Chapter 3: Not A Turn On

Stop getting attached to people so fast because attachments lead to expectations and expectations lead to disappointment -Anonymous

December 25, 2015

Ruby woke up with the same unwelcoming coldness. She wrapped around her blanket and turned on her phone. December 25, 2015. Christmas. There were many reason why Ruby wasn't so warm about Christmas. Reasons like Sprite day, going to school on the holiday, spending the day with her half real family and half fake family and spending time with her step dad. The only reason she liked Christmas was because she got to see her father. Her mother and him divorce when Ruby was 10 years old. Every Christmas Ruby would visit him. Her father lived alone with no family or friends. The only friend her father had was her. Though, Ruby couldn't see him as much as she wanted to. Since she was order to live with her mother, she could see her father anymore. They talked sometimes on the phone but, not always. She was overly happy about that one thing. Not the gifts she got but, just to see her father was enough for a gift.

Ruby looked in her dresser for something Christmas like. She decided to where green skinny jeans, red long sleeve shirt and her favorite red boots. She grabbed her red headband she wore everyday from it's place and headed to the bathroom. She was stopped mid way when she heard a small knock.

'' Merry Christmas, honey.'' Her step father said. Ruby mood went down a couple of notches. What worst thing to do then wake up and see your step father the day you really wanted to see your real father.

'' Hi.'' Ruby said.

'' I just wanted to tell you that at 4:00 were having a family dinner.'' He said. Ruby bit her lip.

'' I have somethings to do at that time.'' Ruby answered.

'' Come on, just for this year. Every year you always go somewhere and we never see you.''

'' Well, today is a special day.'' Ruby replied.

'' Okay, then. Your mother, family and I hope to see you this year.'' Her step father said frowning. Ruby nodded. Ruby had never seen her step father family. For the past 4 years she went to her fathers house instead of the family dinner. Her mother never pushed her to go to the family dinner because she felt like Ruby should spend one day out of the year to see her father while, her step father thought she should be more active during those kinda things but, could never seem to get through.

Sapphire skipped into the school early. She was wearing a snowman dress, red scarf, while gloves and black long boots. She wore a tiny hat head band and her hair curled. She didn't understand the reason to dress like that on this day but, she went along with it. To her this day wasn't special but, to everyone else it was a big deal. Sapphire was probably going to just sit home and watch something on a so called TV that she still haven't memorized all the so called channels.

Sapphire neatly dropped her things inside her locker. She neatly dropped magic bottles too. They sprinkled and glowed up her locker in all rainbow colors.

'' What are those?'' Someone asked behind her. Sapphire jumped almost dropping the one in her hand. When she turned around, it was just Jasper. Her best friends weren't behind her as always, it was just her.

'' Uh, just, glitter.'' Sapphire lied. She moved her hair behind her ears.

'' Oh, so,'' Jasper said leaning against the locker next to Sapphire. '' Are you busy later?''

Sapphire looked blankly. '' No.'' Sapphire answered.

'' That's great because my table would like to invite you inside are group.'' Jasper said. '' We do lot's of parties and things. And you seem to fit in.''

'' Well, I don't no.''

'' Is it about Ruby?'' Jasper asked crossing her arms. Sapphire didn't answer. '' Because honestly Ruby isn't your friend.''

Sapphire turned her head to glare right at Jasper. She probably didn't notice but, Sapphire glares did have affects when her eyes weren't covered.

'' Ruby has problems. All she does is fight people because she has anger issues. You befriending isn't going to help you at all. If you join our group you'll be popular.''

'' Popular doesn't matter to me. I rather have little friends who care about me than a lots that don't.'' Sapphire said crossing her arms. Jasper smirked.

'' I know your just saying that. Most pretty girls like you want everything.'' Jasper flirted. Sapphire glare turned into disgust in seconds.

'' I'm not like most pretty girls.'' Sapphire answered coldly.

'' I can see that. You have something special about yourself.'' Jasper smiled staring at her.

'' And what's that.'' Sapphire asked crossing her arms.

'' There's so many I can barley count. Though, one can be your beautiful frost.'' Jasper smiled. Sapphire was even more disgust.

'' I'm done with this talk.'' Sapphire said walking around.

'' Come on, Sapphire.'' Jasper said. Only Sapphire didn't look back as she walked away.

'' You can do it Ruby.'' Sapphire insisted. Everyone in the grade were at gym. They wore red shorts and either yellow t-shirt or tank top. Everyone was playing basket ball. Even though, everyone asked Sapphire to play, Sapphire denied and played with Ruby.

'' I don't know, Sapphire.'' Ruby frowned.

'' I think you can.'' Sapphire smiled. '' It wouldn't hurt to try.''

'' I don't think I can.'' Ruby said heading to the bench. Sapphire followed behind her.

'' You haven't even tried. I bet you could be amazing at it.''

'' Ya right.''

'' I think you could if you tried. Like I said, we could hang out and maybe practice this.'' Sapphire smiled.

'' I guess.'' Ruby said. '' You should try it.''

'' No.'' Sapphire chuckled. '' I couldn't. I've never tried before. I probably suck.''

'' We'll if you never tried you should.''

'' Maybe.'' Sapphire mumbled.

'' Hey Sapphire, wanna play with us?'' A girl asked. She had long pink hair and a big smile. Another girl was next to her with short strawberry hair. Sapphire looked over at Ruby for approval.

'' I have to get something out my locker.'' Ruby said and left the gym. Sapphire nodded.

'' Hi, I'm Rose and this is Pearl.'' Rose said with a bright smile.

'' Hello.'' Sapphire said.

'' So, where did you move from?'' Pearl asked.

'' Uh.'' Sapphire turned silent. She didn't know any other place on earth but, this place. '' Somewhere far.''

'' Oh. So, do you like it here?'' Pearl asked another question.

'' Yes, it's nicer here.''

'' What do you like about it?'' Rose asked.

'' Uh, I say, the weather is nice.'' Sapphire answered. Pearl and Rose looked at each other.

On the other side of the gym Jasper and Amethyst stood watching Sapphire, Rose and Pearl. Though, they mostly watched Sapphire.

'' I'm going to impress her.'' Jasper said bounding the ball.

'' By throwing a ball.'' Amethyst remarked.

'' Yes. I'm going to throw the ball over her head and into the hoop.''

'' Why?''

'' Because. She get impressed when Ruby plays basket ball which she can't. Image how she'll look when I can play.''

'' Then go for it.''

Jasper bounded the ball a couple of times. She called Sapphire name and she turned around. That's when Jasper tossed the ball in the air only for it the hit Sapphire in the face then into the hoop. Sapphire fell on the cold floor. Everyone circled around her wondering if she was alright.

'' Sapphire are you-'' Rose said but, stopped her sentence when Sapphire removed her hands from her face.

'' Y-your eye!'' Pearl said breathless.

'' What's wrong?'' Sapphire asked

'' It's so adorable.'' Rose said. Sapphire hadn't noticed that her right eye was showing.

Everyone gathered around like love sick puppies adoring the color of her eye. Though, there was a reason why she didn't want it to be out. When she was born her eyes were able to frost anything it stared at long. Her light blue eyes would turn a lighter color into it turn silver. Her sight would turn blue and then she would frost anything. Ever since her mother, Lapis and her found out it was uncontrollable when she was 5, they all decided to cover up her eyes with her hair.

Sapphire covered her right eye with her hand quickly. But, already she knew it was too late. She could feel in body turning cold and her sight losing it's rainbow color to blue.

'' I have to go.'' Sapphire said jumping up and running out the gym. She could hear Jasper calling her from behind but, she couldn't face anyone at a time like this.

Ruby walked down the hallway slowly. She had already changed even though she still had 30 more minutes left for gym. She didn't feel like playing though. Sapphire was probably playing with her new friends already and probably forgotten her by now. Even though, they just met Ruby couldn't help but, feel a tight knot in her belly about what happened. The only good thing of this cause is that Jasper can't threaten her if Sapphire and her talk to much.

Ruby sighed. Only to hear fast foot steps.

'' Sapphire?'' Ruby said turning around.

'' Ruby!'' Sapphire said her voice high pitched and freaking out.

'' What's wrong did something happen?'' Ruby asked.

'' Something terrible, I need your help!'' Sapphire asked.

'' What do you need?'' Ruby asked.

'' I need you to take me to a dark room.'' Sapphire insisted. Ruby nodded. Sapphire and her ran down the hallway. Ruby opened the door to the januter closet and waited outside.

'' Sapphire, are you okay?'' Ruby asked. There was no answer. Ruby couldn't see what she was doing in there since it was completely dark inside. '' Sapphire?''

'' C-can you get my things?'' Sapphire asked. Her voice sounded crackly. Ruby nodded and ran to get her bags from the gym.

Ruby took a sip of her hot chocolate. Her father made the best kind of hot chocolate ever. He also always gave Ruby the most wipe cream than himself. Though, Ruby had a little on her mind. She wondered why she didn't see Sapphire for the rest of the day. She knew that Sapphire was a little jumpy when they met in the hallway but, she didn't understand what was up with her. Sapphire had never explained what had happened in the gym room. The only thing she said was that she needed her things. After that she was gone. Ruby had thought a couple of times to visit Sapphire at her house but, didn't know if she wanted to be bothered. She also didn't know if Sapphire was even going to be home since it was a holiday.

'' So, what's up?'' Ruby father asked.

'' Nothing.'' Ruby answered.

'' Any friends at school?'' Her father asked.

'' We'll one.'' Ruby replied.

'' That's a start, isn't it. Before you know it you'll have lots of friends.''

'' I don't think so.'' Ruby said.

'' You have to be positive. What's her name?''

'' Sapphire.'' Ruby answered.

'' Is she pretty?''

'' Ya.'' Ruby said drinking her hot chocolate.

'' You like her?'' Her father asked with a smirk. Ruby almost choked on her hot chocolate.

'' I mean she's pretty and nice but- ya no- I like her as a friend and all.'' Ruby said embarrassingly. Her father was the only one who knew she liked girls. He told her a couple of years ago he knew when she was born that she was different. Because of him knowing it brought them closer. Plus, it was easier to talk to him about that then her mother.

'' Do you think she likes you?'' Her father asked now interested in Ruby new friend.

'' I don't think so.'' Ruby said.

'' I can tell you if she does. How do you too interact?''

'' Well, she talks to me a lot then other people, she wants me to hang out with her after school and she always sits next to me. She's nice and sticks up for me too.''

'' I think she likes you.''

'' But, someone else likes her.''

'' Who.''

'' I think Jasper does.'' Ruby mumbled.

'' You mean the bully?'' Her father confirmed.

'' Ya.''

'' Why do the bullies always get the girl?'' Her father joked. Ruby giggled. '' Rubs, don't worry. I bet Sapphire is the one for you.''

'' You think?'' Ruby asked. Her father gave her a warm smile.

'' Yep and next year when I see you, you'll have a beautiful girlfriend.'' Her father said giving Ruby a big hug. Ruby hoped he was right.