Chapter 17
Jasper sighs as she, Sugilite, Opal and Alexandrite walk into Ruby's gym for Garnet's championship boxing match. She freezes as she spots a blushing Lapis wink at Garnet before quickly making her way towards Amethyst and then Peridot.
"Hey cuz! Good luck!" Sugilite's loud voice booms as she claps a hand down on Garnet's shoulder.
Garnet smiles. "Thanks Suge." Her eyes travel over her godsister and Opal before settling on Jasper. "Thanks for coming."
Jasper nods her head, their kiss still fresh in her mind and on her lips. "No problem."
Sugilite and Alexandrite exchange knowing looks. "So, we're going to find seats," Alexandrite says.
"Yeah. Ame's here right? She left before us," Sugilite questions.
"Yeah, she's here." Garnet looks over the crowd until she spots Amethyst talking with Rose. "She's talking to Rose."
Sugilite, Opal and Alexandrite all turn their gazes towards Rose and Amethyst. "Dope. Good luck." Sugilite smiles as she drags Opal away.
"Good luck Garnet," Opal's soft but low voice says as she allows Sugilite to drag her away.
"Hey, you got this." Alexandrite smiles before hugging Garnet.
"Thank sis." Garnet hugs Alexandrite back. "I'll see you after."
Alexandrite smiles and places a kiss on Garnet's cheek. "Of course. Celebratory drinks on me." Alexandrite steps back before turning on her heels and following after Sugilite and Opal.
Garnet nods her head and turns back to face Jasper, who hasn't taken her eyes off her since she's entered the gym. "Yes?"
"What were you and Lapis talking about?"
Garnet raised a brow. "She wished me good luck. Why?"
Jasper crosses her arms. "Nothing." She looked over the crowd and spotted Amethyst signalling her over. "Have you thought about my question?"
"Been kinda busy preparing for this match."
Jasper nods her head. "Well, good luck." Jasper turns to walk away but Garnet grips her wrist. She looks down at Garnet's grip then up at Garnet.
"It's not a no, but it's not a yes either. I told you, we wouldn't work."
Jasper clenched her jaw. "Don't you think that should be something I help to decide?"
Garnet stared at Jasper. Why did the question bother her so much? "Why? Why now? Why me?"
Jasper sighed and rubbed the back of her neck. "It's always been you. I'm just now able to do something about it."
Garnet chuckles before she could stop herself. "Sorry, just never pegged you for shy or insecure."
Jasper shrugs her shoulders. "There's a lot you don't know about me." Jasper runs her eyes over Garnet and licks her lips. "But I'm willing to share myself with you if you're willing to share yourself with me." She glances at Lapis then back. "Only me."
Garnet follows Jasper's gaze to Lapis before she smiles. "You jealous Jasper?"
Jasper raised a brow and folds her arms. "No. Should I be?"
Garnet bites her tongue. No point in starting anything with her match is starting soon. She looks at Lapis again before shrugging. "She's cute, but no, you don't have anything to be jealous of."
"Garnet," Ruby calls.
Garnet sighs and takes a step away from Jasper. "Enjoy the match."
"Good luck." Jasper smiled and made her way over to Amethyst.
"What were you and Garnet talking about?" Amethyst asks with a knowing smile.
"I was just wishing her good luck." Jasper huffed as she took a seat next to Amethyst.
"Seemed a little too long and too close for just good luck." Amethyst laughs but before Jasper could respond, Rose speaks.
"Surprised you're here Jasper," Rose's voice adds.
"Didn't really have a choice. Suge was gonna drag me regardless."
"She's right," Sugilite laughs as she and Opal sit at the end of the row.
Jasper growls but says nothing as the lights dim and the match begins.
Lapis watches as Garnet hits her opponent with a two piece that knocks them on their butt. The crowd erupts into cheers, whoops and whistles before the bell sounds ending the round. So, she is that good.
Peridot squeezes her hand and Lapis turns to look at her. "Peri?" Lapis questions.
Peridot looks at Amethyst before back at Lapis. "I'm fine." Peridot offers a small smile.
Lapis frowns slightly at her friend. "I know what happened between y'all."
"It doesn't matter, she chose Pearl."
"She still likes you though."
Peridot shook her head. "It doesn't matter. Look, after this, I'm going to head back to the house. I have work to do."
Lapis frowned. She and Peridot have been friends since diapers. She knows that Peridot will lock herself away in her room the moment they get home. She frowns at the thought.
"Okay Peri," Lapis says and follows it with a sigh. "Garnet is really good though."
"She is our city's only current boxing champion."
Lapis nods her head as she focuses back on Garnet, who is currently dodging punches from her opponent.
Garnet aims a flurry of shots at her opponent's sides before they manage to block the punch aimed for their face. They end up countering with a three combo punch though only two connects.
Garnet jumps back out of reach of the last punch before she uppercuts her opponent, following it with two punches to the side of their head. Her opponent staggers before they drop to their knees.
Garnet steps back to give them time to get up. For a quick moment, she glances around, her gaze landing on Lapis who smiles and offers a thumbs up. Garnet nods her head slightly before she turns back to her opponent. She watches as they shake their head but as they push to their feet, their knees buckle under them and they crash back to the floor of the ring. The referee bangs the bell signaling the end of the match.
The gym once again erupts into cheers as the referee approaches Garnet with the championship belt. Garnet holds up the belt as the referee holds up her wrist signaling her as the winner. As the referee releases her wrist, Ruby approaches.
"That's my girl!" Ruby exclaims as she makes her way onto the ring.
Garnet smiles as she leans down to hug her mother. "Thanks mom." When she straightens, she hands the belt to her mom before she slips out of the ring and heads over to her friends.
"I knew you could do it cuz," Sugilite says as she claps a hand on Garnet's shoulder.
Garnet laughs. "Thanks Suge."
"Omg! Congrats Garnet," Opal says with a smile.
"Yeah G., you whooped they ass!" Amethyst exclaims before Rose cleared her throat.
"Yes Garnet, you did an exceptional job," Rose says.
Garnet nods her head. "Thank you all and thank you all for coming, it means so much."
"Don't worry about it," Alex says before she wraps her Godsister in a tight hug. "Drinks are on me y'all." Alex smiles as she turns to look at everyone, her arm still around Garnet's shoulders.
"Alex, where are we going to go? We are not old enough for the bars," Opal questions softly.
Alex only smiles. "Leave that to me. Right Suge?"
Suge smiles at her best friend. "Oh yeah. Alex has plugs babe."
Garnet simply shook her head before her eyes landed on Peridot and Lapis, who were trying to leave. "Excuse me." Garnet steps away from her friends and towards Lapis and Peridot.
Peridot was the first to notice her. "Congratulations on the win, Garnet. You truly live up to your title as the best boxer in the city."
Garnet smiles at Peridot. "Thank you." Garnet turns to look at Lapis who shifts slightly on her feet.
"Congrats on the win," Lapis says.
Garnet nods. "Looks like your luck was needed after all. Thank you." Lapis blushes slightly and Garnet smiles. "Thank you both for coming and cheering me on."
Both Peridot and Lapis nod their heads. "You're welcome," they say at the same time.
Garnet looks back at her friends. She notes Jasper staring at her before she turns back to Lapis and Peridot. "We're going out if y'all want to join us."
Both girls look around Garnet before shaking their heads. "We just came to support you," Lapis says.
Garnet nods her head. "Well thank you again. I'll be sure to return the gesture." With that, Garnet turns and heads back to her friends.
Peridot looks at Lapis but says nothing. Instead she heads for the door, being careful to avoid Amethyst. Lapis sighs before she follows after her.
Jasper stares after Garnet as she makes her way over to Lapis and Peridot. Nothing to worry about. She frowns as she notices Lapis's blush. When Garnet looks back at her, she makes sure to catch the boxer's eyes before the latter turns back to the two.
"So sis, you see why we were excited about Garnet?" Amethyst asks with a smirk pulling Jasper's attention away from Garnet.
Jasper scowls. "Yeah, she's good."
"Good? Come on now Jasper, you can do better than that," Sugilite says.
"What do y'all want me to say? She's a force to be reckoned with?" Jasper spits out.
"Thank you Jasper," Garnet says as she approaches the group again.
Jasper scowls. I didn't hear her coming. "You're welcome." Jasper growls before she stomps out of the gym.
Sugilite and Amethyst laugh as they follow Jasper with their eyes. "She likes you," Sugilite says.
Garnet half frown half smiles. "I know. Look I'm going to shower and change real quick." Garnet heads towards the gym's locker room before either of them can question her.
As she walks away, everyone shares a look. She knows?