Anything but Love

Chapter 11: Handshake

Lapis rested her hand on the door knob, grabbing her bag with the other as she prepared to get out; she sent a shy smile to the driver. "…thanks for the ride Rose,"

The pink girl in question grinned brightly. "Anytime, but don't forget that you have ballet practice tomorrow but at six this time; you guys need to perfect this routine before the recital," She cracked her knuckles. "You, Sapphire and Pearl are getting first place tomorrow!"

"Defiantly," Lapis giggled, slowly getting out of the car before waving once more to Rose. "I'll see you next week at the party?" She asked.

Rose nodded. "Of course, you can ride with Pearl and I,"

The blue haired girl agreed softly before backing out to the chilly sidewalk, she waved as Rose drove away. Lapis only stopped when the girl turned the corner, she took a deep breath and turned to face her house. The night grey car parked in the driveway almost made her curse, her father was home.

Her mother always worked late on Saturday's.

Lapis swallowed loudly, jogging up to her front porch when the wind became too fierce. Her cotton white scarf flicked behind her with the currents as her shaky hands unlocked the front door. She stumbled inside and closed the door, cutting off the freezing weather and welcoming the warmth of her home.

She immediately pulled off her now wet scarf and shook it, trying to rid it of the soft snow flakes that had fallen upon it.

"Your mother won't be home until eight," A deep, hoarse, voice suddenly said.

Lapis felt her heart thud in her chest as she hung her clothing to dry on the coat rack, her back to the intruder. "…I'll start cooking, dad,"

She was rewarded with a soft groan and the flicking of a television remote as he surfed through the stations. Lapis turned around when she was finished; she silently eyed the man on the couch.

Her father was a tall man with a buff figure, from all the weights he lifts in the basement with his friends. A full head of hair so dark that it was almost blue sat atop his head, it wasn't brushed or styled so it stuck up in oddly attractive angles. A scruffy beard was growing nicely around his passive expression, the television lights reflecting through his grey emotionless eyes.

Lapis bit her lip, relived; he wasn't drunk today. "…good," She whispered, absentmindedly rubbing her sore wrist that were still bruised.

"…that's one less thing for me to worry about today,"

Ruby drummed her pointer fingers on the wheel of her car to the beat of the music playing on the radio, she hummed. "Sadie's new song is pretty good,"

"This is Sadie?" Sapphire asked, surprised and a little impressed. "On the radio?"

Ruby shook her head. "Nah, this is her CD that Sour Cream gave me to look at. He wanted me to see if it was good enough for the Christmas bash, it totally is, and I can't wait for Sadie to sing it live."

Sapphire hummed. "Why don't you or Jasper ever go up on stage?"

"Jasper can't sing and she can play the drums but not as good as Amethyst," Ruby flushed softly, turning left as they approached Sapphire's house. "…and I can play the electric guitar but they never write songs that I can get into, I play a little of the drums but again Amethyst is better and I know the gist of the piano," She scratched the back of her head.

Sapphire perked up. "I didn't know you could play the piano, I have one at my house in the basement. You have to play me something," She grinned, biting her lower lip to contain herself.

"Maybe," Ruby shrugged, glancing at her girlfriend. "But you should sing during the bash, you have a beautiful voice,"

"Only if we do a duet," Sapphire tried, smiling as her girlfriend seemed to struggle with her answer.

Ruby puffed out her cheeks, only to the release the air in a slow fart. "Fine, fine, but that's going to be your Christmas present," She added, pointing at Sapphire for added effect; quickly parking right in front of the girl's house.

Sapphire shrugged. "I'll take it," She grabbed the handle and slowly pushed the door open, she looked up. "Are you ready?"

Ruby raised an eyebrow. "Are you? You're the one who is going through all of this…and, you're sure that you're sleeping here tonight? I don't mind if you stay at my place, my mother loves you and Snowflake likes you more than me," She joked, but it fell short on her tongue as she looked at Sapphire for confirmation.

"I have to move forward," Sapphire said after taking a deep breath. "And it's a family tradition for me to put up the tree with my father and I'm not skipping a year," She added quickly before getting out completely.

Ruby followed, popping her trunk. "I'll grab your bags,"

A soft vibration on the bed made Peridot flip over on her left side to pick up her phone where it was charging, she unplugged it and opened the screen. A picture of her and Lapis sitting on the beach with matching shades greeted her, she hadn't had much time to change that; she had been busy. Busy with college applications and scholarship programs, not to mention her new love for photography and filming.

Peridot quickly scrolled past the streaming messages that Lapis was sending her, even now at this moment. "Doesn't she have a life, can't she just move on,"

Her anger was halted when she noticed a text from Rose mentioning something about a Christmas bash they would be throwing next week, she frowned. The others had kicked her out of the group chat a while ago but Rose secretly sent her updates about what they would be doing, she's the only one who has shown her any sympathy throughout this whole ordeal.

With Jasper breaking her heart and then having Lapis do it, only for it to sting even more when she caught her with her ex-lover; it sucked. But after crying about it for weeks and avoiding the group in school, she had managed to move past it.

She decided to work on herself and then focus on relationships later.

"Hey," A soft voice broke her from her thoughts; Peridot looked up from her phone and smiled. "What'cha doing?"

The green girl tossed her phone away and picked up her camera, she waved it lazily. "Just checking out my pictures I took in the park, I need to get them done before Christmas break so I can finish my applications,"

The short girl huffed, clumsily jumping up on the bed. "You're always doing college stuff Peri…I don't want you to leave and go somewhere far away," The little girl pouted.

"Come on Connie," Peridot sighed, running a hand through her hair. "I really need to get far away from this town,"

Connie frowned. "Ruby is never this involved in college things,"

"Your cousin is still a junior," Peridot mumbled, looking at her pictures on the camera. "…and her life is going pretty good right now, I doubt she'd ever want to leave unless Sapphire did,"

Connie hummed, smiling softly. "…Sapphire's nice,"

It was about three o'clock and Peridot was at her house, babysitting Connie. The three year old parent's were out at a business meeting and they trusted Peridot to watch over their daughter who just so happened to be cousins with Ruby Harris, great.

"Is Ruby nice to you?" Connie asked, looking down at the camera strap that she was playing with.

Peridot looked away from her amateur picture of snowy trees. "…is she nice to you?" She relaxed when Connie automatically nodded, a bright grin on her face. "…Ruby doesn't really talk to me so I wouldn't know; she and I are in a different social group,"

"Social group?" Connie tried the word on her tongue.

Peridot nodded, giving up on her pictures and investing all of her attention to the child. "Ruby hangs out with all the athletes and popular people while I just hang out by myself," She frowned. "I used to have a girlfriend but that didn't work out well so now I'm just trying to focus on myself right now,"

Connie hummed. "I think you're doing the best thing, relationships are gross!" The little girl erupted, giggling like all children do after talking about the opposite sex.

"You won't be saying that when you're older," Peridot said with a smile.

Connie shook her head. "No way, all the boys in my class are gross."

"Well maybe your true love hasn't been born yet," Peridot mumbled absentmindedly before changing the subject. "Is it time for your violin practice yet?"

Connie shook her head. "I'm sick of playing that, Ruby taught me how to play the guitar a little bit. She's having a Christmas party but she said I'm too young to go," She pouted.

Peridot snickered. "You won't miss much,"

"You should go," The little girl suggested.

"…maybe," Peridot said, she didn't give any warning as she quickly scooped the girl into her arms. "Come on, let's practice the violin and go to air tramp later,"

Connie giggled, waving her hands in the air. "Yeah!"

Ruby fiddled with her fingers underneath the dining room table as she was glared down by Mrs. Field's, despite Sapphire's reassuring squeezes to her knee she could help but feel antsy.

"So," Aero coughed, breaking the awkward silence and his wife's glaring. "How did you two meet? When and where?" He questioned, folding his hands and leaning his chin on it curiously.

Even Alice seemed to be interested as she brutally ripped her bread apart before spreading butter on the side.

Ruby cleared her throat, sitting up straighter as she recollected her memory. "Well, we go to the same school but last year we never really talked to each other. The first time I saw Sapphire was during a pep-rally, I was being called down the aisle with the rest of the football players when Rose screamed my name over the crowd."

"I looked up and smiled at her and briefly noticed her sitting with Pearl, Lapis and Sapphire," Ruby chuckled, scratching the back of her neck. "It wasn't love at first sight or anything like that, I don't believe in that crap. But I remember saying that she was pretty before looking away and talking to my friends again,"

Aero nodded, smiling softly before nodding to his daughter. "…what about you?"

Sapphire hummed. "I've always known about Ruby, when Lapis had a crush on her that's all she'd talk about. So since eighth grade, when Lapis first pointed her out in our gym class," She giggled softly. "Ruby was getting yelled at for tying Amethyst's shoe laces together,"

Ruby gaped, softly slapping the table; making the silverware clatter. "I remember that! I had to stay after school for detention, that was the first time I met Greg actually," She recalled, smiling at the memory. "He got in trouble for vandalism, hanging his 'band' fliers on the wall in the girl's bathroom,"

Sapphire snickered, holding a hand over her mouth. "Oh man, that was him?"

Ruby nodded in confirmation, all her stress from Alice's glaring melting away with every laugh Sapphire made.

"That's nice and all," Aero said as he finished laughing from across the table. "But when did you really meet,"

Alice nodded, not at all amused by the two reminiscing. "And…how did this happened,"

Sapphire gladly took the baton and began the story. "Uhm, oh, yeah," She grinned. "Rose invited Ruby and her friends to our private pool party. Lapis asked me to get in close with Ruby so I could tell her about Lapis but it didn't turn out like that,"

Ruby snickered. "Thank goodness,"

"Hush," Sapphire slapped her shoulder before going on. "…everyone was in the living room getting ready to watch The Duff, funny movie by the way, and I went into the kitchen to get away from the noise. Then Ruby walked in looking for popcorn and we just started talking,"

"Rose convinced Ruby to give me her number and after that we texted a few times," Sapphire took a breath. "Then we bonded even more at Six Flags and became really good friends after that,"

Ruby nodded in agreement.

"When did you realize that there may be something there?" Aero asked, directing his question to Ruby.

The younger girl sighed. "Uhm, it was right after we left the beach. I dropped Sapphire off and walked her to the door," Ruby blushed softly. "She tried to kiss me but I didn't want to do it in front of my friends so instead she kissed my cheek and we went our separate ways,"

"What a gentlemen," Aero whistled.

Ruby chuckled, rolling her eyes. "…it's noth—"

"Sapphire is a senior and you're just a junior," Alice suddenly spoke after minutes of being silent, everyone looked up startled. "I know my daughter is planning on going to a university far from here, it's all she's talked about—"

"Mom," Sapphire tried, but was silenced as Ruby met the mother's hard gaze.

"…I know," The red girl said calmly, ignoring the way Sapphire gaped beside her.

Alice narrowed her eyes. "I don't need you telling my daughter to stay in this town and ruin her chances of going to the school of her dreams,"

"I would never do that," Ruby said. "I respect her decision and I think she should do whatever it takes to become a professional ballerina. She can move to Canada for all I care, we'll still make it work,"

Sapphire couldn't speak, think and she could barely breathe as she took in everything being said. What was her mother—?

"…I don't want to have my daughter crying to me over the phone about how she suspects you to be cheating on her while she's away at college," Alice stated, voice just as cold as her expression.

Ruby didn't bat an eye. "I love Sapphire and I wouldn't do anything that stupid to have her taken away from me," Her light red eyes moved to her girlfriend beside her. "…I overheard you talking to Emerald when I was getting your bags, sorry about that," She said when Sapphire seemed confused.

"It's fine," Sapphire recovered with a smile. "I was stressing out about how to tell you and I was worried about how you'd take it. But now that you know and we're on the same page, things can be much easier,"

Ruby grinned. "You made it obvious, Miss, I've been working on this application for months." She grabbed one of Sapphire's hands. "I scheduled a campus tour for you next month; I took a few days off for school so I can go with you to see the school,"

Sapphire gasped. "You didn't,"

"Who's the best?" Ruby asked playfully.

Sapphire was in the motion of pulling Ruby into a deep kiss when she remembered where she was so she settled with a tight hug. Her arms wrapped around broad shoulder and she placed a wet kiss on the side of Ruby's cheek where her parents couldn't see.

"Gross," Ruby mumbled, but couldn't keep the smile or the blush from rising.

Sapphire pulled away, grinning. "You love me, loser,"

The spin tingling sound of a chair scrapping against wood floors caused everyone to cover their ears. Ruby was the first to recover, looking up to see Alice starring down at her with an odd expression. The older woman nodded her head silently, motioning Ruby to stand. She did so quickly, almost knocking her plate and glass over in her haste.

Alice held her right hand out, expectantly. "…well?" She questioned after Ruby eyed her hand wearily, as if it were a trap.

"O-oh, sorry," Ruby quickly held out her opposite hand, giving the woman a shake.

Alice hummed, eyeing Ruby once more before pulling her hand away. "…you have a firm handshake," She nodded her head. "…that's a sign of character,"

Sapphire's eyes widened, she gaped. "Mom,"

"…Alice?" Aero frowned, almost not believing.

Alice sent a reassuring look to her family before turning to the red girl. "Ruby, tomorrow we are going to be putting up our Christmas tree, it's a family tradition and I want you to be a part of it,"

Ruby gasped, stuttering. "S-sure, I'll come over right after pr-practice,"

"Mom," Sapphire said what they were all thinking. "Are—are you okay with Ruby and I dating?"

Alice crossed her arms, looking down at the floor before looking back up. "I think that Ruby makes you happy and as long as she keeps making you happy, then she is welcome in my household," She clapped her hands together. "Now, it's getting late; Sapphire, walk Ruby to the door," Her mother paused. "But take these plates to the kitchen for me,"

Sapphire quickly got up and gathered the dirty dishes and sped walked into the kitchen.

"I can't say I accept this but I accept that she's dating you," Alice said before walking towards the stairs. "…don't make me regret my decision,"

Ruby nodded. "Of course," She let out a heavy breath when Alice was out of sight, she held her heart. "Geez, she's scary,"

Aero shook his head. "That's her way of saying she's okay with this; she and Sapphire aren't too good with expressing their emotions,"

"I see," Ruby hummed.

Aero nodded. "But tell your mother we said hello once you get home,"

"I'm not going home yet," Ruby chuckled, looking at the time. "I'm going with Greg to see Star Wars—"

"The force awakens!" Aero shouted out before the red girl could finish. "I wanted to see that but Alice made me put up decorations around the house so I'm going to wait until Christmas Eve,"

Ruby grinned. "That's fine too; you can see the movie while Sapphire and I go to the Christmas party,"

"Don't spoil it for me but after I watch it we have to talk about it," Aero said happily. "Gosh, I can't wait,"

Sapphire walked in, sighing. "Great Ruby, now you've got him started,"

"Sorry," Ruby chuckled, grabbing the older girl's hand and leading her to the door. "Good night,"

Aero smiled. "Good night kid,"

Ruby stopped to slowly close the door, she turned around to face her girlfriend. "That went well,"

"I know," Sapphire grinned. "My parents are sort of okay with this, you're taking me on a college tour next month and we have a Christmas party next week,"

Ruby smiled. "And a New Year's party with our closest friends," She pointed out. "It's going to be a great weekend,"

"I know," Sapphire agreed, wrapping her arms around the younger girl's neck.

"I can't wait,"

I got a lot of hate for making Peridot have a horrible life so I decided to bring little Connie into it and cheer her up. I didn't have time to get into Lapis's background that much but you guys get the gist of it.

I'm super excited for my Christmas chapter for next week and the Star Wars movie that came out. No spoilers if you've seen it because I'm watching it sometime next week with the family. I will be trying to make a one-shot with Ruby and Sapphire next week as well but I was also thinking about writing a Bubblegum and Marceline one-shot, I love those two.

Tell me what you think about the Bubbline idea, I feel like there aren't too many good stories with those two.

This chapter was short but the Christmas one will be pretty long, but anyway; thanks for reading and I'll see you guys later, have a nice week.