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Being late to school, fine.
That was fine, Sweetie was sick and God forbid her mother actually do something to help the poor girl.
So she was late for a good reason, she made Sweetie breakfast, got her medicine, made sure she was A-okay before she headed off.
Forgetting that there was a quiz in World History… also fine.
She wasn't passionate for the class and she had done great on the previous few quizzes. She'd survive one awful performance.
But then she got the email. She had sent some sketches to be reviewed. Sketches of dresses and outfits and accessories she had stayed up multiple nights in a row going over and over until they were perfect. Perfect enough to be given a small fund to make them real and test them with some of the biggest fashion designers in the States.
She wished the rejection email was scathing. Wished it was cruel. That at least someone had passion in disliking her designs. Instead, it was a robotic, copy pasted email telling her how her designs did not make the cut.
That was fine too.
It was absolutely fine when Sunset and Rainbow Dash said that some trouble came up with their group project in Chemistry and they weren't able to hang out after school which led to a snowball effect of all the others bringing up reasons it would be better to do their usual hangout tomorrow.
It wasn't like that hangout was the only thing Rarity had been holding onto to keep her walking.
It shouldn't matter, being late, her mother, the quiz, her grades, the email, all of it was fine.
But what finally broke her, what finally drove her over the edge, was truly pathetic.
She saw Applejack. Flirting. With Rainbow Dash. Well, it looked more like Rainbow Dash was flirting with Applejack but Applejack was clearly reciprocating.
She'd seen Applejack run laps during PE without breaking a sweat yet her cheeks were burning as Rainbow leaned in with a teasing smile at their lockers. And that…
She shouldn't care.
Shouldn't care that her best friend liked one of her friends. Jealousy was an awful shade, after all.
Yet the thoughts of Applejack with someone else, not even Rainbow Dash specifically, ate away at her. Each time it stung more as she kept wanting to insert herself in the thoughts. Have herself be the one holding Applejack's hand as they walked down the hall, have Applejack be the one to share a spoonful of the dessert Rarity insisted she hadn't wanted to try before giving in. Imagining herself laying in a bed together like they used to during sleepovers and hangouts. But where before, when Rarity had kept distance, they were snuggling, Applejack's body radiating warmth that thawed the freezing heartache that Rarity had subjected herself to so many times before.
Those thoughts led her to the school restroom to calm herself down. Using the mirror to talk herself out of a breakdown. Only for her to witness cursed tears, her mascara bleeding down her cheeks. She retreated into a stall, thankful that no one else was in there when she had entered. She sat on the closed toilet and curled her legs into herself as she cried and cried. Relentless tears staining her face.
She was so caught up in herself, her stupid misery, the feelings that shouldn't take so much precedence over her mind, she didn't hear the door open. Didn't hear the clomp of boots against tile until they were right at the locked stall door.
A gentle tap echoed in the stall. Like an open palm being lightly patted against the door.
“Hey, you good in there?”
If the heavy drawl of her accent didn't give way to the newcomer's identity than the sight of her leather boots, decorated in crimson apples, from the gap between the stall door and floor did.
Of all the people to find her like this.
“I don't mean to intrude, but… if somethin's amiss I'm sure I can help. Or at least find ya some help.”
Rarity covered her mouth, trying to comepletly silence herself. Hoping that if she stayed quiet, maybe she'd just disappear or Applejack would give up. Take the silence as a clear sign that whoever she thought was in the stall didn't need her help.
But Applejack wasn't one to quit so easily.
“Listen, I get it. You think you're all alone in whatever problems you're facin’. Trust me when I tell ya, you're never alone. You don't gotta be, I mean.”
Honestly, Applejack would probably fix all her problems. She was a wonder woman when it came to any adversities her friends faced.
If Rarity told her about her day, the cowgirl would probably miraculously cure Sweetie's cold, give her a mother a berating for how little time she gives her daughters, help Rarity with whatever extra credit she could find for World History, and call whatever poor intern had made the automated rejection email and tell them how they should've had the decency to send Rarity a personalized message.
Knowing her, Applejack would probably also tell them that they should've accepted her designs. Because where Rarity sees a thousand flaws in everything she makes, Applejack sees constellations and meteor showers.
Whenever Rarity tries to knock herself down a level, what she reasons is keeping her ego in check, Applejack is quick to remind her of her talent. Her skill and dedication, how she sews galaxies into fabric.
Rarity believes her when she says it and that's the worse part. Applejack's words are scripture.
Yet she couldn't solve the last problem she had, the breaking point.
Applejack could accomplosh the impossible but being in love with Rarity was beyond that.
Beyond miracle cures and healing words.
So she stayed quiet, sobbing into her hand. Praying Applejack would leave. Or at least someone else would wall in and break the bubble.
Another tap sounded against the door.
“Just… listen, I don't feel good leavin’ someone alone like this.”
“Go away…” she pleaded into her hand, muffling the sound. Suddenly the air stilled. The tapping ceased. Applejack was dead quiet, not even her breathing was audible.
“Sugar cube?”
Rarity nearly slipped off the toilet.
“Rarity, is that you?” Before Applejack sounded concerned. Now, she was distressed. Rarity bit her lip. This was awful, she didn't want to worry her friend. But she couldn't keep her mouth shut.
“Rarity, what's wrong? Did something happen?” Applejack was starting to panic. “Just say something, Rarity!”
She didn't know why Applejack was getting so worked up. Rarity was being dramatic, everything was fine. So why should Applejack care?
Why couldn't she just leave her alone? Let her wallow in peace. Let her try and move on and accept the fact she was a hopeless romantic and her problems were no one else's but her own.
“Rarity… please…”
She growled, rubbing her soaked eyes and standing up. She unlocked the stall and swung it open.
“I said, go away!!”
The door opened outwards, causing Applejack to stumble back from the sudden force of the door pushing her back. The cowgirl caught herself against the sink counter behind her, a low thud ringing from the curve of her back making impact with the marble. Her knees buckled though she kept herself on her feet.
Pain shot through Applejack’s face, a quiet wince, eyelids clamping shut briefly before she opened them up to stare up at Rarity as she straightened herself back up.
She expected Applejack to bite back with the usual temper she gave when someone rudely shoved past her. Instead she looked even more worried.
That broke Rarity twice over.
She could feel the hot tears, fresh ones, burning her again and the whole room started to feel hot as those jade irises bore into her. Like Applejack was reading her inner thoughts.
Rarity barely uttered a sad, little squeaking sound before she bolted. Out of the restroom. Out of the school. To her car, which she drove all the way back to her home.
Her mother wasn't home. Good.
She managed to slip into the upstairs bathroom, cleaned herself up before Sweetie Belle could see her in all her glorious mess.
She stared at herself in the mirror. Tear-stained, puffy eyebags, her hair frazzled from her desperate sprint from the school. A little worse for wear but nothing she couldn't fix up. At least enough so her little sister wouldn't suspect anything was amiss.
The task, however, would only become more difficult as she kept thinking back to the bathroom. To pushing Applejack, whether she meant to or not. She was just so frustrated, more at herself, and she let that anger out on the person she supposedly loved so much. All because Applejack had the gall to care for her.
She couldn't get Applejack's face out of her inner vision. Every time she closed her eyes she could see the pain and the confusion. Which only produced more tears and prolonged her attempt to clean up.
After far too long, Rarity had stopped crying and managed to do a complete do-over her make-up and hair. She looked like nothing had happened at all. Perfection.
She opened the bathroom door, planning to head right for Sweetie's room to check on her. Only for the little girl to be standing right outside the bathroom door.
“Took ya long enough.”
“Sweetie Belle!” Rarity eeked before composing herself. “Sweetie, you should be in bed.”
“I need the bathroom,” she sniffled. She looked better than she had in the morning, but Rarity saw the red soreness of her nose from the constant blowing and sneezing, strands of hair sticking up from the static of her pillow. Yet she was looking at Rarity with this… expectation?
“You were in there awhile. And you're home early. You sick too?” Sweetie’s chin turned up further, eying Rarity up and down. Did Sweetie know she was upset?
The last thing she needed was her little sister concerning herself over her silly, stupid problems.
“No, not sick, just… today was a short day! Yes, I forgot to tell you.”
Sweetie gave one more passing looking before smiling, fully content with her investigation.
“A short day? Makes sense. Explains why Applejack's here.”
Rarity's brain took a moment to process that little tidbit Sweetie Belle added on before the little girl squeezed past Rarity and closed the bathroom door. Rarity spun around and knocked chaotically against the door.
“Sweetie, what do you mean Applejack's here?”
“She knocked and I answered. Said she wanted to talk with ya and I needed the bathroom so I told her to wait in the kitchen while I gotcha outta here.”
Rarity's eye twitched, she felt her blood freeze in her veins. Applejack was in her house. Waiting for her. Wanting to talk.
There was no way to spin this, this was absolutely terrible. Did Applejack's anger finally catch up, was she here to interrogate Rarity?
Or was she still going to be overly caring and concerned for her?
Rarity huffed, thumping her head against the bathroom door. There was no getting out of this. She reluctantly descended the stairs, winding down to the main level, where a quick trip down the hall led to the kitchen.
Applejack was leaning against the marble island in the middle of the kitchen, fingers tapping against the marble. She looked uneasy, staring down at the floor, face all scrunched up. Until her head perked up at the sound of Rarity entering.
Her pupils widened, mouth opening like she was about to say something. Instead, she wordlessly rushed over to Rarity. Rarity wanted to run again but Applejack must've sensed her urge and quickly grabbed her by her shoulders. She pressed down, keeping Rarity in place, at least unless she put up a struggle. Which Rarity didn't, instead letting the cowgirl examine her up and down and over.
Applejack gave a quiet “hmph” under her breath as her hold loosened. She stepped back a little, tips of her fingers against Rarity’s skin.
“So, you look alright now. Hopin’ that means you're willin’ to talk about what got you in such a ruffled mess today.”
The look on Applejack’s face made it clear she wasn't asking. Rarity looked away, only for Applejack's hand to perch on her chin and bring her back to face the cowgirl.
“I'm here, sugar cub. Whatever you think isn't a big deal, it matters to me. Okay?”
“I'm fine, I– I lost my senses over silly things.”
“What's silly?” She was asking sincerely, of course she was.
“I was late today because Sweetie was sick and my mother is useless at helping with basic childcare. But that's nothing new.”
“Doesn't mean it doesn't suck.”
“And I forgot about an exam in World History but it's World History, so it's not a big deal.”
“What else?”
“Who said there was anything else?” Rarity bit back.
“That look in your eye. I know when you're trying to hold back, Rarity.”
“Fine,” Rarity huffed out. “I got an email back… about the designs I sent in. They rejected them. Which happens to plenty of people, no one is guaranteed acceptance.”
“It's still alright to feel bad you got rejected.” One of Applejack's hands enveloped Rarity's, her thumb beginning to rub over the back of Rarity's hand. “The designs you shared with me a few weeks ago, right? They looked spectacular, I'm sure they'll be accepted somewhere else.”
“Thanks, darling, I– I guess this was another part of it. I was really banking on seeing you all today and…”
“We all canceled the hangout. Oh gosh, I'm sorry, Rarity.”
“It's not your fault, it's none of yours. I should be the one apologizing.”
“What for?” Applejack titled her head, brow raised.
“I hurt you…” Rarity hid her face into her collar before a barking laugh ripped her attention back.
“What? I barely got a bruise from that, Rarity. I've been bucked by full-grown cattle and come out fine, a little sink counter ain't no big deal. Don't ya worry.”
Rarity tried to join in Applejack's laughter, only for her voice to break. Applejack's own laugh ceased. She wrapped her arms around Rarity and pulled her into a tight embrace. Rarity's head buried against Applejack's neck, crying muffled against tanned skin.
“There, there, sugar cube. You're alright, I gotcha.”
“I'm sorry,” she choked.
“I told ya, you don't have to be sorry.”
“No, it's not…” she shouldn't say anything. Applejack was about to let her off, she only needed to keep this last, miniscule thing to herself.
Applejack pulled from the hug, hands resting at Rarity's sides. Rarity tried to keep her head turned but Applejack's hand cupped her cheek and brought her back to face her while she wiped away running tears.
“You can tell me, Rarity. I'm not mad about what happened and anything that makes you this upset, well, it matters to me. You matter to me.”
“You won't get mad, even when it's so childish?”
“It's not childish if it upsets you, sugar cube.”
Rarity breathed out one, final broken sigh before she uttered the truly pathetic reason she fell apart.
“I was je– jealous.”
“Jealous? Of what?”
“Y–you… I saw Rainbow Dash flirting with you and I got jealous.”
“You got… jealous…”
There was a tinge, a light blush in Applejack's cheeks, her eyes widening. Rarity realized her mistake.
“I mean, I got jealous because, it's clear you like her and I… you're my best friend and if you got a girlfriend then you'd have less time to spend… with me…”
Applejack blinked, then blinked again, before she huffed out a laugh, shaking her head.
“Oh, okay, you think I– that's…”
“I told you it was silly.”
“It's not,” Applejack straightened herself. “It's okay to have feelings, Rarity. I was… took me a second to process it ‘cause, well I don't like Rainbow Dash. Like, romantically.”
Now Rarity blinked. And blinked again. That didn't make any sense. She saw the way Applejack blushed, saw the confidant, successful smirk on Rainbow Dash's face.
“What? What do you mean, you don't like her?”
“It's kinda straightforward,” Applejack clicked her tongue. “I don't want her as a girlfriend. She's a great friend, don't get me wrong, but I don't think we'd contemplate well as girlfriends.”
“B–but you were blushing! She was flirting with you today and you were blushing!”
“Flirtin’ with me? What are you–” suddenly her eyes popped wide and her cheeks flourished that same bright red it had earlier. “Oh, oh, uhm, yeah I was blushing but… she wasn't flirting.”
Rarity stepped back, confusion and curiosity overtaking her embarrassment.
“Then… what did she do to make you look all… cherry?” Honestly she was closer in shade with her family namesake but she wasn't sure how appreciative Applejack would be for the pun.
“She, uhm…”
“I'm sorry,” Rarity sprung forward and clasped her hands over one of Applejack's. “You don't need to divulge anything. I'm the one who jumped to conclusions. It's your conversation and–”
“Rarity, it's fine, it’s… ya know I don't like lyin’, right? Or keeping the truth from people either.”
Rarity nodded. Applejack sighed and scratched beneath her hairline.
“Listen, this might be the worst time to mention it but I've got something that's been botherin’ me too and I'm telling ya in hopes it doesn't add anymore problems for ya.”
“Darling, all this build-up is starting to worry me a bit. You can tell me, whatever you say won't upset me.”
“Well, I'll say that, you don't gotta worry about me not havin’ time for ya ‘cause of a girlfriend. Because the only girl I got eyes for is… well, it's you, sugar cube.”
Rarity almost tripped. She wasn't walking or anything. Her legs almost flipped out from under her.
“Rainbow Dash wasn't flirting with me, she was teasin’ me about you. That's why I turned into a walkin’ stop sign. Then and now…”
Applejack turned away, walking towards the hall, to the front door.
“I… I want you to know I'm not gonna be mad that you don't feel the same. You're my best friend, Rarity. Nothing can change that, even my own feelings. I just couldn't bear keepin’ that from ya while I expected you to be so honest with me about everything troubling you.”
With her back turned, Rarity couldn't see Applejack’s face. But her voice, the shallow tremble between her words, gave away the ache. The same attempt Rarity had made to push down her feelings and her problems. Tried to say everything was fine when it wasn't.
And here Applejack was doing the same. Acting like it didn't bother her at all that Rarity didn't like her. Except, Rarity did like her. A lot.
She stormed over to Applejack and grasped her shoulder. She spun the cowgirl around, meeting her tear-stained face to on-the-verge-of-tears face.
“Applejack, it's clear something is going to have to change now!” She declared, watching Applejack's face fall further. “Because, darling, I wasn't jealous because I'd lose time with you as a best friend, I was jealous that I wouldn't be your girlfriend.”
Applejack's eyes widened, her jade irises sparkling as Rarity's confession hit her.
“I love you, Applejack. I was upset today because after so many things were going against me, nothing crushed me more than the thought that I lost the chance to be with you.”
She cupped Applejack's cheek. She took an odd joy in seeing the cowgirl's jaw drop, her eyes darting between Rarity's hand against her face and her tearful eyes.
“You always know what to say, you never let me dismiss my feelings or let me pretend that everything is fine when it's not. I'm not afraid to be open around you, to be honest. Except for these feelings, for sometime now. But you've felt the same.”
“Of course I do,” Applejack stammered out. “You're so beautiful and the most hardworking and dedicated person I know.”
“You live on a ranch, darling,” Rarity giggled. “I'm sure you've met harder workers than myself.”
“Not even close. We may get down and dirty but you… I've seen you pour sweat and tears into your work and make miracles overnight.”
Applejack took Rarity's hand away from her cheek and brought it to her lips. She pressed a soft kiss to Rarity's knuckles and Rarity could feel the blood flush to her cheeks.
“I love how you step up for your sister. All the work you've done to make the Rainbooms look spectacular. And you frustrate me to high heaven and above when you downplay what's hurtin’ ya. You deserve to be cared for, to be lifted and supported.”
“That's what you're here for, I presume?” Rarity tried to be cheeky but only got a flashing scowl back.
“No, that's what your friends are here for. I… I want to do more, be more. I want to cherish you and praise you and I want to blow down anything that gets in your way. I–if you let me, of course!”
Applejack's brief panic made Raritty snort a laugh before she caressed Applejack's cheek, letting her hand roam down to rest along the crook of her neck.
“I'd love that, darling.” She leaned in, for a split second wondering if she was moving too fast, only for Applejack to rush forward and meet her lips in fervor.
The cowgirl's fingers curled into Rarity's hair, her lips meshing with her own. Rarity could stay like this for an eterni–
“Hey sis! If you're done making out with your girlfriend, could you make me some soup?”
Sweetie Belle's voice echoing through the house broke the pair apart. Both stared at each other in bewilderment before Rarity growled.
“Just a moment, Sweetie!” She huffed out while Applejack broke into hysterics. “It's not funny!”
“I know, haha, I know, it's, woo!” Applejack wiped a nonsorrowful tear from her eye. Rarity rolled her eyes.
“So, want to talk about this, about us,” Rarity clarified. “Tomorrow?”
“Why can't we talk about it now?”
“I gotta take care of my sister.”
“And who said I didn't want to stick around and help?” Applejack shrugged. Rarity guffawed a moment before admitting defeat, heading to the cabinet to get a can of chicken soup out. “Besides, it's not like I got much else to do today. Skipping half the school day and all.”
“Oh dear,” Rarity winced. “I'm sorry about that, darling. I didn't mean for you to also leave school today.”
“Oh, it's alright, sugar cube, I'm just teasing.” Applejack bumped her hip into Rarity's. “You think I was gonna let you run off all distressed and then go back to class like nothin’ happened. Yeah right!”
Rarity smiled as she opened the can and poured its contents into a bowl.
“When you say it like that, how could I be upset?” Just as she placed the bowl into the microwave and started it she was spun around by Applejack.
“Darling, what're yo– hmmph!” She was surprised with a tender kiss, one she welcomed with her own. They kept kissing til the microwave beeped loudly, both gasping as they broke apart.
“I don't know if I'll ever get enough of that,” Applejack puffed.
“My kissing can't be that good,” Rarity defied.
“It's perfection.” Applejack kissed her cheek. “Now, let's go provide your little sister with this miracle cure.”
“It's chicken soup.” Rarity didn't give in to Applejack's joke, though she couldn't help the tiny smile that tugged at her lips watching Applejack gleam back at her.
It was odd. Sweetie was still sick. She certainly failed the quiz. And her designs were still very much rejected.
But now, with Applejack looking at her like she was the only person to walk the Earth, everything felt truly, perfectly fine.