Learning Curve (Human Stevinel College AU)

chp 6 (attempted connection)

 (just because the show is over doesn't mean the stories that we create are over. The show is done, but the fandom isn't, not as long as we keep it alive, when we create the art and stories, it is the kindling in keeping this creative flame alive, and that's all we need)

    "What kind of coffee did you have earlier?" Steven asked as soon as they entered the campuses cafe. "It was just a drip coffee with sugar Star Boy, it was all I could afford" Spinel answered, shoving her hands in the pockets of the pink bomber jacket that Steven had lent her, in comparison to her thin body, the jacket seemed huge as the left shoulder was already slipping off her own shoulder. Steven smiled sweetly, "well I can get you whichever coffee you want?" He suggested as he pointed at the drinks menu. "You don't have to get me anything different Steven, just a simple drip coffee is all since you lent me your jacket" Spinel pointed out, only to earn a small chuckle in response from Steven. "Oh nonsense, I spilled coffee on you, and you gave me money to have my ukelele fixed even when you didn't have to. When you think about it, I owe you more than a drip coffee~" Steven smiled sweetly, which earned a playful eye roll from Spinel. "Alright alright, would a simple mocha satisfy your need to satisfy me?~" Spinel asked playfully, however her attempt to tease the male had failed when he didn't even react in a flustered manner. "If you want a mocha then sure, I can buy you one, is there anything else you want?" Steven asked as the line slowly moved, now having the pair be in front of the barista and his cash register. "Mm....no, not that I can think of" Spinel answered, her pink colored eyes glancing at the display case for a few seconds, her attention lingering on a specific dessert. Her stomach growled slightly as she stared at the red velvet cake slice, the red looked fluffy yet moist, and the cream cheese frosting looking oh so delectable. "How about now?" Steven asked once he noticed that Spinels focus shifted onto the dessert display case. "Well uh...." Spinel gulped slightly, hesitant to even answer Steven's question once again, but she was hungry since she couldn't afford to buy something for breakfast that day, and her eyes didn't leave the slice of cake at all. Steven looked over Spinel once more before sighing softly, "why don't you go find us a table we can sit at?" He suggested kindly. Spinel nodded in response, "yeah sure...." she replied before walking off to find a table, and she looked around the small cafe area before sitting down at a two seater table by the front window.

    Spinel sat down in one of the chairs, letting her body relax finally as she sighed to herself. Her whole body had been so tensed throughout the the time Steven had bumped into her earlier that day. Spinel honestly wanted to yell at Steven when he knocked her coffee onto him, but her demeanor changed when she saw how quick he was to apologize. It wasn't the fact how fast he said he was sorry, but the fact that he actually meant it, and he also showed how apologetic he was by lending his coat to her and was willing to replace her coffee. She had never seen that before, she had never seen someone be so kind to a stranger, and she hasn't experienced that kind of kindness in so long. That's probably why Spinel agreed to this, to hang out with this kind guy, to get to know Steven, there was just something about him that she just couldn't pinpoint. This couldn't hurt right? Hanging out with Steven for a little bit, maybe see what his game was? Maybe not befriend just yet, but at least see what he's like. Spinel sighed as she rested her head on her right hand, the fabric of her fingerless gloves felt soothing on her pale skin as she looked out the window, the day was sunny and beautiful, and she sighed softly when she felt the warmth of the light shine on her as she was deep in thought. "Feeling ok?" Steven asked softly, which in return startled Spinel so much to where she almost fell out of her seat. "Fuck! Warn a gal next time would ya?!" Spinel hissed in response, but then she sighed softly, "sorry you just startled me...." she huffed while rubbing her forehead slightly. Steven chuckled softly and set the drink carrier on the middle of the table as he sat down, Spinels mocha facing her, and Stevens drink facing him, and let's not forget to mention the slice of red velvet cake he placed in front of her. Spinel was a bit shocked that Steven even bought the dessert for her, let alone the fact that he even knew which dessert she was eyeing earlier, and that slightly creeped her out a bit. "I'm sorry I startled you, I hope I got the right dessert for you.....it was a bit hard to tell what you liked more so I ordered the first thing I saw" Steven answered as he slid into his seat, now sipping his latte  as he kept his brown colored orbs on Spinel. She sighed softly before sipping her mocha, her right hand gently rubbing over the smooth and soft fabric of Steven's jacket that she still wore on her torso, "you're way to kind to me Steven, you didn't have to buy me the slice of cake...." she grumbled. Steven bit the inside of his cheek ever so slightly before responding to Spinels statement, "well....you seemed hungry, and I know cake isn't the best lunch option, but it's better than nothing right?" he asked gently. Spinel glanced from the cake towards Steven's gentle face once again, a mischievous smirk quickly spread across her face as she watched him sip at his latte, "well Universe....it sounds like you're trying to suck up to me so you can get into my pants~" she pointed out playfully. Steven was stuck in between the action of spitting out his latte, or swallowing the whole thing intake, but ultimately he did spit out a few droplets over the lid of his coffee before swallowing the rest that resulted in him going into a coughing fit. "N-No! Gosh no! I-I J-Just figured y-you were hungry!" Steven exclaimed while blushing like mad, he then grabbed a napkin from the napkin dispenser that's in the middle of the table, and he then used that napkin to wipe up any leftover coffee dribble that were stuck on his lips. Spinel watched all of this while snickering almost maliciously, "hehehee Steven, I'm just yanking your chain~" she chuckled while taking a bite of the red velvet cake, "besides, I don't go for guys that are already commited~" she explained. Steven sighed softly as he looked at the mischievous woman sitting right in front of him, "you......have a very odd sense of humor Spinel, honestly I didn't figure you to be the playful type" he admitted while also hoping it didn't sound to rude. Spinel smirked a bit, taking another bite of the delectable slice of cake, "there's.....a lot about me that you don't want to know about Steven Universe" she replied simply. "Well.....try me~" Steven smiled confidently before sipping his latte, feeling determined in getting to know Spinel for some reason. Spinel let a small huff escape past her lips, deciding to play along with his little determined demand, "fine, try this, I'm a troublemaker, a smoking delinquent, if you piss me off, just know it won't end well for you~" she purred softly. Steven gulped as he stared wide eyed at Spinel, he then slowly and awkwardly sip more of his latte, "g-good to know....  Uhm what else do you want to tell me?...." he asked softly in an attempt to move the question along. Spinel raised her left eyebrow as she looked at him in confusion, she continued to look at him as she slowly took one last bite of her red velvet cake slice, "what do you mean by that?" she asked. "Well....what else do you want to tell me? Any hobbies, likes, dislikes, other friends, family?" Steven asked, honest to God listing off common things people would discuss amongst themselves. Spinel's right thumb pressed so hard on the plastic fork that it had snapped in two in a matter of seconds, ".....one thing I dislike is nosy people....." she growled lowly in an extremely defensive manner. Steven's eyes went wide once again due to her sudden mood change, it was so hard to read what her actual emotions are, like she's been doing this for a long time, but he knew when he overstepped a boundary, and right now he probably overstepped a couple with Spinel. "S-Sorry if I made you uncomfortable...." He apologized softly so only she could hear as he looked at the broken piece of the plastic fork on the empty plate, and he looked back up to see that Spinel's face had softened a bit. "Listen Universe, one last thing I will let you know about me, I will NOT tell you anything personal about me unless I want to, which will be an extremely rare thing for me to do...." Spinel explained after sighing softly, she then looked up at the clock that was hanging on the wall behind the cashier counter, "damn it is that the time? Listen I got to go...." she explained as she stood up swiftly while still wearing Steven's jacket "listen I'm boring THIS until tonight, I'll give it back to you at your dorm later tonight alright?" she stated. "U-Uhm yeah sure, you remember what my room number is?" Steven asked a she remained in his seat, now looking up at Spinel and noticing that she was clinging the jacket tighter to her torso, more in likely to help hide the coffee stain on her white tank top until she could properly change. "Yeah, I don't forget a room number~" Spinel teased before rushing out of the cafe with whatever she had left of her mocha. Steven could only sit frozen still in his seat as he watched Spinel dart off, she was definitely hard to read for Steven Universe, but he felt like she needs a friend more than anything, and for a good reason he knew only Spinel knew.