A Search For Something More

Chapter 52: Together with the Music

The next day is Friday, or as all of my friends are calling it, Octavia's Day. By now, the Rainbooms and the E.M.R. groups are aware of the plan and so are aware of the rules and whose turn it is now. Vinyl sent me a text earlier today saying that she, Lyra, Bon Bon, Derpy, and Doc have their concerns like everyone else, but support what I'm trying to do with Octavia, Sunset, and Sonata. At lunch, Sonata and I sat in our lunch table separate from the Rainbooms and Caramel and Soarin.

"So why are you making sure you have your back facing our friends, Rough Draft?" Sonata asks as she eats her lunch, sitting on the other side of the table. "Is it to make sure you don't look at Sunset since it's Octavia's Day?"

"Mostly," I admit reluctantly. "But for that same reason, I'm afraid to see her face given how she must be feeling right now."

"She does look a little unsettled," Sonata says, looking at Sunset behind me. "But wasn't last night good?"

I sigh wearily before I answer, "No, last night was wonderful. Well...okay, it started rocky with Sunset needing to prove that she's staying in our world and all that, but that aside, it was a fun romantic night."

"So, what's the problem?" Sonata asks. "Are you worried about going to see Octavia is going to taint it somehow or something?"

I chuckle at my good friend's guess before I answer, "Not exactly. I'm just mixed between regretful and excited to spend the day after school with Octavia. Regretful because I know it will pain Sunset knowing that I'm doing this, but excited because I want to do this at the same time. It's only day two...sort of, and I wish I could be cloned so that I could live two lives, one with Octavia and the other with Sunset."

"That would be nice except that wouldn't be fair to yourself or them either," Sonata says sadly. "I mean, who would get the real Rough Draft and who would get the clone?"

"Heh, good point," I chuckle sadly. "In any case, I hope the answer becomes clear soon."

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After school ends for the day, Octavia texts me to see her at her place in half an hour. Why she didn't want us to go there together, I do not know, but maybe she's planning something like Sunset was with the picnic. I start walking from CHS to Octavia's house, deep in thought about what to say. Part of me wonders if she's going to be worried about Sunset and me the whole time, but I hope not.

"Well, look who it is."

I look up to find Alto walking next to me as I'm turning around the corner to his house.

"Long time no see, my boy," he says with a friendly smile. "Off to see my little girl, are we?"

"Yes," I say, concerned, "Are you aware of the..."

"Agreement you have between Octavia and this Sunset girl?" Alto finishes with a frown. "Yes, I know. Octavia told Tempo and me."

I frown at this answer, but before I can say anything, Alto raises his hand for silence.

"I do not wish to say whether or not you're doing the right thing or a foolish thing, Rough Draft," he says calmly. "While I have a strong opinion on the matter, this is your love life, and you will handle it however you feel you must. I must instruct, however, that you do not toy with my daughter's emotions in any way."

I stare at Alto, unprepared for his words, but then I nod in respect and say, "I swear on my life, sir, I have no desire to cause any emotional harm on Octavia. If my heart weren't so split, I'd know what to do, and I would do everything in my power to do so in a way where no one would be brokenhearted if it is at all possible."