Corrupted Heart - Steven Universe x Reader

Chapter 33

He didn't have anything to apologise for (Not that he knew of) and he hadn't made a joke, so laughing away the awkwardness wasn't in the cards. Steven slid off Lion's back, blowing out a discomfiting puff of air.

"Hey. Jeremiah, right?", Steven compelled a smile to spread across his face.Jerry formally stuck out his hand with not even a glimpse of a smile, "Jerry. Hey, Steven. We didn't get to properly meet last time".

Hesitantly, Steven reached out to gradually grip his hand. His hesitance made it seem like he was attempting to clutch an electric taser or a board of nails. He began worrying about all different scenarios; Was he gripping too tight and hurting him? Was he gripping too soft and was coming on as weak? Were his hands sweaty? Should he have wiped them first? After a firm handshake, the tension seeped back as no one knew what to say afterwards.

"So...You're an alien? You don't look like an alien", Jerry queried.

"Well, I'm only half alien--I mean, half gem", Steven responded.

Realising we were starting to loose daylight, I stood in the middle of everyone. "Ok, ok! You can be an alien, gem, whatever. Let's just go so we can all get home on time", I huffed, turning to Frankie, who was still fawning over Lion, "Where's this warehouse you found?".

Without a word, Frankie led the way, past the school boundaries and into the wide landscape. We all followed her, some of us jittering with excitement, others pursuing in deafening silence. Steven was one of those silent followers. No. He had to salvage the conversation. He didn't want to come off as boring or openly dependent on others for a discussion to start.

Stepping over a fallen log, Steven took a deep breath and spoke, "So, how are you guys liking school? I mean, I've never been but, I bet it's awesome! You guys must love it!".

Frankie blew a raspberry, kicking her heel into the dirt, "Heck no! I cannot wait to get out of there. Homework doesn't help, I've been getting the same grades whether I do it or not. Going to the bathroom shouldn't require prior approval. It's a natural body function, I should be able to just get up and leave!".

"I don't know, school's not all bad", Owen muttered, ruffling up the back of his hair. "There are certain people I would prefer weren't there, but in general, I kinda like it".

"That's because you're a weirdo", I spoke, feeling the weight of the books in my bag dragging me back. Owen pouted, gripping tightly onto his backpack strap and turning his head to the ground. 

Whoops! I must've touched a nerve.

"I meant that in a good way. Y'know I'm just kidding around", I corrected myself.

Owen held his frown, "There's no good way of calling someone a weirdo".

"Sure there is! Frankie's a weirdo".

"I embrace that title. It's just another way of saying you're not afraid to go against the social norms".

Finally, I earned a tiny grin from him, which seemed almost foreign.

As we kept walking, the number of trees began to increase, forming a thick woodland around us. The sun still streamed through the gaps between the branches, but its hazy glow suggested that dusk was soon to come. Steven reached out to graze his fingers on the tips of the leaves, which left felt so crisp in his fingertips. He noticed a trail of ripped and crunched-up leaves and twigs which suspiciously lead to me.

Steven sighed, "I wish I could go to school".

Finally, after what seemed like hours of nothing by silence leaving his mouth, Jerry spoke, "Why don't you? You can always apply for next term. But, considering you've never been to school, you might get put in remedial education".