Apple Bloom sighed. Once again, she had been invited to a sleepover at the last minute. It seemed as if she were an afterthought nowadays. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo would always plan things like parties and sleepovers together, and then invite her at the last minute. Tonight was no different. Apple Bloom glanced back down at the invitation from Sweetie Belle.
You're Invited To
Sweetie Belle's Party!
(And Sleepover)
Bring your sleeping bag, pjs, and swimsuit! Arrive at 7:30 P.M.
For some reason, Sweetie Belle thought it was "cool" to send out invites to her sleepovers. Apple Bloom thought it was stupid, but nopony seemed to care what she thought. Sweetie Belle was the trend setter. The popular one, despite their unpopularity as fillies. Everything had changed in high school. Now, ponies seemed to care less about personalities, and more about looks. And since she didn't have any, her only popularity came from being friends with the two hottest mares in school. Apple Bloom glared at the invitation, yet it mocked her, even under her ice cold glare. Apple Bloom snorted at it, as if it were her friends. "Well, I don't like you, either!" she exclaimed. It was good to yell at some...thing.
Ever since they got their cutie marks, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo had become very close, leaving Apple Bloom to fend for herself. Being the last of the foals in town to get her cutie mark didn't help her popularity. The only reason ponies even spoke to her was because she was friends with Sweetie and Scootaloo. Even as foals, Apple Bloom had always been the odd one out. Nopony ever laughed at her jokes, or invited her anywhere without inviting her friends, now, and then. Apple Bloom always wondered why Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo hadn't ditched her yet.
Coming up with no answer, Apple Bloom focused on her latest problem: What to wear to this party. Unlike Sweetie Belle, she had never preferred fancy clothes over casual ones. After much consideration, Apple Bloom picked out a knit top and shorts her sister didn't even know she owned. Sweetie had convinced her to buy them, even though Bloom was sure she would never wear them. Like her sister, she wore modest clothing, and acted modest, too. She didn't put herself out like Sweetie and Scoots did.
Contrary to Sweetie Belle's thoughts, her lack of interest in colts didn't mean she didn't notice them occasionally. She had had her eye on Pipsqueak for a while, but she knew he would never like her. Like all the colts, he would like Sweetie. That was one of the things she was jealous of. Sweetie's looks and personality drew colts in from near and far, and they would hardly give a second glance towards Apple Bloom.
Even Scootaloo had colts fawning over her. Being as athletic as she was, daily exercises had definitely improved her flank. Plus, she could just look so hot with her eyes. Apple Bloom? She was called "cute".
"I don't want to be cute!" she had screamed inside her head. "I want to be sexy!" Ponies were commenting on yearbook pictures, and while Sweetie and Scootaloo had gotten a few "hots", "beautifuls", and even "sexys" thrown around, Apple Bloom got some "nices" and one "cute". She was as third wheel as you could be, and she hated it.
Apple Bloom had concluded that the reason she was excluded was simply because she didn't click with any of her friends anymore. They had bonded because of cutie marks, and now that that bridge was crossed, she really had nothing in common with Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo. The pair was outgoing, smart, beautiful, and full of life. Apple Bloom was shy, "cute", dorky, and a wallflower. She figured the only reason her friends kept her around was pity.
~~~~~~
Apple Bloom arrived at Sweetie Belle's house and rang the doorbell. The door opened, and Sweetie's head popped out. "Applebloom, glad you could come! Come on inside!" Sweetie smiled and opened the door a little more. Apple Bloom trotted in, a large, forced, teethy smile on her face.
She walked past the hall, a room which she had been in many times before. However, it looked different this time, and it wasn't the bright pink streamers hanging everywhere. No, it was the atmosphere. Normally when she walked down this hall, it felt like a soft blanket, welcoming her and engulfing her in it's softness. It felt like she knew it. Like a friend. This time, however, it felt like the walls were moving in. She didn't feel welcomed; Apple Bloom felt trapped. She felt as if she didn't belong amongst the streamers and snacks. This wasn't her kind of party, yet she went anyway. Apple Bloom didn't know why, but she did.
Suddenly, the doorbell rang, and Sweetie Belle yelled "I'll get it!" She galloped towards the door and opened it, beaming. "Diamond! Silver! So nice to see you! Did you bring- oh, there they are! Rumble, Pipsqueak. Come on in you guys!" Apple Bloom couldn't take her eyes of her friend's smile. Unlike the smile Sweetie gave her, it looked... genuine.
Apple Bloom sighed and made her way over to the snacks. The only thing that ever got her out of a funk was food. Hopefully it wouldn't fail her now. She grabbed a pink cupcake and scarfed it down. Soon after, she scarfed down another. She had taken down twelve cupcakes and seen an endless stream of ponies come through the door when Sweetie Belle finally yelled "GAME TIME!".
All the ponies rushed to the living room. Apple Bloom could pick out a few, like Dinky and Rumble, but others were just a sea of unknown faces and new personalities. Sweetie instructed the ponies to sit in a circle. Everypony rushed around, trying to sit next to their best friend or across from their crush. Apple Bloom slowly dragged her hooves across the room, plopping down next to a tan mare with a mess of a mane, bright as the sun. Her blue eyes were dull, staring at the carpet as if it was the most interesting thing in the world. She didn't want to be here either. Before Apple Bloom could strike a conversation, Scootaloo had yelled for everypony to "Shut the hay up!".
Sweetie Belle cleared her throat. "We are playing a game. If you don't have the balls to pucker up and kiss somepony you might hate, you can leave now." Her eyes scanned the group, looking for any weaklings. Some ponies shot nervous glances around the group, while others' smiles grew wider. The boys were nudging each other and nodding at their crushes, while the girls were nervously tittering among themselves. Apple Bloom noticed that she and the tan mare seemed to be the only ones who didn't show any reaction. Well, that wasn't true. The mare next to her had showed a reaction: Her scowl deepened. Suddenly, Scootaloo tossed something through the air towards Sweetie. She caught it in her magic, and showed it to the group.
It was a bottle.
Apple Bloom's eyes widened and the mare next to her groaned. Why, why didn't she just stay home tonight? Now, she was going to have to face the consequences.