Fallen Star {Lapidot}

Chapter 2: A Party Scene

Peridot stood nervously in front of the door, still clutching the address in her sweaty grip. She took a deep breath and pushed her glasses deeper into her face before bringing a shaking hand up to knock on the daunting entrance. Her fist barely stroked the surface before the door was flung open and a group of studs rushed towards her, shouting. They didn't seem to notice her, so she slipped through a small hole in the crowd and stumbled through plenty more. Confused, Peridot started climbing the stairs to the roof; tripping on a smaller girl halfway up. She screamed,
"Topaz! Get this imbecile out of my way!"
A taller woman appeared and, without a word, picked Peridot up and flung her up the last flight of stairs, before walking back to the dwarven bully. Peridot quickly shook off and opened the door to the rooftop, only to be hit with blaring music and what sounded like thousands of voices. She took one step forward, but got stampeded before she had chance to take another. From beneath the sea of high heels, she saw a familiar face and crawled to it, her pace quickening with each step. She sat back on her heels, completely out of breath; and then realised whose feet she was at. Eyes wide, she stood up and stared at what was in front of her. Lapis snorted,
"I think you might have a little work to do when it comes to the social scene, huh?"
Peridot blushed deeply,
"Uh... I guess you could say that..."
Lapis smiled and held out a drink for Peridot. After a few seconds, she spoke up,
"Earth to Peridot, anyone home?"
Peridot realised that she had been staring at Lapis for a little longer than welcomed, and nodded enthusiastically. She then took the red cup from Lapis suddenly and threw her head back. She regretted this immediately. Swallowing it painfully, she spluttered,
"Wh-at is this..?"
Lapis took back the now empty cup and smirked,
"Something that's just got you a ban on the pool."
Peridot stared back at her blankly. Lapis rolled her eyes, still amused by the situation,
"Whiskey, Peridot, whiskey."
Peridot's face fell as she watched Lapis walk back to the drinks table and the realisation hit her.
"God, what would Pearl think of me right now?"

Lapis returned and handed Peridot another cup, which she took both graciously and hesitantly. After a small thanks, Lapis led her over to a quiet corner behind the pool, sitting down beside a deckchair.
"So, what made you decide to come?"
"What do y-you mean?"
"I mean, you don't look like the type of person who parties every night, why'd you bother?"
"You invited me, did-didn't you?"
"I suppose I did."
Peridot took a large sip of her drink, before offering it to Lapis, who declined it gently,
"Sorry, not tonight, I'm on lifeguard duty."
"Well, shouldn't you be out by the pool then?" Peridot said, distressed.
"I've still got a while, people only tend to start drowning after ten or so."
Peridot stuttered,
"Oh, o-okay then."
Lapis smiled and waited just seconds for the inevitable question,
"Wait, how come we've got alcohol?!"
"Jasper's mom is never in, so we just took a few bottles from the cellar."
"So, is that the name of your... Erm..."
"Girlfriend, yes, it's okay to say that y'know" Lapis finished. Suddenly, a towering girl with long, thick hair walked up to them heavily. She grabbed Lapis' hand and pulled her upwards,
"People are about to take turns in the pool, I need you to be on duty, not sulking in a corner with this... thing. Get out there."
She dropped Lapis, who was now catching her breath back, and strode away almost as quickly as she had arrived.
"Th-that was Jasper, better get back out there, see you soon?"
Peridot mumbled a farewell and sunk down into the tiles, taking several more gulps of the strong beverage.

---

The night had progressed to midnight, and Lapis was no longer by the pool. Peridot stumbled around drunkedly; she had drank another 2 cups of who knows what. She had introduced herself to at least a hundred people as
"Pierridottopus nyehlikeyougurl,"
each time being met with confusion and balling laughter. The loud music had started drilling into Peridot's skull and was shaking her entire body. Her dulling vision latched onto a boy no older than 13. She began her pre-rehearsed introduction,
"Hey, Imma Pierridottopus nyehlikegu--?"
The boy struggled to keep his tears of laughter back as he held out his hand to her.
"I'm Steven, nice to meet you... Dot..?"
Peridot smiled and took his rough hand. Shadows crept into her vision and her knees shook. She felt Steven's hand slip from hers and heard him shouting her name before her head hit the cold floor.