Peridot hummed quietly as she reached across the way to snatch the pencil from Ruby's desk as the girl animatedly talked to another classmate. She hadn't finished her homework from the night before and still had the last few equations to solve before the bell rang to signal the start of class; she began writing, knowing full well that the entire time that the boy that sat next to her was glancing over and messily copying what he could catch off her paper. She didn't mind. It had become a fairly common practice and so long as he didn't try it on tests, she wasn't calling him out for it.
She had gotten through question seventeen when her phone buzzed in her hoodie pocket. She let the pencil fall from her grip and reached in, swiping across her screen to bring the message up. It was from Steven, a picture of him and Amethyst in front of some sort of fancy water fountain with stupidly giant grins plastered on their faces. It made the corners of Peri's own mouth twitch up.
They still weren't back from Empire City. Wouldn't be, until Wednesday. Peridot had to admit that considering Amethyst was the one person she spent ninety percent of her time with, it was sort of lonely without her. And she still had two days to go.
"Hey!" Ruby spoke up suddenly, sounding indignant. Peridot's eyes jumped up and she found her friend glaring at her. "That was my pencil." She even went so far as to reach over to snatch it back but Peridot beat her to it and yanked it to the side.
She smirked. "No idea what you're talking about. This one is mine. Maybe you lost yours."
"Oh, so funny, Per. Come on, give it back. It's the only one I have at this point."
Peridot furrowed her brow at that. "What? But you had, like, a giant bag filled with pens and pencils a week ago."
Ruby huffed and halfway stood from her seat, making another swipe at the writing implement. "Yeah, a week ago. Now it's just the one. Please, Peridot?"
The blonde rolled her eyes but relented with a heavy, exaggerated sigh. "Alright, alright," she muttered as she handed it over. "You're pretty useless, you know that?"
Her friend grinned a toothy sort of gesture and slipped the pencil down the rings of her notebook's spine. "I know. But you still love me."
Peridot opened her mouth, snippy comment on the edge of her tongue, but the bell blaring overhead beat her to it. So she simply shook her head and reached for her own book bag to dig around and try to find one of the many pencils that got lost within its depths. Had to be one in there somewhere.
She unzipped the largest pocket and started rummaging around, until her fingers hit a piece of folded up paper in front of her binder. That was odd. Where she wasn't known for her organization skills, she didn't normally just stuff papers into her bag. They went in a folder, or binder, or in between the pages of a textbook. So, out of curiosity, she grabbed it and pulled it free.
It took a moment to unfold, during which time the door to the classroom swung open and her math teacher came in, not even making it to his own desk before calling for the homework to be turned in. Peridot wasn't too upset hers wasn't completely finished; she let Ruby take it up for her when the girl stood to take her own up.
The paper was written on in sloppy, loopy letters, taking up only one line. Not her own. They looked... like Lapis' honestly. But Peridot's brow furrowed because why would Lapis slip a sheet of paper in her things like an elementary schooler when she could just text or wait until break to talk? Intrigue won out, and Peridot began to read.
How do you feel about dancing? Yay or nay?
That... wasn't what Peridot had been expecting at all. She very nearly snorted in amusement, folding the paper back up and tucking it in the front pocket of her jeans. Looked like they had something to talk about when lunch rolled around.
"Did you hear about the talent show?"
Lapis looked up from her kiwi to watch as Sapphire slipped into the seat across from her, Ruby beside her already and popping open a can of Sprite. The blonde shook her head, snagging the apple from her girlfriend's lunch bag. "No. When is it?"
"About a month from now. Right before Valentine's Day."
"Are you interested in participating?"
"Oh, definitely not. Nothing talented about me." Ruby laughed before taking a sip of her drink but Lapis caught the way Sapphire's lips twitched down. "I was actually thinking you should join, Sapphy."
A pregnant pause as the words sank in and the cafeteria's buzz of activity settled around them. Then the blonde was staring at the girl beside her like she'd out of the blue sprouted another head. "What?"
Ruby seemed unfazed. She picked up her fork and jabbed at the container of spaghetti she'd set out. "You should sign up. I mean, you've got the voice of an angel, Sapphire. And with those songs you write, you could totally have the entire school on its feet."
Sapphire swallowed thickly and shook her head, twisting the stem from her otherwise untouched fruit. "I don't think so, Ruby."
Peridot arrived at that moment, dropping her textbook in the seat next to her as she settled into the vacant space next to Lapis. "Hey, guys," she greeted, setting down her bag at her feet and pulling in close to the table.
Ruby set down her fork and looked directly at the girl. "Per. Help me here. Shouldn't Sapphire sign up for the talent show next month?"
Lapis couldn't help the small smile that ghosted her lips when Peridot blinked confusedly. She reached out and brushed her fingertips across her girlfriend's hand. Girlfriend. Even after nearly two weeks the term was still somehow strange. But in a really, really good way.
"I uh, I mean that's sort of Sapphire's decision, isn't it?" When Ruby frowned tightly Peridot rushed on. "I-I mean, you have a beautiful voice. What I've heard, anyhow. But I understand if you're uncomfortable getting up in front of a crowd or something like that."
Sapphire nodded, looked to Ruby. "Ruby, love, thank you. But I don't want to join."
The younger girl scowled, looked down at her tray a long moment. Peridot turned her hand so Lapis' fingers were tracing her palm before slipping into the spaces between her own. She squeezed gently and met Lapis' eyes briefly, but both their attentions were drawn back to the other couple when Ruby suddenly slapped her open palm down on the table top.
"I got it! What if I perform with you?" The very genuine glint in her dark eyes was childlike in its wonder and offering as she eagerly awaited Sapphire's decision.
The blonde looked utterly astonished. "With me?" she managed after a moment's hesitation. She looked unsure and Ruby reached up to tuck a strand of loose hair back behind her ear.
"Yeah! I mean, we've sung together before. And I know I'm not as good but we sound okay together. And it'll be better than getting up on the stage alone, yeah? I'll be right there with you. You won't have to be alone." There was something pleading about the way her voice wavered in its hopefulness.
Sapphire looked between her girlfriend's eyes. Brought her lip in to nip at it as she considered. Finally, the tiniest of smiles graced her features. "Okay. But only if you're sure about it."
Ruby pumped her fist in exaggerated confirmation, a stupid grin along her lips. "Absolutely! We can sing something you wrote, or a duet. Ooh, should it be romantic? Or maybe I can rap..."
As the two began their quiet planning for the time being, Peridot turned to Lapis and reached across with her free hand, taking a small slice of orange. "You always have all this healthy stuff for lunch," she commented absentmindedly.
Lapis smiled, shrugged. "Yeah, well, this figure doesn't just come naturally," she murmured playfully.
Peridot snickered and bit into the fruit, chewing a moment before speaking again. "So, I found the note you left like a seven year old."
Lapis only grinned wider, ignoring the jab. "And?"
Their eyes met a moment, and emerald rolled as she squeezed the girl's hand again. "A very solid, unchangeable nay."
Lapis laughed quietly, shrugged. "That sucks. But maybe I can teach you."
Peridot's eyes shot up. "What part of unchangeable don't you understand?"
A finger came up to boop against her nose teasingly as blue eyes narrowed. "Ah, but you haven't even let me try, dear Peridot. I'll have you know that I am very persistent. Trust me. You'll be the best dancer in Beach City when I'm done with you."
When she laughed, it was quiet and covered by her hand, but Lapis caught how Peridot's nose scrunched up. She smiled in turn, waiting patiently for the girl's response. She was a little surprised by it when it did come, though. "I offer a counter proposition."
"Oh?" Thin eyebrows shot down in confusion. She picked at the few orange slices she still had remaining.
The shorter girl grinned wickedly, rested her chin on her palm as she set her elbow on the table. " We enter this talent show together. I play piano, you dance." The serious edge in her eyes made it clear she wasn't joking, but the teasing, challenging look across her features made it obvious she also didn't expect Lapis to agree.
That just made the older girl more willing to take up the ridiculous offer. "Alright," she mused quietly, letting her own lips quirk up into a smirk. "But I wanna make it even more interesting."
Now it was Peridot's turn to furrow her brows in confusion. "Interesting?"
Her girlfriend leaned in close, swiped a stray strand of blonde from her forehead and back behind her ear. The sudden proximity made the breath catch in Peridot's throat. What made it worse were those ever glowing, endless eyes.
"I propose," she began, "that if we manage to get third place or higher in this thing, then I take you out."
Peridot couldn't help the small snort she didn't manage to cover. "Like a date? So what, are we gonna break up if we lose so you never have to go out with me again?"
The taller girl leaned even close, her breath against Peridot's ear as she mumbled, "No. I meant an entire weekend, Peri." A shudder ran through the blonde's spine. "Out of Beach City. Just us."
Peridot's mouth suddenly felt so much drier. But her eyes widened and she pulled back, embarrassed exasperation coloring her cheeks. "W-we couldn't do that. My mother would throw a fit, Lapis."
That devilish smirk grew. "That's what makes it interesting. Come on. Won't you come with me, Peri?"
The blonde looked between her girlfriend's eyes. Saw amusement and teasing and warmth, but underneath it all a sense of almost needing. Almost pleading. She swallowed and it left her throat just as dry as her mouth. But, she couldn't find it in herself to decline. Not this time.
She nodded once. "Okay."
What were the chances of them winning this thing, anyways?