New Memories
Later that night, Peridot spent way too much time lying awake in bed. It was not because she was still energized from earlier, though it may have played a small role. It was Lapis’ reaction to her roommates.
Speaking of roommates, Amethyst could be heard snoring in the living room. She must have fallen asleep with the television on again, watching reruns of that ridiculous show Little Butler. A hardcore fan, Amethyst owned every episode on DVD. It was beyond her regarding how anyone could waste so much time watching that pointless drivel.
The light from the television emanated through the hallway, and a flickering frame encircled the door. Light from the outside streets trickled through the blinds, illuminating the room. Peridot made a mental note to invest in heavy, thick curtains to go over the windows. Hopefully tomorrow morning there would be an opportunity to go shopping. During the day, they were fortunate to have AC in the first place. But it would help keep the room cooler, and conserve energy. During this time of the year, it was not hard to rack up cost on the utilities bill.
By the sound of it, Garnet and Pearl were likely asleep as well in their rooms. Pearl usually liked to go to bed early, while Garnet would sometimes have to work graveyard shifts. Tonight was not one of those nights for her. Out of anyone in the house, Garnet got the least sleep.
Even if they, as in Amethyst, did embarrass her earlier in front of Lapis, Peridot still appreciated them.
What did Lapis mean when she told me to be careful around them?
She was already extremely cautious around people, though Lapis might not know that yet. Her housemates were the first people Peridot introduced to her. And even if she was friends with the girls in her house, she was quite content doing things apart from them. At the lesbian club, she even went off by herself to get a breath of fresh air. Well, maybe that was a poor example, but it was how she and Lapis met in the first place.
After they dried off from the pool, which did not take long, they went inside and spent the rest of the day in Peridot’s room. Lapis apologized about her hesitation with the blonde’s friends. She explained how she would get very uncomfortable around certain people, and felt a lot of pressure at that moment. Lapis did not go into further detail, but Peridot wondered if she had some minor social anxiety. Were people leaning on the extroverted side, like Lapis, less prone to anxiety? Though she made a couple hypotheses, she was not the one studying psychology. The blonde let Lapis know it was alright, and that her housemates were pretty laid back. She had no doubt did not think much of it, but that she would keep it in consideration, if they ever went to any event or social gathering. Lapis seemed to relax with that, and a flood of relief washed over her face.
They spent a good few hours napping on Peridot’s twin sized bed. She did not need a mattress larger than that. Lapis curled up into the blonde, holding her hand, and nesting her head on her shoulder. Both girls were wiped out from being out in the pool, under the hot sun. Peridot was almost positive she received a burn line or two, feeling her skin cooking as she laid down on her back.
Lapis Lazuli always seemed to surprise her or catch her off guard. When the blue haired girl suggested they go into Peridot’s room, she immediately scanned through the countless situations that could happen. Most of those conditions involving the physical, especially recounting how Lapis acted around her in the pool. Even though Peridot had not dated before, she knew Lapis was unusually patient. Not only did she express wanting to wait to kiss her, but while in her room, Lapis refrained from coming on to her physically. Of course they held hands and cuddled on top of her bed, but nothing too sexual.
Peridot was confused as to whether she be relieved or worried. She did not think she was ready for anything sexual, and prayed that Lapis might understand. They did meet and hit it off at a club, which meant the chances of them hooking up were immensely greater. Greater than meeting at a park or coffee shop rather. But the taller girl did not seem like someone who wanted to hook up all the time, going against Beach City’s infamous hook-up culture. The girl was refreshing to be around, and Peridot hoped Lapis was just as comfortable with her, as it was vice versa.
Peridot remembered the soft palm of Lapis’ hand embedded in her own, as the blonde rested her head against her shoulder. This was pretty great. It would be even better if her heart could stop racing. The tan girl’s breathing started to slow, and Peridot felt herself dozing off. Though she enjoyed watching how cute Lapis was as she rested, she felt her green eyes become droopy and heavy. Soon they were both snoozing away on Peridot’s bed in a comfortable embrace. She never thought dating would ever be this amazing. It was not like what music artists sung about, or how she overheard classmates and colleagues talk about relationships. Whatever she and Lapis had, it felt much better. Eventually they would need to talk about their status and how they should define their relationship. But that could be put on hold for the moment.
Blinking her eyes in a yawn, she was brought back to the present, knowing she would value that peaceful memory. One of the few she had experienced in her life. Amethyst stopped snoring in the other room, and the TV was turned off. She must have woken up and turned it off herself. Either that, or Pearl woke up and did it for her, carrying her into her room.
In the next day, school would start back up again for the fall. That meant she would have to wake up early, since she was forced to take an eight a.m. o’clock class. She half groaned sleepily at that thought. Mid way through summer she bought her textbooks, and read most of them all the way through. That way, she would already be extra prepared. Unlike most people, she did not forget information quickly. Her brain retained information like an elephant. In order to graduate on schedule, or more like her own schedule, she would have to take eighteen to twenty one units each semester. Which was very much doable, no sweat.
Her backpack, already prepared, was sitting lonely in the corner of her room. A folded outfit laid on the floor next to her pack. She hated having to do all those steps in the morning half asleep. Better she do it now, so that she could sleep in just for a few extra minutes. Though she did not feel entirely ready for the fall semester, she was enthusiastic to share it with Lapis Lazuli. The life she led school was about to divert from the norm she became accustomed to, in the previous semesters.