Don't Call Me Adorable!

Everything was settled by the time the school bell rang. I was seated by the time class began, but I took the opportunity to watch the other student's fasces as they came in.

The unicorns came first. They looked mildly embarrassed. I tried again to extend the sense.

It was shame, but it was more shock. I'm not sure how words fit how it looked. I'd have to see if Iron Bottom could share some adjectives with me. Regardless of the adjectives, it was comforting to know they were more shocked than ashamed. I think that meant they were more shocked at other's anger than caught up in it.

Following the unicorns were the earth ponies. Almost every one of them was burning with shame. The few that weren't looked... scared. It was to my own shock that I saw miss... platinum flank?... in the later. Did that mean fear of other's anger, or fear at their own? I glanced at the other fearful earth pony for answers.

She was a orange and yellow mare I'm now certain wasn't here last time. There was a bit of residual shame, but I could feel... relief? That implied to me that she was gay or bi. Interesting.

Finally came the pegasi. There was a set of twins that looked openly relieved. They couldn't be- The twins glanced at each other and I realized with a certainty that, yes, yes they could. I blushed and looked away, but a light and quiet set of hooves brought me back.

It was Derpy! She looked... relieved, scared, ashamed... angry? That last one flared as she looked at me, but the third did too. What did it mean?! M-maybe she agreed with the crowd's sentiments before Iron Bottom talked to them? Was she ashamed and angry because of my parents? My chest sank like lead and I looked away. I "turned off" the sense and looked back to Iron Bottom.

He was at the board now, all looks of exhaustion gone.

"Today class, we are learning more about herds, the tolerance papers, and Celestia's decree of acceptance." I flinched at the firmness of his words, as did the rest of the class. It was glaringly obvious what he meant by his choice of reading materials.

The first subject was innocent enough, but the second and third were obviously an attempt to squash any of the mob's sentiments before it could take root in his students. If I remembered correctly, then the second was the series of letters between Princess Celestia and the pastor of the Western Boroughs Church of The Burning Batpony (known ironically as West Borough Batshit (Crazy) Church). Strong reading indeed. The third was the result of the letters. It had officially rejected any implication that Celestia hated any tribe of ponies.

I could see the shame of everypony flare, and the relief of Platinum, Derpy, the pegasi sisters, and the stranger flare. Derpy was really relieved,I'm not sure how I feel about that, but it was sort of like hope and jealousy. It made my stomach feel tingly.

Maybe it was... love? No, a crush at the most. It wouldn't be weird for somepony my age, would it? No use wondering on that, I had a crush on Derpy. I felt a little relief of... I liked mares... interesting. I had a crush on a beautiful pegasus with wonderful golden eyes. She might possibly be gay too.

My mind reeled as the cold logic of what I just thought finally connected with the emotional part of my brain. I had a crush on somepony!

I felt excitement well up inside of me. Then, I looked at Derpy, and I crashed. She was glaring at me. She hated me! Maybe if I explained myself?

I looked again.

Nope, I'd lost a friend. It wasn't a record, but it was close. I looked away. Her glare hurt.

The school day blurred by. I had a lot on my mind, okay?! The first filly I ever crushed on hated me. She didn't even look at me during lunch. I came back to myself about an hour before the day ended. I was sitting alone, I think Derpy moved to a different desk.

The last hour was the longest, I felt lonely, I felt angry at life, and lastly, at the very end, right as we were leaving, I felt shock as I found a H&H card in my cubby hole. It wasn't frilly enough to be from a colt, it just looked like the simple pink that you'd expect from a mare. Which was odd because Hearts and Hooves day wasn't until half a year from now.

With a blush I tossed the heart shaped card into my saddle bags. I was going to read it alone... in my room...

I sighed in relief when I looked around and saw that no one had noticed the heart. The other students were moving out, but I didn't follow. I intended to talk to Mr. Iron Bottom before going. There was a lot on my mind, and maybe talking about Derpy would help.

I ignored the twinge in my heart, but not my shock at seeing another student already talking to Mr. Iron Bottom. It was the earth pony from earlier.

Using some of the techniques Ravenhoof taught me I hid myself. I knew eavesdropping was wrong, but maybe it would reveal what her feelings meant.

"Ahh Miss Daffodil," Iron Bottom greeted, "how may I help you?" Innocent enough so far...

"I just wanted to say thank you for what you said... you see, my coltfriend's," so she wasn't gay?  "a little different, and they were saying such mean things..." Interesting! Iron Bottom smiled and shook his head.

"Don't worry miss Daffodil, just make sure he uses protection." Iron Bottom blushed a little at that, but I was busy wondering what she meant by 'different.'

"Don't worry Mister Bottom," he he, "he cleans himself out before every date. All I need to do is wash them after." Wash... Clean... ohhhhh my gosh! She... and he... I felt myself drool a little, and I wiped it away in shame. I decided that maybe I could talk to him tomorrow, after my wings went down.

I frowned as I ran into Platinum Dress outside. She looked anxious, nervous even, but this could only be bad. Bullies like her... she was blushing?

"D-does this mean yes?" Did what mean yes to what?! What was she talking about?! Platinum flinched, I assumed from my surprise. "Y-You read the note right?" What... no...

I pulled the card out of my pack with a panic. Flipping it open I began reading.

Vioets are Red, Roses are Blue.

I know I acted like a Dolt, but I think you're cute.

You are more adorable than any colt, smarter than me too.

I'd like to be your mare friend, but a no I won't dispute.

-Platinum.

All I could do was gape in shock. "I guess you hadn't."

This filly honestly expected me to believe that- "I can see you don't trust me. I shouldn't expect you to. Just... I know it's wrong, but I was so confused when I first saw you Monday, and... it just took some time to figure out what these feelings were." I- "a You don't have to say yes. If you say no I'll leave you alone. I promise to leave Derpy alone too." Derpy! I just had a crush on Derpy, but she hated me now. I-

"PLATINUM! YOU SAID YOU WOULDN'T DO THIS!" I barely managed to dodge as a Gray and Yellow blue slammed into Platinum. The two rolled across the yard kicking and screaming as if... but Derpy hated me! This... made no...

sense!

I opened my eyes to two beautiful fillies covered in bruises and cuts. Both of them glaring at each other over me.

Fantasi... stahp!

no.

Fantasi!

no! It's too funny!

I mentally glared at Fantasi as I pulled myself up.

Wait, where was mom and Twilight! Spike? Any- Holy horseapples this room was nice. A sense of shock washed over me as I glanced about the room. Was that real gold?

"Ha, see? She obviously is stunned by how nice my room is. You should give up!" Platinum was looking gloatingly at Derpy. This was... her private room!?

"I sleep here too Platinum! I-I have a job though, at least my gifts for her would be hard earned!" They were seriously arguing about... I thought Derpy hated me!

"Yeah well... At least I know how to dress up if we went on dates!" Dates... but... I was just twelve! She was fourteen! That was-

"Crazy Platinum! She'd obviously prefer hanging out to, blegh, dates. She isn't some lace wearing colt. Just because she's" I- wait!

"She would look adorable in lace." Both of them started looking at some far away thing. I felt fear welling up from deep in my heart at those looks.

Then they noticed/realized I was awake. If blushes couldn't travel at the speed of light, then no one had told Platinum or Derpy. I ignored the urge to facehoof. I grabbed a card and pencil. This had gone on long enough. Time they answered questions.

'Derpy, why were you so mad at me in class.' Derpy had the decency to look ashamed.

"I-I wasn't mad at you. I was mad because I couldn't find the courage to ask you to be my filly friend." I... that's so... Derpy was looking sad. To my renewed shock Platinum wrapped a hoof around Derpy.

"Hey, I understand." Apparently I had missed a ton of development. Platinum must have seen my shock. "Scribble... after I realized my feelings for you... I went to Derpy to try and make sure I wouldn't have competition. I won't share details," Derpy released a relieved sigh, "but long story short she is now my adopted sister, as is Dinky Doo. Dad's rich and the ministry was happy to expedite things." Derpy wiped away tears.

"When we admitted to each other how we felt for you, we agreed to wait a while, but then I saw you, and I almost confessed. I guess ... She just had more guts than I did." My mind was reeling. This was like one of those trashy romance novels stallions read.

If my life was one, then it was badly written. With all the crazy in my life the author had to be loosing his or her mind.

"I shouldn't have asked... Derpy is right... I'm just spoiled and impatient." Platinum was crying now." I... I was the colt right now wasn't I? Mares were fighting over me like a some dime a dozen reverse harem manga from neigh-pon, not that is ever admit to mom that I'd read something like that. Still... I was a little bit young to be that colt. Normally ponies waited to at least fourteen to start dating.

Derpy blinked with a gasp, sort like she had just gone eureka. Before Platinum could react Derpy whispered something in her ear. The she had a eureka moment. This couldn't turn out well.

"Scribble, would you be me and Platinum's coltfr- err... fillyfriend?" Ohh Fantasi- ha ha ha! no. If I responded badly they would both be heartbroken. Then I'd lose my only friend and Platinum might bully me... why would I say no? I was a freak! When... when would I ever get this chance again? I-I wouldn't.

This was my only chance, even if it was convoluted as buck. I nodded.

Derpy and Platinum went wide eyed and tearful, but they were smiling like they opened the ultimate Hearth's warming present. I admit I felt flattered, and turned bright red.

"C-could we go on a da-" Derpy started but Platinum interrupted with, "would you put on lace?!" Then, as my mind was in a tailspin, they asked in unison, "can we kiss you."

I was about to shake my head no, but I realized my heart was beating a million times a second. I couldn't move at all. Their lips were...

I felt shock tingle along every part of me as at once the two of them kissed me. The moment didn't end, even when Derpy and Platinum jerked back red faced. They just stared at each other in shock, then back down at me.

There was another shock as they kissed me again.

Then horror as the door creaked open.