Catching up With Daria a Few Days Later

Daria was sitting at a table in the dining hall, munching on a tomato and lettuce baguette. Throughout the lunch period she had made more than a few offers for company but had been refused on all of them. As such, she had taken to bury herself in her reading. Therefore when Lexi planted herself down on the bench next to her, she jumped slightly.

Lexi chuckled, 'Heya sis! Watcha readin'? Ooo, 'Fairburn's Manual of Equidae Physiology' real page turner, that one.' She nudged her sister, clearly trying to get a reaction.

Daria sighed, 'What do you want Lexi? Can't you just let me read in peace?' She spoke in an irritable tone. She didn't really mind all that much but getting out of the medical wing had been an awkward enough situation. The few students who had seen her had avoided her like the plague and while she didn't mind the quiet initially, the deliberate nature of people ignoring her was starting to grate on her. She tried to ask to borrow a pen and some paper in her first class back, but the mare she'd asked had shaken her head and looked almost offended. In the end she'd had to record the lecture on her phone. It was yet more work to catch up on, without her sister distracting her.

Lexi frowned back at her, 'Why so sour? I was gonna suggest you go out an' get some action while I look afta' ya' stuff.' She pouted, 'I was gonna perhaps nudge you toward some fun but I guess you don't want that.'

Daria sighed again, feeling a pang of guilt, 'Sorry! Sorry. I'm just a little wound up. People have been avoiding me all day-'

Lexi nudged her smiling, 'Make's a change, given your first week.' She cut in.

'Yeah, well maybe I don't mind if someone isn't grabbing my butt every two seconds, but I can't even talk to people! I don’t know what's going on.' She took another bite of her sandwich and chewed it forlornly.

Lexi shrugged, 'Don't look at me, I dunno why,' She glanced around the room as if looking for someone.

Daria raised a questioning eyebrow.

'Just lookin' for Duke.'

Daria looked at her with a blank expression.

'Ya' ain't met him yet?' She looked surprised, 'Well he’s a Rottweiler, has a deer fetish, or so he tells me. Keeps track of all the deer in the uni. Even heard he tried ta' have a go with Yellow once. Apparently he's got a great-'

Daria waived her hand cutting her off, quickly moving the conversation on, 'Too much information. What's your point?'

'Hmm?' Lexi looked taken aback, it appeared she'd been lost in her tangent. 'Oh, right. Well, I'll ask him next time I see him, see if he knows what’s up.'

'Really? It's not too much trouble?' Daria saw he sister grin happily.

''Course not. You're ma' sister afta' all.' She reached out and patted her shoulder. 'In fact,' She winked teasingly, 'I could do with a stretch out, if ya know what I mean. I'll go an' find him now.'

'Lexi!' Daria gasped, blushing at her sister’s promiscuity.

Lexi laughed as she got up heading out of the bustling room.

The dining hall was never quiet. It was one of the few places open at all times, that privileges couldn't he exercised, (hygiene and all that jazz), so often tired, or even just those wanting a bit of peace would come here.

Of course, Daria was here to eat lunch, but she knew as well, she couldn't stand the thought of being ignored further-

'Ah! There you are.' A deep voice came from behind her. A voice she recognized. The tried to sink into the bench below her. Perhaps she'd been a little hasty in wanting to not be ignored. Maybe she could just slip under the radar-

A dark bay stallion sat down across the table from her. She could feel the heat rising up her neck.

'You don't mind if I sit here do you?' Blake inquired.

Daria tried not to look him in the eye and shook her head. Her face must have been bright red by now, she was sure of it, but the Stallion didn't seem to have noticed.

'Good. I was hoping to catch up with you,' Blake paused for an awkward moment perhaps expecting a question from her. She however was far too embarrassed to say anything. 'Yes, well, I, uh, wanted to track you down because I've dealt with Red.' Daria could see him smiling to himself, entirely oblivious to her nervousness. 'He probably won't bother you for a bit and when he does, he should be more... respectful shall we say.' The Stallion gave her an quizzical look, finally noticing her strained expression and rosy face. 'Are you alright?' He asked, his voice tinted with concern, changing to alarm as he continued, 'You're not having another moment are you? You're not going to pass out again?'

Daria hastily shook her head, assuaging his fears. She opened her mouth a few times, but no sound came out, before finally she was able to string together a few words, 'I-I'm ok...' It didn't help she could barely talk to him without her spine cringing out of her back, but the look of confusion upon his face due to her antics didn't help.

Blake looked on befuddled but politely attempted to continue a conversation, 'Have a good day back? I know for sure I'd hate to be cramped up in the medical wing. The Doctor is nice enough but she can bit...' He shrugged nonchalantly, '...intense I suppose.'

'Y-Yeah. Intense.' Internally, Daria scolded herself. She needed to focus on the here and now and not panic. Blake was being polite and all she could muster were a few words. 'Yeah, the medical wing is a bit boring I guess...' She trailed off. Not much of a sentence but a start. Fortunately, Blake didn't seem to notice her uncertain parsing and simply nodded waiting for her to continue. She took the final bite of her baguette to buy some time before swallowing, 'I went back to classes, plenty of work to catch up on,' She paused. Should she tell him about everyone ignoring her? Would he care? Probably not. Still-

'I just found it annoying. I get back and suddenly everyone's ignoring me!' She blurted out, before slapping a hand across her mouth.

Blake raises his eyebrows, 'So that's what's stuck in your craw.' He shrugged, 'I guess judging by your frustration you don't know why?' She shook her head. 'I could ask around if you want? See what people have to say.'

'Now you sound like Lexi.' The moment she said it she regretted it. She saw Blake's face morph into something. Initially she thought it was anger perhaps, but then she realised what is was. Guilt.

'Hmmm,' Blake scratched behind one of his pointed ears, 'I suppose I do owe her an apology after what happened the other day. I shouldn't have let myself get wound up like that.' He looked a bit sheepish.

Daria shook her head, 'No, I get where your coming from. She always gets a little over involved.' She paused, softening the insult, 'She only wants to help though.'

'I suppose.' He looked across at her, 'Just let her know in case I don't see her that I am sorry.' Blake cast around for a new subject. He motioned to her book, 'I see you do actually do Biology then. How are you finding it?'

Daria relaxed slightly at this. Biology, a much safer topic. She smiled for the first time, 'Oh you know this and that. Learning about the species, unique functions and all of that, the usual stuff.'

Blake chuckled, 'That takes me back. It used to make my head spin, and now I have to do a full project on it.' He sighed, 'I've no idea where to start.'

She spoke automatically, without thinking, 'Well why don't you study with me now? We can go and find somewhere quiet.' She blushed deeply at what she just said, but if the Stallion picked up on the double meaning, he didn't show it.

Instead, he just nodded and smiled pleasantly, 'You know what? That doesn't sound like too bad of an idea...'