Enjoy this EXTRA long chapter!

If it was a real bet, Steven would have yank his gem right out of his stomach. Even after all the pleading, begging, persuading and even gentle forcing, he couldn't even get me to take a single bite out of the pizza. And it was hard enough without Sapphire reminding Steven frequently that I wouldn't give in. I managed to get to bed despite the occasional rumbles I would get from my stomach whilst trying to sleep. It was like my insides were being struck repeatedly. I was just glad to have a separate bed and not have to deal with Steven reclining on me again.

Before we knew it, it was the next day and we were all sitting down in a diner for breakfast. My stomach began growling like a raging thunder cloud. Since I practically starving, I chose the first appealing thing my eye spotted on the menu. Steven was playing with a spoon he got given. "What are you going to get?", he asked, glancing down at the menu in front of me even though he had his own menu. I shrugged my shoulders, although I knew exactly what I wanted.

"I don't know, the waffles, I guess", I said to him. He narrowed his brows at the example photo next to it, "It looks pretty big, are you sure you'll finish it?".

I raised a brow at him, almost amused that he didn't realise how famished I was. "Steven, I didn't eat anything last night. I think I'll be alright".

Ruby leant her head on the table, her fingers tapping in an exasperated rhythmic pattern. Sapphire sat patiently and inaudibly on the other side of the table. Neither one of the gems even acknowledged each other's existence as they both faced the opposite direction. A waitress then approached our table, asking for our orders.

Greg glanced at the two gems. "You guys want anything?", he asked.

When neither of them replied, he sighed and told the waitress, "Just get them the bacon and eggs".

I didn't take long until she was coming back with five breakfast plates in hand. Waffles lightly drizzled with chocolate, powdered sugar and a scoop of vanilla ice cream was set in front of me. Steven smiled and thanked her. I took a piece of waffle and ate. It was delicious. Even though most of the ice cream was melting and making the waffle soggy, but luckily I wasn't in a picky mood.

"Can I try?", Steven asked, his eyes gawking the food in front of me.

I shook my head with my eye narrowed. I gripped onto my plate and pulled it closer to me, almost protectively. "No way! Eat your own food!", I exclaimed, eating a bigger forkful and chewing it slowly in front of him in a taunting manner. It had only been a few seconds and he already wanted some of my food. Was he not aware of how hungry I was? How selfish was this kid? Greg sent me a pleading look like he was reminding me that he was the one paying.

With an exasperated pout, I rolled my eyes and muttered out, "Fine...".

In a state of excitement, Steven reached over with his fork.

"Ow!", he exclaimed after I smacked his hand out of the way. "I'm giving you the piece. You're gonna take a huge chunk of it", I pointed out, cutting a section for him with my own utensils. I made sure not to give him a piece that wasn't too big but wasn't too small that he'd start complaining. I shoved the forkful food in front of his face waiting for him to take it. Steven's face a deep colour of red, a burning heat growing on his cheeks. His legs felt wobbly as if his bones turned into jelly.

'Bu-But, she used that fork', Steven's mind was racing in loops and infinite circles. 'Doesn't that make it an indirect kiss?!'.

Steven felt like he was stuck in a room with two doors, each one leading to a horrible outcome. He couldn't mention it to me and use his own fork. He knew I would take it as an insult and would get irritated at him and that's the last thing he wanted. But if he ate it...

Steven started to consider his options, even though it was clear I was getting somewhat impatient. Would getting an indirect kiss from me really be that bad? He thought about it, maybe not. Sucking up the little bit of courage he had left, he parted his lips and ate from the fork in my hand.

"Steven!", he heard my voice exclaim. His initial thought is that I realised about the indirect kiss. "I wasn't feeding you like you're a baby! You were meant to take the fork off me, stupid!".

"Sorry!", he said, with his mouthful. However, he wasn't focusing on the taste of the waffles, he was trying to wrap his head around the fact that he used the same fork as me, as stupid as it sounds.

Ruby stared blankly at the plate of eggs, bacon and strawberries that were arranged into a smiling face on her plate. Greg took notice of how she wasn't eating.

"What's the matter? Not hungry?", he asked her. Ruby glanced up at him, finally making eye contact with someone. Steven informed him, "Gems don't need to eat, Dad".

"Eh... Well, Garnet likes to eat sometimes", Greg pointed out.

Throwing herself harshing against the booth seat, Ruby spat out, "Argh! Well, Garnet's not here!". She crossed her arms over her chest, wiggling her foot restlessly. Sharing uncomfortable glances at each other, we all began to eat. Cutting up a piece of the waffle, I ate quietly, feeling an unusual tingle in my mouth as I sank slightly on the booth at the intense atmosphere. In the corner of my eye, I noticed how intensely Steven was staring at my fork and how red he got when I began eating with it. What was his problem? Did he do something to it?

After swallowing his food, Greg broke the tension nervously. "Mmm... Oh boy, this really is "The Best Diner in the World"!". Planting her hands on the table, Ruby bitterly began to rock the table. That just made it harder for me to enjoy my food in peace.

Without even sharing so much as a glance, Sapphire stated, "You're shaking the table". Ruby slammed her hands on the table, grabbing the attention of a few customers around us as the table shook vigorously. With a sardonic chuckle, "Hah, I'm kinda surprised you felt anything at all, to be honest".

"I didn't need to feel, I saw", Sapphire replied back. Ruby shook the table even more, still continuing to get more inflamed. "EVERYTHING IS JUST SO... CRYSTAL. CLEAR. TO. YOU - ISN'T IT?!".

The table rocked so much that all three of us had to frantically lift our plates off the table before they crashed down on the floor. I tried to send Ruby a glare, hoping she'll notice what a scene she was creating. Sapphire leaned closer to us, still nonchalant. "This will pass. She'll eventually just burn herself out", she muttered, still loud enough for Ruby to hear. I furrowed my brows, not completely sure that was true, judging by the fact that Ruby only seemed to be getting more enraged by the second.

"That's what you think!", she barked at Sapphire. Suddenly, her tightly gripped fists turned into heavy and powerful gauntlets that slightly took me aback in panic. "I AM AN ETERNAL FLAME, BABY!!". Bringing bother her gauntlets down, Ruby overturned the table, flipping it over as all the utensils and food spilled all over the floor.

The outcry and disputing only escalated from there. Steven's plate was the only thing that managed to survive Ruby's wrath. As their arguing continued, their voices sounded disoriented as they met with my ear. Turning down to the floor, I noticed one of the breakfasts, which was arranged to be smiling, was now presenting a disheartening frown instead. Both the gems voices rose, crying out in pointless rage. Hearing them fight like that felt exhausting to hear. It made me a little irritated myself, even though I wasn't part of the argument. But, I hated hearing it. I wanted it so badly to stop as an unfamiliar emotion was crawling at the back of my throat. I felt so uncomfortable.

"Ok guys, that's enough", I attempted to break up the fight, but to no avail.

"Seriously, quit it!", my voice got a little more demanding. They still refused to listen. In a sense of dismay and anger and a last-minute resort to get them to shut up, I turned to Steven, snatched the plate from his grip, lifted it over my head and hurled it on the floor. Fragments scattered across the floor as Ruby and Sapphire's attention was finally caught as the arguing stopped. I gritted my teeth, so furious that I barely noticed how much my chest was aching. I need to get out of here.

I slipped out of the booth, turned my heel and stormed out of the restaurant, stepping on pieces of food and fragments of the plate as I left. With his brows furrowed and a few tears in his eyes, Steven almost immediately rushed after me, but not before sending both Ruby and Sapphire a disappointed frown.

He found me sitting outside the diner, my legs tucked into my chest and my head buried in my knees. He approached me gradually like he was approaching a dear in the woods. Any sudden movements could scare it off.

"Hey", Steven stood over me with an affectionate smile. I didn't look up at him. "Are you ok?".

"Yeah, I just...Needed to get out of there", I sighed, hugging my legs tighter. "It was bringing back a lot of unwanted memories".

"Steven! (Y/N)!", Ruby and Sapphire bursted out of the diner, their eyes frantically wide. Narrowing his brows with a scowl, Steven whipped his head around to face the two gems with his hands gripped into a fist.

"I was so happy when Garnet said she was gonna come on this trip with Dad, (Y/N) and I!", Steven began to raise his voice as Sapphire and Ruby exchange troubled expressions. "Home's been awful! Here's been awful! I thought you wanted to have a fun time but, everyone's been acting awful too! It-It just came with us! I don't understand! Is it... ", Steven peered down at the floor in disappointment. His chin dropping down to his chest, his eyes squeezing shut for a short moment.

"Is it me?", he muttered to himself.

Ruby promptly shook her head, instantly. "No, of course not! It's all us!", she responded, frantically.

"But we made him feel... like it was his fault", Sapphire mumbled, holding her hand over her mouth in hysteria and sudden realisation. "I keep looking into the future when all of this has already been solved... As if it doesn't matter how you feel in the present...".

Something began to start dripping down her face, which I could only assume were tears. However, with her hair on her face, it was difficult to tell. She started quietly sobbing, convulsively catching her breath as she wept.

"No wonder you think I don't care!".

"Sapphire...", Ruby began, "No, no no no no no no no! This is all my fault! I-I didn't want to look for a solution, I-I just wanted to be mad! Y-You're right! You're always right! I was being stupid! I'm... sorry...". Ruby brushed Sapphire's hair to the side, a single deep blue eye with tears pouring down from it was revealed behind her bangs. I had to admit, it was a little off-putting and unusual to see Sapphire showing some sort of emotion.

"You honestly think I'm not upset about what happened?", Sapphire asked, choking on her tears as Ruby wiped them away. "I was just... trying to do the right thing...".

"I know...", Ruby cupped Sapphire's cheek with both hands. A sigh leaving her lips, Sapphire held Ruby's hand against her face, unintentionally gripping tightly onto it. Ruby smiled at her, "You know what's nice about being split up?".

Sapphire glanced up at her, with a concerned expression, "What?".

Ruby's smile got wider, "I get to look at you". Saphhire slight pushed Ruby away, chuckling lightly. "Be serious", she chuckled, scoffing slightly.

Wrapping her arms around Sapphire, Ruby chuckled mischievously, "There's my Laughy Sapphy!".

Immediately, like the depth of the ocean, Sapphire cheeks were brushed with a dark blue that rushed across her skin. "Shh!", she giggled, her eyes darting towards us. "You're embarrassing me in front of (Y/N) and Steven".

Steven glanced at me, the discomfort clearly written on his face. I leaned in and whispered, "That is so disgusting". Steven shook his head, plastering a smile on his face, though he still looked uncomfortable. "I think it's cute! They really love each other!", he explained with a grin. I gagged, still nauseated.

Sapphire and Ruby both began chuckling and giggling as Sapphire was tossed into the air by Ruby, caught her and planted kisses her on the cheek and neck. Steven and I blushed in unison, as I covered Steven's eyes with my hand to prevent him from seeing any more than he had to. He was a pure boy, I wasn't about to expose him to such intimacy, even if it was harmless pecking.

Steven tapped a finger on his chin, with my hand still on his face. "Oh~! So, that's what your mum meant", he exclaimed. I raised an eyebrow at him, though he couldn't see it.

"What do you mean?", I asked.

Steven replied, "When I was talking to your mum on the phone, she said she didn't want us--". He paused, slightly hesitant, his face beginning to faintly turn red. "You know what, nevermind".

"No, wait!", I said, my head perking up with interest. "I'm curious now! What did she say?".

"Well, I paid for breakfast...", Greg approached us from behind. "And the damage to the booth... Anywho, I think I'm all vacationed out. Ready to call it a day?". Before Steven could answer, he was interrupted by a familiar voice.

Garnet smiled, adjusting her visors to fit properly, "Not before we get our free ice!".

~~~

"Hey mum, I'm home", I called out from the front door while Steven carried a bag full of ice that was slowly but surely starting to melt. My mum walked from out of the kitchen, trying to seem nonchalant but was clearly frantic from me being away for only one night. Her hands were covered in flour that trailed behind her, making it clear she was cooking.

"Hey! How was the trip?", she asked, resisting the urge to hug me as she would get my clothes dirty. "Did you have fun?".

I curved my lip up at Steven, showing a half-smile, half frown. I mean, it wasn't horrible, but then again, it wasn't the best trip ever either.

"Eh, it was alright", I replied, not technically lying and leading Steven to the kitchen to put the ice in the freezer.

"I hope you two behaved yourselves", my mother stated with a slight grimace. "No funny business, right?". Steven shook his head, his cheeks turning a slightly rosy colour. "No, ma'am. No funny business", he confirmed with a reassuring smile. Mum's body eased up slightly.

She washed her hands in the kitchen sink before sliding a tray into the oven. Steven glanced over in curiosity. "What are you making?", he asked.

Slightly hesitant at first, my mum responded coldly, "Nothing important".

Steven's smile slightly faltered and we both noticed that her attitude seemed a bit off. Perhaps she was just tired.

"Um...Steven?". Steven glanced at my mother with his usual enthusiastic grin. "Shouldn't you be heading home? Your father must be waiting for you".

Despite the fact that he didn't live with Greg, Steven nodded, "Yeah, I guess I should be going".

He turned to me as I noticed his arms slightly stretching out and quickly caught one. "No hugs", I stated firmly, causing his shoulders to droop and his mouth to curve into a frown.

"Let's just...", bawling my hand into a fist, I knocked Steven's shoulder playfully and benevolently and sent him a kind smile. Glancing up with a tint of pink on his cheeks, Steven grinned and did the same for me, except more gently than I did.

"I'll see you later, (Y/N)", he waved goodbye before walking out the front door. Peeping through the window blinds, my mother made sure Steven has left or was out of hearing range before she spoke.

"That kids gives me a bad feeling...", she muttered to herself, however, I managed to hear her.

"What do you mean?", I asked, slightly apprehensive. She continued, heading back to the kitchen, "I don't know, compared to your other friends, he too...happy when he's around you".

I shrugged my shoulder, my body slightly relaxing when I realised it was just classic parental anxiety. "He's Steven Universe", I responded with a slight smirk on my lips. "His body fuels on positive energy".

"Other than the fact that he's a boy, I was hesitant to let you go on this trip because sometimes I feel like he doesn't have good intentions", my mother revealed, untying the knot of her apron. She glanced back up, noticing the bewildered scowl on my face from her calling out my friend.

She sighed, "I didn't mean it like that. But, ever since you two started hanging out, you kept coming home with these."

Gripping gently onto my arm, she lifted it up, my sleeves dropping down to reveal grazes and cuts marked along my skin. I snatched my arm back, hoping she couldn't tell most of them were from a sword. Her fingers then traced down my neck, I knew there was a faint bruise that hadn't quite healed yet in the shape of a hand. Jasper's hand.

"(Y/N), be honest with me", my name left her mouth softly. "Is he hurting you?".

My eyes widened, my brain attempting to process what she just said. Images of Steven's gleaming face flashed in my mind. It felt unnatural to imagine him hurting anyone. I gripped my fists tightly. I had lied to her that I hurt myself during PE at school. I knew it'd be enough to fool her. But as more cuts made their way onto my body, it made it hard for my mm to believe my injuries were simply from sports. But what made her think that Steven Universe, the sensitive pacifist was the one causing my injuries? He cries over cartoon characters for pete's sake!

'Wh-What?", my voice started off perplexed and trembling before I exasperated in anger, "What?!".

"If he is, you can tell me", my mother cooed in a tender voice which only caused me to get riled.

"What the heck! He'd never hurt me!", I exclaimed in disbelief. "Steven didn't do this to me! How could you even assume such a thing?!".

"Even if he didn't cause it, he could still be the reason it happened", my mum remained calm and tranquil, feeling herself being backed into a corner. "It's just, he's so cheerful and optimistic, he's your exact opposite. I'm worried he could just be with you because he feels obligated or to simply gain something".

I crossed my arms over my chest, my narrowed eyes shifting to the ground. "Right, cause who'd want to be friends with someone like me", I grumbled, "Can't even use a butter knife without stabbing someone in the face, right?".

My mother pinched the bridge of her nose, beginning to get irritated herself.

"I didn't say that--".

"Well, you might as well have!", I swiftly cut her off, pushing past her to storm out of the kitchen, leaving my mother standing there with a pitiful frown.

Scrolling through the website, beads of sweat forming on his face, Steven's eyes were glued to his phone. The reflection of the screen displayed in his eyes. So engrossed and focused, he didn't even notice Amethyst rummaging through the kitchen, filling the entire kitchen counter with food from the fridge or pieces of a shattered plate she broke earlier. Whimpering after reaching the end of the website, Steven tapped on a different one.

"Whatcha doing there, little dude?", Amethyst asked, taking all the