Colors Of Life

Split was waiting in his living room. He had arranged with Melody for a carriage to pick her up at the local Star Buck to bring her to his studio which was the upper floor of his house. The driver and she should have been there already, but Split was not too concerned since his house was in a busier part of the city, and therefore it might be a bit difficult for a carriage to navigate the traffic and pedestrians quickly. He had prepared fresh Rose Petal tea and had it chilling since it was warm outside. He looked around to make sure the place wasn’t a mess. As usual it wasn’t; he didn’t spend much time in the rooms of his house other than his studio and kitchen. He knew his studio was still a mess, but he wasn’t worried about cleaning it. That’s just how an artists’ studio was. To clean it was to stem his imagination, and that wasn’t something he wanted to do.

As he started into the kitchen to make sure the tea was still cold, he heard a knock at the door. He walked over and opened it to reveal Melody standing there in a simple white sundress.

“I told you that you didn’t have to get all dressed up to come over here.” He said.

“Yea well. I always wear dresses. They look nice okay?” She replied with her usual hostility then proceeded to shove past him. “So this is your house huh? I was expecting it to be bigger.”

“I have an upper and lower floor also. The upper is where I have my studio. Are you thirsty?” He asked.

“Yea. Please tell me you have something strong,” she replied.

“Strong… Like what? Coffee?”

“No, like hard cider,” she replied.

Split nearly choked. “At this time of morning?”

“Yea, well it helps me get through the day. Don’t worry, I don’t get wild or anything,” she answered in a mumble.

“Well… I guess I have some down in my cellar. I’ll go get it,” he hesitantly answered and got up.

“I’ll just stay here,” Melody mumbled. “I hate stairs.”

Split started towards the cellar. Walking towards it, he started thinking to himself. He wondered if this was just how she was; standoffish and rude. It didn’t bother him too much. He had done paintings for ponies before that, and the commissioners complained about them every step of the way. He opened the door to his cellar and stepped inside. He didn’t drink very often, but he still had a very good collection. Flipping on the light, he started checking his shelves. He spotted a bottle of 10 year old Sweet Apple Acres Select Cider and picked that. When he got back up the stairs, he noticed that Melody was sitting on his couch flipping through his photo album.

“Here’s the cider,” he said.

She looked up from the album. “All the pictures in here are of just you. What are you? A narcissist or something?”

“Well, no. I just don’t really have anybody to take pictures with.”

“So you’re telling me that Mr. Bigshot Painter can’t find a girlfriend?” She sneered.

“Something like that,” he answered.

She looked at him for a moment before saying, “Well are you gonna give me some cider or not?”

He poured her some cider and handed her the glass. She snatched the bottle instead and started to chug. He just looked at her.

After finishing off the bottle, she looked back at him. “Don’t judge me.”

“I’m not,” he answered.

“Yes you are. I know you are. I can see it in your eyes.”

He just shook his head and sat down in his chair.

“So why don’t you have any friends?” She asked bluntly.

“Well, that’s not a very nice way to put it.”

“Well it’s true. You don’t have any pictures of friends, and you were awful keen to get friendly with me, so I would guess you’re probably one lonely stallion. I don’t get why though. You’re famous!” She stated.

He smiled slightly. “Well, I guess I just don’t meet many ponies who aren’t just grubbing for social status in my line of work.”

“True. Most of the ponies who go to artsy stuff are usually just social flowers. I hate ‘em all,” she said with a grimace. “What makes you different though? You were the only person who I didn’t see in a fancy getup last night.”

“Well, I don’t like all the fancy getups.”

“But why not? You’re obviously not poor.” She said motioning around.

“I wasn’t always though. I grew up on the bad side of Manehatten. We didn’t have much money. Some things I don’t have an expensive taste for, like clothes. I never did like clothes. Kept me from running away when there was trouble.”

“But you’re a Pegasus. Doesn’t that mean you come from Cloudsdale?” Melody asked.

“Not necessarily. My father was a baker in Manehatten. Only problem was he left my mother when I was born. Never paid child support or anything, just up and left. Mom never did figure out where he went either. Just kind of vanished.”

“What about your mom?”

“She lived with me until a few years ago. Then she passed away from age.”

Melody looked at him, but showed no sympathy in her eyes. He began to wonder about her parents, but she didn’t give him a chance to ask.

“Well that’s that I guess,” she said. “Let’s go check out your studio!”

They walked over to the stairs, the entire way Split heard the clicking. He thought about asking but decided not to. She could tell him if she wanted. She looked at the stairs and sighed.

“Don’t fancy people have like, elevators or something?”

Split laughed. “Not around here. What’s wrong? Afraid of exercise?”

Melody looked at him with a look that threatened death if he continued.

Split looked at his hooves. “Sorry… Do you need some help?”

“Yea, it would be nice.”

Split lifted off of his floor and into the air, picking up Melody by her shoulders. She gave a little, “EEP” as she lifted off of the ground. He flew her to the top of the stairs and set her down.

She gave a little yelp of pain and glared at him as he dropped her to the ground.

“Did I hurt you?” He asked hastily.

“No, It’s nothing. Just be more careful next time.”

He looked at her worried but she just scowled at him, so he led onward to his studio, pushing open the door and she entered.

“Dirty enough in here?” She said while looking around.

“It’s just the way it is.”

“So what are you working on right now?” She asked.

“Well, I have been doing modern stuff for so long that I have been wanting to get back to basics. I was thinking about heading out of the city to do some nature scenes.”

“Huh,” she answered, not really interested. She looked to the back of the room and noticed a large square covered by a sheet. “What’s that?”

“Oh, that’s something I’ve been working on for a long time,” Split answered.

“Is it a secret or something?” Melody asked, now very interested.

“Not really, I just don’t have anybody to show it to. I keep it covered so the sun doesn’t fade the paint.”

“Can I see it?” she asked.

“Sure,” he responded and started moving back towards the painting. He pulled off the sheet to reveal a hill covered in grass with a tree on it. The sky was black and filled with stars. A large moon hung over the scene and seemed to spread a cool light across the entire canvas. Next to the tree was a small figure that was supposed to be Split. Melody stared at it. There was silence. Neither of them said anything for a long time.

Melody spoke first. “It’s beautiful.”

“It is,” Split responded.

“Where is it? The hill, I mean.”

“In my head. I had a dream with it in it one time. It made me feel sad, but I didn’t understand why. I still don’t. It doesn’t feel finished, so I haven’t released it yet.” He answered, “I’ve been trying to figure out what it’s missing, but I won’t release it until I do figure it out.”

She looked at it for a while more then turned away. Split put the sheet back over it and followed her. He carried her down the stairs again, and they went to sit in the living room. She kept looking at him awkwardly.

“What’s wrong?” Split asked.

“You’re just… Not what I was expecting is all,” Melody answered.

“Is that a bad thing?”

“Not at all. You’re actually much more tolerable to be around than most other ponies. Even if you aren’t very good at being a host to a house guest.”

Split snorted. “Yea, well I don’t have any friends really to practice with.”

Melody looked at him again. “I had better be going.”

“Are you sure?” Split asked. “I was just going to make some supper. You could stay if you would like.”

“No no,” she replied. “I had really better get going.” And she stood up.

Split stood up also and led her to the door. She clicked the entire way.

“Well, goodbye Melody. Thank you for visiting,” Split said.

“Split?” Melody said looking at him.

“Yes?” Split replied.

She was blushing now. A touch of pink covered her entire face.

“Ummm… I could… Well I don’t really know how to say it…”

“Go on,” Split said. “I promise I won’t get mad.”

“Nonono. It’s nothing like that. I was just gonna say that… I could always be your friend if you would like…”

       She was looking at the ground and kicking it like it owed her money.

Split stood there for a minute not sure what to say.

Finally he said “I think I would like that very much, Melody. I really think I would.”