Opal's pov

So far, college life had been everything I expected. I had to set three alarms for my morning classes, I was living on mostly the hot chocolate Rhodonite was getting me, and my plans to take neat notes had failed. I was living the dream.

I stayed after class one Friday evening to ask my Psyche 101 professor about something we'd spoken about in class. We'd spent most of the class talking about how outside influences can affect the mind, and it had sparked a connection with my memories of Pearl during the first few months after the accident.

"Excuse me, Professor? Do you have a minute to talk quickly?" He smiled and sat down.

"Go for it." I sat down next to him.

"Well, I was thinking about what you said regarding outside influences. What specific types of influences were you suggesting?" He thought for a moment.

"Well, everything affects how we think and feel, doesn't it?" I nodded. "It could be something as simple as seeing somebody in the grocery store who looks upset, or it could be a big change in your life." He observed me. "What exactly were you thinking?"

"My sister Pearl was in a bad accident a couple of years ago." I confessed. "She's always been a little different, she's never really had lots of friends, but ever since then she's been so withdrawn." He nodded.

"This accident most likely affected her confidence."

"She used to be so bright and energetic, but now she's... Not. I'm just glad she has two good friends who care about her."

"I think this accident has affected you too." I blinked, and looked up at him.

"What do you mean?" He shifted in his seat.

"Has the accident made you more protective of Pearl?"

"I've always been protective since my dad left, but... I guess it has." My professor was quiet again.

"Has it made you more protective of yourself?"

I closed the door the the dorm building behind me and fumbled around for the key to our mailbox.

Once I found it, I opened the box and stared going through the mail. It was mostly coupons, with a couple of flyers and a small package for Rhodonite mixed in.

I was checking out the front page of a sample magazine when the doors to the elevator opened. Normally I wouldn't have paid much attention, but the annoyed grumbling of the person caught my attention. I looked up from the mail and saw...

"Rainbow?" She was wearing break-an-ankle high heels and a dress with a sweatshirt over it. I dropped my mail.

"Opal?" We silently stared at eachother for a good minute until she turned around and bolted back into the elevator. Panicking, I grabbed the mail I had dropped, locked the mailbox again, and ran up the stairs.

It was clearly not a well-thought-out plan, as climbing fifteen flights of stairs is much harder than it seems. Nevertheless I was persistent enough to then run down the hall and slam the door to the dorm behind me, panting heavily. I collapsed on the ground.

"Oh my stars are you okay?" Rhodonite asked, pulling me to my feet.

"I'm fine, I just..." I thought for a second. "Ran into someone I didn't want to see." Remembering the package, I grabbed at rehearsal mail. "You got a package."

"Ooh, nice!" She opened it to reveal a letter and a beautiful necklace.

"A letter? But don't you have a phone?" I questioned.

"Oh dear, you probably think that's kind of weird, don't you? I swear it's not, my Grandmother just doesn't want to use up all my minutes!"

"I get it, it's not weird at all." She smiled, and turned her attention back to the letter.

"It says that my family misses me. Aw, how sweet!"

"And that necklace is gorgeous!" I marveled. It was a decent sized brass heart, that looked almost like it could open. "Is it a locket?" Rhodonite checked the letter.

"Yes! And it has a picture of my family!" I opened the heart to reveal a picture of Rhodonite with four people; there was an older woman, a girl who looked to be around Pearl's age, and two girls who looked around my age.

"This is your family?" I asked.

"You don't think they're weird, do you? Just because Grandma Fluorite takes her time, and Padparaschda is slow to respond, and the twins are conjoined, doesn't mean they're weird!" I took a second to register what Rhodonite had said.

"That's so cool!" She beamed proudly.

"See? I knew you were cool when you didn't make fun of my Vitiligo!"

"Why would I make fun of you for something so beautiful?" She was quiet for a moment. "Are you okay?" I noticed she was tearing up, and she ran at me full force, hugging me tightly.

"You're the nicest person ever and I'm so sorry that person earlier made you feel so flustered!" She said, reminding me of Rainbow.

"It's okay." What were the odds we'd go to the same college? And even be living the same building? I shook my head. I wouldn't let Rainbow rain on my parade. "So what do you want to do for dinner?"

(A/N) Here we go! Instead of the traditional fact of the day, here's a little something I posted in my rant book:

Because people have been mad.