You lay down on your bed.
Today had been a real beating.
And you where so tired.
The pillow where so soft
And your aching body didn't hesitate to shut down as you closed your eyes.

You fell quickly into a deep sleep. Today were an especially tiresome day. This day had just been a normal Monday, and almost like any other Monday, it started with you lying in your bed, dosing off and on, only half awake.

•

Then the alarm took off.

*BWEEP* *BWEEP* *BWEEP*

Jolting awake you scrambled around beneath the covers. *BWEEP* With the covers tossed aside and the alarm still blaring you threw your legs into a sitting position, stood up, shambled forward and immediately face planted straight into the floor. *BWEEP* Floor which was in fact cold as fuck. Alarm still going at it: *BWEEP* You got up leaning against the wall and eyed the desk in the corner of your apartment. *BWEEP* You fumbled your hands along your desk. *BWEEP* Knocking over things and spilling bills and documents onto the floor. *BWEEP* And finally finding your alarm clock, you turned it around, trying to find the big obvious blue button on top of it that would switch off the alarm *BWEE...* You switched it off.

Silence filled the room. Until your brain realized that it weren’t quiet at all in here and you could hear your neighbors pumping 00’s pop music from above, asphalt machines clanking from through the closed kitchen window and some old lady shouting in the hallways outside your apartment door. The clock displayed 04:37 and the floor is still cold as ice.

Well what a splendid day... You sighed. You showered, ate breakfast, loaded your backpack and left to work.

•

Arriving at the small gas station after fifteen minutes of walking and a hour and a half inside a slightly smelly bus, you entered the side door labeled “Personnel Only” and was greeted by Eric, your manager.

“Oh hey Maia! You’re on time and ready to work, unlike Nathan, who didn’t show up for work today!” He sounded from within his massive beard and worn hoodie, his groggy tan face brightening up.
“... Oh, hi... Are there anybody else who will be able to help during the rush hours?”

“Nope. Nobody is here to help you, but you’re a good worker and I am confident you can handle it. Anyways, all the toilets are clogged, ice cream machine just broke and bye Maia, I’m not suppose to be here.” He said and while walking out the door.

You sighed...

“Damn it Eric... And damn you Nathan...” You mumbled to yourself.

•

As you sold cigarettes, wraps and soda through the morning you noticed that your friend and coworker Nathan didn’t show up.

When rush hours where over. things slowed down a bit. And you made your self a cup of coffee.

Some Cappuccino... *Slurp...*

All the while you stared out the large windows, out towards the highway on the other side.

You looked around the building, at the new monitor menus above the recently renovated store counter. Painted red. It wasn’t quite as fancy, like it tried to be. Or rather, it looked cheap and flashy. And despite being upgraded two months ago, the store counter had already shown signs of wear and tear. The red color of the counter looked a little faded and a piece at the bottom was broken off. Yet Eric was so sure that this was quality hardware.

You glanced at the shelves around the gas station. Filled with motor oil, wiper fluid, snack and chocolates. Eying the coolers in the back filled with soda, beer and other drinks.

Until a small car pull up by the parking lot, and you got ready and put a couple of hot dogs on the sausage warmer.

Out of the car came a middle aged lady with pink fleece jacket with a baby in one of her arms, while talking on her phone while a kid was shouting and pulling on her jacket, yelling at her and being plain mad.

*Beep* said the doors as the family entered. The mother of the bunch chatting loudly into her phone.

“... No. So they said I shouldn’t go for the purple one...”

“Moooommyyyy!” Yelled the kid, as the baby began to cry.
“Just a second dear...” Answered the mother and resumed her chatting.

“ICE CREAM! Mommy, you said I could get ice cream!”
“Yes... Yeah ok, bye.” She hung up. The kid was now sobbing, still throwing a tantrum.

“MOOOOM!” “YES JOHN! You’ll get your ice cream, okay?...” Then she turned to you.
“I’ll have a large coffee, a... mozzarella...” “One large coffee and a mozzarella chicken wrap coming up.” You said, preparing the coffee and wrap.

“ICE CREAM!” The kid screamed, presumably named John while the baby where still crying.
“And an ice cream. A small ice cream.” Said the Lady. John seemed to relax at this.

“Eh... Sorry but the ice cream machine is broken. Although you could get a popsicle from the freezers over there...”

The lady sighed. “Are you sure it’s broken?”

Glancing over to the machine behind you you said. “My manager told me so... So I’m quite sure?... Um... Yes. it is broken.”

The lady sighed once more, “Okay John, will you be okay with a popsicle or something else in here instead of the ice cream?” She asked her little son while anger seemed to build up inside of the little kid.

“Nooooo... I don’t want a popsicle! I WANT ICE CREAM!” John screeched at the top of his lungs, sore throated and crying. His voice so loud your ears chimed afterwards.

“John! Could you shut up a bit? You are being loud and difficult now! You know that?” Yelled the mother back at him. She continued. “Anyways, where’s the bathroom, little Emma here needs to go poo poo” she said pointing to the small crying child she was carrying. Emma glared daggers into you.

•

The shift should be over by eleven O’clock. Looked down at your phone. The the time shows 10:54 when your coworkers Hannah and Derek comes in.

“Morning Maia” said Hannah. “What’s up?”

“Oh, nothing. I am a bit tired, but... Oh, did Eric forget to tell you guys that the ice cream machine doesn’t work or that the toilets are clogged?”

“Yeah, he did forget that.” Derek groaned. “Where’s Nathan?”

“He didn’t show up for work today. I don’t know if Eric has threatened him with firing yet... I’ll call him to check on him later.”

“Do that.” said Derek as he put on his apron. Hannah was attending a customer.

“I cleaned up the kitchen the best i could. And I made some pre packaged sandwiches and wraps.”

“Sure” And you continued.

“The toilets, they...” But Derek interrupted with: “It’s on our shift. Don’t worry. And you do know you can leave now, right?”

“... Bye...”
Your coworkers where busy. They didn’t answer.

You took off your work clothes and then got dressed before exiting out the back door. Checking the time, your phone displayed 11:02. You thought back to Nathan and opened the contacts list and selected Nathan's number.

“Beep... Beep...” Chimed the dial tone.
“... Hello Maia. What’s up?...” He finally answered.

“Hi Nathan. I was just done with my shift. Not a whole lot going on right now, except for going to the library to work on a project I got tasked with. What about you? You did not show up for work today.”

“I’m not doing so hot today. sorry....” His voice sounded like he was on the verge of crying.

“What’s happen Nathan? You do not sound like you’re doing so great, no?”

“...” No answer... Him shifting around could be heard in the background.

“Are you there Nathan?”

“Yeah... Yeah... Hey, Maia?” He sounded more relaxed now.

“Yes Nathan?”

“Sorry if I’m bothering you so much but... Could you come over? I’d be happy if you could.”

•

You had known Nathan since secondary school. He was a very weird guy who had been struggling a lot with getting new friends and was often bullied and teased because of how awkward he was around other people, until he broke down one day and just didn’t talk with anyone for a couple of months.

He became almost invisible, avoiding everybody that had something to do with him to avoid being bullied. But you saw him. You where one of his only friends he had managed to keep. He kept on like this until sometime in May, last year of secondary school when he approached you and asked if you wanted to come to his birthday party three days ahead, on a Saturday. You said yes.

Back then, at that Saturday, you arrived at his place and ringed his doorbell. He opened up with a goofy white and green striped shirt and a yellow bowtie around his neck. The party had been pretty goofy overall. Especially since you where the only one he had invited. But it was rather enjoyable. You and Nathan made chocolate cake together and you enjoyed smalltalk, coffee and chocolate cake together.

He told you that he watched this animated cartoon series with colorful ponies called my little ponies and called himself a Brony. You didn’t care, you didn’t really want to care, but it was quite an amusing period of his life.

Over the years he mentioned less and less about the show. He got a job at the same place as you and he got a girlfriend who broke up with him after a few months and you two had become genuine friends. He wasn’t your greatest friend, but you where his greatest since he barely had friends.

•

Now that all of that had gone through your head and we’re back to present time, you thought that the library wasn’t the most important thing right now you answered Nathan. “Sure Nathan. What’s the matter?”

“I’m... Just come here, please?” He said, almost at tears again.

“... Ok. I’ll come over. Bye then.”

“Thank you Maia. Good bye...”

Taking off towards the bus stop again while wondering what the hell could have made Nathan this upset, you almost forgot your backpack. After going back to the gas station with your backpack this time, you set again towards the bus stop. Fifteen minutes of walking later (a car would be wonderful) you arrived at the bus stop.

Four minutes or so later bus twenty two arrived at the bus stop. There where almost nobody aboard the bus and you went towards the back of the bus and took a eat. The bus took off while you watched the scenery flow by. You slumped downwards and almost fell asleep when an electronic voice chimed in the next stop. You straightened up again and checked the time again. It was currently 11:21. You quickly wrote a message to Nathan that you would be there in forty five minutes.

Looking up from your phone again you once more watched the city drifting by through the dirty windows of the bus. The bus slowed down, and then stopped. The doors opened and a few people got onto the bus. An elderly woman with a blue raincoat and white scarf came up to your seat.

“Excuse me young lady, do you mind if I sit here?” She asked you.

While scooting over and putting your backpack onto your lap you said: “No I don’t. Feel free to sit here.”

You stretched out an arm to her and helped her onto the bus seat. “Oh, thank you dear.” She smiled.

“You’re welcome...” You smiled back. And I sat there continuing to stare out the window. But you began to frown again while thinking about Nathan again.

“Excuse me lady, but is there something troubling ya?” Asked the elderly woman. “You look so melancholy. If you don’t mind me asking.”

You didn’t actually know if something really disastrous happened. Maybe he lost someone, or had a bad breakup or something. It might as well be something really minor. But being so sad that he didn’t show up for work was unlike him. “Well... Nothing. Sorry, but I don’t want to talk about it. It’s about a friend of mine.”

“Oh ok. Sorry if that was a bit rude of me. My name is Emily. What would your name be?” Asked Emily.

“My name is Maia. Sorry, but I’ll have to leave this conversation. This is my stop.” You said as the bus rolled to stop.

“Nice talking to ya. Bye Maia”
“Bye...” you answered her. While walking out the bus doors.

•

You stopped in front of Nathans apartment door and ringed the doorbell.

“Come inn!” Shouted Nathan from within.

You opened the door and looked around the room. The lights where off. You found Nathan crying under a blanket in his sofa. He had tear marks along his chin and red eyes as he frowned to a pillow he was hugging.

You closed the door behind you and walked up to him.

“Nathan? What’s happened?”

He closed his eyes again and began to cry again. You closed in on him and tried to comfort him and hug him he held on tight until he started to calm calms down again.

“Thanks Maia. I’m glad you could come,” he spoke into your shoulder. His sweaty brown hair getting in your nose. “I’m happy to...” you answered. He let go of the hug and smiles a little.

“But what gives Nathan? What’s happened?”

Nathan took a deep breath. And then began to speak, with an angry and shaky voice, “Well, I got myself a girlfriend not to long ago. She was so nice, and sweet at first. Then after a while... well...” And Nathan continued to explain of how he met a girl named Annabel, spitting her name whenever mentioned. And told of how happy they had been together. But then, he noticed that she had started to become a little snarky towards him. That she started to become ever more demanding of him and that she frequently took cash from him saying she was just borrowing money from him. She never gave any back though.

He started to notice that she always seemed jealous of other girls just speaking to him. And could often throw a tantrum for that reason, often being angry at him, and that she yelled a lot at him. He didn’t feel very happy around Annabel.

Whilst crying, almost yelling at Maia, he told that sometimes when Annabel came to visit him, she smelled a little like other men’s perfume. And that she threw tantrums every time he tried to confront her about this. She would never have sex with him. And Nathan felt like she never gave anything back to him for everything he tried to be for her. That he was being used as simply a source of income.

You hugged again. Nathans face against your chest and both arms wrapped around him.

•

“... One day, she texted me this, ‘It’s over Nathan, I don’t wanna be with you anymore.’ I asked her what the fuck happened and she told me that I was a broke wimp and that she had left me for some other dude!...”

You hugged in silence for a little longer...

“That’s terrible Nathan... I feel sorry for you. That you had to go through that...”

You breathed a little longer. Nathan sniffed and couched into your chest.

“Sorry Maia...”

“Don’t be.”

“Thank you Maia, I’m glad you listened to me. It means a lot to me.”

“Don’t worry Nathan.”

“I’ve had this on my mind for a long time now. It just all fell over this morning and I didn’t manage to get up.”

“Don’t worry.”

“Love you Maia.”

You continued to hug each other. His breath almost a sob.

“You what?” You asked.

“I... I Love you Maia.”

An awkward silence follows.
“I have been having feelings for you for years now Maia”

“You have?”

“Yes. We have always been so close Maia. We’ve known each other for a long while now. Sorry for waiting so long to say it but I love you Maia. I love you...”

Nathan couched a little again and began sobbing again.

“Will you love back Maia?”

“... No. I’m sorry. We’re friends Nathan,”

He hugged a little tighter and said, “but I love you Maia,”

“I’m really sorry Nathan, I really am,” “-I need you Maia!”

“Nathan...”

“I love you dammit! I’ve loved you for fucking years Maia!” He hugged even tighter.
“-I fucking love you!”

The hug began to become ever more hostile, while Nathan continued to repeat the words that he loved you.

“Nathan! Let go of me! Please,”

“No!” He shouted back. “-I don't want to!”

“Stop!” You shouted back.

You pushed away from him but he held you in place. He began to drag off your pants and then he pulled you down pushed you against the floor while you yelled at him to stop. He pulled hard at your hoodie and it came off and tossed away. “No!” You begged. He took a hold of your tank-top and tried to pull it off, tearing holes in the fabric. You fought back and pushed down your pants and dragged down your panties. You shouted “Stop!” At him one more time and you kicked him hard in the stomach. “I don’t want to, okay?” You said. He gave up. And he begins to sob on the couch.

You laid there on the floor, exhausted from the struggle, with your pants around your ankles, tank top up to your chest and panties halfway off. You lay there on for a couple seconds before Nathan said he was sorry and then starts to mumble incoherently and crouches down to the floor, sobbing.

You scrambled a little across the floor and your pants came off while you attempted to stands up. Then you put your pants on again.

You stared at Nathan. He was still crying against the couch.
“Man up Nathan. Don’t be like this. You hear me?” He didn’t answer.

Spotting your hoodie in the corner of the room. You went over and took it on sat down there, and eyed the crying Nathan across the room.

“You hear me?” You repeat. “Yes... I’m sorry...” he answered.

It’s silent for a few more minutes. Until Nathan spoke up. “You hate me now. Right?”

You shook your head. He looked back up at you with wet, red and swollen eyes. He spoke up once again. “Sorry Maia...”

You shook your head again, then you rose up and walked over to Nathan, who looks down at the floor again when you placed a hand over his back.

“You’re really hearing me? I forgive you Nathan. But we are friends... Can we just keep it that way?”

Pause...

“Yes.. Sorry... Want a drive to work tomorrow?”

*sigh...* “Okay.” You hugged him a bit.

“I’ll head home now. Okay Nathan?”

You up your backpack, waving back as you left.

•

You lay down on your bed.
Today had been a real beating.
And you where so tired.
The pillow where so soft
And your aching body didn't hesitate to shut down as you closed your eyes.

You fell quickly into a deep sleep. Today had been an especially tiresome day.

Author's Note

Be aware: This is my first post on FimFiction.net. I love feedback, so voice your opinion bellow should there be something I should know or inmprove upon.

This chapter happens before anything that has to do with Equestria happens. But it’s going to be a great story about a tough soul and her road through ups and downs in Equestria.

The story «Get up, rebel!» takes some inspiration from other stories among «Griffin the griffin» and others.