A/N: I don't know if I will continue this intro into a proper story.


The bus is hot, loud, and stifling. Peridot briefly holds her palms against her noise cancelling headphones, but it doesn't help that much. She curls as close toward the window as possible. The cool glass on her cheek is calming. Peridot would rather be home, on a voice call with Lapis as they run live commentary to each other while watching Camp Pining Hearts. Fictional camp is fun, real life camp, probably not so much. Peridot isn't looking forward to this field trip, and the rowdy, overstuffed bus already seems like a bad omen.

Her parents did not agree with that assessment. At least having the experience will enable her to say for certain she hates it. There's a gentle tap on her shoulder. She grinds her teeth and squints up at the disturbance. It's Pearl.

She's wearing a blue blouse with a yellow star, pale yellow skinny jeans, and expensive shoes that resemble ballet slippers. Her short hair is dyed pink as usual. Peridot can't help feeling drab in her green flannel, faded jeans, and well-loved converse. She is perfectly happy with her style though. Pearl isn't chased away by Peridot's expression. She taps her ear. Peridot reluctantly slides the headphones down.

In a gentle tone, Pearl asks, "Can I sit with you?"

Her stomach drops as her cheeks heat. Of all people, the one she most use to bully when she was at Jasper's side, and now has an awkward crush on. Pearl is the daughter of someone who works closely with the richest person in Empire City, Whitney Diamond. This doesn't stop others from frequently teasing her. Peridot has seen a few of her celebrity mother's interviews and doesn't envy Pearl one bit. The only one with a colder reputation than Morgan Star is Whitney herself. However, Pearl actually lives in Beach City - with one of Diamond's relatives or something. Peridot isn't that nosy.

Peridot's folks are often misguided, but they try their best. It was merely an adjustment period for them, to realize they don't have the "normal" kid they envisioned. Peridot glances around. A few rows up, Amethyst sits with Skinny. They each have a can of soda (not allowed but the art teacher Vidalia pays them no mind) and appear to be having a burping contest. Ruby and Sapphire are way in the back, their heads close together in a whispered conversation.

It seems Pearl's posse are otherwise occupied, explaining why she would stoop to sitting with someone who was a vicious bully to her only last year. Peridot swallows around the lump in her throat and gathers courage.

"Uh. I guess."

Pearl, delicate and prim, settles nearly at the edge of the seat.

"I don't have chicken pox, pink eye, or anything," Peridot reassures, rolling her eyes.

"Of course not. You had to clear a health check to be allowed on the trip." Pearl scoots maybe a centimeter closer. Peridot leaves it go.

Everyone is quieted down by the bus driver. The bus finally starts to move. The sudden jerk throws Peridot forward, and she grumbles, adjusting her glasses. From the corner of her eye she notices Pearl's fingertips touching her lips, and an amused twinkle in her eyes. Peridot simply glares for a moment before turning back to the window. The bus chugs along, albeit sluggish.

Pearl says out of the blue, "Interesting."

"What?" She should not engage. Should not engage!

"That you're sitting alone." Pearl casts her gaze toward Jasper, who is leaning over the seat in front of her to chat with Aquamarine. Her shrill, pompous voice makes Peridot wince. Beside her, Topaz is nervously keeping her gaze on the floor.

"Yeah, whatever. Maybe I feel like it. What's it to you anyway?"

"I thought you two were... close is all."

"Well." Technically, Peridot doesn't have to explain this. Then again, after her treatment of Pearl in previous years, she owes the silver spoon a bit of information. "I found out she and her friends did something terrible."

Peridot lowers her voice as much as possible, continuing, "I kept in touch with Lapis Lazuli online. You know the one that was expelled last year? Jasper outed her to her parents and then pinned something on her that she didn't do."

Pearl's eyes widened. "That's truly awful. But -"

Peridot frowns and looks away. "I know I sound like a hypocrite. But things have changed. I don't want to be that person anymore."

Peridot can't bring herself to mention the other part. It's probably fairly obvious given Jasper's "opinions" that Peridot basically quit the friendship before she could be kicked from it. She'd rather just slip away like a self-preserving snake than a full blow-out and fight. No doubt Jasper would find a way to make a scene.

"Excuse me for asking a really simple thing -"

Peridot tenses and clenches the fabric of her jeans in one hand.

"You use the pronoun she now right?"

Peridot hadn't exactly gone about announcing it, but Jasper was enough of a gossip spreader. It didn't mean she shared the correct information. Who knows what Pearl has heard.

"That's right."

"OK."

Thankfully, she seems to have no further queries. After getting bombarded near the beginning of senior year, it's such a relief. Peridot's bones turn to jelly, and she sinks down in the seat with a small sigh. Pearl is still looking at her, as though expecting conversation. Peridot crosses her arms, hoping she will take a hint. Pearl's eyes slide over to Lars, in the seat diagonal from theirs. With not much better to do, Peridot looks too. He's got his arms crossed too, looking grumpy as always. He's kind of cute in a way.

Sadie is trying to show him her phone screen, saying something too quietly for Peridot to hear. Peridot often wonders if they'd get along, but she can't initiate friendships to save her life. It was even Lapis who contacted her first, desperate to make it clear that Peridot could do better than Jasper. The worst part, no one knew that Lapis and Jasper had been in a romantic relationship. Lapis admitted it was never healthy on either of their parts, but still.

Lars suddenly snaps, "Why should I give a sh- uh, shrap?"

Sadie's withering look reminds Peridot of the one often given to her by Lapis. She smiles. Peridot notices Pearl's eyes on her again. She opens her mouth to demand what exactly she's staring at, and inform her she's had enough gawking for a lifetime.

The bus hits a pothole. Pearl is thrown into her. She scrambles away with stuttered apologies. Peridot just lays her cheek on the window and doesn't respond. Nearby, Jasper laughs. Many heads turn in her direction.

"Can't even handle the ride. I think camp might be too rough and tumble for the little ballerina."

Aquamarine snickers. "Twenty dollars says her new little friend gets attacked - by a squirrel!"

"I guess they'll both be the uh - damsel in distress. A freak and a clod, lost in the woods with no one to help! Guess everyone gets what they want." Jasper's eyes narrow, and she curls her lip as she glances at Peridot. Her gaze doesn't linger, though. It seems for her, merely looking at Peridot is unpleasant.

Peridot growls and slips the headphones back on. The next few weeks are going to be the longest ever.