"It's been 2 months, come out of there Peridot!" The green gem sat in the corner of the barn, the door locked, and the only way in or out was to destroy it. Steven was at the large door, asking for her to open it. "Peridot, we miss you, all of us. Amethyst especi-"
"STOP! JUST SHUT UP!" Peridot yelled at the door. "I'M NOT COMING OUT! I can't!" Her breath slowed, her mind going blank. I need to stay here, where I can't hurt anyone.
"I miss you Peridot, Pearl misses you, Garnet, Lapis, we all miss you. Can I at least come in?" Peridot stopped, she stared at the door. The whole barn was dark, and there were things scattered all around.
"I'll get the door." The green gem stood up, but immediately fell back down, grunting as she forced herself up. I can do this. She picked up the 2×4 holding the door shut, and pushed it back to it's original position. "Come in, Steven." She looked up at Steven, but saw someone else standing next to her. They had blue skin, and it looked like they were moving. The green gem looked up further, only to see Lapis. "What're you doing here?" Lapis opened her mouth, and stared at Peridot, she wanted to jump forward and hug the green gem.
"I just wanted to tal-"
"So you got Steven to talk to me?" Lapis blushed.
"Peridot, I miss yo-"
"I KNOW! And I miss everyone. But I can't come out."
"Why not?"
"WHY SHOULD I?" Lapis jumped back, covering her mouth. "WHY!? When all I do is hurt everyone I talk to, why should I?" The green gem ran back in, slamming the door's as fast as possible. She took the 2×4, and slammed it back, locking the barn one more time.
"I'm going to destroy that barn, Steven." Steven shook his head.
"You can't, Lapis. That's my grandparent's barn. My dad took extreme care of that place." Lapis frowned.
"I'll destroy it if I have to." Lapis bent down. "Get on my back, I'll fly us there." Steven nodded and climbed up. The Blue gem forced herself off the ground, and into flight.
"Hey, Lapis, what all happened?" Lapis's mind went blank, and she stopped paying attention. We just got into the air, why am I stopping? Lapis shook it off, and tried to focus on flying.
"It's nothing, Steven." The demi-gem shook his head.
"Well, I know something happened. I can accept you don't wanna talk about it." Lapis was shocked. Steven talking like THAT?
"What happened to the real Steven?"
"I left him back at the temple." Steven burst out laughing, but Lapis just gave a smile. "Hey, I know!" Steven reached into his pocket, and pulled out a piece of paper. "I wanted to take Connie, but she's busy. So, why not take Peridot?" Lapis took one of the tickets out of Steven's hand, and looked at it.
"What's 'Liginamite'?"
"They're a relatively new band. Connie really likes music, so I thought I'd take her." Lapis nodded.
"I'll see what I can do." Steven smiled, wrapping his arms around the blue gem.
"Thank you."
"PERIDOT!"
"Go away, Lapis."
"Peri, come out. I have something for you. Just something to say sorry." Peridot opened the barn doors, trying to not get too much light in her eyes. Lapis held out one of the tickets, her face turning red.
"What is this?"
"They're tickets. T-to see a band." Peridot looked up at the blue gem.
"You wanna take me?" Lapis nodded, the green gem's face turning red.
"I-" Peridot's mind went blank. "I-I'll go. But this is the only time I'm coming out for a while. Ok?" Lapis simply nodded. Peridot looked away, and blushed. "C-Come help me with my outfit, then." Lapis covered her mouth, and chuckled at the thought of Peridot dressing up. "I-I just wanna look nice, ok!?" Lapis nodded, and headed into the barn, Peridot following close behind. She closed the door, and slightly opened the windows.
Peridot pulled out a small book, it had a bunch of clothes on the cover. "Where'd you get that, Peridot?" The green gem smiled.
"I found it. It's a bunch of dresses, and outfits for both of the human genders." Lapis cracked a smile, taking a quick flip through the pages.
"Then we'll find something for the both of us." Peridot nodded, and hugged the blue gem.
"I made a good choice, falling for you." Lapis wrapped her arms around the green gem, pulling her tight for an embrace. Her face turned red, her eyes closed, thinking of all the possibilities.
"I made a good choice, deciding to stay." Peridot's face turned red, as she pushed away the blue gem.
"Well, this 'concert' is tonight, isn't it?" Lapis nodded. "Then let's get to it. I wanna be the coolest looking one there!" Lapis pulled out the book, and flipped to a random page.
"How about this one?" The blue gem pointed to a short dress, it was worn with high heels, and had a "poof" to it.
"No, that looks too much like a diamond's dress. How about this one for you?" The green gem pointed to a boy-ish outfit. It was s long shirt with short sleeves, and a pair of shorts tucked over the shirt. It was worn with sneakers.
"That's too little to be wearing in the cold night." The two went on for, what seemed like, hours. Switching between different books, and looking through thousands of different dresses. "What about this one?"
"No, too flashy." Peridot looked down at the bottom of the page. "THAT ONE!" The green gem forced her finger down onto the page. She pointed to a green dress, that had a blue jacket over it. The dress part was short, and just barely touched the ground. "I'm gonna wear this one." Lapis looked at the page, then back at Peridot.
"I think it'll be cute." The green gem blushed.
"I won't be cute, but it'll look nice!" Lapis smiled.
"Well, let's find one for me." The two flipped a few more pages, and found the perfect outfit.
"What about this one?" Peridot pointed to another outfit. It was a blue shirt, and it had a denim jacket over it. There was a pair of shorts on, but they were barely visible under a small skirt.
"I can make something out of it." Peridot smiled, Lapis smiled back.
Amethyst was sitting down in the chair. She was in the temple, just waiting for something to happen. Whether it be a mission, or Steven needing help, or just the same weird things to occur. "Will something please happen! I need to get my mind off this." The purple gem stood up, and walked to the fridge. She reached her hand in, and pulled the first thing she grabbed out. "Macaroni, this might take my mind off her." She pulled out a packet of cheese flavoring, and tore it open. Just then, someone came running in.
"AMETHYST!" Steven ran up and hugged the purple gem. "I did it! Peridot's out of the barn." The purple gem's attention shot away from the packet, and she dropped it. Her hand patted his head.
"What's she doing?" Steven looked up.
"She's going to a concert with Lapis." Amethyst's eyes sunk in. She pushed Steven away.
"I have to go."
"Where?"
"No where, just don't follow me." Amethyst ran out the door, and started running as fast as she could. Why am I doing this?
"Come on Peridot, I'm ready. I wanna see you in your dress." Peridot slowly walked out, she was wearing the green dress, she had a small blue jacket she found around her green shirt. The ribbon around her waist had a yellow diamond on it, and she had a blue bow in her hair.
"Do I look bad? I bet I look bad." Lapis walked up to the green gem. She was wearing a short, green skirt, there were blue shorts on underneath them. The green shirt had a blue diamond in the bottom corner, and a pocket on the chest. She borrowed a denim jacket from Greg, who said it wasn't his, but she still washed it.
"You look beautiful." Peridot blushed, and turned her head away.
"R-right back at cha'." Peridot tried to stay collected, but she immediately fell back into her panic. No, I'm doing it again! Lapis let out a small chuckle.
"Let's go already, slow poke." Lapis grabbed the green gem's hand, and pulled on her. Peridot blushed, but was pulled away before she could say anything.
The two ended up at the grounds, and stopped at the front of the booth. She took out the two tickets, and handed them to the person at the gate. "Sorry, we kind of got sidetracked." The man nodded, and pointed to the entrance. Lapis pulled Peridot in. The blue gem stopped, and stared at the stage. Peridot wrapped her hands around Lapis's waist.
"What do we do?" Lapis turned around, and pulled on Peridot's arms.
"We dance, that's what we do!" The blue gem tried to get Peridot moving, but the green gem stood there. She listened to the music being played in the background, and watched as the people around her danced. There were so many people around her, she started to hyperventilate. She couldn't focus on anything. Her breathing got heavier as time went on, her vision went black, she couldn't breath, she felt a pounding in her chest. She tried to move, but her feet were molded in place. Stop, please. "P-" There was a short voice, Peridot tried to focus on it, but she couldn't even move. "Peridot, PERIDOT!" The green gem shot up.
"I want to get out of here."
"But, we just go-"
"I need to get out of here." Peridot stared at the ground, she was sweating, her eyes filling with tears. "Please, Lapis, get me out of here." Lapis stared down at Peridot, and back up at the band. She nodded, and turned around.
"Climb on my back, and I'll fly us out of here." Peridot climbed on, and wrapped her arms as tight as she could around the blue gem.
"Thank you, Lapis." Lapis nodded, as she pushed herself off the ground, and spread her wings.
"Where to?"
"Back to the barn, please." Lapis nodded, and started flying in that direction.
The two landed in front of the barn, Peridot sliding off of Lapis's back. "Thank you, you have no clue what I was going through there."
"Too many people?"
"Yeah." Lapis turned around. She had a sadness in her expression. I really wanted to take her, but now we're back before the concert's even over. "Maybe, w-we could," Lapis trailed off, trying to not sound like she was lost for words. Peridot stared at the blue gem. Lapis's face turned red, and she started kicking the dirt around with her heels. "W-we could dance here. Since, you know, no one's here." Peridot blushed, and slowly walked up to the blue gem.
"I'd be honored to." Lapis turned around, and smiled. She grabbed the green gem's hands, and pulled her close.
"Then let's dance together." The two spun, and moved their bodies. The gem's didn't want to stop. It was late at night, no one would see them, so why not dance until dawn? It felt like hours passed, and minutes stood still. Peridot was having the time of her life, Lapis was just happy to see Peridot enjoying herself. Nothing could stop them, neither of them would let it.
"Peridot! Lapis!" Steven ran swiftly up the hill. "Amethyst is missing!" Lapis pulled Peridot back in from their dance.
"Do you have any idea what happened?" Peridot looked down.
"She just walked out on me. I told her that you two were getting along, and-"
"That was your mistake." Everyone looked at Peridot. "You should've never told her about it." Steven looked at the green gem.
"I'm sorry. But we need to hurry up. She could be anywhere." Peridot pushed herself away from Lapis.
"I'll look around here, you guys need to check around the town." Lapis nodded, and looked at the green gem.
"Be careful, Peridot." She leaned down, and kissed the cheek of Peridot.
"As always, Lapis." She wrapped her arms quickly around the blue gem, then quickly let go. "Let's hurry." The three nodded, as Lapis and Steven took off int the city. Peridot ran behind the barn. She might be close by, looking for me. The green gem ran the whole perimeter, and even checked inside. She stumbled around through all the things she had laid out on the floors. The green gem ran out, and looked up on the nearby hills. She say a small, purple figure walking over them. There!
She started to walk slowly behind Amethyst, but she contemplated whether or not she should go get Steven and Lapis. If I do, she'll be gone in an instant. But, then we can all talk to her, and she won't be able to get out of our sights. Within her ramblings, Amethyst stopped near the water. It seemed they were at a beach area. "Have I really walked this far?" Amethyst thought about what she had just said. Peridot froze, her mind went blank, and her voice stayed silent. "Just as good a place as any, I guess." Peridot looked down at the ground. Have I been following her for hours, or have we always been this close to the beach? Peridot shook it off. It's just my mind. I need to talk to her. She'll listen to me...won't she? The green gem looked up, ready to run up to Amethyst, but all she saw was a puff of smoke. It clouded her view, she had to cover her eyes. But, when the smoke finally dissipated, she looked down, and lost her breath, immediately. All that was left of Amethyst, was her gem.
"YOU FUCKING IDIOT!" The green gem ran as fast as she could, holding the gem in her hands. Her face was practically a waterfall, her legs a steam train. The green gem ran through the town, pushing everyone out of her way. Everyone was staring at her, she was convinced of it. I don't have time, I need to get back! Peridot clasped her hands around the gem in her hands. I don't have time. We don't have time. Hurry up, run faster, Peridot.
Peridot ran up the stairs in front of her, trying her hardest not to drop Amethyst. She burst through the door. "PEARL! GARNET!" The two gems turned around. Peridot carefully put the gem on the table.
"Amethyst!" Pearl covered her mouth, Garnet picked the gem up.
"Did you see what happened to her?" Peridot tried to catch her breath, but her tears overwhelmed her.
"I-I-" The green gem stumbled with every word. Her face turning red, but the tears covering it up. "All I saw was smoke, and she was gone." Garnet nodded.
"You need rest Perid-"
"I DON'T NEED ANYTHING!" Garnet simply stared at the green gem.
"Then help me find Steven." Peridot looked down.
"I can't."
"Why not?" Peridot looked around the room, looking for an excuse. She looked at the fusion, and sighed.
"I need to rest." Garnet nodded once more.
"Don't let it get to you, there's nothing you could've done." Garnet walked out, and immediately jumped into the town. Peridot walked up the stairs.
"Pearl," The white gem looked up. "Get me up if something happens." Pearl nodded, and sat down. Peridot sat down on the bed. Steven won't mind. I just need to think about everything.
"What happened?"
"All I know is that she's here."
"Well, yeah, but I need to figure out what Peridot saw." The green gem woke up, her eyes shot opened, and her body stayed still. What're they talking about?
"Why? What good will it do?"
"So I know what I can talk to her about!"
"Lapis!" Pearl and Lapis kept rambling on. Peridot did her best not to move, even keeping her head forward. All she could see was the wall, and the top of the stairs.
"I just want her to get better. After all this time I finally got her out of the barn, I'm not letting her give up again." Peridot was shocked. That's what this is about? Dammit, Lapis. The green gem moved her head as slowly as she could.
"Don't treat her like a child. If she says she can do something, sometimes you just have to trust her." Lapis sighed.
"I want to help, but she won't let me. Why?"
"Are you not listening? If she needs help, she will tell you."
"Where is she, anyway?" Lapis looked around, "She's not here, is she?"
"She's in the bed upstairs. She actually fell asleep, somehow." Lapis looked at the stairs.
"She probably lost too much energy running back here." Pearl walked up close to Lapis,
"She was also bawling, like a child, when she came in, do you know what was up with that?" Lapis blushed. I know neither of them ever told anyone, but was it really that subtle?
"T-They," Lapis stopped, and looked down. "I don't know why she would be." Pearl looked at the blue gem.
"It was probably just her being emotional. Who knows at this point?"
"Garnet." Lapis smirked. "Garnet knows everything, doesn't she?" Pearl shook her head.
"Ask her."
I need to get up and talk to her. Hurry up, you stupid gem. Peridot pushed herself off the bed, and tried to slide off it without making any noise. But, she fell off the bed, hitting the floor.
"PERIDOT!" Lapis took off, running up the stairs as quickly as she possibly could. "Peridot, are you ok?" Lapis picked the green gem up.
"I'm fine, I just slipped." Peridot forced herself out of the blue gem's grasp.
"Slipped?"
"I was trying to get out of the bed, and I slipped." Peridot started down the stairs, before she turned around, "Also, Pearl's right. You need to stop treating me like a child." Peridot ran down the stairs, and out of the temple. Lapis sat there, staring at the stairs once more. She was speechless. All she wanted to do was run after Peridot, but was that the right thing to do? What can I do? Can I even do anything? Pearl walked up the stairs, and sat down next to the blue gem.
"Go after her." Lapis's attention shot to the white gem.
"Why? So she'll yell at me again?"
"So you can tell her what's going on." Lapis shook her head.
"She won't li-"
"Don't give me that shit!" Lapis jumped back, she was shocked. "You were just in here asking me what you could do to help her, don't give up now!" Lapis stared at Pearl, trying to figure out if there was some intent behind it.
"Fine," Lapis stood up. "I'll go talk to her again." Pearl stood up, and walked down the stairs.
"I think I have an idea of where she's going."
"PERIDOT!" The green gem was running as fast as she could, but Lapis was right behind her. Damn those long legs. Peridot stopped, and turned to face Lapis. Her face was burning, filled to the brim with tears. Everything that's happened, she just wanted to hug Lapis. But, somehow, she knew it wouldn't happen. "Peridot, I just want to talk."
"I WON'T LET YOU TREAT ME LIKE A CHILD ANYMORE! I'M SMALL, BUT I'M USEFUL! I CAN DO THINGS, I'M SMART! SO STOP ACTING LIKE I CAN'T TAKE CARE OF MYSELF!" Lapis took a step back, she stared at Peridot.
"Peridot, your fac-"
"STOP! I just want to be left alone."
"Let's at least talk. I know what it's like t-"
"YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING!" Peridot raised her hand, she closed her eyes, let out a whine, and swung her hand. Without realizing, she hit something. Her eyes opened, she looked forward, and saw exactly what she hit. Without meaning to, never would she have thought in any form, she had just slapped Lapis.
Author's Note: This took fucking forever. And it took a really dark turn. I am proud(?) of myself, but also really fucking wondering why I made Peridot hit Lapis. What the fuck is wrong with me?