Trying to hack up all of her stomach and then some, she couldn't help but stare in terror at the boy watching her. Flame in one hand and addiction in the other. His eyes matched hers, distressed and trying to mull over the action they each just took.
"Steven…" Lapis coughed out trying to hide the cigarette away the best she could. Pulling it behind her back as if she could still save an ounce of innocence in the scenario.
"Lapis, you know cigarettes kill right?" Steven asked cautiously taking a couple steps forward. Oh don't I know it… Those words burned as if boiling grease had pelted the insides of her skin.
"Yeah… I just..." All excuses that she had used before just brought up worse tastes, than what had already stained her tongue. "I can't help it… I'm trying, and I'm going to quit them soon. Just not today." Lapis finally let go, as if the child fully understood the situation.
"I think you can do it Lapis! You're a good person." No I'm not Steven… I'm awful, pathetic…I shouldn't even be considered a person.
"I'll try my best but can you do me one favor?" Lapis asked desperately.
"What?"
"Can you please not tell anyone about this?" The kids head turned as if he didn't understand, hell he probably didn't. "If you tell your dad that I watched you today over Pearl then… He'll figure out I'm back and probably not want you over here again… So if you like Pearl I really need you to keep quiet about this."
Little gears seemed to be rotating in the boys head, taking more steps forward. He closed the distance between Lapis. Lapis ended up dropping the cigarette on the ground and attempting to crush it with her foot. As she looked to the ground briefly she didn't noticed the small arms wrapping around her waist.
"Fine… but why doesn't my dad like you?" Lapis felt her heart sinking as she looked at the brunette's small afro beneath her. Slowly reciprocating the hug.
"It's not that he doesn't like me… It's more so that I'm a bad influence. Pearl and Greg just want the best for you, they don't want you to ever be tempted to do horrible things in your life. They don't want anyone you look up to, to corrupt you." Her eyes were drifting downwards, hoping to peer past the body and gaze into the dirt.
"But you're a good person Lapis." Only because you don't know me…
"Let's head inside Steven." Lapis declared slowly removing herself from the warm grasp. "Anyways don't you have to tell me about the plot to your story so we can play together?" Lapis asked which clearly started to change his expression. Together they walked past the heavy door with Steven spilling out more than a mouthful of words.
Together they played for a good half an hour, with Lapis getting more involved with each moment. Starting off as just a bystander to their speech as the toys talked through Steven, at each other. Soon enough though, Lapis had taken control of Professor Snuggles. All the plot twists alone were hard to keep up but with Steven doubling back on the story every few minutes it became easier.
I wonder how Pearl is doing… Shit she hasn't eaten either… Slowly moving the stuffed bear away from the alien, she continued to let her mind wander. From the fridge to the freezer and all throughout the cabinets. To no avail her memories of something she didn't look at too much wasn't great.
"Hey Steven, I forgot Pearl hasn't eaten yet so I'm going to go make her some food real quick. I'll turn on the TV and you can watch that if you want?" Lapis asked the boy just nodded, clearly craving for the colorful pixels.
Leaving him to his own devices proved fruitful as he understood how to work the TV as well. Pearl didn't credit this boy as much as she should have, she never let him use the remote but he still quickly got it.
As she opened up the pantry she noticed in the back a few cans. Grabbing them and reading the titles until she came upon chicken noodle. Pearl hated the canned foods and often only had them in the house for Lapis, but this was the most the girl could do. Quickly pulling off the lid and throwing it into a bowl. As it spun in the microwave she watched Steven with her mind full of doubt.
He's going to tell Greg and Pearl is going to kick me out once she loses Steven. It'll all be my fault, even if he doesn't tell him today it'll happen. All three of them are close, hell he'll probably tell Pearl about seeing me smoke. Good riddance there as well. Fuck I'm screwed. I guess I've really done myself in today, at least I can do one more good deed. Thought Lapis as the microwave beeped and she slowly pulled it out. Grabbing one of the white hand towels that were spread across the kitchen, to actually hold the bowl.
After grabbing a spoon and resting it in her mouth she began bringing the soup upstairs. Each step she felt the unwelcome heat billowing up in the form of steam, along her face. Slowly placing one of her hands along the center she held onto it. Leaving her other hand free to open the door.
Laying there with the blanket splayed across her torso and her legs shooting out likes roots. Lapis gazed for a solid moment as if waiting for an invitation that wouldn't come. Placing the soup on the night stand and slowly relieving her mouth of the spoon she plopped it in as well.
"Pearl," Lapis whispered until the body began moving. "I brought you some soup, I'm going to go grab you some crackers. Eat when you are fully awake." Lapis said slowly walking away, she wanted to make sure to tell her that the soup was there. If she didn't she ran the risk of Pearl accidently burning herself.
Lightly placing her palm along the rail of the stairs she ran down, feeling the grain along her palm with each step. Careful about each steps noise, trying to stop her feet quietly as to not send waves of noise through the house. Her mind was stuck in the cement of thoughts about Pearl, how much she craved to crawl into bed with her. The comfort of knowing someone else that had been through as much shit as you.
Sliding through the kitchen, Steven didn't even look up from his obnoxious cartoons when she went through. Slowly sorting through the cupboards once more, she finally found the saltine crackers lying at the bottom. A light crunch of noise from the bag and then she was off once more. Running up the stairs, wasting all of her energy.
At the top from outside the open door she could see the slender frame sitting up. A black T shirt thrown over her body, with a slow bobbing head as if she was about to reenter the dream land. Slowing her movements down as if she was approaching a dear, while she was approaching her dear. Once she was past the doors frame she closed it. Leaving the room with only them in it and blocking out the external noises.
"Lapis what are you doing." Pearl wearily asked, cocking her head slightly with her speech. Black bags still hung under her eyes along with ever persistent shivers.
"I just thought you might like some crackers with your soup," Lapis said nodding her head towards the night stand. With that Pearl looked over, her eye brows furrowing as if the existence of noodles was new to her.
"What's Steven doing?" Pearl asked clearly making an effort to keep her body upright. Lapis noticed the small movements, they seemed as if her body was filled with lead running through her veins. Slow, choppy and with incredible effort.
"Watching cartoons." Lapis quickly said slowly approaching the bed. She placed the crackers on the night stand and started looking over the bed. Looking down at the comfort of blankets just in front of her.
"What are you thinking?" Pearl asked clearly a bit timid with Lapis standing over her. "Lapis no… I will get you sick if you get near me."
"Too late if it's going to happen," Lapis said back, slowly shrugging before she lowered herself beside Pearl. Not wanting the girl worked up, she just let her hand come down into the short hair of Pearl. The almost peachy, strawberry blonde, was soft and heaping mess with strands standing up on all sides of her head. "I'm going to get back to Steven, I'll see you later." Lapis said slowly turning around. She accomplished all she wanted to, she saw something that made sunsets pale in comparison.
The small upturn of her sick girlfriend, the fact that she brought joy to a masterpiece waiting to happen. To someone that actually amounted to something.
"Hey Lapis, Greg is going to be here a little bit sooner than planned. I told him I was sick and once he picks up Steven I'd appreciate your company." The last bit of her sentence was small, as if the words were hard to escape from her lungs. Lapis heart beat nearly three times within that instance, frantically moving as she was beginning to adore the girl behind her.
Once Lapis did return to Steven, she began to actually pay attention to the show they were watching together. Soon enough she was seeing where some of his story ideas were coming from, and she was wondering whether cartoons had always been that weird or not. Then again her childhood was watching football with her father and fetching him beer. As they were watching the television Steven had sat close to Lapis, eventually letting his head rest on her shoulder.
One thing after another and this day was actually turning out alright. He eventually fell asleep for what was likely only half an hour, but Lapis enjoyed every second. She felt like something, something other than nothing. Nothing was also usually an improvement over what she felt, she was taking care of people. People thought they could rely on her.
Once Steven had finally woken up she spent time cooking them up soups for dinner and telling him about how he mustn't tell anyone about several things. He seemed annoyed with how much she repeated these things, but she knew it was urgent. As the day was coming to an end, they were both pacing in the house theorizing what would happen in the story.
"But it couldn't have been professor Snuggles unless…" interrupting their thoughts was the door bell and quickly Steven had ran up to the door. Before Lapis realized why the door had rang it was too late. Both of them sitting by the door with it swung open thanks to Steven. Brown eyes that hadn't been seen in a while gazed at her.
"Steven W…" Lapis hushed herself watching the door way. Like a detonation of a nuke had went off, she felt her inside hollow and her mind go blank. The final state of death.
"Lapis…?" Greg asked clearly sort of confused.
"Greg… Hello." Lapis said desperately thinking of an out to the situation ahead of her.
"Hey buddy," Greg said to Steven before changing his focus to the blue eyed girl. "Why are you here Lapis?" No… Those words mean nothing… Nothing alright fuck, they mean nothing… I'm here for a reason! I have purpose I did something. Lapis caught tears spilling over her eyes, quickly turning away.
"It's a long story."
"Greg!" Pearl yelled from the top of the stair case clearly still a mess.
"Pearl what happened to you? You look like you got hit by a tornado." Greg said drawing his head back slightly as he said it.
"Dad let me explain." Steven said quite antsy, trying to join in the conversation.
"I just… Well I'm not feeling the best," She said back slowly sliding down the stairs. Each step gave Lapis a slight dose of anxiety, thinking the girl would fall. Quickly running up and helping her down the stairs with each step.
"Well uh hey Pearl I'll give you a call tomorrow alright?" Greg said, turning to walk out the door. Looking over and she noticed, Pearls crystal eyes wide till her eye lids dropped. Along with her lips, as if resigning to defeat.
"Greg wait, I need to talk with you." Lapis said letting go of Pearl once they reached the bottom of the stairs. "Alone."
"Kid I kind of got to go…" Greg said clearly trying to avoid it.
"Pearl and Steven can stay in here, please just out front." Lapis begged and soon enough the man's shoulders dropped with a sigh.
"Okay. Buddy go play in the kitchen, we'll be right back." Greg said ushering Steven away.
"Lapis is a good person dad." Greg looked a little worried with that line. Lapis didn't look back she just stepped outside slowly waiting for the door to close behind her.
"I know I'm not supposed to be here anymore but please don't hold this to Pearl." Lapis begged once again, turning to look him in his eyes. After a brief moment of staring at him they both broke contact to stare at the floor.
"What are you talking about?"
"You know exactly what I mean… I'm sure you've talked to Pearl about me and vice versa. Steven really means the world to Pearl, if you ask me to I will leave alright?" Lapis desperately said.
"You'll leave?"
"Yes, I know I'm not the best person and if you're scared of me affecting Steven then I'll go alright. Just please don't hold me against Pearl. She needs him as much as anyone else."
"You know kid, I'm not planning on taking Steven away from her it's just… You sound a lot like me after Rose died…" It went silent and Greg was rubbing the back of his head with a bitter look on his face.
"I know…"
"Just… Are you actually getting back into Pearl's life?"
"Yeah, why?"
"Well, I love Pearl and so far you seem like a nice person but I'm not so sure you should have taken care of him today. I just don't want him around people drinking and such y'know." Greg cautiously spoke each word.
"Greg… Steven doesn't even know we're dating, we don't smoke or drink in front of him that goes for each of us. In fact most of the days I've just slept away in her room waiting till Steven goes home…"
"Are you the same Lapis though that Pearl has told me about…?" Greg asked in a low voice. Lapis sat there revaluating herself from her feet to the hair dangling around her face.
"I don't think so… I'm getting better, want to hear about Steven's day?"
"I don't kn-."
"First thing we played toys together and he told me all about Professor snuggles and bob. Then I cut up an orange for him and got us some cereal. We played more and I made food for Pearl… Greg, I was a complete mess and I'm still a mess but I'm… I actually feel worth something lately." Lapis honestly said, with her vision locked on her toes.
"Alright, here's the deal, I want to hang out with you one day. You Steven and I can all go fishing or something and I'll judge from there deal?" Greg asked with his hand extended. A brief shake over the large hand that contained sausages for fingers. "I'm still going to have to talk to Pearl, I'm not that happy about being lied to and of course I have to talk to Steven."
"Yeah, of course." Lapis said looking up and she saw a light smile. A small amount of pity seemed to be sprinkled over his face, but she'd take it all if it meant that Pearl wouldn't come into harm.
"Alright I reaaally have to go," Greg dramatically said. Soon enough he opened the door and yelled for Steven. Picking the boy up when he ran to the door. "Thanks for looking after him Lapis." With that he left, she could barely hear the noises of Steven tell him their stories.
Looking over beside her and Pearl was hunched over the end of the stairs rail. Breathing slightly heavy with her eyes dragged up to meet Lapis' frame. Lapis just smiled back as she started drawing closer to her girlfriend.
"We're going to be okay," She happily said taking her girlfriend back to bed to rest.