Author's Note: I was reading the old verison of this, which is still on my page if you want to read it, and I was thinking about how I could make it better. I decided to rewrite it. Anyway, a lot of things will be similar so if you have deja vu thats why. Its just gonna be better written. So enjoy. - xDomoX

August 13th, 2017

Peridot Salazar looked out the windshield of the old pick up truck as it pulled into the narrow drive away of the new house her parents bought. By the looks of it, it was not technically "new." The house was long and narrow, perhaps only twelve feet wide at the front, but it stretched some thirty feet back like a giant shoe box. It was two stories high and had a one story extension at the fear for the kitchen. The wooden framed sash windows were propped open with sticks and the brick work, perhaps once a jaunty yellow, looked dirty with the salt filled wind from the ocean just right across from them. A small rose garden had been planted in front, and although it had obviously once been carefully planned and loved, it was now riddled with weeds.

Her mother would love to fill her days up trying to fix the garden back to its glorious days. She looked over at her father, Aquilino Salazar, with his graying hair and dark skin, he looked older than he really was. He had sighed in relief, looking at their new house. He was located to a new location for his job as a banker. It wasn't like it was gonna help them much, but at least they got to live near the beach. "Look at that, Peridot, look at our new house. Isn't just beautiful?" He asked and turned to look at her, his brown eyes shone with pride.

She nodded her head slowly, looking for the right words to say. "Yes, father ... it is beautiful." She smiled softly before looking at her mother. Her mother looked younger than her father with her dyed blondish brown hair, and her green eyes. Her skin was caramel like hers, and smooth. Hero Salazar looked over at her daughter, and smiled softly, but the smile held great pain that only she can see. Her mother got out of the truck to let Peridot out.

Following her mother, they went into the house, all their furniture was set up for them, but the boxes of their stuff was stack in a corner. It was gonna take the rest of the day to get her boxes in her room, then tomorrow would be the first day of school at Beach City High. Her back hurt her as she finally finished taking up the last box in her room, it was around seven at night. It was a good work out, she guessed, going up and down stairs taking boxes did tire her out. But it also threw her into an asthma attack by the fourth run.

She slammed herself onto her mattress, she had yet been able to assemble her bed frame, so the bed was on its box springs touching the ground. It was a bit uncomfortable for her, but it would have to do for now. Peridot laid there in her bed in silence, just before sleep overcame her, she was shook awake by the yelling coming downstairs. Her dad must have been drinking again, so soon. They had just moved into the house, and he already was drunk and fighting with her mother. Sooner or later, she knew he was possibly going to come into her room. Maybe she should lock her door, he hasn't taken the locks off yet.

The thought made her feel guilty. She didn't want to disobey her father, and surely locking the door would be a terrible decision. Except the first day of school was tomorrow, and she wanted at least some sleep to start the day off. Slowly, she got off her bed, and made her way to the door. Her heart started to beat a bit faster as her hand reached out to the lock and turned it. Taking a deep breath she went back to her bed and crawled under the covers, trying to not think about what she just did.

August 14th, 2017

Sleep. Such a beautiful word. You can say it in different languages. Dormir. Pagtulog. Somnum. It was just a gentle word. As if in any language, especially in English, it would soften one words, to open a new state of mind. To put a mind at ease, just say that word. It had put Peridot at ease every time she heard the word. She didn't want to get out of bed that morning, she had the best sleep she had in years.

Getting out of bed was the hardest thing she could have done that morning. Her bed was warm and comfy, and she knew with dread in her stomach that the day was not gonna start off well. Especially when she had locked the door last night so her father wouldn't get into her room.

She got her school clothes on, and unlocked her bedroom door. Everything was eerily quiet as she made her way down the stairs towards the kitchen. Her mother was cooking breakfast and her father was drinking coffee and reading the newspaper. She pulled up a chair at the end of the table facing her dad, who slowly put down the newspaper and clasped his hands together. "You had locked your door last night. Why?" He asked, his voice was deadly calm scaring Peridot more.

"I wanted to sleep last night because of school today ... I felt safer from the outside world when I had my door locked. I'm sorry ... I won't do it again." She said and gulped. Her father nodded slowly and picked up his paper again, she knew she was end for it after school today. Her mom had set down a plate of food and she gulped it down. Not long after she could hear her bus pull up, it was time for the first day of school.

The sixteen year old climbed onto the bus slowly, everyone seemed to stare at her, more like glare at her. She turned the music up in her headphones as she made her way to the back of the bus where she found a seat. She had set her backpack next to her on the seat, just in case if someone tried to sit next to her, which she doubt, but just in case. The bus dropped the kids off 20 minutes before he bell was going to ring, her first class was in M-1, which was band. The M - building was next to the Student Union or more known as the cafeteria.

There was kids standing outside of the band room, which she guessed was because the band director wasn't here yet. She leaned against the building looking down at her hands feeling uncomfortable, and alone. She only looked up when something skeeted towards her foot, it was a metal traveling mug. Coffee was starting to spill out before she picked it up.

Looking up to figure out who dropped it, she saw a skinny male, holding a bunch of bags, his cheeks were red as he walked over to her. Taking out an ear bud, she handed the mug back to him. "Thank you. I'm a little new to this teaching, and I am all over the place." The teacher had a thick accent, possibly Australian. She nodded once, and followed him to the room. He set the bags on the table, and let out a huge sigh. "I need to learn to control everything." He chuckled.

"I'm Mr. Onyx." He held out his hand for Peridot to shake, which she did. His hand was soft, not rough like any other grown mans. "Which instrument do you play?"

"I'm Peridot Salazar, I play the clarinet. It's my first day at this school too, so you shouldn't feel so alone." She said shyly, and smiled a little bit, which Mr. Onyx returned the smile. "Is this your first teaching job, or?"

Mr. Onyx chuckled as he set up his desk, putting his laptop into place, and his breakfast next to it. "Nah, this is my second one. I moved down here to be closer to friends, I used to work in Emerald City. Where did you come from?"

Peridot had never been to Emerald City, she heard it was supposed to be beautiful though. She told him that she came from a town called Shale, it was back on the west coast of Delmarva. It was just a tiny town barely 2,000 people lived there. The bell had rung to single that class was about to start so their conversation was cut short. For the rest of the class period was pretty fun though. Mr. Onyx told jokes, talked about himself, and actually got to know the students of the band. Before long it was time to head to second period.

She had time to go to her locker to lighten the load of her backpack, she always manage to bring to many materials with her on the first day of school. More than necessary. Her locker was located in the H wing, just a long hall full of lockers and classrooms. As she walked towards her locker, H-356, she noticed a loud group of kids conversing near it.

In the group of kids, there was a girl who was the shortest but also the loudest of them. She had silky light brown skin, and her hair was a pale lavender color that was up in a ponytail. She was a bit more filled out than the others were, as Peridot got closer she noticed the girl was wearing an Overwatch shirt, and pale blue ripped jeans. She was the one blocking her locker, "Excuse me ..." Peridot voice squeaked a bit, and shook with nervousness. The girl kept talking, it was a bit hard for her to understand as her accent was becoming thicket. "Excuse me ..." She said a bit louder. "You're kind of in my way of my locker ..."

The Latina girl turned her head to look at Peridot, who just melted into the chocolate brown eyes. She nodded once her way, and moved. "Sorry niña ... speak louder next time and I would move sooner." Peridot couldn't tell if the girl was being mean or not, the tone wasn't clear, which just made her uncomfortable.

She hurried and put her stuff away before heading towards her next class which was Advance Math in the S-Wing. Her advanced math teacher was Mrs. Rose Quartz-Universe, and she was huge in comparison to Peridot herself. She was tall and graceful, and the sweetest human being that she had ever met. Her skin was pale, and her hair was bright pink, which matched the color of the flowing summer dress that she wore.

"Hello class ..." Her words rolled off her tongue, so majestic and full of honey. "Welcome to Advanced Math, course A. Because my name is so long, you may just call me Rose. I also want us all to become friends with one and each other." After she had introduced herself, she had taken roll then passed out a test. It was just to see what she had to review over with the class before the real fun gotten started.

Second and Third period seemed to go quickly, eventually she walked to her fourth period class which was across campus in the X-Wing building. She walked into the tiny classroom, instead of desks there was lab stations set up in the middle of the room. Three in a row, six lab stations all together. This was the smallest classroom she had ever been in, here and at her old high school. As she walked in all the seats were taken expect one, which was near the girl she had met in the hallway. The bell had just rung for the class to start. "It's nice for you to show up. Please have a seat next to Miss Pedroza."

That's what she did, she took the seat next to the girl, her head was down. Mr. Sanchez introduced himself, and the course lesson for the semester. She was eager to learn, even if she was embarrassed about being almost late to class. She was good at chemistry, she wanted to be a scientist after high school after all.

Peridot Salazar was hoping the girl next of her was a good partner, but immediately after she had that thought the girl had pulled out her phone which the screen was shattered and ignored the teacher. She had only put it away when he had came around and passed out a piece of paper with questions on it. "The paper I handed you is a questionnaire. I want to learn more about you, just answer the questions and everything will be okay."

The rest of the period was quiet, other than the scratching of pen and pencil on finished and handed in her paper to the teacher, Pedroza was next. "What's your name?" Peridot asked once the girl had sat down, she was fumbling with her hands under the table.

"Amethyst ..." the girl sounded distance as she took out her phone and started to mess with it. "And yours?"

"Peridot... I feel like you're going to be a trouble kid..." Mumbled Peridot. "If you are going to be my partner, I expect you to not be on your phone in the beginning of class. You need to pay attention to Mr. Sanchez." Amethyst slowly set down her phone with a smirk on her face and looked at Peridot. She had a cocked eyebrow as she let out a soft giggle.

"I'mma lot of things, dude, but one of them is not a troubled kid." The smirked had returned and she stood up once the bell for lunch rung. "Well, it was nice meeting you, sweetie, I have to run and catch up with my friends. But I hope you have a good rest of the day." She snickered and walked out of the classroom, leaving Peridot with a clenched jaw.

Peridot made her way towards the cafeteria, once she had gotten lunch it wasn't long after that she was tripped by someone much larger than her. Her food had went all over someone else as her cheeks got heated as everyone was laughing at her. She tried to get up when someone grabbed her by the front of her shirt helping her up. "You need to watch where you are going, Pirralho (brat)."

The girl that was holding her had long flowing white blonde hair, her darkish skin was covered with patches of pigment missing, and she was wearing a varsity football jacket that was orange and black; the school's colors. She was buff with wide shoulders that shook with laughter that came out rough and deep. "Let her go, Jasper, what did I tell you about bullying kids? Especially on their first day of school?" The female that had spoken, was wearing a light blue dress, with her dyed blue-violet hair that looked lovely with her pale white skin. She was also wearing light blue flats to go with her outfit.

"Baby ..." Whined the bigger female, "You know I love to watch their scared faces as they fall to the floor." She let go of Peridot who landed on her knees, just so she can wrap an arm around the much smaller female. She leaned down and kissed her lips deeply, Peridot looked away as she got back up on her feet. The smaller female pulled away and shook her head sighing, she walked over to Peridot and swiped the dirt off of her clothes.

"Are you okay? I am Lapis L. Luxton. That was my girlfriend Jasper Santiago."

"Peridot Salazar ..." Mumbled the girl, "thank you for helping me... " Lapis nodded once before grabbing Peridot's hand, which made her heart start to race.

"Let me go get you lunch, you kind of lost yours on that kid." Peridot pulled her hand away and shook her head. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah I am sure. I wasn't that hungry anyway. Thank you again. I should get going." She turned around and left in a hurry, she didn't lie socializing, it took her anxiety up the roof. She could barely handle the hundreds of students in high school each day.

The rest of the lunch period went by quickly, and so did the rest of the school day. Before she knew it the last bell had rung and she was out of her classroom within seconds. She was heading towards the bus stop, when she was stopped by a boy her height. He was a bit chubby, with brown locks of curly hair. "Hey, I saw you get bullied by Jasper. I am Steven Universe." His smile was bright that lit up his brown eyes.

Peridot's anxiety was going up the roof, she looked up at the street light clock, the bus was going to be here soon. "Hi, Steven ... yeah I am not so good with people..." She shifted on one foot to another.

"You're Peridot, right? I overheard you tell your name to Lapis ..." He giggled when she gave him a weird look when he knew her name. "Do you want to go to football practice with me? My brother, Matt, he is the quarterback for the team. He can give you a ride back home if you need one."

She stood there thinking, her mother would love to hear that she made a new friend, but her father would probably be pissed that she wasn't home on time. Then again, she didn't want to go straight home, and hear her father grip and his words be slurred. It wouldn't hurt to go watch them practice. Peridot turned around and nodded towards Steven. "Yeah ... I'll go to football practice with you."

"I have never seen you around town before." Steven said as they both walked towards the field. "When did you move here?"

"I moved in yesterday actually. So I am pretty new still, and I don't like talking to people that much. It's mostly because my dad's job has us moving a lot, and so I don't stay in one place long. I never really bothered to make friends anymore." She grabbed her arm and rubbed uncomfortably. "You have the last name of Universe, are you the son of Mrs. Universe?"

"Yep! That's my mom! She a great person, huh? She is loved by everyone. I can't wait to have her for next year, I am only a freshman, but I love math. She's been teaching me all this math stuff, to the point where I am in a pretty high math class now." Steven started to ramble on about Math, and Peridot listened to him smiling. They had finally reached the football field, climbing up on the bleachers they sat and waited for the football players to come out for practice.

Amethyst sat down on a bench in the football room, while the other players were getting dressed and ready for football practice. She wasn't bothered by them and they weren't bothered by her. All the guys knew she was a lesbian, and so they weren't bothered by the fact she was a girl. Also Jasper was on the football team as well and she was more like a guy to them than she was. Plus Matthias Universe would kick any of their asses if they tried anything. She has been playing football since she was on the freshman team, she was now a junior on the varsity team.

She worked off her ass to become a wide receiver, and she is working off her ass more to become the next quarterback after Matthias graduates this year. Speaking of Matthias, he came walking over to her in his football practice gear and his helmet in his right hand. "You ready Amethyst?" He asked sitting next to her on the bench, his norwegian accent was thicker today than normal.

Matthias Universe was born in Norway, eighteen years ago, he had lost his parents during a terrible fire that was caused by foul play. At the time he was only an infant, and had no family to go to so he was sent to an orphanage for boys. There he had stayed until he was three, that's when Rose Universe decided to adopt him. It was a long process, but he was finally able to go back to America with her. His life has always been rough with school because he was different, but it never affected him enough to lose his smile on his face.

"Hell yeah I am. I am so pumped, I am excited for this week's football game against Wolfpine." Wolfpine's football team was their rival, the Wolves hated the Beavers, and he Beavers hated them. Even though this football game will just be a scrimmage, she was still pumped for it. The both of them got up hit their helmets together and went to the football field for practice.

Even if Amethyst was smaller than the rest of the males there by height, she was still one of the best players they had. She got onto the field and stood next to Jasper who grunted at her. They weren't on good terms, but they were not on bad terms either. "Good to see that you're at practice." Mumbled Amethyst, Jasper had missed a couple of practices over the summer, for some personal shit she didn't want to discuss.

Jasper looked down at her, and narrowed her eyes. "Shut your mouth, Pedroza. Just watch your back." She threatened, and with a growl walked away from her. Amethyst wondered what crawled up Jasper's ass this afternoon. Running her hand through her hair, she turned her head towards the bleachers. There she saw the new girl, Peridot, talking with Steven. Lifting her hand, she waved at Steven, who waved back towards her. She liked the little guy, he was like a little brother to her, she was there with him growing up.

She looked away and started football practice, the entire time her mind was elsewhere. Today wanted her to remember every little thing about her childhood which she didn't want to remember. Football practice ended after a couple of hours, her face was red and hot, as she let her hair loose from the helmet. Her breathing was in short ragged breaths, but a smile was wide on her face, as she high fived Matthias.

They walked to the locker rooms this time Amethyst and Jasper went to the female's one. She rather not see the males' junks at the moment. After their showers, she met bac up with Matthias who was gonna give her a ride today. Her truck was in the shop, and her roommates were busy. As they walked towards the parking lot, Steven and Peridot was waiting for them. Peridot looked uncomfortable to be there, but Steven was happy to see them both. "Hey guys!" He said happily. Matt smiled and ruffled his brother's hair. "Matthias, this is Peridot. Peridot this is Matthias my brother."

Matthias held out his hand for Peridot to shake. She did weakly. "Nice to meet you, Peridot. You must be new to the school." Peridot nodded. "Well, you're always welcome to hang out with me and my crew then. Do you need a ride home?" Peridot nodded again. "You don't talk much do you?" She shook her head, and Matthias laughed. "I can tell. That's okay, hope in. You can sit in the back with Steven."

Matt had a 1964 Pontiac Catalina convertible with a metallic dark bright teal poly coat. Amethyst always loved his car, and always wanted one for herself, but she didn't have the money nor the time to get the money to have one. She pulled down her sit for the kids to get in the back, when they were strapped in, she helped Matthias pull down the roof.

Getting in, they drove off. Peridot and Steven was in the back seat talking about different things they had in common, while Amethyst was on her phone messing around. She soon noticed that they had stopped in a beat up house. It must have been Peridot's. The porch light was turned on, and a young looking women stepped out, looking a bit upset. "Peridot, what are you doing in the back of a stranger's vehicle? Get your ass in here." Well, shit, someone was in trouble. Peridot mumbled a quick thank you and climbed out of the car. They soon drove off when they knew she was in the house safely.

"I hope she is not in to much trouble ..." Steven mumbled looking back at the fading house in the distance. He looked forward again with a concerned look on his face. "I just thought she might need a friend ... I didn't mean to cause trouble ..."

"Hey little man, you didn't do anything wrong. You're good. Don't let it phase you." Amethyst turned her head and gave Steven a huge smile, it didn't reach her eyes, but Steven didn't seem to see it. In reality, Amethyst didn't really give two shits if the girl was in trouble or not. Since chemistry when Peridot called her a troubled kid she didn't like her too much.

Amethyst sighed, she just wanted to go into her room, roll a joint and relax. "Hey Amethyst," Matthias broke her thoughts, "Why don't you invite Peridot to lunch with us tomorrow? Steven would sure appreciate it, and I know you have 4th period with her." She cringed at the thought of actually talking to Peridot. She shot him a dirty look before answering him.

"I rather not, she has Jasper up her ass, and I don't want to deal with that shit right now." Matthias slapped Amethyst across the arm, she growled and rubbed where he hit her. She knew why he did too, just for cussing in front of Steven. "Like I was saying," she glared at the older boy, "Jasper already hates me, and she already hates Peridot. I don't need trouble with Jasper while it's football season. And I don't want others to see me hanging out with someone like her. Why don't you get Steven to do it?"

"I don't want to do it ... yeah ... I am a nice guy and all, and I want to be friends with her ... but like Matthias asked you. You should do it. No one should be left alone in an environment that they feel uncomfortable in, Ame. Plus if she is gonna hang out with us more often you should get to know her." Steven cocked his head to the side, and smiled cutely.

Amethyst sighed, giving up on this argument she knew that she couldn't. The wind blew in her face and she closed her eyes taking in a breath. "Fine ... I'll do it, but it doesn't mean I'll force her if she doesn't want to go." The car had stopped in front of her house, she got out and nodded once at Matt. "I'll see you two tomorrow. Drive safely."

"Love you." Matthias said with a smirk on his face, before driving away. That smirk was a look of 'I knew I would win.'

"Love you too, Asshole." Mumbled the latina girl.