💫

After what was maybe 20, 25 minutes, Steven pulled the Dondai over onto the side of the road.

You looked around, confused, as he unbuckled his seatbelt. "What are we doing?" you asked.

"We're here," he replied, shrugging as if it were obvious. Before you could respond, Steven got out of the car and started to unload his things from the trunk.

You followed him out of the car and watched while he put on one of the biggest backpacks you'd ever seen. "Yeah, I just sorta feel like camping by the side of the road is basically an invitation to be murdered," you quipped, leaning against the side of the car.

Steven rolled his eyes with a smirk; "we're going on a hike."

"Oh, a hike..."

"Is something wrong?"

"No, not at all! I just..." you lifted your duffel bag with a grunt of effort. "wish I packed lighter."

You and Steven laughed together before setting off on your journey. You thought you had seen all of this place, but you soon found out that there was more in Beach City than... well, the beach. All around you, trees stretched high and curved to cover the sky above you. The sunlight steaked through the leaves and colored everything around you in spotted, golden light. You were maybe a hundred paces into the woods when you stopped at the foot of a secluded waterfall, surrounded by greenery.

"Woah," you spoke breathlessly.

"Down here, there's more," Steven took your hand and led you around the lake, to a cave entrance by the waterfall.

You followed Steven through the entrance and down a long path, lit only by the fading sunlight behind you. As you walked behind him, heels clicking on the damp stone, the roar of the waterfall outside went from a deep echoing vibration, to a sharper, crashing, sound. And as you turned the corner, you could see why. The cave opened up to just behind the waterfall, creating a natural window. The water must have worn down the rock enough over time that it made the hole. You approached it slowly in wonder, letting the mist spray your face.

"I come here sometimes," Steven spoke, his words echoing off of the dripping stone around you. "When the world is just... too much, y'know?" he looked over at you, his eyes showing a vulnerability you'd never seen before.

"Yeah," you turned and stood closer to him. "I know what you mean."

"It's incredible how something so loud... can quiet your thoughts like that."

"It drowns everything else out," you added, your thoughts perfectly in sync.

"Yes, exactly!" Steven grinned. His smile lingered as he examined your face, only slightly lit by the sunlight shining through the waterfall.

"Looks like the sun is setting soon," he cleared his throat awkwardly. "We should keep going."

You nodded, although you were a little confused. Before you could say anything, you and Steven were walking again. A few short minutes later, you reached a clearing in the forest by the edge of the lake. You pitched your tent (after many failed attempts) and set your things inside while Steven started work on the campfire.

"Could you get mine, too?" Steven asked, sparking flint by the tinder.

"Hm?" You glanced over your shoulder.

"My tent?"

"You... brought your own tent?"

"Yeah," Steven abandoned the fire for a moment to look at you. "I figured... better safe than sorry after yesterday?"

You smiled, hiding the prick of disappointment you felt that you'd be in separate tents.

"Oh, did you already pitch mine?" Steven asked, eyeing your tent in confusion.

"No... that one's mine," you spoke slowly.

Steven walked over to his backpack he had set down by a large rock and pulled out the tent's bag. The picture printed on it was... identical to yours.

"Twinsies!" Steven smiled goofily.

You laughed and took the bag from him. For the next five minutes or so, you and Steven worked separately in comfortable silence. Only the sounds of the wilderness and Steven's flint stones scraping against each other could be heard.

You finished up Steven's tent, which was on the opposite side of the campfire as yours, and pushed a large stone to the side of the fire pit. Just as you sat down on it, the tinder (finally) caught fire from the flint, and the smaller flames climbed up the logs of wood to make a proper sized fire. Steven sat down next to you, admiring his handiwork.

"Damn it," Steven groaned, realizing something.

"What's wrong?"

"I forgot graham crackers and chocolate!"

You sighed in relief. You were genuinely worried that something was really wrong. But s'more mishaps... you could handle.

"Well, did you bring marshmallows?" You asked.

"Yeah," Steven shrugged, obviously bummed.

"Well, that's the most important part!" you punched his shoulder and smiled. "We can do without the rest."

Your attempts to cheer him up worked, and without another word, he brought out the marshmallows and roasting sticks from his bag. You spent the next ten minutes (at LEAST) being joyfully lectured by Steven on the "correct way" to roast a marshmallow. An inch above the flame, turning slowly, until the marshmallow becomes a golden brown. You could respect that, but couldn't resist setting yours on fire and blowing them out before they got too burnt. Steven would groan while you'd laugh, teasing him by eating your burnt marshmallow monstrosity. He tried to stop you after your third marshmallow- as you brought what would have been your fourth blackened marshmallow to your lips, Steven smacked it out of your hand... and accidentally, right onto your face. Since only the outside of the marshmallow was burnt, the inside was all melted and goopy and ended up getting everywhere while Steven desperately tried to wipe it off. The two of you were in hysterics, doubled over in laughter with pink faces.

When your face was clean, melted bits of marshmallow still left traces in your hair and on your hands. You wiped them on your jeans with no shame.

Face still red from laughter- or maybe the fire, Steven smiled; "I love-"

He paused, his face unreadable.

"I love hanging out with you."

"Oh..." Your eyes wandered to the side. "Okay? I love hanging out with you too."

Was he going to say what you think he was going to say? You felt your face flush at the thought, the fire being a convenient cover-up. You glanced over at Steven, who was staring into the fire like it was the most interesting thing he had ever seen.

You sighed quietly and stood up; "I think I'm just gonna call it a night. See you in the morning?"

"Huh?" Steven broke his gaze to look at you. "Oh, yeah- sorry," he frowned. "See you in the morning."

Steven waited for you to retreat into your tent before letting his head fall into his hands with a sigh. After a few seconds of rethinking all his life choices, Steven collected some water in a bucket and put out the fire, making Smokey Bear proud. Pour, stir, repeat. When the campfire was nothing but a pile of black mush, Steven dropped the bucket and headed for his tent.

Or, what he thought was his tent.

Steven had just stepped in when he realized he was in the wrong tent. "Oh- sorry," he closed his eyes and immediately started to walk blindly backwards.

"It's okay," you chuckled sleepily. "I have clothes on this time."

Steven opened his eyes, and sure enough, you were in your pajamas.

"Right," he smiled and relaxed a bit. "Well, back to my tent I go."

"Wait, Steven?" you sat up.

He turned around hopefully, his tender gaze fixated on you.

Deep breath in, deep breath out.

"I love you."

Everything hushed. The air between you stilled, and all was quiet except for your breathing. Steven's eyebrows twitched upward in recognition, his doughy eyes softening.

"You don't- you don't have to say it back, I just... wanted you to know."

"I love you too," he said, without an ounce of hesitation.

A beat of silence stretched on, the air electric... buzzing.

"Do you want to stay?" you asked, gazing up at Steven through your eyelashes.

With eyes full of longing, he nodded slowly and zipped up the tent behind him.

💫