(A/N) Watch out, because some of Jasper's bullying is going to make an appearance in this chapter and I don't want to trigger anyone.

Opal's Pov

Spring break came just as needed as ever. Everyone was practically forced to go home as everything other than the dorm buildings had shut down, leaving campus practically deserted. The first week of my spring break just so happened to coincide with Pearl's April break, which I was endlessly happy about.

"Hey girl!" I said, sitting down beside her on the couch. She had her nose buried in a book and hardly noticed me until I pushed it down a bit. "Hello?" Pearl placed a bookmark carefully inside her book and set it on the coffee table.

"Yes?"

"Yes?" I asked. "What, are you awaiting my orders or something? I just wanted to talk to you."

"About?" I shrugged.

"I dunno. Stuff." earl exhaled and shook her head.

"Sorry, I've just been stressed lately."

"About Jasper?" I asked, lowering y voice so Mom wouldn't hear me fro the kitchen. Pearl sent a worried glance to her phone, sitting on the table next to her book.

"No."

"Then what?" She sighed.

"It's a long story." I thought for a second.

"Then don't bother. Let's o do something fun. We can grab Peridot and-"

"We can't." She interrupted. I looked at her, confused.

"Why not?"

"Because... because she's in the Bahamas currently. On vacation." I nodded, still a bit suspicious.

"But if she were here... you be totally into grabbing her?"

"If she wanted us to," Pearl said quickly, still trying t play it cool.

"Peridot's the reason you're stressed." Pearl shook her head, almost looking like she was about to cry. After a moment, her shaking became nodding. "What's wrong?" I asked.

"She and I got into a fight a few weeks ago," Pearl admitted.

"DId yo break up?" I asked.

"Yes... no... I can't tell." I looked at her.

"Well, just tell m how it went and I'll tell you."

"Are you sure?" She asked. I nodded.

"Trust me." Pearl nodded and took in a deep breath.

"Well, first she got upset with me for never disclosing the details of... the present situation." She sent a worried glance at her phone. "Then she said that I don't support her when she's feeling upset." I almost chuckled.

"Well, there's your problem, Pearlie," I said. SHe looked up at me.

"What is?"

"That you're not supporting her."

"But I am!" She protested. I looked her in the eye skeptically.

"Are you? What have you been doing? DId she say anything specific?"

"Well," Pearl sent me one last glance before straightening herself in her seat and returning her gaze to a patch of sun on the floor. "She said that she's worried about Amethyst and I told her I was too, but she said that the way I was worried was different than the way she was worried."

"And how were you worried?" I asked.

"The typical amount. I was concerned about how well she was adjusting to her new home. You've told me before to tone down my concern to a more basic level, and I feel as though I've done so." I nodded.

"And Peridot?"

"I beg your pardon?"

"You said she felt like she was worried for a different reason."

"Oh, of course," Pearl nodded. "She said that's she's concerned about possible abuse or neglect in the home. And that she get's increasingly more concerned about whether or not Amethyst will ever return to Beach City. I personally find her level of concern to be a bit of an overreaction, don't you?" She turned to face me again with her last remark. Personally, I did not find it to be an overreaction. And frankly, I was a little pissed at Pearl.

"What the hell Pearl? That's a totally valid concern, you should see that apartment. And even if it wasn't, you don't fucking say that to her. You treat her gently and help her overcome it. That's what Sugilite and I do for each other, and that's what literally fucking everyone does for you." Pearl looked at me blankly. I sighed and held my hand over my eyes for a second. "I'm sorry, I just... Jesus Christ." Pearl sniffed a bit and looked back at the floor.

"No, it's alright. I do suppose you're right. I'm not the most emotionally apt person." She sighed and chuckled a bit. "I suppose I should apologize to Peridot for not being a very good girlfriend. And for not responding to her text messages." I chuckled a bit.

"You think?" I ran my fingers through her short hair. "But you should wait until she gets back from vacation. God, what would you do without me?" I stood up and stretched. "God, I must be getting old or something if I have to stretch after standing. Pearl chuckled a bit and I joined Mom in the kitchen.

"Hey, baby. Could you grab me a fruit knife?" She asked from the dining room table. I grabbed the knife from the block and handed it to her. "Thanks, sweetheart," She said, kissing me on the cheek. I sat down beside her. "You look stressed, you supposed to be studying or something?" I chuckled a bit and shook my head.

"Nah, just worried about Pearl. She's a little... inept when it comes to understanding other people's emotions." Mom nodded and began slicing an apple.

"Well, we've known that since the start." I nodded.

"Yeah. But this time she really upset Peridot. And... I'm worried for another reason." She put down the knife and the apple.

"What's wrong?" I hesitated, wondering how it might upset Pearl. Then, as I heard the sound of her feet going up the stairs, I realized I had to.

"Jasper. She's been back at it again." Mom looked at me, confused.

"But... how did you-"

"Sapphire," I told her. "Peridot figured out that Jasper's been attacking her and Yellen too, and Sapphire came forward and told me. Pearl won't  say exactly what's going on, but she's said it's almost as bad as-"

"Opal, why didn't she tell me?" Mom asked, almost shouting.

"She didn't want you to worry."

"Well, now I'm worried!" I thought for a moment, then stood up. "Where are you going?"

"Trust me." I stepped out into the living room and just as I'd hope, Pearl's phone was still sitting on the coffee table beside her book. I glanced up the stairs, then grabbed it, bringing it back to the dining room.

"Is that her phone?" I nodded and turned it on, only to find it locked.

"How long has Pearl had a lock on her phone?"

"She has a lock on her phone?" Mom asked.

"Yeah. It's a pin." I said.

"Try her birthday?" 03/01. Nothing.

"Nope."

"Your birthday?" 10/16. Nothing again. "Mine?" 06/05. She sighed. "Who else's birthday?" I tried Peridot, Sugilite, Amethyst, Rose, and even Steven's birthdays, but fell short to think of any others she'd use. 

Then, slumped over the table, I suddenly had an epiphany. I sat up and picked up the phone again, entering one final date. 04/12. Success.

I tried not to think too hard about the pin and went straight into her text messages. Jasper was smart. She'd obviously been using an app to send messages from different numbers, judging by all of the messages from unknown numbers. I tapped to open one.

Why are you even still alive?

I read more.  The messages got worse than that. If that's believable.

The entire time, Mom switched between saying things like "Please for the love of God show me" and "I don't even want to know", but she made no effort to grab the phone. Eventually, I showed her a few of the messages.

"Oh my God..." She said quietly.

"Opal? Did you see where I put my..." Pearl began entering the room. She trailed off as she noticed what I held. "Why do you have that?" She demanded.

"Pearl... why didn't you tell me?" Mom asked.

"This is an invasion of my privacy!" Pearl shouted.

"Well, what did you expect when you're being bullied and you won't tell us?" I yelled back. "This is why you need to fucking tell us things, Pearl!" Frustrated, Pearl grabbed her phone from my hand.

"I don't have to tell you anything! I'm handling it!" She yelled, storming off. I sighed as Mom went running after her. I grabbed my phone from my pocket and sent a text to Sapphire.

Found out what Jasper's been saying to Pearl the hard way. How are things on your end?