Heart-Shaped Horseshoes

“Attention class, I like to introduce you to a new student that will be with us for the next four weeks. Please give a big applause to Babs Seed.”

Babs shyly waved while the classes applauded her. Apple Bloom was obviously quite  enthusiastic, as well as Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo. Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon turned their heads, refusing to look at her.

“Now, I know we're in the middle of the semester but Babs´ family is trying to move her into a different school back in her hometown of Manehattan so, while the transfer is being done, she can't afford to lose classes so she will curse here for the time being. Babs had a really rough time at her old school so please be kind to her,” Cheerilee explained.

Babs rubbed her neck, wishing Cheerilee wasn't so blunt but, then again, avoiding the issue was what caused problems with her cousin and her friends first time around.

“Now Babs, please take your seat right next to Peachy Pie,” Cheerilee said.

The yellow filly waved her arm and Babs walked next to her. When passing next to Diamond and Silver they turned their heads once more, showing that they didn't care about her but when Babs ignored them in turn, they turned red with anger, being offended.

Babs sat next to Peachy Pie and looked at the classroom. There were at least other five ponies without Cutie Marks like her, not including the Crusaders. She didn't feel like in her old school when she stood out for her blank flank, she was just like any other filly.

Babs Seed was happy.

*****

Babs Seed was confused.

Cheerilee's classes were a lot more complicated than in her old school, especially maths. Luckily, Cheerilee took her time explaining things but she also decided to run a surprise test and Bas wasn't prepared for that. She realized she was really behind the rest of the class as a result of faking sick and missing several classes in Manehattan.  She couldn´t solve a single problem in her exam so she tried doing what she used to do in her other school. She slowly peeked her head over Peachy Pie´s paper...

“Is there a problem, Babs Seed?” Cheerilee suddenly asked.

Insticntevly, Babs repleid “No maáma!”

She saw that Diamond and Silver were snickering at her and she blushed, ashamed for what she tried to do.

****

Babs Seed was sad.

She was all alone, sitting in the swing, not really playing with it.

“What are you doing all alone?”

Babs looked up and saw Cheerilee's kind smile.

“Hi, Mrs. Cheerilee. I´m just...I just wanted to be alone.”

“Why? Where are your cousin and her friends?”

“They ran into the lab, saying something about becoming Cutie Mark Crusaders Potion Makers,” babs explained.

Cheerilee flinched and made a note to check on them right after she finished with Babs. “And why you didn't join them?”

“I had chemistry class once and I made a mistake,” Babs said, not really wanting to explain what happened.

“I see. Then why aren't you playing with your new friends?” Cheerilee asked, pointing at the rest of the students that were happily playing things like hoofball.

“I don't think they like me. After class, Peachy Pie and her friends asked me all this stuff about fashion in Manehattan and actors and I didn't know what to answer. I´m not interested in that. I like sports and comic-books. When I told them that they looked at me like there was something wrong with me,” Babs said.

Cheerilee placed a hoof on her shoulder and said, “A girl can like that kind of stuff too. There´s all types of girls.” She smiled at Babs who smiled back. “However, there´s something wrong with you.” Babs turned white, remembering her previous teacher awful treatment of her. “Your grades are not good. You obviously missed a lot of classes in your previous school so you need extra classes. Tell Apple Bloom that you're staying an extra hour in school today,” Cheerilee said and turned around.

Babs Seed was now confused. Was she being punished or getting help?

****

Babs Seed couldn't stop looking at Cheerilee. She couldn't concentrate in her test, all the time she kept peeking at Cheerilee. She wasn't doing anything special, just looking at the rest of the class papers while chewing on her pencil. But for some reason she couldn't stop watching, especially at her lips while she chewed slowly at the pencil...

“Are you done, Babs?”

Once again, Babs stood perfectly straight and said “No ma'am!”

Cheerilee sighed and walked next to her. She pulled a chair and sat close to Babs, close enough to make her blush.

“Do you need any help, Babs?”

Babs played with her hooves, not really knowing what to say.

“If you don't understand something, don't be afraid to ask me,” Cheerilee reassured her.

“Uhm I don't know what this symbol means...” Babs admitted.

“Alright, let me explain...”

Babs didn't really heard her. She was more concerned about the way Cheerilee placed an arm around her chair so she could lean and point at every number in the paper. She didn´t know why but her heart was beating hard. Really hard.

“Do you understand now, Babs?”

“I do. Thanks,” Babs Seed lied.

****

The next couple of weeks passed by like a hurricane and Babs couldn't be happier. They were the best days she had in a long time.

While she did not always agreed with the Crusaders crazy escapades, she did enjoyed spending time with them. Apple Bloom´s family was a lot more lively than her own and she looked forward for every meal and dinner.

Even in school things got better. She started playing ball with the boys proving to be one of the best players and soon even the girls were cheering for her. She was popular and liked, she was happy.

And best thing was that she had a great teacher now. her previous teacher was mean and never cared for her, Cheerilee did. She stayed an extra hour every day helping her catch up. She was patient and understanding, never once losing her patience with her. She was a little strict as well, making sure Babs understand that cheating was not tolerated in her classroom. Babs Seed liked Cheerilee very much, more than she liked any other pony.

But that happiness couldn't last forever. She will eventually had to return to manehattan so babs wanted to make something for her teacher, a gift so she could remember her. It wasn't like they would never see again since she would come back to visit Apple Bloom from time to time but, she would never be her teacher again. So Babs worked day and night in a gift and one day, she was ready to give it to her. She walked into the classroom and heard the sound of snickering.and giggling. She knew that sound very well and hated it.

Diamond Tiara and a couple of other fillies were sitting in her seat. Silver Spoon was reading out loud from a book and showing them to the others. Babs realized they were showing her notebook and rushed to grab it but Silver Spoon kept it out of her reach

“What´s up with the hearts around the teacher´s face?” Silver Spoon asked.

“No-none of your business!” Babs yelled, trying to grab back her notebook.

“Did you seriously drawn a picture of her rump? What a weirdo!” Diamond insulted her.

Babs didn't actually meant to do what she did next. She wasn't even thinking, her body moved before she decided to. When she came back to her senses, Silver Spoon was in the floor, her glasses broken and she was bleeding from her nose.

****

Babs Seed emotion were a rollercoaster. She was scared, angry, frustrated and ashamed, all the same time. She trembled in her seat while Mrs. Cheerilee talked to Big Mac outside the classroom. Awful memories of another classroom, of another teacher telling her parents that she was a problem child, assaulted her.

Cheerilee finally walked in and said “Well, I just had a talk with Silver Spoon´s mother. She understood that Silver and her friends shouldn't have taken your personal notes but that doesn't excuse your behavior, Babs Seed.”

Babs hung her head low, too ashamed to look back at her teacher.

“I'm disappointed with you, Babs. I thought you were making progress. That those rumours I heard that you were nothing but a bully were wrong but maybe I was wrong with you.”

Babs broke in tears, no longer able to hold back. Cheerilee cleared her throat, regretting a few of the words she said. She was about to said something else when she noticed a paper in the floor. She picked it up and asked Babs what was it.

“It was...it was a gift for you, Mrs. Cheerilee.”

Cheerilee looked at the paper again. It was a family tree of the Apple family, with all the correct dates and locations. It was an impressive feat considering how big that family really was.

“Great work, Babs. I´m proud of you,” Cheerilee said, smiling but babs didn't smiled back. She was still crying.

“Oh honey, I´m sorry for yelling at you. You're not just a bully but you do need to learn to control yourself. I hope things go better at your new school.”

“I don't want to go to another school and I don't want a new teacher. I want to stay with you!”

“Sweetie, your parents are doing what they think it´s best for you. I´m sure your new teacher will  treat you well.”

“But I want you to still be my teacher. I...I love you,Mrs. Cheerilee..”

“I love you too, sweetie.”

“No. I love you.”

“oh,” Cheerilee realized what Babs meant with her words. She looked at Big Mac who was outside the room, looking at his cousin with a mix of concern and confusion. Cheerilee looked back at Babs who looked in the verge of tears again. “Wel...” Cheerilee played with her hooves. not sure what to do. As a teacher she had dealt with many things but a student falling in love with love, especially a filly, was something she wasn't ready for. “You do understand there´s a big age difference and that I'm your teacher and that we're both girls not that there's anything wrong with that but...”

Babs lowered her head again. Cheerilee realized she was rambling so she took a deep breath and made Babs raise her head.

“Listen, you're a really pretty, smart and sweet filly. And once you grown up, you will find a special somepony that will love you for who you are. Be it mare or stallion or a zebra or gryphon or...” Cheerilee slowed down before she started rambling again. “My point is,right now you don't need to worry about this kind of things. Just focus on being a  good student and a good friends for your classmates, do you understand?”

Babs nodded but said nothing.

Cheerilee sighed and watched as she walked out of the room. She exchanged glances with Big Mac who nodded and she nodded back. Cheerilee sighed a last time and took the paper. She could have draw a picture or write a poem but instead she put all her effort in proving she could improve in her studies. Cheerilee was actually proud of Babs and wished she could stay a little longer but that wasn't her call.

She was about to put the paper in her desk but instead she decided to pin it into the chalkboard, so all the other students could see how talented Babs really was and how proud she had made her teacher.