Chapter 8: Connie's gift

Crystal Temple:

"Pearl!" Steven's voice yelled from outside, the tall pale Gem ran outside onto the balcony, spear summoned.

"Help me, save me, help me, save meeee!" The boy ran up the steps and jumped into her arms, two more giggling Stevens ran up after him, one purple and one red. They chased each other around Pearl's legs, she raised an eyebrow as she adjusted her grip on the real Steven.

"What the-"

"Tag you're it!" The youngest gem said gleefully as he poked the gem on the skinny gems forehead.

"Care to explain what's going on here?"

"It's Steven-tag, Steven tagged you and now you have to turn into Steven." Said Amethyst.

"It's the rules..." Garnet chimed in, a smirk spread across Pearl's face and she set Steven down.

"You got a ten second head start..."

The three Stevens on deck looked at each other and then leapt into the sky towards the beach. The blue eyed gem quickly shape shifted and went after them.

Garnet and the others split up to different sides of the beach, the pale Steven began her pursuit on the original and was quickly closing in on him, and just as she was about to tag him, a vine sprouted out from underground and wrapped around Pearls ankle causing her to fall.

"Hey! You're cheating!" She yelled in dismay, the young gem turned around and laughed.

"There's nothing in the rules that says you can't use your powers!"

The blonde stood as the vine retreated, "Well in that case..." She concentrated and the sand turned into a hand which grabbed Steven, he gasped in surprise and struggled to get free. Pearl then jumped into the air and poked his cheek.

"Tag!" She stated smoothly as she landed daintily on the ground, Garnet and Amethyst joined the pale quadruplet.

The sand slowly began to shift back down to Earth and placed the brown haired gem down. Steven, who had giggled the whole way down, looked at his fellow Stevens and smiled.

"Welp, looks like we're out of players...anyone up for Garnet-tag?" The pink gem shapeshifted into the leader of the team, everyone seemed like they were up to the challenge, suddenly a familiar voice came from the other side of the beach.

"Steven, I'm here! And I have your gift!" It was Connie, she hadn't noticed the gems and was calling towards the house.

Garnet cleared her throat to tell her they were right next to her, the young girl turned and raised an eyebrow when she saw three Stevens and one strangely colored Garnet.

"Hi Connie!" Steven walked over to his friend and returned to his normal self, he faced the other Gems, "We'll finish this game tomorrow, see you later guys!" And then ran off with Connie.

"What do ya think the present is?" Asked Amethyst as she turned back to normal with Garnet and Pearl.

"I don't know, but it's certainly none of our business. I'm beat...lets head inside." The pale and purple gems started for the house, the tallest one stayed back and watched the two kids run up the hill of which the temple rested on.

"She's totally gonna kiss him.." She said to herself.

Hill by the lighthouse:

Steven and Connie reached the top of the hill and sat down, the young boy could hardly contain his excitement.

"Do you have it, do you have the thing?"

"Whoa, whoa calm down Steven, just give me a minute.." The dark skinned girl giggled, the pink gem grinned widely as she began to pull something out of her purse that she'd brought with.

"Mr Universe, would you like to accompany me to my 7th grade dance this Saturday?" She handed him a small admit one ticket, he took it and his eyes lit up.

"Would I? I'd love to!" Steven laughed as he hugged Connie, she blushed.

He released his embrace and looked into the girl's cocoa brown eyes, turning a bit red himself. The redness spread as Connie began to lean towards him.

This is it...my first kiss...gotta make it count, Steven thought and he too moved closer. Their lips were just inches away when Connie's phone rang, she popped back to reality and checked the caller I.D.

"Crud, it's my mom!" She gasped as she pushed the boy's face away, jumping up to take the call.

The young Gem frowned and awkwardly looked out at the sun that seemed to float on top of the ocean. The dark skinned female finished her conversation and hung up, she sighed.

"What the matter?"

"Nothing, my mom wants me to come home and help with shopping for Thanksgiving."

They both stood up, Steven bit his lip, "Do you have to go?"

"Yeah..sorry I really wish I could've stayed longer..."

The two Pre-teens made their ways down the hill and back to the beach, the boy's saddened expression remained plastered to his face. He waved to Connie as she continued to walk to her house, then turned and ran up the steps to his own.

Steven ran into the house and flopped down onto the the couch with a sigh,he pulled the small red ticket from his pocket and stared at it.

"Is something the matter, Steven?" Garnet approached the couch and sat down next to him.

"No I'm fine...Connie just has me...confused..."

"How so?" The red gem pulled the kid into her lap and ran her fingers through his hair.

"Well, she invited me to take her to a dance, and then we...almost kissed." Steven explained. "We got interrupted by her phone, but when it rang she freaked out, like she didn't want her parents knowing what was going on. I think...I think she might be ashamed of me.."

Garnet let the dark curls skate across her hand, "Now Steven, nobody could possibly be ashamed of you."

"Well someone is..." The pink Gem mumbled to himself, just then, there was a knock at he door. Steven got up and opened it, and surprisingly it was Connie.

"Connie? What are you-mmf!" The Indian girl had grabbed him by the shoulders and pulled him into a kiss. It wasn't long, but it was enough to restore the happiness in Steven's body.

"I nearly forgot to give you my gift...heh...see you Saturday, bubble buddy!" Connie then left, Steven was speechless, he closed the door and turned back to the gem on the couch.

The leader had the biggest smirk on her face. "I knew it..."

"Knew what?"

"Don't worry about it..."

Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter! I wanted to make a cute little Stevonnie chapter since I haven't really given you a relationship status. Anyway, review and tell me what you think I should do for the next chapter.