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Chapter 2

"So-" Connie started as she bit into a slice of pizza "What exactly are you nervous about Steven? Tell me what you're thinking." 

"Um, well, it's just...everything..." He said quietly, looking down at the floor. "I thought I was ready and that this is what I wanted, but now I'm having all these thoughts and...I just feel like I'm not gonna fit in here..."

Connie gave him a sad smile. "Oh Steven...of course you'll fit in. Everyone loves you. College is a big step for anyone and it's scary at first, but everyone settles right in. Of course with you it's gonna be twice as nerve-wracking since you never went to school or anything so I completely understand your anxiety with this. You've still got your therapist's number, right?"

Steven nodded. "I do. I might give her a call tomorrow. I also have my first classes tomorrow...you're sure people will like me? They won't find me weird?" He gave her an awkward look.

"I'm sure, Steven. Call me after your first class and let me know how it was, okay?" Connie put her hand on his.

"Yeah, I will." Steven gave her a light smile, but Connie could tell he wasn't really reassured at all.

"Why don't you give Pearl, Garnet and Amethyst a call tonight? Or your dad? I'm sure they'd like to hear from you." She asked him.

"I-uh, maybe. I've still got to unpack my stuff and I kinda wanna get a decent sleep. I'll see how i feel." Steven finished his last slice just as Connie was finishing hers. "I guess we should head back. I kinda wanna get an early night, you know."

"Of course, I probably should too. Come on then." They headed back together and gave each other a hug as the parted to go to their separate dorms.

A couple of hours later Steven had unpacked all of his stuff and was laying on his bed deep in thought. 'This time tomorrow I'll have been to my classes. What if I'm bad at the subject I chose? I mean, I think I'm pretty good...but what if they're a million times better and I don't have a clue what's going on?! What if I become the class loser?! Of course they're gonna be better at me, they had a real education, nothing like-" His thoughts cut off as his phone rang. He looked at his phone. It was Pearl.

He took a deep breath and put on a happy front. "Pearlll, heyy, how's it going?" he said in the cheeriest voice he could manage.

"Steven! How are you? How's College? What's your room like? Are the people nice? Is it-" Pearl suddenly got cut off. "Ste-man! I'm so proud of you! I know you're gonna do brill!" It was Amethyst. There was then a shuffling noise followed by Garnet's voice. "Steven, we all miss you so much. Please don't forget to call us often to tell us how you are."

Steven being overwhelmed by all these sudden words awkwardly scratched the back of his head. "Uh hey guys aha, I miss all of you too. It's alright here, you know? I mean, I haven't really spoken to anyone besides Connie yet, but um, yeah. How are you guys?"

"We're alright but everything's so strange now you're not here, we'd be a bit lost if it wasn't for little homeschool" Pearl laughed. Steven smiled to himself. 'At least they're all okay' he thought.

"When do you have your first class?" said Amethyst. 

"Tomorrow, actually. I'm uh, kinda nervous aha" 

"Oh Steven, you have no need to be nervous. You'll be just fine, I know it." Garnet's calming voice soothed him a little.

"Aha, yeah. I'll uh, let you guys know how it goes. I better go now, I wanna get a lot of sleep before the big day haha" He laid back down on the bed.

"Of course! Well make sure you you do let us know! We'll be waiting." said Pearl.

"Alright. Night, guys." He yawned.

"Night Steven! We love you!"

"I love you all too."

He hung up and closed his eyes. 'The gems believe in me and so does Connie, and that's all I need, right?!' He thought to himself. He lay there in silence. 

'Why...why can't I breathe?' he sat bolt upright, taking in as deep a breath as he could, but it didn't feel right. He walked over to the window and opened it. 'Probably just need a lil fresh air, haha.' 

His breathing started getting faster.

'O-okay Steven, maybe, maybe you just need a drink, you're okay. Everything's fine.' 

He grabbed a bottle of water from his bag and took a few sips. 'Yeah, that feels better.' The feeling quickly returned.

'What's happening?! I'm scared, I-I need Connie!' He grabbed his phone but just as he unlocked it, the battery died. "S-shit!" He yelled. He collapsed down to the floor, hand on his chest. 'Why can't I breathe?! Am I going to die?!' He started to freak out even more. His heart was pounding. His chest hurt. His hands had gone fuzzy. 

He couldn't stay still. He was pacing the room like crazy whilst gasping for breath every five seconds. 

'What am I gonna do what am I gonna do what am I gonna do-' He kept repeating in his head.

He curled up on his bed, rocking slightly while still clutching his chest. He continued on like this for 20 minutes until finally everything subsided.

'What...what was that?!' he thought. A massive wave of exhaustion suddenly hit him and he let out a big yawn before passing out.