A/N: Still Lapis' PoV, mainly because I already had a few more chapters planned for her but also because of the support I got for my decision. Speaking of which, thanks to everyone who voted/commented! Means a lot!
I'm backed in a corner when it comes to time right now so the next few updates may be a little iffy. Don't worry, I'm working on a schedule, I'm not just dropping this. That said, please continue supporting haha.
Without further ado, let the story begin! -L&L
She figured an afterschool activity was probably a good idea. It'd give her a chance to try blending in with one crowd or another, a reason to stay away from home. Besides, she was actually pretty interested in the volleyball team. That wasn't to say she was good, just interested.
Other than that, she was considering the swimming team. She was hesitant about that, though. They had an entire ocean just a ways from the school; why would someone in their right mind settle for a chlorine infested pool over open, unexplored blue?
She wasn't the only one standing awkwardly in front of the activity board, and for that she was kind of grateful, but the girl just a foot away gave her goosebumps.
She was massive, so bulky it was questionable if she wasn't already part of weightlifting or wrestling. But her face was softer, silky blonde covering one eye, thick lips pulled up in a sideways smirk. Even then, Lapis inched to the right just a tad bit more.
Sighing, knowing she had less than two minutes before her next class began, she made the decision based solely on what sheet was closest. Of course when she went to add her name her pen had to desert her, leaving her stranded there scribbling at the paper's corner like a dope.
A surprising raspy chuckle reached her ears and when she quirked her head to the left, she nearly jumped. The girl was right there, one had on her hip and the other currently offering her what looked like a brand new blue pen.
She eyed the instrument like it was a bomb, mouth opening but then closing and eyes darting up to meet the other's. She didn't expect the smirk to evolve into an off, toothy grin.
"Volleyball, huh? Tried it my first year, only made it half a semester before I was kicked out. Too aggressive." That voice was so shockingly deep, but not all that unpleasant. She found she both liked and hated it, but she only shrugged and accepted the pen, clicking it before attempting to sign again.
Success.
"What are you taking?" she asked, only because she felt guilty about just leaving after this girl had at least tried talking to her.
The blonde shrugged, taking the pen back and twisting it between her fingers, eyes once more gluing to the board. "Don't really know," she grunted. "Done wrestling last year. Not really smart enough for any of the academic clubs. Don't really do team player, so no basketball."
Lapis followed the girl's words, eyes darting to the sign up sheets of each activity spoken about. Until her eyes landed on the band club, a single name written in bold green shining out from the others. Peridot.
She nearly snickered. Of course Peridot would be part of the band. The way she played last Wednesday was astounding; Lapis kind of wanted to hear her play again, though she knew that was most likely impossible. The girl didn't even like her.
Not that she cared.
"I gotta go," she stated quietly, the warning bell overhead making her nearly jump as it brutally ripped her from her thoughts.
The blonde next to her grunted again in understanding, throwing a half-hearted wave her way. "Sure, see ya around."
A humid day turned, not surprisingly, into a dreary one when thunder clouds rolled around some time after sixth block. She was kind of grateful, she loved the rain and it gave her something to occupy her mind with when her calculus teacher was literally the most boring person she'd ever met in her life.
But the problem was, she didn't have an umbrella. Or a car. So when the last bells rang and she was standing just by the school exit, watching the once dry sidewalk being assaulting, she found herself frowning. She'd have to wait; no way her mother would pick her up.
That was not a pleasant thought. Being at school any longer than necessary was horrid, and was the only reason she didn't go off on people; there was no way she was spending two hours of her afternoon in detention with a bunch of snappy idiots thinking they own the place.
Sliding down the wall, she let herself rest on the floor, bag underneath her knees, which were up to her chest, arms wrapped around them. She watched as the last few students for third load boarded their respective buses and left.
And then she was alone, the central heat cut off so nothing sounded overhead. It was eerily quiet, deserted. Like the beginning of some bad quality slasher movie, her being the first to die just so you could catch a glimpse of how terrible the rest of the thing was going to be.
She let her head fall, resting on her knees. Let her eyes slide shut.
Maybe she drifted off, she couldn't be certain. But that had to have been the case, no way she wouldn't have heard the footsteps otherwise.
The clearing of a throat caught her attention, and her stiff neck shot a pang down her spine in anger when she lifted a heavy head. She almost laughed when she saw who it was.
Fate works in mysterious ways, and she certainly believed in it. No other way to explain how the short blonde could be standing before her now, the most adorable alien umbrella she'd ever seen already opened and galoshes a size too big covering her feet.
"Are you waiting for someone?" came the nasally, high voice. She smirked and shook her head, letting her legs relax a little.
"Does it matter?"
Peridot opened her mouth to speak, but closed it and narrowed her eyes at Lapis. "Yes. Because if you're not, I'm offering you a way outside without getting wet."
Lapis' smile grew as a hand came up to brush through her bangs. "I'll be wet either way."
She nearly choked on her own repressed laughter when the girl cocked her head, obviously trying to decipher the words. That was before understanding blanketed her face, and she was suddenly hissing and throwing her hands up in exasperated disbelief.
Lapis couldn't hold her laughter back this time; Peridot looked so much like a little kid throwing a tantrum, the redness in her cheeks making it all the more memorable.
"Whatever, dork," Peridot threw her way, stomping away. "Stay here all night, then. See if I care."
Even though her shoulders still shook with silent chuckles, Lapis pushed herself up, slinging her bag over her shoulder and catching up to the blonde just as the main doors were being pushed open. She snatched the umbrella before complaints could be made and rushed outside, greeting the cold air and bounding down the steps in easy leaps.
When she turned around, the blonde was glaring down at her, hatred so clear on her features it actually made Lapis pause. But she wasn't one to show much, so she just put on her best smirk and crossed her arms, listening to the pattering of rain against the umbrella for a long moment.
Then, "Come on. I'm not just leaving you here."
Peridot growled, pulling her open jacket closer to her body to fight off the nagging cold. Her eyes darted from the blue haired monster standing idly with her umbrella up into the dark swirl that was the sky. She really, really didn't want to do this this afternoon.
"At least get back here so I don't get wet," Peridot countered, and she winced at her own voice, clearly hearing the whiny plead within it.
Lapis frowned, gripping the handle tighter and shoving her free hand into her front pocket. "No way. Come on, it's literally six- no, seven steps. I'm right here."
She'd never seen someone look so scared to step out into the rain. It was like a cat when you introduced him to the bath. Fear and anger and confusion melding together to create this horrific emotion that completely overtook your face and made it look both terrifying and comical.
She actually... kind of felt bad. Kind of.
Peridot sighed, wrapping her arms around herself and pressing her back to the closed glass door. "Please, Lapis? Just come back up."
That tugged at the other girl's chest, making her eyebrows furrow and her frown to turn into a straight line. She felt bad, now. Because her teasing was just making the other girl retreat seemingly into herself. If this was some fear, albeit strange fear, she didn't mean to push.
Sighing, she shrugged and smiled up at the blonde before completely ditching the umbrella. Letting it fall to her side and allowing the chilled raindrops to cascade down from above, soaking her through in less than a minute. And Peridot could only stare, eyes wide even as her glasses fogged over, making it harder to make out the other girl.
Lapis grinned brighter, arms outstretching, twirling in a slow circle, before looking back at Peridot.
"Now I'm wet, too. It's fair, right?"
Something inside the blonde chastised herself, jaw clenching. It was rain. That was it. And Lapis... she made it look almost fun to be standing in the middle of a storm, hair clinging to damp skin and clothes laden with water, weighing her down.
Lapis closed the umbrella, shaking her head. If Peridot wouldn't join her, that was fine. She was already drenched, no point in getting help anymore. She could walk home alone.
She began the ascent back up, only to stop in pleasant surprise when the blonde stepped out and into the mess, hugging herself but smiling regardless. A shy, small smile that reached her eyes. Mirth danced in the emerald ocean, surprising Lapis even greater. Because it wasn't directed at the rain, or the umbrella she was now offering. It was directed at her, and her alone.
Even when spiked hair was being flattened by water, glasses fogged with clinging droplets, stupid galoshes rendered completely useless, Peridot still smiled and still let out a nasally laugh. And it made Lapis smile in turn.
Before her mind caught up with her.
And then she was only half smiling, berating herself internally but offering the umbrella and, ultimately, her hand. Even with that voice in the back of her head, she laughed with Peridot. Even with her conscious telling her she was a fool, she let the doubt roll off her shoulders.
It didn't matter that she was biting her tongue hard enough to taste copper the entire time.