Steven had gone to bed without a word to the Gems. By the time they emerged from the temple the following morning, he'd already left to hang with Connie.
Pearl sat in the kitchen, Amethyst lay on the living room floor, and Garnet sat on the couch. None of them could do anything, but listen to Steven's outburst play over and over in their heads.
After what seemed like hours, Pearl finally spoke. "Garnet, do you think-"
"No," Garnet said, her voice flat. "We can't just go and apologize. That would only just make things worse."
"But... surely there must be some possible-"
"I'm not even using it," Garnet once again cut her off. "I just know."
"We lied to him," Amethyst muttered. "I mean, we've done it to him before, but this just felt so... different."
"All those other times, it was to keep Steven safe," Garnet explained. "He was just trying to look out for us this time."
"You know, giant tornado fights aside, maybe he really does have a point," Amethyst said. She sat up and raised her arm to the beach outside the window. "I mean, look at that. We've been on this planet for thousands of years. When's the last time we went out and just had fun?"
"Well, there was the beach party with the Pizzas," Pearl said.
"Only because Steven set it up," Garnet reminded her.
Pearl paused to think. "Well, what about the times we've gone to Funland?" "We only go because Steven asks us to," Garnet once again reminded her."Oh please, Amethyst goes there all the time," Pearl said defiantly. "In fact, Amethyst, you're always sneaking out and having fun. You go hang out with Vidalia, you wrestle, you-"
"Why do you think she had to sneak out?" Garnet said. "You think we would have let her otherwise?"
"Ha! Yeah right!" Amethyst laughed. She threw her voice in an imitation of Pearl. " Oh Amethyst, why can't you
just stay at the temple like a good little Gem? Why must you insist on socializing with that uncultured broad! " Pearl was flabbergasted. "What! I would never-"
"Yes, you did," Garnet said. "It wasn't until she painted Rose that you finally accepted her."
"I practically had to drag you to your first concert," Amythest chuckled. "If it wasn't for that pink-haired girl."
"Oh yes, I remember her. She gave me her number," Pearl said. Her eyes suddenly went wide as she came to a realization. "That concert was months ago! I still haven't called her!" She jumped up from her seat. "Amethyst, find me a phone! Oh, where did I put that number? Where did I put that number?!" She started for the temple, but Garnet held her back.
"Now's not the time, Pearl."
Now utterly defeated, Pearl marched over to the couch, where she buried her head in her hands. "She's probably forgotten about me at this point. Garnet, could you-"
"No," she said flatly.
Amused by the whole thing, Amethyst finally got up from her spot on the floor and joined the two on the couch. "Well, least now we've all accepted the truth." She sat back with her arms behind her head. "We're a bunch of lying, workaholic introverts and Steven has every right to be pissed at us." She paused. "It still hurts, but I actually feels kind of better now."
Finished with her pity party, Pearl looked up and sighed. "Doesn't change the fact that he's still angry with us. There's no telling how long it'll be before he finally forgives us."
At that moment, Steven and Connie walked in the front door, big smiles on both of their faces. "Hey guys, guess what?" Steven said cheerful as ever. "You're forgiven!"