[first draft]

Erm...sorry for the slow updates. Bleh.

Amethyst plopped down on her bed, head spinning from her conversation with Natalia. Why was Remy so bad? Why didn't the two girls like each other? Why didn't Natasha want to talk about it? All the questions made her head hurt, so she instead flipped over her binder and began on homework.

Homework. Just like Natasha. Was Amethyst turning into Natasha? Half of her wanted to shudder at the thought but the other half...well, maybe Natasha was the best person to act like in this strange new place. Maybe Amethyst should turn into Natasha.

What a horrid thought. Amethyst should just let it go. Go meditate or something. And yet the thought wouldn't leave. Because...it was right. It was the best option. Amethyst nodded slowly to herself. She would go for it.

"It's the only path to success," Amethyst murmured to herself. She flipped open her notebook and--BANG!

Amethyst jumped and whipped around. Natasha stood in the doorway, looking over at her.

"Yes?" Amethyst asked, still startled from the loud noise. Natasha opened her mouth, but then it slowly stretched into a smile.

"You're doing homework," Natasha observed, sounding pleased. Amethyst looked from her homework to Natasha, then back to her homework.

"Yes?"

It sounded more like a question.

"I--" Natasha took a deep breath and muttered, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have bad-mouthed Remy like that. She's fine."

Amethyst nodded at Natasha's apology.

"It's alright," she told her, even though really, it wasn't. Natasha was probably only apologizing for the sake of her resume, and she'd really hurt Amethyst when she'd insulted Remy, but Amethyst was intent on sticking to her new plan, to not let her feelings get out of control. "But tell me," Amethyst added, "Why do you dislike her so much?"
"I don't--I don't dislike her," Natasha sniffed. "I just...she's a bad influence. She doesn't focus on her work. She's super smart but she never uses any of her skills. She spends her free time as a volunteer tutor. No money. It doesn't even go on her resume! She just does it for 'fun' and 'to help others'. Amethyst, you have to understand, you can't hang around her, she'll only guide you off course. You have to focus on your studies. It's the only path to success."

"Right," Amethyst murmured. "The only path."

"Anyways, I'll let you get back to your studying now," Natasha told Amethyst. "Have fun."

With that, Natasha turned and left, closing the door behind her and leaving Amethyst to wonder—what really was success?

Will Amethyst start becoming more like Natasha? If so, will it be better for her? Is there really only one path to success?

- writesthetic