Authors Note: Sorry for the delay; school's been kicking my butt so I had to focus more on that than on my fic since the end of the year is coming up. Been getting tests and quizes each week it feels like. But, here's the chapter and I hope you enjoy.
She wasn't going to go. Peridot was positive she wasn't going to go out for a late lunch with Lapis. It was unprofessional, it probably was crossing a few lines that she shouldn't be crossing. She had homework to do anyways, and could just as easily get food at home as she could with Lapis Lazuli. When the final bell rang, she'd just stop at her locker and then walk home, completely ignore the offer and not go visit Lapis in her room to accept said offer. She'd go home.
She wasn't going to go.
Peridot continued to repeat that in her head like a mantra, trying to ignore the idea of going out for lunch with Lapis, it was on an endless loop during her last few classes. When the final bell rang she cranked up the volume on it as she stopped by her locker, grabbed her homework, dropped off the books she didn't need. She wasn't going to go, she wasn't going to accept that offer, she couldn't accept that offer.
She said her goodbye to Amethyst who was going off with Pearl for a study date after school, said goodbye to a few other classmates she was friendly with. Hoisting her bag onto her shoulder, she walked down the hall. She was going to go home and start studying.
She knocked on the door to the art room before she even realized what she was doing. Her heart began racing as it dawned on her that this was not going straight home. That this was what she said she wasn't doing.
Before she could even consider turning and fleeing the scene, the door was pulled open and she was face to face with the taller, blue haired teacher who had a brilliant smile at seeing Peridot was there.
"Peridot, you actually came!" Lapis greeted as she moved over so that Peridot could enter the room, she did so though she swore that her body was moving on it's own without her brains consent because her brain was saying to refuse this and go, but her body was clearly not cooperating. Lapis was still smiling as she gently closed the door and moved to stand by Peridot, "I was a bit worried you might not take me up on my offer, to be honest."
"Actually that's just it; I can't take you up on it; it's highly inappropriate for a student and teacher to do this, even if it's just lunch, there's a professional line," was what she wanted to say to Lapis.
"Oh, uh, no. Why wouldn't I?" was what Peridot actually said, though she was screaming in her head that even her own voice was betraying her.
Lapis seemed to smile even more at that and Peridot watched as she moved to grab the art bag she'd carried in and hoisted it over her shoulder much the same way Peridot had her messenger bag hanging on. "Well, we should get going then, right?" the teacher offered instead of answering as she moved to the door, opening it up for Peridot to leave through first. "I know a great place, and it's close by too, we can walk there if you want."
Trudging out, Peridot glanced up at Lapis with a bit of wary, "If I end up drugged and you harvest my organs, I want fifty percent of the profit."
Lapis laughed as she locked up the classroom, shaking her head, "Sorry, but it's thirty percent or nothing. I'll be the one doing all the work, you just have to lay unconscious for a few hours. Not fair if you get half the income from them."
"Excuse me? But it's my organs that will be taken and sold and my health at risk, I think I should be entitled to half the money you get for them."
"Sorry, Peri, take it or leave it."
It was surprising how easy it was to sort of relax, though that didn't mean she had her guard down and was all hunky dory and ready to let Lapis completely in her comfort zone. It was still less tense than she had expected. "Fine. Thirty percent," she surrendered to the terms.
"Good. Now I'll take that as your consent to give up your organs to my underground organ trafficking business," Lapis grinned as they walked and joked. At least, Peridot was ninety-percent sure she was joking.
They walked and thankfully there weren't too many students in the halls now. Less people to notice Peridot walking with a teacher and less people to question and whisper. She didn't know if she could handle people talking about her behind her back. Not that they probably didn't already.
"So, um, where are we going?" Had she already asked that? She wasn't sure.
Lapis smiled as she pushed the door to the outside open for Peridot, "Just a little cafe not far from school. It's my personal favorite, actually. I'm sure you'll love the place."
She should have expected, and at the same time would have no way to expect to be taken to a place such as this. It was a small, quaint little cafe. Lapis hadn't lied about it being close to the school, just about a few blocks of walking, give or take. It had an almost barn-like feel to it, if Peridot was being honest. Red walls, a couple of hay bales outside the door, the cafe even was called The Barn, which she found interesting to be honest.
Lapis led her to a booth in the corner, away from the other customers much to her pleasure and the two slipped in, sitting across from each other. "If I can offer a recommendation," Lapis began, "There ham-and-turkey sandwich is pretty good."
Shrugging, Peridot glanced over to the rest of the rustic themed shop, "I'll keep that in mind," she shrugged.
Glancing over the menus on the table, they didn't wait to long as a waitress came a minute or two later. Placing their orders the woman trotted off again, leaving the two to be alone again as they waited on the food and drinks.
Smiling, Lapis leaned forward on the table, arms crossed as she placed her weight on them, "So, Peri," she had a little bit of light tone to her voice as she spoke, the smile had Peridot's hairs standing on end, it was too friendly for a teacher. "How are classes going for you so far? I know it's not far into school yet, but, it is senior year for you. You must have your hands full."
Friendly conversation, Peridot could appreciate it, even if it still unnerved her seeing as Lapis was her teacher. But, she swallowed back her nerves to try and appear as comfortable as she could.
"Well, it's not that bad," Peridot admitted as she glanced over to the counter where she could see some of the employees working, "Scholarships and applications are going to be a pain later on, of course. A stress-fest themselves. Classes aren't too hard yet, though I'm certain Ms. Chalcedony is trying to kill us each day."
"Oh, you have Jasper as your gym teacher," there was a flash of… something in Lapis' eyes as she said the name. Did she know the behemoth of a woman?
What was she saying, of course she knew her! They were both teachers at the same damn school, for pete's sake. Who ever heard of a teacher who didn't know their fellow faculty member in a school of this size? Lapis may be new, but, assuming she'd not know Jasper would be ridiculous. But, Peridot couldn't help but feel there was more to it, if that odd look Lapis had for a moment was any sign. But, she didn't dare press it.
"Yeah," she said instead with a nod, "The woman is a real slave driver in there, keeps pushing us to the point I don't think I could make it to my next class. My legs are always so stiff by the end of the days I have her as a teacher.
"That sounds like her. She never knows how to go easy on someone."
"So, um, how are you doing?" Peridot asked, feeling it was her turn to ask a question, "I mean, your first year teaching and all. Is it going as you'd expect?"
There was a warm smile, different from the previous one, when Peridot asked her that. It felt more genuine, if she had to put a name on it, "I love working here," Lapis answered, "I always enjoyed art, and getting to help others understand and work with it, it's great. Sure, some of my students aren't that great, as you saw this morning with the mess they made of my room, but, seeing the smiles on the others faces when they do something they enjoy. It makes the Hell that was college to get this degree worth it."
"I suppose. Honestly, I don't understand how you'd be able to do it. Teaching a class full of disruptive, immature students," Peridot leaned back as the waitress came over, giving them their coffees and informing them that their food would be out shortly. "I mean, it can't be easy. High schoolers aren't exactly the pinnacle of maturity and all that."
"I suppose so, honestly a lot of you guys have the behavior of a five year old," Lapis laughed a little as she picked up her cup, cradling it in her hands, "But, when you're passionate about something, things like that don't matter much. Art's what I'm passionate about. That and swimming."
"Swimming?" Peridot repeated curiously.
Taking a sip of her drink, Lapis nodded and put her cup down. "Yeah, swimming. I was captain of my team in high school and college. Probably would have tried going into professional swimming, or get a job involving that, if I wasn't so into art. Maybe I could have gone to the Olympics."
"You in the Olympics, heh, well I mean that'd be a reason to watch it I guess." The words came out before Peridot even realized what she was saying. When she realized what she'd said a moment too late, her face flushed and she looked away so fast she might as well have given herself whiplash.
But, Lapis was laughing. Hand over her mouth and an easy, amused smile on her face. "Will you be watching for the swimming or for the swimsuits?" she teased, which only served to make Peridot go redder. Laughing a bit more, Lapis shook her head, "I'm teasing you, relax. I'm not going to judge you if that's the case, I'd be flattered more than anything."
"You're insufferable," Peridot groaned, hiding her face behind her hands.
"Maybe," Lapis hummed, drawing her finger around the rim of her cup, "But, if I'm really so insufferable, then why're you still here?"
Thankfully, Peridot was saved from having to answer by the arrival of their food. A simple bowl of soup Lapis, and the sandwich that she had recommended for Peridot. The teacher offered a quick thanks to the waitress as she walked away and pulled her bowl closer to herself so as to eat.
"Thanks again, by the way," Lapis mumbled as she dipped her spoon into her soup and took her first bite. Peridot glanced up at her curiously, and Lapis looked away, "Like I said, I didn't expect you to actually take me on my offer. So, thank you. It means a lot.. You see, I kind of wanted to get to know you better, so being given this chance, well, I'm glad."
What was with this woman and being able to make Peridot blush so easily? Even more importantly, why would she want to get to know her better? Peridot was just another student to her, right? Oh, God, her mind was just racing and turning itself over trying to figure out the reason and meaning behind Lapis' words. "I… um… thank you?" the words stumbled out nervously.
"Damn, you're just adorable when you blush like that," Lapis was laughing again, teeth shown and eyes closed. It made her blush more, though even Peridot wasn't sure if it was from the comment or from how Lapis looked while laughing, that look of playfulness.
God, this was confusing.
"I'm not cute," she grumbled as she bit angrily into her sandwich to try and distract herself.
Lapis smiled at that, "Sure you're not," she was teasing her was far too familiar and friendly than a teacher should be treating their student. Did Lapis do this to everyone? "Honestly, you look like an angry slice of pie right now, a cute one," she added with a teasing smile.
"Oh shut up!"
Lapis smiled, shaking her head as she continued to sip her soup.
The rest of their late lunch consisted of small talk. Well, if one could call it small talk. Lapis spent a bit of time teasing and, Peridot was sure it was on purpose, flustering the senior. It was horrible, but even Peridot had to admit that it was a bit fun. Talking to Lapis outside of class it was strange, but almost exhilarating. Like she was doing something she shouldn't be doing.
What was she talking about, she was doing something she shouldn't be doing. There was a line of professionalism between a student and teacher. A student and teacher shouldn't be getting lunch together or talking like this.
It was confusing.
When it came time to leave, Peridot had intended to pay for her meal, and reaching for her wallet, she had been stopped by a cool hand over her own and blue eyes staring right at her.
"I told you, didn't I?" Lapis said, waving her credit card in front of Peridot and smiling easily, "It's my treat."
Peridot nodded mutely as she withdrew her hand, feeling heat prickle at her face as Lapis called over a waitress and handed her the credit card and bill. It didn't take long for the waitress to return and the two gathered their things to head back.
They didn't need to, but Lapis and Peridot walked back to the school together. Lapis' car was parked there and Peridot had to go that way to get home anyways.
"Do you want a ride home?" Lapis asked as she pulled her keys out of her bag and glancing at Peridot who was still at her side, "It won't be a problem at all for me to drive you to home, you know."
Peridot quickly shook her head at the offer, "No, I'm good. Thank you, though." she declined. She felt like she needed to get some space between her and Lapis, her thoughts were already starting to get confusing as could be in regards to her teacher. Any more time and she didn't want to think of what might happen.
The teacher frowned but relented, "Well, okay," she surrendered as she started towards her car, "But, be safe on your way home, okay? Wouldn't want to hear one of my students got into some accident on her way home."
"I always am, so don't worry." Peridot assured her and scratched at the back of her neck, "Um, thanks for lunch, and not taking and selling my organs."
Lapis laughed a little, "Don't hold your breath, I may take your liver yet." she joked as she opened her car door, "I'll see you tomorrow, Peri. Have a good night."
She waved goodbye to her, mumbling back a goodbye before turning on her heel and heading home. As she walked, she could hear the engine start of a car and hurried her steps as she heard, rather than saw, Lapis pull out of the parking lot and head home herself. Peridot was eager to get home and try and sort everything out. God, she wasn't sure how she'd be able to face Lapis every day for the next few days in class after today.