A New Day & A Familiar Face
10:58am
Saturday, 23rd of January, 2027
Stirrup Street, Ponyville
As I walk down the street with my luggage being kept close to me with my magic, I look around. Ahhh... At least the advertisement was right about the town. It's simple, peaceful and gives ponies a chance to catch the fresh air, by just walking casually down the streets and the blue sky definitely compliments that statement. I continue to walk down the left side of the walkway, my eyes passing door to door as I try to find the right house. Let's see here.. 32, 33, 34, 3- ah! 34 Stirrup Street. Well, at least it wasn't hard to find, may as well as let my new roommate know I am here.
*Knock, Knock*
Ok, time to quickly remember my little introduction sentence, 'Hi there, I'm Ochre Paxton, nice to meet you.' Ok. I look at my watch on my right hoof, it's 11:00 in the morning. I'm a little late... Hopefully they won't be pissed o--
*Click*
That sound made me assume a formal stance with a forced smile, in an instant. Shit, I wish I wasn't so jumpy. I look to the floor and can't help but feely snarky, 'Well then, fillies and gentlecolts, behind this door will probably somepony who is secretly a pimp or a prostitute, place your bets - what will i-'
"Sweet Celestia, I can't believe it, Paxxy!" said a joyful female voice that cut my train of thought. As I look at the mare in the doorway, the nostalgia hits me like a tree. The purple body, the pink mane and tail with lighter highlights and those light green irises.
"Son of a mule, Cheerilee!" I exclaim positively. She jumps at me and wraps her hooves around me for a big hug, I return the hug without hesitation. "I haven't seen you since Canterlot University!"
She releases the hug and backs up a bit, maybe to give me a chance to breath, don't know. I did enjoy that hug though, good thing she isn't a mind reader. "Yeah, didn't you graduate the year after me?" she asks me. Ah yes, I had to be held back a year due to the tutor's affair he had with one of the examiner's board.
"Yeah, got out of there eventually." I say as I shrug my shoulders with a smile, how couldn't I smile saying that, being held back is not fun for anyone.
"Let's get you and your stuff inside." she turns pointing her right hoof to her abode. I nod my head and follow her direction with my luggage.
As I walk inside, I can see the amount of effort she put into this place. I'm only in the front hall and I see the side desk with multiple photo frames on them. To my right I see the coat hanger and to my left I see the living room. One glance alone and I see two beige sofas properly positioned by an oak coffee table. One of the sofa's back is facing me and the other's front is facing the front window. The wall's colour in both the hall and the living room is a light blue, almost like the colour of the sky and the door's to the other rooms are painted white.. That doesn't surprise me, Cheerilee has always had a positive outlook on life. Kind of refreshing the more I look at it.
"It's nice, how long have you been living here?" I asked, as I spoke Cheerilee trotted passed me with a spring in her step.
"Been living here for..... five, six years. Ever since I graduated now that I think about it." she replied. I was taken back a bit by what she said, six years... Wow, it has been that long, huh? An image of a couple of letters flashes through my mind, just as I think about how long it's been. I know where that image is going, so I shake my head to bring myself back to reality, because that is something that I don't want to think about. Not right now at least.
"The kitchen's behind that door at the end of the hall there, upstairs is the bedrooms. When you reach the top, the hall goes left, the first door on the left is my bedroom, the second is the bathroom and the door on the end is your bedroom." she explained to me as she walked towards the kitchen door. "Why don't you take your stuff upstairs and I will bring you a drink. Do you like orange juice?" she asked as she looked at me before going through the door. While she was finishing her last sentence, I took off my navy blue top and hung it on the coat hanger.
"Yeah, please." I replied, as I began going upstairs with my luggage hovering over next to me as I went up. Walking down the hallway, I couldn't help but think back to the university days. Dude, those were fun days, and Cheerilee was one of the best party mares known on campus. Ah, she used to get so drunk on the dance floor, sometimes it was hard to tell whether she came drunk or was getting drunk. I still remember the time when she started telling colts who were giving her the bedroom eyes - 'Detention for two weeks, young one.' Had to carry her back to her dorm, the entire way she was telling me her dreams of being a teacher for young fillies, was sweet to listen to, though it didn't help her talking slurry half the time. 'I want to see the smile of fillies faces in the molofushsapa. What wassss Issss saying?' The complete oblivious look on her drunk face was brilliant.
Opening the door to my new room, I can't help but feel happy and tired at the same time. I shake off a weird chill that went up my spine, no idea where that came from. The bedroom is simple enough, a single bed up against the far wall in corner with its frame being made of oak, the window is next to it with a good view of the street below and brown curtains attached to it. Across from the bed in the other corner, is chest of draws also made of oak. The wallpaper is stripped a mix of red and white. Simple, but I like it. I place my luggage at the end of the bed, looking at the front pockets of the bag, I know I placed those documents in one of those front pockets.
"Got you your orange juice." said Cheerilee, "I'll just place it on top of the chest of drawers for you." I hear her moving over to the chest of drawers, as I keep rummaging through my pockets searching for my documents. "So, what brings you to Ponyville? Last I heard you a had good life in Trottingham." as she asked that question, I felt like time stopped for a second and somepony shoved something up my plot. Quick, gotta answer the damn question!
"Just wanted a fresh start and all that." I answer the question nonchalantly, still looking for those damn documents.
"A fresh start?" She asks again, I can hear her coming closer and I know what she is going to ask next. Where are those fucking documents!?!. "Didn't you have a job and somepo-"
"Found them!" I cheer, cutting her off. As I triumphantly held the documents up high, simultaneously a thud on the floor comes from behind me. I turn around and she Cheerliee on her back, looking at me disgruntled. Putting on a nervous grin, I offer her a hoof up she takes it and is back on her hooves again. "Sorry about that." I say innocently.
"It's alright, want me to take a look at the documents?" she asks as she holds out her left hoof. As I pass her the document's, I use a simple telekinetic spell to bring the glass of juice to my mouth. As she scan's through them, I take a big gulp of the juice and move the glass away from my mouth so I can answer her question.
"To answer your question, I did have a good life in Trottingham and an alright job as a kitchen porter. But, I wanted to come here for a more a peaceful start. Fortunately, my boss knows the man in charge of the café in this town and knows they need a new kitchen porter after the old one left." what I'm saying to her so far is the truth, but to answer what was going to be her second question, I know I have to say 'No.' "I didn't have somepony special. A couple of flings, nothing more." I lie whilst waving right hoof casually. I don't want the first full conversation we have after six years being filled with tears. I seriously don't want to remind myself of what happen-- Oh crap, the thoughts are coming back again! Quick, change the subject. "So what are you doing with yourself these days?" smooth, Paxxy.. smooth.
She passes me back the documents back with a casual smile that gives off a welcome feel, before she promptly answers my question, "Well, I'm a teacher for the local school for young ponies. Got the job there not long after leaving University."
"I bet you love all the kids there, huh? All those lovely little smiles, huh?" I ask playfully, I know she will say yes.
"Yeah, well, not all of them. Sometimes a couple of them, REALLY, get on my nerves." she says with disdain, much to my surprise. I am a little taken back with that statement, but nothing worth fretting over.
"Who are you? And what have you done with Cheerilee?" I reply and receive a huff from Cheerliee. "Either way, I got get this information to the post office. Need to get the rest of my stuff down here."
"Oh, ok then. We can catch up later then, I guess." she says to me and she sounds quite disappointed.
"I know, I'm in a bit of rush but I'd also prefer that my new boss I'm here now rather than later, which is why after I go to the post office, I'm going to the café to introduce myself." Which is true, I've always preferred to start earlier than later. Might even get a shift today, if I'm lucky. I turn around to my luggage to find my saddle bag so I can take my info in.
"Well, the post office is not far off from Sugarcube Corner, just walk south of the shop and it will be on the right." she explained happily. "I will leave the spare key on top of the chest of drawers." As I rummage through my luggage again, I here the clink of something metallic being placed on the oak. I am practically sticking my head in this giant bag, where is the saddle bag? Come on, come o- Oh, what the- "It's nice to see you again, Paxxy." Hehe, I forgot how much of a hugger she is. She has got both hooves round my neck. Oh, there it is.
"Yeah, it's nice to see you too." As I pull the saddle bag out with my magic, I place my left hoof on her hooves that are still around my neck. She's warm. It'd be nice to stay here but I gotta get going. She releases her grip and back's off, as I turn around, she is already at the door, walking out in the hall. I just gotta say this, "At least if you get pissed here, I won't have to carry you home."
"Oh, shut up." Cheerliee replied with a grunt.
To Be Continued
