The next day was a difficult one; for both mares. Octavia tried to convince Vinyl to accompany her to her rehearsals, while Vinyl tried to calm Octavia down enough so that she would finally send the letter to her father. Needless to say, it all added up to more stress than either mare needed.

“Why not, Vi? I thought you love watching me play!” Octavia complained.

“Yeah, you! Not your whole orchestra, Tavi. Besides, I thought you didn’t want to rub us under their muzzles. Don’t you think it’d be a bit suspicious if a DJ suddenly comes and watches a cello player play?”

“You’re just lazy. Keep that up and you’ll get a fat-flank!” Octavia teased, lightly slapping Vinyl’s flank with her hoof. Too late did she realized what she had done.

“Did you… did you just?” Vinyl asked flabbergasted.

“Vi… NO!” Octavia shouted as the unicorn leapt at her, quickly ducking behind the couch.

“Come here!” Vinyl growled. “You started it!”

“Vinyl, no! You know how it ended last time!”

“Yep, we never got up from the couch that day. An awesome day of kisses and cuddles. Can’t wait for the encore!” Vinyl grinned.

“We can’t! Lyra wanted to visit later and I have my rehearsals. We simply can’t,” Octavia cut in, making the unicorn pout with puppy eyes. “You can make that face all day long, Vi, it doesn’t change what we can and can’t do. However, much we might wish otherwise,” she said the last sentence under her breath.

“I heard that! Now come here!” Vinyl smiled. “C’mon, just for a few minutes. Or an hour.”

Octavia raised an eyebrow at that. “Vi, honestly, could you stop after just an hour?”

“Nope, and neither could you.”

“So how about you be good now, and tonight we get some extra cuddle time?”

Vinyl thought about it. I would rather do other things at night, but we agreed to take it slow. “Alright,” she said then. “Sounds like a deal.”

Octavia smiled as she walked up and kissed Vinyl once on the lips. She kept it to just a peck, a small reward for her mare, assuming she behaved herself. “So is there no way I can convince you to come to my practice?”

“Uhh, what about the others?” Vinyl asked. “I’m not going if I have to pretend I don’t know you.”

“Forget the others, I want my marefriend to support me.”

“I don’t know,” Vinyl admitted. “Do I have to behave? No pecks, nothing?”

“Pecks are fine, but no drooling on me.”

“I only did that one time!”

Octavia glared at her.

“Twice?”

The grey mare kept up the look.

“Okay, it was more like seven times, but don’t act like you didn’t enjoy it.”

“I never said I didn’t,” Octavia said with a grin as she walked over to pick up her cello case. “The practice is at four, what do you have planned for today?”

“I was thinking about swinging by the club, get some extra work done.”

Octavia paused. “Come again?”

“Yeah, it’s really strange. There are these extra hours in the day, like in the a.m. or something, you can actually go out and do things before four p.m. Who knew?”

“So you promise to be back in time to accompany me to my rehearsals?”

“Consider it a promise!”

“And you’ll behave?”

“Consider it a semi-promise!”

“Vinyl!”

“Hey, you said you’d never force me to promise you anything as long as I keep the ones I do make, remember?”

The grey mare grumbled at that.

Vinyl smiled. “I can’t help it if you’re just that cute.”

Octavia looked up. “You call everything I do cute or hot,” she blushed.

“And Celestia raises the sun, what’s your point?” Vinyl said with a grin.

“Either you are more affected by me than I assumed, or you’re hiding something from me,” the earth pony smiled.

“Would I hide something from you?”

“Yes.”

“Damn…”

“Vinyl, what are you hiding?”

“Well, let’s say work could be difficult in the future,” the unicorn admitted.

“Why?”

“Because Sassaflash was really starting to tick me off the other day. And every single day since then as well. And mostly, the topic is you.”

“Me?”

“I think she’s jealous of us. And she’s starting to get on my last nerve about it.”

“What’s she doing?” Octavia asked.

“I um… I don’t really want to tell you this.”

“Vinyl, you know you can tell me anything.”

Vinyl looked up. “Tavi, this is one of those things that once said, I can’t take back.”

“Are you cheating on me?” Octavia said, wide-eyed.

“What? No! Don’t even thank that!”

“Then why don’t you tell me about it?”

The unicorn huffed, then sat down on her haunches and wrapped her tail around her hind legs. “I’ll… I’ll tell you, if you really want me to. But once you hear it, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

“Tell me about it,” Octavia said, sitting down next to her mare, leaning her head onto her shoulder.

“You know we come from different worlds right? You’re refined, high-class, I’m… the opposite.”

“Yeah.”

“Well this is true for our relationship too.”

“So? I don’t care who you were with.”

“No, it’s… slightly more complicated than that. My relationships normally move… well...“

“Vinyl… we talked about it…” Octavia started, just to be cut off.

“I know! But Sassaflash is getting on my nerves with it! She thinks about me every day, what I had with her. Something she tells me that we will never ever have!” Vinyl cried out.

“Is it that bad?”

Vinyl nodded. “Every day is full of sexual innuendos, talking about how our first date ended in a wild night in bed, and how I’m kidding myself that… well…”

“What?”

“That you’d ever want to do something like that with me.”

“Vinyl, look at me,” Octavia said, cupping her lovers muzzle with her hooves. “We talked about this, and I told you why I don’t want to take this step right at the start. It just is my first real relationship, and I want to take it slow and enjoy everything.” She nuzzled Vinyl gently. “Is it so bad to wait a bit for our wonderful, first time?”

“I know, and I want to too, it’s just hard to deal with somepony shoving it in your face every chance they get. I brush off most of it, but I’d be lying if I didn’t say some of it gets under my fur. Like I said, our experiences are… well… different.”

“Tell me, honestly, do you feel like we’re moving too slow?”

Vinyl didn’t want to look at her, she chose a spot on the floor instead.

“Vinyl, look at me, please.”

“Tavi…”

Octavia moved her head directly into Vinyl’s line of sight. “Please, answer the question.”

“I’ll be honest with you. With how my past used to be, yes, my mind is telling me we move too slow.“ Vinyl sighed. “Every instinct in my body, every cell in my being wants me to throw you to the ground and ravish you to within an inch of you life. Every time we wake up together I just… want you. I want you worse than I’ve ever wanted anything in my life. Our kisses, our cuddling, you have no idea how badly I want to take it to the end. How much I want to feel your touch all over my fur, to touch you in return. Every day it’s been like waking up to a princess’s treasure yet knowing you can’t spend a bit.”

Octavia’s eyes went wide at that confession. She knew that every word was true, she knew it without being told.

“But… my heart says this is the right thing to do. That waiting… I… I…” The tears were falling freely.

Octavia hugged her. She wrapped her hooves around Vinyl and squeezed. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“It’s what you wanted, I wanted to make you happy,” Vinyl sobbed.

“Vi… I can’t tell you what that means to me,” Octavia cooed softly into Vinyl’s ear.

“Can… can I suggest something?”

“Of course,” Octavia smiled.

“Could we… could we just try it if we get that far? I’m sure you have the same feelings while cuddling and kissing, being so close together,” Vinyl said softly.

“Vi, I…” Octavia paused.

“If not, it’s also okay. Please just be honest with me,” the unicorn pleaded.

The grey mare looked at the unicorn. She poured her heart out to me. “Well… will you let me take the lead?”

“Yes! Anything and everything you want!”

“And if I say we stop, we stop, no guilt trips or anything.”

“Of course.”

“In that case, very well. Maybe we can try tonight.”

“That would be awesome!” Vinyl cheered. “Oh, Tavi, the time!” Vinyl said as she saw the clock behind her.

Octavia turned around to see the time. “It’s only eleven-thirty.”

“Yeah, I promised neon I’d be at the club now.”

“Well then you’d better get going.” Octavia said with a smile. “Be good and I’ll see you at…”

“Four sharp!” Vinyl replied as she started running out the door.

“No, Vinyl! You will accompany me to the Concert hall so I expect you here half an hour earlier!”

Vinyl paused, turned around, and trotted back to the earth pony. She kissed Octavia dead on the lips, adding extra pressure against the mare that almost caused her to fall back on her haunches. “See you at three-thirty then. Love you, Octavia.”

Octavia smiled, before realizing Vinyl was nearly out of the door. “I love you too!” she quickly shouted after the unicorn, who winked and closed the door behind her.

I just hope I did the right thing. I will take the lead... this is my first time... Oh, Celestia, what have I done?

Vinyl was almost doing a little jig in the street as she approached the club. With her headphones on, a pony could be forgiven for thinking she had just found a phat beat that caused her to dance. They’d be wrong. After admitting that to Octavia, it felt like a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. She felt lighter, had more energy, and was more than looking forward to tonight.

Check yourself girl, it may not go all the way.

Who cares, whatever she wants to do, I’m more than okay with.

And if things get hot and heavy, you going to be able to stop yourself if she says stop?

She paused at that. Oh buck me...

You force her to do something, she will leave you.

She can always say stop and we’ll stop.

You know you can’t behave that well. This will end badly!

For her I can!

Just like with Sassaflash, or the others?

Those were just fun.

Fun huh?

I love Octavia dearly! I’ve never loved anypony else like her! This. Will. WORK! Now SHUT UP!

And if it doesn’t, you have no pony to blame but yourself.

“I said shut up!”

“Vinyl?” A turquoise pegasus mare asked from ten hooves down the sidewalk.

Vinyl looked up just in time to realize she said that last bit out loud and that Sassaflash was walking up to her. “Oh buck me,” she mumbled to herself.

“In an argument with yourself, or some phat beats?” Sassaflash asked.

“The former, actually,” Vinyl admitted as the two started to walk together to the club.

“Care to share?” The pegasus asked and playfully bumped Vinyl with her flank.

“I thought we agreed on something,” Vinyl glared at her.

“We’re still friends, right?” Sassaflash asked, a little dejected.

“Sorry, I think I’m just not in the mood for any playful stuff.”

“I know what can cheer you up! As soon as we’re at the club, you drink one of your blue specials!” Sassaflash smiled.

“Can’t get drunk, big day ahead of me,” Vinyl stated. Big night too, she thought.

“Big day? You following your lame earth pony somewhere?” The pegasus chuckled.

“That is Octavia to you, and why would you care?” Vinyl snapped.

“Because I can’t wait to see the day you come crawling back,” Sassaflash laughed before stopping. “Oh, I said that out loud, didn’t I?”

Vinyl growled. “Indeed!” she said before shoving the turquoise mare out of her way, stomping fuming to the club.

“Sorry!” Sassaflash called out.

“You’re not and we both know it!” Vinyl shouted back.

That’s true, the pegasus thought with a wicked smile.

“You should tape your muzzle before speaking everything that comes to mind,” Vinyl said with no small amount of venom in her voice. “Otherwise I’ll be glad to lend a hoof with that.”

“Roar, you sound sexy threatening me like that!”

“Sassa, just SHUT UP!”

“Vinyl, I’m just honest. I thought you loved me the most.”

“I. Don’t. Love. You!” Vinyl cried out before realizing she reached the club’s back entrance for employees. She quickly opened it and slammed it closed on Sassaflash’s muzzle.

“Oww, what the fuck, Vi?!” came the muffled cry from the other side.

“What was that?” Neon asked, startling Vinyl as he stood in front of her. “I could hear you two from all the way up here. I gather Sassaflash took it too far again?”

“Totally,” Vinyl scowled.

“You should ignore her if she goes that far. Just work with her and everything will be fine.”

“I don’t think it’ll work that way, Neon.”

“Can’t you just try it?” Neon asked.

“Neon, I fear that I’ll lose Tavi if she keeps this up! And I definitely won’t let it get that far,” Vinyl snorted before making her way to her set and jumping up on the stage.

In the meanwhile, Sassaflash opened the door, massaging her red, glowing muzzle with a hoof. “That hurt!”

Neon glared at her. “You should watch out! If we lose Vinyl again, we might have to close the club!”

“That earth pony isn’t right for her,” the pegasus hissed back.

“You can’t know that,” Neon shook his head sadly.

“Ah, shut your muzzle,” Sassaflash waved a hoof dismissively. “What do you know about love after all?”

“More than you would assume,” he shot back. “Now get to work and leave Vinyl alone.”

“Roger that, Mister Lights, sir!” Sassaflash mocked sarcastically and raised a hoof in salute.

Yeah, do your jokes. If you continue this, you’ll be crying when Vinyl doesn't even want to be your friend anymore, Neon thought bitterly.

Sassaflash whistled a melody as she went to the stage, watching Vinyl fight with the wiring. “You know, I usually do that.”

“No, thanks,” the unicorn just grumbled.

“C’mon, Vi. Let me help you!”

“I don’t need help. Especially not yours!”

“I promise to not bring up that topic again during work!” Sassaflash smiled.

Vinyl looked up, glaring at her. “Why do I have the feeling that you’re lying right now?”

“I don’t know. I’m just trying to be your friend like always,” the pegasus grinned, flashing Vinyl her cutest puppy dog expression.

The unicorn growled, then sighed. “Alright Sassa, do your work.”

“Glad to help my best friend!”

Vinyl watched her closely as she went to work, hoping she would just stay quiet. Honestly, she had considered just cutting the mare off, denying any more friendship to her. But after all those years, she just couldn’t. While it wasn’t love she felt, that turquoise mare was still close to her heart, she was still her friend. For the time being at least.

If you make me choose between Octavia and you, you don’t stand a chance, Sassa.

If the pegasus had any inkling of what Vinyl was thinking about, she didn’t show it. Sassaflash simply continued right along with her job. Her head buried under the turntable connecting the different speakers to the correct set up. That is until she found a pulled wire. “Damn, Scratch, what did you do?”

“What?” Vinyl asked.

“You pulled out three wires. I need to splice them back in for this to work.”

“Well, you’re telling me,” Vinyl rolled her eyes.

“Go to my toolkit and get me a pair of wire splicers and the clamps.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Vinyl said with a roll of her eyes as she made her way across the stage to where Sassaflash kept her tools. It’s your fault anyway, What’d you expect to happen, me to crawl back? Cheat on Tavi? I don’t think so.

She found Sassaflash’s tools easy enough. Her own experience with wires had taught the mare exactly what she’d need. Making her way back to the stage Vinyl levitated the items to the pegasus.

“Thanks,” Sassa said.

“No problem.”

After a moment's pause, Sassaflash asked, “Hey, mind holding this real quick?”

Vinyl looked confused. Sassaflash never needed her help making repairs before. She stuck her head under the station to better see what was going on. “Hold what?”

“Over to the right,” Sassaflash said.

Vinyl moved her front hooves a little to the right. Too late did she realize that by doing so, her hoof was right between Sassaflash’s hind legs, pressing up against her. “Oh, Vinyl, naughty mare.” Sassaflash laughed.

“Sassa!” Vinyl yelled as she pulled back, insulted.

“I didn’t say anything,” she grinned, pulling her head from beneath the station.

“I should just say ‘buck you’ and never work with you again. Not even speak with you!” Vinyl snapped.

The turquoise mare pouted at that. Vinyl just glared at her, not joking around anymore.

“You know there was a time that that wouldn’t have been your hoof.”

“Those times are gone, Sassa. Read my lips, I’m. With. Octavia. And with the way you’ve been acting, I wouldn’t want to be with you again even if that wasn’t the case.”

Sassaflash actually looked hurt at that. “You don’t mean that.”

“Yes, I do,” Vinyl said in a tone that conformed her words.

“I-I… I’m going to get back to work,” the pegasus said with a downcast expression on her muzzle.

“So it takes me telling you the truth to get you to finally stop with that bullshit? Awesome!” Vinyl growled after her.

The mare didn’t say anything, she didn’t comment. She just stuck her head back under the station. Silence.

It was the silence that caused Vinyl to do a double take. She was pissed, of that there was no doubt, but… she didn’t want to hurt Sassaflash. Not like this.

“Sassaflash.”

“What?” the mare asked, her voice muffled from being under the station and from what sounded like the beginnings of sniffles.

She’s crying...

“Come back out for a second, I want to tell you something.”

“I think you’ve said everything you wanted to say.”

“Please?”

The pegasus pulled her head out, her eyes were red and her muzzle looked scrunched up.

“Listen, I’m sorry if I hurt you, but please understand me. You weren’t nice the last few days and you even admitted that you did it on purpose! What should I think about that? I told you all those years ago that I really really liked you, but don’t love you. It won’t change, but you could at least understand and be happy for me that I found love. Finally,” Vinyl said gently.

“Tell me, if Octavia fell in love with another mare and wanted to be with her and not you, how would you feel?”

“I…” Vinyl shut her muzzle.

“Yeah, that’s what I thought. I’m sorry if I can’t just be happy for you. I-I… love you. Now if you’ll excuse me, I gotta get these wires connected.”

“That's not the final solution Sassaflash. I would feel bad if this destroys everything we’ve build up over years of friendship. Do you really want to waste it? I don’t, but if you make me chose, it’s Tavi.”

“So you’ve said,” Sassaflash replied. There was something about her tone though. Something that sent shivers down Vinyl’s spine. It wasn’t full of hatred, sorrow, or any other emotions. Rather, it was the lack of emotion. It was as if the mare was completely numb.

“You don’t get to turn this around on me!” Vinyl screamed her frustration. “I told you, I told you a hundred times!”

“Yes, yes you did.”

That tone again.

“Sassa—”

“Vinyl!” Neon screamed from the other side of the club. “Can I see you over here for a second? NOW.”

“Oh what the buck is wrong now…” the unicorn muttered before going to him, but not before shooting a last glare at Sassaflash. “This is not over.”

The white unicorn stomped off the stage and toward her friend. “What do you want?”

“Office, now.” Neon said.

“You kidding me. Now?” Vinyl asked.

“Just come on, she doesn’t need to hear this,” Neon pleaded silently.

Vinyl huffed, but obeyed. She walked into Neon’s office and took a seat. Neon followed suit, shutting the door behind him with his magic. He then went to his chair and sat down, putting his hooves to his forehead.

“What do you want, Neon?” Vinyl asked venomously.

“I want you to let it go.”

“What?! I didn’t do anything!”

“I know you didn’t.”

“Neon, you don’t know her. If I let it go, she will do something stupid. Do you want that?” Vinyl growled.

He put his hooves on the table between them. “This is the best solution.”

“What? Letting her do stupid things and ruin everything?”

“No,” Neon answered calmly. “I want her to see for herself that she is wrong and can’t change it. All I need you for to do is to be strong.”

“Neon, she’s still my friend, I don't want anything bad to happen to her. If I can just make her see—”

“That’s just it Vi, you’re not going to be able to.” Neon took off his signature sunglasses to look Vinyl in the face.

“Yeah, I can!”

The stallion sighed. “You still believe you and her are going to be friends after this huh?”

“Yes! I’ve known her longer than Spitfire! I just know that we can do it!”

“Then let me ask you. What is different between her and Spitfire?” Neon asked.

“What? What are you trying to do?” Vinyl blinked.

“I just want to tell you why it won’t work with Sassaflash by letting you see the difference between her and Spitfire. Why is it working between the captain and you, but not between you and Sassaflash?” Neon looked at her.

“I-I… I don’t know, what’s the difference between the two?”

“Spitfire doesn’t love you anymore, Sassaflash does.”

“Spitfire likes me!”

“Exactly, she likes you. You’ve both moved on. But you no longer feel that way with her anymore do you?” Vinyl glared, but nodded. “And I bet she doesn’t feel that way about you either.”

“So you want to tell me that I can’t do anything about it? That I should just let Sassaflash rampage until she runs into a wall?!”

“Yes. You can’t make someone not love you. As long as she feels that way for you, you’re going to create the very disaster you’re trying to avoid. Love sick ponies don’t make the best decisions. And only time will cause her to feel any different with you.”

“I’m not giving up!”

“Dammit, Vi! You don’t get to break a pony’s heart and keep everything like it was! You’re smarter than that!”

Vinyl’s muzzle dropped open at that. She slouched back in the chair, numb. “But… she’s my friend.”

“Not anymore, not until she’s over you. Until that happens, she nothing more than a co-worker. Anything you do will only hurt her more, or give her false hope. For better or worse, you’ve made your choice.”

“So I have to treat her as just some mare I work with? You know this will end badly,” Vinyl sighed. “This will end really badly.”

“Not worse than you stomping on her heart.”

“Okay Neon. I’ll follow your advice,” Vinyl said before leaning forward. “But don’t complain if everything comes crashing down!”

Neon watched as Vinyl got up and left. the conversation officially over between them. He took a deep breath, and then another, and then another. Hoping that each one would provide him with some relief. None did. Vinyl, you...

He groaned, not even able to finish that thought. “I need a drink.”

Vinyl found her day was exactly what she had always hoped it wouldn’t be: boring. She had a few more run ins with Sassaflash, but the two hadn’t said a word to each other; not beyond what absolutely had to be said. That alone made her sad. The look on the pegasus’s face, it was…

She didn’t quite know what it was, it was non-Sassaflash though. Neon and Vinyl had a few more conversations, but they were all tarnished by their conversation in his office. It was like an alicorn was standing two hooves from both of them when they spoke but neither was allowed to talk about her or even acknowledge that she was there.

As such, Vinyl found herself doing something she hadn’t done since she was in school: watching the clock. When three fifteen finally ticked on the clock, she was out the door like a filly being released on the final day of school. A “Later Neon!” shout trailing behind her.

Never before had she been more happy to step out into the sun. Normally when she had this experience the sun had just risen and she was hung to the over and heading for bed. This time it was like the sun was a long lost friend greeting her after a terrible day at work.

She couldn’t wait to spend the rest of the day with Octavia.

So it wasn’t surprising that Vinyl cheered internally as soon as her apartment complex came into sight. Quickly, she rushed in and up the stairs, not even caring about the elevator. Every step she took away from the club was like a shot of energy given back to her. As such when she arrived back in the apartment, Vinyl had more energy than she knew what to do with.

She unlocked the door and pushed it open. “Honey, I’m home!” she shouted with a smile.

Octavia walked into the mane room from the back. “Hey, you’re on time!”

“Of course, it is me after all.”

“Exactly why I’m surprised,” Octavia said with a smile.

“Hardy har.”

“So, how was your day?”

“Infinitely better when I saw you again.”

“Flattering, but the truth please. I can see it in your eyes,” Octavia paused. “Sassaflash again?”

“Well… somewhat. Her and Neon actually.”

“What did he do?” Octavia asked, shocked.

“Just made me realize something I hadn’t up until now.”

“What?”

“When I chose you, I broke her heart.”

“Vinyl, that’s not your fault.”

“Yeah, it is. Please don’t get me wrong, I definitely don’t regret my choice. My times with Sassaflash were fun, but the way I feel with you, I never felt that with her. I was with her but I didn’t love her, not like I love you. This… us, this is what I want, what I’ve always wanted. I was either going to break her heart, or my own. I made my choice, I stand by it, but I can’t deny what I did.”

Octavia wanted to say something, to make her feel better. But she knew that every word laying upon her tongue couldn’t help Vinyl. So instead she surprised her marefriend and pulled her into a tight hug before pressing her muzzle firmly against hers, lips meeting lips in a deep and passionate kiss.

“Wow… what was that for?” Vinyl breathed heavily as they broke.

“Just reminding my marefriend of more positive things,” Octavia smiled gently.

“You did the moment I laid eyes on you.”

“Sappy now, Vinyl?” Octavia asked with a grin as she kept hugging her.

“Truth,” Vinyl said with a smile as she hugged her back.

“We should go now, we’re already a bit late,” the grey mare gently whispered. “I promise that more of this waits for you after my rehearsal.”

“As long as I have you, that’s enough for me,” Vinyl said the words without intending to, they just came out. However, when they did, she knew it was the truth.

“Well, maybe I want more of you?” Octavia asked.

Vinyl’s eyes went wide at that as Octavia pulled back and smiled at her. The grey mare pecked her on the tip of the muzzle and then turned to grab her cello case. “You’re not the only one dreaming about… some things, sometimes,” Octavia smiled gently before opening the door and leaving. Vinyl just stared after her for several seconds, muzzle wide open before realising she was gone and quickly bolting after her marefriend.

When she caught up to her, Vinyl found one odd truth at that moment. It was especially odd considering how she had spent the last four hours. Vinyl found that she couldn’t stop smiling. The mare walked coat to coat with Octavia. Finding that perfect distance that allowed them to feel each other but not come off as crass.

Octavia actually broke that distance a few times. The first when Vinyl took her cello case in her magic to carry for her, and the next two as ways of surprising the unicorn. She went to say something, but every time she saw Vinyl’s smiling face, there just wasn’t a need to say anything. It was as if the moment was already perfect and adding anything to it would simply take away.

As such, when they got to the concert hall, they were both surprised. It was a good twenty minute walk from their apartment to the hall, but to both of them it had felt like the blink of an eye.

“Admit it, you teleported us,” Octavia said teasingly.

Vinyl laughed at that. “Yeah, when your back was turned I got lessons from Princess Celestia herself.”

“Seeing another mare behind my back? I’m shocked!”

“Nah, always just looking at your amazing flank,” Vinyl winked.

Octavia blushed at that, but also felt more than a warm tingling in her belly. She’s making me feel weird, but I love it.

The grey mare led the way inside, walking the back hallways to where they’d set up. Vinyl quickly became lost; however, she knew they were almost there when Octavia asked, “So you’re going to be good?”

“Goodish?” Vinyl said with a smile.

Octavia chuckled. “Close enough.”

Vinyl pecked her on the side of the muzzle before they opened what she’d assumed to be the last set of doors they had to go through.

She was wrong. In front of them were two new doors. One labeled with ‘VIP tribune’ and one with ‘Artists’.

“See you in a bit,” Octavia smiled before opening the second door and closing it behind her, but not without blowing her marefriend a small kiss.

Vinyl giggled and caught it with her hoof before planting it on her muzzle, then she quickly bolted up to the tribunes.

Vinyl followed the hallway up a flight of stairs. She had no idea where she was going, having never been this way before, but was left with the impression that only ‘high class’ ponies ever normally had this sort of access.

That caused her to smile. Knowing that somepony like her was treading over ground normally reserved for the ‘Equestrian elite’. Almost as if her presence in doing it somehow soiled their experience.

She reached the balsita and plopped down uncouthly into the rather plush and comfortable seats that overlooked the stage. “Damn, how do these ponies stay awake?” she asked nopony in particular.

Her worry about it was put on hold, as at that moment she saw seven different ponies starting to bring their equipment out on the stage. The one she really cared about, the grey mare, she was on the right side. Her music stand and cello case were set up in front of her.

She could see also Baritone, who looked surprised as he noticed her and quickly nudged Octavia, saying something to her and pointing at Vinyl. Octavia just shook her head before smiling and waving to Vinyl. The unicorn smirked and waved back.

Vinyl could see Baritone sighing and shaking his head before taking his place in front of the group. Now she could hear him all the way up here.

“Alright, everypony. Seems like we got a visitor today. Since Octavia’s friend wants to watch, let us all do the best we can!” he said and Octavia blushed a bit.

“Whoo hoo!” Vinyl shouted out loud, causing the small red blush on the grey mare’s cheeks to grow. Something noticeable even at the distance she was at.

“Alright, let’s start with the fifth octone of the first cord.”

“Wait… what did he say?” Vinyl whispered.

Then the music started. Well, if one could call it music. Vinyl sat back in the seat, suddenly a little less interested. She kept her eyes on Octavia. Octavia seemed to be focused on her sheet music, her eyes following the notes across the page, her bow running across the strings with all the subtlety of a ballet dancer’s movements.

it was graceful, it was beautiful—in a way. And it was boring.

Vinyl sunk down into the seat. Her eyes stayed on Octavia as long as they could, but she couldn’t stop them from wandering for long.

There was just one problem; there was literally nothing else to look at. The hall was clear, the seats empty. All there was were the ponies on stage and herself.

Vinyl groaned, wondering what time it was. Her eyes darted up and behind her. However, when she saw the clock, her muzzle dropped open.

Four ten?!

Vinyl lay her head back against the seat. “Celestia save me.”

It was then she noticed that the music had come to a stop. Jumping to her hooves she shouted, “WOOT! Go Octavia!”

The grey mare blushed, but beyond that didn’t reply to VInyl’s shouts. The white unicorn was ecstatic at least until she heard Baritone say, “Alright, let’s try it again and then we’ll move onto the fifth cord.”

It’s… not… over...

The unicorn shrank down into the chair.

It’s going to be a long night.

And it was, just not for Vinyl. The unicorn tried, she made her best attempts at it, but she simply couldn’t last the entire time, not three hours, and definitely not with nothing to do. It simply wasn’t in her nature to sit still for three hours listening to music she wouldn’t have been caught dead listening to normally.

As such when Octavia trotted up the stairs and woke her up, she wasn’t even mad. “Vinyl, Vinyl, it’s time to go home.”

“Szzh—hu?” Vinyl said, before realizing what had happened. “Octavia, you were awesome, I was just… uhh... resting my eyes?”

The look Octavia gave her said all that needed to be said about that. “Sorry, Tavi.”

Octavia chuckled. “What matters is that you came here for me, not that you stayed awake the entire time.

Vinyl rubbed the back of her head before smiling. “That’s good to hear.”

“Let’s go home Vinyl. We still have a long day before us,” the cellist smiled, making Vinyl’s heart flutter more than ever before. “And some long overdue cuddling to do.”

“Love you, Tavi.”

“I love you too, Vi.”

Author's Notes:

Here's the promised weekly update.
Have some heavy hearts for it