I wiped my left hand on my jeans while my right hand shifted the truck into park and shut her down. It had been a hot day during work, with the sun out in full force since five in the morning. Today, like most days, had been simultaneously a good workout as well as a productive work day.
It left me with the familiar feeling of fatigue that only slightly impaired my satisfaction. And this contentness with myself was further fueled by my anticipation for the young woman approaching my truck.
I leaned over to shove open the door. The figure on the sidewalk nimbly climbed into the passenger seat.
"Good evening, Applejack." She greeted in her posh voice. Her haughty dialect had that flair to always make a grand impression, whether it was called for or not. She just had that way of making herself appear so untouchably beautiful, like a single rose surrounded by a florist shop of plants that refused to rise to her level.
I tipped my hat at the finely dressed lady. "Howdy, Rarity. How was the show?"
The show, being of course, Rarity's very first official fashion show, I guess you could say. I don't rightly know the ins and outs of the fashion scene, but Rarity made it on local TV, so I figured it musta been a real sight.
"It was splendid, thank you for asking!" Rarity beamed with stars in her eyes. "Muffin stumbled just a tad, but she managed to recover, thankfully."
I chuckled lightly. "Muffin? You mean little ole Derpy was modeling for you?"
"Yes, well, I couldn't exactly hire professionals," Rarity tittered. "So, I hosted a sort of casting call at the high school. Dear Muffin wanted so badly to impress some boy, I just couldn't turn her down. Though I don't know why she bothers with that Time Turner; he is so obviously faking his British accent."
I nodded my head along, not quite following everything Rarity said. I knew Derpy (or, Muffin is her real name) is a sweet girl, but she can be a little clumsy. But if Rarity was pleased with her, well then, Derpy musta done just fine.
I turned the key in the ignition. Rarity frowned as the engine sputtered wildly for a few moments, before purring to life.
"Have you ever considered being rid of this dreadful wagon, and securing yourself a new vehicle?"
"Yup." I nodded as I pulled away from the curb, checking first to make sure I wasn't about to hit somebody.
Rarity crossed her arms. "And? Are you going to?"
"Nope."
Rarity tsked. "Now, now. Why is that? You don't have some unbreakable bond with this machine, do you? Heaven knows half the country songs I hear are all about your precious pick-up trucks."
I shook my head. "I'm savin' for college. Can't go around blowin' money on a fancy new truck when this one does the job just fine."
"Oh?" Rarity raised her eyebrows at me. "So you are attending."
"Nope."
At this, Rarity scrunched up her face in confusion. "I'm afraid I don't follow, darling."
"Me 'n Big Mac want Apple Bloom to get herself an education. I know for sure that she don't want to spend the rest of her life here on our farm. We want her to be able to do what she wants."
Rarity gaped slightly at me. "And what about you?"
I shrugged, eyes still on the road. "What about me?"
"What about what you want? Aren't you going to do what you want?"
"I am," I answered truthfully. "I have everything that I want right here."
Rarity fell silent while she folded her hands over her lap. For a couple minutes, I wondered if maybe I had raised my voice without realizing it. Just before I opened my mouth to apologize, she spoke up again.
"Did I tell you the little news between Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash?"
I hesitated, then shook my head. I was not a very big fan of gossip, but if there was something major happening between my friends, I would like to know about it.
"Well, the details are all very hush-hush, but get this: Rainbow Dash asked Fluttershy out on a date!" She whispered the last part conspiratorially, as if afraid we were being watched by unseen eyes.
I laughed at this so-called "news". "Is that so?"
"Yes, yes it is. Why? Do you not believe me?"
"No, I do," I snickered. "In fact, I just came from the gym, where Rainbow Dash was waitin' for her."
Rarity looked a little taken aback. "At the gym? Oh dear. So she was being literal when she said she wanted to work out..."
I peered at Rarity through the corners of my eyes. "Why? What did you think she meant?"
Rarity coughed, turning a light shade of pink. "Nothing, nothing at all... Although, I will probably owe Fluttershy an apology later."
"I see."
"What are your opinions on the matter, anyway?" Rarity asked, sounding rather hesitant.
"My opinion on what?"
"Of the idea of two gentlemen or two ladies, erm..." I raised my eyebrows in a Well? fashion. "I'm only asking because it's not lost on me that you come from a rather... ahem, conservative background."
I pursed my lips. "If folks, guys or gals, are enough to make each other happy, then that's all there is to it in my book." I caught Rarity exhale quietly when I finished. "What?"
Rarity stiffened in her seat. "Oh, ah, nothing. Nothing. Do you mind if I open the window? I am just the tiniest bit warm in here."
"No, go ahead."
Rarity cranked the lever on the door, rolling the dirty window down. I felt just a lick of the cool breeze on my neck. She had the right idea. I put my right hand on the twelve o'clock so I could work my window down, as well. Instant relief in the form of a continuous wind hit my face.
The receding sun created a blur of colors over the horizon, like melted orange and red crayons dribbled onto a piece of paper. Sure looked pretty. I tapped the wheel with my index finger.
"It alright if we take a back way?"
"I suppose so," Rarity said slowly. "But whatever for?"
I shrugged. "I just like goin' for drives. Helps me relax."
Especially so in this area. The big cities never sleep, and everything is always moving. Canterlot is practically a town carved right into a forest, all the outer streets blending seamlessly into the woods. There was also my farmlands just northwest of the school, full of the gravel roads which had that crisp feeling of home underneath the tires.
That, and all the fresh air, and clear skies. What more could I ask for?
I was pulled out of my blissful trance when I heard the radio squawk as it was turned up. Rarity's hand was fiddling with the dial. I couldn't help but smile incredulously as she left the station be.
"Girl, what on Earth are you doin'?"
"You'll forgive me, I think," Rarity replied primly. "If I'm feeling a bit rustic, tonight."
"Feeling rustic", huh? Well, I wasn't about to stop her. Heck, I was having a great time. The rumbling glide, the cool wind, the soulful strumming on Jake Owen's guitar. And... well, my friend.
I guess I had known for a while that I had thought of Rarity a bit more fondly than before. That's why I look forward to driving her home every other day after work. Well, we see each other every day, but if I'm honest, I appreciate more our time alone. I just... wished it meant something.
No one particularly wanted to acknowledge it, but the thing is, after our Sunset went home, things just kind of went back to normal. Time seemed to slow down again. We all sank back, an we could just enjoy life for what it is.
I'd been trying. Really.
"Well, here we are." I pulled up in front of Rarity's house, keeping the engine of the rusty red pick-up running. Rarity unclasped her seatbelt.
"So we are."
The ride felt longer, and shorter than usual, for some reason.
"I'll uh, see you on Monday?" I asked, tipping my to her once again.
"Actually," Rarity patted her knees. "I was wondering if you would be open to accompanying me to lunch, tomorrow."
"Well, sure!" I smiled amicably. "I'd be happy to take you."
"Oh, please darling," Rarity waved a hand. "It'll be my treat. After all, I am asking you out, am I not?"
I scratched my head. "Well, if you insist. I'll see you sometime around noon, then!" Rarity waited, eyes still locked onto me. I cleared my throat. "Uh, do I have somethin' stuck in my teeth?"
"Applejack," Rarity rolled her eyes with an amused smile. "Do you know precisely what I just did?"
"You... offered to buy me lunch?"
Rarity placed her hand over her mouth to cover her smile. "Goodness, I was trying not to make it too obvious, but I thought I was at least being direct."
"I don't follow."
"How about I retry that?" Rarity placed her hand on my shoulder. "Applejack, would you like to go on a date with me?"
Say what?
"Say what?"
Rarity fidgeted in her seat. "I understand I'm putting you on the spot. We don't have to do anything to change what we have if you don't want to. I just wanted to... test my luck."
I had to think for probably a solid minute first.
"I... wow. Rarity, that sounds... amazin', actually. I just didn't know that you were... uh..."
"A lesbian?" I nodded. Rarity giggled to herself. "Oh darling, I'm not," She patted my cheek when I cocked an eyebrow. "I'm bi-sexual."
"...Oh. Okay."
"So, is it a date, then?"
I rubbed the back of my neck. "Uh... yeah. I suppose it is."
"Lovely," Rarity flashed her pleased smile. "You can pick me up here at 7."
"7? I thought you said we were goin' to lunch."
"Ah-tut-tut!" Rarity shushed me. "7 PM, on the dot. Don't wear your work duds."
I chuckled nervously as she opened the door and stepped out. "Uh, okay then."
Rarity smiled as she shut the door. "I look forward to seeing you."
"Yeah," I waved. "Me too."
I watched her go up the stairs and disappear into her house. I laughed in giddy disbelief. I did not expect that.
I grinned as I pulled away, the sky seeming to light up in brilliant red just for me. I reckon I really do have everything I want right here.
