//------------------------------// // Chapter 8 // Story: Octavius // by Master Koschei //------------------------------// Octavius’ eyes shot open, looking up at a white ceiling above him. He scanned his eyes left to right. He heard a beeping noise beside him, and felt his arm being held up in a sling. He felt an IV in his other arm. He was in a hospital, and was apparently pretty badly injured. He felt a bandage wrapped snug around his head and also around his leg. “H-hey, Tavi,” a soft voice called to him. He looked to his left and gasped. “Ditzy.” She was covered in bandages, and her left leg was wrapped in a splint and elevated. She had several sets of stitches across her forehead and arms. But she still smiled at him. “I d-d-don’t think I-I should t-take a pic-picture of this,” she joked half-heartedly. Octavius could only stare in disbelief. “Ditzy, I-“ Suddenly, the door swung open, and David, Dash and Vinyl all walked into the room. Dash nudged Vinyl, who put her hands over her mouth to hide a smile. She rushed over to Octavius and took his hand in hers. “Tavi, you’re ok!” Dash grinned. “I wouldn’t exactly say ok.” Octavius sighed. “I’ve told you, it’s Octavius. And I’m fine. But, Ditzy-“ “Is just fine,” David interrupted. He smiled kindly at Octavius. “She broke her leg in that crash, but other than that she just got a little banged up. She did a lot better than you did, my friend.” Vinyl squeezed his good hand slightly. “Tavi,” she muttered. “We weren’t sure how long you’d be out.” “How long was I out?” Octavius looked worriedly at the others. Dash shifted from foot to foot. “Two days.” “Two days?” Octavius thought it hadn’t been more than a few hours. “Wait, what about my performance? I missed it! My chance for a permanent booking! My career!” “It’s fine, Octavius,” David said. “I spoke with the theater manager. He said he understood, and would be willing to reschedule.” Octavius sighed with relief. “So, what did happen?” Ditzy looked down a bit ashamed. “Um, w-when I asked y-y-you to smile, an-nother c-c-car came int-to the lane. W-we hit h-head on.” Octavius looked around. “You all are ok?” Everyone nodded. Dash grinned at Vinyl. “Man, Vinyl there cried like a baby when the docs wheeled you in on a stretcher. ‘Oh, please, not Tavi!’” Dash laughed as Vinyl blushed hotly. “And don’t worry, Tav-Tav,” she winked at him. “I took care of your ‘issue’.” Octavius nodded appreciatively. He looked over at Vinyl, who was still clutching his hand. He smiled and squeezed her hand. “Thank you for the concern, Vinyl.” Vinyl grinned back at him. “Well, I can’t exactly not care about’cha, bud,” she laughed. “You’re my friend, right?” “He’s my friend, too.” Dash smiled at the cellist. “And mine,” David smiled from beside Ditzy’s bed. “A-and he’s m-my friend, t-too,” Ditzy spoke up from her bed. Octavius smiled at them all. “You guys are too good for me,” he said, casting his eyes down. “You could’ve been seriously hurt by-“ “Stop right there, dude,” Dash said, holding her hand up. Octavius noticed a bandage wrapped around her palm. “We didn’t die. We weren’t broken into a million pieces. We’re fine, man!” She smiled at him. “So chill out and relax!” Octavius sighed, but smiled as well. “Alright.” A nurse rapped her knuckles on the door. “Ok, everyone, visiting’s over. Time to go. You can all come back tomorrow.” Everyone nodded to the nurse and stepped out of the room. However, before the door swung shut, Vinyl quickly ran back into the room and kissed Octavius on his cheek. “I’m glad you’re ok, Octavius.” He smiled at her as she ran back out. “S-she sure is c-cute,” Ditzy said with a grin at him. He merely blushed and hid his face. “I-I’m glad you’re o-ok, too, T-Tavi.” Dash, Vinyl and David all stepped out into the lobby of the hospital, getting ready to leave. Dash turned suddenly on the blue haired woman. “All right, flirty,” she grinned. “Out with it.” David smirked and crossed his arms over his chest expectantly. Vinyl blushed subtly and turned away. “I don’t know what you mean, Dashie.” “You ran back in there when we left,” David said, not giving the woman a chance to evade the question. “Why?” He grinned evilly. “I didn’t run back.” Vinyl was trying very hard to get out of the situation she found herself in. Dash grabbed the woman’s hand as they exited the building to the parking lot. “Vinyl, spill it. You went back in to see Tav-Tav.” Vinyl didn’t reply, but her blush intensified. “Man,” David grinned. “I could tell you had it bad for him. But not this bad!” Vinyl looked up at the man, shock on her face. “You knew?” Dash wrapped an arm around Vinyl’s shoulder. “Hun, we all know. I think the only one who doesn’t know is the bone head with the broken arm and totaled car.” Vinyl stared at Dash angrily, suddenly rounding on the woman. “That’s not a joking matter! He got hurt really badly! So did Ditzy!” She turned to the brunet. “And you,” she started in on him. “You’re supposed to take care of her! But now she’s laid up in a hospital bed with Tavi because of her goddamn pictures!” David’s smile instantly vanished, replaced with a look of anger, dark shadows being cast on his usually kind face. “Vinyl,” he said, deathly quiet. “I understand you’re upset. We all are.” He advanced quickly on the woman, grabbing her shirt collar and holding her in place, pressing his face to hers. “But if you think, for one instant, that will excuse you insulting Ditzy, you’re sorely mistaken.” Vinyl didn’t bat an eye as she simply smacked his hand away. Dash stepped between the pair. “Ok, guys, let’s just chill out here,” she said calmly, trying to defuse the situation. “Oh, yeah, Dash,” Vinyl yelled, emotion taking hold. “Let’s just all relax and have a grand time while our friends were nearly killed in a car wreck that was all my fault!” “How is it your fault?” David stared at her, concern on his face. “If I hadn’t’ve pestered Octavius like I did,” she said, tears starting to fall from behind her sunglasses. “He probably would’ve forgotten all about me. He wouldn’t have come to town with me and Dash. He wouldn’t have freaked out at the restaurant. He wouldn’t have crashed –“ “ENOUGH!” Dash cut the other woman off with a shout and a fairly vicious slap across the face. “For fuck’s sake, woman, calm your bitch tits!” She let Vinyl collect herself before she continued. “This is no ones fault, ok? It was just stupid dumb luck!” David nodded in agreement. “It honestly could’ve happened to anyone.” Vinyl hung her head. “I just wish it didn’t have to be him.” Dash sighed and tilted her friend’s chin up to look her in the eyes. “Look, Vi, we’re all concerned about Octavius and Ditzy. But the last thing they need is for us to be freaking out and blaming ourselves like we’re in some fucking soap opera.” Vinyl smiled slightly at that. “You’re right Dash.”