(AiE) Dash Tries to Win Your Heart - Part 10

>You should say something. Anything.
>While the silence was calming at first, now you're beginning to become legitimately concerned. You and Dash have just been sitting here. Alone. Under the shade of the old oak tree.
>Sure, it's nice. Sure, it's peaceful. But, she won't... Say anything. Normally she has some sort of joke to crack. Some story to tell. Some book to talk about. Instead, she's silent, simply staring out at the water.
>This isn't right. Something's definitely broken in Rainbow.
"Hey, didn't you say you wanted to go to a movie?" you ask.
>Except, she remains silent, lost in thought. You take a moment to look over her form. Her strong, sleek wings. Her rainbow colored mane and tail. Moreover, those rose-eyes of hers, usually bouncy and full of excitement, are now dull and distant. This isn’t like her.
"Dash?" you ask.
>Her ears perk, and her body shudders.
>"Huh? I'm sorry. Yeah. I totally agree."
>You cast her an odd look as she sheepishly stares back at you.
"How's that other planet you were on? Did you get lost?" you say, trying to keep the tone light and happy.
>"Yeah. My map was made by a human who couldn't draw. Thanks for that," she says.
"Dammit Rainbow, I'm a human, not a cartographer."
>Her head tilts and her ears twitch in confusion.
"Oh, uh. Human reference," you say. "Never mind. I wanted to see if you wanted to check out that movie."
>Dash's eyes grow wide as she looks to the sun to get a bearing on the time.
>"Anon, how long did we just sit here?" she asks. "Please don't tell me we were here for an hour."
>You shrug your shoulders.
"I dunno. Something like that."
>She rises to her hooves and shoots you a look of frustration.
>"Why didn't you say something then? Ugh.  You were probably bored out of your mind."
"Not really. It's kinda nice to watch you think."
>She opens her mouth to speak, but her face grows flush. Her gaze looks away as she moves toward the tree, inspecting its bark with what seems to be a scientist's dedication.
>"You don't mean that," she says.
"Kinda," you add. "It's easy to lose track of time around you. It's nice."
>She remains quiet, focused on the tree. As if waiting for you to fill the silence.
"Uh, it's why I like hanging out with you. You're my best friend. You know?"
>She raises her head, before turning back to you.
>"Yeah. I know," she says with a sigh. "Can we go see that movie?"
"Yeah, of course. Consider it on me."
>You rise to your feet and Rainbow moves beside you. Taking the path into town isn't a terribly long walk, but it feels extra long today, for some reason.
>Something still seems wrong with Rainbow, and you can't quite put your finger on it. The best thing to do is probably distract her to loosen her up. Then, if she wants, you'll listen.
"So, what are we seeing?" you ask, trying to make conversation. "Something full of action? Is it another Daring Doo movie? You already know that the book will be better."
>Rainbow smiles to herself and shakes her head.
>"Heh, actually no. What we're going to see is a bit of a... well. Guilty pleasure of mine," she says.
>"Really? what's that?"

"A rom-com. We're going to see a rom-com, Dash?" you ask. "Are you feeling okay?"
>"What's wrong with romantic comedy?" Dash asks you. "I think they're funny. And it's nice to see everything turn out alright in the end."
"Yeah, I guess so. But, doesn't that seem... unrealistic to you? I mean. That's not how life works. You can't just 'hope' that everything will turn out alright and then have someone magically love-"
>Rainbow Dash shoots you a dirty glare.
>"Er, uh. Except that’s what I totally… uh. Right. Yeah. I-I'll shut up and get the tickets."
>The two of you walk up to the ticket counter where the teen mare greets the two of you happily.
"Two for 'A Spell of Passion' please," you ask.
>The mare behind the counter lights up, giddily reeling off the two tickets.
>"Oh! That one will be perfect for your date. It's so romantic! The dialogue just melted my heart-"
"Er. It's not a date," you say to the mare behind the counter, looking to Rainbow, her face a shade of pure crimson.
>All you can do is sigh at how often this mistake has been made lately. Do the two of you really seem that close? That compatible? Psh. Imagine. You and Dash being romantic. Now that would be good for a laugh.
>Poor thing. She must be embarrassed half to death with all the ponies thinking the two of you are 'together'. You can totally see why she wouldn't want to go to see the movie alone. Could you imagine going to see a sappy romance film all alone? How sad would that look? Thank goodness she’s got someone like you that’s close enough to her to go to a sappy romance movie and not make it weird.
>Tickets and currency exchange hands, then the two of you head inside. After the obligatory purchase of popcorn and drinks, the two of you find yourselves dead center in the quiet movie theater.
"Packed house," you remark.
>"Well, it is a work day."
"Oh, right. Yeah. Still though. This should be nice."
>"Yeah," Dash says, tossing a kernel of popped corn into the air, before it lands on her nose and bounces to the floor. "Shoot."
>You take a kernel and hold it up to aim.
"Open your mouth," you say with a smile. "You must redeem your honor."
>She looks to you and opens her mouth widely. You toss the kernel and she catches it in her mouth with ease.
"Nailed it," you say happily.
>She makes a quiet gleeful squeal, pumping her hoof in the process. Then, she seems to become all too aware of how little the accomplishment actually was.
>"You're spreading the dork to me. What have you done?" she says, sinking back into her chair.
>You snicker to yourself.
"Call it what you want, dork. But I think others would just think it's cute," you say, before popping a few kernels of your own into her mouth.
>She remains silent, but as you look to her, she simply smiles to herself and stares at her hooves. Then, she sits back in her chair, leaning against the armrest, her head resting against your arm.
"Uh, do you need me to move?" you ask.
>"No. You're my pillow now. Don't move," she says, flatly.
"But-"
>"No, you can't fight it. It's done."
>The lights ease down in the theater as you hear the movie projector wind up.
"O-okay."