“What’re you doing?”

Dammit! I did it again, only this time, I got caught. Three months into my stay in Ponyville, and my feelings for the Element of Loyalty haven’t abated. Shit, I’m so freakin’ embarrassed…I wanna just crawl into a hole somewhere and curl up and die…

But then, I notice the light in her eyes, the tiny smile curling up the corners of her mouth. I remember the near-laughter in her tone when she spoke, giving a little quavering quality to her voice. I relax. “I dunno,” I shrug. “I could be challenging you to a staring contest.”

“Oh, izzat all?” She puts down the Daring-Doo book she’s been reading and turns on her side, facing me. That competitive fire ignites in her eyes, and just like that, I can’t look away. It’s mesmerizing. She locks her gaze on mine with the accuracy of a bomber pilot from back home. “I gotta warn ya, I don’t lose. Period.”

“I know,” I reply with a nonchalant little shrug. Hopefully, it disguises the utter chaos twisting my insides. Her eyes stay on mine, and I don’t dare look away. If I look away, that’ll be it. I’ll lose my bravery and back down again.

Okay. It’s now or never.

“Hey, Rainbow Dash…you think we could…go out sometime?”

She blinks.