"Have you learned to summon your weapon yet, Julianna?" Amethyst questioned.

"No... But I think I'm getting close."

"Try again." She encouraged. "Just close your eyes and focus."

"If I knew what I'm supposed to be bringing out, it would be easier.." She muttered.

"After the first time, things get easier. Trust me. Now, try it again."

Julianna took a deep breath, then closed her eyes. "Bring me my weapon.." A large throwing star appeared in her hand, and she gasped loudly, eyes snapping open. "Amethyst! It worked!" She exclaimed, examining the object in her hand. The weapon was made of pink diamond, the same material as her gem. It was shaped like a star, with little geometric diamond shapes on each of the five points.

"Try and throw it." Amethyst suggested. "Aim for that target over there."

Julianna nodded and turned to her left, throwing the star like a frisbee. It hit the target dead in it's center, then fell to the ground, broken into five smaller pieces, each appearing the same as the larger one had. She strode over to the target and picked them up, scrutinizing them carefully. The pieces fused together and recreated the large weapon that had first appeared, much to her teammate's amazement, especially Pearl.

"That's remarkable!" Pearl exclaimed, enamored. "How did you do that?!"

"I'm not sure.." Julianna admitted bashfully, examining the weapon once again. It was quite large, only slightly smaller than Steven's shield.

"May I see it?" Pearl requested.

She nodded absently and handed her the throwing star, laughing softly as Pearl nearly shrieked in delight. "I've never seen a weapon like this before." She mused. "I'm not sure I can train you to use it properly."

"She hit the target dead on." Amethyst praised. "I don't think she needs it, Pearl."

Julianna's cheeks flushed. "I could probably use a little practice..."

"I'll help her out. Don't worry." Amethyst draped her arm around her shoulders. "I would be a bad girlfriend if I didn't."

"You guys are official now?" Pearl questioned, a smile spreading across her face.

"Um..." Julianna looked at Amethyst nervously.

"Not really." Amethyst chuckled awkwardly. "But, there's no time like the present. Julianna, will you be my girlfriend?"

Julianna nodded, laughing softly. "Of course, Amethyst."

Amethyst hugged her tightly and lifted her up, spinning her around, throwing stars falling from her hands.

Julianna shrieked and clung to the shorter gem's arms. "Whoa! Amethyst, put me down!" She laughed at her shenanigans, screaming again when Amethyst lost her footing and stumbled to the ground, bringing the blonde down on top of her.

"These kinds of things aren't usually done in front of other people, you rascal." She teased suggestively, climbing up off of her and helping her up, breaking into another fit of laughter.

Connie stood on the corner as people rushed past her in all directions. She had managed to pick up a job, working in a small motel on the far end of the town she'd run away to. It wasn't the greatest job, but she received a meager pay, and a place to sleep, so she didn't complain. It was often very lonely for her, with no one to socialize with, and no way to contact anyone she'd left behind.

The traffic light switched colors, and she quickly crossed the street, holding her plastic bag close to her. Politely, she nodded to the receptionist as she made her way inside the motel and to her assigned room. It was empty, except for her small backpack by the door, and a book on the bedside table. She pulled out the picture frame she'd bought at a dollar store down the street, and propped it up on the table beside the book. She removed her phone from her pocket and set it on the table as well, then sat down on the bed. From the bag she took out a single photo, still warm from being printed off. It was one of her and Steven, taken a few days before the riots had taken place. Carefully, she tucked it into the frame, and set it back down on the table, willing herself not to cry. Crying wouldn't do her any good.

Her phone buzzed on the table, stealing her from her thoughts. It was her parents, again, and she ignored it, as always, with a slight roll of her eyes. It had been their fault that she had left, and she certainly wouldn't give them any way to manipulate her into coming home. She had started her life over, and that was all that mattered. Now that she had her picture of her and Steven, she didn't need the stupid device any longer. In desperate attempts to silence the device, she removed it from it's casing and hurled it against the wall with all her might. The outer frame, buttons and small screen shattered to pieces, the inner mechanics still intact.

"Connie!" A warbled voice came through the device's shattered speaker, and she faintly recognized it as her mother. She was distraught, but Connie didn't care. The speaker shorted out momentarily, masking her mother's voice.

"You can-"

"Steven-"

"Please-"

The voice coming through the speaker sounded more desperate than before. "Come home!"

Without making a sound, Connie slammed her foot down on the phone, silencing it permanently. She unceremoniously scooped up the shards and disposed of it, relieved to finally be ridden of her last connections to home.

Well, at least, one of the last.

She still had her memories, and her photograph of Steven. As many times as she told herself not to, and no matter how hard she tried, she just couldn't let him go, as she had with everything else.

She glanced up at the clock, then stood up off her bed, locking the door behind her as she left her room. She changed into her apron and started her shift in the small restaurant inside the motel, the hours spent hustling around and waiting on customers a welcome change in state of mind. If she was busy, she didn't think of Steven.

And if she didn't think of Steven, she didn't hurt.