[The digital art is part of this chapter, but also a preview for another future chapter. Enjoy!]
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Chapter 6
Too Close For Comfort
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There are times when getting to know someone is okay. Just one, but meeting more at once and having them so accepting is a little uncomfortable for someone who tends to keep distant of social interaction. 

Spinel could read the way your quiet or give a simple reply to the other Crystal Gems. Steven had suggested a sleepover and that sudden question might have overwhelmed you, but you said sure. Spinel just stuck close to you when things would get even more overwhelming. 

Though. 

Lapis seemed to have a small dislike to you. Nobody really took no mind to her slight distrust of anyone new. 

"I know we kinda know your name and such and it's too much to ask for more, so why not have a movie night?" Connie suggested to everyone and you. "Sometimes everyone gets very curious when someone new is here." She giggles. 

You smile softly, "It's….been a long time since I've seen a movie, so please don't let me pick." A blanket is tossed over you and Spinel. 

"Pillows incoming!" Amethyst throws two pillows at you two while you're trying to pull off the cover. Her strength was strong even if it was playfully. 

The force caused you to fall onto Spinel and you feel her hands hold you up to keep you from rolling off the couch. "Sorry." You struggle to sit up, but the blanket made it difficult. 

Spinel tried to move the blanket without hitting you by accident and ends up stretching her arms out to make the blanket into a small tent. "How can someone have so much difficulty untangling from this thing?" 

"It's a blanket. It does tend to tangle you up when you don't want it to." You finally find the opening and lift it up. 

"Tch. I can do that." Spinel tsked then grins while letting down the blanket and tangles her arms around you and herself. "See?" She gives a goofy smile. 

You chuckle, "I see. You really are very well animated. It's adorable." You pat the top of her head. 

The gem removes one arm to shyly scratch her cheek, a faint flush on her cheeks, "Aw shucks. Really? I just love making anyone happy, ya know."

You take a hold of her other hand to let her arm stretch back to normal length, "I'm sure you do, Spinel. Always keep that in mind, but just always remember to keep yourself happy too." You gently tap her forehead. 

Spinel giggled then spots the snacks that Steven and Connie were making in the kitchen. 'I hope those are good to taste. It smells good and- COTTON CANDY!' Spinel's eyes sparkle once spotting the fluffy pink and blue snack on the counter. 

Your head tilts to the side and follow her gaze. Quietly, you get up and walk over to the kitchen, waiting patiently for one of the two teens to turn around. 

Connie notices you and grins, "(Y/n). Did you need something?" 

"Uh….you don't mind if I take some of….that?" You point to the treat. 

"Sure! Here, take these too. I'm sure Spinel wouldn't kind sharing." Steven says and hands you a bowl of popcorn and a small pack of boxed juices. "Amethyst and Pearl forgot to grab sodas, so all we have is juice boxes."

You take the items and walks back over to Spinel while setting up the juice boxes on the table. "Here you are Spinel. I seen you eyeing these." 

Spinel blushes a little and laughs sheepishly. She takes the cotton candy from you, "Thank you, (Y/n). You're very sweet." 

You softly roll your eyes and chuckle, "Probably not as sweet as that cotton candy, but to a point, I can be." You flick a popcorn up into the air and try to catch it in your mouth, but it ends up hitting your cheek. So much for trying to be cool, though it got Spinel snorting and laughing at your action. 

'She isn't so bad.' The both of you thought at the same time. 

~°☆°~

The movie had been going on for awhile and by now it was the second choosing by Amethyst. Kinda boring, but you weren't really paying much attention. Just staring up at the ceiling and nothing on your mind. 'What am I doing here anyway? I mean I have nowhere else to be.' You thought. 

Something lands softly on your shoulder and more weight pushes against your side. 

Spinel had been staring at the tv in boredom and she began to yawn. 'These movies are so boring. Maybe I should've picked.' Another yawn came again and before she knew it, her eyes shut and her head lulled off to the side. 

A tenderhearted expression forms on your face and with great care, you carefully move so that Spinel's head lays on a pillow which happens to be on your lap. 

Steven had been watching for awhile and he was glad his plan had worked. He nudged Connie's shoulder and nodded over to you and Spinel. Connie grins and gives a thumb up to him. 

"Can we change the movie now? This one is so boring." Peridot groans. 

Amethyst just tsks and rolls her eyes, "You guys told me to pick." 

"Because we know you pick the most boring movies." Pearl states and nearly laughs when Amethyst punches her arm. 

"I'll pick." Garnet says. 

The only one who hadn't been interested in this movie night, usually she does, but Lapis had her eyes on you. 

~°♡°~

Your fingers comb through Spinel's pigtails. It just felt calming. Actually, you felt much more calm than before. Unfortunately, if you did try to sleep, you knew it wouldn't last long. All of this made you feel so exposed. After being alone for so long, you tend to be paranoid and cautious around new places and strangers. Sure, Steven and his friends were so welcoming, but you just meet them. 

Your eyes drift closed. 

"(Y/n), I have someone you would love to meet. She is quite unique and soon there will be more to give everyone a friend." The young adult woman pushes up her glasses. 

Everything began to get disoriented. 

The sound of small jingles come from tiny heart shaped bells. "(Y/n)! Tis an honor to meet you." Their bubbly giggles echo, "I'm sorry, but it is a pleasure to meet you." Their voice heartwarming to any heart, their hand held out for a shake. 

You reach out, but it's mist. Your heartbeat began to thump rapidly as your palms touched an invisible wall. 

"I'm sorry…" The voice cracked in despair before the sound of something shattering drifted about your head.

Immediately, your eyes open and you scan the area to see you were at Steven's. It was dark, but the moonlight gave enough light to see the shadows of everything inside. Your heart still thumped at a fast pace. Slowly, you breath in and out to calm yourself. You try to move, but something kept you in place. 

There, coiled around your middle was Spinel's arms and her cheek against your stomach. A peaceful snore passing through her lips. 

You wanted to enjoy that moment, but the nightmare was greater and you needed time alone. It seems a little mean, but this hold was too close for comfort. 'Hopefully she's a heavy sleeper.' Your fingers faintly brush over Spinel's cheek in a tiny tickle. 

Spinel hums and uncoils herself from you to scratch at her cheek, grumbling in her sleep before snuggling on your side. 

~°♡°~

For some odd reason Spinel felt a little chilly and sits up, rubbing her eyes. 'Golly, how long was I out?' She notices everything is still dark, then at the time. 

4:46 AM

'No nightmare. That was good.' Spinel smiles to herself then realizes she was the only one on the couch. '(Y/n). Oh no, where did she go?! Did she fall? Did I push her off?!' Spinel panicked and looked on the floor then under the couch before pulling at her hair. 

"She went outside." 

Spinel turns to Lapis, who happened to laying back against a sleeping Bismuth. The pink hearted gem quietly stretches over to the door and slips out. Her body stretches up on top of Steven's house and Spinel began a lookout across the area. Her eye acting like a telescope. 'There she is.'

Quickly, the gem curls into a spring and launches herself up in the air, landing softly on the sandy beach only to stop in her tracks. 

The strums of a ukulele played a melody, though it sounded a little inexperienced and slow. You were trying to remember the notes to each string. It still made a melody you wanted. The ocean waves nearly reaching your shoes before going back to the endless blue horizon. 

"Everything stays…." You sing faintly, "..right where you left it. Everything stays, but it still changes….." You sigh and put the ukulele aside and hold your head in your hands, watching the tide roll in again then back. "...Ever so sligthly…...daily and nightly." Your finger runs along the wet sand now and traces random lines, "In little ways…..when everything………….stays." The last word was spoken sadly. 

By now, Spinel didn't know what to do. Her older self might've thought a smile and cheerful voice would make things better. 'This is different.' Spinel takes in a quiet breath and steps forward. "(Y/n)? I'm sorry if I pushed you off the couch or if I did anything in my sleep to wake you up." Spinel spluttered out then looks away in guilt and embarrassment. 

It grew into an awkward silence for the gem when you didn't say anything or move. 

Finally, you sigh stressfully, "It wasn't you Spinel. I just had a nightmare is all." You clench your hands to try to bring warmth to them. "I don't sleep…..much. Because of it. Maybe just a few minutes here and there." 

Spinel frowns in concern and confusion in her eyes, though she looks down at the hoodie she had on and makes it a little oversized.  

You feel something draped over your shoulders and see it's a black hoodie that nearly covered like a small throw blanket. You watch Spinel take a seat beside you and she gives you tiny a lopsided grin. "Thanks."

"Aw, it's no trouble." Spinel shrugs and decides to get your mind away from whatever nightmare you had. "So where'd you get that?" She points to the ukulele. 

"The ukulele?" You look at it and give it to her. "I think it's Steven's. It was laying by the stairs." 

Spinel plays with the strings and grins at it in wonder. Suddenly, she began to strum it very quickly and loudly.

You jump and throw your hands over her hands and the ukulele to stop the noise. "Shhhh! Everyone is still asleep!" You whisper a shout. 

Spinel blinks then laughs quietly, "Oh yeah. I forgot." 

You couldn't help, but laugh and pull away. "Typical." 

At last, the waves reached far enough and splattered at you two, causing both of you to shriek at the sudden water on yourselves. You hopped up and Spinel practically stretched a couple of feet away. 

Both of your laughs broke through the silent beach. 

"You-you should've seen your face!" Spinel playfully teased. 

You roll your eyes and grins, "Me? Did you see how far you stretched?" 

Spinel shakes her head with her hands on hips, "Oh~! Hardy har har! You know it's just water, Sugah." 

"Says you, Doll-face." You tug at her pigtails. 

A small tint of pink dusts on Spinel's face and she snorts, waving a hand, "No touching the hair, Missy." She fluffs one of her pigtails. 

You hum, "Oh~, well pardon me. Is this better?" You playfully pinch at her cheek and giggle as Spinel glares and growls lowly in a pout. 

"You're going to pay for that." 

You throw her hoodie over her head to cover her sight and take off running while keeping from laughing too loudly, but end up laughing anyway when you hear Spinel far behind.

The pigtailed gem groans and tries to untangle herself from the hoodie attack, "Cheater!" At least she got your mind away from earlier.