Gem High

11

Rose's POV:
"How could you Amethyst? We're meant to be better than this." I lectured as Amethyst shied away, most of her face hidden by her hair. Pearl had told me what had happened and I just couldn't believe my ears, but I understood that Amethyst had been upset. I mean she could let her emotions get the better of her sometimes, and none of us are perfect. Not her, not Pearl. Not..  Me. But I had to be mad at her so she'd realise what she did was serious.
"I'm really, I mean it wasn't supposed to go that out of hand" apologised Amethyst regretfully.
"Yes Amethyst, very reckless" chipped in Pearl, smiling slyly.
"And you Pearl, don't blame all of this on her, you should have retrieved Peridot's crutches sensibly, and not run off pettily" at my remark, Pearl bowed her head in shame and blushed violently.
"I know that you were angry, both of you, but despite our opinions of Peridot we should still apologise, all of us. She isn't a bad person, just a little.... Difficult" I finished, proud that I'd managed to convince them; they were now nodding in agreement.
2 hours later, at evening dinner:
Pearl, Amethyst and I watched as Lapis and Peridot walked into the hall, surprisingly it was Lapis that was trailing. Neither of them seemed especially annoyed but then again the incident had been two days ago, Amethyst and Pearl had just taken a while to bring up the courage to tell me. Then suddenly, I noticed as Lapis made her way towards us, now she looked terrifying.
"So, you two think it's okay to pick on someone smaller then you" asks Lapis.
"Actually we're similar heights, and she started it" returned Amethyst boldly.
Having given up, I turned to let them bicker and saw Peridot still at her table, alone with an IPad, so I went over, if Amethyst and Pearl couldn't bring themselves to do it, I'd have to apologize by myself.
"What do you want?" Asked Peridot in a somewhat snarky way.
"To apologize" at my answer she seemed befuddled, likes she was trying, and failing, to work something out.
"But you didn't do anything, every conversation we've had has been entirely factual, you have no reason to apologize" she reasoned to herself, seemingly lost in my logic.
"Yes but you must be upset, and my friends were very rash, you were alone and looked like you needed someone to talk to" I explained. She seemed embarrassed I had heard her and blushed before quickly saying
"I am not alone or upset, Lapis is just over there, but I... Appreciate your concern". Glad to hear her not insulting me, and now more invested in the idea she was a nice person I waved and turned to leave.
"Wait, I mean..... I should also apologize. I... Ugh, shouldn't have called you stupid" she interrupted, at first almost frantic but now like she was trudging through her syllables.
"Can I sit with you?" I asked cheerfully and smiling.
"Sure, I guess, i mean Lapis will probably be a while" with this she motioned toward the other seat, after having a glance at the Lapis situation in my table, and smiled nervously.
That night:
"What do you mean you befriended her?" Asked Amethyst, bewildered and unsure. Pearl had a similar, but more envious, expression.
"She's is a nicer person then we initially thought, and she apologized for calling me stupid." I explained patiently.
"Did she also apologize for calling you prissy? For calling you a clod? For insulting both Amethyst and I?" Asked Pearl, brimming with emotion.
"She'll be in trouble for this, the Diamonds will have her head for chatting with you Rose" brought up Sapphire both helpfully and frightfully.
"Why though? She's still worshipping them right?" Questioned Ruby whilst stroking Sapphire's long auburn hair that really needed a shorter fringe.
"Doesn't matter, one pleasant word with the terrible Rose Quartz is unacceptable" pantomined Amethyst in an exaggerated tone, greeted by laughter from all of us. Peridot would be fine, she still hates most of us. And with the Diamonds, nothing less would be expected.