[Vinyl Point Of View]
The phone rings downstairs as Vinyl and Neon work on their secret project together. "I'll go get that, be back in a jiffy." Vinyl says as she trots downstairs. She reaches the phone, hesitating a moment before finalizing her decision. She had time for a potential customer.
"Yo, this is PON3."
"Hey, Vinyl? it's Octavia, heh."
"Oh, hey Octy, what's up?"
"I was just wondering if you're still coming to my.. concert, 'cause I- I've got a seat saved up for you."
"Augh, no, that's.. that's tonight? Awh, geez, Octy, I'm so sorry, I totally blanked on this one, I'm- I'm actually in the middle of working on a big project with Neon Lights right now, we- we just hit a breakthrough with the-.. I just, uhh.. I don't think I can make it tonight."
"Right..."
"I swear I'll make the next one though, like, I- I promise, okay?"
"It's fine..."
"Awesome, now, I really gotta get back to-"
"Actually, no, no, it's not fine, Vinyl. Because, you've done this to me before, and this is a- a really big thing for me, and you're not there to support me..."
"Yeah, I know, I- I just-"
"I just can't believe you."
"Octy, c-come on, you know how my schedule can get. Look, after tonight, I- I swear things will be different, okay? We can go to that restaurant that you-"
"I don't want you, sorry Vinyl."
"Wh-what?"
"Consider this friendship over."
"O-Octavia, come on, y-you don't mean that."
"You've let me down too many times."
"W-wait, n-no, p-please, Octavia!"
The phone hung up. Vinyl stood there in shocked silence as her best friend just left her hanging there. She solemnly set the phone down, then crawled her way back upstairs. When she got back to the door, she tried to cheer herself up enough so Neon wouldn't notice.
"Hey Vinyl, you alright? Thought I heard ya yellin' down there."
"No, no, I-... I'm fine. Let's keep going." She put her headphones on and helped Neon configure the notes.
They continued what they were working on for a few moments before Vinyl broke. She sighed. "Uhh... S-sorry Neon, I- I can't concentrate, I just- I just gotta go." She darted out of the room faster than Neon could react, and she made her way to the concert as fast as she could.
She got up to the brute. "Hey, I need to get in for the concert."
"Sorry little girl, can't happen."
"My friend's playing in there and she needs me, please, j-just lemme in."
"Not happening, no more entries past this point."
"Hey, come on, I told you my friend is playing right now, so let me in!"
"I said this to you already, I can't let you in. I can let you in during the interval!"
She heard Octavia singing inside, and her heart began breaking. "I don't wanna go in at the interval, I gotta go in now! I need to be in there right now, I-I gotta see her!"
"Sorry, I can't allow it."
"Alright, fine, you wanna do this the hard way, we can do this the hard way!"
"Oh no you don't."
She tried her best to beat her way past the brute, but he overpowered her and started carrying her away. "No! Get off'a me! I need to see her! Octavia!" She struggled against the brute as best as she could, but no matter what she did, she couldn't get past.
She heard the song ending, and she started breaking down into a lump of defenseless tears as she was forced back. Minutes later, as Vinyl returned home, she got to her phone first thing and called Octavia.
The call got declined.
____________________________________________________
[Octavia Point Of View]
____________________________________________________
Octavia paced back and forth as she waited for Vinyl to walk in. With only six minutes remaining before she played, she decided to phone Vinyl's store. She dialed the numbers and took a deep breath. She heard the dialing, and could only hope that Vinyl didn't pick up, and was on her way here.
"Yo, this is PON3."
"Hey, Vinyl? it's Octavia, heh."
"Oh, hey Octy, what's up?"
"I was just wondering if you're still coming to my.. concert, 'cause I- I've got a seat saved up for you."
"Augh, no, that's.. that's tonight? Awh, geez, Octy, I'm so sorry, I totally blanked on this one, I'm- I'm actually in the middle of working on a big project with Neon Lights right now, we- we just had a big breakthrough with the-.. I just, uhh.. I don't think I can make it tonight."
"Right..."
"I swear I'll make the next one though, like, I- I promise, okay?"
"It's fine..."
"Awesome, now, I really gotta get back to-"
"Actually, no, no, it's not fine, Vinyl. Because, you've done this to me before, and this is a- a really big thing for me, and you're not there to support me..."
"Yeah, I know, I- I just-"
"I just can't believe you."
"Octy, c-come on, you know how my schedule can get. Look, after tonight, I- I swear things will be different, okay? We'll go to that restaurant that you-"
"I don't want you, sorry Vinyl."
"Wh-what?"
"Consider this friendship over."
"O-Octavia, come on, y-you don't mean that."
"You've let me down too many times."
"W-wait, n-no, p-please, Octavi-"
She hung up the phone and sighed.
"Octavia," She looked up at her director. "you're on in five minutes."
"O-okay."
"Good luck." The director winked and smiled.
"Heh, thanks."
She looked upon the crowd, preparing her voice. The piano behind her being played by another member of the staff for her performance.
"I comb the crowd, but I can't see your face out there.. I'm playing now, won't wait on love.
I'm paralyzed, from all these whispers in my brain. I'm focused now, I won't give up.
I'm resonant, won't stop for you.
Playing away, playing away...
You play your games, you bring me pain.
Playing away, playing away...
You hurt me now, but I won't cry.
I am Octavia!
You hurt me now, but I won't cry.
I am Octavia...
Ditch me now, but it's you who'll have lost it all, yeah.. lost now and bleeding love.
Rain it pours, but I won't let it bring me down, no! I'm playing now, won't wait on love.
I'm resonant, won't stop for you.
Playing away, playing away.
You play your games, you bring me pain!
Playing away, playing away.
You hurt me now, but I won't cry.
I am Octavia!
You hurt me now, but I won't cry!
I am Octavia~!
I am Octavia~!
I am Octavia..."
She heard Vinyl call out her name, and her heart began to shatter. She gathered up her voice, continuing the song as planned.
"Born strong, believe none. Dying over broken dreams.
Born strong, and raised with class, oh, yeah!
You hurt me now, but I won't cry!
I am Octavia!
You hurt me now, but I won't cry!
I am Octavia!
You hurt me now, but I won't cry..."
Her performance ended, and she hid her tears as she waved and bowed to the crowd. She tried her best to block them out as she made her way back to her room to get her phone. She looked at her phone and laid down on the ground in tears.
She gathered herself as she left. When she was nearly ready, she heard her phone ring. She looked at who was calling.. and she declined.