Spoils

Description: You buy Rainbow Dash lunch to say thank you.
Note: The Fall Festival is mentioned here. The Fall Festival is a town-wide event held at the school that hosts games, food, music and social events of all kinds. I do not know if it is still in the game. See the next chapter for more details

When classes ended, Rainbow Dash ran to her usual spot under the shady tree. I found her with her eyes closed, one leg resting on her knee like last time.

“Uh, hey again.”

“How you doing Champ?” She sung that movie's theme song as I said hi to her. Her eyes stayed shut. She sniffed the air. “Something smells good?”

“I just bought it. They gave me a bit too much to eat by myself.”

Rainbow Dash opened her eyes and lifted her head off her backpack. “I can help you finish it if you want.” I handed her an unused plastic fork and the whole my plate. She sat up, and started eating the overpriced meal.

“I…appreciate what you did.”

“I will not confirm nor deny any accusations of my whereabouts after we went our separate ways yesterday.”

“Okay. But…still, thanks.”

She nodded and kept eating. I expected her to eat quickly like a starving animal, but she took her time to eat. Slowly and carefully, still taking huge bites, but she paced herself and allowed herself to enjoy the flavors of every forkful.

The leaves overhead cause the sun to poke out in small freckles over up. The branches simultaneously blocked the breeze and the noise from the students, and they cooled everything slightly. I could see why Rainbow Dash liked this hidden nook.

“You think those guys are gone for good?”

“They may come back, but I doubt it. Hypothetically speaking, I think they’d prefer to have the school think a new guy beat them up than, say, a hundred and six pound, five foot four girl. “ She scooped up another forkful. “You know. Hypothetically.”

"I guess that makes sense.

“Plus, Rarity already spread the gossip around. And if the beautiful and fancy Rarity says something darling…” She imitated Rarity’s unique accent. Another flawless impression. “…than that mean must be the truth. A lady never lies or tells stories that she isn’t certain is factual. But a well groomed young man like yourself surely knew that already, didn’t you?”

She finished the imitation with a stuffy laugh.

She mocked a friend of hers behind her back, someone she liked and trusted, even though they had little in common. And then...it occurred to me then that she didn’t insult others or make jokes towards people she disliked. She only did it to people she respected.

...it occurred to me that Rainbow Dash had been trying to be my friend all along.

“So where’s your girlfriend?”

“I don’t have a girlfriend.”

“Fine. Where’s your cute, smart and sweet second-half that always follows you around?”

"She should be coming by soon. She gets caught up.”

“Uh huh.” Rainbow Dash spoke in between bites. She sat like a boy; legs uncrossed, back hunched, shoulders up. “So…are you going to the fall festival?”

“I guess. Everyone else is. It sounds like fun. Are you going?”

“Absolutely. This year, that cider WILL mine!”

“The what?”

Before she could explain, Twilight appeared out of thin air. She scanned both of us, judging us in her own way.

“Hello ___ .” Twilight said with a flat tone.

“Hey Twilight. Did you meet Rainbow Dash yet?”

“Not officially. Hello.”

“Hey.” Rainbow waved to her, then shoveled more food in her mouth.

“Did you eat?” I asked Twilight.

“Yeah. I did. I was…going to the library and get some homework done.”

“Haha-ack! Cough-cough” Rainbow choked on her food as an obnoxious laugh tried to come out of her mouth.

“Do you want to come?” Twilight asked.

“Now that you mention it, I do have some stuff I’d like to catch up on. I’ll meet you there?”

Twilight glanced at Rainbow Dash before answering “Sure.”

Twilight used another familiar tone. Half mad, half sad, all suspicious. Why was she so emotional lately?

When Twilight was out of earshot, I heard Rainbow scoff.

“Why do you do that man?”

“Do what?”

“Work so hard? It’s lunch time and you’re still on study-mode. Why don’t you take some time out and enjoy yourself? Like me.”

“Uh, I do that sometimes. But I’d like to get homework done before the Fall Festival.”

“Riiight.”

“You don’t believe me.”

“Nope. I bet you read textbooks in your spare time so you stay ahead of the rest of the class.”

“What’s wrong with that?”

“Haha, I knew it.”

“Whatever. Think what you want.”

"Thanks for grub.” Rainbow folded the paper plate when she was finished.

“Did you like it?”

“Eh. Cafeteria food is okay. I gotta take you to this place off campus. It serves the best barbeque. You like spicy food?”

“Kinda.”

She stared at me, still hunched over like a guy.

“Well…I don’t wanna keep you.” She cleaned out her teeth with her nail and made a sucking noise.

“Yeah.” I brushed off my pants as I stood up.

“I’ll see you around Newbie.”

“Newbie?”

“Yeah. Newbie. That’s your nickname, until it gets old or until I think of something better.” She sat back down and shut her eyes. “See ya around.”

“Why do you do that?’

“What’s that now?

“Why do you relax constantly? You know, slack off.”

She laughed through closed lips. “God forbid I should enjoy myself, right?”

“I didn’t mean that.”

“God forbid you should have enjoy yourself then?”

“I didn’t mean that either.”

“Newbie…when was the last time you sat down and did absolutely nothing?”

“I…” Now that she mentioned it, I couldn’t remember the last time I slacked off. . I thought of how hectic the last week had been, and the last month. And the last year, ending my life at my old school and working over the summer.

That wasn’t a bad thing of course, right? It meant I had things to do.

“…I’m too busy to do nothing.” I say.

“Well that sucks for you. Doing nothing is the best way to make friends and memories.” A ray of sunlight crawled over her forehead. “You better go back to work. Don’t wanna keep your not-girlfriend waiting.”

The skin over my eyebrow twitched. I told myself to calm down.

“Bye.”

She nodded towards me again, but kept her eyes shut.

Hidden in the library like it was her temple, Twilight was once again surrounded by several stacks of book, hiding behind them like a fortress.

“Hi.”She ignored me and turned the page loudly. “Twilight?”

“...Hi.” She didn’t look at me. Oh great, now what?

“Do you need help studying?”

"No. I have my study time and work time planned out accordingly.”

“As usual, right?”

She slammed her book down and glared at me.

“What were you doing with Rainbow Dash, hmm?”

“Are you jealous again?”

Twilight’s eyebrow crumpled. “No! She’s not good enough for you anyway. I’m just worried she’ll bring down your grades if you spend too much time with her.”

“I’ll be careful. She’s just…a friend.”

“…since when?”

“Since…I don’t know, yesterday?”

“…hmph.” Twilight lifted the book back up and studied again.

She didn’t say a word to me for the rest of lunch.

Author's Note

I advise everyone to sit outside and do nothing for about 30 minutes. It really takes the edge off.