I Think I Need A Little (Amethyst x Reader)

Chapter 29: ¿Jugamos?

“So. . . What do you think?” you ask, directing your words at Jamie, who sat down next to you on the sand, knees pressed close to his chest. “Should I ask her out, or should I wait some more?”

The young man only hums at your words, slowly stretching away from his seating position to stand up and head towards the shore. He stares down at it, observing the waves crash against the sand with a slow, rhythmic pace. “If there’s anything I learned from my crush on Garnet. . . it’s that you can’t rush on stuff like this.” He pauses on his words, looking back up and turning to meet with your gaze. “But if you ask me. . .  I’d say, go for it! You’ve known each other for as long as I can remember, so you should definitely give it a try if you feel like she’s also throwing signals at you.”

“That’s exactly what Nasmira said,” you comment, stifling a laugh.

“Your college friend?” he questions, a small and curious smile showing on his face.

“Yeah,” you reply, nodding. “She said I should give it a shot, and that I shouldn’t force her into making a decision if she’s not sure about it.”

You stand up and follow Jamie along the shore, engaging in the occasional set of small talk until you finally reach Steven’s home. He stops a few feet away from the house and its towering statue in order to take out the mail from his messenger bag to do his job. Quietly, you watch him put the contents inside the mailbox, still contemplating both his and Nasmira’s response to your doubts.

Finalizing with that task, he returns to your side, ready to walk with you back to your home. The two of you are promptly stopped by a cheerful voice calling out both your name and Jamie’s. He turns around first, while you do the same afterwards

“Hey, guys!” Steven shouts, ushering you both to join his side. He’s standing just a few feet away from the entrance of his home, a hopeful smile on his face. “Come join us -- We’re gonna play videogames with the Gems!”

Jamie responds first by informing the teenager he has to head back to work, gesturing at his messenger bag and pointing with his head over to the road leading to the more populated area of Beach City. You, on the other hand, settle on accepting his invite. You nod your and smile at him. Then, you excuse yourself from Jamie, not before thanking him for hearing you out and offering him a hug.

“Thanks for the help,” you speak up, enveloping him into a quick and tight hug before letting go. “See you later?”

“See you later, (Y/N),” he replies, waving you off with a smile.

You wave back and wait until he’s gone to begin your trek up the stairs. The cool and salty air of the beach hits your face as you walk forward, a nervous sensation remaining within you at the thought of Amethyst being behind that door. It was becoming harder for you to continue acting normally around her ever since growing aware that she might be feeling the same way about you.

Taking a breath and letting it out slowly, you reach the top of the stairs. Steven practically pulls you in the second he grabs hold of your wrist, leading you into the house without any chance for you to retreat or flee from those doubts. Regret at accepting his offer to join him on playing videogames increases when seeing no television or consoles around. The only objects available to your eyes are a table and two chairs, along with Garnet and Pearl dressed up in suits, the purple one of the three being nowhere around.

You take an uncertain step forward, glancing around to and back the living room and kitchen of the house before giving up on your search for Amethyst. Confused, you focus back on Steven, the question you were about to direct at him being flung away from your mind at the image of Amethyst appearing from behind the door engraved with a five-pointed star.

“Hey,” she greets, a bold, mischievous grin on her face.