Peridot pov

Crystal prep is a school for the gifted.

Mother is the headmistress.

The way enrollment works is that you get extremely good grades in one or more classes.

Or you have an insider.

The children of professors must be enrolled. If you know my mother, your child will be enrolled.

Jasper got in because our parents are friends.

Lapis got in because she worked hard.

Lapis.

She was gorgeous, from her dyed blue hair to her slender frame. She was on the short side, but nowhere near as short as me. I had tried building 'limb enhancers' in an effort to get her attention, but she still only saw me as her step sister's nerd. Being tall isn't so bad, though.

"Peridot?"

"Huh?" I turned to the professor, Mrs. Agate. She sighed in dismay.

"Peridot, I asked you how your summer was. You have to Stop daydreaming in class." To be fair, I don't 'daydream'. I usually play on my phone.

"Oh, uh... sorry? I... um, didn't really do anything this summer." That was a lie. I did a lot. I leveled up five levels on my favorite campaign game, I dealt with my stupid sister, and I thought.

Mostly about Lapis.

"Peridot, may I speak to you after class?" I nodded.

Class was pretty boring, I could tell Mrs. Agate was only teaching  History to keep her daughter in Crystal Prep. Lots of teachers did that.

Being the Headmistress's daughter, I knew who had children in the school.

"Peridot," She said after class, before she was cut off by the phone ringing.

"Hello, you've reached Fire Agate, room A202, how may I help you?" She was quiet for a moment.

"Yes, of course, Ms. Diamond, I'll send her right down." She hung up.

"Your mother wants to see you." She waved me off, and I quickly left.

I wasn't eager to see mother,  but she wasn't one to be kept waiting. On my way out, I bumped into someone who rushed hurriedly into Mrs. Agate's room.

"Blue Lace Agate you get to class this instant!" Came my history teacher's tired yell.

I never particularly liked her daughter.

I walked down a flight of stairs, passing a couple of lost students. I was only a freshman myself, but I knew this school like the back of my hand.

I was almost to mother's office when I crashed into someone.

"Ow! Watch where you're going, clod!" I rubbed my head and glanced over at Pearl. "Oh, it's you." I was no stranger to Pearl. In fact, we were very similar. I could've been the target. The only thing is, I did Jasper's homework.

"Oh, hello Peridot. I-I'm looking for your mother's office. Do you know where...?" I sighed.

"You're going in the wrong direction, clod. Lucky for you, I'm headed there as well." I got up and trudged along to mother's office, ignoring Pearl's constant anxious comments.

"Why do you think she called me in?"

"..."

"Do you think I'm in trouble?"

"..."

"I hope I'm not."

"..."

"In here," I said through gritted teeth, glad to finally be rid of this clod.

"Alright..." She said anxiously as I opened the door.

"Peridot dear, is that you?" My mother's cold, stern voice called. I was instantly overcome by fear.

"Y-yes Mother." The blinds were drawn, and Mother was faced away. She spun her chair around.

"Please, sit." I sat in one chair, and Pearl sat beside me.

"Ah, Pearl Baroque. What a pleasure to see you again." Pearl shifted anxiously in her chair.

"It's lovely to see you, as well." Those words weren't true. Nobody enjoys seeing my mother.

"I'm sure you both know why you're here." I shook my head. Mother glared.

"Peridot, please verbally express your answer."

"N-no mother, I do not know why I'm here." She smiles.

"Of course. Pearl, I have been informed of your past... issues with others, including a few of our own students." I shot Pearl a worried look, almost concerned for her well-being.

"Therefore, I have some students who attended a different school that would love to be your friends." We both let out a sigh of relief.

"Peridot, would you please take Pearl to the music room? Your sister and her friends are there." I groaned. My sister was the last thing this clod needed.

"I didn't know you have a sister," Pearl said, as soon as we were safely away from the office.

"I do." You clod.

"What grade is she in?"

"She's a freshman, just like us." You clod.

"Why did she attend a different school?" I stopped and turned to face Pearl.

"Because she got to go to some fancy private school while I got stuck at public school Because I'm adopted! Happy, clod?" I asked, staring into her scared eyes. I sighed.

"Look, I'm sorry clod. " She nodded, and we started walking again.

"Peridork!" My sister Yellen sneered as we entered the music room.

"Yes?" I sighed. You lumpy clumpy clod.

"Does mother know you're here?" She sneered.

I was surrounded by annoying clods. The sports teams shouldn't be the Crystal Lions, it should be the Crystal Clods.

"Don't you have some children to scare?" I said, walking through the door.

"Good luck, Pearl."