Ocean Waves

I was going to wait to update this, as I'm working on FOUR Steven Universe stories (plus some in other categories) at once, but just the first chapter alone is getting a lot of love, so I'll update this sooner, rather than later. But because of that, sorry if this takes a while. So, enjoy!

Chapter 2 – Lapis and Connie

I didn't realize I had watched Steven all night until the sun started coming up, and light poured into the barn. When I realized that Steven would be waking up soon, I quickly flew up to the banister to hide. I watched quietly as Steven slowly woke, stretching and yawning. Pretending that I hadn't been watching him all night, I jumped down from the rafters to greet him.

"Good morning, Steven," I greeted him enthusiastically.

Steven smiled sleepily at me and yawned. "Morning, Lapis!" he said, "What did you do last night?"

"Uh, nothing really exciting," I told him hastily, "I just sat up on the roof all night."

"Oh, OK," he said, believing me. He stood up and stretched, looking around. Then he looked back at me, as if waiting for me to do something. I suddenly realized he was waiting for me to give him some privacy. Blushing, I turned and flew out of the barn.

When I came back later, Steven was dressed for the day and talking to Peridot, who for some reason was beating a car door with a baseball bat. Sighing, I walked over to them.

"Do you have to make so much noise?" I asked my roommate, "What are you doing?"

"Relax, Lapis," Peridot scoffed, "I'm simply working on my next meep morp." Then she resumed hitting the door. Steven turned to me.

"By the way," he began, "Is it all right if my friend Connie comes over? We were going to hang out at my house today, but because the Gems left, I told her she could come here."

I felt myself starting to grow pale, for some reason. But luckily, Steven and Peridot didn't seem to notice. Peridot put the bat down and turned to Steven.

"I don't see any reason why not," she replied, "Lapis?"

I started a bit when she addressed me. "Um, yeah, I don't mind," I said, lying through my teeth. But why did I mind? I had never met this Connie before!

"Thanks guys!" Steven exclaimed happily. Then he ran outside to where I saw a car driving up. The girl was here? Already? I felt myself shiver in anticipation, and Peridot looked at me.

"Lapis? Are you all right?" she asked.

I sighed. "I'm fine," I answered. I walked out of the barn and over to where Steven was greeting his friend.

"Lapis, this is Connie," Steven told me, "She's one of my best friends. And Connie, this is Lapis Lazuli."

"Pleased to meet you," Connie said politely, "I mean, we kind of briefly met before, but it's nice to properly meet you." She held out her hand.

"Right," I mumbled. I had seen this gesture before, but I still did not understand it. What did she expect me to do? I was saved from having to figure it out by Peridot coming out of the barn.

"You must be Steven's friend," she said as soon as she reached us, "I am Peridot."

"Oh hello!" Connie greeted politely, "I'm Connie. Steven's told me a lot about you."

Peridot suddenly looked nervous. "What did he say about me?" she asked anxiously, "He didn't tell you about that thing, did he?"

All of us stared blankly at her. "What are you talking about?" I wondered.

"What thing?" Steven questioned, "I didn't tell her about any 'thing.'"

"Oh. Well good," Peridot replied, sighing with relief. "I was just jesting, of course. For sport. I haven't done anything wrong… recently."

Her shifty eyes told me otherwise, but I didn't say so out loud. I watched with slight amusement as she shyly shuffled away. Steven, after a moment's pause, turned to Connie.

"So, Connie, I was thinking that we could start with a walk…" Steven took Connie's hand and led her towards the barn, chatting excitedly. I felt myself growing jealous as I watched them walk together, and I didn't know why. Steven was allowed to have other friends. And I knew I probably wasn't even his closest friend. I knew this, and I had accepted it. So why did this bother me so much?

I slowly followed them back into the barn, trying to think of something to say so that maybe Steven would offer for me to join them. But I didn't want to sound desperate or clingy. Would it be all right for me to simply ask? Would he rather just spend the day alone with his friend? I didn't know, and I was afraid to ask.

When I walked back into the barn I spotted Steven and Connie sitting on the mattress talking excitedly. I sighed when I saw them, and started to walk away. But suddenly, Steven called to me.

"Lapis! Wait!" I turned around to see him and Connie walking over to me. I felt my hope rising as they approached.

"We were going to go for a walk around the farm," Connie explained to me, "And we wanted to know if you wanted to come with us?"

I tried not to blush, or be too obvious. "I would love to," I replied, sheepishly.

Steven took both of our hands and led us away from the barn. We walked towards the nearby fields, Steven humming a happy little song. I smiled at him as we walked. That was one of the things that drew me to Steven; he was always so cheerful and optimistic. Even when I was down or feeling bad for myself.

Connie giggled as Steven hummed. "Is that a song you made up?" she asked him.

"Yeah!" Steven replied enthusiastically, "I made it up just now, actually. You two should join me!"

I felt myself blush. "I don't know, Steven," I muttered. I saw that Connie looked nervous as well. Steven smiled at us and started humming louder, trying to get us to join in. After a moment, Connie and I looked at each other, and we couldn't help but burst into a fit of giggles. Then we joined Steven in his humming.

I felt my spirits lifting. When we got back to the barn, I decided to use my powers to show what I could with water. Steven and Connie watched in awe as I lifted the water out of the pool and made it into a giant bubble. Steven looked excited.

"Floating pool!" he exclaimed. He ran over and leapt into the water, clothes in all. I was going to object, but I couldn't once I saw how much fun he was having. After a moment's hesitation, Connie also took a running leap into the water. She surfaced near the top of the bubble, laughing.

"This is amazing!" she praised.

Steven also surfaced, splashing her with water. "Isn't Lapis the best?" he asked her.

I turned away slightly so they couldn't see me smile and blush. After that, I watched quietly as Steven and Connie played together, chasing and tackling each other. I found myself with a strange mixture of envy and peace. I was starting to like Connie. She seemed nice, and I knew that Steven would never make friends with anyone who wasn't nice. But it was also clear that he was very close to her. What did that mean for me?

"Hey Lapis," Steven called to me as he ran over, "Is it all right if Connie stays the night?"

"Of course, Steven," I replied right away. I hadn't even really thought about it, I simply wanted to please him. "If Peridot is all right with it as well. And I imagine she will be."

"Thanks, Lapis!" he exclaimed as he ran off to find Peridot.

That night I sat up in the rafters of the barn, staring and watching Steven and Connie as they slept. Waiting, and watching.

While dark and horrible thoughts drifted through my head.

I'm gonna end this chapter here, because I want to get this out to you impatient little bastards (love you!) Anyway, hope you still like this. I wanted to try to keep Connie in character, because a lot of stories I read make her a jerk, and I don't like that. I feel it adds more conflict if Steven has to choose between two actually nice people. Anyway, next chapter Connie is still going to be here, and we can see if Lapis really starts to warm up to her or not.