Apple of my Eye

Apple Family House, Sometime after 11...

Applejack woke up a wreck after a night of being an emotional one. Her head was swarming with questions. The biggest two she had at the moment were:

How did things go on such a quick down-spiral yesterday!? I haven't seen a situation go out of hand that quickly since Applebloom an' her friends tried to drive...

The second of the two was...

Why ain't city boy here today? Wasn't he supposed to 'ave been here hours ago?

Those questions stewed in her head for a while. She set down the bushel of apples she had been carrying. Her arms actually ached, to her surprise. Perhaps it was just from her lack of sleep, but she was Applejack. She was continually the most athletic and strongest girl in the school. However, her somewhat gruff demeanor and not-so-social tendencies didn't make her a prize amongst the school's jocks. Not that it mattered to her, mind you. She was happy being the level headed, strong, faithful Applejack she always was to her friends.

However, she wasn't concentrating on that just now. She sat down at a nearby white oak table and thought. She had a few theories in her head for the aforementioned questions. One of which was you being just another city boy that wasn't willing to give her a chance to prove herself. There was contrary evidence to that of course, the biggest being you and Applejack's tender heart to heart conversation that resulted in her first (and therefore, best) kiss of her life. Indubitably she had her doubts if it was all real, but given the circumstances and her knowledge of boys (or in this case, lack thereof) she kept open the possibility that you really meant all those wonderful things you said. Thinking about that particular scenario made her smile on the inside just a little, and she held on to that.

No sooner had she finished her train of thought but Big Mac should casually wander in and give his little sister a warm smile. She smiled back politely, however Big Mac picked up on her lack of enthusiasm.

"Come on now, this isn't the Applejack I know an' love. What's goin' on, sis?" He stooped down and laid a burly hand on Applejack's shoulder.

"Nothin' Mac, I'm jus' fine." She quipped, adjusting the stetson atop of her head.

"Applejack, I've known you since you was born, an' I know when my sister ain't okay, so out with it." Big Mac insisted.

Applejack narrowed her eyes bitterly at her brother. "Really, I'm fi-"

Big Mac gave her a look that said 'bitch, I swear I will use the stare again.'

Applejack sighed. "...Fine. You win."

"Darn, tootin.' Now tell me what has you all tied up in your own lasso."

Applejack hunched her muscular shoulders and pressed her face against the table, muttering something.

"Well, aren'tcha gonna tell me?"

She lifted her head up from the table just a bit. "Jus' did."

"I didn't hear ya, so say it again."

Applejack blew out a sigh and lowered her head so that her chin touched her fingers resting on the table, shoulders still hunched. "Mfffurty bur..." Her voice was heavily muffled by her sleeve.

Big Mac's eyebrows rose ever so slightly. "Pardon?"

Applejack lifted her head a little and stuck her lower lip out, still muffling her voice with her sleeve. "Mffity bfoy..."

"Come on Applejack, since when are you your friend Fluttershy all the sudden?"

Applejack lifted her head all the way up."Consarn it, Big Mac. How many times do I need to say it!?" She then put her head back down.

"I wouldn't call it 'saying,' sounds more like stalling to me. Speaking of which, yer doing an amazing job of doing so."

"Wha...I'm not stalling! What in tarnation would give you that idea?" She went out of her way to adjust the stetson hat on her head.

Big Mac knew Applejack more than anyone. When she unnecessarily adjusted the stetson hat atop of her head, it meant she wasn't telling the truth. Or at least, not the whole truth. Big Mac liked this trait in her since it made her a terrible liar (than she already was) and furthermore, it was hilarious to see her freak out when he called her out on it.

"Was it really necessary to adjust your hat just now?" Big Mac deadpanned, knowing he had Applejack cornered.

"Consarn it, Big Mac. That's cheating." A mild blush burned across her face.

"S'not cheating, it's an alternate strategy." Big Mac said, amused at his sister's reaction.

Applejack lifted her head up, scowled at her brother and took a deep breath...

"It's city boy okay!? I think I love him! No wait, scratch that. I know I do. He won't leave my mind an' he keeps making me love him, then hate him, then love him again, and...Oogh, I'm sorry Big Mac, I don't want you to see me like this..." Her eyes teared up a bit before she continued. "I've never been in love before, I never wanted to. It jus'...it happened okay!? I really dun wanna say it, but I honestly can't bring m'self to fully realize I do. Main reason? He jus' doesn't seem like a good match fer me and my heart says he is. Oh, if only you understood, Mac...." She started mildly sobbing on the table.

Big Mac wasn't fazed, as usual. Keeping his composure was an art he mastered.

He blew out a sigh. Figures... He thought. Rarity had called Big Mac telling him that there was a complication yesterday and so as a result you should not have to be at work today. However, Rarity would bring you by later anyway due to her having another one of her oh so brilliant plans.

"AJ." Said Big Mac, taking a seat next to his ruffled sister. "I know what you're going through. Everyone's first time falling in love is rough... 'specially since in your case, you really didn't want to love him. However, ya gotta realize that what yer going through is a hormonal imbalance that is counterproductive to yer ultimate goal."

Applejack stopped sobbing and brought her head up in shock from hearing her brother utter such large words. She stopped and thought about what her brother had said for a minute, then turned to him with a mild scowl on her face.

"Are you sayin' that I'm overreacting like Rarity and all this sobbing isn't getting me anywhere?"

Big Mac nodded slightly. "Eeyup."

Applejack stared into her brother's unfazing gaze, she kept staring into his neutral yet comforting eyes as if trying to figure out how to respond to that. Just then, her level-headed side kicked in and fully caused her to realize the truth in his words.

"I....guess yer right, Big Mac. I need to stop wallowing in pity and do somethin.' If not, I ain't gonna get nowhere."

"Eeyup." Said Big Mac with a hint of triumph in his voice and what looked like a small smile.

"Now...what do I do now?" Applejack said, half asking Big Mac and half asking herself.

"Dunno, it ain't my love story." Big Mac said plainly. "But I will tell you that Rarity might bring 'im over so ya don't have to drag his ass out." Applejack and him shared a mild chuckle.

"Did I ever tell you I loved you, Big Mac?" Said Applejack, lightly socking her brother on the shoulder.

"Eeyup, now go finish up yer chores before I tell 'im you had a mental breakdown earlier." He teased, playing on Applejack's sense of pride.

His words hit Applejack right where he wanted them to as Applejack stood up almost immediately. "N-no! You will do no such thing, ya varmit." She threatened, locking eyes with an intimidating gaze before dashing off to finish her chores.

Big Mac shook his head. "Pfft, young adults and their hormones..." And went back to work.

Note: Yes, it is short. The reason is because this was originally meant to be combined with the previous chapter.
I'll have another chapter out soon, and keep an eye out for the new Luna fic ;)
In my headcannon, Big Mac is secretly smart and when the situation calls for it, he can and WILL drop the science. Don't like it? Too bad because I love my headcannon. :3
Oh, and if this chapter is lacking in any quality BESIDES length, please let me know.