AN: Moved the chapter break, so the first bit might seem familiar.
Chapter Two
Fluttershy gathered up her things and went downstairs, stopping nervously in the doorway to the kitchen and clearing her throat softly. She went unheard, but not unnoticed as Apple Bloom was quick to spot her.
"Fluttershy!" she exclaimed. "Maybe you can tell us!"
"Um, tell you what?"
"Well, AJ left in such a hurry, we didn't get ta see what she was wearin' or nothin'!"
"Simmer down, sugarcube," said Granny Smith. "Cain't ya see yer makin' the poor girl nervous?"
"Ah shucks, Fluttershy, I'm sorry," said Apple Bloom with large eyes. "Here, set yerself down a spell. That'll make ya comfy."
She looked to Granny Smith for approval as she tugged Fluttershy to the kitchen table. Granny gave her granddaughter an encouraging smile from where she stood at the stove, stirring a pot of soup. Big Mac stood next to her with his back to the others as he put the finishing touches on an apple pie.
"W-what would you like to know?"
"Everythin'!" said Applebloom.
Fluttershy began to describe Applejack's ensemble to an enthralled audience of one.
"Oh! Oh! Did she wear the powder blue dress with the cream-colored lace overlay?" Apple Bloom interrupted suddenly.
"Apple Bloom," said Big Mac warningly.
"S-sorry, Fluttershy. I didn't mean ta interrupt."
"It's OK, sweetie. As a matter of fact, that is the dress she wore."
Apple Bloom sighed happily.
"So pretty!" she exclaimed.
As Fluttershy continued her description, Granny Smith set a stack of four plates on the table along with cutlery and four cups. Granny gave Apple Bloom a significant look, but she didn't notice on account of being too enthralled with Fluttershy's description of her sister's make-up. Granny cleared her throat and Fluttershy started.
"Oh, I'm sorry!" she said, her eyes widening in dismay. "I didn't mean to get in the way. I only came to the kitchen in the first place because Applejack told me to take some jam home, but if I'm in the way, I'll leave right now!"
"Now settle down there, sugarcube," said Granny, "Fact a' the matter is, Apple Bloom's gotta table ta set an' I was hopin' ta remind her without interruptin' ya, is all."
Apple Bloom looked sheepish, apologized and started her assigned task.
"Oh well, I was almost d-done anyway. M-maybe I should go?"
"Nonsense!" exclaimed Granny. "After all, it's near on supper time an' it'll be dark afore ya git home, even if ya leave right this minute. Nope, I reckon least we could do is have ya fer supper afore we take ya on home."
"That's very kind of you, but-"
"No 'buts', sugarcube. Ya wouldn't wanna disappoint an old gal like me, would ya?"
Fluttershy looked alarmed, but Apple Bloom groaned.
"Granny!" she said, "Ya ain't that old!"
Granny laughed and told a joke and Apple Bloom finished setting the table, her mouth moving a mile a minute. Granny Smith pulled the pot of soup off the stove and set it on the table.
"Nothing to be nervous about," Fluttershy told herself silently, "I've eaten with the Apple's plenty of times – just never without Applejack."
She gulped thickly and nearly jumped when Big Mac opened the oven door and swapped the dinner rolls for the pie. The rolls were on the table and the Apples were seated in what felt like seconds to Fluttershy. The family joined hands for Grace and Fluttershy, sitting across from Apple Bloom and between the two adults of the family, tentatively placed her hand in Big Mac's open palm. Though Granny held her other hand in a vice grip while intoning the prayer, Big Mac's calloused hand enfolded hers in the barest of embraces.
"It doesn't mean anything," Fluttershy told herself while her stomach clenched and unclenched inside her. "He's doesn't hate me. Oh gosh, why does he hate me? No! Stop it, Fluttershy. Maybe he's just doesn't like touching. Lots of people don't like touching. It's fine. He doesn't hate you. Why would he? I mean, you're friends with his sister. There's no reason! Stop torturing yourself over this!"
Fluttershy was relieved when the prayer was over and she had her hands to herself. She was doubly relieved when Apple Bloom and Granny were more than happy to carry the dinner conversation on their own.
Dinner was short. The Apples ate dinner as matter-of-factly as they did anything else in their lives. When it was over, Apple Bloom began gathering the dishes and Big Mac headed into the yard.
"Now then, Fluttershy," said Granny, "Ah reckon yer ready ta git on home afore the storm hits."
"There's a storm?" asked Fluttershy, quivering in her seat. "Are you sure?"
"Yep, Ah kin feel it in ma bones! It's one ah them pre-winter blustery types."
"Oh dear! I have to get home! My animals need me."
"One step ahead ah ya, dearie! Big Mac's gettin' yer bike inta the truck as we speak. Now, let me help ya with yer things."
"Oh, that's not necessary."
"Nonsense! This is more'n one person kin handle," said Granny as she began gathering up Fluttershy's magazines.
Fluttershy was quick to grab her make-up kit which she had set on a chair next to the kitchen door and hesitated before grabbing the jar of Zap Apple jam Applejack had promised her. Granny and Fluttershy hustled out of the house and Fluttershy was buckling herself into the truck's passenger seat before she knew it. She gulped as Big Mac started the truck. This wasn't just the first time he had given her a ride – this was also the first time she had ever been alone with him in any circumstance. Even when she had briefly been a part of the Pony Tones, she had been surrounded either by her friends or the other group members. The intimacy of the truck cabin and her worries about the oncoming storm had her on edge. She tapped her fingers delicately against her knees and she felt as if she were breathing through a straw. Through it all, she tried to keep her face from showing her agitation, but was worried Big Mac would notice at any moment and ask her what was wrong.
I don't think I'm going to make it! Fluttershy thought as she glanced at the time and realized she'd been in the truck less than five minutes. It would be another ten before they reached her house and she could get out. The clouds in the distance were dark, heavy and fast-moving and Fluttershy felt the full menace of their threat deep in her chest, which felt hollow and full of lead all at once.
Big Mac cleared his throat.
"Eeek!" burst through Fluttershy's throat without her permission and she immediately flushed, feeling her body had betrayed her. She clasped her hands together to keep them from trembling.
"Pardon," said Big Mac.
He waited a moment before speaking again.
"Reckon Granny's right 'bout the storm tonight."
"Isn't she always?" asked Fluttershy sincerely, eyes wide.
"Nope."
Neither spoke for awhile after that and Fluttershy began to relax. Getting a ride from Big Mac wasn't the scary event she thought it would be. He didn't expect her to keep up a conversation and seemed intent on his driving. This is fine, she thought to herself. I'm fine. Nothing is wrong. Everything is ok. So why do I still feel nervous? She started twisting her fingers together. She suddenly thought of something and blurted it out without thinking.
"Thanks for giving me a ride home," she said.
"Yer welcome," he said.
"Do you think Applejack will get home safely?"
"Eeyup."
"I sure hope so. It would be just awful if something happened."
They were quiet for a couple more minutes before Fluttershy spoke again.
"I hope Zecora is ok," she said, watching the storm clouds anxiously.
The pair was quiet again until they reached Fluttershy's cottage, which had a sleek white sports car parked in front. Fluttershy had paled upon seeing the car and began fumbling with the handle of her door as soon as the truck came to a stop. Her exit was less than graceful and Big Mac noticed she seemed flustered, so he grabbed her bike from the back of the truck as quickly as he could. He helped her place the mountain of magazines, her make-up kit and the Zap Apple jam in the basket of her bike. He placed a hand on her wrist and Fluttershy gulped, reflexively shifting her hair to hide her face.
"If ya had company, ya shouldn't have let Granny keep ya fer dinner. She's bossier than she knows, sometimes."
"No, it's ok," said Fluttershy. "I didn't know anyone was here."
She scuffed the ground with the end of her shoe.
"Um, could you tell Applejack something for me?" she asked.
"Eeyup."
"Um, my mom's here," she said, peeping through the curtain of her hair with large eyes, "and – um – uh – well – actually, that's it. So, I kept my promise. Ok, bye."
Fluttershy scurried into her home before Big Mac could start his truck. He paused with the key in the ignition. Who's Fluttershy's ma? He'd never met her, but he had heard tell of her. What'd he hear, anyway? What had been said? He couldn't put his finger on it and a sense of foreboding began creeping into his chest. He would definitely pass on Fluttershy's message. He had a feeling she was depending on him in a big way.