Y/N's Pov

As I stood there absorbing everything Steven had just shared about fusing, I felt a spark of excitement. The idea that gems could come together in such a profound way-emotionally connected, like how Ruby and Sapphire formed Garnet-was incredible. My mind raced with possibilities, and I couldn't help but ask,

"Can I see it? Can I see you guys fuse sometime?"

"Of course!" Steven beamed, his enthusiasm infectious. "We can totally do it right now!"

But just as the mood lifted, Garnet's expression shifted. She squinted slightly, her gaze distant as she tapped into her future vision.

"I see that I have to help my team on another planet," she said softly. "I'm sorry, but I have to go."

The atmosphere turned somber, and I felt a pang of disappointment. Before I could voice my feelings, Garnet enveloped me in a massive hug.

"I saved the best hug for last," she whispered, pulling down her shades to reveal her three eyes. The warmth of her embrace lingered as she stepped back, winking at me before heading to the warp pad.

"Goodbye, everyone!" Garnet called as she disappeared in a flash of light, leaving a void where her presence had been.

Next, Pearl piped up, "I have to babysit Onion!" Her tone was bright, but I could see the hints of weariness in her eyes. "You all have fun!" With a quick goodbye, she took Steven's hand, and they shared a moment of connection.

"Alright, Y/N," Steven said, his excitement bubbling again. "For now, you can witness one fusion!"

Pearl smiled at Steven and began to dance gracefully, her movements fluid and elegant, while Steven danced casually, matching her rhythm. The air filled with an electric energy as their styles intertwined.

As they took each other's hands, the room seemed to shimmer around them. In a brilliant display of light and color, they fused into Rainbow Quartz 2.0, their forms merging in a harmonious blend. With a final, cheerful farewell in their British accent, they danced away, leaving me in awe of what I had just witnessed.

As their presence faded, I felt a sigh escape my lips. I missed them already, wishing our time together could last a little longer.

Just as I began to ponder how lonely the day felt without them, a loud whirring sound broke through my thoughts. I turned to see Amethyst casually blending a concoction of pizza, fried chicken, and ice cream in a blender.

"Yo, looks like it's just us, big guy!" she said with her signature goofy grin, her carefree attitude lighting up the room.

"Uh, what exactly are you making?" I asked, eyeing the bizarre mix with a mix of curiosity and confusion.

Amethyst shrugged, her hair bouncing as she continued to blend the ingredients. "Just my latest masterpiece! You want some?"

I chuckled at her antics. "I don't think my stomach could handle that combo."

"Suit yourself!" She grinned, pouring the chaotic blend into a cup. "But hey, now that it's just us, what do you wanna do?"

I paused, glancing around the room as the remnants of our gathering faded. Amethyst had this knack for bringing energy back into the atmosphere. "I don't know... what do you think?"

Amethyst winked at me, her playful side shining through. "I've got a few ideas. How about we have a little fun?"

---

Y/N's Pov

As I lay on Steven's bed, my back against the soft sheets and my head propped up on my hand, I watched the animated series Lonely Blade play on the flatscreen TV in front of us. The story was gripping, but I found my focus drifting. I glanced down at Amethyst, who was snuggled up against my chest, her smile lighting up the room.

With Amethyst, even the most mundane activities turned into something fun. I couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment. This wasn't boring at all. It was perfect.

"Hey, you think if we had a battle royale, we'd win?" I asked, trying to break the quiet.

She giggled, her warm breath brushing against my skin. "Duh! With my skills, we'd wipe the floor! But I'd definitely let you take the glory, big guy."

"Right, because you'd want me to steal the spotlight," I teased back, nudging her playfully.

Her laughter rang out like music, and I felt a warmth spread through me. Amethyst always had a way of making everything feel lighter.

---

Amethyst's POV

I was in heaven. Laying here with Y/N, all warm and cozy, felt like a dream. The animated series Lonely Blayed played softly in the background, but my attention was solely on him. Y/N had his arm draped around my shoulder, keeping me close, and I could feel my gem throbbing with excitement.

Today was a lucky day. I had Y/N all to myself, and it was just the two of us, no interruptions.

My heart raced as I thought about how much I adored him. He had been my first friend from the moment he showed up at the beach to meet Steven, and seeing him now, older and more mature, made my feelings deepen.

I twirled a strand of my hair nervously, feeling the familiar blush creep onto my cheeks. Now was the time to shoot my shot. I took a deep breath, trying to muster my confidence.

"You know," I began, trying to sound cool and flirty, "if I ever needed a knight in shining armor, you'd be the first one I'd call. But I might have to teach you a thing or two about being tough."

I watched as Y/N's expression shifted to one of playful confusion. "Tough? Come on, Amethyst, I'd probably trip over my own feet before I could save anyone."

"See? This is why I'd have to coach you," I replied, trying to keep my tone light. Inside, I felt a flicker of annoyance.

Did he really think I was just joking? But I shook it off, knowing I could always try again later. "But seriously, we'd totally be unstoppable together."

"Yeah, together," he echoed, a hint of laughter in his voice.

I rolled my eyes, trying to hide my disappointment behind a smirk. "Okay, knight, let's see how long you can last without my help. I'll keep you alive."

As I settled back against him, I felt a little spark of hope. And told myself, The day is young and I'll shoot my shot again and eventually hit a bullseye right in his heart.

---

Y/N's Pov

As the episode of Lonely Blade wrapped up, I stretched, letting out a satisfied sigh. But before I could even blink, Amethyst bounced up with that familiar mischievous grin of hers and landed right on my stomach.

"Amethy-oof!" I gasped, pretending to be in pain while she giggled at my dramatic reaction. Her grin stretched even wider.

"Yo, let's hit up the arcade! Just like the good old days!" she exclaimed, eyes sparkling with excitement. I swear, her energy was contagious.

I couldn't help but laugh, shaking my head. "Arcade, huh? You know, I haven't seen Mr. Smiley in a while. Wonder if my favorite games are still there."

"You'll find out! C'mon, let's go!" she urged, hopping off me. Before I could even get to my feet, Amethyst jumped on my back, wrapping her arms around my neck with a playful laugh. "Piggyback ride, big guy. Just like old times!"

"Whoa-again with the surprise attacks!" I chuckled, adjusting her weight as I stood up. I couldn't help but grin as she rested her head against my shoulder, her laughter echoing in my ears.

With Amethyst on my back, we made our way down from the temple, her giggles bouncing in rhythm with my footsteps as we headed toward the beach.

The warmth of the sun, the sound of the waves, and Amethyst's unrelenting energy-it all felt familiar. Comfortable. Like the old times we used to share before I left.

---

Timeskip - Mr. Smiley's Arcade

When we finally reached Mr. Smiley's Arcade, the flashing neon lights and familiar sounds of machines took me back.

The place was buzzing with energy, even livelier than I remembered. I set Amethyst down as we walked through the entrance, greeted by none other than the man himself.

"Ah, if it isn't my favorite gem!" Mr. Smiley called out, throwing his hands up in mock exasperation.

"Now listen, Amethyst, no funny business this time, okay? I've got my eye on you! One more stunt, and I'll kick you out-forever." He emphasized the last word with a wide grin, living up to his name.

Amethyst gave him a casual wave, completely unbothered. "Psh, I wouldn't dream of it, Mr. Smiley."

"Yeah, that's what you said last time," he teased before turning to me. "Y/N! It's been a while, man. Glad you're back in town. Business could use more paying customers like you."

I laughed, handing him twenty dollars. "Well, here's to keeping you in business then."

Mr. Smiley chuckled, swapping my cash for a handful of quarters. "Enjoy yourselves, and remember-no cheating, Amethyst!"

As we stepped inside, I took a look around. Some of the old classics were still here-Meat Beat Mania caught my eye instantly-but the place had definitely undergone some upgrades.

Bright lights, newer machines, and even a couple of gem employees helping out the customers. The arcade was more packed than ever, and it felt...alive.

"Whoa, the place looks a lot different now," I muttered, scanning the room.

"Yup, but don't worry. All the best games are still here," Amethyst said, cracking her knuckles. "Alright, big guy. Let's see if you can beat me this time!"

I couldn't help but grin. "You're on, Amethyst."

Amethyst's Pov

I couldn't help but smirk as we walked through the arcade, knowing full well that I was gonna school Y/N at just about everything. And, of course, I did.

From the racing games to the fighting games, and even the basketball hoops, I wiped the floor with him. Each win came with a victorious cheer from me and a playful nudge or a quick "Better luck next time, big guy!"

But I knew how to play it cool too. A couple of times, I let him win-just to see his reaction. The way his face would light up with that goofy, surprised grin? Yeah, that always made me smile.

Still, as fun as it was to crush him in every game, there was more to this arcade run than just our usual competition.

My eyes drifted over to the new claw machine sitting in the corner of the room. It was packed with stuffed toys-cute ones too. I'd been here a couple of days ago and saw some guy win his girlfriend a heart plushie. They looked so happy, and for once, I thought... I kinda wanted that.

I took a deep breath, trying to shake off the nerves, and nodded toward the claw machine. "Hey, look. That guy won the girl a heart plushie," I said, keeping my voice casual. "Seeing as you're my knight in training, don't you think I deserve one too?"

I glanced up at Y/N, my heart thumping a little louder as I waited for his response. Was I being too obvious? Nah. Maybe not.

Y/N smiled at me and nodded. "Alright, Amethyst. I'll try my best to win you a prize."

The minute those words left his mouth, I felt my gem pulse with excitement. It was ridiculous how happy something like this could make me, but watching Y/N walk over to the machine, ready to win something just for me, made my heart skyrocket.

He dropped a quarter into the machine, focusing hard as he maneuvered the claw. I held my breath, my eyes locked on the heart plushie, waiting... hoping...

And then-plop. The claw grabbed something, but it wasn't the heart. Instead, Y/N pulled out a silly little Cheeseburger plushie. He turned around with a grin, holding it up proudly.

"I got this one instead," he said, chuckling. "Because it's your favorite food."

I blinked, trying to process the situation. A cheeseburger. My favorite food. Of course, Y/N would misinterpret what I really wanted. My heart deflated just a little bit, but... at the same time, I couldn't help but laugh. He was trying, in his own clueless way, and that was just so him.

I took the plushie from him with a smile, shaking my head. "You dork. But I'll take it." I smiled as I hugged the plushy into my chest.

Maybe this cheeseburger plushie was better than the heart, but as I watched Y/N walk off to cash in our tickets. I squeezed the plushie tighter. Annoyed that I've missed my shot twice now.

---

After the arcade, we figured it was about time to grab some lunch. Of course, the perfect spot was Fishstew Pizza-man, I missed this place. As we walked in, I noticed right away that it looked bigger, way more renovated.

There were even some Gem waiters moving around the tables, which was pretty cool. But standing right at the counter was the guy himself-Kofi, still running the joint like a boss. His daughters, Jenny and Kiki, were around too, probably handling deliveries like they always did.

Jenny spotted us first, waving with a grin. "Well, look who's back! Y/N, long time no see!"

Kiki popped up from behind the counter, giving me a wave as well. "Yeah, welcome back!"

I chuckled, waving back at them. "Good to see you guys, too. The place looks great!"

We grabbed a table, and I couldn't help but think how much had changed while I'd been away. Even the kitchen had an upgrade-Bixbite, a Gem I didn't recognize, seemed to be the new chef. Nanafua, the old chef, was too busy being mayor now to cook up the Fishstew pizzas. Crazy, right?

Jenny came over to take our order, and I went with a classic Fishstew Pizza. Nothing fancy, just the way I liked it. But before I could finish, Amethyst cut me off with a smirk.

"Actually, cancel his lonely pizza," Amethyst said, grinning as she leaned over the menu. "We'll take the Gemini Love Special instead."

Jenny blinked for a second before nodding and scribbling it down. "The Gemini Love Special, huh? Interesting choice."

I glanced over at Amethyst, raising an eyebrow. "The Gemini what?"

She just smiled at me, her eyes sparkling mischievously. "You'll see."

I wasn't sure what to make of it, but with Amethyst, everything was an adventure. It was probably some wacky pizza combo that she thought would be hilarious, but the way she said it... something about this felt different.

Amethyst's POV

I couldn't help but feel proud of myself when I canceled Y/N's lonely pizza and went for the Gemini Love Special. A little dramatic? Maybe. But it was the perfect setup. Shared pizza, romantic vibes... it was all coming together.

I mean, come on! The Gemini Love Special? That was practically made for a couple! It had two types of pizza in one-half with classic toppings, the other half with something quirky and fun, just like us. And I knew for a fact Y/N wouldn't see this coming.

When I looked over at him, his expression was priceless-confused but intrigued, which only made me grin wider. He was still totally in the dark about what I was trying to pull, but that was fine.

This time, there was no way he'd miss the signs. I could already picture it: us sitting there, sharing slices, laughing. Maybe our hands would brush when we reached for the same piece. It was straight out of the romantic playbook, and I was the one holding the cards.

Maybe I'd even toss a little flirt his way, something that'd make him finally see that I wasn't just his goofy best friend. I was more than that... I wanted to be more than that.

I leaned back in my seat, playing it cool, even though my gem was practically vibrating with excitement. "Just wait, Y/N," I thought. "You're about to see me in a whole new light."

Y/N's Pov

When the Gemini Love Special finally arrived, it definitely lived up to its name. The pizza was split perfectly in two-one half covered in a classic spread of pepperoni, mushrooms, and cheese, and the other half loaded with fun toppings like hot sauce, pickles, and pineapple chunks.

It was weird, but it totally matched Amethyst's vibe. Right as Jenny set it down, she pulled out two small scented candles, placed them at the center of the table, and dimmed the lights.

"Customary with the special," Jenny said with a wink before walking off.

I blinked. Was this supposed to be... romantic? Nah. It's just Fishstew Pizza being quirky. I smiled as I picked up my first slice, sinking into the taste I'd missed for so long. "Man, this is exactly how I remember it. What about you, Ame? Still love it?"

Amethyst was adjusting her hair, brushing it over her shoulder while her tank top slipped a little, exposing more of her black sports bra underneath. She grinned, reaching for her own slice. "You know it, big guy," she said with a wink that I only halfway noticed.

I laughed, taking another bite of my pizza, oblivious to the little flirty jabs she was throwing my way. "Honestly, it's great to be back here with you. Feels like old times."

Amethyst's smile widened, and she leaned forward, resting her chin on her palm. "Yeah, old times," she echoed, her voice lower. "But you know, some things... have changed."

I paused for a second, looking over at her as she gave me another wink. Her tone was playful, but... different? "Yeah, maybe." I chuckled again, focusing back on the pizza, completely missing the hidden meaning behind her words.

---

Amethyst's Pov

Okay. Half the pizza was gone. The candles were flickering. The lights were dim. It was literally perfect. But Y/N? He was still acting like this was just a regular hangout. The way he bit into his slice, all casual, smiling, talking about how good the pizza was-it was driving me crazy. Did he not realize what was happening?

I watched him reach for the last slice, and my mind raced. "This is it, Ame. This is your chance." I timed it perfectly, my fingers brushing against his as we both reached for the slice at the same time. He glanced at me, surprised.

"You can have it," I said, my voice soft and-dare I say-cute. I even batted my eyes a little, trying to give him a hint.

Y/N paused, then smiled. "Nah, it's cool. You take it."

I gritted my teeth, but I kept smiling. "No, really. You can have it," I repeated, trying to maintain my sweet tone. Just say it. Just add the line. "I'll only take it if you feed it to me," my mind screamed.

But before I could even get the words out, he shrugged. "If you say so!" And with that, he grabbed the slice and took a big bite, chewing happily as he thanked me.

Thanked me.

My jaw clenched, my fingers digging into the plush cheeseburger beside me. Did he seriously just... miss the point? Again?

The room felt like it was closing in, and my gem pulsed with frustration. The candles flickered, casting long shadows on the walls, and I could feel a heat rising up my neck. He didn't get it. He never got it. All this time, and he still thought I was just playing around.

I forced out a laugh, but it sounded strained, even to me. "Yeah... glad you liked it."

Inside, I was seething. How could he be so... dense? This was supposed to be the perfect moment. The pizza, the candles, the whole setup-and he was just sitting there, clueless, munching on the last slice like nothing had changed between us.

I squeezed the cheeseburger plushie so hard, it nearly tore apart. My teeth clenched as I smiled at him, my mind racing. "It's fine," I told myself. "He'll figure it out. He has to."

But part of me... part of me was already planning my next move. If Y/N couldn't take the hint, then maybe I'd just have to make things a little more... obvious. He was mine, and one way or another, he'd realize that.

To be continued...

(A/N: This book isn't what it seems.. you'll see in the next part. Hope you enjoyed!)