Lapidot: Just Like This

Chapter one: Calm

Peridot trudged along the corridor with her bags glancing down at the number on her new key occasionally and muttering the number '152' under her breath over and over, simultaneously checking the numbers on the doors. Her anxiety was getting the better of her, she was worrying that she might get the wrong door and bother someone, but surprisingly she wasn't scared of meeting her roommate, what was the point? They were going to be stuck together in that room for the rest of their time there so she shouldn't worry because it would just make it a worse experience, and she had promised herself she would enjoy college to it's fullest. Peridot glanced up one more time and slowed to a stop outside the door that read her keys number, she unlocked it and took the doorknob in her hand, it was awkward with the keys dangling from her fingers and threatening to fall, she turned it down. Peridot stumbled into the room with her bags but straightened herself up to her full height, which wasn't very tall, when she saw who she assumed was her roommate lying on the bed on the far left of the room. The girl wore a neutral, almost bored looking expression and looked quite relaxed reading a book while she was immersed by a pillow, her blue hair was messy and looked like an ink blot on the grey of the pillow. the atmosphere was soft. Peridot didn't want to disturb her since she didn't seem to acknowledge that she was there, so she placed her bags carefully down in front of the bed but placed her rucksack just underneath so she could have access to entertainment such as her phone, laptop, 3DS, books etc... Peridot looked across the room at the girl, she hadn't moved at all or said anything so she decided to break the silence.

'Uh... hello... roommate.' Peridot was quiet but the girl had heard her as her expression changed abruptly into one of surprise, she definitely didn't process the fact that Peridot had come into the room at all and it made Peridot smile slightly. 

'Um, hello i didn't realize you came in...' the girl's body language was reserved. Peridot guessed she wasn't one for socializing either so she decided to go with a calming approach.

'That book must be very interesting.' 

'Yeah it's quite good i guess. you must be Peridot then, my name is Lapis Lasuli.' 

That caught Peridot off guard.

'Yes. i'm Peridot, how did you know my name?' She tugged slightly on the hem of her jumper as she was suddenly nervous, she didn't know what to do with her hands. Lapis waved her hand. 

'Don't worry i'm not some psycho stalker i just asked the receptionist and she searched it up for me, s'all good.' Peridot was somewhat embarrassed at that but she smiled regardless.

'Heh, cool, uhh... you got any rules or anything i don't wanna bother you, you know.' Lapis looked thoughtful but shrugged.

'I guess just don't wake me up early and learn my sense of humor quick and we'll be good.' Peridot smiled.

'Sounds easy enough.' with that Lapis returned to her book and Peridot took out her phone from her rucksack, they both went their separate ways for the rest of the day. They both thought that was a reasonable first impression for their first day of college.

***

After exploring around for a good amount of time on campus, Peridot found herself at a local barista style coffee shop, it had a lovely warm atmosphere to it with the sun shining brightly through the windows and showing little bits of dust floating through the air. tables were laid out neatly with table cloths, many had mismatched chairs and benches around them, it was calm, a few people scattered around the room, and the only noise was the slight bustling behind the counter and the low chatter coming from a group of most likely students. Peridot made her way to the counter which came up to slightly below her shoulders and a barista came over to her straight away with a smile on her face, it was a tall, pale woman with peach coloured hair and a pointed nose. 

'Hi there, what can i get for you?' Peridot smiled back politely.

'Yeah, can i get a chai latte please?' The woman nodded once and got to making the latte.

'So...' The woman started, 'Are you a student at the academy across from here too? They all seem to be attracted to this place.' Peridot just nodded, she wasn't one for small talk but the woman seemed to get the hint. She was soon presented with a steaming cup of chai latte and she dropped the exact change needed into the woman's hand. 

'Thank you, enjoy.' Peridot nodded again and proceeded to a cozy nook where there was a bench in front of a low table. She observed the scene before her, two baristas chatting, the peach haired one and a shorter, curvier girl with darker skin and dyed purple hair. She also looked over to the group of chattering students, a tall, buff girl with slightly dark skin and weird markings on her body, another tall woman with an afro and dark skin, a short, pale boy with puffy black hair and also Lapis; her roommate she had met earlier that day. Peridot was drawn to the group and couldn't stop herself from observing the quiet chatter and laughter coming from the other side of the room while she sipped her latte.

***

Lapis snorted at Steven's remark and everyone else laughed too, she agreed that her hair did look like a blue bird's nest. 

'I can just imagine a little blue bird popping out of it.' Steven said and smiled at everyone's reaction. The big girl with the markings, Jasper was her name, ruffled Lapis' hair. 'Maybe we'll have to chop it all off if you don't start looking after it.' 

Lapis scoffed at Jasper. 'As if i would let you near me with a pair of scissors, i've only met you today.' They laughed again and the woman with the afro, Garnet, gave a thumbs up with a smirk on her face. On the other side of the room Peridot had long since finished her latte and was just watching, yearning to be included but not quite sure how to approach them, luckily for her Lapis had noticed and started looking at her with a quizzical look, waving her over as if she was confused that she hadn't come over already to say hi. Peridot was nervous but determined to make conversation so she stood, took a breath, and walked over to the group.