Sahara walked to lunch, seemingly alone. In fact, anyone that would have been watching her would have thought that the girl was talking to herself, yet, as she nodded and listened, felt as if there really was someone there.

“Terrence, what do you think of this lipstick thing? Do you really think that the invisibility MO--”

Terrence interrupted her. “What?”

Sahara continued. “Magical object. Do you think this is the one? That would seem awfully coincidental.”

“Yet it makes sense.”

“You’re right, of course, but… I don’t know. First of all, do you agree that the murderer is Chad?”

“Honestly, I’m more suspicious about that one.”

“Nah, you just haven’t met him yet.” They entered the hallway leading to the lunchroom.

“I don’t know. You know what else is fishy? Haze.”

Sahara frowned. “Come on! Ella is so happy with him!”

“I don’t know. He seems a bit… set up.”

“Well, he wouldn’t be pretending to like her, would he?”

“No, I think that he’s honest. But he acts… I don’t know. Brainwashed?” Terrence flickered into view briefly.

Sahara paused. “What could have brainwashed him? Because now that you mention it, that seems right.”

“I don’t know, a potion, perhaps?”

Sahara stopped in front of the lunchroom door. “Oh, my god.”

“What?”

“Ella overheard Garnet and Amethyst talking about making a love potion for her so her heart wouldn’t be broken again… What if they did?”

“Is that why Dian can’t even bring herself to look at Haze? I just thought she liked him, too, but maybe she’s into it?”

“It makes so much sense! We need to tell her!”

Terrence stopped Sahara from entering the lunchroom. “Why? She’s happy, he’s happy, and Amethyst clearly did it with good intentions!”

Sahara paused. “But we were just saying how Chad was fake and how that was bad… it’s not real, you know?”

“But it’ll only hurt everyone, sister.”

Sahara entered the lunchroom. “Fine. We’ll talk to Garnet, Amethyst, and Dian first. Ok?”

Terrence reappeared to show he was smiling. “I can live with that.” They walked to lunch and found Amethyst and Dian already sitting down.

“Dian, I need to talk to you about Ha-” started Sahara.

“No! I’m innocent!” yelled Dian as she ran away from Sahara. “Stand back or I’ll electrocute you.”

“Calm down!” said Amethyst. “Can’t you see you’re upsetting Dian, Sahara?” Sahara made a plain face.

“We need to talk about Haze,” said Sahara. Amethyst showed no sign of emotion.

“I made him a new drink flavor,” she said. “I hope he likes this one as much as he likes Ella.” Phila walked over to the table and sat down.

“What is that lovely aroma coming off of your drink?” asked Phila. “Well, since Amethyst made it, I guess it’s trustworthy.” Phila grabbed the bottle of juice and took a sip right before Amethyst snatched it away from her.

“That’s for Haze,” said Amethyst. She looked at Dian worriedly. “Don’t worry Dian, she didn’t drink much of it.” Phila looked lovingly at Terrance while Dian curled up into a ball.

“Why does it matter if she drank some?” asked Sahara her face passive.

“Phila, um, is a shape shifter,” said Amethyst, improvising on the spot. “She likes to drink potions some times. And that one was for Haze.-”

“Stop,” said Terrence horrified at Phila. “I know its a love potion, made for Haze and Ella.”

“Sorry, Terrance, it will only last a couple hours since she only had one sip,” said Amethyst, shaking her head.

“A couple hours?!” asked Terrance, pushing Phila away from him. “Amethyst!”

“Terrence, run and lie low for a while. For safe keeping, I would say a day,” said Sahara, holding Phila back as Terrence ran out of the lunch room. Phila creepily followed and Sahara shook her head.

“Well, that’s his problem to deal with,” said Amethyst, wiping the rim of the juice glass. “Anyways, you were going to try to convince me not to use the potion? Don’t you see how happy Ella is?”

“I know Ella is happy, but it isn’t real. Don’t you think she deserves something real?” asked Sahara. Dian covered herself in her hair.

“It is real,” said Amethyst. “What did you expect? Haze isn’t an artificially created being whose sole purpose in life is to love Ella…”

“Amethyst, you know what I mean. He doesn't love Ella. Its just a love potion,” said Sahara frustrated.

“Technically and scientifically, he does,” said Amethyst. “Don’t you see the way he drools over her?”

“It’s fake. It’s only because of the love potion,” said Sahara. “It’s not right to force him to love Ella if he doesn't want to. You’re only hurting Ella and Haze.” Dian finally burst and jolts of electricity shot out of her, impaling Sahara and several other students around her.

“No!” yelled Dian. “Sahara! I’m so sorry!” She bent down and picked up Sahara, who was badly electrocuted.

“This is all my fault,” she said as she looked at Sahara’s left shoulder where the bolt had hit. “Amethyst, quick help me get her to the Hospital Wing.” Amethyst grabbed Sahara’s legs as Dian carried her upper body, careful not to hurt her shoulder.