Trying to Smile Again Continued (Steven UniverseUniverse Fic)

Part Five Chapter Two: What Have I Done?!

Steven angrily stepped off the warp pad, dragging Connie with him. Once they made it to his room, Connie ripped her arm from his grasp.

"WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU," Connie shouted.

Steven turned to her, anger fueled in his eyes.

"ME," he yelled, placing his hand over his chest. "What about her! Spinel was lying to us this whole time!"

"Oh! My! God," Connie screamed, getting more mad than upset now. "Can't you see what Aquamarine just did to you-to us?!"

Steven's brows furrowed, taking in her words. He still didn't care though, he knew he was right.

"You would trust Aquamarine over Spinel, a gem you've known and have been friends with for months now?!"

Steven clenched his fists, looking at the ground.

"Did you even think about how you were making her feel," she said, calming down ever so slightly.

"It doesn't matter what she feels. I tried being nice to her... look how that went."

"Steven! She didn't betray you-"

"Yes she did! Why don't you trust me?! I've been through more gem stuff than you! I know more than you!"

Connie flinched, stepping back from his outburst. Connie's expression became one of boiling anger. Steven recoiled at her reaction, he messed up.

"C-Connie I-"

"Stop... just stop," she said quietly.

She started to walk past Steven, taking the boy by surprise. She opened Steven's door, about to head down the stairs to the living room and leave, but she paused. She turned her head, just enough to glance at the boy. She didn't change her glare when she said the simple words that almost broke Steven.

"You abandoned her Steven... just like your mother."

With that, she continued down the stairs, passing by the gems, who were eavesdropping on their conversation. Steven scurried down the stairs, just in time to see her leave his house. He didn't go after her though, he knew it would be pointless.

"Fine, I'm like my mother," he shouted to her. "That doesn't change that I was right!"

She didn't even acknowledge him, she turned the corner, disappearing from the gem's view. It was quiet for a moment, before Steven returned inside, plopping onto the couch. The gems came in to join him, all of them sitting near him.

"Steven... what is she talking about," Pearl asked calmly.

Steven grunted in response, crossing his arms over his chest. Amethyst elbowed him slightly, but he just turned his head away from her.

"You let Spinel go... didn't you," Garnet said.

"You already know the answer... don't you," Steven whispered.

Pearl and Amethyst gave Garnet a worried glance. Garnet took off her visors, staring at Steven.

"Steven, why did you do it?"

"I could see the way she looked at me, the worry in her eyes. She was scared that I found out-"

"Or," Garnet interrupted. "Maybe she was scared that you would believe Aquamarine's lie."

"SHE DIDN'T LIE," Steven shouted.

The gems flinched, except for Garnet. She put her visor back on, and stood up. Steven was furious, practically fuming steam from his ears.

"How do you know she lied," Garnet asked.

Steven turned to face her. He opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out. His eyes widened, realizing he didn't know. Yet, he still believed his earlier statement. He turned his head angrily, not wanting to acknowledge them anymore.

"Steven... c'mon man," Amethyst said. "We're just worried, that's all."

"You too Amethyst?! Why does no one believe me?!"

"Because you're wrong," Garnet shouted, catching everyone by surprise.

Steven shifted uncomfortably, Pearl and Amethyst gulped. Garnet stood firm, her full attention on the boy.

"Spinel was our friend! You should've known that more than anyone! She was by your side every chance she got! Still, you couldn't see through Aquamarine's lie! She's not just a toy to be given away when you're done with her, she is a sentimental being! Someone like her can't handle something like this again, did you even stop to think how you were making her feel?!"

There it was again. Those words. "Did you even stop to think how you made her feel"... how you made her feel... how she felt... she felt horrible... Steven shook his head, snapping from his thoughts. He really messed up. The others were right. He was stupid enough to believe Aquamarine... he didn't even try to listen to Spinel.

"I-I," Steven couldn't form the words to express how he felt. He shot up, hugging Garnet. "I... I'm sorry," was all he could manage.

Garnet hugged back, the others joining in the embrace. Steven cried, and cried. What could he do now though? She was gone. He didn't know where Aquamarine took her, and he felt horrible about it. Connie was right, Garnet was right... Spinel was right...

He was just like his mother.