Breaking From The Norm

Gem Glow

Beach City. A city, as its name suggests, known for its sunny beaches. A perfect place for some fun in the sun.

In the city streets, Cody was seated at a bench while reading a magazine.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!"

Cody looks up after hearing the cry.

"Steven?" Cody asked, looking ahead at a large donut shop named "Big Donut".

Inside the shop, we see a short boy no older than 13 with a thick, stocky build. He has fair skin, curly dark brown hair, dark brown eyebrows, and full black irises. He wears a salmon-pink T-shirt with a gold star in the center. He also wears cuffed blue jeans and salmon-pink flip-flop sandals.

And he seemed stressed about something.

"This can't be happening!" The boy exclaimed dramatically. "This has to be a dream!"

Cody entered the shop, to see the distressed boy. He then looks up to the two store managers.

One was a short and heavyset, with fair skin and curly shoulder-length blonde hair. She wore a purple shirt that displayed an image of a half-eaten donut that resembles the letters "B' and 'D', black leggings and pink-red shoes.

The other was a lanky, slim, and somewhat tall man with tunnels in his stretched earlobes. His curly, and auburn hair styled into a sort of mohawk. He wore a violet T-shirt with the image of a half-eaten donut design on it, a pale cream long-sleeved shirt underneath, black pants, and high top sneakers that were a mix of mint and dark green.

The boy grabs the tall man around his waist. "Please tell me I'm dreaming!"

The tall mane just shakes the boy off. "Get off me man, I'm stocking here!"

"I'm sorry, Steven." The woman said to the boy, who was named Steven. "I guess they stopped making them."

"What's the buzz?" Cody asked the woman in confusion, earning the collective attention of both Steven and the woman.

"Cody! Thank goodness you're here!" Steven said before running up to Cody. "Apparently they've stopped making Cookie Cats!" Cody listened with a furrowed eyebrow as Steven continued. "They're only the most scrumptious and delicious ice-cream sandwich ever made!"

"Nothing we can do about it, bud." Cody replied with a shrug. "That's just how business works."

"Tough bits, man." The tall man kneels to restock a cabinet, earning a glare from Cody. "Nobody buys them anymore. I guess they couldn't compete with "Lion Lickers"."

Cody had a face of disgust. "Cookie Cat went out of business because of those disgusting things?" Cody asked. "I tried one of those things yesterday, and it tasted like sweaty jockstraps coated in caramel!"

"They don't even look like lions!" Steven said as he crossed his arms. "Kids these days -- I'll tell ya what!"

"Well, if you miss your wimpy ice cream so much, why don't you make some with your "magic belly button"?" Lars said mockingly before walking away, making Cody scowl.

"Shut it, hoop ears!" Cody shot back. "He's still a kid, so best not dampen his spirits!"

"That's not how it works, Lars!" Steven said to the man named Lars, before gaining a curious expression. "Right?" Steven lifts his shirt up a little, revealing a pink colored gemstone in place of his navel. Exactly like the one Rose Quartz had.