/AN: HERE WE ARE AGAIN! I DON'T OWN THESE PEOPLE I JUST WRIGHT THEM! This one is a bit longer than the last chapter, but I figured it was alright, lots more character development and we get more of a deeper look as to why some of these characters behave a bit differently, I WARN YOU, THIS CHAPTER WILL TOUCH ON SOME SENSITIVE MATERIAL also we will be introducing some more characters whom play some alright rolls. OOPS, Peridot is a super dork, anyways- READ ON!
Huh. That Lapis chick seemed to be pretty smart, well at least in Math. She answered most questions right and seemed to be able to balance book work well. Aside from the tardy incident, class was pretty lame. Some of the other students grumbled about the homework, others groaned about the test that is apparently tomorrow, but Peridot for the most part was bored out of her skull and couldn't wait to get the work and test out of the way. Worrying over such simple things like tests and homework was pointless in her eyes. Math was simple when you understood how it worked, from then on it was just doing it. The teacher had dismissed class a few minutes before the bell rang, more than likely because the hall was hell when the first bell rang, students everywhere trying to get into lockers and go to other classes all at the same time, absolute mayhem. Peridot had started putting her things into her bag when a familiar voice brought her attention elsewhere.
"Yeo nerd, you ready to gimme the answers for that test tomorrow?" Peridot turned in the direction of the voice, an underclassmen whom was stepping out of her seat began to approach the unamused blonde girl. That voice was full of mischievous giggles as her lips were turned up in a cat-like smile that was easily placed even as other classmates had begone to stand and leave the room.
"No, Amethyst."
"No? What do ya mean "No"?" She promptly sat on Peridot's desk, making the green-eyed woman glare at her over her thick glasses.
"I mean "No" as in I haven't even started the homework yet, so how would I have any idea what the test answers could consist of?" She sighed with her question, knowing this smaller girl was just giving her a hard time, but she didn't really need to be pestered right now, not after all the goofy happenings so early in the day.
"Geeze, someone's cranky today, need a nap?" A nap actually sounded stupendous, having not slept for nearly three days now is starting to have some real negative effects on the nerdy teen.
"I might actually now that you mention it."
"Dude.. were you still playing this morning?"
"Maybe."
"Holly shit P! How do you even?" Amethyst's dark eyes were wide with worry for her friend, they often play online together, Peri more than likely being the leader of most missions because she's pretty well skilled with tactics and strategy.
"I don't "even", I just game," with her words, she packed up her math book and stood, ruffling the shorter woman's long platinum hair on her way out the door "catch you later, Ame"
"Take care of yourself, nerd. Talk to ya later!" With those words, the blonde yawned openly and started off to the Robotics lab. Not many other students actually went to this class, a great majority just skipped out and played hookie mainly because they knew the teacher didn't really care. It was the student's choice if they wanted to learn, Mr. Universe would rather the students either be here and learn or leave and not become a hazard to themselves or other people.
"Morning Peridot, you know where the keys are if you need anything from the cabinet. I'mma run to the store, you need anything?" The tall bearded man smiled to the younger lady as he put a baseball cap on his balding head, obviously about to head out.
"A sixteen ounce will suffice"
"Right; And you Pearl?" He looks to a skinny red-head whom was organizing the welding rods not too far away, she turned to glance in his direction.
"No, thank you. I'll be alright." With that, the thick man smiled and nodded, heading to the door and exiting quickly. Pearl had returned to her work organizing, leaving Peridot to go about her business.
A little smile crept up onto the blonde's face, the mechanic's room was her home away from home, a place where she can build to her heart's content and no one would judge her. She started class off by pulling a pair of heavy-duty prescription eye-gear from the front pouch of her bag, substituting her own glasses for this visor like eye-gear as she placed the more delicate wear in the pouch before putting the bag in the teacher's office and grabbed the keys off a hook by the door like so many times before.
She stood there for a little while, admiring the room as she decided on what she wanted to work on for the day. Eyes scanning the interior of the office for a moment, just looking around. Mr. Universe was a bit of an odd slob, but his workplace was comfortably messy. Small projects from students laying around on every surface, some unfinished, others made as gifts for the man.
One project stood out in particular, the only one that sat up on his old computer monitor and also the only one that wasn't made of metal. It was a little picture-frame made with macaroni, popsicle sticks, and red glitter. In the frame was a picture of himself, his son Steven, and his wife Rose, all together. Arm in arm. Happy smiles on their faces.
The picture hurt Peridot in a way and even made her a little sick, guessing it was envy because she'd never really gotten to have a family like that. She was born premature and an only child, father had abandon them long before her mom knew she was pregnant. Peridot knew it was hard on a person to raise a kid alone, but that woman wasn't really around half the time to raise her. It was babysitter after babysitter after babysitter because the woman worked so much. She felt bad that she's sour from her mother's absence, she knows her mom is working to support HER and HERSELF, but can a girl really help it?
She always looks foreword to mom coming home so she can show her the report cards, show her the progress she's made in creating/fixing things, she's kept the cat alive, and make her dinner to welcome her home. sometimes Peridot doesn't get to see mom but once a month, and when mom does come home, it's never for long.
Mom usually sent some cash to her account so the young woman could feed herself, and the state usually hands out a little money to help her pay for medical things, otherwise Peridot has been shopping for herself, getting herself up for school, setting up her own appointments, maintaining house, and supporting the family cat on her own sense she was about twelve or eleven. Those were about the ages the babysitters mom would send sometimes stopped coming around.
She was totally alone in that house. Devoid of human contact for the longest time aside from Jasper whom came over sometimes and school, but those are different things.
People don't develop well without a parental figure that they can identify with. Social anxiety, panic disorders, schizophrenia, bipolar disorders, lots of mental and physical problems crawl out of people in these situations, or so she's read and her therapist used to say.
Peridot has all the right qualities to be a mass murderer, but she couldn't do something like that to another human being. She'd be taking away someone's father, someone's sister or brother, someone's baby girl or little boy. She was in this depression, but she wouldn't bring anyone else down to this level, no one should ever have to feel like that. Like this.
This is a reason she has yet to tell Jasper about this burdening pain inside of her that has been eating at her all her life. Jaz would begin to treat her deferentially and feel obligated to take care of her.
Fuck that noise, Jasper is a great friend, not so great a mom.
Not so great a mom... Peridot sighed heavily and closed her eyes, letting her head fall foreword in a slump. It was almost laughable, really. This isn't grade-school anymore, this is high school. One more year and she was out. One more year and she could start looking for another school, and maybe even a job. Hell, she's going to be doing her own taxes soon and all that fun adult garbage.. yet here she is, going on nineteen, standing in her teachers office, missing someone who was practically never there.
Missing someone she barely knew.
"You okay in here-"
"-PEARL" The poor blonde nearly hit the roof with a fright, she must have been lost in thought. How long had Pearl been standing there? Was she trying to get her attention for some time now?
"Peridot?" Sky-blue eyes blinked at the other, confused by the outburst "are you feeling well? You're crying.." she stepped in the room and placed a hand on the shorter's shoulder in a comforting manner.
"What?" What? Crying? she swiped at her face with her sleeve, sure enough it was damp. Vigorously rubbing the tears away, Peridot gained control with a sniffle, "yeah, I'm fine. Actually, could you get a Soldering Iron and some wire out of the cabinet for me?" She handed the keys out to the tall skinny woman whom nodded and took them. Once the other was out of earshot, Peridot sighed heavily, rubbing her nose a little before moving further into the office, opening a drawer on the desk and producing an old radio circuit board as well as some common plastic coated electrical wire. She decided working circuits would help clear her head, plus she had to get this portion of the project caught up after spending so much time away from school.
"So what exactly do you intend to do with those old parts?" Pearl tilted her head at the other female curiously, having returned after a few short moments. She held out the Iron and a spool of silver colored thin wire. The blonde took the items and shrugged her shoulders.
"Things, I guess." She has an idea what she wants to do, but is very unequipped without the right size of parts and would probably have to make most of her own. Pearl rolled her eyes and moved to pick up a broom, not going to bother asking any more about the topic, she knows Peri too well to try.
Peridot and Pearl go way back, put not near as far back as her and Jasper. They used to date off and on for what seemed like all of freshmen year, but they both couldn't keep the relationship afloat. No, no one cheated on anyone, they were just too different for one another romantically. They do however still remain friends and keep an eye out for each other. Pearl was trustworthy, so if something was happening in school, Peri had someone close by whom she could turn to if things got ugly quickly, same went for Pearl.
"OOONE SIXTEEN OUNCE of refreshing Mtn. DEW!" Peridot turned to the man whom just entered the classroom again, the big fella grinning with a bottle of green fluid held tightly in a large fist as he trusted it in the direction of the student.
Putting the wires and scrap electronics down on a stable surface for work, the shorter made quick strides to the man before giving him a quizzical look, "Is it Dew, not Blast?"
"I thought about grabbing you a Baja, but I know how anal you are about your soda."
"Did you shake it." That was a statement, not a question. The tall man sighed but the smile remained on his face.
"I dropped it a little down the stairs, but that's it, it should still be safe." Peridot didn't believe a damn word, but she took the soda none-the-less, giving it a gentle squeeze to test the pressure. It seemed alright, but in honestly, their was only one way to check and know for sure.
Make Pearl open it.
"Hey Pearl, can I ask a favor of you?" The red-head put down the broom for a second, eyeing the blonde with that look that said she already knew what was going on.
"Oh no. I won't open that soda if that's what your asking, I learned this gimmick the first time, you can't fool me!"
"Please?"
"Fine.." She offered a hand to the smaller girl, awaiting to accept the soda.
"Thank you Pearl." Acknowledging the other female's confirmation, Peridot handed the beverage over with a little grin causing Pearl to roll her eyes and take the container into both hands firmly before looking down at it with an annoyed/nervous expression.
No one liked to be soaked in soda, no one. It always got everywhere and in everything, making stuff sticky and was rather hard to clean up.
"If this does explode, I'm holding you accountable, Peridot."
"Yes I am aware, I'll deal with it and the mess if it does exhibit spontaneous combustion. Just open it already"
"Alright alright, gosh, your so impatient sometimes.." a muscle in the the taller woman's jaw twitched as she gripped the little green cap. Tension building in her eyes, hands began to shake as minutes went by. The blonde could tell the red-head was anticipating the worst with how much time it was taking her to muster up the courage to turn the lid, "..okay..." a cold sweat had broken out on Pearl's forehead before she swallowed hard "okay."
"Any day now."
"Woman-!" In a small bout of anger, her fist clenched and with a flick of the wrist, the seal was broken and the sound of carbon hissed free into the air, "oh... well that happened. Here be your pop," seeming far less irritated now that the matter was over with, Pearl handed the drink over to her friend whom gladly took it with a pleased expression.
Removing the cap completely and holding the opening to her lips, the blonde happily breathed the sweet bubbly sent of the soda before tipping it back, taking a long swig of the green substance, "still sorta cold, good enough for me!"
The ginger just shook her head and pinched the bridge of her pointed nose, a little smirk on her lips, "you are impossible, Peridot."
Okay. So nothing got done that last period, not a big deal, Peridot was feeling much more awake now that she's had some of her morning pick-me-up. It was lunch now, no one had free roam of the campus at this time of year because of the drought that was happening, the school staff was afraid some of the students were going to go outside and get heat stroke or light shit on fire.
At least the lunch room had working ac and was very well ventilated, almost made it worth putting up with other people's obnoxious laughter. It wasn't like she had bad company either, Amethyst and Pearl were sitting with her, Pearl on her right and Amethyst seated across from them.
A few tables away was the jock table with those sports pros, Jasper and Garnet partaking in an arm wrestle. With a shake of her head at the antics of her long term friend, Peridot turned her attention back to her sandwich that sat lazily in her hands looking up at her grossly. Ugh, school food was so bad, perhaps she should pack a lunch for herself tonight and avoid this dilemma.
"So Peridot, have you met our newest exchange student?" Pearl decided to start a conversation, must be board of people watching.
Exchange student?
"Wait, you talkin' bout that skinny little Lazuli kid?" Amethyst added quickly "Yeah dude, she's in our math class!" She kicked Peridot lightly in the shin, but that didn't seem to affect her much, almost failed to get the blonde's attention even.
"Exchange student?" Finally she found words, but for some reason she felt her mouth dry when recalling the strange girl "I knew she was new.. but Exchange?"
"Yes, I believe her and her family moved here from Cuba, though both of her parents are of American descent, she was born in Cuba and moved here last week," the ginger nodded, happy to fill her friends in on the new happenings in this big school, who knows, maybe they can convert the new kid into a nerd and she could come sit with them! "Her parents bought the old race track in town, very wealthy people." Peridot only grew more and more confused.
"Wait, how do you know this information?" Lapis had math with her and Amethyst for first period and Pearl was with Peridot for second per, so how did the bird-like woman hear so much about the new girl already?
"I sat with her on the bus," Pearl looked quite smug "If ether of you get the chance to talk to her about swimming or the ocean, do it. Her accent comes out when she's excited." Instantly Peri imagined the bubbly little brunette with a thick accent going off on some happy rant, those blue eyes lighting up like a sunset over the ocean.
"Oh yeah, well P almost made her late to first period!"
"That was an accident, I swear! It wasn't my intention to bump into her in the hallway." She couldn't just hold this gross sandwich anymore, she put it down on the tray as she lifted her hands up in an attempt to defend herself from Ame's interjection involving her. Amethyst seen this as an opening and an offering, reaching across the table and grabbing the sandwich in a pudgy hand and snatching it away. Peridot didn't care for it much anymore anyway, it was soggy and gross.
"Poor girl, her first day and she already gets harassed by the school's pet bird and then bullied by that one nerd from the robots class," the dark eyed woman laughs hard from her belly, playfully poking fun at Pearl and Peridot as is the norm "seriously P, where did you pick up those sick new glasses from? If I didn't know you better, I'd say you were cosplaying someone from Star-Trek!"
Peridot blinked before reaching up to her face, she'd forgotten to put her regular glasses back on before leaving the lab "well shit" no wonder people were giving her odd looks, she took them off and reached for her bag.
Reached for her bag.
Her bag.
Bag.
"Today is not my day guys..." She forgot her bag in Mr. Universe's office. That's really weird of her, usually she doesn't randomly forget things everywhere. Defiantly an off day indeed. She put the bulky eye-wear back on her face so she could at least see the people sitting around her, as she did, Pearl put a hand on her friend's shoulder.
"I'll take care of your tray, go get your bag before lunch is over." The blonde nodded in thanks and excused herself from the table, making her way out of the lunchroom and heading back to Universe's room. Lunch was nearly over, so the man should be back in his room if he didn't eat his lunch in there. Luckily no one seemed to be around the long halls at the moment, so that spares her some awkward air, but there is a voice somewhere down this hall, just one.
Oh, how convenient. That voice just rounded the corner, belonging to none other than Lapis Lazuli. She seemed very caught up in something, looks like a phone call, whomever she was talking to must have been talking very fast for her expression was a bit exasperated, more than likely waiting for them to hang up. Those blue eyes met green and something sparked "Nah mami, gotta go, a teacher spotted me," with that she closed the phone and sighed. Peridot looked around for a moment, unsure of where this teacher was, it was just the two of them so..?
"I beg your pardon? I'm flattered, but I don't work here.."
"Oh I know, I just had to improvise a reason to end the conversation," the brunette shrugged and ran a hand through her wavy hair "It's lunch now, right?"
"Not for long, I don't recommend going and getting it now unless your next period is a free one."
"Ah, right. So where are you going?" The blonde was sorta confused by this, why did she care what she was up to?
"I left my bag in Mechanics, just on my way to go get it."
"Can I come?"
"Why?"
"Why not?"
"Good question, you may accompany me if you desire to do so." Lapis fist-pumped a little, happy to have someone to talk to once more if at least for a little while.
"Where is the Mechanics room anyway?"
"At the end of the hall and down some stairs."
"This school has a basement?"
"It does, yes. The band room and movie production room are also located down there."
"Interesting... So Theater is in the auditorium or does that have it's own room?"
"It has it's own room, between the library and the art room down the other hall"
"Dang this school is so big!" Why was she excited by this? Whatever, power to ya.
"Turn here," The blonde had started down the steps, closely followed by the shorter woman. They rounded the corner and stopped at the first door, the metal door plate on it reading in big cut-out letters "ROBOTICS" Entering the large and empty room that is the Robotics lab, the duo was greeted by the big man whom had a mouth full of what looked like a chicken wrap from some fast-food place.
"OoooooOOOOOoooooOO? Peri, you got a girl with ya!" He stood happily, putting down his wrap to clap for his loyal student.
"What? I'm with girls 98.5% of the time, Universe. This is normal behavior."
"Well yeah, but that one isn't Grouch-o, Stink-o, or Pearl" he walked in their direction, a wide friendly smile on his face "hello little one, I'm Mr. Universe. The Robotics instructor and also the Guitar class teacher as well! Whom would you be?" All this made the little blue-eyed girl smile brightly up at the man and put a hand out for him to shake.
"Lapis Lazuli, sir! I'm new around here!" Universe smiled and shook the offered smaller hand politely.
"Well you found the right person to give you the grand tour, Peridot knows this school like the back of her hand!" He turned his attention to the girl he'd just mentioned, "also, your bag is in my room, here, lemme get it for ya!" Peridot nods, looking over to the other female whom in turn was looking at all the things, lots of equipment and machinery, must be a lot to take in for a first day.
"You okay?" The new kid spun on her heel, probably not expecting the blonde to ask or say anything.
"Yeah, I'm alright! Just checking out the place a litt-"
"-No, I mean, are you really okay." Peridot's eyes were serious behind her visor, she knew what it was like to be the new kid. Lapis sighed and took a seat on a stool that was positioned near by. Letting her shoulders slump a little and a delicate hand came up to move some of her dyed bangs out of her eyes.
"It's all so very new here... back home, the entire school only had about 20 people in it and everyone knew everyone personally. Really it was more like a summer camp more than a school," Peridot came to stand beside the other woman to listen better and to be here for her, she was obviously stressing out "my first day and I didn't even get to have lunch because someone egged our house over my last class period, mom just gave me an ear-full about it"
"Pffft, wow. That's rude"
"I know right? Total waste of eggs." Mr. Universe had returned. Extending Peridot's bag to her with a wink.
"Here ya go kiddo." When the bag was taken from him, he made to turn and leave, but Lapis spoke up first.
"Sir, how much more time of lunch is left?" They already killed so much time just being in this room, It must be about time for the next period already.
"About half an hour." This made both of the girls look to him with wide eyes, Peridot was thoroughly confused, running through all the possible reasons in her head as to why there was so much time left, was it a holiday? Does she just happen to have a crap sense of time today?
"It's Wednesday kids, we always get an extra thirty minutes of lunch on Wednesdays." The blonde face-palmed, of course it is, how could she forget that? "Have you kids eaten yet? I got a few extra crunch wraps if you want!"
"Oh yes please!" Lazuli looked up at Peridot before standing from the stool and jogging to the man whom was back in his office digging through a paper bag. The blonde opened the front pocket of her bag and retrieved her pair of actual glasses before anything, putting the work specks in the bag and fitting the casual wear on her face comfortably.
Peridot was about to pass up the offer of the fast food, but then her stomach protested loudly. That sloppy damp sandwich was going to be her lunch, but that was old news now. Accepting defeat via a hungry belly, she walks over to stand beside the bouncing woman, green eyes glanced at her before looking to the large man as he turned to them, two nicely wrapped packages in his hand.
"Hope you all don't mind chicken and ranch, cuz that's all I got." They shook their heads and took the offering thanking him with a little smile from the smaller and a grunt from the less smaller.
They started on their lunch in the basement, It was surprisingly cool down there, so why not. Lapis seemed really content just sitting on the steps munching away, Peridot on the step above her sipping that soda from earlier before offering some to the new kid.
"Mm, thanks!" She took the Dew and tipped it back, shooting a small portion of the beverage.
"So, did your mom happen to see the person whom did the nasty to your house?"
"Hm?"
"Eggs."
"Oh, nah. Not really. She said it was someone probably about our age with like two other people,"
"Huh.. Interesting. I'll find out whom these offenders are and give them a stern talking to." This made Lapis laugh a bit, a cute smile on her tan face.
"You're pretty interesting, Peridot."
"Uh.. Okay."
ENDchapter2
AN/FINISH CHAPTER TWO! I TOLD YOU PERI WAS A DORK! I had to stop, this chapter is almost 5,000+ words and we haven't even gotten through the first day of school yet! Holly wow I'm so excited to be writing this! Also, happy late Forth of July all you American readers, I know I had a great 4th, lots of fireworks and cookies! so many cookies! COOKIES FOR DAYS! Haaaaa, I'ma go sleep now. Lemme know what you guys thought of this chapter and let me know if you found any errors, I mean, It looks good to me, but eeeeeeehhhh...
Anyway talk to y'all next chapter, STAY RAD AND HAVE A NICE DAY!