Authors' Note: Another side-story, to make up for the slight delay in our regular posting schedule. This one is non-canon, but if it was canon, it'd be somewhere around chapter 37.

Sitting in a Tree

Steven was sitting at the RV's table, his sketchpad out as he he was drawing his latest project; character studies of residents of Beach City. He'd already done a few: Buck, Jenny, and Ronaldo had been his first, followed by Onion and his mom Vidalia… He was now trying to on who to do next, when he heard a hesitant series of knocks at the door. He hopped out of his seat and went to the door, opening it to find a flustered looking Connie.

"Hey, Connie," he asked easily. "Is… something wrong?"

Connie gulped before she answered, "Sort of? Maybe? I dunno…"

Steven stepped aside, gesturing inwards. "Well, do you want to come in? We can talk, if you want?"

Connie nodded numbly as she walked up the steps into the RV. Steven shut the door behind her and indicated towards one of the seats in the kitchen. But Connie didn't take any. Instead, she was pacing and looking at the ground.

"So," Steven began, not sure at all where to begin. "Um… What's up?"

Connie looked up at him, her lips thinning before she finally answered. "I had a dream last night."

"Oh?" Steven asked, feeling a little relieved that it wasn't anything more. "What kind of dream?"

"I dreamed that I was being chased by a Gem monster. And no one else was around, so I ran." She shook her head as she looked back at the ground. "I ran and ran , but the monster was just about to get me before… Before I was saved by Amethyst."

Steven blinked. "Well, that seems kinda cool. Have you told Amethyst?"

Connie's gaze shot back to him. "No! Are crazy after what- what happened at the end of the dream…"

"What happened at the end?"

The corners of Connie's mouth tightened as her cheeks flooded with color. "Amethyst and I… we sorta… might have…" She clamped her eyes shut tight. She spoke in the smallest voice possible, "She… kissed me."

Several moments of silence fell across the RV.

"Oh," Steven intoned blankly.

Connie opened her eyes again, but still kept them firmly planted on the floor. "I… I think I have a crush on Amethyst…"