Vinyl watched Octavia close the door, listening to the hoofsteps going out of earshot. Vinyl couldn’t understand what she had just said. Her mind was a whirlwind of confused thoughts, Frederick attacked me? No, Too posh to do that I think. A voice shot back in her head, then you explain how your lying in a hospital bed with a skull fracture. Vinyl grimaced, that's what I thought Octavia would be able to do…
So what happened then? Vinyl ran through a quick list in her mind. Why did had I come to visit Octavia anyway? It was about a newspaper, something about an article? Vinyl sat up, It was about the gala. There was a disaster at the gala. Vinyl drew a conclusion; I had come to be with her when I felt she needed me most.
There was a knock on the door, interrupting Vinyl’s thoughts. It was Vinyl’s doctor. He walked into the room, levitating a pill bottle out of his lab coat’s pocket, and onto Vinyl’s bedside table.
“These are to help you sleep miss. We don’t want you disturbing any equipment or your injuries while sleeping.” The doctor stated; looking at the heart beat monitor and the wires that streamed from it and other equipment. Vinyl reached over with her hooves for the bottle, causing the doctor to frown.
“Why don’t you just use your-” Vinyl stared at him disbelievingly, “Oh, that's right! I told you not to use magic for a couple weeks didn’t I?”
Vinyl rolled her eyes, struggling to get the lid off of the bottle. “I thought you of all people would remember doc’. Can you help me with this then?” The gray aura of the doctor’s magic illuminated the bottle, opening it and pulling a pill out of it. Vinyl took it, and swallowed.
“I’ll leave the bottle on your side-table.” The doctor said. Vinyl nodded, vision fading. Her mind created one final thought before drifting off to sleep. If it wasn't Frederick’s fault, whose was it?
~-~
Octavia trod down the carpeted hallway of her apartment building. She stood in front of her door just looking at it. There was still a sizeable hole in it at eye level, which she couldn’t remember how she caused it.
Octavia clicked the latch to her apartment door, swinging it open. The apartment was still a wreck. Her mind was still reeling at what she had said. Vinyl is going to kill me… She looked around the apartment noticing the first time how dilapidated it had become. I need to get my mind off this problem anyway…
An hour or so later, the apartment was looking somewhat up to living capacity again. There was no up ended furniture, the smashed coffee table had been gathered and placed in a trash can outside. In the distraction of something to do, she had forgotten about everything.
Octavia walked into the kitchen area, opening the fridge. Oh no. The fridge was filled to the brim with beer bottles, the same that had caused Vinyl’s injuries. She gathered a hoof full of them up frantically. I need to get rid of these. Why did I lie to Vinyl? Why?!? Accursed bottles, I should've never even touched these. She placed them on the kitchen counter, opening the first one. Octavia poured its contents into the sink watching it swirl down the drain. I need a trash can or something… Octavia placed the empty bottle down, walking past her front door.
At the same time, there was a knock at the door, Octavia froze, heart pounding. The bottles were still sitting on the kitchen counter.
“Octavia?” A voice resounded. Not him. “Octavia I can see you, can we just talk?” Octavia looked up at the door, through the hole, seeing the face of one Frederick Horseshoepin.
Buck.
~-~
Frederick Horseshoepin was sorry. This was almost an alien concept to him. To be truly sorry, not just passively saying he was sorry for merely bumping into someone, or lying to the media about X event. No, this feeling inside him was a growing, nagging feeling of complete regret. He had heard the noises and commotion from the street below when he had reached his apartment and went out onto the balcony. When he looked over the edge, he had seen Vinyl, shattered glass around her head. Octavia had been right beside her.
This was why he was once again standing in front of Octavia’s apartment door, one hoof raised poised to knock. He could see clearly into the apartment through a hole in the door. He waited a few seconds, glanced down the hallway, then knocked once.
Frederick looked back through the door to see Octavia frozen in place.
“Octavia? Octavia I can see you, can we just talk?” Octavia seemed to sigh. She walked down the hallway and pulled the door open, making no motion for him to come inside. That's fine, Frederick thought. “Listen, Octavia. I know you don’t like me, and I’d like to apologize.”
“Apologize?” Octavia snapped, “It is completely past the time for apologies.”
Frederick winced, “If you’ll let me speak,” he paused, waiting for a response. When none came he continued, “I’ve been acting far too childish these past weeks, and I deeply regret my actions.”
Octavia blinked, forgetting about the bottles and her apartment, “That's it?” Her voice echoed, reverberating off the hallway’s walls. “That's IT?” Her voice grew louder with every sentence, “That's all you have to say. After everything you’ve done?” She was shouting at this point, causing Frederick to shy away from the door.
“W-well, you see…” Frederick started nervously, “I’m not really good at apologizing… I haven’t really done it before.” Octavia remained silent for a while, and then spoke.
“You’re forgiven.” She proceeded to slam the door shut.
~-~
Octavia leaned her back against the door, and sighed. Can I really just forgive him like that? No consequences for him what so ever? She knew the answer to her questions already, Yes, I think I can. She wasn’t happy about it, but the truth of the matter was her inability to hold a lasting grudge.
So what do I do now then? Octavia had practically set off Vinyl in Frederick’s general direction at the hospital. Octavia slouched lower against the door. I guess I just won’t mention it, at all. Not mention it and pray she forgets.
Slowly, Octavia picked herself off the floor and walked back into the kitchen. She finished dumping the alcohol and disposed of the bottles that had caused her so much trouble in the past weeks. It felt good to know she had gotten rid of some of the problems in her life today.
~-~ Some Weeks Later ~-~
Octavia entered the hospital through the double doors, stopping at the reception desk. The receptionist looked up expectantly, “Can I help you?” The receptionist asked.
Octavia responded, “Octavia, here to see Vinyl Scratch.”
The receptionist nodded, “It’s down the hall, third room to the right. Vinyl’s doctor is in there right now as well.” Octavia thanked the receptionist and proceeded down the hall. Today’s the day they said Vinyl could be released. Octavia was almost skipping down the hall. When she gets home, we can start over again. Nothing will have changed.
She slowed down to a walk. I should tell her what really happened… She snapped back at herself, She stopped talking about that the last couple times you went to visit her. In Octavia’s last visits they had talked about other things, normal things, like they had used to.
Octavia sighed blissfully; she didn’t want to ruin it all. Am I just going to keep hiding it forever? Have I turned into that much of a jerk? Octavia was now in front of Vinyl’s hospital room door, ready to open it. I’ll tell her soon… just not today…
Octavia opened the door, stepping inside. Vinyl was standing next to the bed, engaged in a conversation with the doctor from her previous visits. The doctor glanced up at the door,
“Ah, Miss Octavia was it? Vinyl here is looking a lot better and she’s ready for discharge.” Vinyl looked over at Octavia,
“TAVI!” Vinyl shouted, tackling Octavia.
Octavia smiled, trying to forget her earlier thoughts, “I missed you too Vinyl.” Octavia said, nuzzling Vinyl.
The doctor coughed awkwardly, “Just check out with the receptionist when you leave today Miss Scratch.”
Vinyl rolled off of Octavia, her face a light shade of red, “Yea… Sure thing doc.” Vinyl’s doctor proceeded to exit the room leaving Vinyl and Octavia alone. “So,” Octavia started cautiously, “when you leave today, have you decided where you're going to stay?”
Vinyl still sitting on the floor scratched the back of her head with one hoof, “Well… I thought maybe I could stay with you again?” Vinyl asked hopefully.
“Of course Vinyl!” Octavia almost squealed, wrapping Vinyl in her forelegs. She had missed having another pony in her apartment with her. Rather, she missed having anypony to talk to in general.
Vinyl notice her frown slightly, “Tavi are you alright?” Vinyl asked. Octavia blinked and let go of Vinyl, “Yes Vinyl, I’m fine. I was just thinking about income. I know you didn’t exactly have any opportunities to work these past weeks, and my savings won’t last forever…”
Vinyl frowned, she hadn’t thought about work at all. Vinyl started slowly, “I have a couple ponies I could call to let clubs know I’m ready to DJ again and stuff… Business was solid enough before I ended up in the hospital that I don't think this hurt too much.” Vinyl laughed awkwardly a little, and then continued, “Anyways, we can talk more about this later Tavi. Can we focus on getting back to the apartment first? I’m kind of tired still.”
Octavia nodded, “Let’s get you home Vinyl.”
~-~
Octavia clicked the latch to her apartment door, swinging it open to reveal the rest of her apartment. “Here we are.” Octavia said, gesturing with one foreleg over the rest of the apartment. Vinyl looked at the door and the hole in it uncertainly, “So… Tavi, how’d this hole get in your door anyway? The rest of your apartment appears spotless, what happened to the door?”
Octavia shifted uncomfortably from hoof to hoof, “Well… the thing is… I don’t exactly remember.”
Vinyl stared at her, “Were you drunk or something?”
“No, no, of course I wasn’t Vinyl.” Octavia said rather hastily. “I just… can’t remember. Let’s get you settled in Vinyl, all right?”
Vinyl sighed following Octavia into the apartment, “All right Tavi, I won’t bring it up again.”
Octavia’s apartment besides the door seemed to be in a normal state to Vinyl. Everything was in the same place it had been from last year. Except… “Octavia what happened to the coffee table?”
…And she’s the one suffering from memory loss, Octavia thought. “It may or may not have been smashed by the couch.”
Vinyl blinked, “I’m getting a pretty good picture of what happened after the gala.”
Octavia blushed and said, “I could’ve handled it better.”
Vinyl didn’t respond to that, she just walked around the apartment. After a few minutes Vinyl said, “It feels like it was just yesterday when we first moved in here.”
Octavia nodded, “Now that you’re back, maybe everything can go back to normal.” Vinyl nodded as well. Things will be as normal as things can get after having feelings of hate towards each other for a year. Not to mention this unexplained injury I got from Celestia knows who.
They stood awkwardly for a while until Octavia spoke, “I think I’ll get dinner started Vinyl.”
“Sounds good,” Vinyl said. While she’s busy with that… “Octavia, I just remembered I have to go check in with Neon today about jobs and stuff.”
Octavia frowned, “When did you talk to him today?”
Vinyl panicked a little, “I uh, called him at the hospital today before you came in. See you Tavi!” Vinyl trotted out the front door, closing it behind her.
Octavia stared at the door. She must still be feeling off because of her injury… Octavia thought, and started to prepare their dinner, her good mood erasing any doubts she had.
~-~
Vinyl stood inside the apartment building’s elevator, watching the display’s numbers increase systematically. Vinyl trusted Octavia, she really did. “If I trust her then why am I doing this?” Vinyl wondered out loud. I DO trust Octavia. It’s just that Frederick might know more about what happened, right?
Vinyl doubted herself even now, but she had to get to the bottom of this. The elevator dinged, the doors opening. Vinyl stepped outside into the hallway. Which room was his again? Vinyl wandered the hallway for a couple minutes before knocking on a door. A few seconds passed, and the door swung open. It was Frederick. Is this considered good luck or bad luck? “Hey Frederick, what’s up?” Vinyl said, chuckling a little.
Frederick stared at her, “I thought I settled whatever qualms we may have had when I apologized to Octavia yesterday about the… incident in the elevator.”
Vinyl blinked, “What elevator incident?”
“You mean you don’t know already?”
“…No. Octavia didn’t say anything about the elevator besides running into you there and she stopped there. She said something about her getting down there faster?”
“I erm, reacted rather poorly when the topic of you was brought up. It had only been about a minute or two since I left you outside, looking perfectly well I might add.”
Vinyl processed this. If it was only a minute or two, and Tavi came down right away… She would have had to have seen what happened. Vinyl turned away from Frederick, “Thanks Fred, you’ve been a great help. You answered all of my questions.” Vinyl called the elevator, and stepped inside.
Frederick stood there and watched her go. “I didn't even answer any questions!” he called out.
~-~
Sunlight seeped through the bedroom’s windows and onto the bed where Vinyl had been sleeping with Octavia. Vinyl groaned loudly, pulling a pillow over her eyes. A few minutes later, Vinyl heard Octavia chuckle and then get up. She heard the door open, bringing the sound of Octavia’s humming with it, then the door being closed. She seems happy today still. Vinyl heard Octavia move into the kitchen, and the stove being turned on.
I still have to talk to her about Frederick… Yet Vinyl continued to remain still. I’m going to completely ruin the day if I do. This can wait another day, Vinyl told herself. Vinyl moved the pillow off her face, subjecting herself to the horrors of the morning sun once again. I’m just going to keep brushing it off if I don’t, I should just get it over with now.
Vinyl looked over the edge of the bed. On second thought, that seems like a bit too much effort. The smell of food cooking wafted into the bed room. I take that back. She rolled off the bed and on to the floor. Then she walked through the door and into the kitchen.Octavia was manning the stove busily, still humming a classical tune. Her good mood seemed to have carried over from yesterday, and Vinyl didn’t want to ruin it. She didn’t want to, but she had to.
“Octavia, we need to talk.”
Octavia froze, in a relationship on weak terms already; this was the last thing she wanted to hear. Octavia turned off the stove and turned around. “Talk about what Vinyl?”
I have to approach this cautiously, Vinyl thought, I am just bluffing after all… “Octavia, I know Frederick didn’t do it. I talked to him yesterday. You’re the only pony who could possibly know more than him. Please Octavia, what happened that night?”
“I-I…I…” Octavia sputtered, “…” Octavia just stood there, head hanging down. Octavia couldn’t think of anything else to say. She just said, “I lied to you Vinyl,” before tears began to streak her face and she lapsed into sobs.
Vinyl stood there, shocked. Minutes later she was gone, leaving Octavia alone.
~-~
Vinyl was on the sidewalk outside Octavia’s apartment building. How could she do this to me? Was it an accident? None of that mattered. Octavia had lied to Vinyl, and even worse she had tried to pin it on someone else.
Vinyl turned street corner after corner going further away from Octavia’s apartment. I shouldn’t be doing this. I said I would be there for her and I should be right now. Think of the things she might do to herself, she thought. A voice in her head shot back, That was when you cared for her, do you still care for her?
Vinyl didn’t need to think twice about her answer. She stopped mid-canter, paused, and turned around, heading back in Octavia’s direction.
~-~
Octavia didn’t feel anything. From the moment she had chosen to lie, this had all been inevitable, she knew it too. The last line of defense in her life was crumbling before her eyes. She had felt alone after the gala, but this was on an entirely different level. There wasn’t even a hope in Octavia’s mind of not being alone again. She had screwed up royally, and that was the bottom line.
Octavia didn’t care how long she lay on her kitchen floor crying. There was no point in moving anymore. There was no point until she felt something on her shoulders. Octavia looked up from the floor and saw salvation in the form of a white foreleg, pulling her back to life, back to their home.
The End