My Little Brony

by K. M. Hayes

  “Yeah? What character?” I liked a lot of things about Skye, but the best one was her drive. She knew what she wanted and she went for it full force. The more I was around her, the more it was rubbing off on me. I wanted to find that thing that made my life have meaning. I had an idea, but I still wasn’t 100 percent sure like her.

  “That’s a secret still. Don’t want anyone stealing my idea,” she said. “But hey, so later on, meet me in the Home Ec room, okay? We can walk to my house after I finish up my sewing for the day.”

  “Walk?” This shouldn’t have thrown me, except that I remembered Emma saying she and Skye lived close to each other.

  “Yeah, it’s like fifteen minutes. Then my mom will drive us into Austin, okay?” Skye broke off, going down a different hall to class. “See ya!”

  I waved, heading towards my math class, my mind stuck on Emma. Something was off. Emma waited after school for her mom to pick her up. Why?—when she could walk home? I’d taken that simple piece of information as fact, but now it seemed like she had been lying to me.

  **********

  A big part of me still dreaded the ringing of the lunch bell. My chest constricted, and my breathing got short and panicky. Even knowing I had Skye to sit with, even knowing we had a good out-of-the-way spot to hide, the memories from middle school haunted me.

  So I kept my head down as I headed into the halls. I stuck near the lockers, pushing against the crowds headed for the cafeteria and commons. I went around the back of the school, ending up in the art hall with little risk of threats finding me.

  I was almost out of the hall, almost to safety, when a hand came around my arm. My back hit the lockers, and I braced for what usually came next while covering my face for protection.

  “Oh, sorry, man,” a familiar voice said. “You okay?”

  I peeked over my arm, seeing a football jacket over a wide chest. I looked up further at Jake’s face staring back at me. “Jake? What’re you doing here?”

  He looked from side to side. “Can we talk for a second?”

  “Uh . . . sure.”

  “This way.” If it had been anyone but Jake, I probably wouldn’t have followed him out behind the giant trash bins. Even so, I still partially expected the rest of the football team to appear and beat me up for leaving them and becoming a pony-loving freak. Jake must have sensed this because he said, “Calm down, I’m not gonna hurt you.”

  I breathed, relieved. “Then what?”

  “Look, Drew . . .” Jake put his hands in his pockets. “You’re smart. I’m sure you know your dad asked me to help you out as the new kid.”

  “I figured as much, yeah.”

  “Well, okay. At first I wasn’t on board, but after hanging out with you a bit I decided you’re a pretty cool person.” Jake looked down embarrassed. No wonder he took me out here where no one would see him being sentimental. “So I just wanted to ask—is it really true you’re into that little girl pony show? Or is that a rumor?”

  I grabbed the straps of my backpack, a knot in my gut. For a second, it felt like confessing to my father. Just a nicer, younger version of him. “Yeah, I like the show. Is that so bad?”

  Jake cringed. “Yeah, it is, actually. It’s that bad. At least here, smack dab in the middle of football-loving Texas. You couldn’t have kept it a secret at least?”

  “I tried. But I couldn’t take Skye getting bullied anymore.”

  “You think you can stop it now?” Jake look concerned for me, and I appreciated that despite his yelling. “You should have stayed with me, told me about it so I could speak up and tell the guys to stop. You can’t do anything when you’re the target. Trust me, I know. But now? Damn it, Drew, I can’t protect you from this without going down with you.”

  My fists tightened around my backpack straps. “I never asked you to protect me, and I never asked my dad either. And you couldn’t have stopped everyone from bullying Skye, either.”

  “Neither can you!” Jake threw his hands up in the air. “Just what are you trying to do anyway?”

  “I’m trying to be myself!” I yelled back. Jake’s eyes widened, and I imagined I had the same expression since I hadn’t known I’d say that either. In that moment I knew it was true. “I’m tired of trying to be what my dad wants, or what everyone else thinks I should be. All that’s done is made me miserable. So yeah, I know liking My Little Pony is practically a death wish here, but it’s a good show and I like it. And Skye is a nice person I like hanging out with. And I hate getting crap for that, but I don’t know what else to do.”

  Jake sighed, sadder than I expected. “Well, you got balls, Drew. I wish I had the guts to be myself. But don’t tell anyone I said that.”

  “Who would believe me anyway?” I said.

  He smirked. “Sadly true.”

  “So what happens now? We part ways and pretend we never talked?”

  “Maybe.” Jake looked at the entrance to the hall. “But hey, I’m rooting for you. Even if it doesn’t look like it, I am.”

  “Thanks, I guess.” I pointed behind me. “Can I go now? Skye’s probably wondering where I went.”

  “Yeah, see ya.”

  “See ya.” I headed around the school, trying to make sense of why Jake wanted to see me at all. He hadn’t offered me any solutions or aid, just a secret vote of support. It reminded me a lot of how I was on Skye’s side but hadn’t admitted it before I watched the show. She must have felt like this, knowing I wasn’t an enemy but not a friend either. It was really confusing.

  “There you are!” Skye said, looking me over with concern. “Are you okay? No one gave you crap, did they?”

  I shrugged. “Not really. Just had to ask the teacher something.”

  There was no point in telling her about Jake, in telling anyone about it. It wasn’t like his support would change anything if he wanted to keep it to himself. But I was very interested in finding out something from Skye. “So, you said we’d walk to your house, right?”

  Skye nodded as she ate from her sad bag of Goldfish crackers. “Yup. Why?”

  “It’s just . . . don’t take this wrong, okay?” I started.

  Her eyebrows narrowed. “That’s a dubious way to start.”

  I took a deep breath and tried to frame it in a way that wouldn’t give away Emma’s secrets. “So, I kinda know Emma Lindsey. She said you guys are neighbors.”

  Skye choked on her Goldfish, coughing and sputtering. “What?”

  “She happened to mention that you guys used to be friends, and—”

  “Did she say horrible stuff about me?” Skye groaned. “Why do you have to know her?”

  “Calm down.” I put my hands out like I was soothing a wild animal. “She didn’t say anything bad. That’s not even why I brought it up. I stay after school most days because my dad has football, right?”

  “Right . . .” Skye settled back down, waiting.

  “Well, I run into people while I’m waiting around and one of those people was Emma. She told me that she waits for her mom to pick her up after work, but then you said your house was within walking distance. So I wondered why she wouldn’t just walk home. And if she lied, why would she lie about that?”

  “Hmm, interesting.” Skye settled into the wall, mulling it over. “Well, her parents are crazy overprotective, so maybe she’s not allowed to walk home.”

  “Really?” That wasn’t the answer I had hoped for. In my head, I wanted it to be that she stayed to read and hang out with me but was too embarrassed to say it.

  “Yeah, like, they’re seriously crazy.”

  I smirked. “This coming from the girl in pony garb.”

  “Hey!” she sounded mad for a second but then laughed. “Okay, fair enough. But still, they won’t let her do anything. I used to play there when I was a kid, and they didn’t have a TV or computers or even cell phones. They’re way strict. Emma would get mad at me when I did stuff she couldn’t, and I just couldn’t keep living like her when I didn’t have to, you k
now?”

  “Yeah, I get that.”

  It sounded like Skye didn’t hate Emma either, which gave me hope that I could eventually get them back together. I just had to create the right opening.

  Chapter 23

  EVEN THOUGH IT was a long shot, I decided I’d at least see if Emma would bite. So as I entered the library, I pulled up my video streaming app and opened the first episode of My Little Pony. From what Skye had said, Emma never had a chance to watch it with no technology in her house. Maybe if I gave her the chance. . . .

  She was hiding behind the desk again, reading her book and not looking up as I stood before her. My heart twisted a little. I wanted her not to be mad at me. Especially after what happened with Quincy, I didn’t need my friends hating me over this. I had to fix it.

  “Hey.” I kneeled down, blocking her book with my phone. “Here.”

  She glared at the screen and didn’t look at me. “Are you trying to tempt me?”

  “Maybe,” I admitted. “You’re surrounded by temptation here anyway.”

  “Drew . . .” She leaned her head back on the wall, closing her eyes. I felt a twinge of guilt. It looked like she might cry and I didn’t want that. “Why do you have to do this to me?”

  I pulled back my phone. “Sorry.”

  She sighed. “I know you don’t get it.”

  “I don’t get a lot of things.” I almost brought up that she could be walking home right now, but I didn’t. She didn’t want to tell me these secrets, and I wouldn’t force them out of her. “But I wanted to give you the chance to watch it, just in case there was the tiniest bit of desire. You’re a writer. I think you’d really appreciate the story.”

  “Who said I was a writer?” she asked, narrowing her eyes.

  “It’s obvious, once someone gets to know you.” I pursed my lips, holding my phone out to her one more time. “Just take my phone and ear buds. I know you’ll love it.”

  She looked at the phone, and before I knew it she had snatched it from me. “You suck.”

  I couldn’t help smiling as I handed the charger over, too. “I know. Keep it over the weekend. No one calls or texts me anyway.”

  “Okay.” She held it close like something special. But she didn’t look at me. “I’m almost done with my book, so . . .”

  “Say no more.” I went back to my table, hope swelling in my chest. Maybe Emma was still mad at me, but she had taken my phone. Maybe she’d watch the show and realize nothing really divided her and Skye.

  I did as much of my homework as I could before I met up again with Skye. She said she’d be sewing for at least an hour and a half, so I might as well work before I play. Besides, I planned to follow Emma and see if her mom really did pick her up. I had to at least know if she was lying, even if I didn’t know the reason.

  When Emma left the library about forty minutes later, I counted to sixty before I got up and headed for the door. I carefully looked around the corner. Emma was almost to the front entrance of the school. She went through the door as I stepped into the hall. I was pretty sure she wouldn’t see me, since I didn’t even have to walk outside to confirm my suspicions.

  I looked out the glass and spotted Emma in her plaid dress and boots. She wasn’t getting into a car—she was crossing the street out front.

  So she had lied to me.

  It seemed like a stupid thing to lie about. I had no idea what to make of it, but I wasn’t as mad as I thought I’d be. Emma fascinated me. How could she be so open one minute and so closed the next? I decided not to confront her about it because she might start leaving school on time. Which meant I wouldn’t get to talk to her at all.

  Heading to the Home Ec room, I focused on what was ahead. I was about to go to my first Brony meet-up. I let myself be excited about that, despite the unknowns. There was no way it wouldn’t be fun to meet other fans of the show. Plus, I’d get to hang out with Skye.

  The sound of the sewing machine echoed through the hall, and this time when I peeked into the classroom I didn’t get glares. The teacher smiled and said, “You must be Drew. Skye has told me about you.”

  I nodded.

  Skye stopped sewing and turned around to greet me. “Hey! I’m almost done serging this skirt. It’ll take me about fifteen to do the hem and then we’ll go, okay?”

  “Sure.” I sat down in one of the chairs near a big table covered in fabric scraps. The colors were now as familiar as those of Twilight and Fluttershy. There were also pattern pieces made of paper, a measuring tape, and a pair of scissors. “What’re you making now?”

  “Remember that skirt I was sewing a patch on earlier?” she said as she switched to another sewing machine.

  “Yeah.”

  “Well, that was for an order.” She glanced at me shyly. “Actually, I decided to open up an Etsy shop to see if I could sell some clothes. I’ve sold three things just this week!”

  “Really?” I smiled with her. “That’s awesome! So you’re a real fashion designer now.”

  She laughed. “No, but it’s still cool. Figure I should at least try and make some cash if I’m spending so much time on this. Maybe I can save enough to go to BronyCon, you know?”

  “Sounds like a good plan to me.” It blew my mind how she was so prepared, taking so much initiative. I would have never thought I could make money on my own at fourteen.

  After she finished, we walked to her house in a quiet neighborhood two blocks from the school. As we passed the plantation-style houses, I wanted to ask which one was Emma’s. I didn’t, knowing that it might not go over well. Skye chatted about people who would be at the meet-up, but it was hard to keep track of who she was talking about when I hadn’t met any of them.

  “I didn’t mention it earlier . . .” Skye bit her lip, looking nervous. “But my big brother is coming with us, too. He’s a huge Brony. And, uh, he has Down syndrome, so don’t get weirded out by that.”

  “Oh, no worries,” I said, but it caught me a little off guard to know we weren’t going alone. “Why would I be weirded out?”

  “Some people are.” Clearly there was more to that story, but now wasn’t the time to ask. With Quincy for a best friend, I’d witnessed plenty of people being “weirded out.” Or downright rude.

  Skye stepped onto the path of a light blue house with a browning lawn, and I followed her up to the porch. She unlocked the front door, and we stepped into the quiet, cool space. The place was clean and modest, not much furniture and hardly any pictures on the walls. I followed Skye down the hall into a kitchen that looked like it was rarely used.

  “You hungry?” Skye said as she opened the fridge.

  “Yeah.” I sat on a stool in front of the kitchen island. “No one home?”

  “Looks like we beat them.” She bit into an apple and tossed me one. I caught it. “Sometimes I win because of traffic.”

  “I see.” I looked around, feeling weird about being in her house alone with her.

  “I’m gonna bake some fish sticks. Harley loves them.” She went to the oven and pressed some buttons. “Do you want any?”

  “Sure.” I took a bite of the apple. “Harley’s your brother?”

  She nodded.

  “He and your mom work?”

  “Yup, my mom’s a manager at a grocery store, and Harley is a bagger.” She leaned against the counter, much more at ease than me. “Nothing glamorous, but we get by okay.”

  She never mentioned her dad, so I decided maybe I shouldn’t ask about him. “Cool. My mom stays at home, and I have a little sister who’s eight.”

  “The pony fan?”

  I nodded. “Too bad I couldn’t bring her. She’d probably love this.”

  Skye laughed. “You should! There’s a couple guys who bring their kids. She’d have friends to play with.”

  “Maybe someday . . .” I gulped, realizing I hadn’t told her this yet. “If I ever tell my parents that I like the show.”

  She paused, her look growing serious. “Wait, they don’
t know?”

  “They don’t even know I’m here,” I admitted.

  “Drew! Are you crazy?” She was madder than I expected. “What if your dad comes looking for you at school? You’ll be in so much trouble! I’ll get in trouble!”

  “The Homecoming game is tonight. That’s all he cares about.”

  She put her hands on her hips. “You should at least tell him you’re at a friend’s house.”

  “No way!” My heart raced at the thought. It was all around school that I liked MLP, but I hoped it hadn’t reached Dad yet. Teachers weren’t usually up on student gossip, were they? “He’d be more mad if he found out I like this stuff. You can get me back to school before the game is over, can’t you?”

  She sighed. “Probably.”

  “Good, then he’ll never know I left.” We had to be back by ten. It wouldn’t be that hard.

  Chapter 24

  JUST AS THE fish sticks were done cooking, a car pulled into the driveway. Skye smiled widely as footsteps sounded in the garage. “There they are!”

  The door opened, and in came an older version of Skye in nonpony clothes. She had hair shorter than mine and a big, white smile. A guy with a fauxhawk and glasses followed her—he must be Harley. To my surprise, he was about my height but thicker. He saw me right off, and his grin was contagious. “Is this the Brony?”

  Skye nodded as she pulled the food from the oven. “This is Drew.”

  “Awesome!” Harley came over and hugged me. “Nice to meet you, man!”

  “You, too.” I hugged him back. If everyone at the meet-up was like him, I had nothing to worry about.

  He let go, heading for Skye. “Ooh, fish sticks!”

  “I’m Skye’s mother, by the way,” her mom said as she hung her jacket on a hook. “I will be your chauffeur for the evening.”

  “Mom, whatever, you love going.” Skye divided the food onto plates while Harley grabbed the ketchup. “You’re almost as big a Pegasister as I am.”

  “Shh.” Her mom glanced at me. “I’m trying to look like a grown-up here.”

  “Mom likes Rainbow Dash the best,” Harley said as he ate his dinner. “You’re going to wear Dash ears, right, Mom?”