Finding Perfect Harmony

5 years earlier:

The class room was quiet with the surrounding students buried deep in their exam papers, some more focused then others. I found myself looking out the window at the snow falling outside; it was close to Hearts Warming Eve, as well as the 4 month anniversary of me running away from home with Joy.

Joy’s family took me in soon after I left, I didn’t need to explain myself, the black and blue marks across my face as well as the dried blood that still remained from my father’s fists proved to be enough. I was clothed, fed, and even given a warm bed; for the first time in a long time, I found myself able to sleep peacefully without the fear of a drunken stallion walking through the front door bent on taking his anger out on something, and in truth I think my father was satisfied with the situation as well.

As I finished the last question on the exam paper I flipped it over and let out a satisfied sigh earning a glance from the ponies surrounding me, their face maintaining the nervous look they had since the test began. It was hard to imagine that mere hours ago I realized that I had stayed up the entire night studying for the paper in front of me, “The Big Test” as it was called since it was the last one before the first term would end not to mention it was your ticket to the schools dance the night to follow.

It was tradition that the mares of the school would try and ask out the stallion of their choice in the coming months in hopes to find themselves holding each other close on the dance floor swaying back and forth as soft music played.

Although I had been asked by several mares my answer was the same, a simple “Let me think about it” or an “I don’t think I’m going, sorry” sending each away with a disappointed frown. In truth, I didn’t want to go, the whole dancing thing never appealed to my senses like a free night to myself.

I looked across at Joy who was contently laying her head down on her desk over her paper, eyes closed, and chest rising and falling as she breathed. Popular to contrary belief, we weren’t together; much to everypony’s dismay seeing as we made “A Cute Couple” but that never stopped the other mares from asking me what I thought of her. She opened one of her golden eyes immediately looking my way and giving me a faint smile as she scanned the class room as if to see if class was still going on before meeting my gaze once again. She glanced up at the teacher who was busy writing away at a paper in front of him, his horn glowing as the quill shifted back and forth. Removing a small sheet of paper from her saddle bag she began scribbling on one of the sides with the black raven feather that was still on her desk, a faint shade of red as she set the sheet back in her saddle bag before glancing back at me with a faint smile.

“Oh ya, it was about me”

The bell rang about 30 minutes later awaking me from the small light sleeping state I was in, the metallic ringing resonating through the small room making my ears ring with the noise. All around ponies got up from their chairs some groaning having not finished their tests, while others seemed to pretty content about the whole thing, granted me and

Grace seemed to be the on the winning side at least through our eyes.

Walking down the hallway I noticed ponies all around me rushing up and down the hallways, some stopping at their lockers while couples stopped to chat in the hallways obviously about tonight’s dance.  Pushing through the crowds I managed to squeeze my way to my locker, still woozy from the nap I just had, I didn’t see Joy coming up from behind.

“Hey you” she greeted leaning up against the closed locker next to mine. “How do you think your test went?”

“Seeing as I stayed up all night studying” I began only to be cut off by a yawn. “Pretty well”

Joy began to laugh slightly as she began to stare off, her face turning a faint shade of red as she massaged her arm with one her forelegs. “So, what are your plans for the night, are you going to that dance?”

“I wasn’t planning on it, no” I replied shutting my locker having put the final book inside walking down the hallway again pushing past the crowd that didn’t seem to lighten up. “What about you, are you going?”

“Well… you see I was actually going to talk to you about that” She began following me towards the exit. She was at a loss for words, which wasn’t like her, not at all. Even as we approached the exit I waited as I put on white and blue scarf around my neck she remained silent, her face retaining the slight redness.  She let out a brief sigh opening her saddle bag and removing the note from earlier which was now neatly folded. “Just… give me an answer later” she said before dashing out the doors into the falling snow not bothering to cover herself up from the harsh wind.

5 Years Later:

I shifted in my position on the sofa, the blanket covering the top half of my body. I was unable to sleep, to distract my mind for even a moment to allow myself even a moment of sleep. Upstairs I could hear Octavia and Vinyl bickering back and forth about Celestia knows what, Octavia’s voice more annoyed than angry making me wonder if it was about me. I shifted again this time laying on my side to glance out the nearby window at the clear night sky, the stars the only light that could be seen, it’s beauty almost speaking to me as if Luna herself was there with me just beckoning me outside. Shooting one more glance towards the voices I slowly got off the large sofa walking over to the window sitting down on the blue cushion and just peering out at the town on the other side of the glass. It was calm, as if nopony had even occupied the streets at all.

A set of hoof steps came to a halt right in front of the living room before halting just at the entrance.

“Couldn’t sleep?” I heard the voice of Vinyl ask.

I shook my head not bothering to look at her. I heard her walk closer eventually halting right behind me as she dropped a blanket over my shoulders.

“Can I join you?” she asked.

Scooting over I allowed Vinyl a space next to me which she gladly accepted looking out up at the stars through her purple sunglasses.

“Sorry about Octy, I don’t think she expected me to bring home any stallions tonight” she joked.

“Does that happen often?” I joked back giving her a slight smile earning a slight smile from the white unicorn.

“No, just once” she stated in a tone making me wonder if she was joking or not.

Turning she met my gaze with a slight smile making me blush and turn away to look up at Luna’s night sky once again. She was cute, I’d give her that but at the moment the only mare on my mind was Joy. Besides, I wasn’t even sure if she was in a relationship or not which would make the situation all the harder.

“So what’s got you down in the dumps? If you don’t mind me asking” she asked breaking the silence. “Back at the club you made it seem as though you and Joy were going through some troubles, is everything ok?

I shook my head. “Hard to love someone who has given her heart to somepony else.” I stated almost instantly regretting it, having told basically a complete stranger exactly what was on my mind.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to pry” she stated averting her gaze slightly down.

I let out a sigh running a hoof over my brow. “Don’t worry about it; I’m just happy to have somepony to talk to, even if I only just met them”

Vinyl turned and met my gaze again letting the room fall silent once again as we just sat there starring at one another for a while. Outside I heard a faint breeze blow through the trees surrounding the small PonyVille home making me slowly turn my gaze slowly at the sound of the leaves. Beside me Vinyl had an uneasy look upon her face. Taking a loose part of the blanket with my magic I lifted it over her shoulders scooting a little closer to give her a little more of the blanket, our bodies mere inches from touching.

“Thanks” she said wrapping herself a little tighter in the blanket.

She scooted a little closer to me and I could feel the warmth of her body as I felt her touch my haunches. It wasn’t at all unpleasant, in fact the warmth almost felt like a gentle touch, allowing me to relax if only a little.

“So, what happens now? Don’t you have a concert in a few days’” she stated.

Letting out a long sigh I tried ignoring the question having no answer to it myself, in truth I had no idea what I was going to do. For one I could always attend the concert faking what had happened, what I had seen. On the other, I could completely bail out and leave “Solvalla” to fend for themselves, to make some elaborate excuse as to why they couldn’t play. It had happened only once, last season to be exact. Joy had come down with a case of the pony pox, it was rare at her age and having had it myself me and Beat were left to tend for her while she healed, Beat seemed to take extra care of her. I felt so stupid for not knowing, not seeing what the two of them were doing behind my back.

Vinyl placed a reassuring hoof over my shoulder bringing me into a small hug, setting her head on my shoulder and leaning against me.

“You’ll figure something out. I know you will” she reassured patting me once.

I felt calm, my mind eased as I placed my head on her head finding myself a little more tired than I had previously imagined. I felt my eye lids grow increasingly heavy, my mind easing as I placed a hoof around Vinyl earning a pleased sigh from the white unicorn. I no longer cared who she was, fan or not, I was thankful for her company, her embrace, and her understanding.