Radar stood at my side as I stared almost absently at the sign to Grape Vine's hotel. I hadn't seen her in years, not since I tore that bastard husband of her's away. I sighed, turning to look at Radar, who grimaced at the slightly overgrown building. "So, this is your friend's place?" she asked, her eyes tracing the vines through the brick cracks on the structure.
"Yeah. I haven't seen her in years, though, so I have no idea how she's going to react to me," I answered with a quick nod.
"Not since you tore her husband away, right?" she asked, prompting another momentary confused expression before resigning myself to the absurdity.
I nodded again, confirming Radar's assumption, and dropping her expectations of me even farther. Regardless, I stepped forward and pushed the door open.
The mare behind the counter was still as beautiful as I remembered. A light purple coat complimented a green mane that draped down to her shoulders, though deep bags had settled under her eyes. A lit cigarette burned with an orange glow, then fell to the floor as Grape Vine's eyes focused on me, widening by the second.
"Silver?" she asked, as though she couldn't entirely be sure of what she was seeing.
I stepped through the door and bore a cocky smile, "Hey Vine, how have you been?"
She leaned over the counter to get a better look at us, "Sweet Celestia, what happened to your face?"
"Is that how you're going to greet an old friend?" I asked, letting my smile grow slightly.
She rolled her eyes, sarcastically muttering, "Forgive my concern, flank-face. I'm just bothered you decided to pick a fight with a weed whacker and didn't invite me."
I let out a short laugh, stepping toward the counter. At that moment, Vine's focus turned from me to the orange mare standing nervously behind me. "Who's she," Vine asked with a nod toward Radar, "I'd congratulate you on finally finding somepony who'll tolerate you, but she looks half your age."
My smile faded, replaced by slight worry. "She's helping me. Listen, I'm in a bad place right now-"
Vine snorted, stomping on what I assumed to be her dropped cigarette. "So, she is half your age."
"Vine, listen," I responded shortly, "Some stallion cut me up in a bar and chased me out of Manehatten. We need someplace to stay for the day."
Vine leaned over the counter, squinting her eyes suspiciously, "Wait, who ran you out of town? How?"
"I don't know. The jerk who attacked me said something about somepony paying him, but I don't know who. Also, a mad-pony with a sword. Guess how I got this," I said, pointing a hoof at the dark red gash on my cheek.
"By the sun, Silver, are you alright?" she asked, now with a genuine concern. Good.
"Fine, thanks to Radar," I replied, gesturing toward the waving mare beside me, "We just need a place to sleep until tonight."
Vine held up a hoof, leaning under the counter to grab a notepad, "Alright, alright, just give me a second." She stood back in front of the counter and flipped through the notepad. "Alright, here." She rested a hoof on a blank spot, "Room 26 is open. Second floor, on your left."
I turned behind me to face the smiling mare, "Radar, could you-"
"I'll head up to the room."
I sighed a quick thanks as she made her way up the stairs, then turned to face Vine.
She locked eyes with me, and in a worried tone I wasn't even sure she was capable of, asked, "Silver, what's going on?"
I shook my head, leaning forward on the counter and dropping my voice to a whisper, "Truthfully, I have no idea. I got attacked in Manehatten by some mad pony who then chased me all the way to the train station."
"Did he say anything?" Vine quietly asked.
"Something about me having more respect for his boss, then something about being paid a hoof and a half for it." I took a deep breath, covering my head with my hooves as my head dropped to hit the wooden desk. "Vine, I need you to promise me something. I don't know how much power this guy's boss has. Maybe after we made it out of Manehatten, it was the end of it.
"But... maybe not. Vine, if they come for me- If they come for us, I need you to lie. Say I wasn't here. Better yet, you don't know who I am. I barely made it out of Manehatten, and if it weren't for Radar, you would be hearing about this in the obituaries. So, whatever happens, no matter how I leave this town, I need you to promise me this." I raised my head, looking into her now moistened eyes, "We never met. We were not friends in high school. I did not get rid of that bastard Midnight Oil for you, and we. Are. Not. Friends."
Vine shook her head, backing away from the counter, "Silver, I-"
"Vine, promise me," I coldly stated.
She shuddered, her eyes turning to look at everything in the room except me. A gentle stream of fluid streamed down her face as she responded, "I... I promise."
"I'm sorry, Vine," I muttered, "I wish we could've spoke on better circumstances."
I turned away from her, unable to get the sounds of quiet sobs out of my head. I felt a cold wetness stain the fur under my eyes, trying not to look at my distressed friend as I stepped through the door.
"I'm so sorry, Vine."