I was suddenly jolted out of my trance by a loud bang at my door. Apparently I had fallen asleep. I looked franticly around trying to find the time. 9:00.
"Shoot!" I thought to myself. "Sweetie Belle has her piano lesson now!" Then there came another knock at my door. "I'm coming!" I shouted, shoving a piece of toast in my mouth and running toward the door. I opened it, and just as I thought, Sweetie Belle was standing at the door, with her sister Rarity escorting her.
"Good morning dear." Rarity said to me.
"Good morning!" Sweetie Belle chipped in cheerfully. I forced a smile onto my face and replied,
"Good morning ladies. How are we today?"
"Great!" Sweetie Belle replied. "I'm ready to start my lesson!"
"That's magnificent, Sweetie Bell." I said sweetly.
"Thank you very much for the lesson today. I will see you in half an hour to pick her up." Rarity said.
"Of course." I said. "See you in half an hour." and with that I closed the door.
Sweetie Bell and I walked slowly into my living room where my piano sat. We sat down at the piano, and Sweetie Belle took out her books.
"So," I said, "What was last week's assignment?"
"My major scales, miss Octavia!" she said cheerfully. She is such a sweet heart, she is.
"Alright then," I replied, "show me what you got!" She nodded, and then turned to face the piano. She took a deep breath, and placed her hooves on the keys. The sound she produced could be described as a train wreck, to say the least. I recall her playing about three correct notes throughout the scales. But, when she was finished with the scale, I stopped cringing, put on a false smile, and said,
"That sounded, fairly good!" She looked at me and smiled.
"Thank you miss Tavi!"
That name.
That name.
That name that had become the bane of my existence. That name that constantly reminds me of things I keep trying to forget. Nopony had called me Tavi in a year, and I thank them kindly for it. I could feel some tears welling up in my eyes. I forced them back and said,
"Your welcome Sweetie Belle, but please call me Miss Octavia."
"Why?" She said with innocence "Isn't that what miss Vinyl used to call you?" I felt a tear slide down my cheek. I bowed my head slightly and said,
"Yes. Yes it is."
. . .
Half an hour later I walked Sweetie Bell to the door and handed her back over into Rarity's care.
"How was she?" Rarity asked me.
"She was wonderful." I replied. "Perhaps you may wish to observe her practice habits this week. She seemed to be struggling with her scales a bit."
"Of course. I will see that she practices correctly from now on." She said. "Sweetie Belle, why don't you go wait outside for me. I will be out in moment. I'm just going to have a word with miss Octavia."
"Ok sis!" Sweetie Bell said, as she then trotted out the door. Rarity then closed the Door and acquired a more serious tone.
"Octavia, what is bothering you?" This most certainly surprised me.
"What do you mean?" I asked, trying to dodge the question.
"Darling, I can see very clearly you have been stressing about something. I can see it in your eyes. They don't have the same shine they used to. If you don't mind me asking, is this in concern to Vinyl?" I sighed for a moment as I felt some tears welling up in my eyes.
"During the lesson today, Sweetie Belle called me miss Tavi. I know it is something very small and menial, but nopony had called me that since Vinyl had died."
"I am so sorry Octavia. I will be sure to talk to her about it on our way home."
"No, Don't. She didn't know. She didn't do anything wrong."
"If you insist, Octavia." Rarity was silent for a moment, and then said, "What if next week we went to the spa? My treat!" I was surprised by her offer, and said
"Oh no, I couldn't accept... Actually,” I said with a touch of guilt, “I think a spa day sounds nice. Thank you."
"Of course, darling." She said with a smile. And with that, she bid me goodbye, and walked out of the house.