Me and Peridot gaze into each other's eyes as we sink in the water. We just stay like that. I don't struggle or fight her. We just hold onto each other. I lean into her and we kiss. We close our eyes and we take in the moment.

So many feelings swirl inside me as we hold it there. Pleasure, depression, serenity. We let go and we open our eyes. We notice the bubbles coming out of our mouths. She holds me tight as we embrace.

We close our mouths and eyes again and everything calms down. I rest my head against her shoulder. She pets my hair as I smile. Everything going on. It feels right.

By going down, there's just no point in going back up for air. Gems can't drown. We can only die if our gems were shattered. I want to stay down here...with her. I want things to stay like this.

Peridot leans into me again and she starts sucking on my neck. I hold back my internal sounds of pleasure. We keep sinking as the world starts to slip away from us. Reality is starting to become the illusion within our minds.

This can be our reality. It's peaceful. No one else around. Except for perhaps the victims of the hurricane. But there are no prying eyes. I hold back on that thought.

I'm not willing to do that. Even though now may seem like the perfect time, it isn't. A part of this also feels a bit...wrong. Why? I don't know. It just feels like I should restrain myself from it.

I'll take my mind off of things. I think back to my two kisses with Pearl. They were both out of sadness and sympathy. What's weird is that, I wanted that to stay healthy. Here, I feel a bit...dirty.

Oh geez. I open my eyes and I realize what's really happening. Eloc is just sinking by next to us, his arms folded. His foot taps against nothing in particular. He knows. He wants it.

I'm not giving it to him. But he continues to push it. The pressure continues to build as my lips meet with Peridot's once more. A part of me is telling me to stop. The other part is telling me to calm down.

To stop fighting it and give in. Two sides argue with us in between. Eloc and Peridot on one side. Me on the other. But I'm not alone. The Peridot from a few minutes ago, Lapis, and Eyeball also stand behind me.

They don't want this just as badly as I do. The stronger side always wins. In this battle, I will not let temptation get the better of me. I will go as far as kissing with Peridot. That's where the wall comes in.

I will never do it. Not with her. I will not let myself do this in front of the opposers, the supporters, or any of the dozens of apparitions surrounding us. However, I will not fight it either. I will just stop myself and I will pray.

I close my eyes and I try to doze off. I open my eyes. I'm back at the barn. No one is outside. There are no birds chirping. No bugs buzzing along. There is only silence and nothing more.

I walk towards the barn. The doors are closed. I don't like this. I gulp and without knocking, I slide open the door. I watch a disturbing scene play in front of me. "NO!" I slam the door shut and I cover my face.

I collapse. "Please. Stop." I hear footsteps crunching on the grass. Something's coming. I turn around and I jump. I cover my mouth. Standing right in front of me is the one I shattered. "Pearl?"

But...there's someone else. "Steven." He walks up towards me. He's glaring and he's clutching his stomache. I know what I'm fighting now. It's not just desire.

Steven steps in front of Pearl and I wince. "Getting desperate are you?" I look away. "Please. Stop doing this to me." I collapse and I put my arms on the back of my head. My elbows cover my ears.

"I don't deserve this." I close my eyes. "I just want to die." Suddenly, something explodes behind me. I quickly get up. Steven and Pearl are gone.

I slowly turn around. My face sweats as I hear something crackling. I stumble backward as chucks of debris fly towards me. "We will tear them apart." Eloc's voice resonates around me. "You will abuse them."
"No."

"You will find their weakness."
"No!"
"You will destroy them!"
"NO!"
"You will join me!"
"ENOUGH!" I open my eyes and I scream in the water. Peridot stops and she looks up at me.