Alright, this is gonna be a long one, so hold onto your butts.
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Peridot had slept over that night, Lapis being so kind as to deliver her trunk of clothes. The green gem had simply said it made more sense for her to stay there, so that they could leave together in the morning, but there was something else. She simply didn't want to leave, Steven was here, and she inexplicably wanted to stay near him. She woke up bright and early, quite thankful that Steven had taught her about the miraculous concept of sleep.
Digging through the trunk, she picks out her clothes for the day. Deciding that she enjoyed the green and white, she picks out a similar outfit. This time consisting of a white sweatshirt, a white t-shirt with green polka dots and green shorts. 'Yes, this will do nicely' she thinks with a smile, going into the bathroom to get dressed. She would have to ask Steven to do her hair again.
Speaking of the young hybrid, he was still sleeping, that is until the meowing alarm of his Cookie Cat Clock starts going off. He awakes with a start, hopping out of bed. 'Another day of school' He thinks with a smile, picking out his usual outfit and climbing down the stairs. "Are you in the bathroom Peri?" He asks, earning a muffled "Yes!" From his green companion.
After several minutes he starts to grow worried, hearing muffled grunts from the bathroom. "Are you alright Peridot?" he calls, receiving no answer. "I'm coming in!" He warns, and can't help but laugh when he sees the scene beyond the door.
There stood Peridot, trying to put on a zipped up sweatshirt upside-down, with her arms stuck and her eyes blinded by the fabric. "Here, let me help you" Steven chuckles, grabbing the zipper and pulling up, freeing her from the cotton prison. "Better?" he asks
She blushes, embarrassed to have needed help getting dressed of all things, to have given Steven a reason to laugh at her. But seeing the raw positivity on his face, she soon brightens back up "Better" She agrees softly
"It goes on like this" He explains, helping her arms through the sleeves before zipping it up halfway. "There you go!" He says, ruffling her hair, reminding her of what she had to ask of him.
"Steven? Would you mind helping me with my hair again?" She requests, running a hand through the bed-headed locks
"Of course" He answers, grabbing a brush and running it under some water. He sits down on the floor and pats the spot in front of him, which she quickly sits down in. He runs the brush through her hair, straightening it out and leaving her the same bangs as the day before. However rather than braiding the rest, he instead leaves it down "You have such pretty hair" He notes, passing the brush through it a final time.
Peridot was never more thankful that her back was to him, her face flush dark green at his compliment. "W-wow, thanks" She stutters.
"You're good to go!" He says happily "I'm gonna get in the shower now, could you do me a favor and make sure I didn't leave anything out of my bag?" He asks
"Of course, you can count on me!" She says, giving him a bright smile and, in a surge of confidence, a quick hug before leaving the room.
As Steven showers, Peridot does as he had asked, and it was quite fortunate that she did as under the couch had fallen his science notebook. She picks it up, and glances down at the page it was open to. She looks at what appeared to be color drawings of different gemstones, all of them labeled. 'Is this what he was doing during the geology lesson?' she wonders. She looks at a few of them, noticing a common trend but unable to figure out what it was. 'Citrine, Jade, Tourmaline, Watermelon Quartz' She reads, strangely enough the last one was circled. Deciding to put it away before she drove herself crazy trying to figure it out, she slips it into his bag before making sure her own was packed.
She takes out the schedule she'd been given, deciding to see what classes they had missed the first day. She finds herself pleasantly surprised, learning that they had music first followed immediately by technology. Steven certainly loved music, and he had infected her with that love as well, telling her that she had something called perfect pitch. Technology on the other hand, she was a pro at. She had much to learn at this school, but technology would be a class she would definitely excel in.
Hearing the water turn off, Peridot knows that Steven would soon be ready. She sits down on the couch, looking down at the watch she had built. At this rate they would be perfectly on time, perfect.
Steven emerges from the bathroom with a groan in his pajama shirt, having found a stain on the shirt he was planning to wear. Peridot laughs, feeling a slight blush 'What is this constant burning sensation in my cheeks?' She wonders. The boy climbs up the stairs, finding a (mostly) clean shirt and putting it on. He hops off the second floor, landing on the couch right next to Peridot. "Ready to go Peri?" He asks. She smiles and nods, picking up her backpack.
Going to grab a poptart from the cabinet it was only then that Steven notices the note on the counter.
Dear Steven,
Garnet, Amethyst and I had to go on an urgent mission and your father went to some sort of musician's convention last night. I'm terribly sorry but it seems like you have to stay home today.
With Love, Pearl
"Uh oh" Steven says
"What is it?" Peridot asks nervously
"All the Crystal Gems are on a mission and my dad is away" Steven says "But we can't stay home, we'll get marked absent!"
"What does that mean?" She asks warily
"We'll get in trouble!" He exclaims "Come on, we can take Lion!" He says, the pink feline perking up at the mention of its name.
Peridot watches the beast nervously, but Steven takes her hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. She smiles and, following his lead, climbs on its back, wrapping her arms around his waist.
"Alright Lion, take us to school" Steven says, and miraculously the cat responds, running out, or rather straight through, the door and roaring a portal out in front of them.
They emerge from the portal to find themselves in front of the school, thankfully before anyone else, and avoiding drawing a crowd. Steven hops down, and helps down a jelly-kneed Peridot. He pats his pet on the head and it saunters away, hopefully staying out of trouble.
The duo walk inside and Peridot's hand grazes Steven's. Taken by surprise, she soon finds his hand wrapped around hers, a bright smile on her friend's face. They make their way to the music room at the opposite end of the school and find the door surprisingly open, a relatively young woman with long blonde hair and a flowing dress sitting at the teacher's desk.
"Excuse me, are you Ms. Melodawoski?" Peridot asks, having read her name on the schedule
"Ah yes! You must be Steven and Peridot" She exclaims, even her normal voice sounded like song "Please, call me Melody" She insists "Music isn't something to be taught, it's something to be shared, so there's no need to be so formal" she says with a smile "Please, take a seat" She requests, gesturing to the carpet in the middle of the room. It was oddly empty of desks, though that seemed to suit this teacher.
Steven and Peridot enter the room, taking a seat on the rug and Melody stands up "So what do each of you love about music?" she asks
"I don't have very much experience with music, but I enjoy what Steven has shown me" Peridot admits
"I play the ukelele and sing" Steven says "Oh, and Peri has perfect pitch!" He adds, smiling at his friend
"Oh my! Would you care to give a performance?" The teacher asks "There are instruments in the back" she adds, gesturing to the shelves at the far end of the room.
Peridot grows visibly nervous, but finds that melt away as Steven gives her hand a squeeze "Peace and Love Peri?" He asks, earning a small nod and smile. He retrieves the ukelele from the back of the room and helps Peridot up.
Peridot had listened to the recording countless times, she knew the song by heart and her face lights up as he starts to play. Melody listens and watches with glee as the two perform their number, loving how it seemed to be a conversation within itself.
As they finish the little duet they're met with clapping from the small audience of students who had gathered outside the door, waiting for permission to come in. They're waved inside, and each of them seem impressed by the talent their new classmates possessed. The only ones unimpressed were the black haired girl from yesterday, and a few boys hanging around her.
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Music class went swimmingly, despite the glares Peridot received from Stacey and her thugs. Steven seemed not to notice, though wasn't oblivious to her nerves. She found comfort in his proximity, and more than a few times caught him smiling at her. There was that hot feeling in her cheeks again, accompanied by a fluttering in her chest. She didn't know what the feeling was, only that Steven was causing it, and it felt wonderful.
Steven struggled in technology, the class taught by a large man with burns on his arms and a stubbly beard. But just as he had helped her through music, Peridot carries him through this. Thankfully Stacey was not found in this class, and so Peridot had a brief reverie from her judgemental gaze.
They finally arrived at the class Peridot anticipated most, history. The teacher was a bland, sullen man. Years of teaching the same, stagnant subject had aged him horridly. He was only 43 but if asked, anyone would guess 60. Nevertheless Peridot learned with gusto. Writing down every single detail, as well as including her own thoughts. Steven tried to keep up, but more often then not found himself simply copying what she had written.
Then finally they were back in science, the class they had started with yesterday. Mr. Epistimi welcomed them back graciously, a smile plastered on his face. They take their seats, soon joined by the mean as ever looking Stacey and Michael. Peridot shifts a little closer to Steven, the girl putting her on edge.
Mr. Epistimi gives a wonderful lesson, showcasing a plethora of rare minerals and some gemstones, only a few of which Steven adds to the list in his notebook. He seemed to have created a rather arbitrary ranking system, though Peridot was sure it made sense to him.
Each question the energetic teacher asked the class was met with an instant hand from Peridot, who gave the right answer nearly every time. With each correct answer Stacey's glare became more and more venomous, the girl absolutely fuming.
As the bell rings and the class empties out, Steven takes Peridot's hand, walking with her happily to lunch.
However she wasn't the only one led away from the class by the hand. No, Stacey too had led Michael to one of the stairwells, away from any prying ears that might hear what she had to say. "That girl has got. to. go" She declares "I mean she's just such a freak. And then she upstages me in music, I mean who does she think she is? and showing off like that in science?" The girl rages "Mikey dear" She says, calling the boy to attention "I don't suppose you and the boys could deal with her? For me?" She asks, batting her eyelashes.
The boy gives a short chuckle "I'll get right on it Stace" He says, earning a glare at the nickname "I mean Stacey, sorry ma'am"
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Sitting at lunch, Steven and Peridot were bombarded by endless questions from Richard and Dexter. Things about the gems, and space, and monsters. The duo did their best to answer them all, however one question caught them off guard. "So are you two together?" Dexter had asked. It was the same question Stacey had asked yesterday, and Peridot found herself confused by what it meant. She was sitting right next to him wasn't she? Obviously they were together, or so she thought.
"Uh, no, not really" Steven stammers, trying to hide his blush from Peridot. Though it was a fruitless attempt, and Peridot saw he had the same heat in his cheeks she often felt in her own. She looks at him perplexed for a moment before waving it off, Steven would probably explain it later.
After that lunch seemed tame, and the next few classes followed that trend. English was filled with a substitute who didn't care what the class did. Phys Ed was a little difficult, seeing as they were separated for the first time in this school. Peridot found great embarrassment changing in front of others, their gaze seemingly fixed on her green skin, but other than that she had little complaints. Math was as difficult as ever for Steven, and Peridot helped him through it just as she had on their homework. Finally come Health, the class seemed to alternate with Home Ec, and Peridot found herself fascinated by the first in depth explanations of the human body she'd seen yet.
The end of the day came all too soon, Steven and Peridot strangely wishing they could spend more time learning. However upon exiting the school they found no Pearl, no Greg, no anybody.
"I guess they're all still busy" Steven says "I'll go find Lion ok?" He gives her a bright smile, giving her hand a squeeze before walking off to find his absent-as-usual pet.
Then Peridot heard something that made her freeze.
"Well well well, if it isn't the little star pupil" Michael says, a group of Stacey's boys behind him. Each of them carrying sticks, slingshots, and even the occasional rock. Stacey had made it clear, make sure this girl knows that this is HER school, and nobody else's.
Peridot slowly backs up, finding herself against a wall as the boys approach. Pearl's words ring out in her head "No use of Gem powers" She gulps in fear as one throws a rock, hitting her arm and leaving a visible welt. Michael swings his branch, scratching her face. The barrage continues, Peridot unable to fight back as she certainly wasn't as strong as most gems, or even most humans for that matter.
A sudden shout grabs the groups attention "LEAVE HER ALONE!" Steven yells, rushing into the fray. In a flash of pink, the rock that had been on a path straight for Peridot's stomach is deflected by Steven's shield, the boys looking on in a mix of amazement, confusion, and fear.
One boy, evidently stupider than the rest fires his slingshot, a decently sized rock launching at Peridot's head. Steven catches it out of the corner of his eye and jumps at Peridot, knocking her out of the way. As the two collide green and pink glows eminate from their gems, and in a burst of light they're gone. As the light fades in their place stands a tall being, long, curly, moss colored hair streaked with fuscia complimenting the slightly green skin and and four brown eyes, their face dotted with light pink freckles. On their head and bellybutton rested two gems, both a mix of pink and green. They raise their head from staring down, seeing the boys take a few steps back before sprinting away.
The fusion laughs, shedding a few tears of joy when suddenly something clicks. The list Peridot had found earlier suddenly made sense. The fusion opens its mouth for the first time and utters two words, its own name "Watermelon Quartz"
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Connie Maheswaran runs across the beach, knocking on Steven's door before just letting herself in.
"Steven I'm ready to ha-" Her words are cut short when she sees the stranger on the sofa, and backs up when they suddenly stand up
"Hey Connie!" They exclaim happily, both of their gems becoming visible and unmistakably familiar "It's great to meet you, I think, my name is Watermelon Quartz!"
And with those words all the plans Connie had made were shattered.
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And that's Chapter 4! I had a ton of fun writing this one and more will be on the way soon! Don't forget to leave a review, I love reading them!