Change

Chapter 9

Steven found himself outside the local convenience store. He knew he wouldn't get served being his age so he shape-shifted into an adult looking version of himself. he walked up to counter feeling slightly nervous.

"Welcome, how can I help?" came the bored sounding voice of the cashier.

"Oh, um, I just want to buy a lighter, please?" Steven said, giving a light but awkward smile at the end.

The cashier turned around and grabbed one off the shelves, then placing it on the counter. "Is that everything?"

"Y-yes, thank you." Steven stuttered, blushing slightly. He couldn't believe he was doing this. 'Dad and the gems would be so disappointed in me... if they aren't already, that is.'

"That'll be 1.09 please." 

Steven fumbled around with the loose change inside his pocket and counted out the correct amount. He passed it over to the cashier and took the lighter, shoving inside his jeans pockets. "T-thank you very much!" He then rushed out of the shop as quick as he could. Resuming his original form, he headed back down to the beach to a secluded spot hoping he wouldn't get caught.

Crouching down behind the rock, he removed a cigarette from the packet and sparked the lighter. He inhaled deeply, then choking on the smoke that was now in his lungs.

'Oh my god, why does anyone do this? This sucks bad. Maybe I should try again?'

He took another puff, coughing again on this one but less so. He started to feel a little lightheaded from the nicotine, but in a way he enjoyed it. He soon found that he had smoked the whole cigarette. He stubbed it out in the sand and buried it, and sat back and looked at the ocean. 'I can't believe I just did that...Fuck.'

After a few minutes, Steven stood up, stretched and looked back towards the house. 'I guess I should hang out with Pearl and the others... I'd feel too bad if I didn't. I want to hang out with them too.' He slowly made his way back to the house. He opened the door to see everyone, including his dad sitting in the front room. 

"Steven! You're here!" Pearl said, delighted.

"Oh, hey, everyone. What are you doing here dad?" Steven rubbed the back of his head awkwardly.

"Well the gems said they were planning on going out for a picnic with you and thought I should join you all, if that's okay with you of course?" Greg shrugged.

"Of course it is! Uh, so where are we going?" Steven walked further in and sat down next to his dad.

"To a field just outside of town, there's hills and views and stuff, it looks really cool!" said Amethyst, giving Steven a smile. Steven tried to avoid eye contact.

"Steven, why do you smell of cigarettes?!" Greg questioned worriedly.

"W-what?! Cigarettes?! I-I have no idea, dad. Maybe I walked past someone who was smoking?" Steven panicked as he tried to come up with an excuse on the spot.

"Steven, you were smoking, weren't you." Garnet was staring at him and sounded sincere. She obviously knew.

'Wait... does that means she knows about?! No, she can't do otherwise she would have said something by now...ugh!' 

"No! I wasn't! I wouldn't do that" He attempted to lie because he didn't want to admit it out loud. He didn't want to see the shame on their faces. At the same time he felt awful for lying. He just wanted to disappear on the spot right there.

"Garnet wouldn't lie, Steven. Why were you smoking?" Pearl sounded horrified.

"Just...Just go AWAY!!" Steven yelled, starting to turn pink. Upon seeing this, he gasped and ran upstairs, slamming the door behind him.

Everyone in the room was looking at each other with utter shock. "Why.. why would he do this?" Pearl said sadly. Amethyst looked down on the floor, unsure if she should tell everyone what she already knew.

"Guys... I don't think Steven's okay..."