//------------------------------// // Chapter 6 // Story: Quiet // by bahatumay //------------------------------// The constant noise from the kitchen had brought Vinyl out of her room. She looked over at Octavia, glanced over the countertops, and sent a message. >You're in a good mood.  Octavia glanced down at her watch to read it. “Oh, am I?” she said innocently, raising her eyebrow as if mildly curious at the observation.  Vinyl looked down at the cupcake batter she was mixing and gave her a flat look. While a single batch of cupcakes wasn’t anything too out of the ordinary, the fact that there was an additional two batches of pizza dough rising and another batch of brownies in the oven already definitely was more than a little odd. She shrugged, conceding this. “Well, you see, today is Saturday.” This wasn't news to Vinyl. She rolled her hand in the air, inviting her to continue.  Her calm demeanor flickered. “You’re going out with a friend, Vinyl!” she said, clenching her hands into fists excitedly. “I’m so proud of you!” Vinyl rolled her eyes. Octavia was overreacting. >Breathe, girl. I’m just getting food. She paused, considering this, and powerwalked over to her room to retrieve her notebook to write that down as possible future lyrics. She came back out and gave her a narrow look as she typed her next response. >You are making this weird.  >I'm not bringing you back a fortune cookie.  Octavia giggled and returned to her baking. “I presume you have your meet-up time all scheduled?” Vinyl rolled her eyes. >Yes, mom.  >We’re going to meet up on the bus, ride to the restaurant, and eat our weight in gyoza. Octavia raised a finger. Vinyl kept typing, knowing where she was going with this. >And she has to watch her sister later so that’s it.  Octavia lowered it, looking mildly disappointed, but she recovered quickly. “Very well. Have fun!” Vinyl sat on the bench in the bus stop and bobbed her head to the music playing in her headphones. She almost wished she had gone to the next bus stop so she had an excuse to keep listening, but she didn't want to miss the bus Muffins was on.  Before long, the hiss of bus brakes made her look up. She stepped onto the bus and lifted her sunglasses, her eyes scanning for Muffins. She soon spotted her sitting on the side.  Muffins waved. Vinyl smiled and sat down next to her. She instinctively pulled her phone out and cycled through her music, choosing a different, more appropriate travel song. It suddenly occurred to her that Muffins was looking at her. Oh, shoot! She quickly pulled her headphones off and smiled, a bit sheepishly. She'd almost forgotten how to act around other people.  Muffins giggled, seemingly unoffended. “I guess it's hard to have a conversation if only one person can talk.” Vinyl smiled, hoping it didn't look too weird. This was all unfamiliar territory, and she wasn’t sure how to respond.  Thankfully, Muffins didn’t seem too bothered. “It’s fine. I like watching people.” Vinyl glanced around. She wasn’t sure that sounded like fun, and her hands twitched towards her headphones again.  But Muffins seemed to be enjoying herself, looking around at everyone else on the bus, so Vinyl tried to sit there as best she could.  Vinyl was glad she was wearing her sunglasses, because she was not sure she could hide her relief at getting off the bus. It was not quiet in there, and she wasn’t sure she understood the peoplewatching Muffins was enjoying. But all that was done now, and it was time for food, and wow, was she hungry! She jumped down off the stairs, stepped aside, and paused long enough to stretch backwards, straightening up, raising her arms over her head, fingers interlaced.  Muffins waited behind her for her to finish, then followed her inside. The hostess smiled as she made eye contact. “Welcome! How many today?” Vinyl held up two fingers. “Alright. Can I get you anything to drink?” Vinyl shook her head, making a little ‘no’ motion with her hands. She looked over at Muffins and cocked her head.  Muffins looked between the two and realized it was her turn. “Uh, water’s good,” she said. “Alright,” the hostess said, sliding over two clear cups. Vinyl pulled the cash from her wallet and traded it for the cups, and they walked into the dining room. Vinyl lifted her sunglasses and raised her eyebrows at Muffins, a little smile on her face. “Ah,” Muffins said, realizing that she had gone that whole transaction without actually saying anything. Also, a buffet style restaurant meant that she didn't need to communicate any specific requests. That made sense.  Vinyl picked up a plate and spun it on her finger. It was time. Vinyl opened the door and stepped inside, but she couldn’t suppress a little groan. Octavia had done a lot of baking, and it smelled good, but she was feeling stuffed beyond mortal comprehension, though, and she had no desire to eat any of it. She looked back to make sure the door was shut behind her, and when she looked forward, she jumped.  Octavia was there, smiling expectantly. “So, how was it?” she asked leadingly.  Vinyl raised an eyebrow. She knew Octavia was going to grill her, push her to be more social, so she tried to play it off. >I ate my weight in gyoza. It was a good day. “Did Muffins enjoy it?” >I guess so. I think she had fun. She ate a ton, too.  Octavia clapped her hands. “Brilliant! I'm rather pleased your date went well.” Vinyl rolled her eyes. >It wasn’t a date. I was craving food. I got food.  “And you delayed getting it until she was ready to come with you, you took the check, and it was just you two. Planned, paid for, paired off. That’s a date,” she sang. “Vinyl, look at you!” Vinyl waved her down irritably. >We’re just friends. A couple of introverts who like it quiet.  “Oh, that’s how it starts.” Octavia said, waggling her eyebrows.  Vinyl glowered at her and typed hard on her keyboard, maintaining the glower the whole time. >Yeah. No fortune cookie for you.  Octavia chuckled and let it drop.