💫Still Not Giving Up💫

Chapter Twenty Six

three months had passed since the breakup.

you hadn't gotten any better, still moping around and desperately sinking yourself into your work. you talked to the gems and did your best to act like everything was normal, but you weren't really fooling anybody.

Steven, on the other hand, was fooling everybody. he was back to his usual self around Little Homeworld, smiling, helping other gems around, laughing and conversing like nothing had happened. but, at home he sunk into a depression, surrounded by memories of you.

today, he stood in the kitchen making himself some pasta. he frowned, trying to push away a memory before it could make him feel worse.

"Steven! you can't eat the raw noodles!" you yelled, trying to grab the handful of spaghetti sticks out of Stevens hand.

"but it tastes good!" he shoved another dry spaghetti stick into his mouth, chewing it before you could grab it from him.

"if you don't stop eating it i'm not gonna have anything to cook! stop!" you smacked him on the top of the head with the pasta server.

he laughed quietly, finally backing away from you. after a moment of silence he jumped forward again, wrapping his arms around your waist. "you aren't actually mad at me, right?"

"of course not." you snickered.

he leaned forward and kissed your cheek. "good."

Steven sighed and turned on the stove.

you peeked around the corner into Stevens room, watching him sing as he folded laundry on his bed.

he was so quiet you had to strain your ears to hear him. something about a happily ever after?

"did you make that up?" you called, entering the room slyly.

he jumped, dropping the shirt in his hands. "um, yeah."

"it's cute! keep singing, just pretend i'm not here." you sat down on the bed across from him, looking up at him lovingly.

Steven cleared his throat. "okay..."

that make Steven smile. you always loved when he sang. you made sure to tell him that, encouraging him during lapses of silence.

"come on!" Steven pulled you out the door.

"but i'm already in my pajamas!" you laughed, trying to go back into the house where it was warm and bright.

he smiled. "it'll just take a second." he successfully pulled you out onto the balcony, wrapping an arm around you to keep you warm. "see? isn't it beautiful?"

the sunset was beautiful that night. almost every color of the rainbow, and the reflection on the water made it twice as beautiful.

but not as beautiful as you.
(winky face)

Steven sighed, pulling out a plate for his dinner. the green beans he had just but on the stove were already cooking, he gradually turned the heat down.

"-can I help you?"

Steven woke up to your voice. you were sitting on the edge of the bed, phone in hand.

Steven couldn't really make out what was being said on the other end of the line, but you looked clearly upset.

you cleared your throat. "um, no. i have a boyfriend." you whispered. you turned to look back at Steven, and he snapped his eyes shut. "no, no. he's sweet." another long pause. "i promise. he's different, he's sweet."

Steven forced the smile to stay off of his face, still trying to feign sleep.

"he gives me butterflies." you smiled. "he's understanding and brave. he stood up to Derek for me, and my old friends stopped texting as often- oh no, i promise you that's a good thing." you cut yourself off. "alright, bye." you put the phone down and sighed.

you leaned back on the bed and closed your eyes with a deep sigh.

"were you talking about me?" Steven teased.

you yelled and jumped up. "i thought you were asleep!"

"no, you talk loud." Steven laughed. "do you really think all of those things?"

you looked down, embarrassed. "what? no... maybe."

"hey, you okay Ste-man?" Amethyst walked out of her room, usual skip in her step.

Steven looked up, startled. "yeah, just making pasta. you want the box?"

"sure! but seriously, what's wrong?" Amethyst shoved the cardboard box into her mouth, swallowing it in one gulp.

"i just miss her. i feel empty without her." Steven sighed. "it's like... like she took a piece of me with her."

Amethyst clapped her hand over his shoulder. "i know how much it sucks. but Garnet says things'll turn around."

a small smile made its way onto Stevens face. "Garnet said that?"

(edited!)