Take My Hand

Bonding

Note: This is the second chapter of Take my Hand. Enjoy.
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It was dawn.
Steven had woken up and the Gems were in the living room. Garnet was on the couch next to Amethyst, Lapis was standing in the kitchen, and Pearl was cleaning up a mess on the table. "So Garnet, what are we going to do today?"asked Amethyst. "We're going to go to the Battlefield to check on everything." Steven put his shirt on and finished his breakfast. Pearl completely cleaned the table and Amethyst jolted up and ran to the Warp Pad. "Let's go guys!" Everyone stood on the Warp Pad, all except Lapis. "Lapis, aren't you coming?"Steven asked. She nodded and slowly stood next to the others.

When they got to the Battlefield, they started scouting around, looking for any signs of life. The strawberries were a bright, rosy red, as always. The sun was bright, and the breeze was dim.
Steven was walking with Amethyst, Garnet walked alone, and Pearl walked with Lapis. Pearl didn't know why she decided to walk with Lapis, and Lapis didn't know why she decided to go on this mission. She wasn't a Crystal Gem, after all. As they walked, Pearl looked around, thinking about the memories she had there. Lapis just walked with her head down. Pearl broke the silence. "So, um...are you any better today?"
Lapis responded with a quiet,"No."
What am I doing?, thought Pearl.
She couldn't think of what to say next. She didn't want to seem awkward, and she didn't want to just walk around in silence. She had to figure out how to keep a conversation with the Gem.
Lapis looked at Pearl, waiting for an annoying noise to come out of her mouth. She didn't say anything.
She honestly wanted to hear an annoying noise come out.
Finally, after what seemed like forever, Pearl said something.
"What are you thinking about?"
"Nothing."
Pearl let out a silent sigh.
"What do you enjoy doing?"
"Sitting. Talking with Steven and Amethyst. Looking at the waves of the ocean."
Lapis kind of liked hanging out with Amethyst, she found her quite amusing sometimes.
"Do you still miss Homeworld?"
"Not really." Lapis didn't know what else to say.
Suddenly, Steven and Amethyst ran up to them. "Guys, we're going back now, ya coming?" Amethyst and Steven walked them back to the Warp Pad, and they went back to the house.

-Later-
The moon was lighting up the night sky. The street lights were on, and they lit up the darkness of the small town. The ocean was still that night. Lapis and Pearl sat together in the sand.
"Pearl?"
"Yes, Lapis?"
"Thank you for keeping me company." That sentence was strange, coming out of Lapis's mouth. She had a hard time saying it.
"You're...welcome, Lapis."
Pearl had a small tint of sky blue on her cheeks. She didn't know why she had blushed like that. Lapis thanked me, she thought to herself. She had never thought Lapis would do something like that.
They continued to gaze at the ocean in silence.

-The Next Day-
Morning had arrived once again. The sun was covered by clouds. Dark clouds. Steven had gone out to go hang out with the Cool Kids, and Amethyst and Garnet had gone out for a mission. Pearl and Lapis Lazuli were alone once again. Pearl was sweeping the floor and Lapis was watching a television show. Lapis had an interest in some of the human things that Steven would do.
Pearl had finished a moment later with the floor. She silently walked up to Lapis. "Lapis, do you want to talk for a little bit? I won't mind if you don't. You look...busy."
Lapis hesitated to say yes.
She turned off the T.V. and followed Pearl outside. The sky was much darker than it was just ten minutes before.
"Looks like it's going to rain", said Pearl.
Knowing that, they still decided to sit next to each other on a rock.
Pearl felt slightly awkward being this close to Lapis. She decided to say something.
"The sea is so beautiful, isn't it? I see why you love it so much."
Lapis, surprisingly, let out a small smile.
Thunder could be heard in the distance.
Lapis turned away.
"Are you alright?"
"Yes."
Lapis didn't understand what she was feeling. She felt a mixture of slight happiness, calmness, and trust.
Pearl didn't realize it, but she was staring at Lapis.
"Pearl..."
"Yes?"
"I...um...lo-" Lapis was interrupted by a loud crash and a raindrop hitting her cheek.
"Looks like it's raining now. Let's go back inside." Pearl led Lapis inside. Steven returned to the house as well.
"Did you have a nice time, Steven?"
"Sure did!"
Lapis sat down on the couch. Pearl went to her room. Steven sat on his bed and started reading a novel.
The rain was now pouring, hitting the windows and making soft splashes on the water outside.
"Steven, what happens when you really...like someone?"
Steven looked at Lapis. "Well...when you like someone, you start breathing deeper around them. You feel like you have butterflies in your stomach. You start acting kind of dumb around them, and not realize what your saying or doing sometimes. You view them like a work of art that you find very beautiful. At least, that's what I learned from T.V. and some books Connie gave me."
Lapis smiled at Steven and thought about what he said.
She sat outside one the windows and stared outside. She felt what they called...happy.
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The softest shadows we'll become~ Sea of Voices, Porter Robinson