Though Peridot liked to think of herself as superior, in all senses, to the majority of her classmates, she too hated mornings with the passion of a thousand angry stampeding wildebeests on their way to kill Mufasa. They always seemed to come to suddenly – one minute she was falling asleep, the next her alarm was tearing her out of her sweet dreams, k-pop blaring in her ear. It was the only thing loud enough that actually could wake her up.
When she was younger, her dad used to come and wake her up, but now that his job made him extra busy, he was usually gone before she even considered waking up.
Peridot had the mornings entirely to herself. And it was the time that she lived for. When she was alone, at peace, with only her own thoughts to occupy her, and not surrounded by any of the dumbasses who tried to pass themselves off as high school students.
Peridot contemplated this as she brewed her morning coffee, tugging her overlarge camouflage t-shirt down over her thighs just a bit more.
It wasn't as if she didn't like some of her classmates – after all, she liked Lapis well enough. And she supposed Pearl and Garnet were nice enough, though she didn't talk to them much, and found that Junior that they hung out with, Amethyst, insufferable.
She just considered most of them way too self-obsessed. So what if she was hypocritical in that sense? It was a personal flaw.
Not being able to deal without technology for too long, she grabbed her phone and checked her text messages. She'd been up texting Lapis until late last night, but she still hadn't received a reply. She wasn't worried though. Lapis could always tell her whatever she needed to know when they walked to school.
More disturbingly, she had a message from Jasper.
'Meathead' to 'Peridot'
10th April 2015
6:00 a.m.
i hopr u have coffee ready for 1st period bc i am about to die
She couldn't help but notice Jasper's impeccable spelling skills early in the morning.
Peridot sighed, blowing a stray strand of black hair away from her face. She didn't have time for this.
Grabbing her coffee, she half-crawled, half-jogged her way up the stairs and into her bedroom.
When they'd moved into this house, she'd made sure her room had the biggest window and the lightest curtains; the sun was able to shine in and wake her up easily in the spring and summer months. She kind of regretted her past self's decision, but it was still useful.
Taking a big sip of her coffee, she winced slightly at the bitter taste. Setting it down on the bedside table she turned on her iPod, glad there wasn't anyone in the house, so she didn't have to worry about waking people up with the loud music.
"Now," she said out loud, turning to face her wardrobe, "what to wear? Black, green, or black and green?"
Half an hour later and she was waiting impatiently on the white leather couch, every so often checking the time on her phone. It didn't matter that it was still too early, for the longest time it had been one of Peridot's fears that one day, Lapis wouldn't show up to walk to school with her.
The ring of the doorbell jolted her out of her mind and she startled slightly, smoothing down her hair, making sure everything was turned off one final time, grabbed her bag and opened the door. Lapis greeted her with a raised eyebrow, finger poised at the doorbell.
"Eager much?" she asked.
"Shut up," Peridot teased, locking the door and setting off along the path with Lapis.
"Which way – beach or boardwalk?"
Peridot considered the question for a moment before concluding, "Beach."
Taking off their shoes and socks, they headed down to the beach and chatted about everything and nothing.
It wasn't called Beach City for nothing, Peridot thought as she watched Lapis stroll close to the water, taking every opportunity to dip her feet in the ocean. The beach was the prettiest part of the town, drawing the most attention and pretty much stealing the show. And it was worth it, it really was.
Early in the morning the sun hadn't quite risen to full potential, so the sand glowed a dull, pale golden colour, and the sea was pale blue, dream-like. On mornings such as this one, late-spring/early-summer mornings, there were still traces of fog hovering on the ground around their ankles, and the sea was still sharp and slightly cold, bitter. Just warm enough to feel the waves lap at your feet though.
Peridot closed her eyes and took in a deep breath, taking in the smell of sea salt and coffee and the fresh batch of donuts being made nearby, the perfume Lapis was wearing (something to do with grapefruit and flowers, bitter and sweet at the same time) and the smell of summer approaching in the wind. She curled her toes in the sand, until the grains covered the black nail polish on her toenails. It was mornings like these she couldn't help but feel lucky to live in Beach City. Even if she did have to get up early, even if they had the country's smallest high school (well, probably). Even if Jasper was a fucking dickhead and a –
Her eyes snapped open to find Lapis standing a few feet back, staring at her with an unreadable expression.
"Let's go," Peridot said, quickening her pace across the sand. Lapis followed after her, chuckling.
"Weirdo," she muttered, running to catch up with Peridot.
"So, we have history today, right? How's your partner, The Incredible Jock?" Lapis asked as they sat on the small wall that lead to the main road, the small shopping centre, and the high school, washing the sand off their feet with the showers.
"Just as imposing, loud and annoying as I thought – except she's worse when you actually have to spend time with her," Peridot quipped, drying her feet and slipping on her shoes and boots once again.
"Have you ever considered you're being too harsh?"
Peridot started to laugh, until she realised Lapis was being serious. She straightened the hem of her black skirt uncomfortably, until it was resting a suitable length above her knees.
"Of course not," she snapped. "Come on, Lapis, this is Jasper we're talking about. She pushed you into a locker, remember? Like, literally inside a locker."
"It was an accident." Lapis rubbed the back of her neck bashfully.
"Whatever," Peridot grumbled. Lapis laughed, slinging a brown arm around her shoulder as they continued their walk to school. They passed few cars on the road – being so small a school, most students lived in Beach City already so they walked, and hardly any got a lift. In the mornings, the road was quiet.
"Anyway, let's not talk about that. You better be coming to see the final swim meet of the season. I'm swimming the 100m backstroke and I'm in the relay."
"All celebratory of course?" Peridot teased.
"You know me, I always back down from competition," Lapis said sarcastically, removing her arm from Peridot's shoulder and casually linking her fingers, stretching her arms out in front of each other. Peridot tried to ignore the small burn that she felt where Lapis had been touching her. Usually she managed to keep a grip, but this small crush was rather irritating.
Not a crush, Peridot reminded herself. I love Lapis platonically. She's just my friend – my best friend.
"But seriously," Lapis continued, "it is gonna be sad as hell. After all, the best captain they've ever had is leaving." She flashed a grin.
"Don't you mean their most egotistical captain?" Peridot asked. As they approached the road that led to school, she felt that sinking feeling in her chest she got whenever she approached school. She only had one class with Lapis, and that was history, which meant she had to spend it with Jasper. They didn't even have lunch together. Peridot would have to wait until the end of the day in order to see Lapis again.
She sighed. At least it was a Friday. That meant she had the whole weekend to hang out with Lapis in Beach City.
"Haha, very funny," Lapis said as they neared the school gates. "Anyway, I just know Kiki is gonna do a good job as captain once I'm gone. A position of leadership is just what she needs."
"Are you sure Jenny didn't threaten you to say all that?" Peridot asked.
Lapis laughed. Peridot loved her laugh, loud and free, like the waves crashing into the shore.
"Nah, they're two cool cats. Anyway, I'm holding out hope for my sister. She's gonna make a great captain."
"Sapphire's eleven years old, Lapis," Peridot said through her laughter.
Lapis waved a hand dismissively.
"Well, I'll see you at the end of the day. Try not to kill Jasper during first period, please." Lapis scooped Peridot up into a quick hug, whispering the last sentence in her ear. Peridot felt her friend's breath tickle her ear briefly, before she pulled away and was off, running through the halls like she was back on the beach. People parted to let her through. Peridot could barely get someone to move out her way even when she asked them directly. She was like an ant.
She stood there for a couple of minutes, lost in her thoughts, as she so often was lately.
The bell was about to go. She better get to homeroom.
Buttoning up her black blazer, she headed through the halls.
"So how come you've been ignoring all my texts, huh nerd?" Jasper whispered, or what would be a whisper if she wasn't utterly incapable of lowering her voice to a reasonable level.
Peridot sighed. History had gotten off to a brilliant fucking start as usual.
Normally she'd be sitting by herself at the front, but Jasper had somehow managed to sit down next to her without being noticed. Peridot thought it extremely dumb to try and talk in secret when they were directly under the teacher's nose, but whatever. It wasn't as if Jasper understood logic at all.
She did her best to ignore Jasper poking her in the side with a pen, and tried to concentrate on what Mr. Lewis was saying. Finally, he gave them time to talk with their partners about the project, settling down to read a book on the Russian military with his headphones in.
From across the room, Lapis flashed her a sympathetic smile. She had been partnered with Sadie, and Peridot felt a stab of envy. Sadie was so organised.
"If you would be so kind as to stop staring at your little mermaid girlfriend, maybe we could actually get some work done!" Jasper's voice cut into Peridot's fantasy featuring highlighted notes, colour-coded folders, and an A+.
"As if you're not the problem half the time," Peridot muttered, turning back to Jasper reluctantly, before she realised what the jock had said.
"Ha! So she is your girlfriend!" Jasper said, with a cruel smile. However, it wasn't glee shown on her face; it was … something else entirely. Something unreadable.
"That's not what I said!" Peridot snapped.
"So is she your girlfriend or not?" Jasper raised an eyebrow.
"No! Now, back to the project!" Peridot practically yelled, feeling as if she was about to tear her hair out.
Jasper laughed, fanning her face and holding her platinum blonde hair away from her neck.
"Is it getting hot in here, or is it just me? Jesus Christ, Mother Nature, I could practically fry a fucking egg on your face!"
"Language, Miss Keeley," Mr. Lewis said.
Jasper gaped at him. "He has his headphones on," she said in amazement.
"Anyway," Peridot said, "why did you call me Mother Nature? Running out of nicknames?" Peridot asked, abandoning her attempt at trying to draw Jasper's attention to their project.
"I'm just getting started, sweetheart," Jasper said, "and it's because you wear green all the time and shit."
Peridot fumed. "Green has certain cultural significance to me, thank you very much! And besides …" She struggled to think of a retort. "You're always wearing orange – what are you, a Cheeto?"
Jasper laughed, almost crying with mirth. "If I'm the Cheeto, you're the Dorito, squirt," she said, using her pen to flick the collar of Peridot's green blouse. Peridot frowned and straightened it.
"Dorito?" she questioned.
Jasper leaned in close. "Guacamole flavour."
A small giggle escaped Peridot's lips before she could help herself. Jasper smiled at her, something different in her eyes.
Then, out of nowhere, she asked, "You're Japanese, right?"
"Half," Peridot corrected, slightly confused as to why Jasper had changed the topic to this, "but I never knew my parents. My adopted dad is Japanese though, and he raised me in our culture."
Jasper nodded. "Uh, sorry if what I said offended you or some shit," she said in a low voice. "I know a lot of people like to make me out to be this dumb jock bully, but I'm not, y'know. I can draw, and shit, and I … Well, I'm sorry, I guess. Yeah.
"I guess what I wanna say is that I'm not like the rest of those bullies who bother you or anyone else, and I don't wanna be. I'm just tough. But different."
Peridot simply stared at her. It was probably the most she'd ever heard Jasper say.
"A maverick," she said quietly.
Jasper simply stared at her.
"Yeah. Maverick."
There was a slightly awkward pause in which they both stared at each other. Peridot bet that she didn't even breathe in those few seconds she spent looking into Jasper's eyes.
"I don't want anyone thinking that I'm soft, got it?" Jasper said, her usual tough bravado back as she pointed a finger at Peridot menacingly, and all of a sudden Peridot was reminded of all that she hated about Jasper.
Peridot batted the accusing finger away. "Got it," she muttered, opening her notepad.
"Now, about our project - " Peridot said.
"I have an idea!" Jasper exclaimed proudly. Peridot stared at her, dumbfounded.
"Then why didn't you text me?" she asked.
Jasper scoffed. "That's what I've been trying to tell you, but you've been ignoring me."
Peridot blushed slightly. "Well, uh … Just tell me what it is," she finally said, sighing and resigning herself.
"Let's do one of the myths."
Peridot blinked. "That's it?"
Jasper raised an eyebrow. "You got anything better?"
"Yeah, but … " Peridot tugged on the sleeves of her blazer. "That's it? I thought the way you were hyping it up it was gonna be something a little more … substantial."
"Well, I've done most of the work, now it's your turn to start pulling your weight around here, shorty."
Peridot huffed.
"Come on," Jasper insisted, "it's not like it's hard. What's your favourite Greek myth?" she asked.
Peridot thought for a bit. Truth be told, she'd never considered it. "Uh … I guess Pandora's Box, maybe?"
Jasper clapped her hands together, causing Peridot to jolt. "Well, it's settled then. We'll do our project on that. Give me until Monday, and I'll come up with another stellar idea, I'm sure."
"Totally," Peridot agreed sarcastically. "And we can't talk about it now because … "
"Because class is ending, duh," Jasper said with a chuckle, standing up. Peridot looked around her, shocked.
"And I thought you were supposed to be observant, nerd," Jasper commented as Peridot hurried to pack all her stuff away before the bell went.
"Fight me," Peridot muttered as she stood up.
She regretted it instantly as Jasper loomed over her. The jock was 5'9", and Peridot stood at a measly 5'5".
"Yeah, I didn't think so either," Jasper chuckled as the bell went.
"I'll text you, yeah?" she called out over the crowd of students chattering as they exited the classroom and entered the halls.
She leaned in close, so close their faces were almost touching. "And this time, try not to ignore me."
Like before with Lapis, she could feel Jasper's warm breath on her skin. Unlike before with Lapis, she didn't feel butterflies in her stomach. No, this time it was simple, unadulterated, inescapable …
Then Jasper was gone, lost in the crowd, and Peridot completely forgot the fleeting feeling she'd had just a moment ago.
She headed into the horde, keeping her head down, thinking about Pandora's box, and how, like Jasper, it held numerable horrors.
She ignored the voice in her head telling her that underneath all the darkness, Pandora's box held light, hope, kindness.
She pushed it to the back of her mind, to belong with her crush on Lapis and the way her father was never home.
She had more important things to think about.
a/n: hoLY MOLY IT'S DONE AT LAST
i have so much to say about this chapter omg
so finally lapis appears
and poor peridork is smitten (also she and jasper are like the definition of no homo in this chapter lmao)
i'm surprised i managed to fit as many references into this chapter as i could lmao
like i said this chapter is longer, and i'm estimating the next will be longer probably as well
jasper's surname is revealed huzzah! and they finally decided what to do their project on!
we got introduced to a couple of other characters in this chapter, and a few names were dropped. next chapter you may see more showing up (and by more i mean garnet, amethyst, pearl, jenny, buck & sour cream & maybe steven)
as for green being culturally significant to peridot, in japan green can signify eternal life. on may 4th, japan celebrates midori no hi, or greenery day. that date, while not mentioned yet in the story, is also peridot's birthday (we will get to see that, though). on greenery day, they celebrate their gratitude for nature's bounties and spiritual enrichment through appreciation and enjoyment of nature. so green is kinda special to peridot.
after that useless information dump, i hope you enjoyed this chapter, and please, PLEASE leave a comment telling me what you think.
next chapter will probably be next month, though i'm hoping to get it up soon!