"Heh-heh. Y-you had me going there for a minute." Connie chuckles as her blush burned brighter on her skin. "You nearly gave me a heart attack." She felt his arms slip from her sides as they came to rest at his sides. Steven's face was crestfallen, eyes shadowed by his curly hair.

'This was going to be harder than I thought.' "Connie... I'm serious." He spoke in the driest voice he could muster.

"O-okay, the joke isn't as funny as it was the first time. It wasn't really funny the first time."

"It wasn't a joke." Steven bringing in slightly more bass in his voice. He felt the urge to shut up and let her be, give her that happily ever after she worked so hard for, and in all honesty, she deserved it. Connie was, by far, his most loyal friend and dearest companion. They have fought tooth and nail against challenges, after challenges, and they couldn't imagine tackling them alone. From their encounters with Jasper to the Final Confrontation with White Diamond, they traveled beyond the boundaries that they believed that bind them to the lives they had before Home World's return to Earth. Connie had been by his side at his lowest moments, darkest hour, and for that he was grateful to have a friend like her in his life. So why didn't he love her beyond the threshold of friendship? Because that's where his heart laid on the matter. "I-I'm sorry Connie. But I think it's best if we remain friend honestly."

"Steven..." He didn't need to see her face to know she was deeply hurt by his rejection. "...Why? I don't get it. I thought through this entire thing. I even showered twice before you got here. I even..." Connie began mumble incoherently after that point. Steven, being the concerned one, looked up to meet the contorted face of one of his better friends. Regardless of his view on their relationship, it hurt him to see her in so much turmoil. He placed a hand on her left shoulder, gripping it slowly. "It's okay Connie. It's not your fault."

She didn't hear that, nor see the genuine care in Steven's hand. For a brief moment, she saw someone who hurt her, who was looking at them as if she was inferior. At the same time, she was exposed, both emotionally, and physically.

SLAP!

"Don't touch me!" Connie desperately covered herself, wrapping her arms across her chest. That literal slap to face was jarring. "You- You! You are a freaking idiot!" Despite her anger, she still couldn't bring herself to curse, especially at him. "How could you just say that with a straight face? You didn't seem phased by it. Does the idea of being with me disgust you so bad that you can't pretend to be phased by it?! I loved you! I still freaking love you! And you, you just toy with my heart! Why?! WHY?!" She beat her hands against his chest, and he did nothing but just lay there. Tears overwhelmed his vision as she slowly stopped, only to bury herself in his body, soaking his blue shirt. Steven solemnly placed another hand upon his friend, stroking her short brunette hair. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry Steven." Her anger had finally subsided.

"Shhh. It's okay Connie. I know you didn't mean to be nasty about it."

"Is it my body?"

"No. It's not your body. You're actually pretty... alluring." The crimson blushed intensified on Steven as the instinct to peek once again hit him as the image was still fresh in his mind.

"Yeah. I-I kinda figured from how your... poking me."

"Oh! I can move if you want..."

"No. Just sit there. I don't want you to leave yet."

An awkward silence enveloped the room, which stayed like an unwanted third wheel. Connie against his frame once more, listening to his heartbeat slowly in his ribcage.

'Why can't I have you?'

"I'm sorry I hurt your feelings, Connie. I didn't mean it. You've been a great friend to me. Hell, for a time, you were my best friend. Over the years... I grew to love you. And for a while, I developed a crush on you. I remember one time I had a dream that I was going on a date with you. Everything was in black 'n white and had an old-time charm to everything. I mean Lapis flood everything in the middle of it, but that's beside the point. Connie, what I'm trying to say is..." He lifted her face up to his, and for a few seconds, she stared back into his eyes, and saw the tears that was hidden from her view. "... You will always have a special place in my heart, that no one can ever take away."

He claimed her lips once more, bringing solace to the fight between the bread and jelly. Two parts of a beautiful friendship. But this wouldn't end Connie's love, and she wasn't the type to let go. Not when she had him in her grasp.

"I need you." Breathlessly she pleaded to her friend. She tightly grasped the collar of his jacket, pulling her lips back over his. "Please... be my first."

"Wait, Connie, I don't..."

"You're still my best friend, right?"

"Of course. We'll always be friends."

"And we're Jam Buddies?"

"Yes. We are Jam Buddies."

"I don't think so." Connie placed her hands over his own, slowly trailing them over her chest. She tried to stifle the moans that fought to be freed, but she couldn't fight the shaking and spasms that covered her body. She moved him to her love handles, skimming the brim her sweatpants. "We will always be connected Steven. We may agree to that years, but that's when we were innocent, not too wise to the bond we shared. We can't be what are classified as normal friends. Stevonnie is proof of that. We are connected, deeper than we initial thought. Even now, your gem is glowing. Your body even recognizing that I'm near and wanting us to become one. And I want the same thing. I can't have your heart. But, at least give me my first."

"Connie..." He knew there's no convincing Connie, she hit every note and read him like a book. She always had such a way with words. She always had been smarter than him, and she always would win those little debates they had about Familiars and whatnot. For once, he wanted to win one against her.

...

Steven grabbed the hem of her pants, finding she was bear and clean shaven. "I'll try not to fuse. Okay?"

"Okay. I love you Steven. You're too good to me."

"You know that we're never doing this again?"

"Yeah, but for now..." Connie slowly undo his jeans. She admired to bulge that strain against the lining of his boxer. "...let's make it last forever."

'Pearl, if Connie can find the strength to act on her feelings, what's stopping me?'