Easy To Love | LapiDot (Human AU)

XI

Content Warning: self-harm.

Peridot's POV

"Ugh," I groan as I stare into the bathroom mirror, sloppily attempting to get my hair to cooperate. Eventually giving up, I sigh and move my attention to the toothbrush hanging loosely out of my mouth. Finishing up with my teeth, I wash the remaining toothpaste off of my face before journeying lazily back to my bedroom. I settle on a simple t-shirt, jeans and my green hoodie before stripping myself of my pajamas in favor of the chosen outfit. Dressed and sufficiently tired, I grab my things and head out to the garage. I open the driver's side door, throwing my bag into the backseat and sitting down in my own. Comfortably Numb by Pink Floyd plays through the car as I head off in the direction of my destination.

~

With surprising punctuality, Lapis soon appears from her respective apartment building and heads over to my car with a blank expression on her face. As she takes her seat and shuts the door behind her, she doesn't greet me as she usually does. I start the car back up and look over at her, she isn't even looking at me.

"Hey, you alright?" I inquire with concern. She replies without so much as a glance in my direction.

"I'm good," she says plainly with a shrug. I'm sure that isn't the case, but decide not to press for details. My suspicions are confirmed as she doesn't take control of my radio. She only ever does that when something is wrong. The drive to school is eerily quiet as Lapis puffs on her usual morning cigarette, eyes focused outside.

~

I toss my backpack to the side of my bedroom door as I walk over to my bed, flopping onto it with a huff. Lapis has been especially strange today, and it's really getting to me. She isn't exactly ignoring me, but is certainly distant. With short, often one-worded responses and hardly any eye contact. I can't help but wonder if I did something wrong, but can't bring myself to ask her. With the knowledge of how she tends to deal with things, I'm growing increasingly worried.

I suppose I'll ask her about it tomorrow.

I retrieve my cell phone from the pocket of my jacket and shoot her a quick text.

Me: you wanna head to my place after class tomorrow?

. . .

A lonely half-hour passes before I get a response - not typically unusual, but it is for her, as she tends to respond fairly quickly.

Lapis: sure

Me: okay :)

I sigh and set my phone down next to me. Hopefully that'll help clear things up.
Thank the stars we see each other so often, otherwise who knows if we'd even be talking right now. Though, I could be completely exaggerating, and nothing is really wrong. But I doubt that. At least she agreed to come with me tomorrow.

~

I'm sitting on my bed, hands gripping my Xbox controller rather tightly as I gaze mindlessly at the TV in front of me. Lapis excused herself to my bathroom a few minutes ago, but it seems to be taking her a strangely long time, and the silence from the given room is driving my anxiety up the wall. I tell myself repeatedly that I'm overreacting, but a doubt in the back of my mind continues to make itself known as I do my best to focus solely on my game.

A decent 13 minutes has passed, still without a trace of Lapis. It's at this point that my worry is beginning to take hold, and I'm having a hard time focusing on anything at all. Hesitantly, I pause my game and set the controller on my bed, standing up and walking slowly over to the bathroom door. I knock on the door gently and call out for her, but receive not so much as a groan in response. After a minute or so, I try the doorknob - locked. Of course it is. I call out for her a few more times, still getting no answer. Something isn't right.