Secret Crush

As Joe was running his suicides the coach called him over. “Joe, get over here on the double” the coach yelled out and Joe raced over to the coach. “Yes sir” Joe asked, breathing a little heavily. “Spitfire has something to say” the coach said and Spitfire stepped forward.

“I have to say kid, you’re quite an athlete. Hell I haven’t seen someone so athletic since… probably Rainbow Dash or myself, especially the way you fought Snowflake. I personally thought that you’d be in the hospital today but I guess I was wrong” Spitfire commented. “Thank you ma’am” Joe replied with honour, “Cut that ma’am crap off, I’m not your commanding officer, not yet anyway” Spitfire ordered him. “Yes… what would you like me to call you?” Joe asked and Spitfire rolled her eyes at Joe’s formality he was using. “Just call me Spitfire, for now” Spitfire replied.

“Yes Ms. Spitfire” Joe replied, like a soldier in salute. “Jesus kid, knock of the formality crap already, I haven’t even given you my offer and you’re already treating me like the fucking general” Spitfire muttered. “Sorry ma’am err Spitfire” Joe stammered.

Spitfire rolled her eyes, “Yes well, down to it than… you’re an exceptional athlete and it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realize that. So I want to offer you a placement as a trainer for all the Wonderbolts: take them on runs, weight training etc.” Spitfire replied. Joe gulped, “You won’t even have to go through the academy and you’d report only to me” Spitfire informed him “So what do you say?” Spitfire asked.

Joe took a deep breath, “Well Spitfire” Joe began and Spitfire smiled, no-pony in Equestria would turn down that offer. “Ma’am I’m sorry but I’ll have to turn down that offer” Joe informed her. Both the coach and Spitfire gasped in near horror, “WHAT!” Spitfire and the coach both gasped, “What, why?” Spitfire asked hastily and frantically.

Joe shrugged, “Well ma’am, if circumstances were different I’d take you up on your offer but…” Joe said and trailed off as he shrugged. “But what? What could be better than this offer?” Spitfire asked curiously. “Well ma’am… Spitfire, I just so happen to already have a wonderful job apple bucking and well… the job is really nice and I like it there” Joe said and Spitfire sighed. “Damn… well I can’t force you into it but the offer always stands” Spitfire replied. “Tell you what” Joe said and Spitfire looked up to him, “How long’s the academy last?” Joe asked and Spitfire thought to herself. “About two weeks, why?” Spitfire asked and Joe sighed.

“Alright, I’ll take two weeks leave out of my job during the academy and help train the new recruits to their absolute physical limits” Joe offered and Spitfire’s wings shot out in excitement. “Really?” she asked excitedly, “Yeah… and I’ll even train with the current Wonderbolts, show em how to really fight” Joe chuckled and gave her a wink. “Well thank you Joe, it’s been an honour” Spitfire said and extended her hoof. Joe shook her hoof “Believe me ma’am, the honour is all mine” Joe replied. “Athletic and modest… you never really find that these days” Spitfire said, “Well if that’ll be all I still have some running to do” Joe said and Spitfire nodded.

As Joe rushed off to continue his running Spitfire leaned over to the coach “Shit, I really wanted that guy… real athlete you know” Spitfire commented and the coach nodded. “Yeah, you can only imagine the shit I had to go through to keep him at this school, friggin schools from around the county complaining that he was closer to their district than ours and how he should be going to their school” the coach muttered. “So how’d you keep him?” Spitfire asked and the coach simply shrugged. “Told the board that if they were right then why weren’t they trying to take all the students from around that area, not just Joe” the coach laughed.

Hidden in the trees beside the football field sat Diamond Tiara as she watched the football players and overheard Spitfire’s offer. “This will come in handy” Tiara snickered to herself.

* * *

The day had felt ridiculously long, probably due to the running at the end of the day. Finally Joe’s day was over, work hadn’t been that hard since all Applejack seemed to care about was a rematch, sometimes that mare was more competitive that Rainbow Dash.

Joe entered his house and closed the door behind him, he walked with a huge sway in his walk and flopped down on the living room couch. He looked to his watch, 10:30. Applejack had Joe stay for supper again, she was always worried about him not eating right since he usually refused the whole cut of his pay, simply stating “The farm probably needs it more”. Though mostly true, Joe sometimes was a little short on bits but usually figured something out.

He flicked on the TV and began to surf through the channels and finally found some crappy cop show, technically it was about some federal agents who solved crimes and what not but Joe usually found it humoress when they caught the guy because the criminal would do something really stupid like leave behind his wallet or something.

Joe lay on his couch and groaned as he rubbed his face intently. “I don’t want to go to work tomorrow” Joe complained to himself, he had to get up at 5:00am so he could be to work by 6:00. Joe watched the TV show until 11:00 at which point the federal agents caught the guy and the TV show ended for the night. Joe grabbed his TV remote and turned off the TV, rolling over he passed out on his couch like he always did.

He hadn’t even been sleeping five minutes when there was a knock at the door. Joe grumbled to himself, hoping that the near midnight bother would go away, but another knock sounded. “Fuck… who could it be at this time” Joe cursed to himself quietly as he rolled off the couch. “Yeah I’m comin, don’t go away” Joe called out, ‘Whoever it is I’m going to rip them a new asshole’ Joe thought as he rubbed his eyes in sleepiness.

Joe opened the door to see Scootaloo standing in his doorway with his clothes which were now washed and clean. “Oh hey… Scootaloo” Joe muttered, his anger and irritation quickly fading, he had thought it was one of those sales ponies that for some reason always bug you at night or in the evening. “Oh yeah Joe, uhm you left your stuff at my place so I thought I’d bring it over for you” Scootaloo said as she handed Joe his stuff. “Oh thanks kid… hey come on in, sit down for a while kid” Joe offered and led Scootaloo into his home