Chapter 7:

They gathered in the far end of the apartment complex parking lot, watching as a group of women walked towards them. So, these were the friends that Peridot had called. Azu remembered meeting them at Thanksgiving several weeks earlier. They were certainly an interesting group. There were three women. One was short with long purple hair, one was tall and thin with pale pink hair, and the third woman was even taller and imposing with dark skin, an afro, and aviator glasses covering her eyes. Chrys knew that they were there to help but was still scared and nervous. As Peridot introduced her friends Amethyst, Pearl, and Garnet to them, Azu couldn't resist chuckling. What was it with their generations parents and naming their kids after rocks and gemstones?

The group pulled collapsed boxes, tape, and duffel bags out of the rear of Azu's SVU and headed upstairs, forming a protective circle around Chrys as they went. Lapis held her hand on one side, and Azu held the other. When they reached the apartment door, they stopped and Chrys struggled to breath as she listened for any sound of movement on the other side of the door. "Oh my stars! What if she's here? I don't know if I can do this?!" Chrys thought. Azu heard Chrys's breathing quicken as her face paled, so she reached out, took the spare key from her, and stepped forward to open the door, quickly stepping in and searching the room with her eyes, looking for any sign that someone was home. When she saw no one, she motioned to Garnet who followed her deeper into the apartment as the rest of the group waited just inside the apartment. When they had checked all the rooms, and still found no one, Azu walked back to the front door. She made sure that it was locked, then retrieved an unbroken dining chair and wedged it under the handle. No one would be coming in unexpectedly while they worked.

They all went to work, Chrys directing them what to pack. As Garnet and Amethyst worked in the living room and kitchen, Pearl began to clean up all the broken items and glass, so no one would hurt themselves as they worked. Azu and Chrys moved to the bedroom where they worked on packing up what clothing she had left and her few remaining toiletries. The group was done in a little under an hour. Chrys felt despondent as she looked at the meager number of boxes and possessions that she had left. Aqua had destroyed so many things. As she began to cry, Lapis moved to hold her. The rest stood and watched, all of them hoping that they could finish quickly and get her out of here smoothly. When Chrys was calm again, Azu moved first and unbarricaded the door. Words unnecessary, they all grabbed the boxes and bags, and moved to carry them downstairs. It only took two trips to move it all.

As they were loading the last box into Azu's SUV, there was a screeching from across the parking lot. They all turned to see Aqua climbing out of Chrys's now un-missing car. As she stormed towards the group, Azu protectively stepped in front of Chrys. "No way in hell is she laying a finger on Chrys!" She thought. But before she could react, a blur came streaking out of the corner of her eye. It was Peridot! She tackled Aqua when she was just a few feet from Azu and Chrys, slapping her repeatedly and yelling, "You bitch! How could you! I hope you rot in hell, you CLOD!" Garnet walked over without a word and easily lifted Peridot off of Aqua. Peridot sputtered and tried to lunge at her again, but Lapis stepped forward and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Honey, please stop. She's not worth it." At hearing her wife say this, Peridot calmed down, though she still wore a deep scowl as she stared at Aqua intensely, hatred burning in her eyes.

Aqua sneered at her from the ground as she sat up. "I should call the police on you for assaulting me, but you're not worth my time. Would you all like to explain to me why I got a call from Topaz saying that my apartment was being emptied out? Chrysocolla, what in the bloody hell do you think you're doing?"

Chrys saw shaking so hard she thought that everyone could hear her teeth chattering. She wanted to say something witty, or sarcastic, or even the truth, but couldn't. Instead she simply placed a hand on Azu's back for comfort. Azu turned to look at her, winked, and then stepped away and moved towards Aqua. When she reached her, she held out a hand. "Let me help you up." As Aqua smirked in Chrys's direction and climbed to her feet, Azu moved suddenly, yanking the keys from Aqua's hand. "Yoink!" she exclaimed before stepping back. When Aqua snarled and lunged at her, Azu simply side stepped her grasp and shove a hand against her back, allowing Aqua's momentum to carry her forward and back onto the ground.

"You want to know what Chrys is doing? She's leaving you, that's what she's doing. You're never gonna see her again." Azu strode over to Amethyst, handing her Chrys's car keys, and softly asked "Will you make sure that her car ends up at my place? I don't think Chrys is in any shape to drive right now." Amethyst winked and replied just as softly but in a cheery tone, "No prob Bob!" before moving in the direction of the car before anyone could stop her.

Aqua was so angry now that her face had turned the color of a tomato. "Chrysocolla, what in bloody hell have you been telling them? And no, you are not leaving! Tell that bitch to get away from our car right now, or I'll call the police and report it as stolen! Get those boxes out of that car, this instant!" Aqua started to move in the direction of Amethyst and the car, but Pearl moved to block her path and wore a menacing look.

Finally, Chrys found her voice and yelled. "Yes, I am leaving Aquamarine. And you can't stop me. And that car? It's not 'ours', it's mine. I had it before we even met, and you damn well know it! If anyone stole it recently, it was you! You know, I was afraid to see you here today, but I'm glad you showed up. Because now I can tell you to your face that I hate you and that we're through. You can't tell me what to do ever again!" Chrys whirled around and headed for Azu's SUV. "Let's go guys, we're done here." Azu stood in place and stared down Aqua as all the others made their way to Garnet's car and climbed in. Only when they were safely inside did she turn and climb into the driver's seat. As she backed out and pulled away, she watched Aqua stand and scream at them in the rearview mirror. With a smile, she reached over and took Chrys's hand and they threaded their fingers together before Azu gave her hand a gentle squeeze. That had gone better than any of them had expected.