Chapter 3
It was 6pm and time for dinner when Priyanka received the call. The news was not good.
"Connie's in the hospital how did that happen?" cried Dr. Maheswaran.
10 hours earlier
Connie's triumph at the sandcastle competition was short lived. The next morning the little freak followed her to school. Great she's going to look like a weirdo by association. Everywhere she turned people stared and pointed at the two of them and it never let up. Peridot tried to keep out of sight but when you're a green skinned freak that was kind of hard.
The worst happened in math class. Peridot just stared out the window absolutely bored like she knew all this stuff already. Mr. Popkey the math teacher picked up on this right away.
"Peridot, care to solve this equation?" asked the teacher sweetly.
Peridot looked at the board. On it was moron stuff, just plain arithmetic. The numbers were different but it should be easy enough to solve.
"Hmm, base 10 number system, highly inefficient. Fine I'll do it," said Peridot.
She went up to the blackboard. Drew a series of illegible scribbles and then wrote the answer in the Earth's numeral system.
"The answer is correct people but could you write down the solution in the Hindu Arabic system."
"Hey Connie, who's your space friend," asked Shelly. Great now Peridot is making her look like a weirdo too.
"That's Steven's cousin Peridot, she's not really an alien, just thinks she is. She's crazy," replied Connie.
That should learn the freak. The rumor spread quickly and by lunchtime a gaggle of mean girls had surrounded the poor gem.
"Hey I here you wear green paint," said the lead girl What's her face.
"I bet that gem on your forehead is a bit of plastic," sneered a blond suck up.
"That's my skin color, you clods," countered Peridot.
"No it isn't Connie told us everything, crazy girl," said a brunette this time.
"What did she say to you?" asked Peridot fearfully.
"That you're Steven's crazy cousin and that you think that you're from outer space, "said the leader smugly.
"Actually, Connie my cousin and she's the crazy one. She's thinks she's human," snickered Peridot. "And I can prove it too."
The green gem flashed a series of holograms from her gem. Worlds of unimaginable scope showed up before the human girls eyes and in all of them Connie was behaving like a dork.
"As you can see Connie is a sad case, so she was sent to Earth to blend in. She has a gem just like me but it's on her butt," said Peridot conspiratorially
The mean girls turned to Connie. Sensing danger Connie fled but it did no good. The rumor that Peridot started spread even more quickly than Connie's did. Total strangers were trying all day to pull down her pants. Thank the gods for tennis lessons.
Because of tennis lessons Connie and Peridot left school early, finally a relief. As she was changing Peridot walked past her.
"Try spreading rumors like that again and I'll make sure you'll regret it," said Peridot out of the corner of her mouth.
"Hey Connie who's your new friend?" asked Mr. Black the tennis teacher.
Black was a 6 foot 4 tall well sculpted blonde man. Connie harbored a secret crush on him until she met Steven. Now the man was fawning over Peridot.
"That's Peridot, she's a space alien who tried to take over the world," said Connie.
"I did not," countered Peridot.
Mr. Black laughed, "You two are a riot. Tell me do you have any experience with tennis Peridot?"
"I don't even know what a tennis is."
"Well you're in for a pleasant surprise. Let's go over the basics shall we? Connie how about you practice with Nicole over there,"
So while Mr. Black was teaching Peridot the moves, Connie came face to face with the lead mean girl what's her face. What's her face or Nicole smiled at her.
"I think it's time to look at your gem," Nicole said.
Nicole launched herself at Connie. She tried to pin down Connie while Steven's girlfriend fought back. They rolled on the ground as Nicole tried to pull off Connie's pants.
"Girls, girls, stop this no fighting. What is going on?" said Mr. Black.
"Connie's a space alien. Peridot told me and I wanted to see her gem," replied Nicole.
"Space alien or not you had no right to pull down her pants. Nicole just leave for today. I'm calling your parents. Connie set up the ball machine for your friend."
Grumbling to herself Connie led Peridot to the lobbing cage. It was like a batting cage but the machine shot tennis balls instead of baseballs. After handing a tennis racket and explaining what to do Connie had an idea. Just before leaving she set the machine at maximum difficulty. She smiled to herself as Peridot has assaulted by balls after balls.
Needlessly to say Peridot was pathetic. After a few tries the little loser had given up and was doing her best to protect herself by dodging the balls as best she could.
Now to get some real practice. She pointed to her nemesis Ruby, a red headed girl in pigtails.
"Let's you and me dance," challenged Connie.
Peridot forgot all about the balls zooming at her as she watched Connie and another human play tennis. It was barely disguised ritual combat and the two players viciously struck a ball back and forth. The two stared back at each other in undisguised hatred. Ignoring the balls that hit her Peridot watched in rapt fascination. Until it suddenly stopped.
"It was out," shouted the red haired human.
"It was in," shouted Connie.
"Out"
"In"
The two dropped their tennis rackets and were arguing viciously. This time the whole class stared at them. After what seemed a far too long time Mr. Black intervened.
"Ruby, Connie what's gotten into you? Apologize this instant," ordered the teacher.
The two muttered an apology. It seemed like a regular occurrence. Then the tennis teacher noticed Peridot.
"Connie, what have you done to your friend?" said Mr. Black as he turned off the ball machine. "I'm very sorry Ms. Peridot. Let's try you with the beginners."
A few moments later Peridot found herself with what looked like a girl 6 years old.
"I will crush you," declared the pipsqueak.
It wasn't as humiliating as she expected. Being a quick learner Peridot seemed to have won, of course it was a 6 year old and Peridot was entering puberty. Devastated the little girl sat on the ground and started crying. Oh great everybody was looking at her.
"Now, now, there, there," said Peridot as she awkwardly patted the girls back.
"I lost to the biggest loser in the class," bawled the little girl.
Peridot did not know what to say. This was insulting, still she patted the girl's back anyway.
"Okay doubles this time. Connie since you know Peridot you will be her partner," announced Mr. Black.
They found themselves set against the other mean girls. The blond and the brunette.
"Don't think we'll go easy on you because your friend is a beginner," sneered blondie.
The brunette served the first ball. Great, Connie was playing for two as Peridot preferred to dodge the balls rather than hit it. Connie fought for two anyways
While Peridot was playing she noticed the fierce expressions that seemed to be on the face of every tennis player. From the way Connie was playing tennis it was like her life was at stake.
In the middle of the game Peridot turned to Connie, "What is the purpose of this tennis anyway?"
"Because it is fun!" shouted Connie as she struck back the ball wildly.
Great they were losing. Everybody was laughing at them to. Why did Peridot have to come? Because of her they were losing she'd never live it down. Time for a break anyways. Connie took a drink out of a flask of water.
"Connie, why are you being so cruel to me?" asked Peridot.
"You tried to kill Steven and tried to take over the world," shot back Connie.
"Steven has forgiven me and all I wanted to do was get some test results. You know that, yet at every turn you seek to hurt and humiliate me. We could have been friends."
"No we couldn't, Steven is my friend, not yours."
"Ohh you're jealous. Steven is allowed to have other friends not just you."
"He's my boyfriend, something you wouldn't understand."
Then it was back to the game. Connie had to admit that she was doing rather well despite being saddled with Peridot.
"Connie, why do your parents make you play tennis?" Peridot just had to ask this in the middle of the game.
"So that I could make some friends," shouted Connie. Steven's friend then shot the ball right at the blond human's face.
Looks more like Connie was making enemies. The ball got the blond girl right in her eye. The unfortunate human clutched at her eye howling in pain. Her friend, her real friend dropped the racket.
"That's it Connie, you hurt Chelsey. Where do you get off acting like all that," said the brunette.
Harmony as Peridot later found out jumped over the net and started fighting. Never had Peridot seen anybody fight so viciously and incompetently. Harmony avenged her friend by pulling Connie's hair and clawing at her. Connie would have none of it she pushed Harmony to the ground and twisted her arm behind her back. Tears welled up in Harmony's eyes as she tried to keep from calling out in pain.
Peridot tried to intervene, "Connie let go of the human girl. She's just trying to avenge her friend. Connie?"
Connie pushed Peridot aside. By this time Chelsey had recovered. Sensing an opening she picked up her tennis racket and viciously slammed it down on Connie's head. Now the teacher came. Were human adults this oblivious?
When Priyanka came to the hospital she found Peridot and the tennis teacher at the waiting room. The little gem was covered in bruises.
"Peridot what her you done? Did you get into a fight with Connie?" accused Dr. Maheswaran.
"Mrs. Maheswaran calm down. This wasn't Peridot's fault. Connie got a little carried away during doubles. She hit Chelsey in the eye with a ball. Harmony got mad and started a fight," explained the tennis instructor.
Priyanka still glowered down at Peridot, "And you did nothing to stop this? Peridot I am so disappointed in you."
"What? Look at me. I was tenderized good and proper with the ball machine. Your daughter is not the faultless angel in this."
Priyanka just stalked off and joined Connie's attending physician.
"It looks worse than it is. Connie got a cut to the scalp. About 10 stitches You can take her home right now if you wish," said her old friend Dr. Kildere.
Priyanka eyes teared up as she looked at Connie's bandaged head. She rushed to her little girl and hugged her.
"Mommy it has been so horrible," said Connie as she told her what happened that day.
Priyanka drove back the two girls in silence. The hostility was so thick it could be cut like a knife. Peridot couldn't stand it anymore.
"I want to go back to the barn," blurted out Peridot.
"Don't be silly, that place is a construction site it's no place for a young girl like you," said Priyanka condescendingly.
Peridot sighed," Mrs. Maheswaran I may look to be Connie's age but I am not. I am a fully qualified technician who has been in training for most of her life and I am over 40 of your years old. Yes, the place is barely habitable but I don't really feel welcome at your home."
"It's your own fault, Connie told me what you've been saying about Earth and spreading that rumor that Connie was a crazy alien that was too much."
"Of course let's all believe Connie without hearing my side. Typical, just like my entire life. Did Connie forget to mention that she spread a rumor that I was a mentally ill human?"
Priyanka ignored her and simply drove home.
When they got there Connie launched herself into Steven's arms, "Oh Steven today was so awful you won't believe what Peridot did to me? First she, Steven?"
Her jam bud ignored her. Pushing her aside, Steven went over to Peridot and wiped away her tears.
"I heard about what Connie was saying about you from Peedee. I'm sorry this doesn't give you a good impression of humanity," soothed Steven.
"It's nothing, same thing happened in Homeworld all the time. Steven I want to go back to the barn," pleaded Peridot.
"Okay first thing in the morning, we'll call Pearl."
"No Steven I want to get out of this house now."
"Steven why are you being so nice to Peridot. I'm the one that's hurt," complained Connie.
"Connie, you disappoint me. I thought that you could see how cool Peridot was and be friends."
With that Steven called Pearl to pick them up. Just before they left Peridot turned towards the Maheswarans.
"I just wanted to tell you that even though it is getting cold and there is no proper shelter, I would rather be at the barn. Doug you creeped me out when you watched my dreams. Dr. Maheswaran you really need to take off your rose colored glasses and pay proper attention to your daughter. Connie you have been spiteful and cruel. Goddess knows I tried to be civil but it ends here. I have been into war zones that were more hospitable than your presence Connie. I'm going now."
Peridot: won a set of bruises
Connie: Lost Steven's respect.