[ January 31st 2010 // both: age 15 ]

Bubbling beads of sweat rolled like bowling balls down Rainbow's forehead, as she stood semi-confidently before the Academy bathroom mirror, preparing herself for what she was about to do. She had made a bet with herself to confess her feelings to Soarin before her birthday, and today was her last chance to fulfil this.

"C'mon, Rainbow, snap out of it! You can do this, you can do this!" she abundantly pumped herself up, practising about a hundred different smiles and facial expressions in the smudge-covered mirror. "All ya gotta do is say you like him...Omigosh I can't do this!"

"Yes, you can!" insisted Firefly, leaning against the row of sinks which were just as grimy as the mirror.

"I agree with Crierfly, dude," agreed Spitfire, who was skillfully avoiding even placing a hoof on the nasty sludge plaguing the bathroom. "Eww, why are we even in here, again?"

"Because it's the only private place in the entire academy, plus, I need to prepare myself!" Rainbow cried, hurling her throbbing head into her clammy hooves. "Gah, I'm getting a damn headache!"

Smugly, Spitfire smirked before raising a single eyebrow, "That's 'cause you're overthinking! Trust me, I've known Clipper since I could barely even walk, he's a cool guy. He'll appreciate it more if you just tell him outright, not all this sappy business you're trying to come up with."

"I know, I know," sighed Rainbow, resting her hooves on the wall. "But what if it all goes wrong?! I mean, what if he doesn't like me back? Or I say something that'll scare him off? Maybe I might look really ugly up close! What if he realises I'm ugly?!"

Groaning aloud in frustration, Firefly had finally had enough of her best friend's irritating rambling, "That's it! Listen, Crash, nothing is gonna go wrong. Have you seen the way he looks at you?! He's in love! Between Shitfire and I, we've caught him staring at you at least a hundred times since we've been at the academy. Also, you're not ugly, in fact, you're about a million light years away from being ugly! So just trust us, go out there and get yourself a coltfriend!"

"Woah," mumbled Spitfire, in a state of complete shock from Firefly's persuasive speech.

"Yeah, I have a knack for getting my point across," Firefly winked, before prying Rainbow from the now sweat-imprinted wall and shoving her outside the bathroom, into the hallway leading to the shared dormitories. As soon as Rainbow was launched out of the lavatory like an Angry Bird, Soarin came strolling past as if on cue.

"Oh, Crash, I was just looking for you, I need to tell you...something!" Soarin cried out, jittering around nervously, exactly like the mare standing before him.

"O-oh, um, h-hey Clipper! I-I need to tell you s-something too!" Rainbow's forehead was glistening with buckets of perspiration, her heart racing with such speed that she was quite surprised she hadn't had a heart attack by now.

"Ummm, let's just say it on three, okay?" suggested Soarin. Now was the moment that could make or break their future relationship, the three words that could possibly ruin everything they had prior to this day were suddenly let loose from their cages. "Three, two, one..."

"I like you!" the pair shouted in unison, as they both shared the relieving feeling of the 10kg dumbbell weight being miraculously lifted from their shoulders. Rainbow stumbled back in shock while Soarin stopped in his tracks, slackjawed.

"W-wha?!" Soarin was incredulous, blinking profusely as if this were some inconceivable dream, and he had to wake up instantly otherwise he'd get his hopes up too far. "Sweet Celestia, am I dreaming?"

"I..I..." the words Rainbow tried to form in her head came out as mushy as mushy peas, her tongue suddenly giving away and limiting her ability to speak.

"Are you for real? Like, is this a prank? Please tell me this isn't a prank!" begged Soarin with widening eyes. He thought about how his dreams would be crushed if this all turned out to be some stupid stunt Rainbow pulled off with the help of her friends. Thankfully for him, Rainbow Dash shook her head vigorously, still unable to speak properly.

"Oh, phew...anyways then Crash, can I, like, talk to you later? Like after dinner, can we go to my dorm, to talk, I mean," asked Soarin, a hint of nervousness creeping up his spine once again.

"S-sure, okay," Rainbow managed to blurt out, her face painted red.

"Awesome, I'll see you later,then--" Soarin slowly crept closer to Rainbow and brushed his muzzle against her ear, sending shivers down her back. "--Babe."

Rainbow Dash's eyes boggled in disbelief, watching as Soarin trotted back down the hallway to the dorms, probably off to spill everything to his eagerly-waiting friends. Mind racing, she swung open the bathroom door to reveal both Spitfire and Firefly spilling onto the ground.

"Oof!" huffed Spitfire as she catapulted to the floor beside Firefly, who was beginning to climb back to her hooves.

"Were you guys eavesdropping?" questioned Rainbow, raising an eyebrow quizzically.

"Yeah.." admitted Firefly, wincing in pain as she rubbed her throbbing head with one hoof. "But that's not the point, we're so happy for you!"

"Totally, especially when he called you babe! Ahhhh!" squealed Spitfire, bouncing around with excitement.

Rainbow's jaw lodged itself open, "Wait, you heard that?!"

"Yeah, it was soooo cute!" squee'd Firefly, and soon all three mares were jumping up and down in pure joy like a bunch of schoolfillies after getting invited to a birthday party. After realising how girly they all looked, the came to a sudden halt, their faces tinted crimson.

"Let's never do that again," stated Spitfire, returning back to her badass self.

"Agreed."

After a jam-packed day of Equestrian History, learning about Commander Hurricane, Biology, which included dissecting a frog and hours upon hours of outdoor flight drills, Rainbow Dash eventually found herself at the bustling cafeteria with Spitfire, Firefly and Fleetfoot, digging into a mouth-wateringly delicious veggie burger each.

"So, Rainbow," started Fleetfoot, gulping down a rather big bite of veggie burger. "What's it like being the hottest colt in Class One's marefriend, huh?"

"How does everyone know about this?" grumbled Rainbow. "And I'm not his marefriend...yet."

"Well, I guess Soarin couldn't keep his muzzle shut, cause I heard it from High Winds, who heard it from Lightning Streak, who overheard Silver Zoom talking about it, who apparently was told by Misty Fly, who--"

"Oh, great," groaned Rainbow, slamming her face into her hoof. "So basically the entire academy knows?"

"Yep, pretty much," Fleetfoot took another bite of her meal. "So, you guys got any plans after dinner? Sleepover, anyone?"

"I'm down for that," replied Firefly, looking to Spitfire, who nodded as well. They both averted their gaze to Rainbow Dash, who was busy stuffing her muzzle with remains of veggie burger.

"Hmmph? Oh, sorry, I can't. I'm going to Soarin's dorm after dinner," she explained, bringing on a chorus of 'Ooooooh!'s from her friends. "You can chill out okay, we're not gonna do, ya know, whatever is it that you're thinking."

"Oooo, look at you, not even using his nickname!" Spitfire winked, enticing a grumble out of Rainbow Dash. The quartet finished off their meals before the intercom sounded around the entire academy.

"The cafeteria will close in ten minutes, I repeat the cafeteria will close in ten minutes."

"That's my cue, guys," Rainbow rose from the round, plastic seat and turned towards the exit. "I'll see you all tomorrow."

A couple of 'Bye, Crash!'s rang through the cafeteria as Rainbow trotted out of the cafeteria, the transition from the greasy aroma of veggie burgers to the overpowering smell of cleaning products causing her nose to sting. Fighting back chemically induced tears, Rainbow made her way to Soarin's dorm, knocking softly on the wooden door which was painted pure white with a striking yellow lighting bolt plastered in the middle.

"It's open!" hollered Soarin from inside the room, inviting Rainbow inside. Carefully, she nudged open the door and made her way inside, locking it behind her. "Oh, hey Dash!" he called out from atop his bed

"Hey, Soar!" greeted Rainbow, plopping her haunches on Soarin's bed, getting herself comfy.

Soarin chuckled at how fast Rainbow was becoming comfortable around him, "'Soar', huh? Already making nicknames for me, and we aren't even dating yet!"

"Oh, sorry--" apologised Rainbow, looking away to her hooves as Soarin abruptly cut her off.

"You apologise too much, what's up?" Soarin adorably cocked his head, a couple stray curls falling over his forehead.

"Sorry, it's--" Soarin glared playfully at Rainbow's constant need to apologise. "I mean, it's just that, even though you probably think I'm all awesome and cool and stuff, when it comes to this, ya know, dating thing I'm a complete doofus...like I have absolutely no idea what to say to a colt to make them, like, really like me. It's hard to explain, okay?!"

"Well," Soarin brushed a stray hoof against Rainbow's fluffy cheek. "I think you did a pretty good job explaining. Honestly, I could care less about all that sappy, lovey-dovey stuff. You just being you makes me like you."

"That's easy for you to say," Rainbow grumbled, crossing her hooves like toddler after being refused candy. "You're like, the Mare-Whisperer. Even when you just touch my cheek I get all tingly inside..."

Soarin chuckled softly again, "I guess it's just God-given talent, then. Anyway, can I ask, when did you start...ya know, liking me?"

"Umm..." Rainbow pondered. "Remember when we all went on that tour, the first time we all met each other? That day, when we were all sitting in the library and I...I couldn't stop staring at you, it's like my eyes were just drawn to you, I guess."

"Same, I was just like 'Dang, who is that smokin' hawt mare?'" imitated Soarin, which enticed a belly-laugh from Rainbow.

"Me? Smokin' hot?" she asked rhetorically, flopping herself on her back, over Soarin's lap. "Never."

"You gotta stop underselling yourself, Dashie. I mean, when you finally become a Wonderbolt and somepony says you're awesome, are you gonna say no? ...Dash?"

On a one-way ride on her train of thoughts, Rainbow stared lifelessly up at the ceiling, before suddenly snapping out of her trance, "Hmm?"

"Nothing, you just spaced out. Is something wrong?" asked Soarin as he fiddled with his soon-to-be marefriend's mane in his hooves.

"That nickname, Dashie. My mom calls me that, it's cringy!" squirmed Rainbow, scrunching her muzzle as if she'd just smelled month old gym socks.

"Well I think it's adorable, what does your dad call you?"

"Princess..."

"Aww, cute, Princess Dashie!" teased Soarin, chortling with laughter.

Rolling her eyes, Rainbow grumbled, "Ugh, whatever. Anyways, can I ask, what are we?"

"What?" questioned Soarin, perplexed.

"I mean, what are we, relationship wise. Like, are we coltfriend and marefriend, or what?"

"Obviously, I thought we established that a couple hours ago!"

"Yeah, but, you never really asked me properly..." A squeak escaped Rainbow's muzzle as she desperately attempted to avoid awkward eye contact with Soarin.

Rolling his emerald green orbs playfully, Soarin recited, "Well then, Rainbow Dash, would you like to be my lawfully wedded marefriend?"

"I do, duh!" giggled Rainbow, snuggling closer to her coltfriend. "Sweet Celestia, I'd never ever thought I'd be saying this in my entire life, but I really do like you, Soar. I always thought I was too cool for a dumb relationship."

"I really like you too, Dashie," Soarin planted a quick kiss on Rainbow's forehead as she climbed off of the bed to return to her dorm, shared with Firefly. "I'll catch you tomorrow?"

"Yeah, tomorrow," Rainbow swung open the front door, and a pile of Spitfire, Firefly and Fleetfoot spilt into the room, each of them giggling sheepishly and ruby red creeping onto their cheeks. "You were eavesdropping again?!"