Truth: Part Six

"Oh there you are! Bon Bon and I were about to make dinner. Are you hungry?"

Vinyl Scratch was stumbling through her house, still exhausted. She didn't get back home before the vibrant moon of Luna descended below the horizon, and gave way to the burning orb that was Celestia's sun. Not that that particularly bothered the mare. In fact, she rather enjoyed watching the spectacle. More so than ever before in her nocturnal life, Scratch appreciated the purple and red colors dancing with the morning sun. The way they entwined with each other was beautiful and symbolic. The deep, almost crimson, red cautiously but carelessly meshing into a brilliant and breathtaking violet, made Vinyl take even more time in getting home so as to absorb as much of the sight as possible. It seemed so... effortless. Scratch smiled, lost in thoughts of Octavia. Then she realized Lyra was in her house and talking in her direction. Scratch practically growled.

Be nice. She was your best friend for years…

"Whassat?" Scratch slurred. She hadn't found her voice just yet.

"Dinner. Are you hungry?" Lyra sounded irritated. Scratch grinned.

"Er, sure. Bizzie, are you cooking?"

Bon Bon poked her head out of the fridge with a triumphant smile.

"Sure am!"

"So, how was your night? You usually don't look this happy to be awake."

"What? Oh. Yeah. I had a great night."

Scratch's voice trailed off as she let Octavia's voice play through her head for what had to be the thousandth time. She could practically smell whatever perfume Octy was wearing. Scratch swooned.

"I really had fun with you tonight…"

"Equestria to Vinyl… come in, Vinyl. What is going on in that head of yours?"

"Oh, uh. I was just remembering some stuff from the party. It was a pretty sweet crowd."

"Oh? Did a certain unicorn meet a pony she fancies?"

"More like, took a mare that I've BEEN fancy… ing."

Scratch saw Lyra's face tighten for a millisecond before she regained her composure.

"Oh really. Do tell."

Scratch shrugged. "Just somepony I met at the record store a few weeks ago. She clearly had it goin' on for me so I decided to give her a taste of the DJ."

"How come you didn't tell me sooner?"  Lyra's voice was hard.

"Wait, what?"

"Why have you been hiding this from me?"

"Why do you assume I'm hiding something from you?"

"You JUST said that you took somepony you've been seeing. Well? How long? Who is she? What's she like? Why didn't you tell me? I thought we were supposed to be best friends."

"'Cause you act like this anytime there's another mare in my life, is why I didn't tell you." Scratch growled. She couldn't control herself anymore. She was sick of Lyra being so controlling.

Lyra's eyes widened, as did Bon Bon's. Scratch figured she should have felt bad about it, but it was the honest truth. Anytime anypony else came into her life, Lyra acted like somepony kicked Celestia in the face. Bon Bon looked scared about what was to come as a deathly silence filled the room. Scratch could see Lyra's face turning red; out of embarrassment or rage, she didn't know. If she was honest with herself, she didn't care either. She couldn't help but smile, as she did in all tense situations. It's not that she found anger funny, it's just how she reacted because she just wasn't big on petty drama. She didn't see the point in fighting with anypony when there could be partying to be done. However, this was indeed somewhat humorous to her. Making Lyra angry was only a small victory for Vinyl, but a victory nonetheless.

"What do you mean I 'act like this'? I haven't done anything except ask why I haven't heard about this new mare."

Vinyl sighed. "Yeah, you're right. You're acting fine. I'm acting a foal. Sorry I'm the worst pony ever."

"I appreciate when my BEST FRIEND tells me things that are going on in her life." Lyra was barely moving her lips when she talked. Scratch laughed dryly. This was weirder than the time she bet Pinkie couldn't eat all the corn cakes she could find. (She did).

"Like I said, sorry about being the worst friend ever. I gotta go. Why don't you go eat dinner mint bizkit, I got stuff to do."

"Oh no, do NOT turn your back on me Vinyl Scratch. We are NOT done talking about this.  How dare you slander me and then try to run away!"

Scratch whipped around to come face to face with Lyra, who seemed fully prepared to follow her out the door. Scratch knew that the grin on her face was arrogant but she couldn't help it. Seeing Lyra's golden eyes smoldering with anger made her content. Though, that could have very well been the adrenaline pulsing through her own angry body. Even so, she really didn't want to have this conversation right now. She didn't want to have this conversation ever, if she was honest. Instead of dealing with a livid Lyra, she decided to get the first, and last, word in. Her voice was low and almost dangerous. Vinyl was, for once, in control of the situation, and every muscle in Lyra's body screamed that she hated it.

"What do you want me to say, Lyra? That everything's going to be perfect and awesome? Hey, fun fact, it's not. Never will be. Not anymore. You ruined that. And sorry if that's something you regret. But this?"

Scratch moved her hoof back and forth between the two of them, indicating their fight.

"This crap, I don't have time for. Enjoy your dinner. I'll talk to you when you're ready to chill a bit. I'm out."

******

"Vinyl? What are you doing here?"

Octavia's voice was laced with concern. Truth be told, Scratch was enjoying every second of it. But she also just needed somepony to distract her. She just so happened to know of one mare that could make the end of the world seem not so bad.

"Eh, I needed to get out of the house."

"Hmm. Come in, come in."

Scratch smiled to herself as she followed Octavia into her house. She couldn't help as her eyes drifted to the nearly perfect flank in front of her. Octavia turned around rather quickly to allow her guest to enter the room, and despite Vinyl being thankful for her ever-present shades, her face still heated up like a lamp.  Scratch took in her surroundings. She was surprised to see that Octavia's living room was quite cluttered. Papers lay strewn across a small table. There was a blanket haphazardly folded on the plain brown love seat. More papers yet were scattered around a music stand that was tucked in the farthest corner of the living room. Scratch noted that her instruments, though, were neatly placed on each of their respective stands.

And then Scratch turned around and saw a beautiful piece of equipment.

"Ah, I see that you have found my stereo."

Scratch was practically drooling. Octavia moved towards her stereo, brushing Scratch as she walked by. Scratch's heart nearly stopped as she immediately forgot what she was looking at. It took her a moment to remember what she was doing.

"I got it a few years ago as a gift. I do not use it a whole lot anymore, but it does produce quite the amazing sound. Also, my neighbors were getting angry at me. For some reason, they do not appreciate loud music."

Scratch grinned. "Yeah, I dig that Octy. Say, whatdya say we turn this bad boy on and see what's playin'? Maybe give the neighbors something to complain about."

"I do not know about that, Vinyl. I do not need any trouble."

Scratch stole a look at Octavia, who was focusing on her stereo. She slowly approached the stereo, placing herself within a very close proximity of her host. She could practically feel the heat from Octavia's body as she extended a white hoof and hit the power button on the music box. Octavia furrowed her brow, but didn't stop Scratch from turning the stereo on.

"I'm not gonna get an ear full of Back am I?"

"What? Who?"

"Back. You know. That classical dude."

Octavia looked at Scratch like she was insane.

"Oh! You mean BACH."

"Like, a chicken bawk?"

Octavia smiled and shook her head.

"No, you will not get Bach when you turn on my stereo. I DO like more than just classical music, you know. Do you like only… whatever it is that you play? Dunkboots is it?"

Vinyl laughed hysterically. Tears poured from her eyes as she held her sides in a manic laughing pain.

"I can only assume you mean dubstep and oh my Celestia am I never calling it anything else ever again."

Vinyl took a few more moments to catch her breath and compose herself before flipping to the cds. First, she heard Jason Mareaz. Scratch was neutral towards him so she skipped to the second cd. John Neigher. Though Scratch didn't hate his music, she hated him and therefore trucked forward. Third was Jack Johnstallion. Scratch had heard of him before but wasn't in the mood to test him out at that moment. She skipped to the fourth cd and stole a glance at Octavia. Scratch jumped when she saw that Octavia's eyes were on her.

"What?"

"I am just seeing your reaction. You look contemplative."

"Just wondering where the jams are, Octy. There's gotta be something GOOD here."

Then Scratch stopped. The fourth cd had started playing. She knew that beat. But from where? Then, it dawned on her and she started laughing. A lot. Scratch was on her back crying she was laughing so hard. Again.

"I was anticipating that."

"AHAHAHAHAHAHA. PARTY IN EQUESTRIA? MARELY CYRUS? AHAHAHAHAHAHA! You've gotta be kidding me!"

Scratch was holding her stomach because she was laughing so hard that it hurt. After the first chorus, she finally started to calm down and wipe the tears from her eyes. After two hysterical laughing fits, Vinyl was sure she was going to end up with eight pack abs. Her sides burned as badly as the time she overdosed on cupcakes and challenged Rainbow Dash to a five mile race. Dash did half in ten seconds flat. Vinyl felt on her face in ten seconds flat. Turns out that sugar isn't an active ingredient in races.

Octavia, surprisingly, didn't look mad. In fact, the corner of her mouth was pulled up into a grin. Scratch pushed herself into a sitting position, just feet away from Octavia.

"A lot of people say… that… when I tell them I do so enjoy Marely Cyrus' music."

"Aw, c'mon Octy. I'm not making fun of you. Okay, yes I am. But I also just hate her. A lot. And it baffles me. How in Equestria could anypony like her? Especially a respectably pony like you?"

Both Octavia's and Scratch's face filled with a light blush. Octavia shrugged.

"I am not ashamed of the music I choose to listen to. I am quite proud of all the music in my life. It is catchy and I enjoy it. I do not believe in "guilty pleasures". You do not have to partake in it… even though I know you want to put your hooves up. Because they are playing your song. Have to let those butterflies fly away. I see you nodding your head like yes, moving your hips like yes. Hey, it is a party in Equestria."

Scratch's face contorted into a playful, tight-lipped glare. Octavia beamed at Scratch.

"I understand. Your tummy is probably turning because you are feeling so homesick. This is too much pressure, and I am sure you are nervous."

Vinyl's eye twitched beneath her purple shades.

"Check and mate, Miss Vina."

"ARGH! That song is going to be stuck in my head until the end of TIME. Or tomorrow. Whichever comes first. This sucks!"

"I could grow to enjoy this."

Scratch scowled and looked at the floor.

"Whatever Octy. At least I don't own… this. If you can call it music."

"Don't make me sing again."

Scratch looked at Octavia for a second.

"Wait, did you just use slang?"

"I most certainly did not!"

Scratch smiled wide. She was back on the offensive.

"Did too. You said don't. You don't say 'don't'. You say 'do not.'"

Octavia turned her head away from Scratch with a loud 'humph', while purposely hitting Scratch in the face with her long mane. Scratch caught scent of her shampoo and forgot what she was doing. After a short moment, Octavia turned back towards Scratch and smiled.

"So why were you not at the shop today? I must say I was a little disappointed when you did not show up. Leaving a poor, defenseless mare all to herself. Why, I thought you had better manners than that. Did something happen today?"

It was all Scratch could do to pull herself out of those beautiful, concerned eyes and focus on answering her questions.

"Well, number A, I will not confirm nor deny that I got up roughly two hours ago. And letter two, I got in a fight with a friend of mine today."

"I am sorry to hear that. What about?"

Scratch scratched the back of her head, the way she always did when she was nervous and needed time to collect her words.

"Well, about you."

"About me?"

Vinyl Scratch sighed. There was one thing she couldn't really put off any longer. One sort of important aspect of her life that she hadn't revealed to Octavia yet.

"Well, it's kind of a long story but I suppose you can hear it… But there's some variables that I need to go through with you. And I guess the best way to make the story make sense is to come right out and say them."

"Variables? I don't understand."

Scratch smiled slightly.

"Okay. Three variables. You just said don't again, firstly."

Octavia glared at Scratch for a moment but didn't say a word. Scratch drew a deep breath.

Here goes…

"Octy… uh, Octavia… I'm gay… and I'm living with my ex-fillyfriend's fillyfriend."