Chapters Author's Note
Is this my obligatory first story author's note? Yep! Anyway, I doubt anyone is going to read this but if you are, do enjoy and tell me what you think. I had to make up a bunch of characters for this because I needed some personalities to fit and also I could not at all remember who appeared as a background character in EQG.
Chapter 1
"So, you're leaving then," a girl with light brown skin said, sitting down on the steps just below her friend. It wasn't quite a question, rather a statement of the inevitable truth. "I will miss you very much, but I am certain that a change of atmosphere and some new faces will be good for you. There is hardly anything you can pursue here and you will most definitely go far." Her friend just sighed, pulling out her earbuds. She leaned forward and took the other girl's long darker brown hair in her hands. Her fingers were thin and skilled, quickly twisting the thick hair into braids. They both stared out at the driveway for a moment, not speaking. Truth be told, there was very little that could be said. "Symphony Bloom and Toffee said they would have come to send you off, except that it was too early for them." The green-haired girl's heart sank. "They did write a letter to you, here." The first girl put it down next to her, a thick envelope that was neatly labeled and doodled on with small hearts and musical symbols.
The second girl was now done braiding her friend's hair and slid down a couple of steps to sit next to her. "Thanks," she whispered, her voice barely audible even in the early morning calm. There wasn't another person in sight, just the pale, waning moon and the few stars that managed to outshine the street lights. It was almost like there was no other person in the world, just the two of them and the infinite possibilities that lay ahead of them, a journey through the future and into the unknown.
"I could not bear to miss your last dawn here, Lemon," her friend replied as Lemon rested her head on her friend's shoulder. Words sat on the tip of the first girl's tongue but she swallowed them down, choosing to enjoy the gradient of pastel colors that streaked across the sky. There were so many things that could have been said but this last, oh-so-precious moment said them all for her. There had already been days of frustration and grief, of promises and promises that she intended never to break. Now was just the quiet acceptance and this last pocket of time they had together before it all changed.
"I don't want to leave," Lemon mumbled, pulling her knees toward her. "I don't want to leave here, I don't want to leave you! This place is home and I don't want that to change, I don't want everything to change!" Her body shook with quiet sobs, tears rolling down her cheeks. She had never cried in front of her friends, not even when she broke the news to them. She rubbed them away roughly, hoping that the other girl hadn't noticed yet, setting her jaw and staring off into the distance. Yet, another silvery tear slid down her face and she left it there, salty and hot. "Rano, I can't leave you." She added, once again quiet.
Soprano turned around and gripped Lemon's hands tightly, forcing the other girl to look straight at her. Lemon met her gaze for a second before ducking down as tears welled up once again. She blinked them away quickly and looked back into her friend's pale green eyes. "Lemon Zest," Soprano said firmly, "I love you and you know that no distance and no time could ever change that. I am always going to be just a phone call away from you and nowhere any further. We may not be able to control our current circumstances but we are going to do our best." Soprano pulled Lemon in for a hug, holding her there as the other girl cried into her shoulder, muffling her sobs. And together they sat until the pink and purple sky faded into a pale blue. It was time for Lemon to go.
"You are going to go far, Lemon, I just know it. Besides, if it serves as any consolation, Crystal Prep is supposed to be a good school. Don't forget the letter, here you go. Wait." Soprano pulled a sleek, black case out of her bag and passed it to the other girl. Inside was a pair of wireless, hot pink headphones with the pattern of a slice of pie on each of the ear cups. "D'you like it?" Soprano gave a hopeful smile, holding them out. "I know you really wanted a pair that was specific to you after the other one broke and you always draw those pies everywhere and I thought that-" she rambled nervously.
Lemon cut in, smiling broadly, "They're perfect, Rano, don't worry. I love them." Lemon paused before hugging the other girl once more, holding her tight like she was never going to let go. Whispering in Soprano's ear, she said, "I'll never go a day without thinking of you. I love you, Soprano Dawn, never forget that." They pulled away from each other and Lemon got into the car, her parents hurrying her along.
Soprano watched, as the car pulled away, waving. Both of them watched each other until the other was no more than a mere speck in the distance, a dot against the horizon. In the hand that had not very long ago been holding the headphones case, Soprano found herself holding something else, a mixtape. In permanent marker, it read: thnks fr the mmrs. All Soprano could do was smile sadly at it as she walked away. Moving on didn't mean to forget but you could not hold on to someone who wasn't there, you couldn't dwell on the past and get so caught up in your fantasy world that you forgot to live in the moment. She had never shared Lemon's taste in music but a mixtape was something that meant the world to her. Just because Lemon seldom spoke before they became close to each other didn't mean she didn't have a language of her own. Soprano shared that language, the language of music.
"Oh, you're the new girl, aren't you?" A girl with pale pink hair asked, jogging to keep up with Lemon. "I don't remember you from elementary school, did you go to the other school across town? What's your name? I didn't catch it during class. Hey, wait!"
Lemon stopped in her tracks, fiddling with a pair of wired earbuds, her gaze focused on them. She coiled them around her hands, shifting her gaze to somewhere left of Symphony's sneakers. "I-I'm L-Lem'n... Zest," she managed audibly. She shifted her weight uncomfortably, shrinking into herself.
For some strange reason, Symphony was completely comfortable with this. "That's a pretty name, I'm Symphony Bloom and my friend here's Soprano Dawn. I was wondering if you'd like to have lunch with us." She was calm and relaxed in a way that even Soprano, cool and collected, was unable to rival. Lemon nodded slightly, looking up for a moment with the hints of a smile just beginning to form at the corners of her mouth.
"Th-thanks."
Symphony took off running with Soprano and Lemon trailing behind. "You don't have to talk, Symphony is a little overwhelming at times," Soprano said, trying to fill in the awkward silence.
Lemon shook her head, eyes on the ground. Her lime green hair fell into her eyes and she didn't push it out, instead fidgeting with it and forming a small braid. She stumbled over her words as she tried to respond, "C-can't talk v'wy w-well..." A pause. "Y-your hair's pwet- Your h-hair's nice." She looked up for a moment and Soprano quickly gave her an encouraging smile.
"Thank you," she replied kindly, touching the ends of her hair. Her father had cut her hair recently and she hadn't enjoyed the hair cut. Instead, she had been feeling rather self-conscious about it all day. "I see that you have earbuds, what kind of music do you listen to?" She asked curiously, unsure how to continue the mostly one-sided conversation.
Lemon's eyes lit up and she immediately took out her phone and began showing Soprano her playlists. There were playlists with almost every artist that Soprano had ever heard off and many that she hadn't. They were labeled with strings of colors, such as orange-pink and blue-teal-silver and cyan-gold-indigo. They were confusing labels but they probably made sense on some level. Having been friends with Symphony since pre-school, Soprano had gotten used to the other girl's many idiosyncrasies and while Lemon didn't speak very well, the girl was nice and perhaps just shy. Unlike her father, Soprano wasn't particularly judgemental of those around her, not constantly trying to associate herself with people of higher power. Besides, Soprano herself wasn't very talkative either and was quite comfortable with silence most of the time. Perhaps it was just that Symphony did more than enough talking for both of them and she, if Lemon decided to hang out with them, would also begin speaking on behalf of her.
"Oh hey! I like that song too," Soprano pointed out and Lemon grinned, plugging in her earbuds and offering one side to Soprano. And they two fell in sync, walking side by side. No words were necessary, just the quiet lack of silence that they shared. Very few people were able to see past Lemon's surface, how she wasn't quite nearly the same as other peers her age, seeming at once both more and less mature than them. Yet, the kindness of youth and the possibility of a blooming friendship was more than enough for Soprano to accept her. In fact, Soprano didn't just accept her, she rather liked her for the feeling she gave of, a sense of calm. It felt like Lemon was smiling even if she didn't show it. She didn't need words to show Soprano that she was happy or that she was grateful, her posture said it all. Somehow, that felt more genuine than words. That might have been because one can easily lie but for someone to completely radiate a feeling was something completely different. Yes, Soprano was sure that she and Lemon would get along just fine.
Lemon stared out of the tinted car window, watching everything she had ever known fall back behind her. This was the town she grew up in and it had grown with her, the sapling that she had helped her mother plant when she was so much littler than she was now, the paint that had faded over time, stained with the memories and the sticky childish hands that had left their mark. This town had been her whole world, she knew every nook and cranny, every other person's names, all the stray cats that roamed the streets. She knew her next-door neighbors, an elderly couple that gave the mute girl her first piano lessons, the little boy who lived across the street that she had watched grow up, babysitting him sometimes for a little spare change. There was the bakery where she and Symphony had first met Toffee Glow, where the three of them had first experimented with their little recipes, the counter they had dramatically sat on while announcing the latest grand scheme one of them had come up with. There was the adjoined cafe where they had done their homework and their projects, where they had earned their first keep by running errands and offering to clean the tables.
There was the park where she had spent hours watching Soprano perform, after the girl had secretly acquired a busking license for the summer, it was the park that had seen her through scraped knees and nosebleeds, the one with a pond and ducks that she had named, trees that she had climbed with her brother, her just trailing behind at his heels as he took off running. Emotion flared up in her chest, bitter and orange, and she swallowed it down, resting her head against the cool glass window. Arrowshade was a small town where everyone knew each other and that was that, they were self-sufficient. Lemon had never left her hometown before unless trips to the nearby forest ever counted. Out there, that was something unknown. It was unfamiliar and it was dangerous, leaving the quiet comfort of what she knew like the back of her hand. Leaving, she thought, was just asking for a lonely existence. Her best and only friends were still at Arrowshade, unable to follow her as she moved away, and perhaps, even on.
Lemon turned away and stared at her hands, unable to look out any more. Next to her, her brother mirrored her position. She knew it was hard for him too, leaving a town that he had spent more time in than her but there was nothing either could do to comfort the other. They were powerless to the demands of their father's job and it was best for them to obediently comply. Besides, their father was trying his best to provide for their family and he had felt bad about them moving too, giving his children expensive gifts as some sort of consolation. Lemon might have known why her father was making this choice and knew that it was for the better but that didn't make the sacrifice that came alongside it any easier to deal with. She was still giving up everything she had ever known, just for that small chance that her long term future might turn out a little better. It was a shot in the dark and it didn't seem very worth it right now. Why gamble when you just stick with what you knew was certain, what would never change?
"Hey," her brother began, breaking the uncomfortable silence between the two of them. "Do you think this is how Rue felt when she left for college? I mean, sorry, never mind, that didn't help." He ran a hand through his shaggy mint green hair, fingers calloused from the hours he spent devoted to playing his guitar. "It's just-"
"I really miss her," Lemon said, in perfect sync with her brother. "At least our new home will be closer to her school," they continued, speaking the exact same words at the same time. "I know how you feel, Lime, but can't do anything about it any more than you can," Lemon said, offering a sad smile to her brother. He attempted a smile back before looking away. It was an unspoken rule that nobody talked about Rue's leaving for very long. Even though their relationship had mended some time after, nobody could quite forget that she left on a bad note with their parents. "Hope she comes to visit soon, at least."
"Nah, college is busy, you'll see. But, Everton and college? That girl signed herself up for helluva ride," Lime said, laughing easily. "She's smart though, not like me. Reckon she soaked up all of Mom and Dad's brains before we both had a chance to come 'round." Lemon laughed, appreciating how Lime was trying to lighten the heavy, blue-grey mood. "And me? I got all of their dashing good looks. Sucks for the youngest kid, I wonder who's that?" Lime continued.
"Oi!"
"Okay, okay, please stop hitting me," Lime said, holding his hands up in mock surrender. "You got the best, you got all of their talents. Never seen anyone who could throw a track together just like that before." He grinned and winked, leaning over to tickle Lemon. "And that? That's my revenge. You hit hard, little sis."
"Heh, like I hit as hard as you hit the juul," Lemon managed between her giggles, landing herself in another round of tickling. "Fine, I know, I know. Everyone knows that you're too much of a prep to even loosen up and have some fun." Remembering that her parents sat just in front of them, Lemon hastily added, "Not like I do anything I shouldn't be doing either!"
"Yeah, right!" Lime hissed playfully, quiet enough for their parents not to hear. "Like I don't know what you and your friends get up to. It might be legal but some say you shouldn't be pranking innocent people and making out in open spaces."
"Dude, isn't that kind of creepy? You've got to live a little and Mom and Dad's real chill anyway." Lemon retorted, laughing. Even with all their petty bickering, at the end of the day, the two still got along just fine. They shared a strange dynamic, one only siblings could have without ripping each others' throats out. Though Lime was the cool older brother, he wasn't nearly as wild as his sister, always cautious. Lemon, on the other hand, was bolder, always living in the moment and unafraid to take risks she knew would benefit her. Rue was the different one, several years older than both of them. She was the more levelheaded and logical of the three, even if a bit of a mad scientist at times. She could easily get caught up in her own experiments, pursuing knowledge above else.
Symphony, Soprano, and Toffee were Lemon's first real friends outside of her family and once she'd come out of her shell, there was no turning back. She might have been quiet by herself but with her friends, she had all the confidence in the world. Symphony was bubbly and eager, always a daredevil. Soprano, on the other hand, was the more sensible one, less likely to act on impulse. Toffee was sweet and kind, the one who would give second-chances and warm hugs. Though Lemon rarely ever showed it, under all her coolness, she was still at heart the same girl she always was. Even though she'd grown to be more confident, that was always because she knew that her friends had her back. Sometimes, one just needed others to believe in them for them to truly shine.
Lemon leaned back, turning her new headphones over in her hands before slipping them over her ears. They had everything she could ever need, they were wireless with active noise cancellation and the whole shebang. She paired them to her phone and hit shuffle.
Oh, what's the vibe? I wouldn't know, I'm normally in bed at this time You guys, go do your thing And I'll just leave at nine Don't wanna bore you with my frail state of mind
She hummed along, feeling the lyrics radiate yellow-turquoise-grey. Lemon listened to many things, mostly due to her learning to appreciate her friends' music tastes. Soprano was always for something more classical which was far from Lemon's thing but it really wasn't that bad, especially since Soprano kept recommending her songs that made her think of Lemon. She never just heard music, she always listened, she always felt . Melodies sang to her, bringing with them colors and emotion and in turn the memories she had made. There were the good ones with her friends and there were those that were not but music was music, her constant companion through life's challenges. It could take her to a whole different world or a safe place in her mind where she was the only one, open and unjudging. There was nobody, she was certain, that felt music the way she did.
It echoed and resounded in her, unlocking emotions and sensations she didn't know could exist. Music hadn't unlocked her to the world, rather it had given her a reason to care about what the outside world was doing. It was her solace when things became overwhelming, too much for her to bear with the world rushing around her. It slowed time and calmed her heart, bringing her into a little bubble where nobody could intrude so that she could catch her breath and appreciate the little things around her. Lemon always longed to share her music with others but she never knew how, not with others so quick to reject someone who was even slightly different from them. Yet, music was something that could cross borders and break down walls, something that anyone could appreciate. There was music deep inside of Lemon and she learned first how to here it and then how to share it with those she cared for, harmonies that were spun from the deepest parts of her mind.
It shattered her that so few people had the patience for music. They had the patience for artists of course, just not a little girl's music. She had so willingly bared her heart and people were quick to respond with harsh criticism and insults. Her friends had stepped in, defending her and reassuring her again and again and again that her best was always enough, that nobody could create music the way she did and maybe, just maybe, that made things a little bit better. Music became something private, something she would only share with her friends and family and for a while, that was enough. They showered her with praise and suggestions on how to improve but something in Lemon itched for more. It wasn't that they didn't matter, it was just that she wanted the world to hear her. She had spent the first few years of her life silent and even until middle school she could barely speak. Now she could and now she had things to say. Music wasn't just a hobby, it was so much more to her. Music to her was like what baking and cooking were to Toffee, it was like what researching was to Rue.
And then there were the colors. The colors were beautiful, something only she could see. She had asked and yet, nobody else saw the colors. C major was yellowy-orange but the minor was a little more like apricots. The letter E was green, always green while X was metallic yet too grey to be silver all at once. Saturdays were turquoise and Tuesdays a pale orange-red. She wanted so, oh-so-badly, to share the colors with others but nobody understood what she was saying. They just didn't get it. She could talk about them for hours, every little detail mentioned, but nobody else could so very much about them. Maybe, one day, someone would get it. They would see the colors too.
"MOMMMMMM!" Lemon yelled from her room, staring at the pile of clothes on her bed in utter dismay. "What's this?" She prodded it skeptically with a finger, a distrusting look in her eyes.
"It's your school uniform, honey. I told you that you'd have to wear it, that's why I got your measurements the other day," her mother replied, poking her head into the room. "Now get changed, I don't want you late for your first day." She smiled before shutting the door gently.
"Screw you fancy prep school with fancy prep clothes," Lemon muttered, resigned to her horrible fate. "Screw you weird skirt." It was a slight comfort to her that the school itself wasn't entirely too strict so long she was wearing some formal variation of the uniform. It would kill her to put up her hair and leave her headphones at home for even just a day. She quickly put on her school uniform, purposely trying not to think about how the skirt came to be quite a bit above her knee. Had some pervert designed this? Why couldn't it be a decent knee-length skirt at least? The collared shirt was fine, she quite liked it actually. Lemon ran a comb through her hair quickly before using her fingers to fluff it up again. She unplugged her phones and headphones, putting the latter around her neck as she grabbed her school bag, leaving her room.
Lime sat at the table, a bowl of cereal in front of him. However, he paid no attention to it, as he was rather preoccupied with styling his hair which refused to lie flat and stood up at the back. Lemon passed him without a word, dumping her bag on the floor next to the table and continuing to the kitchen without even stopping. She stepped out not long after, precariously balancing a bowl and a steaming mug in one hand, holding a box of cereal in the other. She placed the mug in front of her brother, grinning. She proceeded to dump cereal into her bowl and quickly dug in. Lime groaned and looked away, messaging his temple. "You shouldn't drink coffee if you don't need it, it does terrible things to your brain," he remarked as he picked up the mug and downed its contents. "Heavenly as always but you morning people should lay off the caffeine."
Lemon simply smirked wickedly and hurriedly ate her cereal which floated in not milk but a liquid that smelled suspiciously of coffee. She finished up quickly, picking up the dishes on the table and dunking them in the sink to soak until someone had time to wash them. She met her brother at the door as he held out her bag toward her. He smiled and gave her a thumbs-up as she took her things from him. There was a bright spark in his eyes now that he was caffeinated and his brain seemed to be functioning properly. They didn't need to speak to communicate, working efficiently with one another. It wasn't long before they were both on the bus. Lemon sat down and pulled her headphones up to cover her ears, tuning out the world around her as she stared out the window, watching as the sun slowly dawned over the sprawling city.
Lemon looked away as she felt a pang in her chest, instead busying herself with inspecting her schedule. She caught sight of an envelope in her bag which she distinctly remembered hadn't been there that morning. It was strangely lumpy on one end and she smiled, recognizing the handwriting. She took it out, opening it carefully. A messily folded letter read:
Hey, sis!
I'm writing this the night before because you know that I absolutely can't function in the morning. Anyway, here's to a new school and a new day, amiright? I'll handle the chores tomorrow, don't sweat it. It's technically an even week, so I should be the one doing it. Don't let what anyone says get to you and if you need me, you'll know just where I am. There's a copy of my schedule in the envelope as well. A prep school may be a tough crowd to impress but we'll do it together. My only wish is that you don't lose anything on the first day of school. Stay hyped, kiddo!
-sincerely, how many siblings are currently living with you? just me, you know me.
She smiled slightly before folding the letter back and scanning his schedule. He wasn't the mad student their sister was but he had signed up for some more challenging classes. She put both back in her bag. He knows me well, she thought to herself. No matter how hard she tried, Lemon's eyes wandered over to where the window was, glancing wistfully out.
Sooner than she wished, the bus finally came to a halt at their stop and Lemon got off, knowing that her brother was behind her, absorbed in his mobile games. She walked in silence, taking in the street signed and the little details around her. Crystal Prep itself was menacing in person, standing tall and cold in the early morning light. The halls were quiet, with one or two students scurrying around the halls. It seemed that the more academic ones were more inclined to show up early to school. Lemon herself wasn't exactly academic but she liked to be early, especially in an unfamiliar place It helped that she could get adjusted to her new surroundings before the crowds came pouring in and she couldn't even hear herself think.
Neither she nor her brother had been to Crystal Prep before, their father having enrolled them online. They had been emailed all their details, including a rough map of the school and its numerous facilities. Lemon found her locker after a while, where she carefully reset the code and placed the school books that she didn't currently need inside. She had parted with her brother at the door, seeing as how they had to go in opposite directions. She studied her schedule and the map on her phone for a moment before making her way to her first class and the halls steadily became more populated.
There was nobody that she knew, no familiar face nor accompanying name. Somehow, as with every stereotypical school she had read about in books, she could easily spot the jocks, the nerds, the clear friend groups, if they could be called that. There was just something cold about everyone. There was everyone else too, the people who slotted in between, sticking to the walls. As Lemon went to class, after class, after class, something strange struck her. There was something about everyone that was different, a small detail that stood out clearly.
During lunch, Lemon sat by herself at a table, eating as quickly as she could. She studied the people around her quietly, taking their appearances and how they held themselves, the little personality quirks that were visible if you really looked carefully. Her fingers tapped on her tray quickly, a fast-paced rhythm that looked like patternless fidgeting to the untrained eye. It surprised her how many modifications one could make to the uniform, finding that no more than two people had identical uniform combinations. Perhaps that was the students doing the little they could to differentiate themselves from one another. Furthermore, every female student that she could see, all the way from freshmen to seniors, were all wearing makeup, ranging from brightly colored eye shadow to lip gloss. The few that weren't were the outcast nerds that she recalled from the hallways that didn't seem to interact with anyone at all and one or two athletes that were cool and popular enough for everyone to gloss over the fact. She recalled an interaction that had taken place earlier that day, something that made her feel pale blue and black, shards of cold broken glass.
"Hey," Lemon began, smiling at the other girl. "I don't really know anyone here, what's your name?"
"Shut up, I'm trying to listen, " the other girl snapped back before promptly ignoring her.
"The teacher hasn't even started talking yet," Lemon replied, confused. Her smile faded ever so slightly at the edges.
A girl sitting behind Lemon cut in, saying, "Can't you take a hint? Just stop talking."
Lemon was suddenly painfully aware of the fact that she wasn't like everyone else, she was different. As far as she could see, different didn't have a place at Crystal Prep. She ducked her head and quickly finished off her food and left the lunchroom. She headed to her locker and busied herself with it, rearranging the few possessions she had brought to school that day. Maybe she'd bring some things to decorate her locker tomorrow, a copy of her schedule on the inside of the door, a spare pair of wired headphones or ear defenders just in case, maybe some photos of her friends and siblings. The plain metal was a little sad, especially since she would probably spend much of the school year pretending to be busy getting things. During the first class, she'd tried to be friendly, waving to her classmates after the teacher had briefly introduced her and trying to initiate a conversation with the person next to her.
Unfortunately, nobody at this school seemed particularly friendly, just self-absorbed. Lemon never took rejection very well, once she had opened up enough to care about and even notice what others were doing. She wasn't trying to be difficult but it just hurt, even if the other person clearly didn't mean it like that. Her brother always told her that it was okay to keep to herself if it was easier but truth be told, Lemon already missed her friends badly. It was strange to go to school and functionally exist in near silence, not jokes and laughter. Nobody else could hear her music, pouring through her headphones and drowning everything else out but it didn't feel the same as it would have if she was still back home. No, this new town wasn't home and Lemon wasn't sure if it ever would be.
After the last bell rang, signaling the end of all of Lemon's classes for the day. As the rest of her classmates rushed out, in a hurry to get to whatever extracurricular activities that might have on, Lemon stayed at her desk, trying to finish up the piece of homework that she had started doing in class. While she desperately wanted to head home, she couldn't exactly tear herself away from a task that she had already started to do. She fidgeted in her seat, tapping a pen against the side of her head in time to her music as she bounced her leg up and down. Just as she answered the last question, a shadow fell over her paper. She looked up quickly, pulling her headphones down before looking away slightly. "H-Hello, miss," she mumbled, twirling her pen as she spoke.
"Dean Cadance," The Dean replied with a kind smile. "I thought that I might find you here." She sat down at the table next to Lemon. She radiated calm energy, perfectly contrasting Lemon's jittery emotions. "I take it your first day at Crystal Prep was satisfactory?"
Lemon nodded, trying to keep her gaze focused on the Dean. She rubbed the collar of her shirt between two fingers, feeling the soft material against her calloused fingers.
"Your mother mentioned that you did not want an IEP but if you ever change your mind, don't hesitate to reach out to me or anyone of our guidance counsellours. I believe that the details have been emailed to you. If any of the teachers give you trouble, do tell me. Your sensory issues have been brought up with the principal and she allows you to wear your headphones during class if needed, as long as you aren't abusing them to listen to music. I trust that you won't. Anyhow, if you find that the uniform is uncomfortable, I will see what modifications you can make to it."
Lemon opened her mouth as if to say something, possibly about the length of the skirt but quickly shut it. The length wasn't a sensory thing, she could live with it. "Thank you, Dean Cadance," she said quietly, appreciating the effort that she had made to ensure that Lemon was comfortable at school.
"I must go now. It's been a pleasure talking with you, Lemon Zest, and I look forward to seeing you in the halls tomorrow. The students here may take a little bit of time to warm up to you but don't underestimate the power of friendship," Dean Cadance said with a wink before getting up and leaving the classroom.
Lemon sat at the table for a while before packing her things into her bag, unsure about how she should feel about the encounter. She switched the lights and fans off as she left, pulling her headphones back up and shoving her hands into her pockets. She couldn't help but feel that somebody's eyes were following her as she walked through the halls, making a quick pitstop at her locker before leaving the school grounds and walking to the bus stop. There was something about Crystal Prep that bothered her. The atmosphere was a strange color that she couldn't place, something stifling and indifferent. It wasn't bright and cheery like the friendly town that she had come from, with equally friendly students attending the schools. Maybe this was just city life and she just had to get used to it.
By now, the moon was low in the sky, having made an early appearance. Though the sky was still a light blue, the moon shone palely, barely noticeable, against the cloudless sky. The street lights flickered on as the bus pulled away from the stop and Lemon headed... no, she would not call it home.
Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter. Lemon swung her feet absentmindedly, losing herself to the resounding bass from her headphones. Music was her drug, luring her in with sweet promises and colors, subduing her until she never wanted to leave. Classes had ended rather early today and the sun was bright and shining. It was pleasantly cool with a little breeze and the afternoon would be wasted cooped up at home. There was the park, of course, with its calm but the idea of checking out the music store she had spotted at the mall the other day was also tempting. Either that or she could choose to roam the city until she knew it like the back of her hand, like her playground. Maybe there would a nice cafe somewhere that she could spend her afternoons at, doing her own thing?
I sound just like Limo, she thought to herself with a wry smile. It wasn't that it was a bad thing, it was a mere observation. She checked the time and grinned to herself before getting off the bus at the next stop, swinging herself around the pole.
She was lost in the music, her hands miming a guitar as she walked, although danced would be the closest word. She didn’t need to look where she was going, able to recall where the music shop was from her visit last weekend. Lime was always jealous of her spatial memory that, despite his special interest in mapping, still held an edge over his. With her body and her mind completely focused on the song, she could almost forget where she was. It could have been a cool afternoon over by the cafe and Lemon could have been jamming out with her friends. The smiles on their faces and how they felt the music like she did, just without the colors, that was enough for-
Lemon grunted in surprised as she bumped into someone. She winced as her eyes tried to focus with the bright mall lights slicing their way into her vision. It took her a few moments to register who it was. With a slight jerk of their head, a smile, and a thumbs-up, the person continued on their way, walking to their own tunes that blasted from their headphones. “Wait!” Lemon called out, finally finding her words.
They stopped and turned, staring at Lemon expectantly.
“What’re you listening to?” Lemon signed as she spoke, a nervous habit that often made its appearance when the girl was startled but forced herself to speak anyway. As a kid, she had been taught to sign as she spoke whenever she could since her stilted mumbling was a struggle for nearly anyone to understand. She had kept it up for a while, liking that it gave her something to do with her hands rather than to just dangle them awkwardly by her side.
Their eyes lit up and they pulled their headphones off, offering them. Lemon grinned and they traded. The other person’s music wasn’t exactly Lemon’s preferred style but it was pretty cool, something definitely worth rocking out to. She didn't notice how easily they understood each other without words, accustomed to doing the same with her siblings.
Not bad , they signed with a small smile, before returning Lemon’s beloved headphones.
Lemon’s sign language was rusty since she hadn’t used it in a long time and only signed basic words when she freaked out. “Dubstep’s pretty cool too,” she commented, signing the words she knew.
Surprised you sign. I’m V-I-N-Y-L Scratch.
Lemon Zest.
Vinyl grinned and fumbled with their things for a moment before pulling out their phone. They handed it to Lemon, open to the contacts page. Even without words, the meaning was clear. The two swapped numbers and Lemon’s phone lit up with a message almost immediately.
hey (: not every day you find someone else so much like you haha
"You think?" Lemon replied, laughing. Maybe why Lemon didn't question the signing and texting was because she herself didn't talk much before. Now she was more outgoing but back then? Nah. "This is going to be a weird question but I can't tell if you're male or female or neither-" Her phone vibrated, cutting her off.
female enough. cool with she or they or yknow whatever. wanna head to the music store?
Lemon grinned and that was all they needed.
Lemon and Vinyl sat in comfortable silence, or rather the lack of it, on a bench at the park. The sun was setting but Lemon didn't want to go home just yet. Besides, not like she had any homework she couldn't finish quickly. It had been an afternoon of few words but much fun. It was uncanny, how they both preferred not to speak and how they were pretty much the same about their music, lost in the beat.
have to go soon, promised tavi i'd go see her perform. see you around?
"Yeah, I should go anyway." Lemon stared out distantly. It was like she had some sort of connection with this other girl but she couldn't place what it was or how she felt about it. She smiled for a moment at Vinyl before she got up and began walking to the bus stop, her hands in her pockets.
Vinyl was practically a stranger but something about her felt so familiar. Lemon couldn't help but want to see her again, maybe spend another afternoon just chilling out at the music store. All Lemon knew about her was that she went to Canterlot High, another school in the area but not quite at the city, and had a friend named Tavi who was a musician. That would have to be enough for now.
The bus ride back was slow as the girl basked in the setting sun, trying to comprehend what had gone on just now. She changed her song to the dubstep that Vinyl had recommended and watched as the dark blues swirled around, tiny specks of silver illuminating them just like a starry night sky. She smiled to herself, peaceful against the curiosity that burned inside.
The bus ride back to town was a short one but time seemed to pass slowly, creeping by. Octavia had taken a cab home and Vinyl sat by herself on the bus, watching the indigo and navy sky blend into itself. What she wouldn't give to have the sleepy girl curled up against her, her head resting on Vinyl's shoulder as the bus carried them back to town. One day she would have that, even if it wasn't the way she wished it would be. Her mind drifted over to the afternoon, remembering Lemon's bright spark that followed her around everywhere she went and her quiet understanding buried under her loud music, almost like something pent up against brick walls of melodies and bass. Vinyl shuffled her playlist and smiled slightly, watching the colors melt and fade.
"Lemon Zest! Where were you?" Her father's voice rang out once she reached home. "I expect you to be accountable for yourself and that means telling me where you are at all times."
"Sorry, Dad," Lemon mumbled, shuffling her feet as she stood awkwardly in the doorway. Her headphones hung around her neck, almost drooping. Her cheerful presence had melted away in an instant and all that was left was this.
"What was that?"
"You never expected me to keep you posted previously, I could go anywhere I liked back at home," Lemon cut in, her voice raised such that her words were clear.
"Lemon, that's not the same as it is here, at home . Be more careful from now on." Lemon's father stepped aside to let her pass, standing next to his wife who stood quietly by him. His words were deliberate but the tone now soft. He hated to yell.
"Citron, you can't expect them to do that. They're teenagers and you're being too harsh on her. You know this isn't easy," she whispered to him, the lines on her face etched deep with worry.
Citron sighed and mussed up his hair a little. "I worry about her, a big city isn't the same as a small town. She could have gotten kidnapped, or lost. It's past sundown and I got so-" His hair stuck up weird and he looked as if he had been running on nothing but pure caffeine for the last 48 hours.
"Be kinder to her, alright? It's not easy for any of the kids. As much as I hate to say this, we can't shelter them forever."
"Anything for you, princess."
Lemon rounded the corner as her parents finished speaking and walked to her room. It wasn't being fair on her parents, she should have told them that she would be out. They had always meant well for her and her father was always so paranoid as it was, she didn't want to make things worse.
She put her things down in her room gently before heading to her brother's room, knocking gently on the door before opening it. When she had worries on her mind, her brother always knew what to do. Lime sat on his bed with his guitar, humming a tune.
"Oh hey, kid. I was practicing just now, wanna have a go?"
"Have my own," Lemon replied, sitting down on the bed next to him and slumping back. She stared at the ceiling for a while. "I feel bad for Dad, I know he doesn't mean to snap at me. Why do I have to have all these problems? If I were a normal kid, he could just work and not worry about me all the time."
"It's not your fault, it's never been." A pause. "The next time you go and wander around, bring me with you. I want to map out the mall and the park without checking. Gonna do exact distances and all. Even if you were a "normal kid"," he said in air quotes, "Pa would still worry, that's what he does."
"We can make special trips for that, go when it's less crowded," Lemon muttered flatly, Vinyl still on her mind.
Lime frowned. He knew his sister well enough that he could tell when something was wrong. "Anything happen today?"
"I met someone, they're nice... I guess? They just give me this weird feeling that's grey enough that I can't figure out what it is." The ceiling, Lemon concluded, was a plain old ceiling and quite boring. She should put up glow in the dark stars, Lime always loved those.
"I'll be here, alright?"
"Hm."
Lime turned his attention back to his guitar, playing the notes individually. It had been so long since the two jammed together but he just sank into the music, playing a song that they both knew.
hope i'm not disturbing you but my school's got this epic party next week, wanna go? i'll smuggle you in :P also i'm djing !!
cant, sorry
the noise and the people, right? it's ok but if you change your mind... won't force you to mingle, you can listen to your own jam
ill see, gonna do stuff now tho so goodnight
Lemon put her phone down, ignoring the screen that lit up as she turned to her laptop, opening up FL Barn. It was a school night and she usually tried to avoid doing this but she had a wicked idea for a track. Seeing Vinyl and talking with Lime had given her the colors she needed to create something truly unique.
She was in her element, ignoring the numbers at the bottom left of her screen as time marched on. It wasn't perfect and she wasn't sure if she would ever share it but Lemon was proud of her work, the way only a creator could be. She gave a dazed smile before saving it and powering down her laptop. She checked that her phone and headphones were plugged in before collapsing on her bed. Hyperfocus really took the energy out of her.
Just as she was about to drift off to sleep, her alarm rang.
"Shoot."
Author's Note
Oh? Are these parallels?
also a short chapter because I'm rushing this before I head overseas
Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter. 