//------------------------------// // Blue Screen on Life, Hit Reset. // Story: Bass Clefs and Sapphires // by Crispn //------------------------------// A blue screen, why does it always have to be a blue screen? We had almost finished recording the final section of the midterm. I panicked, I tried to reboot the computer and see where it was I was going to have to restart. Seriously, it wasn't bad enough that my professor didn't care for me. My partner and I barely had any extra time to work on our midterm because she was always busy, doing small sets at night clubs or helping some local band record. I need to get a good grade here, I'd rather not have getting kicked out of school to be tacked on to my already increasing list of bad shit this month. My partner snuck up behind me, jumped into my lap and patted me condescendingly on the head. She held up a small netbook and showed me that while I had been sitting here panicking, it seemed that she had saved most of what we had done. I sighed in relief as the knowledge that it wouldn't be too hard to pick up from where we had been stopped set in. She looked up at me, staring deep with her magenta eyes and asked, “You doing OK? You look like you haven’t had a decent sleep in weeks.” “Define sleep.” I replied. “Oh come on, don’t give me that bullshit.” “Yeah. The last couple of months have just been utter chaos thanks to certain situations that have poked their lovely heads.” Just as I finished, she opened up her mouth to retort. Lucky for me the buzzer went off in the booth, alerting us that we ran out of time and would now be promptly kicked out of the booth. Our professor walked over to us and signaled us out. “Heh, well, at least we are done here, so you can go home and get some sleep for a change.” "Yeah..." Home: what an interesting concept that she has decided to remind me about. Problems at home have caused a decent rift in between myself and my family. I lost my job two months ago and since I have to pay for housing myself, I have not had a home for the same amount of time. Had to pack up everything into my car and live in it. Luckily for me, I can still access the college network and get assignments done. Still, having little space in a small car to sleep is not ideal, but it's better than a park bench. “What the hell is the problem, Crisp? You are exhausted, you look like you haven’t slept or eaten in days and you barely talk anymore. What gives?” She looked at me as we were walking out into the cold October air of the city. She threw on her signature glasses that I have yet to see her outside without and then promptly mussed up her lightning blue hair. “It’s not really that simple, Vinyl.” Vinyl, one of the only people that I had been able to make friends with, had enough. The next thing I knew I was pinned up against a wall by an unseen force. There she was, holding her hand up, keeping me there with her magic. “You are going to tell me what is going on so I can be a real friend and help you out or so help me, when I am done with you, you are gonna wish I had taken Tavi's bow and played you like a cello.” I knew she was not going to let up. In the seventeen months that we had been friends, I knew better than to piss her off more than this. She hated using her magic for almost anything else besides her DJ gigs. Despite being best friends, I really must have fucked this one up for her to use her magic, especially against me. That's when I said, "Fine, I'll tell you what's been going on. Let's just go to your place, ok?" I could feel the magic dissipate from around my arms as I landed on the ground with a soft thud. "Good." Vinyl said, helping me up. "You didn't have to drop me so hard." I replied, rubbing my leg where my body had smashed into it. Fifteen minutes later we arrived at her and Tavi’s apartment. As soon as I entered the room, I flopped down on the couch, feeling the waves of exhaustion wash over me. Becoming more aware of just how drowsy I was, finally closing my eyes, allowing my body to relax and my mind to rest in... I don't know how long. Just as the darkness completely enveloped my senses, I was suddenly shocked awake by a large clunk. I shot up off the couch so fast in a panic that I tripped over the coffee table right into a set of speakers. There, standing over me, was Vinyl, looking quite perturbed over the possible equipment that might have been broken. “You know the deal, break my shit and you have to get me better or equal value." she said as she sat down levitating a bottle of wine and a fifth of vodka, "Now, how much?” “Oh you know me too well.” I said, picking myself off the ground and heading back to the couch. “Well now; considering how many nights you've slept on that couch over the last semester, I decided to stock up.” he said, levitating a tall glass, smelling strongly of cranberries and vodka, towards me and I knew that this was going to be a long night. She plopped down on the couch next to me, pouring herself a glass of wine, “I have four bottles of wine, two bottles of vodka and all night for you to tell me exactly what is going on.” Two hours, three bottles of wine and two thirds the bottle of vodka later, I had finally managed to get out my entire life story about the last six months: the family troubles, money issues, getting kicked out of the dorm. Vinyl had clumsily crawled into my lap and cuddled up in my arms in an attempt to comfort me. She never was able to hold her alcohol as well as I could. And really, how could she, she was a tiny little thing to me, and it didn't hurt that I used to drink to the point of blackout. It was nice having a friend like this. One that I was able to open up to and not worry about what she was going to say or think of me. After about five more minutes of me laying it all out on the table, she popped in a movie and we continued to drink the night away. It was Friday after all and we had worked non stop all week on our midterm so what the hell, a little drinking and movies with a good friend was nice. Next week was going to be even worse. BEEP. BEEP. BEEP. Oh, what the hell is that noise? It was like it was permeating my body with its little beeps of hellish delight. It was so damn loud, it was bordering on unbearable, but maybe that was partly the hangover talking. Eventually, I managed to open my eyes in the early morning light, pawing around on the ground in search of the tone I knew quite well. “Shut up phone.” I groaned. Picking it up, I couldn't help but think what a shitty little block of plastic it was. Everyone else had these lavish phones, came with everything pretty much. Like having a little computer in your pocket. I was pretty much just fine with having something that could make calls and send texts, and on occasion be used as an alarm clock. I glanced down at the clock on the now very bright phone screen: 6:45 am. I chuckled to myself. Here I was, sleeping on Vinyl’s floor while she slept up on the couch, her arm falling to the floor limply. Looking on top of the table, I safely surmised that we polished off the wine and vodka. No wonder she is out cold, and was she in for the headache of her life when she wakes up. I walked across the small living room over to my computer bag. Since I lived in my car, I pretty much took certain things everywhere: my toothbrush, small little travel shampoos and soaps, and a semi-clean set of clothes. After closing the door behind me, I turned on the water to the first hot shower I was able to have since school had actually started. I pulled off my heavy coat and shirt and turned to look at myself in the mirror. I sighed heavily at the reflection, thumbing at the leather straps wrapping around my chest. I stepped into the shower, just letting the water cascade over my whole body. I felt the water gliding over my feathers, soaking them. It was always weird to let my wings out. No one knew I even had wings. My roommate last year didn't know I had wings, even Vinyl didn't know about my wings. Sleek as they were, I had never been too fond of them. The area I grew up in had what they referred to themselves as the normal and the uppers, but most called them the earthies. I was a peg and magic users were commonly called uni. Small towns with mostly earthies never really allowed myself the ability to fly as much as I wanted to. Looked down upon, most peg families were driven out of my hometown, if they could afford to leave. Fucking prejudices. It’s not like I asked for these. I pulled a feather I could tell had broken out and stared at it; brown with white tips and gold lining around each feather, I felt like an eagle. I always thought my wings were kind of cool, but I still carried around years of torment attached to them. Years of being force-fed bullshit about how awful they were and forced binding does take its toll on an insecure orphan, so I kept them bound underneath leather restraints, heavy coats and long sleeves. “So, that’s why you always wear that peacoat” A voice said behind me. I spun around as fast as possible and jumped into the sink. There was Vinyl, leaning up against the door frame. Oh crap. I had spent the last year and a half making sure to never have these out. My heart raced as I eyed the coat and restraints on the floor. “Well, I couldn't hide it forever, now could I?” I nervously chuckled, sweat beading down my forehead. Vinyl had a slightly bemused look on her face. I couldn't tell why until she said, “Well what were you trying to hide, the wings or that?” I looked down and noticed my towel had dropped. There I was, in all my naked glory. I quickly picked it up and started profusely apologizing to her about being such an idiot as she laughed all the while. “Well I'm glad that you are at least getting ready, 'cause I made some calls and it looks like I might be able to help out with your situation.” “Really?!” I leapt over to her and picked her up and danced around the apartment, carrying her. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!” “You can thank me by putting some pants on.” she said with a slightly more embarrassed look on her face. I put her down and quickly got dressed as to not embarrass myself again. “So what did you do that might get me out of this predicament.” “Put in a call to a friend, asked her if she knew anyone that had space of our friends that would take in someone for some time while he got his shit in order. Lucky for you, she just kicked out Thunderlane for being a complete ass with bills and never being able to pay them. Also lucky for you. She said you can move in as soon as you could. Best thing about it? She lives 2 floors down so you can give me rides to school for being such an awesome friend.” She beamed with a devilish grin. “Excellent, I think its time to go move into this place. It’ll be nice to have a room again. What's her name anyway?” “Rainbow Dash, though most just call her Dash.” Vinyl fussed around with her sweater. “Tavi”, she screamed, “Going downstairs to help Crisp move into Dash’s place. Also you owe me money!” “What? Why? And what is with all this mess?! Get back her and clean up your mess, Vinyl Scratch!” “Nope!” she said as she quickly pulled me out of the door and slammed it as a disheveled Tavi was streaking towards the door. “So why does she owe you money?” “Oh just a little bet.” “What was the bet?” “Whether you were packing or not. Congrats to you that I voted for you. Too bad I don't bat for that team, or I'd be all over you.” I turned beet red as we started to descend the stairs to my possible new apartment.