How long Alto was away from everypony was unknown to the stallion. The moon was in a different location, but that didn’t help tell what time of evening it was. Alto began to head toward the quad. More ponies grew around him as the stallion entered the more populated section of the school. Several ponies noticed Alto and pointed at him, whispering to their friends. What they were whispering about, he didn’t know or care about.
Suddenly, a sherbert-orange mare with glasses intersected Alto’s path. “Umm, I am sorry to bother you, but are you the one who sang that last song onstage?”
“Yes I am,” Alto nodded, but refused to show any positive emotions. If it was another girl trying to find out if he sung the song for her, Alto may have to hit his head on something. Then again, his current headache was enough of a pain to make the stallion think otherwise.
“Well, your friend has been looking for you,” the unicorn mumbled.
“Harp?” Alto turned his head toward the quad to see the bright lights shining at him. If there was one mare he didn’t mind seeing now, it would be her. “Do you know where she is?”
“Well, just go to the stage. That’s all she told us to do.”
Unable to keep a straight face, the stallion smiled, “Do I have a search party looking for me?”
“Well, maybe a small one, but yes,” she nodded.
Might as well go and face her now. After all, I’m not crying anymore. “Thank you,” Alto spoke before heading toward the quad.
“B-but before you go,” the unicorn mumbled, “c-can I give you something?” If it is a kiss, then you can forget it…
Alto flinched as a pink rose suddenly floated in his peripheral. Looking behind him, the sherbert-orange unicorn blushed, ears hiding in the long mane of hers. “I know you may not want any attention from any mares, considering how you sang onstage and… lamented.” Not hearing her say cry made Alto feel a bit better, despite how the word lament means to mourn bitterly. “But I just… well… want to tell you how good of a singer you are and… well… I just want to tell you that you will find your happiness one day…”
Very slowly, Alto reached for the rose stem, and grabbed hold of the flower. He sniffed the sweet scent, the headache slightly fading away. “You know, pink roses smell the nicest to me.” The sherbert-orange mare revealed the smallest of smiles, and the light from the quad flashed in her glasses. Smiling at her, Alto said, “Thank you. And there is no need to be shy around me. I’m just a pony just like you.” She said something after Alto turned around, but he didn’t hear it. He was too busy fussing about the the rose, placing it in the pocket of his tuxedo.
***
Alto hummed to himself when he approached the back end of the stage, attempting to act inconspicuous. Familiar faces easily noticed him and soon, Alto was surrounded by his peers.
“Hey, you okay?”
“We’ve been looking for you.”
“Can somepony inform Harp Hearts?”
A flurry of questions bombarded the unicorn, but he did hear one mention Harp Hearts, confirming she was looking for him. “I just needed some time alone.” Little did they know that he was accompanied by a heartbroken mare.
A voice boomed from the stage’s speakers, “HARP HEARTS, PLEASE COME TO THE QUAD. WE FOUND ALTO.”
Knowing he was now the school’s center of attention, the stallion became flustered and wanted to flee yet again. But somepony quickly cemented themselves to the unicorn, preventing his second escape.
“Alto!” Harp Hearts exclaimed, squeezing her friend’s neck. “I've been wondering where you were!” Ponies gave Harp Hearts and Alto space, but tried to keep their eyes on the pair, wondering what was going to happen next.
“I just made my way around, basking in my sadness,” Alto said, pulling his friend close. “I just needed to cry and let it all out.”
She looked up at her friend, “Are you feeling at least a little better?”
Alto shook his head and smiled, “I can't get myself to cry anymore, so at least there is that.” He attempted to move from Harp Hearts, but her hold told him to stay put.
“Answer my question: Are. You. Feeling. Better?” Harp blinked, her eyes staring through Alto.
“Only a little.” His gaze went elsewhere, glancing at anypony who was staring at him; each eye he met turned the other way, not wanting to bother the already upset stallion. “I did have Spearmint keep me company, so perhaps more than a little.” Alto’s head stabbed with pain at the mere thought of the pegasus.
“You found her?” She looked back at High Brass and his group, wondering if Spearmint had rejoined their company. Looking back, Harp Hearts asked, “Where was she?”
It joyed Alto to not have the subject matter about him. “In the hallway, alone.”
“Alone!?” Harp Hearts snapped her neck at the group, removing her hold on her friend. “Alto said he saw Spearmint.”
High Brass was the first to move toward Alto, and the mares soon followed. His question mimicked Harp Hearts’, “Where is she?” He looked at Harp Hearts and asked, “Why did you exclaim ‘alone?’”
Alto spoke first, “Because Hot Shot left her for some other mare.” High Brass’ eyes widened with anger as the girls mumbled amongst themselves. “I saw her in the halls and she and I talked.”
Under his breath, High Brass muttered, “That jackass…” The rich pony looked at Alto, and for once, didn't appear to be bothered with him. “Is she okay?”
It surprised Alto to see High Brass not give him a stink eye. “I did my best to cheer her up. The only thing I don't know is where she went off to.”
“She tends to do that when something is on her mind,” High Brass added and his group nodded in agreement.
Interjecting into Alto’s and High Brass’ conversation, Harp tapped her friend on the shoulder. “Is there anything you still need to get off your chest?” she asked. “You did leave quite quickly without telling me a word.”
Alto looked at High Brass, the rich pony wanting to remove him off of Harp Hearts’ chest. “We can talk about it later. Besides, you have an evening to enjoy.”
High Brass nodded, “I agree. He does need to get to work after all.” Alto pursed his lips, knowing he won't receive any sympathy for High Brass. But he was right.
The unicorn moved from Harp Hearts but was pulled by the shoulder. “Alto, if you-”
“Harp, I am fine right now.” His voice was reassuring, however, Alto knew his words will expire soon and everything will be not so fine. “Spearmint and I already talked about it. If you see her, I'm sure she will fill you in on… what happened.” He wondered if Spearmint will keep her promise and not tell anypony about their passionate encounter at the top of the staircase. “Again, let us talk about it later. Maybe after the dance, at Doenut Joe’s.”
Defeated, Harp Hearts nodded, “Alright.” Alto passed High Brass’ cluster of mares as they continued to mingle among themselves; half discussing Spearmint, half discussing Alto.
If there was anything to do and get his mind off of Harp Hearts, it was to play his violin. However, the only thing he would not do is perform his song again.
Entering the backstage, Alto approached Mr. Tenor who looked very concerned for his student. “Having a hard time moving on?” he asked.
“It's more difficult than you know, sir,” the teenager answered.