Owner of a record store falls in love with Caramel, and tries his best to woo his heart.
High Note is a colt in Ponyville who runs a small record store on the outskirts of Ponyville. While he usually keeps to himself, his life takes a surprising turn when he falls in love.
I woke up to the sounds of loud beeps from my alarm clock. After a couple seconds figuring this out, I instinctively slammed my hoof on top of the clock on my dresser. After the loud sounds of electronic noise stopped filling the air I felt my eyes slowly begin to open. After my retinas adjusted from complete darkness I sat up in my bed. My room was very dark, but very small shimmers of light creeped through my blinds to shine on my floor.
I looked back at my clock. 8:30 it read. Perfect.
I threw my blanket to the side and got out of bed and headed towards my bathroom. I flicked the light on and located my shower. Once I did that I pushed aside the curtains and turned on the water. After I set it the temperature I turned around and looked at myself in the mirror. I have very light brown fur, with very brown (almost black) short hair that isn't very well kept. The only differentiating color I have is my very bright green eyes.
After I made sure I didn't look completely horrible I took a deep sigh and walked into the shower.
I stepped into my kitchen and grabbed a bowl out of one my cabinets. After I set it on the table I went to my fridge to get a thing of juice. I pulled out a thing of juice made of vegetables, fruits, all that good stuff and set it right beside my bowl. Then I went back in and pulled out a box of cereal and sat down. I poured the cereal into my bowl and started chowing down.
Oh, I haven't introduced myself yet. My name is High Note. I live in Ponyville and run a little record store in town. Not the most exciting job but it keeps me happy. I live in a small, but comfy, apartment. I don't really have a lot of stuff besides all my books, some couches and a couple of other things. Oh wait! I forgot to mention my awesome record player. Of all the things I own this is what I'm most proud of, a nice record player with some pretty good amps with it. But I'll explain more later.
Once I finished breakfast I put my cereal back and my bowl in the sink. I checked the clock that was planted on my wall. 9 o clock. Again, perfect.
I stepped out of my apartment door, locked it, and left to go to work.
I stepped in my record shop. Shiny wood floors, white walls, and shelves filled with records with small stickers under them with capital letters.. I looked at the counters and found a blue haired depressed alcoholic colt laying his head down on the table. Yeah, same as I left it.
I walked over, "Hey Trips.". All I heard back was a groan followed by a hoof flying in the hair.
"Another hard night of hard drinking?" I said jokingly.
"Followed by a hoof fight and public urination." He said back to me.
Trips was a really strange kind of pony. Most people who didn't know him thought he was a mean guy, or less politely an asshole. But I really knew him. I've known him since Middle School. He was a really tough kid, getting into tons of fights constantly and not really having any friends. He was always an angry colt, with a hint of sarcasm and manic depression. His depression is so bad that he's personally had two suicide attempts, one I've walked in on.
But he's a pretty decent guy. Besides working here he also performs at night clubs doing shows as a rapper. He's pretty good, but not popular enough for it to be his full time job, so he works here with me.
"Dude, you can't just keep getting into fights all the time. You're not really a popular colt here anyways."
He started snickering, "You really think I care?"
"Well when people hate you I doubt they'd go to your shows." I said.
He flipped his hoof to the side, "Not like anyone goes to see me anyways." and with that he slammed his head back down. I walked past him and into the back room. In there I kept the boxes of new records we'd get, and a small mini fridge that was hooked up by the wall. I opened it up and examined the contents. There were about three bottles of beer (typical) and a glass jar full of cherry lemonade. I sifted through the beer, grabbed the lemonade and headed back.
Oh, and another thing. I don't drink. Like.....ever. I'm not a big prude or anything, it's just that when I drink a lot I kinda....get a little wild. Or that's what I've been told since I don't really remember what happens after I drink a lot. And I don't really like the taste of alcohol, just doesn't taste good for me but whatever. Back to the story.
I walked back out to the counter, "Anyone come in yet?"
Trips lifted his head back up, "Eh, couple ponies. Bon Bon and Lyra came in pretty early and browsed around for a couple minutes. Spike came in and bought an Odd Future album. Then two ponies came in and bought the new Daft Punk album and some alternative rock album. Pretty much it for today."
"Sounds like a good day so far." I said, laying my beverage on the table next to where Trips head used to be. "Did we get any new shipments today?"
"Nah," He replied,"but I think some faggotty colt band is gonna release their new record in a week. So we should probably get a bunch of records to sell to all the stupid fillies who buy that crap."
"While I hate your reasoning I can't deny the truth in that. Those records sell like crazy for some reason."
"Eh. Your musical taste doesn't start until you hate every popular band and learn the word "indie" and "experimental"."
I gave a light chuckle,"I will never know your intense hatred for popular music."
"Your head has to be really far up your ass to know that feeling." And with that we heard the familiar sound of "DING A LING", the sound of someone entering the store.
From the looks of a massive red body with a green apple on his flank, it was safe to assume one of our favorite customers just walked in.
Not a lot of people knew this, but Big Mac was kinda a big music snob. He practically came over every week to buy records. Even more surprising was his tastes. He mostly enjoys electronic, hard punk or hip-hop. He practically made 50% of the profits from this store. His constant visits and musical snobbery made him kind of special to us. Besides, having a toned flank in the store definitely didn't hurt.
"Yo Mac" Trips yelled,"what the fuck is good bro?".
Mac looked at us and smiled,"Not much, what's good with you?" I have to mention him talking like this in his deep voice was very strange, but when you see him as much as we do you just kinda get used to it.
"Not much my stallion, what're you in here for today?" Trips asked.'
"My needle is dying, so I came down here to buy a new one. Think you have one for me?"
Trips finally stopped laying on the counter and stood up, "Yeah, let me check the back." He walked in the back room to sift through all the boxes to go find a needle. That left me and Big Mac.
"So" I asked, "you liking that Clasixx LP you bought last week?".
"Yeah, nice bit of music to play late at night to wind me down." Then he got up on his two hind hooves and began stretching and then a massive yawn belted from his mouth. "Oh sweet Celestia I am way too tired to work today."
"Why what did you do last night?" I asked.
"Well I spent the night with Nurse Red Heart then went back to her place...."
"Buh" I yelled,"don't need to know more."
Mac stifled a giggle,"For a pony with your looks I'm surprised i'm not hearing lots of stories from you."
I tried to respond, but a lump in my throat decided I should just blush profusely. Mac was infamous in town for "going both ways" (As I do too), so you're always hearing about him sleeping around with tons of ponies. I'm not really like that though, socially and sexually I'm as awkward as a filly trying to walk and falling flat on its face. And Mac was a flirt by nature, which always made one on one's with him feel kinda awkward.
Big Mac laughed at the sight of my face turning hot pink, "Aww you look cute." Suddenly he layed both of his hooves on the counter and rested his chin on them. I could tell he was having tons of fun while I was having tons of awkward.
Luckily this was interrupted by Trips slamming a card board box on the counter. "Stop it you two lover boys," Trips said, then he turned to Mac and held up a fresh record needle. "And I found this one, this good?" He said handing it to Mac.
Mac took it and looked at it for a second, "Yeah this'll be fine. Thanks." then he handed Trips a bunch of bits, And with that he turned around and started walking. But not before purposefully shaking his flank as he went while maniacally laughing. Then he opened the store door and walked out.
I took a deep sigh, "What am I going to do with that guy?".
Trips laughed,"He can sense your massive amount of sexual frustration." he started laughing even harder.
I layed my head on the counter. "This is gonna be a long day."
After Mac left our usual business day began to unfold. Which consists of Trips and I talking about inappropriate things while we ring up the occasional customer. But today not a lot of people were coming in, so after Mac left the store was kind of a ghost town besides Trips and I. So we pretty just kept talking about whatever was relevant or important.
"Eh, I could never really get into Doctor Whooves, just wasn't my thing."
Important things.
I nodded my head,"I watched the first couple seasons of the revival. After that I just wasn't interested anymore. Although I can't deny that the 10th doctor was super hot." I said.
"You mean the dude with spikey hair?" Trips said,"Oh celestia you are so gay."
"Bi-sexual silly buns." I corrected in the most comically feminine voice I could muster.
"Sure." He said. He then picked up a pencil that was laying on the counter and dropped it behind him. "Ooops." He said, turning around and bending over in front of me.
While it's usually not my job to rate my close friends butt, it's not really hard to do when there's barely any butt there. Trips behind was rather sad, a big boney reminder of what could be there.
I scoffed as he picked up the pencil and set it back on the counter, grinning from ear to ear. But our shenanigans would have to wait as we both heard the bell over the door ring. And pleasantly it was somepony who didn't come often, but when she came it was a pretty nice visit. It was always nice to see Twilight Sparkle, or what she's called now, Princess Twilight Sparkle.
Pretty much everypony knows about our new Alicorn princess. And after her big discovery and celebration, she decided to keep on living here in Ponyville. After a little while a lot of the hype died down and we all kinda got used to her being a princess. And it's been a little while since I saw her, back when she was just Twilight Sparkle.
She awkwardly trotted in the store and and began looking around. I creepily watched her browse for music for about ten minutes, since there was really nothing else to do. I awkwardly looked over to Trips to see what he was going to make of all this. Like always, Trips seemed very uninterested in the Royalty in our store and more interested in mumbling to himself.
Finally Twilight came up to the counter laying down two records. "Hi Twilight."
"Uh...hey High Note. How've you been?" She said. I guess even her new god status hasn't relieved any of her natural social awkwardness.
"Been good. How've you been?" I asked stupidly.
"Um...been... pretty good. Got wings now." She said.
"I can see that." To end this uncomfortable transaction I picked up the two records Twilight layed on the counter. "Alright an MC Frontalot album, and the new Bibio." The fun thing about working here was finding out the music everypony was into. Big mac is big into hard punk, Colgate is into smooth jazz, and Twilight in particular is mostly into Electronic and Nerdcore. Two music styles perfectly suited to the type of Pony who would rather read books then go outside.
"All righty then, that'll be 50 bits." She quickly pulled out a coin purse and emptied most of it onto the counter. After a quick couple seconds of counting I said,"All right then, take care." she grabbed both of her records and quickly walked out of the store.
"Well that was.....odd." I said.
"Duh of course it was. She's a princess now, she must feel awkward all the time. She's practically a comic book character, of course it's gonna be weird for her buying a record."
I nodded my head, it made sense but it doesn't mean I'm not gonna miss when she would come in and buy some stuff while we had a quick chat. But whatever, the day still isn't over.
After that we didn't a lot of customers. Some ponies came in and browsed, somepony came in and bought a Radiohead album, not sure which since they all kind of suck. But nothing really special after that.
Around 1 o clock I felt my stomach finally digest the breakfast I had that morning and demand me for more. So I decided I was going to pop out and get something for lunch while Trips watched the store.
"Do you want anything?" I asked.
Trips was downing the final beer in the fridge when I asked him this. Once he was done drinking and wiping his lips he yelled, "More booze!!!".
I groaned. I didn't like that he drank so much, but when he was sober all he would do his complain about the lack of booze. "Fine,anything in particular?".
"Get me a thing of wine and put it in the freezer. I wanna have a wine lolly like in Black Books."
"Fine." And with that I closed the door and headed out to get some lunch.
If you've never been, know that Ponyville is a really great place. Everypony who lives here is nice and caring, Something I assume Trips probably hates about this place. But anyway, today in particular was a nice, bright sunny day, like everyday but particularly nice and sunny.
There's a small little sandwich shop, a little to the left of Sugarcube Corner. So after you fill your belly with food, you can later fill it with sugary food. But I wasn't in the mood for cupcakes or silly antics from an infamous pink pony, just a sandwich.
The restaurant in particular was called "Dough Bros. Sandwiches", a place I visit sometimes during the week. Usually I go back to my apartment and make something, but I was too lazy to do that today so I'll go get food by people who make it for a living.
I walked through the door and heard a familiar "Ting-a-ling" above me. The place was pretty simple, a counter there, a condiment bar there, and a couple of tables if you didn't want to go outside. There were only a couple of ponies in line so I stepped in.
I stood in line for about five minutes, during that time thinking about what I was gonna be thinking about while waiting in this line. By the time I settled on panda bears I noticed all the ponies in front of me were gone. I quickly trotted up to the counter with an awkward smile up to a slightly annoyed sandwich artisan.
"What do you want?" He asked.
"I'll take a hay sandwich please."
"Alright that will be three bits." I payed for the sandwich and walked away to wait for my order.
"ORDER FOR CARAMEL!"
The name reminded me of some dark chocolate with caramel inside it. Reminder, get dark chocolate.
But as I was walking back I saw somepony get up from their seat and trot towards the counter. He had caramel fur and nice cute light brown hair. He was absolutely stunning, His hair style and smile made me.....feel rather weird.
As soon as I felt my cheeks get red hot I put my head down and began to walking faster. As soon as I took a seat I looked back to see him walk out the door with a bag of food in his mouth.
I need to eat something.
I walked back into the shop. "Hey trips, I have your wine."
Suddenly he appeared from behind the counter,"Already got ya covered." he said, slurring his words with a bottle of liquor.
"Uh okay..." I walked over to him and stupidly handed him the bottle."
"Perfect." He then slammed the bottle of wine against the wall, shattering it into pieces and spilling wine all over our floor.
After cleaning up the wine and broken glass shards yesterday, I walked Trips to his house then finished the day all by myself. Sadly when I get home there's not a lot of things for me to do. Usually I get home and make some food and just hang around. Sometimes I'll go to the video store in town and get a movie or something but tonight I wasn't in the mood. So when I got home I just went straight to sleep.
I got up and did my usual routine, shower, breakfast, work. I walked in today with nopony at the counter. I wonder if Trips is here today. He's probably hungover.....but then again I guess he's never not. I walked behind the counter and into the back room to find Trips, listening to a record with some headphones.
As soon as he noticed he turned his head to look at me, still nodding his head to the music.
"Whats up?" He said, laying his headphones on his neck.
"Are you going to apologize for making me clean up your mess and walking you home?"
He laughed, "I'm not gonna apologize for being epic." With his big smirky grin intact he put his headphones back on.
I turned around and headed to the counter. If you haven't noticed Trips can be really inconsiderate, but that's just kinda how he is. Not really much I can do about it.
"Anyone come in today!?" I yelled, hoping Trips could hear it over his music.
"No one today!!" He yelled back.
A bell rang as I saw the door open. I looked up to see if it was Mac or some other pony. It wasn't Mac. It was him. The same pony I saw at the restaurant yesterday. The one, the really cute one. I tried to remember his name. Chernel? Sarahtel? I honestly couldn't remember. I just needed to stop looking at him.
He kept browsing through records, while I tried my hardest to look distracted doing something else, while quickly stealing glances at him. Luckily he didn't really notice me watch him browse through records, but if he almost did I'd just look away and try to look like I was doing something else.
Finally, he trotted up to the counter carrying two records.
"Hello." He said to me, clearly unknown of the massive lump building in my throat. He laid down the two records down in front of me. Tourist History by Two Door Cinema Club and Since I left you by the Avalanches. Oh celestia he even has my tastes.
I knew the routine. I had to look on the back of both records and add the bits together then ask for said bits. That's it. But it proved very difficult for some reason.
I looked at him for a couple seconds before realizing he was buying something. I quickly snapped back into reality and took both the records. I looked on the back and added both the bits.
"That'll be...um...." The words were getting tangled in my mouth. Usually I'd say the amount of bits and they'd hand me them and they'd leave. But in front of me was the Celestias plot of beauty. Just unmatched by any colt i've met or any porno I'.......I mean I don't watch any of that stuff!!!! Never mind......
My stumbling caught his interests. "Are you okay?"
His voice. Oh no his voice. His voice came off so smooth yet so innocent. He didn't sound cool
"Oh yeah....that'll be 35 bits please." I said as relaxed as possible. He fumbled around and handed them to me.
"Okay.." He replied,"It's just your blushing really hard..."
"THANK YOU COME AGAIN!" I yelled at him, shoving both records in his arms. He slightly stumbled backwards with the strangest look on his face.
"Oh I'm sorry it's just I think you're ho...I mean I'm sick!" I tried to say, but I doubted it mattered at this point. He slowly backed up to the door before suddenly running out of the building.
"What was that?" Said Trips coming out of the back room. I didn't respond but the way I slammed my head on the counter may have said something since he didn't pursue it any further.
See this is the reason why I cannot get a date. Most ponies usually do something romantic, or really cute to get the attention of somepony they're interested in. Nope, throw them out of the store and claim you have a disease. That'll get some legs shaking.
Anyway, after that happened I explained to Trips what I did, which was followed by many huge laughs from him and burying my head away from him trying to hide the embarrassment that was definitely displaying itself on my face. After that I just went back to my house to curl up in a ball with a book and some ice cream.
So far today everything was looking pretty normal. Trips was taking a nap in the back while I manned the counter. A couple ponies came in but besides that it was kinda slow today.
On days like this I usually read a book or talked to Trips. But Trips was sleeping and I don't have any books so there's really not much for me to do. I could always daydream but not right now.
Wait. I could listen to music. Uh.
There's a record player in the back that's connected to some speakers lined up in the store. I rarely use it, but Trips does when I'm not here. I turned around and saw it right next to the back door where Trips was sleeping. I walked over to it finding there's a record alrighty in here.
"What's....Ex Millitary?" I asked myself. I put the needle on the record an..
"FUCK WHERE YOU'RE FROM FUCK WHERE YOU'RE GOING IT'S ALL ABOUT WHERE YOU'RE AT!!!!"
I hit the back wall with some force. Luckily I quickly got back up and stopped the record.
"Holy fucking Celestia." Was all I could say. My eyes were now wide open and I swear I almost peed myself. Not a great way to for a day to go but it's not like it could get worse.....
Suddenly the door flew open and what walked through was a big orange, and probably angry, mare.
"We...Welcome!" I tried to say before she ran up and slammed her hooves on the counter.
"What in tarnation are you doing!?" She yelled at me.
"Um.." Was all I could get in.
"My cousin came in the other day and was assaulted by somepony who looked exactly like you!"
"Was it C..Caramel?"
"Darn tootin it was!"
Oh Luna not again stop blushing stop blushing stop blushing stop blushing.....
"Uh." She said stepping away from the counter. "He said that your cheeks were really red and you were acting really strange like you are now......" After those words her faced changed as she probably realized what was going on.
"Awwww you're one of dem colt cuddlers ain't ya?" She said, her tone shifting from angry to friendly in as few as a millisecond.
"A..ye..yes." Was all I could say. I didn't find explaining my sexuality to complete violent strangers wasn't my specialty.
"Aww well shucks that's mighty cute. A shame though, you wouldn't look too bad with a mare." She said to me, turning her back to me.
"I'm actually bi....." I quietly said hoping she'd hear.
"Oh so you're like Dash I suppose." She said walking more towards the door. "Well I guess I can be put at ease. Maybe I can introduce ya'll to each other. Caramels boyfriend seems like he'd like your fancy records you have here."
"Oh..." I wasn't expecting boyfriend. That sentence was kind of misleading at the start. Like a great roller coaster but you vomit at the end. But honestly I wasn't surprised. A stallion like that would already be taken.
"Well I'd be glad to have ya'll meet. What's yer name?"
"High Note." I replied.
"Alrighty then. Boy with how shy you seem like you'd be a good match with my pal Fluttershy." And with that she left the store.
"Fluttershy....."
"Dude Ms Hoover's a total bitch." Said my Thunderlane.
"Yeah I know man." Said Trips, "Fucking hate that bitch, giving us homework every damn day. I hate algebra."
We all sat in the lunch room, eating our lunches and hating our teachers as usual. The three of us sat all by ourselves in a small corner of the lunch room.
This school was a strange thing. It was mostly filled with earth ponies and unicorns, but scattered around the school were a few pegasi. Most of them came here because they were kicked out of there school up in the clouds. Most of them were here because they got kicked out. Thunderlane got expelled for telling off a teacher, and apparently some other rainbow mare did too.
But there was one other pony. A yellow pegasus, who I was completely head over heels for. And today was going to be a big day.
"You gonna talk to the pink chick?" Asked Trips.
"Sh..shut up man I'll do it." I responded.
"Well you better, or me and Thunderlane will do it for you."
As he said that the bell rang, it was this time that lunch ended and the school gave us ten minutes to fuck around in. We all picked up our backpacks. Trips and Thunderlane would probably go play soccer, but today I had to confront somepony.
"See you later High Note." Said Thunderlane, walking away towards the field. Usually after lunch I'd go to the library and read or something. But not today, although I'd rather go to the library.
Apparently she liked to hide out back, where all the trees were. We were told not to go back there since tons of animals roamed that area, but I guess she didn't care.
I peered around the edge of the school wall and found her, sitting by herself with a couple of birds stuck in her mane. With a gulp in my throat I took a step out in the open.
"He--hey Fluttershy...." I said, prompting her eyes to widen immensely either in terror or surprise.
"Uh...." She replied, suddenly hiding her head from me.
"I just wanted to say..."
ABORT ABORT ABORT ABORT AWKWARDESS LEVELS ARE RISING IMMENSELY.
I couldn't take it. I turned around and ran, but not before yelling "I THINK YOU'RE REALLY CUTE!!!"
I'm not sure how she responded but it was probably adorable.
As I snapped back into the present I shook my head.
