The Stars And All The Rest

Ninety-Everything Is Alright

Pearl's pov

I'd always loved reading.

It wasn't just about the stories told, but how the stories were told. The protagonist gaining allies and overcoming obstacles.

And because everything was alright in the end.

I was at my first ever family barbecue, and I had never been prouder of my family. All of it. We were gathered in the backyard of my father's house. He had taken control of the grill, and was cooking a variety of foods for everyone.

Opal and her friends were in the pool, a good sized aboveground, tossing a beachball around.

Amethyst stood by the snack table talking to Ruby and Sapphire, trying her hardest to sneak a cupcake despite my mother's stern warnings.

I was sitting on the patio couch with Peridot and her sisters, the older three of us cooing over Centi.

For once in a while, everything felt right. Even though Opal would be leaving for college the next month, and Amethyst would be going back to her father's house after Sugilite left, I was confident that I'd be fine.

"Pearl?" I turned my head to see that Opal was out of the pool and and now standing beside me.

"Yes?"

"You're going to be okay?" I nodded my head.

"I'm ready for whatever life can throw at me." Opal pulled me up into a hug.

"I love you so much. And I'm very proud of you."

"Me?" I asked. "But you're the impressive one!" Opal shook her head.

"You're the stronger one. You've overcome so much." I smiled.

"Thak you. But you've done so much too! You've helped raise me, you've helped so many people, you've been accepted into a college!" I said, naming just a few of Opal's accomplishments. She chuckled.

"God. If I could be even half as great as you say I am..." She shook her head. "You've done a lot this year, Pearl. I mean, look at everyone who's come together because of you!" She gestured towards everyone in the yard, my friends and family.

"Because of me?" I asked, astonished.

"I doubt even half of these people would be here if it weren't for you!" I looked at everyone closely.

I did admit, I was the one to reach out to Peridot and Yellen first. And the only reason my father even held the cookout was because he wanted to make up for Opal and I's childhood. I smiled.

"Thank you, Opal. You're right." I hugged her again. "I love you so much."

"I love you too, Pearl." Opal replied. After a minute I finally returned to my seat beside Peridot.

"Are you okay?" She asked. I smiled, taking a look around the yard at my family. All of them. And I realized again just how lucky I was. I grabbed Peridot's hand.

"Yes, I think I am." Everyone had come so far in the past year, and I couldn't wait to see where life took us.

I love you, I thought, as the sun began to set. I love all of you.

The Stars And All The Rest