"Hey, mom," she murmured quietly, running a brush ever gently through the tangled heap of brunette that swamped the older woman's pillow. Once beautiful hair. Now...
Lapis swallowed uneasily, letting out a shaky sigh and smiling weakly, though it was for her alone. Not like her mother seemed to even acknowledge she was there.
"So... You, um.. remember that girl? The one I... She's good for me. I know that. She... I'm a different person around her, mom. I think that's.. good."
No response, but that was okay. Maybe. The glass atop the woman's nightstand was empty, meaning she wasn't dehydrating at least. Almost nothing was touched from the dinner plate Lapis had set out, but she was keeping an eye on her mother's weight. She'd lost a bit, but not enough to be worrisome yet. Yet.
The brush caught, and Lapis winced at the pained intake her mother took. "S-sorry. Sorry," she muttered, easing her fingers through to somewhat help. The only response came in the form of a quiet sniffle, her mother's head lulling forward, as if she was trying to curl in on herself.
Maybe she was. Lapis knew that feeling, wanting to disappear into one's self. She hadn't succeeded yet, though.
The younger girl sighed again, letting the brush fall to the mattress and sitting straight.
"Mom. I..." She paused, her words laced with a heavy undertone of shame, of guilt. "I don't know what to do, mom. Peri, she.. doesn't get it. Not yet. I've tried bringing it up but... How do you tell someone that? I wish... Would you even help me, mom? I don't... I don't know anymore..."
Silence was her only was okay.
She was getting used to disappointment.
There were more wires than she knew what to do with. They were everywhere, too; her bed, the floor, running over the only chair she kept in her room. And it was only one of these that was faulty. Which one, though?...
Peridot huffed and crossed her legs, wiping the back of her wrist across her forehead. Her nose scrunched in contemplation, eyes narrowing as she followed the elaborate pattern she'd created back to its source. The robot.. thing. Its spherical body lay sideways, two panels popped free and its intricate workings spilling out.
Why did these things have to be so complicated?
From her back pocket came a low buzzing, where at the same time Pumpkin decided to make his grand entrance by pushing the door she'd left cracked open all the way in, eyeing the wires that looked so much like string. Peridot frowned, reaching round and snatching her phone. She simultaneously mouthed one word, "Don't" to her cat, as if he understood.
She was ninety percent sure he definitely did.
Her screen lit up, vibrating in her hand. The name, "Steven" lit up across the top, and Peri had a moment to grin/grimace, equally caught between gratefulness at being given a break and annoyed at being interrupted. She was swiping to answer regardless.
"Hey, Steven," she muttered, pushing her glasses back up her nose from where they'd begun to slide.
"Peridot!" came the overexcited, joyful voice of the kid, a slight pitch higher over the line than in person.
The blonde grinned in spite of herself. "What is it, Steven?"
The kid took a pause, and Peridot could just make out him saying something muffled to someone. Then, "My dad is taking us to Empire City this weekend! Do you wanna come? Pearl already agreed."
Peridot hummed as if in thought, wincing inwards. Geez. Even without Pearl, that place was too much. Too loud, too bright, too showy. With Pearl... Ew.
"I.. don't think so, Steven."
"Aw!" There was genuine disappointment in the poor guy's voice, and Peridot felt a pang of guilt. "Really? That sucks. Why not?"
"I kind of already had plans this weekend, Steven. I'm really sorry."
Technically, it wasn't a complete lie. Her mother had already mentioned something about a recital dinner, and where she loathed the very idea, it was inevitable she'd end up going. Saying no to her mother was a death sentence in itself. Not that she'd ever had the spine to commit such an act.
At least, not openly.
The blonde thought you caught the end of a sigh, but then Steven sounded completely genuine as he said, "That's okay. Maybe next time. And if you change your mind, you have a few days! So, yeah. Will you come by to see us off at least? Please?"
Peridot smiled lightly, before she heard an all too familiar hiss and looked up in time to see Pumpkin grappling with a wire, swiping and nipping at it as he rolled on his back. As if he were a kitten again.
"I promise. But I gotta go now, okay? Pumpkin is making a mess."
Steven giggled over the line. "Say hi to him for me!" he answered before cutting the connection.
Peridot let her phone drop and got to her knees, crawling over to the cat. She took on a stern expression as she leaned over him and untangled the paw he was swatting, wire wrapped around it loosely.
"Oh, stop that! This is really important, Pumpkin!" she chastised the animal. As if he could understand it.
The cat cocked his head, rolling over onto his haunches and staring up at the blonde as she hastily gathered up what cords were in reach and shuffles forward to place them atop the bed, not bothered that they bunched and tangled and created a massive mess she'd just have to sort out some other time. She turned her gaze back on him, then, and he let out a pathetic meow as she scowled.
"Don't you talk back to me. What have I told you about messing with my things? I wasn't the one who lost all their toys."
Pumpkin stood, stretched, blinked up at her. He meowed again and Peridot couldn't help the small smile that pulled at her mouth. She reached out a hand and scratched behind his ear affectionately. "Oh, alright. I'll buy you a bell or something. But in the mean time, don't mess with the wires, okay?"
She huffed and stood, stretched her arms above her head to loosen the bunched muscles between her shoulder blades. It was only then she realized just how tense she'd become from sitting for so very long.
The clock showed it to be close to four, almost time for practice. And she was supposed to meet up with Jasper after that for some art exhibit the girl was part of or something. It wouldn't hurt to go ahead and eat, let her mom know she wouldn't be in for dinner. Hopefully it wouldn't cause a scene.
She started out the room, turned just as she stepped past the door frame. Peridot pointed a finger purposefully at the tabby sitting, watching her. "I'll be back. Don't touch anything." She started to turn before looking back one last time. "Oh. And Steven says hi."
Pumpkin only blinked at her, so she turned and headed for the stairs.
She nearly pitched forward when Jasper slapped a hand on her back, gave a sheepish grin to the lady that looked over the seat at the rambunctious laughter Jasper seemed unable to keep at bay. An eye roll, the lady turning back. Peridot groaned and slunk lower in her seat, trying to hide her burning face.
"Jasper," she tried quietly, clearing her throat when her friend didn't respond. "Jasper!" she tried again, a bit more insistently.
The older girl looked her way, mouth twisted up in a wide grin as her laughter dissolved into simply chortling. "What?"
Peridot shifted uncomfortably and looked around, catching more than one angry glare turned their way. She really couldn't sink any lower in her seat, though, without being in the floor. And that wasn't happening. Not here. Movie theater floors were so gross.
"Maybe you should tone it down?" she offered, smiling weakly as if to say she wasn't trying to insult the girl, just looking to give some friendly advise. Jasper grunted her disapproval.
"What, I'm not allowed to laugh, now? You can leave anytime you want, pipsqueak."
Peridot groaned. "No, I didn't mean-"
"Hah! Just teasing ya, 'Dot."
The younger girl ground her teeth, nostrils flaring as she sat up a bit straighter. "Do not call me that. You, you, dork."
Jasper laughed aloud again. The woman sitting in front of them audibly cursed and stood, making her way down the isle to more than likely sit elsewhere. That was it. Jasper has officially run everyone off. At least, from their immediate proximity.
"Great comeback, tiny. What, you only have one term for the things that annoy you?"
The blonde crossed her arms, turning her gaze back to the screen. "Well, I could've coined you 'bitch'. I'm pretty sure you're used to that one though, right?"
Jasper snickered, her elbow rammed into Peridot's ribs. The smaller girl gasped, pain and surprise shooting through her and causing the breath to leave her. She doubled over, wincing and clutched her side like she'd been shot. Jasper.. wasn't exactly gentle. In anything.
"Like you can talk."
It took a moment to speak, mainly because it took a moment to gain her composure again, but Peridot eventually muttered, "What's that supposed to mean?"
Before Jasper could respond, however, Peridot's phone rang. Or, vibrated, but either way Peridot held her hand up right before Jasper could start dissing her. She fished her phone out her hoodie pocket, only groaning when she saw the name.
"What?"
Emerald eyes rolled and Peridot made to stand. "My mom. Be back in a sec." She started up the isle, heading for the entrance, as she answered.
"Hello?"
"Peridot, where are you?"
The door clicked shut behind her, and the only other person in this area was the guy - she was pretty sure went to her high school - stocking candy behind the counter.
"The movie theater, mother. The art exhibition ended early and Jasper invited me to see something."
"And you failed to inform me?"
Peridot winced at the bitter tone and turned away from the guy, who she knew was listening even though he wasn't looking at her. "I'm sorry, mother. I just, I-I forgot an-"
"Enough," came the clipped response, and Peridot physically flinched. "You have thirty minutes to get home. After that, you're grounded."
Peridot's eyes widened. "B-but Mother-"
"That is all, Peridot." The line clicked, went dead, and Peridot was left listening to the dull hum as she stared at the far wall, making shapes with the raised bumps without really meaning to.
She lowered the phone. Her jaw clenched without conscious decision to do so and she very briefly entertained the idea of throwing the stupid device against said far wall.
But, with a pitiful sigh, she pocketed her phone and headed back into the theater, praying Jasper would drive her. She could probably make it across town in half an hour, but her mother had a very short temper. Better to get home early than come in at the last minute and expect the best.