I Will Break The Silence

Vinyl grimaced as she pulled the dried blueberry out of her hair and a few strands with it. In the time it took her to get to the school the yogurt had dried mostly and now she was trying to wash as much of it out as she could. As it was she was likely already late for class, and her day was off to a bad start. When she scuffed her knees during her fall she had torn her favorite pair of pants on the pavement. These were in fact her last undamaged pair of pants, that is until now.

Dipping her head into the sink and running the water, she scrubbed her hair as best she could to get as much of the gunk out as possible. Suddenly she heard the bell for first period go off in the halls, and without thinking she raised her head nocking it on the faucet. A small sound akin to a scraping cough escaped her throat as she rubbed the back of her head in pain. Wincing and hissing through her teeth she quickly stuck her head under the hand dryer for a few moments before dashing out the bathroom to try and make it to class.

As she ran her still-wet hair clung to her head as water dripped onto her shoulders, back and chest. Miss Cheerilee, though always acting happy, was not the most tolerant of teachers when it came to tardiness. Her policy was to lock the door two minutes after the bell rang and anyone who was late got sent to the office. Vinyl had already used most of that trying in vain to dry her hair. As she rounded the corner she could see the shadow of someone making there way towards the door.

"Shit she's gonna close it!" Screamed Vinyl's thoughts.

She picked up her pace but it was hopeless. She still had half the hall to run, and the teacher's hand was on the door already. Rather than waste her effort on a failed attempt she stopped and watched as the door closed. She wanted to swear and make her anger known to the world, but knew full well all that would come out was a raspy hiss. So instead she leaned her back against the lockers and slid down till she sat. Now she had two choices, go to the office or just chill until second period. She opted for the latter.

Pulling her headphones out of her pocket, she plugged them into her IPhone before scrolling to her playlist of dubstep and picking one that was particularly loud. While once she had pondered the irony of a mute having a cell phone, she had long ago stopped caring. She could text and listen to music. At least she had a way to talk to her mom and Neon Lights, even if it wasn't talking, talking.

As she sat against the locker, listening to the loud buzzes, loops and wubs of her music with her eyes closed behind purple shades, she felt the device in her hand vibrate. Looking at the screen revealed that she had received a text from speak of the devil Neon. Flipping the answer key she looked down at the message on her phone.

"Hey V want to skip school today?"

She pondered the offer for a moment before deciding that while she liked the idea, skipping the day was out of the question. The morning however would be ok she supposed.

"Can't skip the day but fuck the mornings already off to a bad start. I missed getting into Cheerilee's room on time so half the morning is done already. What did you have in mind?"

"I was thinking we would head over to the arcade for a bit. I could spot you some quarters if you feel like loosing to me at some stuff?" He replied.

"You're on! meet me at the statue."

Stuffing her phone back into her pocket Vinyl got up from where she had been sitting and made her way to the front of the school building. Out of all the people she knew, Neon was probably the only one she considered a friend. He was the only person that neither bullied her nor pitied her. He simply treated her like any other person, which was a huge relief. He was the one person aside from her mother who saw past her muteness and acted the same around her as he would anyone else. Better still he had her back when she really needed it.

If she needed access to some equipment for a little DJing, be it for spare scratch or for the school, he would let her borrow his stuff. In fact the only reason she was able to DJ at all was because he was good enough to loan her his equipment when she needed it. The two of them never really seemed to fight, either, even though Vinyl never really did with anyone anyways. There was the one time she stole his car, or as he called it "the Bassmobile" but considering she had done it to stop the Sirens he let her off the hook for pickpocketing his car keys.

Pushing open the front doors to the school building she was greeted by her black haired and blue, grey skinned friend waving. She returned the gesture by fist pumping before doing a move reminiscent of Mirror's Edge to enter his car without opening the door.

"Hey V ready to go?"

Vinyl nodded as Neon put his foot to the gas and more or less peeled out of the school parking lot. As they drove the blue haired DJ hooked up her phone to the sound system in her friends car and turning the volume up as high as she dared letting the Bass wash over them. Vinyl began writing on her notepad a small question to ask her friend at the nearest opportunity. It came when they hit a stop light.

"How are things with Watermelody going? She doing good?"

"She's doing great and things are good. We're going out to The Tasty Treat tomorrow and I've got a little something planned."

Vinyl raised an eyebrow quizzically behind her purple shades.

"It's nothing big I just bought her a necklace is all."

Vinyl took off her shades and rolled her eyes so he could see.

"What?"

The DJ scribbled something down.

"Hoping to get lucky huh?"

The driver turned beat red.

"*Ehem* no it's not like that."

She gave an unconvinced deadpan expression.

"Ok fine it might have had a little something to do with it."

She smiled knowingly and punched his leg lightly.

"Ya ya go on make fun of me if you will but you would do the same thing for a black haired cellist."

The pale young woman went from white to pink.

"You really should talk to her V." He paused for a moment before making a rewinding motion with his right hand. "I mean not talk to her but write to her or I mean...Shit I'm sorry V."

Vinyl waved a hand dismissively and gave a small shrug as if to say it was fine. Neon relaxed a bit after seeing that.

"Thanks I'm sorry I just, you know get in the habit of what I say and..."

Vinyl pointed at him and put her pointer finger to her lips.

"Ya sorry I'll shut up now."

She nodded. They drove in silence for a few moments but Neon couldn't help but speak again, he was known for not being good at being quiet.

"You should try to explain how you feel though to her. I don't know Octavia well myself but Watermelody does and she says she's real sweet."

The DJ looked at her white hands in her lap.

"She also says that Octavia mentions you sometimes."

Her head bolted upright and snapped in his direction.

"She told me that Octavia see's you walk by her place everyday you have school and asked why you didn't take the bus."

She drooped her head again in embarrassment.

"She didn't tell her your stalking her or anything like that she just said you prefer to walk."

Vinyl gave him and irritated glance with furrowed eyebrows.

"What? I didn't do anything!"

Pulling out her note pad again Vinyl angrily scribbled a reply.

"I'm not stalking her! Yes I walk past her place because I hope to bump into her but I'm not following her everywhere she goes or stealing her gym cloths!"

"Whoa hey I didn't mean it like that sheesh I'm sorry ok?"

The girl just folded her arms with an angry exhale.

"Hey tell you what you can have my tickets ok? Will that work as a peace offering?"

The DJ put a curled finger under her chin before promptly nodding in acceptance.

/l---)O(---/l\

"How? Just...just...How?" Exclaimed Neon Lights.

The final score on Alone a competitive two person stealth shooter in the arcade was over 9000 points for Vinyl with a death count of zero. Neon's score was under 400 with a death count of three, and they had only cleared one area. The blue haired girl gave a cocky pleased smile of triumph against both the robots and her friend.

"You used a gun just once and a tactical baton on all the other take downs! How did you do that?"

Vinyl waved a finger back and fourth before spinning the plastic pistol like a gunslinger and holstering it in the machines holster. Neon drooped his head in shame while she pulled out a sketch pad and wrote down "You mad bro?" before shoving the pad in his face. After reading the note the taller male looked around the paper and held two fingers in close proximity.

"Just a little bit, like this much."

Vinyl's smile got wider.

"So you've kicked my ass at Alone, Psychedelic, Madness and even Spider Tank, further to the point you've beaten my high score on the first and last as well, and to top it all off I'm out of quarters because of all the buy ins I had to take from you using me as a meat shield."

"It's not my fault you can't outsmart a bunch of robots."

"Ya ya laugh while you can. Next time I'm not going easy on you."

Vinyl quirked an eyebrow with a half smile.

"Spose you'll be wanting a ride back to school?"

She nodded.

"Alright then lets get you back in time for lunch."

As the two of them made their way to Neon's car the older male pulled out his phone when a text caused it to buzz. With a few strokes he replied before climbing into the car and starting the engine.

"Who was that?"

"Watermelody asking if I can take her to lunch today."

Vinyl scribbled another question.

"You're in love with her aren't you?"

Neon smiled.

"Can you keep a secret V?"

She gave him a deadpan expression as if to say "Who the fuck am I gonna tell?". Neon chuckled at her look before turning down the road towards CHS.

"I'm gonna ask her to marry me V."

Vinyl's eyes went wide as dinner plates, even her shades couldn't hide her surprise.

"I get it she's a few months short of 18 and I'm a collage sophomore right?"

Vinyl's head bobbed from side to side as if to say "Kinda."

"I know her parents hate me, I know my folks don't approve, I know we're an odd match and I know she hasn't graduated yet but V, I love her. I love her more than my music, my parents and even my signed copy of Ra Ra's new album "Childhood Memories" I can't Imagine a life without her so I'm gonna tell her when she turns eighteen. My birthday gift to her is gonna be the promise that she's the one I choose out of all the others in the world."

Vinyl sat even quieter than normal for a little bit before scribbling a very carefully thought out reply.

"Wow you are sappy."

"Hey just because I'm a dude who can drink a bottle of vodka in one night doesn't mean I can't have feelings! Guys can be sensitive too little one."

With his right hand he ruffled his friends hair till she swatted his hand away in a fury. Neon gave a heartfelt chuckle before putting his hand back to the wheel.

"By the way I'm telling you this because I want you to come to the wedding if she says yes when I ask her. I know a guy usually asks his brother or a dude to be his best man but your the closest thing I got to a sibling and you're my best friend too so will you be my best man?"

He paused before adding.

"So to speak that is."

Dumbfounded it took Vinyl until they pulled up in the CHS parking lot to even think of a reply to write.

"Neon I can't talk! What about the speech? How am I gonna talk about how great you are or humiliate you in front of your new wife if I can't talk?"

"I'm sure you'll think of something V, you always do. For crying out loud when I was watching the battle of the bands with Watermelody and all that crazy shit happened you found a way to steal my car and help save the day! This should be a piece of cake for you. So...will you do it?"

Vinyl was silent for a while before looking at him again. He had been like a brother to her these past few years and while not always the best influence on her he knew how to make a bad day turn around. For crying out loud he would deliver his music equipment for a gig she had even if it was an hour before the performance, just because he knew how important it was to her that she make her music. How could she say no?

"How can I say no to my big brother?"

"Thanks V this means the world to me."

They shared a hug before Vinyl got out of the car and waved goodbye as she made her way towards the school entrance. Neon turned the car engine back on before peeling out of the parking lot and speeding down the street while bass came from his cars subs. The girl smiled as she thought of something, he wasn't like a brother to her, he was her brother even if not by blood.