Diamonds Are Forever: Diamonds Divided

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"Diamonds Divided"
Season 1: Episode 6

Starring
ForeverGorgeous as Gem Alexander
Ruubin as Crystal Darcy
Alexcendraburke as Opal Granger
Missricopenguin as Ruby Lorenzo

with...
Lige07 as Drake Darcy
Dog_boy96 as Maxwell Briers
MackDaddy1 as Gary Miller

Guest Starring
Verojun as Gweneth Darcy

On Monday morning, Opal found herself feeling oddly dizzy and she swayed slightly on her feet part way through the routine in dance class before everything went black and she collapsed into Gary's arms.

Crystal: Opal? Opal can you hear me? (Knelt by her)
Gary: She fainted. (He rested Opal's head in his lap and gently threaded his fingers through her hair)
Ms. Jarvis: What's going on?
Gary: She just collapsed.
Opal: (Her eyes fluttered open and she slowly sat up)
Ms. Jarvis: Get her some water Crystal.
Crystal: (Quickly retrieved her bottle of water from her bag before hurrying back to her friend's side and helping her to sip at the water)
Ms. Jarvis: Can you tell me what happened Opal?
Opal: Nothing. I just got a little dizzy but I'm fine now.
Ms. Jarvis: I think you'd better sit the rest of the lesson out. In fact you should probably go see the nurse.
Opal: It's ok I'm fine now.

The teacher ignored her and asked Crystal and Gary to take her to the nurse's office. Opal complained as she was led to the nurse. Crystal and Gary left Opal in the capable hands of the nurse before slowly heading back to the dance hall.

Gary: You look worried.
Crystal: (Bit her lower lip and nodded)
Gary: We need to help her somehow, we can't keep ignoring this, not when she's getting worse.
Crystal: I just wish I knew what to do. If we say anything to her she'll just clam up or deny it.
Gary: You could tell her parents.
Crystal: Opal would never forgive me if I did that. I doubt they'd listen to me anyway. They don't even seem to have noticed that she has a problem.
Gary: I guess it's up to us then.
Crystal: Do you have any ideas?
Gary: Try talking to her. What about Gem and Ruby? They might know what to do.
Crystal: I doubt it. Ruby likes to pretend that everything is ok and ignore all our problems. Gem's not quite so bad but we still all have this silent agreement not to talk about our issues.
Gary: Well that's stupid! This problem isn't going to go away just because you all ignore it. If we don't do something soon Opal will end up dead!
Crystal: I know. I know. We'll help her. (She said determinedly as they sat on the edge of the stage) I'll talk to the girls and we'll fine some way to help her no matter what it takes.
Gary: I'll help too.

For the rest of the lesson they just observed their classmates as they practiced their dance routines for next weeks showcase. When the lesson was over they linked arms with one another and made their way to meet Gem and Ruby.

Crystal: Hey girls, hey Max. (She joined her friends at the benches)
Gem: Where's Opal?
Gary: She had to go to the nurse's office.
Maxwell: Why? (Looked at Ruby)
Gary: She fainted.
Crystal: Look, we all know that Opal has a problem.
Ruby: We all have problems Crystal. And we deal with them on our own, that's the way.
Crystal: Well then we need a new way. We can't keep ignoring this. Opal's situation is dangerous.
Ruby: She doesn't want our help.
Crystal: I don't care. If we don't help her overcome this...eating disorder... Opal could make herself really ill, even die. I'm not gonna let my friend die, knowing I could of done something to help!
Maxwell: So what do we do?
Ruby: We do nothing! Opal's eating habits have nothing to do with us, especially you Max!
Maxwell: What the fuck is wrong with you? This is your friend we're talking about and her life is in danger.
Ruby: Oh stop being so over-dramatic. You're making it sound like she's about to be murdered. What Opal's doing to herself is by her own choosing and it's not our place to stop her. She has to do that for herself.
Gem: Ruby how can you say that?
Ruby: Easy, I just open my mouth and the words come out.
Crystal: We've ignored this for too long Rube. We have to do something now before it's too late.
Ruby: I don't have to do anything. I won't do anything!
Crystal: Fine, don't help. Carry on living in your world of make believe if you want to but I for one am not going to stand by and watch my friend destroy herself.
Gem: I won't either.
Gary: Like I said before, I'll help in any way I can.
Maxwell: Me too.
Ruby: What the fuck Max? I told you to drop this shit!! You all need to leave Opal alone! This isn't what we do. We deal with our problems on our own. I don't want any of you involving yourself in my problems and I'm sure Opal doesn't want us sticking our noses in her business. How would you like it if I asked about your problems Gem? Or yours Crystal? I don't think either of you are willing to share your secrets so we should leave Opal alone!
Crystal: My problems seem quite pathetic when I look at Opal.
Ruby: Does that mean you're ready to tell us what's going on with you then?
Crystal: Ruby, grow up! This isn't about me, it's about Opal!
Ruby: Well if you won't share your pathetic little problems you shouldn't try to control Opal's, it's not fair.
Opal: Thank you Ruby.

They all turned to face her shocked, they wondered how long she had been standing there.

Gary: Opal, you need help. (He told her calmly)
Opal: I'm fine.
Gary: But Opal you...
Ruby: She said she's fine so just leave her alone! Come on Opal, we'll sit somewhere else.

Together Ruby and Opal got up and left leaving the concerned teenagers behind.

Crystal: Now what do we do?
Gem: We have to knock some sense into Ruby first. We don't have a chance of helping Opal whilst Ruby's...defending her I suppose. If we get Ruby to see things our way then we can help Opal.
Gary: That doesn't sound like it's going to be easy.
Crystal: It sounds impossible.
Gem: I wouldn't say that. (She looked meaningfully at Max)
Maxwell: Why are you looking at me like that?
Gem: If anyone can get through to Ruby then it's you.
Maxwell: What? Me? I don't think so. I don't even know her that well. You're her best friends you know her better than I do.
Gem: That's not really true. None of us actually know each other very well at all. How could we when all four of us are keeping secrets from each other? To be honest we're bad friends.
Crystal: Gem's right. We're all so caught up in our own things we don't notice what's wrong with one another. The only reason we know about Opal's problem is because we can physically see it. But one thing that I have noticed is that Ruby is less guarded around you.
Gem: You have to try Max. You're our only hope getting through to Ruby.
Maxwell: But what if I can't?
Gary: Then we'll find another way. (He saw one of Opal's brothers walk by them)

For the rest of the day, Ruby and Opal avoided the others as if they were a plague. Maxwell had tried to talk to Ruby a number of times but each attempt was unsuccessful as the rest. By the end of school, Gem gave a sorrow look to Crystal as Gwyneth drove up towards the school.

Crystal: Are you alright Gem?
Gem: I..I.. (Tried to spill about Mr.Rogers) I...I'm just worried about Opal. (She said feeling cowardly)
Crystal: We all are. Don't worry Gem, we'll fine a way to help her. (Walked towards car) I'll see you tomorrow. Bye Gem. (Get's in car)
Gwyneth: Is everything alright Crystal? You look upset.
Crystal: I'm fine. Just a long day.
Drake: Are you sure? (Asked from the backseat)
Crystal: Drake. Please. I'm fine ok!

The rest of the car journey home was spent in silence. When Crystal entered her bedroom the first thing she did was call Gem but received no answer. Shrugging she put the phone down and turned some music on. Drake walked in her bedroom moments later.

Crystal: What do you want?
Drake: There's something bothering you. You were acting weird in the car.
Crystal: Please Drake. Not now.
Drake: What's wrong Crystal?
Crystal: Nothing.
Drake: It's something. Please, I'm here for you. Talk to me.

Crystal looked at him for a few silent moments wondering whether she should confide in him or not. She knew Opal wouldn't appreciate her telling anybody about her eating problem but surely the more people that knew the better and Drake got on reasonably well with Opal's older brother so maybe that could help.

Crystal: It's Opal.
Drake: What about her? (He sat down on the bed next to her)
Crystal: She fainted in dance class today.
Drake: Is she ok?
Crystal: She...she hasn't been eating properly for...well I'm not sure how long. She never eats her lunch at school she just goes to the restroom . I think...I think she makes herself...sick. She's lost a lot of weight. You can't see it when she wears her baggy clothes but her bones are starting to poke through her skin.
Drake: Wow...
Crystal: Is that all you have to say?
Drake: What am I supposed to say? I've never been confronted by this type of situation before. Have you tried talking to her about it?
Crystal: I've tired, but she keeps denying it. And the fact that Ruby is sticking up for her doesn't help.
Drake: Wait, Ruby's supporting this?
Crystal: Well no not supporting. More like ignoring it. It's just this stupid silent agreement the four of us have.
Drake: What silent agreement?
Crystal: To not talk about things. Well not talk about our problems anyway. But Opal's situation is dangerous and we can't just ignore it anymore. Of course Ruby doesn't agree, she still thinks we should carry on pretending and stay out of each other's business.
Drake: So let me get this straight. You, Opal, Ruby and Gem all have your own secret problems that you're hiding from each other and ignoring them?
Crystal: Pretty much. But if we don't help Opal soon she could die but with Ruby on her side we have less chance of getting through to her.
Drake: So what's your problem Crystal?
Crystal: This isn't about me Drake. I'm concerned about Opal.
Drake: Well right now I'm concerned about you. What are you doing to yourself?
Crystal: Nothing. My problem it's...it's not like that. My problem seems like a walk in the park compared to Opal's.
Drake: I want you to tell me what's going on with you. (Rested a palm on the side of her face)
Crystal: Please just drop it. (Pushed his hand away) You don't have to worry about me it's just typical teenage girl stuff. What I need is for you to help me with Opal.
Drake: I'll try and help you with Opal. But only if you tell me your problem first. And don't think about lying to me, I can always tell when you're being dishonest.
Crystal: I'm not going to tell you.I have other people to help with the Opal situation.

Drake sighed as he watched Crystal cross the room and hold the door open signaling for him to leave.

Drake: I'll try talking to Oliver. Maybe her family can help.
Crystal: Thanks. Now leave please.
Drake: Whatever your thing is Crystal, you can tell me.Whenever you're ready I'll be here to listen. That's what big brother's are for right?

She barely contained a sob at the word brother before pushing him out the door and locking it shut. Why him? Why couldn't she love some other guy? She thought to herself.