Applejack was in her room, talking to Rarity. She decided to keep her company whilst she worked on her and Flim’s outfits for the festival. The country mare settled herself on her bed, watching her friend sewing her outfit together.

With the festival two days away, Applejack had become both nervous and excited. She was excited to finally be going to the festival… but she was also nervous due to the fact that she happened to be going “allegedly” on a date with Flim this upcoming weekend.

“So, Rarity,” she began, “when do ya think Flim and I’s outfits will be finished?” She rotated herself on the bed, her hanging off the edge, upside.

“Well, I should be able to get it finished by tomorrow afternoon, at the latest,” she responded. Her hooves continuing to move the two pieces of fabric together, stitching them. The young mare looked at her friend, who was smiling a silly smile.

Rarity decided to take a little break from sewing and have a nice little chat with one of her dear friends. She walked over to Applejack, taking a seat next to her on the bed. She moved her head downward to the point that they were now seeing eye-to-eye. “What’s with that silly smile of yours, Applejack?”

The southern pony groaned as she flopped on her belly. Her hooves lay on the edge of the bed once she felt she was comfortable. She took a deep breath before speaking. “I’m just really happy right now…. and a little nervous about friday,” she admitted.

The unicorn gave her a little smirk. “Are you nervous about going to the festival,” she asked. “Or are you nervous about going to the festival with Flim as your date?”

Applejack’s eyes widened. She didn’t know how to answer that. Her face began to heat up; she could feel the blush appearing on her cheeks. “A-a-h-ah,” she stammered, “A-ah’m not nervous about Flim bein’ my date!” AJ immediately covered her mouth with both hooves, for that had become louder than she intended it to be.

Rarity did nothing but laugh. “Oh, darling, don’t be so embarrassed. It’s natural for a lady to be all flustered when she becomes smitten with a certain stallion.”

The blonde mare glared at her. “Ah am NOT smitten,” she protested.

The unicorn simply scoffed. “Please, I can recognize whenever a mare is smitten just by a simple look she gives him.” Rarity looked at Applejack’s red face. Her eyes dilating in frustration. “Believe me dear, you’ve shown it quite a few times.”

The pony let out a frustrating groan, getting off the bed and walking towards the bedroom door. She turned around to face her friends. Her hoof laying on the doorknob. “When are ya going to get through your head that ah ain’t smitten. Ah’ll never ever be smitten!” She twisted the knob, but not yet opening it. “Especially with Flim!” Applejack then opened the door, quickly running out the room, slamming it behind her.

Rarity remained on the bed staring at the bedroom door. She lightly shook her head. “That pony is still too stubborn.” The mare then got back to work on her outfits for the two.

Flim was in the living room, taking a break from working on the farm. He sat quietly in a little chair, reading a book. He turned to the next page wanting to see what happened next to Detective Sherlock Hooves and his pal Trotson. His horn illuminated, bringing a cup of warm tea to his lips.

Ahh, yes. A good book and a cup of tea. A nice way to relax after good day’s work.

His peaceful time reading was soon interrupted. His ears perked up by the sound of hooves coming down the stairs rather quickly. He lifted his head to see Applejack looking frustrated as she was coming down from the second floor.

A concerned look spread across his face. “Everything alright, AJ?”

Applejack lifted her head to see Flim in the living room. She sighed. “Yeah. Yeah, ah’m fine. Just a little frustrated, is all.”

Flim nodded his head. “Frustrated about what,” he asked, setting his book down on the stand next to the chair.

She ran her hoof through her golden-blond mane. “Nothing. It’s just about something Rarity said.” The pony turned her head, not bothering to make any eye contact.

Flim noticed that she wasn’t looking at him again. Why does she never want to look me in the eye? He got up from his chair and began walking toward her. The whole house was silent, you couldn’t even hear Rarity’s sewing machine from upstairs.

Not even from outside could you hear a peep. It was literally nothing but the sound of his hoofsteps along with the creaking of the floorboards.

He was now right in front of her. Placing both his hooves on each side of her face, he turn her head, forcing her to look at him. This sort of gave him a déjà vu vibe, for it reminded him of when he and Applejack were coming back from the town.

“Do you want to talk about it,” he asked, in a soothingly calm manner.

Once again, Applejack had become entranced by his tender touch. She just loved the feeling of his hooves caressing her face. Her eyes closed gently, before opening up once more. Her emerald eyes met his and she felt as though that she had become hypnotized.

For some odd reason, the earth pony felt the urge to bring her face closer to his. She was tempted to see what would happen if she did. Without knowing it, Applejack had found herself staring at his lips.

They look so inviting…. so soft…. so…. kissable-- Wait, WHAT?! The girl mentally slapped herself for thinking such a thing. She felt her face immediately turn red and felt on the urge to panic. She forced his hooves off of her and looked away once more.

“N-no,” she stuttered. “A-ah don’t. It’s not important.” She began to walk toward the front yard but stopped after a few steps. The orange mare took a deep breath .

She decided to calm herself. Thinking for a moment, AJ thought it would help her feel better if she were to prove to Rarity and herself that she wasn’t smitten with Flim at all. She just thought of him as a friend. The girl turned to face him. “Do ya want to get some fresh air an’ talk for a little bit?”

He gave her a genuine smile. “I would very much enjoy that my dear, Applejack.”

She felt her heart skip a beat with that smile and the little name. The county mare, however, smiled in return. The two of them heading towards the front porch to talk.

Applejack came back to her room, only to be greeted by a smirking Rarity. Her hooves were across her chest as she sat upright on the bed. “Soooo,” she began, “how was your little conversation with Flim?”

She shook her head, her eyes widened. “H-how’d ya know ah was having a conversation with Flim?” A surprised expression appeared on her face.

Rarity shrugged. “I didn’t until just now.” The unicorn gave off a little laugh.

“Well, ah don’t care what ya say. Ah am NOT smitten with Flim.”

The fashionable pony got up from the bed and walked up to her. “Oh, yes. You say that now, but before you know it, you’ll be head-over-hooves for him. Why, you’re probably in love with him already,” she said, causing AJ’s jaw to drop.

“Don’t be ridiculous, Rarity!” she protested. “Even if ah were smitten, which, ah AIN’T, it wouldn’t make sense bein’ that ah’ve only got to really know him for about a month or so since he’s been working here.”

The unicorn smirked at her once more. “Besides, it’d be a little early ta call it ‘love.’

Rarity walked toward the door, but not before patting her friend on the head. “Whatever you say, darling.” A blue aura surrounded her horn, whilst also surrounding the doorknob. Opening it with her magic, she walked out of the room and down the hall. Closing the door behind her, she left a, once again, frustrated Applejack, alone in her room, letting her words soak in her friend’s mind.

As she stood alone in her room, she began to wonder: Am ah actually smitten with Flim? Or even… in love with him?

She let out another frustrated groan before throwing herself on the bed.