Environmental Biology was a difficult subject for Applejack. He’d grown up on a farm, and he knew how to handle the animals, what made them tick… and he knew apple harvesting like it was in his blood.

Sustainable ecology and all that other stuff was well outside Applejack’s normal purview, but Grampy Smith and Big Marcy had both encouraged him to get a degree; to do what he could to help the farm.

What had made these lectures tolerable was sharing them with Butterscotch. Environmental Biology was one of the few overlapping lectures they shared; Butterscotch was studying Wildlife Conservation or some such nonsense, and although they didn’t always agree on everything, they were friends and enjoyed each others company, helping each other out where they could.

Applejack was unsure if he was pleased or not when Butterscotch sat several rows away. What had Applejack done to deserve being snubbed. But then again, he wasn’t sure he wanted to sit next to Butters, even after his conversation with Dusk Shine the previous night.

“Well, what’re you doin’ sitting here by your lonesome?” A young woman sat down next to Applejack, dropping her notebook heavily on the desk. “I thought you and the pretty boy were attached at the hips,” she chuckled.

Applejack clenched his hand, snapping the pencil he had been writing with.

“Oh, sorry…” The woman gave Applejack a sheepish look. “I-I didn’t mean to offend. I don’t mean nothin’ by it. Darn it! I just can’t do this introduction thing right, can I? Name’s Toffee,” she introduced herself, holding out a hand.

Applejack shook the offered hand. “Applejack,” he muttered.

“I know who you are, AJ.” She smiled sheepishly at his confused expression. “You probably don’t remember me…”

“Yer right… Ah’m sorry,” he responded, looking down at the page in front of him.

“It’s okay. It was years ago, and I bet your family gets plenty of seasonal workers for harvest.” A blush formed across Toffee’s face. “No reason you’d remember little old me.”

A sharp whistle drew his attention, and turning back he could see a group of girls giving the two of them the thumbs up. Toffee’s blush grew to the point her face was near radiating.

“I… I’ve wanted to come and say ‘Hi’, but you’ve… and I was just wondering—” Toffee’s voice started to waver, and she started to hide behind her fringe in a way that uncomfortably reminded Applejack of someone else. “… if you’d like to have coffee?”

Applejack stared at the girl, shocked.

“Uhh… Ah think…” Applejack closed his eyes, trying to form the words. A smile spread across his lips.

Someone had asked him out!

“Ah think Ah’d love that, Miss Toffee. Ah’d like that very much!”

“Really?” Toffee squeaked. “Really! Oh, great… I mean good. Good! Are you doing anything after the lecture?”

Ж

Butterscotch watched as Applejack left with the girl who had sat with him; his friend didn’t look back once.

He packed his study materials back into his messenger bag, and slung it across his shoulder. The lecture hall was empty, save a few other students, by the time Butterscotch made his way to the door.

Normally, Butterscotch and Applejack would go have afternoon tea once they were done with Environmental Biology, quite often Applejack needed clarification on some of the lecture notes, and Butterscotch didn’t mind helping when the company was good.

By himself, he was not overly sure what to do.

Out of habit he made his way to the coffee shop he and Applejack frequented, but upon opening the door he saw Applejack’s familiar stetson over the heads of the crowd. He could hear his friend laughing along with his date. The last thing Butterscotch wanted was to ruin Applejack’s day, so he turned to exit.

Taking a seat in the park across from the coffee shop, he balled his fist and bopped it on his open palm. “Okay, no need to feel sorry for myself. Like Iron Wilma says, seize the day!” He grabbed his mobile phone and dialed.

“Ummm, hi, Dusk. I was just wondering—” Butterscotch spoke softly into the phone. “Oh no, nothing is the matter. I was just wondering if you were… oh, no. That is okay, I don’t want to interrupt your study session. I’ll see you later.”

Butterscotch tried Elusive, but his phone seemed to be off. Elusive was like that; when he had a deadline to meet, it was nearly impossible to contact him.

He stood, sighing, and slipped his phone back into his pocket.

Ж

Applejack guffawed at the story Toffee told him. Big Marcy had never once shared that embarrassing little nugget with her brothers.

“Ah can’t believe she kept that one from me. After all th’ grief she gave me over trying ta handle the south field on mah own!”

Applejack courteously paid for both their drinks, and escorted Toffee to a free table.

“So how is Big Marcy? And what was your little brother’s name?” Toffee asked, apologetically. “Sorry, I don’t remember.”

“That’s alright, Ah bet he was likely in school while you were helpin’ on th’ farm. But yeah, Apple Buck’s been good. He was gettin’ picked on somethin’ mighty fierce at school, but things’ve been better since he made a friend at school. Kids can be somethin’ terrible, and an accent like ours?”

Toffee blushed. “I always thought your accent was charming.”

The waitress politely interrupted them, as she delivered the coffee’s and Toffee’s cake to the table.

“So, your friend…” Toffee broke the silence after taking a sip of her coffee. “He’s pretty cute too, and one of my friends…” She trailed off into silence, seeing the look on Applejack’s face. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have brought him up.”

Applejack sighed. “No, y’all are fine. Ah jus’… Ah jus’ don’t know what to do about that one. Ah personally think a date with a pretty girl might go a long way for that boy, but Ah don’t know how amendable he’d be ta the idea…”

Ж

“Oh, Butterscotch! I didn’t expect to see you in today.”

“Hi, Dr. Goodall. I finished with my work early, so I thought I might come down and see if you needed help.”

“I could always use your assistance,” the older woman smiled. “Why, I don’t know where this animal shelter would be without your help.”

“Thank you, Doctor.” Butterscotch blushed, hiding behind his fringe.

“Well, you go on out the back.” Dr Goodall smiled, nodding to her assistant. “I’m sure they will all be happy to see you.”

Butterscotch stepped through the double doors to the rear of the building. He let them out of their cages, one by one, as they scampered out the back doors towards the playpen.

The last animal Butterscotch let out was his favorite. He didn’t like to think he had favorites, but this bunny held a special spot in his heart. He slid to the floor, holding the tiny rabbit close to his chest.

“Hey Angel-bunny. Daddy’s had a really bad day today.”