Octavia woke with a pounding headache and a strange feeling in her throat, like she had swallowed a hoof-full of sand. Her back and flank were comfortably warm, but her front felt oddly cold and...naked?

Some bleary part of Octavia's brain noted that it must be very early, because no sunlight streamed through her window. Then, the cell phone on the bedside table began to play its usual calm classical wake-up call, and somepony groaned. Octavia jumped as the 'blanket' on her back and rear shifted.

"What the fuck is that shit?" said the blanket grouchily. "I like to sleep at this hour, thank you very much."

Octavia rolled over, and found herself muzzle to muzzle with a white face with large, blinking, red eyes. Vinyl Scratch's electric blue mane tickled Octavia's forehead as she nuzzled her shocked bedmate. Suddenly, everything flooded back to her.

The two mares stood shocked, watching the fire, for a few more instants. Then, Vinyl grabbed Octavia by her mane, saying through the soft slate-colored hair, "Well, I guess you'll have to come to my place then," as she dragged the poor mare along.

After a few more unrecognizable drinks, "from Berry Punch," the two mares had gotten ready for bed.

"I didn't know you had contacts," Vinyl observed as Octavia carefully took them out and groped her way towards the door.

"Here, lemme help ya with that." The white mare led her near-blind friend to the bed, and they both climbed in, using their own combined body heat instead of a blanket.

Octavia jumped suddenly as she felt Vinyl's tongue find its way back between her thighs. She was closer to her goal this time. Too close. Octavia pushed her away with a light kick.

"What?" Vinyl said, pouting. "You let me last night."

"Last night I was dr-- wait, WHAT?! I let you last night? What do you mean, I let you?" Octavia blanched, wondering just how much of last night she really did remember.

"You let me," Vinyl said bluntly. Then she grinned. "We had a sort of... exchange, shall we say."

Octavia sat up in Vinyl's bed, shocked and, frankly rather disgusted with herself. Me, a fillyfooler? She thought to herself. They say ponies do crazy things when they get drunk, but I didn't think it would be that crazy.

"Wait here, 'Tavi," said Vinyl Scratch, nuzzling her again. "I'll get your contacts. If I'm gonna help you remember last night, I think we should see each other this time." She winked mischievously as she slid off the bed.

"No!" Octavia half shouted, a tear tracing down her cheek.

"What? I'm not that ugly, am I?" asked Vinyl, pretending to look hurt.

"No. We aren't repeating whatever we did last night. I'm sorry, Vinyl. I'm not a fillyfooler. I don't do stuff like that. I-it's all been a m-mistake!" Octavia took a deep breath and slid off the bed. "I'm sorry. I-I have to go."

As Octavia stumbled towards the bedroom door, her already poor eyesight blurred with tears, Vinyl Scratch stepped in front of her.

"Listen, 'Tavi. You can go, but where? Your... house burnt down, remember? Vinyl spoke gently, putting a hoof around Octavia's shaking shoulders. The little box containing her contact lenses floated through the doorway from the bathroom.

"Here," Vinyl said, still keeping her hoof around her friend. "I-if you're going to leave, at least don't go blindly."

Octavia sat down on the floor, and heaved a sigh. "I just can't take it anymore," She said sadly as she put in her contacts "First my house burns down, then this. Oh, what will my parents say?"

Vinyl rubbed her hoof soothingly along Octavia's back, nuzzling her ear gently. "I'm sorry, 'Tavi. It's my fault. I shouldn't have been so forward."

"No, Vinyl. It's okay, really. I..." Octavia sighed, looking confused and vulnerable, like a young filly lost at a fair. "I'm just shocked, that's all. I'll be okay soon."

Vinyl enveloped Octavia in a tight hug, letting the grey mare rest her head on her shoulder for a moment before pulling away. "You know, you can, uh, stay here for now, if you still want to," she said after a long pause. "I promise not to get you drunk like that again. That was... really irresponsible of me."

"Thanks, Vinyl," Octavia said softly. "I'd like that."