You woke up late in the morning, much later than you were normally accustomed to. Several times your biological alarm clock tried to force you to wake up, but each time you just groaned and pulled your blanket over your head. You didn't have anything to do today after all, so why not treat yourself to a little extra sleep? It wasn't like there was anypony important who had come into town just to see you and was leaving today after all.
Wait, yes there was.
OCTY!
Leaping out of bed, and subsequently losing your balance and landing face first onto the ground, you began to mentally kick yourself for forgetting she was in town.
Stupid stupid stupid. You have one awesome night and you forget about everything else in the world!
You began to rush to make yourself look presentable. But time was short, so you began to try several things at once. Jumping into the shower you began to brush your teeth with one hoof while you tried (with great difficulty) to clean your body. Eventually you devoted both hooves to this task, letting your toothbrush sit in your mouth for an extended period of time. As soon as you stepped out of the shower however, you heard a knock at the door. Surprise gave way to curiosity, and forgetting your current dripping wet, toothbrush chewing look you answered it, only to be greeted by a highly amused Octavia.
"Well, it looks like somepony is having a good morning," she said coyly.
Confused, embarrassed, and a little ticked off at the fact that Octy had shown up (unannounced you might add), you began to trip over your own words, trying to get one of many questions out at the same time.
"But...how...why...uh, that is to say..."
Celestia help you, this was going swimmingly.
"Why am I here?" she offered helpfully. "Along with how did I know where you lived?"
You nodded.
"Well Pages," she said, still choosing you to call you by your childhood nickname, "you may have gotten bigger but you are still that same forgetful little colt after something big happens. So I knew you'd forget about me today, although it looks like you are getting better about remembering." She pointed to the toothbrush still hanging in your mouth, which you quickly spat out without thinking. "As for how I knew you lived here, all I had to do was ask."
Of course. Octavia always was the rational one.
"Now, are you good or should I let you finish up?" she asked with a chuckle. With a heavy sigh, you motion her to come inside while you went to dry off. "Nice place you got here Pages," she said as she looked around. "Although the skylight seems a little out of place." Looking up at the ceiling you realized that you still hadn't fixed Ditzy Doo's crash landing.
Groan. "Sorry Octy, I haven't gotten around to fixing that yet," you said as you sighed heavily. "Wait here, I'll be out in a bit."
A few minutes later, a drier and calmer you emerged from your room, glancing towards Octavia, who had entertained herself with what looked like a stack of papers. And next to it was a purple folder. No, it couldn't be!
"Octy no!" you shouted as you lunged towards her, falling just short of the couch and managing to hit your head on her legs.
"Hmm?" she asked, glancing from behind the papers to your now prone form. "What, am I reading something I shouldn't?" Picking yourself up off the floor, you glance to the folder that was on the couch next to Octavia. This Isn't One of Your Romance Novels was written clearly in silver lettering across the folder. You groan.
"No no no, nopony was supposed to see that." You cover your head with your forelegs, trying to hide your face, which was now turning a lovely shade of crimson.
Octavia chuckled in the same dignified manner that you came to know through the years. "Oh Pages, a self insertion story? And about your first date nonetheless? You really haven't changed much have you?" She smiled down at you, no malicious intent behind it or her teasing. You pull yourself up and take a seat beside her. "Although I do have one question," she says as she flips through the pages. "What is she talking about when she mentions this 'book fort'?"
"Uh..." you stammer.
Octavia's smile took on a sly nature. "Oh Pages, one date in and she already wants to show you her 'book fort'? My my, I remember it took me at least three for Vinyl to show me her 'turntables' and another three before she showed me her 'subwoofer.'"
SMACK!
"Ow, what did you do that for Pages?" she asked as she rubbed the back of her head.
"You deserved that one Octy," you reply with a sly grin of your own.
"What, I'm simply stating that you must have really hit it off for her to open up her private section of the library."
ANOTHER SMACK!
"Hey now, be nice," she said, rubbing the back of her head (again) with an annoyed look on her face.
"I'll be nice when you stop channeling Vinyl," you respond, waving your hoof like you were winding up for another hit. "Although I can't really say that she hasn't made you at least a little bit more fun." You grin cheekily.
SMACK!
"Oww," you respond, rubbing your cheek. "What was that for?"
"Just because," she responded with a laugh. "But seriously, tell me how your date went. I want to hear about it, not read about it," she said as she put the papers down.
"Well," you began, "honestly, I was half expecting to wake up during it. I mean, I never really thought that something so good could happen to me, especially since all I had to go by was the stuck up mares in Canterlot."
Octavia snorted.
"Hey Octy, you were different, but I didn't date you because well, I have the wrong equipment for that kind of thing." Both of you laughed. "But anyways, she was really impressed by my writing. She said the fact that I could make something out of nothing amazed her, and she wants me to continue with it. I think she sees potential in me, even when I, or others, don't."
Octavia gently pat your back with a hoof. "Pages, I've always known you had potential. Despite my chiding and joking, I always thought you were going to go places with your works. Ever wonder why I always asked for copies of your works? I read them. Vinyl reads them. Even some of our friends read them. I have ponies coming by our place asking if I had copies of this up and coming author's works that they could borrow. You've got your name out there Pages, you just need to keep going."
Looking at Octavia, you knew why you two had remained friends ever since you were foals. Despite the distance, despite the busy lives, despite lack of communication, you two always had each others backs. You were the one always telling Octavia when growing up that she was going to be an amazing musician even if she wasn't a unicorn. That her lack of magic wasn't a handicap, but instead a motivation.
And now here she was, doing the same for you and your writing.
"Hey Octy," you begin, "do you really still have all my stories?"
She smiled, "Pages, they have their own bookshelf. The first story you ever wrote and gave to me is in a glass box on display. Nopony but me and you has ever touched it. It's one of my most valuable posessions."
With a smile, you slide off the couch. "Come on Octy, we still have an entire day to spend."
Octy looked away from you, a sad sigh escaping her lips. "Actually Pages, I came here to say goodbye. My carriage is meeting me here in a minute and I didn't want to leave town without seeing you."
"Oh..." you say as you slowly sat down from the blow. "Ok then...I..guess it was nice seeing you."
Octavia walked over to you and threw her hooves around you. "It really was nice seeing you again Pages. And I'm glad you and Twilight are together now."
You felt your heart weigh down heavily at the goodbye. "Octy, will I see you again soon?"
A knock on the door, followed by an official sounding colt: "Miss Philharmonica, are you ready to go?"
"That's my carriage," she said, her voice picking up a little. She still hadn't answered your question, which annoyed you greatly. She stopped though as she was about to pass through your doorway. "Oh, Pages, I never did tell you exactly why I was here did I?"
"I thought you said you were on vacation," you reply, confused.
"I am, but the reason why I'm in Ponyville of all places," she responds, a smile rapidly spreading across her face. "Was because I was house hunting for me and Vinyl. We're moving in next week across town."
With those words, she quickly departed, leaving you stunned. Your best friend was moving into town? The idea sunk into your mind slowly, and when you finally accepted that it was exactly what you thought you heard, you started to bounce on your hooves a little.
Best. Day. Ever.