This Secret Life of Mine

I got to my front door tired as hell…Vani had given me quite the workout earlier, not to get even started on how busy work was. I opened the door and I was greeted by my annoyed looking mother.

“What? I said I was would be working late.” I explained, “I had to help close shop! Blame that idiot Blitz Wind!”

“Mm-hmm…” Mom gave me a questioning look, “I’m sure that’s only part of the reason…you reek of sex and…is that perfume?” She grinned, knowing she had caught me doing something I shouldn’t.

“...!” I cursed under my breath, “…” She continued to give me that knowing look. I sighed and relented, “Fine you caught me, a co-worker of mine and I got caught up in a bit of fun after work while we were closing shop, happy?”

“Well you can lose the attitude for a start.” She scolded, but softened her expression, “I’m just glad you’ve finally decided to at least consider the idea of settling down.”

I sat down on the couch and sighed. If I was going to say anything further then I was going to have to be careful, the last thing I needed is my mom freaking out on me.

“So…” She continued, “When do I get to meet her?”

“...!” I hesitated, “U-Um…this is kinda…a casual thing between us…”

“I see…” She gave me a grim look.

“What?” I gave her a confused look, “Can’t I blow off some steam ever now and again Mom? It’s not like I’m not using protection!”

“I know,” She sighed, “I just didn’t think you would be the type. I certainly didn’t raise you to be like that.”

“And you wondered why I moved out?” I argued, “I needed my space Mom. It’s my life, so isn’t it up to me how I live it?”

Mom looked at me shocked. She was about to say something but stopped herself.

“No you’re right…” She spoke up after a moment of silence between us, “Heaven’s forbid if it was your younger sister or brother doing this. It’s only going to be a matter time before they leave home.”

“So why pressure me so much about taking over the family business?” I asked, “Couldn’t you have Ruby or Lapis take over the family cafe instead?”

“They aren’t ready…your brother certainly isn’t as he’s far too young, and your sister…” She paused, “…she really needs to work on her temper, before I can even consider it.”

“So me just based on that?” I inquired, “I’ve already told I’m not interested in running the cafe. I want to open my own place that specialises in enchanting.”

“Who says you can’t do both?” She asked, Mom did have a point but I was just wasn’t interested in it.

“I’m sorry Mom, it’s just not something I can see myself doing.” I countered, “Look can we just drop the subject? I am way too tired for this.”

“Fine…” She shrugged, “Well discuss this some other time. I can see you’re tired. Go on get some sleep.”

I made my way to work, stopping by Frost’s place so I could get changed. I was swearing under my breath, cursing Blitz for ditching work yesterday. I’ll be damned if I wasn’t getting that pay check for yesterday.

“Thank god Mom decided to check out the markets today.” I was grateful that Mom had wanted to explore the city a bit while I was at work or attending class.

I got through the cafe door and was greeted by Cori and Blitz. I waved Cori a quick hello and gave Blitz a dirty look.

Cori was pretty famous unicorn in the university for her extremely curvy figure and friendly, motherly personality. She was a red head who tied her hair back in a long pony tail, white fur and ocean blue eyes.

Blitz on the other hand, he stood taller than me but a little shorter than Frost, green fur, black mane and gold coloured eyes. That damned idiot of a lazy pegasus had a knack of rubbing the rest of the staff the wrong way with how often he ditched work.

“Seriously though how the hell does he keep his job.” I wondered to myself for Celestia only knows how many times now. I put my things in my locker and made my way to get started serving customers.

The day was a bit uneventful, a typical shift of waiting tables, taking orders and the occasional stallion trying to get my number. So same old routine really.

“Sapphire could you see to the mare on table 18?” Cori asked, “I’ve got my hands full and Blitz is out on his lunch break.”

“On it!” I replied, in a cheery voice. I stopped dead in my tracks when I saw just who I would be serving.

“What’s wrong Sapphire?” Cori asked, looking at me concerned.

“Cori I can’t serve her! That’s my mom sitting there!” I whispered, “She doesn’t know I do this! She’d kill me if she did!”

“Well I’m too busy dealing with all this?” She gestured to all the orders she’s been writing down. “And you know how useless Blitz is!”

I gulped and panicked, I took a deep breath and composed myself. I really didn’t have a choice…

“S-Sorry for the wait ma’am.” I started my usual routine for dealing with customers, “We’re a bit busy at the moment with the lunch rush, what can I get you?” I gave my Mom a small nervous smile.

Mom gave me a quick once over, I was praying she didn’t recognise me…

“Please don’t read me! Please don’t read me!” I was mentally pleading.

“Hmm I’ll have…oh I didn’t realise you did that here?” Mom pointed to a picture of a cup of hot chocolate that came with a hint of mint.

“I-It’s a popular drink here.” I stated.

“Really?” She replied, “It’s a speciality drink at the cafe I run back home in Ponyville. I’m just surprised Ms…?”

“Shine…Sapphire Shine.” I said, “I’m sure the recipe is pretty common knowledge, we aren’t the only cafe that does that particular drink. You said you were from Ponyville? You visiting from out of town? I don’t think I’ve seen you here before.”

“I am.” She smiled, “I’m visiting my son, he’s a student at the university here.”

“See guys I told you that’s her!” A stallion spoke up…well fuck my life of the time for them to show up.

“C-Can I help you?” I asked nervously. One of them gave me a long once over, giving me a lecherous look as he stared at my chest. I covered my chest with the silver tray I was carrying.

“Is this you?” One of the more politer members of his little group asked showing me a photo on his phone.

“...” I gave them a glare, “S-So what if it is! I-I don’t see how that’s any of your business, what I do in my free time!”

One of them gave me a curious look.

“You do realise you’ve been the talk of the campus right?” He stated, “No one has seen you in any of the classes, and believe me we asked.”

“F-Fine if you must know,” I said angrily, “I’m allowed on campus to visit my coltfriend! And no I’m not going to say who it is! That’s got nothing to do with you!”

“Hey no need to get angry.” Another spoke up, “We just wanted to ask. We’ll take our leave.” Without another word they left leaving me and my mother alone…oh…right.

“They bother you often?” She asked worried.

“Not really, they just decided to ask at an awkward time.” I explained, “I swear I just wanted to spend some time with my coltfriend, and the whole university thinks I’m some mystery to be solved.”

Mom gave me a curious look and laughed.

“Sounds familiar.” She mused, I realised what I was supposed to be doing and took her order. I darted off as quickly as I could to sort it out for her. “Poor filly, she looks so nervous.”

“You okay Sapphire?” Blitz asked concerned, “You look like you’ve been given the scare of a lifetime.” I huffed.

“You pick your times to take a lunch break Blitz!” He shrugged and got back to work. “Damn it all Mom…why did you have to come to this cafe…”

After the end of the shift I relaxed a little, I had to head back to Frost’s place to get changed before I could head back home.

“You okay?” A familiar voice asked, “You seemed like a nervous wreck when you took my order. I just wanted to make sure you were alright.”

“I-I’m fine…” I lied, “I just wasn’t expecting for them to show up out of the blue like that. I don’t like people looking into my private life.”

“Oh that’s fine, where are you headed I’ll walk with you.” She offered, “Just to make sure they won’t try anything. I know the type…”

“I’m heading to my Coltfriend’s place, he’s letting me stay the night.” Not entirely true, but he did say I could use his place to get changed for work while my mom was visiting.

“I do have to ask how did you know how to make my drink exactly how I liked it?” She asked, “there’s only two people I know who know how to make it like that.”

“Practice I guess.” I shrugged, well that isn’t a lie.”who are they?” I asked, despite already knowing the answer.

“My husband and son.” She explained, “A family technique, to put it simply.”

“Huh…I just made it the way I was taught to.” I stated, “I didn’t realise I was doing anything different.”

“Oh I believe you.” She continued, “Just call it a pleasant surprise on my part. I don’t suppose you know my Son then? I remember him telling me Frostlit Shard was a good friend of his.”

“He’s mentioned him, though we haven’t met yet.” I answered, “Frost does say he’s usually busy with one thing or another.”

“I see…” She sighed, giving me a worried look, “I’m just worried he’s getting himself wrapped up in Luna only knows what. I just found out the other day he’s being having a casual fling with some random mare.” She took a moment, as a look of realisation came across her face.

“What’s wrong?” I asked worried.

“That perfume…” She gave me a weird look, “It smells exactly like the one I smelt on my son when I found out about his little fling.”

“H-Hey! I’m already taken.” I countered, “I wouldn’t dream of doing that to Frost! Besides that perfume is popular with the mares here.”

“Ah…that would explain it.” I silently praised myself for that bit of quick thinking.

“Well here we are…” I stated, “I’m afraid the campus doesn’t allow people to go further than this without exceptions.”

“I know, my son has his own apartment just outside of the campus, I suppose I should be heading back there.” Mom smiled, “It was a pleasure to meet you Sapphire.”

As I made my way into Frost’s dorm, I couldn’t help but panic as I watched my Mom walk towards my apartment.

“Fuck my life that was too close…”