She was following them. The shadows.
The girl was in a forest, but the fog didn’t let her see far. The silhouettes were both moving fast, but somehow she still managed to keep with them. In fact what made it rather simple, was that both of the shadows weren’t going in straight line. But after some time, they started to fade away, seemingly increasing their speed and losing themselves in the thick fog that surrounded them. There wasn’t any noise to make out, there was literally a loud and unnerving silence, making the girl stop running.
By now the shadows had already faded in the fog, and she was starting to feel a little nervous, fear overpowering her. There weren’t any birds, any bugs around to make any sound. It was all quiet.
Suddenly, the sound of a foot against grass was heard. She jumped at this, it was scary to say the least, but managed to stay calm enough to not scream at the top of her lungs. She quickly turned to the source of the noise, only to find nothing. This place was beginning to get into her nerves. The sound came once again, behind her back, and reacting in the same way as before she still found nothing. There was something in the fog, she knew, but it just couldn’t seen.
The sound came once again behind her back, and while turning, the sound repeated itself from the other side. The noise became plural, more and more similar sounds occurred almost simultaneously, echoing through the background of her mind. She started to run once again, trying to get away from the sounds from around her. She ran blindly, she couldn’t see very well with the fog being so dense. Still, it was no use, the multiple noises were stubborn on keeping up with her. No matter how fast or far she tried to run, the sounds didn’t fade. But after a moment it stopped, later to be replaced by footsteps instead.
She stopped.
A shadow could be seen to the front, and it was moving towards her. She tried to get away from it, but another shadow was behind her, running towards her. She looked both ways, the shapes were getting closer, taking the form of quadrupeds. This confused her, but not more than how she already was. The girl tried to move but her feet didn’t want to respond, they were both stuck to the ground. She looked up once again, now there was less distance between the shadows and her. Then she tried to scream, but her voice didn’t come out. With almost no hope left, she closed her eyes tightly. What she could only do right now, was to expect the worst.
From one of her sides, she heard a faint sound coming between the hoof steps, like someone had just told her to run. She didn’t expect that.
“Anna, come on!” the voice said, coming from her left. Annie opened her eyes, to see who was talking to her, but right now the shadows and the hoof steps had disappeared and a small figure wearing a cloak was in front of her. Her heart was racing, she was just too scared to do anything else but to stare at it. The form was looking to the ground, quietly mumbling something to itself. Anna found that she could move her feet now, so taking a deep breath she started to take a little step towards the creature.
“Anna!” The figure raised its head, and a bright light blinded her completely.
Anna woke up. She was glad as soon as she realized that all of that was only a dream. She yawned and took her phone to check what time was it, and showed her that it was five thirty-four in the morning. Also acknowledging the date, she realized that today was her last day of school. She grinned to herself, happy to know that finally the torment of high-school was finally over. At least for three months.
Leaving the phone where she grabbed it in the first place, she decided to get back to sleep.
______________________________________________________________________________
The bell rang meaning that school was over.
"Finally! You don't know for how long I have been waiting for this," Annie said, getting out of the last class of the day. No. Last class of the term. It was in moments like these that Annie loved to move and celebrate around her friends. After all, school was over and that meant that she, starting from now, had the next two and a half months all for herself. And her friends, of course.
"Heh, if I had a cent for every time I heard you say that, I would be millionaire by now," joked Darryl, walking out of the same class just behind Annie. Darryl usually loved to tease Annie in anything he could, for him, that is all the fun he can have during the day. Annie normally didn't care for her friend's constant teasing, since they had been friends since elementary school. Their friendship began when Annie had just entered second grade, and because she was usually lonely, Darryl decided to help her by constantly being with her, and tease her for anything. At first it was only for her to open, but after some time it became a habit, hence why he still does it.
Annie ignored him and continued walking happily along the hallway, greeting people she knew. "So, what are your plans for this vacations?" asked Darryl, now walking besides Annie.
She greeted another friend and answered as fast as she could.
"Well, I don't really know. I was just planning to-" she stopped mid-sentence and spotted another three of her closest friends talking to each other.
"Cassie!" She said aloud, while waving her arm in the air trying to draw her friend's attention. At this, the little group of friends caught the sight of Annie, eventually turning their heads to her direction. One of the girls, Cassie, looked at Annie, and a wide smile appeared on her face. Cassie and Annie have been friends since Annie and Darryl entered middle school. Cassie was friend of almost everyone in her first year of middle school, being the happy and energetic girl she usually is. Both were just normal friends during the first year of school, and it seemed that it was going to stay that way because Cassie used to hang out more with another girl called Demi.
Cassie was with Demi then, like she is with Annie now. They were inseparable. Hanging out during and after school. Cassie cheerful as always, and Demi got the essence of her friend, showing a smile every single day. Just that one day, Demi got a boyfriend, with the boy she had a crush since starting middle school and after some time, it was starting to notice that Demi was starting to spend more time with her boyfriend than with Cassie. And Cassie, even if she wasn't showing it, was hurt by that. After a few months after Demi started dating her crush, Cassie was completely alone, she started to spend less time as her cheerful self, to the point of becoming antisocial. One week after Demi stopped dating that boy, Ethan, the ex boyfriend, bumped with Cassie, and after he confessed that he ended his relationship with Demi because of her, he kissed her in the lips. Demi, having watched the whole thing, stepped between them and slapping Cassie with all of her rage, she assured her the she would never forgive her for what she had done. Cassie didn't want to be with Ethan, besides being the reason she stopped having one of her best friends. Later, Annie found Cassie crying all over herself in one of the stairs of the school. Cassie told her everything and after Annie comforted her, with the help of a cup of coffee, they became best friends.
"Annie!" greeted Cassie back, with the same wide smile of everyday.
Ignoring the fact that Annie and Cassie were in a hug, Darryl asked to the others present, "Hey, what are you guys doing?"
" Oh!, we were just remembering things about this semester, and just now I noticed that I haven't done anything!" Susan turned, a white blonde the stereotypic californian girl, and she stomped a foot on the ground to accentuate her statement. All what Darryl could do was to stare at her in disbelief. Usually Susan is one of those girls that goes to party's almost every Friday if not hanging with Annie and Cassie. Richard, also present in the conversation, added: "I also didn't believe it at first, but remembering the last six months, she spent more time trying to pass the courses than partying all over the state." Richard is another usual guy, with glasses and just trying to avoid any problem. A person that seems to care about school but instead is the other way, just someone that knows how to move around.
Cassie, having ended her hug with Annie, said, "Well, I remember that some guys were going to throw a party for the end of the semester. Maybe we can go?"
Susan didn't wait to answer, screaming 'yes' at the top of her lungs. Blushing for a moment, she calmed herself and said to Cassie, "Yes, that would be good. And it would also make me forget everything about this last semester."
"That's true," Richard added. "I would like about some things too, but the party could turn out better and maybe by the end of next week I'll have a girlfriend." The last statement made Darryl laugh, and with the funny laugh he has the rest of the group started to laugh, except for Richard.
"What?, don't you think I can get a girlfriend?"
"Hehe, dude, just look at yourself. At best, your girlfriend could be Cassie, and she is still off your limits," Darryl answered back This earned a glare from Richard. Cassie stopped laughing as soon as she heard her name in that sentence.
"Hey, why do I have to be the example?" Asked Cassie, frowning a little.
"Nothing personal, is just that you seem to be really close to everyone in the school."
"Oh, okay"
"Anyways, are we going to that party or not?" asked Susan, getting back to the topic of the party. At this point everyone had stopped laughing. Richard and Cassie were the first to say yes to the party. And after a moment Darryl said, " I'll go, but we cannot leave any of us behind. Annie will have to go to the party too." Annie caught his glance and clearly heard what her friend said. " What?, no I can't go. You know how I am at parties."
"Aw, come on Annie, you never go out of your house. Unless it is the mall or to one of our houses." Cassie said, grabbing Annie's hand in the process.
"B-but I-"
"Annie" - Susan interrupted - ", I may not know you from a long time like Darryl or Cassie, but from what I know you have never got out of your house. Really, if you keep like that you're going to end up lonely and with lots of cats around you."
Annie, clearly offended by the commentary, was about to talk back, but stopped her mouth when she felt a hand on her right shoulder. Darryl, the owner of the hand, said, " Annie, please, you never enjoy yourself with other people than us. Why not go to the party and meet new people, even make new friends in there."
Annie was now looking at all of her friends, eyeing one by one for a moment. She really didn't want to go, social events never really were a good thing for her. Annie isn't one of the talkative people, she usually just likes to enjoy herself in her house or go out in the woods from time to time, the latter being just a place where she can relax all day without worrying about any problem. It could much be said that Annie is socially awkward.
She eyed Richard, who had said nothing about it. He saw Annie looking at him, with worrying eyes, and knowing what she was trying to say, he just shrugged and said: "Don't look at me, I don't even know what you guys are talking about."
With that said, Annie sighed and said, "Ok, I'll go," changing her view to her friends, she added: "Just don't expect me to have a really good time."
At this all of her friends smiled, Cassie grinning more said: "Great!, believe me, you are going to have a great time. I promise!." And she hugged Annie with force.
Susan grabbed the cellphone from her jeans and looked at the time, realizing she was late for going to her house. Stopping Cassie from her incredible joy, she asked, "Cassie, where and when is it?"
"Oh!, I nearly forgot, didn't I?" -she said letting Annie go- ", the party is tomorrow at 9. It is in Jackson Rd. #354,"
"What?!" everyone said almost at the same time. Except for Cassie, of course. It wasn't the time that bothered them, it was the place that she had said. The street where the party was supposed to be held, was too far for them. In thee words, they wouldn't be able to go.
"Are you sure is in there?" Asked Susan, knowing that she wouldn't be able to go if the party isn't nearer.
"Uh... Yeah, Michael sent me a message today in science class," Cassie said while taking her phone from her backpack, and later showing then the message.
"Cassie, I thought that the party would be in someplace nearer. Not on the other side of the country!" Darryl said, being the first to reclaim against the idea of the party.
"Yeah, I thought it would be somewhere nearer," Richard added, crossing his arms. Both of them obviously mad at the idea of having to travel at least 10 miles to get to the party.
"Oh, come on. Like if I wouldn't have solved that already. Justin, has a car already he will take us there." Cassie answered back, she usually doesn't get mad at people, but when they start judging beforehand, she actually gets mad.
Annie also checked her phone and noticed that it was past 2. She blocked the phone said while had a very uncomfortable silence, "Okay, I gotta go."
"Me too, my parents have been waiting for me since school ended." added Susan, now taking into account the time she lost complaining about the place for the party. Later both of the girls started to say their goodbyes, as Cassie told them how the next day was going to be. Then they started walking to their respective homes.
'Ugh, what have I gotten into?' Annie said to herself, walking through houses she has known since her childhood. "It isn't two hours in vacations and I already have to do something I don't like.'
Looking at the clouds above her she sighed and said, "Well, at least this can't be worse."
After a few minutes of walking Annie finally saw the house she was looking for. It wasn't an special house just a normal suburban home. There was a soccer ball, indicating that a child had been playing in there recently. Getting to her front-yard, Annie opened a division in her backpack and picked the keys that were in it. She placed one of the keys in its respective lock, and turning with a 'click' she finally opened the door.
"I'm home!" She said aloud for everyone in the house to hear her. There was no response. Annie thought for a moment and remembered that her mother wasn't going to be home until six. Apparently, her mother was going to spend time with her friends at the mall today. She also mentioned something about looking for a prospect, but knowing her mother she was just joking about the matter. She Locked the door, and after leaving the keys in the drawer, she headed to the kitchen. The kitchen was connected to the living room, so from a little window she could clearly see her little brother playing video games in there. "Hello, Jack."
"Hey, sis" Jack answered just in time for the round to be over, then appearing the results and leaving Jack at the top of the best players. "Yeah! No one can beat me." He said proudly, and rising a fist in the air.
Annie just rolled her eyes at the display and proceeded to leave her backpack in the door to the living room. After a few minutes of looking for food she finally decided what to eat, and taking all of the ingredients she needed, she started to make herself some ravioli. It wasn't hard to cook, since she was the one cooking when her mother wasn't home. Which was most of the time.
Hours later, Annie found herself in her bed reading a book, while listening to music. It was peaceful to say the least, there were no sounds breaking into her room, besides the wind outside her window. Everything was so calm that she started to feel tired. So setting the book bedsides her, Annie decided to take a nap.
Leaving the book in the bureau besides her bed, Annie took the blanket that was in the front of her bed and she covered with it. It wasn't like there was something else she had to do today, was there?
______________________________________________________________________________
Lyra was walking with no worries in mind, in fact she was actually eager about today. She and Bon Bon were going to spend the day walking around the town and just enjoy themselves today. But what was in fact exciting Lyra, was that she had been planning this day for almost an entire month.
She was going to propose to her fillyfriend after nearly four years of dating. Things were going to be perfect today.
“Hi, Lyra!” greeted Twilight, walking besides Lyra.
The unicorn stopped dead at her tracks and bowed turning towards Twilight and said “Oh!, Good morning, princess.”
“No need to do that, Lyra, I already said that none of my friends need to bow before me.” She said as she saw Lyra bowing before her. Twilight stopped trotting and eyed directly at Lyra´s eyes. Or at least her mane, which wasn’t buried in her hooves. “It is actually starting to feel a little weird.” She added after a moment.
“Oh, alright then,” - Lyra said standing up once again, - “So, what are you doing here, Twilight?”
Twilight was about to answer, but she stopped in time to know that she forgot what she was about to say. “Uh… hehe, I think I forgot what I was about to say.” she said, blushing a little at the embarrassment. Lyra, just stood there not actually noticing the blush, but still smirking a little at Twilight. After trying to remember as quickly as she could, she finally recalled what she was about to say. “Oh yes, I was in fact coming for you. I need your help with something I have been working on the last few days.”
Lyra frowned for a moment. Did she just heard that the princess needed her help? Augh, she didn’t want to do anything else today but to spend the day with Bon Bon. ‘Hopefully is something that could wait until tomorrow.’ Lyra thought, trying to keep her smile. “I’m sorry, but I already had plans for today.”
“Really?” Twilight asked
“Yes, you remember don’t you?, I was going to propose to Bon Bon today,” Lyra answered, a little smile appearing on her face as she thought about the way she was going to do it. It was something exciting, really.
Twilight’s eyes widened at that, a part of it because of the news and another because she clearly forgot that one. It wasn’t like her to forget something as important as that. “Sorry,” she lowered her head, “I think I forgot that.”
Lyra approached Twilight and standing besides her she gave her a hug, “Don’t worry, Twilight. I know how you are with your studies,” with those words a smile crept on the alicorn’s features. Then, after a moment, Lyra ended the hug and started to get back on her way.
Waving the alicorn goodbye from the back she added, “Besides is not like I told you more than once,” Twilight smirked at that, of course is not possible for her to forget something she’s been told more than once.
Then it hit. “Ugh,” Twilight grumbled to herself and started to head back to her library.
Lyra kept walking straight to her goal, which was the Ponyville Park, while passing some of her closest friends and waving at them. Finally, today, everything she had planned for nearly three and a half weeks was going to led to a happy ending. Every time she thought about it, it made her feel more and more excited. ‘Today is going to be just amazing.’ she thought, with a big grin on her face. She stopped, and the smile faded in a fast way. “No, today is not going to be just amazing,” - she said, a smile slowly appearing again, and growing even wider if that was even possible, - “Today is going to perfect!”
“Lyra?”
That sweet, beautiful voice.
Bon-Bon was in the bench where they usually spent their time.
“Hi, BonBon” Lyra greeted her fillyfriend. The candy-maker was sitting on the same bench they have been sharing since they started dating.
With an angry expression on her face, she said to the unicorn, “Lyra, where have you been? I’ve been waiting for nearly an hour now,” Bon-Bon stood up and walked towards Lyra.
‘An hour?!, that doesn’t seem right I thought I did everything on time. Ugh, I have to check the time more often.’ Lyra thought to herself trying to remember where did she spent more time that morning. “I’m sorry, Bon-Bon, I think I lost the sense of time with something,”
The frown was still on Bon-Bon’s face, but after a moment it started to disappear, and a smile came into view instead. “Oh, Lyra, I can’t stay mad at you. Just don’t do it again, ok?” Bon-Bon approached more to Lyra and nuzzled her face, she looked down for a moment to say, “I thought, you weren’t even to show up,”
Lyra frowned for a moment, but quickly changed her face by putting a reassuring smile and lifting her fillyfriend’s face up to hers. “Bon-Bon, don’t you ever worry about that kind of things. Remember, I will never, and I mean never, going to let you go.” Bon-Bon’s blushed for a moment, but she definitely was more calm now that she heard that. They both embraced themselves for the downer moment to pass away, so that they can start one of the best days of their lives.
“Thank you.”
Lyra was the first to finish the hug and not wasting time she said, “Hehe, you know this is getting me a bit depressed,” Lyra was really about to get sad at the moment, she wasn’t kidding about that. But now that she caught herself up, she maintained the grin, “Let’s forget this and start over, we have the whole day after all!” She threw her hooves to the air to accentuate her last statement, and that earned a smirk from Bon-Bon.
“Ok then, where did you want to go?”
“Oh, I know just the place.”
