A Search For Something More

Chapter 54: Back to the Crystal Pavillion

It is Saturday, which should be a time to study for finals, but it is Octavia's day instead. It's been almost two weeks since I made the arrangement with her, Sunset and Sonata, and if there's one thing I'm already thankful for considering the weekend, it's that there are two days, meaning my exes each have one full day to spend time with me as opposed to the half days they get throughout the school week. Last night, Octavia texted me shortly after Sunset dropped me off from our latest date, telling me to make sure I wake up early in the morning today for our day in Crystal City with her parents before going to her and Alto's concert. She also wants me to make sure I have the tux I wore for the ball in Manhattan nice, clean, and ready to be worn.

My alarm clock wakes me up at 8:15, and I slam my fist on the snooze button, wishing my strike would smash the devilish contraption into a million pieces. Sadly, however, it just gave me five minutes of peace before it screams its noise from hell, and the process begins again. Before I had to deal with it a third time, however, my phone goes off, informing me that I have a text message, and I take it out of its charger in a tired manner and read the message.

Octavia: We're going to be at your front door in fifteen minutes. If you're not up yet, (and I know you're not), get up NOW!

My eyes widen, and I remember her previous message and jump out of my bed, racing towards my shower. By the time I got out and dressed into my regular clothes, I hear the doorbell ringing downstairs and so quickly grab my tux out of my closet, my phone from my bed stand and race downstairs to find Octavia waiting for me at my front door with her arms crossed.

"Please tell me you weren't up all night playing video games again just because it wasn't a school night," she says with her eyebrow raised.

"I swear I didn't," I say honestly. "I went straight to bed after my night with Sunset. Besides, we both know I suck at getting up properly whether I spend the night gaming or not."

Octavia keeps her suspicious frown for a few seconds before she rolls her eyes and smiles, walks over to me and pecks me on the lips.

"I do know that," she says, caressing my cheek slowly. "But it wouldn't be like how it was before if I didn't ridicule you in some way, now would it?"

I smile and wrap my free arm around her waist.

"No, I think the world would have collapsed if you didn't make fun of my less 'civil' life at least five times a day even if they are part of what you love about me," I say.

Octavia giggles as she wraps her arms around me.

"I don't know about the fate of the world, but regardless, you've never said a truer thing in your life, darling. All the odd things about you have always been a part of why I love you," she says before she leans into my ear. "And they always will be."

I smile as she leans back to look at me lovingly. We lean in for another kiss until...

"ROUGH DRAFT!!!!"

"Oh, blast it," Octavia mumbles.

We turn around to find Tempo racing toward us. Her eyes are watery and set dead on me as she charges at me with open arms. Octavia sighs and takes several steps away from me, looking at me with an apologetic stare. I stand in fear as Tempo rams right into me and pulls me into a bone-breaking hug. I drop my tux while Tempo's face touches mine as she cries.

"Oh, Rough Draft, I'm so, so sorry we didn't believe you!" Tempo sobs hysterically. "I'll take the blame for keeping my daughter away from you! I kept encouraging her with Vinyl to stay away from you long enough to date that other girl! Please forgive me!"