As the sun rose on the horizon, the gentle waves in the distance. Amethyst, Steven, and Peridot strolled along the shoreline.
Both Ameythst and Steven couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement.
The arcade was one of their favorite places to be and were eager to see the neon lights and hear the familiar sounds of games and laughter.
However, as they walked, Amethyst couldn't shake the feeling that something was off with Peridot.
Today, she seemed more distant and quieter, her usually expressive lime-green eyes clouded with worry.
Amethyst nudged Steven, tilting her head subtly towards Peridot. Steven noticed too and furrowed his brow with concern.
"Hey, Peri," Steven said gently, breaking the silence. "Is everything okay?"
Peridot looked up, her expression momentarily caught off guard as if she hadn't expected them to notice her inner unrest.
But then she sighed, glancing down at her fingers, and finally spoke, her voice tinged with vulnerability, "I… I'm fine, Steven."
Amethyst and Steven exchanged glances,
"You know you can talk to us about anything, right?" Amethyst said, her voice was soft and reassuring. "We're here for you, Peri."
Peridot managed a faint smile. "I know, and I appreciate that. It's just…"
Peridot paused for a moment.
"I don't feel like discussing it right now."
The tone of her voice was dry and gloomy as she spoke.
Steven reached out and squeezed Peridot's hand gently. "You're our friend, and you've come such a long way." he smiled at her.
They arrived at the arcade, which was full of colorful neon lights and the sounds of every game echoing throughout the building.
The excitement brightened both Steven's and Amethyst's faces; however, Peridot hesitated in the face of all the loud noises and bright lights.
She didn't know what to do during all the commotion.
Peridot stood there watching Ameythst and Steven having fun while she just watched them.
"Yo Peri, whatcha doing in the corner girl?"
Peridot glanced over at the voice, seeing Amethyst approaching her with a smile.
"I-I don't know, Amethyst," Peridot replied hesitantly.
"All this noise and excitement are overwhelming. I'm not sure how to join in," said Amethyst. Nodding her understanding.
"Why don't I teach you how to play some of these games? I didn't invite you just to have you around. I wanted to have fun with you!" Amethyst gently nudges the green friend.
Peridot looked up at Amethyst, touched by her kindness, and managed a small smile.
"Really? You'd do that for me?" she exclaimed a hint of surprise in her voice.
Amethyst smiled, giving her a bright pat on the back.
"Of course! We're a team, and we look out for each other. Plus, it's always more fun when we're all together."
As they spent the day at the arcade, Amethyst patiently taught Peridot how to play various games, guiding her through the different challenges.
Slowly but steadily, Peridot began to relax and enjoy herself, gaining more confidence with each passing moment.
Steven also joined in on the fun, cheering them on and encouraging Peridot whenever she needed a boost.
The pain she had been carrying seemed to fade away for the moment, replaced by the warmth and comfort of their embrace.
Peridot had forgotten about her mental struggles hours ago; she finally felt at ease and experienced genuine joy for the first time in several weeks.
Steven, Amethyst, and Peridot walked back into the temple, Pumpkin greeted them back, running up to Peridot happily, wagging her tail.
However, Peridot felt an overwhelming sense of sadness creeping in once more.
Memories of that fateful day with Lapis, her many errors, her… wrist, it all resurfaced.
As Peridot greeted Pumpkin with a pat and sat on the couch, she struggled to make sense of her emotions.
She didn't want to burden others with her pain, but the fear of opening up paralyzed her.
The idea of returning to the bathroom, where it all began, only intensified her distress.
She tried to hide her feelings, biting her lips and gazing into space, but the room's coldness sharply breezed over her warm green skin.
"Hey, Peridot," Steven greeted in his PJs, noticing the troubled expression on her face.
He sat down beside her, his genuine concern evident in his eyes.
Amethyst followed suit, plopping down on the other side of Peridot with a reassuring smile.
"What's up, little green?" she asked, trying to lighten the mood.
Peridot hesitated, not sure if she could bring herself to talk about it. She took a deep breath and began to speak, her voice trembling with emotion.
"I… I'm just tired from today" she smiled.
"Well, I'm glad you came with us, P" she reassured with a warm smile.
"Well, I assumed I should go to Stevens's bathroom now."
"Alright, P" Peridot got up on her way to the bathroom.
As Peridot stepped into the bathroom, a sense of isolation washed over her, magnified by the silence surrounding her.
Her reflection in the mirror seemed like a stranger, someone burdened with pain and regrets.
As she turned on the tap, the sound of running water masked her muffled sobs.
She tried to keep her calm, not wanting to disturb the others in the temple.
But deep down, she yearned for someone to understand, to share the weight on her heart, But yet so afraid.
With each passing moment, the anguished feeling intensified, and she couldn't escape the memories that haunted her.
Lapis' haunting words echoed in her mind, reminding her of the past she desperately wished to forget.
Peridot knew that her friends cared for her, but she felt trapped in her own emotional fortress, unable to break free from the chains of her past.
She longed for the freedom she once felt, but it seemed like an unattainable dream.
As the night wore on, Peridot found herself sinking deeper into her sorrow, feeling like an outsider in her own shelter.
She felt like an intruder in the lives of the Crystal Gems, questioning whether she truly belonged with them.
In that moment of despair, she whispered to herself, "Maybe this is where I truly belong – alone and broken, just like the pieces of the broken gem I once was."
And so, the once enthusiastic and mischievous Peridot remained secluded in her sorrow, her sorrows ending overshadowing the friendship she shared with Steven, Amethyst, and Pumpkin, leaving an aura of downcast hanging over the temple.