Three days had passed. Class had ended and tonight was the dance. All the students were chatting about it, giggling and some gagging at the idea. Lapis calmly copied down the last of the board and packed her things neatly. She stood up and turned to where Peridot sat still typing on her laptop. Alone. She had no interest in speaking to Peridot and left the classroom. Along the hallway she found Steven.

"Lapis! How are you? Are you ok?" Steven asked. He had his cheeseburger backpack on. He didn't take classes here, so he was probably waiting for his friends.

"Hi Steven. Yes I'm...fine" She smiled at the younger boy.

"Lapis, I'm really sorry for never being around you anymore, I just tried to believe you, about you being friends with those two girls..."

"We're not friends anymore." We never were, she wanted to add but didn't want to give Steven too much information.

"Oh! I kind of figured, I mean hoped you did...Those girls are too mean and I never would have seen you as being friends with them because you wanted too."

He was right. She never wanted to be their friend, she just wanted people to stop bothering her. Lapis looked at Steven and sighed. "Enough of that. It's a long story."

Steven stared at Lapis then jumped. "Oh I almost forgot! Tonight's the dance! Are you going Lapis?"

She wasn't planning to so she shook her head. "Ahh, why not? Please go Lapis! You can come with us!"

"Steven, who are you talking to- Oh..." Lapis held tightly to her backpack ready to leave soon. Pearl, Amethyst and Garnet had just come out of another classroom. "Hello...Lapis" Said Pearl, trying to be polite.

"Guys! Can Lapis come with us to the dance? Please, please!"

"Wow, Steven! Inviting another girl to the dance? How's Connie gonna feel?" Amethyst laughed putting her hands behind her head. Pearl rolled her eyes.

Steven turned to Lapis again, still jumping. "Oh yeah! I also invited Connie, a friend of mine! She goes to another school but she's my same age! She really likes to read and-"

"I think that's enough information, Steven." Pearl said putting her hand on his shoulder. "Lapis...can come if she wants to."

The three girls and Steven looked at Lapis. Lapis really wasn't sure what to do. She didn't want to intrude on their group, and she was sure they probably hated her for hanging around Peridot and Jasper, even though she hated it too.

A voice shook her awake from her thoughts. "You can come. You did help Steven that time." Garnet said. Lapis blinked. She remembered that? She remembered how Lapis how stopped Jasper from hurting Steven? I guess Lapis has had such bad confidence for so long that she never thought someone would remember her or acknowledge her...

"Please Lapis! Please, please! I mean if you want to! But I'll promise that this time I'll be around you, and in school too. We'll help you fight against anyone who tries to hurt you, right guys?" The three girls shrugged, but smiled.

Lapis was shocked. Here was for the first time ever people saying they wanted to around her. People saying they wanted to help her without anything in return, just for being their "friend". Lapis looked at Steven, who had stars in his eyes. He really wanted her to be with him. She felt kind of bad for all those times she rejected being with Steven so she could hang around Peridot and Jasper. She wanted to tell him someday that for the longest time, Steven was the only person she could consider a friend.

Lapis felt her eyes getting watery. She didn't want to cry, not now. So she smiled. "I might reconsider then...you know, about not going." Steven grinned and went to hug Lapis. "I'm sorry, Lapis. I know you're a good person. You don't deserve what's happened to you." Lapis tried to contain her tears and leaned down to hug Steven back.

"Thank you, Steven."

She still wanted school to end, and there were just a few days till then. She didn't know if she would be transferring to another school or if she would stay here. But that didn't matter to her right now. Right now she was here, with Steven. With someone who cared about her. For now she didn't want school to end. For now, she could call this place home.