Say It Ain't So

Chapter Three: No One Else

When I’m away she never leaves the house.

I want a girl who laughs for no one else…

I inhale the crisp autumn air as I walk through Ponyville Square. It’s a perfect day to be out and about; sunny, and only slightly chilly. I lazily drift through the marketplace; even though it’s fairly late in the afternoon, there are still plenty of ponies about, sifting through the various vendor's wares. I buy an apple cinnamon muffin from Ditzy Doo and munch it slowly as I take in the other stalls. I’m not looking for anything in particular, really. Just browsing and picking up a few odds and ends.

After looking at a couple of interesting watches and having a pleasant conversation with Time Turner (nice pony, but is that stallion ever eccentric), I decide to warp things up at the market and head to the park.

Spotting a trash can at the other end of the walkway, I trot over to it, catching a wiff of the delicious hot pretzels from Curly Bread’s stand as I do. I should come by the market more often, such a nice atmosphere here. Too bad in a few weeks it’s going to be cold and snowy. I like the snow, I do, but it’s really not conducive to the ‘standing around, having a chat’ feel the market has.

Tossing my muffin wrapper into the bin, I turn to head towards the park when something catches my eye. A little ways away, nestled between Carrot Top’s and Leafy Green’s stands is the Apple family’s stand, which isn’t unusual by itself, the Apples always have their stand up on market days. What is unusual, however, is the pony standing behind said stand.

Why’s Big Mac running the stand? I thought Applejack usually runs the stand on Saturdays? Deciding that I’m not going to get any answers sitting around thinking to myself, I head over to stand, waving when I get close. Macspots me, giving a wave of his own before returning to his customer.

I arrive at the stand just as the customer is leaving. “Hey Mac! Fancy seeing you here. Doesn’t Applejack usually work Saturdays?”

Mac nods in response “Hello, Mel. Nice to see ya too. And yes, Applejack’s suppose ‘ta be working the stand today, but she had to run off last minute with Miss Pie somewhere. ‘Friendship Problem’, ah suppose.”

I smirk “Wow, and she trusted you of all ponies to run the stand all by yourself?”

Mac raises an eyebrow and offers a smirk of his own “Says the pony who can’t go a Winter Wrap Up without losing the grass seeds.”

“Touché” I respond, which causes us both to chuckle. It’s always been so much easier for me to talk to Big Mac than to other ponies. I guess knowing somepony for so long just makes it easier to be more relaxed and open about one’s self.

“So, what’re ya doing in the market on such a fine day?” Mac asks, resting a foreleg on the stall.

“Oh you know, just sort of browsing around, seeing the local fare and whatnot.”

“Uh-huh. Ah bet ya came here just cause ya wanted to see me.” Mac says with a cheeky grin.

I feel myself blush at his comment, but manage to cover it with a smirk. “Oh yes. I came all the way out here desperately hoping to hear the all-mighty words of wisdom from the glorious Big Macintosh Apple.”

Mac chuckles heartily at this, which makes my blush come back with a vengeance. Wow, keeping it real cool today, Caramel. “While I’m here, can I get a few apples? My supply at home is a little low” I say, changing the subject and hoping he won’t notice that my face is slowly becoming the colour of his coat.

Mac takes a moment to settle before responding “Course ya can. What’re ya in the mood for?”

“Hmmm, do you have any Granny Smith’s?”

“Ah sure do, but she’s at home.”

“Ooh, careful with that joke, it’s an antique.”

“So’s Granny Smith.” He replies, which causes us both to start chuckling again. This is nice, being able to just talk and joke with somepony. I wish I could talk to everypony as easily as I can with Big Mac. I look back at Big Mac, who’s still recovering from his chuckle attack. So many ponies think he’s just a loner with nothing to say. If they’d actually stop and got to know him like I do, they’d see what a great guy he is to be around, and how easy it is to talk to him. Without warning, the conversation I had with Steam last night springs to the front of my mind. So if he’s so easy to talk to, why can’t I just tell him and be done with it? It should be so simple, and yet here I am, debating with myself like an idiot. I just wish there was a way I could…

My thoughts are interrupted by a perky voice cutting through the air.

“Now what’s got these two handsome stallions giggling like school fillies?”

I instantly recognize the voice, and my good mood vanishes like a ghost. Turning around, I spot the purple mare and my suspicions are proven correct.

“Afternoon, Cheerilee.” Big Mac says with a warm smile.

“Good afternoon to you too, Mac.” Cheerilee replies, returning the smile.

I feel my face heating up again, and look down at the ground, hoping they can’t see it.

“And good afternoon to you too, Caramel. You’re looking nice today.”

I instantly snap my head back up. “O-Oh, thank you, M-Miss Cheerilee. Y-You look nice today t-too.” Smooth, Caramel. Real smooth.

“Why, thank you.” She says with a smile “Actually, I wanted to talk to you for a moment. I’ve got some shoes that need to be repaired before the winter gets here. Those foals are so rough, I swear you could give them shoes made out of diamond and they’d find a way to break them.” She chuckles a bit before continuing “I know you’re going to be busy with winter orders in a few weeks, but I don’t suppose I’d be able to come in some time this week to get them done? There’s only a few pairs, it shouldn’t take very long.”

“Y-Yeah, that should be fine, Miss Cheerilee. I j-just have to check the schedule.” I say, begging Celestia and any other goddesses to please let my face stop burning.

“Oh, wonderful! Thank you so much, Caramel. You’re a lifesaver. And you,” she says, turning to Big Mac with a smile “Mr. Hardworking Stallion, I’m assuming we’re still on for our dinner tomorrow night?”

“Eyup,” Mac says with a tender smile “Ah wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

“Neither would I.” She replies, smiling back at him. I pray for Discord to lob a meteor at me right now, just so I can get out of this situation.

Cheerilee thankfully seems to remember I’m standing right here, as she composes herself before speaking “Anywho, I must be on my way, I’ve got many place to go and so little time to get there.” She giggles again before continuing “It was nice seeing you, Caramel. Thanks so much again for helping me out.”

“Y-Yeah, no problem.” I stutter out.

“I’ll see you later, Mr. Macintosh. Don’t work too hard.” She says playfully, giving him a light boop on the nose.

“Ah won’t.” Mac replies, and before I can even move, he leans over and kisses her straight on the lips. I look away, my face burning so intently I’m surprised the wooden stand hasn’t caught fire yet. Why. Why me. Why do they have to do that in public? Better yet, why do they have to do that in front of ME? I’m so wrapped up in my embarrassment that I nearly jump out of my skin when Mac says my name.

“Y-Yes Mac?” I say, a little too quickly.

Mac looks at me a moment before offering me a small smile. “Your apples?”

I notice that Cheerilee has already left before looking down at the bag of green apples Mac is holding in his hoof. “Oh. Y-Yeah.” I quickly fish out the appropriate amount of bits in my saddlebag and exchange them for the apples, deciding it would be best to get out of here before I turn into a complete colour clone of Big Mac. “T-Thanks. A-Anyways, I should probably get going now. I’ll talk to you later.” I quickly stuff the apples in my saddlebag and turn to leave, when I feel a hoof grab my shoulder.

“Wait, Mel.” I turn back, finding Big Mac staring at me. “Ah wanted to ask ya somethin’ before ya left.”

Swallowing the lump in my throat, I ask “W-What?”

He gestures for me to come closer, which I do, albeit confusedly. He quickly looks in the direction that Cheerilee left before turning back to me and lowering his voice “Think ya could come by the East Barn tonight, say around Seven?”

I blink in confusion before replying “Ummm, probably? What for?”

Mac smiles at me “Ah’ve got some big news ah want to announce, but ah wanted to tell ya before I told anypony else.”

I once again blink in confusion “Big news? W-what kind of big news?”

Mac just smiles at me again “You’ll have ‘ta just wait and see.” He says with a wink “Will ya come?”

My brain is still trying to process everything, so it takes me a second to reply “Uh, yeah. I mean yeah, of course I’ll come!”

“Great!” Mac says, leaning back “I’ll see ya tonight then, buddy.”

“Yeah…” I say as I turn to leave “See you tonight…”

I walk slowly out of the market, my head swimming with questions. What does he want to see me for tonight? I mean, I love hanging out with Big Mac anytime, but what’s this ‘big news’ he’s got, and why was he being all ‘hush-hush’ about it? And more importantly, why does he want to tell me first before anypony else? I shake my head, trying to clear my thoughts. Oh well, no point in worrying about it now. I’ll just have to wait until Seven, I guess.

I stop walking.

Wait a minute, Seven?

I quickly look around before spotting the clock tower.

Oh Celestia, it’s already quarter to Five! I only have two hours to eat and get ready!

I quickly sprint towards my apartment, once again cursing my non-athletic body.

I really should have looked into that gym membership...