The Chance To Say

Octavia woke up to her usual alarm that she had set to an easy listening radio station. She opened her eyes and looked around her room for a moment before getting up. She walked over to the vanity and brushed her mane down into its usual form. Humming along to the radio as she brushed, she took in the comfortable surroundings of her morning routine. Something wasn't the same though, there was an odd noise coming from the living room. She got up and walked slowly over to the door, poking her head out of the slim space. Continuing her walk into the living room, she figured that the noise was coming from the white unicorn sprawled out on the couch.

That's what that noise was? I could've sworn a train was in the living room.

Octavia chuckled to herself as she trotted over to the kitchen and got out a large pan. She turned on the stoves right front burner and put the pan down. Quickly cracking a few eggs onto it, she fried herself up a small breakfast. Not wanting to wake the other mare, and seeing as how the space was occupied, she decided against sitting on the couch and watching T.V. She set her breakfast down on her desk in her room and walked over to the dresser. After putting on her show outfit, she debated wearing a hat or not. Instead of continuing her self-debate for more than a few seconds, she decided to review the songs for the show and sat down at her desk. She pulled open a drawer and drew from inside it a few sheets of music. Octavia looked over the music thoroughly while eating her breakfast,as there was another big show today, and if she nailed it it could be the paycheck that upgrades her apartment to a house.

Would I want carpet or hardwood in the living room? Maybe tile? No, tile's for the kitchen. With my luck I'dscratch the floors all up moving the furniture through the living room.

Octavia got distracted by the thoughts of her new place, and stopped caring about the music momentarily. She snapped back into focus when a loud snort-type sound came from the living room, followed by a long yawn.

She must be up. Should I go out or stay here?

A few rustling noises followed by a few loud, dry coughs made Octavia stand up and walk back into the living room. She saw the unicorn doing a few stretches beside the couch. Vinyl looked over and saw Octavia standing in the doorway.

"Hey."

"Good morning. You sleep well?"

"For sure. Haven't slept like that in months."

"Oh, well I'm glad you're well rested."

"Thanks, and thanks again for taking me in."

"Oh it's no trouble."

"I didn't wake you with my snoring did I? I've been told I can be pretty noisy."

"No, I wasn't bothered."

"Ok, good."

Vinyl cocked her head from one side to the other and back again, hearing it crack as she did so. She used her magic to bring a flip-blade comb up to her mane. With a small flourish, she flipped the comb open and straightened out her mane. At this point, Octavia had walked over to the door and picked up her cello. Vinyl had sat back down on the couch and let out a few coughs as she did so. Octavia had almost walked out door after putting her coat on and her cello on her back. She stopped in the doorway when she remembered that the mare on the couch didn't live there. Octavia turned to see Vinyl levitating an apple and taking a bite out of it.

"Um, Vinyl?"

"Yeah?"

"I, I have to go for my concert. Um, I was wondering what you were planning to do?"

Vinyl held up a hoof and swallowed the bit of apple in her mouth. She dug around in her bag and eventually pulled out a small device. After flipping it open, she frowned and looked back to Octavia.

"You got a phone around here?"

"Yes. It's over there beside the fridge. You're welcome to use it if you need."

"Awesome, thanks."

"It's no problem. I'll see you later today?"

"Yeah, I'll probably be here. I got a few calls I've been meaning to make."

"Alright, see you later."

"See ya."

As Octavia trotted out the door, Vinyl got up and walked over to the phone. It was a cordless version, so she just levitated it up and entered the number.

"Alright, let's make these calls then."

______________________________

"So, let me get this straight again. You found her on the street and decided to take her in just because a feeling told you to?"

"Well when you put it like that.."

"Come on Tav, you know better than to do something like that. You remember last year when that band was killed by street ponies?"

"Yes I remember."

"Whatever, doesn't matter. So long as she doesn't start distracting you."

Octavia was sitting in her dressing room with her agent, Platinum Record. He was newer to the business, but he definitely was born to do it. He was a unicorn, with a jet black coat and a silver mane streaked with blazing red. A marw poked her head in the door and looked at Octavia.

"You're on in five minutes miss Melody."

"Alright, thank you."

The pony left the room and Platinum Record turned back to Octavia. The grey mare had taken her cello out and was fiddling around with a few minor things on it.

"Alright Tav, this is it. After this show, you'll hit the top of the charts for sure. Just remember to relax and just focus on the cello."

"Alright, I'm ready."

"Excellent, it's time to go then."

The two stood up and walked over to the door. Octavia walked down the hall to the side of the stage. Platinum Record walked past her and over to the microphone stand in the center of the stage. He levitated the mic beside him and nodded to Octavia before walking through the curtains. Octavia let out a long sigh as she looked down at the ground. She could here her agents muffled words as he addressed the crowd.

"Fillies and gentlecolts, please put your hooves together for Octavia Melody!"

Octavia quickly took her place on the stage as the curtains drew open. Platinum Record quickly walked over and placed the mic back on the stand.

"Good luck."

They nodded to each other as he trotted off the stage. Octavia pressed her bow gently against the strings of the cello, and after a brief moment of thought she began playing. The crowd was silent as she went through the song she had written and played the other day. She never strayed her gaze from the long wooden neck of the instrument, trying her hardest not to mess up even the slightest bit. She began straying from the song not in the physical sense but the mental sense.

I wonder what kind of calls Vinyl had to make. Hopefully she makes a call that will get her set up with a nice place, maybe she has a-

Octavia's thoughts were shattered by an ear-peircing sound coming from her cello. She looked up in a panic as the crowd let out a low sound of disappointment. Octavia went red as she looked down and continued playing. She fumbled through the rest of the song, occasionally catching disappointed glances from Platinum Record. After her song ended, she stood up and bowed. She was given a mediocre round of applause as she walked off the stage with a large amount of shame.

How the bloody hell did I screw that up so bad? Was it because I was thinking about...it was!

"Octavia! What the hell happened?"

"Save it Platinum, I have to go be somewhere."

"What do you mean by that?"

Octavia had immediately taken the offensive in the argument, as Platinum knew when she was mad. She never snapped on him. Octavia packed up her cello and walked towards the back door.

"I'll, I'll talk to you tommorow?"

"Call me if something happens."

Octavia pushed open the door and began walking home. Platinum Record put a hoof to his earpiece, answering the call that had come in.

"Yeah this is Plat, what you got? Yes. Yes she did. I figured. Alright. Alright, thanks. Yeah, bye. Fuck. I hope she gets her shit together before Friday."

______________________________

Octavia stormed up the stairs to her apartment. She had been thinking about her screw up all the way home. Octavia nearly broke the door with the amount of force that she opened it with.

"Vinyl! I need to talk to you now!"

She set her cello case down and closed the door. She turned around to see the white unicorn sleeping on the couch.

"Vinyl, wake up!"

When no response came, Octavia walked over and prodded Vinyl's body.

"Vinyl?"

She put her head up against the unicorns chest and listened. She didn't hear a heartbeat.

"Vinyl!"

______________________________

"I'm sorry miss Melody, but she's in intensive care at the moment."

"And why does that mean that I can't see her?"

"Are you family?"

"No."

"I'm sorry, but I can't let anypony in who isn't family."

The receptionist pony looked at Octavia from behind the glass. Octavia felt a mixture of defeat and anger. She put her front hooves on top of the desktop and stared daggers at the pony.

"Isn't there any way I can see her? Is it a money issue? I promise you I can-"

"Bribery will only get us both in trouble miss Melody."

Octavia lowered her hooves and looked to the floor. Another pony walked up behind the receptionist.

"Your shift's over, you can go."

"Alright, I'll talk to you tommorow."

Octavia looked up to see another mare sitting down and adjusting her mane.

Maybe she'll let me see Vinyl.

"Excuse me miss, but is there a way I could see a patient?"

The mare looked up and saw Octavia. A grin instantly spread across her face.

"No way! You're Octavia Melody!"

Octavia blushed a little bit at the pony's enthusiasm, and she nodded.

"Yes, yes I am."

"I'm a huge fan! What are you doing here?"

"Um, there's somepony I would like to see. Can I do that?"

"Sure can!"

The pony dug around in a drawer and pulled out a few forms.

"Who are you trying to see?"

"Vinyl Scratch."

"K,she's in room 2C just down the hall to the left."

"Thank you very much."

"No problem, but can I get an autograph?"

"Sure."

Octavia was given a pen and a peice of paper on which she wrote her name and a short inspirational sentence. The receptionist squealed like a filly when Octavia passed the paper back to her. Octavia ran down the hallway and quickly entered room 2C. The sight that awaited her almost made her cry. Vinyl was laid out on the hospital bed, asleep. Octavia ran over and put her hoof on Vinyl's chest, feeling the slow heartbeat. The only ambiance she had was the machine next to Vinyl's bed beeping at a slow pace.

"Vinyl? Vinyl are you awake?"

Vinyl's eyes fluttered open, and she rolled onto her side. She saw Octavia and tried to sit up.

"Oc-octavia?"

"Vinyl! You're alive!"

"Yeah, I'm alive. What the hell happened?"

"I don't know. When I got home I thought you were asleep on the couch, but I couldn't hear your heart beating so I rushed you here."

"Wait, you rushed me here?"

Octavia nodded as Vinyl pushed herself into a sitting position. Vinyl smiled and looked around the room.

"Thanks. I mean, the last thing I remember was getting off the phone with an old friend and then I passed out on the couch. Now I'm here."

"What did the doctor say?"

"He said something about my body reacting badly to the cold. Apparently it took this long for it to become something bad."

"Well, I'm just glad you're OK."

"Well look who was worried about little old Vinyl."

Vinyl crossed her forehooves and smirked at Octavia. Octavia's face went a little red and she stumbled over her words.

"I-I was just, concerned that, that you were-"

"Suuuuuuure."

Vinyl chuckled and looked forwards at the clock across the room.

"How'd the concert thingy go?"

"Oh, umm, it went ok."

"Just ok?"

"I sort of messed up."

Vinyl cocked her head and looked at Octavia.

"Wait, you messed up? That can't be good."

"No, no, my agent was quite upset."

"At least you still have an agent."

"That's true I guess. I have another show in a few days, I just hope I don't screw that one up too."

"I'm sure you'll do great."

Octavia noticed that the machine next to Vinyl had slowed down in its beeps pace. As it did, Vinyl looked to be getting more and more tired.

"Vinyl, are you feeling alright?"

"I'm, I'm fine."

Vinyl's eyes slid shut as she slumped down in the bed and the machine held one long, high pitched note. Octavia's eyes shot open and she rushed to the door.

"Doctor!"
To Be Continued...