To Dream of Malachite (Human Lapis X Jasper)

Sandcastles and Sun

After eating blueberries and strawberries we found in the fridge for breakfast along with a slice of toast each, Jasper and I went hiking through the woods in behind the cottage. There was a small, narrow, barely noticeable trail that lead us right to the fresh-water lake cove/beach thing Jasper had told me about earlier today. Only flaw was it took us about half an hour to 45 minutes to get over to it. It was totally worth it once we got there though.
The water was a crystal clear blue, it sparkled beautifully in the sunlight, and where we exited the woods, we were right next to a big open cave with glittery gray walls of stone. There was a small trickling waterfall, leading me to believe the lake was at the end of a creek that branched off one of the few rivers in the area. Opposite to the cave was a cute little sunny beach area and honestly it was the most adorable little beach I've ever seen! The lake appeared to drain out into another creek and it probably re-connected with a river again at some point down the line. Now the lake was small, but not small enough to be considered a pond, you know? However the part we currently stood at was narrow, and probably shallow, unless there was a drop off. It was the smallest part of the lake basically. You could probably walk around from the cave to the beach in under a minute or two, but it was still really pretty.
"So what do you wanna do?" Jasper asked and grabbed my attention as I was taking in the view. I looked to her with a raised brow.
"Isn't it obvious?" I questioned, a bright smile forming on my lips. I pulled my light cyan t-shirt with the printed-on black bow-tie around the collar, up off over me head. I'd come here prepared, wearing my navy blue bikini under my clothes. "Let's swim!" I unbuttoned my acid-washed denim shorts and slid them off by body.
Jasper's face reddened with a mad blush but she just returned my smile and pulled off her plain white tank-top to reveal her bikini top. It was black and red, and surprisingly matched the long shorts she was wearing that looked like... wait they totally were.... Mens Swim trunks? And she wasn't taking them off... She planned to swim in them.
I shrugged it off, everyone had there own preferred styles. She's probably more comfortable in them. Yeah makes sense. I decided not to question it for now.
We ran full on into the water, which as I imagined was fairly shallow but still very cool and refreshing. It was just past Jasper's waist, so around the centre of my torso. We swam around and had fun, initiating a few friendly splash wars and teasing each other and the like and it really, really fun. After about half an hour of that, we went onto the beach area and of course we just had to take a shit ton of photos, most of which ended up on my Snapchat story (I used my data plan. There was no free wifi around for miles.)
So I sat in the sand watching Jasper chase a duck away from a sandcastle she was trying to make. It was fucking hilarious to be honest. The duck was being an asshole, everytime she'd turn around the dumb bird would just peck at the hand-craftsmanship and totally ruin it. We named it Pearl, because it was light in colour and kept trying to ruin our fun. Not that I have anything against our friend Pearl.... (Pearl if you're reading it, I'm sorry. It was Totally Jasper's idea and not mine :D) anyway I was sitting there and Peridot started texting me.
«Hey, saw your Snapchats... Having fun 😜» -Peridoodle 9:36am
«Yeah I am.... Hey....What's that face supposed to mean gurl?» -Sent 9:37am
«C'mon Lapis, I know you gotta thing for Jasper. You can't tell me you're not doing anything alone on a vacation with her» -Peridoodle 9:38am
I blushed slightly as I thought up my reply
« Shut up! 😆 Omg Peri, no! We're just friends, really. But she did tell me last night while stargazing that she was super gay 😏» -Sent 9:39am
«oooooooh she likes you! Get it gurl! 😁 lol. But seriously, you have to ask her out! She def wants you and this vacation is proof!» -Peridoodle 9:40am
«you really think so?» -Sent 9:41am
«I know so! Trust me, it's subtext Lapis... Go for it» -Peridoodle 9:42am
«alright, alright... I will... Later... Gtg» -Sent 9:43am
Yeah, It was getting way too obvious that Amethyst was rubbing off on Peridot. A couple years ago, Peri would've never said 'get it gurl', she wouldn't have used emojis so much, and she definitely wouldn't have abbreviated the word 'definitely'. Ah well. Some change is just for the better. 
Jasper plumped down next to me with a huff "Well Pearl 2.0 wins. I give up." She glanced at my phone and saw me exit the a Messages app "Hey, who you texting?"
"Just Peridot. No one all that special." I shrugged
She rose a brow "what were you talking about?"
I let out a hum and then smirked. I had an idea "Oh? Just you." I didn't lie, but it also wasn't exactly the truth.
Jasper let out a small laugh "geez Lazuli, talking about me behind my back huh? That's not very nice." She joked.
I rolled my eyes "Don't worry it wasn't anything bad. I was telling her what a huge fucking nerd you are, chasing ducks away from sandcastles." I lied, but Peridot had read all about it on Snapchat, so it wasn't a full lie.
She lightly punched my shoulder "shuddup. What'd Peri have to say?"
I had a chance to ask something I'd been wondering ever since we got to the lake, I took it. "She asked me why you're wearing trunks." I cave a shrug acting as if the answer had no interest to me.
Jasper frowned "I-I'm just uncomfortable showing off certain parts of my body. Don't get my wrong, I have a sweet bod, I'm just more comfortable dressed like this."
"That's understandable. I get that." I told her, but it didn't seem like she had really listened.
I watched as she sighed, looking down, her hair falling in her eyes. Had my question really upset her that much? "Do you think I'm... Am I too masculine?" She questioned biting her lip.
I rose a brow "What? No?! Why do you ask?"
"Let's just say I have my reasons." She shook her head "are you sure I'm not though? I mean I'm big, buff, I like sports and shit. I'm loud, I'm not the biggest fan of makeup, I dress differently, and act differently from all other girls... You know?" She said to me.
I gave her a sad sympathetic smile "I'm afraid I don't... But hey, don't worry about it. You're you, and you're gender doesn't define you and how you can act! Activities and your everyday routine aren't genderized, or at least they shouldn't be. What you wear, how you wear it, your body type, build, your interests... They're not assigned to gender, they're assigned to your character. Your design. They're you. And as you say countless times a day you're perfect. So what, you like sports. So do a lot of other girls! So what, you're tall, you've got muscle, and you don't dress preppy, and you don't do up your makeup like a ditzy blonde celebrity everyday. So do a lot of other girls. Everyone is different inside and out, and everyone is perfect in their own little way, because they're themselves." I told her and watched as she pushed back her hair and tucked it behind her ears.
"Tch... Thanks Lapis..." She looked up towards the clouds "You don't know how much that just reassured me..." She glanced at me out of the corner of her eye and flashed me a sincere smile. From that angle she looked especially pretty, more so to me right then than ever before. I felt my cheeks warm again.
"Y-you're welcome..." We locked eyes. Trapped within eye contact I realized it was now or never. "Hey Jasp?" I asked.
"Hm?" She responded. No going back now.
"You wanna.... Like... You know..." I dropped the eye contact as I thought of a way to ask. "Do you..."
She let out a small chuckle and shifted her weight. I hadn't noticed she leant forwards until it happened.... She kissed me. It was short and sweet, more than just a peck though, but I was so surprised I didn't know how to respond. I just went completely red.
When she pulled away she asked the question I was going to ask. "You wanna go out with me sometime?" I couldn't say anything, I was still so shocked, and now also really embarrassed. I just nodded my head fairly desperately in response.