Chapter Four: French Vanilla

It was Monday, June 19th.

The morning was dark and stormy, and under the roar of rain and crash of thunder, the chime of The Central Perk cafe door opening was almost entirely lost. Garnet was completely enthralled watching the rain pouring outside. It was only when one of her moms elbowed her in the thigh that she was pulled back to reality.

"Time to order," said Ruby.

"We're holding up the line for Steven," said Sapphire.

Behind her glasses, Garnet blinked, and then turned. Sure enough, Steven was standing behind her, rocking on the balls of his feet. He must've come in without her noticing. He waved brightly at her.

"Don't worry, take your time," Steven said.

Garnet didn't even bother looking at the menu. "Coffee. Large. Black."

Her parents started to give their own orders, when Garnet felt a warm body wrap around her leg in a hug. It was Steven, of course. He seemed a little embarrassed by the gesture- which was unusual for someone as openly affectionate as him.

"It's really good to see you."

"Good to see you too," said Garnet. It really had been too long. In the rush that was college life, the two of them hadn't had a chance to meet up in what felt like forever.

She felt like she could have picked him up into a hug herself, except the barista was waiting patiently, and Steven wasn't a child. He was a college student, too. An equal. And her moms were already moving to the area for drink collection, so Garnet simply smiled at him and made way for him.

"Hmm," Garnet heard Steven saying as she went, "I think I'll have a… medium French vanilla today. Please and thank you."

"Your usual, huh?" said Sadie.

The new pink-haired barista from behind the counter delivered their drinks, and Garnet set to work preparing their add-ons. She knew exactly how her parents liked them. She took Ruby's decaf coffee and doused it in a liberal layer of both chocolate powder and caramel. She squeezed the slightly sticky honey bottle, pouring a tiny amount of it into Sapphire's tea, and stirring it in with a plastic rod. Garnet took her own coffee unsweetened.

"I'll grab us a table!" Ruby announced, grabbing the tea and decaf before setting off in a random direction.

"Let's sit with Pearl," said Sapphire.

"Oh, yeah! Great idea!" said Ruby, and they were off before Garnet could dissuade them.

Pearl was tucked in a previously-quiet corner, bent over her computer with an intense look of concentration on her face. It shifted into an expression of joy and relief at the distraction. "Garnet! Oh, and... Ruby and Sapphire too, how wonderful!"

"Hi Pearl," said Garnet, taking a seat next to her. She glanced at Pearl's computer screen. The word document there was empty, aside from a blinking cursor.

"Long time no see," said Sapphire.

"What have you been up to?" asked Ruby.

"Oh, you know." Pearl twirled her fingers in a dismissive gesture. "This and that."

"What's your major again?" asked Ruby. "Sorry, I know I always ask…"

"Still figuring that out, I'm afraid," said Pearl with a sigh. "There are so many interesting courses! I'm taking some astrophysics, mathematics, history, literature…"

"Combat," added Garnet.

"Yes, combat. Can't forget that," Pearl agreed. "But how are you all? Garnet, didn't you have that big exam yesterday?"

"It was easy," Garnet said- but of course, her moms couldn't let it rest there. Soon they were swept up in a discussion about tests, and coursework, and how proud they were of their little girl, all grown up and doing so well-

Pearl smiled and nodded politely along; but none of them missed when her attention suddenly waned, her eyes following something moving behind them. Sapphire pretended not to notice; Garnet gave a surreptitious glance; Ruby spun her whole body around and nearly fell out of her chair.

"Well," said Ruby, upon seeing the pink-haired woman who had so thoroughly seized Pearl's attention. "Who's that? Friend of yours?"

"N-Not exactly," said Pearl. "She's a barista here."

"Mmm hmm," said Garnet, knowingly. Pearl blushed a violent shade of blue.

"Oh," said Ruby.

"You like her," said Sapphire.

Pearl was twirling her hair around her finger. "Well- she's always very nice when she brings me my drinks…"

"That is kind of her job," Ruby said.

"Hush," Sapphire said.

Garnet placed a light hand on Pearl's knee. "Have you spoken to her outside of that?"

"No… No. I mean, I wouldn't even know where to start!"

"With your name," said Sapphire.

"Your hobbies," suggested Garnet.

"Pick-up lines!" yelled Ruby. There was an uncomfortable silence as almost everyone in the cafe turned to look at her, and she steamed with embarrassment.

"Girls like pick up lines," Ruby said, more quietly, once the crowd's attention was off her.

Pearl was biting her lip. "I'm not sure if that would be… appropriate."

"'Course it would be! Let me show you." Ruby turned to give her wife a smouldering look. "Hey, babe, are you an espresso? Cause you look fine."

Sapphire giggled, and Garnet couldn't help but crack a smile. Pearl rubbed her forehead.

It wasn't over yet. Without even skipping a beat, Sapphire took a sip of her drink and said, "Wow, this tea may be hot, but you're hotter!"

"I would ask you out," Ruby managed, in between laughs, "but I bet you get a latte dates!"

There was no stopping them. It was a surge of cafe-themed pick-up lines, and there was nothing Pearl could do but be swept along in the sweet coffee current.

Garnet felt a little sorry about siccing her parents on Pearl- but not enough to call them off. She instead took the chance to take a proper look around the rest of the cafe. Greg was in a far corner, quietly strumming his guitar. Lapis and Peridot were speaking in slightly raised voices, which with them, could mean they were either having a friendly disagreement or not-so-friendly discussion; it was hard to tell. Steven, meanwhile, was sitting alone at a table, leg bouncing as he checked his phone.

Obviously, he was nervous about his upcoming date with Connie. He didn't need to be. Garnet had seen the spark between them immediately. More importantly, she had seen the bond that would hold them together even after that initial spark faded. Their date would go fine, Garnet was certain. She had a foresight for these kind of things.

By then, her moms were practically wheezing with laughter, and Garnet had to hold them to keep them from slipping out of their chairs. Pearl looked as though she wanted to melt into her own.

"Anyway," said Sapphire, once she'd managed to catch her breath. "I'm sure we've taken up too much of your time. Whatever you're doing must be important."

"It is. This essay is worth 30% of my final grade," said Pearl.

"Then we'll leave ya to it, and go bother those two over there," said Ruby, jerking her head towards Peridot and Lapis. Sapphire patted Pearl once on the hand, while Ruby shot one last, "Good catch up with you," before the pair departed.

Garnet let out the tiniest sigh of relief.

"Sorry," she said to Pearl, once they were out of earshot. "I know they can be a bit much."

"No, no," said Pearl. "I don't mind at all. Your parents are lovely."

Garnet smiled. Pearl was right. She couldn't ask for better mothers, and Garnet loved them from the bottom of her heart.

There was just something awkward or strange, of having them with her. Here. Now.

But she supposed all kids felt that way about their parents