Okay, so I did not mean to take so long updating this story. Truly, I didn't, life just got in the way.
I'm going to write a few short chapters leading up to a much longer (hopefully) Halloween chapter. If there's anything you like to read about, please let me know in a review or PM. I plan on writing 4 to 6 scenes before posting the Halloween chapter. :D
Thank you for your patience.
Starting in the first week of October, both artist and chef noticed an increase of activity in their shared apartment, especially in the kitchen where Pearl spent most of her time. Dishes would slide across surface tops, chairs would be pushed in at the table, and water would be left running in the sink. When they asked about it, Sapphire told them the veil was dropping which Ruby responded to with, "We need more brick dust." Her wife smiled at her and told her they'd make some soon.
Amethyst flopped on the couch next to Ruby. She knew the woman worked part-time as a security guard, and she loved to hear her stories about people doing stupid things while she's on-duty. She also wanted to see her reaction when Jasper decided to switch the channels. Frowning, Amethyst realized she knew very little about the more violent sister. "Yo, Jas, you had a job right?"
Her phone flipped over on the table, unlocked itself, and opened messenger. {Yeah, so?}
"So, like, what did you do?" Ruby had paled considerably beside her.
{Army reserve, volunteer baseball coach, and personal trainer.} There was a pause, and then more tapping. {Pearl said to go easy on Ruby.}
She pouted in the direction of the kitchen. She'd been looking forward to watching Ruby freak out.
{Opal's are better anyway. I like her screams.} That made the chef laugh, which made Garnet's mom peek at the conversation suspiciously. Apparently Pearl saved her from humiliation and she grinned despite her uneasiness. Under normal circumstances Ruby wouldn't even enter a place she knew was haunted, but Pearl made Casper seem terrifying. Ruby found she couldn't find a ghost who helps clean disturbing.
Glancing at her family coming into the room with snacks for movie night, Ruby got an idea. "You should have a Halloween party." Her daughter raised an eyebrow. "Your place is perfect! It's sort of big, Amethyst is always making new foods to try, and it's haunted. What's better than a Halloween party in a haunted house?" Amethyst grinned getting excited as she talked.
"Yeah, yeah!" She bounced in place, her enthusiasm spreading contagiously to the others. "It's gotta be a Halloween costume party! And Jasper can scare as many people as she wants. Pearl would probably like games…we could do that one bobbing for apples game." She added. "What do you say, G-squad?"
"Sure, but you're helpin' clean the mess after it's over."
"That's fair."
Garnet set down a large bowl of popcorn next to some open bags of chips and a pile of candy. Soda cans also covered the table, some empty, some recently opened, with an admonition from Pearl to clear away the emptied ones displayed on the artist's phone. It was Sapphire's turn to choose a movie and as she inserted the DVD, she gave Amethyst a brief summary of its story since she'd never seen Ladyhawke before.
"Wait, wait, you're telling me it's about this couple that was cursed by an archbishop? He's a wolf at night, she's a hawk during the day and they're stuck like that? What's with the boy? How's he fit in? Do they break the curse? What's goin' to happen to the bad guy? Why'd he even do that?" Amethyst questioned.
Sapphire gave a cryptic smile. "You'll see." She settled next to her wife on the couch, resting her head on her shoulder as a protective arm wrapped around her shoulders. Unaware that they were being watched, Garnet and Pearl looked at the scene wistfully, and ultimately acknowledging the latter's sister's words. They were both idiots. For all her attempts to distance herself Pearl found herself drawn more and more each day to the artist's side, while Garnet tried unsuccessfully to move on from her feelings for the ghost. Now was a perfect example: Garnet sat in the only armchair as Pearl sat perched on the arm rest, head no turned to look at the pictures under the television. Many were of the two friends and their families but a new one stood with them. It showed Garnet at her desk, looking happy and relieved as she looked to the side. Next to her, a thin strawberry blonde woman leaned in pressing a kiss to her cheek. The room behind the blonde could be seen through her legs and arms.
{Shut up and watch the movie, runt.} Jasper wrote.
Amethyst rolled her eyes shoving a handful of popcorn in her mouth. "Jush for tha', yuh can presh play." Japser scoffed, pushing the button on the remote. "Who else thinks it's cool we have a ghost that can do that?" The opening credits started and the group quieted down to watch. If Garnet felt cold, she never said anything. If Ruby got nervous, she pulled her wife closer.
About halfway through the film, Pearl moved to the kitchen. It hurt more than she wanted to admit being so close to the person she loved while unable to touch her. That she made the air around her cold also played a part in her separating herself from the group for a while. Her sister hadn't been wrong. "I am an idiot." She groaned resting her head in her hands.
"What's the matter, Pearl?" The former ballerina lifted her head. Sapphire stood across the table, looking at her with a patient smile. For a few long minutes she said nothing. There had to be a mistake, because it looked like the older woman could see her. No one other than Vidalia could see her since her death so why did Pearl get the feeling Sapphire could? "Please, don't be so alarmed. You left so suddenly I was worried you might not like it."
Wide crystal blue eyes stared at her. "You can see me? C-can you hear me?"
Sitting down, Sapphire giggled. "Yes, I can see, but I can't hear you. How are you feeling?" Pearl sighed. She glanced towards the living room to make sure Garnet hadn't gotten up. "She's still watching the movie, Pearl." Seeing how anxious her companion felt, the older woman smiled reassuringly. "What do you think of the idea for a Halloween party?"
"It's interesting," answered Pearl slowly.
"Hey, Pearl, get in here! It's getting to the good part!" Jasper yelled from the other room. The younger sister shook her head, an affectionate smirk on her lips, and as she stood she offered Garnet's mom a grateful smile. Sapphire hummed thoughtfully watching the ghost walk away. She had her suspicions about the ballerina but decided to wait and see what happens next.