First to Fall

“So explain to me again why the largest fraternity on campus is having their biggest party ever tonight?” Peridot crossed her arms while one hand massaged both corners of her mouth.

“Something to do with fundraising, I’m not sure on all the details though. No one seems to.”

“Fundraising?” Peridot put the word in air quotes. “That fraternity doesn’t do anything for the community, unlike the others.”

“Yeah that’s what I’m thinking to. Either way, we’re going.”

“What? Why?” Peridot said confused. It’s not like hanging out with the campus fraternities and sororities was exactly her thing. Or Lapis’ thing either.

“Because I promised one of my friends I’d show up,” Lapis sighed. “Since I’ve had to reschedule with her so many times already, I don’t want her to think I’m avoiding her. She put both hands on Peridot’s shoulders and shook them. “I can’t be a flake to my friends!”

“I promise you aren’t I swear!”

Lapis released her grip on Peridot and put a hand up to her forehead. “We both have been so busy with school these days, with finals coming up in another month. It’s been difficult to focus on anything else. We both can’t be pushing our friends or our own lives to the side.”

Peridot knew exactly what she meant. This last month and a half, all they were doing these days was studying together. In between classes, Peridot found time to catch up on her freelance work, but the long nights staying up often took a toll on her motivation. Energy drinks were beginning to have zero effect.

These days she was not seeing much of her own housemates either. Usually she and Lapis would be at one of three places: the school library, the local 24 hour diner, or Lapis’ house since it was usually vacant of roommates as well.

Poor Lapis. These days she was studying just as hard as Peridot, while trying to find a new job. But it was hard to find a decent paying job which was willing to hire part time. Peridot helped her search online for job postings, keeping track of everywhere she applied to. But it was becoming too stressful for Lapis. Though the blue haired girl never outwardly appeared stressed, Peridot could tell from little details, like the way she smiled or how her eyelids drooped.

At least there was a silver lining to it, which they were in this together. Still, it just never seemed to end.

Peridot day dreamed of graduation, how she would walk off that stage and commit her time to freelancing, instead of splitting it up. That day was arriving soon. But she and Lapis were not graduating the same semester. Lapis had one more year after her.

Ever since she purchased the ring for Lapis, she contemplated when she would propose. The whole thought gave her goosebumps. Her own graduation? No, Lapis still had a year more of school, and adding that pressure would not be fair. She decided to put the ring away, hidden, and save it for one more year. She would propose to Lapis when they both graduated. And if they were going to be together, what was one more year of waiting anyway? But even so, she wished it was realistic to propose sooner.

Peridot agreed to go to this fraternity “fundraising” party, but was not enthusiastic about it.

Later that night, she and Lapis drove there with Garnet and Pearl. Jasper and Amethyst said they would go separately. Somehow, it seemed like everyone was going to the stupid party. It was part of the school’s culture to throw on huge, raging fraternity parties. And if this fraternity in particular was having one, everyone would know about it. The stories that came out of those nights ranged from horrible to insane. Like that one time the fraternity house caught on fire, or how a group of a hundred students decided to elope and fly to Light City. Peridot could practically taste the next, inevitable exploit.

The moment her foot stepped out of a car, some kid threw a half drunken beer near her feet.

“Hey watch it!” Peridot exclaimed at no one in particular. “Ugh. Lapis, it’s a sign.”

“At least it didn’t get on your shoes,” the blue haired girl followed Peridot out of Garnet’s car. “I’m sure whoever threw the can didn’t mean it.”

“Mmhm,” the blonde hummed. “So where did you say your friend was?”

“She’s not here yet,” Lapis shut the car door. “Said she’ll probably be late.”

Peridot looked over at Garnet and Pearl. What made them want to come anyway? Knowing Garnet, she would find a few beers, and find a place in the house to chill low-key. Pearl? Well, maybe she was meeting someone too, like Lapis.

Within the first seconds of stepping inside, the place was visibly a mess. The lights were off with only strobe lights flashing, which blinded Peridot even though she was wearing contacts tonight. The living room was filled with people raving, which just looked like a giant mosh pit. There were people playing extreme beer games in the kitchen, and even one guy already passed out this early on the couch.

“Well then,” Garnet said, closing the fridge with a beer in each hand. “I think I’ll just go outside to sit for a bit.”  

“We’ll probably be right out,” Pearl replied, still searching one of the coolers.

“Hey Peridot,” Lapis was behind the blonde.

“What’s up Laz-,” with quick reflexes, she fumbled to catch the can, thrown at her. It was ice cold.

“Nice catch Peri! Have a cider!” Lapis pulled back the can tab and took a large swig from her drink.

Copying her girlfriend, Peridot braced herself for a strong alcohol taste. Truthfully, she was too embarrassed to admit she had never tasted hard cider before. But to her surprise, it tasted like no other drink she had experienced. It actually was good. The short, blonde haired girl raised her can in a “thank you” gesture and grinned.

By the time Peridot and Lapis finished their fourth (or was it fifth) cider, they were starting to feel pretty good. Even though there was still plenty of beer, most of the hard liquor and all of the cider had run out. Lapis was consumed watching some beer pong championship thing, while Peridot’s mind was too glazed and distracted to watch. Looking down, the blonde realized she was holding hands with Lapis, their fingers intertwined. She did not know why that was so funny. But that drunken feeling drifted away after her eyes trailed up to the taller girl’s face. Lapis looked so attractive when her violet eyes focused like that.

“You!”

Some random frat guy was pointing at her.

“Me?” Peridot pointed towards her own chest, before looking left and right. The room was full here, and she did not know the guy. He must be calling out someone else.

“Yes, you!”

Just kidding.

He continued, “I challenge you to play beer pong!” His speech was a bit sloppy. But then again, so was her own.

“Uh, I don’t know about that,” Peridot hesitated.

“You should just do it!” Lapis pushed her encouragingly forward towards the table. The beer cups were being filled up again.

“If you don’t want to, your pretty friend is always welcome to take your place.”

Aw hell no. No guy was going to talk about her girlfriend like that. “Fine!” Peridot tossed her sixth can into the recycling. She would defend her girlfriend’s honor! Or something like that.

“Aw Peri,” Lapis responded, googly-eyed and fond, both hands almost covering her mouth.

Forcefully she grabbed the paddle from the table, stood sideways, and pointed it at the meat-head frat guy. “It’s on!”

The crowd of people around them cheered. Peridot could make out Garnet and Pearl both watching her as well. Kicking his ass would be a piece of cake. Or she thought.

Perhaps if she had one cider or so, it would not have been so difficult to keep the ball from jumping off the table. Even though she was winning this early on, the game challenged her senses on a whole new level. The score remained pretty much tied by the middle of the game, and both players were getting fired up. There was no way she was going to let this trashy guy win.

“This game is getting way too intense,” Lapis slurred to Garnet and Pearl, over on the side.

By the end, both players had consumed the beer in over half their glasses. Peridot did not know how much she had to drink so far, but it might have been too much. She was beginning to regret her decisions.

“Ugh I don’t really feel good,” the short girl swung the paddle to hit the ball back, using a back hand. She did not feel like she was about to throw up. Rather her head was aching and could not focus. But it appeared the other guy across the table was in a much worse state. Her serve was so strong, that the frat guy became dizzy by over-focusing on it, and fell to the floor.

“We have a winner!” Another frat guy with darker skin raised Peridot’s arm in the air. She was not used to having this much attention, but she felt proud for some odd reason.

“Oh Peridot, I knew you could do it!” Lapis drunkenly fell into her girlfriend, wrapping her graceful arms around Peridot’s waist. “Seeing you so intense and passionate like that,” the tan girl whispered so no one could hear, “it’s such a turn on.”

“Do you want to see more of that tonight?” What had come over herself? Usually she was never this forward.

At first startled, Lapis moved a blonde strand of hair over Peridot’s pale forehead before winking. A definite yes.

“The keg is here!” voices boomed through the room, coming from the backyard. New red cups with drinks were already being passed around.

“Hey I’ll be right back, I need to find a bathroom,” Lapis said quickly.

“No worries,” Peridot replied as her girlfriend grazed her arm before hurrying off. As soon as she disappeared, a cup was shoved into her hand magically by a random stranger.

She took a sip out of it, her mind on autopilot. It was just cheap beer, nothing too fancy or special.

Now, where is Garnet? Peridot thought. Probably outside again. Maybe Amethyst and Jasper are there too.

Before she could move in that direction, her other roommate’s voice called out to her.

“Hey Peridot?” It was Pearl, who placed a firm hand on her shoulder. Peridot completely forgot her friend was still inside. In the past twenty minutes, the house became even more crowded and trashed.

“Oh Pearl, how’s your evening going?” Peridot said happily, though the words sloppily fell out of her mouth. The blonde suddenly became aware of her head dizziness again, which came back much stronger. But she ignored it.

Pearl looked away, “Can we talk? Somewhere alone?”

“Sure thing,” Peridot said, unquestionably cheerful. Her housemate needed a friend to talk to, and she was more than happy to help. Along with that, Peridot was more than happy to find a place to sit or rest upon. A wall or table perhaps.

Pearl’s face became red out of nervousness. Clearly, whatever she needed to talk about, it was important. “O-okay,” she grabbed Peridot’s hand, pulled her out of the loud, crowded room, and down the hallway.

The moment happened so fast, it never clicked in Peridot’s paling mind what Pearl needed to talk about, if there was anything at all.