A Double Life

I woke up and did the usual morning thing although I took my time and didn't rush. I left the house about fifteen minutes later then usual. I slowly walked to school in fear that he would laugh at me and spill everything. I treed carefully and didn't speak at all during class. I just sat there and did my work without looking around. After my first class, I walked out and decided to just stay as far away from him as possible. As I continued to walk, I spotted him out the corner of my eye. He was reading without a care in the world. I grew angry as I stared at him for a few minutes. He looked back but said nothing. One look was all he needed to let him know how I felt. Some other pony came up to him and they started to talk.

He knows what I really am now... The worst mistake of my life. Knowing him, he must have read me like a book and see me as a lazy, ungrateful mare who love to just look like I care. At school, I'm only a bluff. Now my imagine is ruined and he expose me for the fraud I am... That is me, the true me and there's nothing I can do but wait for the invertible. Now the question is will you tell everypony now? Will you look at me with contempt or rather, will you pity the foolish and stupid me, like the nice pony you are? But why? Why out anypony did it have to be him?! I don't want them to laugh at me, feel pity for me or have empathy for me! I felt tears coming down my face in fear of what will happen. I turn away and rub the tears away.

I fearfully awaited my moment of reckoning. Right now, everypony loves me, laughs with me and sees me as a useful pony but by tomorrow, they will know the truth and realize I've been carrying a lie. They will begin to question if anything I say is true or just another lie. They look at me with disgust and hate. My heart sank even deeper at just the thought but before I could act, I saw him and a few others walk passed me. I continue the day as normal but with a discouraged heart in the process. I went home, studied, fell asleep and the cycle continued for about a week and it dawned on me that he hasn't said anything to me. Nopony has said anything about me. Not even a bad look steered my way.

Is it possible... he let it go? That's right! He's to nice for that type of thing. He doesn't play cheap tactics or make fun of others. Maybe that's it! Yes, I got really lucky. He let me off easy! At that point, I was relieved. I went though each class not worried at all. After the last bell rang, I remembered that I needed to get another book to complete my work. I walk along the hallway without a care in the world.

"You seem more relaxed then usual." A voice said.

It was then I realized it was Grape. I felt my heart rip apart. I jumped back like I had seen a ghost.

"What am I, Nightmare Night?" He asked, concerned.

He walked closer and had a smile on his face.

"Did I surprise you?" He asked, "Something tells me I saw something that was meant to be unseen. I was taken back by your actions as well. To think that the flawless Ember had another side. I'm sure everyone will be surprised by this. I wonder if they will laugh, or better yet, be surpised themselves." He whispered.

As he walked away, I stopped him.

"Hmm? What is it, Ember?" He asked, calmly.

I was shaking by what he said. I knew I wanted to change but I wanted to do it on my terms. Not his...

"Don't... Don't tell anypony..." I said, struggling to speak.

He looked at me and said,

"Please don't tell anypony." He said, smiling.

The nerve... I should kick his flank but... I had to swallow my pride and said,

"P-Please don't tell anypony..."

"Alright. No problem." He said with a slight laugh.

I was about to thank him when he dropped some papers on me.

"If you can, do these for me, ok? By the end of the day would help.'ve got to take care of a few things so I'll catch you later" He said, walking away.

With each step, all I could hear was my own heart beat realizing what he did. I was speechless about what just happened. I looked at the papers he gave me and they didn't look like something I was similar with. What the heck is this? I put the papers in my bag and walked home. Just when you though you know somepony who is nice, he backstabs me and using me as a worker... I went instantly into my room to work on his stuff... After about two hours of that, I put it back into the bag and fell asleep.

. . .

I woke up and did the same rotation as usual and went directly to school. I didn't see him here like usual but I guess that's a good thing. I sat down and studied some more before more ponies showed up. After about an hour, the bell rang and everypony showed up. They sat down and the teacher started to talk but I was to tired to focus on what he was saying. I don't like having somepony knowing my secret and abusing my weakness to further his/her gain. Then again... I've done the same thing by lying to everypony about who I am. Suddenly, I felt a tap on my back.

"Ember, you ok?" The teacher asked.

"...Huh? Yea, I'm fine. Guess I just zoned out." I replied.

"You sure?" The teacher asked.

I nodded and went back to talking. I let out a quiet sigh as I realized everypony may be admiring and praise me now, but they don't know that I'm a servant to Grape every will... I open one eye and see him looking back at me smiling. Ugh, I hate him for knowing my true self! Just like earlier this morning when he showed up at class.

"Nice job. It's prefect. This would normally take me forever with all the activates I'm in but you make it seem easy." He said, nicely.

"You know full well that isn't true! What's the meaning of treating me like a fool?! Why must I do everything for you now?!" I asked, snapping back.

He didn't even flinch at what I said nor fazed by my uproar.

"That's because... I've got ahold you something to use against you, so as long as that's the case, I may as well use it to get things done quickly." He replied, calmly.

I started to blush out of anger as he said that.

"I-I-I know that! You don't have to say it so carelessly!" I yelled, "It's blackmail. Don't you feel at least some shame?" I asked.

He nodded and I was baffled. I took two steps back as he said that.

"But, what else am I suppose to do? I'm always busy and your better then me. So why not use this to get the job done quickly?" He asked, looking at me.

Grr.... I wish I had got rid of him sooner...

"You're going to be really helpful to me. But, I won't force you to do it. If you wish to decline, just say so. That is... if you can." He said, coldly.

You scheming jerk! What a oversight on my part. To think he was the nice pony and wouldn't poke fun at other ponies weakness... I put on a show and was proud of it for thirteen years, Priding myself will confidence only for it to come back and bite me in the flack. I never felt such shame in my life! Ah, I wish he had never come here! If only I could get rid of him, my life will be back to normal! I heard the bell ring and I went straight home and into my room. Just then, Cupid came in and noticed I wasn't in a good mood.

"It's about Grape again, isn't it?" Cupid asked.

I didn't reply.

"You should be grateful. He's teaching you not only that image is an illusion, but how cruel the real world really is. There's always somepony else who will either do better then you or have an edge in life." She said.

"He's not doing this to teach me a lesson! He's doing this to get back at me!" I yelled.

"How do you know that?" She asked.

I was about to say something but I was to angry to get my words out. Instead, I pushed her out of my room and locked the door behind me. I went back on the bed and covered my face with a pillow to prevent my screams being heard. Right now, I have no means of an escape from this. The only thing I could do now is curse my own fate...Unfortunately, it was to late for that as well. The workload keep piling up everyday with no end to it. I would sometimes cry while doing it... Maybe if I play innocent, he will feel guilty. Tommorow, I'll do that.