Vinyl felt relieved that Rarity was home safe and sound with no mishaps along the way. With the crisis averted there was still time left in the night, and she knew just the place that could brighten up this terrible evening. Vinyl opened the front passenger door of her car and motioned for Octavia to sit.
“After you m'lady.”
“Ooo, how charming.” Octavia giggled at Vinyl's mock chivalry and moved to take a seat, but halted when she saw the pile of audio cables and empty energy drink cans on the seat. “Umm.”
“Huh? What's wro—” Vinyl asked in concern before cutting herself off and quickly sorting out the mess in a flustered frenzy, tossing the cables in the back and the cans in the recycling bin by Rarity's curb.
“Heh sorry about that.” Vinyl panted with her face red with embarrassment.
Nooo! You idiot! She's gonna think you're a slob!
Octavia smiled politely and took her seat, Vinyl followed suit.
“So, do you have a coffee shop in mind already?” Octavia asked as Vinyl started the car.
“Yep! I know just the place!”
“Good, because I haven't the faintest idea where any of the cafes are in this town.”
“Not much of a coffee drinker?”
“Correct, I'm much more fond of tea.”
“Hey, here's the place!” Vinyl pointed out the window to a brightly decorated cafe.
Octavia's eyes lit up. “What luck! I'm driven past this shop everyday on my way to school and I've always wanted to go inside! But, are you certain they sell coffee? This establishment strikes me as more of a sweets shop.”
“Ha ha don't worry, they do.” Vinyl grinned. Score!
She parked the car by the sidewalk and they both went inside. The warm cozy air and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee was a delightful contrast to the chilly autumn night. Octavia looked around the room noting the establishment was devoid of any other customers. Before she could comment, the bored looking girl at the counter perked up and gasped loudly.
“Oh my gosh! I know you guys! Hi Octy! Hi Vinyl!” she shouted. Her ridiculous pink cotton candy hair flopped wildly with her exaggerated motions.
“Miss Pie. What a pleasure.” Octavia feigned a polite smile.
“Sup Pinkie.” Vinyl waved.
“Oh my gosh! Whatcha doin here so early? Did the party get canceled?” Pinkie asked Octavia.
“Um...” Octavia was hesitant to answer.
“Lets just say the party didn't go as planned.” Vinyl answered.
“Huh? That's horrible! Parties should always go as planned! Unless it's the plan to not follow the plan of course, but wouldn't that make it go as planned? Then again—”
“Pinkie! Focus! I got some bad news.” Vinyl leaned over the counter and spoke soberly. “Rarity got seriously messed up at the party.”
“Whaaaat?! Messed up how? Is... is she okay?”
“Yeah, she's fine, just blacked out. She uh, drank too much trying to impress some guy. We just dropped her off at her house before coming here.”
Pinkie's curly hair drooped a bit. “Wowie... um thanks a bunch Vinyl. Here, cookies and coffee are on me. I wanna go check on Rarity.” Pinkie instantly procured two cups of coffee and a plate of assorted cookies from nearby.
A monotone voice called out from the back room, “go ahead Pinkie, go see your friend. I'll watch the front.” An unabashedly neutral girl stepped up to the counter.
“Thanks Maud you're the best!” Pinkie walked around and began making her way to the exit.
“Um, Pinkie, before you go... may I retrieve my Cello from your car?” Octavia asked.
Pinkie turned around and scampered up to Octavia startling her. “Your Cello isn't in my car silly!”
“Wot?!” Octavia bleated in astonishment. “Where is my Cello Miss Pie?!”
Pinkie reached her hand behind Octavia's ear and pulled out a large black case. “It's behind your ear!” Pinkie handed the case to the very confused girl and capered off into the night.
“Dude... did she... just...” Vinyl staggered back catching herself on the counter.
Octavia checked inside the case. “Well, everything here seems to be in order, somehow...”
“I... need to sit down.” Vinyl carried the coffee and assorted cookies to a large green couch and put the goods on a small round table. The two girls sat next to each other. The cello occupied the end of the couch on Octavia's left.
“So... you play cello?” Vinyl mixed cream and sugar in her coffee.
“Yes. I do.” Octavia mirrored Vinyl's actions pouring cream and sugar in her own coffee.
“That's so cool. How long have you been playing?”
“I've been playing for what seems like my entire life. My father gave me this cello for my sixth birthday It was love at first sight, I've played it every single day since. My music is my passion.”
“No way! Me too! Who's your favorite band?”
“Band? I'm sorry but I haven't listened to much contemporary music. Radios are banned at home, mother said radio music is evil. I don't believe her of course, but I never particularly felt the need to defy that particular rule.”
“What? That's awful! You gotta come by my place sometime, I'll show you my record collection.”
Octavia smiled and Vinyl returned the gesture. The girls took a moment to blow on their coffees.
“Hey, I was kinda wondering something.” Vinyl said.
“Whats that?”
“Why did Pinkie uh... have your cello?”
Octavia took a sip of her coffee and made a displeased face before she answered. “My mother is very strict, and she doesn't allow me to leave the house unless she approves. Since there is no chance she would approve of me attending this party, I told her I had a recital tonight.” She mixed more sugar in her drink.
“But, won't your mom notice if you aren’t there?” Vinyl munched a crispy sugar cookie.
Octavia took another sip of coffee. “My mother has never been to any of my recitals and I don't expect that to change tonight.”
Appalled by this revelation she was unsure how to react. Vinyl swallowed and said, “Dang. That's messed up.”
“Indeed.” The cellist's gaze fell down to the table.
Octavia lifted a snickerdoodle cookie from the plate and took a bite. The light returned to her eyes as she hastily stuffed the rest of the cookie in her mouth.
“Good cookies huh?” Vinyl smirked, trying to drive the conversation somewhere happier.
“Theeth cookiz ar delithous!” Octavia replied with a full mouth. She chewed and swallowed, “oh, my apologies that was unladylike of me.”
“No worries, have some more. You gotta try the double chocolate chip, I usually get a buncha those when I come here.”
“Will do!” Octavia helped herself.
Vinyl smirked gleefully at Octavia's elated cookie-munching expression. Octavia finished off her cookie before speaking. “My goodness, these cookies alone made up for the entire night. Why, I can't remember the last time I had anything sweet.”
“Uh oh! I didn't make you break your diet did I?”
“Don't worry it's nothing of the sort. It's just that mother has always instructed the chef to never prepare anything with excessive sugar. I don't doubt eating that way is healthier, but something sweet every now and again shouldn't be such cause for alarm.”
Vinyl nearly spat coffee. “Wait, hang on. You have a chef?”
“Of course. Doesn't everyone?”
“No way, most people cook their own food or eat out. You must be loaded!”
“Loaded?” Octavia's right eyebrow cocked upwards.
“You know, rich? Like your family has a ton of money.”
“Well, I suppose that's true.”
“Dude, I bet your house is bigger than Trend's!”
“Um, yes. I believe it is.”
“Duuuude!”
“Who is this 'dude' you speak of, I am most certainly not a dude.”
“My bad, force of habit, but dang! It must be awesome having all that. I wish I was rich.”
“It's not as great as it seems. Trust me.” She cupped her Autumn chilled fingers around her nearly untouched coffee, she stared down at the bubbles on the surface.
“Wha? What's the matter?”
“That sentiment, about aspiring to riches, I heard it often from other students after they learned that I came from money. I've always disliked hearing it.”
“Sorry.” Vinyl muttered, Octavia didn't seem to notice.
“They always wanted to be my friend after they find out, but they quickly lose interest in me when I tell them that mother doesn't allow me to invite guests over to our villa.”
“Dang, that sucks.”
“Indeed. If I could trade it all for loving parents, and real friends I'd be penniless in an instant.” She mindlessly stirred her drink during a moment of silence. She glanced up and caught sight of Vinyl's worried face.
Octavia jolted upright, “Oh no, my apologies. I barely know you, I shouldn't be saying these things, do forgive me.”
Vinyl pulled Octavia's cold hand into a warm clasp between her own. “Hey, I can be your real friend.” Vinyl squeezed the girl's hand and looked her in her big amethyst eyes with a warm smile.
Octavia jerked her hand away into her lap and turned her head away. “I'm sorry. I... I couldn't. I've inconvenienced you enough tonight. You shouldn't feel forced to befriend a dull girl like me. No one should. I don't even know why Rarity puts up with me.” She stood up from the couch. “This was a mistake.” She turned away to grab her cello.
Vinyl grabbed Octavia by the wrist. “Hey! Wait! Don't go!”
“No Vinyl, you've done enough for me already. Just let me leave.”
“You're not dull Octavia! You're super smart and talented and beautiful.”
“You're just saying that. I know you don't mean it. No one ever means those shallow platitudes.”
“I do mean it! Just on looks alone you're already the opposite of dull, I mean like dayyyum gurl. But, your brains! I can barely understand you with all those fancy words you're using, and I think that's the coolest thing ever. Meeting you was the best thing that happened all night! So please, I wanna get to know you.”
“Why? Why are you so interested in me for? Is it my money you're after? If I pay you will you leave me alone?”
“No. I won't. Octavia, I just like you for who you are. I don't know how else I can say that.”
Octavia seemed to melt from hearing those specific words. She collapsed back down onto the couch and Vinyl released her wrist. “W-why... why are you being so nice to me? First you saved me, a-and now...” she clammed up with her hands to her face as she softly whimpered.
“Hey hey, I gotchu.” Vinyl rested her hand on the girl's shoulder comfortingly.
Octavia threw herself at Vinyl and wept on her shoulder. Vinyl wrapped her arms around the lonely girl and held her tightly. She comfortingly pet Octavia's long silky lavender scented hair.
“It's alright babe. Let it all out.”
Time stood still as they stayed there in warm embrace. Vinyl wondered how long Octavia had been suffering. Does she cry like this alone at night? Vinyl couldn't bear the thought of this lovely girl in so much pain for so long.
Vinyl whispered, “shh, everything's okay now.” Octavia's pained cries grew quieter and soon Octavia was silent.
Octavia spoke quietly by Vinyl's ear. “I'm sorry, I don't know why I lunged at you the way I did.”
“You don't gotta apologize for nothing, I'll hold you whenever you want. We're friends now, and I'll do anything for my friends.”
“We're... friends?”
“Yeah.”
“And its not because of my wealth?”
“I asked you to hang out before I knew anything about that. I like you for you babe.”
"Octavia blushed. “And you won't grow tired of me and leave?”
“I'm not goin' anywhere.”
Octavia tightened her grip around Vinyl and murmured in her ear. “You promise?”
“I promise.”