The Unexpected Effects of a Broken Heart

Chapter Four: Arts and Crafts

A few weeks had passed since the picnic lunch and things seemed to be going rather well around the house. Pearl had been in a rather elevated mood, as had Amethyst. The two had been hanging out more often, having good conversations and even enjoying going out as a family. There were still little bouts of bickering but even those seemed less intense than they used to be. Sometimes, when they were alone, they would sit close to one another , putting one hand on top of the other's. Not really holding hands, but keeping some kind of physical contact. When they did this, they never really looked at one another, maybe a glance here or there, but every once in a while they would just stare at one another. Words were rarely exchanged during these precious moments, but it was still special.

One day, Pearl left her room to find that Steven and Amethyst were doing something on the counter, though from where she was stand she couldn't tell what they were doing. There was a lot of laughter which was usually a good thing…unless Amethyst was involved. She walked over to them and Amethyst huddled over something while Steven held up what appeared to be a block of clay.

"Pearl, Pearl! Come make stuff with us! You should see what Amethyst is making. She said tha-" Steven was cut off when the purple Gem put a hand over his mouth and made a 'sush' noise, laughing a bit.

"It's nothing, really! Just…wanna join us?" Amethyst offered an odd smile that made Pearl wonder what the other female was up to. Pearl looked from Amethyst to Steven and smiled, nodding. Taking the block of clay from Steven, Pearl went to the other side of the counter. What did she want to make? Pearl was about to start something when she felt Amethyst's elbow touch her own and she looked up, blushing. There was plenty of room on the counter that Amethyst didn't have to touch her, but something told Pearl that Amethyst might actually need to touch her. Her thought was only supported more when she caught the purple Gem looking up at her with her own blush.

Smiling, Pearl looked at her block of clay and began to take off large chunks, soon forming a couple of Magnolias, smiling at her work. They were simple and delicate, much like herself. She wondered how they would look once they dried and blinked when she thought about it. How were they supposed to just dry? Wouldn't that make them fragile? At this, she heard the oven make a 'DING!' sound, indicating that it was heated. She turned to it to see that nothing was in the oven.

"Oh good, we can cook them now." Steven said as he grabbed his sculpture of his mother (which looked surprisingly much like her) and when he tried to grab Amethyst's mysterious object, she just huddled over it more, looking to the side with a blush. "Oh c'mon, Amethyst! We can't paint them if you don't back them. C'mon!" He said and she quickly grabbed her object, Pearl's flowers, and Steven's sculpture, shoved them on a cookie sheet, rammed them in the oven and stood in front of it, turning the oven light off.

Pearl and Steven looked at one another and then to Amethyst, who looked like she might freak out if you even came close to her and the oven. Pearl had to stop herself from laughing at how silly and protective Amethyst looked. Steven shrugged and went and sat on the couch with a book, leaving Pearl and Amethyst alone in the kitchen.

Pearl went next to Amethyst and smiled, sitting on the ground, looking up. "Why so secretive? Is it a present for me?" Pearl's tone was teasing but when the purple Gem refused to look at her, she guessed that she hit the nail on the head, so to speak. Making sure Steven wasn't looking, Pearl reached out and grabbed the other's hand, blushing a bit. "You know, you don't have to make me anything. I…I like it like this. Us just touching is enough for me. Is it for you?"

"Well, yeah but…" Amethyst sighed and squeezed Pearl's hand, looking down at her. "What is it that's going on between us? I mean, these last few weeks have been great and all, but I'm so confused!" Amethyst clenched her head with her free hand and clenched her eyes shut. She had never felt this before, had never thought of anyone like this. But how did she think of Pearl? They had been friends for a long time but it was obvious that something was growing between them and Amethyst didn't know how to approach it.

"What does it feel like when you hold my hand? Does it feel good? Does it feel like something you want to do often?" Pearl already knew the answer to the second question as they held hands as often as possible (though mainly when they were alone). Pearl smiled up at the purple Gem and gently squeezed her hand, waiting for an answer.

"I feel…funny. Whenever we hold hands, it feels like there are moths in my stomach. I mean, it kind of feels like I want to get sick, but in a good way. My hand feels all tingly and I want to be close to you…" Amethyst blushed as she tried to speak softly, not wanting Steven to hear them. Why was this so secretive? Was it because it was so new to her? Because she was afraid that if it got serious Pearl would hurt her? Before she knew it, Amethyst was being pulled down into Pearl's lap, arms wrapping loosely around the purple Gem's waist. This made Amethyst tense until she heard Pearl's words.

"Well that's called a 'crush'. It means you like me more than a friend, that you trust me to try and have your heart." Pearl looked at the other and saw the confusion on the smaller female's face and she chuckled. "I know, it seems strange that I know this but trust me when I say I've been through what you're going through right now. It's confusing and frustrating and maddening. Let me…Let me show you how to handle it? I promise that I'll make it simple and we don't even have to put a label on the relationship for now if you don't want. That can wait, so let me guide you? Please?" Pearl waited for a response and, though she was acting cool on the outside, she was feeling rather nervous.

Amethyst looked thoughtful for a moment. What if she did let Pearl guide her? What if she let the taller Gem have control over whatever was happening to them at the moment? Would it really be that bad if she let Pearl show her what could be a good thing? The purple Gem slowly nodded, looking Pearl in the eyes.

"Alright, but don't be pushy! Just…show me and I'll learn. I'll try not to mess up." She said and grabbed both of the other's hands. Pearl intertwined their fingers together smiling as Amethyst almost snuggled into her body. It was different from being with Lolite. Pearl was used to being the one held not doing the holding. Then again, Amethyst wasn't Lolite. They were nothing alike and that was refreshing. Pearl closed her eyes and rested her head against the cabinet doors, thinking of Lolite. No, she didn't need her former lover any more. She had someone better, someone who wouldn't abandon her.

Pearl jumped when she heard another 'DING!' as the kitchen timer went off. She looked at Amethyst who jumped out of her arms and lap before Steven could see them and, she hated to admit it, but she felt a little hurt. She had to understand, and she did, that this was Amethyst's first relationship like this. Pearl stood up and watched as Amethyst pulled out the cookie sheet, still trying to hide what she had made from Pearl.

"Oh, just let me see!" Pearl said, her tone holding a note of annoyance and teasing as She tried to move Amethyst. When Amethyst finally did move, she blushed, not looking at Pearl. On the sheet there were Steven's sculpture, Pearl's flowers and a something that Pearl couldn't really decide what it was. Pearl blinked and blushed. Was this what Amethyst had been working on and tried to hide? Pearl reached for it but her hand was smacked away. She looked at Amethyst, blinking and rubbing her hand.

"It's too hot! You'll burn yourself!" Amethyst said as she covered the cup and saucer with a dishrag, looking at Pearl as if she was angry, but she just felt embarrassed. Pearl could tell that Amethyst was trying her hardest to make a gift for Pearl and she was trying to keep it secret. The taller Gem smiled and, when Steven wasn't looking, she bent down and kissed Amethyst's cheek, blushing.

"Alright, I'll let it cool." She smiled and walked over to Steven, thinking as she messed up his hair. Amethyst was being a little hostile, but Pearl knew the purple skinned Gem wasn't used to doing things like this for someone else. The taller Gem hummed as she thought about what Amethyst was doing for her and she felt special. When was the last time she had felt like this? It had been a long time, far too long. Now that she had that feeling back now, though, she wasn't willing to give it up, not for anything.