A Troublesome Life

A knocking came at my door. I got up, setting the guitar aside. I opened it to meet Fluttershy. I was confused as to why she was here.

“Uh… Hi, Fluttershy. What brings you here?” I ask.

“I… um… wanted to say thank you again…” She said in her whispering voice. I took a moment to piece together what she mumbled. I smiled to her.

“You really don’t need to keep thanking me.” I said kindly. She remained quiet, not making eye contact. Once more it seemed awkward. We stood there, in silence. I looked past her to see Rarity hiding around the corner. I gave her a ‘really?’ look. She went out of my view and I looked back to Fluttershy. Her face was red, as per usual. I got a crazy idea and decided to not go through with it until Rarity was looking again. So, I stood in silence, glancing over time-to-time. I offered a smile to Fluttershy, who was still looking at the ground behind her hair. I looked over again, and saw some of Rarity’s head. I looked quickly back to Fluttershy, put my hoof under her chin, lifted her head up, and leaned in. Her eyes went wide and her mouth fell agape. Her entire face grew red as well. I just stood there, my face only an inch from hers. From Rarity’s view, it’d look like something more. I looked over, and saw Rarity standing, in full view, her jaw dropped and eyes wide. She had a slight blush on her face. I looked back at Fluttershy, who is just standing in shock. I raised myself up, laughing at Rarity. She just stared at me, shocked. Fluttershy stood there, still the same. My smile faded and I waved a hand in front of Fluttershy’s eyes. No response.

“Huh… I think I went too far with my joke…” I said a bit worried. Fluttershy’s eyes looked to me. It was a start. I smiled to her. She just looked at me, her red-face fading down into a blush. Rarity looked at me.

“I can’t believe you’d do such a thing, Strum!” She scorned. I smiled to her.

“I didn’t actually do it.” I said. She seemed to take this as the truth, but still trotted off in a huff. I looked back to Fluttershy.

“Sorry about that; I was just trying to pull a prank on Rarity.” I told her. She nodded, seemingly in a bit of a trance.

“I-I-I… um… I-I understand.” She stuttered out, her face growing redder. I was guessing that she didn’t. I offered a smile, and she just remained silent, as always.

“Well, thank you for coming by, I suppose.” I said kindly to her. She gave me a slight squeak, and she turned and flew out. I chuckled and decided to go for a walk.

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I walked around, the sun still high in the sky. I smiled to myself with my witty little joke. My eye drifted to the house of Octavia I was passing. There was the sound of a heavy bass coming from within. I walked up to the door and knocked on it. The door was answered by the DJ.

“Hey there, guy!” She said, recognizing me, obviously.

“My name’s Strum.” I said reluctantly. She waved her hoof, levitated a remote, turned down the speakers, and called back into the house.

“Hey! Tavi! That one dude who likes you is here!” My face grew red.

“Hey! Now, wait a minute!” I contested. She smiled at me, and walked away, Octavia soon filling the doorway.

“What do you want, Mr. Chords?” She said formally. I decided to not say ‘please, Mr. Chords is my father, call me Strum’.

“Well, I was wondering what that bass was.” I said. It was true; I was more wondering about that than about what Octavia was up to… Okay, just as curious… Okay, more curious about Octavia, what else do you want?! She looked at me with a bored expression.

“Vinyl always plays this music… Every day.” She says, giving a slight hint of despair in her voice. I felt a bit bad for her for a moment. The music was good, at least, but it was also ear-blasting. I smiled at Octavia, and she remained with her poker-face.

“So, ‘Tavi’…” I said. She scowled.

“I don’t like Vinyl calling me that, and I despise it when you say it.” She says coldly. Ouch, I thought. I still smiled, and she still scowled. I tapped my foot, feeling that familiar awkward air. Do it, said a small voice in my head. I realized what I had subconsciously thinking of. I took a deep breath.

“Octavia-“ I stopped myself. I had no clue how to do this! I hadn’t done it in the past, I’ve had the mares come up to me. I just stood there, thinking of how to do it. She stood there, waiting.

“Well?” She asked expectantly. I sighed, and just went with the blunt of it.

“Would you like to go on a date?”

“No.” She said plainly. Ouch V2, I thought. My ears slumped at how fast she’d made up her mind. I decided to push a bit further.

“Why?” She was taken aback.

“’Why’?” She repeated. I nodded my head to confirm. She thought a moment.

“Because I don’t like you.” She said. Ouch! I decided to act like a child once more.

“Why?” Once more, she was taken aback. She pondered again.

“You’re annoying, insensitive, and flat-out un-interesting.” She stated matter-of-factly. Ah! My heart! I stood there, shocked at how cruel that was. Didn’t change my opinion of her, though.

“I can prove you wrong.” I say, still a bit off. She raises a brow.

“I doubt that.” She says coldly. I smile, a great plan forming.

“I bet I can. Let’s go on a date, and I’ll prove you wrong, and I won’t act! I promise to act like myself.” I said. She tapped her chin.

“I’ll think about it.” She said, closing the door as she went back inside. My brain processed, did a back-flip, and cheered for joy. I trotted off, happy as hell. I looked at the sun; still high in the sky. While I was walking I began to whistle the happiest tune I knew. As I was walking I saw Fluttershy.

“Hey, Fluttershy.” I said to her. She did the same routine; hiding behind her hair, mumbling a greeting, face red. I trotted along, still happy. Nothing could ruin my mood.