Opal's pov

(Friday afternoon)

"Opal, I don't want to go!" Pearl whined.

"Pearl, are you okay? I thought you liked Rose?" I asked. I remember a year or two before when Pearl had decided she was into girls, specifically Rose. I admired that. I still hadn't  decided that for myself.

"Well, yes, but Rose likes Gregory." Pearl fake gagged, and I laughed.

"Amethyst is coming over, does that make you feel better?" Pearl crossed her arms and looked away. "So that's a yes. Bye!" Pearl looked back at me.

"But-" but I was already in the locker room.

"Hey, sis!" Sardonyx said loudly. I sighed.

"What?"

"Weeeelll, I was talking to dad," She started in a singsong voice.

"Your first mistake." She laughed.

"And he was talking to your mom," I looked up at her.

"What?" I asked quietly, hoping for the impossible.

"Well, we're gonna have dinner as a family on Sunday! Isn't that great?" She squealed.

"Actually, that sounds kind of fun." I said quietly. "I'll see you there." She walked out to start practice, and I was finishing pulling my hair back when I heard a sigh followed by Lapis rounding the corner.

"Hey! What's up?" I asked, noticing her upset expression.

"It's my mom. She's mad at me for joining the cheer squad." She sat down, and I sat with her.

"Have you talked to her since she got mad?" I asked, trying to offer my infamous crappy advice.

"Only to tell me about our family dinner with Mrs. Diamond's family."

"Ooh..."

"It's fine." She said, standing up and walking away. "I know them."

I sighed. It seemed like everybody had something going on, and I was in the center of it. All through practice, I could only think about Pearl's issues with Rose, Lapis's issues with her mom, and the dinner.

I was the last person in the locker room. I had changed into the leggings I had been wearing all day, and was furiously searching for my tank top.

"Need some help?" I turned around, startled, to see Rainbow standing there, also in her sports bra.

"No, I'm fine." I said, flustered.

"Are you sure?" She stepped a bit closer.

"Yeah, I'm sure." I said, hoping she'd just leave.

"You know, Opal, I don't really know you well. I'd like to get to know you better..." She said smoothly, stepping even closer. She wrapped her arms around my waist, which sent chills down my spine.

"Y-yeah?" I asked, barely more than a whisper.

"Well," She said quietly, "I was wondering if you'd want to come to my house tomorrow night..." she leaned into my ear to whisper. "For some bonding..." I don't know why, but I felt like I couldn't refuse.

"I-I'd love too..." Rainbow turned me around, smiling in an eerie, yet soothing, manner.

"Great." She pulled me into a hug, pressing my cheek against hers. I couldn't see through her hair, but I could hear heavy footsteps rushing away.

"I'll see you tonight..." she whispered, and as suddenly as she had come, she was gone.

"Rainbow?" Only silence greeted me.