(Continued from last chapter; same setting and context)

"Okay," Steven started, "her name is (Y/N)."

Greg gasped, already in awe.

"Dad."

"Sorry," Greg apologized in a high falsetto, clearly excited to hear more,

Steven took a deep breath before he continued;"We met last week at the boardwalk, and we've been seeing each other pretty much every day since."

"And?" Greg asked expectantly.

"And... what?" Steven hesitated.

"Well, tell me about her!"

Steven stammered; "I just did!"

"No, no, not the facts," Greg shook his head. "The feelings."

Steven remembered saying that to you the first day the two of you met.

"She's... incredible," Steven melted at the thought of you. "She's so smart, and pretty, and talented, and pretty..."

"You already said that."

"Yeah... and pretty," they both laughed. "She's got the best voice I've ever heard. And she's a pretty good dancer, too. I think she's probably great at everything she does."

"You really like her, huh?" Greg smiled warmly.

Steven sighed, "Yeah."

💫

At The Big Donut:

(Your POV)

"Okay- a large iced vanilla latte with oatmilk, a small hot coffee-black, small iced latte with two sugars, medium iced latte, two everything bagels- one with cream cheese, and one with peanut butter," Dewey took a breath.

"Anything else?"

"Nope, that should do it!" You replied.

"Okay," Dewey pressed some buttons on the register, "then that'll be... 23 even."

You paid for everything and sat down across from Sadie with your latte.

"How's it feel being the customer instead of the employee?" You asked her.

Sadie laughed; "it's weird... but Dewey seems to be handling it really well! I'm glad we're finally doing bagels now. They're just donuts in a different font."

You both laughed.

"So..." Sadie began, "you and Steven, eh?"

You choked on your coffee; "What?! Who-" you took a second to compose yourself. "Why... would you think that?"

"Oh come on, he talks about you all the time," Sadie said, sipping her coffee.

"He- he does?" You felt a warm blush spread to your cheeks.

"Too much," Jenny chimed in.

You chuckled nervously, your mind racing.

"And you're together all the time! I just sort of... assumed that the two of you were an item," Sadie said, trailing off.

"Heh, yeah I wish," you replied without thinking. You immediately slapped your hand over your mouth.

"I knew it!" Jenny exclaimed.

Sadie stood, excited; "You should tell him!"

"I-"

"Well," Yellow Pearl cut in, "if you're all finished having your breakfast beverages, I'm ready to keep practicing. Not that I really need it," she chuckled to herself.

"Right," you stood up. "We should get back. Just a few more hours of relentless rehearsal and then we'll break until the show."

Sadie got up slowly; "oh boy..."

💫