:heart: Lean :heart:

__.• :heart: •.__

The sun was just kissing the horizon when Tiberias led me back to the paddock. We'd been out all day, galloping and tossing jokes around casually. Just like every day.

Tibs was my best friend. He would always be my best friend, even if it was Valentine's Day and he wanted to be off with Spot crooning romantic things in her ear.

"Thanks," I said, turning to him. "I usually don't do anything today, so that was really fun." I flashed him a small smile.

"Of course! I can't believe you've never gone swimming before. We'll have to try that again!"

"Not in February!" I giggled.

With that, he agreed, and I trotted off to a far corner of the paddock. I expected this to be the end of our day together. He'd go off with some other mare, have a grand old time, and come back home late.

Except when I turned around, he was still there.

"Tibe, you all right?"

His ears swiveled nervously. Something was wrong. Had Spot gotten into another fight with him?

"Nilla..."

My eyes widened in fear. He was going to tell me that we should stop being friends since Spot didn't like me. I knew it was only a matter of time until this moment. I was the only haflinger in a stable of mustangs. Always picked on. Always different.

"I wanted to tell you that..." He sighed. "That I - I think you're beautiful."

I stood there, staring in awe, at my best friend. The best friend that told me I was beautiful. The best friend that called me beautiful even though I was different. Even though Spot would disapprove. Even though he wasn't supposed to. He'd said it. And I felt like I could fly.

"Well," I mumbled, ducking my head. "I think you're beautiful, too."

Tiberias laughed, trotting up to me. Timidly, he leaned in to me, testing a little weight at a time. I leaned back into him. We could count on each other. Through the awkward times, through the silly ones. I was so, so happy. Maybe Tiberias wasn't officially my "Valentine" now, but I didn't care. I could take all of my insecurities, my uncertainties, and just lean into his warmth. And he'd be right there, leaning back.

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