"So... when you got there, Pearl and Amethyst had formed Opal?" Steven nodded, giving me the answer to my question. It made sense. They were very joyful about being stuck together by Garnet. The first night I saw them entering the same room for the night, as well. Best if I didn't mention that detail to Steven, though.
"They used to be really unfriendly to each other. It barely happens now anymore." The child made a distinct expression. He thought long and hard on it. "That's a good thing, Steven" I explained, even if he obviously understood that, "They've become good friends from what they used to be." Steven made it clear they were definitely not the best of friends a while back. His head tilted upwards and a smile spread across his face. It delighted me, giving me no choice but to smile back at him.
Yesterday had been more than just a stressful day. For that reason, just hanging out with Steven was nice and comforting. Merely his presence was enough to make me feel happy. However, he tried to comfort me in his own way, by showing me some of the stuff in his room and we played somes games. That helped too. Garnet hadn't spoken after we arrived at the temple, and by the time we got back it was midnight. The rest walked to their own rooms, worried, while Garnet sat beside me and lulled me to sleep again. None of us had seen her after that and I hoped she was all right.
In a flash, as I was thinking of her, she appeared behind me and only Steven saw her. He was giggling like a dork, and I immediately knew something was up. Before I could react however, the tallest gem lifted me up by my sides. Garnet turned me towards her, and with a hurried motion, I wrapped myself around her, exclaiming "Garnet!" Behind me again, I could hear Steven going "Awww~"
I separated myself barely from Garnet, watching her smiling friendly back at me. The warmth it sent throughout my body filled my cheeks with a bright red color. Her facial expressions were hard to read behind those glasses. I was in a good state of mind and she seemed to be relieved. It was mostly because of her. Her way of making me feel safe and secure with her around. Only a few seconds after, she put me down, still resting a hand on my arm. With Steven around, it was more awkward to be intimate with Garnet, like we had a few times before. Could barely call secretive hand holding intimate. It was something in that range, though.
"What's up, Garnet?" Steven asked excited. Waiting a few seconds before answering, Garnet looked down at me. Strangely enough, she was hesitant with her answer.
"I wanted to ask Lyn if she would care for a walk." Once she spoke, her words were clear like usual and sounded casual. In her casual kind of way. A walk? "I would love to! I mean... yes." I had a way of over exaggerating and it made me feel like a complete dumbass. Her smile once again brightened me up, filling my whole body with that same warmth as earlier. "I'll meet you outside."
Before leaving, she caressed my cheek with a quick motion, leaving me with my heart up at my throat. If I had been in a cartoon, my pupils would've been heart shaped as I watched her walk down the stairs and outside. I turned around to look at Steven, witnessing his head tilting to the side. The expression on his face was both confused and priceless, "Garnet doesn't take walks..."
Grabbing my jacket, Steven came over and hugged me again, "I'm happy that you're here." I kneeled down to his height, hugging him back. "I am too. But why do you say that now?" It was a bit strange how he said it out of nowhere. Gave me tingles and a good feeling on the inside. "I'm not really sure. I knew I hadn't told you that before, though." He was right, he hadn't. I felt like I knew that already, though, and it was nice to hear him say it. "Thank you for letting me stay." Whilst roughing his hair, I slid my red, leather jacket on. Steven's dad, Greg, had been kind enough to give me some money for some extra clothes, in exchange of helping him at the carwash. I gladly accepted, since I didn't want to wear the same clothes every day. The rest of my outfit was just a comfortable summer dress. On the middle of my waist, it split between a white top and transparent, black skirt for the bottom. I wore some comfortable shoes since we were going on a walk and some black, thigh high socks.
"We'll be back in a bit" I told Steven, waving him a friendly goodbye. Making my way downstairs, my eyes spotted Garnet leaning on the railing again, leaving me a certain perspective of her body. Blushing heavily by my thoughts, I opened the door and approached Garnet. With a graceful motion, the divine gem turned towards me and smiled friendly, "Ready?" She reached out her hand to me, waiting for me take it. I felt my heart racing once I took a hold of hers, my whole body tingling with joy. Leading me down the stairs, we made our way towards the boardwalk. We were both quiet and seemed to be fine with just each other's company. Once we arrived, I locked my arm around hers, holding it tightly with both hands. Nearby, an ice cream cart lured us in. My pleading eyes met Garnet's once she looked down at me. Maybe she didn't notice my intention, "Do you want some ice cream?" And she responded with a simple "Yes." I smiled widely and pulled her with me towards the cart. After searching my pockets for some money, I pulled out enough for two small vanilla and chocolate ice creams. Before the man behind the cart handed them to me, he looked a bit strange at Garnet. He smiled and waved us goodbye when we left, though.
It didn't take long for us to finish them as they were not very large. Under the sun, it was refreshing. Garnet was very quiet after that, and she didn't look at me either, except for earlier. I stopped her by the pier, trailing my hand along her arm and looking at her. "Is something... wrong?" My voice did sound worried and frankly, I was. Especially when I remembered what Steven told me. She stood in front of me, both of us sharing the sunlight that was soon drowning in the horizon. Reaching my right hand up to her cheek, I caressed it very lightly with my fingers, only bringing me closer to her. Her head titled down towards me and I could feel it in me how she looked at me. Without noticing, her arms wrapped delicately around me. A glistening effect on her other cheek hit my eye, making me focus on it. It was a tear from under her glasses. Using my left hand to remove her glasses slowly, I witnessed her eyes' fearful look. Another tear streamed down from her right eye, letting me wipe it off gently.
"There's a lot you don't know about me" she suddenly spoke and paused. "I saw you... with me and Steven. I thought that was what happened." I wasn't sure what she fully meant, other than the day before. My expression was a mixture of fear and sadness. This must've been what Steven meant about her future vision.
"I didn't think you would end up in a situation like that. I should've known and it's my fault!" Her voice raised barely for a second, "I saw you drown. I-It would've been my fault. I see so much that can hurt Steven, the Gems... and even you. I do everything I can to help, to prevent harm coming to my friends and you. I... I'm afraid."
Tears streamed down my cheeks, leaving my face looking like a break-up, "G-Garnet, you saved me. That's what matters... You do everything you can and that is so much more than you should be able. You've always be there for them and help them when they need it. They told me so themselves." Throughout that month, they had. I paused for a moment, staring into her eyes, "You're amazing... and you saved my life. Twice already. Well, three if you count that incident with Amethyst." Her face and lips brightened up, giggling slightly at the thought. The same did I. While wiping the tears off her cheeks, she did the same for mine.
There was something I needed to tell her, maybe that's why she was smiling so brightly now. Her arms lifted me up, allowing me to again, wrap my arms and legs around her. She held me up by my back and and slid her hand into my hair, making me shiver. I continued to stare into her alien, angelic eyes. Hesitation was prone to happen.
"I love you, Garnet." Finally. I laughed at myself and let another tear fall before she pressed her lips against mine, softly. It felt like my heart was going to burst with the speed it pumped, filling my stomach with a sour and sweet feeling. My cheeks puffed up with red when I was right about how soft her lips were. The feeling brought me immense happiness, and the joy was so unexplainable. Trailing my hands along her neck, I let them rest on her shoulders, sinking deeper into the blissful kiss. A few seconds after, we felt content with it, for now. "I love you too, Lyn."
We pulled a bit back, instantly making me hug her after she revealed her feelings for me as well. Her skin against mine was the intimacy I craved dearly from her. I rested my head on her right shoulder, hearing her say "Thank you." She put her glasses back on, and slowly started making her way back to the temple, with me in her arms, "Let's go home."
Home. I felt home again.