Applejack stepped in front of the doors of the school. Pushing the door open, she stepped inside. She noticed the gym, alive with colors and music, and shivered. Tonight was the Spring Fling dance.
And Rarity was going to be there.
This was why Applejack was nervous. She clutched the bouquet of flowers in her hand, along with the box of chocolates in the shape of a heart. On the box was Rarity's name written in cursive. Tonight was the night that Applejack would confess to Rarity. What for? The secret that has been so obvious for so many years. The fact that Applejack was in love with the fashionista. And everybody had known and noticed, except Rarity. She was too busy with her own matters.
Applejack walked into the gym, looking around for Rarity. She then laid her green eyes on the radiance of her, in the middle of the dance floor and seeming to be waiting for somebody. For who? Beside Rarity were two couples. Those four people Applejack knew. Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Twilight Sparkle, and Timber Spruce. All four had gotten into a relationship because of school dances.
Pinkie and Rainbow became a couple because Pinkie had asked Dash to be her girlfriend while a slow song was being played during the Fall Formal. Rainbow had said yes, simply because Pinkie was cute and Dash liked her back.Twilight and Timber were an item since the dance after they had all defeated Gaia Everfree.
Applejack planned this whole night by herself. Her family didn't know about her crush because they would ridicule her for it. They knew Rarity was in a special place in Applejack's mind, in a spot of memories that she would never forget, but they only thought that it was in a friends type of way. But Applejack doubted that they would think it was alright to think that a girl could fall in love with another girl. They were too religious. Therefore, Applejack wouldn't tell them until she and Rarity were an actual item.
The orange farmer slowly strolled to the refreshments table. She would tell Rarity after a drink. Filling a cup of punch, Applejack contemplated whether or not this was a good idea. She dismissed the thought when Sunset Shimmer walked up to her. "Hey Applejack," the yellow-orange young woman said, waving at her.
Applejack sighed. "Howdy, Sunset."
Sunset could see that there was something wrong. "What's the matter? You've seemed really down in the dumps lately."
She sighed again, and looked up at her friend. "You do know my feelin's for Rarity, don't ya?"
"Of course. What about them?"
"Well," Applejack replied, scratching the back of her head. "Ah sort of thought it was a good idea to confess to her tonight, but now Ah'm havin' second thoughts. Do ya happen to have some advice for me?"
Sunset looked at her with a sympathetic look. Then she grinned. "So, this is no joke, but I say you wing it. Kneel, hand her the flowers and chocolates, and ask her to be your girlfriend. It's as simple as that. That's how Flash Sentry asked me out."
Applejack thought about this. "That ain't a real bad idea. Thanks, Sunset," she said, wrapping her arms around Sunset in a tight hug.
Sunset broke away from the hug and grabbed Applejack's shoulders. "Go get 'em, tiger!"
Applejack did feel a lot better with Sunset's support and advice. She nodded, took the flowers and chocolates, and went onto the dance floor. She was about to ask a question that very few girls would answer yes to. Especially since Applejack was another girl. But that didn't matter at the moment. She was approaching Rarity.
The alabaster girl turned to her. "Applejack, you made it! I thought you would be here late. You did say that in group text."
She gulped. "Well, I was wrong about bein' late. And, Ah have a pretty important question to ask you," she said, her throat going dry even though she just had a big glass of punch.
Rarity smiled sweetly. "And what is that, darling?" she asked.
Applejack blushed. She always loved it when Rarity called everybody "darling" or "my sweet", or any other names like that. She got down on one knee, just as Sunset had said for her to do. She had her hands behind her back the whole time, so she set the chocolates in the hand with the roses and tugged at the collar of her tuxedo. Pinkie and Rainbow turned their heads. Pinkie gasped so loudly that everybody turned to sneak a glance of what she was looking at.
They all gasped too. Applejack tugged at the collar again, turning her face to look at Rarity. She held up the roses, asking in a quivering voice, "Rarity, will you be my girlfriend?"
Rarity gasped, and gave her a sympathetic look. She took the roses slowly, and replied, "You're very sweet darling, but I'm seeing someone else tonight."
Applejack drooped her shoulders and dropped her jaw as Rarity walked away. She was just shut down in front of everybody. She got off of her knee and turned to leave. Walking out of the building, she covered her face with her hands as she sprinted all the way home. Once she got onto the farm's property, she started to walk. She was still holding the box of chocolates that she was supposed to be given to Rarity. She didn't care. Dropping the box in the dirt, she started to sprint again, running into the house and getting to her room.
Big Macintosh tried to ask her how the dance went and why she was home so early, but Applejack simply turned to him and shook her head, tears on the brim of falling down her face. She slammed the door to her bedroom, locking it and throwing herself on her bed. She could imagine the looks everyone would make at her during school tomorrow. The looks that say "You can't get a date. Wow. You're a loser, AJ." Finally, Applejack let it all out, crying into her pillow, making it damp.
She began to calm down after about ten minutes of tears. Her phone vibrated in her pants pocket, and she picked it up. Rarity was calling her. She didn't answer it. It was probably just a call saying how brilliant her date was with that mystery person. She furrowed her brows as Rarity tried to call her again. She hung up again. Her phone issued five calls before it finally stopped.
In about thirty seconds, the phone vibrated again. Rarity was calling her for the eighth time. Applejack, annoyed of this, answered the call. "Dang it, Rarity, stop callin' me. Y'all are gettin' on my nerves."
The sound of a sigh was heard through the phone. Then, Rarity's voice spoke. "Applejack, my sweet, I just called to say..."
Her voice drifted off. She must have been thinking of what to say. Applejack thought that putting her on speaker would help, but it didn't. Leaving it on speaker, Applejack heard a faint "I'm sorry" coming through the phone. It sounded like Rarity was crying, but that couldn't be happening. She was supposed to be having a perfect date with the so called perfect person.
Applejack started to worry. "Rarity, are y'all alright?" she asked, trying to help.
Rarity's voice sounded again. "I'm sorry Applejack. I'm sorry that I shut you down in front of everybody. I'm sorry that I just took your roses and left you feeling alone. I'm sorry for everything that happened tonight."
Applejack's expression softened. "Ya don't have to be sorry."
"Yes, I do. I wasn't really seeing anybody. I just went to the dance to see you. I'm in my room right now. When I heard from Rainbow that you left, I felt simply horrid. I'm truly sorry, Applejack, can you ever forgive me?"
The orange farmer started to blush. She only went to the dance for the same reason that Applejack went? That was crazy. "Then why'd you go off and spend your time alone instead of with me?"
Rarity sounded like she was gulping. "I was nervous."
"Ah was nervous too, and Ah still said what Ah felt."
"I know, but I had to choose between my public image and you. I was foolish enough to choose my image... instead of the girl I've loved with all my heart for ages."
Applejack must have fallen asleep when she was crying. Her heart was pounding in her chest. She nearly dropped the phone simply for the reason that she was surprised. "Rarity?"
"Yes, dearest?"
"Is all that really true? What ya said?"
"Of course. I would rather be with you than be popular."
"Really?"
"Really."
Applejack smiled and her heart stopped pounding. She calmed down, letting what Rarity said about her take over her emotions. She was happy now. "Thanks."
"For what, darling?"
"For sayin' how you feel. I would'a gone insane if you had said no and actually dropped the subject."
"You're welcome. Do you want to come over? I heard you haven't had dinner yet."
"Of course, Rarity."
Applejack pressed the "end call" button and got off of her bed, opening the bedroom door to lay eyes on Big Macintosh standing outside her door. Applejack's eyes widened. Was he eavesdropping?
He smiled and hugged his sister. "Don't worry. Ah won't tell Granny."
Applejack smiled back. "Thanks, Big Mac."
He broke from the hug and told her, "Have fun."
Applejack waved goodbye and exited the building, using her bike to get to Rarity's faster. She couldn't wait to see her friend again.
Rarity stared at her phone as it said that the call was ended. She quivered, rethinking what she had said. Was everything she said about her really true? She knew the answer to that, but she couldn't help but ask herself that. She thought, I might as well get cooking, and headed to the kitchen.
Sweetie Belle was standing in the kitchen, holding her teddy bear that she slept with. "What were you and Applejack talking about? I heard you talking with her on speaker and I couldn't sleep." Rarity checked the clock. It was eight-thirty.
"I'm not sure you have to go to bed yet, Sweetie," said Rarity, giggling. "And, why were you eavesdropping?"
"I wasn't. I simply overheard you. You were saying some stuff about something that's true."
"Oh, Sweetie, I was talking about..." She paused. Was she telling Sweetie the right thing? She didn't have the honesty of Applejack or the bravery of Rainbow Dash, so she made something up. "I was talking about how much I hate all the cell phone usage these days. It's simply horrid how many car accidents have happened in Canterlot in the past years."
Sweetie Belle cocked a brow. "Then why were you using your phone then?"
Rarity sighed. "Fine, I was talking about how much I really love her. I'm a girl who likes another girl. It's called-"
"I know what it's called. As a matter of fact, I feel a little bit awkward around Scootaloo. Does that mean anything?"
"Why, of course. It means you have the same problem as me. Actually, it's not a problem, but it's actually the same feelings."
"I get it," Sweetie said, clutching her teddy bear tighter. "Is Applejack coming over?"
"Yes, dearest," Rarity replied. "For dinner."
"Can you say hi to her for me? I'm awfully tired," Sweetie requested.
"Are you sure?"
Sweetie Belle nodded, turning and trudging toward the stairs to go to her bedroom. The bell rang behind her, and Rarity turned around to see Applejack, in the same tuxedo that she wore to the dance. "Hi, Rarity," she said before wiping her feet on the welcome mat and stepping inside.
"Hello, dearest," Rarity replied, beckoning Applejack toward the empty seat at the table.
AJ set her bike outside and sat down, looking at Rarity with stars in her eyes. Rarity was flattered. Before she got to dinner, she had a surprise for Applejack. She made her way around the table and gave AJ a quick peck on the cheek. Her eyes widened in surprise, but turned to Rarity and grinned she grabbed the collar of Rarity's dress and pulled her in for a real kiss. As their lips touched, their eyes closed. The kiss lasted about five seconds before both of them felt that it was slightly awkward.
They broke apart, Rarity looking down at Applejack with a smile on her face. Now, she could cook dinner.
Applejack watched her as she went into the kitchen. She couldn't wait to see what was for dinner. Hopefully, something other than the usual at her house. Hopefully, it would be a dish that she hadn't had before. A... Rarity of some sorts.
