(6) Everything's coming up gaynon

>So where were we?
>Oh yeah
>May have to go live with my parents
>Great
>Anyway, after I got out of the hospital, Pinkie decided to throw me a massive welcome home party
>Arrive at the party, with crutches and pumped full of painkillers
>It's in the school gyn
>Walk in
>No one there
>3....2....1...
>"SURPRISE!"
>Yep, totally predictable
>There are actually a surprising amount of people here.
>First time seeing the girls in ages
>They hug me like I almost died or something
>Oh wait, that's right
>Decide to put off telling them about me moving away
>Just decide to enjoy the party for now.
>We just talk, joke around, everything we did before everything went down
>"So anon...." Rarity starts
>"Applejack told us what happened...."
>I look over at Applejack, smiling
"Did she now?"
>She's blushing
>"So," Rairty continues
>"Does this mean you guys are dating now?"
>All the girls look at me with wrapped attention
"Maybe, I mean, I guess we'll just see where it goes."
>Applejack stifles a small laugh
>Then everything goes back to normal
>That was a little weird
>But anyways
>The party begins wrapping up, and everyone begins to leave
>Applejack pulls me to the side, away from the other girls
>"Anon, can I talk to you?"
"Sure."
>She pulls me over by the bleachers
>"Listen, I need to tell you something..."
"Don't even tell me you're pregnant, that's not how it works. Even I know that."
>She giggles
>"No,it's not that"
>She continues
>"It's just that, when you were in the hospital.... I was afraid I was gonna lose you. And I realized that I don't want that, I wanna stay with you."
>Well, that's not exactly something you hear everyday
>But what about the plan to move away?
>How is this gonna work out
"Listen, Applejack..."
>She gives me a worried look
"Right now..... I can't afford to live in Canterlot anymore."
>She looks a little shocked
"With the condition I'm in.... I have no way to support myself. I may need to move back in with my parents."
---
>Applejack looks really worried now
>"But I.... I mean.... you can't leave! You can't just leave me here! And not just me! WHat about the rest of the girls?"
"Applejack, I can't live here anymore. I got no money coming in. What do you want me to do? Me options are limited."
>"What about Pinkie? Maybe she could get you a job at Sugar Cube Corner... or maybe Rarity has an opening down at the shop..."
"It's not gonna pay enough, my apartment alone costs me $800, there's no way I would survive."
>She thinks for a moment
>"Why don't you stay at Sweet Apple Acres? Just until you get back onto your feet?"
>Well, I'm a little hesitant
>But my options are limited
>Do I stay here?
>Or move halfway across the country?
"Alright... I mean I guess I could do that..."
>Applejack wraps me in a tight hug
>"I really don't wanna lose you"
>I return the hug
"...."
"I am pretty great, right?"
>Crap, I'm cheeky
>That night I just sat on my sofa and looked around.
>What am I bringing with me anyhow?
>It's not like I'm gonna be able to bring all this crap with me
>Maybe I could put some of it on eBay.
>And give the money to Applejack's family to make it up to them.
>Yeah, that sounds like a plan
>Suddenly my heart sank
"Aww crap" I said at loud
>If I go to Sweet Apple Acres, that means I can't drink or smoke weed anymore. Or, you know, at least for the time when I'm staying there.
>Crap
>Welp, I still got my painkillers.
>Seriously, why do I always have to have some kind of drug in me?
>Because life is hard
>But I just make it hard on myself
>I really gotta get my life on track.
---
>My bed is gone, my couch, I don't really need the TV anymore
>Should I keep the laptop?
>Yeah, I guess so
>Tables, chairs, coffee table, dresser
>All that needs to go
>Once I get to Applejack's house I can move all my stuff into the dresser in the guest bedroom
>You couldn't even begin to make it up to them for letting them stay with you
>Letting go of all the alcohol and weed was worth it to be able to stay here with your friends.
>I heard a horn outside
>It was Granny Smith
>She pulled up in her old pickup truck
>I threw all my clothes and personal belongings into a bag and grabbed my phone and computer.
>I walked up to the empty door and looked around one last time
>Nope, nothing left to grab
>It's a little sad though, right
>Nahh
>It's just an apartment
>No memories here except for fragments of getting drunk
>I closed the door and locked it one last time, and put the key under the door mat
>I threw my bag in the truck bed, and got in the cab.
>"Ready dearie?"
"Yep, off we go"
>And we drove off towards sweet apple acres
>I got settled in pretty quickly
>Just put my clothes in the dresser, hooked up my laptop, plugged my phone in, and got comfortable
>Someone knocked on the open door
>I looked up
>It was Applebloom
>"Hey... anon."
>Oh great
"Hi, uh... Applebloom."
>"So, can I ask you something?"
>I already knew what was coming
"Yep. Go ahead"
>"So, you told me, you um, didn't like girls, right?"
"Right."
>"But now you have a soft spot for my sister?"
>Wait, how did she even know about that?
"How did you hear about me and your sister?"
>"I overheard her talking about it with her friends on the phone."
>I closed my laptop and sighed
"Listen, Applebloom. That was a long time ago, I only did what I felt was right in my heart. At the time, that's what I thought I wanted. But now, things are a little different."
>She looks sad
"Look, like I said before, it's not like I don't like you. I'm sure there are boys in your class that'd be dying to be with you."
---
>She perks up a little and gives a small smile
>"You said that last time."
"And I meant it. There has to be someone in your class that has taken a shining to you."
>"Well, there might be somebody..."
>She gives another faint smile and blushes
"Well that doesn't come as a surprise to me."
>I smile at her
>"Thanks anon. Oh! And I heard about your accident. Glad to hear you're alright."
>Well, I'm still in massive amounts of pain
>There's a metal rod in my left leg
>There are scares everywhere
>But I'm not dead yet.
"Thanks Applebloom. You're a really caring girl, you know that? Maybe you should become a nurse or something."
>She smiled
>"I do like to help people. You think that'd be my special talent?"
"Maybe, I mean, there's only one way to find out."
>At least I managed to cheer her up.
>"Bye anon!" she yelled as she bolted out the door
>Well that was awkward
>Back to business
>Then there was another knock on the door
>I looked up
>It was Big Mac
---
>Well this was a surprise
>What was even more surprising?
>I didn't really feel attracted to him anymore
>Maybe that kiss with Applejack effected me a little more than I thought
>I was probably just attracted to him from a physical physical standpint anyway
>"Hey anon, can I talk to you?"
"Yeah, sure, what's up?"
>"Listen, I know Applejack likes you, a lot...."
>She really needs to learn to keep her mouth shut
>"And I wanted to let you know a few things."
"Like?"
>"Like that we, as a family, expect you to help the family out, like chores and stuff."
"Okay."
>"Second, I don't want any kind of hanky panky nonsense going on now that you and Applejack are living in the same household
>Hue
>Not likely that I would do that anyways
"Alright, I got you"
>"Thanks anon"
>He comes over and gives me a handshake
>"You're a good man"
>Things are getting weird again
>He left the bedroom
>After a few weeks I became more and more depressed
>All I did was sit around the house all day.
>I couldn't really go anywhere
>My leg was still messed up.
>Applejack was always out doing chores around the property or out on the town doing business
>I had nothing to do but eat, sleep and watch TV
>I was in a rut
>I couldn't help very much
>Most chores were too strenuous for me
>I did little things, like sweeping, mopping, organizing stuff
>I was beginning to feel like a burden
>I needed to get out and break my cabin fever.
>Applejack came in one Sunday and asked if I wanted to go to church with them
>I guess I could do that.
>If I ever needed a time to go back, it was now.
>I had no job, no money, was homeless, crippled, an alcoholic
>What did I have to lose
>It was a small church
>I hadn't been to one in so long
>"Don't worry, you got nothing to be afraid of" everybody tried to tell me
>The message was all about how God forgives us no matter how messed up we make our lives. No matter what we do, we always have love to support us, even in our darkest times
>I came back home, and was actually pretty happy.
>Not just because I got the chance to leave the house, but because of the message also.
>If I needed support at any time in my life, it would be now
>I still wish I could make myself useful around the house somehow.
>I already gave them what money I had left.
>Maybe I should look for a job
>Something that requires no skill set, no hard labor, and pays good.
>Yeah, this should be fun
>I ended up browsing the internet for about 12 hours a day for a job.
>I narrowed it down to two choices.
>Cashier at a retail job, which is easily one of the most despicable positions someone can ever work in.
>Or at telemarketing place taking phone calls.
>Alright, looks like I'm trying the telemarketing job.
>Go to the job place
>Ask to apply
>They tell me that they are conducting interviews now, and I can just go in if I want.
"Well, I don't know, at the moment I'm terribly underdressed."
>"It's fine, no one can see you over the phone anyway."
>This job seems pretty laid back
>Maybe this is the way to go.
>Go in for the interview
>Just standard questions, did you graduate high school, why do you think you'd be good for this job, etc.
>Turns out they were just looking for someone with a high school diploma (check), someone who likes to talk (yep), and someone who knows how to use a computer (I'm a teenager, I live off of the computer)
>They told me they would call me soon with a decision
>A few days later, turns out I got the job. I start next Monday
>Sweet
>So this is what it feels like to make something of yourself.
>After I tell the Apples about my plan to help pay my way around here, they initially refuse.
>They're trying to tell me that it's not necessary, I've done enough, etc.
>Shut up and take my money!
>They relent
>Now I don't have to feel guilty anymore.
>The job is pretty good.
>The company gets paid to call people trying to advertise products, it's simple as can be.
>I tend to piss people off a lot anyways.
>But now I get paid $9 an hour to do it!
>Things are starting to look up for me a little.