Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-26037921-20150309212855/@comment-25118629-20150408033723

Well, it's already confirmed that Gems are perfectly capable of having romantic relationships (RubyxSapphire, RosexGreg), so I see no reason why Pearl couldn't be romatically attracted to Rose, even if nothing sexual came of it. I know I certainly got that vibe from Pearl in "Rose's Scabbard". She came across like a jealous ex at certain points insisting that the love the other Gems had for Rose couldn't possibly compare to the closeness that she had with Rose. Not to mention the whistful way Pearl looks at Steven when she mentions how much he's like Rose, or the fact that Pearl blushes looking at the scabbard, the portrait, or just generally speaking about Rose.

Plus there's also this little little interview on Newsarama: http://www.newsarama.com/23160-steven-universe-the-character-on-steven-universe-the-series.html

Some of the SU writers helped with crafting it, so I think it is a good bet to say that much of it is probably canon. Here are some interesting tidbits:

"Nrama: And Pearl, I'm sure it must have been very unusual for you when you found out Rose Quartz had fallen in love with a human. What was what like for you?

Greg: Wow, you’re really zero to sixty with these questions, buddy.

Pearl: That is absolutely none of your business!"  (emphasis mine. Pearl sounds a little defensive here. Why get so upset if it was only a mother/friend/mentor relationship?)

"Nrama: Well, what about when you found out Rose Quartz was going to have a half-human child?

Pearl: Brilliant leaders do brilliant things, that’s why you look to them for answers, answers no one else could have, that’s why you trust them, even when you can’t understand why they chose …Greg."     (jealous much? Might explain much of the subtle contempt Pearl has for Greg in some episodes if a mere human managed to win Rose's heart. The first half sounds like rationalization, as though Pearl's trying to justify Steven's existence as the byproduct of some unknown grand master plan by Rose and not simply the result of two people in love wanting a son. After all,  why else would someone as perfect as Rose choose a lowly human over say. . . another Gem?).

I hope future episodes will expand more about it. I personally throw my hat in the unrequited love interest ring. Pearl may have had deep feelings for Rose but Rose's love for her was different than what Pearl thought or wanted.