Seconds Late
Ch. 3
An irritated sigh came from Harp as she said something while Alto payed no attention to her words. He was more fixated on opening the violin case that would reveal the lovely musical piece he wrote for the lovely Harp Hearts. Upon opening it, Alto saw his string instrument alone with the bow beside it. His eyes widened with fear. “Where is it?” Alto muttered. Quickly, he levitated the violin into the air, hoping his song was below it. It was not…
“Where is it?!” Alto repeated once more, louder than before.
“Where is what? Your song?” Harp asked as she watched the caramel unicorn look through his backpack. Papers scattered across the floor below Alto, his hooves discarding anything that was not his work of art.
After every pocket was searched and every folder was fumbled through, the stallion’s ears fell back with sadness. “I… I can’t find it… I think I lost it…”
“Oh no…” was all Harp could muster up to say. She scooted close to Alto and placed a hoof on his shoulder. “Maybe you left it in your locker.”
Quickly, Alto lept from his seat. “Y-yeah! I will check there and-”
RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIING!
The deafening sound of the school bell chimed, as if to tell the stallion his time was up to ask Harp Hearts to the dance. “Oh, the bell…” A hoof patted his shoulder.
“Don’t worry Alto,” Harp spoke, “even if you happened to lose your song, I am sure you can still ask her out without it. Besides, I am sure you remember how it goes, so you can rewrite it.”
“I guess…” Alto looked behind him to see High Brass’ group disperse, leaving him alone at the top of the class. As soon as the mares opened the door, students began to flood into the classroom. Even if he did have his song, there are too many ponies now present to propose to Harp Hearts.
“So promise me you will go ask that lucky mare to the dance after class.” Harp’s words made Alto swing his head back to the pink mare who gave him a sweet smile. Alto opened his mouth, but Harp was quick to place her hoof on his snout. “With or without your song.” Unable to muster up any words that may be used as an excuse, the stallion nodded.
***
Instruments sang in unison as Mr. Tenor swung his conductor’s wand. Alto sat at the midsection of the stands beside his piccolo playing friend, the two whispering to each other as the trumpets played their parts.
“Why haven't you asked her yet?” Woodwind hissed. With his part now on the approach, the pegasus brought the mouthpiece to his lips, then played to the instructor’s wand.
“Because I need my song!” Alto responded low enough to not be heard by his other classmates. “It needs to be a perfect moment.”
Woodwind almost played a false note as he heard his friend’s words. No longer needed in the song, Woodwind leered at Alto, “Just as Harp told you, I will say the same; you need to stop with the being perfect nonsense. Go on and tell her!”
“I would but-” Alto suddenly realized his part was up and began to play alongside the other violinists and cellists. “-I just want her to understand my true emotions.”
Just before Woodwind blew into his piccolo, he muttered, “You had all the time in the world during lunch telling her your feelings or whatever you may have toward Harp.”
“I would have but…” In a quick motion, Alto looked back to glance at High Brass with his trumpet held close to him and his eyes glancing here and there. The mare next to him was having a hard time keeping herself still, flustered by his mere presence. “...let’s just say High Brass almost asked Harp Hearts to the formal.
A harsh “tweet” whistled from the piccolo and turned many heads toward Woodwind. However, that didn't bother him; it was the mention of High Brass that did. Finished playing, Woodwind too took a quick look at High Brass, the rich pony still playing his instrument.
“Alto, you know what this means, right?!” Woodwind leered at his stubborn friend. “High Brass is most likely going to steal Harp Hearts away from you if you aren’t fast enough! You know how that blasted rich boy can be! The moment he sees a stallion interested in a mare, he snatches her up in an instant.”
Alto finished playing his part and turned the page, along with everypony else. “I-I do plan on telling her after class.”
“Good. Because I don't want you to be a victim of High Brass’ antics. After all...” Woodwind locked his spine forward, preventing it to look back at High Brass. "...it happened to me, and it could very well happen to you..."
“Yeah.” Alto took his bow and began to play the violin as he watched Harp Hearts strum her string instrument from below.
***
RIIIIIIIIIIIIING!
A rumbling noise came from the stands as Mr. Tenor’s students began to make their way to the exit. “Remember students,” the instructor proclaimed, “Tomorrow is the deadline for volunteer work for the Hearts and Hooves Formal. Like I have said before, it will be an excellent opportunity to show off your skills.”
Alto half-heard the teacher, but was more focused on Harp Hearts while the mare carefully began to lower her harp into its case. He slowly walked down the steps, but Woodwind gave Alto a light tap in the flank. “Go! Ask her out!”
The impatient High Brass pushed past Woodwind and Alto, walking over to his bodyguard who stood stationed near the door.
“What a mule…” Woodwind muttered. Noticing his frozen friend, Woodwind gave another tap, “Go!” Alto flinched a little, his friend’s words too loud for his liking.
Walking down to Harp, Alto gave her a nervous smile. “You did very well today. M-much better than before in fact.”
The mare shrugged, “I just played as I did yesterday.”
Alto looked back at Woodwind, as if to ask for help. But Woodwind rose his brows and gestured his head at Harp. “S-so Harp,” Alto began slowly, “are y-you planning on going to the dance with anypony?”
Harp shook her head and frowned a little. “No. It would be nice to have a date, but nopony has asked me.” Instead of clinging to her sad frown, the mare gave a light smile. “So I am deciding to do volunteer work at the Hearts and Hooves Formal. Mr. Tenor has been suggesting that I go and share my ‘lovely music’ as he says. I might as well try and show off my talent.”
“H-hey, I was considering the same thing. See, since you and I don’t have any dates-” Harp brought a hoof to the stallion’s nose and gave him a smirk.
“Oh no you don’t…” Alto didn’t know what to make of the sudden gesture and act. Is she rejecting me? “You told me right before class you were going to ask out a mare to the dance.”
“But I am! And I want to-”
“No,” Harp argued, pressing her hoof with a little more pressure. She then stood up and began to push Alto to the door. “You are going out those doors and are going to ask out that special mare.” The stallion tried to resist the pink pony, but was proving to be stronger than him; most likely because she lugs around a heavy instrument all the time. His face flushed as others watched with smirks on their faces.
“Can I just-” A unicorn at the door opened it, aiding Harp to her own game.
“Go!” With a hard push, Harp slammed the door before Alto could turn around and wedge himself back into the classroom. He looked through the glass and saw Harp stare back at him. “Go. I will wait here for you so you can tell me all about your confession.” Her voice was muffled, but it was enough to be heard.
Alto pulled hard on the door handle, but the door would not budge. “Fine,” he said back to Harp Hearts before walking away. I guess I can check my locker for my song.