Chapter 3: Searching and Resting
Amethyst raced towards Greg's car wash. For once the guy was actually awake and was busy washing a car. "Hey Greg man!" shouted Amethyst.
"Hey Amethyst, what brings you by?" asked Greg in his usually cheerful mood. "If you want to watch Lil' Butler, I'm afraid I won't be able to watch it with you till later tonight," he said.
"Uh no that is okay, I was actually wondering if um you seen Steven," said Amethyst. Should I tell him? I wish Pearl or Garnet was with me, they would know the right thing to do, just keep it quiet for now, if Steven isn't back tonight then I'll tell Greg, Amethyst thought to herself.
"Steven, huh come to think of it no, I haven't seen him since yesterday. He was helping me with the car wash, so I gave him ten dollars. Figured he could have some fun at the arcade or something," said Greg, dipping his sponge back into the soapy water.
"So, you haven't seen him since yesterday?" asked Amethyst trying not to look worried.
"Yeah, why is something wrong?" asked Greg looking at her, his cheerful expression fading fast.
"Uh no, nothing is wrong come on dude, I was only asking because um, um Steven is playing hide and seek with Pearl, and she can't find him, so, I am helping her, I just thought he would hide here, make the game more interesting, you know Steven," Amethyst said grinning.
"That Stu- ball, nope he isn't hiding here, try Connie's he might be hiding at her place," said Greg smiling again.
"Good idea, silly Pearl, she is not good at hide and seek, we'll uh thanks later Greg," she said taking off to Connie's house.
"Playing hide and seek with Pearl huh, after work, I'll find out what is really going on," said Greg a frown on his face.
Meanwhile
Pearl kept staring at the phone with intense eyes, her fingers patting her legs. Her thoughts were racing about where Steven could be. Each scenario she thought of was worse than the last. What if he fell in the ocean and was eaten by a shark? He could have been run over by a car. What if he was kidnapped by Peridot? Or worse what if Malachite has him? Tears stained her face as she felt so horrible, Rose asked her to help protect Steven and he runs away, she failed to keep Steven safe.
Tired of sitting, she got up from the couch and walked to his room. She saw all the souvenirs that they gave him on the missions, they went on. On the wall was a picture that used to make her smile but now brought tears to her eyes. It was a picture of them, with Garnet on the far left, Amethyst by her side, Pearl, on the other side, Greg in front of Garnet, Lion by his side and Connie and Steven in the center of them. They were surrounded by a giant heart, in red crayon spelled out Steven's Family. Pearl touched the picture and tears fell from her face. "Please be safe Steven and please come home," she begged.
Meanwhile
Garnet looked around her surroundings; she was in the strawberry field. Steven was here on various occasions but he sneezed a lot, still Garnet thought maybe just maybe he would be here. She didn't sense him at all but she was determined to find him. "Steven!" she yelled. She took off her glasses and scanned the area. "Steven, where are you?" she asked looking through the bushes. No sign of the boy and she let out a sigh. "Okay, he isn't here, let's check the other places," she said. I will find you Steven, I promise, she thought in her head.
Meanwhile
Connie was in her living room, practicing her instrument, her parents were at work, but would be home within a few hours. She was playing a song when, she heard a tapping on her window. Her head looked up to see Amethyst looking at her through the window.
"Connie, can you come out for a sec," she called. The girl bit her lip but figured why not, it would only be a minute or so. She headed outside to where Amethyst was.
"Hey Amethyst, what brings you by?" Connie asked.
"I was uh wondering if you have seen Steven?" Amethyst asked.
"Steven, um, no I haven't seen him since yesterday, he was showing off the ten dollar bill his dad gave him, and then I asked him how you all were doing. He looked a little upset but said you all were fine. Why do you ask, is he okay?" Connie asked a look of concern appearing on her face.
"Uh yeah he is fine, see um Pearl is playing hide and seek with him, and he is uh a good hider so, I am helping Pearl look, figured he would be hiding here," said Amethyst, happy she was keeping her story straight.
"Playing hide and seek, with Pearl sounds like fun, but sorry I haven't seen him, try the light house, he likes to go there sometimes," said Connie.
"Great idea, thanks later," said Amethyst racing off towards the light house.
"When my parents get home, I'll find out what is really going on," said Connie frowning.
Amethyst headed to the lighthouse and stopped groaning a bit. Ronaldo was there with his army helmet on, looking at some designs on the sand. "Oh great," she muttered praying she wouldn't have to talk to him. This guy was a few apples short of a full barrel and extremely annoying. She was about to slip past him when he turned around.
"Halt, oh it's you, one of the alien women," said Ronaldo jumping to his feet.
"Hi," she said dryly. "You wouldn't have seen Steven have you?" she asked figured she ask since she was here.
"No, why has some tragedy befallen him, did the snake people take him, was any scales found where you last saw him? Or a pile of dirt that is a sure sign of the mole people," Ronaldo said getting in her face.
"Look he is just playing hide and seek and I am looking for him okay," said Amethyst wanting this guy to get out of her face.
"Oh, well sorry haven't seen him," Ronaldo said frowning.
"Thanks," she said and ran off to the arcade, another place Steven liked going.
Meanwhile
Alex parked at a motel; Steven got out and put his cheese burger back pack back on his shoulders. "Alright, little Romeo let's check in," she said walking to the main door. Steven nodded and followed her not saying a word. He figured the less he said the safer he would be and the less danger he would put Alex in. Steven walked in with Alex, to see a bone thin man with a thinner mustache but glasses that made his eyes seem huge. His skin was pale like snow and he wore a white and blue striped shirt with light blue slacks, and had gray hair.
"Hello Alex, I was wondering when you would stop by," he said in a rusty voice.
"Hey George, how you been old timer?" she asked with a grin.
"Oh me and old Hunter have been doing just fine," said George motioning to a German Shepard dog lying at the man's feet. The dog wagged his tail at Alex and Steven. "You can pet him if you want sonny, old Hunter loves kids," said George smiling. Steven never was around dogs that much but he walked over to Hunter and the dog licked him.
"Hey, that tickles," laughed Steven.
"Hunter come boy," said George. "Here's your key Alex, room 205," he said with a smile.
"Thanks George, here's your money and a biscuit for you Hunter," Alex said scratching the dog behind the ears. "Come on little Romeo," she said heading outside.
"Good night sir," said Steven politely, and gave Hunter one last pet on the head, before joining Alex. He followed her up the stairs, to a blue door with white paint on it that had 205, on it. Alex opened the door and Steven saw a bed, the floor had carpet, with a small looking television, a bathroom was on the far right, a small table with a lamp and a telephone on it, near the bed.
"Okay Steven, I'm going to take a shower, I recommend you take one, never know how long you'll be able to take a shower again," Alex said with a smile.
"Okay Alex," he said nodding. Alex grabbed her bag and headed to the shower. Steven was looking for his night clothes and thanking himself for bringing shirts that would cover his gem. The last thing he wanted was to have Alex question him about the giant gem in the center of his stomach. A little while later Alex came out wearing a tank top and shorts.
"Your turn," she said, laying on the bed turning on the TV. Steven went into the bathroom, turned on the water and quickly bathed. He used the motel shampoo and body wash, amazed that a motel had this stuff. His bedtime clothes on, then he brushed his teeth and when he came out, saw Alex watching what looked like a quiz show.
"What are you watching Alex?" asked Steven sitting on the other side of the bed.
"It's called Jeopardy, three people play and are asked a series of questions, and risk money they earn, if they get it right they get more money, lose money if they get it wrong. My dad and I used to watch this all the time," Alex said a small smile on her face. Steven glanced at the TV as, the guy asked a question, apparently it was worth 200 hundred dollars.
"What was the name of the author whose famous novel, involved a clown known as IT," said the man.
"Who is Steven King," said Alex quickly just as a woman with blonde hair buzzed in.
"Yes, Jenny," said the man.
"Who is Steven King," said Jenny.
"You are correct," said the man and Jenny was awarded two hundred dollars.
"How did you know that?" asked Steven, looking amazed.
"Eh did a lot of reading when I was younger, Stephen King was really cool," said Alex shrugging her shoulders. "But it's late and we have a long day ahead of us, let's get some sleep," she said turning off the TV. Stephen nodded yawning and stretched his arms, and for a brief second Alex some something shiny, under his belly button. "What is that," she asked. Steven quickly lowered his arms, turning away from her.
"It's um, a um," Steven said trying to think of something but nothing was coming to his mind.
"A belly button piercing," Alex suggested.
"Yeah that is exactly what it is," said Steven looking at her gently.
"Your parents let you get that pierced at a young age?" Alex asked raising an eyebrow.
"It was a gift from my mom, it had her favorite gem in it, it was the last thing I got from her before she died," said Steven. Technically it wasn't a lie.
"Whatever, night Steven," said Alex turning on her side.
"Good night Alex," said Steven turning on his side. Once he knew for sure that Alex was sound asleep, he pulled out the picture of his family. Tears fell from his face as he softly whispered, "Good night guys, I love you and take care". Then closed his eyes drifting off to a dreamless sleep.
Meanwhile
Pearl saw Garnet return and immediately approached her. "Did you find him?" she asked looking behind her to see if Steven was there.
"No, I searched every place I could think of no luck," said Garnet rubbing her eyes. Pearl just frowned and jumped when she heard the door open.
"Steven," she said smiling but her hopes were shot when Amethyst came in.
"I didn't find him anywhere, either he is hiding in a place we don't know or he is not in Beach City," Amethyst said flopping on the couch. All of them exchanged sad looks but when they heard a knock on the door, hope filled them up again. Pearl opened the door hoping her baby was on the other side, instead stood a concerned looking Greg and Connie.
"According to Amethyst you were playing hide and seek with Steven today," said Greg.
"We would like to know what is really going on," said Connie. Pearl bit back tears and Garnet placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Please come in you two, we have something important to tell you," Garnet said, leading them inside. Greg and Connie sat down, and when Garnet took off her shades both of them knew something was really wrong. "I don't know how to tell you this, so I am going to just say it, Steven has run away from home," she said.
To be continued
Author's Note: Hoped you all enjoyed this chapter and please review.
