THE GEM CESARL: Chapter 1 (PEARLMETHYST WARNING)

DEFECTIVE

I knock on the temple door. On cue, Pearl opens it and steps out in front of me. "Amethyst, you do realize that you could only enter my room when I'm standing here alongside the doorway."

"Oh. Sorry. I just...wanted to talk with you...alone." Pearl looks around. "Well, Steven is out with Connie and Garnet is busy in the harvesting room."

Pearl walks over to the couch. "Why don't we talk in here? There's no one home other than us." I nod. "Well, I guess so." I walk over to Pearl and I sit down on the couch next to her.

"So, what's wrong?" I look down as I fold my arms. "I...I couldn't believe it. I lost to Jasper and now look at me. I'm weak, I'm small, I'm...

I'm...defective!"

"Hey hey. Amethyst, you're not defective. Well, you are it's just that..." Pearl looks away for a moment. "At least you aren't corrupted. You could've been one of them."

"But...I want to be the best. I want to beat Jasper! I want...!"

"I know. You can't heal scars. You can only heal wounds. You can't change what you are. You can only change you."

I won't respond. Pearl continues. "I don't want you to change, Amethyst. I like you. This you. The real you. It doesn't matter if you are small."

"You're lying. It does matter."

"Well..."

"You just love bigger Gems! You love stronger Gems! You don't care about anything other than that! Rose, Garnet, Bismuth. All of them! I...ngah!" I blush and I tear up.

"Look! I care about you, alright! A lot!" I pause for a moment. "I don't want to lose you. You are just...so amazing. Everything about you is amazing."

Pearl looks down. "I...I care about you...too." I hug Pearl. "Please! Please stop falling for other Gems! I know! I'm acting selfish and difficult but I-!" Suddenly, Pearl kisses me on the lips and we close our eyes.

After what seems like a minute, we let go, we open our eyes, and we look away from each other. Pearl gets up from the couch. "I...I gotta go." Pearl runs to the temple door as it opens for her.

Once she enters her room, the door immediately closes behind her, leaving me alone. I sigh and I look out the window as the sun sets for the night.

CHAPTER LIST AND EXCLUSIVES

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