Struggles

A/N: Hey guys! I have another a/n waiting for you at the bottom of the page, but this is just a quick maturity warning. This fic will contain some swearing, drugs, drinking, and maybe some hanky panky. You know, your typical college setting.

"PERIIIII"

Stop. No. This cannot be happening.

"PERRIIIIIII!" The call gets louder.

"Peridot Facet, it's freakin' 8:30! If you don't get your ass up right now…"

My eyes shot open, my arms sprung my sleeping body up from the comfort of my bed. I took in a big gasp as my eyes darted to my night stand and saw the time.

"I'm going to be late! Amethyst! Why didn't you wake me up sooner?!" I asked as I scrambled to find clean clothes. I sniffed a pair of jeans, "good enough," grabbed the nearest shirt, and ran down the stairs.

"I am not your mama," she yelled out after me. "You're lucky I'm even awake this early to wake you up."

"I know, I know. I'm sorry. Thank you! I'll text you when I get to class!" I slung my backpack over my shoulder, grabbed my shades, and jogged out the door.

"Shit," I sighed. It's the first day of the semester and I can't even get to class on time. I forgot to renew my parking pass for the new semester and now I have to run. Way to go, Peridot. I shook the thoughts out of my head and booked it to campus. Luckily, our house was a ten-minute walk from campus and a fifteen-minute walk from my first class. If I half jog, half walk I'll look like a weirdo but at least I won't miss the attendance verification. Unfortunately, this professor was notorious for locking his door right at the minute of the beginning of his class.

As I got closer to campus I saw more students frantically trying to make it to their class on time. Gross, do I look as sweaty as they do? As I finished my thought, a kid on a longboard zoomed past me, making me almost lose my balance.

"Hey, what the hell?!" I yelled after him.

"My bad, blondie!" He turned to me and shrugged.

I had half a mind to run after him and push him into the lake, but I didn't want anything else distracting me. I also made a mental note to look into investing into one of those things.

After what seemed like an eternity of running through the humid August morning, I made it to the enormous glass structure. I walked through the double doors and looked around the Math and Science building, pulling out my schedule to remind myself where my classroom was located. Calculus I, room 3025. Great. Third floor.

Out of breath, I made it to the third floor and to my classroom just as I saw the professor's hand pulling the door in to close it.

"WAIT! PLEASE, WAIT!" I yelled. I see his hand stop briefly and I take it as a sign to come in.

"Your name?"

"Uh, Peri...I mean, Peridot. Peridot Facet, sir."

"Go to the front of the room, please."

My eyes widen and I felt the heat in my cheeks rise. There's no point in arguing. "Yes, sir"

I walk past a row of ten or so desks and I feel everybody's eyes burning holes through me. I glance around and try to give an awkward smile. The professor's voice cuts through the silence.

"Welcome to calculus I. I will pass around a class roster and you will sign next to your name. As we do this, I'm going to use Miss Facet here as an example." Without even glancing at me, he continues, "Miss Facet arrived at 8:59:55. She had five seconds to spare before the door was closed. I'm sure many of you have read the reviews left by your peers who had the privilege of previously taking my class. Well, let me tell you now. Everything they wrote about me is true. I would know, I've seen the posts. Class begins at exactly 9:00am. No exceptions. Miss Facet, I hope you have that engraved in your brain now. Please find a seat."

I stared at him, my mouth agape. I looked at the rest of the class and they averted their gaze. I found an empty seat toward the back of the fifth and final column and did the walk of shame to it. I tried my best not to draw any more attention to myself but failed when my foot got caught in someone's backpack strap. I tripped, almost losing my balance.

"I'm sorry," I whispered, not looking up at the owner.

"Oh! No, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have my bag so far from the desk," I heard the owner reply.

I ignored the apology and was glad to finally be in my seat just in time to sign the roster. Damn. What a shit show. I pulled my phone out of my pocket and saw a couple of icons on the notification bar. I selected the message icon and saw three texts from Amethyst.

Amethyst 8:54am: Yo nerd, you make it to class on time?

Amethyst 8:56am: I'll take that as a no

Amethyst 8:56am: Wanna come back home and go get some Starbucks with me?

I rolled my eyes and typed out my response

Peridot 9:02am: Just barely. Thanks for waking me up

Amethyst 9:02am: Sarcasm? I'll ignore it. I'm done with classes at 3. You?

Peridot 9:03am: I'm not always being sarcastic. That was genuine gratuity. But now I may take it back. I'm done at 1:30. See you at home.

I put my phone back into my pocket and felt a buzz but decided to ignore it. It was probably just Amethyst trying to pick a fight. I didn't need the professor calling me out for anything else either. I can't believe that happened. Now he knows my name. Every single review stated explicitly that it won't be a good thing if he knows your name.

I got so lost in my thoughts and self-pity that I barely heard the professor dismissing the class. "And that is the last agenda on the syllabus. If you have any questions, please see me after class or arrange a meeting during my office hours. You are dismissed. Oh, and Miss Facet?" The blood in my face drained. "Let's not have a close call again, alright?"

"Yes, sir." I replied, head down in shame.

I walked out of class and heard the murmurs of my classmates walking next to me, "what a fucking asshole." I chuckled at the comment. At least I'm not the only one thinking that. I glanced around to see if I could find the person who made the comment, but everybody was busy trying to catch the elevator.

After two more classes, my time on campus had finally come to an end for the day. I made my way back to my house, taking in the scenery of a mid-afternoon campus at my university. There were guys and girls cruising on bikes, trying to avoid the pedestrians any way they could. I took the path through the middle of the two campus lakes and spotted a familiar face on the other side.

"Well, look who it is. Is this where your building is? Do I need to change my route from now on?" I laughed as Amethyst looked up and scowled.

"Quite the jokester, Peri." She stuck her tongue out at me.

"I just got called out, put on display, and called out again by an arrogant, narcissistic clod. Let me live a little." I said, with a fake hurt look on my face.

"What? You have to tell me the whole story!" She glanced at her phone screen. "But later. I'm gonna be late."

"Alright, be good in class" I replied with a motherly tone.

Amethyst rolled her eyes but then a wide grin appeared on her face, "Oh yeah, I left something in your room that should help turn that frown upside down." With that, she winked and strolled into the building. I smirked and continued the route back home.

With the added pep in my step, I zoomed up my staircase and opened the door to my bedroom. I looked around until I spotted it. There, on my desk, sat a bountiful plastic bag. She came through. I smiled as I took a big whiff of the contents of the bag. So fresh. I reached into my desk drawer and searched for my first choice, but to no avail. I made a mental note to run to the gas station to pick some up as I settled for the smaller packet of papers. I pulled one free and reached into the baggie, pulling out a nugget just the right size. I picked at the nugget until the fine herb filled the paper in just the right amount. I carefully lifted paper off of the desk and cautiously adjusted it in my fingers. They expertly began to roll the paper into what will be a source of great relief. I lit the twisted end and drew in a taste-filled experience that transformed my mood almost instantaneously. I grabbed the remote, jumped into the sheets, and exhaled that horrid memory of this morning away. Thank you, Amethyst.

A/N: Thank you for reading this story! I got excited and wanted to get this story rolling so I decided to give you guys three chapters. This is my first fanfic under this account and the second one I have ever written. I would love some feedback!