Easy To Love | LapiDot (Human AU)

VIII

Peridot's POV

A week has passed since the incident at my house. While Lapis remains reluctant to open up to me, it's safe to say that we've grown closer to one another. It's become habit for me to drive her to and from school, and we spend time together during the school day whenever the opportunity presents itself. To her annoyance, I've been following up with her on the issue of her self-harm. I try not to be forceful in any way, but I do need to make sure that she's okay. 

Today lands on a Friday, and Lapis and I have plans to head to my house once school is over, hoping to actually do some studying this time. Not really her thing, as she's made abundantly clear to me, but I insist on helping her graduate high school. Speaking of which, I pull myself out of my thoughts to glance up at the clock hung at the front of the classroom, showing me that my last period is set to end in about five minutes. Hearing the faint sounds of people packing and zipping up their bags, I follow suit as we all impatiently wait in unison for the weekend to begin. 

~

"Are your parents ever home?" Lapis inquires as we enter my house through the garage door. 

"Eh, not really. They're always out on business trips," I explain with a slight annoyance to my tone. 

"Oh, I'm sorry," she says as we kick our shoes off near the door.

"It's cool, I like being alone anyway." This isn't exactly a lie, I do enjoy having the house to myself a majority of the time. However, I do wish my own parents cared enough to spend some time with me. We soon reach my bedroom and throw our bags down by the bed. I sit down on the floor at the foot of my bed, and pat the floor next to me signaling for her to sit as well. Once she does, I pull a notebook and pen out of my bag, looking to her with a friendly smile. 

"So, what do you need help with?"

~

I'm wrapping up my explanation of linear equations as I hear a small yawn from the girl next to me. Looking at the time, I notice we've been at it for about two hours now. Closing my textbook with a sigh, I reach up and stretch my arms above my head. 

"Alright, I think we're done for now," I comment towards Lapis, earning a sigh of relief from the girl in question as she nods.

"Your floor is hurting my ass," she comments plainly before standing up with a groan and sitting on my bed instead. I chuckle lightly and join her. 

"TV?" I ask as I take my seat. 

"Yes please."

I power on the TV and pop on some Rick and Morty, one of my favorites. Lapis giggles at my choice, making me smile. Maybe midway through the first episode, she scoots over slightly before lying down, her head in my lap. I blush lightly at the gesture, but opt not to say anything and ruin the moment. I can't tell for the life of me if this is natural progression, or if I'm only making it seem so in my mind. As the next episode plays, I find myself mindlessly playing with Lapis' hair. Though she doesn't seem to mind, so I continue. 

Minutes pass like seconds, and before I know it, it's about seven o'clock. I pull my attention from the show, glancing down at the girl in my lap, and I notice that her gaze is fixed on me rather than the TV. Meeting her stare, I smile.

"I'd rather be tall, I'd rather be smart

I'd rather be sure you know I care 

Wherever you go, whatever you start

I'd rather be sure you know I'm there

I'd rather I always be a part of whatever you do

I'd rather be me with you"

"Hi," I say as I remove my hand from her soft hair to return it to my side. 

She giggles and smiles back, "Hi."

I have no idea what's going on in terms of the show right now, but who can blame me? Her eyes have me absolutely captivated, just as they always have, and my thoughts drown out any other noise in the room. Both our respective pairs of eyes remain locked on to the other's. 

"Wherever we go, I already trust

I'd know what to do if it were us

I'd know what to say, I'd know how to be

I'd know your entire syllabus"

She speaks up suddenly, breaking me out of my trance. "You're pink," she laughs. Before I get any chance to respond, Lapis props herself up with her arms pushed into the bed below us, her face increasingly close in proximity to my own. 

"I can't think of any other thing in the world I would rather do"

"I-I..." I stutter nervously, before I'm cut off abruptly by Lapis placing her lips on mine gently. We both close our eyes, and I allow myself to melt into the feeling, slowly wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her in closer.

"If I could be,

I'd rather be me with you."

...

As much as I don't want to, the two of us eventually break apart from one another. My wide, green eyes stare back into her half-lidded blue ones as I attempt to process what just happened. And I suddenly feel a panic begin to set in, under the assumption that I might have done something I shouldn't have, or taken advantage of Lapis in some way.

"L-Lapis I'm so sorry I-" She cut me off.

"Peri, it's okay." She keeps eye contact with me and my blush deepens. "I did that because I wanted to. Promise," she reassures me with a soft smile.

"Okay..." I respond shyly, and Lapis places her hand gently on top of mine.

"Peridot..." she continues, "I feel safe with you...Like I've never felt with anybody before." She speaks with sincerity as she continues to gaze into my eyes, as if she's searching for something. "I want to be by your side...but I'm scared..."

I tilt my head slightly, "Of what?"

She sighs, "Everybody I've ever opened up to like this has ended up using it to hurt me...I really want to believe you're different, but it's just so hard..." I can tell she's steering clear of any specifics, and I remain respectful of that.

"I really really care about you, Lapis. I don't think I could ever hurt you, even if I wanted to...That being said, I understand it's hard for you to trust me." I gently rest my forehead against her own before I continue, "I don't expect you to trust me yet, you don't have to. But I'd love to be here to prove to you over time that you can."

At this, a look crosses Lapis' face which I can't quite read. But she slowly sits up on the bed, and wraps her arms around me in a tight embrace.

"Thank you..." she says quietly into my shoulder. I smile softly and reciprocate the hug, gently rubbing her back in comfort.

"Of course."

Pulling away again, she looks into my eyes before leaning in for another small, gentle kiss. I kiss back softly. She pulls away and rests her head back on my shoulder.

"I love you..." she mutters.

"I love you too."

1264 words.