Looking back, it wasn't that smart of me to leave my information the day before the school had a huge break. It was the longest break the school had. I think it was for some festival in downtown Manehatten. I didn't really think that would be a problem. My plan was to spend the week out of school getting to know her and hanging out. She didn't text me that first night. But hey, I figured her parents took her phone away or something. There were a ton more ponies there than usual when she got in my face like she did, and the employees were acting very differently. I only saw that waiter stallion pull out his coloring book like, thirteen times to show off his stuff.
The next day was weird though. When I went in and sat down, I got the stink eye from the old mare that threatened to kick me out the first day I went. The same stallion from the past few days came to take my order. He had that sketchbook with him. I don't know why he always insisted on showing me his drawings. I usually had my ear plugs in and I say the same thing every time he comes over.
"Hello, ma'-"
"Usual, please."
"But ma'-"
"No, I don't want to see your book."
"Listen."
I looked over to him. I was always looking at him, but it has been made clear to me that unless I turn my entire head to directly face somepony, no one knows who I am looking at through my glasses.
"The cake you always order is off the menu, and Octavia is no longer playing with us."
Octavia, huh? That's useful to know. Wait, she's no longer playing?
"Did she get sent to another restaraunt?"
"No."
"Is she sick?"
"No."
"Well, where is she?"
"I can't say."
If anypony knew how to annoy me, it was this guy. I did have an idea though. I took my glasses off and passed my hoof through my mane. I then pulled him close
"You know, I would really appreciate it if you told me where Octavia was."
He stumbled on his words. Easy.
"I-I-I can't say."
Damn.
"Please? For me?"
"B-B-But my mother will."
"You're mother?"
"Yea. The mare that that threatened to kick you out."
"She's your mother?!"
"Yea. All the employees are family."
"Oh. Crap."
I left the restaurant quickly after that. I wish I knew that they were family, I would have treated them better. Heck, I would have actually eaten that disaster they call a cake. But what's done is done. All I can do now is wait for her to call me. Until then, I have a party to get ready for. I pulled out my phone from my saddlebag. Thirty missed texts and ten missed calls. I always have my phone on silent, otherwise that thing will never shut up. I quickly looked through the texts and calls though, None of them were unknown. After a heavy sigh, I scrolled through my contacts, then hit dial.
"Hello?"
"What's up, Lemon?"
"Hey Scratch, nothing much, about to close down the coffee shop. Unless there's a reason you called."
"Want some extra bits tonight?"
"You're bringing your own sound equipment this time."
"You're helping me bring it."
"I'll send somepony."
"No, you."
"Why?"
"'Cause I like to see you suffer."
"Give me two hours."
"See ya."
I called a few other ponies and told them about my party at the coffee shop. I called the usual ones, the ones that had the most friends to tell and could draw the biggest crowds. But this time, I called a few more. I told each of them, "If you know somepony named 'Octavia', make sure they hear about it." It was a long shot, but hey, I had to try something. All I could do now was set up for the party, and whether or not Octavia showed up, it was going to be great.
I didn't have to wait long as home for Lemon to show up. Even though he said two hours, I could always guarantee that he will be a lot earlier. Unfortunately, he caught me in the middle of a good book. I debated if I should leave him outside for an hour or so, since he was ahead of schedule, and I was getting to the climax. Unfortunately, his constant knocking would throw my concentration. After ten minutes or so, I gave in.
"Ready?" He asked.
"You bet."
He and I each took a wagon and headed for his coffee shop. I could have done it myself, but I had my own intentions. As we went down one of the streets, I stopped him in front of one of the buildings.
"Listen, I need you to do something for me." I looked back to Lemon
"What now?"
"Can you go in there and ask for somepony to play a song called 'Evening Star'?"
"Um, why?"
"Please?"
"Can you tell me why?"
"Pplleeaassee?"
Lemon took in a deep breath. "Fine," he said as he disconnected the wagon and went inside. I pulled my phone out to check for any messages. Nothing, at least nothing from anypony important. Just a few dozen texts and calls from fans or managers. I replied to a few of them to help time go by. After half an hour, he finally came from the restaurant.
"Well?"
"It was an okay song, I guess."
"What do you mean? Did a grey mare play it?"
"No. Some stallion did."
"Damn it."
"Language."
"Sorry."
We reattached the wagons and went to his coffee shop.
"What time is the event starting?" Lemon asked as he unpacked the music gear.
"Sundown."
"Well, that gives us plenty of time."
He didn't unpack all of the stuff, he had to go set up for tonight. He made tons of food. He's awesome like that. I went ahead and set up my stuff. It probably went by a lot faster since I did it by myself. Lemon's shop already had some speakers set up near the stage, and he usually got annoyed when I drug my amps in, probably because it leaves marks all over the wooden floor. On second though, they did cause a power outage once, so that's another possible reason he hated them. Although they weren't as big as mine, his speakers did carry my music past the cheering crowd, so I couldn't complain too much. It made life easier on my hooves, since I only needed to carry a few soundboards and the cabinet for them.
"Why don't you bring your stuff in with your magic?" Lemon asked as I drug the cabinet in. I didn't need to look at him to see him staring at the wooden floor.
"Do you have any idea how hard it is to handle delicate stuff like this with magic?"
"No, please explain." He did not sound the least bit interested in knowing.
"You see, when a unicorn levitates something-" I paused to lift the cabinet onto the stage. "-they put a lot of force on the object. I don't levitate this stuff so I don't mess up the circuit boards."
"I see you levitating your phone all the time."
"Phones are a different case. They make them so unicorns can levitate them."
Lemon didn't believe me, he probably thought I was making something up so I had an excuse to drag heavy stuff on his floor. I can't say he was entirely wrong.
When I finished, I checked my phone one last time. I actually had a voicemail.
"Hey, Scratch. That mare you were asking about? I passed her up a second ago and told her about the party. She didn't really have a reaction though, so I can't tell you if she's going to show. Anyway, can't wait to hear ya tonight!"
I tried to hold in my excitement, but I'm positive I got an odd stare from Lemon when I fist-pumped into the air. I did have my headphones in though, so maybe it didn't look too odd.