Living with Lyra

Chapter 3: That’s an Unusual Way of Sitting

I woke up, comfortable beyond belief. I could barely get up from the bed, as though I’d been glued to it. "Good gosh that was a nice sleep, the bed is so soft," I said in a sleepy, somewhat groggy voice.

Getting up, I got dressed in one of my vests and slowly headed to the kitchen, thoughts of that nice warm bed still in my head.

"Oh hi Draga! So you are up... Is common hay fine with you?" asked Lyra as she was getting herself breakfast.

"Yes, hay will be fine. By the way are there any farms or anything of similar hard work nearby?" I asked, settling myself on a chair.

"Well, off the top of my head there’s the Sweet Apple Acres, the Ponyville mines and I think there is a rock farm outside of Ponyville," answered Lyra while trying to think of more.

"Okay, tomorrow I’ll check them out, see if I can go out and get some bits," I said.

"You got tomorrow planned already and you haven't even had breakfast?” she asked, confusing me as the two  weren’t quite connected. “Since that’s still tomorrow can you help me while I do some things in town today?" asked Lyra happily.

"Sure,  let’s eat, I'll get my hat and then we can be off," I said with confidence and hopes that today would be a good day.

"Oh, and when walking here did you see Bon Bon?" Lyra asked, muzzle full of fresh hay.

"No, why?" I replied.

"Its not like her to go somewhere a note or tell me where she is," explained Lyra.

Around an hour before noon we were in town. "Okay, I need to do some stuff by myself. You just stay here and I'll be right back," said Lyra as she walked off.

"Well okay, I'll be here," I went over to a nearby fence and sat down with one of my rear hooves on each side of the fence.

A random stallion came up to me and said, "That is a unusual way of sitting...  you were with Lyra Heartstrings, weren’t you? How do I put this... isn't she with Bon Bon?"

"Sorry, do you know her? I just got here yesterday so I don't know if she goes that way," I said with a little bit of annoyance at the implied accusations.

"Well, I have other things to do. Sorry to bother you," the stallion said, walking away.

As he left I said to myself, "You should be sorry, you jerk."

A little bit later Lyra came back and said "I know where Bon Bon was. She was just talking a long walk. Let’s just go get some food. Plus I need to tell you about the way you're sitting."

Not that much later, Lyra and I were in a restaurant. "Can I ask you a question, Lyra?" I asked.

"Sure, ask away," she answered.

"This might be a bit personal, but I was asked if you were together with Bon Bon.. oh no, don't worry I have many types of friends back home and I was asked this as well," I said, hastily trying to cover up any hint of judgment in my voice.

Lyra seemed annoyed. "I believe you when you say you were asked this but  Bon Bon and I are just best friends. We’re not at that level. It saves bits to live together and like I said, we are best friends so we are okay with living together. Don't believe anyone that says we go that way," she explained Lyra, her annoyance visible. It seemed as though she’d been asked this quite enough.

"Would you like a drink?" I asked, in an effort to cover up what awkwardness my questioning had created. It just made it more awkward.

"Hahaha! You’re honest, and an idiot in a good way. I like that," said Lyra, her voice a bit flirty.

"Really? At home they only said idiot," I replied, trying not to laugh at my own expense. "By the way, earlier you said you needed to ask me about the way I was sitting... what did you need to ask?"

"Yes I did. I have two questions. How long could you sit like how you were on the fence, and can you sit in any other ways that other ponies would call odd?" Lyra asked.

"There is a lot of fencing where I lived so I just started sitting like that... I'm not sure how long ago this was but then before I knew it could keep balance. As for the second question, look at how I am sitting now," I said, a bit cheekily.

Lyra put her head to the side. "You are sitting up straight!" shouted Lyra.

"And I see you do the same but with me my vest feels different in a way I can't quite put my hoof on," I said. " I think this conversation might be better to finish at your house... do you want to go back?"

"Sure, let’s go back home," said Lyra, still inexplicably in shock.

We got back to Lyra’s place quickly. "Hey, look, it’s only about fifteen minutes before two," I pointed out. There still was a lot of day left but it had already been so eventful.

"Follow me to my room, Draga," said Lyra who seemed to have calm down.

"Well, okay...” I couldn’t exactly say no to the pony that gave me a place to stay, so I just tried to let as much of my doubt into my voice as I followed her inside her room.

Lyra locked the door and shut the blinds. “Draga, first of all, do you know anything of humans?" she asked me seriously.

"All I know of them is from stories. Humans are mythological creatures from a different universe and that’s it," I answered.

"Thanks... you can do what you want for the day now. I need to do some of my personal work and deal with personal emotions right now," she said, deep in thought as she ushered me out of her room.

"If you need me I'll be in my room," I said as the door shut in my face.

End chapter 3