Hearts and Hooves Day
Chapter 4: She's taken?
Aloe and I were walking down the street that leads to the City Hall district. I was carrying my lunch bag in one hand and my groceries in the other as Aloe had her food on her back. I have to ask that she's quite the strong mare to carry that much though I wonder how she keeps it balanced without the bag falling off her back, causing a mess. The same thought can be said to everypony who are not unicorns since unicorns use their magic to carry their things with ease.
It was another moment of silence between the both of us as we walked down the street. I mean, I'm a bit nervous to start the conversation with Aloe. I certainly don't know what to say to her since I never had an experience of spending time with Aloe on my own. I mean, in the past, I always talk to Aloe whenever we hung out at parties with her twin sister Lotus and cousin Vera or at the spa when it's less busy and both twins are giving me a massage. However, this is the first time I'm with Aloe alone and there's nopony or anyone around us that can cause such a distraction.
"So...,"Aloe spoke breaking the silence. "How was your day at the pawn shop?"
"It's always the same thing that happens everyday and nothing ever changes." I replied.
"What do you mean by that?" She asked in a confused manner.
"What I mean is that everyday at Equestrian Gem and Loan," I continued. "I have customers, both pony and human, come into the store with items they claim are worth a value, either if the item is old or new. However, what they don't get is that when they want to sell an item to a pawnbroker, like myself, the one thing that they must understand is profit. Like for example, back on Earth, I had a customer come into my store trying to sell used Tiger electronics and his system fo..."
" ?" Aloe questioned. "Tiger? What are those things?"
"Tiger Electronics are cheap handheld video game systems from the 90s," I explained. "They were somewhat popular back then and there were tons of them. Each of them were based on one thing that was popular in the media. I remembered my mom bought me one for my birthday, which was Tecmo Bowl while my little brother got Sonic the Hedgehog months later. Years go by and then Tiger released the as it's next portable device but it failed miserably in the market."
We approached an intersection that lead to City Hall and took a right as I went on about my story.
"So this guy comes up to me with these systems," I went on. "And he wants $100,000 for them. Unfortunately, I told him 'I'm sorry, sir. If these things were unopened I would give you some money but they are all in terrible shape and you can see scratches on the screens. Plus, who am I going to sell these to? No one plays Tiger anymore! We got PSPs and DSs now!' Guy gets angry, throws a fit, and exits the store. Pretty much that's what happened today at work: some stallion wants to sell me his ring but I told him that the ring is worthless and he blows his top. Well, I don't how he's going to make it up to his marefriend after wrecking her house. Everypony and everyone here needs to understand this: we're a pawn shop! You want money, bring in something that anyone or anypony wants to buy and don't cause a scene!"
"I understand how you feel about that." Aloe said. "I really can't stand customers demanding a sensual massage from my sister, cousin, and I when it's not on the menu. Yes, we are a spa but we're not prostitutes! We are a family, friendly business that helps you relieve stress and pain in your body."
"Do you ban them when that happens?"
"Yes indeed. My cousin, Vera, acts like our bodyguard and she bucks them out the door when they do something this stupid."
After a few minutes of walking, the both of us approached the front of Ponyville Spa and I stopped in my tracks, waiting for Aloe to open the door. However, she continued to walk past me without noticing that I stood in front of the door. I glanced back at her wondering why she kept going if the spa is her home, since most ponies who owned a business have a living quarters inside.
"Hey Aloe!" I called. "Where you going?"
She turns around to look at me. "What are you doing standing in front of the spa?"
"Isn't this where you live?"
Aloe chuckled a bit. "No, silly. I no longer live in the spa. I have my own place down the next intersection from here."
"Oh! I'm sorry I didn't know that. I mean, it's the first time you and I...you know...spent some..."
I was a lost of words because I could not say what I wanted to. I looked at the spa for a bit and turned back to Aloe. She looks at me with a smile while letting her beautiful blue eyes blink at me. I can hear a small giggle escaped from her mouth while I stood there dumbfounded. I just shrugged my confusion and continued to walk with her.
"I apologize if I didn't tell you before." The spa pony said. "I've been very busy at work and life and haven't had the day to tell everyone and everypony where I live."
"Hey, it's fine." I replied. "I should've asked earlier about that."
We passed a few more buildings until we got to the intersection that Aloe was talking about. There were a bunch of homes on each side of the street. I'm going to take a wild guess and say that Aloe lives in one of them. It's a good thing she decided to live close to the spa since it will be a short walk to get home and all.
"Say, Frank." Aloe said.
"Yes?" I asked.
"You know it's Hearts and Hooves Day next week, right?"
My god! Did she really had to bring that up?! I feel like grabbing the nearest item and throwing at...no! I can't do that in front of Aloe. She would hate me if I did and would think that I've gone completely pyscho for mentioning that stupid holiday. My question is: why would she ask me this? Doesn't she know how much I despise Hearts and Hooves Day? I might as well just role with it for now and not go off on her.
"...Yeah." I said trying to hide my anger. "Why?"
"Well..." Aloe said. "I know you told me before you that you don't celebrate it but..."
She stops in front of a two floor European, timber framed house with a small garden in the front and with a wooden fence surrounding the backyard. She goes up the three steps to the door as I followed. I'm guessing that this could be her house.
"...but what?" I questioned.
She sets down her groceries in front of the door. I can see the look on her face that when she asked me that question a few seconds ago, her smile drastically changed to a frown and her eyes staring at the cement. She let out a sigh of sorrow as she turns to me with a worried face. I wonder what's bugging her.
"...I was...wondering if..."She gulped. "If you..."
"What is it, Aloe?"
She looks away and goes back to staring at the ground. Her forelegs began to tremble like she's scared or something. I need to know what she wants to tell me so I approached her slowly while looking at her face.
"Aloe!" I said. "What is it? What do you want to tell me?"
"Frank!" She said to me face to face. "Will you g..."
The front door of her house opened from the inside. The both of us turned to see who it was. I was expecting maybe her twin sister Lotus Blossom or her cousin Vera to be standing in the doorway greeting me with a nice welcome. However, instead of a pony, what I got was someone else that I've never met before...nor did Aloe ever introduce me to this individual. Standing in the doorway was a 6' 10', 290 lbs. Caucasian man with a blonde high and tight hairstyle and wearing urban clothing with Nike type sneakers. His eyes were sky blue and his body was well built like he spent his whole entire day working out with Snowflake and Iron Will at the Ponyville Fitness Center. He stood in the doorway with his arms folded while taking a quick look at me and then to Aloe.
"Am I interrupting something?" The man demanded.
"Oh, hi Daryl." Aloe said still in sorrow.
Daryl? Who is this guy? Is he Aloe's roommate? Is he a friend of hers? Is he Aloe's bo...oh no! I hope I'm not right about the last thought that just came to my mind. Plus, why does Aloe sound like she's sad of all sudden? Nothing is making any sense.
"Who are you?" Daryl asked me.
"I'm Frank Archer." I replied. "And who are you?"
"Daryl Blackburn. I lived here in Equestria for four years."
"Oh, that's cool. I came here two years ago as the 142nd human. What about you?"
"The 61st human to enter."
Daryl sees the bag of groceries next to the door, picks them up, and looks back at Aloe.
"Lets go." He said to her.
Aloe nods and walks to the doorway as Daryl turns back inside to the kitchen to put away the groceries. However, before I departed to my apartment, I had to ask Aloe something.
"Aloe," I said. "Who's this guy?"
She lowers her head and I can hear a depressed sigh escaped from her mouth. "...he's my boyfriend."
I was shocked on what I just heard! Aloe has a boyfriend? For how long and how come she never told me before? I don't want to believe it but coming from my favorite spa pony, she's telling the truth. I felt my heart exploded in defeat upon hearing this but why do I feel this way? I'm just friends with Aloe...and I...I...I don't know if have feelings for her. I mean, at the grocery store earlier, I was happy to see her and I felt all joyful. Now, I'm almost feeling the same like Sarah dumped me for Joel back on Earth.
"Oh..." I said looking away trying to hide my face of sadness. "...that's...great to hear. Congrats."
"Thanks..."She said still feeling the same way.
"Aloe...what do you want to tell me about Hearts and Hooves Day?"
"Umm...I...I...I...don't know how to say this but...Frank...woul..."
"ALOE!" Daryl yelled from the inside. "GET IN HERE, NOW!"
Aloe sighs. "I'm sorry, Frank. I got to go but I'll see you later."
She walks to the door and closes it. I don't what else to think but I have to face the facts: she's taken...and there's nothing I can do about it. I grabbed my groceries and lunchbag and headed towards to my apartment down the road where my pizza is waiting. As I walked, I had a lot of thoughts going through my head: what does Aloe want from me on Hearts and Hooves Day? Finally, Why did she acted so weak and helpless in front of her boyfriend Daryl? I hope I found out the truth someday...before it gets out of hand.