A/N: Hello everyone, I am back with chapter eleven of this story. I am eager to continue coming off last chapter. Here, we pickup after the last one then continue.
Disclaimer: I don't own Steven Universe
The three women return to their home. Pearl, Garnet and Amethyst where not in the mood for joy or jubilation following the encounter the they. Pearl sat at the table, Garnet leaned on the wall and Amethyst flopped on the couch. The silence lasted for a few minutes before finally being broken.
"I can't take it!" cried Pearl.
"What's wrong P?" asked Amethyst, sitting up.
"The same thing you two are." answered Pearl.
Garnet and Amethyst shared a look.
"Everything was going so great then..." began Pearl
Pearl rubbed her face.
"I just don't understand." sighed Pearl.
"It happens." shrugged Amethyst.
"You saw the way that Jasper treated her! That relationship is toxic!" declared Pearl.
"Pearl, stay calm." requested Garnet.
Pearl let out a sigh.
"Who is this Jasper anyway?" asked Pearl.
"She's a Sophomore." answered Garnet.
"You wouldn't happen to know her." replied Pearl.
Garnet shook her head back and forth.
"Sorry. I do know she's the Captain of the Weightlifting team." said Garnet.
"That explains her muscles." mused Pearl.
"She usually does well in grades." noted Garnet.
Pearl was a bit surprised by this.
"I guess stereotypes aren't true." said Pearl.
"She's a bully!" snapped Amethyst.
The other two turned their attention to Amethyst.
"What?" asked Amethyst.
"Jasper seemed to know you." answered Pearl.
Amethyst let out an uneasy groan
"Spill it." demanded Pearl.
Amethyst let out a defeated sigh.
"Jasper and I do know each other." confirmed Amethyst.
"I thought so." muttered Pearl.
"Look, there's nothing to go into." stated Amethyst.
Pearl and Garnet shared a glance.
"Are you sure?" asked Garnet.
"Yeah." answered Amethyst.
"Okay." replied Garnet.
"We need to figure you what we are going to do." said Pearl concerned.
"There might not be anything we can do." sighed Amethyst.
"What?!" asked Pearl surprised.
"If she doesn't want help there is nothing we can do." answered Garnet.
"Of course she'd want help!" exclaimed Pearl.
"You've gotta learn about abusive relationships." laughed Amethyst.
"This is not a laughing matter!" cried Pearl.
"Amethyst is right. It did not seem like she wanted help." continued Garnet.
"You can be knight in shinning armor." added Amethyst.
"But..." stammered Pearl.
"She wanted nothing to do with us." noted Garnet.
Pearl rubbed her eyes.
"For now, we should focus on yourselves. But, we'll be there if Lapis needs us." said Garnet.
Pearl thought for a moment and nodded her head.
"We should probably get ready for school tomorrow." noted Amethyst.
"You're right." agreed Pearl.
A new day dawned in Beach City and the three roommates began their daily routine. She reached her dance class hoping to take her mind off of the events of yesterday. However, this proved to be simply impossible for Pearl to do. As a result, Pearl continued making mistakes throughout practice. Finally, the class mercifully came to an end.
"It's finally over." whispered Pearl.
"Pearl, I need to talk to you." said Anastasia.
The other girls whispered among themselves as they left.
"Yes?" asked Pearl worried.
"I noticed you seemed very distracted." answered Anastasia.
"I promise it won't happen again!" declared Pearl.
"Pearl, I am worried about what is wrong." replied Anastasia.
Pearl let out a big sigh of relief.
"Did you find the girl you where looking for?" asked Anastasia.
"Yes. Her name is Lapis Lazuli." answered Pearl.
"Good. You talked to her then." said Anastasia.
"My roommates and I waited for her." explained Pearl.
"Did you return the hand mirror?" asked Anastasia.
"Yes." answered Pearl.
"Then I do not see what is wrong." admitted Anastasia.
"It was fine...until she showed up." replied Pearl, gritting her teeth.
"You have to be more specific." stated Anastasia.
"Her girlfriend Jasper Silva." said Pearl, displeased.
"Oh." said Anastasia.
"What?" asked Pearl.
"Pearl, homosexuality is natural." answered Anastasia.
Pearl blinked as she understood.
"Oh no! I'm not homophobic!" laughed Pearl.
Pearl stopped and let out a sad sigh.
"The problem is...their relationship is not healthy." said Pearl, worried.
"How so?" asked Anastasia.
"Jasper is jealous, controlling and treats Lapis like property." answered Pearl.
Anastasia gasped at this revelation.
"I want to help her." said Pearl.
"But, something is stopping you." guessed Anastasia.
"The others think she doesn't want help." answered Pearl.
"I assume there is a reason." said Anastasia.
"She declared she did not want us to be around her at all." explained Pearl.
"Was this before or after Jasper got involved?" asked Anastasia.
"Before." answered Pearl worried.
"Abusive relationships are horrible things. I had a friend back in Belarus who was killed by her abusive boyfriend. He beat her to death. She was only twenty." explained Anastasia, tearing up.
Anastasia quickly wiped the tears away.
"I am so sorry." said Pearl horrified.
"Thank you." said Anastasia, regaining her composure.
"I don't think Jasper is physically abusive. Or, at least I haven't see her being abused. Then again, I only saw them once." explained Pearl, getting more concerned.
"That is good. However, emotionally abuse is not any better." said Anastasia.
"What do I do?" asked Pearl.
Anastasia thought for a moment.
"Be there for her." answered Anastasia.
"But, she doesn't want us around!" exclaimed Pearl.
"If you get to know each other, she might change her tune." proposed Anastasia with a wink.
"Thank you so much." replied Pearl grateful.
"It's no problem." said Anastasia.
Pearl left and went to work. She arrived on time and things where going fine, but she felt a pain in her stomach. She attempted to work on, but soon felt faint and lightheaded. Mayor Dewey checked up on and noticed she wasn't his insistence, she went to a hospital in nearby Ocean Town - which was the closest. After a wait, she finally was seen.
"Hello Miss...Byrd." said the doctor.
The doctor opened Pearl's chart.
"My name is Doctor Maheswaran." said the doctor.
Doctor Maheswaran looked over Pearl's medical chart.
"You don't have any past problems." mused Doctor Maheswaran.
"I just felt a bit faint. Honestly, this is all a bit much." said Pearl.
"Well from your symptoms, it seems like you're just hungry." said Doctor Maheswaran.
"What?!" exclaimed Pearl surprised.
"When the last time you ate?" asked Doctor Maheswaran.
Pearl thought and the answer stunned her.
"Yesterday at lunch." answered Pearl.
"That would explain it." replied Doctor Maheswaran.
"I feel so foolish." sighed Pearl.
"Is there any particular reason you did not eat?" asked Doctor Maheswaran.
"I've been pre-occupied." answered Pearl.
"Well, just remember eating is important." said Doctor Maheswaran.
Pearl thought for a moment before gulping.
"Doctor, how can you tell if someone is being physically abused?" asked Pearl.
Doctor Maheswaran was taken aback by this question.
"Black eyes, bruises, broken bones, cuts, unusual red marks from strangulation. Lack of medical care, lack of sleep and forced drug or alcohol use are also signs of physical violence." answered Doctor Maheswaran.
"Okay." said Pearl, slightly relieved.
"Miss Byrd, are you in an abusive relationship?" asked Doctor Mahwswaran.
"No. Another student." answered Pearl.
"Care to share any details." requested Doctor Maheswaran.
"I just met her recently, but her girlfriend is controlling treating her like property." said Pearl disgusted.
"I see." replied Doctor Maheswaran.
"My roommates don't think she wants help." continued Pearl.
"Are they right?" asked Doctor Maheswaran.
"It seems like it." answered Pearl.
Doctor Maheswaran mused this over.
"I asked my dance instructor." said Pearl.
"What did she say?" asked Doctor Maheswaran.
"But there for her and hopefully she will want help." answered Pearl.
"Good advice." said Doctor Maheswaran.
Pearl let out a long sigh.
"Is there anything else?" asked Doctor Maheswaran.
Pearl thought for a moment.
"There is doctor/patience confidentiality, right?" asked Pearl anxiously.
"Of course. I will not say of word of anything you tell me." answered Doctor Maheswaran.
"I am a lesbian and only my older sister knows." confessed Pearl.
"Alright. Homosexuality is normal and not illegal." shrugged Doctor Maheswaran.
"I think it might have contributed to why I am here." explained Pearl.
"Why are you closeted?" asked Doctor Maheswaran.
"I am worried of how people will react." answered Pearl.
"I rejected an arranged marriage to marry my fiancee Doug. We're still happily together and we have a wonderful daughter named Connie. My family where angry and it took a while for them to accept this. This point is, you have to make yourself happy." said Doctor Maheswaran.
Pearl thought for a moment.
"Thank you. But...I need more time." said Pearl.
Doctor Maheswaran chuckled.
"That is perfectly fine. Take all the time you need." said the doctor.
Pearl got a clean bill of health and departed. On the long drive home, Pearl thought about how she would explain this to the others. Once she arrived, Pearl found there cars where there. Pearl parked, exited her car and walked up the stairs. Sighing, Pearl kept a straight face as she entered. The others where seated on the couch clearly waiting for.
"Yo! Your boss called!" cried Amethyst.
"Are you okay?" asked Garnet.
Pearl did not want the two worrying about her not eating.
"I was just stressed." answered Pearl.
Pearl walked over and sat next to the others.
"You gotta stop freakin' over Lapis." said Lapis.
"I can't." said Pearl.
"Pearl-" began Garnet.
"I talked to my dance instructor." added Pearl.
"What did she say?" asked Garnet.
"She proposed I try to befriend Lapis and she might open up." answered Pearl.
Garnet and Amethyst shared a glance.
"That's exactly what I am going to do!" declared Pearl.
Garnet and Amethyst shared another glance.
"Don't try to talk me out of this." said Pearl.
"You've got our full support." said Garnet.
"Just...be careful of Jasper." warned Amethyst.
"Thanks." replied Pearl.
Pearl got up and headed to her room.
"I do want to tell them I am a lesbian...some day." thought Pearl.
A/N: That is we'll end chapter eleven. I hope you liked this and the appearance from Priyanka who I do want to return. Next time, Pearl tries to talk with Lapis and has family issues to deal with. Please review.
