Characters created by: Rebecca Sugar

Chapter 9: She's Off To College, And I'm Here…

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Beach City-Nine Years From The Present

Steven looked at his 18 year old self, sitting at the boardwalk, looking at the sea.

"Woah."

He noticed that his younger self seemed a bit depressed.

"He seems pretty depressed." thought Older Steven, "Maybe I should talk to him. If I do, I need a disguise."

Steven's Gem glowed, and he transformed into Phineas Caine, the wealthy shoemaker back in 1852. He even carried a cane. He walked over to the boardwalk and sat next to his younger self. His younger self noticed him and smiled.

"Hi."

Older Steven in disguise spoke back.

"Greetings."

"I don't think I've seen you around here before." said younger Steven.

Older Steven smiled.

"I'm a traveller."

"You like to go and see new places, huh?"

"Yes. I've been to many places. Greece, France, Afghanistan, Golden, lots of places."

Younger Steven replied with excitement.

"I've been to Empire City."

Older Steven laughed softly.

"Heh. Me too…"

Younger Steven turned back to the sea, and his smile turned into a frown. Older Steven noticed this and decided to ask.

"You seem pretty down. What's wrong?"

Younger Steven turned back to him.

"How could you tell?"

"It's obvious."

Younger Steven sighed.

"Can you keep a secret?"

Older Steven replied.

"Of course. Why would I tell a secret to anyone when I barely know you?"

"There's this girl-"

"Oh, I know what this is. You love this girl, but you're too scared to tell her. It's a common thing these days."

"Well, she just left for the University of Delmarva, and she won't be back for another four years or so. She's off to college, and I'm here…"

Older Steven stood up and looked to his younger self.

"Look. If you know that you'll have a happy life with this girl, then tell her how you feel."

Younger Steven smiled.

"Yeah… Maybe I could also work out."

Older Steven smiled.

"I think she'll really like that."

Older Steven grabbed his cane and walked off. He looked back at his younger self, who was staring at the ocean once again.

Older Steven noticed a newspaper on the ground. He picked it up and read it. On the front page were the words "Crystal Gems Save Governor From A Monster Attack". It included a picture of his 18 year old self, the Gems, including Peridot and Lapis, and the state governor. He smiled.

He then had an idea. He took the hourglass out of his pocket. This time, he had an order for the hourglass.

"Take me to the University of Delmarva, nine years from the present."

Steven, still in disguise, found himself standing in front of the massive campus of the University of Delmarva. He then heard the campus bell ring, and students were walking out in herds out of the campus, as the learning day was done. Hundreds of people passed by him. He tried to make out all the faces, looking for one certain person. After a few minutes, most of the students had left the campus.

Then, Steven saw her.

Walking out of the building was an 18 year old Connie, wearing a formal campus shirt with the University's abbreviated letters, "UD". She was holding books in her hands.

Steven placed the newspaper on the ground and walked away. He peeked behind the campus fence as he saw Connie stop in front of the newspaper. She picked up the newspaper, and after reading the front page title, she looked up from it and smiled. Holding the newspaper in her hand, she continued her walk. Steven smiled and took out the hourglass again. The hourglass glowed. Where is he now?