private Rhapsody in Blue

[lincolnshirepony 527]

"I wish I was," Blue Note said. "But thanks, it'll be great to see you there." Now she had two things to look forward two this week. 

 

"Okay, so see you tonight then?" Blue Note asked. "I've got so much to do today, but hopefully I'll be in a competent state of mind later." Her mind was racing through the rest of her day. Right now, locking herself in a practice room seemed like the best thing she could do. 

[Inactive01 5,299]

Sterling realized that he had to get going to class soon, looking at the school clock. He nodded at Blue Note's response to meet tonight for a dinner together. It was a ritual that Sterling and Blue Note were involved with, but it was one that Sterling didn't want to lose for the world...

 

"I'll see you tonight Blue Note! But I have to get going to class! See ya later!" Sterling replied with a wave as he trotted quickly out of music theory class and headed towards the practice rooms to get tuned up for his piano practice and preparations for South Pacific. Good thing South Pacific practice wouldn't go on until Christmas holiday... 

 

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Erlen was now in biology class, with Chemm. It was just an introductory course he had to take in order to fulfill his biology requirement for his medical chemistry major. It was certainly a boring class with a boring, but somewhat personable professor. He sat near the back, but could only wonder why he was such a clumsy pony. He hated being clumsy. Sure Sterling was clumsy too, but at least he had other talents that made up for it. Him? Pfft. He had none he thought. Chemm always had to scold him for all the mistakes he made... when would they stop? Erlen pondered as the students lined in for biology class...

[lincolnshirepony 527]

Blue Note's day was a whirlwind of practicing, classes, and homework. At least she didn't have work today. She had trouble keeping her eyes open by the time the afternoon hit, but she kept plodding through. At last, it was time to meet Sterling. She ordered a large coffee, and sat down at their usual table. 

 

The music theory study guide lay before her in all of its fifteen page glory. Flipping through it, she realized it was going to take them awhile to fill it out. "What kind of exam is he giving us, anyway?" she said aloud, too tired to care if anypony heard her talking to herself. 

[Inactive01 5,299]

Sterling's day was a stressful one. He practiced on the piano, practiced "This Nearly was Mine", and now he had to go through one last lab session before his school day was done. He couldn't wait to finally relax and chat with Blue Note with a cup of coffee and a nice Manehattan veggie burger... Her name always gave him butterflies, but he didn't want to openly admit it to anyone other than his best friend Erlen, who he was going to see during the lab...

 

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Sterling wasn't the only one going through a tough day. Erlen was also toiling through his day and had just come in to the biochemistry lab after Sterling entered. He was too tired to even give Sterling a wave, only walking to his lab desk. To make matters worse, he had to work with Chemm, the mare he accidentally bumped into while rushing to biology class. So much work to do, but he didn't have time to think about all that, for Chemm was sitting right beside him with an angry look...

 

"So you were the stallion who bumped into me earlier today... Why am I not surprised?" Chemm spoke, the irritation clearly ringing into Erlen's ears... He didn't want to say anything, out of fear that Chemm would scream again... He couldn't help but wonder though... Chemm was feeling a lot angrier than usual, even if he bumped into her today. Probably her coltfriend Rocky again... After all, she loved to complain about him when they worked together...

[lincolnshirepony 527]

Blue Note sipped down her coffee, and wondered if she could afford to order another one. "Well, I won't be able to afford anything if I don't do well in these next two week." She would wait for Sterling to arrive, and see how far this cup would get her. She started working on the study guide. It was question after question, and as she continued, she had a sinking feeling that this would take her even longer than anticipated. School was rough.

[Inactive01 5,299]

Sterling was done his lab, and finally ready to go. A new lab report to deal with for biochemistry. Great. Just what he needed on top of all his other homework. He said his good byes to Spectro and rushed over to the coffee emporium where Blue Note was drinking coffee. Spectro could only chuckle at why Sterling was rushing out of the university... 

 

"Oh Sterling... You and Blue Note... hehehehe..." Spectro chuckled to himself as he cleaned up his lab materials for the day...

 

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Sterling rushed to the coffee emporium and noticed that Blue Note was already there before him. He checked the dining room's clock, that said 4:20 pm... He was five minutes late! Sterling trotted quickly over and tripped on a chair before his face smacked onto the table. Sterling then lay down on the floor, having clearly fainted after the contact...

[lincolnshirepony 527]

Blue Note was engrossed in studying chords, but a thump on the table brought her attention to her surroundings. Sterling had somehow materialized on the floor. "Oh my Celestia! Sterling, are you all right?" Ponies around the coffee shop stared at the pair. Blue Note's concern grew when she realized that Sterling was unconscious. "Anypony around know first aid?" she asked. This did not bode well...

[Inactive01 5,299]

Sterling lay flat on the ground for what seemed like an eternity... After about two minutes, Sterling's head rose upwards slightly, flailing his right front hoof around as if it were flapping. It was a signal that he was still feeling very faint after the collision. Sterling was still too dazed to think about anything, from the business that he had to deal with as a stallion, to the embarrassment he caused Blue Note by rushing into the tables the way he did...

[lincolnshirepony 527]

"Sterling? Are you all right?" Blue Note peered down at him. He seemed to be coming to, but a concussion was just about the last thing he needed this week. Hopefully it was not as bad as it looked. By now, most of the ponies in the coffee shop were staring at them. 

 

"Well, one of you could help," Blue Note snapped at some nearby ponies, gaping at them. They quickly turned away. 

[Inactive01 5,299]

"I'm... doing alright... I see two Blue Notes? Two Blue Notes?! Well ain't that a sight to see? Hyuk Hyuk! Double the magic and double the comfort I guess?" Sterling was clearly losing it. If he hadn't lost it already, he certainly was now. He was speaking like a drunkard, most likely from the collision he experienced with the desk. Soon after he spoke those words, he quickly shook his head around, trying without much success to see only one Blue Note.

 

He moaned in pain afterwards and began to rub on his forehead. Sterling was still feeling too much pain to consider everything else around him and continued to rub on his head. It was so painful that Sterling completely forgot what he said to Blue Note after moving into a sitting position on the floor...  

[lincolnshirepony 527]

"Double the magic? He's losing it," Blue Note thought. It was distressing to see him in such an incoherent state. "Okay, that's it," Blue Note said. "Can you walk, Sterling? I can go get somepony from the student health center if not. Otherwise, we can walk together." It was pretty clear to her that he was not doing all right. 

[Inactive01 5,299]

Sterling struggled to get up from the floor, but he eventually did. He continued to rub his head in pain. He winced his eyes a few times before he finally got a good look at Blue Note. He still felt a large headache that dominated him, but otherwise, he was feeling much more composed now. He shook his head once to let Blue Note know he didn't need any treatment before he spoke with a sigh,

 

"Just an ice pack on my head would be nice... I feel a huge headache on me right now... I'm sorry about that. I had a lab end slightly late and I rushed to get here... I didn't want to be late for our meeting." Sterling felt really bad about causing a ruckus, but all he could do was massage his head, hoping that the pain would eventually subside...

[lincolnshirepony 527]

Blue Note was not entirely convinced Sterling was okay. "I'll go grab ice, but I really think if it doesn't improve soon you should see somepony. The last thing you need is an unchecked concussion."

 

She trotted over to cashier. "Do you have an ice pack, or maybe a bag to put ice in? My friend hit his head." 

 

"Sure, here's a baggie," the cashier said, handing her one across the counter. Blue Note filled it with ice from the soda machine and quickly made her way back to Sterling.

 

"Are you feeling better?" she asked, levitating the makeshift ice pack to him. 

Edited May 5, 2014 by lincolnshirepony

[Inactive01 5,299]

Sterling remained seated on the chair by the coffee tables, still rubbing his head. Blue Note came back with the ice pack and levitated it on Sterling. Sterling moaned at the sudden coldness that emanated from the ice pack onto the bruise. But it certainly numbed a lot of the pain he was experiencing.

 

"I feel better now..." Sterling replied with a weak smile. "I'm glad you're here for me. I don't where I would be without you... If only there was someway I can make it up to you..." Sterling continued. He felt bad about this incident, and he wanted to make it up to Blue Note somehow. But now was not the time to think about it. He had to feel better about his headache first, he thought!

[lincolnshirepony 527]

"Don't be ridiculous; you don't need to make anything up to me," Blue Note said. She left out a sigh of relief; at least Sterling was coherent. "I'm not about to leave you here with a head injury." She felt a tinge of worry; she hoped that his headache would get better.

[Inactive01 5,299]

Sterling nodded after Blue Note told him not to be ridiculous. He continued to sit on his chair, wondering what else to say right now... Then he decided to finally start a normal conversation after all the chaos he and Blue Note experienced...

 

"So... how.., how's the ending of the semester been so far? Mine's been really hectic, especially with South Pacific, finals, labs, and piano lessons reaching its apex." Sterling then gave out another sigh before he continued rather weakly, 

 

"I wish this semester would just end... Along with my clumsy tendencies... At least Erlen's also clumsy like me... I'm alone in that department."

[lincolnshirepony 527]

"Not fun," Blue Note said, taking a sip of her lukewarm coffee. "I'm running entirely on caffeine at this point. This music theory exam review is going to be impossible, and the last South Pacific rehearsal is going to be excruciating. I just know it." She sighed a large sigh. 

 

"I agree. I just want it to be over and done with. There's so much I'd just love to put behind me." She paused a moment. "But we'll just have to plow through until the end."

[Inactive01 5,299]

Sterling nodded at Blue Note's comment in full agreement. He too wanted all this end and to look forward to Christmas. Hopefully he wouldn't have to go through the dreaded mistletoe like he did on his last year... He already noted to himself that he would never host a Christmas party again after THAT incident... The thought alone was enough to give him the willies. But for now, Sterling knew... he just had to get this all done while his parents were oddly away on another "newspaper trip"...

 

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While Sterling was with Blue Note, little did he know that another pair of ponies were seated close by him... It was a blond haired mane with a bulky looking white stallion... 

 

"Well Rocky, I've been working a lot on my labs! What do you expect?!" Chemm responded rather angrily while sipping her cup of coffee. It seemed like she was arguing with her coltfriend Rocky...

 

"Chemm! That doesn't mean you can't spend time with me! Why are you always busy?! I thought we were still together! Plus, that stallion... what's his name" Rocky also responded angrily. It was like this for the past two months, and he was furious that Chemm was spending more time with her lab partner, a so called stallion named Erlen...

 

"Rocky! I already said he was just my lab partner! We're just doing homework! Can't you see that I still want to set up a career?! UGH. Seriously Rocky, get a grip!" Chemm responded even more angrily as the tension continued to mount...

 

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While Sterling was listening to Blue Note, he heard a familiar voice in the distance... it was Chemm? What was SHE doing at the coffee emporium, Sterling wondered... Plus, why was she screaming so loudly? Perhaps she was really angry at something. Sterling chuckled, realizing that it was probably typical of Chemm to get really angry like that...

[lincolnshirepony 527]

Blue Note looked down at her music theory exam review. "Okay, so do you want to start with-" She was about to suggest they work on the first page together, but somepony was yelling over her. Actually, they were yelling over everypony in the coffee shop from the sound of it. "Can't she be quiet?" Blue Note asked crossly. She wanted to get up and tell the arguing ponies to shut up. 

[Inactive01 5,299]

Sterling was just going to respond to Blue Note and her discussion on music theory, when she suddenly stopped. Must have been all the arguing where Chemm was at the centre stage... Oh Chemm, Sterling pondered with a sigh. When will she ever shut up and calm down for once... Sterling pondered as he replied to Blue Note,

 

"The pony you're hearing... is the pony who I spilled juice on at my first night of school... She screamed at me like that, and I got the punch out from her coltfriend... From the looks of it, she's arguing with him now... and she stormed off." Sterling was certainly right about Chemm storming off. She was so angered at Rocky that she simply threw her cardboard coffee cup to the floor and stomped off angrily. Sterling couldn't help but chuckle at what was happening with Chemm. After all, she liked getting angry at anything by the looks of it...

[lincolnshirepony 527]

"Ah, she's gone. Thank goodness. I thought I was going to have to tell her to be quiet," Blue Note said. "She should really keep that temper of hers in check." Blue Note was aware of the stallion still sitting in the booth. "Though he doesn't seem like a saint either. Just as long as they keep their drama to themselves." There was too much to do ahead of them to be forced as an audience to other ponies' problems. 

[Inactive01 5,299]

Sterling could only wonder what drama was being ensued between Chemm and Rocky, but at the moment, it wasn't any of his business... At least the noise was gone he though. Finally... a chance for him to calm down with Blue Note and to talk about life again. Without lots of screaming and bumping that's for certain! 

 

"Yeah they seriously need to get their tempers in check. But I can't help but wonder if that stallion's the reason she's been so angry like this... and so often..." Sterling replied inquisitively. Still, he gave out a shrug before he got back into a listening mood. He wanted to hear Blue Note's soothing voice again... No more shouting... Just her blissful voice...

[lincolnshirepony 527]

"Well, it's pretty clear that he's a jerk. I wonder what she sees in him, though from the sound of it, they aren't doing well as a couple." Blue Note shook her head. "Either way, they aren't worth our time." She was getting pretty tired of this campus and all the drama of the ponies around her. "We have more important things to worry about."

[Inactive01 5,299]

(Sterling's voice is somewhat tenor, but also has a bass element to it. What about Blue Note's?)

 

Sterling nodded after Blue Note asserted about there being more important things to be concerned about. She was right. They had a mountain of work to do! Especially with the Music Theory final added to Sterling's growing to do list! Sterling quickly went into his backpack and took out the 17 page review sheet for the Music Theory class... it was supposed to be Music Theory I, not all the music theories combined together! What was up with Professor Adagio's unsympathetic head, Sterling would never knew...

 

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Chemm ran out of the coffee emporium and onto the streets of Manehattan. Fresh off her most recent conflict with Rocky, Chemm couldn't help but wonder what all these conflicts meant. And how they were all built from Rocky's lack of faith in her. It was silly to say the least. She still cared about Rocky! But she just had to spend more time on her work! She needed to be the best of the nest! To ultimately beat up that autistic runt named Sterling Crimson and to place herself on the forefront in medicine! 

 

To make matters worse, he was accusing her of... going out with that clumsy green geek! That stallion with blue freckles! Preposterous! The gall for him to suggest that! Chemm continued to trot angrily back to the University of Manehattan, thinking furiously on what to do with Rocky... and her schoolwork. 

[lincolnshirepony 527]

(Blue Note is solidly an alto.)

 

Blue Note glanced down at the page. "At least we'll be ready for Theory II. I can't believe he would do this to us. Doesn't he realize that our grades actually affect our lives? It's a miracle I'm pulling an A in there right now. I can't afford to mess up on his final, literally." She looked down, feeling a wave depression about to overtake her. "So I guess that means I just have to keep studying." She couldn't let her feelings get the best of her, not now of all times.