The summer didn't last forever as much as Steven wished it would. The other kids went to school and Steven was alone. Everyone expected him to go back to spending his days with the gems. But Lucy was afraid of them, so instead he spent the days with his dad at the car wash. It was fun, his dad was really good at making everything fun.

Even when they were washing a car, or, even more often just waiting for a car to arrive, then they would play games in the back of the van, or Greg played on his guitar while Steven came up with song lyrics.

"Why don't I go to school?" Steven asked.

"You don't need school." Greg said. "School sucks. This is way better than school."

"PeeDee likes school." Steven pointed out.

Greg sighed, looking concerned. "What's bringing all this on, Schtu-ball?"

"I miss my friends." Steven said.

"Ah, buddy, you still see them everyday. If you are lonely, why don't you hang out with the gems?"

Steven glanced behind at Lucy tucked away in the blankets. "I like spending time with you dad."

"Aw. I'm the luckiest dad in the world. But you don't need school. Trust me kiddo. Hey, let's have a hose fight!"

"Yeah!" Steven was immediately cheered.

Weeks past and Steven knew the gems were going on more missions without him around, he supposed that was a good thing. They were saving the world, right? He was having fun with his father, and when his father was busy, he would take out Lucy and talk with her. When the other kids got home from school they would go to the beach or another place out of the way and hang out with Lucy.

They were laying on the beach and eating cookie cats and drawing pictures in the sand. It was an art contest, and Sour Cream was winning. PeeDee was keeping score drawing tally marks in the sand rather than completing himself.

"Let me out," Lucy said.

"Huh?" Steven said, "You are out."

"Let me out." She said again. "Take my gem out."

The kids all sat upright. Looking around at each other.

"Uh? Why?" Jenny said.

"I want to be free." Lucy said. Steven picked up the mirror and turned it over, looking at the gem on the back. It was badly cracked, running deep through it.

The other kids gathered around them. "How?" Kiki asked. They flipped the mirror back over as she showed a picture of pulling the gem out.

"But…you're so hurt." Jenny said hesitantly.

"What would happen to you if we took you out?" Sour Cream asked. "I mean…could you still talk?"

The mirror flashed through many pictures of gems. Focusing on their gems in various places across their bodies.

"Are you saying…you used to be a gem?" Buck asked.

"Yes." Lucy said.

"I've never met another gem." Steven said. "I didn't know there were more."

Lucy made a farting noise at him, and they all laughed.

"Guys wait." PeeDee said. "I don't know about this. Rolando tried to take her out."

"Don't be a baby." Buck said.

"He's right." Jenny said. "We could hurt her. I don't think we should."

"She asked us too!" Steven said. "We can't not!"

"Yeah," Sour Cream said. "I think she knows best."

"Kiki!" Jenny said, turning towards her sister.

"I…I don't know." Kiki said. Looking scared.

The air had changed, the tension risen. They glared at each other. They took steps towards their sides. Kiki standing in the middle, "Guys! We can't fight!" She said.

Steven clutched the mirror to his chest, feeling scared.

"We won't fight." Buck said. "Lucy knows what she wants."

"Not if she gets broken, she doesn't!" Jenny yelled back. The children began yelling over each other and Steven backed away from them towards the water. "It's okay, Lucy." He whispered to her. Even holding her he wasn't sure she could hear him over the screaming.

Kiki took off at a run as Buck shoved Jenny, "Hey!" Jenny yelled before kicking Buck in the shin. "Guys!" Sour Cream tried to break in, but they ignored him, and he ended up dragging PeeDee over to Steven and watching them fight as water lapped against their feet. Sour Cream put a hand on Steven and PeeDee's shoulders protectively, as Buck pulled at Jenny's hair and then let out a holler as she bit his arm in response. "I'll get you for that!" He yelled, shoving her over and she fell, grabbing at his shirt as they went and they landed on the ground with a thud.

Pearl and Ruby landed in an explosion of sand, Pearl placed Kiki on the ground and Ruby lifted Buck and Jenny off the ground, holding them apart with ease.

Pearl reached out a hand to Steven, "Give me the mirror, Steven."