Lapis and I break the surface of the water with a gasp. We stare at each other as we pant. The lake glistens in the moonlight as water drips from our bodies. Lapis looks down at her reflection with a frown. She grits her teeth as she shuts her eyes.

I look down at my own reflection, noticing the mark on my cheek and a few small bruises on my neck. I press a hand up to it as I hear a sigh. I look up to see Lapis with her back turned away from me. I want to say something to her. I want to talk to her on what just happened between us.

"Three strikes." I raise an eyebrow. "Three strikes and I'm out." She covers her face and I wade over towards her. "Why?" I place a hand on her shoulder. "Why am I such..." I can feel her body convulsing. "A sadist?" I peck her cheek before I move back into the water.

"I hope that's what you wanted, Amethyst. Because that was EXACTLY what you deserved after all of those days..." She whips her body around to face me. "You've been lying and cheating and hurting people!" She grabs my neck.

"Shattering Gems. Shattering Peridot and killing my only friend!" Her voice shakes and cracks. "Stealing my ex and forcing her into a love relationship with someone else!"
"Lapis."

"NO! Don't try to be all somber with me now YOU!" Her nostrils flare in her fury. "YOU DEFECTIVE PIECE OF DIRT!" She slaps me across the face and I clutch the front of her tank top. "Listen to me, Lapis, I didn't come here to get my butt handed to me. I came here to warn you."

Lapis scoffs. "Warn me?! About what?!" I glare at her. "About your shattering. Tomorrow, Rose will hunt you down and when she does, you will be shattered." Lapis raises an eyebrow. "Rose? Whose Rose?"

"Steven's mother. Somehow, her concious has replaced his and now she's back in his body to claim revenge." She folds her arms.
"Uh...what did I do to her?" I grit my teeth. "You may have been um...selfishly framed for cover."

"WHAT?!" She clenched her teeth as she takes a step towards me. My mouth sinks into the water as I widen my eyes. "Are you kidding with this?!" She stares at me, flabbergasted. "So you paint me up like I'm the bad Gem around here?!" She hisses through her clenched teeth.

"That I'm THE ONE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR CRIMES?!" She yanks at her hair as her blue eyes bulge in torment. "I let you into the barn and THIS IS HOW YOU REPAY MY HOSPITALITY?!" She fists tremble as she takes another step towards me.

"I just want to shatter you right here, right now. I DIDN'T ASK FOR ANY OF THIS DIRT! THINGS WERE PERFECT UNTIL YOU CAME ALONG!" She forces my head below the water. She squeezes my neck and I gag as her muscles tighten.

I'm not going to resist her. I'm just as done with this as she is. If she shatters me, so be it. I close my eyes as her grip strengthens. I wait for the cloud that will send me to my demise. After a few more seconds, Lapis loosens her grip. She lets go of me and I start to sink.

Fine. I guess I'm drowning then. A hand pushes me back up and something embraces me. "I...can't! I CAN'T DO IT!" Lapis sobs as she holds me up to her lips and she presses them into mine. Her tears drip from her cheeks onto my chest as she cries.

"Please! Just stop! Stop tormenting me!" I open my eyes and I embrace her. She gasps and she stares down at me. "I have to..." She reaches down for my gemstone. "I have to pull it out." Her fingers claw onto it. Her tears drip onto my gem for a moment. She lets go.

"GAH!" She squeezes my arms as she rests her head on my chest. "Why can't I kill you? What did you do to make me...feel this way towards you?" I gaze at her head with somber eyes. "I don't understand. I hate you so much. Yet, I don't want to destroy you."

I put my fingers through her hair as I press a hand against the back of her head. "I want this to be over. I couldn't wish...more than anything in this entire universe...to be shattered. Please!" Lapis clutches my body and I resist a yell. "Please shatter me, Amethyst!"

She forces her head back up. Her cheeks are tearstained and her face is turning into a darker shade of blue. "SHATTER ME, AMETHYST!" I close my eyes as I grit my teeth, pulling myself into her. "SHATTER ME!" My eyes well up as I resist a mountain of tears growing inside them.