Having a crush sucks. I would have known that had I ever had one before. The person you have a crush on doesn't have a clue, which only makes you feel all the more awkward. You wrestle with the idea of telling them, then you try to build up the courage only to back off at the last minute. Every time that person comes around your stomach does a back flip and you can't help but feel nauseous. The only thing that could ever make a situation like that worse is if you were in constant close proximity to said crush- oh, wait...

Something else that's been troubling me is that Twilight seems perfectly content to slip into this normalcy. All thoughts of saving the future seem to have vanished from her mind and that's not good. She must realize we can't stay here forever. It would be really awkward is she shows up here a year from now and runs into herself. She's at least aware of that fact, wearing her disguises when she goes out. Probably to avoid bumping into her future friends or something.

Either way, bottling up me emotions is making me grumpy, and Twilight's begun to notice. Maybe she realizes I like her and she's toying with me. Maybe the future me had a crush on her too. If that's the case then that means she's technically already chosen her future husband over me. What the hell? I don't even get a chance, then. That's stupid.I facepalm.

Ugh. I remember when my only worry was what I was going to eat for dinner. Now I'm worrying about girls. All this ridiculous bonding has really started to affect my personality. I'm happy, I smile and I'm open. Talking to Twilight gets easier and harder everyday depending on what kind of thoughts I'm having. One thing the dominates all those others though is my desire to protect her, to keep her safe. I want to help her save the future, save her home. I've been thinking that probably means she ends up going back to the future though... Yup, we really need to start talking about all this stuff. Or you keep your mouth shut, dumbass. Talking to myself, huh? Great.

I hear the sound of the door opening followed by the sound of Twilight voice calling that she was back. I lift my head from where I am on the sofa and raise a hand as a sign of greeting before lowering myself back to my original position. As much as I want to get back to work there definitely is something to be said for being able to relax. It's a nice feeling, it'd be even nicer without the sense of impending doom I'm always feeling but hey, you win some, you lose some.

I can hear Twilight placing the grocery bags on the table, followed by the relieved sigh from not having to hold the bags anymore. I find it weird. Twilight buys the same amount of groceries every time. She doesn't believe in buying too much and risking having it go to waste. I've tried explaining to her that it most definitely wouldn't, as I would eat it, but she's insistent on her own ways. With the lists and everything. Which makes today's haul different, which in turn makes it interesting.

I get up to go over and investigate. Next thing I know though Twilight's pushing me out the door. When I'm standing on the entrance to the library all I can do is turn around and go "huh?"

Twilight's standing there smiling. "Go do something for a while, okay? I've got something to prepare, it's a surprise." without leaving room for argument she shuts the door. I sigh and begin making my way towards the center of town.

**

It's been quite a while already, I'm on way back to the library. I've had a lot of time to think and what I've been thinking is that Twilight and I should probable leave Ponyville. We've been lucky this far but that doesn't mean our luck will continue, especially if our opponents are from the future. That only means they know everywhere Twilight might go.

"What're you going to do? Fly away? Ha, as if you could!" I turn towards the commotion, it having snapped me back to reality.

A girl with long pink hair is on the ground, holding herself up with one hand. She has brilliant pink hair that must go all the way past her butt judging by how it's strewn all around her like that. A lot of it covers most of her face though. She has wings with bright yellow feathers tucked against her back. The yellow dress, that matches her wings, she's wearing has dirt smudges all over it, as though she's been playing around all day. She's not a child though, and I have a pretty good idea what's going on. Even from where I am I can see the tears forming in the only eye I can catch a glimpse of.

I consider just going on my way, back to the library. Twilight's expecting me and we already agreed we shouldn't bring attention to ourselves. I even start to walk away but then I remember my own trouble with bullies. How it got so bad I ended up living by myself outside of any town. I remember crying at night and wondering what I'd done wrong. Wondering why nobody liked me. Remembering that all I would have needed was a lone act of kindness. One act of kindness could have saved me. What if not receiving any help here is the turning point for this girl? No, I can't leave her. I turn around and casually make my way over to them.

"Problem?"

The guy turns around and scoffs. "Buzz off."

The girl looks like she wants to say something. Her eyes are desperate and pleading and just like that I know what I have to do.

I tap the guy's shoulder again and sure enough he turns around. He looks as though he's about to make some rude remark but I don't give him a chance. One of my hands curls around the collar of his shirt and I lift him above the ground. I toss him him onto the ground and give him a glare as though to say 'How do you like it?'. Clearly he's not impressed because he stutters as he stands up then runs off. Maybe I should have used both hands, less suspicious...

Oh, right! The girl! I turn towards her now and offer my hand to her. She looks awestruck but more importantly relieved. It makes me feel good, like maybe I actually changed someone's life. I know this probably didn't change anyone's life, but it still feels good! Her fingers curl around mine and I help pull her to her feet. Her fingers are curled around my hand so gently I'm not even sure she's holding onto me. I'm about to ask her name when I remember I'm expected somewhere.

"Twilight!" I gasp out, much to the girl's confusion and dash off.

**

"Really? You did all this for me?" I spin around to get a good look at the revamped library. There's balloons and streamers everywhere, not to mention a huge, freakin' delicious looking cake sitting at the center of the table. It even has candles and everything. "How come?" I'm seriously confused.

"Wow, how long have you been out in that forest, Sora?" Twilight lets out an exasperated sigh but her lips hide a hint of amusement. "It's your birthday!"

"My birthday?" I stopped keeping track of that a long time ago and I sound unimpressed, much to Twilight's dismay.

"Is something wrong?" she asks, fearing she'd messed up in some way.

"You just didn't have to go to all this trouble over something like that." I reply, taking a seat at the table.

Twilight frowns, taking a seat beside me. For a few minutes there's nothing but silence because I don't know what to say, having never really been in a situation similar to this before. There's also the fact that Twilight looks thoughtful, so i don't want to interrupt her train of though.

When she finally talks her words catch me off guard. "It's the day you were born, and that's something that needs to be celebrated. There's only one you, Sora. If you don't want to celebrate for yourself, at least do it for me."

My eyes meet hers and she looks surprisingly sad. There's something more that she wants to say but can't, and I can tell. This is important to her, for some reason I'll probably never be allowed to know. This girl has already done so much for me, this is the least I can do for her, isn't it?

**

The rest of the night went by quickly and I don't recall a time where I've ever been so happy. Twilight and I managed to somehow eat that entire cake to ourselves. After the cake the rest of the night was a blur of excited talking. Twilight told me all about her studies under Celestia and even though she shouldn't she told me of her friends.

The brutal but loyal Rainbow Dash. The honest, hard-working Applejack. The generous, beautiful Rarity. The party-loving, crazy Pinkie Pie, and the shy but kind Fluttershy. She spent a lot of time telling me a lot about those girls and I actually found myself jealous. I bet it's nice to have so many friends like that. Not just ordinary friends but friends you share such a deep bond with you just know they would each risk their life for you over and over again.

Eventually I feel like we've talked about everything and there seems to be nothing left to say. Twilight shifts a little uncomfortable before standing up.

"Well, it's getting pretty late..." What a generic thing to say in a situation like this. I find myself thinking.

"Yeah..." I don't know what else to say.

Twilight nods at me and begins heading up to her bedroom.

My stomach churns a little as I call out "Wait!" and my friend turns around surprised. I swallow hard before continuing. "I just wanted to say...Thank you. For tonight, and for everything. It means a lot to me."

She just stands there and a smile slowly forms on her lips. She hops back down the stairs and comes up to me. She's so close I can smell the lavender products she uses to wash herself and it's making me nervous.

"I never gave you your present." she says, but I'm unable to read her tone.

I start to say I don't need anything but she cuts me off.

"Everyone deserves to get something for their birthday." She goes on in that same tone before she leans forward, raising herself onto her tip-toes to press her lips against mine.

For a moment everything is blank, and I can't think. A girl's kissing me for the first time, it's kind of a big deal you know. At first I just kinda stand there but next thing I know I'm kissing her back, locking my lips with hers. I'm not sure how long this goes on. It could be minutes or hours, and I don't care because I'm enjoying every second of it. unfortunately all good things must come to an end and Twilight pulls away.

When I open my eyes and take a good look at her the first thing I notice is her smile. The second are the tears in her eyes. Before I can say anything she's heading up the stairs to her room. I want to follow, but I don't which ends up leaving me alone all night wondering what exactly I'd done wrong.

Author's Note

What? An update from me? I know, crazy right! Well, things have finally calmed down and I can get back to writing so expect some more updates on my other stuff too (particularly Everypony loves...Although I'd like to finish Moving on as well.) At any rate, i hope you enjoyed.