//------------------------------//
// Chapter 13 
// Story: The Nerd and the Cellist 
// by HAKDurbin 
//------------------------------//

I woke up to the sound of my alarm clock announcing that it was Monday and it was time to get ready for school. I groaned as I turned it off, got up in a sitting position, and stretched before getting out to bed to take a shower. Despite feeling very tired, though, I was ecstatic because there were only a few days left until the wedding. I spent most of Sunday with Fluttershy, and at the end of our session, she said that I was almost ready. I walked home later that evening with a cheerful grin, confident that I would amaze my crush with my dancing.  

Word spread like wildfire at Canterlot High that Octavia and Blueblood were on a break. Many students were dumbfounded by the news, having no idea why it happened. Some of them came up with theories about who put the relationship on hold, with most of them believing that Octavia did it. I grew worried about what Octavia might be going through with so many people making a big deal out of what happened. At lunch, to no surprise, everyone in my group, apart from Rarity and Fluttershy, asked what I knew about what happened. I confessed that I suggested the idea to Octavia but explained that I really thought it would be the best thing for her. Fortunately, Rarity backed me up, telling our friends what Octavia said when they went shopping. To my surprise, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Soarin approved of my decision after Rarity explained what was wrong between Octavia and Blueblood. At that point, they were starting to ease up about my intentions regarding how I interact with my crush, and I hoped they were going to completely trust me before long.

In English class, Octavia looked fatigued, which confirmed my suspicions that people have nagged her all day. Sonata, on the other hand, greeted me with a forced grin, which puzzled me. I spent most of class wondering what was the matter with Sonata as I wrote down what Ms. Cheerilee put on the blackboard. Finally, the final bell rang, and Octavia turned to me with a weak smile as we all got up from our seats. We walked out of the classroom and began making our way to the music room until Sonata stood in front of us.

"Hey, guys, is it alright if I walk with you guys to your study group?" she asked.

Octavia and I looked at each other, confused, and I said, "Sure, Sonata, but won't your sisters be looking for you?"

Sonata stood still, not expecting that question. She looked away in thought before she answered with a smile, "No, because they are staying after school in the library for a big essay they have to do in one of their elective classes. So, I thought I should take advantage of that by spending a little more time with my friends."

Octavia and I were confused by how Sonata was silent for a moment before she responded, but Octavia shrugged and said, "Well, you do like spending time away from your sisters, so I see no reason to refuse, Sonata." 

Sonata beamed, and the three of us began walking again with a skip in the Dazzling's step. I smiled at how cute she was acting before I turned to Octavia.

"So, judging by how tired you look, you had a busy day, huh?" I said with a chuckle.

"Ugh, you have no idea," Octavia groaned. "I know Blueblood, and I are a popular couple, but it's not like I caused the apocalypse just because I did such a thing to the Prince of Manehattan."

"I can't imagine," I said. "How do you feel about going on a break, though?"

Octavia sighed and answered with a smile, "Well, Blueblood didn't take it well as you can imagine, but I do feel better making it abundantly clear how things are between us. All in all, I am thankful that you made the suggestion, Rough Draft."

"I'm happy to hear it," I said. 

"Whoa, whoa, wait a minute," Sonata said, stepping in front of Octavia and me. "Are you saying the break is your idea, Rough Draft?"

"Sure is," I answered. 

"But why?" Sonata asked. 

Octavia and I looked at each other again, uneasy before Octavia said, "Let's just say Blueblood, and I are not the perfect couple everyone thinks we are."

"Oh," Sonata said before she gave Octavia a cute smile. "In that case, I'm happy that you're feeling better too."

"Thank you, Sonata," Octavia said. "Though, if it's all the same to you two, I'd like to stop discussing Blueblood and me from now on. I want to spend our break on completely different matters like the wedding."

I grinned and said, "I concur. I'm looking forward to it."

Octavia smiled warmly at me while Sonata thought about it for a moment before it hit her.

"Oh, my gosh. Is the wedding this Saturday already?" She asked.

"It certainly is," Octavia said. "Rarity informed me that my dress is nearly done."

"Awesome," Sonata said before turning to me. "How about you, Rough Draft? Do you have a tux ready?"

Octavia's and my faces fell, and our pupils shrank simultaneously. Sonata tilted her head while Octavia and I looked at each other in shock. 

"Your tux!" Octavia shouted. "How could we have forgotten?"

"I guess I have been so focused on learning how to dance and the soccer game that it slipped my mind," I said.

Octavia took a moment to think about it and said, "I guess I've been distracted too with the game, shopping with Fluttershy and Rarity, practicing for the wedding, and thinking about how I -" Octavia stopped herself with her eyes wide open. She looked at me, realizing that she almost gave away that she was thinking about how she was feeling about me. She cleared her throat and said, "Well, thinking about other things."

"For realsies?" Sonata asked, dumbfounded. "You better get on that while you have time."

"You think?" I asked before turning to Octavia. "Do you think we would have time to go to a tux store today?"

Octavia took out her phone and looked up Canterlot's tux store, and bit her lip.

"Barely. They close around seven, and it takes about half an hour from here on foot," she said. "That only gives us an hour and a half to have them take your measurements and look for the right tux for you."

"Sounds like the worst-case scenario is we do what we can and maybe come again tomorrow or something like that," I said.

"Indeed, but I'd rather we find your tux the sooner, the better," Octavia said.

"No argument there," I said.

Sonata grew uneasy with how troubled Octavia and I were at that moment. Thankfully, she smiled and said, "I'm sure you guys will be able to find the perfect tux tonight. I mean, I bet you have seen so many kinds of tuxedos just from dating Blueblood that you have a good idea for what would and wouldn't work, Octavia 

Octavia and I smiled, and the latter said, "Thank you, Sonata. I appreciate your optimism, and you might be right about my experience with tuxedos."

"Hope so. It sounds like you'll have time to think about that before we go to the store," I said.

"Indeed," Octavia said before she let out a soft gasp. "Speaking of time, we better get going.  Starlight must be wondering where we are."

I checked the time on my phone and said, "Yikes. Yeah, let's go."

With that, the three of us went back to walking to the music room together. Sonata kept a cheerful smile as we walked, but in her mind, she was thinking of how to tell Adagio that she was right that Octavia and Blueblood were on a break because they have problems. It wouldn't affect how determined Adagio was to get me, but to the bluish-white girl, it was enough that she could discredit her manipulative sister for once. Sonata then hoped that she could find a way to hide that the break was my idea without Adagio figuring out that she was upholding information. She knew that it wouldn't matter either, but she figured Adagio would think Octavia and I were both using the break to ultimately get together if she told her. The way her sister was theorizing the other day, It made sense not to rule out the possibility. 

Eventually, we all made it to the music room to find Starlight Glimmer waiting with her back against the wall. She saw us walking toward her and said, "Finally. What took you guys so long?"

"Apologies, Starlight. We got into a conversation with Sonata on the way here and lost track of time," Octavia explained. 

Starlight Glimmer turned her head to Sonata, who gave her a smile and a wave as she said, "Hi." Starlight Glimmer hesitantly waved and said, "Hi," back, finding her cheerful personality to be odd. She knew everything about Sonata being a Dazzling and being my friend despite that, but it was still puzzling that one of the people we were supposed to avoid was nothing like what she heard about her sisters. Starlight Glimmer decided to put it in the back of her head and turned to Octavia and me.

"Well, as long as you're here, we can get going," Starlight Glimmer said.

"Indeed," Octavia agreed before turning to Sonata. "We'll see you tomorrow, Sonata."

Sonata resisted the urge to show any reluctance to be separated from us and said, "Yeah, I'll see you guys -"

"STARLIGHT! ROUGH DRAFT!" 

I jumped out of my skin, startled by the loud voice before Octavia, Sonata, Starlight Glimmer, and I turned around to find Pinkie Pie racing toward us. The pink girl had tears coming from the edge of her eyes as she ran. She stopped running in front of us and panted with her hands on her knees while Octavia, Sonata, Starlight Glimmer, and I were confused with her worried demeanor.

"Pinkie, what's the matter?" I asked. 

Pinkie Pie took a few more deep breaths before she stood up and whined, "I just got a call from Saffron Masala, and she told me that she and her dad are going to shut down the Tasty Treat!"

"What?!" Octavia, Starlight Glimmer, and I shouted at the same time.

"The Tasty Treat? Isn't that the place where you knocked Blueblood off the balcony?" Sonata asked.

"Yeah, it is," I answered. "But why are they sitting it down?"

"Apparently, Blueblood's dad sued them for Blueblood's suit getting damaged," Pinkie Pie answered. "He demanded restitution, and Coriander Cumin couldn't afford a lawyer to fight back the claim, so they're demanding that they pay for the tux."

"But that's ridiculous," I said. "It was Blueblood's own stupid fault for not paying attention."

"The lawyers said it was Coriander Cumin's fault for not having a lid or something to keep people from getting burned by one of his candles, and there's no proof that Blueblood was at fault," Pinkie Pie said. "Blueblood's dad pretty much believed him over anything anyone else says."

Octavia, Starlight Glimmer, and I took a moment to think about it before Starlight Glimmer bit her lip and said, "I hate to say it, but they have a point with the candle."

"Granted, but this it is no less cold-hearted that Mr. Blood is doing this over a suit," Octavia said with her arms crossed. "I wish we found out about this sooner. We would have testified that it was Blueblood's fault."

"No offense, Octavia, but if Blueblood's dad is only half the guy Blueblood is, he probably will make sure his lawyers discredit our testimonies," I said.

Octavia thought about for a moment before she furrowed her brow and said, "No, you're right. He would."

Pinkie Pie let out a sob and said, "Coriander Cumin and Saffron Masala came all the way from Saddle Arabia to make a living here, and they make such wonderful food. I can't bear to think about what's going to happen if they really shut down the Tasty Treat."

Pinkie Pie rushed to my side and cried on my shoulder. Octavia and Starlight Glimmer watched sadly as I patted Pinkie Pie's back. Though Sonata didn't know Pinkie Pie personally or had ever been to the Tasty Treat, she was downcast to see a friend of mine and Octavia's cry. The blueish white girl looked down and scratched her chin in thought, something she rarely had the chance to do. 

"Well, isn't there a way you could have, like, a fundraiser or something to help them get the money?" She asked. 

Octavia, Pinkie Pie, Starlight Glimmer, and I turned to the Dazzling, and Octavia said with a sad smile, "That's a nice idea, Sonata, but I doubt we can get enough people to donate enough."

"You don't know that," Sonata said. "How much do they owe anyway?"

Pinkie Pie sniffled and answered, "A thousand dollars."

At that moment, Octavia, Starlight Glimmer, and I looked at our friend, puzzled, and I asked, "Only a thousand? I remember Blueblood saying it was worth more than I could make in ten lifetimes." 

Octavia thought about it and shook her head with a sigh before she said, "Come to think of it, he probably thinks that because he doesn't really know how much normal people make, and he does spend a lot of money from his job on many other things besides a suit."

"You think he's that condescending?" Starlight Glimmer asked. 

"It makes sense to me as his girlfriend," Octavia said. "Having said that, a thousand is rather cheap for a suit Blueblood owns."

"Well, Saffron Masala did say they're mostly paying for the coat and shirt since that's what was really damaged," Pinkie Pie explained. 

"Ah, that makes a little more sense," Octavia said.

"Maybe, but I think it's clear that Coriander Cumin and Saffron Masala don't have that kind of money," I said.

"True, but that still means there's hope that Sonata's idea could work," Starlight Glimmer said. "If we spread the word, people might come to eat at the Tasty Treat and maybe even donate money."

Pinkie Pie's eyes shimmered with a look of hope, and she said, "You...you really think so?"

"Sure, Pinkie," Starlight Glimmer said with a smile. "Though, we should advertise the restaurant for people to want to donate. I mean, I've never heard of the Tasty Treat until our group found out that Rough Draft was going to dinner there with Blueblood and Octavia."

Pinkie stared at Starlight Glimmer for a moment and thought about it before her face lit up and said, "That's it, Starlight. Everyone should find out how yummy Coriander Cumin and Saffron Masala's food is. That way, not only will they get the money to pay them back, but business would be better than ever."

"There you go," Starlight Glimmer said with a smile. "You could make fliers to put up here at school and all over town."

"We could make a group or something on MyStable. That oughta grab some attention," I said.

"Excellent suggestion, Rough Draft," Octavia said. "We could even take pictures of the food and share it to our MyStable friends. 

"Ooo. Leave that part to me," Pinkie Pie said. "I've tried so much of their food that I know what would be the best ones to attract people."

"Then it sounds like we have a plan," Starlight Glimmer said.

"Looks that way," I said.

"Indeed," Octavia said.

"Wheee!" Pinkie Pie chirped. "I can't wait to tell Saffron Masala!"

"That sounds great, guys," Sonata said. "I'm glad that you're going to be helping your friend."

"Thanks, Sonata, but we couldn't have come up with it without you," I said. 

Sonata's eyes widened for a moment, and she bashfully looked away, saying, "I-I-I didn't do anything special. I just made a suggestion."

"True, but it was your suggestion that led to us coming up with this idea," Octavia said. "You're the only one who came up with one, for that matter."

"Yeah, Octavia's right. Our friends might have a chance thanks to you," I said.

Sonata's face heated up, still refusing to look us in the eye. Pinkie Pie suddenly pulled Sonata into a bear-crushing hug and lifted her in the air.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!" Pinkie Pie squealed. 

"Ulk! You're….welcome," Sonata wheezed. 

Pinkie Pie put Sonata down, and the bluish-white girl gasped for air. The hyper girl turned to the rest of us and said, "I'm going to tell Coriander Cumin and Saffron Masala right away. See you all later."

With that, Pinkie Pie raced out of the hall before the rest of us had a chance to say goodbye. Octavia, Sonata, Starlight Glimmer, and I stared at where we last saw her for a moment until Starlight Glimmer cleared her throat and said, "Well, now that that's settled, why don't we get going with study group already?"

"Oh, my. We still haven't started yet. Have we?" Octavia chuckled.

Sonata frowned, hating that she had to part ways with her friends again. She forced a smile and said, "It's just as well. I should probably head home before Adagio and Aria are done with their essays."

"Totally," I said. "We'll see you tomorrow then, Sonata."

"Yeah, see you, guys," Sonata said. "Update me with the Tasty Treat." 

"Absolutely," Octavia said. "See you tomorrow, Sonata."

"Bye, everyone," Sonata replied, waving as we entered the music room and close the door in front of her. 

Sonata stood in front of the door before walking down the hall to the front entrance. Her smile turned into a genuine one, and her blush returned as she thought about how Octavia, Pinkie Pie, Starlight Glimmer, and I praised her. But then, she realized that what we were doing counted as something outside of school or working for Octavia, meaning she had to tell Adagio about it. She wanted to hide the information from her, but she knew that Adagio would find out that we were trying to save the Tasty Treat when word got out.

"I'm sorry, Rough Draft," she whispered. "I guess you'll have to see Adagio again."





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During our study group, Octavia, Starlight Glimmer, and I were still thinking about the Tasty Treat while we did our homework. The image of Pinkie Pie crying over what was going to happen to her friends kept appearing in my head. I would glance at Octavia as we worked on an English assignment and see in her mulberry eyes that she was agitated by what her boyfriend's father was doing to the poor restaurant owner and his daughter. 

Finally, about ten minutes before five, Octavia decided to cut study group short so that she and I had extra time at the tux store. Starlight Glimmer forced a smile as she said she understood before we exited the school and went our separate ways. Within half an hour, Octavia and I were inside the tuxedo store, and the owner started taking my measurements before having me try on black pants, shoes, and a white shirt. While I tried them on, Octavia started browsing for vests and bowties. When I came out of the fitting room with the pants, shoes, and shirt on, Octavia gave me a smile that made me look away to hide a blush. After that, she and the owner had me stand in the middle of the store to try on different colored vests and bowties while I decided to strike a conversation. 

"So, Octavia, how do you feel about the Tasty Treat?" I asked. 

Octavia huff and answered, "I could be feeling better. I hope we will be able to help Coriander Cumin get the money, but I would be lying if I didn't say I'm irritated that they have to pay for Blueblood's bloody suit at all." 

"I hear that," I said. "Still, with Pinkie Pie probably taking control of most of the operation, we might get enough people to help out. She is a scary crafty person that way." 

"Indeed," Octavia said. "Personally, though, I'm thinking of donating the money I'm earning from the wedding to Coriander Cumin and Saffron Masala if the worst comes to worst."

I stared at Octavia, surprised as she put a maroon bow tie around my neck and asked, "Really? Are you getting paid a lot for that?"

"Not a thousand dollars, but a big enough sum that it should help," Octavia answered. 

"Are you okay with spending it all on helping Coriander Cumin and Saffron Masala?" I asked. 

Octavia stopped working on the bowtie and looked at me right in the eyes as she said, "The money is of no concern to me, Rough Draft. I took the gig because my music caught the right people's attention, and it will help my talent as a cellist be further recognized. Anything apart from that is a mere bonus. I'd rather use that money to help others than for it to sit in my bank account unused."

I continued to stare at my crush, amazed, until I gave her a heartfelt smile. Octavia smiled back before she went back to putting on the bowtie. As she looked at me with the bowtie on, I drifted off in my mind, thinking of how caring my crush really was. It was clear to me that I was right when I told my friends weeks ago that there was more to Octavia than meets the eye and she's a better person than Blueblood deserved the afternoon before he fell off the balcony. With all of that in mind, I wanted nothing more for her to officially break up with Blueblood for good and let her do whatever acts of good she wants to do. Perhaps that way, there would be no sadness in her music like when she performed for Starlight Glimmer and me. 

Suddenly, as I thought about that, an idea hatched into my brain, and my eyes lit up in excitement. Octavia didn't notice because she was focused on the bowtie, but when she reached out to take it off, I took her wrist, and she looked up at me.

"That's it," I said.

"What is?" Octavia asked

"Your music catches the right attention," I said.

Octavia looked at me like I said random gibberish and said, "I don't follow."

"You know how some people play music in front of a store or restaurant to catch people's attention?" I asked, which Octavia replied with a nod. "What if you did that with your cello? You would be playing in front of the Tasty Treat, and that would help get people's attention."

Octavia stared at me for a moment before she looked away to think about it. I waited for a few seconds before she looked up, smiling. 

"Yes. What a grand idea," she said before asking with a frown. "But how would I have the time? We have study group with Starlight after school every day."

I think about it for a second and said, "Maybe you could take a day or two off of that for you to play? I mean, we don't have anything major to worry about now that we have that math test out of the way, so you could spare a couple of days. Heck, maybe there's a way Starlight Glimmer, and I could help while we're at it."

Octavia took another moment to think about it before she smiled again and said, "That could work. Pinkie Pie is already going to be making flyers, and I assume some of your other friends will take part in creating a MyStable page, so perhaps playing my cello around dinner time will attract more customers."

"Exactly," I said.

Octavia's smile grew, and she said, "I like the way you're thinking Rough Draft. You should text that to Pinkie Pie."

"Totally," I said before something hit me. "Although, you might have Pinkie's number too."

Octavia looked at me puzzled and said, "I don't recall ever exchanging numbers with her."

"Maybe, but it might be on your phone anyway," I said. "Anyway, have you decided on a color?"

With the subject changed, Octavia furrowed her brow and said, "Not at the moment. I can't seem to find a color that works with the color of your skin."

"Why now a black bowtie and vest? You said I look good in a black polo shirt," I suggested.

Octavia smirked and said, "As much as that's true, you'll be wearing more than enough black with the coat, pants, and shoes to go with your black hair." She turned around and browsed through bowties and vests with her hand on her chin. "I feel we need something lighter. Nothing really bright, but a nice contrast to -"

Octavia stopped in mid-sentence, and I looked at her, confused since I could not see what she was looking at with her back turned. She stood still for a few seconds before taking out an emerald vest and bowtie. I grew more confused as I looked at how Octavia was aroused with curiosity as she stared at the clothing. She walked over to me, held the vest and bowtie to my chest, and looked back between them and my face until she looked at me, smiling.

"This is it," she declared.

"Uh, no offense, Octavia, but I'm not exactly someone who wears green," I said.

Octavia raised an eyebrow and said, "Oh, really? Well, if you ever want to find yourself a girlfriend, then I suggest you start now."

"Why?" I asked.

"Because this shade matches your eyes."

The moment she finished that sentence, I could feel my entire face turning barn red, and I looked away. Octavia smirked and said, "Let me guess, no girl has ever complimented you on your eyes?"

"N-n-not unless my mom counts," I stuttered.

Octavia covered her mouth to hide a snicker and said, "Just put these and a coat on."

"Okay," I said, taking the vest and bowtie. "Maybe you can check to see if you already have Pinkie's number while I'm at it."

Octavia furrowed her brow and asked, "Are you still on that?"

"Trust me, Octavia. Pinkie probably put her number on your phone without you knowing," I said while putting on the bowtie.

Octavia rolled her eyes and took out her phone. She scrolled through her contacts without a care until she indeed found one that said Pinkie Pie. Octavia stared at the contact with her mouth agape and opened it to find Pinkie's number and a picture of her beaming with balloons in the background.

"What on Earth?!" Octavia shouted. "Rough Draft, how did you -?!"

As soon as she looked up from her phone, her voice died in her throat. There I was fully dressed in a tux with the emerald bowtie and vest and a black jacket. I grew uneasy from the way she was standing still with her mouth hanging open again. Octavia went to the camera app on her phone without looking at it and lifted it up to take a full-body picture, which only made me feel even more uncomfortable.

"Do I look ridiculous?" I asked.

Octavia snapped out of her gaze, and her cheeks turned pink before she collected herself. She walked over to me and straightened the bowtie and jacket before looking at me with a sweet smile.

"On the contrary, you look dashing," she said. My face turned red, and I looked away again. Octavia put her hand on my cheek and turned my head to face her again before saying in a soft voice, "I mean it, Rough Draft. You look very handsome."

My blush grew, and my heart skipped a beat. At that moment, it felt even crueler that Blueblood and Octavia were only on a break, for I wanted to always hear her sincerely say such kind words with an angelic smile. I made a bashful grin that naturally made Octavia laugh before she turned to the owner of the store and said, "We'll take it." 

The owner smiled, and I went back into the fitting room to change into my regular clothes. Octavia paid for the tux with her credit card, and we said goodbye to the owner before we began walking to her house. The journey was quiet at first, with me still thinking about Octavia's compliment until she spoke.

"Rough Draft."

"Hmmm?" I asked.

"How did you know I have Pinkie Pie's number?" Octavia asked.

I let out a chuckle and said, "I didn't. I just figured you would. Somehow, she can add everyone's contact info into their phones without them realizing it or asking if she could. So, given that you have been around her when interacting with some of her friends like Starlight Glimmer and me, I figured she might have done something like that at Sweet Snacks Cafe or maybe when she came to talk to us about the Tasty Treat."

Octavia looked at me befuddled as we walked and said, "Well, if you're right, then it seems I need to talk to her about that." 

"Don't worry about it. I'll be sure to relay the message," I said. "Odds are all I need is to bring it up with everyone in our group during lunch, and we can all lecture her about it."

Octavia furrowed her brow and said, "I will hold you to that, Mr. Draft. And while we're at it, I still would like for you to discuss me playing for the Tasty Treat to Pinkie since that's your idea." 

"Well, I still work for you, so as you wish, my lady," I said with a shrug. 

Octavia chuckled with her mouth closed as we walked up the driveway to her house. We stopped at the front porch, and Octavia said, "I shall see you tomorrow, Mr. Draft."

"Indeed, you shall, Lady Melody," I said. "And I will update you with what Pinkie thinks of my brilliant idea." 

Octavia chuckled again and said, "I shall expect a text before English class."

"As you wish," I said. "Good night, Octavia."

"Good night, Rough Draft," Octavia said.

With that, Octavia went inside, and I began the journey home. Unknown to me; however, Octavia watched me leave through the front door window until I was out of sight. She went up the stairs to her room and plopped onto her bed, front first, with a sigh. She stayed there for a couple of minutes until she rolled over to her back, took out her phone, opened the gallery app, and selected the picture she took of me wearing my tux. She smiled and felt her cheeks heat up as she stared at the picture. 

"The more I spend time with him, the more tempting trying something with him gets," she said to herself. Her smile weakened, and she rolled to her side, still staring at the picture. "But he really values our friendship so much. What if he doesn't think that way about me?"