//------------------------------// // Special // Story: The High Note // by FlashFoward //------------------------------// “I think we should take a break.” The composer noted. Majority of the musicians took a sigh of relief and headed for the door, probably going to grab something to eat. Octavia gave you a fleeting smile before her friends whisked her away. Relief wasn’t coming your way though. Melody hadn’t stopped rubbing your leg for the entire duration of the practice. Even now, she was slowly rubbing you. As the composer got closer, Melody ceased her rubbing and shifted her attention to the composer as he got closer to you two. Again, he looked less than pleased to see you again. “Well, now is a good time to explain why you are all here. My name is Greg.” The composer gave you two folders, filled with sheets of notes. “As you figured out, there is a lack of a piano player in the orchestra. So, I had some of the band members scavenge for one.” He gestured to the two of you before he continued. “They found you two and I was wondering if you two would like to audition for the spot.” Greg looked hopefully at Melody more than anything. “I guess so.” You mutter, thinking back on Octavia. “I’ll stick around.” Melody replied right after you. Yeah, she’ll probably be sticking on your leg like glue. After the briefing, Greg tried hitting on Melody. Taking advantage of this, you slip of your chair without her notice and leave the theater. As you walked out from the front door, Octavia snuck up behind you. “I’m sorry you had to go through that.” Octavia mumbled sadly. “Nah, it’s not your fault Melody sat next to me.” You quickly try to make Octavia feel better. It seemed to have cheered her up a bit. “I guess so. Mind coming with me to the Musicians Friend store? I need to replace some strings on my cello.” Octavia wore a nervous smile as she spoke. You recall one of the strings, for her cello, had snapped cleanly in two and Octavia’s angry face as she used her bow to do this. A small spark of fear sunk into you. If she could break a metallic string with just the strings on the bow, what could she do to a pony? “I’ll tag along.” You reply after mulling it over. Her eyes light up with enjoyment, which you found utterly cute. You follow Octavia, due to not having a clue where the store was. While you two walked through the streets, your eyes lingered on her flanks every once in a while. How her hips swayed back and forth at a continuous pace. It was like you were falling in a trance, one that you really enjoyed. Octavia stops abruptly and your eyes snap over to her face when she turns around to address you. “Here we are!” The Musicians Friend’s store looked pretty fancy and had a classical vibe to it, maybe the reason why Octavia comes here for supplies. You couldn’t see what was so great about this place, but Octavia looked delighted to be here. She raced into the store, like a little school filly, and part of you found it adorable. When you walked into the store, Octavia was already chatting idly with an elderly stallion behind the counter. Curiosity got the better of you and you decide to see what’s so interesting about this old guy. “Nate, this is my friend. He is here with me while I got some extra strings for my cello.” Octavia introduced you and shortly wandered around looking for strings. “Nice to meet you,” Nate held out his hoof for you to shake. Once you grab it, he puts a vice grip on you and releases quickly. For an old guy, he still was that strong? There was an odd glaze to his eyes. Could he have been… “Are you blind, Nate?” You ask cautiously. “That I am, since I was born in fact.” Nate replied happily. “How do you run a store like this then?” You couldn’t believe a blind guy ran a store. What would happen if somepony would rob him blind, literally? “I usually have an assistant, but she is running late today. If I can play a piano, I see no issue on how to operate a store for a few hours.” Nate explained. “You play a piano? So do I!” You could hardly keep the excitement and interest from your voice. “Do you really? I hope I have the opportunity to hear you play.” Nate sounded just as interested as you, giving a slight bow of recognition as well. “I hope so to, never got to see a blind pianist before.” You reply. “I see you two are getting along just fine!” Octavia interjected, flashing a smile to the both of you. “Got your strings?” Nate asked, placing out his hooves expectantly. Octavia nods and hands over some of the cello strings, along with bits for payment, to Nate. Being blind didn’t hamper with his ability to operate with a cash register and proper pricing. You could only guess either he had all this down by memory or just pure luck. After slipping the bits into the register, Nate hands you the strings. “You carry her things.” Nate muttered. How did Nate figure out where you were standing was beyond your comprehension. Nonetheless, you grab the strings, with your mouth, from him while Octavia waits expectantly at the door. “Great, you got them!” Octavia exclaimed. She pulls the strings from your mouth with her own. Her lips nearly graze yours as her mouth grips around the strings. The heat was rising to your face and it was extremely difficult to hide your blushing when Octavia finally pulled back, with strings in her mouth. Octavia gestures you to follow her, which you do. Yet again, she takes the lead and your eyes linger back to her flanks every once in a while. “Why and when did you start playing the cello?” Octavia looked rather surprised with your question. “Probably back when I was a filly.” “Did anypony...um, force you to practice?” You had grown to hate cello players and trumpets, besides Octavia. The fuel of that hate was due to your dad. There had to be a good reason for her interest in the cello. “What, no. I was just so absorbed into the sound of the cello. How deep, warm, and rich it sounded to me…I really was just breathless when I first heard the sound.” Octavia replied, acting rather nostalgic of her first experience with the cello. “If I remember correctly, Oscar was the first cellist I heard play.” You mistakenly hit all the low keys on the piano you were practicing on. Did she really say his name? How in the world did she fall in love with the sound of his playing, while you grew up to resent it to no end? The deep, warm, enriching sound she heard only translated to you as one of arrogance and dominating. Octavia gave you a quizzical look, probably trying to figure out why you reacted to badly to his name. To avoid suspicion, you continue practicing one of the songs Greg had given you to practice. However, you barely were paying attention to the notes on the sheet and did your own thing. “Anyway, why and when did you start playing the piano?” Octavia had her full focus on you now. Her eyes gave you the impression that she could see through all your lies, it was unsettling. “My dad got me into playing the piano when I was a young colt.” You reply, almost failing at keeping the betterment out of your tone. “For somepony who has been playing an instrument for so long, you barely smile when you play.” Octavia mumbled thoughtfully. “I take my craft seriously, maybe too seriously.” You choose your words carefully, not wanting to lie but not say the full truth either. “I guess that’s not a bad thing. Still, try to lighten up when you play.” Octavia advised. “Oh, one last thing before I go. Hope you aren’t getting tired of invitations.” She gives you a sheepish smile before sitting by your side to show you the invite letter. “It’s to a dinner party with all our fellow band members and many other musicians from across Equestria. I figure this would be a good time for you to better know who you’ll be playing along with.” “Do I have to get a suit?” You ask, giving Octavia a weary look. “It would be appropriate for the occasion.” A sigh of defeat escapes your lips. “Alright, anything else I should be aware about? Considering what you got me into the last time, after all.” You gesture to the piano before you, which makes Octavia looked slightly embarrassed. “I thought you would have skipped coming here if I told you what was going on.” Octavia sounded genuinely afraid of the possibility of your rejection. “Nah, it’s alright. Fortunately for me, you invited me here. If it were somepony else, I would probably would’ve passed.” You nearly bite your tongue off as you spill these words out. Did you just confess your feelings? “Oh come on, you make it look like I’m something special.” Octavia waved aside your compliment with a clumsy hoof, looking rather embarrassed. “But you are.” Octavia blinked rapidly a few times. Before you can say anything else, Octavia quickly leave the stage and out the theater. She had left her cello behind, but you knew it would still be here for tomorrow’s practice. You smack your head on the piano keys to release some of the bottled up stress in you. Pain was now in exchange for your stress, which probably wasn’t a good difference. The loud eruption of notes, which started to cause you a headache, now accompanied the pain on your forehead. “Too early, I guess?” You whisper to yourself. Your question echoes multiple times through the theater and with each recitation, your anger and embarrassment doubles. Indeed, you just had met Octavia yesterday and you were already being to…suggestive? To be fair at least rubbing Octavia’s leg, unlike some other ponies, on the first day wasn’t on your to-do list, not that you would mind if it was okay with her. Once you pick up your head from the piano notes, the dinner party invitation stuck to your face. After removing the invitation, you glance over the details within it. Time, place, and entertainment had been all listed on the invite. If Octavia was a fan of your dad, perhaps you could get an autograph for her? The autograph would hopefully make up for this little incident. This would also mean that you would have to talk to your dad again…Oh joy.