What?

How.. how could Pearl possibly think that Amethyst hates her? Wasn't it the other way around? Amethyst found it quite difficult to keep quiet as the scene behind her played out.

"Well.. does she..?" Pearl asked again, bring a hand up to grab at her other arm in anticipation. Why was Garnet being so quiet? Was she using her future vision? Or was she keeping the actual answer from Pearl because the tallest gem knew that Amethyst hated her? After what seemed like hours, at least to Pearl, Garnet finally lifted her head to speak.

"No, Amethyst does not hate you. Do you feel better?" It was so nonchalant. Of course, it always was with Garnet. Pearl sighed, a small smile playing across her lips.

"No.. not really."

"Of course not." Garnet quickly said, placing her hands on each of the pristine gem's shoulders. "I'm not Amethyst. If you want recognition, you get it from her, not me."

At this moment, Steven exited the bathroom in his banana pajamas. Seeing Garnet with her hands against Pearl's shoulders, ideas rapidly began to run through his head. He ran forward excitedly with stars in his eyes his arms raised, but before he could utter a single word, Garnet turned and held a finger to her lips, shushing the excited boy. "No, we're not fusing. Remember, Amethyst is asleep. You should be doing the same, if you're ready."

Steven nodded in understanding while lowering his arms, though it was clear that he was slightly disappointed and eager to speak his mind. Garnet and Pearl knelt down in front of Steven, the tallest gem ruffling his hair, a smile on her face.

"I promise we can talk all you want tomorrow." He smiled at this. In turn, he hugged Garnet then Pearl, whispering a 'goodnight' to each as he did so. Pulling away, he once again zipped his lips and tossed away the invisible key. After a salute, he slowly tiptoed his way up to his bed, Garnet and Amethyst watching him the whole way.

When he had finally gotten to his bed, Garnet turned to Pearl, once again resting a hand on her shoulder. "Just talk about it with her." Without another word, the stoic gem turned on her heel and walked through her temple door. Pearl, once again with her hand clasped over her opposite arm, shot a sideways glance toward the supposedly sleeping gem. She contemplated waking Amethyst up, but she couldn't risk incurring her rage. Instead, letting out another sigh, she made her way through her own temple door. Perhaps actually sleeping will help ease her mind.

Amethyst couldn't believe her ears. Could it really be that easy? Amethyst had tears in her eyes, a smile on her face as she stared at the back of the couch. All she had to do was wait until Pearl came to talk to her tomorrow.. Then everything would be okay between them again. Hugging herself with an excited shiver, she slowly fell into a real sleep.

The next morning was a quiet one, save for a certain boy who was claiming what he was promised the previous night. Amethyst was awake and sitting on her spot at the kitchen counter, Garnet standing beside her as Steven excitedly told the purple gem about his mission.

"- and then the giant bee zoomed down at me and Garnet! I used my shield but its stinger thingy was so strong that it broke through! Can you believe that! Then Garnet punched through my shield with her awesome gauntlets and poofed the thing, just like that! Since we finished early, I kinda wanted to explore through the jungle a bit. It took some time to convince Garnet though, but I did, huh Garnet?" Steven asked for confirmation, turning to his tallest acting mother, who smiled and nodded in response.

"You sure did, Steven."

"Aw, man, that sounds awesome!" Amethyst raised her hands in excitement, earning an approved nod from Steven.

"It was! We saw a bunch of different types of trees, climbed a small mountain, and went swimming under a waterfall!"

"Well I'm glad you had a fun time." Pearl walked through her temple door, her posture as elegant as ever. She heard the last few bits of Steven's story, and was glad to be able to put her word in. She walked up to the young boy to stand beside Garnet, hands on her hips while he turns to her in excitement. "But you made sure to dry yourself off thoroughly after your swim, right? I don't want you catching a cold."

"Of course! But Pearl, I have so much to tell you! Okay, there was this giant bee thing, right? And - Garnet, watcha doing?"

The tallest member of the team had grabbed Steven by the waist and lifted him, walking toward the door of the house.

"Amethyst can fill her in. I've got another special mission for the two of us." The boy gasped, stars in his eyes as he looked backwards up at Garnet.

"Really? What is it?!"

"It's an adventure to a modern jungle called Beach City Funland."

"Woo!" Steven's arms raised in the air were the last that Pearl and Amethyst saw of the boy, at least for a few hours. Amethyst was laughing while Pearl smiled, glad that Garnet took the opportunity to leave her alone with the purple gem.

"So.." Amethyst started, turning her attention to Pearl, still chuckling. "This giant bee that Steven's going on about attacked them, and even punctured through the little man's shield! Anyway, Garnet-"

"Actually, Amethyst.." Pearl cut the smaller gem off, raising her hand once again to clasp at her arm.

Amethyst's smile faded, knowing what was coming. Believe it or not, she was actually nervous. After what seemed like many minutes of silence, Pearl looked toward the front door again.

"I-I'd better go make sure they have the proper amount of money for their games." The pristine gem made her way to the door, but was stopped by Amethyst's hand. Holding onto her arm, Amethyst spoke, slowly, with a shy voice.

"Pearl.. I don't hate you."

"What?" Pearl asked, turning back to look at Amethyst. She didn't move. She didn't even try to free herself from the smaller gem's grasp. She was dumbfounded.

"I said.."

Amethyst paused, taking a deep breath. "I don't hate you.."

"How did.. How do you know-"

"I heard you and Garnet talking last night, okay?" Amethyst let go of Pearl and crossed her arms, averting her eyes with a small, hot pink blush on her face.

"Why didn't you say anything?" Pearl was hurt, even a little bit mad that Amethyst just let this go on if she knew. She started ranting, her voice getting slightly louder with each word. "I actually tried to sleep last night, you know? I-I mean I tried, but I just couldn't! Do you know how horrible that feels, when you're trying to rid yourself of your mind so that you can get to the next day easily, so that I could get this over with faster?! I was worrying all night, I was practically ragged with fear, so why didn't you-"

"Because I thought the same thing, okay!?"

It was Pearl's turn to be cut off by Amethyst. The smaller gem had to scream to make herself heard over Pearl, and when she did, her fists were swung down in exasperation. Tears threatened to fall once more, but not because of sadness and worry, nor were they because of happiness. They were tears of pure relief, relief just to get this off her chest. Pearl, taken aback by amethyst's confession, spoke rather hesitantly.

"Why.. would you think such a thing?"

Her arms back to being crossed, again averting her gaze from Pearl, Amethyst began her explanation.

"Honestly, it's just been a feeling.. Like, yeah you get onto me for being messy, or rude, or a bunch of other stuff, but those I can take. But there are other times.." She took a glance at the taller gem before she continued speaking. "Times where your eyes are more angry than normal. Times where you think of new names to call me other than 'slob' or 'a mess.' I heard when you called me a 'little devil'.." At this, Pear's teal blush came across her face, and she grabbed her arm once again. "It's just been growing, each and every day, P. And it makes me feel like everything at the Kindergarten, what you said to make me feel like I actually meant something to the team, it makes me feel like that never even happened.."

Amethyst finished her little speech, averting her eyes once again. She waited.. waited for Pearl to say something, anything that would possibly put her mind at ease. But those words never came. Instead, Amethyst was surprised to feel a pair of slender arms wrap around her body. Her tears finally started to fall as she clasped onto her friend, resting her head on Pearl's shoulder. After just a few minutes, the pristine gem allowing her friend to let out her emotions, she whispered just two words in Amethyst's ear.

"I'm sorry.."