HighTail University Pt. 08

The walk back from the Pony facility was a fairly hefty one and it had been one of the few times she'd considered taking the pony-pulled rickshaw back to the school. But stubborn as she was she'd decided to walk which, took up more time but also gave her space to think. The intent was for her to choose one of the extracurricular activities to get her grades back on track, purely thanks to Professor Barnes' string pulling. But after seeing what this may entail she was more than a bit torn. The swim club looked fun, as did the music club. And while the ponies had been nice, she had no intention of stepping into hooves. Even if it had been rather fun. More so than she'd expected.

Tossing ideas around in her head she walked up to the school, warming her hands in the pockets built into the school uniform's skirt she looked up at the cotton candy-colored sky. After touring with Lemondrop the entire day it was late enough that the sun was now setting behind the school. Lily enjoyed the sunset, perhaps not the sunset itself. But the pastel array of colors it scattered across the sky as the light faded had always been a calming influence to her. Perhaps that was because her favorite colors were all pastel shades. Usually, she was far too busy to sit and enjoy the sight of the sun sinking into the horizon. Everyone was always too busy to appreciate the small things, including her.

Making her way into the school and taking the short walk, she ended up outside of the Professor's office. She raised a hand and knocked gently until she was invited in with a short, "Come in."

Inside, Professor Barnes was playing some sort of old-school looking game on his computer screen when she walked in, one he paused so he he had the time to examine the still sweat-soaked female before him. His eyes wandered over the bandages on her arm and legs and he couldn't help but chuckle, "Took a tumble at the Universities Pony Club did we?" He asked with a raised brow as Lily sank into the armchair across from him.

"How could you tell?" She asked with a slight huff, reaching up to pull her long chocolate brown strands of hair into a ponytail now that they were dry.

"Hard not to recognize the bandaging they use. Poultice underneath I imagine?"

Lily nodded, "Yeah. It feels kind of nice actually. Kind of cool and numbing."

Professor Barnes smiled and nodded before breaking the small talk as he leaned back, steepling his hands and casting his gaze over Lily, "So then. You remember why I sent you out with Lemondrop today?"

Lily nodded, "I do. Yes."

"Well then, you know what I'm going to ask. Have you made a decision?"

To his surprise, Lily shook her head, "I...I haven't. I wanted to ask if you'd give me the evening to consider my options. It's been a really long day and it's kind of been information overload. I don't want to make a rushed decision and choose the wrong extracurricular. If that's ok with you?"

Professor Barnes considered the request carefully. He was pushing her into unfamiliar territory and he too understood how overwhelming that could be in terms of the sheer amount of information. He spun to his computer, bringing up a series of menus and typing a few things in, "Tell you what. I'll give you until noon tomorrow. Enough time for you to rest, consider your options, and get back to me with an answer. What you're asking isn't unreasonable. I'll admit, I'm disappointed you don't have an answer now. But I do understand why you'd like time to consider your options. Should you need any additional information, just send me an email. I am the head of the Extracurricular department after all. Is that amiable?"

Lily nodded, thankful he was willing to make the small compromise, "That would be perfect. Thank you, Professor Barnes."

With a dismissive wave of his hand, he turned his game back on, "Well then Miss McKinsey. Go get yourself cleaned up, consider your options and I'll look forward to hearing from you. Also, those bandages are fully waterproof. Not sure if the Doctor told you that."

Lily climbed to her feet and ran her fingers over the pastel blue bandages about her right arm, "She did not. Guess I don't have to worry when I shower." She turned and headed for the door pausing at the frame and smiling, "Thank you again, Professor."

Professor Barnes however was already lost in his game leaving Lily to head out of the room and start the slightly-long walk back to her dormitory. She'd done more walking today than in the last three months and it was beginning to show in the tiredness etched on her face.

After arriving at her dormitory she was thankful for the blast of cool air that washed over her face when the door slid open. It was icy cold against her sweat-soaked skin and she just stood there, enjoying the sensation for a few moments, her eyes closed as she leaned against the doorframe.

"Looks like someone had an interesting day." Came the voice of none other than Serrah, lying atop her bed completely nude. Her legs kicked back and forth idly as she held a novel in her hand, a pair of frameless glasses perched upon her nose. She'd lowered the book and looked up at Lily who was still leaning on the doorframe.

"Oh hey, Serrah. Didn't see you lying there. It's certainly been an interesting day."

"Really? You didn't see me lying here? Buck naked? You MUST be tired if you weren't eyeing up my perfect ass."

Lily chuckled and did take a moment then to appreciate the softly curved form of Serrah lying on her bed. The two of them had gotten comfortable with one another a long time ago. Coming home to her roomie sitting nude was not so uncommon an occurrence anymore, "My bad. I'll make sure to eye it up more next time." She paused, her eyes falling upon a design upon Serrah's buttcheek, a pastel sun looking vibrant against her sun-kissed skin.

"What's with the tattoo?" Lily asked as she pushed into the room, walking towards the bathroom, and shedding clothes as she walked.

"Tatt...oh! This?" She asked, pressing a finger down on the pastel sun design.

Lily nodded.

"Oh just something cute to make my butt look nicer, duh. There was someone doing demos for these temporary Henna tattoos at the trade show today so I decided to try it!"

Lily raised an eyebrow as she wiggled out of her shirt, "And you decided to get it on your butt?"

"It's my best feature! Gotta highlight it!" Serrah said with an innocent smile before changing the subject, "So did you decide on any of the clubs today?" She asked with a tilt of her head.

Lily shook her head, "Not yet. I've got until noon tomorrow to let Professor Barnes know." She said this as she slipped into the bathroom, shedding the last of her clothes on the way in and firing up the shower, the warm steamy water looking so very inviting.

"Well, that's nice of him to give you some time. What are your options and which ones are you considering so far?" Serrah asked, lifting her book back up and speaking a bit louder so she could be heard over the running water of the shower.

"Well. I toured a lot of clubs today. But I'm considering the Swim Club, Music Club, Or even the Gymnastics club. Acrobatics could be kinda fun to learn I guess." Lily spoke as she stepped into the shower standing under the nearly full-hot water and just enjoying the sensation as it washed over her, rinsing away the layer of sweat on her body.

"Some decent choices. Did you get all bandaged up at the Gymnastics club then?"

Lily chuckled, "No, those I earned at...well...The Pony Club."

Serrah let a grin spread across her lips at the response, "Oh? Pony Club huh? Did they stick you on a treadmill or something to try it out?"

"No, a pony named Ember literally dragged me into the middle of some polo game. It was pretty fun actually, like pony soccer. Although I felt a bit awkward."

"Yeah, Ember can be like that sometimes..."

"Wait what?"

"What?" Serrah answered, realizing the small slip-up, "I just meant that I've heard that Ember can be like that. The Pony Club is one of the more popular clubs in the school so one tends to hear a few rumors once in a while. Why'd you feel awkward?"

Lily didn't notice Serrah's slip-up and thankfully just continued, "Rumors do float about. As for the awkward part. I was the only person on the field in y'know...normal clothes? It felt a bit weird is all. Like being the only person at the gym wearing jeans or the only person at a formal gathering in casual clothing."

"You should have asked for tack, then it wouldn't be so awkward!" Serrah teased, "Cute little bit in that mouth of yours, some nice hooves..." She mused.

"Oh shut it. Not a chance! It was fun, but The Ponyplay Club is not even close to making my list of potential choices. It was an experience, plain and simple."

"But it was fun. Have you ever stopped to consider that trying something you hate, could help you develop some appreciation for it and those who enjoy it?"

Lily didn't respond immediately, pressing the button in the shower that began spitting foam out over her, "It was, yes. I don't know. Could you really see me in that club? Me of all people who goes out of my way to avoid all of the modern society's pony junk?"

"Yes, actually," Serrah responded with an amused giggle.

"Well, it's not happening. I'll join the easiest club and be done with this whole mess so I can continue my education. Plain and simple."

Serrah shrugged, "As you wish. I was just teasing anyway." An idea popped into her mind suddenly, "Say, I'm thinking of going to the school trade show again in the morning tomorrow, do you want to come with me? Breakfast is on me."

Lily was out of the shower by then, tousling her hair as she walked out of the bathroom in just a towel, "So long as I can make it back to see Professor Barnes by noon, I'll come."

"Professor Barnes will be at the show. The Trade Show is generally based on the school's extracurriculars. New tech and all that stuff. So it'll work out perfectly if you come."

Lily nodded, taking off her towel and flopping onto her bed unceremoniously and closing her eyes, "Yeah alright, I'll tag along then. Maybe they'll have the new Glass Tablet there. I've been thinking of picking one up."

Serrah nodded and went on a bit about the trade show, explaining how it came every year and had booths for all sorts of new and amazing things, "...OH! And there's booths for..." She trailed off as she let her eyes settle upon Lily.

No response came from Lily because a few minutes after she'd hit the silky, comfortable blankets on her bed she had dozed off. Serrah couldn't help but look at the girl with a soft smile. It was the first time she'd seen Lily go to sleep without her meds. She rolled over and climbed out of her bed so she could walk over and lay a blanket softly over Lily's sleeping form, "Sleep well, my dear. I'll see you in the morning." She whispered before retiring to her bed and her book after dimming the lights.