Chapters I Found A Pinkie At A Party
My pink road to happiness started with an invite.
I know, I know. Doesn't sound surprising or shocking, right? It actually sounds weird or confusing. Well, let me tell you about me before I get to the nitty-gritty.
My name is Artie Smartie, and, quite frankly, I'm not the greatest looking guy around. I'm not ugly, per se, but my looks don't exactly rake in the girls. I'm tall and thin, not the big and wide-with-muscles that they all go for. I have hair that's brown, as in the color of dirt . Think about that for a sec. Does that sound like a good thing to attract the ladies?
Yeah, I didn't think so.
Not only that, my orange skin makes me look disease-prone, my big, square glasses make me look like the biggest nerd in the school, and on top of that, I have a bad fashion sense. I tried to get help from this girl named Rarity at the high school, but apparently, even her "generosity" and fashion sense couldn't help me. We searched through all the clothes she could find(and believe me, that took a good while), but I couldn't find anything to my liking. There was just no appeal to me. Plus, it didn't help that I didn't speak much of my opinion to her, because I'm too much of a shy guy.
That's another thing: my shyness. Every time I tried to talk to someone, the only thing my mouth wanted was to yammer and stutter and hide where it couldn't be seen. I could barely get out a few sentences at a time. I also break out in a cold sweat, which doesn't help my situation in socialness.
So, overtime, I stopped hanging out with people because I felt I was too much of a weirdo to be near them. It's not like I would talk with them, anyway, so it didn't really affect anyone's lives except mine.
Overtime, though, as I came into high school, nearing freshman year, I felt, at the same time, along with this feeling of hopelessness, I felt something else; loneliness. I wanted to be liked by people. I wanted to be respected. Every day at school, I urged to talk, to do something to get myself a friend. But then, immediately, that sense of hopelessness and feeling like a shy loser creeped into my mind like a spider, and the urge would go away.
That was how it was for a long time. Then, something rather surprising came into my life.
I was doing what I normally did on a Friday evening in summer(or any day or season, for that matter). I was surfing on Facebook, aimlessly and hopelessly wandering through endless streams of messages and posts on other profiles, wishing I could be in that stream (I know, I sound like a stalker, but bear with me).
But then, on the corner of the screen of my laptop, a small blip emerged. It was a notification. As soon as I saw it out of the corner of my eye, I mentally gasped in awe and confusion. Like I said, I had no friends, so notifications were rare, and were usually from family members and their friends.
I didn't know what to do. I wanted to open it and see what wonders awaited, yet at the same time, my hopeless side didn't want to be disappointed if it was just my mom from work at the boutique requesting for me to get milk, or my sister at the mall needing twenty bucks.
Eventually, I decided to heck with it, deciding there wasn't any point in leaving it or seeing it, and opened it. What I saw was more surprising than seeing the notification.
It was an event entitled High School Beginning Bash!, with the page modified a bright pink color, The cover picture was a white background, with large, pink letters spelling PARTY!!! In the description, it read:
Dear Facebook people,
You are all invited to a great, big party! It is to celebrate our finally coming to high school, and starting another happy step in life! It's going to be lots of fun! With lots of food, dancing, and streamers(especially streamers!), it's going to be abso-posi-lutely fantastic!
Hope to see you there!
Yours, the greatest party planner at Canterlot High!
I didn't know what to think. To think somebody actually invited me to a party!
But then, like a pesky, annoying mosquito back for blood, that fear of being weird and unliked crept into my mind. I closed Facebook and rubbed my head, conflicting in my mind about whether or not to go. After a minute, the negative possibilities ran high, and it felt like the hopelessness would strike again. But then, turning around, I saw a poster on my wall. I had bought it some time ago, to maybe give me strength to be more than me. It was cliché, but it was inspiring: the poster of a tiny cat hanging on a branch, with big words saying, "Hang in there!"
I looked at that cat's eyes and saw the reflection of my sadness stare right back at me. I stared right back at it for what seemed like hours until finally, I knew what to do.
I opened back up the invite and, with a depressed and afraid finger, clicked the "Going" button.
I Found A Pinkie At A Party
2. What To Do For A Party
Well, I just did the impossible in my eyes; I have decided to go to that party.
Now, I had another problem: What do I do at a party? What do I wear? Do I bring anything? Are people going to feel weird with me at the party? The questions kept coming in my head over and over.
I paced my room, looking at my artwork straggled all over the room and the gaming stuff in various places as I pondered these questions. Eventually, on Saturday, the day of the party, I decided to tackle each question at a time. It's a good thing my mom and sister went to work all day today so I wouldn't be bothered-or embarrassed.
First on the list: What to bring.
What do people usually bring to a party? Snacks? Noisemakers? Party balloons? I didn't have any snacks that anyone else would like besides me. Didn't have any noisemakers, either. I looked around to see if I had balloons around, eventually finding some blue balloons that were for my fifth birthday. I wonder if balloons could expire after ten years of not being used.
I took big breaths and blew. Each balloon blew up as if nothing was wrong with them. So, no problem there. Although the balloons seemed a little lame.
Bring something to party? Check.
Next on the list: what to wear?
I looked through all the closets to find something. It took an hour or two, but unfortunately, the only thing I liked looked nerdier than me.
It was a simple pair of khakis that looked worn by old men from the 50's. Then, there was a big, red button-up long-sleeved shirt with button cufflinks. I put the pants and shirt on, and felt that wasn't right. I found a brown sweater and, out of curiosity, put it over the red shirt, and, feeling rather warm, neatly rolled up the shirt's arms. It looked okay to me.
I looked around some more, and eventually found something that seemed a little fancy.
It was a simple, black bowtie, the kind waiters or magicians wear. It seemed perfect to me. I had to wear it. I put it on and straightened it out in the mirror. It looked....awesome.
But then, I looked down at the clothing underneath. I looked like a colorblind Einstein. I wanted to change it, but the party was soon.
Oh well, I thought. Not like anyone will hang out with a guy like me, anyway.
The party was soon. I was running out of time. Eventually, I decided to bring only one snack to this party (as if I wasn't going to be weird enough). I was bringing my favorite: salted peanuts roasted with honey. You know, the ones the peanut guy with the monocle sells.
Man, how geeky can I get?
I set the clothes down on my bed, carefully, for the party. I tied the balloons on the post next to it. The peanuts I set next to my bed.
Well, I thought, this isn't going to go well. Hopefully, nobody will notice me, anyway.
I Found A Pinkie At A Party
It was 7:45. Nearly time for the party to start.
I followed the instructions on the invite to get to where I needed to go. I left early, cause I didn't have a car, and I knew it would take me a while to walk to my destination.
The party place was at Sugarcube Corner, this bakery down the street from Canterlot High. After school, on occasion, if I can muster up enough money, I ask the Cakes, who run the place, to give me a small cupcake to have. It's delicious every time. Of course, the taste does go bad when I slowly nibble at it while people inside talk with their friends. I usually see Rarity talking with a few friends, or her sister, or both her friends and their sisters. Either way, it's still hard to watch.
Speaking of which, I saw Rarity driving up just as I arrived. She saw me, gave a casual/awkward wave, and went inside, her sister alongside her (her name is Sweetie Belle, I believe? Maybe Sweetie Bloom). I waved back with my free hand, my other holding the dorky blue balloons and honey peanuts.
I sighed, knowing I probably looked like a dork right now. Then, slowly, I went inside to join the party.
And that was just the beginning.
The party was just starting, and already, the place was in full swing. The whole was emptied to make room for all the dancing students of Canterlot High. Every table was filled with laughing students and conversation and cups filled with party drinks. The bakery counter, which was usually filled with baked goods, instead had a number of great-looking foods, including chips, desserts, and fruit. A big bowl of fruit punch was in the center, with a purple girl in purple clothing with purpler hair emptying this bowl faster than Road Runner outran Wile E. She scooped juice into her cup and drank it like it was nothing, and repeated in an endless cycle. Guess I wouldn't be getting any punch.
I managed to find an empty table and sat in it, balloons in one hand and peanuts in the other.
I looked at the balloons, their blue-as-sky essence filling my eyes. Then, I realized something. There was the color pink everywhere . Pink balloons hung at all the tables and on the floor. Mostly pink streamers were all around the room. Even the table sheets and various decorations were pink.
With these blue balloons in an all-pink room at a party full of energetic teenagers, I stood out like a fox in a chicken coop. Lots looked at me and the balloons, their faces filled with confusion and weirdness, like I feared. I tried to hide my face, but it was impossible to not be noticed.
Then, it got worse from there.
"Hey look! It's Little Boy Blue!" someone shouted. A few people laughed at the comment and pointed at my ridiculousness.
I looked around, wondering who said that. I wish I didn't, as I figured out the source was a certain terrifying, brutal, crown-wearing girl and her gray-colored and spectacled, but equally intimidating friend.
This wasn't going to be pretty.
I Found A Pinkie At A Party
"Well, well, if it isn't the sick nerd!" Diamond Tiara said as she strolled by, her every step closer frightening and angering me at the same time. Her sparkling crown sat on her her purple-haired head like always. Apparently, with this crown, not to mention her rich dad, she thought she had a right to be a jerk to everyone she felt was under her.
"I can't believe even you got invited to this party," she said, with a devious grin on her face. Her friend, Silver Spoon, wearing a silver spoon around her neck, like usual, nodded and "yeahed" in agreement. Her gray-haired braids shook over her face and body as she nodded her head. I will admit, these girls were awful, but cute.
"I hope there are disinfectants at this party, "Silver said, "with you around, there could already be sickness in the air." They both laughed at her comment, leaving me red with embarrassment and a little anger. Other people at the place stopped their conversations or dancing to see what was going on at my table. Some laughed along, while the others either looked with sympathy or confusion and weirded-out-ness. Knowing me, it was probably the latter they felt.
Diamond and Silver are only a year younger than me, and smaller too. They may be hotter, too (a lot hotter)but they can give really cold shoulders to anyone if they wanted to. To think these girls, who should be respecting an upperclassman like me, can hurt me like this. I try to get them to leave me alone at school. However, it isn't easy to get help from teachers at my school. Not cause I'm a bad kid, I get good grades. They're just hard of understanding a guy who can't seem to get the courage to speak right, a.k.a. me.
"W-w-what do you w-w-want, D-diamond T-t-tiara?" I asked quietly, with a face of fear as if I asked a huge bear about to eat me.
"Well, given those Crusaders are protected by their big, dumb sisters, and aren't alone for us to show off at," she said, leaving me to wonder who the Crusaders were, "Silver and I thought it would be more fun to poke fun at you. Right, Silver?"
"Like, yeah, DT. It isn't going to be hard or much of a challenge, though, given, like, this boy has everything to poke fun at!" Silver said, giggling with evil glee.
"He's a regular buffet of weirdness!" They shouted, smiling, provoking more attention from the party crowd. God, if you are good, please end this now.
I started to break out in sweat again. My mouth started to gulp and gasp for breath in panic.
"Like those glasses that are bigger than the Hubble," Diamond replied, pointing to my glasses.
"Or that ugly sweater," Silver said.
"Or that bowtie. Hah! Like, how geeky can you get?" Diamond said.
I drooped my head down and rubbed it, trying to drown them out, but these guys were professional insulters. They wouldn't back down without a fight. I regretted coming here immediately after seeing these two and getting into this predicament. Honestly, I felt like crying in hopelessness.
I wanted to shout, to scream "Stop" to their pretty, devious, conniving faces, but I couldn't as they hurled more and more verbal pain in my direction. I was real close to shedding a tear.
Then came a shout that silenced both the girls and my depressing thoughts in a flash.
"Insulting ain't right, ya meanies!" I heard a voice shout. DT and Silver stopped, leaving me rather surprised.
"Parties are for friends and fun, not bullies and....well, not fun!" the voice harked seconds later. Immediately, Diamond Tiara and SIlver Spoon went away with a huff of their faces to go torture someone else. Looking down, I saw their spiffed up boots walking farther and farther away from me. I couldn't believe it.
Then, in my shock, I heard, "Hey, are you okay, mister?" It sounded like a girl's voice, bubbly, yet sympathetic.
Confused, I lowered my hands and lifted my head. What I saw only shocked me, not in fear or anger, but in amazement.
I Found A Pinkie At A Party
The first thing I noticed right away was the hair. It was unique, not to mention tasty-looking. Why, you might ask? It reminded me of cotton candy: swirly, curly, puffy, and very, very pink.
The second thing I noticed was the face of this girl who just saved me from hurting verbal abuse. This face wasn't just a normal face which you would find in teenagers today. Most teenagers today have a face that show normality or the usual teenage nega-emotional trips. This girl's face, which, too, was pink, but lighter, did not show that one bit. Instead, hers just shouted, to me, at least, happiness, joy, caring, anything that symbolized those words.
Next thing that caught my eye was the body. Call me a perv now, but let me describe what I saw, at least. Her clothing comprised of brightness. A bright-sky blue sweater covered her white shirt, which had a pink heart emblazoned on the front. She had on a bright purple skirt which had the picture of blue and yellow balloons on the side, with a dark-purple bow tied above it, at or just above her waist. Her boots were the same color as the skirt, and nearly reached to her knees. Everywhere and everything on this girl just screamed with bright colors and joy. In that split second I made these observations, I realized one thing: this girl was adorable . Why she would want to help me from bullies confused me.
At that point, I was snapped back to reality by that same voice which put me in awe.
"Helloooo, anyone there, silly?" she said. I looked straight at her eyes. Her eyes were like sapphires, Pretty, pretty sapphires. I quickly looked back away.
"My name's Pinkie Pie," she exclaimed, trying to look directly at my face, with me keeping my eyes away. "What's yours?"
Uh oh, I thought. She asked me for my name. Did someone as cute as her really want my name? Could I do it and talk? Could I put up or shut up?
"A-a-a...Artemis."
"Artemis?" she asked, that familiar look of confusion on her face.
Nice job, doofus, I thought to myself. You said your dorky full name. "B-b-but people, or at l-least me, they c-c-call me A-a-artie."
The confusion held only for a second. Then, immediately, her face shot up with happiness. "Oh, Artie! That's a nice name! Although," she paused, "I think Artemis is good, too."
That caused me to bulge in eyes in surprise. I always thought that nobody would like my actual name, due to it sounding like the name of a really old and lame author whose books are forced to be read in class.
"Of course, Art would be good, too. Do you think?" She gasped. "Maybe Art Smart? or Smart Art? or maybe Art Fart?" She immediately gasped again and starting giggling and snorting. "Ha! Art Fart! Almost as good as Black Snootie! Ha ha......" Glad to see I got her laughing, though not in the way I imagined.
"Anyway, Art, real sorry about those two. They can be real meanies." No offense, but yeah, I kinda noticed. "Maybe I can make it up to you!"
She immediately grabbed my hand, which put me in shock and ecstasy, and dragged me to a staircase, where she led me up. Once up there, she turned in the direction of a bedroom. I started to sweat. Boy, this girl was quick with the relationships. But then, she told me to wait outside the room, and went inside.
A few minutes went by, and then she dragged me in and in front of a mirror. She started taking my tie off, and I started feeling weird in my stomach. But then, she put on a different one that was a bright-color yellow. I was beguiled, and confused, but relieved she wasn't doing anything hasty to a guy she just met. Who would want to do it with me , anyhow?
"I think this will definitely make up for what happened. Plus, you now look so much better. Or, as my friend Rarity calls it, 'chic'."
My attention was brought to light when she said that. She knows Rarity, too. Why didn't Rarity ever tell me she had a friend more adorable than her?
Oh yeah. Cause she doesn't talk to me, and vice versa. Guess I only have my dork self to blame.
Although, back to reality, Pinkie was right. This bowtie was better looking. "I think yellow is so much more happier for a party than a black bowtie, don'tcha think? After all, black stands for the scary nighttime! Scary isn't happy. It's the opposite!" Pinkie rambled. "Well, I hope you like it! Enjoy my party!"
Then, just like that, she dashed out, going to the dancing parade of partying downstairs.
This was her party? If that is so, then that meant she invited me. Me . But why?
Maybe I could ask her. If I did that, though, she might question me, and think I didn't want to be invited, or, even worse, think weird or stupid of me.
It hit me, then. I needed to ask someone who knew her. And thankfully, I now knew someone who did.
I Found A Pinkie At A Party
6. A Ravishing Talk With Rarity
I walked back downstairs to find Rarity and see if I could get some answers to this confusing, yet interesting, conundrum.
I found her still talking with her friends at the booth they were at when I came in. I quickly assessed the situation that was happening:
Rarity was sitting on the edge of the booth, with a purple-haired and skinned girl in a button-up blouse to her right. I quickly recognized her as Twilight Sparkle, the smartest at school. I've had help from her a few times, albeit with few words from me. To her left was a rainbow-haired girl in a white shirt and small blue sports shirt, recognized as that girl Rainbow Dash who (somehow) is the captain of every team at Canterlot High. Next to her was the cafeteria lady's farmer daughter, Applejack, with her Stetson on like usual. To her left was a yellow-skinned girl with long, pink hair and a sleeveless white top. She didn't look bad, I thought. Probably wouldn't say a word to a guy like me.
The sight of the yellow girl was nothing in the next second of observation when I saw who was next to her. Next to her was the very pink-skinned and cotton-candy-hair girl who I just met minutes ago and was ecstatic about. She was, rather unsurprisingly, smiling and talking with her friends with a cheery energy. Boy, was she adorable.
I recognized she was eating something while talking. With wide eyes, I realized what they were: they were the salted peanuts I brought to the party! I was kinda in miffed mode, but was mostly in shock mode. She likes those, too? This girl is all sorts of surprises.
That aside, I was met with a problem. I couldn't talk to Rarity about my problem with Pinkie and her other friends around her. So, stealthily, I crept to the empty table nearest them. Then, I scribbled on a piece of paper "need help, Rarity." Then, to get Rarity's attention, I took a nearby crumb and threw it at her.
It landed on her forehead, making her wince slightly. She took out a mirror and looked at her face, and gasped at the crumb. If anyone was going to freak out about a crumb on a forehead, it was detail-picky Rarity. That much I knew.
She looked in the direction of the crumb, and I got her attention, showing her the paper from afar. She read it with her eyes, then with a confused look, talked to her friends for a quick moment (I think I lip-read "See you later'), and walked to my table.
"Hello, Artie!" She said, an awkward smile on her face. "I thought I saw you on the way in. What is it?"
With a sigh, I said, "I-i.. I needed to ask you something."
She held a hand up. "Sorry to disappoint you, but I already have a boyfriend. His name's Thunderlane. He's a nice boy, he is. Besides, no offense, but i have no interest in-"
"No, no," i said, waving my sweaty hands to cut her off, "..your f-f-friend."
Rarity looked back to her friends. "Well, you're going to have to be more specific, Artie. I'm not a mind reader."
I pointed to Pinkie. She looked and understood. "Oh, Pinkie! Yeah, what a magnificent party she's thrown. Such darling decorations! What about her? Did they need more punch at the concession table?"
"Sh-sh-she invited me..I w-w-want to know why."
Rarity looked at me as if I just asked her why water was cold. "Why, she invited everyone in our class. Didn't you read the lovely invite on Facebook?" She reached into her pocket and pulled out a printed-out copy of the invite from Facebook. "See? 'To celebrate our finally coming to high school?' That means she invited all us new freshman. You are a freshman, aren't you?"
I nodded.
"Well, that's why you were invited, then!"
I felt disappointed. I thought she might have invited me because i was special, somehow. Guess not. Figures.
"Thanks for helping, then," i said, sulking slowly into the booth.
"You're..welcome, I guess." She said, with sympathy on her face. She got up and started walking towards the concessions, then stopped.
She turned around and said, "Just so you know, she's single, if that's what you were thinking, and I can help with that. Just in case you wanted to..you know, talk to her." With that, she walked to the food table where the other fashionistas were hanging out.
I watched her talk to them for a minute or two, silently appreciating the offer, then up and all decided to sulk more into the empty booth.
