Hours had passed and it was finally the night of the dance. Hundreds of students were entering the school gym all pampered up for the night. Lapis arrived feeling anxious about all the people around. She made up her mind to come but she had been undecided until the last minute if she should ditch them, but she didn't want to do that to Steven. She felt self conscious as she looked at the other students who wore beautiful gowns and tuxedos, while she wore the only dress she owned. A blue dress that matched her hair color. She had never cared much about appearances but now seeing all of this people made her want to run away and shut herself in her house.
She entered the gym, her eyes immediately getting bombarded by neon lights. The dance had already started, the electronic music bouncing off the speakers. She could see the DJ from where she stood, an older kid with white pointy hair.
"Lapis! Lapis!" She turned to where she saw Steven running to her, wearing a red suit. She giggled. "Wow, Steven. You look so dapper."
"Haha, thanks! Lapis I'm so glad you came! Come on, I want you to meet Connie!" She followed him to where a girl with glasses stood looking around nervously.
"Lapis, i'd like you to meet: Connie!" The small girl waved at Lapis. "Hi!"
"Hello" Lapis replied. "I like your hair!" Connie said. Lapis fidgeted and touched her hair. "Thank you..."
"Enough chit-chat, you guys! This is a dance, remember?" Amethyst appeared out of nowhere behind Steven.
"Amethyst, don't bother them too much! This is supposed to be fun for them." Pearl appeared also with Garnet on her side. Lapis stared at the three girls, all wearing outfits each representing them perfectly.
"Lighten up, Pearl!" Amethyst started to dance around her, with Pearl looking disgusted at her dancing. "Amethyst, that's inappropriate dancing!" Amethyst stuck her tongue out at her and ran into the dance floor screaming. "Woo! I'm so pumped for this!"
Pearl sighed. Garnet held her hand out to Pearl. "This is a night to enjoy. Relax." Pearl looked at her and smiled. "All right." She grabbed Garnet's hand and waved to Steven.
"Yeah! Let's go too, guys!" He turned to Connie and Lapis.
Connie waved her hands in front of her. "Oh no, no. I know this is a dance and I came and all, but...I can't dance, Steven..."
"What!? Of course you can, Connie! Just follow me!" He put his hand out motioning for Connie to hold it. Connie blushed. "I can't Steven! Not in front of all these people..."
"Connie! I know you can! Just try it!" Lapis stared at the two younger kids. Connie sighed and put her hand on Steven's. Steven spun her around and she started laughing. "Haha, Steven! Not so fast!"
"See, it's fun!" He laughed with her. The two kids started jumping and spinning around together. Lapis smiled as she looked at them. Steven seemed to have noticed Lapis. "Lapis, try dancing too!"
"Maybe later, I need to take a little break." She motioned for the bathroom and left.
She could sense people looking at her but no one dared ask her to dance. People still seemed to remember her as the girl who hanged out with Jasper and Peridot. Fine with her, if they didn't bother her she didn't mind. Seeing Steven having fun was enough for her. She made her way through people chatting and drinking punch until she reached the corner where the bathrooms where.
She entered and looked at herself in the mirror. She had no makeup on and looked plain compared to everyone else. Steven had wanted her to dance too but she didn't dare. Attracting people's attention is the least she wants to do, ever. She felt happy seeing both of them laughing and smiling and she kind of wanted to join them, but she was too scared. She sighed and threw water on her face. She wanted to try and have fun tonight but she still couldn't get things off her mind.
She didn't want to think about them but she wondered if Peridot and Jasper had come. Truth is, she was kind of worried of running into them here. Knowing Jasper, the girl would probably make a ruckus, so she would have probably noticed her presence. Peridot didn't fit the type to come to one of this things, so Lapis figured they didn't come. Seeing as Jasper had asked Lapis and she had rejected, maybe Jasper decided not to come.
Not that she felt bad, in fact she was relieved that she didn't have to deal with them anymore. Her plan worked for the remainder of the semester, so she hoped they never talked to her again.
Still, had what Jasper said been true? Did she really feel sorry? She looked genuinely sorry when she talked to Lapis. She really seemed to have regretted all she had done, even admitting she was wrong. Did Lapis really affect her so much for her to change? Lapis had decided to not care about Jasper and her excuses. She didn't trust her, and she didn't believed that she actually liked Lapis. She could never believe that a person who treated people as inferior to them could be in love with anyone. From what she had learned from Jasper she had no other emotions other than anger and pride. Seeing her apologetic face had shocked Lapis, not wanting to admit it before.
She wouldn't say she had been too hard on Jasper, she had told the girl what she needed to know. But now she thought maybe she should forgive the bigger girl. That way they could maybe mend their relationship and go back to the way things where. She couldn't hold a grudge on Jasper forever, and Steven was cheerful and happy even after all he had been through. If this was her last year in this school, then she wanted to resolve all her problems and leave them behind.
Next time she saw Jasper she would forgive the girl. That way she could let go of that problem and could continue on with her life. She wanted to be more like Steven. She was tired of holding back anger and grudges against things in her life. For once, she wanted to have a good time and let go of her fear.
Lapis exited the bathroom and found Steven and Connie outside. "We decided to take a break too. Dancing is tiring!" Steven said with a panting Connie by his side.
"I need something to drink, I'll come back later, ok?" Connie said leaving them.
Steven turned to Lapis, his eyes shining. "I just remembered, I wanted to tell you! Connie's parents said they might let her transfer to this school next year! It's gonna be great with Connie, you and me! Oh my gosh! This summer, we can even be beach summer fun buddies! "
Lapis stared at Steven then sighed. She hadn't wanted to tell the boy. "Steven...I might not stay for next year."
Steven's shining eyes turned back to normal. "Huh? Why? You're leaving?"
Lapis scratched her arm. "I'm still not sure yet. I never stay in one place for too long. So I'll probably be transferring to another school."
"But-but...You'll still stay in Beach City, right? Just in another school?"
Lapis looked down, not answering. She could see Steven's eyes watering.
"But...we were going to be...beach summer fun buddies."
Lapis didn't want Steven to be sad, especially tonight. "I'm sorry, Steven. But that just means that tonight is even more special than before, and we should enjoy it while it lasts."
Steven wiped his tears away and smiled at Lapis. "You're right. If you're really leaving, I want to be beach summer fun buddies with you now until you do leave! Let's go find Connie!"
The rest of the night Lapis spent with Steven and Connie. They danced together and she laughed with joy. They took breaks and told jokes to each other, Lapis never having laughed so much in her life. She let go of all of her fear and tried to have as much fun as she wanted. The night was her's to enjoy, she wouldn't let her thoughts get in her way and ruin it for her. Later she could worry about what she would do.