A/N: Hello everyone, I am back with chapter 113 of this story. Here, we continue to watch Pearl struggling.
Disclaimer: I don't own Steven Universe
It was the afternoon in Beach City. Pearl left her work on her lunch break arriving at Fish Stew Pizza. She had promised Amethyst they could have lunch together and was carrying that out. Amethyst was inside and Pearl at a table across from her.
"I ordered ordered." admitted Amethyst.
"Oh it's fine." replied Pearl.
Pearl looked around at the customers.
"My, this place is getting busy." mused Pearl.
"Kofi, the owner, thinks it's cause Nanefua is Mayor." noted Amethyst.
"Well...good for them." said Pearl.
A girl approached.
"Here ya go." said Kiki.
Kiki put a cheese pizza on the table.
"It does smell good." noted Pearl.
Pearl heard cheering and saw someone behind the counter cutting food.
"Doesn't she go to school with us?" asked Pearl.
"Bixbite. I got her a job here." answered Amethyst.
"Oh. Good for you." said Pearl surprised.
The two began eating.
"I told ya I want to help people. It feels good." said Amethyst.
"Well you seem good at it." said Pearl.
"You know Snowflake?" asked Amethyst.
"Yes. We're in the same physics class." answered Pearl.
"I helped her get a job at Funland along with a bunch of other people from school." noted Amethyst.
"That's so nice of you." said Pearl.
Amethyst took a large bite of pizza.
"So, how are things going for you?" asked Amethyst.
"Mr. Smiley really needed the help." shrugged Amethyst.
Amethyst had another big bite of pizza.
"So...how you doing?" asked Amethyst.
"I'm fine." answered Pearl.
Pearl took a bite of pizza herself.
"How are you handling...you know?" asked Amethyst.
"I'm fine with the Jasper situation." answered Pearl.
"Good to hear." sighed a Amethyst relieved.
Pearl nodded her head in agreement.
"Oh...did you hear about Garnet?" asked Amethyst excited.
"No." answered Pearl confused.
"She might move to London after school." answered Amethyst.
"Good for her." said Pearl, faking a smile.
"Hope she doesn't forget about us when she's famous." joked Amethyst.
"Neither do I." thought Pearl worried.
"What are you gonna do after school?" asked Amethyst.
"Not sure yet." answered Pearl.
"I might head to Brazil and hang with my familia there." said Amethyst.
Suddenly, the door opened.
"Hey Larimar!" called Amethyst.
"Hello Amethyst. Hello Pearl." said Larimar, approach.
"Hello." said Pearl.
"Larimar and her pal Snowflake work together at Funland." noted Amethyst.
"All thanks to you." replied Larimar.
"It was nothing." shrugged Amethyst.
"Pull up a chair and join us." offered Amethyst.
Pearl stood up.
"You can have mine. I have to go see my cousin anyway." said Pearl.
"Have fun." replied Amethyst.
Pearl thanked her prior obligation as she left. Pearl hopped into her car and began driving off, but realized she had to drop a file off at work. Pearl went home, got the file and went to the town hall. Pearl dropped the file off and left. However, on her way to the car, Pearl froze. There where three women walking across the street. The thing that struck Pearl was the fact all three of them where dead ringers for Rose Quartz.
"Man, that was some party last night." said the hippie one.
"Mike Krol is amazing!" declared the super fan.
The third silently nodded.
"This can't be real." thought Pearl.
"Oh hey, what did you get on the biology test?" asked the super fan.
"You don't wanna know." answered the hippie flatly.
"Rose is gone. This isn't possible." thought Pearl.
The three began walking when the silent one locked eyes with Pearl.
"Oh God." whispered Pearl mortified.
it seemed like time stood still. Pearl didn't noticed someone saying her name.
"Hey!" cried a voice.
Pearl snapped too finding Carnelian and Skinny in front of her.
"I told you that'd work." said Carnelian.
"I guess you where right." shrugged Skinny.
"Hello. I didn't expect to see you here." noted Pearl.
"We stopped in to see Jasper and Amethyst." revealed Skinny.
'Do you know where Amethyst is?" asked Carnelian.
"At Fish Stew Pizza on the boardwalk." answered Pearl.
"Okay thanks." said Skinny.
"Nice seein' ya." said Carnelian.
The two left to find their cousin, but Pearl couldn't get her mind off those three women.
"They're gone." noted Pearl.
Pearl shook her head.
"Stay calm." whispered Pearl.
Pearl took several deep breaths.
"Okay. Let's go see my cousin." said Pearl to herself.
Pearl hopped back into her care and left. As she drove, Pearl still struggled to get her mind off the three Rose looking women she saw. Pearl pulled out a cigarette, lit it and smoked it as she drove. Finally, Pearl reached the cafe where her cousin was waiting. Pearl parked got out and saw her cousin waiting. As she walked over to her cousin, Pearl finished off her cigarette. Luckily, she was able to put it out and toss the butt into a nearby trash can.
'Hello there." said Pearl.
"Hi." said Pearl's cousin.
The two shared a hug.
"I didn't know you smoked." noted Pearl's cousin.
"It helps with my stress." said Pearl.
The two got coffee and sat down.
"So how are you doing since..." began Pearl.
Pearl found herself unable to go forward.
"Since White Diamond broke me and molded me into her mindless follower?" asked Pearl's cousin.
"Yes." confirmed Pearl.
"Fine." answered Pearl's cousin chipper.
"You're handling it better than I thought." admitted Pearl.
Pearl's cousin giggled.
"I learned there's no point in holding grudges." said Pearl's cousin.
"That's a good attitude to have." replied Pearl happily.
"Besides, I think Spinel is helping me." said Pearl's cousin.
"I heard you two became friends." said Pearl.
"We've both been hurt and so we can help each other." explained Pearl's cousin.
"How is Spinel doing?" asked Pearl.
"Great." answered Pearl's cousin.
Both women took another sip of their coffee.
"I think her new job is helping her." noted Pearl's cousin.
"What job is that?" asked Pearl curious.
"She's a Cabrera performer in Ocean Town." answered Pearl's cousin.
"Oh. I have to see her some time." said Pearl.
"She loves it." said Pearl's cousin.
"I'm glad we didn't have her arrested." mused Pearl.
"She is very grateful for that." noted Pearl's cousin.
"What are you doing?" asked Pearl.
"I'm the assistant at a law firm back home." answered Pearl's cousin.
"Good for you." said Pearl.
"Thanks." said Pearl's cousin.
Both women drank from their coffee.
"Can I ask you something?" asked Pearl's cousin.
"Go right ahead." answered Pearl.
"When did you start smoking?" asked Pearl's cousin.
"A while ago. It's how I deal with all the stress." answered Pearl.
"The Diamonds." replied Pearl's cousin.
"And the ex of one of my friends." said Pearl.
Pearl groaned thinking about it.
'Let's change the subject." requested Pearl.
"Okay." agreed Pearl's cousin.
"Good." sighed Pearl.
Pearl took a sip of coffee.
"So...how is your love life?" asked Pearl's cousin.
Pearl choked on her coffee.
"I'm so sorry! I shouldn't have asked!" cried Pearl's cousin guilty.
Pearl was able to return to normal.
"It's fine. I was surprised." said Pearl.
"You're so lucky having a lover and good friends." sighed Pearl's cousin.
"For now." muttered Pearl.
"What was that?" asked Pearl's cousin curious.
Pearl took a moment.
"Well...we're going to graduate soon and then everyone will go their own way to do their own thing." answered Pearl.
"You're not going to lose your friends." said Pearl's cousin.
"That happened to Spinel." shrugged Pearl.
"Spinel was abandoned. Your friends wouldn't do that." replied Pearl's cousin.
"On purpose." mumbled Pearl.
"Pearl...I've me your friends and I know they won't abandon you." said Pearl's cousin.
"Part of me knows that..." began Pearl, "but..."
"No buts." said Pearl's cousin firmly.
Pearl was surprised by how forceful her cousin was being.
"Pearl, you have great friends and you should never have to worry about them ditching you." said Pearl's cousin.
Pearl let out a murmur.
"Besides, you'll always have family to fall back on." said Pearl's cousin.
Pearl smiled warmly.
"Thank you. That does make me feel better." said Pearl.
"Happy to help." shrugged Pearl's cousin.
The two finished off their coffee and got up.
"Well this was lovely and I must thank you again for you kind words." said Pearl gratefully.
"I hope we see each other again." said Pearl's cousin.
"We will. I promise." replied Pearl.
The two shared a hug and left. Pearl paid of the coffee despite her cousin insisting she wanted to help. Pearl then headed back home. Garnet and Amethyst where relaxing on the couch when Pearl arrived. The three took turns talking about how their day went. Amethyst and Garnet had good days with not of interest really happening. Pearl finished talking about her meeting with her cousin. She purposefully left out the three Rose looking women she saw.
"So...did you have fun with your cousins?" asked Pearl.
"Carnelian and I where killing it at skee ball...until Mr. Smiley caught me sitting over the targets." answered Amethyst.
"The downside of him having extra help." noted Garnet.
"Worth it in the long run." shrugged Amethyst.
"Yeah." agreed Pearl.
"I'm glad you had a good time with your cousin." said Amethyst.
"It was nice." said Pearl.
"Gotta admit, I'm gonna miss this." confessed Garnet.
"Yeah. After graduation, we won't be able to hang like this anymore." noted Amethyst.
"Then we should enjoy this time together while we can." stated Pearl.
"Hell yeah!" declared Amethyst.
"Agreed." said Garnet.
The three smiled.
"Maybe...my cousin is right." thought Pearl hopeful.
A/N: That's where we'll end things for now. So, Pearl is still struggling with the graduation, but she at least got some support from her cousin. Hopefully, that will continue to help. Next time, we cover the next three episodes. Please review.
