Stevens pov~

   I hug Connie as soon as I see her. She was dressed in a knee-length light blue dress with white lace in the edges, white sandals, and her hair braided. She looked beautiful. The gems and I set up about 20 picnic tables next to the barn. Pearl gave in and we invited almost all of beach city. Well, all that we know. There was a buffet table full of all kinds of meat, bread, vegetables, and deserts. Everybody was crowded around it except for Pearl, Peridot, Garnet (who was nibbling on a hot dog), and Connie and I. It was the perfect summer event!

"Let's wait until the crowd dies down to get food." I suggest. "Yeah, that's a good idea." Connie agrees. "So, what is... This?" We hear Connie's mother ask, poking at the drill. "A drill to go underground and prevent the destruction that will occur if we don't." Peridot tells her. "Heheheheh...?" Connies mother laughs nervously. "That wasn't a joke," Peridot points out, "but we're almost finished on it."

"Wait, your building it too?" Connie's mother exclaims. "How old are you?" She asks. "Um..." Peridot counts on her fingers, "About 12 years in human years."
"Should you be doing these type of things?!" Connie's mom glares in the direction of Garnet. "Yes." Peridot states.

Connie and I notice the line has shortened over at the food tables. We go over to get our food.

   (Time skip to after eating)

    "Man, Pearl is really good at making pie." I state, patting my stomach. "I know! She made the apple pie best!" Connie exclaimed. "I tried some of the key lime pie. I think it was the best." Peridot sits down at Connie and I's picnic table, next to me. Connie laughs for a moment. "What?" Peridot cocks her head at Connie, confused. "It's just that you kind of look like key lime pie!" Connie explains. Peridot stares at her for a few seconds, and then smiles. "Wow, thanks!" She looks at me and whispers, "Was that the right thing to say?"

I shrug at Peridot. "I think so?" I whisper back. "When are we going to have sword practice again, Steven?" Connie asks me. "I don't know, probably when we get rid of the cluster." I reply. "I can't wait until it's gone." Connie growls, "You've had barely any time to hang out with me."

   "I'm sorry." I apologize to her. What Connie says is true, I haven't hung out with her since my birthday. I wish I had more time to spend with her. "You're always welcome to come over to the barn and hang out with me. I'm sure Garnet will let me have a break." I say. "What?! We don't have time to 'hang out' when the world is literally at stake!" Peridot protests.

  "Sounds like you need to take a break too." I tease her. Peridot glares at me. "I do not take 'breaks'. This 'picnic' is a waste of time too." She argues. "Then why are you enjoying it so much?" I ask, grinning. I knew I had her stumped. "I-I would never enjoy- What makes you think- why would you- ugh!" She stutters, then makes a sound of disgust. "Weren't you just talking about how good the key-lime pie was?" Connie joins in. Peridot scowls even further. "Fine. I admit defeat." She dramatically plunk's her head on the table.