One summer night, in a coastal city, the world changed. It's almost impossible to believe but the fact remains that of the roughly one million people who went to sleep that night, nearly twenty thousand woke up as ponies. Colorful, talking, seemingly-magical ponies. The events that immediately transpired can only be described as the most epic freak-out that the world has ever known. The media was involved in spreading word around the globe as soon as the story broke. Pictures were posted on social media. “Freak Out” videos circulated the world over. Hands and feet were now hooves. Hair had turned to manes, noses into muzzles, and pony tails of various colors and lengths had sprouted from equine rumps. Fur coats of an amazing variety of hues covered the once-people, big soulful eyes blinked in confusion, and horse-like ears perked up and flicked around searching for answers.
Speculation was rampant and answers were not forthcoming. The mayor urged citizens to seek out help from friends and family and to work as a community in the coming days. The chief of police, who could only be recognized by her voice, her police hat, and a very ill-fitting uniform, appeared at the podium reared up on her hind legs and urged everyone, pony and person, to remain calm and wait at home for answers. Hospitals were flooded with people (now ponies) who were looking for a cure. So many visits, in fact, that within a day a telephone hot-line had been set up because staffing issues didn't allow them to take any more walk-ins. While the first ponies that came in were examined thoroughly, eventually the patients that arrived for an appointment were given a routine physical, a blood sample was taken, and then they were released with a patient ID number.
Days turned into weeks and panic turned into routine. There had initially been hold-outs who insisted that the government would take them away to study them, but census workers moved quickly to account for all those who did not want to leave the house, much less go to the hospital. Data had been gathered once nearly all ponies had been accounted for. Two percent was the number thrown around. Two percent of the city was now ponies. Those effected skewed more towards females, who accounted for just over sixty percent, with just under forty percent of those changed being male. Geographical location within the city, age, race, religion, income, hobbies... none of these things mattered when looking at those who had changed. It was totally random. This drove scientists and doctors nearly mad.
In the first three days it had been determined that this was not a biological attack and that it wasn't contagious. It wasn't until the second week that a virus or medical condition was ruled out. The idea of a curse or religious retribution was floated around, but never gained any traction. Everyone knew what it wasn't, but nobody knew what it was. It simply was “The Change”. Thousands and thousands of people were now colorful talking ponies that wanted answers where none were to be found.
The first month was marked with urgency and support. The Change was treated like a natural disaster. Neighbors checked on each other and offered help to those who could no longer use a phone or drive a car. Family and friends comforted those who had changed and offered a shoulder to cry on. Workplaces offered time off and other considerations. The community banded together for the better. Ponies were initially shut-ins, going outside only to visit a doctor, or in rare cases out of necessity. In the after-glow of how supporting the community was to those impacted, it was understood that clothing was optional for ponies. Pants and undergarments didn't fit, so to encourage ponies to re-join society it was made clear that no one should be ashamed of their appearance. All-in-all, it was a pretty good time to be from the city as a positive attitude and local affection ran deep.
It was in the second month that the bombshell hit. Ponies had been trickling back into work and a “temporary routine” had been established until more answers came, but “The Announcement” changed all of that. It was a really big deal at the time, almost as big as The Change itself. The television and news announced that, after studying all the data from all the ponies in the city and exhausting all possible avenues both scientifically and mythologically... there was no cure. Nobody knew what had happened, and after studying every data point conceivable from every variable imaginable, they were no closer to even having a theory as to what the cause of The Change was. For that reason, it would be impossible to reverse the effects. A skeleton crew of scientists would continue to pour over the data and blood samples and plot new data points over time, but those who had changed into ponies could expect to be ponies their entire lives. Grief counselors were standing by, and again the community banded together to help those affected. The temporary routine was going to be a permanent routine.
The following month, when overnight frost first started creeping onto the edges of commuter rail windows, was when a sense of normalcy finally started to set in. Ponies lived and worked in the city and hardly merited a second look. The world had moved on and the city was moving on as well. Accommodations were made for ponies as best as possible at both work and home. Seeing a bright blue pony working a reception desk or a lime-green pony answering phones in a cubical became a normal part of life. Let it never be said that humans were incapable of change when circumstances dictated.
In early winter, as the sun was setting, April trotted around her apartment with an electric energy.
“Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh! What do I even WEAR?”
Her voice, like all those who had been effected by The Change, was very... unchanged. She sounded just like she had when she was a mid-20's college graduate. April's life had been altered in the same way as twenty thousand other people's lives had, but her story was unique in very much the same way as everypony's story was. She had finished with her work-day and left her job before conducting her usual evening routine, which was in no way similar to other people's, and then gone to bed at a very reasonable hour. When she awoke to her alarm set to the totally unique time of 6:30 AM, she noticed that she had changed in the same way as two percent of the city. Her very unique details of what transpired that morning were so like the others, that there was now a drop-down menu option for those who had the same unique experience when they reported The Change. She had fumbled with the alarm on her phone and became confused when she lacked the dexterity to activate the touch screen. Coming to a basic state of alertness, she noted that her fingers were gone and replaced with hooves. Upon further inspection, her hooves were attached to legs covered in fur and of an equine nature. Panic set in and led to an abrupt tumble out of bed, resulting in further inspection of an equine body, tail, and rear-hooves. Yelling, profanity, and insistence on “still dreaming” followed.
April's friend, Courtney, who was still very much human, sat on the edge of the bed and inspected her phone. “Sweetie, calm down. From his e-mails he doesn't seem like the type to care that much about wardrobe. At least he never mentioned anything about it.”
Courtney had been the first to see April after The Change. Neighbors in April's apartment complex had knocked on her door several times throughout the early morning, but April was cowering in her bathroom, shivering and trying to wake up from a nightmare that was very much real. When Courtney finally knocked and called out to April, something had snapped. April began sobbing and after a verbal exchange that was mostly shouting and incoherent crying, April had crawled to the door and pawed at the lock until it turned and Courtney had entered. Since day one Courtney had supported April and been a beacon during a dark time.
April's ears flickered once and then laid flat backward in irritation as big blue eyes squinted toward her friend who was being far too “laissez faire” toward the approaching deadline.
“You know he's Changed, right? He's not gonna talk about cloths!” Electronic communication had shifted rapidly after The Change. Ponies could no longer operate touch-screens, so texting was rare. April managed because Courtney was willing to type out anything that was dictated to her. Others had not been so fortunate. A dexterous pony could use their nose or perhaps tongue to use a smart phone. Mostly, ponies just used a computer with a keyboard to send e-mails. A stick held in the teeth or strapped to a hoof, combined with a bit of hunt-and-peck got the job done. Companies used text-to-speech software, but at home ponies had to make due with what they could. This, however, lead to most messages being very short, brisk, and to-the-point. Of course someone who had changed into a pony wouldn't send lengthy messages! April was lucky to have gotten his name and a time/place to meet!
“I know, but he still seems really laid back, even if his messages are short...” Courtney remarked, still looking at the phone.
“He's a GUY, Courtney! Do you really think he would comment on what I should wear in the first place?”
“Point taken.” She continued to look at the phone and scroll through messages that had been sent between her friend and her would-be-date. From everything that could be gathered, Kevin was a pretty normal guy... except that now he was a pony. Just as business and social life had continued to move unabated forward, so too did the romance and dating scene in the city. April and Courtney had been on the look out and avoiding unsavory types. April had made it clear that she was not interested in dating a pony, and that she really wasn't interested right now in dating anyone. A casual meet-up was where the bar had been set.
Courtney was desperate to help April regain a social life. That morning, after the door was open and it was clear that her friend had been a victim of whatever it was that was happening, Courtney had bundled up April and driven to the hospital only to be greeted with a waiting room full of other colourful ponies. Some were draped in sheets to try to hide their change, while many others were garbed in clothes that barely fit their new equine form. Hospital staff were frantic with activity, but still calm and professional as they tried their very best to make sense out of chaos. For an entire day Courtney held April on the floor of the waiting room while they were wrapped in blankets. There was sleeping, crying, laughing, and more crying. The inside jokes that they quietly made about other visitors and staff in the hospital were a glue that had held their collective sanity together. Day had turned to evening, and many ponies left discouraged. April waited, and had eventually been examined in detail, to a very anti-climatic end of “go home and we will contact you when we know more.” Since then, April had only been out of her apartment a handful of times, always with Courtney leading the way, and only for short trips.
Today, April was dressed in a pair of blue lycra panties and was busily running a fore-hoof over hanger-after-hanger of clothes in her closet. Dresses, skirts, and tops were all evaluated as she stood on her back hooves and inspected her somewhat meager wardrobe. While she had been no fashionista before The Change, she had still paid attention to her appearance. When she had woken up the morning of The Change, she had anticipated putting on foundation, makeup, perfume, fixing her hair, and then dressing in smart business attire before heading to work. When she did awake, however, April, on shaking hooves, had managed to crawl to the bathroom mirror, rear up, and confirm that she was a pony; cream-coloured coat, a long mane and tail both deep burgundy, and bright sky-blue eyes with pupils that were dilated in panic.
“I can't wear red. I can't wear blue. I can't wear white! What do I even put on?!”
“Sweetie, take a breath. Let me help.”
It had been sort of a mantra for the past five months. “Let me help.” Not only Courtney, but everyone in the city had wanted to help those who had changed. Store clerks, mailmen, and even random people on the street took a sense of responsibility for helping out and making life as smooth as possible. Still, April had felt ashamed. Every time she struggled with something that she knew was simple it was like a twinge that would creep down her spine.
Courtney approached April from behind and laid a hand on her shoulder. April dropped to the floor on all four hooves and took a step back, eyes downcast briefly before plopping down on her rump. “Thanks.”
It took all of ten seconds before Courtney held out clothing. “I say something like this would be fine. Casual, but still feminine.” In her right hand there was a white top with short, puffy sleeves. In her right, a pair of black every-day yoga pants modified to fit a pony. April wrinkled her nose for a moment.
“White? But it'll clash with...” She trailed off, letting the sentence die.
“It works. Trust me. Now, turn around.”
April stood up and turned around while Courtney gathered up the legs of the pants. Her panties were low-rise and sat just below her tail. A tail which Courtney had spent the better part of an hour brushing and styling, along with her friend's mane and coat... but that was the problem. April still referred to her mane as “hair,” her hooves as “hands” and “feet,” and she didn't talk about her tail or coat at all. She had been worried that the colour of the top would clash with her coat, but didn't want to say it out loud. It was as if admitting that she had pony features would make it all real. April lifted a rear leg as the pants were pulled over one hoof, then the other.
At first Courtney had prodded her friend to wear less clothing. Not only was an entire pony wardrobe expensive and hard to come by, but it was unnecessary. Other ponies dressed in next to nothing, but April had refused to budge. Courtney had teased that if she could go out without worrying about what to wear, she would jump at the chance. Her friend, however, rejected to the idea and still clung to the idea that she couldn't be 'indecent'. The snug pants were pulled into place and a strip of Velcro stretched across the back of the waistband to fasten just above her tail. April then took the white top in her fore-hooves and, after a bit of work, pulled it over her head and smoothed it into place.
“... You think I should bring a scarf?” April ventured softly as she inspected herself.
“I think that if you don't leave in about five minutes you are going to miss the train.”
“... I need shoes.”
Courtney disappeared into the closet for just a moment before holding up a pair of patent leather pony-loafers. April scrunched up her muzzle in concentration and fussed with the shoes, fitting them onto her rear hooves while Courtney gathered the last few things for her friend and stored them into leather saddlebags, which had become all the rage for both male and female ponies.
“Your cell phone is in here and fully charged. I also packed your ID, credit card, keys, and rail pass. You remember where you are going, right?”
April gave a nod and stood, tapping her shoes on the floor and working her back hooves. “They're a bit snug.”
“Then don't wear them.”
“No, it'll be fine.”
“Focus. 'Steamed Elephant'. Coffee place. You remember?”
“Yeah, I remember...” It was in a gentrified part of the city down by the college. All the trendy people went there for the atmosphere but April had never been before. Sure, she had walked past it a number of times and had friends that used to talk about it as a hang-out spot. She had never been much of a coffee drinker, which was a protest she had lodged with Courtney when it was floated as a meeting place. Courtney had overturned the objection and told her that she needed to get out and meet someone. Anyone. Coffee Shop or no.
“You look fine, sweetie,” Courtney reassured her. April was again softly biting her lower lip. Her dark red mane had been brushed to a shine and swept to one side; she was pawing at it with a fore-hoof. Her tail had been trimmed in length and styled so it hung just halfway to the floor and was brushed to a sheen. Her ears were pressed back and she was still looking down at her shoes. “And don't look so glum! First Date Jitters are nothing to get so worked up over.”
“It's not a date,” April asserted curtly. “You're the one that said I needed to go make some more friends...” It was true. The word 'date' had not been officially thrown around by anyone. It was just a meeting to sit down, have coffee, and talk. Kevin had been alerted that this was a “just friends” thing and to tamper his expectations.
Courtney sighed and took a knee beside the pony. “It'll be good for you. I promise. Now, if you have any problems just give me a call. Also, call me when you are on your way home so I know you're alright. If you need anything, you know I've got your back.” April looked up at her friend with apprehension and a bit of fear. “And sweetie... remember... if you miss that goddamn train or chicken out, I am going to beat you to death with a lamp.” Courtney threw her arms around April and gave her a patented Best Friend Hug that was so hard it took nearly all the air out of April's lungs. “Go have fun!” The saddlebags were tossed onto her back, and April was shoved to the door, still sputtering. “And make a friend!”
The walk to the rail station passed in no time. April had made the trip every morning before The Change, and a few times with her friend afterward, so it was second nature to get there. This was, however, the first time that she had made the walk alone as a pony. She kept her head low, but her eyes fixed at a point in front of her. The street lamps had just started to come to life and flicker with a dull glow, but in reality it wasn't even that late. The days were growing shorter as winter settled in, so darkness was starting to encroach earlier and earlier into the day.
Thankfully, the streets and rail station weren't populated. Saturday foot traffic was always light on the outskirts of the city. April knew first hand that as the train pulled further into the city, more and more people would be getting on. She had never minded the crowds before, but these days she always felt like everyone was looking at her. She didn't want people looking at her, judging her, or gawking. Her first experiences outside with Courtney after The Change had done a number on her self esteem.
She waited on the platform, casting side-long glances around to the two or three other people waiting for the train. Nobody so much as turned a head in her direction. They were absorbed with their cell phones. April fidgeted from hoof to hoof and fussed with her pants, tugging on them to the best of her ability. In nearly no time, the train pulled into station and April robotically boarded. It wasn't until she had pushed herself up into a seat and the door slid closed that she realized exactly what she was doing and how alone she was. She took a deep breath and started to fish for her rail pass within her bags. She located it, along with her phone. Placing the pass on the seat next to her, she then propped her saddlebags on the floor by her dangling rear hooves, and opened her phone.
Flip phones were now all the style among others who had changed. Stores had carried them for the elderly, but they were also well suited for a pony. No touch screen, big buttons, sturdy, and reliable. Sure, texting now took forever, but apparently hitting “555 666 555” just to type “lol” had been common in the 1990's. Besides, sending a long text message to Courtney was a welcome distraction from the other passengers on the train. April had to ignore them. Her confidence, already hair-thin, may very well break if she saw someone pointing or whispering.
“On the train,” she managed to tap out, balancing the phone in one fore-hoof while pushing buttons with the other. In no time, the response flashed up, “Way to go girl! I knew you had it in you!” April scrunched up her face. Of course her friend could send a message back in no time... stupid swipe-text.
She gave a small jump in fright as a rail worker picked up her pass from the seat next to her. She looked up at him as, without a word, he swiped her card and then placed it back on the seat and moved on. “See,” she thought to herself. “Not even a second look. Everybody is too concerned with their own lives to even notice me.” She continued to send text messages, but two stops later her resolve was starting to melt. The train was getting crowded with people headed into the heart of the city for a fun weekend night. She sat alone and continued to look at her phone's screen. She cycled through old messages to read and re-read. Anything to pass the time and not have to interact with others.
“Is this seat taken?”
April met the gaze of a middle aged woman who was gesturing to the seat next to her. April glanced at the rail pass occupying the seat and then gave a quick look around the train. It had filled up more then she had realized.
“Um, no. Sorry...” April fumbled for a moment, dropping her phone into her saddlebag before reaching a hoof over to pull her rail pass away. She took the pass in both fore-hooves and clutched it close as the woman took a seat next to her. Mercifully, the other woman wasn't the chatty sort and simply took out her own smart phone, using an index finger to swipe at the screen. April remained nearly motionless, save for the bouncing of the train car, as she clutched her rail pass, kept her head bowed, and studied the floor.
Two stops later and April was on her hooves, packing away her rail pass and shrugging her bags into place on her back. There was a group of people waiting by the train doors before they opened, and as soon as the train stopped, people poured out onto the platform. April dodged other passengers and exited with them. She navigated the platform as best she could, weaving around others, as she made her way down the exit ramp and onto the city streets. It had been about twenty minutes since she had boarded the train, but it had honestly felt like hours had passed. She didn't need to stop to get her bearings before making her way toward her destination. This district was full of restaurants, bakeries, pubs, book stores, and coffee shops. Groups were waiting in lines outside and chatting. Laughter would punctuate the din of music that drifted out onto the streets. April spotted the occasional pony mixed in with groups of people and she started to gain a bit of resolve. “This isn't so bad,” she reasoned with herself. “There are other Changed out here and nobody is even giving me a second look. I think I can do this!”. She turned a corner and down the street she spotted a pale blue sign that proclaimed in bold, flowing font 'The Steamed Elephant – Coffee – Tea House'. She froze in her tracks.
“I can't do this.” She lifted a fore-hoof and it hung in the air, as if she was thinking about taking another step but seriously doubted the sidewalk was safe to tread on. Her eyes were fixed on the illuminated sign as she read it again. Her heart was thumping as she contemplated just turning around and going home. Maybe she should call Courtney. Maybe she should just hang out at the train station for a while and...
No. This was for the best. As much as it scared her, and as much as she really didn't want to go through with this, Courtney was right. This needed to happen. She was going to go meet this other pony... Kevin... and that would be that. She placed her fore-hoof down and began to slowly move forward. “You came this far. No going back. Just... just keep going.” As she closed in on the cafe, a sudden thought came to her. “How am I even going to recognize-”
A tall, male pony was standing right by the entrance under the sign. Around his neck was a red necktie and he had the unmistakable look of a guy waiting for someone. His yellow eyes moved slowly and casually over others that were making their way up and down the street. Under the soft light his coat looked to be an off-grey, but when she got a bit closer she could see it was actually lavender. His mane was long and white, cascading over both of his shoulders while a matching white tail reached all the way down to the street. Before another thought, his eyes found April and he straightened up just a bit. “Oh man,” April thought. “Oh man oh man oh man.”
“April?” The other pony ventured. April gave a tight, forced smile and nodded once. “Hi! I'm Kevin.” He extended a hoof toward her and she gingerly placed her own hoof against his and gave it a tentative shake. “Glad to meet you. Any trouble finding the place?”
April shook her head lightly, her mane gently rippling with the movement. “Uh, no. No problem.” She wanted to keep talking, but her mouth had run dry. While she figured out what to do with her hooves, Kevin stood tall over her... Really tall. April had seen other ponies from afar, and had seen pictures and video. She had never actually talked to another pony before, let alone a guy. He must have been over a head taller than her... and his hoof! When she had shaken his hoof, it was like it would swallow her hoof up! His fetlocks were also shaggy and draped down over all four of his hooves. April opened her mouth to say something, but closed it again.
“So... wanna grab a coffee or something?” he ventured. April nodded and again gave him a tight, toothless smile. She watched her feet and followed him to the door while an exiting patron held it for them. The interior of the 'Steamed Elephant' caught April's curiosity. The floors were a rich dark hardwood made out of hand-milled planks. Blue tapestries adorned the walls and depicted elephants, hookahs, caravans, and any number of exotic locations. Incense was burning in hanging saraphins and filled the room with the scent of light spices. This, combined with the rich smell of brewing coffee and steamed milk cast a distinct and pleasant odor. The entire ascetic was a mish-mash of rococo, far eastern eclectic, and general Turkish Infusion. It didn't make a whole lot of sense, but the color pallet was lively and vibrant, and it did a great job of being everything “trendy” and “hip”.
She continued to study her surroundings and began to notice the other patrons. While not large, the place was fairly full. Mostly middle-aged and college students with hats, wool scarves, yoga pants, or tight jeans. Or some combination thereof. They were in twos, threes, and fours and all chatting about any number of various books and movies. Toward the side, there were a few low tables set up for ponies and Kevin was headed toward an empty seat. A group of three colourful ponies were seated not far away, as well as a separate group consisting of three people and a pony. Kevin had found a cushion on the floor and was seated while April slid her saddlebags off and settled into a cushion across from him.
“I've never been here before myself, but I have heard good things,” Kevin began as his yellow eyes took in his surroundings. “Word of mouth and all that.” He smoothed his necktie down his chest and continued, “Have you been here before?”
April scooted her cushion a bit closer to the table and, without looking up, remarked, “Um, no...” She was going to add that she had walked past the place a few times. She was going to add that Courtney had been here with her friends once or twice. She was going to add that she had also heard good things about the place. Instead, she just remained silent.
Kevin used a hoof to smooth back part of his mane behind his ear and smirked. “Hey, to be honest it's not exactly my scene, but I can always go for a good cup of coffee. And speaking of...” He trailed off as a waitress approached the side of the table.
“Hi folks. What can I get'cha?” The waitress was most likely a college student wearing an apron and carrying an iPad used for ordering.
“Cup of coffee for me,” Kevin asserted.
“What kind?”
“Just a light roast. Whatever you recommend. Cream and sugar as well.”
The waitress tapped on the screen and then turned to April. “And for you?”
April glanced at Kevin and then ventured a look at the waitress. “Just, uh, some water?”
The waitress tapped on the screen again. “Coffee and Tea coming up.” With that she turned and bustled over to the counter on the far side of the room. April had opened her mouth and raised a hoof to correct her, but she was gone before she got a word out. She placed her hoof back down by her side and peaked over at Kevin, who was looking up at the lantern gently swaying above the table.
“I'm thinking that people pay for the decoration more than the coffee.” He cast her a lopsided smile and flicked his ears. “Kind of the type of place to be seen in, you know?”
April managed yet another small, uncomfortable smile. “Mm hmm,” she agreed. She was so out of her element. The pony across from her still seemed just so BIG. Even sitting down he was large. His fore-hoof brushed idly at the wooden table as he sat up straight. She continued to absently look around, however, and noticed that despite his size he didn't come off as menacing. A bit imposing, perhaps. He had a presence about him, but it was warmer and more friendly then she had first anticipated when she saw him.
Silence rang out for a few beats, but Kevin seemed determined not to let the conversation turn awkward. “So,” he began again, “have you been in the city long?”
“Um, well... I mean I grew up a few towns over,” April started, rubbing a fore-hoof over her other fore-leg without thought. “But I moved in about two-and-a-half years ago.”
Kevin nodded casually. “Yeah. I've been downtown for just over a year. I actually grew up on the other side of the country if you can believe it.”
“Did you... move out here for work?” She was doing it! Her voice was still soft and unsure, but here she was. Making polite eye contact. Having an actual conversation with a stranger. A pony. At some weird coffee place. By herself. Without conscious thought she bit her lower lip again and looked down at the table.
“You guessed it,” Kevin chuckled. “I was promoted to regional sales and made the move when they offered the promotion. Came out here and just sort of integrated, you know?” April looked back up at Kevin. His ears were perked up and he was still sporting a relaxed smile. Every so often, while he was speaking, his ears would swivel toward a noise around him, but his focus was directly on her. “That's the long and short of it anyway. I'm still working the same job, too. Office equipment, like printers and chairs and desks and the like. So don't worry! I won't try to sell you anything.”
“Yeah...” April ventured. “I'm an admin. Administrative Assistant that is... like, a secretary.”
“Oh, sure! Do you work downtown in the financial district? Oh! Or the big government place on the North side?” His tone seemed to show actual interest as his fore-hooves came up to rest on the tabletop and his bright eyes continued to fix on her.
“Yeah, the financial district. Well, I mean, I'm... still on sabbatical.” April shifted slightly on her cushion and looked away toward the counter. The waitress was loading up a tray with cups.
Kevin placed his hooves back under the table. “Sure, Sure. I get it...” He paused and seemed about to continue when the waitress was spotted heading toward their table. Off her tray, she placed a handle-less ceramic mug of coffee in-front of Kevin, and then kept placing items from her tray down on his side of the table.
“Regular cream, Heavy cream, Half-and-half...” She explained as each porcelain container was set down on the table. “Cane sugar, and Raw Brown sugar!” The last two dishes were set down. “I'll be back with your tea in a second!” With that she turned on a heel and skipped back to the counter.
Kevin was studying the vast array of small containers in front of him, a bewildered look washing over him. His ears drooped, his brow furrowed, and his smile fell. Under his breath, April could hear him mutter, “What. In. The. Actual...”
That's when it happened. Nothing short of a miracle. It was a combination of several things; April's nerves, the strange setting, the tense train ride, but mostly the look of befuddlement on that poor face.
April brought a fore-hoof up to her face and had to stifle a laugh. It was soft and came out as a little titter, but in that one moment some of her pent up anxiety, anxiety that had built up for months, seemed to dissolve.
Kevin shot a quick glance back to the waitress and then fixed April with a smug look of satisfaction. “Oh, is that funny?” He whispered to her before tilting his head toward the counter. “Here's your water.”
With her hoof still trying to suppress a smile, April glanced to the waitress who had made her way back to the table. The waitress placed another handle-less ceramic mug, this one full of steaming water down onto the table in front of April. Just as April was about the thank the waitress, a lacquer box the size of a small suitcase was placed on the edge of the table and opened toward the ponies. The box revealed no less than ten shelves, all with multiple individual pockets containing tea bags. Each pocket was labeled with hand-written signage describing the names of nearly a hundred styles of tea.
“So, you probably know that all of our tea is fair trade and hand-packaged in pure silk tea bags. Starting with the top row we have herbals. Below that...” The waitress continued to recite a practiced and precise description of more tea then April had seen in her life.
Her eyes were lost and scanning the seemingly endless rows of tea bags. While the waitress continued to talk, April shot a fearful look over to Kevin. The smug so-and-so had an elbow on the tabletop and his head was propped on his hoof in a display of sheer, unspoken, “Not so funny now, is it?” The look on his face made April shoot him another genuine smile as she glanced back to the box and, cutting the waitress off midway through an explanation on how “this tea had been picked by monkeys”, placed a hoof in front of one of the rows.
“Oh! You have my favorite!” April exclaimed. The waitress nodded with enthusiasm.
“Gosh, great choice! I love honeysuckle too!” The teabag was pulled out and placed on a saucer in front of the pony before the box was closed. “If you need anything else or just a re-fill just let me know. Enjoy!” The waitress carried the case back to toward the counter as April turned her attention back to the table. Kevin was still smirking at her but clopped his hooves together in a mock-clapping motion.
“Nicely handled! Here I thought we would have to listen to her talk about tea for ten minutes. I had no idea you were such the connoisseur.”
“Well, truth be told,” April started in a casual and somewhat condescending tone, “I'm not nearly the efficinato that you are when it comes to coffee. I'm sure you know exactly what kind of cream you have there.”
Kevin sat up straight again and looked at the creamers. “Of course, Heavy cream, half-and-half, regular cream.” he recited, gesturing with a hoof to individual creams in turn to identify them.
“Are sure about that?” April jested, sporting her own lop-sided smirk.
Kevin paused as a grin creased his muzzle before they both started to chuckle. Hers a light titter again while his was a deep, throaty rumble.
And like that, they were off. Small talk resumed about this and that while April steeped her tea and Kevin picked a cream to add to his coffee and shake a few brown sugar cubes from the dish into his mug. They chatted a bit about work and the weather. It was light and casual and time seemed to fly by. All the while April was slowly forgetting herself and enjoying talking to someone new. The style of mug made it rather easy for Kevin to grasp in both fore-hooves and take sips. April waited for a while before she followed his lead, and when she got around to tasting the tea, she was actually surprised.
“You know,” she began, “this isn't half bad! I really never was a tea drinker, but this is actually pretty good. A little bitter, but not bad at all.”
Kevin pushed the dish of brown sugar toward her. “You may have left the teabag in for too long. I'm sure they have honey, which I understand most tea drinkers prefer... but it's probably sourced from killer African Honey bees.” This drew another polite chuckle from them both. April reached for the dish with two hooves and shook a cube into her tea. She swirled it around a bit as Kevin asked her more about work.
“Oh, it's nothing special really. I answer phones, schedule visitors...” She trailed off long enough to take another sip of tea. “Hey! That's actually really good!”
Kevin smiled and nodded once. “I know. Sugar cubes. I never thought I would have had a taste for them. Too sweet. But now it's almost like I can't get enough.”
This caused April's ears to droop down and her face to fall. “Yeah. I guess. Sugar cubes and... stuff.” A pained looked was written all over her face as she looked into her tea.
Kevin paused and his eyes seemed to scan the table for some kind of answer. By the counter, an espresso machine hissed and sputtered as it steamed some milk. His ears swiveled toward the sound, but his gaze remained at the table. “I mean, it's a really classy place here...” he started feebly. “So the sugar is probably just... really good.”
April hadn't meant to throw a wet blanket on the conversation, and neither had Kevin apparently. It was just... she had also been enjoying sweeter foods as of late. Sweet foods, dark greens, salt. It wasn't just about sugar cubes... but horses ate sugar cubes. And ponies. It was pretty common knowledge that the taste pallets of those who had changed had become more equine. They had danced around the topic quite a bit as they talked, but when the mention of sugar came up, it sat as well as a slap to the face. There was just no way they could continue to talk about the weather while the obvious looked right back at them. Sugar cubes were just the final reminder of how different everything had become.
“Yeah, probably too classy for the likes of me anyway,” she added quietly. It was meant to come off more jovial and self-deprecating. “I mean, at least they have low tables for... us.” Her voice caught in her throat as she digested what she was saying. Her blue eyes continued to stare into her tea, shifting back and forth. Like Kevin, she seemed to be searching for answers. The sounds of the cafe around them buzzed and patrons continued to talk while coffee brewed. Cups clinked against saucers and the silence between the two stretched on. The moments ticked on and on and April thought the ceiling would have to collapse in order to get her out of this awkwardness. She bit her lower lip and thought about how it had all been going well. She had been chatting with-
“Video games.”
April looked up with a quizzical look at the sudden break in silence. Kevin was peering down into his own mug of coffee before he took another sip without lifting his gaze. She studied his face for a moment after his pause. His features were fixed and resolute, but there was a sadness there that she knew all too well.
“I really miss video games.” Kevin added before his yellow eyes lifted and looked into hers. “I mean, you can't really play them with hooves.” He cast a glance at his fore-leg to punctuate the point. “I was pretty good at a few.” He lowered his gaze again before taking another slow and deliberate sip of coffee.
“...typing.” April was looking into her own mug now as Kevin's somewhat surprised look rose to her. She darted a quick glance up at him before looking back down. “I was good at typing. I had swipe-text and home-row and all of that down pat. I worked SO hard in high school computer class...” She took another sip of her tea. “Computers, really. The internet. You know... technology.”
The conversation could have died right then and there. By all reason, it should have. April should have excused herself and thanked Kevin. Kevin should have nodded and paid the bill while April waited at the train station for a ride home and hoped for rain to wash tears from her eyes. This is what April was thinking about as Kevin again broke the stillness, “Cooking. I was never a good cook, mind you, but, I mean, stoves and pans and knives...”
“Pushing a shopping cart.”
“... opening a CD wrapper.”
“Shuffling a deck of cards.”
“Laundry. To think that I hated folding clothes.”
“Shopping for clothes!”
“Washing dishes.”
“Opening the mailbox... just getting the mail...”
The mood was starting to shift. It was still sad and bitter, but just having SOMEONE to talk to that understood. Just sitting across a table and talking and knowing that you were being understood. It was like tea that was still far too bitter, but having a single sugar cube to go with it. April looked up at Kevin, her blue eyes slightly watery while he had already fixed her with a somewhat stoic but unsure gaze. They both looked at each other, both trying not to crack. It was on the very edge. With a single whisper it seemed as either of them, even the big tough Kevin, could break.
“Well,” he barked suddenly, “Damn it, at least YOU didn't wake up purple!”
There wasn't even a beat before April snorted a very unladylike snort and dissolved into pearls of laughter. She tried to cover her mouth, but to no avail. Kevin began to laugh as well, his deep rumble of a laugh rolling out into the space between them.
April felt so rude as she tried with all her might to pull the corners of her mouth down into a serious expression and stop laughing. “I mean,” she began, “It... It's not... I mean...” She was floundering and trying to stifle herself at the same time. It was a loosing battle. April had needed to laugh for so long and the juxtaposition between the sadness and his self-awareness and broken her.
“What? 'It's not THAT bad?'” Kevin interjected between his own laughter. “Exactly how bad is it then?” All the while, Kevin was shaking with the giggles.
April took a moment to compose herself. “It's quite nice, actually. It reminds me of a lilac.” She was still grinning like mad and sputtered with the occasional laugh, which she could now disguise as a cough.
“Exactly what every guy wants to hear.” His laughter slowly died out as his smile remained. “I suppose it's not all that bad of a colour... it's just so... frou-frou.” He held up a hoof and inspected his fetlock and leg. “But then again, I think I have to say that.” He clamped his muzzle shut like he wanted to keep talking but had to stop himself. “You want to talk about work some more?”
“No.” April surprised even herself with her quick response as she picked up her tea again. “I mean, unless you want to. But, it's just, I haven't really... talked about... it.” She took a quick sip of tea before placing the mug down again. “Well, I mean, my friend Courtney and I talk all the time... but she... didn't change...” It was like April was placing each word in front of the next in order to find the correct phrasing.
Kevin followed her lead and took a sip of his own drink. “I haven't either. I mean, I've talked to other ponies. We kind of helped each other out afterward... but never talked about life after or anything. It just seems like you are really on edge about it all. I don't want to make you uncomfortable.”
April nodded, her smile still lingering around the edges as she seemed to sigh and resign herself. “Yeah. It's been rough. I mean, EVERYTHING changed! Overnight! I... wasn't ready.”
“None of us were. But, here we are.”
“So, you have been in touch with others? Like us?”
Kevin nodded once. “Yeah, a few. Four of my co-workers changed as well. It was kind of funny, really. We kind of banded together afterward and looked out for each other... but it was like a professional courtesy. After, like, the second month we just quietly realized that we had nothing in common before and, even after The Change, we still didn't really have anything in common. We just sort of drifted back to being co-workers.”
They continued to chit chat a bit about current life and some other difficulties that they were facing. Nothing too personal, but more like shared experiences. It was good to have confirmation that April wasn't alone in some of the difficulties in front of her. Still, at every turn, Kevin was optimistic and had a positive 'can-do' attitude toward the future.
April contemplated this for a few moments, taking her last sips of tea and then setting down the empty glass. Kevin was really something. It was like this massive event hadn't stopped his life. He was a bit emotional about it, sure, but she could tell that he was very much getting on with everything and, from the sound of it, really didn't let being a lavender pony effect him. April, on the other hand, had shut down. She hadn't been out-going, perse, but before The Change she hadn't been a recluse either. She had gone out with co-works and had been friendly around the office. She had greeted her neighbors and made chit-chat with other people. She started to rationalize that more of her had changed then she would like to admit.
“None of your friends changed?” she ventured. With some of her tension dispersed after laughing for the first time in months, she was starting to find her voice again.
“No. I mean, all my close friends live outside the city. Other than those co-workers, I was on my own.”
She pushed the empty mug a bit with her hoof and steadied herself with a deep breath. “That morning-” With the impeccable bad timing that only a waitress can have, their server appeared at the edge of the table.
“Can I get you two another drink?”
“Um, just a re-fill for me,” Kevin pushed his nearly-empty mug over to the waitress.
April nodded before prodding her own mug and adding, “Just some more hot water in here.”
“Coming right up!” The waitress flounced away and the two watched her to the counter while she fetched a pot of hot water and brought it straight back. She poured water into April's mug, filling it and leaving the same teabag to float back to the top. April nodded her thanks without a word while they both continued to remain silent. It wasn't an uncomfortable quiet, but they shared the downtime until a carafe of coffee was brought over to Kevin and his mug was topped up. He thanked her, and as she left, he began adding cream and sugar to his drink.
“That morning,” April started again, “Um, what was it like for you?”
Kevin nodded a few times to himself and started to tell his story. He tried passing everything off as nonchalant but it was clear that it was still raw. He explained how he had woken up next to his girlfriend and they both flipped their lids. He was confused and disoriented, but to make matters worse, his girlfriend totally blew her stack. She had a bag packed in minutes and fled the apartment. She apparently didn't want to get 'infected' by him, whatever it was that he had turned into. She didn't even want to touch him as he had fumbled about the place. Left alone, and with the idea of being some kind of disease carrier in his mind, he stayed inside and watched the TV. Nobody came to the door. All he had was a smart phone, and given his size he had cracked the screen in his initial panic and left it unusable. He hadn't even so much as opened the front door for days before a census worker came to his place to check on him. He had been reported missing and presumed Changed, so once that was confirmed, they helped him get in contact with his boss, family, and friends from out-of-state.
He spent the next few days eating what he had on hand before he was forced to venture outside, alone, to get more food and supplies. People around the city were helpful for the most part, which Kevin admitted to truly appreciating. After about a week, when the panic was gone, his girlfriend came back to talk with him. They spent the whole night going back and forth, but she still wasn't comfortable touching him or getting close. He eventually had gotten her to be blunt enough to admit that she needed a break from him as, for now, 'this' was not going to work out. She said that she would think about getting back together again once a cure was found. The next day she came back to pack all her things, they fought, and that was the last he had ever seen her.
“So, the next day, I was sitting on the couch and something really weird happened... I mean, not as weird as The Change, but still.” April had been nodding along the entire time, but remained quiet. She was absorbing his tale and latching onto not only the similarities between their stories, but also all the differences. “I was sitting on the couch at, like, 2 AM, and this infomercial came on. It was for an Air Fryer. Like, you could put your chicken in it, and it would use hot air fry it to golden perfection. Right then and there, my entire outlook on life flipped.”
Setting her mug back down, April needed to interject. “Wait, so an Air Fryer Infomercial changed your life?”
“Well... yeah. Totally.” He took a sip of his drink and continued. “I mean, there I was at 2 AM watching absolutely the WORST infomercial I had ever seen... and I kind of asked myself, 'Is this it? Is this how I'm going to spend the rest of my life? Sitting on a couch and watching the absolute bottom-of-the-barrel garbage TV that they could ever possibly show?' That Air Fryer ad was SO bad, and I was sitting there watching it just because I felt like I had nothing better to do. I felt like there was nothing else I COULD do! I was a shut-in because I was a pony. I wasn't hardly sleeping, I was hardly eating... I was letting being a pony change who I was, and I decided then and there that I wasn't going to let that happen. So, yeah. That Air Fryer kind of saved me.” Another quick swig of coffee before he added, “I still didn't buy one, though.”
Tea nearly shot out April's nose at that last remark. She caught herself and apologized. “But, I mean,” she added, “turning into a pony DID change you.”
“Sure, physically. I guess what I figured was, for myself, I was going to have to adapt. I couldn't do a lot of the things I could before... and that REALLY sucked... but it didn't mean I had to give up who I was. I LIKED who I was, and being a pony didn't have to change that. You know?”
There was a long pause as April gazed up at Kevin and searched his eyes. She started nodding slowly and a smile creased the corners of her lips. “Yeah,” she added. “Yeah, I do know.”
Kevin let out a soft chuckle and shook his head. “Did you hear about the little girl from the south side of town that was going around in tears and apologizing to all the ponies?”
April's brow turned quizzical and she shook her head, again sending her burgundy mane bobbing.
“True story,” He continued. “I heard it from a co-worker. Apparently, the day before The Change, she and her friends in class had been talking about 'If you could be any animal, which would you choose?' She told everyone that she would want to be a pony, and just figured that she had somehow caused all this!” They both started laughing again. “For real!” Kevin continued. “For a week she was going up to ponies in tears and saying how sorry she was!”
April continued to laugh and ran a hoof through her mane. “That's rich! Poor kid, I hope she got over it.”
“I'm sure she did.”
“So what would you have chosen?”
“Pardon?”
“If you could be any animal, what would you want to be?”
“Is 'human' off the table?”
“Duh, of course.”
“Let me think.” Kevin nodded to himself and he got a far off look in his eyes and he slurped some more at his coffee. “Real animal, fictional animal, or either?”
“Real animal.”
Another pause. “Is something like, 'tiger' or 'wolf' a little too macho?”
April responded with a mischievous smirk. “Of course not! Why, I'm sure you would be a wonderful purple tiger.”
“Oh, here we go again...”
More laughter and more chatter back and forth kept the two occupied further. They conversed about many things, including life as a pony, and before long they had genuinely had a good time in this strange little coffee shop. It wasn't until both of their drinks were again empty and neither of them had noticed, still wrapped in conversation, that the waitress appeared with a paper bill in-hand.
“Anything else I can get you? We have fresh baklava and bread pudding!”
“Uh, no thanks.” Kevin started fussing with his necktie. “Just the cheque, please.” The bill was placed on the table and he reached for it.
“I'll be back in a few to ring you guys out. Take your time!” The waitress went to a nearby table to check on other patrons as Kevin fumbled some more with his tie while looking over the bill. April was still grinning when it occurred to her what was going on.
“Oh!” She reached to her side and started to dig around in her saddlebags. “Here, let me get it.”
Kevin shook his head, his long white mane flopping around as he did so. “No, that's alright. I got it.” From the underside of his necktie, from a pocket that had been hidden from view, he used his fore-hooves to eventually slide out a credit card which he placed on the table next to the bill. He shot her a genuine smile and motioned to his tie. “It's actually a bit handy all things considered. Never thought I would say that about a tie.”
April scrunched up her muzzle at him in a playful manner and continued to fish for her credit card. “Well, we can at least go dutch.”
“You... really don't want to do that...” Kevin scooped up the bill and flashed it to her. Her eyes scanned the numbers once, then twice, before bugging out.
“For ONE coffee and ONE tea!”
Kevin shrugged. “And one refill of each. It's a trendy place. Besides, look at all the cream and sugar they gave me!” Keven set the bill back down next to his card and to emphasize his point, swiped at another sugar cube before popping it into his mouth with a smile.
“It's basically robbery! I mean, it was good and all, but with the tip...”
“Like I said, don't worry about it.” His mouth worked a bit and a soft crunch was heard as the sugar broke apart under his teeth. He seemed a bit apprehensive and things kind of stood still as he looked down to his hooves before looking back at her. He still had his usual swagger but he seemed just a little nervous which made April think of him like a big puppy dog.
“I mean, if you want...” he ventured, “You could pick up the next one?”
April's heart fluttered ever so slightly before she studied his big yellow eyes. “I think I'd like that.”
The tension dissolved and Kevin nodded a few times before nonchalantly smoothing his mane back again. “Alright! Great. Next one's on you.”
The waitress came by to swipe the credit card on her tablet. “Um, you can just point to the percent if you want to leave a tip.” She held the pad toward Kevin and he simply glanced at her without making a gesture.
“20% is fine. Thanks.”
“Thank you so much! Did you need a receipt?”
“I'm good. Thanks again.”
“My pleasure! You two enjoy your night!” The waitress bounded off and closed out the transaction on her touch screen.
The two ponies began to gather their things. April latched her saddlebags and began to stand in order to shrug them onto her back. Kevin worked his card back into the pocket on the back of his necktie. Once they were both put back together, they walked together to the door and out of the Steamed Elephant.
Back on the sidewalk, Kevin and April faced each other just to the side of the entrance to the 'Steamed Elephant'. The sun had set fully, but at this time of year it was dark before most people got out of work. They both casually looked up and down the street and waited for a moment before one of them made a move. Kevin nodded toward a street lamp that also housed a large clock before he remarked, “Jeez, I guess it's getting a bit late, huh?”
April looked in the direction that he had motioned and read the time. She had been drinking tea and talking for nearly two hours! Where had the time even gone? “Yeah, jeez,” she began as she looked down to the sidewalk and absently rubbed a fore-leg. “Time flies...”
Kevin seized the opportunity, “I had a really great time. Thanks for coming out to meet me here.”
She ventured a gaze upward. “Oh yeah! It was a lot of fun. I think... I didn't realize how much I needed to get out.” The pony placed her hooves firmly on the ground “You gave me a lot to think about, that's for sure.” She wasn't sure if she should continue, but when Kevin nodded once and smiled, she knew that he got her point.
“I'm glad. I think you're really great, April.”
“Oh?” she ventured quietly.
“I mean, you're pretty closed off, but once you start to open up... I think you're a lot of fun!” Kevin flashed a genuine smile before quickly adding, “I mean, you can take your time and all. It's just, you seem pretty cool when you actually laugh and joke around a bit.”
It was true. April hadn't been her whole self when they first met. She rationalized that her nerves kind of turned her into this cowering mess, but once she had been talking and listening... interacting with someone and not concerned with other people staring at her... she felt more natural. Normal.
“Well Kevin, I think you're a lot of fun too. And I really did mean it; you're entire outlook on... everything. It kind of help set me straight. A bit, anyway.”
“No problem,” He shrugged. “Just let me know if you ever need to talk.” In a motion that started as smoothing his mane back behind his ear, but ended with him looking up toward the night sky, he offhandedly remarked. “I'm probably going to go grab some food. I haven't eaten yet...” His voice trailed off in a sort of open-ended way before he turned his attention back to April.
“Oh yeah! I totally forgot to eat anything before I left as well! I'm starving!” It was the truth. April's tummy had been doing flips before leaving for the train, so she hadn't even realized that she had skipped lunch. It would be only a matter of a half-hour before her stomach would start loudly growling in protest.
Kevin jumped at the chance with just enough enthusiasm in his tone to make him seem interested but not desperate. “You know, I know a place. Just a few blocks from here, really. Pretty good food...” He was doing an excellent job trying to hide his nerves, but when his ears laid flat and he lowered his head ever so slightly, it was all the sign April needed that he was putting on a brave face. “I could, you know, take you to get a bite to eat?”
If blushing had been something ponies could do, April's face would be red as a beet. She lightly bit her lower lip and nodded at him. “I would like that, Kevin.”
The smile that washed over his features made April a little giddy. It was so earnest. He straightened up a little bit before happily adding, “Alright! Like I said, it's just a short trot a few blocks over.” He motioned with his hoof in the general direction before glancing to the side and using his hoof to paw a bit at the ground. “Um... listen, April.” His tone was serious but soft. “I know that this is a 'just friends' sort of evening, and I'm still totally cool with that.” April listened intently and brushed her mane back behind her ear. Kevin continued, “But if we go get dinner together, I might start thinking of this as, you know, like a DATE date.” Another lopsided smirk down at her before he shifted his eyes and added quickly, “I mean, I can behave myself and all that but I was just being-”
April placed her free hoof onto the end of his muzzle to stop him from talking. His eyes widened just a bit and he craned his neck backward when he had been cut off. A real, unburdened smile graced her face. “Kevin,” she began in mock seriousness, “your date is hungry. Feed her.”
His smile was so wide that if it had been much wider it might have hurt Kevin's cheeks. He backed up deftly, like all four of his hooves were barely touching the pavement. “Yes ma'am!” His long white tail flicked sharply and snapped out behind him as he absently did a little shuffle with his feet before motioning her to come along. April stifled a giggle and quickly joined him. Truth be told, when he had mentioned a 'DATE date' instead of 'just friends getting a drink', she had felt like doing a little prance-dance herself. She quickly joined his side and they walked down the sidewalk together.
Kevin continued on about the place they were headed. “It's not nearly as classy as The Elephant, but again, the food is good and I'll be able to get a drink.” April asked some follow-up questions and they talked idly as they walked. When there was a short pause, Kevin added, “I like your shirt, by the way.”
“Oh, um, my shirt?”
“Yeah, it's nice. It goes with your coat.”
“You... It doesn't clash, does it?”
“Huh? No, not at all! I like the sleeves too. It's cute.”
Courtney would never let April hear the end of it. She shifted slightly to puff her shirt up just a bit. “Thanks. That's sweet of you to say.” It was then that April really started to take in the fact that Kevin, the big lavender pony with a long while mane and tail, was wearing nothing but a necktie. She had been talking to him and drinking tea with him, and this entire time it hadn't really occurred to her that he was essentially naked. As he continued to talk about the restaurant, 'Joe's', she cast frequent side glances at him. I mean, here he was out in public without pants... but it didn't seem unnatural or indecent in the slightest. He never brought it up, he didn't shy away, but instead he was just comfortable with himself. She continued to hold up her side of the conversation as they continued down the street and made a turn, and pressed on.
As they were paused, waiting for a crosswalk signal, April took a few moments to study Kevin's features. They chatted and she nodded along, all the while looking him up and down. He didn't seem nearly so tall anymore. He was over half-a-head taller then her, but for some reason he had lost any 'looming' quality. His muzzle, usually always holding a smirk or grin, was large, square, and scruffy. His nostrils flared or wrinkled every so often which April had started to use as a sign of his mood. Everything about him was so... expressive. Big saucer ears that were just slightly fluffy on the edges showed her not only that he was paying attention, but also would lay backward if concentrating or flicker and swivel if he was on edge. His legs were stout and sturdy, and the fetlocks that flared out at the bottoms gave him nice proportions. His chest was large and broad... and the muscles in his shoulders...
The signal changed and he started across the street, ears still absently checking around for sounds. April paused for just a moment to catch her breath and then caught up to him. “Oh my god,” she thought to herself as she walked beside him and looked down the sidewalk they were heading, “I was checking him out! I was totally checking him out like he was... a guy?” She was trying to rationalize this. I mean, he WAS a guy. But he was also a pony. But a guy-pony. But, like, mostly a guy? But totally a pony!
Kevin walked on, absently high-stepping as he crossed the street. April couldn't tell if he was riding a high from going to dinner, or if he was wound up from having two cups of coffee. She asked him a bit more about sports, which they had discussed as another of his hobbies. He got on a roll and she was happy to listen to him talk about something he was interested in, and he wasn't pushy or boring when talking about teams and players. Meanwhile, April continued to look him over. Under his coat, she could see his muscles ripple and flex. His mane was pushed back and forth by his shoulders which worked naturally and powerfully as he strode on. She was being taken in by his body when, without warning, Kevin leaned to his side and bumped his shoulder against hers in a friendly nudge.
“Hey, don't worry. We can talk about cloths next if you want. Sorry to bore you, but I just really like baseball.”
April instinctively bumped him back, nudging her shoulder against his. “What's that supposed to mean? That all I like is cloths or something?” She winked at him and they walked on. It was only afterward that she started thinking about how she had actually WANTED to bump him back... because she wanted to touch him. “Focus! He's a really sweet guy-pony! Don't get all clingy and weird. Just keep acting natural, you know, cause he's so... natural.”
“We can talk about whatever you want! Did you want to dazzle me more with college level literature that I'll never understand?”
“It was two classes, and I happened to find them really interesting!”
“That's well and good, but trust me that I would have stolen all your notes after class just in order to pass.”
April spotted a small pub that had exterior heaters and a few benches for people to sit outside and smoke on. It was like a god-send that she didn't know she needed until she spotted it. “Hey, hang on just a second...” She trotted forward to a bench, threw her saddlebag up, and hoisted her rump up to a sitting position. Kevin didn't break stride and stopped in front of her after she was seated and rubbing her fore-hooves over her shoes.
“Feet hurt?” He ventured, looking her over.
April nodded once and didn't look up, “Yeah. Just wanted to take a quick seat. Just give me a second.”
“Want me to carry your bag?”
“No, it's these shoes. They weren't really broken in and I wore them all night... You know, typical girl problems.”
“So don't wear them.” It was thrown out so matter-of-fact. April paused rubbing her feet to look back to Kevin who had started clopping all of his four hooves up and down on the pavement. “Just think of it as going bare-foot.” He didn't raise any other argument, but simply waited.
April thought it over and rubbed her sore feet some more. She gave Kevin another quick look before she started fussing with her shoes to take them off. They were placed in her saddlebags and she got down from the bench. A long sigh escaped as she felt her rear-hooves make contact with the pavement, free from the shoes. “Yeah, that's actually a lot better.” She adjusted her bags onto her back once more.
“Ready to go?”
“All set!” They continued down the street before stopping for another crosswalk. She was still apprehensive about not wearing shoes. Walking down city streets with nothing on her feet seemed like it should be a bad idea, but she had to admit that it felt a lot better and somewhat more natural. If nothing else, she had the shoes mostly broken in after tonight, so next time wouldn't be so bad.
April was still stretching out her rear-hooves behind her, when from the sidewalk to their left, she heard the tell-tale shutter click of a cell phone camera. Her ears had caught the sound right away and she turned her head to look at a nondescript woman with a cell phone. The woman was bringing the phone down from her face, and it was clear that she had just snapped a picture of Kevin and April. The woman with the phone quickly giggled, turned to a man she was with to show the him picture before walking in the opposite direction down the street. April turned her head to look forward again so quickly that he mane flipped out of place. Her eyes looked to the street in the middle of the crosswalk and darted back and forth. Her heart was pounding and her breath was coming short. “Just like I thought! People staring at me and taking pictures... like I don't even belong anymore in-”
A big hoof came to rest on her back, just above her saddlebags. “Don't mind them,” Kevin reassured in a whisper, bringing his face down close to her ear, “Their just tourists. They have nothing better to do then bother the residents. You know the type. If it wasn't us, then they would be taking pictures of the buildings and statues.” He patted her back twice before putting his hoof back down. “Maybe they'll make us internet famous,” he added in is casual chuckle.
April had started to scowl down at the street, but her breathing had slowed. She wasn't in a panic, but was now simply fuming. “The nerve of some people! Treating us like some kind of tourist destination!” She snorted once before under her breath she bitterly snapped out, “Dumb bitch wasn't even holding her phone right. It's called Landscape!” She adjusted her mane back into place before glancing over at Kevin. “Sorry.”
Kevin, meanwhile, was looking at her with a surprised expression that also had the corners of his mouth pulled into a tight 'trying not to laugh' smile. He snorted a few quick chuckles under his breath before adding, “No, you tell her! Snooty hag can go pound sand, am I right?”
“I know! UGH!” The light had changed and April started into the crosswalk with Kevin close behind. “I mean, get a life already! What, there isn't enough around that you have to post pictures of random people on-line?! Like there isn't enough for you do to out here?!” Her paced had quickened and her hooves were stamping as she crossed the street and then the curb beyond. Her tone was sharp and bitter as she bit off the words. “And the very IDEA that they would come from, WHEREVER, to get a look at me! Just grow up and find something better to do!” The emotional flood gates had opened.
“April...” Kevin started in a soft tone, trying to calm her down a bit.
April didn't want to be calm. She wanted, no needed, to vent. She couldn't remember being this angry in a long time. “Months and MONTHS of people pushing buttons; of talking down and trying use The Change as social leverage! Like, now there is this entire GROUP that you can just stare at and fuss with! Acting like I can't go out in public without it being some big scene!” She was working herself up and plodding forward down the sidewalk. The more she let out, it felt like there was more that needed to come out as well. So, it just kept spilling.
“They talk about how much SYMPATHY they have and how SORRY they feel, but they don't have a CLUE! How could they?! That just makes it WORSE! You can't even hold it against them for not getting it! There's just no WAY they would ever know what it's like! They can't IMAGINE waking up one morning as a MONSTER! But they still go on and on about how they are 'there to help' and...”
April's ears swiveled backward when she noticed that she no longer heard the sounds of Kevin's hooves on the pavement. She stopped and turned around to glance back at him. When she saw him, standing on the sidewalk with eyes downcast she turned to fully face him. He had a fore-hoof in the air like he had been stopped mid-stride. His lips were in a tight line and is tongue was pushed to side of his mouth as if he was biting it. His ears drooped and he didn't look up at her. April thought about what she had just said. About waking up one morning as... Her blood instantly went from boiling to frozen.
April's eyes widened and she took a step toward him. “Oh... oh God, Kevin, I didn't...” She continued to search his features, but he remained still. “I was just, I mean, I didn't MEAN it!”
His eyes searched the pavement for a while. Slowly, Kevin bobbed his head and nodded as he spoke, looking up at her with soft eyes and a strained voice. “Yeah, April. Yeah, I think ya did.” April was about to interject when he cut her off. “Not about me. I mean, I've been called worse to my face. I can take it. What hurts is that... I think you meant it about yourself... and that's just messed up.” He took a few steps forward to meet her as he looked down into her eyes that were ever-so-slightly starting to get watery. “You got yourself so wrapped up in what you had become that you totally lost sight of who you are. Now, I've only known you for one evening, but I think that it's a pretty good person that you're forgetting to be.”
April looked down and took a large, calming breath. She had fought back the tears that threatened to spill over and she started nodding in agreement. “You're right,” she added with a bit of confidence. “I mean, it's not exactly hard to see that I've been really scared lately.”
“It's okay to be scared. It's okay to be sad. It's okay to be angry or panicked or depressed... It's not okay to live like that.”
“... moving forward has been hard.”
“At least you started. That's the hardest part.”
“Yeah, I guess it is... but seriously, I didn't mean to call you-”
“It's fine. Really.”
“... are you sure?”
He gave her a small smile and motioned with his head down the street. “Come on. Let's get some food into you before you REALLY blow up on someone.” This elicited a nervous laugh from April and she followed along. Getting some more baggage off her chest had left her with a bit of trembley energy, like finally giving the public speech you had been dreading.
As they walked on, April remained quiet for a bit before venturing, “I really didn't mean to call you... that.”
“April, if I thought for a moment that you actually believed I was a monster I wouldn't be here.”
“I guess, but still, that was really thoughtless for me to just kind of throw out there.”
“Apology accepted. I'm sure I'll put my hoof in my mouth before too long.”
“... Any chance that we can write it off to me being really hungry and too high-strung?”
“Eh, you still have some issues to work through, but I don't think that you are going to work through them all in one night.”
“If we're being blunt, then I do find it kind of amazing how well you have worked through your baggage.”
“Low points and high points. You just so happen to have caught me at a high point. I like going on dates!”
“Go on them a lot?”
“Not really. No.” Kevin started to think back as his paced slowed down. “My Ex and I were pretty long-term. Before that it was hard for a shy guy to go on a date in the first place. You?”
“Well...”
“I thought we were being blunt.”
“Alright smart guy! Yes, I used to go out on dates quite a bit. I didn't have a reputation or anything. I just happen to be a very modern woman in touch with herself.”
They had stopped walking and were kind of milling about on a corner.
“Pony.” Kevin stated very matter-of-factly.
“Huh?”
“You just happen to be a very modern PONY,” he softly corrected. “We're here.” Kevin smirked and nodded to the door of the restaurant on the corner. Green signage with golden letters on the door and front window read “Joe's Pub And Restaurant.” It was well kept, but had obviously been around for many years. From the exterior, it was the type of place she would never go into alone. It was just a little too dim, and from the sounds that were floating out onto the street, a little too rowdy. Kevin took a moment as he started to the front door.
“It doesn't look like much, I know. Believe it or not, the food and drinks are really good, and... I think you'll like it.” He flashed her a quick wink that was disarming and, for April, quite charming. After getting a better look at his features, April had begun to notice more and more about his expressions and was finding it easier and easier to spend time with him. “It's much more my scene than The Elephant. Wanna give it a try?”
April nodded to him in agreement. Kevin made his way up a single step toward the front door and she watched as he turned and “Holy Jeeze! Look at the butt on this guy!” It was a totally uninvited thought that distracted her as she watched him walk away from her. She watched as Kevin's tail seemed to compliment his back-side, and the way his hips moved... powerful flanks...
Kevin grabbed the front door handle with his mouth and swung the door into the street. As soon as the door opened, music and crowd noise rolled even louder outside. He had plopped down on the stoop and was holding the door open with one fore-hoof while motioning her inside with the other. April had to actually shake her head to break her chain of though before she flashed him her most confident smile and entered Joe's.
April stood wide-eyed and open-mouthed as she looked around the interior of the pub. The decor was very classic with light hard wood floors, a full bar, and a jukebox in the corner. To the far side, there was an area with games that looked to have a pool table and such. Booths lined the walls and there were very few tables cluttering up the otherwise cramped interior. Drink rails lined the walls and there were a few stools at the bar. The lighting was dim, and classic bar lights hung above every table. April had been in several places like this, best described as an up-scale college bar. That wasn't why April was gawking.
There was a younger woman tending bar, and three other men seated on bar stools talking. One woman over in the corner... but ALL the other patrons were ponies! There had to be over twenty, all milling about, drinking, talking, laughing, and singing! A pale yellow mare with a mint-colour mane, a light red stallion with turquoise mane talking to his friend who was a stallion with black coat and yellow mane, and so many others! It was a shock... but it all seemed... normal. Nobody so much as looked up at them as they entered. They were busy having drinks or eating. Kevin nudged April and nodded to an empty booth. She followed and continued to inspect the patrons. It was a proverbial pony party! Kevin tapped on the side of a yellow-coated stallion who looked, and then shuffled out of the way to let them pass. Once they reached the empty booth, April slid her saddlebags onto the far side and they both hoisted themselves into the seats.
Over in the corner, by the jukebox, there were some ponies with tankards that were singing along, very out of key, and April involuntarily smiled when she head them belt out with the tune, ~”Can anypony fine meee... somepony to love?!”~ Kevin leaned in and remarked, “Like I said, it's a bit more my scene.” He studied the group for a bit along with her, “Not just because of the whole pony thing. When I go out, I kind of want to unwind. I can do classy stuff like tea and museums and all that, but just having a few drinks and being able to relax... Besides people who come here just want to have a good time. I guess you could say that they ain't too pretty and they ain't too proud, and they might be laughing a bit too loud-”
“But that never hurt no one.” April finished, smiling over at Kevin. “I like it here. And you're right, not just because of the ponies... but that really doesn't hurt after, you know, that tourist thing.” She quickly changed to subject, “Why all the ponies?” She gave a sweeping gesture to the occupants of the room.
Kevin nodded and continued to look around as he explained. “The owner, Joe, owned the place for decades. Got hit by The Change and then found out that most of his staff were as well. Luck of the draw. They had been working for him for years, so there was no way he was gonna fire them. So, he kind of adapted. Made some changes and with the help of his staff just started attracting this kind of crowd. It was one of the first places that ponies could come to and get drinks in glasses they could hold and get food that they actually wanted to eat. From there, they got pigeonholed as 'THE Place' to come. They still cater to anyone who comes through the door, changed or not, but they go the extra mile to make ponies feel welcome. I hear that he is even going to take the dart boards down and put in some kind of horse shoe pit!”
A pale pink mare with purple mane that was pulled up into a bun came to the side of the table. She was wearing an apron that was custom tailored to fit her as she placed a fore-hoof on the table. “Hey there, strangers! Welcome to Joe's! Can I grab you some drinks?”
“Beer for me. Draft IPA if you have it on tap.” Kevin then looked over to April.
“Same for me, thanks.”
“Two tall ones, coming up!” She fished out some menus from a pocket on her apron with her mouth and laid them on the table “Drink specials are on the back, and let me tall 'ya that they are great! Let me know if you want food when I get back with your drinks!” She trotted off to the bar to put in their order, deftly wading around some ponies on her way.
Kevin cocked a quizzical eyebrow at April, “Beer drinker?”
April responded with a flippant shrug. “What can I say? I'm one in a million.”
They both laughed and Kevin picked up a menu. “That you are. That you are indeed.” There was a pause as he studied the menu and April followed suit. “You know, it's a shame I didn't meet you sooner. Seems like you just needed a little time to open up and vent to get back into sorts.”
“Yeah,” April agreed as she looked over the food options. “I'm starting to think that myself.” They both let it drop for now as they read. Kevin put his menu down first while April continued to read. The food options were not numerous, but they all sounded good. She suspected that there were separate menus for those who were not ponies. All of the items had titles like, “Salt-Lick Fries,” “Mane Event Mushroom Burger,” or “Neighing Good Nachos.” It made April a bit uncomfortable initially, but when she remembered the owner was changed, and how good it was just to feel like she belonged out in the world... she realized that it was less of a soulless marketing gimmick and more about instilling pride in who people were. April set the menu down and pondered for a moment. Pride. It was something that she had totally lacked lately. She had been many things, ashamed and scared and powerless... but she never had any pride in herself as of late. She used to have that, but it had fallen away. It was like Kevin had said. She used to like herself and who she was, but she was now just coming around to the idea that she could still feel that sense of self-worth and normalcy. Sure, there were aspects of herself that she may not like... but that was the case for EVERYONE. Heck, there were things about herself that she didn't like before she had changed, but she had still been happy and comfortable.
The waitress approached, holding a tray in her teeth that held two large tankards of beer. She slid the tray onto the tabletop and used her nose to push it fully onto the surface. “Two draft IPA's. You thinking about food?”
“Yes!” April barked out a reply a little too eagerly as she took one of the large square tankards off of the tray and settled it down on the table. “I'll have the mixed green salad with sugar-walnut dressing!”
The waitress nodded and winked at April. “Good choice, hun! The dressing is just the best; my favorite! What about you, big fella?”
Kevin stifled a laugh at April's enthusiasm as he took his own drink. “I'll have the same, no dressing.”
“Got it. I'll be back in a shake!” She took the tray back in her teeth and left the table. Kevin lifted his mug to take a sip, noting that April had already started drinking from her glass. The handles were large enough for her to get a firm grip on, as were the sides of the mugs, which made things so much easier. After a pull, she set the mug back down.
“That's really tasty!” She exclaimed, seeming to come more alive.
Kevin nodded and smirked. “It's all the hops and grains. I never really drank this style...” He stopped himself short.
April nodded to him, “But then The Change. I gotcha, Sugar Cube.” She winked at him and took another sip.
“Yeah... that.” Kevin smiled, took a long sip and then leaned back. He studied her for a bit while April held the mug up to her lips and looked out over the room, bobbing her head a bit with the music. He stayed quiet and continued to look her over. When April noticed him looking, his gaze lingered for a moment longer before reaching for his drink again. “Lots of dates, huh?” He posed it casually, picking back up into the routine of conversation they had gotten somewhat used to.
With a coy grin, she sized Kevin up a bit before answering flatly, “Yeah. That's right. And I'm thinking that the only reason you didn't go on too many was because you were snapped up into a long-term deal early on.”
“Pretty much.” Kevin swiveled his ears a bit and leaned forward. “That and I found dating to be a bit nerve wracking.”
“Confidence issues?”
“I could never figure out what to wear.”
“You probably would have had better luck with your current attire.” April smiled at him around the mug that she was placing to her lips.
“What can I say,” he started, “I like this tie.”
With a mouthful of beer April gave a satisfactory, “hmmm” before swallowing. “How good were you at video games REALLY?”
“I held my own.”
“Did you play those shooters and war games?”
“In college. Then I grew up a bit and started playing strategy and city-planning stuff. You know, boring.”
“Girls don't like boring.”
“Girls don't like typical. Guys can do boring things as long as it's not the ONLY thing.” Kevin talked as he brought his glass to his lips and took another long drink before setting the glass down and sighing, “But what do I know?”
They both seemed to study each other for a fleeting moment before April realized that she was FLIRTING with him. Like, hard core, busting-his-chops to get a rise out of this guy flirting. She looked back down to her drink and brought it up for a sip. “Probably more than you realize.” She took a quick gulp and, without putting the glass down she continued to question him. She liked the way he bantered. His speech was just slow enough where she could tell he was thinking things over, as well as coming off as cock-sure. “So you said you were a music fan?”
Kevin continued to play along. Both of their tones were even, and while they were both holding a coy smile as they playfully conversed. “Sure. Who doesn't?”
“Favorite genera?”
“Rock.”
“Beatles or Stones?”
“Beatles.”
April flinched at his response and took a tiny sip of beer. “Ooo, ouch. Alright, how about the 80's?”
“Bono and Bowie.”
“Boy, we are going to work on your musical taste.”
“I can't wait to hear all about Ratt and Twisted Sister.” Kevin took a drink of his beer, nearly finishing it as April burst into pearls of giggles. He kept the glass in his hooves.
“Do you read?” April ventured, keeping her date on his proverbial toes.
“I'm literate, if that's what you mean.”
“What's the last book you finished cover-to-cover?”
“Cover-to-cover?” There it was. Kevin leaned back a bit and brought up his glass to finish his beer and cover his mouth. His ears drooped and his muzzle did that cute little wrinkle thing. “Does Cat in the Hat count?”
April perked up and grinned, “Of course! Who doesn't love the classics?” It was nice to see that he wasn't invincible. April took another drink and nearly finished her glass. “You know, I must say that it's really nice that you are so easy to read like that.”
As she was drinking, Kevin pushed his empty glass to the edge of the table. “Oh? How so?”
Setting her glass down as well, April explained, “Well, I haven't hardly known you a day, but when you get flustered or nervous, you do this thing with your ears where they lean back and your nose gets rumpled up. I like that you are kind of an open book.”
Kevin gave a soft laugh while he studied her some more. His jaw offset and he paused as the smile kind of fell from his face and he continued to look her over. “You know... you do that too, right?” April gave him a passing confused look. “It's a pony thing. We're all really expressive; easy to read. Drooping ears, flared nostrils, wrinkled muzzle...” He paused before pressing on while April digested this. “Flicking tail, bowed head... You may not know it, but you do the same things.”
April picked up her beer and made ready to finish it. She wanted to say something first but Kevin continued on.
“When we first met outside 'The Elephant', you were crouched down so low I thought you were going to fall down. Tail curled, ears down... I could tell you were scared out of your wits! Then, you know, you got more comfortable and opened up... and I'm glad for it.”
That would explain why she thought he was so huge when they first met. She finished her beer and pushed the empty mug to the end of the table. She placed a hoof over her muzzle to stifle a burp and thought about what he had said. She had still thought pony features were something that applied to others and not herself. It was slightly embarrassing that she hadn't pick up on that, but it was food for thought.
“Do you read a lot?” Kevin ventured, still showing interest.
“Yeah, kind of.”
“Do you read high literature or low brow stuff?”
“Well, some of both...” she trailed off, pawing a bit at the table.
“Oh, don't tell me. Trashy romance novels.”
“No! Not really... I mean, I think the most embarrassing thing I read are comic books. Spiderman, mostly.”
Kevin gave a satisfied “humph” and a nod. “Not a bad choice all things considered.”
“If you want to talk smack about Spidey-”
“I wouldn't dream of it!”
The waitress set her tray down on the table, nudging the empty glasses out of the way and Kevin and April reached to pull the empty tankards out of her way. She placed large bowls of salad onto the table, one in front of each customer before remarking, “Two salads. One dressing, one no. Can I get you refills?”
“Please.” They said in unison before smirking at each other. The waitress put the empty glasses onto the tray and then trotted back to the bar.
“You know,” April started as she watched her go, “I think we may have to tip over 20% with the way she's able to manage all of that.”
“She used to be a bar tender here for years, apparently. Then, after The Change, had to train her replacement. She put together the cocktail menu and is still a wiz. Nothing but respect for her.”
April nodded and grinned. Just another pony doing the best they could... and succeeding. She turned her attention to the salad, which was huge. It was served in a large bowl that was both deep and wide. The mixed greens were fresh, washed, and tossed with a dressing that smelled delightful. There were nuts and croutons littered throughout. She placed her fore-hooves on either side of the dish, searching for silverware, only to find none. It was a typical inconvenience in any restaurant; having to wait to eat until the server came back. Then it dawned on April that she wouldn't have the foggiest idea what to do with a fork if she had been given one. She looked over at the bar and then to Kevin. He was in the process of inspecting his bowl.
“Big portions, and it's all fresh. What's not to like?” He started to lean his muzzle down to the bowl before he paused and ventured a look up at April. With a small shrug, a smirk, and a wink, he started eating straight from the bowl. April watched for a moment, looked at her own salad, and then let hunger win out. She pushed her muzzle down and took a small bite. She sat up and chewed thoughtfully.
“Hey... Hey, this is really good!” April lowered her face back to the bowl and took a larger bite. She chewed and munched away, enjoying the way that the dressing was sweet and nutty, and how it made the greens come alive with flavor. The walnuts tasted almost like candy, but it complimented the overall taste. She picked her head back up to look at Kevin, absently brushing her mane back behind her ear as she did so. Kevin had a mouthful as well and was nodding his head in agreement.
Kevin swallowed before remarking, “So, looks like you are three-for-three on the night. Good tea, good beer, and good food.”
“Four-for-four.” She replied while holding a hoof over her mouth to cover her chewing. “You're forgetting 'good company'.”
He smiled another winning smile and brushed at his mane absently while his ears pressed back in a show of happy embarrassment. “Yeah, agreed. Great company to say the least. I mean, guys constantly talk about looking for someone who can open up, has good taste in books, music, clothes, is well spoken, has a steady job, can carry on a conversation, is pretty... you know, the whole package. I think I may have found the proverbial diamond in the rough.”
“Pretty?” April was genuinely taken aback.
“I mean it! Your eyes, and the way your muzzle looks... even when it's all wrinkled,” he teased a bit.
“Kevin, you're going to make me blush in front of the waitress.”
“Impossible. There is no way she would come back right now.”
“What makes you say that?” April lowered her face back down to her salad and took a mouthful.
Kevin smirked and took his own bite of the greens. A few moments passed and they continued to eat. As they were both chewing, a tray with two beers was set down. The waitress looked at them while nudging the tray onto the table. “So, how is everything?”
April used both hooves to cover her mouth while she nodded at the waitress, chewing frantically. She cast a look at Kevin who was still absently chewing his own food. “Very good! Thanks!” April rushed out while reaching for her drink off the tray. Once Kevin had gotten his own beer, the waitress politely excused herself and told them to just call if they needed anything. April finally swallowed her mouthful while Kevin chewed a bit longer before washing his food down with a swig of beer.
“Why is that?? Is there some kind of universal law that states a waitress will only ever come over when everyone at the table is chewing?”
“One of life's many mysteries.” Kevin leaned back. The bar had died down just a bit as several of the other ponies and all the people had left. Music was still playing but nobody was singing along. Patrons were content to hold conversations, sip at drinks, and generally have a good time. There was a fair bit more chit-chat between Kevin and April as they finished their meals. April still had a bit of salad left in her bowl when she finally pushed it away and proclaimed that she was stuffed. Kevin looked like he had a bit more to eat, so April decided to check around for the time. There was a wall clock that proclaimed more than an hour had passed, making it-
“Oh my gosh! I'm sorry, I need to make a call! I'll be right back! Sorry!” April slid out of the booth and pulled her saddlebags along. “I told my friend I would check in with her, and I totally blanked. I'll be quick!” Without waiting for a response, April carried her bags in her mouth toward the sign that said “Restrooms”. She wound down the hallway until she found two doors, one “Ladies” and one “Gentlemen”. The door to the Ladies room had also been recently adorned with two hoof prints in pink paint, while the Men's room had one large blue hoof print. April pushed the door to the Ladies room open and hurriedly settled her saddlebags at the vanity counter next to a sink. Standing on her rear hooves, she pawed through her bags until she located her cell phone. Flipping it open, she confirmed her fears.
Missed calls – 2
“She is going to kill me! Oh man...” She flipped her phone open and pushed one of the rapid-call buttons to dial Courtney. She looked around the restroom as the call began to connect. The noise from the pub didn't reach this far back, and it was relatively quiet. The restroom was mercifully empty, and April noted with surprise and a smile that the owner had recently put in squat-toilets. While it wasn't impossible for a mare to use a regular toilet, the long trough built into the floor made things much easier. They had been popular overseas for years, so it was just a matter of getting them installed, which many places hadn't. Her train of though was cut short when the call connected.
“... Hello April.” Courtney deadpanned into the phone.
“Courtney! I'm so, so sorry. I know I probably should have called earlier-”
“Probably should have called?” Courtney's monotone was unchanged.
“I would have really... but I mean, I'm not TECHNICALLY on my way home, so I didn't call you earlier...” April flinched a bit as she spoke.
“April...” Courtney started in what sounded like a serious tone. April laid her ears back and gritted her teeth, preparing for the chewing out she was going to get. “Do you have any idea what this means? This means... that things are going AWESOME!” Courtney's tone had gradually shifted to bubbly and full of excitement. “You guys have been out for, what, three hours now??”
April perked up and slyly responded, “Well over thee.”
“Are you still at the 'Steamed Elephant'?”
“No. We left there, like, an hour ago! I was hungry and he offered to show me a place to eat.”
“AND he went there with you! You totally let him take you on a date!”
“To be fair,” April continued, feeling more like her old self that she hadn't felt like in months, “I pretty much dragged him. He made the offer, but I jumped at the chance.”
“Soo... what's he like?”
“Well, he's a sales rep for a place that sells, like, office stuff. Pens and papers and desks and whatnot. He's super polite and friendly. He smiles a lot and it's kind of contagious. He's into baseball. And big into Music... He's seen some movies and stuff... He's... nice.”
“He's Changed, right?”
“Obviously.”
“Did you get a picture?”
“Courtney, I'm not going to just whip out my phone and take a picture of him! How rude do you think I am?”
“What, is he super ugly or something?”
“Courtney!”
“Well... you described him as 'nice' and talked about his job and stuff, but you didn't describe him! It's alright if he's-”
“He's Hot. As. Hell! Okay?! Ten out of Ten! His-” April stopped talking and the other end of the phone went very quiet. There is was. Out in the open. April thought that Kevin, a pony, was good looking. Very good looking. She never thought that she would find a pony attractive, let alone desirable. She had hated the way that she looked after The Change. She had thought that it was just too weird to ever find a pony attractive... including herself. She thought back to when she had been checking him out and studying his features... and realized that the entire time he had been doing the same thing to her. He had been catching glances all night. He had even told her that she was pretty... Courtney stayed quiet on the other end of the phone as April searched her reflection in the vanity mirror. Blue eyes, cream fur, red mane... a pony. He found her attractive the way she was. She flushed and her heart pounded as she and Courtney just breathed into the phone for a bit.
“April,” Courtney started gently. “That's not a bad thing! It's great, in fact! You found someone to take to dinner, he's nice, and he's good looking! What's the problem here?”
“I think you should know what the problem is...” April trailed off as she held the phone to the side of her face with one hoof while using the other to examine her features.
“That he's a pony? So what? I mean, lots of people these days...” Courtney kept on talking for a bit as April continued to study herself in the mirror. It was the first time she had ever really LOOKED at herself after The Change. Her muzzle was much rounder with softer lines than his. It was also a good bit shorter. Like a cute little mare-snout. No scruff at all on her fetlocks or face. Her eye lashes were longer and fuller, and her eyes had a more feminine shape, as did her ears. She contrasted her softer, lady-like features to his rough and big build. She swished her tail absently and looked down at it, how it was brighter and styled in a cute little curl... that Courtney had worked thanklessly on for who knows how long.
“No.” April cut off Courtney's attempt to calm down what she had perceived was a typically-panicked April. “No, the problem is that I think I'm really falling for him.”
There was dead air. Then abruptly, “What?!”
April flinched slightly as she dropped down to the floor and continued to look herself over. Her rear legs were thin and nimble with good tone. She looked at her rump and her torso. “I mean... he's just amazing, Courtney. He's everything that I've needed for a long time now.”
“Well, he sounds kind of boring to me.” Huffed Courtney.
“He said he really liked the shirt you picked out.”
“...Boring with really good taste.”
“Courtney,” April started as she tried to blink away tears, “Thank you.”
“What can I say? It's a gift. Picking out clothes is just-”
“Courtney...” April interrupted again. She let the pause hang for a moment as she remembered all the effort Courtney had put into finding someone that April could go out with. How she had helped dress her, and brush her mane, and deal with her general insecurity and panic attacks. How she had taken care of her for weeks, and then months after The Change; brought her food and tried to integrate April back into society. She had always been there and never once complained. She never once was too busy to help. She was the type of friend that books were written about and deserved to be remembered.
“Courtney, Thank you,” April finished.
The line was dead again. April wasn't sure, but she thought she could hear Courtney's voice choke a bit when she responded, “Hey, what are friends for?”
“Anyway,” April continued, “We're at this place called Joe's.”
“On the corner of Causeway Street??”
“Um, yeah, you know the place?”
“By reputation. Hold on, let me look something up. You said that Kevin was into music, right?”
“Yeah...”
“Did he say what he listens to?”
Thinking back, April replied, “He mentioned The Beatles, Bono, Bowie... you know, kind of lame stuff.”
“Bono, Bowie... Girl,” Courtney continued, “We are gonna work on your taste in music. Alright! Sweet! Got it! What time are you going to get back to your place?”
“I... don't really know. I mean, we just finished eating.”
“Are you going back to his place?”
“I-” April cut herself off. It hadn't really occurred to her until now. Her eyes darted for a second before she smiled. “I suppose if he offered. Nothing like THAT! I just... don't want to say goodbye to him.”
“Got it. Snuggle-on-the-couch sort of evening. The last train leaves the city at 1:00. They are running on weekend hours, so you have time. I'm not gonna wait up for you... but I'll be there... IN SPIRIT.” The last words were said with a mischievous, ominous quality.
“You need to tell me what that means.”
“Have you told him how you feel about him?”
April thought back. “I said he had a nice coat colour. I told him that he was fun and that he had done an amazing job pulling his baggage together. I called him a monster.” April winced at that one. “I said he was good company...”
“No. I mean, I haven't just come out and said it yet.”
“Alright, well, you have to. It's a Moral Imperative. If you feel this way about him, then you can't let him get away. Just be yourself and have fun! Call me first thing tomorrow to dish on the details! I'll keep my phone by my side in case you need anything.”
“Thanks again.”
“Sweetie, make me proud!”
“Will do. Good night.”
With that, the line went dead. April took a moment to place her phone back in her bag before deciding to use the restroom. When she finished, re-situated her clothes, and washed and dried her hooves in the sink, she took a moment to look at herself again in the mirror. She was starting to get a little panicked. She needed to go back out there, and after that emotional cliff dive of a phone call, she was trying to keep down the butterflies. She had told guys she liked them before... but she wasn't sure if she had ever even LIKED a guy the same way she liked Kevin. It was starting to make her ears burn and cheeks flush. She took a deep breath. “I don't need to believe in me. I need to believe in the Kevin and Courtney that believe in me.” It was a really dumb thought that she probably saw on a bumper sticker, but it got her moving.
Back out in the pub, Kevin was lounging with his hooves draped over the back of the booth. In front of him was a mostly full beer glass and two empty salad bowls. When he saw April walking toward the booth, he straightened up.
“Everything alright?” He ventured, reaching for the beer and taking a large swig.
“Great!” April blurted out a little too eagerly. “I mean, yeah, I talked to my friend, Courtney. Just girls looking out for each other.”
Kevin set the glass down and swallowed. “Yep. I hear ya.”
April put the saddlebags back into the booth and slid into the seat. The music was still playing but ponies were more concerned with drinks and talking as opposed to earlier when they were singing along. April settled in and reached for her beer only to find an empty tankard.
“Hey!” She interjected, looking to Kevin who was sliding the beer, now slightly empty over to her.
“I finished mine, but didn't want you thinking I had poisoned yours.” He winked.
April bit back a smile and took the mug in her hooves. “Cheating me out of my drink?”
“I guess so.” He shrugged casually before turning his attention toward the bar. “You're paying anyway.” Kevin glanced back over to her with a sly smirk.
“You know what?” April set her glass down after taking a large drink, “I'm thinking it will still be cheaper than one coffee and one tea!”
“And one refill of each, honeysuckle.”
April put her muzzle back down into the beer glass to stop herself from flashing a goofy grin. Kevin was bobbing his head along to the music before he commented, “This is a great tune. Have you heard it?” He was looking out over the bar.
She paused for a moment to listen to the song playing.
“Uh, not really. I mean, a few times, but I don't like the way he kind of does that scream-singing in that part right there.”
Kevin continued to bob his head along to the music and got a bit of far off look. “... He's in pain.” He didn't look back over at April, who was searching his features while she listened along.
~We can be heroes, just for one day
We can be us, just for one day
I, I can remember
Standing, by The Wall
And the guns, shot above out heads
And we kissed, as though nothing could fall~
“It's about a man and woman who fell in love on opposite sides of the Berlin Wall. There was no way that they could ever have a normal relationship, but they tried to make it work...” Kevin trailed off and looked to April, who was now also looking wistfully over the bar. She continued to listen to the song in silence until it wound down to a close.
“I admit,” She added as the song finished and the next started, “I guess I never really gave it a chance.”
Kevin nodded and continued to look at her, his eyes searching for a bit before he looked back down to the table. Another comfortable silence fell over them as they just kind of soaked in the atmosphere. April sipped on her beer before Kevin chimed in, “I think I'm all set for drinks. Sounds like you are finally set for food but-”
“Oh!” April tapped her hooves on the table. “I love this song! Have you heard this one?”
His ears swiveled back over to the corner where the music was coming from before fixing April with a strange look, “Um, yeah. I love this one...”
“U2 had some really great songs. I kind of dig it.”
“Yeah. I'm a big fan of Bono... you know, the lead singer of U2...”
April's eyes widened a bit and she wore the look of embarrassment. Kevin gave her a soft nod and a smile. April turned quickly to look toward the corner of the pub and bit her lower lip.
~Through the storm we reach the shore
You give it all, but I want more
And I'm waiting for you
With or without you~
Kevin nodded along to the beat as April sat stoic and quiet. They enjoyed the song as it continued, and Kevin began to feel April was on edge as the music played. This time, April had the far off look. Kevin eventually chimed in, “Joshua Tree was a really great-”
“I like you.”
The music continued to play while quiet fell over the table.
Kevin opened his mouth and closed it again. His wide eyes were still searching her as April pressed on.
“I like you, Kevin. I LIKE you, like you. I'm smitten with you...” Her gaze searched the room and she gave a simple shrug. “Like, pretty gaga truth be told...” After a nervous laugh April took a deep breath and turned to meet Kevin's gaze. “I think you're really handsome. But that's not even the half of it. You met me and you owed me nothing. Just by a simple talk over a cup of coffee you pulled me up and showed me how things could be. It's amazing because I don't feel like I have to lean on you... just that you propped me up and are content to let me find my own way. You got me back on my feet... hooves... whatever... It was the nudge that I needed to get back on course and you were able to give it to me with your... effortless enthusiasm for life. You're always smiling... smiling out at a world that has played a pretty mean trick on you. Friendship... relationship... whatever this turns out to be... I think it could be something amazing and there is no way that I am going to miss out on it because of my insecurity. And I'm really not going to let something like mixed signals get in the way. You have been genuine and patient with me, and it's only fair that I told you how I felt...”
The song continued to hang between them as they looked into each other's eyes. Kevin looked at the table and licked his lips, studying his hooves for a moment. He tried to find his voice for a moment as the song started to fade out.
“April, I mean... thank you. I don't... what is someone supposed to say to something like that?”
The jukebox was silent for only a moment before the next song belted out into the pub. His ears swiveled toward the music and he nodded a few times, as if making up his mind, all while keeping his eyes on her.
~ Hey Jude
Don't make it bad
Take a sad song
And make it better~
“I don't know...” April ventured, “What do you feel like saying?”
~ Remember
To let her into your heart
Then you can start to make it better~
April's question hung in the air for a moment longer before Kevin answered her.
“Nothing.”
With certainty and a small amount of desperate need, Kevin pushed himself up and leaned across the table toward April. She saw him leaning in and matched his movement and certainty, tilting her head in the opposite direction. Their lips pressed together in a kiss, and her heart did a somersault in her chest. It was so different; the muzzles and his scruffy fur. The way their mouths fit together was strange but comfortable. Yet, for everything that was so alien... the FEELING was identical to every first kiss throughout time. Heads swam and chests pounded and blood ran hot. Ears started ringing and Kevin brought a tender fore-hoof up to the side of her face to cradle her. Their eyes were closed and their mouths worked softly. Time stopped, but the music still rang out all around them. After an eternity that was far too short, Kevin pulled himself back slowly, putting his hoof back onto the table. April opened her eyes and leaned back as well. They looked at each other with eyes that sparkled. They both tried to catch their breaths for a moment and continued to gaze at one another. Their ears were flat back and it was clear that both of their heads were spinning. They shared the moment and basked for a brief second before, from the end of the table-
“So... I'm guessing one cheque...”
They both jumped at the presence of the waitress, looked back to each other, and dissolved into laughter. April put up a hoof to stop Kevin from fishing into his tie. “I got this one.” She winked at him. Around them, the last of the patrons were singing ~Naaa, na, na, nanananaaaaa...!~
With her drink finished and the bill paid, Kevin helped April settle her saddlebags onto her back. The music had faded down and a more mellow tune fell over the bar. Kevin lead the way, but April slowed for just a moment when a swiveled ear caught the conversation of the ponies by the Jukebox.
“About time this tune came on! I requested it like four songs ago!”
“Yeah, it's a fancy internet box. You can request songs from your cell phone app and pay extra to move them up the queue.” A yellow stallion said while taking a pull of beer from a glass.
“Sure, but who has been requesting songs from in here? Nobody here has that kind of phone.”
April stopped dead. “I'll be there... IN SPIRIT!” Oh, damn it Courtney. April would never hear the end of it.
Hopping down off the stoop, Kevin and April stood on the sidewalk outside the pub and the door closed behind them. The night was crisp, but not cold. After what had transpired, April was a little surprised that she hadn't come outside to the first snowfall of the season with bug fluffy flakes falling in a winter wonderland. However, the night sky was clear and, through the city lights, all of six stars could be seen in the sky. They paused for a moment longer before looking toward each other had then sharing a bashful giggle. April felt giddy and light. It seemed that they were both trying to find what to say until Kevin finally chimed in.
“So...”
“Yeah...”
They continued to both paw at the ground for a bit, minds racing as to where this was going. Time moved inevitably forward, and it wasn't long before Kevin nodded to himself and fixed April with a quick smile.
“Come on. I'll walk you to the rail line.”
April nodded wordlessly and they slowly made their way down the sidewalk. Bars were still filled with people, and college students were out smoking on porches or by the fronts of the various establishments that lined the street. They walked side by side for a bit before Kevin, totally nonchalantly, started walking closer to April's side. She leaned ever-so-slightly toward him, and then they were walking with their shoulders touching. Neither said anything as they just touched and walked. April continued to feel his muscles and shoulders flex as he moved along. Playfully, she flicked her tail toward his, and with a slight bump of his rump into hers, he reciprocated. This elicited a playful giggle from her and a chuckle from him.
Down the streets they walked together until they paused at a crosswalk. Now that they were standing still, they both instinctively leaned a bit more on each other. April sighed a bit at his touch and looked down to the ground. Without warning, Kevin leaned in and blew a puff of air right into her ear.
“Hey!” She withdrew and her ear flicked wildly. She pawed at it and fixed him with a sour expression. “No fair!”
“Oh, there are rules?” He playfully blew a strand of his mane up and away from his eyes.
April pushed him with a fore-hoof which barely moved him from his spot. “Of course there are!”
Kevin inched himself back over to her without a word and they again leaned together, enjoying their warmth. The light changed and they trotted across the street. Time passed, but when April next looked up to Kevin, he was wearing a pensive expression. She wasn't sure why, exactly. Everything had been going so well. For just a fleeting moment she entertained the notion that he was regretting what had happened between them in the pub... but there simply was no way that THAT was a mistake. No, something else was eating at him. At the next crosswalk, they stopped and Kevin withdrew a bit, taking a step back before looking to the ground, then April, then the ground again.
“Hey, April...”
April remembered to push the button to activate the crosswalk and pushed her mane back, which elicited a similar response from Kevin. She knew that something was up, but waited for him to continue. He didn't make eye contact, but instead looked at the signal across the street while his ears remained fixed on her.
“Look, in the bar... I know that you said-... I know that you said you were being honest and all that, but I just wanted to let you know that even if-” He cut himself off and looked to the ground before venturing a look at April. “I don't-... God, how do I even put this...”
April studied him. He was hurting. It was written all over him. Not embarrassment or shyness. She had seen those. She had seen him so full of smiles and wit and wisdom. He had been casual and confident. He had talked about The Change and dealing with life, and she knew that it was bad back then, but he also had been so sure about his place in the world and his future. There had been a trace back in the bar when he had heard that one song... “...He's in pain.” A mask lifted just a little then, but now it was like a previously unseen wound was open to see. Watching him struggle with something that was actually cutting him this deep... It hurt April's heart.
“Kevin, what is it?” She continued to look on as he refused to meet her gaze.
“Man... I don't want to say anything too, you know...”
“Just blurt it out. We'll sort it out on the back-end. Blunt.”
There was another long beat and the signal changed. Kevin took the opening to escape and started crossing the street. April stayed close by his side but waited patiently. On the other side, he slowed down but continued walking. There was now space between them as he continued.
“Look,” He began a bit hurriedly with a strain in his voice. “Guy's don't get told their handsome. Basically, unless they're on the cover of magazines, they don't really get compliments like that at all. I... think we are both working through some stuff... So that meant a lot to me.” He stopped walking, took a step aside to get some distance, and continued to look at the sidewalk. “My ex, Heather, she really DID say worse stuff to me. Like... I mean, I try to play it off and all, but... it was a lot worse... A lot. And it was coming from someone that I had been close to. I never thought I would be seen as anything other then what she told me-” He swallowed and looked back to the sidewalk. “Thank you.”
She hadn't even entertained the notion that Kevin had been dealing with the exact same insecurities that she had. She had seen him as someone who had an answer for everything. When she heard this, and thought back to how Courtney had constantly been telling her how good she looked... how pretty she was... and then how he had only ever heard he was anything but. April approached and put a hoof under his chin to lift his muzzle. She lifted his face to look directly at him. Her look and her tone were deathly serious. “Kevin. If anyone ever tells you that you are anything but gorgeous, I will stomp them to death with my bare hooves.”
The hurt seemed to give way and Kevin's demeanor lifted slightly. “Thanks.” He screwed a weak smile onto his lips and pulled back a bit. “But don't you think you should let Quasimodo here do the dirty work?”
“Kevin!”
“Kidding... just kidding.” April backed up and continued down the street as Kevin followed. His voice was just above a whisper when he leaned in and bumped against her. “But seriously... thanks for that.”
“Kevin,” She began in a conversational tone, “if we are going to be spending time together... and we ARE going to be spending time together... you need to not thank someone before a murder. It makes you seem like an accomplice.”
April smiled gently to herself as Kevin laughed and leaned into her. She could tell he was still very on-edge, but she knew all too well exactly how he felt. Kevin had seemed so amazing and independent... because he never had a choice. In his world, without a friend there to help, to make it through a single day, he needed to wake up and be a super hero. Every day. Time and time again. They were quiet as they walked past the 'Steamed Elephant', now closed and empty. They continued slowly, stretching out the time with only the sound of their hooves to break the otherwise ambient atmosphere of city streets. April loved the way he felt against her, but he was still apprehensive. His mane brushed against her side, and they would ever-so-often flick their tales together in a, 'I'm still here with you' sort of way.
“Cyclops...” April mused out of the blue.
“Hmm?”
They continued to walk to the rail station as April pulled the thoughts out of the air. “You're like Cyclops. From the X-Men.”
Kevin was lost. “Like, the movie?”
“I'm going to pretend you didn't say that.” April continued to think out loud, “No, Cyclops is this totally stand-up guy, good morals, leader, confident, and just drop-dead good looking. Total 'Boy Scout'. But, his ex girlfriend had him really messed up for a while and he doesn't ever think he can do better than her... So he just kind of keeps being this amazing dude while everyone around him hooks up and goes on with their lives... It's funny. Girls always talk about how they want to date Wolverine cause he's super manly and a bad-ass, or Nightcrawler... or Gambit... because they're both exotic and mysterious... or even Beast because he's warm and wicked smart... but Cyclops...”
The rail station was in sight. Kevin paused before adding, “I think I just got geek all over me.”
April gave him a hard bump that had him take a few side steps before coming back to lean on her. “Hush!”
They stopped at the platform to the station and inspected the large clock. “My train will be here in about 10 more minutes. Give or take.” April inspected the station and noted how it was only sparely populated.
“Believe it or not, I'm taking the same rail. Inbound.”
"I'm outbound.” April added with a note of disappointment.
“I figured as much. But the timing is good. My train should be here in about 5 minutes.”
“Well, I can see you off before I come back to my platform and catch my train!” She put on a cheerful tone to lighten the mood a bit more. Kevin was still a bit on edge and in somewhat low spirits. Whether it had anything to do with what he had previously opened up about or that he was just sad to see her go would have to remain a mystery.
“Yeah! Thanks!” He flashed her a grin and they made their way over the pedestrian walkway to the other side of the tracks. They reached the end of the walkway and both sat down by the yellow line that boarded the edge of the platform before they leaned their shoulders together. They were toward the back end of the platform, so he would board one of the last cars. Most of the people catching the train were going home, out of the city, so there was no one on waiting for the train going further into the city. “So, should I start booking my calendar for another trip to 'The Elephant'?” He ventured with a smug chuckle.
“I already told you,” she deadpanned, “Girls don't want to hang out with Cyclops. He's lame.” She flashed him the most mischievous smile. “I'll leave my weekend open.”
“Alright, so, because of that, I'm gonna order a bunch of fancy coffee. Your treat.” He wasn't looking down at her, but he held a wide smile as he brought his chin down onto the top of her head.
April enjoyed the moment for a bit more. “We could go someplace else if you want. Like a baseball game?”
“They don't play at all in the winter.”
“I... think we need to meet up before winter ends... but in the spring... Baseball starts in the spring, right?”
Her whole body rumbled softly as his baritone laugh rolled out. “Sure. Until then you can keep buying beers at Joe's and I'll keep drinking them.”
“It's a date then.”
The two sat side-by-side and waited. April wished that it wouldn't end. She wished that they could sit on the platform for a bit longer, but the sounds of a rail car came from down the track before she could even stop worrying about how little time was left. Kevin stood while she remained sitting on her rump behind the yellow line. He looked down at her as the train pulled into the station.
“You have my e-mail. Shoot me a quick message when you get home to let me know you made it, alright?”
“Sure!” She grinned and smiled. “You do the same.”
“Sure will! Thanks again. I'll be in touch and... see you soon.”
April nodded and smiled again. The doors to the train opened and he trotted briskly onboard. He settled down on his haunches on the far side of the car, facing the open doors while April remained seated on the platform behind the yellow line. She waved a hoof at him and he returned the gesture.
“Say it.”
“Again, don't forget to e-mail me! Don't make me worry!” He called out to her and grinned.
April nodded emphatically and gave another small wave. Kevin adjusted himself slightly and cast a lingering look toward the front of the train. His ears were drooped and his head had started to hang lower. His fore-hooves fidgeted and pawed at the slick floor of the car. There was a loud 'BING' that signaled that the car doors were going to close. Kevin gave one look back to April. His yellow eyes searching her face.
“Just say it you big goof.” It was so quiet, it was softer than a whisper. She was scarcely sure she even said it out loud.
There was just the space of one heartbeat.
“Come with me?”
April leaped forward so fast that she looked like she had been sitting on a spring. She took two strides and then the doors started to close. She could almost feel them brush her tail as she leaped at him and nearly bowled him over. He caught her in his hooves and gave an “Umph!” as she landed on him. The doors closed and there was a pause before the car started moving. April was laughing aloud as tears formed in her eyes. Her saddlebags slid off her back and onto the floor.
“Jeez! You are nuts, you know that!? You are... you are certifiable!” He buried his muzzle into her mane and held her close. “I can't believe...”
April was just laughing as she pushed his tie aside with her nose. She had her hooves wrapped around him and she was holding on for dear life. She bit her lower lip as the train screeched and swayed along the tracks. She wiped her face dry on his chest as her laughter slowed. “I know... I know.”
They sat together, cradling each other in their legs and hugging. She eventually pulled herself back a bit to look up at him. His big eyes were slightly damp as they studied each other.
“I can't believe...” He started again.
April put a hoof to his mouth to cut him off.
“Face it, tiger. You just hit the jackpot.”
She tilted her head and their muzzles met in a long, lingering kiss. She ran a hoof through his mane while he held her. The train bounced down the tracks toward the heart of the city.
