?Still Not Giving Up?

Steven felt horrible. he doesn't want to push you into talking about anything you were uncomfortable with, but at the same time he knew something was going on.

he was in the kitchen when someone knocked on the door. he looked up in surprise, and saw you nervously tapping your foot on the wooden porch, overnight bag in hand.

"Y/N?" Steven pushed the screen door open, his brows furrowing at the sight of you.

you smiled awkwardly. "can we have a sleepover?" you whispered. your fingers were tightly crossed behind your back. you knew you could go to Anna's or Lindsay's, but you really didn't want to beg her to let you stay.

he stepped back and opened the door wider. "of course, did something happen?"

"my ex is here." you sat down on the couch, wringing the strap of your bag between your hands. "he was at my front door when I got home." you sighed when you realized Steven was waiting for more information, "he name is Derek. he cheated on me with Lindsay, and he was kind of abusive."

"abusive?" Steven repeated, his skin and eyes glowing a bright pink.

"what the fuck?" you leaned away from him.

that's a gem thing, right?

"sorry! i can't control it, sorry." he shook his arms, trying to rub the pink away.

you shook your head. "um, anyways, i just don't want to talk to him.

he took a deep breath and the pink faded a little. "okay."

"okay?" you repeated.

"you can stay here until he leaves, and i'll become your bodyguard." Steven was already making the most of this situation, thoughts turning like the tide as excitement filled him.

you laughed, "okay, just... let me use the bathroom by myself."

-.-.-.-.-
Derek rang the doorbell to your home, a grin forming on his face. but... no one answered. he checked his watch. you should be home by now.

he rang the doorbell again. this time, your mother answered. "ah, hello Mrs. L/N. can i talk to Y/N?" he asked. he looked past her into the living room, but found it empty.

your mother sighed. "she's not home. come back another time."

Derek put a hand on the glass to stop her from closing the door. "you're lying. she's always home at this time. let me talk to her."

your mother shrugged. "sorry, she hasn't come home. she's probably with her friends."

Derek forced the grimace off of his face. "fine, i'll come back tomorrow."

-.-.-.-.-
a loud bang could be heard from Steven's room, followed by him yelling. "IM DONE!"

you laughed. "it was your idea to play again." you watched him as he switched off the tv and unplugged the console with a scowl.

"i thought i could beat you! i've been practicing." he yawned. "you ready to go to bed?"

you rolled over to your side of the bed -it was unspoken that you two would sleep together after the... incident- and slipped under the covers.

Steven put an extra pillow between you two just in case and switched the lamp off. "goodnight, N/N."

"goodnight, Steven." You whispered back. you both drifted off the sleep in no time, content with the fact you were together.

-.-.-.-.-
you and Steven were sitting at the kitchen table, eating the pancakes Pearl had made before leaving for work, when your phone buzzed.

Lindsay: have you talked to the cute guy yet?

you sighed. "hey, Steven?" he looked up and hummed in response. "my friends want to meet you."

he frowned, making a noise of disgust. "well i don't want to meet them. they sound so mean." he stuffed a piece of pancake in his mouth.

you snorted. "i don't want you to meet them either. but if i don't set something up, Lindsay will."

"fine. we can meet today and hang out at the beach i guess." he shrugged nonchalantly.

you looked outside at the pouring rain. "um, no. we'll do something tomorrow."

"what- this is the perfect beach day!"

You: Funland tomorrow?

Lindsay: sounds fun! Tell the cutie I said hey xx

before you could put your phone down, you got another text.

Anna: hey I heard Derek was in town

Anna: he's looking for you. be careful

(edited!) ((again))