"We're starting, ok…Did you ever have problems with the potential partners I introduced you to?"
"Seriously?"
"Please.."
"Mmm…Barring Jeff…Yes at first. I wasn't on board with you dating, let alone dating some random person."
"Why?"
"It seemed sudden…It didn't seem like you were really into them. There was a lack of excitement when you spoke about your dates."
"So you think I was only playing around?"
"I didn't say that. It just felt like you was forcing yourself. You've never been a romantic nor spoke of having any type of were also very reserved when it came to them and you can be playful when you're comfortable enough…Borderline flirty, if they person is close enough. "
"…That's….A half truth."
"Oh."
"You know you're the only one I 'flirt' with.
"Jeff and Peedee."
Connie arched an eyebrow before crossing her arms over mid-section, a sultry smirk on her face. "You really gonna compare my sibling like teasing with Jeff, and my verbal back and forth with Peedee…To how WE act with each other."
Steven shrugged slightly in light defeat. "True enough but that proves my point." He looked at her with a cool smile." When you your comfortable with someone you're polite but you'd engage harmless teasing. For what I seen, from what I was told as well; there was none with the those you 'dated'. That, coupled with how disinterested you seemed to be over your breakups…it started to feel like they were a flavor of the month or so."
"I didn't think you thought of it that way. Why didn't you say anything?"
"It never seemed like you was putting yourself in danger and honestly I felt I had no say in it. The people you brought to meet and hang with us never seemed like bad, you have a good judge of character; at the same time, it was quite obvious that they wasn't going to be around long."
"Ugh…That sound So..bad every time I hear it. So flighty."
"Hehe. Come on, we're teens. I know how you pride yourself on being 'objective', 'aware' ; and 'knowing what you want', but you're allow to be a bit skittish; even about dating and relationships… When you do find that one, you'll know."
" Stars, you and your damned high EQ"
"Hey, you have an IQ that rivals Pearls and Peri's, let me have this. So is there more to this or are you gonna tell me what up?"
"…Did It hurt you? To know I was dating others.
"MMM…That's kind of a silly question. You have every right to date whoever you want, so would it matter in the long run?"
"It does to me."
"…No. You living your life never hurt me and even if it did it would be on my head. That being said, are you sure that what you want to ask me?"
"What do you mean?"
"You want to know if I was jealous."
"Would you answer honestly?"
"1000 percent right, Berry?"
"..Were you?"
"Admittedly..Yeah a bit. I said earlier that I wasn't thrilled about the prospects of you dating strangers and that I did show off abit when we had a group thing…that..was out of jealousy.."
"Cause you felt I was replacing you."
"Well, that and you forcing yourself too, but as the root of my jealousy…Yeah, the replacement thing as discussed before."
"Can't say you wasn't right in a way…I did feel a bit lonely at times admittedly, since our time was fleeting. Hanging with the gems and the others are fine, but it not a replacement for…'US'. Part of the reason why I tried to date..not to replace you but to fill that place of loneliness, didn't work."
"I can relate, it wasn't easy having such little time to spend with you,Nini."
"Yeah, but you were outer space with a bevy of cute and energetic space gems."
"More like exhausting and attention craving gems…Pink court give their regards by the way. Blue and Yellow diamonds as well."
"Aww, that's sweet of them, though kind of surprising of Yellow."
"She doesn't like being shown up, though she does genuinely respect you."
"Of course, classic Yellow" .
"Hehe. I supposed it is."
Steven's chuckle was a bit mirthless, Connie noted yet his smile was that of someone in blis; it made her a bit bashful under his gaze and a harder to keep the blush off her face as it was caressed in the light of the setting sun, as she was about to speak her phone ranged, causing her to reach into the pocket of her navy blue pleated skirt. On the phone was the name "Mom", with her index finger up she signaled Steven that their conversation was on hold as she began talking to Priyanka.
Steven on the other hand was just content watching his Connie in the evening light, explain quite simply that she and Steven was taking a detour and will be at Sadies' soon. The way her nose scrunched up at the apparent teasing that must be happening. The relaxed smugness that Connie in her voice when she countered her teasing. The Maheswaran women relationship was more jovial after everything was said in done. Having not only earn the complete trust and pride of her parents and vice versa, but also the fact that the Maheswarans has a nearly familial relationship the Universes and the gems; really helped evolve the relations within the less strict and more loving household. That and that Priyanka and Doug were made parents again to a pair of twins also had to be factored in and given the million watt smile on Connie, she currently speaking the aptly dubbed 'Mini Maheswarens.'
"Yes, I'll tell Steven you said hello, Raj….and Rache as well. We'll both see you two tomorrow when we we pick you up from the house…Yes we'll bring lion…..I don't know gotta ask pearl about the strawberry fields….You're too young to handle swords, stay with your stick…Yes Sissy loves you too and I will call you two before bed for a story…Will Steven be there?"
"Tell them I said yeah."
"He'll be there for the story…Rache wanna know where my laptop at? It's on my desk, but my room is locked so…..She got it!?"
"Ha! Little genius!"
Connie looked at Steven with a small glare before turning back to the phone. "Put her on..She said she busy, call back later?…BOY! Put her on….Good man"
Connie gave Steven an exasperated yet prideful look as she waited for her mischievous lil sister to come on, who just shrug with a smirk. That when a little feminine voice came on the phone.
" Sissy You's there !"
Connie put the phone before responding with a slightly rough tone.
"Who told you to go in my room and how did you even get in?"
"I used a butter knife to turn the lock. I didn't break anything…I just wanted to play a game."
"Rachel! You can't just enter my or anyone room whenever you feel, especially when it locked, you understand?!"
"…I'm sorry…Can I still use your laptop, though?"
"Just be careful..and no downloading from sites, and put it on the charger when you're done."
"Yay! Thank you, Sissy! Good luck on getting kissy kissy with Steven!"
"Rach, Really?"
"Hehehe! I'm gonna go now bye-bye!"
"Love you Rach."
"Muah! Love you more Sissy!"
With that Connie hanged up the phone and placed back into her pocket. She looked at Steven who was abit too cocky in the face for her liking. She placed her hands on hip and arched an eyebrow.
"What with the look Steven?"
"Kissy-kissy?"
She shrugged with eyes slightly closed as let out a small sigh.
"You heard that, kids right? They say the darnest things."
"Is it really unbelievable?."
"What?"
" You having feelings for me."
Connie eyes widen slowly at the statement. She was prepared to tell him…not this though.
"Well…Wouldn't it be?"
"Why would it?"
"Because it's me and you. We dated other people, and I've never had a long relationship or any good at romance."
"I don't think one can be 'good' at romance, it's not a skill you know despite what everyone says…."
"Easy for you to say, how many outings have you planned for us that were basically a date."
"I mean…We never called them dates, it was just the two of us hanging out. I wasn't trying to be romantic."
"See! You don't have to work at it. It came naturally to you."
"Like I said, never really noticed. Every time we go out the only thing on my mind was to forget the problems we were going through and give you something memorable. If that resulted in adventures, jams, snacks, or snuggling up together while looking out at beach city from the hillside or any other stuff… then all the better…even more than that, I'm happiest when I'm with you. You're my home away from home."
Connie smiled confidently as she felt her chest warmed. She took his hands and kissed his knuckles gently, feeling the blush warmed her face. She looked up at him with stars in her visible right eye; the fall placed her hair in away that it gave her a eye covering bang on her left side, causing Steven to redden in embarrassment and admiration; feeling the same wave of emotions he felt when he saw her a few years back at Kevins' party.
"I feel the same about you, for a long time… I love you…That what I omitted from before
"I love you too Connie. You're my Jam bud after all.."
Connie shook her head at his statement. She knew him well enough to figure out that he was baiting her to confess her true feeling clearly. "Yes, we are and it's something that means so much more than it used to…'Jam buds' encloses everything about you and I..Our adventures, battles, conflicts, Stevonnie, hell even times when we aren't on speaking terms."
"I agree. It's the 'flavorful' history of us, our sweetest moments to our sourest spots. I wonder where this is leading to, though i'm a sure where you going with this."
" I cherish being jam buds with you Steven, thoughts of our history helped me through some of my worst spots, but it doesn't encompass everything."
The shades of the orange sunset enhancing his mischievous smirk made her throat dry and sent a shiver down her spy "Really now, Nini?"
Connie nodded as she massage the back of his hands with her thumbs, opting to hang her head lower and avoid looking up at him to further sheepishness. " It doesn't include all I feel for you.. what I feel now…. Even back then when you gave yourself up. It's a different feeling, stronger and a bit consuming. I tried to hide, ignore; smother it and move on. No use."
"Doesn't seem like something you would do Berry, you're usually so fierce when facing a problem."
"External problems are easier than those of the heart. Going against monsters, tyrants; and the maniacal are a breeze compared to inner conflicts with oneself."
"Preaching to the choir Connie, but that why I am glad to have you. It help to talk it out and comes to terms with it, you gave me an ear to do just that. Sometimes even a lap to rest my head. So let me be that for you, what the worst that could happen, huh?
"I could lose you, jam bud..or make things awkward between us."
"You'd never lose me, you know that. We have a lot more in store for us. Even if we have a few awkward spots, they can still be either sweet or sour flavors in our history."
"You're right…I have already decided to face the truth….Steven, while you're not the naive pacifist you use to be… you still love everybody, or at least you CAN love every and anybody,. You're willing to put so much on the line for those who are precious and it's inspiring. You'd even try to reach an understanding with enemies, buts it's unfair. You give so much of your love yet the amount you recieve doesn't compare. So let me do it. Let me love you more than you love both gemkind and humanity, because as much as I tried not to..I already do…I love you Steven, not just as my best friend, liege; fusion partner; or even jam bud, but…I can't say…"
Steven eyes widen at the bold confession and pause absorbing it all in as he looked at the girl on his lap, he felt her tears roll down and fall on his hands. He lift his hands to wipe the tears gently before pulling her in close to him in gentle and secure hold The smell of her chai and cinnamon shampoo, her natural scent of oranges and lavender overwhelmed him and lit a small urge. Before she and him knew what was going on, he kissed the crook of her neck, her tear stained cheeks, but she beat him to the lips, which he melted into. It wasn't like in the movies or novels. It was a held peck in comparison to the slick healing french from earlier..but they still felt a glow and heat around them. When they finally opened their eyes they each saw something different.
For Connie it was brown diamond shaped eyes that sparkled like a supernova despite being gazed over a bit, with a pink glow coming from below. For Steven, he saw the galaxy in her very partial pinkish black eyes and felt a comforting warmth from pink her arm. Both of them knew what this feeling was: Stevonnie. The feeling of trust, serenity; and love that empowers Stevonnie brings but without forming, something that they were fine with as they still needed to talk.
"So…Is it safe to say your feelings are romantic?"
