Lapis pov

"Lapis. It's time to go to school." I looked up to see my mother's sleek figure standing in the doorway to my bedroom.

"Yes, Mother."

"Your sister has already arrived. At least she's not a complete disappointment." I sighed. Jasper always received praise, even when she was in the wrong.

I grabbed my school bag and followed my mother through the cold house to the door. I still wasn't used to waking up here after a year.

The car ride was quiet. My mother was on a conference call as usual, while I sat silently in the back seat. When we pulled up to Crystal Prep I stepped out and waved to my Mother.

"Lazuli!" I looked over to see my step sister and some of her friends. I sighed, walking over.

"There's my sister." Jasper said, "playfully" pushing me into the tree.

"I'm not your sister," I said through gritted teeth.

"Clod." Peridot muttered under her breath. Everyone knew she was only there because she did all of Jasper's homework.

Lots of people came to Crystal prep from my old school. Far in the distance, I could see the pink curly hair of Rose Quartz bobbing through crowds. Sapphire Corundum sat on a bench with some other girls. Pearl came walking up with her sister....

Pearl.

My breath caught in my throat.

If Jasper sees her...

Everybody suddenly went silent. Pearl's sister, Opal, I think, stepped closer to her.

"Huh?" Jasper turned around, and saw Pearl. "Ohh, this is gonna be good!"

"Jasper, no." Somebody said. After looking around, I realized it was me. Something crazy had taken control of me, and I was grabbing Jasper's arm.

Jasper lifted her arm until I was at eye level with her.

"Are you getting fresh with me?" I let go, suddenly regaining control.

"N-no! Of course not!" I said, getting off the ground and dusting myself off.

"Yeah. I thought so." She walked into the building, and her friends snickered as I walked away.

I found a nice quiet corner to sit down and... cry.

When I was little, Jasper and her friends would call me a raindrop, because when I cried I would get soaking wet.

I guess that didn't matter anymore. Nobody thought Pearl would come back.

I hoped for both of our lives she didn't.