Chapter 3: Rivals
"So, I'm sure you're wondering why we're all here," I begin, facing the four half-gems currently crammed onto my couch. "And I'm sure that you all have some idea of what we're discussing," I continue.
"No duh," Bloodstone remarks. I ignore him.
"At this point in time, we seem to be the only half-gems out there who are willing to battle these corrupted gem monsters," I say, "despite the fact that a good third of the people at our school that I can see are part gem. So that means all the responsibility falls to us."
"Okay, are you saying we're gonna be a superhero squad?" Amy asks, a dubious expression on her face. "Cause I'm cool with that, but this would seriously complicate things." Somehow we've all moved passed the being alien part to fight the monsters.
"No," I quickly assure her. "What I mean is that we have no idea when one of these things will show up. We've seen that normal authorities can usually keep them under control, at least temporarily, but there is always the possibility that one of them will find us, or vice versa. So we need to be ready to defend ourselves."
"More magic power stuff? Count me in!" Jet declares, fist pumping the air. "I totally want to do that cool thing with the glaive again."
"Hey, how come you and Amber are the only ones who have weapons?" Bloodstone asks, bitter and playful at the same time.
"That's the whole point of my suggestion, which I would say if people didn't keep interrupting me!" I say, looking deliberately at Bloodstone. "I think that we should start training at least once a week, so that whenever we need to fight again, we'll be ready."
"I second that," Sapphire immediately agrees. "And don't worry, you have a weapon Bloodstone," she smiles at him then adds, "you too Amy." Bloodstone gives a thumbs up, Jet is so excited he almost forgets to agree. Amy is the only one left sitting there, deep in her thoughts.
"Amy? What do you think?" I prompt, trying to forget our awkward encounter earlier. I'm grateful that Amy is momentarily ignoring it as well, at least for now.
"Hmm? Yeah, yeah, totally," she replies, giving a thumbs-up. I notice Sapphire shoving herself a little farther back into the couch cushions, but decide not to mention it.
"Alright. Today is Thursday, so I'm thinking we head over to Balrey Park and maybe do some training today, and we can meet up here again tomorrow, you know… cause it's Friday and no one's busy then. Sound good?"
Everyone agrees, and we head off in the direction of Balrey Park.
Amy glares at Sapphire through the entire walk through the park. Sapphire never looks back at her except for when Amy isn't looking. I find this obvious use of her power annoying but I know she can't help it. I don't even know what Sapphire is mad at Amy about, she doesn't know what Amy said about her after school today. She can't see the past right? Somehow the boys have caught on to the tension, so Bloodstone tries to talk to Sapphire while Jet makes a desperate attempt to cool Amy down. I just wish they would stop fighting. Aren't we supposed to be a team?
"Stop," Sapphire halts suddenly. "Don't move a muscle."
"By talking you just..." Amy's snide remarks are interrupted when the ground starts to shake and a giant monster appears. The snake like creature drools saliva but when the green drops hit the ground they sizzle and smoke.
"What did I just say," Sapphire snarls coldly. I feel an actual chill run down my spine.
"We don't have time for that Sapphire," I say matter-of-factly.
"She started… BLOODSTONE DUCK!" Bloodstone ducks just in time to avoid being melted alive and in his fear summons a gauntlet.
"Cool," he mutters. I jump on to the the creature and my sword slips from my neck to my hand and I slash violently at the creature from it's back.
"No, get down!" Sapphire screeches so I slide off and fall into Amy's arms. I see what Sapphire meant as the creature spits on to it's back where I was just seconds ago. "Jet stab it in the stomach while it's distracted," when he hesitates she adds, "Quick if we don't finish it off quickly… just finish it off!"
"What do you mean? What will happen?" Amy snorts as Jet moves in. He's to late, he hesitated too long and the opening is gone.
"I don't have time to explain, just all use your powers on it!" I pull out my sword, "Wait, not you Amber!" Sapphire looks so frightened. I've never seen her like this.
"Why should I listen to you?" Amy screams.
"No no no, this is what I was afraid of!"
"What are you talking abo…" A scream sounds as a girl with a red gem on her leg jumps on the back of the snake like creature and summons a whip which the scarily aggressive girl uses to strangle the monster. A boy with a pink gem on the back of his hand then slices some of its legs off with a large broadsword. A skinny girl with a round white gem on her back hits the creatures gem with a staff before a large girl with a round white and blue gem on her forehead poofs the monster by punching its gem with her gauntlet. The gem cracks. A boy with a pale blue gem on his neck comes out from behind a tree to bubble the cracked gem. Amy growls and I see two daggers appear in her hands. I'm not sure she noticed them appear.
"What do you think you're doing?" Bloodstone says. "That's ours."
"No, I believe we beat the monster," the boy with the light blue gem states.
"Who are you?" Jet sneers.
"Ruby," says the girl with the red gem while putting away her whip.
"Zircon," says the boy with the light blue gem. Pearl is the girl with the white one and Spinel is the boy with the pink gem.
"Moonstone," says the girl with the round white and blue gem. Only Sapphire doesn't recognize her. Moonstone is our head cheerleader, originally by the name of Brittney. I scoff at how cliche the name Brittney is for popular girls. I feel a cold spot on my back. Sapphire's hand is freezing cold and I realize the chill earlier was her doing. Something is freaking her out and I don't know why.
"Nice to see you again Brittney." Jet hisses. She shoots him a smirk, ignoring him calling her the wrong name. What did I miss?
"What are you doing here?" Bloodstone changes the subject.
"Saving your ass it looks like," Pearl chuckles.
"We would have been just fine without you, we can handle these gems!" I shout at them. I hate it when people take credit for the things I do.
"Maybe, but we finished it off much more quickly than you could've," Spinel says.
"How would you know? You don't know how well we fight, you don't know us," I scream. I can't standstand these popular kids who take credit for everything and never do the work themselves!
"We've seen enough," Zircon states.
"What do you even want?" Bloodstone grumbles.
"The same thing you do." Moonstone replies. "And you four would find it in your best interest to stay out of our way."
"Wait they have a fifth member. Who's that?" Ruby sneers, pointing at Sapphire, who shrinks in my shadow and whimpers.
"Why is she hiding?" Spinell adds maliciously, moving to Moonstone's side.
"What are you doing?" I ask Sapphire.
"I know too much," she cries. Amy rolls her eyes.
"She's weak," Pearl deadpanned.
"She didn't even use any weapons before we took over," Zircon says seriously.
"Neither did you!" I shoot back. His mouth curves into a crooked smile.
"I beat she can't even summon one," Spinell says.
"She's useless," Moonstone spits.
"That's really mean," Jet says.
"You don't even know her!" I scream.
"You're right," Amy snarls at Sapphire, a fresh wave of tears appear. Had she seen this? "She's a useless waste of space. I don't even know why we let her in the group. All she does is sit there while we battle and gives us useless tips. How can she know how to fight if she never does?" Sapphire runs so quickly away it's like she teleported. I didn't know she had that power either either.
"What are you waiting for? GO!" I shout at Amy, who looks so startled that she doesn't even reply before running off. I go to follow her, but Ruby is in my way.
"Where do you think you're going?" she smirks.
"We aren't done with you just yet," Moonstone says. "Don't even think about running away, there's five of us and one of you."
"What the hell do you need me for?"
"Since you seem slightly more competent than those brats I think you can give your little friends a message. Stay out of our way. These corrupted gems are ours." Moonstone responds.
"You can't make me."
"Oh yes I can Alice," she spits the last word. "I can make your life at school a living hell."
"The name's Amber," I say, and make a run for it. I'm not followed.
We search for a long time but I can't find her, not even a trace. I hear footsteps behind me and think Sapphire has found me but it's Amy. I really don't want to see her.
"I didn't mean it, it was just a joke. She shouldn't have been so sensitive," Amy says. I don't accept her fake apology.
"Go away. I really don't want to see you right now."
"Amber…" I hold up my hand. "I-I'm still your best friend right?" I don't have the patience to respond and simply continue my search.
I know I'm getting closer when I start to feel cold, but I worry because I can't hear anything. I see a cluster of large ice crystals sprouting out of the ground in a dome-like shape. Sapphire must be inside.
"Sapphire! Come out please!" I beg. "Don't believe what she said, I'm sure she didn't mean it." Another spike forms, forcing me a step back.
"She meant exactly what she said," a low voice I don't remember hearing from my friend echos within her ice bubble.
"We do need you Sapphire, those others don't understand what you do, they don't know us well enough to know."
"You don't get it!"
"Get what?"
"They're right! I can't summon a weapon and no matter how hard I try or how far into the future I look I can't see myself having one! Ever!"
"You have so many other powers. So what if you don't have a weapon, you don't need one!"
"Just go away."
"No, I won't. I'll sit here all day if I have too." And I do. After what feels like forever but my phone says was only 10 minutes the ice melts away and Sapphire brushes dust off her dress.
"Sapphire!" I try to give her a hug.
For a few seconds she lets me and then pushes me away, muttering "I have to go." She is gone before I can stop her. Just as she's out of sight Bloodstone and Jet join me.
"Did you find her?" Bloodstone asks. I nod.
"She was here just a second ago, but she wouldn't talk to me. I think she knew you were coming so she left." I wish she trusted me like she used to. I take out my phone to text her.
SAPPHIRE, ARE YOU OK?
She doesn't respond. I try again 30 minutes later.
WE'RE ALL STILL MEETING AT MY PLACE TOMORROW RIGHT?
DO YOU WANT TO MOVE THE MEETING TO YOUR HOUSE?
PLEASE RESPOND. I'M WORRIED ABOUT YOU.
After four texts and 4 hours I call. 8 times. I know she had her phone because the last three ended before the phone had enough time to ring once. I give up and go to sleep. I'll try again tomorrow.
At school I try to avoid Amy but she catches me at lunch. When she sits at my table I don't shoo her away. I don't talk to her either. Jet and Bloodstone remain silent as well when they join us at the table.
"Are we still on for practice today?" Jet asks, trying to relieve the tension.
"Yeah," I say.
"Meet at your place and then go to the park again right?" Amy adds. I nod coldly. "Is she…" I shoot Amy a glare. She excuses herself to the bathroom.
"Is Sapphire coming though?" Jet asks.
"I don't know. She won't answer my texts or calls."
"What are we going to do about her?" Bloodstone asks.
"I don't know okay, she's the one with the future vision, not me! Stop expecting me to know everything!" I scream, but only loud enough for them to hear. I get up to leave and feel two hands on my back.
"Stay?" Jet says.
"A broken team can't fix any problems," Bloodstone adds. I hear him cringing to finish that line.
"You're right, we expect so much of you, but it's only because you're the strongest," Jet says.
"I'm no…"
"Yes you are," Bloodstone cuts me off. "You've had the most practice and excelled past us. But that doesn't mean we should think you're perfect."
"All leaders have flaws," Jet adds.
"I'm the leader?" I realize we've never actually declared a leader.
"Of course, you are, you're the one who brought us all together."
I'm… the leader? I never thought I'd be in this position. I mean, I'm always picked close to last for sports, and that's the only thing I can think of that would have a leadership position. Don't even get me started on the popularity rankings- oh shoot, now I share a title with Moonstone! It just doesn't make sense… but in a way, it kinda does.
If I'm supposed to be the leader, then I need to act like one.. I need to be the diplomat, the glue that holds the team together. I have to give answers when they need them, and also know when to ask for help. And above all else, I need to know what the team needs. And I do know.
We need me.
And Bloodstone.
And Jet.
And Amy.
And Sapphire.
All of us. Not two, not three, and not four. Us means all 5 of us. 5 is what makes a team.
Ugh that sounds soo cheesy.
As I finish my train of thought, Amy comes back from the bathroom. I know what to do.
"Listen," I tell her, "I'm not saying what you did was okay, but you're still a part of this team and we need you. But we also need Sapphire, and you have to make peace with her if this team is going to succeed." Amy just nods. The rest of the day passes in relative peace.
After school, at my house, we're indulging in home-baked cookies before our next training session. Even if Amy and Sapphire aren't speaking to each other, at least they're not fighting. That's a step forward.
Wait, Sapphire actually showed up?
"Sapphire, how're you doing?" I ask quietly, sitting next to her.
"I'm fine," she says, but I can feel a chilling aura surrounding her.
"You're not fine," I say, placing a hand on her ice-cold shoulder. "Do you want to talk about it in private?"
"I said I'm fine," she replies, ice forming on her arms and on the couch. I frown but decide it might be best to give her some space. It's a miracle she showed up at all.
"So, are we going to the same park today?" Bloodstone asks after finishing his 3rd cookie.
"Yeah, probably," I say. "But there's something I wanted to discuss first."
"Go on," Amy says, intrigued. Everyone finds a seat somewhere around my living room.
"As an official monster-fighting gem-hybrid team, we should officially vote on a leader."
"C'mon Amber, you already know who we'd pick," Jet says. "All in favor of Amber being leader?" He raises his hand expectantly.
Bloodstone immediately follows suit, and Sapphire is quick to join. Amy raises her hand almost immediately after Sapphire.
"Well, It's unanimous then," Bloodstone says, grinning ear to ear. "Now let's get going, shall we?"
"Hey I didn't vote!" I say, laughing with everyone else. Take that Sapphire, I made you laugh. "Can you even vote for yourself?"
"Sure you can," Sapphire says, daring anyone to challenge her. Nobody does, not even Amy, though she looks like she wants to.
"Alright, now that that's settled-"
"Hold it." Amy stands up. I frown, but don't respond. The room literally gets colder. I see Sapphire sitting perfectly still, ice crawling up her arms. "I have an issue we need to solve. Amber, you need to make a decision. You know what I'm talking about."
I freeze. Did she not listen to a single word I said? How would a leader handle this? How can I make this work for everyone?
I can't. But at least I can try.
"Look, Amy, I understand you're upset. But that's not something that really needs to be discussed right now." I'm putting my foot down(figuratively).
"Hey everybody let's go to the park now!" Jet tries to sound enthusiastic but I can tell the literal chill in the room is getting to him, even if he doesn't understand what's going on.
When we get to the park we assign each other numbers, 1 through five, we then ask siri on Bloodstone's phone to pick two numbers, 1 through five, and those people have to battle. Or at least try. Since none of us know how to actually use our powers on command the battles look a lot like watching two constipated people try and poop. Not that I would know what that looks like…
"Sapphire," I whisper while Jet jumps up and down trying to get his glaive whilst Bloodstone stares at his hands, "who's next? I hope it's me."
"Alas, I cannot read siri's mind. There are too many possibilities since it's random." Amy glares at her.
"So Amber," Amy says, completely ignoring sapphire, "Think they're gonna actually do anything soon?"
I look down at the two boys, who are still basically just standing there.
"I doubt it."
After a few more minutes of staring at the timer, I get up and shout, "Alright boys! Out of time! Let's see who's next." We gather around Bloodstone's phone.
"Ok siri," he says, "choose two numbers, 1 through 3."
"1 and 3," siri's robotic female voice doesn't understand the importance of what she just said. She just said that Sapphire will be sparring Amy. I curse under my breath.
"Ok then," I say, trying to hide my dismay. "Take your places?" Frost forms around Sapphire's fingers, while Amy looks ecstatic.
"Let's raise the stakes a little," she says. "How about we fight with a motive? I win, you admit that I'm Amber's best friend and leave the group. You win, I give you Amber. Sound fair?" Sapphire clenches her mouth shut.
"What, you chicken?" Amy taunts.
"Amy stop," I tell her. "This isn't important or productive, you're just asking for me to hurt someone!"
"I'll do it," Sapphire says. "But if I win, you have to admit that I'm the better friend, and I get to be official second in command."
"C'mon, let's not go too far here-" my attempt to stabilize the situation goes completely unnoticed as the two shake hands.
"Let's do it!" Amy smiles, her face plastered with a sickening grin that makes me nauseated. How could they do this? Sapphire must know she doesn't stand a chance. Knowing I can't stop it, I grab each of the boys by the arm and drag them a safe distance away before the fight begins.
Amy immediately spins and charges right for Sapphire, who dodges easily. She screams on her next attempt, but again rolls right past her. Sapphire smiles. Amy pulls out her daggers and rolls again, a ball with spikes. Sapphire dodges the first time, but then she suddenly comes crashing to the ground, her gem glowing wildly and her eyes completely blank. Amy seizes the opportunity and comes to a stop right above her, daggers ready.
"Do it," Sapphire dares her, knowing tears in her eyes. "Just get it over with." Suddenly I worry about my friend. She sounds almost as if she wants to die. I don't think for a second that Amy would actually hurt her but at the same time I don't want to risk it.
"No!" I scream. I can't bear to watch anymore. I run down the hill and place myself between them, refusing to see anyone else get hurt. "I can stop all of this right now. Stop fighting for one second. I'll tell you what you want to know."
Amy backs up a few feet, her daggers vanishing. Sapphire stands up cautiously, more uncertain than I've ever seen her since she revealed she had future powers. I know that what I'm about to do will tear the group apart, but letting them continue would be even worse.
"I'll answer your question."
Author's note: Sorry about the cliffhanger but in the next chapter Oh How The Tides Have Turned we promise to pick up right where we left off and Amber will answer the question. Also, a new character will be introduced in the next chapter! I hope you aren't to upset by the cheesy plot, it will be mostly resolved in the next chapter. Please follow and review!