Chapter 1

It all started when I was introduced Steven's ipod.

"Did you see that shooting star tonight? Were you dazzled by the same constellations…"I sang along after the 5th time listening to the same song, wiping some loose blue hair out of my face. "...and now i'm shining bright, so bright."

I couldn't get enough of the catchy tones. Sure, we had music on home world, but it was usually music without words that were easy to dance to, or ballads of the Diamonds glory. There was nothing like this.

I danced around the barn in time to the music, my feet tripping over one another in time to the music mostly, I'm no Pearl after all so my dancing skills were rudimentary at best. I had decent singing skills though and was belting out the tunes at the top of my lungs.

"HEY LAPIS!" the shrill voice of my roommate comes from right outside the barn. "ARE YOU SINGING!"

"NO!" I lie back easily, stopping my dancing before she bursts through the door.

"YES YOU WERE!" Peridot still yells as the barges in, pointing a finger at me. "I know that earth song!" she continues in slightly lowered tones.

"So?" I lazily reply back.

"SO, it doesn't sound like that, and since you are the only one here, that means that the only one who could be singing along to it IS YOU!" She challenges back.

"What does it matter?" I shrug, turning away, not denying the fact but to self conscience to acknowledge the comment.

"IT JUST...does" Peridot lowers her voice, a sudden shyness in her voice causes me to turn back towards her. "...That's my favorite song...and your voice is pretty...NOT THAT IT MATTERS YOU CLOD!" She sticks her lip out pouting after balling up her fists beside her and then crossing her arms stubbornly in front of her, glaring at the dirt in front of her.

I can't help the laugh that escapes me at the sight. Honestly, Peri is too cute for her own good.

"Why are you laughing?" the little green dorito asks, eyeing my like I'm crazy.

The urge to tell her that she's cute rests on my tongue, but instead I go with, "Your right," I manage between giggles, "It's a great song, and thanks for the compliment." I shoot a wink at her for good measure.

Now she's looking away, though not before i see her blush, "Yeah..well..whatever. The Steven had taught me about music before you got here. I might add that I am pretty great at it myself. The Steven said so!" suddenly she gets excited. "He and I made a song together, though I prefer the one you were just singing… it somehow makes my insides feel weird, but I'm not broken!" She clarifies quickly. "The Steven says that music is supposed to do that. It's a type of feeling apparently. I don't fully understand it but I'm sure I will master it in time." The little green gem looks so pleased with herself, though I can see that she is nervous as well. The technician is not used to not understanding things and everything on Earth is obviously overwhelming for her, though she tries to hide it.

"Yeah," I agree. "It makes me 'feel' as well. I like it. Would you...would you like to sing with me?"

Peridot freezes, then stumbles over a few attempts at words, then freezes again, then suddenly "NO!... I mean, just that… I like listening to you do it." She says turning a deeper shade of green and looking anywhere but at me.

I can't help but stare fondly at the shorter gem as she looks pointedly away. I'm not sure when it had happened, but my feelings towards her had slowly shifted and our relationship with it. I couldn't pretend to be cold and standoffish with her anymore. She knew me too well for that now, not that she gave me any space before when I was literally trying to get her to leave me alone, but, I'm glad she didn't. Her persistence was part of what I started to admire about her. She was determined to make sure I wouldn't feel alone. The idiot. My idiot I guess. Good thing she's pretty oblivious though.

I let her squirm for another few seconds before saying "well then how about I sing and you dance with me?" I don't wait for a reply before moving back to the music device to start the song again.

"But, but I can't dance!" Peridot nervously.

"That's okay, just follow my lead." I saunter back to her, watching as she audibly gulps and shifts nervously. I reach her as the first word of the song begins. "May I?" I ask politely reaching for her hand.

Peridot wordlessly puts her hand in mine which I slowly bring to my own hips, grabbing her other hand so that we were in the human waltzing position and start twirling her around slowly.

"Is this okay?" I hesitantly check.

"This, this is adequate." The flustered gem replies.

I can't help but smile down at her as she watches her feet.

As the chorus begins, I start to sing for her causing her to look up at me. I can't hold her gaze so instead, I close my eyes and get lost in the song and the feel of her hand in mine and the heat of her hand on my waist. "Did you see that shooting star tonight. Were you dazzled by the same constellation. Did you and Jupiter conspire to get me. I think you and the Moon and Neptune got it right, cause now i'm shining bright, so bright," I open my eyes and look at Peridot staring up at me. "And i get lost in your eyes." I trail off as the music player starts the next verse but not caring. Peridot is looking at me like I've never seen her look at me before and my heart is beating out of time of the music. I pull her closer to me and remove my hand from hers, placing it on her other shoulder as her's instinctively finds my waist. We continue swaying like that, neither of us break eye contact until the last verse comes to an end, and I grab her hand and twirl her out and back towards my on the final note, her body even closer to mine than before. We both are breathing heavily, despite not having to breathe as we continue to stare at one another.

Peridot is the first to break the stare, but she doesn't step away from me.

"Was that okay?" I ask again, bringing my hand up to cup her cheek, having her look at me once more.

"That was…"Peridot stumbles for words. "That made me feel. Like how the song does, but different. I don't know how to explain it, but I think it was okay." She finishes looking nervous about another thing she doesn't know.

"Okay." I reply with a smile. She doesn't understanding the feeling yet, but it's enough for now that she at least feels something, maybe what I'm feeling, about the whole thing.

I run my hand lightly across her cheek before letting her go and moving away. "How about some Camp Pining Hearts?"

A look I don't understand crosses her face before she decidedly nods her head and grabs my hand, dragging me to the TV. "Fine, but I pick the season!"

I laugh quietly, smiling at her hand in mine. "Okay."