(1) Learn How To Love

Trophies and Pizza

"Would all contestants please make their way back to the stage? All contestants to the stage."

You pulled yourself together before Steven helped you up from the ground. He held your hand all the way to the stage- where you awaited the results of the show with the rest of your team.

You had so much and yet so little on your mind that you had gone numb. You were hardly present on the stage; Mr. Smiley's rambling speech went in one ear and out the other while you stared into space. You couldn't think. Your mind was all fuzzy static and your emotions were so intense that they couldn't even come out. So you just stood onstage next to the rest of the participants and looked at your shoes.

Sadie took your hand in yours and gave it a squeeze, reminding you to be present.

"-that is why I am deathly afraid of kittens, and all their associates," you tuned in to Mr. Smiley's rant. "And with that, it's time for the moment we've all been waiting for."

The tension on the stage was palpable. There were people counting on this money- for their businesses, their families, their dreams... your dreams. You looked around at all the nervous faces; bracing for the worst. Steven and Greg had their arms over each other's shoulders- not really caring about the contest or the money. They were just there to have fun. Seeing that relaxed you somehow.

"In third place," Mr. Smiley began.

Deep breath in, deep breath out.

Sadie gave your hand a tight squeeze and held it there. She was nervous, too.

"Kiki and Nanefua Pizza with their revised ventriloquist act!" Mr. Smiley announced.

They looked disappointed, but received their trophy, and a $15 gift card to FunLand from Mr. Smiley before returning to their spots on stage.

"In second place..." Mr. Smiley spoke, seemingly trying to sound as suspenseful as possible. You hated that it worked.

"Steven and Greg Universe!" The crowd applauded. "AKA; Steg," Mr. Smiley clarified.

Steven's face split into a huge grin as he high-fived his father. They took their prize; a larger trophy and $100, and returned to their spots.

"And finally," Mr. Smiley's voice echoed.

Please.

"Beach City citizens," he continued.

Please, please, please...

"Taking home the first place trophy and $2,000 is none other than..."

You squeezed Sadie's hand in your left hand, and dug your fingernails into your right hand, closing your eyes as tight as possible- preparing for the worst.

Deep breath in, deep breath out.

"(Y/N) (L/N) with her original song, 'Two-Faced!'"

Your group practically tackled you to the ground in a huge emotional group hug. They were so happy and relieved that all of their hard work had paid off.

Steven, standing on the other side of the stage pumped his fist in the air and cheered as loud as he could. He couldn't stop smiling.

You, on the other hand, were in shock. Your face remained blank as you shuffled over to Mr. Smiley- the only emotional indicator being your wide-open eyes.

You held your awkwardly sized cardboard check in front of you while your group held the trophy. You looked out at the sea of smiling faces, all cheering for you, and finally cracked a smile.

You did it.

You raised your prize above your head triumphantly and grinned with tears pricking at your eyes. A little happy, a little sad.

The rest of your friends came in for a clumsy group hug at the front of the stage.

You looked around at all the people you had come to love in your time at Beach City, and felt a pang of sadness. You saw Steven's face and suddenly, you weren't sure if you wanted to leave.

"Alright, that's enough now people," Mr. Smiley said. "We've gotta get out of here by 10."

A few people laughed before everyone shuffled offstage and got their stuff together.

"(Y/N)!" Steven jogged over.

"Steven!" You replied.

Steven gave you a huge hug, squeezing all the air out of you. But you didn't mind. You melted and hugged him back. Eventually you both pulled away and stood face-to-face.

"Congratulations!" Steven said, smiling wide.

"Thank you! I couldn't have done it without you. Literally," you replied.

"Ugh, don't be modest," Steven scorned. "That up there? That was all you."

You blushed.

"How about we celebrate over dinner?" Steven asked. "Just you and me."

You blushed more. Was he... asking you out?

"Dinner?" You asked.

"Yeah! I mean it doesn't have to be dinner dinner," he rambled. "We could go for some pizza or fries or donuts or-"

"Yeah," you cut him off, knowing he would probably never stop talking. "Definitely one of those." You both laughed.

"Hm..." Steven thought. "Pizza?"

You nodded; "Pizza."

💫

A familiar pop song played quietly over the muffled radio at Fish Stew Pizza- where Steven and you sat across from each other enjoying a shared pie in comfortable silence.

In your head, you were going back and forth on your plans to leave town. That was why you did the competition in the first place, but now that you've won, you're not so sure...

"Hey, Steven?" You asked.

"Hm?" He swallowed a mouth-full of pizza.

"What would you do with the money?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean... if you had won, what would you have done with all the money?"

Steven put his pizza down; "Can I tell you something?"

You mirrored him and dropped your pizza as well; "Yeah, of course you can."

"No one knows, not even the gems."

You faltered. This seemed pretty serious. For Steven to keep a secret from the gems...

He looked around, making sure no one was in earshot, then he leaned forward and said quietly; "I'm moving out."

Oh.

"I don't know when, but... that's what the money was for."

"Oh..."

"And yeah, I guess I could just ask my dad for some money. I mean, he's like- a bazzilionaire, but... I don't know. I think I want to do this on my own, you know?"

"Yeah..." you got quiet.

"Is something wrong?"

"No, I..."

Why were you suddenly so bummed out? So he's leaving. So are you! Well, maybe not, you're not so sure anymore. But...

Oh.

That's why you don't want to leave anymore. He is why you don't want to leave anymore.