Me, Myself, and Him

Chapter 12: Can't sleep

Lapis POV

I woke up the next morning feeling more refreshed and at ease. I looked over to see Peridot had gotten out of the hammock and was sitting on the floor writing something. I got up and did a quick stretch. Peridot must have noticed I was awake, because she spun around to face me.

"Good morning Lapis! Are you feeling any better?" She asked

I finished my stretch, walked over and sat beside her.

"Yeah, a little bit. I'm still a little... tense over last night, but other than that everything's pretty okay." I replied.

"That's good to hear. Sorry if I woke you up. I wanted to get a head start on writing that report that your "friend" wanted."

"It's okay."

Peridot promptly went back to writing the report. I just sat watching her. She had her tongue sticking out and her brow was furrowed in concentration. She looked adorable so hard at work.

I need to talk with her about everything that's been happening recently. She's been taking such good care of me. Watching over me when I was unconscious. Sticking with me even when I tried to kill her.

Staying with me last night when I was too scared to be alone.

My cheeks started to heat up when I thought about that last one. She really did care about me. It was a little thought that meant a lot to me. I hadn't really had someone that really cared about me. Well, I had Steven. He was the one who freed me from that mirror I was trapped in. But, he was a human. To know that another GEM cared about me like Steven cared enough to free me was a... comforting thought.

"H-Hey Peri?" I stuttered.

"Yeah, Lapis?"

"I just wanted to say... thank you."

Peridot stopped writing and looked up at me.

"For what?"

"For sticking around for me. I've put you through so many bad things over these past couple days, and you didn't have to do the things that you did. But you did them. And t-that means a lot to me. I wish I had some way to pay you back but-"

I was cut off by Peridot putting a finger over my lips, quieting me. Her face was that of a gentle person: understanding eyes and a small, caring smile.

"Lapis, I'm not doing this out of any monetary incentive or a need to be rewarded. I'm doing this because I care. It... It makes me feel horrible to see you in such a state. I WANT you to get better. So, don't worry about paying me back. I promised to take care of you." She said with a caring voice.

My face was really heating up now. Did she really care that much about me? What did I ever do to deserve such a good barnmate? 

When this was all over, I REALLY needed to pay her back somehow.

"I... I don't know what to say. Thank you, Peri." I replied.

"No problem, Lapis!" She said, then promptly returned to her work.

I looked over her shoulder to see what she was writing. Peridot must have noticed this, because she stopped writing and moved her head so I could see better.

...The believed point of infection was at the Prime Kindergarten at an old abandoned laboratory. The laboratory did not seem to be gem-made, so it was most likely human, although one wonders why a human would want to station themselves in the Prime Kindergarten. While I did not witness the moment when the infection occured, I believe that Lapis can't sleep won't sleep can't sleep won't sleep can't sleep won't sleep can't sleep won't sleep can't sleep won't sleep can't sleep won't sleep can't sleep won't sleep can't sleep won't sleep can't sleep won't sleep can't sleep won't sleep can't sleep won't sleep can't sleep won't sleep can't sleep won't sleep can't sleep won't sleep...