ready for this," Lavender said. "I mean, Shots did give him plenty of warning."

Petal bent down and placed one of Dusk's hooves over her shoulder, and attempted to pick him up. She stopped mid crouch, and said, "Well, isn't anypony gonna help me?"

Monroe, Crystal, and Lavender all bent down and help Petal pick Dusk up. They then carried him out of the cafeteria to the nurse's office.

Dusk groaned and sat up. The right side of his head hurt like all hell, and his left cheek was slightly wet. Dusk was the only one in the room.

Dusk sat up and touched the right side of head, quickly hissing at the sharp pain the contact brought.

"Oh right, Shots," Dusk mumbled as he remembered what had happened earlier.

His hoof then went to the damp patch on his cheek. He wiped it and brought his hoof in front of his eyes. On his hoof was a smudge of pink lipstick, the same kind Petal had been wearing.

"Did she kiss me?" Dusk thought.

His look of confusion slowly faded, and he smiled a little as he wiped his cheek with a tissue.

Dusk stood up, and took a few seconds to gain his bearings. He walked out into the hall and looked left, then right. There was no one in the halls. Dusk ducked back into the office and looked at the clock. It was 12:43.

"About fifteen minutes until the end of third period," Dusk thought.

He walked back over to the bed and sat down, his head still throbbing.

"At least I missed math today. English is next, though. I guess it isn't that bad," Dusk thought.

Dusk sighed. He had almost showed Shots up. Almost. If he hadn't let his guard down, he would have been conscious when the headmaster got to the cafeteria. On the bright side, his father's training had paid off. Dusk had dodged Shots' attacks perfectly, all except for the last one. Dusk slammed his hoof down on the bed and swore. He should have seen that one coming. And now he was in the nurse's office with a possible concussion because of his fuck up.

The nurse entered the room and looked at Dusk.

"Oh, you're finally up," she said. "Your friends carried you in here from the cafeteria and stayed with you until they had to go to class. They were all very worried."

"How bad is it?" Dusk asked.

"How bad is what?" the nurse replied

"The wound," Dusk said, angrily pointing at the bandages.

"Oh. It's nothing serious, you'll just bruise up. Thankfully you didn't get a concussion," the nurse answered.

Dusk's eyes rolled into his head and he let out a groan as he flopped back onto the bed.

"Buck my life," he said to the ceiling. "Why did I even try to be smart, I should have just run."

The nurse walked into the storeroom and began taking inventory as Dusk lay on the bed, waiting for class to get out.

A few minutes after the bell rang, Lavender appeared at the door, and found Dusk lying on the sick bed, his hooves behind his head, his hind hooves tapping to an inaudible beat.

"Dusk?" Lavender said, quietly.

Dusk opened one eye and looked at her, a smile suddenly appearing on his face. He opened his other eye and sat up, beaming at her.

"I've been waiting for you," Dusk said.

"Well I was thinking about you all through class," Lavender said, walking over and sitting down on the end of the bed.

"Because of how stupid I was during first break?" Dusk asked.

"Yes, and because I was worried. I've seen bigger ponies take knocks like that and go down hard," Lavender said.

"The nurse said I don't have a concussion," Dusk said.

"I know, she told us," Lavender replied.

"Us?" Dusk asked.

"Petal, Monroe, Crystal and I," Lavender answered. "I'm assuming they're your other friends?"

"Yeah. They're good friends," Dusk said.

"Well Petal is obviously a very good friend," Lavender said.

"Why do you say that?" Dusk asked, already knowing the answer.

"Well, as we were going to leave, she turned around, ran to you, and kissed you on the cheek," Lavender said.

"So that's what the lipstick was from," Dusk said, feigning sudden realisation.

"I guess she does love you," Lavender said, looking a little down-trodden.

"Yeah. I'm really not sure what I'm gonna do about her. I like her too, but..." Dusk trailed off.

"Well, it's your life, I'm not gonna judge on whether you pick me, her, or somepony else entirely. I'm just glad you're okay," Lavender said, honestly, as she leaned over and kissed him on the cheek.

Dusk's face went a slight shade redder as Lavender pulled away. Petal appeared in the doorway, just as Lavender sat up straight again.

"Are you okay now, Dusk?" Petal asked.

"Better now that you're here," Dusk said, with a smile. "Now that you're both here."

Petal smiled and sat down at the head of the bed as Dusk sat up and shuffled down to make room for her. As she sat down, Monroe and Crystal arrived, holding hooves. Dusk looked at them quizzically.

"Holding hooves?" Dusk asked.

Crystal blushed furiously and Monroe coughed nervously as they dropped each other's hooves, looking away.

"We weren't doin' nothin' of the sort!" Monroe said.

Dusk tapped his snout, smiling slyly, and turned back to Petal, who pulled him into a tight hug.

"I was so worried about you!" she exclaimed. "Don't do that again!"

Dusk's moment of shock quickly wore off and he freed his hooves from her grasp and returned the hug.

"I'm sorry, Petal. I wasn't thinking properly," Dusk replied.

"Damn right you weren't!" Monroe said. "Coulda gotten yourself killed!"

Dusk turned his head towards him as best he could and replied, "Killed? Come off it, Roe, I had him!"

"Sure, you had 'im all right, right until 'e smacked ya upside the head!" Monroe exclaimed. "But nonetheless, I'm glad you're okay."

"As am I," Crystal said, her face slowly returning to its natural colour.

Dusk sighed, and turned his head back to a natural position as Petal continued to hug him tightly. He set his chin down on her shoulder and stared at the wall, waiting for her to let go.

"So then, what exactly happened after I passed out?" Dusk asked the wall.

"Well, the headmaster has done something with Shots," Lavender replied. "I heard he was expelled, but you'd have to check."

"Yeah, ah heard the same thing," Monroe chimed in.

"Great," Dusk said. "Uh, you guys wouldn't mind leaving Petal and I alone for a bit? I just need to talk to her in private."

Lavender nodded and stood up, walking outside to join Crystal and Monroe, and closed the door.

Petal released Dusk and looked at him, knowing what he was going to ask.

"Petal, why did you kiss me?" Dusk asked her.

"Because..." Petal trails off. "I don't know, actually. I just kind of, did."

"Why'd you wait until I was unconscious?" Dusk asked, smiling a little.

Petal opened her mouth but closed it again, unsure of how to answer Dusk's question.

"What I'm trying to say, Petal, is that I like you enough to kiss you whilst I'm conscious," Dusk said.

Petal blushes furiously and her eyes dart around the room and over Dusk's face. She splutters a bit before sighing and staring at him.

"Don't lie to me, Dusk," she said.

"I'm not lying, Petal," Dusk said, sincerely. "You're a beautiful mare, and I think you deserve so much better than me."

"But..." Petal begins, but is cut off by Dusk.

"Petal. Look, I know I said I didn't love you. I know I said that I may never love you, and I know I hurt you when I said that," Dusk begins, sighing. "Lavender and I went on a date last night. We kissed and it worked out quite well," Dusk continues, putting his hooves on Petal's shoulders. "I want to get to know your side of the story. Why don't you meet me at Caf-Hay after school and we can talk over milkshakes?"

Petal nods "Okay. I have a lot to tell you,"

"And I can't wait to hear it. I'm kind of lost in the dark here, and I think that your explanations could really help me understand where you are coming from. I've been in your position before, but everypony is different." Dusk smiles as he says this before getting up. "I'll see you after school"

Petal is left sitting on the bed in stunned silence as Dusk leaves the room, heading to his next class.

Author's Note

Sorry for the wait, guys. I've been stuck in school doing work and I've been stolen away from doing what I love. Thanks for being patient. I'm almost on holidays, and I'll be writing a lot more during that time.

I just had to fix a major continuity error there, sorry about that.