Author's Notes: The long-awaited second chapter is finally here! I have the third chapter already almost finished as well, and I'm planning to update more regularly from here on in. Lapis doesn't meet Peridot yet in this chapter, but I promise interaction is coming soon! These first few chapters are just get the stage set and introduce a bit of backstory.

I'd like to take a second to give a great big thank you to everyone who gave me feedback on the first chapter by writing reviews, following, and favoriting, and motivating me to continue with this story! HUGE thanks to all of you, I love you and hope you have a great day!

Without further ado, here's chapter 2!

At first glance, the camp was nothing special. It was charming, sure, but a camp nonetheless, no doubt with cramped cabins and no privacy. She wasn't given much time alone with that thought, as Steven was chattering the second the door is closed behind them.

"So my name is Steven, but you already know that. I'm 13 years old, and I've been coming here since I was a baby." He said as the two walked down the dirt path leading away from the entrance building. Off to their left there was a big open field stretching to the edge of a forest about 300 yards away, and a building that ran along the side of the privacy fence. Steven pointed at the building.

"That's the medical center. Dr. Maheswaran works there, she's my friend's mom. Sadie is her apprentice. You'll go there sometime tonight for your physical examination once your intake papers are done."

Lapis said nothing, but nodded lethargically and gripped the straps of her duffel bag a bit tighter. There were a few campers kicking a ball around in the field, seemingly playing a small game of soccer. Well, two were playing, but a skinny, pale girl was sitting on the ground watching them and tearing at the grass.

"This is called the yard. We play games and do activities here since it's so wide open." Steven informed her. Lapis looked at him quizzically.

"We?" she asked. Did that mean Steven participated too? Steven looked elated just at the fact that Lapis had finally spoken, even though it was just one word.

"Yeah, we! I love to play games with the campers." He answered, beaming at her.

"And they don't…scare you?" she pressed, still not understanding. Steven shook his head, waving his pudgy hands.

"Of course not! I know and love every single person in this camp, they're my friends!" he crowed proudly. As if to prove his point, he cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted to the campers playing in the yard.

"Garnet, Amethyst, Pearl!" The three girls ceased their game and looked over at Steven and Lapis. They smiled upon seeing the boy waving excitedly, and started walking towards them. Lapis tensed and shifted her weight from one foot to the other, wary of interaction. Her face automatically shifted to an indifferent expression, and she crossed her free arm over her middle, grasping at the fabric of the loose grey hoodie she wore. Steven seemed to pick up on her apprehension, and shot her a smile.

"Don't worry Lapis, they're all super nice. And you don't have to talk to them if you're not ready, they'll understand." He reassured just before the three girls got within earshot. Lapis watched them approach, taking a closer look at them.

They were almost a comical trio, each being so different from each other. The tallest was an African American girl with curvey hips, very big hair, and an even expression. The girl to her left was the skinny one who had been sitting in the grass. She had short, peach colored hair and a very long nose. She reminded Lapis very much of a bird, and looked more nervous than Lapis felt with the way she was clinging to the tall girl's elbow. Finally, there was a short, chubby Latina who had fluffy, waist-length hair that was dyed an almost-white lilac color. She gave off an aura of being noisy, even though she wasn't speaking at the moment.

"This is Garnet, Amethyst, and Pearl." Steven repeated, gesturing first to Stone Face, then Noisy, then the bird. "Everyone, this is Lapis! She just got in."

Lapis gave a shallow nod and stared at her feet.

"Welcome to camp, Lapis. Happy to have you." Garnet greeted with a small smile. Lapis grumbled in something that vaguely sounded like thanks, but kept her unresponsive look.

"What're you in for?" Amethyst asked, twisting her baseball cap around backwards. Lapis almost laughed at how hard she was trying to look casual and cool.

"Lots of stuff." Lapis answered ambiguously, shrugging her shoulders. Amethyst rolled her eyes.

"C'mon, you know what I mean. The last straw, the tipping point!" She pressed with a devilish grin, seemingly wanting to get the dish on Lapis. Lapis smirked down at the short Latina.

"I got blasted on UV Blue, climbed onto the awning of the hotel downtown, and used a coat hanger on a string to steal people's luggage when their backs were turned."

Four pairs of eyes were looking at her incredulously, and Amethyst's mouth was hanging open. Lapis gave them a lazy half-smirk. Suddenly, Amethyst burst out laughing, almost in tears.

"Uh…woah" Amethyst managed, wiping her eyes. "I just wouldn't quit giving my teachers hell and got kicked out of school."

Amethyst jerked a thumb towards Pearl. "She's here because she has no social skills."

Lapis had never heard a human being squawk before, but Pearl did it somehow.

"Amethyst! That's not true!" she chastised, swatting at Amethyst's shoulder around Garnet. Amethyst dodged her hand and danced away, sticking her tongue out. Pearl looked almost cartoonishly offended and chased after her. While they squabbled, Garnet seemed entirely unconcerned and looked at Lapis with a smile.

"I'm gay." She said it so matter-of-factly that Lapis was momentarily caught off guard. Garnet continued after a moment, clearing up Lapis' confusion. "My parents thought that was a good reason for me to qualify as a 'troubled youth,' so they sent me here. Of course, Rose doesn't agree, but I'm not going to complain. Better here than home." Steven patted Garnet's arm and smiled at her.

Lapis couldn't imagine being in this girl's situation, having your parents so ashamed of who you are that they just lock you away in a camp. Lapis is momentarily grateful that she doesn't have any parents; maybe they would have been like Garnet's.

In that instant, Garnet was suddenly struck in the back of the head with the soccer ball Amethyst and Pearl had been beaning each other with. Amethyst and Pearl froze, wide-eyed, behind her, but Garnet simply smiled at Lapis.

"I need to go take care of this. It was good meeting you." She said, excusing herself. She turned calmly and began walking towards the two stunned girls, and Amethyst gave a raspy yell and began to run.

Pearl just sat down in the grass.

Lapis caught herself just before she laughed out loud.