Octavia was awoken in the middle of the night by a loud clap of thunder. Rain was beating on her window quite harshly. So harshly, in fact, that she could hardly even see the houses in her neighbourhood; all she could see were the distorted shapes. However, that didn’t stop her from noticing a small light coming from the house next to hers. Is Vinyl awake as well? If only I had her number…I could ask if she’s having trouble sleeping with all this rain.
Octavia lay back down on her pillow. Her eyelids slowly closed as she wondered if Vinyl would be okay. What if a lightning bolt strikes her house? The weather responded with a very loud roar and a flash of light. Oh no! She rose up quickly, her heart beating very loudly. Okay, her house isn’t on fire. I should relax. She’ll be fine.
But…what if she’s incredibly scared of thunder? She could be sobbing in horror at the thought of her house actually catching on fire.
Actually, she’s very brave. She certainly doesn’t seem scared when she agonises me with her constant sex jokes. Arg! I absolutely hate that.
Though, it is nice that I’m the only one she jokes with like that. I mean, she does tease a few other girls, even Neon, every now and then, but I’m her main victim. Besides, she has to say those jokes, because if not, she’d be too perfect! She’s very loyal and always honest and open about a lot of things. And the way she smiles…and that laugh of hers…
And to add on, she’s really beautiful. Her short two-toned blue hair that hovers right above her bare shoulders when she wears a sleeveless shirt is mesmerising. Plus, as ashamed as I am to admit it, she has an amazing body. I really wish I could see her eyes sometime; I’m sure they’re beautiful, I’m not sure why she hides them like that...
Relaxed with these thoughts, Octavia slowly laid back down and fell asleep.
A few hours later, the rain was still pouring, but not as violently. Octavia awoke, this time, with a text message:
Harpo: Are you okay? Why aren’t you at volunteering? I came early this morning but I can’t find you.
Octavia’s eyes widened. She had overslept! How?! She looked over at her clock. The time was off by several hours. The storm must have cut the power, restarting the time. She shot out of her bed and quickly got ready. She brushed her hair with various strokes, vigorously and quickly. She brushed her teeth, got dressed, and sprayed on a bit of perfume.
The cellist skipped breakfast and ran out the door. She was getting wet, and she then realised, Shit, I didn’t bring an umbrella with me! This is why I hate waking up late! It throws me off and I forget about something completely! I’m going to catch a cold with this rain…
“Yo, Tavi!” she heard behind her. Salvation had come for her! Vinyl Scratch was holding an umbrella with her magic and coming her way, “Wanna share it?” she offered as she was housed by her friend with the umbrella. The cellist noted the dark blue raincoat she was wearing, which adorably matched with her hair.
Octavia silently thanked Celestia, “Yes, please! Thank you so much!” Octavia got under the umbrella as much as she could when she realised how small it was. She could feel Vinyl’s shoulder digging into hers. The DJ provided her with warmth from her body, in contrast with the cold rain. Of course, I’m saved, but in the worst of ways. Now I need to distract myself from the proximity.
They awkwardly walked down the streets, occasionally stepping on each other’s feet. Octavia blushed with how close they were. If she listened closely, she could hear her friend breathing and her heart beating. Her breaths came in slow, rhythmic patterns like her pulse, and Octavia was tempted to rest her head on Vinyl’s shoulder. This is why being so close to her crush was a problem. She always wanted to get even closer, but she couldn’t.
“You know, Tavi, I’m kind of surprised someone like you overslept. It doesn’t suit your character too much,” Vinyl said after a while.
“Well, my alarm clock needs electricity, so it never went off with the storm from last night,” Octavia explained.
“Maybe you could use your cell. That’s what I do.” Octavia nodded. Vinyl wanted to keep the conversation going, “How come you never take your cello home except for the weekends? Aren’t you, like, obsessed with the thing?”
“My parents believe that the cello would take me away from my studies. They may be right, but I really wish I could take her home and play every night.“
"Her?" Vinyl raised a brow.
Octavia cleared her throat, "Oh, yes. Erm...I refer to my cello as a female. She even has a name. I know it's weird, but I just--"
“It’s not weird at all.” The other girl interjected with a smile, “I sometimes call my turntable a she. I haven’t thought of giving her a name though. I kind of just call her 'sexy'…” Vinyl turned to Octavia, “What’s her name? Your cello, I mean.”
“Oh…it’s, um…it’s pretty stupid. You don’t want to hear it.” Octavia dismissed.
“Oh, come on, Tavi. I’m all about stupid. Of course I want to hear it.”
“Fine. But you better not laugh!” Vinyl ‘Pinkie Pie Promised’ she wouldn’t, and Octavia continued, “Her name is Amour.”
“Amour, huh? Doesn’t that mean, like, flower or something?” Vinyl guessed.
“Love, actually. It’s French. It just seemed to…fit her, I guess.” Vinyl was quiet for a moment, “I told you it was stupid.”
“No! No, I get it!” Vinyl shouted over the rain, “You named it ‘love’ because you love your cello so much, right?” Vinyl seemed excited, like she had figured out the meaning of life.
“Yes, well, I love you more,” Octavia muttered subconsciously.
Vinyl jolted slightly, “What was that?”
The young cellist then realised what had come out, and quickly covered it up, “I-I said, ‘I love Amour,’ as in, I like how it sounds, you know?” she looked down so that her hair would fall in front of her face and hide her red face from Vinyl.
“Yeah. Yeah, I got it. I misheard you, I guess.” The blue-haired girl scratched her head. And badly, too…
“What did you hear?” Octavia asked with hopeful curiosity. Perhaps she had heard Octavia correctly and it would lead to something.
“Something…different,” Vinyl said, thinking of an excuse to not make her feel awkward.
“Different how?” the elegant girl asked slowly.
“Different as in dirty,” Vinyl shrugged, unable to resist the chance any longer, “I heard you say ‘I’d fuck you sore.’” She winked.
“D-damn you and your perverted thoughts,” Octavia said, blood rising to her cheeks.
“I wouldn’t really damn those thoughts, Tavi,” Vinyl countered, “They could make for some pretty hot dirty talk,” Vinyl laughed.
Octavia felt her face burn hotter, “Vinyl!” She smacked her tormenter on the shoulder.
“I’m guessing you like it rough? Funny, I figured you’d be the slow and romantic type,” Vinyl said seductively.
“Kn-knock it off!” Octavia commanded, trying to get as far away from the young DJ as possible, which was not much, considering the limited space.
“Oh, calm down. There’s no shame in being slow. I prefer fast, but anything to keep you happy, Bowtie,” Vinyl winked again.
“And…out of the umbrella I go,” Octavia said before running off.
“H-hey! Hold up! You’re wearing a white shirt!” Vinyl yelled.
The running cellist stopped and turned around in confusion, “What?”
“You’re wearing a white shirt,” Vinyl repeated, getting close to her friend again.
“Out of all things you could have said to convince me, why would that be a reason to not run in the rain?”
“The water makes your shirt see-through, dummy.”
“Oh, good point…thanks.” Octavia said, appreciatively, but embarrassed.
“No problem. But you owe me now.”
“Owe you? Why? I appreciate you being conscious of other seeing through my shirt, but I shouldn’t owe you more than a thanks,” Octavia said.
“Yeah, you do! I could’ve left you running and then look through your shirt the whole day. I could’ve even taken pictures; my phone has a pretty good camera,” Vinyl argued.
Octavia groaned, “What do you want? But it better not be-“
“Come to my house either without a bra or without a shirt or neither,” the pervert quickly said.
“-Dirty” Octavia finished, “I should really report you for sexual harassment. You just love to take everything I say and turn it into a sex joke, don’t you?”
“Pretty much.” Vinyl casually admitted, “Though, the school’s right there. Don’t worry, now you’ll have all your friends with you as I embarrass you.”
Upon reaching the school, Vinyl took off her coat and dried her umbrella with her magic and Octavia waited for her. While waiting, the young cellist looked at her friend’s outfit: she had black boots with blue lacing, a blue shirt, and slim jeans. Vinyl could feel her classmate looking at her, “Yes.”
Octavia drew her attention away from Vinyl’s clothes and focused on her words, “I beg your pardon?”
“The answer to your question is yes, you can smack my ass whenever you want. Just not when I’m using magic. I’ll get distracted.”
“I…wasn’t thinking that,” Octavia blushed. Though she might have not been wondering about any sort of physical and suggestive contact, she had let her eyes linger on Vinyl’s posterior.
“Sure, and I’m not dirty.”
“Let’s just get to class before I strangle you.”
Vinyl took that threat a bit seriously and followed the cellist to the music room. Harpo was the first one to notice their appearance, “There you are, Octavia. Did you oversleep?”
“Harpo, your message was the first thing to wake me up. My alarm clock didn’t work,” Octavia said.
Beauty joined in, “Oh, was it the storm?”
“I guess. Then Vinyl saw me and shared her umbrella with me, and now I’m here,” Octavia finished.
Beauty Brass puffed up her cheeks and blew, “Wow. Sharing an umbrella with Vinyl? That must’ve been tough, Octavia.”
“It was. I’m surprised I’m still alive. She just doesn’t believe in boundaries, does she?”
They all shook their heads 'no.'
Octavia looked over at Vinyl, who seemed to be explaining her side of the story to Neon. She was laughing and he just nodded and smiled.
After that, the spiked-hair boy walked over to Octavia and put his hand on her shoulder, “You okay? Just with Scratch explaining, it sounds like you could have exploded. I mean, you were all alone with her, having to squeeze next to her to not get wet, and she just teased you like that.”
The cellist sighed, “I-it was alright. I managed. I mean, I ran out into the rain in an attempt of escaping her, but we had already arrived at the school by the time I was at the brink of insanity. And now I owe her for the sharing her umbrella and all.”
“Damn, That’s gotta be tough,” he sympathised. Don’t worry, anything she asks for that’s completely out of line, she doesn’t mean it. Now, you need to go through the rest of the day with her and then you can rest, okay?” he patted her on the back of her shoulder, “Good luck.”
After a few minutes, the teacher came in and Vinyl and Octavia sat in the back of the classroom, with the cellist sitting behind the DJ. During class, the cellist felt like she did owe her something, not only for the shirt incident, but also for not laughing at her when she said her cello’s name, and just for sharing the umbrella in general.
Vinyl saw a piece of paper fall on the floor right next to her desk. She picked it up and read it:
I know that you said I owed you back in some way. Apart from all those inappropriate suggestions, how can I repay you?
-Octavia
Vinyl Scratch smiled, turned the piece of paper over, and wrote back to Octavia:
I was just kidding about that. Don’t worry about it. It was just a favour. I wouldn’t want to see pervs looking at you like that. Only I can look at you that way.
She put her arm containing the note behind her chair. Octavia took it and after a while, she wrote back:
No, I mean for offering me your umbrella. I want to pay you back. Please just give me something.
Vinyl had an idea pop into her brain just then:
K. See me outside of the room after class.
She handed Octavia the note and continued on with class. Once it was over, she met Octavia outside of their math class, “So, what do you want?” she asked.
Don’tmakeadirtyjoke! Don’tmakeadirtyjoke! “Could we exchange numbers? I was looking through my contacts list and I figured I should have it in case you’re not around and I want to bother you.”
The cellist pulled out her phone as Vinyl did with hers and they exchanged contact information, “See that’s probably why I’ve never given it to you. However, I’m giving you this one chance, so no weird texts, got it?” Vinyl saluted Octavia mockingly.
“Yes, ma’am!” she said firmly, “Wait, what about hot pictures of my ass. Just for you?”
“N-no! None of that either!” she retorted with a blush kissing her cheeks.
“Fine, but can I at least text you winking faces?” Vinyl said.
“Fine. I’ll allow that and regular texts and calls, but no sultry antics.”
“Hmph, it kinda takes away from the compensation. I saved you from a bunch of people, and me, looking through your shirt! That’s gotta count for a bit more freedom!” Vinyl said, crossing her arms.
“Vinyl!” Octavia hissed, “Not so loudly. Everyone can hear you,” Octavia nervously combed her fingers through her hair as other students looked at the girls.
“Sorry.” Vinyl persisted, “But come on. Please, Tavi?”
“Vinyl,” Octavia said slowly, “If my mother were to check my phone, she would keep me away from you, and possibly remove me from the school.”
“…That sounds a bit dramatic, but, I guess I could go on with just casual texting.”
When free period came around, the large group of friends were laughing and enjoying their time together. Octavia then grabbed her cello and said, “Well, I’m off to play. I will talk to you all later.”
“Wait, how come we can’t all go and play together?” Lyra asked.
“I’m sorry, but this is the only time that I get the chance to play for myself. You know I’m not allowed to bring it home except for the weekends,” Octavia said to them.
“Ah, that reminds me,” Vinyl said as she got up, “I need to go the music shop down the streets and ask them about the vinyl records I ordered.”
“And you’re sure you don’t want me or anyone else there with you?” Neon asked.
“It’s cool. I know the guy who owns the shop. And it’s not like I’ll get into a fist fight,” she dismissed.
Everyone looked at each other and back at Vinyl, “You sure?” a few of the asked in unison.
“Hey! I’m not that violent! The owner and I are friends!”
By then, Octavia had already left to go to the music room. She travelled down the empty hallway and the vacant staircases and arrived in the silent room. She opened the door gently and went inside. The classical musician then proceeded to free Amour from her case. Unlocking the golden locks of the black case, she took out the cello and the bow. Once she was able to think of a song to play, the music began.
Now, Octavia seemed to always communicate with her precious cello through music. Right now, her notes were cheerful, but thoughtful. She began to internally talk to her cello, I’m so glad Vinyl and I exchanged numbers. Now she can phone me whenever she’s troubled or happy and wants to share her thoughts with me.
But then, Vinyl never really has any troubles, I think. And if she does, she must keep them a secret. As for any other thoughts, I doubt she’d share them with me unless it was a humorous tale. Still, it would be nice to have one decent talk with her. One in which she would tell me something about her music and offer to let me listen sometime. Then I would visit her house and she would show me all of her machines to make music.
Or maybe she could invite me to watch a movie sometime. Or what if we took a walk through the park together? I could make a nice picnic and we could camp out at night together. We would lie on the grass, watching the myriad of stars. Maybe she would turn to look at me without those shades and…
Octavia noticed her notes growing into a more romantic pattern.
And why does she even wear those damn sunglasses all the time? She asked her cello, the melody regaining its vigour and losing its romance. Neon wears them too…Do they think it’s cool or something? Because it isn’t really all that great. Why haven’t I asked her?
Fifteen minutes later, free period had ended and the day went on. In every class, the cellist tried to sit behind or adjacent to the girl she was besotted with. In many classes she fell asleep and the cellist decided that she could share all of her school notes with Vinyl later. Looking at her classmate sometimes distracted Octavia. She watched as Vinyl buried her face into her arms and how her body rose and fell with every breath.
Once the final class was dismissed, all their friends began to walk home. Just like every other time, their friends parted ways little by little.
“Well, this is where I gotta go,” Neon said, “See ya later, Scratch! Bye, Octavia.”
“Later, bro!” Vinyl shouted back.
Octavia, to avoid the awkwardness of other times and to slate her curiosity, asked her a question, “Vinyl, why do you and Neon wear shades even when it isn’t necessary?”
“Neon has photo-whatever-the-fuck. He’s sensitive to light,” she tried to explain.
“You mean ‘photophobia?’”
“Yeah, that thing,” Vinyl nodded.
“What about you?” Octavia pushed.
“Meh. It’s nothing really. I just don’t want Neon to be the only one wearing shades, I guess. It's a friend thing,” she explicated, “Plus, you can never tell where my eyes are looking,” she grinned mischievously.
At this, Octavia squeaked and covered her chest with her arms, “Please don’t. And what colour are your eyes?”
Vinyl moaned lazily, “I don’t feel like telling you. I’m too tired. How about we just acknowledge how cool the shades make me look?”
“Vinyl, when you wear them indoors, you make yourself look like a complete douche,” she admitted.
The shade-wearing girl gasped, “Tavi! Your words hurt me like a bullet!” she exclaimed dramatically.
“Oh here, let me make it socially acceptable,” Octavia cleared her throat, “Vinyl, when you wear those shades indoors, you make yourself look like a complete douche... No offense.”
Vinyl giggled a little at her friend’s joke, “Well played, Tavi. Well played.”
Once both girls arrived at their homes, Vinyl Scratch got her laptop and played a ten-hour long mix as she reluctantly worked on her studies. She got distracted, and sang along with a few songs that had lyrics. Once she had progressed a bit, Vinyl paused the music and went into her bathroom to turn on her shower.
While Vinyl felt the hot water cleanse her body, Octavia was eating dinner with her parents. They were eating quiche with a lovely tomato soup made by her mother. Usually, the table was quiet unless there was some very interesting news. And tonight, her parents discussed something that Octavia could not help but listen to.
Her mother had broached the topic, “You know what I heard in the news this morning?” she asked, waiting for her husband to look at her, “I heard that the Princesses are going to make homophobia a punishable crime! Isn’t that absurd? I mean protecting homosexuals is very strange for a princess to be doing.”
“I don’t see why it is so strange.” Octavia’s father said, “It seems to me that Celestia just wants everyone to be treated fairly.”
“Yes well, all people should be treated equally,” she agreed, “but not evil people.”
“Evil people?” Octavia asked, speaking out of turn.
“Octavia, don’t speak out like that, darling.” She chastened, “But yes, evil people. It isn’t like we treat killers and rapists with kindness. No, those people deserve to burn in hell, so why should we treat homosexuals like they’re…normal?”
Octavia’s father remained silent, and the cellist just played with her food. Her appetite seemed to have vanished.
Her mother continued, “I mean, it is a disease of the mind. Those people need medical attention. And if necessary, they should be put into an asylum. Somewhere where they can’t infect others with their…carnal desires. Ugh! It is disgusting! Did you know two of the men that were under my employment were dating? Yes, it was Bulk Biceps and…Sir Cotton Vines, I believe. I had to fire them. I wasn’t going to let them ruin the company’s reputation,” she said, sipping her wine.
Octavia took a deep breath, “excuse me,” she said standing up, “I’m not hungry anymore. I had a rather large lunch,” she cleaned up her plate and utensils and went upstairs into her bedroom. She sighed at the new knowledge that she had to keep her secret from her parents. Not that she had told anyone, but she would have to keep her mouth shut from the people she lived with for a few years until moving out.
She felt her eyes water, but blinked the tears back. She refused to cry out of her parent’s rejection to her sexual orientation. Instead, she decided to text Vinyl. Surely, she could make her feel better.
Octavia: Okay, so my parents are apparently-
She dropped her phone without noticing. When she looked out the window, Octavia saw quite the spectacle coming from her neighbour’s house. Vinyl seemed to be looking through her drawers to find clothes. She was completely naked, and her hair was wet. Vinyl’s breasts jiggled with every step she took, and she flipped her hair to dry it a little more. Octavia noticed all the curves of her body. Her skin was absolutely flawless.
The cellist gasped and put her hands over her mouth. As hard as she tried, she couldn’t look away. Octavia’s cheeks burned fiercely as she watched Vinyl bend over to grab an over-sized shirt. The shocked girl fell back onto her bed, her heart racing. D-did I just see V-Vinyl…? She was…Oh my! Oh wow! Oh dear! I can’t deal with this. H-her skin was exposed. Her flawless skin…and her wet hair…and-and why wouldn’t she close her blinds!? It’s as if she were inviting me to watch her…and why didn’t I look away?
She looked at her phone on the ground. She was going to text Vinyl Scratch, but after what had just happened, she wasn’t even sure if she could look at her the same way tomorrow. She deleted the text message she was going to send and took a very quick shower, in which she remained almost completely still, save for the cleansing and...yep, just cleansing. She quickly fell into her bed, but she was sleepless, as her thoughts always seemed to draw back to Vinyl.
Tomorrow would be a very weird day.