Steven + Connie Falling for my Bestfriend

Nightmare Mall

"So...I was thinking. I have to get some new school uniforms, and I know you probably don't know the dress code..." Connie says slowly on the phone with her boyfriend.

"I see where you're going with this, sure I'll go with you, could be fun. I'm assuming it's tomorrow?" Steven asks.

"Yup, we leave at 12."

"I didn't hear about us going anywhere?" Amina asks from the bottom of the bunk bed (or whatever set up Connie had in SUF). "Tsk tsk tsk, constantly out the loop."

"That's because it's only me and mom going," The eldest in the room says flatly.

"No fair, I want to come too!" The toddler complains.

"No way, you guys took forever in Stapler, I'm not living that again. You and dad are staying home. Maybe they'll take you shopping without me soon, who knows." Connie explains a little too happily.

"Anyway, I'm excited because that means I get new clothes along with my uniform, which is always good," Connie says ignoring Aminas sighs of malcontent, continuing to talk with Steven.

"It's too late for this Connie," Amina whine. "I know you need your beauty sleep, so hang up and go to bed."

Though no one could see it Connie rolled her eyes before wishing Steven a goodnight and read on her phone until she felt tired enough to go to sleep.

~•~

"No."

"Think of it this way, carpooling is beneficial to the planet, less pollution, less traffic for others, less noise pollution, less carbon emission, less greenhouse gas emission-" Connie says mimicking a commercial salesman.

"Yes yes, I understand," Prynika says in a get-to-the-point tone.

"So... it's okay?" Connie asks.

"Why do you want to carpool with Steven anyway?" Dr. Maheswarn asks clearly agitated.

"No reason." The teenager answers innocently, but still got a blank stare from her mother.

"I say no. Isn't Connie grounded anyway?" Amina asks still upset about not being able to join.

"Lalala, can't hear you," Connie says already going on her phone to text Steven her good news.

~•~

When Steven heard Dr. Maheswaran's car arrive he thought he'd have a few moments to find his sandals before leaving but seconds later there were fast knocks on the door.

Connie came in quickly and immediately closed the door.

"Hey...Connie?" Steven says more as a question than a statement, confused as to why she was so sporadic the moment she entered his house.

"Where's the fire?" He jokes lightly chuckling to himself.

"In the car," Connie answers exasperatedly leaning on the front door.

"As much as I know you want me to hold you I've got to find my sandals. The day after we went to Stapler I couldn't find them." He says with a sigh.

Steven could tell Connie was tense but she seemed happy to be here with him. Before he went back upstairs to look for his sandals he noticed her hair looked more vibrant. At first, he couldn't tell, then it looked green, but now it's settled into a nice bluish-green color, especially in the sun.

"I like your hair."

"I lied," Connie confesses looking underneath his couch.

"About your hair?"