The short, twig like girl had caught the attention of all of the students. The Divide was well known in town, and although they had never been directly linked to any crimes, all of it's members were generalized as shady and dangerous, and just the kind of people that foolish high school students flocked to. And so it was that everyone looked at Peridot as if she were sent from cools-ville itself to brighten up the face of the school. Of course, there were some who doubted, but most knew that anyone caught flaunting around the name of the Divide under false pretenses was soon to be set straight. So, in the minds of the students, Peridot was either pretty badass, or pretty brave. Either way, it earned the respect of almost everyone in the room, save for Ms. Amber and Lapis Lazuli.
Ms. Amber seemed unimpressed at her claim, telling her plainly to find a seat. Peridot nodded quietly- one of those nods you might see a superstar give to her fans- and found her seat- directly in front of Lapis Lazuli.
Lapis let out an audible sigh. Of all the people to sit in front of her, it was this pleb. She didn't pay much mind to her at first, but her hair quickly became an issue. As Ms. Amber began to tell the class what would be taught through the school year- sort of introduction to the course- she had a hard time seeing past Peridot's oddly shaped hair. It was ungodly large, and blocked the board quite obnoxiously.
Lapis had the notion that, perhaps, she would have problems with this girl.
And so it was that class was over as quickly as it began. Students flooded from the doors as the bell resounded through the halls almost eerily. Lapis Lazuli had never been one for old fashioned school bells- the ones that damn near sounded like fire alarms- but that was what the school was equipped with. She got her laptop, sliding it into the sleeve, and stepping away from her desk. She was stopped, though, by an annoyingly quirky and high pitched voice.
"Hey- I didn't catch your name." Peridot said from behind her, a faint smile lining her lips. Lapis turned slowly to face her, noting the somewhat sinister, yet innocent look behind her bright green eyes. It puzzled her how, just from a glance, Peridot seemed to hold all the good and evil in the world behind her gaze- as if she knew everything but nothing at the same time, and it was keeping her together, but tearing her apart. A riddle wrapped in a mystery indeed.
Due to her perplexment, it took Lapis quite a few seconds to issue a reply. In fact, it wasn't until the look in Peridot's eyes changed from indefinitely complex to a look of amazingly simple inquiry that she noticed that she had drifted off into thought. She rebounded quickly, shoving her hands into her pockets and looking away somewhat, speaking plainly.
"Lapis Lazuli." She said, taking a step away. She listened closely as Peridot said,
"Peridot. Nice to meet you."
Her tone of voice made it extremely difficult for Lapis to decipher whether or not she was making small talk, or was being genuine. However, Lapis's answer would not have changed.
"Whatever, Dorito head." She said, taking the next few steps to exit the classroom.
It was not until lunch that Lapis truly began to adjust to the fact that she was at high school. She played on her laptop in a corner off the mess hall, not really eating anything. She hated the food served by the school, and would have much rather went to the diner just a ways down the street, but she had forgotten her money in her dorm, and due to the positioning of the school, the walk to her dorm was quite the journey, and would take more time than was alloted for lunch. Their schedule was relatively loose, but Lapis had class immediately after lunch. She wrote a few lines of the beginning chapter of her own book- a story she had been inspired to write from her constantly drifting imagination. This one was called, "Not Like You."
She wanted to model it based on her own life, but didn't know where to start. So, as a placeholder, she began to explain her current situation. This spat of writing didn't last long, however. As she began to write, a shout rang through the mess hall. Instinctively, she looked up, seeing that Garnet- one of the girls from her first class- was holding a stack of papers and speaking loudly.
"All who would wish to join a club-" She began simply, "-we have submission forms just outside of the mess hall. We offer Track, Swim Team, Creative Writing, and a wrestling course."
Garnet said all of this, adjusting her shades and giving a subtle nod to the patrons of the cafeteria. After she said what was needed to be said, she walked out, leaving the students to their own devices. Lapis was intrigued by the swim team. Her old school had not offered one such course, and it was one of her favorite hobbies. Being as she didn't have any lunch, she walked outside to retrieve a form for the swim team. There were a couple tables set up in the courtyard in front of the mess hall- the Trio of complexities behind them. Garnet was there, of course, accompanied by a seemingly bickering Pearl and Amethyst. In front of the table were a few generic students, grabbing and signing forms like normal students would. However, what caught her eye was the puzzle herself, Peridot.
Peridot stood in front of the table, looking over the papers in an indecisive way. Lapis let out a sigh, walking over near her, and avoiding direct eye contact. She glanced to Garnet, clearing her throat.
"There was a... swim team sign up?" she asked.
Garnet replied simply. "Amethyst has those forms."
And so it was that Lapis found herself face to face with Amethyst, the small, chubby, ashen haired girl. She was playing on her phone as Lapis stepped up to her, every once in a while giving a snide remark to Pearl, the taller and thinner of the two. Lapis cleared her throat, effectively gaining her attention.
"Oh, heya, dweeb." Amethyst said snarkily, getting a good chuckle out of her own humor, just before looking up to see Lapis's more than just annoyed face. She quickly issued an apology, clearing her throat.
"So- whadaya want?" Amethyst asked, a smug smile plastered onto her lips. Lapis pointed at the forms for the swim team, and Amethyst caught on with realative ease. She gave Lapis a pencil to write with, and she began to fill out the form as she was at the table. For a moment, Amethyst watched with wandering eyes, but they soon lit up as an idea popped into her head.
"Hey..." Amethyst said to the now concentrated Lapis Lazuli, "Y'know, we couldn't really say anything about it cuz it's not school related at all- but there IS another club, if you're interested."
Lapis looked at her in an inquisitive sort of way, tilting her head as a silent way of accepting the burden of hearing her pitch. Amethyst's eyes brightened in a way, a silent token of gratitude to the weary Lapis.
"Well," She began, clearing her throat. "We've kinda got this low-key geek squad goin' on- games n' junk, y'know? Maybe you'd be-"
"Let me stop you there." Lapis said lowly, "I don't play that many games. I hardly play at all. I wouldn't enjoy it there."
Amethyst nodded understandingly, ripping a piece of paper off of one of the forms, writing what appeared to be a phone number on it.
"Here," Amethyst said, mimicking Lapis's dull tone. "If you ever decide to get a social life, call me up and I'll tell you where to meet up with us."
Lapis took the slip of paper, eyeing Amethyst rather unpleasantly, to which she just chuckled. As Lapis signed the last of the sections on the form, she turned away, sure that it would find the right hands and that she would be a worthy advocate for the team. The last thing she noticed before she left was the little enigma herself padding up to the table, whispering lowly to the chubby, eccentric girl behind it.
Lapis sighed, gripping her backpack tightly, and walking away.
AS SCHOOL ENDED, Peridot bolted out the doors of the main hall, the incessant dinging of the bell ringing through her ears. She knew exactly where to go, and what to do.
The courtyard just outside the main hall was dotted with bits of grass, shrubs, and small trees, leading to dormitories on each side, and the black-topped road directly in front. Peridot's destination today required use of this road, so she made a quick stop at the bike racks to retrieve her ride, mounting it quickly and peddling off on the sidewalk toward the heart of Beach City, and her first task as a newly appointed member of the Divide.
"Meet with Yellow Diamond after your classes." She remembered Jasper muttering under her breath. "Then you'll really get to learn a thing or two."
Peridot could hardly wait. Her heart was pumping- her blood was rushing- and she was ready.
So she thought, she was ready for what would happen next. And perhaps she was, although, she and Jasper knew that she had no idea what was coming next.
As Peridot approached the warehouse in which the Divide called home, she gulped. In its mass, it seemed more than a bit intimidating. At best, it looked like a slaughterhouse. At worst, it looked like something you might see straight out of a horror movie. As she noted this, she stepped off of her bike, balling her fist.
"Time for a whole new life." She whispered, stepping into the cold, foreboding palace, Just as her opposite, Lapis, stepped in toward the gymnasium, noting her own fears and withdrawals, and accepting her newly found home- however odd it may be.
Hey guys, I know this was short, but school has been hounding on me. Sorry, everyone, but life down here has been more than hard on a lot of us. But hey- It'd brighten my day to hear your thoughts on this chapter.
TO THOSE WHO ARE EXPECTING MORE OF "A THOUSAND STARS," Expect away! I recently started writing chapter 3, and I'm absolutely flattered by all the support that the "A" Series is getting. I promise- I will work on it. I'll admit, though, I HAD given up on the series, but seeing the reviews again today made me change my mind. Thank you everyone, I appreciate it.