Chapter 16
Lapis and Peridot walk into the gym for Garnet's championship game. They were an hour early but the place was packed. Lapis internally was happy that Peridot didn't question her reasoning for wanting to come.
"Hey PeriNerd! What are y'all doing here?" Amethyst asks as she comes bounding over to them from out of the office.
Peridot freezes up, her voice caught in the throat and Lapis rolls her eyes. "We came to watch Garnet." Lapis crosses her arms over her chest, but her gaze was focused on Garnet's figure in the office.
Amethyst glances back at Garnet before smirking at Lapis. "Y'all haven't met, have y'all?"
Lapis snaps her gaze to Amethyst's mischievous ones. "We go to the same school." Lapis deadpans.
"Yet you're never at the table for lunch." Amethyst shrugs her shoulders before calling over them. "Hey G., come here."
Before Lapis could object, Garnet steps out of the office and begins approaching them. "Lapis! Garnet's fight!" Peridot blurts out, her brain finally catching up and Lapis smacks her forehead.
Amethyst laughs. "Yeah Peri. You okay?" All three women turn their eyes towards Peridot, who squeaks and separates from the three. Amethyst furrows her brow. "Lapis wanted to meet you." With that, Amethyst runs after Peridot.
Lapis shifts from foot to foot, her gaze locked into her shifting feet. "Lapis?" Garnet's stoic voice calls out to her.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bother you." Lapis turns to walk away but Garnet's voice stops her.
"You'll have to do damage control soon."
Lapis furrows her brows in confusion before she follows Garnet's gaze to a kissing Amethyst and Peridot. "Shit." Lapis mutters under her breath.
"I take it you knew." It was more of a statement than a question.
Lapis didn't need much else to know who Garnet was referring to. "Pearl? Yeah, I knew, but I didn't tell Peridot. I didn't expect her to admit her feelings to Amethyst, much less kiss her." Both watch as Amethyst and Peridot share a few words before Peridot walks away.
"You should go check on your friend."
Lapis nods her head, turns and steps towards Amethyst but a soft yet firm grip on her wrist stops her. Lapis turns to face Garnet, curiosity in her blue orbs.
"Thank you for coming."
Lapis smiles slightly. "Yeah well, good luck, though I doubt you'll need it…" Lapis trails off.
Garnet chuckles softly. "I'll still take that luck if you're offering." Garnet winks at Lapis, causing the latter to blush.
"You can always have it." Lapis avoids Garnet's gaze, her arms wrapping around her midriff.
Garnet never talked much to Lapis, but she knew she was one hell of a swimmer, the best in their city. She actually watched a couple of Lapis' swim meets. Even though Lapis is technically considered an athlete, she's never say at the table with the rest of the athletes.
"You're cute when you blush." Garnet chuckles and Lapis blushes even harder, dipping her head.
"Thank you. You're cute too." Lapis lifts her head and winks at Garnet before quickly making her way over to Amethyst.
Garnet chuckles as she watches Lapis scurry off.
"Yo Peri, what's going on?" Amethyst asks as she caught up to Peridot.
"N-Nothing!" Peridot squeaks with a blush as she stops walking and turns to face Amethyst.
"You sure, cause your face is red."
Peridot covers her face with her hands and groans into them. "Ugh, why is this so hard?"
Amethyst furrows her brows. "Why is what so hard?"
Peridot grunts. "Saying I like you."
Amethyst is quiet for a moment, shock running through her before she gently pulls Peridot's hands away from her face. "You like me?" Her eyes are filled with shock, concern and guilt.
Peridot freezes at Amethyst's question, a million outcomes running through her mind. Peridot's green eyes lock with Amethyst's concerned purple ones and the last of Peridot's will breaks. Peridot closes the distance between them and kisses Amethyst softly on the lips.
When Peridot pulls back, she avoids Amethyst's gaze. "It doesn't matter. You like Pearl."
Amethyst frowned. "I like you too Peri." Amethyst smiles at Peridot's blush. "Wished you had said something earlier, before I kissed Pearl." Amethyst frowns.
Peridot's heart felt like it shattered. Of course Amethyst would choose Pearl over her. "Okay." Peridot turns to walk away, but Amethyst's voice stops her.
"I'm sorry Peri. I really like you and i hope this doesn't hurt our friendship." Amethyst grabs Peridot's hand and squeezes it gently.
Peridot smiles sadly at Amethyst. "It won't." Peridot breaks free of Amethyst's grip and heads towards an empty seat in the far back of the room.
Amethyst frowns as she watches a rejected Peridot walk away from her as Lapis approached her.
"Everything okay?" Lapis questions, her gaze flickering between Amethyst and Peridot.
"How long has Peri liked me?"
Lapis shrugs. "Since she met you." Lapis sighs and locks eyes with Amethyst. "I know about you and Pearl. I didn't tell Peridot though."
Amethyst nodded. "I told her." Amethyst sighs. "I feel like a fool, pining after Pearl and ignoring Peri's feelings for me."
Lapis sighs and looks at a sad Peridot. "Things happen. If Peridot had told you, would it have changed anything?"
Amethyst ponders Lapis' question. "Probably. I don't know."
Lapis frowns. "Well, seems like you have a lot to figure out and I have a friend to comfort." Lapis walks away from Amethyst and claims a seat next to Peridot. Lapis says nothing, but allows Peridot to take hold of her hand. Lapis gives it a light squeeze as the announcer begins speaking.