Maybe we will never figure it out, I got a feeling that's what life's all about.
Back When We Knew Everything
by The Princess Rarity
The sounds of edgy pop rock music echoed throughout the small bedroom, practically shaking the walls. The lyrics spit out words that were vulgar but shook the listener's soul to their very core and spoke harsh truth about reality. Intense guitar riffs backed up by erratic drumming spilled out of the speakers, and the vocals were raspy but intoxicating. All in all, the song was explosive.
It abruptly ended, with a loud victorious scream and one last ear-splitting guitar solo.
"So, what do you think of my band's new song?" Vinyl asked.
"Loud," Octavia said simply, as she blinked slowly in aftershock.
"You say that about all of them--"
"--and it's true."
Vinyl rolled her eyes. "Well, we can't all be in a marching band," she replied.
Octavia shrugged. "At least you could write lyrics that have meaning," she suggested. "After all, oxymorons make no sense if you keep repeating them."
"It's called a chorus, babe," Vinyl argued. "Besides, Neon writes the songs, not me. You know that he's on drugs ninety-nine point nine percent of the time anyway. We just sing the crap to get noticed, we'll actually bother to write good stuff when we get noticed."
"Silly me, how could I forget?" Octavia teased. "You just stand up on stage and look cool."
"Plus I sing and I play my guitar."
"Yes, of course, that too."
Vinyl nudged her marefriend, and placed a kiss on Octavia's neck. "I kinda wrote something sappy for you," she admitted. "And it's meant for your vocals too, y'know."
Octavia shook her head. "You know I don't sing," she said sternly.
Vinyl pouted. "But your voice is so sexy," she defended. "It's like, chocolate on your ears."
Octavia raised an eyebrow. "That was a terrible metaphor," she muttered. "Now that makes me almost afraid to hear this song of yours." She wrapped her forelegs around her marefriend and affectionately snuggled the pony she was lying next to. "Hmm, but I will admit, the gesture is very much appreciated."
"Hey, that was a great metaphor," Vinyl said. "I meant it in the way that they're both sweet and really indulging and awesome and like nothing else you've ever had before."
"I suppose when you put it that way," Octavia mused, as she traced her hoof on Vinyl's chest.
Silence now hung in the balance of the two teenage fillies, and a deep sigh escaped the punk rocker. No words were needed, because her expression said it all. Exhaustion, confusion and desperation were all mixed into one while she looked down at her marefriend with adoration. Such a strange mix of emotions, but it was the reality of what they both had to face.
Releasing a deep breath, Octavia rested her head on Vinyl's shoulder, intertwining their hooves.
Two opposites, with very few similarities.
The light tinkling of magic was heard, and Octavia looked up to see Vinyl levitating over a pack of Mareboros. She lit up one of the cigarettes with a flick of her telekinesis, and offered one to her marefriend, who wrinkled her nose at the offer.
"I really wish you would quit that," Octavia sighed.
"There are worse things I could do," Vinyl said as she held the cigarette in between her teeth.
"Vincenza Shores, did you just quote a musical?"
"Shut up, Ottavia."
"You know using my real name doesn't bother me," Octavia laughed.
"I dunno why I put up with you," Vinyl joked, letting the smoke spill out of her lips. With a flick of her magic, she popped open the nearby window and let the vile scent of nicotine and tar travel outside. "It's gotta be your sexy face."
Octavia smirked. "Yes, because I'm the hottest piece of flank in the world," she said sarcastically.
"Hey, you totally are," Vinyl said. "Seriously, even with this stupid, and ridiculously dorky marching band getup-" She flicked the tassels on Octavia's outfit. "-you are smoking hot. Don't let anypony tell you otherwise."
"I'm lanky and a total klutz," Octavia argued. "Really, just because we're dating--"
"--it means I gotta make you feel as awesome as you are," Vinyl rasped as she took the cigarette out of her mouth and leaned down to kiss her marefriend in a soft and sweet yet still fiery and passionate manner.
A light squeak of surprise, followed by a smitten sigh, escaped Octavia as she wrapped her forelegs around Vinyl. The two enjoyed their embrace and kissed sincerely for a few moments, only before they broke apart, breathing heavily and staring into one another's eyes -- lavender against magenta. They stayed like that for a single moment in time, only before Octavia pursed her lips in thought.
"You know, graduation is in three weeks," she spoke up.
Vinyl let out a groan. "Don't remind me," she muttered.
"You could still attend," Octavia assured. "You've only missed a month's attendance."
"I dropped out of that hellhole and I'm not going back," Vinyl declared.
"They might let you take exams later--"
"--why do you care?"
Octavia kissed Vinyl's forehead, right below her horn. "Why do you think? I love you," she said.
Vinyl hesitated. "Yeah, but it's my life, Tavi," she murmured, as she rolled off of her marefriend and laid back on the bed. She inhaled another dose of smoke and closed her eyes. "It's bucking useless in that school."
"So, if you're not going to get an education, what are you going to do with your life?" Octavia asked. "We all have to do something. If you had plans, wouldn't you have started them by now?"
"I'm waiting," Vinyl said simply.
"For what?" Octavia pressed on with the questions. "Did you drop out for a reason?"
"I can't waste my life with these shitheads," Vinyl shot back. "Everypony here is a dumb mule, and I wanna be more than that. I'm gonna get out of here, really. Lyra's gonna graduate, then she'll join me and Neon on tour over the summer with my mom. Maybe we'll get a record deal."
Octavia blinked slowly. "And what about me?" she said softly.
Staring into those precious, irreplaceable one-in-a-million lavender eyes, Vinyl swallowed hard, and reached up, gently pushing frizzy split ends of charcoal from Octavia's face.
"Hey," she rasped. "You're gonna be at university in Manehatten, right? I'll visit you, y'know that."
"You promise?" Octavia murmured.
"I'm not one for the romance junk, but you know that I'm always gonna be there for you," Vinyl assured. "In fact--" She used her magic to unzip her bag, levitating up two slips of paper that were decorated with elegant design. "You're not going to prom with anypony, are you?"
Octavia let out a light gasp of surprise. "Vinyl!"
"Dammit, what did I do now?"
"That's tomorrow night!" Octavia practically shrieked. She tried to compose herself, but failed in doing so as she let out a laugh of disbelief. "Of course I'll go with you, but--" She began stammering over her words. "There's so much to do. My mother might be able to lend me a dress, but you are impossible! You ask me the day before? Really?"
Vinyl shrugged. "Trixie dumped Neon, so he doesn't wanna go at all," she explained. "He gave me the tickets 'cause he owes me a favor or two. I know how much you wanna go. Besides, you might as well make the best of it before you graduate, right?"
Octavia threw her forelegs around her marefriend and hugged her. "I'll never understand you."
"Then I guess I'm doing my job," Vinyl teased.
Suddenly, the door swung open, surprising the two teenage fillies when they saw who exactly was standing there. As usual, a stern look was staring them down -- almost disapprovingly.
"Mother!" Octavia exclaimed, as her face went crimson red. "Haven't you heard of knocking?"
"I heard a scream--"
"--yes, but it wasn't what you thought! And still!"
"I don't like your tone of voice, young lady."
Octavia hung her head. "Sorry," she mumbled.
Vinyl waved a hoof. "S'up, Prim," she said as she placed the cigarette back between her teeth.
"That's Miss Hemline to you, Vincenza," Octavia's mother corrected. "By the way, I just got a call from a friend of yours. They said your cousin was arrested?"
"Dammit, Photo can't keep herself out of trouble for two minutes," Vinyl groaned. She turned to the side, and placed a kiss on Octavia's cheek. "I gotta get outta here, anyway. Have fun getting yourself all prettied up for prom night, babe. I'll pick you up at seven or so, yeah?"
Slightly embarrassed at the fact that her mother was in the room, Octavia managed a bashful nod.
Vinyl winked in a flirtatious manner, picked up her bag and exited the room.
A content sigh escaped Octavia and she smiled sweetly.
"I don't trust her, you know," Prim spoke up. "Why not date some nicer mare?"
"Because," Octavia declared. "Punk rock unicorns are my type."
"Teenagers," Prim huffed as she turned around and left.
Normally, Octavia would never given such sass towards her mother, but it was more or less the truth anyhow. Vinyl was many things, and she had changed drastically throughout the years they had been dating, but she still always somehow resorted back to the same rough-edged softie Octavia knew from freshman year. Now, senior year was ending...
...and the world would change for them.
But for now, they still had a little bit of time.
And like Vinyl had said, they should make the best of it.
~ la fin ~
Author's Note
I was bored, so I wrote horse words -- what else is new?
