As Caramel drove Octavia to her ensemble's theater, she couldn't help but get worried.
Should I tell them about everything going on? They are my friends and they have always been there for me but should I just keep this between me and Bon Bon?
"You alright back there?" Caramel asked from the front of the car.
"Y-yeah, I'm fine," Octavia answered.
Caramel shrugged, showing that he didn't really care but inside, he was freaking out.
She has been acting strange since Saturday, did something happen at the show?
Caramel looked in the car mirror to see Octavia looking out the window in thought.
Well, as the good husband I am, I will find this out!
"We're here!" Caramel exclaimed.
Octavia shot up after being broken out of her train of thought.
"Oh! Yes we are," Octavia said and got out of the car. She then went to the trunk of the car to grab her cello.
Maybe I should just tell Beauty Brass, I have always told her everything.
Once she had her cello, she started walking straight to the theater but was stopped by Caramel.
"Can I have a kiss goodbye?" Caramel asked with pleading eyes.
Octavia kissed Caramel and then walked straight to the theater, she was still deep in thought about Vinyl.
"Good morning Octavia!" Beauty Brass greeted as Octavia walked through the door.
Octavia didn't return the hello but instead walked straight to where she sets up her cello and started setting it up.
How would Fredric react? Would he think it was horrible how I wanted to 'cheat' on Caramel?
"Hello, Equestria to Octavia," Harpo called, waving his hoof in her face.
Octavia snapped her head up, finally breaking her train of thought.
When she looked up, she saw her ensemble staring at her like she was a crazy pony.
"Oh! Sorry everypony! What did you want to tell me?" Octavia asked.
"We are not practicing today, instead we are going to be getting ready for our next performance by picking the music and such," Fredric explained, waving his hoof.
"Oh yes! I completely forgot!" Octavia exclaimed.
"It's alright Octavia. What has gotten you so distracted today?" Beauty Brass asked, a smug smile on her face, "Does it have to do with Vinyl?~"
"Beauty I told you to stop trying to get Octavia and Vinyl to be a couple!" Fredric scolded, Beauty pouted in response.
Wait, she thinks me and Vinyl should be together? Well... I may as well say it then.
"Actually... It does," Octavia said looking away, a small blush forming on her face.
The three other ensemble members all turned to face Octavia, looking at her with wide eyes.
Octavia's blush grew before answering, "O-on Saturday, I realized something... Something that will change things for me forever," Octavia paused, gulping in worry, "I... I like Vinyl,"
After saying that, the room went silent. Octavia was too afraid to look at her ensemble but after a few minutes, she finally looked up at them.
Fredric and Harpo both had their mouths open in shock, nether looked like they were expecting this news. Beauty Brass also had a shocked expression, but her mouth was slowly forming a smile.
"OH MY CELESTIA! OCTAVIA HAS FOUND LOVE!" Beauty Brass exclaimed in joy and hugged Octavia.
"B-Beauty... Can't breathe," Octavia said, struggling to breathe.
Beauty Brass stopped hugging Octavia and just looked at her with a smile.
"Wow... Congratulations Octavia!" Harpo said with a smile.
Octavia smiled at her two friends, happy to have their support. She then turned to Fredric, who still had his mouth open in shock.
Octavia frowned.
How will Fredric react to this news? I hope he will not be enraged at me.
Fredric then shook his head and cleared his throat before speaking, "Well, I may not know much about this DJ and I may not agree with this new found love... But I am happy that you are finally moving on Octavia," Fredric then smiled.
Octavia returned the smile and hugged Fredric.
Maybe things... Won't be so hard.
"New found love... Sounds better as Refound love," Harpo commented.
"That's a stupid name," Beauty Brass argued.
The two ponies then started bickering while Fredric and Octavia watched, shaking their heads.
"Mail for Octavia Melody," A mail pony said walking into the theater.
"That's me," Octavia said taking the envelope.
"Good day miss," The mail pony said, leaving the theater.
As Octavia opened it, her eyes went wide and tears started forming in her eyes.
"What does it say?!" Beauty Brass asked in concern.
"We- we have just been invited to perform at the grand galloping gala this year," Octavia said with a smile.
~~~Meanwhile~~~
Vinyl was in her office, shooting rubberbands at the window.
"I'm so BORED!" Vinyl exclaimed and slid down into her chair more.
At that moment, Vinyl heard her phone go off.
Vinyl scrambled to find her phone under all the papers on her desk. Once she found it, she saw it was from Octavia and it was in a group chat with Lyra and Bon Bon as well.
'Octavia: My ensemble has just been invited to perform at the grand galloping gala this year!'
Vinyl smiled.
'Bon Bon: Wow! That's amazing Octavia! Congratulations!'
'Vinyl: Good job babe'
Vinyl was going to continue texting but stopped when she heard her office door open.
Vinyl looked up from her phone to see Lyra standing there with a smile and her phone being levitated in her magic.
"You suggested Octavia's ensemble to Celestia. Didn't you?" Lyra said walking into Vinyl's office.
"What the buck are you talking about," Vinyl said, looking away.
Lyra smirked, "You didn't give up. You are still trying to win her heart,"
After a second, Vinyl sighed in defeat.
"Fine! I did it! Happy?" Vinyl exclaimed.
"Why?" Lyra asked, "I thought you said you couldn't make any promises about not giving up,"
Vinyl sighed, "Because... Because I don't know! There is something about her that just makes me... DRAWN to her!"
Vinyl then smacked her head onto the table.
Lyra sighed, "I think I know why... It's because you have feelings for her and that hasn't happened since... Well... You know,"
Vinyl looked up from the table.
After a second, Vinyl chuckled, "Heh, it's like refound love,"
Lyra laughed, "That sounds like a cheesy romance novel,"
~~~Wednesday~~~
Octavia was in the elevator on her way up to her other job's office. It has been two days since she learned that her ensemble had been invited to the grand galloping gala and her ensemble had been working harder then ever.
In all the work, Octavia had completely forgotten about her crush, it wasn't until the elevator doors opened, revealing something that made Octavia remember everything.
When the doors opened, it revealed Vinyl wearing a dress.
"I feel stupid," Vinyl complained as a white mare with a purple mane made sure the dress was complete.
"Well darling, if you are going to be going to the grand galloping gala then you MUST wear something other than," The mare paused to point at Vinyl's glasses, "that,"
Vinyl sighed in annoyance but stayed quiet, she had yet to notice the mare watching her from the elevator.
Said mare was currently staring at Vinyl with an open mouth in shock and with wide eyes.
Oh my Celestia she looks... Stunning.
Octavia had long accept the fact she liked Vinyl and has now embraced the thoughts that plagued her mind whenever she thought of the white mare.
Lyra was standing by Vinyl, laughing at the mare's annoyance. Unlike Vinyl, Lyra HAD noticed Octavia but choose to not tell Vinyl. Her plan was to hopefully have Octavia be stunned by Vinyl's beauty in a dress.
But, Lyra's plan of keeping Octavia a secret from Vinyl had failed the moment Bon Bon walked into the room.
"Good morning Octavia!" Bon Bon greeted as she walked into the room.
"Octavia?!" Vinyl exclaimed and started blushing and taking the dress off.
Octavia as well blushed and attempted to pretend that she had not been there for the past few minutes.
"I am guessing that Vinyl will no longer allow me to continue. No matter, I was finished anyway. I hope you enjoy the dress Miss Scratch, and I will see you soon!" The white mare said as she entered the elevator.
"Bye Rarity!" Lyra called as the mare left.
"I... I gotta do work!" Vinyl stammered and then went straight to her office.
"And I... Need to record my cello!" Octavia stammered as well and went straight to the recording studio.
As Lyra and Bon Bon were left alone, the two looked at each other questionably.
"Be straight with me, Bonnie. Why is Octavia acting like that?" Lyra questioned.
"Acting like what?," Bon Bon asked.
Before Lyra could answer, Bon Bon interrupted her.
"Wait, answer me this Lyra. Why is Vinyl acting strange? Is there something going on?" Bon Bon asked.
Lyra squinted her eyes, "You know something, don't you?"
"Maybe, but right now I have work to do," Bon Bon said, flicking her tail and walking towards Vinyl's office.
"Yeah... Me too," Lyra said, watching Bon Bon leave.
~~~In the recording studio~~~
Octavia was setting up her cello, deep in thought and afraid.
Oh Celestia, Vinyl probably saw me staring at her. Why did she have to wear a dress today of all days?!
Octavia's train of thought was broken by a door opening.
"Hello!" Lyra said from the viewing area of the recording room.
"H-hello Lyra," Octavia answered nervously.
After a second if silence, Lyra spoke.
"So. I was wondering... What do you think of Vinyl?"
"Huh?" Octavia asked, unsure she heard her friend correctly.
"What do you think of Vinyl? Like do you LIKE her?" Lyra persisted.
"Where in Equestria did you get that propositus idea?" Octavia snapped.
"Well... You were staring at Vinyl when she had the dress on," Lyra answered with a grin.
Octavia's eyes widened and her head snapped up to Lyra's.
"You... You saw that?" Octavia asked in a small voice.
Lyra's grin grew and she nodded in response.
Octavia sighed, "That... That was because I was just so shocked at seeing Vinyl in a dress! As well as I have never seen her try to make herself well... Presentable. I would never see Vinyl as more than a friend,"
The whole time Octavia spoke, Lyra just nodded in response.
Once Octavia finished, they started recording. The whole time Octavia played, Lyra was thinking.
She could be lying... But even if she is, I need to get Vinyl to do more. I may not know what that will take but I am willing to try.
Once Octavia finished, Lyra told her she could go and take a small break. As Lyra was checking that the audio recorded well, she realized something.
For the first time ever, Vinyl didn't come into the recording studio to watch Octavia play.
~~~Meanwhile~~~
Bon Bon entered Vinyl's office and found her boss on the floor struggling to get out of the dress.
"Vinyl?" Bon Bon asked in shock.
"BONNIE?!" Vinyl said, freaking out. Vinyl then slid behind her desk so she was no longer in view of Bon Bon.
"Hello Vinyl... Do you need any help?" Bon Bon asked, closing the door to Vinyl's office and walking into the room.
"Nope!" Vinyl answered, jumping out from behind her desk, now wearing no dress.
"Alright... Um Vinyl, can I ask you something?" Bon Bon asked, getting closer to Vinyl.
"You just did," Vinyl answered with a grin.
Bon Bon giggled, "I am going to take that as a yes. Why did you freak out when Octavia saw you in a dress?"
Vinyl's grin dropped and a small blush spread across her face.
"B-because I only feel comfortable wearing a dress around you and Lyra," Vinyl answered nervously.
"What about all of the other employees?" Bon Bon questioned.
"They were watching?! Well then I better dress in here next time! Well this has been a great conversation Bonnie but I have A TON of work to do so bye!" Vinyl answered quickly and started pushing Bon Bon out of the office.
"Vinyl stop! You know they were watching you so why did you get so nervous?" Bon Bon asked again, attempting to prevent Vinyl from kicking Bon Bon out of the room.
"Because... Because... I DON'T KNOW!" Vinyl yelled, pushing Bon Bon out of her office and slamming the door.
Bon Bon stared at the door in shock, never had Vinyl freaked out like that with anypony before, except for him.
Bon Bon looked around and noticed that all her coworkers had stopped working and were staring at Bon Bon.
Bon Bon blushed and quickly ran into the lunchroom. Hopefully Vinyl was not upset at her.
~•~•~•~•~
Bon Bon was baking some cookies for Vinyl as a way to apologize when she heard two ponies enter the room.
"I still think that you should teach me how to record myself," Octavia complained.
"Nah, you are the kind of pony who would break it because you have no idea how it works," Lyra explained.
Bon Bon turned to face her friends who were now sitting at the table.
"Hello Bon Bon," Octavia greeted.
"Hey Bonnie," Lyra greeted, a little more hesitant.
"Hello you two. Have either of you spoken to Vinyl today?" Bon Bon asked, putting Lyra and Octavia's lunches on the table.
Lyra took a bite of her sandwich before speaking, "Not since this morning,"
"I as well haven't spoken to her since then," Octavia answered, taking out her salad.
"Oh," Bon Bon answered and continued making cookies.
"Hey Bonnie, are you making cookies?" A pony asked, entering the room.
The three other ponies look and found Vinyl walking into the room.
"Yep!" Bon Bon answered and continued her baking.
"Hey Vinyl!" Lyra greeted and hoof bumped Vinyl as Vinyl sat down in a seat between Lyra and Octavia.
Octavia meanwhile, was just staring at Vinyl. Images of her in a dress floating through her mind.
She really does look pretty. Even without the dress...
Octavia's train of thought was broken by Vinyl speaking.
"So Tavi, were you seduced by me being in a dress?" Vinyl asked with a grin and a raised eyebrow.
Octavia blushed and looked away, "No! For the last time Vinyl I am NOT going to sleep with you!"
Vinyl shrugged, "That's what you say now," Octavia's blush deepened.
I forgot about her flirting... I don't think I can handle this for much longer, I need to tell her.
"Vinyl may I speak to you in your office?" Octavia asked, getting up from her seat.
"Um, alright sure," Vinyl answered, getting up from her seat as well.
Once Octavia left the room, Vinyl looked at Lyra and shrugged before following after her friend.
~~~At Vinyl's office~~~
Once they were in Vinyl's office, Vinyl shut the door and sat at her desk.
"So, what did you wanna talk about Octy?" Vinyl asked.
Say it, say I like you Vinyl. Say it now!
"I... I think I need to leave work for awhile," Octavia said quickly.
"What why?!" Vinyl blurted in a panic, standing up from her seat.
Octavia just stared at Vinyl, a bit surprised by her sudden outburst.
"I.. I mean, why?" Vinyl asked calmly, sitting back down in her chair after realizing her outburst.
"Well... I think I need to spend more time with my ensemble to practice for the grand galloping gala," Octavia explained, "So... I guess this is it... For now,"
Vinyl looked at Octavia, trying to hide her sadness, "Y-yeah... Will we still hang out?"
Octavia smiled, "Of course,"
Vinyl smiled as well, but on the inside she felt pain, lots of pain.
Octavia left Vinyl's office and calmly walked to the bathroom, where she then proceeded to lock herself in there and cry silently.
"I couldn't do it, why. I doubt she would even feel the same but I was too afraid to even TELL her!" Octavia sobbed.
Things were about to get a whole lot harder for Octavia now that she had quit what had to be her best job.