A/N: This is going to be another Lapidot human high school AU, I guess. After reading many fics under the same topic, I found that there were too many clichés. I saw stuff where Peridot loves technology, hates sports, and is generally rude or anti-social. Lapis would come from a generally poorer family with problems. They might even be bullied for the first chapter, if you're lucky. Not this time. This isn't your average Lapidot human au, mostly because I'm not sure what I'm doing and make it up as I go.

Peridot:

"This is just great," I mutter under my breath as it starts to drizzle.

My name is Peridot. Don't worry about my last name, I don't care for it anymore. I refuse to acknowledge any relation with my parents at this point. My first name is unique enough, and it will have to do.

I'm a freshman. Where? Who knows? Every year, it's the same. Leave my old school, find a new one. I have no alliance to any place nor to anyone but myself.

It's the first week of September, the week before school begins. My parents kicked me out of the house, so I requested early transport to my new school. A bus should be by a stop near my house to pick me up tomorrow. However, I have no place else to stay, so I'm forced to wait and sleep at a bus stop until it picks me up.

My new school – it's called Gemstone Academy, and it's for grades six through twelve, I just checked the pamphlet – is a boarding school in some mountain region. I get a full scholarship there on my archery talent, though it's not my only skill. I love to play music and to write. The pen may be mightier than the sword, but the bow is stronger than them both. Someone should embroider that on a decorative pillow.

I finally make it to the bus stop just as the rain picks up. Luckily, it's covered by an awning, however small it may be. Everything I own is in the green hiking pack on my back. It's only some clothes, a laptop, my ukulele, and a few binders, but I still can't afford to let any of it get wet.

I slump on the sole bench and pull out my laptop. No charge. I pinch the bridge of my nose. How perfect. Now I have nothing to do until the bus arrives, and I can't even leave without risking getting everything I own soaked.

Just then, I hear heavy footsteps pounding on the sidewalk. I look up, and see a girl with royal blue hair sprinting towards the awning.

"What is she doing?" I mutter. I didn't expect anyone else to get here this early. I'd never made any friends at my old schools, and I didn't need to start now.

She finally makes it into the dry area, and rests her hands on her knees, panting. "That… was more running than I think I've ever done in my entire life," she says in between breaths.

"What were you doing out in the rain, then?" I ask.

She looks up, and I blush. She's gorgeous. She has dyed blue hair that comes down below her shoulders, light freckles that speckle her nose, and ice blue eyes that seem to pierce mine with such intensity, it's like they contain a storm of their own. She's wearing a grey tank top and blue athletic shorts with black skater shoes.

"I was out swimming. There's nothing else to do when you're stuck here," she replies.

"How long have you been here?" I question, surprised.

"I don't know. Maybe a week, I guess. I lost track of time," she says, checking her watch. "I didn't expect anyone to come at all, much less to arrive early. I'm usually the only one who goes to school early. Is it your first year?"

I blush and look away. Here was a beautiful girl talking to me almost like we were friends. I felt as if I talked, I would ruin it all and scare her off. "Yeah, but I'm a freshman. I've been transferred this year," I mumble.

She leans closer. "Sorry, what? You're speaking really softly, and I couldn't hear."

Her face was less than a foot away from mine. My heart seemed to beat out of its chest. "Uh, I'm a freshman."

She grins. "That's awesome! I'm a freshman, too! That means we'll be in the same class!"

She's so cute when she smiles. Normally, pretty people scare me off, but for some reason, she seems inviting. I want to talk to her, but the only thing I know we have in common is that we go to the same school. I think I remember reading about houses, like in Harry Potter, in the school pamphlet.

"Uh, what house are you in?" I ask.

"I'm in the Pink house. It's only for the 'troubled' kids, so I don't think you'll be in it. You'll probably be in Blue, Yellow, or White," she answers.

I raise an eyebrow. "You don't look that troubled. You seem pretty normal, actually."

She laughs. "Yeah, I'm pretty sure that'll change soon. I'm in no way normal."

I rifle through my backpack until I find my class schedule. "Hey, it looks like I'm in Pink. I guess we'll be in each other's classes."

She grabs my schedule, her hand brushing against mine. I shiver. Her hand was warm and soft, and smelled like the ocean. "Why would you be in Pink? Have you ever done anything bad at your old school?" she asks.

My mind flashes back to experiences from my old schools. "I've been more at the receiving end of things, actually."

Her eyes flash with understanding. "Sorry about that, dude. But hey, maybe things can be different this time." she puts her arm around my shoulder reassuringly, and I tense up. "You have me as a friend, and while that in itself isn't much of a bonus, I can introduce you to some of my friends who actually have redeeming qualities."

"You have redeeming qualities," I stutter.

She smiles, and I think I can almost catch a blush on her face. "Aw, thanks."

Her eyes widen, and she takes her arm from around my shoulder, as if she hadn't realized how close we'd been.

"Er… What's your name, at any rate? I feel like a pretty girl like you has a pretty name too," I say. I freeze, realizing my mistake.

She definitely blushes this time, and so do I, and I think she's going to ignore me because the silence has grown so long, until she says, "My name is Lapis Lazuli, and I'm flattered that you think I'm pretty, but that's an easy mistake to make."

It's not a mistake, I think to myself, but instead I say, "Do you have any talents or hobbies?" Classic icebreaker. It makes me sound a bit dull, though I already am.

She shrugs. "I like to swim and surf. I've always loved the water."

I grin. "So I guess you like the weather right now, huh?"

"It's perfect," she replies. "I could stay in the rain all day if I didn't have to keep my stuff dry."

I raise an eyebrow. "Alright. You say you're a daredevil? I'll watch your backpack if you go stand out in the rain."

"That's not at all dangerous, but sure." She steps out from under the awning and is almost immediately soaked by the torrential downpour. "See? I love this," she calls, having to yell over the sound of the rainfall.

"I actually didn't think you'd do it," I say as she steps back in.

"Are you kidding? Water is my element. I'd do anything to be in the water," she replies, sitting back down on the bench.

We sit for a moment in silence. When I look over at her, I find that she's shivering. I reach into my backpack and pull out a green hoodie.

"You look really cold. Do you, uh, want to wear my jacket?" I ask, blushing.

She silently nods and slips the dry green hoodie on. "Thanks." She says quietly.

We sit in silence again, until she says, "I never asked for your name. What was it?"

I stare into the distance. "My name is Peridot."

I can tell that she notices my reluctance to say my last name, but she says nothing. "What do you like to do for fun? I'm guessing from the tone of your voice that you aren't the biggest fan of water," she remarks.

I shake my head. "Nah, I like archery, writing, and music. I actually got a full scholarship to this place on archery. I'm aiming for the Olympics, and I'm pretty close, too."

Her eyes widen. "That's awesome! So you're like Katniss Everdeen, right? Although with your outfit, it's more like Katniss Evergreen."

I look down at what I'm wearing. I have on a green hoodie, pastel green leggings, and dark green converse. "Okay, but you're not wrong," I reply.

She gives a small laugh. "That's cool, though. I'd like to get into the Olympics too, but for swimming. Maybe one day, we'll be there together."

I smile. "I'll look forward to it."

oO0Oo

After a few more hours of talking, we decided to try to sleep. Neither of us wanted to sleep on the ground, so we both had to stiffly sit upright on the bench.

"Peridot?" Lapis asks softly.

"Couldn't sleep?" I ask, opening one eye.

"No. I'm honestly pretty nervous," she replies.

"What for? You've been to this school before, right? You already know everyone there," I state.

She bites her lip. "That's part of the problem," she murmurs.

I raise my eyebrows. "What do you mean?" I question.

"Never mind. You'll see when you get there. Are you nervous?" she says slowly.

"No. I know you, which is one more friend than I usually have."

She straightens up. "Why? You're a really cool person to be around. Why wouldn't you have friends?"

"Long story."

"Fair enough," she replies.

After a pause, I ask, "Are we… friends?"

She laughs. "Of course, Evergreen."

"Thanks, Rain."

"Are those our new nicknames?" she asks, smiling.

"If the shoe fits," I start.

"I see your point," she says. "Do you still want to try to sleep, or do something else?"

"Nah, I don't think I'll be able to sleep, but I still want to try. See you in the morning," I say.

"Night," she replies.

I'm glad she can't see my face, because I'm beaming. I had a friend.