"Whoa. Who is she?" I asked while staring at the new girl walking past my locker.
"I think her name is Sapphire. I saw her in my first period class, but never got the moment to talk to her. The girl next to her is her sister, Lapis." My best friend, Jasper Lloyds, explained to me.
"Yeah, but I keep seeing her sister glance back over at you, Rubz. Maybe you should talk to her." My other best friend, Amethyst Fines, pointed out that she was, indeed, staring in my direction. I was only eyeing Sapphire.
"I don't think I can do that," I state and shut my locker, "they both look too..."
"Straight?" Jasper smirks at me.
"Shut up.." I punch her arm and head off toward the library.
My name is Ruby Raines. I'm a junior in BC High and I'm one of the very few gay people in my school, and who knows, maybe there are still people in the closet.
"Hey guys, look. It's Peridot." Amethyst points to the light green haired girl with glasses and messed up hair. I always assumed that she had a crush on Peridot, but she refuses to admit it.
"Go over and talk to her." Jasper gives her a little push as she talks.
"That's a good idea, maybe she can fix my computer!" Amethyst runs to the girl, "Hey nerd!.." I smile and look down at my book. She is unbelievable.
"She so likes her." I hear Jasper mumble. I glance at her before smiling at the two.
"Yeah, and she makes it so obvious." I say quietly. I open the doors, not bothering to wait for Amethyst. I hear Jasper sigh.
"Maybe I should go after the sister.." I hear the amusement in her voice. I dont say anything and keep walking to the library. "I will meet you in the weight room. I have to get to the gym so that I can warm up before you and Ame get there."
"Okay, I will meet you there in about an hour." I say as I walk into the library. I stalk off toward one of the round tables and put my books down. I set my backpack on the floor beside my chair and reach in to grab my glasses. As I push my glasses on my face, I open my book and begin to read the next chapter. I always lose track of time while I read, so I hope I dont miss the weight room with Jasp and Ame.
"May I sit here?" I hear an unfamiliar voice ask. I push my glasses back up my nose and look at the person who asked. It was one of the new girls. What was her name? Lapsis?
"Yeah, sure." I scramble to move my books from the table so she has space. "Whats your name stranger?" I ask.
"Lapis Lazuli." Her voice is small and quiet. Almost inaudible. "What is your name?" I can see her bite her lip like she is nervous.
"Ruby Raines." I state, "I saw another girl with you earlier. What was her name?" I ask, trying to get her to be less nervous.
"That's my sister, Sapphire Jones." I notice the last names are different, but decide not to say anything. I just nod my head and look back down at my, now closed, book.
"Oh. When did you guys move to Beach City?" I ask.
"About two weeks ago. I love water and to swim, so I was excited. But Sapphire was less excited."
"I'd imagine moving in the middle of highschool must have been tough." I have to get to the weight room. Should I invite her? "Hey, listen. I have to go to the weight room for training with my friends. Want to come along? You dont have too, I just thought it would be nice to make more friends."
"I'd love too! If they are anything like you, then I'll probably like them."
"Oh dear, I think you'll be diappointed." I wink at her and she blushes. I laugh a bit and put my glasses in their case, stuffing it in my backpack with my other books. I motion to the door and she gets up to follow. As we walk through the halls, she is quiet again. Maybe Jasper can get her to open up some more.
"Yo Rubz!" I hear Jasper yell to me as I walk through the doors of the weight room. She has a towel around her neck and she is sweating. She has one ear bud in and she is smiling big. "Who is this?" She asks, staring at Lapis.
"Lapis, this is Jasper." I point to her and her smile broadens. Lapis holds her hand out.
"I'm Lapis Lazuli." She smiles a sheepish smile at Jasper. And, for the first time in my life, I see Jasper blush.
"Cute.." I hear her say under her breath as she shakes her hand. "Uh.. are you here to work out with us? Or..?" She glances at me.
"Im just here to watch and meet Rubys friends." She is staring at her feet.
"Hey guys! I brought Peri along!" Amethyst comes barging in to the weight room. "Who is this?" She smiles at Lapis and turns to look at me. I can see the amusement dancing in her eyes.
"Im Lapis. Lapis Lazuli." She holds her hand out to Amethyst now. Amethyst just smacks her hand away playfully and throws her hand over Lapis' shoulders.
"Im Amethyst! Im the loudest of the group. But Im the nicest one too." Amethys winks at Lapis and the laughs as Jasper punches her in the arm. Lapis looks to the side and moves away from Amethyst as she makes her way to Peridot. Amethyst gives Lapis a look as she introduces herself. I smile at the look on her face and push her a little.
"Im Peridot." I hear her say in her very strange voice. Its unique.
"And she is my nerd." Amethyst smiles and clings to Peridot suddenly. "Isnt she the cutest?" She grabs Peridots face with one hand like a mom would do to a baby.
"Amutist!" Peridot tried struggling away but failed. Amethyst laughed more as she let go of her face and took her glasses. "Hey! I need those!"
"Stop teasing Peri, Ame." Jasper sighs. "Just come on! We are here to work out. Not flirt." She teases. Amethyst blushes and tosses the glasses back to Peridot.
"Alright. Lets do this!" Amethyst yells. I sigh and take my sweatshirt off. Im not fat. Im actually fit. I have a slight four pack and Im curved nicely in my opinion. I only wear a sportsbra in here so I dont get sweat all over my clothes. I look over at Lapis and she is blushing. Oh boy. And then I glance at Peridot who looks uninterested and staring at her little tablet. I roll my eyes. 'Nerd..'
After our work out is done, we all agree to go get something to eat at Fish Stew Pizza. As we alll sit and wait for our pizza, Amethyst and Jasper try and open Lapis.
"So what swim team are you going to join? The schools or the local?" Jasper asks. I think she is genuinly interested in Lapis.
"I havent decided yet. I cant get scholarships with local. So it will probably be the schools." She answers. She is a bit louder now that she has observed them a bit.
"What kind of training do you do to work out for swimming? Is it the same as ours for Football?" Amethyst asks and I tune out. I cant stop thinking of Lapis' sister, Sapphire Jones. Her name is beautiful. I wonder how I can get closer to her?
"RUBY!" I hear Jasper yell, snapping me bck to this demension.
"What?!"
"We have been saying your name for the past 2 minutes, man. Eat the damn pizza." Jasper states in a tone that is slightly threatening.
"What were you so fixed on?" Lapis inquires. I look at her in the eyes. They dont look alike. At all.
"Why do you and Sapphire have different last names?" I ask unknown to myself. It was more of an absent minded question.
"Oh, I didnt tell you! Me and Sapphire have different fathers but the same mother." She smiles at me.
"I see.." Thats why they look different.
-the following day at school-
I am sitting in the library before school as always. The only thing I hear is Peridot typing one of her logs. Sometimes I just need ome quiet time. I always feel too on edge.
"Excuse me?" I glare down at my book. Can I ever get some time to just read and not be interrupted?
"What is it?" I sneer a bit.
"Oh.." I hear them say under their breath. I think I sound rude. Damn it. "I just needed help with finding the computer room.." I sigh. I think I may have made them upset.
"Im sorry, this is the second tim-" I look up and its her! I was rude to Sapphire Jones! I quickly take off my glasses and fumble with my book as I start to panic. "Im sorry.." I quickly stand up, "I was being rude.." I apologized again. I stick my hand out. "I'm Ruby. Arent you one of the new girls?" She has a slight smile on her face. I can feel my face starting to heat up.
"Im Sapphire. I started here with my sister yesterday. Is your last name Raines?" She asked. She gave me a questioning look and I nod my head.
"Yeah, did Lapis tell you about me?" I smile a bit.
"Yes. She did. She said you are very nice, but you always seem distant. Like you dont have much to say. She told me that your friends, Jasper and Amethyst, did most of the talking."
"Im not a good talker.." I say in almost a whisper.
"You are talking to me." She states.
"I guess there is just something about you." I look in her eyes. They are a cold blue. The look she has is soft and gentle. I probably look mean. I could lose myself looking into these eyes for too long. She breaks the gaze with a blush on her face.
"Uhm.. Where is the computer room?" I start to blush further and look at my hands.
"Oh right.." I put my books and glasses into my backpack and lead the way to the computer room. I hear her sigh and look to her. She is staring at me. "Is there something wrong?"
"What.. Oh! No! Its nothing!" She says fast and looks at her feet while she walks. I stop in front of the door.
"Uh.. This is it." I say kind of hushed.
"Thank you." She says, not looking away from her feet. "I guess Ill see you around then, Ruby Raines." She gives me a smile. I smile back.
"I guess so.."
"Sapphire! I was looking for you!" I look behind me and I see Rose. She is probably the nicest person in the school. Its no wonder her and Sapphire are friends now.
"Hey Rose." I say and wave slightly. She smiles the biggets smile when she notices me.
"Ruby! Hey! How is everything going? Are you still into Football? Sapphire, did you know that Ruby is our star Football player? She is so good!" Rose squeals. I blush.
"I wouldnt say Im the star player. I am QB though. So I guess that is pretty big." I smile and blush.
"I will have to see you play some time." Sapphire smiles, but it melts a bit.
"Theres a game Friday, if you are up to watching?" Rose interjects. I watch Sapphire look to her hands.
"Ill think about it." She whispers and then looks me in the eyes. "Ill see you around, Ruby Raines." I wave to her as she walks into the room. Rose smirks at me.
"So.. you set a sight on the new girl now?" I sigh. I knew she would notice.
"I just think she is pretty. And she is really nice, but seems more distant than I am." I explain.
"I see. Well you better get to class." Rose smiles. She knows everything already.
"I'll see you later Rose." I say and wave her off. I sigh big when she is out of sight. I didnt realize I was short of breath. I took a couple deep breaths before I sprinted to class.
"Finally! Im starving!" I hear AMethyst yell as the bell goes off signaling lunch.
"Same here, Ame!" Jasper yells back as she darts to the door. "Come on Rubz! Lets go eat!"
"I'll meet you there. I need to finish this paper real quick."
"Well hurry! Its pizza day!" Jasper yells as she is already out the door. I finish the last sentance of my paper and put it on the teachers desk. It was only extra credit, but I like my grades to stay nice looking. I run out the door and down the hall, but when I turn the corner, I completely crash into someone.
"Damn it, that hurt! Watch where you are going and stay on your side of the hallway!" I yell. My anger is boiling again.
"Excuse me, but I think we are both at fault here Miss Raines." I hear an ice cold voice cool down my anger. I know this voice. I I look at the person in front of me and its Sapphire. 'Shit.."
"Im sorry. My anger got out of control there. It wasnt just your fault.." I look back down at the floor. I make my way to stand up and offer her my hand. "You have lunch B?"
"Yes. I do. So doe Lapis, but I didnt see her in the cafiteria. I went to look for her because she said she is in classroom 239b. May I ask where that is?" I sighed. Pizza or Sapphire? Pizza or Sapphire? Pizza or..
"Its right down this hallway." I point to the hallway on the left and and make my way to the room.
"Thank you. Im sure I can manage from here." I hear slight panic in her voice.
"Are you sure? I can walk you the-"
"No! No no! Thats okay!" She says and slightly runs away.
"Hey! Sapphire!" I run the corner and she is already in the room. I dont bother to go into the room, but I do press my ear to the door and I hear something that I didnt want to really hear..
"How did you find me?" I hear Lapis say with some shuffling in the background.
"I just kinda.. stopped. And then asked someone to help me." She sounds nervous. But why?
"Oh. Who was it?" Lapis questions again.
"I didnt catch their name, but they were nice enough to lead me here." She is avoiding telling Lapis about me? But why? What did I do? I thought I was nice to her..?
"Oh.." The conversation pauses, "I havent seen Ruby today. Its too bad. I want to ask her about football. I want to know her."
"Yeah, you should.." She sounds disappointed. "Im sure she would love to talk to someone who is also athletic." He voice raises a bit. No Sapphire. I want to talk to you! "Im sure it would be more interesting for her anyway." But you are interesting.
"You are a pretty big book worm, Sapph." Lapis comments absent minded. I hear the sound of the computer shutting down and more ruffling. I panic. Shit, what do I do? I run to the next door over and hide in the doorway as the clicking of the door opening is heard.
"Pizza is for lunch, are you hungry?" Sapphire asks.
"No, not really." I peek my head around the corner of the doorway and glance to them. Why doesnt she tell Lapis about me but Lapis can tell her about me? I catch Sapphires gaze, but she immediately looks to her feet.
I have to know whats going on. And Im going to find out.
