It Started With Smartypants
It wasn't often that Macintosh heard a knock on the front door. They were almost always vendors, looking to distribute their produce, but Applejack always let him know about those appointment. Spontaneous visitors? Almost guaranteed it was one of his sister's friends, looking for her. When he opened the door, it was indeed one of them, but the one he wanted to see the most. Yeah, her dark skin stuck out like a sore thumb in this backwater town, and she dressed like one of those smart university types. Mac couldn't tell if it was just because she was the new girl in town, but there was something really attractive about her, almost exotic. Those long pleated skirts, those wool sweater vests, even her the coke bottle glasses she wore once in a while. Mac almost lost control, fawning over her appearance, when words snapped him out of his daze.
"Hello, Macintosh. Your sister, umm, she told me that you have something that might belong to me?" Twilight smiled at him, in that silly, almost disingenuous way. If Mac didn't know any better, he'd say she was really nervous about all this.
"Applejack wasn't talkin' about..." Mac's voice trailed off. Stupid! Of course she showed up to get that doll. The one he ran off with! What a dummy he must have looked like right now. "That Smartypants doll of yers, she's talkin' 'bout?"
Twilight nodded in affirmation. Mac excused himself, pretending to go look for it. Of course, he knew exactly what it was. For the past month, he had been trying to figure out how to show up at Twilight's apartment, so he could give it back to her. There wasn't an answer that wasn't embarassingly awkward, but this was just as bad anyway. He picked up the doll, giving it a good look. Sure, it was falling apart from old age, but it still looked like that cartoon character that he watched all those years ago. He was too old for the show, but he had to watch it with Applejack, and she was positively excitied every morning it came on. He smiled, though he wasn't entirely sure why.
"Oh, thank you, Macintosh," Twilight said as she hugged the raggedy doll. The smile on her face was unmistakable, that of childhood memories flooding back. "I guess you're just a bit too old to have an sentiment for Smartypants, huh?"
"Well," Mac said, scratching his chin, "Ah did watch a lot with Applejack when she was just a lil' girl. It was a kid's show, but ah had fun watching it." Mac let out a few chuckles before he was interrupted by his stomach. Great, now he looked like a fool with a growling stomach in front of the cute girl. "Uh, I think ah need to grab some dinner. If y'all don't mind..." Mac tried to push his way through the door, avoiding eye contact with Twilight, but a hand on his arm stopped him.
"Wait, I barely had lunch too. I don't suppose..." Twilight's voice trailed off with a small laugh.
"Y'all want to get dinner t'gether?" Mac could barely keep the beaming smile off of his face.
The place wasn't fancy by any means. A small shop that served sandwiches and some beer on the side. Mac had to admit, he didn't expect a small girl like her to be able to kick back the drinks like she did. Something about PhD students being drinkers, she said. Even though they started talking about old Smartypants reruns, the topic of conversation drifted. That feeling of dirt beneath your fingernails in the morning? Twilight was fascinated. The latest in biotech research that's bordering on a breakthrough? It was tough for Mac to get a hold of it all, but he listened with both his ears. After the beer that was probably one beer too many, Mac took her hand, to help her up. She stumbled, tripping over the air and into his arms.
"Sorry Mac," she said with the slightest slur in her words. "I guess I had just one beer too many. If it's not too much to ask, can you help a girl out?" Next thing he knew, he was giving her a piggyback ride across town. Everyone would see, and maybe it would create a scandal, but Mac didn't care. The feeling of her warm cheek against his, her telling bad jokes and giggling into his ear was more than enough to make up for it.
He gently laid her body onto her bed. She looked back up at him, almost ready to drift off, but struggling to stay awake. Mac took the little Smartypants doll and placed it into her hands. He was almost ready to wish her a good night and walk off when she spoke.
"Good night, Smartypants." The words were followed by the sounds of a light kiss. Mac turned around, and she was offering the doll to him. "Don't you want to kiss him good night too?" Any other day, Mac would have hesitated, but the beer was telling him otherwise. As he leaned in to smooth the doll, Twilight tossed the toy aside and wrapped her arms around him. His lips met hers, and while he was surprised, he has no objections. As their tongues wrestled, Mac got on to her bed. In moments, he was on his knees straddling her, his eyes looking into hers. Nothing needed to be said as covers were flung aside, and passion overtook the night.
Mac stirred in bed. His eyes opened, and they were met with hers.
"Mac, about last night..." She stirred, not wanting to ask the awkward question.
"Don't you worry yer lil' head, Twilight," Mac said. "We can be as friendly as much as y'all want." Maybe it wasn't quite the answer she was looking for, but it worked well enough. Mac realized his arm was wrapped around her, her head leaning on his shoulder. "Would y'all like to get some breakfast? Ah think ah know just the place." Her hesitation in answering worried Mac. It would be a heartbreaker for her to love and leave him.
"I'd love to, Mac." She gave him that signature smile again. "I think Smartypants would love to come along too."