Vinyl awoke to the pale sunlight of early morning flooding into her eyes. Her forehead began to throb once again, bringing memories of her brief period of consciousness along with it. She jammed her eyes shut, attempting to reduce the migraine that was forming.
Without the distraction of the light, she became very aware of something resting on her left foreleg. Vinyl decided to risk it. Cautiously, she opened one eye slowly. It was just enough to see a grey foreleg resting on hers, and a grey head above that shrouded by a black mane. Vinyl sucked in her breath, it was Octavia.
The sunlight that cascaded around Octavia made her look like she was emitting ethereal light. This light didn’t seem to hurt her eyes as much, as if just the added visual of Octavia made everything better. Vinyl reached out with her right foreleg to make sure she was real. Octavia’s mane felt soft to her touch, it was a texture that Vinyl had felt many times before. Right now however, it felt just like the first time she had hugged Octavia, welcoming and unfamiliar.
After reveling in the fact that Octavia was here, her thoughts strayed to the next most logical questions. What am I doing here? What even happened last night? I think? Struggling to draw answers, Vinyl gave the room a cursory sweep. She was laying blue leaden bed, her head propped up presumably by a pillow.
Vinyl continued to rack her brain for answers, and only managed to recall a few things. Definitely hit that Beauty mare, No regrets there. What happened next?
It was a real struggle for Vinyl to figure out what she had done next, taking several minutes of thought to draw a solid recollection. Went to see Octavia, and then... Vinyl couldn’t figure out the rest, letting her mind run wild drawing up wild conclusions that resulted in her current position. Oh Celestia no, did I assault Tavi or something? Did that force her to hit me or something? After minutes of shock and consideration, Vinyl dismissed that thought. If I had attacked her or something, I doubt she would content enough to sleep in the same room as me. Vinyl’s mind persisted, Then what happened?
It was at that moment that the doctor from the previous day walked in, clad once again in a white lab coat. Vinyl watched uncertainly as he approached. Lab coats should be restricted to nightmare night. As the grey stallion approached, Vinyl called out a greeting doing her best not to wake Octavia.
“Hey doc.” I think Vinyl trailed off as it occurred to her she hadn’t seen this pony before. "Time to go over my injuries then?"
The doctor chuckled seeing Vinyl’s discomfort, “I assure you, I’m a professional.”
~-~
Octavia was woken abruptly by a loud groan somewhere to her right. Suddenly, Octavia was very aware of her surroundings. She forced one eye open a crack. Through the veil of her deformed mane, she could see a very clearly distraught Vinyl to her right.
Vinyl’s left eye twitched, “So, What are the chances those things could happen to me?”
The doctor replied, “Since we were able to act fast enough, we doubt that your skull fracture was infected. That is a doubt, not a certainty.” At those words, Vinyl seemed to relax a bit.
Octavia continued to watch Vinyl, filtering the conversation out. She didn’t want to move. If she moved, there would be a lot she would be forced to explain. What will she say? How is she going to react to fact that I put her here? Does she even remember anything from last night? The last thought was the one that really struck home. If she doesn’t remember what happened… Another thought popped into Octavia’s mind, SHOULD she even know?
Before Octavia could further entertain that thought, Vinyl noticed that she had awoken. Octavia raised her head slightly, brushing her mane out of her face. She stared into Vinyl’s iridescent red eyes. Neither pony spoke. The present doctor seeing that he was interrupting something, made for the door.
“Well Ms.Scratch seeing as you have your injuries’ details now, I think I can take my leave.” The doctor said, closing the door behind him. The two mares remained silent. Octavia looked out the windows; the sky had turned grey and appeared as if it was about to rain.
Vinyl chuckled awkwardly, “So… would you care to explain how I got here?” This was it, this is what Octavia had been dreading. What should I say?
Octavia stuttered, “W-Well, I um. what do you remember?”
Vinyl paused at this. Why is she beating around the bush? I guess there’s only one reason for it. Vinyl replied unsurely, “C’mon Tavi, please tell me that you aren’t mad at me still?”
“Of course I’m not!” Octavia sputtered back. Interesting, Vinyl thought, then what is Tavi’s problem?
“So why-“Vinyl started, only to be interrupted by Octavia,
“I’m just a bit tired Vinyl, all right?” Octavia snapped.
“I can see that Tavi. I’d still love it if you could tell me how I ended up in a hospital bed with a skull fracture.” Octavia retreated further into the chair she had been partially sleeping in. Octavia started nervously praying Vinyl wouldn’t correct her,
“I think you were coming to see me?” There was no interjection from Vinyl. Octavia continued,
“I was on my balcony,” drinking, “watching the sky,” crying, “when I heard glass break,” the bottle I had been drinking from. “I looked over the side, and that's when I saw you. I rushed to the elevator as fast as I could. I should have, rather, would have been down there faster if it wasn’t for that conceited pianist.”
Vinyl interrupted her, “Are you talking about that Frederick pony?”
Octavia frowned, “Yes, how do you-“
“Remember his name?” Vinyl cut in, “I ran into him and the rest of your band. They’re all jerks Tavi, all of them.”
Octavia continued to stare at Vinyl, “When did you last encounter my former co-workers Vinyl?”
Vinyl reddened at this, looking away from Octavia. “I may or may not have, accidently kind of sort of on purpose smashed my hoof into Beauty’s face.”
Octavia balked, “You what???”
“It was a heat of the moment kind of thing y’know? It’s just after what they said about you.”
“They were talking about me?”
“Yea, they were Tavi. They said things nopony has a right to say to anypony, especially you.”
Vinyl’s words sparked an idea in Octavia’s mind; a way out.
“Vinyl, do you remember running into anypony on the sidewalk before you were injured?” Octavia asked, knowing fair well the answer.
Vinyl’s face scrunched up, thinking hard. “I think I ran into Frederick again. He lives in this apartment building too doesn’t he?”
Octavia’s heart began to pump faster, “Yes, he does.” At this point, Octavia began to wonder if Vinyl could hear the thudding of her heart. “Vinyl... do you think it is possible that Frederick might’ve… attacked you?”
Vinyl’s eyes widened, “I-I, I’m not sure Tavi isn’t that a bit pre...presumptrios?”
“Presumptuous,” Octavia corrected, “and I suppose it is. Still Vinyl, do you think it is possible? Revenge or something for what you did to Beauty at wherever you ran into them?” Vinyl just remained silent, contemplating Octavia’s words.
Octavia felt a wave of guilt crashing down around her. This is only right, after what they did to me… Another voice rebounded in her head, Aren’t you just doing this because you’re afraid of what Vinyl will say?
I’m not sure if I’m ready to trust anypony again…
They sat in silence, Octavia noticeably disheartened. They were saved by the doctor’s reappearance,
“I think Vinyl’s had enough time with you today miss, she needs her rest. I’ll be back later to give you medicine as well Mrs.Scratch.” Vinyl and Octavia nodded, Octavia slowly getting out of the chair.
“I’ll see you tomorrow Vinyl. Think about what I’ve said, it is possible isn’t it?” Vinyl nodded raising a hoof goodbye as she and the doctor walked out of the room.
~-~
As the doctor walked out of her sight in the hallway, Octavia remained in the hallway with nopony around her. She could think about what she’d said. Octavia trod through the hallways, past the front desk, and out on to the street. Ponies had begun to trickle into shops and their homes for the impending storm.
Raindrops began to fall, quickly soaking the sidewalk, turning to a much darker shade. Octavia leaned her head against the side of the hospital, cursing herself.
What am I doing?