It was when I heard the water turn off in the shower that I sat up. Lapis, especially when angry, terrified me.

She came in like a storm, paying no regard to our probably sleeping neighbors as she paced around the room, rambling on about Jasper. I couldn't gather exactly what had happened the night before other than Jasper was involved, and something with a cow and 80s anime.

"Slow down, Lapis...." I said. "I can't understand you..."

Lapis, in response to my pleas, groaned and flopped over onto her bed.

I nodded. "Yeah. Uh. Life can be like that sometimes. I'm going out." I stood up.

"Get me some chocolate while you're out...." Lapis whined from her bed. "You know the kind I like, right?"

"Yes, dark chocolate salted Carmel." I sighed as a grabbed my bag and coat. Before closing the door, I turned to Lapis. She was still on her bed, whining about Jasper. I sighed and closed the door behind me.

The city wasn't exactly dead, but it wasn't alive either. The holidays were mostly over, and no one was out shopping. The streets were pretty much empty.

I got to the corner of Grey street and 20th, only a few blocks away from the teahouse, which probably wouldn't be open due to it being the holidays and the shops owner's just coming back from vacation in Canada.

I sighed and waited for the sign on the other side of the sidewalk to change from a red hand to the figure of a green person walking across the street. It wasn't snowing here, but the wind was strong and bitter.

After five minutes (I timed it on my phone's clock to be certain) of waiting for the light to change color, I determined the light was broken and decided to risk it by just walking across the street.

Before I knew it, I was sitting on the concrete road, a car sitting seven inches from my face.

My reflexes must've kicked in, because I hadn't been hit at all.

The door of the car opened, and a tall, muscular woman with the fluffiest platinum blonde hair I had ever seen walked out. She seemed familiar, but I had no idea where I knew her from.

"Oh god oh lord." She said as she helped me to my feet. "Did I hurt you?"

"No, I'm fine." I said as I struggled to make eye contact with her. "I have quick reflexes."

"Cool. I'm Jasper, by the way."

It was then it made sense. This was the Jasper. Lapis' ex Jasper. The one that apparently ruined her life last night. "I'm Peridot." I said, trying to keep a straight face. I didn't want to let Jasper know I was her ex's roommate, for some reason. Mostly because Jasper seemed like the type of person who would pick a fight for just about anything, and looked like the type of person who could knock me out with one hit.

Jasper nodded. "Do you know where the closest grocery store is? I need to pick up something....."

I looked up at Jasper and smiled. "Actually, I'm headed there right now! I too have things to get!" I sounded way haughtier than I had intended, but the point came across.

"Cool." Jasper said. "Can you show me? I'm new in town and lost."

I nodded. "You can park your car over there." I said, gesturing to the empty lot that was across the street. "It's three dollars per hour after five and on Saturdays, but it's neither Saturday nor after five so you'll be fine."

Jasper nodded, got back into her car, and drove into the lot, then parked. After locking her car, she came back over to where I was standing in the middle of the road. "Lead the way." She said.

I nodded and did so

Jasper and I walked through the city, not talking to each other at all, save for the occasional, 'hey look a bird'

We passed a particular ominous looking alleyway, complete with a metal gate. The strangest part of it was the growths upon growths of long-dead roses that practically littered the place. Jasper took a long look at the alleyway, then scoffed. "This way, right?" She said, pointing ahead of her.

I couldn't tell exactly what had upset her so much.