Pearl's pov

"Mom. They're here." Opal said, nervously looking out the window where a red SUV had pulled into the driveway. She'd been skittish ever since I'd arrived home the night before. My mother said she'd come home from Rose's house like that.

My mother sighed, smoothing out her black dress for the thirteenth time. "I know," I joined Opal at the window, watching as my father stepped out of the car and opened my stepmother's door. She was beautiful, no one could deny.

Next, Sardonyx nearly cartwheeled out of the car, collapsing on the lawn with a giggle. She hadn't bothered to wear a dress like her mother had, and instead sported a magician-like overcoat with a bowtie.

Finally, my other half sister, the one I'd only met when I was little, stepped out. I was so shocked when I saw the frizzy hair that a headband failed to maintain. The simple shirt and slacks that were obviously forced on her. The timid smile that said she was trying to enjoy herself. My other half sister was...

"Ruby..." I breathed, quiet as could be.

Peridot's pov

"Ugh, do I really have to sit next to her?" Yellen asked, turning up her nose disgust.

"Yellen Pearl Diamond! That was uncalled for!" My mother scolded. "Peridot," She said, dismissing my sister. "Would you please let our guests in?" I sighed, as is my usual response to... everything, then pressed the button in the entry hall that opened the gate. 

The sleek black Lexus came through the gate, Lapis's face visible to me up the hill.

When they finally arrived at the door, I took notice of Lapis's attire. She was wearing a dress the same shade of blue as her hair, with boots and a black scarf. I glanced down at my apparel, a green sweater, and white jeans, and felt severely underdressed.

Mother had strictly forbidden me to wear my limb enhancers. Or as she called them, my 'tacky stilts'. After my moment of sulking, I realized that Lapis was looking directly at me. It gave me chills how her eyes as blue as the sea looked at me as if I were a pop quiz in a class she was failing. I felt my cheeks go hot.

"Well then, let's eat!" Mother said, snapping us away from our staring contest.

Pearl's pov

"Oh, Tahitia, you look lovely!" My stepmother marveled, hugging my mother. She stepped over to Opal.

"Opal, you're lovely as always! Heard you were on the cheer squad, good for you!" She ran her hands through Opal's long hair.

"And you must be Pearl!" She hugged me tightly, before releasing to look me over. "You're simply stunning! I'll bet you don't remember me, I'm Red Beryl! But you can call me Red! Or Auntie Red, which sounds weird because I'm your stepmom, but whatever floats your boat!" It was a lot to take in, but at least I knew where Sardonyx's... hyper active tendencies come from.

After a moment, I got to speak to Ruby. I took notice of the fact she was texting somebody whom she called Laffy Sapphy.

"Ruby?" She quickly turned the phone off.

"Uh, yeah?"

"It's rather... awkward now that you're my sister." I said, attempting to create small talk.

"Heh, yeah..." She scratched the back of her head. "Is it weird?" She asked, catching me off guard. "To see him here?" She motioned to my- our father.

I thought for a moment. The man who helped create me, yet never helped raise me, in my home, with the woman he loves and the one he abandoned. Then I wondered how my mother felt. Laughing along to Red's terrible jokes, watching my Father's affections.

Then Opal. She knew this man as her father for six years, when all of a sudden he left her.

Every time she looked at him, it was a look of pain. The same look of a six-year-old who wants the car to turn around, the car with her daddy in it. That night, Opal wasn't seventeen. She was Six years old.

Peridot's pov

"Lapis, you sit here," I toned out the rest of my mother's directions. Lapis was sitting directly across from me.

For a brief moment, I thought about Pearl. How was her reunion with her father going? I could only assume it was bittersweet, but mostly painful.

I kicked myself under the table. You clod, this is your night!

You're right, I was being irrational.

Rationality is irrelevant, Lapis is looking at you!

Ohmystars

Don't look don't look don't look-

I looked.

"Is there a problem?" Lapis asked. I.... blushed again.

"N-no!" She raised an eyebrow.

"Are you sure?" I gulped.

What do I say?

I don't know you clod, what did Pearl tell you to say?

Didn't you just tell me to forget about Pearl?

I kicked myself again.

"Why are you kicking yourself?" Yellen asked.

Clod!