“She still at it?” Lyra asked the next morning as she made her way to the dining room, speaking over Octavia’s violin.
Bon Bon sighed. “Yup. Least it was a soothing way to wake up to.” As she said it, the tempo began to pick up.
Lyra chuckled while the house jiggled at the tune. “She sure sounds like she’s in a good mood.”
Bon Bon set her breakfest onto the table. “Yeah…”
“Guess she had a good time with Vinyl yesterday?”
Bon Bon raised an eyebrow, then shook her head. “Well, I—” the music stopped playing. “I was worried she’d be late for work.”
Lyra shook her head. “Oh, Bon Bon.”
“What’s that suppose to mean?”
Before Lyra could answer, Octavia walked into the kitchen, humming the song she had just played. “Oh…” she blinked upon seeing her friends looking at her. “Sorry, was my music troublesome?”
“Not at all.” Lyra beamed. “Seems to put you into a great mood.”
Octavia sighed happily. “Yes indeed.”
Lyra smirked. “Your date with Vinyl go well?”
Octavia nodded and smiled. “Yes…” Her eyes shot open. “Wait, what?!”
Lyra burst out laughing while Bon Bon slapped her head. “Relax, just messing with ya.” When Octavia didn’t respond and look away, Lyra caught a hint of red on her cheeks. “Oh my…” She beamed. “Oh!” she squeed. “do you—”
“That’s enough, Lyra!” Bon Bon cut off as she nudged her friend away from the table. “She doesn’t need to talk about it if she doesn't’ want to! So why don’t you go… Do something! I forgot to get the paper, go get it!”
“But I hadn’t—” she was cut off when Bon Bon pushed her out of the room.
Once done, she let out a heavy sigh, then addressed a wide eyed Octavia. “Sorry about her.”
Having been giving a second to breath, Octavia regained her composure. “It is alright. Though, I am surprised that you two are such close friends.”
“Um…” she shook her head. “Childhood friend thing.” She fidgeted with her coffee mug. “Having her stick up for me when I first got braces as a filly doesn’t hurt either.”
Octavia shot her a sympotic look. “Oh.”
Bon Bon put on a half smile. “So what did you and Vinyl do yesterday?”
“No kissing then?” Lyra butted in as she walked in with the paper. “What? Hadn’t had breakfast.” She was slid a plate. “Of course, who could forget that one time that spoiled colt ask me on a date, and you comforted me after the set up.”
Bon Bon blushed. “Yes, we all have our tragic foalhoods.”
If only you know. Octavia shook her head. “Well… We learned how to play the cello. Oh!” She then pulled out the flyer Vinyl had given her. “she invited me to this tonight.”
The mares looked at the flyer.
“The Rave?” Bon Bon questioned. “Have you ever been in a club?”
Octavia crossed her hooves. “Well I—”
“What makes you think she hasn’t?” Lyra asked.
Octavia looked up and began to work on her own breakfast.
Bon Bon began to nervously look away. “Well, I…” she blinked. “Nevermind. Though, it is going to be very loud and crowded.”
Octavia gulped. “Crowded?”
Lyra chuckled. “Seriously, you her mom or something?”
Bon Bon held up her chin. “It was only a question.”
Bon Bon finished her bite and wiped her face. “Well… Okay, saying it out loud, I am a little, uneasy, with crowds.” She went back to her meal. “I don’t suppose you two would want to accommodate me?” before she could answer, she noticed Lyra staring at her hooves. “Something wrong, Lyra?”
Lyra jolted up. “Wha… I mean…” She scratched her neck. “ Sorry, I’ve just never seen anypony eat that way.”
Octavia’s eyes shot open as she looked down at the eggs she had been cutting. “O… Oh?” she felt sweat start to form. “How… how so?”
Lyra shrugged. “I mean, it’s not a problem. Though, it’s just a—”
“Aren’t you late?” Bon Bon inquired?
Lyra glanced at the clock. “geez, I am!” she leapt from the table. “But sure, I’ll join ya for a little clubbing tonight. Later!”
Bon Bon shock her head, then nervously looked to Octavia. “So what times the show? Maybe getting out wouldn’t hurt.”
Octavia placed another bit of food into her mouth while smiling.
*****
Octavia looked into the mirror and frowned.
What was she thinking? Sure she could socialize, but the thought of ‘hanging out’ brought forth some unpleasant memories. Most of which involved her when she just wanted some alone time. However, as she twiddled with the brush, there was that one time as a foal…
*****
“...Um, okay.” filly Octavia said as she backed away from the uninterested foals at the playground. Not that she minded since they were the typical stuck upper class you’d expect from her private school.
What she did mind, was when a familiar voice shouted at her, “Octavia!”
Octavia flinched, and saw her mother near the edge of the playground.
Sulking, Octavia made her way towards her. “Y… Yes, mum.”
“Stand up, young lady.”
Octavia obeyed.
“Now, did i just see you reject by those foals.”
Her mother had lead her a distance away where they couldn’t be heard by most of the school. “Ye… Yes, but… I tried to befriend them like you’d wan—”
“It is, you had! A proper lady can spend the time saying full words.”
Octavia glupped. “Yes of course… mother.”
Her mother groaned and rubbed her head. “That on colt in particular had such strong influence.” She grabbed octavia’s hoof and pulled her away. “We will have to spend hours to make sure you don’t mess up and win their favor next time. He may have a birthday party–”
“But I don’t wanna!” Octavia shrieked over the hard grip.
Her mother let go of her hoof, only to bring it to her face. “It is, do not, DO NOT! You are a real embarrassment to my name, you know!”
*****
Octavia found herself chuckling all of the sudden. “Embarrassment, huh? Well, mom, how embarrassed must you feel now?” As wrong as it felt, it brought her the confidence she needed when Lyra shouted up,
“Hey, Octie, you about ready?”
Breathing a sigh, Octavia set hairbrush down. “Be right there!” She looked to the mirror. “Well, mom, at least I… didn’t, screw up with these friends.”
*****
“Sure you’re okay?” Bon Bon asked again as they took another step forward in the line.
Between breaths, Octavia answered. “Course I am.”
“Same here, mom.” Lyra added.
Truth be told, it had become more of the wait that was making Octavia nervous rather than the tumbling music that echoed off the walls they were lined against. That still didn’t make the crowds any less intimidating. It was made all the unpleasant when she was sure a stallion had purposely bumped his rear into her’s.
‘Think of it like this.’ Octavia would tell herself. ‘At least this is an event you actually chose to go to.’ She glanced back at Bon Bon anxiously looking around. “You sure you want to be here, Bon Bon?”
“Of course. I mean,” she pulled Lyra into a hug, “always looking for fun with my best friend.”
“Speaking of,” Lyra looked forward.
Octavia followed her gaze to where Vinyl looking up and down the lines, till her own gazed fixed on her own.
In a flash, Vinyl wrapped her hooves around octavia, causing the hugged mare to squeak.
“Came!” Vinyl giggled.
Lyra’s eyes widened. “Whoa. You made her speak. Nice.”
Vinyl pulled away and started to frown.
“Oh, I mean,” Lyra’s ears feel back, “sorry. Didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”
Vinyl waved it off and motioned toward the club.
Octavia took in a deep breath. “Well, ladies, shall we.”
Bon Bon gave a slight nod. “sure thing.”
“Lead the way!”
Vinyl grinned.
*****
It was only 7:10 when they entered, twenty minutes before Vinyle went on stage. Although, the place was already rather crowded and loud with ponies on the dance floor. However, most had made themselves comfortable at the bar or tables as they waited for the real show to begin.
Octavia, had never felt so nervous and yet as excited as she had in that moment. She’d always dream of going out on the town, have some fun with friends—real fun—but she had underestimated just how chaotic such and establishment she had wanted to go to could be.
Luckily for her, Vinyl seemed to catch on and gently placed a hoof on Octavia’s back. She smiled, and nodded to a more closed off area near the DJ stand guarded by a rope. She walked over, levitated the rope up, and curtsied the mares inside.
“Why thank you.” Octavia bowed.
Bon Bon shook her head as she and Lyra followed behind. As soon as they took their seats at the private booth, a waiter levitated some menus.
“Hey, Vinyl, see you brought some friends tonight.” He showed his teeth towards octavia. “A rather attractive bunch if I might add.”
Vinyl glared through her glasses.
The stallion backed up. “Right, right, sorry. Anyways, can I get you your usually?”
Vinyl smile and nodded.
“Excellent. And your friends?”
“Whatever your special is.” Lyra said.
“Long island.” Bon Bon replied.
Hesitantly, sure this place didn’t have the fancy stuff she had had, Octavia muttered, “Um… Whatever is good, I guess.”
The stallion raised an eyebrow.
“Just give her an island too!” Bon Bon cut it.
He shrugged. “coming up. He was about to head off, before Vinyl caught him in her magic and gestured towards Octavia. “Ah, sure thing.” He then trotted off.
Octavia raised an eyebrow. “what did you order me.”
Vinyl placed a hoof on Octavia’s shoulder. “Relax.” She smiled. “Fun time.”
Octavia took in a deep breath. “But of course.” She slowly smiled. “This is suppose to be a—“ The music changed to a loud sound. “Fun!” Her eyes twitched, she felt Bon Bon Put her hooves behind her back.
“Easy there,” Bon Bon said. “W e haven’t even gotten our drinks yet.”
Octavia nodded as her ears adjusted to the music. “Of course.”
They then sat there at the table, with only Lyra speaking a word or two, asking how Vinyl was, only to have Vinyl nod or shake her head. Octavia, merely sat in place as she used her hooves to draw circles onto the table until their drinks arrived.
“Thank you.” Lyra nodded as she chugged half her drink down.
Octavia nervously chuckled as she took her first sips. While it wasn’t the first time she had a drink, the lower quality from what was served at all the parties her mother forced her to go to made her gag.
Bon Bon’s eyes widened. “You—”
Octavia held up a hoof. “Tis’s fine.” She breathed. “Just different from…” She bite her lip. “From non-alcoholic drinks.”
Lyra and Vinyl gave her a confused look as Bon Bon lowered her eyes. “Right.”
Licking her lips, and taking another drink, Octavia muttered, “But it does have a good after taste.”
She smiled and drank the rest of the drink.
Lyra nervously chuckled. “So, Octavia, why don’t you tell us more about yourself?
Octavia turned her head. “Well… Can I get another drink?” another beer was placed besides her.” Thank you.” She drank down more than half of it.
“I thought you said you never drank before?” Lyra questioned.
Octavia wiped her muzzle. “Oh, I meant… Not as causal.” She hiccuped and smiled.
Vinyl gave a half smile, and was about to say something when a tall stallion tapped her shoulder. “You're needed for some check ups.”
Vinyl frowned. “Now?”
“Sorry, there was a complication.” He looked to her friends. “It shouldn’t take long.”
Vinyl sighed. She then got up and looked to her friends and saluted. Then headed upstage as octavia began to fidget in her seat. Her ease was lifted when she asked for another drink.
*****
Five minutes and drinks later, any fears Octavia had were long gone out the window. Watching Vinyl play her music on the soundboard, having Lyra to laugh with while Bon Bon, while reluctant to, was slowly starting to ease up. That was until, three more drinks, Octavia suggested they hit the dance floor.
“Huh?” Bon Bon blinked, sure they were just talking about different music styles.
“Why yes,” Octavia said, a little giggly, “I mean,” her body rocked, “They look like they’re having fun, we’re having fun, let’s, um… how do they say?... Boogie it up? Think Vinyl is going to be a bit.”
Bon Bon reached a hoof out. “Maybe we should let the drinks settle—”
Octavia slapped a hoof away. “I… I don’t need you to tell me what to do, mom!” Octavia blinked and pedaled back as her words worked on Bon Bon’s face. “I didn’t…” she shook her head. “maybe, but…” she glanced up at Vinyl jamming it up and blushed. “Maybe I will wait until I can glance with Vinyl.”
Lyra giggled. “So you do like her?”
With the alcohol in her blood, she started to sob as locked up emotions were starting to surface. “Oh who am I kidding!” she banged her hoof on the table and swiped another drink. “I do like mares!” She raised said hoof into the air. “I’m not going to marry that poor excuse of a stallion, you hear!”
“Okay…” Bon Bon as she pulled Octavia down. “How about we get some air.”
Lyra sank in her seat. “What did I do?”
“Don’t worry about it, Lyra, Octavia!” she grunted as tried to pull Octavia.
“Oh… stop, I don’t… *hiccup*, Need—”
Frowning, Bon Bon pulled octavia away faster than ponies could stare at them.
“What’s the idea!” Octavia scolded as Bon Bon lead her to a clear hallway where the music only echoed off the walls.. “You dare inter… Interrupting my one night of fun, you mer-peasant!” Her eyes widened as the woods left her mouth. “I mean…”
“Oh give it a rest, princess.”