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Peridot woke up to her alarm quietly ringing, she would make her alarm louder but then it would run the risk of waking up her mother which may as well be a death sentence in Peridot's world. Peridot put her glasses on before getting out of bed and hopping down the hallway to the bathroom to put on her makeup. The face in the mirror scared Peridot it was both a stranger, and the source of all her problems at the same time and she hated it.
Peridot needed that face gone, she reached for her makeup bag ignoring her trembling hand . Peridot put meticulous detail into covering up her freckles, trying to ignore the strong smell from the makeup. Once she finished her face Peridot moved down to all her tiny scars on her hands and arms that she got from accidents messing around with technology when she was younger.
Why am I so ugly, why do I have so many imperfections. Why do I look like this when Mother is perfect. Do I even deserve to be her daughter. As Peridot's thoughts spiraled the same way they did every day she finished covering her scars. Peridot then started applying eye liner, blush, contour, and more just like her mother had drilled into her. The smell started getting to her but thankfully Peridot finally finished up her makeup her thoughts went down to her leg but she didn't have time to focus on that.
Peridot went back to her room to get dressed. As she went through her closet she ended up spotting the small yellow dress from her childhood. The dress had been the first piece of clothing that she had gotten to choose instead of her mother picked out. Peridot often found herself fantasizing about getting a new dress like that, and getting praised for how pretty she looked, but the great Yellow Diamond would never let her do that. Peridot wasn't allowed to show weakness and being an amputee was a weakness as far as Yellow was concerned.
In the end Peridot decided to wear a pair of wide cut jeans, a simple white t-shirt, and a dark green blazer. Peridot then went over to her jewelry draw, she didn't like wearing jewelry because of sensory issues but that's simply what successful people wear. The jewelry draw was undoubtedly a mess with random earrings, bracelets, and necklaces tossed about. Since Peridot's outfit was fairly casual by her standards she decided to go light on jewelry grabbing a pair of blue earrings she'd gotten from Yellow since she hated how blue looked on her, and a necklace based on the one Percy wore in Camp Pining Hearts season one since it was the only piece of jewelry she enjoyed wearing. After getting dressed and putting on her leg Peridot grabbed her phone, and laptop and put them in her school bag. She quickly got to the door and put on her shoes before heading to school.
Most of Peridot's school day went without any issue until she got to English class. The class room was fairly simple with desks arranged into rows with a book shelf in the back left corner with the teachers desk on the opposite side of the room. The main difference that helped this room standout was the class's student teacher, Mr. Jamie desperately attempting to relate to kids (to the point he used his first name instead of last). There were several English related memes hung throughout the room in random places since kids constantly took them down and re-taped them in a desperate attempt to be funny.
"Ok class we're gonna take it easy for Friday and just talk about a piece of writing we enjoy, heck if you really want to it can even be a show or movie" Mr. Jamie said
"Dogcopter rules" Camp Pining Hearts is better! "Lonely Blade super deep characters" none of them come close to Percy's arc in season two "Crying Breakfast Friends is a bit childish, but it's my comfort show" these clodly idiots have horrible taste none of these shows hold a candle to CPH. I should speak up and tell them how superior it is- No! I must be perfect everything I do reflects upon the great name of Yellow Diamond. I can't associate with something like CPH.
"I really like Camp Pining Hearts even though it's cheesy," a soothing voice came from the seat behind Peridot.
"Camp Pining Hearts is the most scripted reality show to ever release," someone else chimed in.
"I didn't ask for your opinion" the first voice responded, "besides I'm not the only one here who likes it, the short girl over there is wearing CPH merch"
Hearing this made Peridot jump a little and turn around to actually see who was talking. It was a skinny girl with dyed blue hair, wearing a slightly oversized blue hoodie, and shorts. The girl looked like she wanted to kill someone because of her scowl. Peridot did vaguely recognize her as Lapis Lazuli. Who was actually surprisingly popular as far as Peridot had heard about online. It made sense Lapis was beautiful with her slim build, and clear skin, Peridot wished she could look like her.
"Hey I wouldn't watch such mind numbing television!" Peridot sputtered out, hoping anyone would believe her.
"Yeah sure you don't you're probably too busy worshiping your fancy mom or something" Lapis said with an eye roll.
"Don't you dare insult my mother you clod!" Peridot yelled.
"What are you gonna do about it you're four feet tall, I'm pretty sure a hamster would be scarier than you,"
"Shut up you clod!"
"No," Lapis finally shed her murder scowl and grew a smug grin.
"Do you find antagonizing me enjoyable?"
"Sorry I thought you'd have thicker skin considering your mom's such a bitch,"
That was the finale straw and Peridot grabbed a pencil and threw it at Lapis with full force… And missed completely and hit the wall.
"Peridot Diamond, and Lapis Lazuli!" It was the class's actual teacher, Peridot hadn't seen them move since Jamie showed up. Hearing their voice made Peridot let out an "Eek!"
"You're both in big trouble, I'll give you two options I tell your parents what you two did, or you can write an essay about your shared interests," the teacher continued.
Peridot's face went white, her mom can't find out she got into a fight she needs to be perfect.
"What kind of a punishment is that!" Lapis yelled.
"Then I'll just call your families,"
"No please don't!" Peridot shrieked, and quickly turned back to Lapis "listen, I–I can pay you just please do me this one favor I'll do anything."
"anything you say," Lapis' grin widened, "ok but you better keep that promise"
"Thank you, I'll make sure to leave my window unlocked so you can come in through there so my mother doesn't know anything weird is going on, and make sure to come at eight got it," Peridot said
"… You want me to climb through your window?” Lapis studied Peridot's face carefully before shrugging, “alright sure whatever you say Bossy,"
Thankfully English was the last class of the day because Peridot wanted to crash onto her bed and watch CPH for the rest of the day without her makeup, jewelry, or prosthetic. Unfortunately though Peridot got a call shortly after leaving school from her job.
"Yo Peridot the coffee machines broken again!" Annoyed teenager said.
The person on the other end of the phone was Lars, he went to the same school as Peridot but got out early because he didn't have a class last period. Peridot had worked with Lars at the Big Donut for roughly a year and couldn't stand him. All he did was open the store when he got out of school but once Sadie showed u he'd just sit behind the counter and call Peridot whenever something broke.
"ugh fine I'm on my way," even though its my day off Peridot though.
Once Peridot arrived at the Big Donut there was already a line of people waiting for coffee that Peridot had to push through. Sadie was all ready behind the counter trying her best to explain to an angry customer that the coffee machine was broken. Peridot went into the break room and grabbed the small tool box that somehow always had new cobwebs on it, and laced her bag down.
Peridot got to work on the coffee machine but it was hard to focus because the angry customer from before was now having a screaming match with Lars as Sadie tried to deescalate the situation to no avail. After an hour of tinkering Peridot finally managed to get the coffee machine working again, and went home trying to ignore how sore her leg was from her prosthetic. Until.
"Hey Peridot I know you just fixed the coffee machine… But the customer Lars was arguing with she threw something at him and it hit the coffee machine… and we need you to fix it again" Peridot had to fight every fiber of her being to not yell at Sadie.
Peridot turned around and pushed through the crowd leaving the Big Donut because the boss seemingly decided to close early. She grabbed the tool box and went back to work on the coffee machine. Sadie and Lars were arguing about how he handled that costumer, apparently Lars spelt her name wrong on the cup.
"It's Jasper that's not hard to spell"
"She had it coming maybe she wont be such a
"Jasper, of course it's that clod," Peridot mumbled.
Sadie and Lars looked at Peridot surprised since they'd never heard Peridot talk outside of yelling at Lars.
"How do you know Jasper?" Sadie asked.
"She's terrorized me since middle school, and is the most popular girl in school. Now be quiet I need to focus,"
After another two hours Peridot gave up on trying to fix the coffee machine and messaged the owner that they needed to buy a new one. Well walking home though Peridot got a text from her mother, "Where are you, we have guests coming over for dinner if you are late to another meeting so help me" no, no no no, no! Peridot had missed the last three of Yellow's business meetings she couldn't disappoint Yellow again she was already a disappointment she couldn't risk somehow becoming something worse.
It was a half hour walk to get to Peridots house from the Big Donut, and by the time Peridot got home her mothers clients were already rolling into the drive way. From the car emerged Blue Diamond the most successful landlord in Beach City. This wasn't the first time Blue and Yellow had a meeting since they had been discussing turning several of Blues homes into smart houses.
Peridot needed to hide, who would work with Yellow if her daughter arrived to the dinner at the same time as them. Peridot was frozen with fear before a slender hand was placed on her shoulder it almost calmed her before the hand flung her into a marigold bush in the front yard causing her to scream.
"What was that noise?" Blue Diamond asked in her constant gentle voice.
"Mind your own business bitch" a deep voice Peridot didn't recognize growled.
It seemed that was enough for Blue Diamond because shortly after that interaction Peridot heard the front door open and close. Peridot pushed herself out of the bush on her trembling arms. She was filthy covered in dirt and late for the dinner. No I can still make it I cant be a failure. I will make Mother proud. Peridot scrambled to her bedroom window and flung it open.
Peridot tried to quietly climb through her window but her foot got caught on the window and she face planted onto her floor. Peridot quickly got up and rushed to her wardrobe. Her hand hesitated before grabbing the fancy suit Yellow had gotten her. She tried to get changed as quickly as possible which caused her to flop around making even more noise.
Once Peridot was dressed she quickly rushed to the bathroom, but she forgot that the hallway didn't have a carpet like her room did. She was quickly reminded of the hard wood flooring though as she heard her feet making loud thumping noises against the floor. Peridot winced thinking of her mothers reaction to the noise as she finally reached the bathroom, and washed the dirt off herself.
As Peridot finally walked into the kitchen she saw her mother and Blue Diamond had already started eating. She quietly sat down and listened to the boring business talk. Peridot would never admit it but she hated these meetings.
The meeting was an hour long over dinner, but Yellow convinced Blue to stay for dessert trying to butter her up more. Peridot stopped paying attention to the business as she munched on the macaroons until she caught Yellow glaring at her, so she stopped eating and tried to catch up on the business talk even though she had missed the first ten minutes of the conversation.
Once Blue had left Yellow turned to Peridot, she was angrier than Peridot had ever seen. Lapis murder scowl was more welcoming.
"What in the world were you thinking that is Blue Diamond that business deal could make me millions!" Yellow scolded.
"but-but she didn't decline the offer-shes still open to work with us," Peridot tried to defend herself.
"who would want to work with me when my own daughter can't bother to show up on time, makes a ruckus, and hides in flower bushes!" Peridot froze when Yellow mentioned the flower bush she was sure Yellow hadn't seen that.
"I-I couldn't let Ms. Diamond see me" Peridot stammered.
"oh of course, but she would have if it wasn't for that boy who helped you out!" Peridot didn't know how to defend herself anymore. Although Peridot thought something was off calling the person who shoved her a boy, but they had such a deep voice she decided it wasn't worth thinking about.
"Peridot Diamond look at me when I speak to you. You worthless disappointment!"
Peridot couldn't bare looking at her mother anymore as she continued to yell at her. tears filled her eyes as Peridot crumpled to the floor in a blubbering heap.
"Don't cry dear you'll ruin your makeup," Yellow said walking away.
After that Peridot dragged herself into the bathroom to wash her makeup off wincing when she saw her bare face and red puffy eyes. Look at you, Mother puts you in your place one time and you fall apart. Peridot then went to curl up in her bed. She decided to watch Camp Pining Hearts in an attempt to calm down. She didn't have school or work tomorrow anyway so she ended up staying up till midnight binging all of season two till she finally drifted off.