Peridot is behind on her cleaning. She keeps thinking about this morning and couldn't stop, she continues bagging empty cans and bottles, sorting them out for recycling. She tries to space out to her audiobook and place her thoughts elsewhere, but her mind keeps traveling back to Lapis. This is ridiculous, Peridot has never had a single distraction in her daily life and all of a sudden there's a pretty girl down the hall, and now she can't tell the difference between aluminum and plastic.
'Maybe I'm just touch starved.' Peridot thinks to herself as she pulls yet another can out of the bottle bag. She sighs, pausing her work momentarily to bend down and gather more cans and bottles from the floor, that's when she sees it, a white envelope with blue ink across the front, 'Peridot. ' she picks it up with shaky fingers and opens the envelope to see a phone number inside, she pulls her Samsung out and types the numbers into a new contact, before typing a message out for her neighbor, " This is Peridot, thanks for the phone number, I'll be sure to let you know if I need a cup of sugar :) " Lapis reads the message and smiles glad to know Peridot got her letter, she quickly replies.
" Very funny, Peri. Is that an acceptable nickname? Either way, that's what I'll be calling you. " Peridot is astonished she answered so quickly. She works up a witty reply.
"Sure Peri is an acceptable nickname, although it would seem that I don't have much choice in the matter XD." she hits send before second-guessing herself and saying something dumb.
" You're right, but I'm glad you like it anyway. :) are you busy later? We should go for a walk or something. I'm bored out of my mind. " Lapis hits send and suddenly remembers the broken elevator, she puts that to the back of her mind for now. She wanted to see this strange person again. Peridot thinks for a moment and decides gaming can wait.
" Sure, I'll be free in about an hour. Do you like smoothies? " Peridot gets butterflies at the thought of seeing Lapis again, she waits for a response.
" Love them. See you in the hallway in an hour. " Peridot quickly fumbles through her cleaning, clearing out most of the garbage, making an unspoken promise to never let it get that bad again. Now comes the difficult part, what to wear? Peridot goes through her small collection of clothes that don't involve work, she decides on a green and black alien t-shirt and a green and black flannel, that she ties around her waist with black jean shorts and a pair of converse, a simple but nice look. Lapis searches for an outfit and ultimately decides on blue jean shorts and a white tank top, she pulls on white vans and feeds her cat prior to leaving, throwing on a baseball cap.
They leave their apartments at the same time. "Hey!" they both speak in unison, Lapis walks over to Peridot, they start towards the stairs. They begin going down, they make small talk as they go, asking about each other's jobs, educations, families, likes, and dislikes. They finally reach the bottom of the long stretch down,
"I hope they fix that elevator soon, I don't know if I can handle another walk up these stairs," Lapis says laughing, Peridot joins in, they joke as they make their way to the smoothie shop down the street, "What made you pick smoothies?" Lapis finally asks.
"Well that's a very long story; I live in Texas and It's hot, next," Peridot says jokingly.
"Ah so she's feisty," Lapis responds almost crying from laughter.
"I'll have you know I could beat you in a fight… probably," Sarcasm pulls at Peridot's voice.
"Ah, all people five foot one say that my dear Peri," Lapis says just as sarcastically. They both snicker as they reach the smoothie shop, Peridot orders a mango strawberry blend, Lapis orders a blueberry something or other. They go to a park to sit and drink their frozen treats. They grow even more confident in each other's presences growing slightly flirtatious
"So uh… are you seeing anyone?" Peridot finally asks, her shyness creeping back up.
"Ah asking the juicy questions now," Lapis responds shifting so she is cross-legged on the park bench turning to face Peridot.
"I'm sorry you don't have to answer if you don't want to, I was just curious," Peridot worries she crossed some boundary or line.
"I am seeing someone at the moment actually, her name is Jasper," Lapis responds hesitantly, the name weighs heavy on her heart and Peridot can sense it but she doesn't say anything.
"How long have you two been together?" Peridot hesitantly pushes for more information.
"About two years now. We met through a mutual friend," Lapis hadn't really spoken about Jasper in a long time to anyone, let alone someone she just met. "She's in the air force, we don't see each other much. Shes deployed in Kuwait." Lapis says this almost absentmindedly, the thought of Jasper makes her want to become a bird even more, but she doesn't say this aloud. No one will ever know what goes on behind closed doors. Lapis quickly changes the subject, "So a photographic memory? I bet that was a lifesaver in high school." Peridot wants to push a little more, there was clearly something else going on, but she knows better.
"A blessing and a curse I suppose, sometimes you remember too much useless stuff…" they go on a while longer, but their conversation ends as the sun sets and the chill of the night sets in, Lapis shivers against the breeze.
"We should go, it's getting cold," Lapis says standing up, Peridot follows stretching and begins the walk back to their building. Peridot hesitates before untying the flannel from her waist to drape over Lapis's shoulders, "Oh how chivalrous," Lapis says smiling taking the shirt gratefully and slipping her arms through the sleeves, they walk quietly, Lapis's heart is heavy with thoughts of Jasper.
"Do you miss her a lot?" Peridot asks shyly.
"Most days." Lapis lies. "at some point, I guess I just got used to her being gone" this confuses Peridot, but it truly wasn't her business. Lapis changes the focus to Peridot, "but enough about me, anyone special in your life?"
"Not particularly, I guess I just haven't looked up from my work in a while. I actually try to keep my sexuality to myself mostly, I have no idea how NASA treats LGBT+ workers. Better safe than sorry I suppose," Peridot says truthfully,
"It's a shame. You're a really smart and talented person. Why would who you're attracted to change that?" Peridot looked down, blushing. Lapis likes the way compliments get to Peridot, it was as if she'd never gotten them before.
Upon reaching the lobby of the apartment, Peridot notices that the elevator seemed to be back in service, so Peridot pushed the call button, "hopefully this works okay," Peridot said nervously. The elevator opens, and they both step in, Peridot pressed the number 18 as the doors close, and the elevator goes up, it rumbles and squeaks, there's a loud bang as the elevator starts to shake and Lapis's soft hands wrap around Peridot's bicep and forearm. Peridot is surprised at the sensation but she doesn't resist. The elevator dings as the doors open, Lapis lets go just as fast as she grabbed on.
"Sorry, about that, I was scared," heat rises into Lapis's cheeks, she's blushing for the first time in a long time.
"It's no problem," Peridot laughs, "I would be lying if I said I wasn't scared too," Peridot walks Lapis to her door and Lapis returns the shirt.
"Come for coffee tomorrow if you're not busy, I'll make too much as always," Lapis says unlocking her door and opening it, turning to look at Peridot, Peridot folds her hands across her heart nervously, avoiding biting her nails. It was a habit Peridot never lost.
"I'll let you know before I come over. Goodnight." Peridot goes back to her apartment as Lapis closes her door.
—-
Peridot gets back to her apartment and immediately starts a game with Bismuth.
"Sounds like someone has a crush," Bismuth teases after Peridot tells her about her day,
"Oh, hush. they're on your left" Peridot is warning Bismuth of the enemy in the game "you know I'll die alone, right?" Peridot said into her microphone
"Peridot, you have to stop talking like that about yourself. Down the stairs," Bismuth responded, frustrated that her friend couldn't see her own worth. While also warning Peridot of the enemies. Peridot rotated the joystick so the character was looking down the stairs, eliminating the enemies before speaking again.
"Bismuth, I'm far too focused on my career to be worrying about girls right now," Peridot said as the game ended, the word victory written across the screen
"But you have time to play games with me? Listen to me Peridot, I know how shy you are, but you shouldn't let it hold you back," Bismuth said attempting to convince her friend otherwise.
"It's not even about that Bismuth. She has a girlfriend. I clearly should not be flirting with her. Things sound complicated at the moment though. I have a bad feeling." Peridot said remembering the weight the name Jasper seemed to have on Lapis.
"Then you be her guardian angel. She at least needs a friend, and you're perfectly capable of that. Okay Peridot, I'm gonna sign off for tonight. Let me know how coffee goes! Good night," Bismuth clicks off.
"Goodnight," Peridot says before the familiar trill of the player offline sounds in her headset. She turns off her console and removes her headset, she glances over at her cell phone, she has a missed text from Lapis, "Hey, I'm gonna have to raincheck coffee tomorrow, Jasper came to surprise me. I hope you can understand," her stomach drops and she quickly texts back.
" No worries. Let me know when is good for you, " Peridot goes to bed.
—-
The door to Lapis's apartment opens unexpectedly, fear and dread fill Lapis's entire body. "Hi, Jasper, its good to see you, welcome home," Lapis greets her girlfriend fakely, she was not glad to see Jasper at all and was rather terrified. She only receives a grunt in response. She decides not to push it. She knows better. Jasper goes directly to bed. Lapis stays on the couch for a few minutes, texting Peridot to tell her not to come over in the morning.
"Coming to bed Lapis?" she hears Jasper ask from the other room, it was a demanding tone of voice, however, not questioning. Lapis knew what was about to come. She dreaded it, but she knew if she didn't comply, only pain would come. She left her phone and went to bed.
Jasper never asked. She just did what she wanted to Lapis, whenever she wanted. Lapis tried to fight it before but learned quickly that it wouldn't be tolerated. Eventually, Lapis just laid down and took it. Jasper just liked to watch as she forced Lapis to come. Lapis had gotten good at faking it, so it would end sooner. Afterward, she would go to the shower, and just cry while Jasper went to sleep. But tonight, Lapis was not going to have it. She thought of Peridot, meeting her changed everything. She made her feel safe. At least for a moment. She was good and Lapis was going to have something good. Even if it meant killing herself.
Lapis lays down on the bed facing away from Jasper. Jasper is confused, she places her hand on Lapis's arm. Lapis doesn't respond, she only lays there unmoving and silent. "Come on Lazuli don't do this again," Jasper says slowly pulling Lapis's arm roughly, and Lapis shakes her hand away.
"Not tonight Jasper," suddenly, Jasper grabs Lapis by the hair and throws her against a wall, it knocks the wind out of her, she coughs and struggles to breathe as another blow comes to her face directly at her eye.
"Is this what I get for taking a fucking flight back to this shithole from Kuwait!? I ask for one thing, and you reject me. I can't believe this! I came back for you, you self centered fucking cunt!" she is drunk. Lapis could tell because she is slurring her words. This made the situation all the more terrifying. "You selfish fucking bitch!" Jasper swings at her, Lapis moves out of the way before Jasper's fist comes into contact with her eye again, it hits her nose instead. Her face wets with blood. She rolls away as Jasper stumbles and falls. She runs to lock herself in the bathroom. Jasper quickly follows. They fight over the door for a few seconds, until Lapis closes and locks it.
"Leave Jasper, this is my house, get out!" she tries to sound angry and menacing, but it comes out as a sob. Jasper bangs on the door cracking the wood, with the force of her fist. Lapis hears things breaking and shuffling around as Jasper gathers her things and the front door slams, Lapis collapses to the floor and sobs.
—
Peridot awakes to a slam. It sounds like a door, she closes her eyes again, this apartment building sure is noisy, then she heard a familiar voice, screaming, she couldn't make out the words but it was Lapis, screaming and crying, she sits up quickly, listening again, she heard another bang. This one sounded dangerous. She stands up and is suddenly wide awake, she stumbles through doors and walks out into the apartment hallway. A tall muscular looking woman with a bag leaves Lapis's apartment, "What are you looking at?" the woman growls at Peridot walking past her. Peridot freezes in place and waits for her to leave before rushing to Lapis's door.
"Lapis are you in there?" Peridot asks, knocking frantically, her hand goes to the knob she gives it a twist to check if it's unlocked, it is. "Lapis? … Lapis?... I'm coming in if you don't answer," still she hears nothing "alright I'm coming in on three, one… two… three" she turns the knob and opens it, the apartment is in shambles. A complete 360 from what she saw this morning, the posters are ripped from the walls and the potted plants are thrown on the ground. Shattered ceramic and terracotta paint the floor. Pumpkin is cowering in the cat tree. Peridot calls for Lapis once more before her blood runs icy cold. She sees blood, lots of it, trailing to the bathroom. She gulps and rushes to the door. She tries to open it but it's locked from the inside. "Lapis? Can you hear me?" Peridot awaits a response.
"Peri?" Lapis calls weakly from the bathroom floor, "Peridot is that you?" Peridot sighs in relief, she was conscious at least.
"Yes, it's me! Lapis please open the door. It's safe now, I promise," Peridot coaxes. She hears the lock click Peridot immediately turns the handle and opens the broken door. Lapis was crying and bleeding badly on the floor.
"I'm sorry about the mess," Lapis says in a rather creepy monotone sounding voice, Peridot shakes her head, Lapis is showing symptoms of shock.
"It's alright," Peridot does her best to be comforting, Lapis reaches out for Peridot. Peridot helps Lapis up off of the floor holding her arm and waist tightly. they walk to the kitchen and Peridot grabs a wad of paper towel, Lapis was dripping blood from her nose, Peridot wipes the blood from Lapis's mouth and places the paper towel under Lapis's chin, "Hold this there," Lapis complies, Peridot leads Lapis into her apartment. she has her sit down on the toilet seat and Peridot kneels in front of her. Lapis was spacing out, Peridot checks Lapis's nose thoroughly by pressing down to make sure it isn't broken, everything seems to be in order so she could now properly stop the bleeding. Peridot pinches just below the bridge of Lapis's nose with a tissue. "Can you hold this here like I am?" Lapis places her hand where Peridot's was, "good, now you stay right here and I will be right back," Peridot says standing up.
She goes to get some essentials from Lapis's apartment and cleans up the broken flower pots so it's safe for the cat to move freely, she runs a mop over the floor to clean up any drying blood and leaves with Lapis's keys and an overnight bag in hand. This will be a very long night.