“Tavi~”
“Taaa-viiiii~”
Octavius slowly opened his eyes, looking for the source of the voice. He looked left and right, but from his chair could see nothing. He finally felt a gentle hand on his shoulder, causing him to look up. Standing behind his chair looking down at him was Vinyl. She had on a Santa hat and her sunglasses, and as she stepped around to the front of the chair, he noticed the white sweater she had on and the dark blue sweat pants.
“Sleep alright, Tavi?” She grinned at him and took a step back, letting him stand.
“For the most part,” he answered, standing carefully, his arm protesting a bit. He stretched his good arm above his head, careful to avoid moving his bad arm. He smiled at the DJ when he relaxed. “May I ask why you’re here?”
She smiled sweetly and carefully hugged his left side, trying to avoid his broken right arm. “I wanted to be the first to tell you something.” She looked up at him. “Merry Christmas, Octavius.”
“And you, Violet,” he wrapped his good arm around her, returning the hug before she pulled back.
“Dash has the whole front ready to go,” Vinyl informed him, pulling him by his hand out of his room. “She went to pick up Scootaloo.”
Octavius felt a grin tug at his lips when he remembered the surprise the girl had in store, eager to see it play out. He sat at a table in the front of the restaurant while Vinyl brewed some coffee. He noticed all of the streamers hanging from the ceiling and the vinyl snowflakes decorating the windows, as well as the Christmas tree standing in a corner, decorated with lights, garland, a few shiny red and blue ornaments, and topped by a lit up star.
Vinyl sat down across from him and handed him a cup of coffee, which he sipped happily, thanking the DJ for the drink. She drank her own coffee quietly and seemed to look anywhere but the cellist. Finally, Octavius spoke up. “Is something wrong?”
Vinyl shook her head, casting him a sideways glance. “Nothing at all,” she said. “Just… Anxious, I suppose.”
“About what?”
“What you’ll say.”
Octavius smiled and took a drink of his coffee, letting the conversation drop. He had his plan ready, so he was not worried about it at all.
Unexpectedly, the door to the diner open; Octavius turned around and saw David pulling in Ditzy’s wheelchair, said woman sitting with a smile on her face and her new camera around her neck. The door swung shut behind them as David wheeled Ditzy over to where the two musicians were sitting.
“H-hey there!” Ditzy lifted her camera and snapped a picture of the two, lowering it again.
“Heya, Ditzy!” Vinyl grinned at the blond, then up at David. “What’s up, Davey?”
Octavius nearly choked on his coffee, busting into laughter at the nickname while David simply rolled his eyes. “I’m fine, Vinyl. And Ditzy here is doing much better. She’s certainly getting better with her wheelchair.”
Ditzy nodded. “Yesterday, I w-was able to p-push mys-self all the way down t-the block!”
“That’s right,” David said, smiling down at her. “You did very well.”
Octavius looked up at David. The man reached into his brown trench coat and pulled out an envelope. “This is for you. It’s from the theater manager. It’s a list of dates when you can perform over the next year. He said when you’re feeling up to it, give him a call; apparently, he’s really interested in you, Octavius.”
Octavius took the envelope in his hands, staring at it. He felt ecstatic, a smile slowly creeping onto his face. “Thank you, David.” He stood up and gratefully took the man’s hand in his, shaking it vigorously. The brown haired man smiled and returned the gesture.
“It was least I could do to give you that,” he said. “You helped Ditzy so much while she was in the hospital. I owe you.”
“With what you’ve just given me,” Octavius held up the envelope to emphasize his point. “I would say we’re even. You’ve given me another chance at a future.”
Ditzy clapped her hands happily and snapped a picture of the two men shaking hands, Octavius still holding up the envelope.
“Can I get you some coffee, Davey?” Vinyl stood up, walking to the coffee maker with her own empty cup.
“Yes please,” he replied, sitting by Octavius. “Just black is fine.”
Vinyl nodded and poured out the coffee, bringing back his and her cup, setting his down in front of him before sitting across from the two men.
“V-Vinyl?”
The DJ looked over at the blond, who looked down shyly. “What’s up, girl?”
“I w-was wondering i-if you would make m-me a song,” she kept her gaze down the entire time she was talking. “I want something m-more to re-remember you by th-than pictures.”
Vinyl smiled and nodded her head. “Of course I will, hun,” she said. “I’ll make you the best song I ever did write!”
Ditzy looked up happily. “R-really?” The DJ nodded again. “Oh th-thank you!”
“No prob!” Vinyl looked at David. “I betcha Davey here could even put the song to some of your pictures of me and make you a cool little slideshow.”
“I certainly can,” the man agreed, looking at Ditzy. “It wouldn’t be too hard. You and I could sit down together and pick out some of your favorites and I’ll put them together for you; that way, whenever you want to remember Vinyl, you only have to watch the slideshow!”
Ditzy clapped excitedly. “Yes, please!”
“Then when Vinyl finishes your song, we’ll do that,” David said, grinning. “It’ll be fun!”
The door once again opened, and Dash walked in with Scootaloo behind her. Immediately, the little girl walked up to Octavius, whom David moved to allow to stand. The cellist knelt down to the girls level.
“I’m sorry,” the girl said, looking away from him. “I didn’t mean to be rude like that. I just… I got too upset and I didn’t want you to see me cry.”
“It’s fine,” Octavius assured the girl, placing his left hand on her shoulder. “Honestly, I’m the one who should be apologizing. I was insensitive and hurt your feelings. Why don’t we start again?” He offered the girl his hand. “I’m Octavius Melody.”
The purple haired girl looked at his hand, then up to his eyes, smiling and taking his hand in hers, shaking it. “I’m Scootaloo.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Scootaloo,” the man returned her smile, dropping her hand. He stood up carefully, looking at Dash, who smiled at him.
The rainbow haired woman walked up to the pair, removing Scootaloo’s Wonderbolt jacket and hanging it on the back of a chair. “Now, Scoots, wanna help me get the food set out over there on the counter?” The little girl nodded, following the older woman into the kitchen and emerging with plates of food, Dash coming back with a large ham. They lined all the food up and placed some plates at the end of the line, along with some silverware. Octavius felt his mouth begin to water when the smell of the food hit him.
“It looks wonderful,” David complimented Dash, who grinned.
“’Course it does. I made it!” She smirked and walked back over to the group, pulling up a chair from another table as Scootaloo did the same. “So what’s going on in this thread?”
Vinyl caught Dash up on all that’d been said, ending with David offering to make a slideshow for Ditzy. Dash turned to look at Ditzy with a grin. “Be sure to put some pictures of me in there too, mk? It’ll make it so much more awesome!”
Ditzy nodded with a smile, lifting her camera and taking a picture of Scootaloo and Dash together, who both smiled happily. When she put her camera down, she looked at Scootaloo. “W-who are y-you?”
David placed a hand on Ditzy’s shoulder. “That’s Scootaloo. She’s Dash’s friend.”
Ditzy looked at David. “H-have I seen her be-before?”
David nodded. “Not very often, though.”
Ditzy turned her attention back to the girl, and lifted her camera, taking another picture of her. When she lowered her camera, she smiled. “H-hello, Scoo-t-taloo,” she said happily, waving.
“Hello, Ditzy,” the little girl grinned, waving back.
Octavius looked at Dash. “So how many more people are we waiting on?”
“Actually, we’re it,” Dash replied, looking around. “So I guess the party can start!”
Everyone dispersed, playing different holiday themed games and sneaking bites of food from the bar when they thought no one was looking. Vinyl hooked up her speakers and played some Christmas music for them, though obviously remixed more to her tastes. Suddenly, Vinyl stood up and pointed at David, who was wheeling Ditzy around to show her the various decorations. “MISTLETOE!” The DJ was grinning from ear to ear, her pointing finger shifting from the man to above the pair, pointing to a small green plant hanging above them. David and Ditzy both looked up, then at each other, blushing like mad. Everyone else started chanting, “Kiss her, kiss her, kiss her,” Scootaloo and Dash banging there hands on the table in time. Vinyl ran over and carefully took Ditzy’s camera, lining up a shot of the two, waiting for the kiss.
Ditzy looked down shyly before returning her gaze to David and leaning forward in her chair, closing her eyes. David shifted his weight nervously before leaning down and giving her a light peck on the lips, the room erupting in cheers as Vinyl snapped the picture of the two kissing. David pulled away, blushing hotly as Ditzy sat back in her chair, her face just as hot as his. Vinyl gave the blond back her camera and sat back at the table with everyone else, picking at the plate of food she’d gotten earlier.
Octavius looked at the DJ, about to ask what was wrong before he noticed that the party was nearing it’s end. He needed to act quickly if he were to meet his deadline. He stood up and cleared his throat loudly, looking around the room to be sure he had the group’s attention. “Hey, guys,” he said, smiling slightly. “I just wanted to say something. You guys have all changed my life in different ways. You’ve given me so much, helped me in so many ways, and made me into the person I am now, and I’ve known you all a week!
“You brought out the best in me. You helped me understand what life is; it’s not rehearsals and performances, shaking hands with boring people you’ll never see again, then getting drunk to forget how you’re wasting your life. It’s having fun, real fun, with people who do matter, and who’ll be there when you wake up in the morning, and when you fall asleep at night. It’s about those meaningful connections you make with certain people, and about helping others when they need it.
“Honestly, you’re all my best, and really my first, friends. You made my life so much better, and for that I owe you all so much. But none of this would’ve been possible without one woman and her blasted dubstep.” He cast a smile at Vinyl, who smiled back. “Without her, I’d probably never have met you guys. I really don’t know what my life would be like without you all in it, and truly, I don’t want to imagine it. You all complete me in ways you won’t understand. And so we come to my main point.”
Octavius pulled Vinyl up beside him gently, staring at her. “Violet, you’ve done so much for me, and it’s only been a week. I think you’re the most amazing, kind, caring, and beautiful person I’ve ever met in my life. So, to answer your question,” he pulled the woman close to him with his left arm, holding her tight and leaning down to kiss her lips gently, holding her there for a few brief moments before pulling back. “Yes, Vinyl. I like you. A lot.”
The room burst into applause as the DJ felt tears of joy stream down her face, her hand pressed over her mouth as she sat back in her chair, all her strength gone from her legs. She sat there like that for a moment, smiling happily and crying, staring up at the cellist, who smiled down at her.
“Um, excuse me,” Scootaloo muttered, looking up at Dash. “I hate to interrupt this moment, but I gotta get back to the house. It’s getting late.”
Dash grinned and knelt in front of the girl. “Yeah, Squirt, I guess you do gotta go home, don’tcha? Well, before you go, why don’t I give you my Christmas present to you?” She reached into her pocket and pulled out a small envelope, holding it out to Scootaloo. The girl took it, opening it and pulling out the letter inside. After a couple seconds of reading, her hand shot to her mouth as she screamed into her palm, eyes shooting up to Dash, who wore the biggest grin on her face. “Welcome home, Scootaloo.”
Scootaloo threw the letter aside and jumped into Dash’s arms, crying happily into her shoulder. Dash held the girl tight in her arms, laughing and stroking the girl’s hair soothingly. Finally, Scootaloo pushed away from Dash’s embrace. “Is this for real?!” Dash nodded and Scootaloo hugged her tight again, laughing now through her tears. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!”
Eventually, Dash set Scootaloo down and the woman looked at David. “Mind to go get her stuff?”
David nodded and went out to his car, coming back in with a couple large bags, which Octavius assumed were full of Scootaloo’s things. “Thanks,” Dash said. “Take’em down the hall, second door on the left.” Scootaloo picked up the discarded letter and re read it one more time, then hugged Dash tightly again.
“Thank you!” She looked up at the woman happily. “Thank you so much!”
“Scootaloo, it’s my pleasure,” Dash grinned.
Vinyl looked at Octavius and took his hand in hers. Octavius tightened his grip on the DJ’s hand, smiling at her. “Thank you,” she said to him, moving close to him and leaning on his good shoulder.
He leaned his head on hers, closing his eyes and relaxing contentedly, squeezing the DJ’s hand in his.
Hold on tight, and never let go.