Sleep.

It was the only place she could find some peace, or at least it was. Now, she was plagued every night with horrible images of his face. Many times that week, she awoke with a scream about to pass her lips, and every time she was able to hold back and keep her secret, for one more day at least.

But tonight...tonight was different...

"What say we go to Sugarcube Corner for some ice cream?" said Scootaloo. She jingled a hoofful of bits. "I just got my allowance, so it's my treat!" Apple Bloom's face lit up, but Sweetie just stared at the ground as they walked.

"I'm not in the mood, " she said.

Apple Bloom shared a worried look with Scootaloo and said, "What's the matter, Sweetie Belle? You've been acting strangely for a week now."

Sweetie bit her bottom lip and said, "I'm just not feeling up to anything." Then she dredged up a smile for her friends. "You two go on without me; I'll be fine."

"But it's not the same without you, Sweetie!" said Scootaloo. Then she held up a hoof and stopped her. "Tell us what's wrong."

Sweetie's mind was in turmoil. These two are her closest friends. If they kept pushing, she'd eventually have to tell them. But she just couldn't. So she did the only thing she could think of. "I just wanna be left alone! Can't you two get that through your heads?!" she shouted, then ran off.

They watched her go, then turned to each other. "What can we do?" asked Scootlaoo.

Apple Bloom frowned, then set a determined look on her face. "I'll tell you wat we do. We find out wat's botherin' her. If she won't tell us, then we figure it out for ourselves."

Sweetie made it home and shut the door behind her. She leaned up against it, panting. She'd run all the way home, not stopping for anything. She smelled supper on the table, but she wasn't hungry. He would be back the next day, and it was all she could think of.

"Sweetie? Is that you? I have dinner ready," called Rarity from the kitchen. Sweetie went to the doorway and looked at her sister.

"I'm not hungry," she muttered.

"But Sweetie, you have to eat something. Look, I made your favorites!" declared Rarity. Sweetie stared, and indeed there were her favorite foods: sauteed carrots and mushrooms, all served on a bed of wild rice and greens.

"I said I'm not hungry."

Rarity got up from the table and stood in front of her. "I won't have this, young lady! You march yourself right to the table and eat something!" Sweetie sighed, then took her seat. "That's better," said her sister as she sat herself down as well. Sweetie stared at her plate, then dutifully took a bite.

"I'm done."

"But dear, you've hardly touched anything! I insist you keep eating." Sweetie pushed the food around on her plate, then looked up at her sister. She had a question she'd always wanted to ask, but before had felt too embarrassed to do so. Now, though...

"I have to ask you something: why do you have so many stallions here overnight?"

Rarity's face became crimson as she stammered, "I...I hardly think one or two stallions is 'so many,' dear." She drew herself up proudly and declared, "A lady has needs. You'll understand when you're older."

Sweetie snorted. "I think I understand all too well."

Rarity looked at her. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Now it was Sweetie's turn to blush. "Nothing. I didn't mean anything." She pushed her plate away and stood up. "Can I go now?"

Rarity scowled and said, "Not until you finish your plate." Sweetie huffed and sat down again, then began rhythmically shoveling food into her mouth. She hardly took the time to chew, as Rarity worriedly watched her.

Sweetie picked the plate up in her magic and showed it to her. "I'm done now; can I go?"

"Y...yes."

Sweetie slammed the plate down on the table, hard enough to crack it, then got up and went to her room.

Rarity watched her go, her expression unchanged. Something is wrong with that filly. I will find out what!

She took the plates to the sink and began washing them. Opalescence came into the room and stared at her. She looked at the cat. "Are you still mad at me? What did I do?" The cat turned around and, with her tail in the air, left the room. "Now that's weird, " she said quietly to herself. "What's gotten into her?" Then her face brightened with an idea. She hurriedly finished the dishes, then went out.

Up in her room, Sweetie lay herself down and stared at the wall. I can't keep doing this. She's gonna find out she desperately thought to herself. She began to cry. She had nopony that could help her. He would return tomorrow and do only Celestia knows what to her...again. Then her thoughts took an even darker tone. There was always that way, but how would she do it? A knife? Some pills? It was the only sure way to stop him, and her parents and sister would be safe.

It was a mark of how low her life had become, for her to be thinking about doing something like that to herself.

About an hour had passed when she was startled out of these dark thoughts by a knock on her door. "Go away."

But the door opened anyway. Sweetie turned over to look, and there stood Rarity, but she was not alone. Both her parents were there as well. Sweetie gulped and lay back down, facing away from them, but they came up to her bedside and sat. Her mother was the first to speak.

"Honey, we're here because we're worried about you. Rarity tells us you haven't been acting like yourself, ever since you got your new tutor. Is there something you'd like to tell us?"

Sweetie sighed, and quietly said, "No, there's nothing."

"Look at your mother when she's talking to you, young lady," said her father. She reluctantly got up and turned towards them, but couldn't meet their eyes. "That's better," he said. "Now then, tell us what's wrong."

Sweetie's mind raced. She obviously couldn't tell them the truth, but she knew she was no good at lying. But she had to say something. Then Rarity saved her the trouble.

She turned to her parents and said, "I think I know. It is the new tutor." She then looked at her sister. "She's in love with him." Sweetie's eyes grew wide as her head snapped up at Rarity. Rarity smiled sadly at her. "Tell us it's not true." Sweetie's face flushed from anger, but to her audience, it looked like she was blushing. Her mother climbed up on the bed and hugged her close.

"Honey, is that it? He's too old for you." Seeing her opportunity, Sweetie only nodded. Tears of rage began to fall, only for those to be misinterpreted as well. Her father tried to help.

"Pumpkin, you may think you're in love, but you're too young. There'll be other stallions when you grow up." Both Rarity and Cookie glared at him. "What? What did I say?"

"We can't dismiss her feelings, Dad. She's going through a difficult time, and we have to help her." Hondo wisely shut his mouth. "But Dad is right about one thing: you're too young for him. I know he's handsome, but he's also married. You couldn't be with him even if there wasn't an age difference."

Finally trusting herself to speak, she asked, "So what do I do about it?" Her mother squeezed her again.

"There's really nothing you can do, sweetheart. Just be honest with us next time. We all love you very much."

Sweetie hugged her mother back. "And I love you all! I never want anything bad to happen to you!" They all came forward and hugged her tight.

After a moment, her father said, "I can think of one thing. I don't think she should have him as her tutor anymore."

Hope raced through Sweetie at these words, and her heart started beating rapidly when Rarity added, "I think that's probably best. He's coming tomorrow, I'll tell him then."

Sweetie kept her gaze on the floor. Relief washed over her, but she remembered she was supposed to be...in love...with her tutor, so she did her best to look both sad and disappointed. "Everypony? I...I'd like to be alone now."

Her Mom got to her hooves. "Of course, dear." Leading the way, they all left her room, but not without one last look at their heartsick daughter.

Sweetie waited until the door clicked shut, then leaped up into the air, pumping her hooves. She kept otherwise quiet, but she could hardly contain her joy! He's gone! She wouldn't have to see him again after tomorrow! She felt like singing but knew she couldn't. Not yet.

She went to sleep that night easily, and for the first time in what felt like forever dreamed sweet dreams.