Thanks for the Memories

Rainbow yawned and stretched. She’d been reading for a while and completely lost track of time, not that there was anything she needed to do but watch over her fiancée who had sprawled out on her back. The athlete got up from the rocker she was sitting in and adjusted the blankets so that they fully covered Applejack again. Lightly running her fingers through the blonde’s hair, she bent over and kissed her temple before retreating back to the comfy chair she had been sitting in.

It was weird to read everything from AJ’s perspective. Rainbow remembered most of it herself, but she had had no idea just how much Applejack hated her in the beginning. Rainbow had never disliked Applejack, she was just easy to mess with. Especially at the Halloween party. Applejack was hot and Rainbow was drunk, so she took the chance. She was glad AJ liked it though.

It was hard for her to read the bits with her home life in it. She’d done her best to forget it and reading about it was dredging up a bunch of unwanted memories. Shaking her head, she adjusted herself in the chair and continued to read.

Wednesday February 26th, 2014

Dear Journal,

Well, it sounds like the trip to the beach might happen! Rarity’s been talking to her grandma about using their summer home on the coast, and they agreed. I dunno how she talked her grandparents into letting a bunch of teenagers stay at their house alone, but it worked. Now we’ve just got to figure out the details, like which vehicles we’re taking, how we’re pitching in for gas and food and such.

She even invited Rainbow Dash, who’s really become part of our group as of late. Rainbow and I have gotten closer over the last few months too. One of my favorite parts of each day is taking her home ‘cause we just talk and joke the whole way. We’ve learned a lot about each other and I can happily say she’s a friend now.

She doesn’t seem too excited for the trip, especially after everyone was talking about the cost of everything. I know she doesn’t really have an income so she’s probably worried about the money aspect of it. Maybe I’ll ask her about it, she’s pretty open with me now. I hope she can go, it wouldn’t be as much fun without her.

Applejack

Monday March 3rd, 2014

Dear Journal,

Turns out I was right about why Rainbow seemed unhappy about the beach trip. I talked to her on Saturday, trying to get some answers. She said that she really wanted to go, but there was no way she’d ever be able to afford something like that, so I did the only thing I could do. I offered to pay for her.

Her reaction was about what I expected. She freaked out, yelling about how she wouldn’t let me waste my money on her, especially not what it would cost for an entire week on the coast. I’d foreseen this happening though, so I told her that if she felt that bad about it, which she shouldn’t, then after we got back from vacation, she could come over after school and work on the ranch for a couple weeks to make it up.

She said that she’d think about it over the weekend and today at lunch she told me we had a deal. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her face light up as bright as it did when she excitedly started talking about the trip and how she always wanted to go to the beach. It was kinda cute to watch her as she talked about all the things she wanted to do while we were there, like finding sand dollars and building epic sandcastles. It sure was worth the money to see the smile on her face.

Applejack

Thursday March 20th, 2014

Dear Journal,

Whew, I’m beat. It’s like the universe knew that I was trying to go on vacation and made these last couple of weeks a lot harder on me. My workload alone has been dang near doubled on account of Mac being gone on business in the city for a few days. I think I underestimate him sometimes. I should do something nice for him to show him I appreciate the work he does. He should be back tomorrow morning, just in time for the trip.

School’s had my head on the chopping block too. You’d think they’d run out of quizzes and pop quizzes and essays and tests and projects, but apparently not. It’s been tough trying to communicate with the gals about what needed to be done before the trip ‘cause they’re all about as busy as I am. Tomorrow’s the last day before spring break and I’ll be glad to have some time off.

We’re leaving Saturday and I’ve been packing on and off all week. I think I’ve got most of what I need in my suitcase, but I’ll to check it again to make sure. Twilight had a good suggestion for the car situation though. She said that we take should take two cars so that we weren’t all smushed together in one since no one in our group had a big enough vehicle to fit us all comfortably. I offered my truck, that way everyone could stick their luggage in the bed, and Fluttershy offered to drive her Jetta.

It’s a five hour drive to the beach and we all agreed to meet at Sugarcube corner at eight for breakfast before we go. I’ll be picking Rainbow up before we meet, on account of her not having a car.

Anyways, I should go and make sure Apple Bloom’s getting ready for bed. She has a knack for ‘forgetting’ that nine o’clock is lights out.

Applejack

Saturday March 22nd, 2014

Dear Journal,

We’re here! Spring break 2014 has started! We pulled up to the beach house around two, after driving almost nonstop for hours. This place sure is something else, real nice and about fifty feet from the ocean. A lot smaller than I thought it’d be, not that I’m complaining mind you. Rainbow Dash has been in awe since the grass started turning into palm trees and sand.

We spent most of the afternoon getting settled in. Fluttershy and Rarity took her grandparents bed while we all but made Pinkie take the twin bed in the little guestroom after she told us that she kicks in her sleep. Rainbow, Twilight and I are hashing it out in the living room on a big pallet we made outta blankets. It’s more comfortable than it sounds.

Then we made Twilight and Pinkie go to the grocery store for stuff we‘d need for the week, mostly just breakfast and lunch items since we agreed we wanted to try out a few of the restaurants around the island. After they were back, we ordered a couple big pizzas and sat out on the patio, ate supper and shared a bottle of wine taken off the rack in the kitchen while we watched the sun go down. It was a nice, simple way to start our vacation. Can’t wait to see what the rest of the week holds.

Applejack

Tuesday March 25th, 2014

Dear Journal,

I don’t ever wanna leave the beach. I’ve had such a great time these last few days that I’d be okay staying here forever. It’s been swell to wake up every morning to the sound of the waves and make breakfast together with my friends before we head out to do whatever activities Twilight planned out for us.

Sunday we spent most of the day on the beach. We looked for shells, built sandcastles, tried not to drown from the waves as we searched for sand dollars at the sandbar. A guy even came over and tried to get Fluttershy’s number. I never thought she was gonna come back outside with the way she bolted to the house. We ate at a pretty cool restaurant that night where they put bibs on you if you ordered crab legs. Pinkie Pie was way too excited about it, she even made us take pictures of her making a crab leg mustache. She’s a hoot!

We went on a dolphin tour Monday, and boy did they put on a show! I’ve never seen them in real life so it was a real treat to be able to watch them in their natural habitat. It was almost impossible to get Fluttershy off the boat though, she wanted to go again but I’m sure if she had it her way, the entire vacation would’ve been spent watching them over and over. After the tour, Rainbow and I separated from the rest to go parasailing. That was one of the most amazing things I’ve ever done. The view was breathtaking and the water was so clear, you could see the bottom plain as day. Rainbow swears she saw a shark, but I couldn’t find it when she pointed it out. The ride didn’t last too long but it sure felt like forever when we were up there. Dash even got brave and took out her phone to take some pictures, plus a few of the both of us. The experience is one thing that I’m never gonna forget.

Tuesday morning we split up. Most of us went horseback riding on the beach while Rarity and Twilight went to check out the Island’s history museum because Miss Priss didn’t think it was dignified to sit on an animal with a mind of its own. I got a beautiful horse named Blondie. She liked to bite. After everyone had been paired with a horse, we were led to the beach by a few trained employees that made sure everything went smoothly. We were able to take them into the water a bit and we even got to follow some trails up in the sand dunes. It was a great way to start the day… until all four of us realized that we forgot to put sunscreen on before we went. Fluttershy passed the color red all together and went straight to purple. I’m used to the sun so I just got a bit more tan but that poor girl, ain’t no amount of aloe vera gonna help her.

Speaking of aloe vera, I promised I’d go get her more before the store closed. Better go.

Applejack

Wednesday March 26th, 2014

Dear Journal,

I’m exhausted! I think the trip is finally wearing on me. We didn’t even do to much today either. I think the others are feeling it too. We went around to a few of the different souvenir stores and looked around, picking out presents for our families and whatnot. They have some neat things in those shops and I probably bought too much, but I kept finding stuff that Bloom would like or Mac and Granny.

Then that evening we all went and walked down the jetties at the end of the island which was trickier than I thought it’d be. It was just big slabs of rocks stacked next to each other, with big gaps in between. Plus the further you went, the higher the waves and they were breaking over the rocks making everything slippery. Twilight fell, which was hilarious because she said ‘FUCK’ real loud and I’ve never heard a single curse word come outta her mouth. Probably didn’t help matters that everyone but Fluttershy had had a couple drinks.

Rainbow Dash was acting weird the whole day though. Actually, she was acting weird yesterday too. Not like she was sick or upset, I mean she was her usual cocky self, but she’s been more… I dunno, close to me? We’ve barely been separated for the last couple days. I wish I could explain it better, but it’s hard. I thought about asking her why she’s been sticking around me a lot more but I thought that might be a mite rude. Whatever it is, it’s not exactly unwanted. I really like having her around, she’s a blast. I always have a better time when she’s with me, she keeps me from being stuck in work mode all the time.

Applejack

Thursday March 27th, 2014

Dear Journal,

I didn’t think this trip could get any better. That was before tonight. Remember how I said that Rainbow had been acting strange? I found out why.

After we all got back from supper, our last meal on the island sadly, Rainbow asked me if I wanted to take a walk down the beach. Alone. Of course I wasn’t gonna say no, so I grabbed a flashlight and we took off down the shoreline.

We’re taking our time, pointing at shells we liked and freaking each other out about crabs pinching our feet when she slowly takes her hand in mine. I looked at her but she just kept her face forward, pointing at another shell she thought was awesome. I could see her red face in the dim lighting though. I was gonna say something, but it was nice to just hold her hand and stroll down the beach.

We walked for a little bit longer until I started getting cold, so I told her that we should probably head back, and that’s when she told me she had something to tell me. She took a deep breath, and admitted that she had romantic feelings for me. I thought she might have had a small crush on me, (actually that might’ve just been wishful thinking) but I never thought she felt so strong. Apparently she’s felt this way for a while but didn’t know how to tell me because she was too nervous. Heck, she was tripping over her words just trying to let me know how she felt.

She also told me that she was the one that gave me the orange carnation on Valentine’s day. I dunno why, but that really made me happy. I don’t think the flower would’ve meant as much to me if I had found out it was someone else. I was flattered actually. Lord have mercy, I’m starting to sound like Rarity.

Anyways, after Rainbow said her peace and all but asked me out, I was conflicted. I couldn’t say I didn’t like her ‘cause that would’ve been lie, we definitely had a connection but I was worried since I knew squat all about relationships and here was someone who wanted to date me. So I told her that. She sorta laughed at me because that was something ‘so Applejack’ to worry about. She let me know that I didn’t have to make a decision, and I could take my time. She would wait, she just wanted me to know.

I could tell she was sorta upset that she didn’t get an immediate answer so I thought I’d cheer her up with a kiss. I’ve had a few kisses in my life, but not enough to be confident in my actions. I went slow and steady, wrapping my arms around her waist, making sure I was doing the right things. If Rainbow had any issues with it, she didn’t say anything. After we parted, I promised her I’d think about it. Then I took her hand and we walked back to the house.

I’m glad that she’s letting me think things through. I do like Rainbow a bunch, I’m just so unsure about dating and I don’t want to jump into something before I’ve got my brain wrapped around it. I’m sure I’ll figure it out and I’ll be able to give Rainbow the best answer. It’s so strange to think about relationships. No one’s ever asked me out so it hasn’t really come up, but now that it has, I can’t stop the butterflies in my stomach. This was the perfect way to end vacation. I’m sad that we have to go home tomorrow, but there’s always next time. Plus, in a couple months we’ll graduate! That’s definitely something I’m looking forward to!

It’s my turn to shower, gotta go!

Applejack