CHAPTER 1: LOVE AND HATE

The warp pad began to glow as four figures came out from the beam of light. Steven came out first with his arms crossed and with an expression of annoyance on his face. Without saying anything he went to his bed and put his face on the pillow. Suddenly he felt observed so he began slowly to sit:

"What is it now?" Steven said with a little bit of anger in his voice.

Three figures were standing in front of his bed, Pearl and Garnet were standing in front of him with their arms crossed while Amethyst was rubbing the back of her head without looking at Steven directly in the eyes.

"Steven, we need to talk" Pearl said giving him a look made of anger mixed with concern.

"About what?!" Steven shouted, getting up from his bed.

"Steven you know exactly what I'm going to talk you about" Pearl replied.

"No I don't" Steven replied in a childish way.

"Steven…" Garnet began to talk "Now you'll sit down and you'll hear what Pearl has to say…heve I been clear?"

"Okay…" Steven sat down looking a little ashamed.

Pearl took a deep breath and sat next to Steven, she embraced him and her eyes began to water

"Steven please, you have to be more careful on missions, look at your arm!"

"Geez Pearl" Amethyst said, rolling her eyes and keeping her voice low, in order not to be heard by Pearl.

"Excuse me?!" Pearl shouted at Amethyst, having heard her.

"Oh com'on Pearl! He only got a little bruise on his arm, he's not going to die!" Amethyst shouted at her.

In the last few weeks Steven went on more missions with the gems, that's because Garnet noticed that he was gaining more control over his powers. But even if Steven gained the approval of Garnet, Pearl didn't want him to come with them so often, she thought that it could have been dangerous for him, that's why she began to try to keep Steven at home, explaining him that some missions could have been too dangerous for him, that he had to gain more control over his powers, sometimes ending up arguing. At first Amethyst was able to tolerate this, but now she couldn't, she didn't want Steven and Pearl to end up like her and Pearl, arguing every day, not showing love to each other anymore.

"Oh well, I'm sorry" Pearl replied sarcastically "you know, I care about him!"

There was a little bit of silence, Pearl realised what she said and cover her mouth with her hand, with her anger turned into remorse. She looked at Amethyst, she had her lips slightly parted and she was staring at her with a look of anger mixed with disgust, she clenched her fists and closed her eyes, a small tear began to fall down her face. Suddenly she went face to face with Pearl and shouted:

"DO YOU THINK I DON'T?! DO YOU THINK YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE WHO LOVES STEVEN?! WHO WANTS TO PROTECT HIM?! I CARE ABOUT HIM EVEN MORE THAN YOU, BECAUSE I BELIEVE IN HIM AND I KNOW THAT HE HAS GOT GREAT POWERS, AND IT'S NOT KEEPING HIM AT HOME LIKE A DUMB CHILD WHO DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO LOOK AFTER HIMSELF THAT YOU WILL HELP HIM!"

Pearl had both her hands on her mouth, tears were flowing down her face, even Garnet had her lips parted, Steven looked shocked, no one would have ever thought that Amethyst could have said such a thing.

"A…Amethyst…I…I didn't…I didn't mean to…" Pearl began to talk but Amethyst didn't want to listen to her after what she has said, she went to the temple's door, she opened it and she disappeard in her room. Garnet shook her head and did the same. Pearl began to cry in her hands but suddenly she felt an embrace, she opened her eyes and noticed that Steven was hugging her with tears in his eyes.

"Pearl, please, don't cry anymore, I know that what you do you do it for my own good, I know you love me and that you always want to protect me"

"No" Pearl sobbed, "Amethyst is right, I can't keep you at home like a baby anymore, but…but…I…I…I couldn't bear to lose you, I love you Steven and I believe in you, I know you are strong, but I couldn't imagine a life without you"

Steven and Pearl hugged tighter.

"Pearl, please, stop crying...I…I promise that I'll be more careful during missions and I promise that I will never leave you alone ok?"

Pearl looked at Steven and nodded, she released him from the embrace and began slowly to stand up. She walked down to the temple's door and opened it, before entering her room she stopped hearing a voice.

"Pearl?" Steven said while he was getting up from his bed.

"Yes Steven?"

"Can you try to patch up with Amethyst? I know it's hard for you two to get along but please…try…try to do it."

Pearl gave Steven a sad smile and nodded, as she entered Amethyst room. Steven spent the next ten minutes thinking about all the discussion when suddenly he heard some growls coming from his stomach, 'Man I'm hungry', Steven thought. After getting up from his bed, he went to the door but suddenly he stopped, a strange noise came from his bedroom.

Steven looked at his room for some seconds but then he closed the door, thinking that it was nothing. After Steven left something strange happened, his room began to become colder and colder and even if the sun was till shining it was like if there was no light in the place, and while Steven's bedroom was becoming increasingly dark, two red eyes could be seen in the dark, and a whisper could be heard…

"Haaate"