The sound of Vinyl’s hooves marching on the thin carpet in the next room were enough to drive Lyra crazy. She was laying on Bon Bon’s bed, curled into her fillyfriend’s chest. Bon Bon was staring dreamily at the ceiling with one hoof loosely draped over Lyra’s back and the other propped under her head.
“I wonder what Vinyl is so eager about.” Lyra said with an edge in her voice.
Bon Bon awkwardly shrugged, not hearing Lyra’s change in tone. Sometimes Bon Bon’s apathy was enough to make Lyra want to scream. She was so innocent minded, so careless. Didn’t Bon Bon see that Vinyl was in the process of ruining everything? For once, couldn’t Bon Bon open her eyes and see what was right in front of her? She was so content in her little world that she didn’t really care to see the picture outside of herself and Lyra. It was like she had two modes: work mode and other. Other being the one where she doesn’t know anything about life. Not that Bon Bon was stupid, no not at all. She was just sheltered and innocent… and occasionally failed to see the most obvious of things no matter how hard they hit her in the face.
Right now, Lyra was just irritable and it wasn’t helping that Vinyl wouldn’t quit using the house as her personal marathon training ground. Lyra looked at Bon Bon’s face, which had no signs of caring whatsoever. Lyra’s irritation fell away when she reminded herself of how fortunate she was that Bon Bon didn’t care to know everything. That might end up in a mess that Lyra had no plans to deal with or acknowledge. She relaxed into Bon Bon’s embrace, finally trying to enjoy the night.
“I think she has a date or something tonight.”
Lyra almost broke her neck when she snapped her head up to look at Bon Bon.
----------
Vinyl Scratch was pacing back and forth in her room. She didn’t want to meet Frederic. She didn’t want him to have a face. If he was a faceless enemy then she wouldn’t have a problem feeling the way she did for Octavia. This was a battle Vinyl didn’t feel like making friends in. But at the same time, Octavia looked so eager to have her along… What if Frederic was just some sideshow pony and Octavia really had feelings for Vinyl? Or, more probable, what if she just enjoyed Vinyl a little and really WAS in love with Frederic? What if Vinyl would never really know either way?
“Ugh!”
Vinyl had spent the better part of 48 hours convincing herself that Octavia just saw her as a friend. Somewhere, though, in the back of her emotionally masochistic mind was a voice that told her that she WASN’T over analyzing everything. Again. She wanted so badly to just let the cards fall but for some reason, she couldn’t relax. She had never had this problem before. She never really cared if a mare said no because there were other ponies in the barn. The problem was that Vinyl was so emotionally invested in Octavia that she wasn’t quite sure how she would react if Octavia turned her down. Even though it was in vain, Vinyl did her best to build some confidence.
“Alright Vinyl… you gotta be cool. Can’t screw this up. This is important. Maybe I can like… I don’t know. Junk punch him. Maybe he’s gay. Maybe… maybe a piano will fall on his head or something. God this sucks.”
“Nervous?”
Vinyl jumped at the curt voice that resonated from her doorway. She whipped around and found Lyra, fake smile plastered on her face, glaring into her room. Vinyl knew that Lyra was an emotional ninja, able to conceal herself at any turn to fool even the greatest of masters. But even a filly could read the tense, accusing tones in her body and voice. Lying to Lyra right now would not make her happy, but Vinyl wasn’t exactly in the mood to chat.
“No.”
“Oh, come come now, Vinyl. You can’t hide things from me. You’ve even said yourself, I know you better than you do.”
Vinyl snorted, angry at herself for ever saying such a thing. When she didn’t respond, Lyra took it upon herself to come in and plop down on the bed. Vinyl heaved a sigh. She really didn’t want to get all riled up and then go see Octavia and Colt for Brains, as Frederic was so lovingly referred to.
“So, what’s up?”
“If you must know, Lyra, I’m going to hang out with Octavia tonight. That’s it. Pretty scandalous huh?”
“Don’t lie to me. I heard you talking to yourself. Where are you going? What are you doing tonight?”
“I TOLD you. I’m going to see Octavia.”
“Why are you hiding things from me again?”
“Fine. Sorry. I’m going to go see Octavia and we’re going to do a BOAT load of cocaine and go rob the princesses.”
Lyra cocked an eyebrow. “Don’t be like that.”
“Lyra, I really don’t have the time for this.”
“Oh, but you have time to go get drunk with somepony you don’t even know? This is ridiculous, Vinyl. Ever since she came along, you've been pushing me away. Why?”
Vinyl could feel herself start to shake with anger. Lyra was just as blind as Bon Bon was sometimes. Vinyl was dead inside for months, listlessly going along with any stupid thing Lyra wanted. And almost every time it meant that Vinyl was playing the third wheel to Lyra and Bon Bon, watching idly as they made kissy faces at each other. She was so in love with Lyra that she didn’t care how much it hurt, she was willing to deal with the pain no matter what. Now she looked Lyra in her beady, golden eyes and couldn’t tell if she felt love, resentment, or heartburn from a really spicy lunch.
Even still, it wasn't worth it to fight with Lyra. Not now, not when she had more important things to do. Again, she sighed.
“I’m sorry Lyra. I just have a lot of stuff going on. But don’t blame Octy. She hasn’t done anything, and you know that’s not fair to drag her into this. If you want my attention, you’ve got it. But later, okay?”
“… Fine.”
Lyra got up without another word, or look in Vinyl’s direction for that matter, and returned to Bon Bon’s room. Vinyl ran a hoof over her face and took a deep breath.
“Well then. Great way to start the night.” She muttered, sarcastically, before storming out the door.
------
Vinyl could barely control her hoof as she knocked on Octavia’s door. She felt like she’d be able to steady herself better if she was standing on a jackhammer. Her stomach was trying to earn a merit badge for all the different knots it was tying itself into. She wanted to throw up but she was also pretty sure that was going to completely ruin her appetite for dinner. She was still irritated with Lyra, but her mind and emotions were almost one hundred percent on Octavia.
“Oh, hey Vinyl.”
She had been so neurotic with her thoughts, she didn't even hear the door crack open. Somehow, though, as inexplicably as everything else currently in her life, Octavia’s smooth voice melted away all of Vinyl’s anxieties with an ease of a summer sun roasting some ice cream. The sudden calmness almost threw Vinyl off balance.
“Oh, uh h-hey Octy! What’s the haps?”
Vinyl watched as Octavia’s smile grew slowly wider and was once again thankful for her ever present glasses. Octavia’s mane had a fresh-out-of-the-shower smell and perfume wafted into Vinyl’s nostrils. The glowing, pure smile and unmistakable twinkle in Octavia’s eyes was enough to make Vinyl’s heart swell.
Focus. Focus. Focus. Ooohprettypony. FOCUS!
“Well, I have some… interesting changes for tonight.”
Vinyl followed Octavia into her apartment. Unsurprisingly, it wasn’t a dirty place. Every pillow seemed to be placed at just the correct angle, every towel or blanket was folded into a neat square. There were no dishes in the sink. But there did seem to be organized stacks of paper chaos at every turn. Vinyl shrugged, not really a neat freak herself.
“What kind of changes? Are we gonna go feed some sober Appleoosa kids?”
“Oh ha ha. Very funny. No, actually… there was a bit of a mix-up. You see, Frederic is a masterful sheet music reader, but apparently he cannot read a date very well. The concert isn’t tonight, it’s next Thursday.”
“What.”
Vinyl was simultaneously elated and irritated. She didn’t have to meet Frederic tonight. She didn’t have to see him and his dumb, stupid colty face potentially ogling her Octavia. She didn’t have to risk seeing her favorite lavender eyes ogling him back. She didn’t have to spend the entire evening wondering what exactly she meant to Octavia. It was a weight off of her shoulders.
On the other hoof, she spent the last three hours with her stomach doing the tango, she almost threw up outside, and she was pretty sure she ran into a building because she wasn’t paying attention. At least, that’s why she thought she had a slight headache.
“Yeah. Sorry. I know you were really excited to go to the concert. But I was hoping that maybe I could make it up to you.”
Who’s mad about tonight? I’m not mad about tonight. No one’s mad about tonight. Tonight is awesome and great and greatly awesome and amazing awesomely great and…
“Yeah, sure. I’m down for whatever really. What did you have in mind?”
“How do you feel about musicals?”
“Musicals.” Vinyl deadpanned.
“Broadway musicals.”
“Broadway musicals…”
“Performed by college kids.” Octavia's eyes were hopeful but she kept her tone even.
“Ah… what?” Vinyl shook her head.
“Aw, come on Vinyl. It’ll be fun. I promise.”
“I don’t know Octy… a musical? I don’t know if I can do a musical. It’s… it’s…”
“It’s music. Catchy music. With good actors and characters. For me? Please?”
“I…”
Vinyl looked into Octavia’s wide eyes. Her bottom lip was pushed out only marginally farther than the top. She blinked twice, quickly. Vinyl exhaled, letting her protests leave her mind.
“You’re lucky I like you so much.”
A small rush of blood reached Vinyl’s cheeks. Octavia smiled, looking Vinyl right in the glasses with a large smirk.
“I know! Let’s go.”