Lapis' pov

It had been a few days since the presidential election debates. I had some overdue books to return to the library, so the second the bell rung I headed over swiftly.

While I was waiting in line, a tangled mop of blonde hair caught my attention, and I went to investigate.

"Jasper?" I asked, sliding into the sear across from her. Jasper looked up quickly.

"N-no! Don't look at me!" She held a textbook in front of her face.

"What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be at practice?"

"Shouldn't you be a practice you nerd?" She sneered.

"I have to wait for water polo to finish their practice." I explained, ignoring her insult. "Why are you here?" She crossed her arms.

"It's nothing. Just leave already before-"

"Lapis? Looks like you're crashing in on my tutoring sesh." Mangano chuckled.

"Mangano." I said flatly. "Wait, Jasper, you have a tutor?"

"Shut up you outcast!" Jasper threatened, raising her voice and earning a shush from the librarian.

"Do you two know eachother?" Mangano asked.

"No." I rolled my eyes.

"My mom married her dad. We're step-sisters."

"Neat. I wish I had a sister. I don't have any siblings." Mangano sat down beside Jasper and took out a math textbook. "Wanna help us study?" I shook my head.

"Absolutely not. I'd hate to spend unnecessary time with Jasper." I reached into my bag on the floor. "I only came in here because I need to return these, but-" I placed the books on the table. "-I guess I don't really have anything to do for another hour." I returned the books and came back to the table to work on my homework while Mangano and Jasper worked on theirs.

After about ten minutes, Jasper flipped out and threw her textbook down the long wooden table.

"This is too hard! I wouldn't be doing this if it meant I could stay on the team! I should just find another nerd to do this crap!" She crossed her arms and burrowed into her seat.

"Jasper, getting someone else to do your homework won't get you anywhere."

"Yeah, just look what happened to Peridot." I snickered.

"Peridork stopped doing my homework when you told her to go-"

"Ladies!" The librarian said, shushing us harshly.

"This is why we don't get along." I explained to a very confused Mangano. She nodded and checked the time.

"I've actually gotta go... pick someone up. But maybe some time I could go over to your house and we could work?"

"Trust me, you do not want to get Jasper frustrated in front of him." I warned.

"Who's-"

"My dad!" Jasper said harshly. She leaned back in her seat. "Yep, he's a pretty big deal. Been to prison." She bragged.

"I wouldn't brag too much about that. People might realize what you've done-"

"Shut it before I do the same to you!" She hissed.

"You're already on thin ice with mom, I don't think you're in any position to threaten me." I grabbed my backpack and left, walking to the first floor to fund the locker room.

After I changed into my uniform-a dark blue one piece with Lazuli written in white on the front- and pulled my hair into a messy bun.

By then the water polo team was coming out of the pool and I was free to swim as I pleased for the few minutes I had left until practice.