Lapis: Sounds good. I'll see u soon :)

I read the text message a couple of times, before setting down my phone. Lapis and I were going to meet at the coffee shop again today, and I planned on avoiding Jasper as well as everyone else. The last thing I would want is for Jasper to follow me or some crazy shit like that. I looked out the window, and noticed it was raining, so I grabbed my green hoodie and slipped it on. I threw my hood over my head, and took my phone off of my bed. 

I stuffed it into my pocket, and left my bedroom in silence. I speed-walked down the stairs, trying to remain stealthy and unnoticed by the others. I could hear them all talking in the kitchen, and the front door was just across in the living room. Stealth stealth stealth stealth stea-I felt my left foot hook behind my right ankle, and my eyes widened. I realized I was walking down the stairs too fast, and stumbled down a step or two. 

I then fell forward, attempting to grasp the railing but failed. "AHHH!!" I screamed as I began to tumble down the deadly carpeted staircase. I did a few somersaults, and landed onto the floor with a loud thump. I blinked a few times, lifting my head slowly as the room was subtly spinning. I heard Amethyst burst into laughter, and footsteps toward me. "Peridot?! You good,?!" Jasper asked , standing in front of me. I scrambled to my feet urgently and dusted my self off. "I'm fine." I grumbled, walking right past her toward the front door. 

So much for being stealthy. "Where are you going?" Jasper asked, and I rolled my eyes. "Out." I replied, unlocking the door and twisting the doorknob. "You're goin' out with that cop, aren't you?" the buff woman finally asked, and I halted from opening the door. "I'm not going out with her! We're just friends!" I protested. "Well either way you're gonna see her, aren't you?" Jasper shot back. I closed my eyes and huffed, feeling exasperated. 

"Maybe." I stated, now opening the door. "Hey, take me with you." she said, walking up behind me closer. "What? No!" I turned around to look at her. "Why not?" she asked, tilting her head. "Because I know you'll screw things up. And you just wanna screw her over anyways." I explained, turning back around. "I won't screw her over, dude. Just take me!" she begged. "Nope. Once you know which police officer it is, you'll eventually be out to get her." I claimed, stepping out the door. Jasper grunted and sighed heavily. 

"Hmph. You can't hide this friend of yours forever, Peridot." she said, before walking back into the house toward the kitchen. I grumbled, closing the door behind me and walking out to my car.

. . . .

Once I opened the door to the coffee shop, I spotted Lapis sitting at a table with a laptop in front of her. I approached the table, and Lapis looked over at me with a grin. "Hey Peri!" she greeted, halting her typing on her laptop for a moment. "Hey Lazuli." I sat across from her, resting my elbows on the table. Coffees already sat on the table, and I raised my eyebrows. "Did you pay for mine again?" I asked, blushing slightly. 

Oh yeah, heh. That's the third time, huh? It's turned into a habit." Lapis giggled. I tsked and reached into my pocket for my wallet. I slid a twenty dollar bill to her and giggled. "It'll be on me this time." I said, and she looked down at the money. Lapis snickered and shook her head. "Fine." she stated, as if she were just told to go do a chore. "What're you doing?" I asked, slightly leaning forward since I was unable to see her screen. 

"There was another robbery last night. The bank allowed us to access their security footage, so I put it on my flashdrive and I'm playing it on here. I'll finally get to see who these bastards are" she explained, staring at the screen focused. "Wh-which bank?" I asked shakily, praying that it was a different bank from the one we robbed last night. "The Washington Federal down the street across from the Big Donut." she replied. "Can I see?" I asked, standing up. 

"Yeah, come around here." she said, eyes unmoving from the screen. I quickly walked over to Lapis's side, trying not to show too much urgency. I gripped the coffee in my hand tightly, feeling quite anxious. There was black and white footage of the inside of the Washington Federal Bank. A rock then shattered through the window, skidding across the floor followed by scattered glass shards. This was the part I knew that had me included in the next few seconds. I felt my heart rate pick up, and my hands shook violently. 

The blood drained from my face as it showed my tumbling body fly through the hole of the window into the bank. "What the hell..." Lapis muttered, probably finding the method strange nonetheless. Once the figure was slowly climbing to her feet, I screamed inside and panicked violently. My hand impulsively jerked forward, and my coffee spilled all over the laptop. I pretended it was an accident, and gasped loudly. 

Lapis backed up quickly and gasped as well, and I suddenly regretted my decision. "HOLY SHIT I AM SO SORRY!!" I cried falsely, though feeling genuinely bad. The screen glitched a bit, and shut off completely. "Ah fuck!" she exclaimed, reaching forward for napkins. "I-I'll get some more napkins!" I said anxiously, running to the front counter. I snatched several napkins from the holder, and turned around, dashing back to the table. 

Lapis was soaking up all the coffee that drenched the laptop, and I urgently wiped around the laptop. "I am so sorry, Lapis. It was an accident." I whimpered. "I-it's fine. It might've fried, but I don't know yet. I-I'll just take it to the shop or something." she explained. An idea popped into my head. "I'm good with that kinda stuff." I said, looking up at her. She raised her eyebrows and stared back at me. "Really?" she beamed. "Y-yeah! I'll take it home and see if I an get it turned on or anything. Restore any files on there." I explained, grinning. 

"O-okay. Thanks, Peridot." she muttered. "Please don't thank me. I'm the one who caused this." I chuckled nervously. We both threw the napkins out in the trash, and I examined the laptop. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught Lapis staring at me, and I felt a blush spread across my cheeks. I finally looked back at her, and her eyes darted away. I giggled, and stared at her now. I couldn't put it together. "Why would Pearl dump someone like you..." I murmured, perking up as soon as I heard what I just said. Lapis's eyes shot back to me, and her cheeks grew a tinted pink. 

Wh-what?" she asked. "N-nothing I-I meant...why would someone leave a cop to be with a criminal, ya know?" I explained quickly, clearing my throat. Lapis traced her finger down the table, and sighed. "I dunno....some just like the badass type...and that isn't me." she chuckled. "You chase bad guys almost every day. I'd say that's pretty badass." I protested, and smirking at Lapis. "Pretty crappy badass who can't catch 'em." she remarked, and I rolled my eyes snickering. 

I felt Lapis's hand slide closer to mine, and I glanced down at it. My previously slowed heartbeat sped up again, and my chest tingled. Her phone on the table buzzed, startling both of us. She quickly pulled her hand away, and I internally groaned. Lapis read the notif, and sighed, closing her eyes. "I gotta go..." she murmured, standing up. I stood up with her, and felt sad that she had to leave so soon. "I'll see you again soon?" Lapis asked, giving me a cute look. 

"Very soon." I replied, smiling a little. She then leaned down to my level, and kissed my cheek softly. My toes curled inside my shoes, and my eyes grew wide. "Seeya, Peridot." she said, before taking her coffee, and walking out the door – leaving the laptop. I stared as she left, and I gently placed my hand onto my cheek, and my blush spread down to my shoulders. "B-bye..." I squeaked, though she was already gone.