I Think I Need A Little (Amethyst x Reader)

Chapter 23: Un pequeño desvío

You gave another detour from the route you had set in mind at the sight of a small yet cozy-looking pet shop that caught Amethyst’s attention. Ecstatic, she tugged persistently for you to follow her, leading you into the building run by an elderly woman clad in various shades of pink. She greeted you both with a warm smile, her eyes casting down at the hand Amethyst had grabbed on to pull you into the shop.

“Welcome, dears! We don’t often receive visits from young couples like you,” she spoke, her smile widening as she gestured with her hands for you to step closer. “Come, come! Our shop may be small, but we have enough room for you two to look around as much as you’d like.”

Nodding, you bit back the embarrassment at being referred to as a couple, stealing a look towards Amethyst to see she wasn’t bothered by that subject – at least, from what you could see in the surface of it. She continued to walk with you hand in hand, pulling you closer when something new piqued her interest.

“Look!” the purple Gem exclaimed, excitement clear in her voice. “That bird has lots of colours!”

“That’s a parrot native of the Caribbean,” the shopkeeper commented, her voice coming from behind you. You turned to see her standing by with a broom in hand, calmly sweeping the floors while you both continued to roam around the small shop. “They’re quite rare! This one in particular is my one and only friend. I kept her ever since she hatched and we have not separated ever since.”

Your trip at the pet shop was mainly composed of you talking with the owner and looking around with Amethyst. At one point – however – just as you were about to leave, Amethyst made her way to the payment counter, a determined look present on her face.

“Do you sell pet rats here, ma’am?” she asked, directing her words at the shopkeeper.

“Oooh – Is it a gift for your (girlfriend/boyfriend)? They seemed to be rather entranced by all the pets I have here with me!” the owner replied, her tone of voice merry and gentle to the ears. “But yes, dear! I have about five left around – they cost two dollars each.”

You were surprised to have the Gem shove a hand into her pants’ pocket, retrieving a few coins similar to those she threw with you at the fountain. You soon realized she had – at one point – pocketed a few of the ones she had in hand, an action you found strange, seeing as you told her it was okay for her to throw those coins away, and that it was only meant for a silly game of throwing coins at the fountain to make wishes.

She had enough to buy two rats with her change, along with an extra three dollars she pulled out of another pocket to buy food and bedding for them.

“I’m glad you chose two!” the elderly woman exclaimed, clapping her hands together before ringing the cash register. “Rats tend to get rather lonely, you know? They tend to be better off in couples.”

You held back the urge to flee out of the store with how much the lady was insinuating over the status of your relationship, though you still kept yourself from saying anything – seeing as Amethyst didn’t appear to mind it still. Instead of running away, you took in a deep breath, waiting for her to finish talking with the woman for you to finally get out of here.

Once you were outside, she handed you the box with the two rats and kept the food and bedding to herself. You couldn’t help but stare at her in silence as she began to walk towards your actual destination, the playful wink she directed at you only adding to your already confused state.

“C’mon, (Y/N)!” she called out, noticing you were falling behind. “It’s our last day  here – We gotta make the most of it!”

Taking in another breath, you braced yourself for what awaited you ahead. A determined smile managed to straighten you back up as you hurried over to her side, firmly holding onto the box with your two new pets gifted to you by the Gem you were now certain you had an unshakable crush on.