After rain comes a rainbow

*CHAPTER 2*

I feel so much better now. But I need to get home. I'm scared that dad is going to beat me. I have to pretend that I'm not happy, otherwise it's guaranteed that I will have even more scars that I already have. I wave goodbye to Rainbow Dash and I exit the building. On my way out I trip on a tree branch and fall right into a puddle. Great. Now I'll be even dirtier than before. I look around me to see everyone laughing and I turn red as a tomato. I'm used to being laughed at, but it still feels bad. I quickly get up before anyone can snap a picture of me. I forgot to mention that I also get cyberbullied. It's horrible.

I keep walking and after wondering about what to do for twenty minutes, I make it to my front gate. I mentally prepare myself and go inside. It seems like dad isn't here, but I'm still very careful just in case. I creep up the stairs and make it to my bedroom. I'm safe for now. I sigh in relief. I put my school bag away and start to do my homework in silence. Thankfully, I don't have too much homework. After that, I checked my phone. I had asked Rainbow Dash earlier this morning to give me her number so we could chat. I decided to send her a message:

"Hello Rainbow Dash. It's Applejack. I just wanted to ask you if you had anything to do this afternoon. I have already done my homework and I'm a little bit bored. See you!"

After a few minutes, my phone buzzed and there was a message. I opened the chat and I found a message from her. I opened it and it read:

"Hi Applejack! I have also finished doing my homework. If you like, we could meet at your place at five o' clock and play. I would love to meet your family."

I couldn't let her come here. She can't know what my dad does, at least not yet... I decided to suggest meeting at the park and made up an excuse:

" I'm sorry, but my siblings already have plans and my dad is feeling unwell today. Can we meet at the park instead?"

She answered just seconds later:

"Alright, but I really want to meet your family soon! See you at five!"

I was feeling calmer already. I checked my watch and realized that there was only one hour until we had to meet up. I secretly went to the bathroom and cleaned my face and brushed my hair. I also changed into some jeans and a checkered shirt. I wanted to look decent going to the park, so I tried my best. I just hope that dad doesn't find out. Now that I think about it, he mentioned that he had a meeting today. I must have been so focused on having a real friend that I forgot. I took my phone and some of my savings from begging in the street and I went out. I just had to be home before half past ten and I would be fine. I walked for a few minutes and made it to the park. I checked my watch again. It was 4:58 pm. Still two more minutes until the scheduled meeting time. I waited for what seemed like an eternity and I finally saw Rainbow Dash. She was easy to spot, she standed out with her rainbow hair. I waved to her, but she didn't seem to see me. I decided to walk up to her myself. She finally noticed me and said:

"I barely recognize you! You look very pretty!"

I blushed at the compliment, smiled and said:

"Thank you, you also look beautiful"

"Well, what should we do first? Should we skateboard or just have a nice stroll?"She asked

"We could start with the walk." I answered.

We went around the park at least twice, talking about things that we like. It turns out that we have a lot in common. We both enjoy practicing sports and competing. I had so much fun learning things about her. She was so easy-going, and a fun person to talk with. She always has so many crazy adventures to tell me. About one hour later, we decided to go skateboarding. We arrived at the place and she rented two skateboards. Mine was orange and green, and hers was rainbow coloured. I'm not going to lie, I was quite scared. I had never skateboarded in my life. Rainbow Dash noticed my nervousness and said:

"Don't worry, I'll teach you all I know. Don't think about it, just watch closely" She then led me to the beginner's area and started to skate. She was perfectly balanced and did all kinds of tricks.

"And that is how you skateboard" She said and smiled proudly.

"Here goes nothing" I said and attempted to do the same. I fell in the middle of it, and I sprained my ankle slightly. "Ouch" I whined, touching where it hurt. Rainbow Dash's face suddenly looked worried and rushed in my aid. She helped me get up and, to my surprise, picked me up and carried me all the way to a big tree. She carefully put me down and helped with the pain. After a few minutes of help, she smiled and sat down next to me. We both stared at the sky and she broke the ice:

"Well, you should be a bit better now. Now, tell me about your family. I'm eager to know about them"

I carefully thought about how I would say things to her.

"Well, as you know, I live on a farm outside of Canterlot. I have a brother and a sister. My brother is Big Mclntosh, he is twenty years old and now works in the city, so I don't see him much. I also have a younger sister. Her name is Applebloom, and she's twelve years old. She is very sweet and loves to help out on the farm when Big Mac isn't here" I said.

"You're sooo lucky, I'm an only child, which can get very lonely sometimes. I am very glad that you are my friend, that makes me very happy. My parents work in a very important business, so I have to move a lot when they have to travel far for work. Although they gave me great news only yesterday. We are staying permanently in Canterlot! I didn't really have any friends since I had to move so often, but now I finally have you. By the way, can you tell me about work on the farm?" She asked and leaned closer practically begging for me to tell her.

"Basically, I wake up very early and start plowing the fields. Then, I mow the lawn, collect the eggs and feed the pigs. After that, I milk our cow and make breakfast for everyone, which is normally pancakes. I spend the rest of the day planting crops for the next season." I truthfully answered.

"That sounds... awesome!!!" She said.

Then it was completely silent. We both just stared at the sky until we fell asleep. When I woke up again, it was dark. I checked my watch. 10:35 pm it read. It can't be, dad is surely going to hurt me badly. Every minute I spend after the given time he hits me twenty times, so that means... 100 hits today. Great. I wake up Rainbow Dash in a hurry, hug her and limp home. My ankle still hurts a bit, but now it doesn't matter. Poor Rainbow Dash. I didn't even explain anything. I'll talk to her tomorrow. When I arrived home, the lights were on. That meant that dad was already there, ready to hit me. I slowly entered the room, and there he was with his small knife and whip.

"HOW DARE YOU GET OUT THE HOUSE WITHOUT MY PERMISSION! YOU KNOW THAT MEANS MORE HITS FOR YOU! COME HERE, YOU STUPID, IMBECILE, DISGRACEFUL GIRL!" He said as I came closer and closed my eyes for the beating.

"STUPID! IGNORANT! FOOLISH! MINDLESS! NAIVE! SENSELESS! BRAT!" He said, hitting me hard after each whip. Five minutes later, he finally stopped and escorted me to my bedroom and locked the door.

"I wish that this nightmare was over" I said as I cried myself to sleep.