Chapter 11 Beauty in Everything
Art work for each posted chapter can now be found on the new BIE twitter account BeautyInEveryt2 the pics will be updates when the chapters are.
xoxo autumn
^Friday December 23rd 2016^
"Last day of Chemo! After today, we keep you for a few days, then you get to go home for New Years and we don't see you until the 5th when you start your radiation treatments, but that's outpatient. You excited!?" Opal asked, writing on the chemo bored while she spoke to Pearl enthusiastically. She helped pearl into a seated position and went to move some pillows around behind her when she saw the first clump of nearly pink hair. She scooped it up and stuffed it in her pocket. She didn't want to ruin this day.
"I'm just ready to get out of here, to be in my own bed while I wallow in pain would be better than here." She laughed slightly, "I mean I know I have to come back for my second round of chemo but dr m said that if my numbers were good I could do it outpatient too."
"Ya know I think I heard that," Opal said, her 'thinkin face' on, "but you know my memory, I can't remember." she laughed.
"You should stay and meet Amethyst, you'd love her." Pearl laughed. Opal had become a really good friend of Pearls, like a big sister almost.
"So, I don't mean to take this in a heavy direction but you do realize about some of the... other side effects?" Opal asked, sitting on the edge of Pearls bed.
"Like what?" She asked.
"Well like the hair lose. It's pretty inevitable... I just don't want you to be shocked when it does happen..."
Pearl took a sharp inhale of breath.
She shut her eyes to focus," I know, I've just been avoiding it..."
"Some say that it's a lot less traumatic to shave it off your self before you start loosing it..." Opal prompted.
Pearl thought on that for a few minutes. Then she nodded.
"I'll have someone bring up the stuff." she smiled and left the room.
X
Twenty minutes later Garnet came in rolling a tray of hair supply's.
"You're doing this?" She exclaimed, "Do you even know what you're doing?"
Garnet laughed and shook her head.
"I though we could make it fun, do some cool styles before we shaved it off" she smiled at Pearl, shades over her eyes but her grin sparkling through them anyway.
Pearl smiled back, and nodded.
Garnet went about doing her hair, first she braided in in so many different braids that she couldn't even count, telling her about how her mother had taught her them. Next she trimmed some off and made it stand up in all different directions, taking a picture of each style.
After that she took the razor and buzzed off half her hair and Pearl literally almost had a panic attack, but the end result of the look was perfect and Pearl decided that she would keep it for a few days.
"Thank you garnet, this was fun, you could come back and do the rest?" Pearl offered, a smile in her eyes.
"Id love to, see you Pearl." She said, walking out and leaving a small paper peony on the table next to the door.
Blanche walked in only a few minutes later to find Pearl lazily staring at a fake flower.
"Oh my stars what did you do to your hair!?" She exclaimed loudly, breaking Pearl from her gaze.
Pearl reached up to touch the shaved half of her head, "oh yes... well it was going to start falling out so garnet and I had some fun with it." She said, a smile stuck on her face.
"Well... it looks... " Blanche was actually at a lose for words, and that did not happen often.
Pearl laughed, "you don't have to like it mom, it'll only be around for a few days."
Blanche sighed in relief.
"Well you're grandparents are coming in for Christmas and staying at the house but they'll be over here at about", she glanced at her watch, "four o'clock."
Pearl loved her grand parents, they always spoiled her and Sky when they were young, her grandmother Helena and her grandfather Richard were both about mid seventies. They had Blue when they were just married and Blanche followed nearly seven years later. They always had reservations about Blue on many levels and it really bothered Pearl because she didn't understand how a parent couldn't accept their child's choices.
Like when Blue decided she wanted to convert to Islam or when she came out as a lesbian, they took it... weird, and still did, but they'd never judged Pearl on her lesbianism. Though she knew them very well, and she knew they wouldn't like her haircut.
"Blue and Sky are going to come today too, I think maybe we'll decorate your room" she said offhandedly, looking around to see what kind of decorations she could add and where, she never did like the barren aspect of hospital rooms.
"Mom I'm only going to be here for three more days..." Pearl said hopefully.
"I know sweetheart but if we're going to spend Christmas in the hospital than it should have the Christmas spirit." she said, Christmas was always that one time a year her mother would get... mushy... she laughed to herself.
"Can amethyst come too?" She asked, "her dads out of town and she's mad at Rose because... well..." she looked away.
"Of course she can, but Rose is never to be in my line of sight again or I may actually kill her." She said, and the seriousness of her tone gave Pearl the chills.
"You're going to have to see her when we go back to school." So am I.
"Let's not talk about it now pearl, it's Christmas." Blanche said, effectively putting an end to the conversation.
XxxX
At about three o'clock Amethyst came into the room a smug smile on her face, "I got that lead I was hoping for!" She called, and spun around, and Pearl clapped for her with a small laugh. "Nice hair P."
"Thank you, Garnet cut it for me" she said with a soft blush.
"Oh Garnet, I'm gonna need to meet this Garnet" and as she spoke those words the tall girl walked in.
"I heard my name?" She said, her British accent cutting through the room like a knife.
"Oh Garnet!" Pearl called, startled, "this is Amethyst, my best friend."
She stuck her hand out and Ame grabbed it loosely as Garnet shook it firmly.
"Nice to meet your Amethyst."
"Yes, you to G-squad" Garnet bristled at the strange nickname but said nothing.
"Well Pearl, I was just coming to give you you're Christmas present, I'm going away with my moms so I won't be here for the next few days" she smiled and gave Pearl a small wrapped box.
"Oh dear, you didn't have to get me anything! I didn't get you anything..." she said, slightly embarrassed.
"Well considering your suck in a hospital bed I wouldn't have expected anything, and really it's nothing big, I just thought you would like it.." she smiled and left like that without letting Pearl get in another word.
"OPEN IT!" Ame called loudly.
"No, it's not even Christmas yet" Pearl said, putting it to the side with a smile.
"Ugh you're no fun P" she said dramatically flopping onto the bed.
X
Her grandparents arrived at exactly four, hold a huge bin of presents and smiles.
"Pearly!" She Nana called as she rushed to the girls side hugging her gently. Her Grandpa following her close behind, kissing her forehead, right on her birthmark just like her mother does.
"How are you feeling princess?" He asked.
"Right now, fine." She smiled. "I'm so glad you're here, I can't wait for aunt Blue and Sky to come, it'll be so nice to have everyone together again." She smiled and ignored her grandmothers less than enthusiastic facial expression as she waited for the rest of her family.
