With a low, sustained groan, Vinyl stumbled into the bathroom, turned on the faucet, and splashed cold water on her face. She looked at herself in her mirror.
A very tired girl looked back at her. Eyes looking slightly bloodshot, slight bags under her eyes, wrinkled pajamas, water trailing down her face.
She hated not knowing. She hated this uncertainty. She had to ask. She had to make it official or drop it entirely.
So today would be the day. She would go and ask Muffins out, and if she crashed and burned, then she’d burn.
There were lyrics there, she was certain, but she just wasn’t feeling it.
Back at home after school, Octavia typed a few more words on the computer, finishing one last English essay. She glowered at the word counter in the corner and muttered a word that typically could not be heard on her home tv stations prior to 9 pm.
Vinyl came up behind her and tapped her on the shoulder.
She looked over. “Vinyl, what-?”
Vinyl held out a piece of paper.
Octavia glanced at it, recognizing the writing style. “A new song?” she asked.
Vinyl nodded.
Octavia stood up. “Right. I’m in.”
“No, I'm not your girlfriend, I'm just being nice.
No, I'm not your girlfriend, but I'll still give you some advice.
Don’t be so immature, don’t be so f-
Vinyl cracked a smile. She would never admit it to her, but she got a bit of a kick out of hearing Octavia swear. The first time she had met her, she was convinced that they were just too different, that she was so uptight that they would never be friends.
-crass,
I don’t exist just for your pleasure,
Get your head out of your-
Vinyl smiled as she watched Octavia giving it her all. The top button of shirt had come unbuttoned from the force of her movements, her eyes were closed, her fists were clenched, her whole body was getting into it as she sang mightily.
Before long, the song ended. Octavia primly rebuttoned her shirt, took a drink of water from her water bottle, stepped outside, and put her hands on her hips.
Vinyl smiled disarmingly.
Octavia narrowed her eyes. “Vinyl,” she said, a hint of reproach in her voice, “did you spend today writing a song expressing all your doubts and fears of what Muffins might say instead of, oh, I don't know, asking her?”
Vinyl wilted, letting her head fall back. Right in one, but she didn’t have to say that.
“Don’t tell me: you avoided her all day, too?”
Vinyl groaned. Sometimes she wished she could talk, because Octavia could see right through her sometimes.
“Vinyl, I am rooting for you and Muffins, truly, I am; but really.”
Vinyl gave her a look. If she knew she was avoiding her, why did she sing her song?
“Oh, well, this is going to be a hit,” she said with a little shrug. “Anyone could see that.”
Vinyl forced a smile, appreciating the compliment, but knowing that she was just putting it off.
Octavia wiped a bit of sweat off her brow. “While I would like nothing better than to push you again, I know that that will not be helpful.” She gently pushed her way past Vinyl.
>Where are you going?
Vinyl wondered.
“To scream into my pillow. Don’t wait up.”
The next day, Vinyl strode purposefully through the halls. She was ready. She was blasting heavy rock music through her headphones, and she was wearing heavy boots and brand-new panties. Nothing could stop her. She was ready for anything.
She made her way to the science hallway again, where she’d seen Muffins for that first time. She caught sight of her blonde hair and she made a beeline for in front of her. She tried to stop her by darting in front of her and blocking her way by putting her hand against the locker.
But when she realized she had heard the impact through the music, and felt the stinging on her hand, she realized she had done it a little too hard. Not a great start.
Muffins jumped in surprise, then looked at her, a little smile on her face, but it was tempered with confusion.
Vinyl nodded.
They stood like that for a moment. Vinyl was really hoping inspiration would strike, but that cat of inspiration was asleep at the wheel (or more likely, showing the wheel its raised tail).
So she leaned forward, kissed Muffins on the mouth, and then turned and ran.
She was starting to wish she hadn’t worn these boots. They made running like a coward very difficult.
Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!
She ran until she was fairly certain she was out of sight, ran into a bathroom, and darted into a stall and sat down, burying her face in her hands.
Well, that was it. She was staying here for the rest of the day.
At the end of the day, Vinyl waited out front for Octavia, seated slumped against the wall. She shuffled idly through her phone, her headphones resting on top of her head. She wasn’t sure what song she even wanted to hear right now, so she wasn’t listening to anything.
This made it possible for her to hear boots approaching.
“Hey.”
Her eyes widened as she recognized Muffins’ voice. She looked up, apprehensive.
Muffins smiled. “You never let me answer,” she said.
Vinyl wasn’t sure what to think, but that did sound vaguely promising. A faint, uncertain smile touched her face.
Muffins knelt down, and Vinyl had just enough time to realize that she was straddling her before Muffins pressed her lips against hers.
Vinyl Scratch prided herself on her ability with words. While she may not have been able to speak them, she could weave them into what she wanted to say, and make music so much more than it could have been on its own.
But she had no words to describe how she was feeling then. She wasn’t even sure she still spoke English.
Muffins pulled back, breaking the kiss, and Vinyl realized that she had not been breathing that whole time. She gasped, suddenly aware of the burning in her chest that might not have only been because of oxygen deprivation.
Muffins giggled and looked down, pink tinging her cheeks. “So, girlfriends?” she asked hopefully.
Vinyl nodded weakly. Her eyes were probably as unfocused as hers right now, but she didn’t care.
Muffins smiled, and Vinyl was relieved to see that it looked genuine. She placed her hand on Vinyl’s thigh, ostensibly to push herself up, but she gave it a gentle squeeze before she did. She waved as she walked away.
Vinyl watched her go, her fingers gently brushing her lips.
Muffins’ tongue had been in her mouth.
A little smile spread across her face. It was a very, very good day.