Vinyl lay on her bed, her legs hanging over the side and kicking idly in the air, looking up at the ceiling. This wasn't how she’d expected to spend her Thursday night. She had argued with herself for a while now, but she was just going in circles and she knew it. There was just no way around it.
She had a crush on Muffins.
Great.
Really.
She’d named it, so she had power over it or something like that, right?
But now what?
She’d have to tell her, of course. Right? Because if she didn’t, she’d just be, like, pining away, due to fear. Like an aspen tree shaking, but when there wasn't even any wind.
Ooh, that’d be good lyrics. She rolled over, scribbled that down on her notepad, then rolled back to her back.
Could this go to a relationship? It could, right?
Assuming Muffins liked girls, anyway.
Her expression dropped. She sat up and grabbed at her hair as this horrifying thought occurred to her. What if Muffins didn’t like girls? What if she was straight? What if she just saw this as being friendly?
It’s not like there wasn’t precedent. Pinkie Pie was plenty affectionate with all her friends, and Vinyl had more than once been on the receiving end of an enthusiastic hug that had involved her face mashed into Pinkie’s breasts, but Pinkie was straight. She had no boundaries and had no concept of personal space, but she was straight.
How could she even ask?
Hey, Muffins. On a scale of 1-10, how likely would you be to date a girl?
Should she write her a song? She couldn't sing it. And she couldn’t have Muffins sing it, because nobody sang their own love song, right?
She kicked her legs up to rotate and wrote that down on the notepad, too, before laying back down.
Well, one thing was certain: if she didn’t do anything, nothing would happen. She pulled her phone from her pocket and then stopped.
She didn't really want to do that over text.
Well, if she wasn't going to do it over text, then she'd have to do it in person, and to do that, they'd have to be in the same place (which meant, yes, a text). Steeling herself, she sent a message.
>Hey, want to come over on Saturday afternoon?
The response came quickly.
>>😭I have to watch my sister.
>No problem! You can bring her, too.
>>Really?
>Definitely.
>>Awesome! We’ll be there. 😁😁
>>There are two 😁 because there will be two of us.
>>Two of us coming, I mean. Three with you.
>>Four if Octavia will be there.
>>😁😁😁😁
>Haha!
>No worries. I understood.
>See you Saturday!
Vinyl let her phone fall out of her hand as her smile tightened on her face.
What had she done?
>Octavia, what do you do with a kid?
Octavia squinted at her watch, then gave Vinyl (who was leaning on the doorframe, looking expectantly at her) a sideways look. “In what context?” she asked apprehensively. “I didn't think you were taking home economics.”
Vinyl let her shoulders sag, as if relieved at that thought.
>No, thankfully.
>Invited Muffins over on Saturday, she has to watch her sister, I said she could come too.
>Realized I have no idea how to handle that.
>I don't think she's into the whole quiet thing.
>And I'm not about to give a tour of my studio.
“Hmm,” Octavia mused, tapping her chin. “I can understand a desire to make sure any third wheel is occupied on your date.”
Vinyl gave her a flat look, though she hoped she hadn’t tipped her hand. The last thing she needed was Cheerleader!Octavia interfering.
>Not a date.
Octavia smirked. “Regardless, I’m sure we can find something that you’ll all enjoy doing.”
>Like what?
>It’d be a really small dance party with just us four.
>And I'm out of cash so no going out for food.
Octavia chuckled. “Well, perhaps something more at home?”
Vinyl chewed thoughtfully on her lower lip. She’d think of something.
Well, hopefully, anyway. It was currently lunchtime on Friday, and she was still drawing a blank. She tapped her fork against the bowl. She had already floated the idea of a cooking class, but Octavia had gently but firmly declined. It seemed that she had forgiven Muffins’ incursion into her kitchen, but just that once. Either that or she didn’t want two inexperienced bakers in her kitchen.
And speaking of bakers, she saw Muffins approaching. She smiled, hoping it didn’t look too forced.
“Hi, Vinyl! I’m excited for Saturday!”
Vinyl pulled her phone out.
>Me too!
“Should I bring anything?”
>Well, I wouldn’t say no to a muffin.
She gave Muffins a cheeky smile.
>But no. Just be there.
Muffins gave her a thumbs up. “You got it!”
Vinyl waited until she had left the cafeteria, and then put her head down. She was doomed.
She felt a tap on her shoulder, and looked up.
Microchips stood there, giving her an askance look. “You ok? You don’t look so good.”
Vinyl sighed and switched to the Notes app on her phone.
>I have to figure out a good activity for me, Muffins, and her younger sister tomorrow, and I have no idea what to do.
She held it out so he could read it.
“Oh, uh… hey, how about a movie?” he suggested. “There’s a new one that just came out, with the technicolor bears? It’s got decent reviews.”
Vinyl nodded, warming to that idea.
>Something like that could work.
Microchips smirked knowingly. “Leave it to me.” He walked away confidently.
Vinyl watched him go. Well, at least he looked like he knew what he was doing.
Later that day, back in study hall, Vinyl sat at a table, working on her homework. She sat up after getting another problem wrong and kneaded her eyes with the heels of her palms. I would literally rather be doing anything else right now.
As if on cue, a wadded-up piece of paper bounced off her shoulder and landed on the table in front of her. Curious, she looked to where it had come from.
Microchips was gesturing her over.
This was odd, sure; but whatever he was up to, it was better than doing homework. She stood up and walked over.
He looked around and held out a disc. “You didn't get this from me. Destroy it when you're done, snap it in half, stick it in the microwave, down the garbage disposal, doesn't matter. If you get caught, I'll deny I ever knew you.”
Vinyl blinked. She took the offered disc with all the enthusiasm of a person being handed a sharp kitchen knife by the blade.
Microchips saluted and then tried to take a step back to fade into the shadows.
This attempt at drama failed when he bumped into a trash can, making a thumping noise and nearly losing his balance.
Vinyl blinked.
He quickly recovered and walked slowly backwards, only to realize that he hadn't been any more successful this time, either. “You can still see me, huh?”
Vinyl nodded, but she decided to leave him his dignity and head back to her seat. She glanced around and looked at the disc. It looked like a typical burned disc to her.
Heh. How funny would it be if he’d gotten her a copy of that new movie?
Vinyl quickly turned the tv off. He’d gotten her a copy of that new movie. She looked blankly forward, trying to process this. Her first question was ‘how’, but another, more pressing question, was ‘was she going to get in trouble for this?’. Were the cops going to bang on her door? She couldn’t handle prison!
But seriously, how did he get this? No one else would have this.
Wait.
No one else would have this…
A little smile spread on her face. Talk about standing out from the crowd! Definitely impressive. That sounded like a win to her.
Vinyl wandered into the kitchen, smelling the hot, salty smell of fresh popcorn. When Octavia had offered to make popcorn for their movie night tonight, Vinyl hadn't thought much of it; honestly, she had assumed she would just throw a bag in the microwave.
But Octavia had pulled out a bag of white kernels and a pot and cheesecloth (which didn't look anything like cheese to Vinyl). She would have thought this overkill, but she quickly erased that message as soon as she took one bite, and then another.
>This is delicious.
“Don’t eat all the popcorn before the movie even starts, Vinyl,” Octavia chided playfully.
Vinyl stuck her tongue out at her and purposefully grabbed another handful.
>Seriously. This stuff is like ambrosia.
“It’s just clarified butter and salt,” she said modestly, but she had a proud little smile on her face.
Vinyl glanced over at the butter, which looked very yellow and opaque to her. It didn't look very clear to her. Maybe she wasn't quite as skilled in the kitchen as she would have hoped. She went to reach for another handful, but Octavia poked her hand away with her spoon.
As Vinyl (playfully) narrowed her eyes, there came a knock at the door.
“Ah, just on time,” Octavia said.
Vinyl quickly opened the door.
There stood Muffins, who waved excitedly. Next to her stood her sister, looking a little younger than freshman-aged, looking uncertain about all of this, but she (with slight hesitation) also waved.
Vinyl stepped back and gestured them in.
“Ooh. Smells good,” Muffins said.
Vinyl gestured proudly towards the large bowl of popcorn with both hands. Tastes good, too!
Octavia agreed. “Eat up! I can always make more,” she said.
Vinyl looked askance at her. She hadn’t told her that.
But Octavia’s face was the picture of innocence, and by then, Muffins was already eating.
She made eye contact with Dinky and gave her a little wave. Somehow, instinctively, she knew she had to impress her younger sister if she wanted to get anywhere with Muffins.
Dinky returned it, looking a little uncomfortable, and grabbed a handful of popcorn herself. Her eyes widened, and she relaxed slightly.
“So, ready for tonight’s movie?” Octavia asked.
Muffins nodded. “Thanks again.”
Vinyl texted her answer instinctively.
>Of course!
Dinky looked at Vinyl. “Do you only text?” she asked.
Muffins hit her gently on the shoulder.
Vinyl reached up to her neck, but remembering the last few times she’d done this, changed it into a scratching motion and looked away. Traumatizing her sister would not be a good look.
Muffins leaned over and whispered into Dinky’s ear.
Dinky’s eyes widened. Horrified, but clearly trying to maintain control, she swallowed once and muttered, “That’s a good reason.”
Sensing the impending awkwardness, Vinyl clapped and pointed to the living room.
Seemingly grateful for the diversion, Muffins walked in front. “What did you want to watch?” she asked.
Vinyl turned on the tv and waggled her eyebrow.
Dinky gasped as she recognized the colorful characters.
Muffins’ eyes widened, too. “How’d you get this?”
Vinyl shrugged and put on a cocky smile, hoping she looked intriguingly mysterious.
Dinky nodded, excited for this. Then she gave her a narrow look, as if she were suspicious about her.
Hm. Task failed successfully? She didn’t know why Dinky’s presence made her feel so awkward. She started the video and sat down on the couch. She looked over at Muffins, and she licked her lips. She wanted to say something.
And then Dinky deliberately sat between them, keeping them apart.
Vinyl’s brow furrowed. Why would she sit between them?
It took a few minutes before it occurred to her. Maybe she wanted them to not do couple stuff.
But she didn’t know Dinky. She’d never seen Dinky before.
So if Dinky thought they were a couple, it’s because Muffins told her.
Which meant that Muffins thought they were a couple!
…or did she?
But before she could spiral further, she heard the music from the soundtrack, and found herself drawn into the movie.
And then she was waving goodbye to the two girls, still on a high from the movie, her head full of new lyrics and music ideas and new motifs and…
And…
And they were gone.
She hit her fist against her thigh. Too late. She shut the door.
Octavia smiled. “That went well,” she said leadingly.
Vinyl gave her a half-hearted thumbs up and headed back to her room. It had been fun, sure; but she wasn't sure how successful she'd been tonight.