Applejack wasn't exactly one to let somepony get to her. She's confident in who she is and she knows exactly what she's doing, even if sometimes what she's doing isn't exactly the best thing.
But, if she was being really honest with herself, which she had trouble doing ironically enough, she knew that things weren't exactly the same now that she's realized her feelings. Feelings that, if she was right, were seriously affecting her.
Then again, anypony who has been in love knows that.
'Well, maybe not 'love',' Applejack told herself, 'love's a strong word for it.' She shook her head. There she was, lying to herself again. 'Wait a sec, how am Ah lyin' to myself? Ah mean, it's not like we know each other that well!' She paused. 'OK, that's another lie.'
And it didn't exactly help that she was a total dork about it, either. Everytime they were around, Applejack would find herself saying the most ridiculous of things and soon enough, she'd end up arguing with them. Not that she minded, of course, seeing as how it was one way of getting to talk to them more.
'Yet, when Ah do argue with 'em, Ah just make it worse by bein' a total jackass about it,' she reminded herself, 'and there Ah go again. Ah'm glad donkeys can't read minds.' She paused again. 'Or can they?' She shook her head. 'No, they can't. Ah'm sure that'd make the news or somethin'.'
Applejack sighed. Everytime she thought about anything that even correlated to her undeniable crush, she ended up thinking the most ridiculous things and would more than likely just shake her head at her own thoughts.
'Well, it's not gonna be long 'til they get here,' Applejack remembered. It was usually in the afternoon when they visited the orchard, mostly just to chat and sometimes mooch off a few apples. Of course, Applejack didn't mind it anymore. Besides, it was just a few apples.
She shook her head rapidly once more. Apples were her livelihood! Just what was she thinking to say that they were insignificant?
'Well, it's not like we don't have a few to spare,' Applejack admitted to herself as she spared the trees a glance, each one heaping full of apples waiting to be bucked. She looked to the tubs that waited at the bottom of the trees, each sitting patiently and empty from lack of work on Applejack's part.
Applejack knew that slacking off wasn't part of her farming lifestyle. She really did. But, sometimes it was hard to remember when her special somepony came flying by from the weather team...
'Well, they're not exactly a special somepony, now are they?' Applejack told herself, ''Specially 'cause they ain't interested. At least, Ah don't think so.'
Applejack knew that she wasn't the most ideal mate for anypony to have. Heck, Rarity was definitely a better pick than herself, she knew. Maybe that's why she was so upset whenever they were around each other. Or maybe it had something to do with Rarity herself. Either one was fine.
Applejack looked to the skies and saw that the sky was a silvery blue that day, especially with the streaking white clouds that adorned it. It was peaceful, though, and rain wasn't planned for the day. She'd been told that yesterday.
'Maybe Ah should get back to work,' Applejack admitted to herself, 'Ah mean, they'll be here later.'
And that thought was the one thing that kept her going as she worked through the afternoon, waiting for her special Wonderbolt to come flying in.
* * *
"Hey, AJ!" called out a voice from above.
Applejack was mid-buck when she heard the voice. And it was mid-buck when she froze, which wasn't exactly the most balanced position to be in. So, of course, when Applejack froze, she almost immediately fell over.
"Whoa, nelly!" Applejack exclaimed as she fell face first into the ground. She hoped and prayed that they didn't see that.
"Whoa, AJ, you OK?" they asked as they landed near her.
Applejack struggled to stand up on her own and she tried hard to keep her face from turning as red as the apples in the bushels. "Y-Yeah, Thunderlane, Ah'm fine."
Thunderlane gave her a worried glance. "Ya sure about that? You look like you took a heavy hit."
Applejack laughed nervously. "Yeah, no, Ah'm fine, really." She shifted her hooves awkwardly. "So, how ya been?"
Thunderlane shrugged. "Same old. I ran into Rainbow on the way here and it turns I got my info wrong today on the weather. We have a light spill today and you might wanna head on inside so you don't get wet."
Applejack nodded in acknowledgement, her cheeks still read. "Th-Thanks, Thunderlane. Ah appreciate it."
Thunderlane smiled at her, which made her heart skip a beat. "Anytime. Tell the family I said 'hi'."
"Yeah, sure, no problem," Applejack replied quickly, "thanks for coming by."
Thunderlane readied his wings. "You don't mind if I snag an apple, do you? I had to skip lunch to make up for lost time on cloud gathering."
Applejack shook her head. "Naw, Ah don't mind." She kicked a tree beside her, careful to hit a spot that would jostle an apple near her. Of course, when the apple fell, it didn't fall into her hoof exactly like she planned, and instead landed on her head. "Ow!"
"You OK?" Thunderlane asked as he took a step towards her.
"Yeah, yeah, fine," Applejack told him as she picked up the apple, "here ya go. Ah'd ask if you wanted to eat and talk, but since yer on a schedule..."
"Hey, it's no problem," Thunderlane told her, "I'll come by tomorrow. Heck, I might even try to make you something myself!"
"Oh, you don't have to--" Applejack tried to say.
Thunderlane held up a hoof. "Please, I don't mind it." He put it down as he prepped his wings for takeoff. "Besides, I know how to cook. Who else do you think makes Rumble breakfast, lunch and dinner everyday?"
Applejack blushed. "It's really no trouble. Besides, that's a thing you two do together."
Thunderlane waved a hoof. "I don't think he'll mind. He's always making stuff for Scootaloo and her friends, so it won't be a big deal."
"Well, if you say so," Applejack said, "you might wanna hurry up so Rainbow doesn't get yer tail for bein' late."
Thunderlane's eyes widened. "Oh, right!" He bit into the apple. "Thanks, AJ!" However, with the apple, it sounded like, "Fankth, Ack!"
As he zoomed into the air, Applejack watched him as he grew smaller and smaller in her eyes. She sighed to herself and put a hoof to her face. "Ah am such a dork."
