Opal's Pov

"So what are you girls doing for Halloween?" Mom asked as I turned the corner into to kitchen. Pearl and Peridot were sitting at the table eating waffles.

"Probably the usual neighborhood," Pearl answered, taking a sip of her milk.

"No, I meant costume-wise." Mom said. "Halloween's on Tuesday and I haven't helped anyone make costumes yet."

"Oh," Pearl said. "I hadn't quite thought about it." I chuckled.

"You're losing your edge." I walked over to her and ruffled her hair. "Mornin Pearl."

"Good morning Opal." She smiled.

"What about you, Opal?" Mom asked, changing her focus to me.

"Staying in and watching movies with Rhodonite probably." I guessed. Mom shook her head.

"Staying in? Who is this?" I laughed.

"Would you rather I got wasted on a school night?" She sighed and smiled.

"There's just no winning with you." I smiled and gave her a hug.

"I put up a pretty good fight."

"Where's Miss Rainbow this morning?" She asked.

"She's taking a shower," I explained. Mom nodded.

"You guys going to see Greg today?" I sighed.

"Yeah. Just to make sure Steven's okay." She smiled and gave my hand a squeeze.

"You should get going before the Wash gets busy."

"Gotcha." I headed back upstairs to grab my wallet and keys. Rainbow walked into my room, fully dressed. She started to put her dirty clothes back in her bag but I stopped her.

"Woah there. My mom will literally kill you if you leave without letting her wash anything. Put them in the hamper." I said, nodding towards my hamper.

"Okay then." She placed her clothes inside and we headed out.

"Bye Mom, love you!" I called.

"Drive safe!" Rainbow pulled out of the driveway and down the street, before stopping.

"Are you sure we should be doing this?" She asked, looking at me. I placed a hand on hers.

"Let's go."

The wash hadn't opened yet when we got there, but Greg's van was sitting in the parking lot. Rainbow parked the car and we stepped up to it, looking at each other with caution.

"Should we... knock?" She asked. I shrugged, and tentatively knocked on the van door. There were a few bumps inside the van, then Greg opened the door. He was disheveled and held a golf club in his hand.

"I have every right to be here!" He yelled, before realizing who we were. "Oh geeze, hey Opal, Rainbow." He stood in silence for a moment. "You guys can... come in I guess?" Rainbow and I looked at each other before stepping inside dubiously.

To say we looked out of place was an understatement. I was wearing a blouse, which made me feel wicked overdressed inside the trashed van. Rainbow and I sat down on some empty milk crates while Greg sat down a  mattress. In the back of the van, Steven was asleep in a playpen.

"I wasn't expecting guests, so mind the mess," Greg said. Rainbow looked at me and mouthed 'the van?' and I shrugged.

"So Greg," I started, but failed to find follow up words.

"I know what you mean, Opal." He said. "And I can assure you that Steven's fine. He hasn't woken up yet, but when he does I'll change his diaper and feed him."

"Greg," Rainbow asked. "Are you okay?"

"What do you mean?" Rainbow half-laughed.

"I mean, you're literally living in a van with your son, you're a high school dropout, and you look like you barely have enough money to feed yourself, much less my nephew!" She was yelling now.

"Rainbow," I said quietly, placing a hand on her shoulder. She stood up.

"Is this how you expect to live the rest of your life? Are you proud of this? Would Rose be proud of this?"

"Rainbow!" I yelled, standing up and grabbing her arm. Steven was awake and bawling his eyes out. Greg was still sitting on the mattress, paralyzed. "Outside. Now." I stepped outside and she followed me.

"What?" She asked defensively.

"You need to calm down." She shook her head and wiped tears away from her eyes with her sweater sleeve.

"It isn't right, Opal. My sister didn't die for this. She didn't die for her son t grow up in a fucking van next to the fucking carwash!" She yelled. Tears were streaming down her face.

"Listen Rainbow, I know you want to help and I know what it's like to feel like you're helpless. I've felt that way for two years." I said.

"Yeah, but you still have a chance to do right by your sister! You still have a chance to tell her you love her and that you're sorry for everything you've ever done. You don't have to go home to an empty house where your mother says about as much as a teapot and only ever seems to want to talk about someone you can never see again!" She yelled.

"Rainbow, calm down! We're here for Steven, not Rose. We can't go back in time and save Rose but we can make sure that Steven has the life she would have wanted for him. She would have wanted him to be loved and supported by everyone around him, and she would've wanted for you to be happy." I took a step towards her. "We came all this way for him, let's help him." he freezing wind blew hair and leaves into my face. Rainbow reached out and swept them out of m face.

And that's when she kissed me.