Discretion Is The Better Part of Valor... Right?

Given how closely the two girls are sticking to him, they probably would not like someone unknown butting in right now. And you really will have plenty of chances to see all three of them again at the House, so the urge to withdraw and avoid a potentially catty conversation wins out. As you exit, you give a brief glance over your shoulder and see Artie does dart his eyes in your direction for a moment along with the straight blonde haired girl. The girl once again leaves you with the feeling that you are somehow being sized up before her attention turns to the twin-tailed blonde who is going on about something energetically.

Once out in the hallway and making your way towards your next class, you let out a breath you did not realize you were holding. That went both better and worse than you had worried. Better in that you managed to talk to someone who seemed okay with you and the teacher who seemed to like you, and worse because of having embarrassed yourself by making that spectacle in the middle of class. You remember your older sister telling you stories about how quickly news about stand-out events could travel around a college campus whenever she came home for the holidays and you have a feeling this place will be no different.

Your mind is so preoccupied making you review your recent actions over and over again that your walking switches to cruise control mode. This proves to be a mistake as it causes you to miss a bit of uneven brick on the pathway you are walking down and you trip over it, landing flat on your face with a muffled groan. You lay there, dazed until you become aware of someone standing over you as they ask, "Are you all right?"

"Yeah," you reply as you sit up, rubbing your nose, "Nothing broken at least."

"Good," the person says curtly, as if that were to be the end of the conversation before something about you catches their attention, "Oh. It's you."

You look up and encounter your fourth blonde for the day. This one has green eyes and is a little shorter than you but she is much bustier in comparison to your modest chest, with just as stark a difference between her wide hips and your more slender ones. On top of that, she is also someone you have seen before. "Harmony Ashcroft, right?" you ask.

"Correct," Harmony replies looking you over with more curiosity than you would have expected given what you had heard about her anti-social tendencies, "You've had quite the morning so far, haven't you?"

"No kidding," you grumble as you start to get up and are again surprised when Harmony holds out a hand to help you to your feet.

As you take it in yours, you cannot help but notice how soft and smooth the skin of her hand is and you also get a whiff of the faint smell of honeysuckle coming off of her as you stumble slightly towards her. "Thanks," you say quietly, hoping you are not blushing too visibly, "I... appreciate the help."

Harmony smirks at you. It is not an entirely unfriendly one but there is a bit of a glint in her eye as she does it "Don't expect it very often, Pony," she says.

"'Pony'?"

She seems surprised at your confused reaction and covers her mouth with her hand in an attempt to hide the snickering you can still clearly hear. "You really don't know a single thing about this place, do you?"

Your shoulders slump as you get the feeling the incredibly attractive woman is mocking you. "Not at all," you sigh, "This is all happening so fast when I didn't even BELIEVE in magic until not even a year ago."

Harmony stops chuckling as she sees the downturn in your mood, crosses her arms under her chest (making her massive breasts stand out all the more), and tilts her head to the side as a thoughtful frown comes to her lips. "What class do you have next?" she suddenly asks.

You cast a quick glance down at your syllabus. "Uh... Historical Figures of Magic?"

The blonde Phoenix girl winces. "I would offer my condolences and bid you good day... but it seems that is my next class as well. Shall we walk together then?"

"S-Sure!" you exclaim, just barely able to keep your excitement down in a range that does not make you look TOO **** for company (you hope).

Indicating for you to start walking, Harmony falls into step next to you as you resume your journey. She reaches into the jacket pocket of her uniform and holds out a handkerchief towards you. "You've got some dust on your face," she explains.

"Thanks," you say as you use the cloth to wipe your face clean (and low key enjoy the honeysuckle scent that clings to it), "You're really kind, you know that?"

Harmony snorts. "I'll be the first to warn you that I am not. Just because I am not unsympathetic to another woman who has a lot expected of her does not mean I am going to be their friend. And while I can show a little mercy to one who's chosen path of magic in no way crosses mine, should that ever change..."

She trails off, giving you a meaningful glare before sighing and adding, "And you are going to be invited to that damn tea party so we may as well be on civil footing until then."

"Tea party?"

"It's a tradition. You'll understand when you receive the invitation."

You walk quietly for several seconds before something Harmony said before in her warning spiel comes to mind. "So I guess Ponies and Pigeons can get along because they don't compete over a lot?" you ask.

"Buzzard."

"Huh?"

"If you wish to talk derisively about a Phoenix, the generally accepted term is 'Buzzard'."

You think about that for a moment before you smile. "Pigeons are cute though. Like you."

Harmony starts in surprise at your compliment and looks away from you. "Don't say things like that to people like me. It makes you look like you're just trying to suck up to someone in a higher social position."

Out of the corner of your eye you notice several other students glancing at you and Harmony together before they start whispering to each other. Harmony notices this as well and growls, "Though others may think that is what you are doing anyway."

A giddy smile comes to your lips as you say, "Well, if it's all the same either way? I may as well keep calling you cute."

Harmony cannot seem to decide if she wants to grimace or smile at that, so her face waffles back and forth between the two states as you walk into the building where your next class awaits. The most boring, dry, and uninteresting class of your life.

At least you have a cute classmate.