I readjusted the damn cello about a million times as I walked towards the club. It was only five, but I figured I could stop by and mooch a few drinks off of Dad before my lesson actually started. I pushed through the doors backward, closing my eyes as the beats filled my ears. I couldn't help but bob my head in time to the music as I made my way to the back, nodding at the guard pony.

"Evening, Miss Scratch." The stallion said as I knocked on the door to Dad's office.

"It's Vinyl, actually. None of this Miss Scratch bull, kay?"

"Whatcha got there, Vinyl?" The stallion gestured to my cello and I shrugged as best I could.

"Private project," I said and the door opened. My dad looked confused at first, wondering what I was doing there, but he smiled widely.

"Vi, come on in," he said, not commenting on my cello. He was used to my odd projects. My DJ gig started out as an odd project. I dropped the cello in the corner and stretched out my back, Dad poured me a drink and slid it across his desk. I knocked it back and checked the clock on his wall. I still had plenty of time.

"Anything new?" Dad asked, pouring his own drink.

"Got a cello," I said, stating the obvious. "Since I've drifted away from Octy, I thought learning to play the cello would help me get her back. I've learned a bit since I was here last."

"So you haven't told her you're in love with her?"

"No, but I ended things with Lights, like you said I should." I poured myself a second drink and Dad locked the bottle back in his personal cabinet. He was okay with me drinking, but he wasn't gonna be the one to give me too much. We talked for a while, and I mentioned my talk with Bee, and how my writer's block had inspired me to go out on a whim and buy a cello. He seemed pissed that I blew so much money on something he could have gotten for me, but I just shrugged.

"I gotta get going," I said, looking up at the clock. "My lesson starts in ten minutes. See ya later, Dad." I grabbed my cello and levitated it just above my back.

"Good luck, Vi," Dad said, opening up his office door. "Love ya, Kiddo."

"Love you too, Dad." I replied. I said bye to the guard stallion and made my way back out onto the street. The sun was lowering, turning the sky a pale orangey color. Stars were starting to shine and I exhaled, crossing the street. I still had some time, so I figured I would just sit outside until whoever the five o'clock was left.

I ended up only waiting a few seconds. There was a tinkling little bell and a pony walked out, calling over her shoulder to whoever was inside.

"I'll see you tomorrow!" The pony adjusted her cello and looked up, her eyes unblinking.

"Octy," I said, staring into the lavender eyes I loved. "You're the five o'clock."

"You don't play the cello," Octavia said, staring at the cello on my back. "You despise the cello. You're a dubtrot pony. You make loud, annoying wubs."

"I've had a change of heart. I talked to Bee recently. She's a bitter little bitch, and I'm not letting that happen to me. From now on, I'm Vinyl Scratch, Classical Music Extraordinaire. Better watch your back, Octy, because I'm gonna steal your spot as best cellist on campus." Octavia actually smiled and my stomach flopped over. Her smile was gorgeous.

"How're your parents? How are you?" I asked, remembering the fight we'd had. Words had been said, actions had been regretted. Octy shrugged.

"The divorce is finalized. I'm actually feeling a lot better. My mother came to visit me while Lyra's sister was in town. She told me she'd signed me up for an appointment with a doctor, to cure me. I haven't spoken to her since."

"I'm sorry," I said. "About that night."

"I know. I'm sorry too." We stood there in silence for a while, just staring at each other. I thought about how long it had been since I last spoke to her.

"How's Neon Lights?" Octavia asked after a while.

"Hates me, I think. I told him the truth. That 'New Vinyl Scratch' bullshit was pretty much just that. Bullshit. I was never into stallions. This has been great, but I'm running late. Cello lessons, you know?"

"Of course. Have fun, Vinyl. If you'd like, I can sit in, and afterwards, we can go to my favorite cafe. It's a little out of the way, but they have excellent tea."

"That sounds pretty nice, actually. Yeah, we should do that." I smiled and opened the door, using a hoof to dramatically gesture Octy inside.

~XoXo~

"Don't quit your day job is all I'm saying," Octy teased. My horrendous cello playing was the current topic of conversation, and I rolled my eyes.

"I just started. I haven't been playing since before I was toilet trained."

"You know very well I was playing the cello after I was toilet trained. I didn't start until the third grade."

"Whatever," I laughed, taking a sip of the tea Octy had ordered me. I didn't normally drink the stuff, but it was pretty good, and I didn't wanna look rude in front of Octy now that she was talking to me again.

"For a first try, that was actually impressive. You actually made music for about thirty seconds."

"I'd like to see you come up with a killer remix on your first go. I'll let you borrow my computer."

"I'm sure I could do a better job remixing than you did with the cello."

I was happy. Octavia was talking to me, and things were going great. We had a chance at fixing our friendship. Of course, I had to open my big fat mouth and ruin it.

"Move back in with me." I don't know why I said it. Maybe it was the tea, or maybe it was the way the fans in the cafe were blowing towards me, bringing Octavia's sexy lavender shampoo smell with it, but I had said it, and I couldn't take it back.

"Vinyl, I..."

"Sorry. I shouldn't have said that. Shit. Sorry."

"Vinyl," Octavia said. I looked up at her. There was a small smile on her face. "I'd love to, really, I would, but now isn't a good time. I'm still working on getting my dad set up in his new place. Mom kicked him out of the house. When things settle down, I'll happily move back into the dorm."

"Right, okay. Cool." At least she wasn't saying no. Later was always better than no. I finished the last of my tea before it got too cold and went to grab my cello.

"I should go,"

"You don't have to."

"But I should."

"You could stay. Or we could go somewhere." Octavia looked...sad? She couldn't be sad. Things were working out for her. "I missed you, Vinyl."

"I missed you too, but..."

"But what? There shouldn't be a but, Vinyl! We both know where this is going. We've been leading up to this since we met, what's the point in postponing it anymore, Vinyl? I might as well just say it, because everypony but you seems to know. I love you, Vinyl Scratch."

The confession hung in the air and I realized that I needed to respond. Octavia was shuffling her hooves and staring at the table, waiting for me to either shoot her down or return her feelings.

"I think I love you too. I don't know, because I've never loved anypony before," I started. "I do know that I want you to be happy. That's why I'm taking up cello. You like cello music, and I want you to like me, so that's why I blew all those bits on learning to play. I know that, when I'm with you, everything seems right. When I'm not with you, I'm angry, and confused, and hurt. I know I love the lavender shampoo smell that usually comes when you're around. If that's what love is, then yes, I love you too, Octavia."

Neither of us seemed to know what to do from there. It felt weird, telling her now that I'd waited all this time. It felt even weirder since we hadn't spoken in so long. But it was true. I did love her.

"I really should go." This time, Octavia didn't stop me. I grabbed my cello and, with one last look at Octavia, I left the cafe.

~XoXo~

The wall hadn't changed at all in the past three hours. I would know. I had gotten home and just stared at the wall on Octavia's side of the room. Somepony knocked on the door, but I didn't moved.

Another knock. I ignored it.

Knock. Ignore.

Knock. Ignore.

Knock. Ig-

"Vinyl, are you going to let me back into my room or not?" I knew that voice. She knocked again and I went into the other room, opening the door.

"I thought that you..."

"Lyra told me to move my stuff back." Octavia shrugged and grabbed one of her bags. "Can you help me with my stuff? I'm not fortunate enough to have a magical appendage." I grabbed her stuff and carried it into my (no, our) room.

"What changed your mind?"

"Well," Octavia said with a smile. "I can't have you ruining the sanctity of cello music. I figured you would need more than one teacher. We'll have to improve your skills some other time though. It's late, and there are classes tomorrow. Unless you've stopped attending those?"

"I still go to class, Octy. I'm not that bad. It is late though. If you promise to teach me how to not epically suck at the cello, we can hit the hay."

"Goodnight, Vinyl," Octavia said. She kissed me quickly before quickly slipping into bed. My face went warm as I, less gracefully, flopped into my own bed.

"Night, Octy." Love you. I added the last bit in my head, liking the way it sounded. I didn't say it out loud. I wasn't sure how Octy would react to that just yet. I stayed up until I could hear her cute little snuffling sounds.

"Love you," I whispered. She was asleep. She couldn't hear me. And even if she could, I could pass it off as her dreaming. As I was falling asleep, I could have sworn I heard Octy whisper in her sleep.

"Love you too."