"What a bitch."
>Dash nods in agreement with your statement.
>Across the street, Lightning Dust is going for a jog in the park.
>She isn't doing anything particularly malicious, but with Dust you never could tell.
>Both you and Dash have had run ins with her that have bordered on the violent, Dash especially.
>The two of you continue to glare in Dust's direction as she finishes another lap and slows to a walk.
>Her exposed abs glisten with the sweat of nearly an hour's worth of running.
>Rivulets of salty perspiration run down her muscular neck to her top, there to disappear in the absorbent fabric.
>Despite her incredibly off putting personality, you've never denied that she was and is an incredibly attractive girl.
>She would definitely give Dash a run for her money, something the rainbow haired girl didn't fail to notice.
>"Come on Anon, let's get out of here. I've had more than enough of her for today.
>She gets up from her seat and walks over to yours, grabbing your hand to pull you up as well.
>Dash has already turned the corner, eager to put some distance between herself and her rival.
>As you walk away from the outdoor café where you and Dash were, you steal one last glance at Dust.
>She's looking straight at you.
>But there's none of the familiar hostility.
>Just a look of curiosity that, on her face, looks out of place.
 
>It's a look that stops you in your tracks.
>You look at her.
>She looks at you.
>...
>You continue to look at her.
>And... she continues to look at you, that curious look still on her face.
>You have to admit, she's pretty when her face isn't contorted into her usual sneer or scowl.
>"ANON!"
>Dash's voice startles you.
>Quickly turning towards her, you see that she's got an annoyed expression.
>"Are you just going to stand there like some idiot? I said LET"S GO."
>She starts to yank on your arm (Damn she's strong).
>You glance back towards where Dust was.
>Seems she's gone back to her run.
>As Dash is dragging you along, you wonder what it was that makes you and Dust enemies.
>Or is it rivals?
>Whatever.
>Thinking over it now, you always seem to be around Dash whenever Lightning Dust is around.
>And Dash tends to become extremely short tempered whenever Dust shows her face, which makes for rather heated exchanges.
>Maybe Dust isn't as bad you thought, and you just always get caught up in her and Dash's confrontations.
>...
>Who knows, you aren't about to waste your precious time trying to get to know the girl, you have more important things to do.
>Like going to the theaters with Dash and watching that awesome new movie out.
>Well, awesome is the word that Dash used to describe it.
>She's into explosions and over the top action.
>Perhaps a little TOO into them.
 
>A week passes.
>Dash is sick so she can't leave her house.
>You've been there to see her, but you can't hang around there forever.
>The way she talks about it you'd think she'd die without you there with her.
>But you know her better than that.
>"Come on Anon! Don't leave me here alone!"
"Sorry Dash, but I can't stay here all day. I have things to do other than sit around shooting the shit with you, as tempting as that may sound."
>Despite the Rainbow's protests, you leave with the promise that you'll stop by later on.
>Walking back to your house, you realize that this is the first time that you've had this much free time without having Dash breathing down your neck.
>Yes, that's right.
>You lied to Dash, you actually had jack shit to do right now.
>As good of a friend she may be, the girl didn't seem to know the definitions of "me time" or "personal space."
>You usually wouldn't mind that, Dash being a hot girl and all, but she tested your patience in ways you had never thought of before.
>She seemed almost possessive of you, always at your side, always wanting to hang out, and texting and calling you when she wasn't.
>She didn't seem to like it when you hung out with other people, though she's never said anything about it directly.
>She was like your creepy, obsessive girlfriend, if you had a girlfriend.
>And Dash definitely wasn't your girlfriend (well, she's a girl and she's your friend, but that's beside the point).
>And you're fairly sure neither of you is into the other like that.
>Anyway, now would be a great time to do something on your own.
>Like running! Yeah, that's a great idea!
>The feel of the wind on your face, your feet pounding the ground, the light drizzle prickling you skin.
>You quickly enter your house and change into your running clothes before running back out.
 
    >You begin to jog in the direction of the park, savoring the sensations of everything going on around you.
    >You feel the shock of your feet pounding the pavement.
    >Feel the light, cool touch of the still humid air.
    >Hear the dripping of the leftover rain droplets falling from leaf to leaf before finally meeting their end on the ground
    >Smell the earthy odor permeating the air.
    >See the park ahead, greener than usual.
    >Also less populated than usual, which is good for you.
    >You begin your first lap around when you see HER again.
 
    >There she is, her powerful legs pumping, propelling her forward at high speed.
>She’s wet, either from sweat, rain, or a mixture of the two.
>Her golden hair flowed behind her, braided up in that style she always wore.
>She’s heading this way, though she hasn’t seen you yet.
>Oh wait, she’s seen you.
>With those beautiful, beautiful eyes of hers.
>How have you never seen those before?
>They’re that same color as the hair that flows from her head.
>Are you staring?
>Don’t stare
>Don’t stare
>You’re still staring.
>“Hey.”
>Oh shit, she snuck up on you.
>What do you do?
>Play it cool.
“Hey.”
>Yeah, that’s cool.
 
>“Where’s Rainbow Dash? She’s usually with you, isn’t she?”
“Eh, she’s home, sick.”
>“What a shame.”
>There’s that sarcasm you’re so used to.
>“Going for a good run I see. I bet you could use a running partner.”
“Whelp, I better get- wait, what?”
>”Well, it’s usually better to run with a partner than by yourself, so why not?”
“Uh, sure, let’s go.”
>The two of you start to jog.
>That’s weird.
>Where’s the usual bitchiness?
>Why isn’t she insulting you?
>Moreover, why did you accept?
 
>The two of you continue on, the only noises being that of the patter of your shoes on concrete and rhythmic breathing.
>It’s nice, just going out to run with someone.
>If it was Dash, she’d be pushing you into doing HIIT, and you ain’t with that, especially not on a day like this.
>You are on your fourth lap around when Dust signals you to stop.
>”Let’s take a little break. You look a little winded.”
“What are you *huff* talking about? I can go *puff* for longer than thi-“
>You start hacking and coughing.
>Maybe she’s right.
>A short break won’t hurt.
>Probably.
>The two of you find a bench to sit on.
>”So… Anon. How have you been doing?
“Fine. You?”
>”Oh, um, could be doing better, but certainly not bad. Do you usually go out for runs like this?”
“Not usually. Today seemed like a good day for it, and running with Dash usually doesn’t turn out good.”
>”Oh? I never would have guessed.”
>The two of you sit silently for a while longer before Dust gets up and dusts(lol) herself off.
>"Well, I guess we've rested for long enough, why don't we get going?"
>You get up and follow, passing the rest of your run in silence.
>You guess she's not too bad.