When Vinyl stepped off the bus, a brisk breeze immediately caused her whole body to stiffen. Despite the sunny skies, the temperature in the city had dropped close to freezing that morning and had refused to warm up even the slightest. This didn’t bode too well with the DJ. Her detailed outfit was perfect for a deviant sense of fashion, but it didn’t shelter her from the environment much. At the very least, she knew she wouldn’t have to be out here for too long since the entrance to the mall was right across the street.
In the spirit of the season, the entrance was decorated in a hue of red and green, tinsel and ribbons strewn lazily about in characteristic patterns that signaled one of Vinyl’s favorite holidays. Christmas would’ve been her first pick if it wasn’t for the cold weather, but it was a welcome treat not to be in school right now. This gave her time to shop for gifts, an activity she looked forward to all year. Plus, if she found something she wanted for herself, now would be the perfect opportunity.
The mass of people entering and exiting the mall made it difficult to see whether or not Lyra was already there waiting for her. It was only until she crossed the street did she see her long time friend standing by the doors farthest away from that one weird guy ringing a bell next to a bucket who took things way too far. It wouldn’t be so annoying if he didn’t get so into it. Vinyl knew she could only listen to someone shaking a bell and ‘ho-ho-hoing’ like an idiot out in the cold for so long. It was kinda funny when she was a kid, but it got old pretty fast when every single exit was covered. Even with the obnoxious distraction, Vinyl did take note of the surprising change in Lyra’s personal appearance. It wasn’t all that new, but her change was so dramatic that Vinyl still found herself taken aback at times.
Now nearly half way through her second year in high school, a new fashion sense had swept through Canterlot High. Instead of simplistic outfits that included pants and printed tops, colorful skirts and blouses had become the next big thing. At first, both Lyra and Vinyl were largely against it, but after realizing how creative and expressive they could be in their outfits, they soon joined the craze. With Lyra, her appearance had changed the most dramatically out of all of Vinyl’s friends. Instead of the tattered black jeans and punkish t-shirts, Lyra wore a yellow skirt and white blouse that complimented her natural skin tone and eye color well. That entire rebellious grunge phase Lyra used to convey through her appearance during their first year of high school was gone, now replaced by a much more feminine look. Her hair was now much longer than before, styled in a lazy yet free flowing way to match her carefree smile. Vinyl would never openly admit this to her, but she did think it made Lyra look pretty cute. Not Octavia level of cute, but it was sorta there.
Now as for Vinyl, she had taken this chance to express herself a step further. With pink tights and sparkling sneakers, a white jumpsuit style skirt with silver trim, and purple fingerless gloves, Vinyl looked ready for any midnight adventure that required flashing lights, loud music, and erratic body movements. With her purple tinted sunglasses to top everything off, there would be no mistaking her identity even fifty feet away. Her reputation as a party loving electronic music crazed dancing machine was only rivaled by one other girl at Canterlot High, but only Vinyl was the go-to musician for when good times at late hours were had. Like the rest of her friends, Vinyl had leaned out a bit and grown taller despite her increased caffeine intake, something that her mother had brought up as a concern more and more since the start of her second year. In her defense, classes had gotten tougher and school had gotten harder, but at least she had her Octavia with her through it all. Although Vinyl was painfully aware of how much harder things had been for Octavia lately, especially with her parent’s divorce nightmare and all, Vinyl still felt grateful to be a part of her life and having the chance to be there for her. She truly, genuinely, and inexplicably loved that adorable cellist, and it didn’t matter to Vinyl why. All she knew was Octavia would be getting the best Christmas present ever this year, even if she still hadn’t decided what it was this late into the holiday season. At the very least, it had to be better than last year’s gift.
As Vinyl approached the short steps leading up to the entrance, she offered Lyra a wave as she angled herself towards her. Her right sneaker slipped on a small patch of ice, and Lyra immediately shot out a hand to grab her wrist.
“Smooth, V.” Lyra said with a smirk as she pulled Vinyl up the last step.
“Shut up, dude.” Vinyl groaned but shot her a smile. “I totally did that on purpose.”
“Yeah, you’re like half ninja or something.” Lyra agreed and rolled her eyes. “Not a good one, but kudos for trying.”
This chick. Vinyl stared blankly at her and dropped her arm. “Can we go in now? I’m freezing my nuts off.”
“Sounds like a personal problem. When was the last time you had a check up?” Lyra asked sarcastically with a giggle. “Actually, that would explain a few things.”
With a sigh, Vinyl exhaled a small puff of air from her lips as she stepped inside the mall, not bothering to hold the door open. Lyra was quick to follow into the warmth of the climate controlled building. As soon as the ceiling vents blasted some hot air onto Vinyl’s face, she smiled and felt her joints relax. The decorative street lamps bathed the interior with a soft glow, and Vinyl took her glasses off to really soak in the holiday spirit oozing out of every corner. With a smile, she turned her head back and forth, her nose following the smell of freshly baked pretzels and cinnamon rolls.
“You can always just take a picture. I know you want to.” Lyra commented next to her.
“What?” Vinyl snapped her head to the side with a look of confusion. “What the heck are you talking about?”
Lyra pointed to the wall in front of them with a massive banner advertisement of a half naked supermodel in holiday lingerie. “I see you looking, V. Don’t worry. I don’t think you’re a creep or anything. I can’t speak for everyone else here, but I got you, girl.”
“Wow…” Vinyl sighed and slowly shook her head. “…Hilarious as always. I get it. I’m into chicks.” She turned away and began walking towards the directory in the middle of the walkway. “Dude, you’ve been telling that joke for over a year now, and it’s still funny to you?”
Lyra stepped along side her and gave a shrug. “It is to me. It’s not like I can make this joke with anyone else.”
“I am so lucky then.” Vinyl said through a long sigh. She stopped in front of the directory and glanced up and down the map. I am kinda lucky though. She thought as she traced a finger over the backlit arrows pointing to different stores. Well…a whole lot more than just kinda. A slight smirk parted Vinyl’s lips. Octavia is way more than just kinda.
“You’re doing that weird goofy face thing again.” Lyra noted as she stepped beside her.
“What thing?” Vinyl asked, not bothering to turn to her as she scanned the map.
“The whole dreaming-about-Octavia face.” Lyra audibly choked back a giggle.
This time, Vinyl did turn to face her. “You know what? I’m sorry I even bothered asking you to come with me. Not even two minutes into this, and you’re already spinning my records the wrong way.”
“I am?” Lyra asked with shock on her face that was anything but genuine. “Aw, come on, V. When have I ever been less than nice to you?”
With an exacerbated sigh, Vinyl shook her head and began walking away. “Jerk…”
Lyra ignored the insult, easily keeping up with Vinyl’s quick strides. “So, where’s our first stop? Are we shopping for Bonny or Octavia first?”
“Bonny.” Vinyl immediately answered. “I still…need some time to think about what to get Tavi.”
“Whoa, really?” Lyra asked with real surprise. “Dude, Christmas is like, right around the corner. You still haven’t figured out what you’re getting her?”
“You’re one to talk. Right now, we’re pretty much in the same boat.” Vinyl retorted back a little too defensively, but since it was her girlfriend they were talking about, in her mind it was justified.
“Not really. I already know what to get Bonny. She’s gotten into cookbooks lately. Oh, and at least I’m not dating her.” Lyra giggled as she rolled her eyes. “It won’t be awkward for me since I’m not trying to get into her pants.”
“I am NOT trying to get into Tavi’s pants.” Vinyl almost instantly retorted back.
Lyra’s giggling grew louder as she gave Vinyl a pat on the back that made the DJ’s fingers clench. “You’ve always been a crap liar, dude.”
“Thanks.” Vinyl nearly growled. Her fingers relaxed as she looked absently towards another advertisement. She’s right. That was a terrible lie. She really didn’t want to admit that to herself, but a part of her knew that some of the feelings she had for Octavia weren’t exactly pure. If Lyra could pick up on that, then everyone else could too. “Alright, I’m not saying you’re totally wrong, but I’m not just some horndog trying to get laid here.”
“Not yet at least.” Lyra replied before giving a reassuring nod. “Look, we all know it’s more than that, V. We all know you’re actually really into her and stuff, but I’ve seen the way you look at her.”
“And how exactly do I look at her?” Damn-it…I really shouldn’t have asked.
“Hmm…” Lyra put a finger to her chin as if in thought, but Vinyl had a gut feeling she wasn’t really thinking hard.
Sarcasm on three. One…two…
“Like a creep!” Lyra exclaimed with a nod before pointing both of her index fingers at her while bursting into song. “Cause you’reeeee a creep! You’re a weirdoooo-ooooh…”
Three...and you’re going full crazy on me. Vinyl groaned loudly and shook her head. “What the heck am I doing here with you?” She mumbled, faintly aware of her words nearly matching Lyra’s terrible singing. She waited for her to eventually stop, but when it didn’t happen, Vinyl gave another long sigh that added to the countless others that had piled up during the past four something years she had known the total jerk next to her. Although Vinyl joked about it, she really did sometimes wonder why she was friends with her. It seemed like Lyra had a compulsion to be a complete pickle whenever she could, and Vinyl saw no end in sight. Although, Vinyl had to admit that she did have her moments. Lyra did come through when she needed her, and there was one moment that stood out most in her head that could not have happened without her. Actually…Me and Tavi might not even be a thing without her. Lyra might be a total bitch, but at least she’s got my back.
“Hey, V? You with me?” Lyra’s voiced seemed to call out from a distance behind her.
Vinyl turned around to see Lyra a few strides behind her standing in front of bookstore, very thankful that she had stopped droning her awful tune. “Oh, uh…yeah. Right.” Her face turned a bit pink upon realizing how lost in thought she was. Vinyl quickly jogged the few steps towards her before rubbing the back of her head. “Guess I missed the sign.” She said, pointing to the backlit sign over the bookstore entrance.
“Not the first time you’ve missed a sign.” Lyra commented with a nonchalant shrug before taking a step inside.
“Hey, what’s that supposed to mean?” Vinyl asked with a scowl while trailing behind her past the first display announcing a new addition to some popular book series that she’d probably never read.
“Seriously?” Lyra turned back to her with that infuriatingly sarcastic smirk. “Two weeks ago, after third period. You were all like ‘Hey Tavi, wanna see a movie this weekend?’ and she was all like ‘Would it be alright if we sat in the back?’ and you were all like ‘I kinda wanna be center row for the sploooozions.’ Remember that?”
Viinyl paused for a moment before answering. She knew Lyra was probably full of it, but some of what she said sounded vaguely familiar. There was a slight chance Lyra might have picked up on something she missed, and that meant that Vinyl really did miss out on one hell of a night. Ok, I’ll bite. With an eyebrow raised, Vinyl asked, “Did that really go down that way?”
“Yeah dude. Totally.” Lyra shrugged slightly. “Well, everything except the whole sit-in-the-back-make-out-grope-sesh thing, but yeah.”
“I hate you so much right now…” Vinyl palmed her face, half disappointed in the truth and half angry at herself for actually believing Lyra might’ve been onto something.
“You are too easy, V.” Lyra giggled hard as she stepped deeper into the bookstore. “Octavia could totally have you henpecked if she knew how big a horndog you really are.”
“I am NOT a horndog, you jerk!” Vinyl exclaimed in a hoarse whisper as she stepped mere inches away from Lyra’s face. “And Octavia is so not like that.” She tilted her head to the side and narrowed her eyebrows. “You seem to know a lot about relationships for someone who’s never had one.”
“What can I say? Lyra ain’t no one trick chick.” Lyra replied with a very casual and confident cross of her arms and an expression matching the painfully bad southern accent.
“Gross.” Vinyl rolled her eyes and lazily stepped to the side towards the interior of the store. “But you’re totally right. You’re so not one trick you’re NO trick. Boom. Burn.”
“Ahaha…” Lyra scornfully laughed with a scowl. “Screw you.” She passed Vinyl by towards a bookshelf and pointed towards a corner of the store. “Let’s get this cookbook so you can buy Octavia some lame gift like last year.”
“I didn’t get her a…” Vinyl trailed off as she began to accept the defeat of her argument before it left her mouth. “Ok, yeah…a book is pretty lame. Still…she said she liked it, so it wasn’t all that bad.”
“And the mittens for her birthday?” Lyra added as she picked up a confectionary cookbook to skim through.
“Screw you…” Vinyl shoved her hands into the pockets of her skirt and stared down at the carpet beneath her feet. I really gotta make this a good one.
-o0o-
Christmas Eve fell on a perfect day that year, at least in Vinyl’s opinion. Being Thursday, the city wouldn’t be completely jam packed with families filling up every movie theater or arcade that Vinyl made plans to visit. Sure, they’d be a lot busier than usual, but at least she didn’t have to worry about overcrowded busses. Now that she was on Christmas break, this gave Vinyl the opportunity to actually plan a real date of some kind with Octavia. It wasn’t their first, but with the holiday spirit settling in and the chance to spend much more time with her girlfriend, Vinyl knew this had to be a date to remember. If she doesn’t like my gift…at least she had a good time today. She thought as she glanced from her bathroom mirror back to her bed where a small gift wrapped box sat nestled on a pillow. And if the gift doesn’t blow her socks off, then hopefully the surprise will.
It wasn’t the fanciest gift or the most expensive, not that she could really afford super fancy or pricy stuff anyhow. Yet, when eventually saw the small display in some frou-frou store at the mall, she knew this had to be the one. Under normal circumstances, Vinyl would never have stepped foot in that place, but desperate times called for desperate measures. If there was anyone on the entire planet worth enough to her to visit a weird frilly dressy shop, Octavia was the girl.
Vinyl breathed slowly and nervously as she ran her palms down the front of her white and blue trimmed hoodie. She wanted to look her sexiest while throwing in enough casual to not look like a complete freak. The new pair of skinny blue cargo pants helped, but… I dunno…maybe it’s too casual. What kinda fancy lady’s gonna wanna smooch up someone looking like this? She pointed to herself in the mirror, only receiving the same gesture in return from her reflection. She turned back to her bedroom and paced quickly to her dresser to find something else to wear, but to her surprise, the dresser was empty save for a few old t-shirts. Oh no…seriously? Vinyl shook her head upon realizing that the rest of her clothes were already scattered around her room on the bed and floor. Did I…try every single thing I have on? The sound of her doorbell caught her ear from downstairs, and the butterflies in her tummy sped up almost as if she was having a cramp after gym class. Still, despite her nerves, Vinyl smiled with excitement as she raced downstairs to her front door. Her hand paused for a moment on the doorknob as she took a deep breath.
When she finally opened the door, she was greeted by an even brighter smile from the most beautiful face. In front of her was Octavia, the only girl that could actually bring tears to her eyes. In a black waist high skirt, a white blouse with puffy shoulders, and a grey vest, Octavia looked both ready to perform a classic melody and adorable enough to be a fancy doll. This had always been true for her, but during the past year, she had really grown into her features. She was taller now, but still incredibly slender, and her hair had grown out again down to her waist although the style was still the same. That had been Vinyl’s choice, and it continued to be a perfect decision. It looked like she was holding something behind her back, but Vinyl couldn’t see past her lovely face. ...And her other lovely bits... Vinyl swallowed hard as her fingers tapped against her own thighs. Reel it in, dude...
Octavia’s cheeks had a red-ish hue behind her smile, and Vinyl was happy to see Octavia so pleased by her own appearance. “H-Hey, Tavi.” Vinyl said softly as she slowly opened the front door completely, not caring that she was letting all the heat out. "You...look...so so...so...so...hot."
“Good morning to you too, Vinyl." Octavia replied with an amused little giggle. "Or…should I say, afternoon.” Octavia’s voice was soothingly smooth and sweet in Vinyl’s ears, better than any music she’d ever heard or made before. Her accent still heavily dominated her speech, and Vinyl never wanted that to change.
“Oh, right. It’s noon or something.” She returned the blush as her hand rubbed the back of her head for a moment. Did I really spend all morning trying on clothes? They stood in front of each other in silence for a moment, neither girl moving or looking away until Vinyl took a small step forward. To her utter surprise, Vinyl saw a blur of motion as one of Octavia’s arms circled around her neck. Her eyes grew wide as she felt Octavia peck her on the lips, and she stood motionless in surprise as Octavia stepped back.
Her blush grew much deeper as Octavia fidgeted with the bottom button of her vest. “Forgive me, Vinyl…I didn’t feel much like waiting.”
“U-Uh…n-no problem, babe…” Vinyl stuttered through a massive smile, her own cheeks lighting up. “…You know…I was gonna do that later at some point…”
“I know.” Octavia looked up at her with an amused giggle. “…However…I didn’t feel like…waiting today.”
“S-So…you’d uhh…like it better if I kissed you before the date instead of after?” Vinyl asked almost too eagerly. If this really was what she wanted, then Vinyl might just kick her own rear for taking things so slow all this time.
“U-Um…not…not entirely.” Octavia slowly shook her head as her eyes glanced towards the ground with evident embarrassment. “I thought that perhaps…before…and after…would be alright?”
Dude…hell yeah… “S-Sure…yeah.” Vinyl replied as nonchalantly as possible. “I’m good with that. Totally.”
This made Octavia smile again, and she gasped softly as if remembering something. “I-I brought you…this here.” She present a fairly sized box to her, wrapped very ornately in white wrapping paper with two bridged eighth notes covering the surface.
Vinyl’s eyes grew wide as she took the gift in both hands. She had been expecting a gift, but there was something about the presentation that made it all the more special. The design was simplistic, but something about the musical note arrangement on the wrapping paper spoke to her. She admired it for a long moment and a nod of appreciation. “It’s…it’s beautiful, Tavi.”
Octavia giggled softly again as she brought a hand up to her lips in a polite and equally adorable gesture. “You haven’t even opened it yet.”
“Do you want me to open it? Like…right now?” Vinyl gingerly held the box by the corners as if it was a precious vintage record. “It’s not even Christmas yet.”
“The gift…can wait.” Octavia said with a nod. “If it’s alright with you…I would like see you open it later.”
“Yeah, yeah, totally.” Vinyl agreed as she stepped back inside. She always hated waiting to open presents, but this year waiting was best, especially for her big date night finish. “You wanna come in for a sec? I’m gonna put this upstairs.”
“That would be nice. Thank you, Vinyl.” Octavia politely nodded and followed her into the living room.
“Be right back.” Vinyl jogged up the stairs to her room before placing Octavia’s gift beside her own on her bed. It wasn’t the best looking holiday spread, but Vinyl had to take a moment to appreciate it. It wasn’t their first Christmas as a couple, but it was their first Christmas together, and the gifts next to each other made Vinyl feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
“Um…Vinyl?” Octavia asked from her bedroom door.
Vinyl immediately kicked a large pile of intimates under her bed and turned to face her. “O-Oh, hey, u-uh…sorry about the mess. I kinda went a little crazy earlier.”
Octavia shook her head with a smile before glancing around the room. “It’s quite alright. Before we go…I wanted to ask you for a small favor.”
“What’s that?” Right now, I’d do anything you want.
“I…well, it seems I left my jacket at home. I don’t suppose…I could borrow one from you, could I?” Octavia’s face turned a bit pleading.
Damnnnn you’re cute… Vinyl nodded as she scooped up a couple articles of clothing from the floor. “Yeah, totally.” She held up a pale white biker style cargo jacket. “Is this ok?”
“It’s perfect. Thank you.” Octavia gratefully took it and slid her arms inside before buttoning it up. She smiled up at Vinyl and carefully stood on her tip toes to kiss her cheek.
Whoa…Tavi is super sweet today. I’m loving this! Vinyl smiled back with a deep blush. And she even looks better in my jacket than I do…
“Um…” Octavia motioned towards her bedroom door. “Shall we depart?”
Vinyl wasn’t sure what that word meant at first, but she was getting better at figuring out all of Octavia’s fancy words. “Yeah. Good idea.”
After heading back downstairs, the two girls headed out the front door. Vinyl made sure to lock up before hopping the few steps onto the sidewalk. She reached into her hoodie pocket for her favorite sunglasses, and Octavia fell in step with her as they headed towards the bus stop. The two pressed their shoulders together with an exchange of smiles. “So, if I understood your text correctly, you have quite the day planned for us?” Octavia asked as she tucked her arms into her jacket to combat the cold.
“Well, we’re not, like, going to the moon or anything, but yeah. There’s a couple things I wanna do with you today.” Vinyl blushed slightly as she replayed her own words in her head. More than a couple…actually. ‘U-Uh…I figured we could see a movie and hang out somewhere…you know, nothing major. Just as long as we’re doing stuff together…and stuff…”
“That sounds really wonderful, Vinyl. Thank you.” Octavia beamed up at her. “Would…your plans possibly include hot cocoa?”
“Um…yeah, if you want.” Vinyl nodded as they rounded a corner. “I’m sure any coffee shop downtown’s probably serving hot cocoa. We can totally get some.”
“I’d…really like that. Thank you.” Octavia lowered one arm and brushed her fingers against Vinyl’s side.
It took the DJ more than enough time to figure out what she was trying to do before squeezing and interlocking their fingers together. Octavia again beamed up at her before turning towards the end of the street. The warmth of her soft palm radiated up Vinyl’s arm and to her neck, the nervous excitement of their physical contact making the chill of December almost unnoticeable. Tavi…you’re being extra cute today. Vinyl felt her jitters intensify, and a desire to suddenly kiss Octavia rose in tandem. She wanted desperately to pull her close to her chest and lay a big fat one on her lips, even out in the open like this wasn’t going to stop her. Just getting to feel Octavia’s warmth against her own body was all she could think about right now…
Dude…cool it. Vinyl internally scolded herself. She felt Octavia wiggle her fingers in her own, and she took a deep breath as quietly as possible. Just…say something. Talk about something…anything! “So, uhh…how was…your morning?” Vinyl felt like pinching herself. How was your morning? Yeah, real smooth.
“It was very uneventful, but…thank you for asking.” Octavia’s face turned solemn for a moment. “Truthfully, you’re the first person I’ve talked to today…” Octavia began to smile again as she glanced up at her. “…and I’m quite happy about that.”
Vinyl felt Octavia’s thumb rub against her wrist, and she instinctively squeezed her fingers tighter. Aw, come on, babe… You’re killing me… “Wow…uh…really?” Vinyl asked with equal parts genuine surprise and nervous interest. “Are…all your maids and stuff taking a break right now?”
“Many of them are.” Octavia nodded, squeezing back on Vinyl’s palm. “With the…with the absence of my mother, many of the staff have left their posts. Apparently…she’s the one who kept them busy.”
For pete’s sake, V. Vinyl bit her tongue. You got her talking about her mom now. What’s wrong with you?!
“And with my father overseas…”
Vinyl, you freaking idiot…
“…my home feels quite bare. It’s a strange feeling, really. It’s as if I have my own home.” Octavia giggled softly as she wiggled her fingers again. “I wonder if I should attend a city counsel meeting now that I’m the only Melody in Melody Manor.”
Whew…that was close… Vinyl breathed an audible sigh of relief as she returned the smile, very grateful to see Octavia looking relaxed. “It gets like that for me sometimes too. Mom works graveyard back to back with her normal shift once in a while, and I can get away with sneaking a couple sips.” Vinyl giggledd a little and shrugged. “I’m pretty sure she knows though…”
“Your mother is quite sharp.” Octavia said with a quiet giggle. “How is she doing? I don’t think I’ve seen her for quite some time.”
“She’s good. Always pretty busy, but never more than a text away.” Vinyl gave into her sudden compulsion to rub her thumb against Octavia’s wrist seeing as how the cellist did it first. “She did do something kinda weird last week though.”
“Oh?” Octavia’s blushed returned, this time a bit deeper, and Vinyl could feel her fingers squeeze tighter than before.
“Yeah, she bought a really beat up car for some reason. Said she wants to turn it into something, but I dunno what.” Vinyl peered down the street to see the bus stop far off in the distance.
“Perhaps she bought it for you.” Octavia remarked, pressing herself firmly against Vinyl’s shoulder as a gust of wind blew past them.
Easy there, V… “Uh…yeah, maybe. I can’t drive yet though.” She took another deep breath as Octavia’s hair brushed against her face. “But I guess it’s not impossible. That’d actually…be pretty cool. Stick an amp in that thing with a new deck and I could totally jam my tunes on the road.”
Octavia giggled up at her a bit louder this time, and although the wind had died down, Vinyl could still feel the cellist’s body pressing firmly against her side. “I could easily imagine you doing such a thing, Vinyl.”
I’m imagining a lot of other stuff I could do too… Vinyl’s head snapped to attention as she made a begrudging realization. Damn it...Lyra’s kinda right…I am a bit of a horndog.
-o0o-
With the holiday season came big name family-friendly blockbusters. Good thing too, considering Octavia wasn’t much into hardcore action or horror flicks. After seeing a couple previews on line over the past month about a new animated film that had cool tech stuff and a little action, Vinyl thought it’d be perfect for a big date. Octavia might like it, and Vinyl had a feeling she wouldn’t completely hate it. Even if she did, it didn’t matter all that much. Going to the movies with Octavia was a very guilty pleasure for a completely different reason. Each outing to the theater gave Vinyl the opportunity to snuggle up close to her cellist, no looming or curious eyes, and no interruption until the movie ended. Sure, Vinyl could just snuggle up with her at home, but she could only do that so many times before Octavia might end up getting uncomfortable. It took every fiber of her being to take things as slow as possible, and she was sure it was for the best.
It had been a little ways into the movie when Vinyl finally put an arm around Octavia, and as she expected, Octavia curled up into her side with a smile. With an arm draped around her shoulder, she watched the movie with surprisingly genuine amusement. The tall egg shaped robot was actually funny, and Octavia seemed to like it too since she giggled at the same times as Vinyl. With each giggle, Octavia would snuggle deeper into her side, and there came a point during the movie when Vinyl could no longer pay attention. All of her focus was on the happy bundle of joy next to her, and she was totally cool with it.
Once the movie ended, most everyone in the audience rose from their seats. Only a handful of people remained seated, including the two musicians. The lights in the theater filled the room with a dim light, and both girls exchanged smiles, neither wanted to break the contact of their comfortable embrace just yet. As a few more stragglers left, Vinyl found herself squeezing her arm around Octavia’s shoulders, gently nuzzling her nose into the top of her head.
Octavia giggled very softly as she slowly turned to face her, their noses almost touching as a blush matched each other’s faces. “V-Vinyl…” The cellist whispered.
“Y-Yeah?” Vinyl replied just as quietly with a big smile. “What’s up, Tavi?”
Octavia slowly shook her head. “Mn…n-nothing…but…I was wondering if before we left…” She cast her eyes down to the small bucket of popcorn on Vinyl’s lap.
“W-Wait…really?” Vinyl’s eyes grew wide as she shifted a bit in her seat.
“W-Well…I don’t want to press…the matter…if you don’t want me to.” Octavia shook her head again. “It’s…probably not the most appropriate time, I know…”
“N-No, no, it’s all good…it’s all good, babe.” Vinyl quickly nodded before glancing to the side for a moment. Octavia began to smile again before closing her eyes, and Vinyl immediately leaned forward. Her hands gripped Octavia’s shoulders firmly, causing both girls to tense up and hold their breath. Their lips contacted for a moment before both girls began giggling. Vinyl wasn’t exactly sure why the cellist was being so affectionate today, but if this was Octavia’s new holiday spirit, then she had zero complaints. A tingling mix of giddiness excitement and nervous embarrassment caused the tips of her ears to tingle, and it was dangerous how good it felt.
“Thank you…” Octavia suddenly whispered, her words only understood because Vinyl could half read her lips.
“Y-Yeah…totally…” Vinyl whispered back. I’m pretty sure I’m the one who should be thanking you right now… “S-So, u-uh…we should probably get going…” She glanced around the theater again to see an usher pushing a big trash can up the aisle.
“Y-Yes…you’re right.” Octavia sighed softly as she removed herself from Vinyl’s arms. She slowly stood and brushed a couple kernels off the front of her skirt.
Vinyl stood after her and took a very deep breath as quietly as she could. Her heart was still racing, and she was still partially suspended in disbelief. She had a feeling tonight would go well, but she hadn’t counted on things getting this good this fast. Despite the fuel of caffeine for breakfast that morning, Vinyl was slightly worried she couldn’t keep up without tripping over herself and doing something really stupid. Just…hold…your…crap…together... Or maybe at the very least wait until you get home to do something stupid…
They exited the theater without saying anything, mostly due to a crowded and noisy lobby. Once they made it outside, the volume died down, but the cold chill of December had gotten worse. The sun was already on its descent, and Vinyl began to resent not taking a heavier jacket to wear. At least Tavi’s ok in my jacket. That’s what’s important.
“Are…you alright, Vinyl?” Octavia asked next to her on the sidewalk. “You’re not cold, are you?”
“Nah, I’m fine.” Vinyl forced a cocky grin as she shook her head.
“Oh, Vinyl…” Octavia giggled up at her and reached out to squeeze her hand. “You’re not a very good liar.”
Why does everybody keep saying that? Vinyl was happy to squeeze her hand back, and she felt much better when Octavia pressed her shoulder against her own. “W-Well…I guess I don’t have a whole lot of practice, which is probably a good thing.” She smiled back as she took a step forward down the street. “So…you wanna stop for some cocoa now? I think if we wait any longer, all the coffee shops will be closed.”
“Oh? Then yes, I would love that.” Octavia replied with a nod. “Are there any coffee shops around here?”
“Uh…there’s one a block over, one way up the street, and a really nice one by the next bus stop a few minutes from here. That one has tons of great cupcakes and muffins too, and their mochas are crazy good. Dunno about their hot cocoa, but it’s gotta be just as good.”
“That sounds lovely. Yes please.” Octavia nodded again and offered the DJ a delightful smile as she pulled Vinyl’s hand in her fingers up to her chest.
Taviiii…stop being so cuuute! Vinyl couldn’t help but chuckle loudly as she wrapped an arm around Octavia’s shoulder. “You are just too much sometimes, babe.” Octavia blushed at the compliment and looked down with a sheepish smile as Vinyl began leading her towards the bus stop. The warmth of Octavia’s form was once again keeping her warm against the elements as she weaved their way through other pedestrians, and although it felt nice, Vinyl was looking forward to the comfort of the heated bus. She was relieved to see it approaching from down the street, but it dawned on her that they had yet to make it to the stop. Oh crap! “Hey, Tavi? Really sorry about this!” As the bus passed them by, Vinyl began weaving in and out of pedestrian traffic as fast as possible. She could hear Octavia giggling behind her, relieved to know she wasn’t distraught by the sudden exertion. In fact, Vinyl was impressed. Octavia seemed to be keeping up pretty well, and she didn’t look like it was bothering her at all. Guess we are getting something out of gym class after all. The cellist’s quick feet and abundantly joyful smile were a stark contrast to a time before their relationship started, and Vinyl felt just as happy to be a part of that change.
In a whirlwind of youthful energy, both girls leapt aboard the bus moments before departure before taking a seat in the back. The bus began moving down the street as each girl caught their breath. “You’re getting a lot better at this whole city-girl stuff.” Vinyl noted. “If you knock a few people over later, you just might be the real deal.”
“Silly as always, Vinyl.” Octavia giggled as she scooted closer to her. “I think I’ll leave the knocking over to you tonight.”
There’s a dirty joke in there somewhere. Vinyl giggled back with a smirk as she put a hand on Octavia’s knee. “You know…I say this kinda stuff all the time, but…you look really cute today.” Vinyl blushed a bit as she combed her wild hair back. “You’re totally pulling off the whole relaxed-casual thing.”
“Charming as always as well...” Octavia blushed back and shuffled her feet against the floor for a moment. “You…also look rather lovely.”
“Heh…thanks, babe.” Vinyl paused for a moment before turning her entire body to face Octavia, and her expression became a bit more serious. “H-Hey…I was kinda wondering something.”
“Yes?” Octavia looked up at her with fully captive attention.
“U-Uhh…” Vinyl slowly rubbed the back of her head as she broke eye contact. “I noticed you’re kinda…all up on me tonight. I mean, don’t get me wrong or anything. It’s totally wicked cool. I’m loving it, but…I mean…you don’t have to if you don’t wanna.”
“P-Pardon?” Octavia looked genuinely confused, and Vinyl knew there was a chance she might accidently hurt her feelings somehow.
“W-Well…I guess…before we go anywhere else and the night goes on…I just wanna make sure you’re not…you know, forcing yourself to be all kissy and...whatever.” Vinyl’s face was now beat red, and she knew too well that hiding it was not an option.
“I-I…I see…” Octavia dropped her gaze as the smile left her face. “…V-Vinyl, I am so sorry if my…my behavior has been worrying you this evening. Y-You’re right, I-I…I have been noticeably more…affectionate today than usual.”
“And that’s totally cool with me, babe. Totally!” Vinyl eagerly interjected, much louder than necessary. “I got no problem with it at all, but I just…wanna make sure you’re good with it too.” Octavia didn’t reply, and even after a couple long moments of anxious silence, Vinyl was beginning to wonder just how much damage her question had done. Ohhh…damn-it… I screwed this one up bad… Every few seconds, Vinyl’s heart would race as Octavia raised her head to speak, but each time she said nothing. It was pretty obvious there was something she wanted to say, but Vinyl wasn’t sure if that was good thing or a bad thing. Great, V… You made it through one movie and now you ruined the date.
“There is…” Octavia suddenly spoke up, startling Vinyl from her thoughts. “…something I want to ask you as well, but…not here.”
“O-Ok… Sure thing.” Vinyl slowly nodded as she mentally debated whether or not to withdraw her hand from Octavia’s knee. “Wanna…talk about it at the coffee shop?” The only reply she received in return was a slight nod. This made Vinyl breathe a small sigh of relief.
They arrived at the next stop a couple painful minutes of silence later. Still, Vinyl kept some hope in her heart alive. She didn’t scoot away from me or anything, so…yeah, that’s something I guess. The doors opened, and Vinyl had to swiftly disembark with Octavia in hand to avoid getting swept back inside from the rush of waiting passengers. The brisk winter breeze made both girls shiver slightly, and Vinyl quickly led her to the coffee shop tucked into a cozy corner of the busy intersection. The interior was pleasantly warm with a delicious mix of different confectionary scents. The coffee shop didn’t quite live up to its description considering the numerous assortments of small treats and wide variety of milkshakes on the menu, but ever since she started high school, Vinyl loved this place.
“Oh, goodness, Vinyl! This establishment is very festive.” Octavia remarked, their fingers still intertwined. “I can see why you recommended we come here.”
That’s a relief… Tavi doesn’t seem upset right now. Maybe this isn’t such a big deal after all. “Yeah, Sugarcube Corner is pretty great. They’ll put espresso shots in pretty much anything.” Vinyl vaguely recognized a couple other students from school, but unlike her weirdest friend, she didn’t know everybody’s name. “So, uhh…you wanna sit? I can order us some cocoa.”
“I would love to. Is a window seat alright with you?” Octavia slowly unlocked their fingers and took a step away, an action that brought a bit of sadness to the DJ.
“Yeah, that’s cool.” Vinyl nodded and waited for Octavia to walk towards an empty table before turning to face the counter. A tall slender man with red hair and freckles greeted her before taking her order, and Vinyl was pleasantly surprised to see no reaction when she asked for a couple espresso shots in her cocoa. The curvy salmon haired lady working the steamer was expectedly quick with preparing her order, and as soon as Vinyl’s fingers gripped the two cups of cocoa, she felt the nipping cold lingering in her fingers melt away. The drinks smelled delicious, and Vinyl knew this would help out with whatever difficult conversation was next.
She sat down across the small table from Octavia and pushed the regular cocoa towards her. “Oh, this smells simply wonderful, Vinyl. Look, there’s a shape of a tree on the surface!” Octavia exclaimed with a giggle.
“Yeah, they pull out all the stops for Christmas in the big city.” Vinyl eagerly sipped her hot cup to get a taste before blowing across the surface. She patiently waited for Octavia to take her first sip before speaking up again. “So…about what you were saying earlier.”
“R-Right, of course.” Octavia immediately blushed as she licked a tiny line of cream off her upper lip.
Vinyl put a lot of mental energy into memorizing that image before replying. “H-Hey…Tavi, listen. We don’t have to talk about it. Like I said, I’m happy with it. I’m totally cool with the way things are.”
“I-I…I know, Vinyl. I am too…” Octavia looked down at her cup for a moment. “However…I’ve been wondering something for quite some time now…something about you a-and…w-well, us really.”
“Y-Yeah?” Vinyl swallowed hard. “Did…did I do something weird? I did, didn’t I? I totally did something weird…” Vinyl sighed and palmed her face.
“No, Vinyl. It’s not that.” Octavia giggled softly and shook her head as she reached out to squeeze the DJ’s free hand. “True…you’re still very odd at times, but I do love that about you.”
Deep down, Vinyl knew this too, but there was always a lingering fear that one day she’d do something weirder than normal and maybe scare Octavia off. If only she knew just how unfathomably deep their love ran. “That’s…really cool, babe. Thanks. That means a lot.”
Octavia smiled very brightly up at her and squeezed her palm. “I’m glad to hear that.”
Once Vinyl felt both of Octavia’s hands squeeze her palm, her eyes grew a little wider in anticipation. The cellist now had her complete undivided attention. “T-Tavi?”
“I-I…I need to ask you something, Vinyl.” Octavia’s expression grew uncharacteristically serious. “…H-How…come you haven’t…tried…anything…with me?”
The peripheral sight in Vinyl’s eyes began to blur, and the only person she could see clearly through her tunnel vision was right in front of her. Her hearing began tuning out all the background noise as the records in her head began spinning all the way to eleven. W-W-WHAT??? Vinyl swallowed painfully hard as she tried to find her voice. Her first words began with a slight crackle as she finally spoke. “W-Well, I-I…I-I didn’t…want to…go too fast and stuff, y-you know? I didn’t wanna jump into anything and, l-like, freak you out or w-whatever…”
Octavia’s only response was a brief “I see…”
“I-I mean…” Vinyl began laughing very nervously. “…don’t get me wrong. You’re a total babe! I totally would have done stuff!” Vinyl immediately shut her mouth and used her free hand to cover her lips as her cheeks turned bright pink. In her own head, she could hear the taunting laughter and teasing that Lyra was probably holding back. If she ever found out about this conversation…
Octavia began blushing very intensely as her lips parted into an embarrassed smile, and her eyes drifted away for a moment towards the window. “T-Thank you…Vinyl… That’s all I wanted to hear.”
Now more baffled than ever, Vinyl gasped softly. “R-Really?”
With a slight nod, Octavia began shifting in her seat as if overcome with jitters. She eventually stopped when she finally met Vinyl’s eyes again. “…I…read some informative things on the internet about…kissing. Y-You see…I’ve been wondering if I’d been kissing right.” Octavia frowned slightly as she began staring at the now missing tree from the surface of her cocoa. “We…don’t kiss often…so I feared I was doing it wrong.”
Is…that the impression I gave her? Have…I actually been taking things TOO slow? Vinyl placed her free hand on top of Octavia’s wrist and squeezed. “T-Tavi…I-I…I-I didn’t…” Her words were so caught up in her throat that only her lips formed the letters.
Octavia didn’t see or hear her speak, proceeding to continue with her story. “After a few…rather, um…proactive hours on my computer…I felt like I had learned a great deal.” She slowly brought her gaze back up, causing Vinyl to hold her breath as their eyes met. “…I-I know…you…probably don’t want to do this with me, b-but…I was wondering if perhaps…” She took a deep breath and gripped Vinyl’s palm as tightly as possible. “...w-we…could…try new t-things together.”
Vinyl exhaled loudly, the rapid beating of her heart a silent scream for oxygen. She ran a hand through her wild electric blue hair as her face turned completely pink with only the tips of her ears and nose visibly white. “W-Well, y-yeah…I-I think that’s a freaking a-awesome idea!” Vinyl nodded as she squeezed both of Octavia’s hands in her fingers while speaking in a loud whisper. “I-I…just can’t believe that…this is actually happening. I totally thought that taking things really slow would be the best thing for us, but… Tavi, I am really sorry. I didn’t know you felt this way…”
Octavia’s eyes lit up in surprise, and she began beaming her adorably joyful smile again. “Y-You really mean that, Vinyl? Y-You’re not just saying that because it’s something I want, a-are you?”
“Noooo, no, no nononono...” Vinyl adamantly shook her head and began laughing. She brought Octavia’s hands up to her face and kissed her knuckles. “I-I’m…I’m…I’m super dead totally serious right now, babe. I...I’ve been wanting to take things a little further for a really long time now!” In reality, it was more than just a little further, but Vinyl did have enough sense not to say as much. Much to her surprise, Octavia suddenly stood from her seat. Equally to her surprise, Vinyl felt compelled to do the same. The cellist then proceeded to squeeze her arms around Vinyl’s waist as tightly as she could, and Vinyl held her very close as she stumbled back a step from the sudden contact.
-o0o-
By the time Vinyl and Octavia made it to the last bus stop on their route, the sun had begun to dip past the horizon. The cold of the night was already setting in, making the winter chill worse than earlier. However, neither girl even slightly noticed. A strong mix of nervous energy and excitement allowed them to share a pleasant warmth that circulated between their interlocked arms. With each step closer to Vinyl’s home, the DJ could feel her heart beat quicken faster and faster. It was difficult to say how much of her rapid pulse was caused by the caffeine or the anticipation of a next level kiss, but that made no difference to Vinyl’s focus. The thought of getting to SOME deeper level of intimacy in their relationship was more than enough to send the butterflies in her tummy into panicked flight patterns.
There was just one other little thing Vinyl had to think about. Waiting behind her front door was a surprise that had been planned for weeks, and as much as she was looking forward to it, Vinyl also knew that their shared anticipation to display affection might have to wait if they went inside right away. So, during the last leg of their walk, Vinyl spent the silence of the trip brainstorming. We could go into the bathroom. She thought in haste. Uh…or not. That’d be super weird. Ok, maybe my room… No, not much better… It’s still a total mess in there. Vinyl could start to make out the numbers on her front door, and she began to slow her pace just as Octavia began to quicken her steps. Wait…
Octavia stopped to turn back to her. She squeezed Vinyl’s arm to her chest and gave her a concerned look. “I-Is…everything a-alright, Vinyl?” It was pretty obvious she was just as nervous.
Vinyl turned to face her and put both hands on her shoulders. “Tavi…uh…” She began blushing again, a warmth moving up her neck to her ears and nose like before. “Before we go inside…I…I…” She took a deep breath and bit her lip to keep from stuttering more. “…I was thinking that maybe right now…”
Octavia’s face began to match hers in color, and she brought a hand up to her lips as her eyes grew wide. “O-Oh, y-you mean to s-say…r-right now?”
“Uhhhhhh…” Vinyl nodded as her lips parted into a massive embarrassed smile. “Y-Yeah, y-you know…to warmth things up…or w-whatever.” Dude…you really are a craptastic liar.
Octavia didn’t respond immediately. Instead, she shifted her feet nervously as her shaky hands slowly found Vinyl’s waist. Once her fingers gripped the hem of Vinyl’s hoodie, she raised her gaze to give her DJ a nod. “I-I’d…love that…”
Whoa…holy crap. That actually worked??? Vinyl felt her shoulders stiffen up as Octavia’s fingers walked a few inches around her waist. She gingerly put both of her arms around the cellist’s shoulders as she stepped ever closer. Her lips parted to say something, anything to move things forward, but all she could do was hold her breath. Octavia looked even more flustered than Vinyl felt, but she held her ground and waited patiently. The longer Vinyl stared into Octavia’s deep violet eyes, her embarrassed hesitation began to melt away as a deep longing began to tighten her chest. She felt strength returning to her limbs as her fingers squeezed Octavia’s shoulders, and after gathering her courage, Vinyl leaned forward to close the distance.
Their lips met, and Vinyl experienced the usual and expected radiant warmth envelope her like every other kiss they shared. This time, however, both girls prolonged the contact. Their embrace tightened around each other, and Vinyl began to worry the enveloping warmth might become too great. She could feel her heart painfully pounding in her chest, and her knees began to shake like having endured another gym class circuit run. As much as she hated hard exercise without loud music and caffeine, Vinyl had no desire to pull away. It was difficult to say, but Vinyl could swear she could feel Octavia’s heartbeat pulsing against her lips. It felt very inviting, almost as if adding a hint of flavor to the kiss each time. Their lips began making very quiet little smacking noises each time either girl had to take a short breath. During that interval, Vinyl felt incredibly content to stay like this, enjoying Octavia’s warmth through all of her five senses
Quiet suddenly and without warning, Vinyl began experiencing something that caused her to open her eyes. She almost couldn’t believe it, but there was no denying it. Is…is she trying to use tongue? It was a ridiculous question to ask considering the answer was literally on the tip of her tongue, but Vinyl was a little hesitant to open her mouth unless she was completely one hundred percent without a doubt certain. Whoa…ok, yeah…no, yeah, yeah…yeah…it’s really happening… Octavia’s tongue gently flicked the very point of her upper lip, causing her to instinctively open her mouth. Whoa! What website is that from?!?!? Vinyl squeezed her fingers hard around Octavia’s shoulders as she began to press forward, understanding now that since she accepted the invitation, she might as well commit.
What happened next during their embrace, Vinyl could never quite recall. Her memory of this moment, from thereon out, would always be hazy. Bits and pieces of it would stick like the very audible wet noises and the overwhelming heat of the kiss, but the one thing she was sure of was how the embrace made her feel.
Vinyl had never been a stranger to going out in the world and exploring, trying new things, and making new experiences. Her quest for the perfect beat or her journey to find the best party ever would stick with her for a very long time, but nothing in her entire life had ever given her such a complete sense of soul completing fulfillment as Octavia’s kiss. She had no way of describing this feeling yet, but as their kiss became even deeper, Vinyl began to wonder if she could get lost in the moment and never turn back. No word she had ever learned could fully capture the feeling of Octavia’s heartfelt embrace, but there was some real magic here. It was magic she had first caught a glimpse of during her first freshman music class. The moment her eyes saw the lonely dark haired cellist sitting in front row, Vinyl began to regain some of her faith in magic that she had lost in middle school. It had always been there, but with each and every day she spent with Octavia, she was continuously surprised by how brighter and more vibrant the magic they shared became. Blissfully long minutes rolled by, and for a brief period, Vinyl really did let herself become lost in the experience. She became aware of nothing around her and forgot everything she ever knew, including her own name.
Then, just as suddenly as Octavia’s invitation, Vinyl felt a tangible shooting pain in her chest. Her eyes slowly opened, and her mind pulled out of its stupor to regain control. Her body moved on its own, pulling back from the kiss as a massive breath of icy cold air filled her lungs. She began panting, and as oxygen returned to her brain, she realized that Octavia was doing the same. Their arms still held each other together as they caught their breath, and as they began to relax, both girls smiled very warmly at each other with rosy cheeks. Their smiles were unique among most, completely genuine and filled with real love that seemed to radiate from their physical forms.
“W-Who-oa…” Vinyl exhaled softly in a hoarse whisper. “T-Tavi…”
Octavia merely gave a slow nod. “V-Vinyl…”
There came a flash of pure white light from the living room window, and both girls turned towards the house as they heard faint whispers from behind the front door. Under normal circumstances, Vinyl would’ve probably been pretty mad, but she was actually a little grateful for the reminder of what waited inside. “O-Ohhh, uh…that’s right.”
“Is…someone in your home?” Octavia asked with concern.
“Uh…yeah…” But they kinda ruined the whole damn surprise. Super. Vinyl sighed loudly as she unlocked her front door. They very instant the tumblers in the lock engaged the key, the front door blew open.
“MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!” A pink haired, life-sized firework jumped out from the doorway. To say her appearance was festive could not be more of an understatement. A seemingly permanent smile connected her lips to her cheeks as she hopped into the air and nearly tackled Octavia to the ground. She spun the confused cellist around in a circle before carrying her inside like a repairman carrying a ladder. All the while, Octavia screamed in surprise before getting tossed onto the couch. Vinyl followed after them as all the lights in the house came on to reveal a completely different home from earlier that afternoon. Someone REALLY liked tinsel and streamers.
Vinyl immediately turned to the girl by the living room window and proceeded her to show her just how nice her middle finger was doing. Lyra was happy to return the gesture while snickering loudly, her phone in her other hand. Bon Bon stood behind her, shaking her head yet smiling with amusement. In the middle of the living room was her mother, her silver hair sported nearly the same as her own and an equally amused smile on her face. It was pretty obvious she had seen everything too, but Vinyl felt weirdly lucky to have a cool enough mom that let her bat a strong base hit on her front lawn.
“Vinyl!” Octavia exclaimed in a panicked laugh. “What is the meaning of this???”
Vinyl turned to her and shrugged with a smirk across her face. “Merry Christmas, babe!”