Steven Universe At The Creek Chapter 3 Empathic Trust

After Craig spent most of his time playing with his friends at the creek, it was time for him to head home. He couldn’t get over how the creek changed since Xavier lost his authority after the capture the flag war. He didn’t expect how better it was compared to before, if any new kid came to the creek who moved into the neighborhood, they would forever spend their childhood there.

“Things had never felt better at the creek.” He smiled while walking on the sidewalk. “Victory had never felt so satisfying.” He then saw Alexis’s car parked by the front yard. He knew Bernard’s friends would appear sooner, but he soon witnessed another car by Bernard’s. “What the heck?”

He walked to the car, witnessing belongings in the back of the inside. He then turned to the front door with curiosity in his mind. At first, he’ll be spending the rest of the day eating supper but with his brother having the kitchen and living room all to himself, it must have something to do with the extra car next to his.

Craig opened the front door and saw one of his brother’s friends in the kitchen. But then he witnessed a visitor walking past them. Just when Steven helped by taking the pizza out of the oven, Bernard headed downstairs, seeing his brother arriving from the creek as usual.

“Craig, if you're getting something from the kitchen, do it now.” He replied. “I’m gonna be watching a movie with my friends soon.”

“Bernard, who’s car was by yours?” He pointed outside.

“That’s Steven’s car.”

“Steven?” Craig looked down in the hall.

“Why are you surprised? You’ve come across my friends when they’re here, I’ve just met him at the gas station.” As he walked past him, he then turned around. “Especially since he’s almost the same age as I am. So what’s the difference?”

Craig then witnesses Steven walking past the others again. Even in a split second, his outfit was different compared to Bernard’s friends. “Are you aware he’s wearing something different?”

“Who cares? I’m giving him a chance so don’t judge what he wears.” His brother headed straight to the kitchen while looking at the progress before playing the movie. Meanwhile, Craig didn’t bother to head straight to get something from the kitchen to eat at the moment. Instead he walked upstairs then headed into his bedroom. He remembered he had snacks he could munch on, in case of his own emergencies.

“Naa, it’s not like I’m into pizza tonight, it’s not pizza night today.” As he headed inside his room, he looked through his backpack to take out a choco roll he treated with one of his items. As he unwrapped it, he laid back on his bed eating it. “Still, I still don’t get the purpose of that Steven guy.”

Back in the kitchen, Steven had the honor to cut the pizza in slices for Bernard’s friends. Alexis and Cariss had been waiting for the pizza to be finished upon arriving. “So you're the person who picked the dolphin film?” Alexis asked.

“Yes I am.” Steven smiled.

“I was expecting sharks, but dolphins are harmless entertainment to me.” Cariss commented.

“Anyway, I’m going to be around for a few days and I might hang out with you unless I get a tour of Herkleton itself.”

After hearing him, Bernard turned to Steven. “Once you see me and Alexis’s job, I’ll promise I’ll give you a tour when I’m done at work tomorrow.” He walked up to him. “But then again, I’m still hoping the movie you picked out will work out tonight.

Despite still trying to get used to Bernard’s mood since meeting him, Steven knew he still had second thoughts. “Don’t get ahead of yourself, your friends will enjoy it. As for your job, I promise I will be a respectful customer.”

“I know, you don’t have to wait at the restaurant all day, just come when you're hungry during lunch time.”

When Steven took out the plates for Bernard’s friends, it was time to watch the film in the living room. It was a matter of time for everyone to get a slice of pizza while sitting on the couches until Bernard finally played the film.

Back in Craig’s bedroom, he was still hungry. He wasn’t into the other snacks tonight to the point he can’t wait until the teens leave. He got out of bed, sighing while thinking about the snacks available in the kitchen. But just when he got out of his bedroom, Jessica just got out of the bathroom.

“Craig.” She walked up to him. “Have you met Steven yet?”

“No, but I’m not really interested, okay, I’m just getting something to eat from the kitchen.” Craig replied. “Sometimes kitchen food easily beats creek snacks.”

Just when Craig headed straight downstairs, Jessica grabbed his arm. “He’s gonna come with us to our grandparents!”

“Jessica, do you think that’s really necessary?”

“You’re really not the brother I enjoy being around.”

“He’s friends with our brother, he’s not the same age as I am.” While Craig forces Jessica to let go of his arm, he takes a deep breath. “If he was our age, maybe I would get the chance to be friends with him…I still miss the Green Poncho since the war ended.”

With the memory of teaming up with the Green Poncho officially over, he’s aware a lot won’t be the same forever. “You haven’t even seen his face.” Jessica retorted. “From the tone of his voice, it was different compared to the other teens.” As she headed straight to her bedroom, she looked at her brother one more time before closing her door. “We never had a teen in our neighborhood act that way.”

She closed the door, leaving her brother alone while listening to the movie playing in the living room. Craig placed his hand on his face, still uninterested in what Steven is to him. “I can do whatever I want at the creek, what makes him different like the kids at the creek?”

As he went down stairs while slowly entering the kitchen, he saw Bernard along with his friends watching the dolphin film. Steven was sitting on the other side of the sofa, next to Gibson and Amina. As he slowly headed to the refrigerator, it didn’t last long until his brother took notice.

“Craig, seriously?” Bernard retorted.

“Sorry, I’m just making a sandwich.” Craig flinched. “It’ll take me five minutes until I go back upstairs.”

While all of Bernard’s friends didn’t turn around, Steven was the only person who did. “Let me take care of this.” He spoked while standing up. As Craig took out what he needed from the refrigerator, Steven walked up to the fridge door. Once Craig closed the door, he accidently bumped into Steven’s body, in a split second, he felt something unusual from the teens belly button.

“Sorry.” Steven immediately responded.

“You really need to watch where people are going, you know?” Craig looked at Steven for the first time.

“Don’t worry, I won’t do it again.” He then took the jelly jar from Craig. “To keep your brother’s friends occupied with the film, I’ll make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, so you won’t cause any noise, no offense.”

Steven took out the peanut butter jar as he prepared to spread it on one of the breads. Craig still couldn’t ignore Steven’s belly button, it felt like his body was covered with armor for a second.

“Were you in the military, because it felt like you had something underneath your shirt.” Craig pointed at Steven’s shirt.

“I wasn’t part of any military. Also you shouldn’t say those kinds of things when you get older Craig.”

“My brother told you who I was?”

“Mostly.” As Steven looks straight up to Bernard, he can tell what he feels about his brother. “But to me, you're not really house broken for a ten year old.”

“What makes you think that?”

“I’ve seen children from other neighborhoods and they’re mostly on best terms with each other. Expect one of the hot-tempered kids.” As he begins cutting the sandwich in slices, he heads straight to the sink. “So what do you do here?”

“I came to the creek with my friends. Trust me, it’s a great place to make so many friends.”

“A creek? Like a small forest?”

“It’s big once you meet everyone.”

Upon cleaning the knife with hot water, Steven would expect that explanation from any child. “Is there like ten people there?”

“More than ten when you see everything for the first time.”

“Craig, I’m not gonna be here for that long, after the day at your grandparents, I’ll be gone. There won’t be any time for me to see the creek.”

“I don’t blame you. You’re too old for that, it’s not like anything is waiting for you there.”

Steven put the knife in the dishwasher while giving Craig his supper. “There’s always the unexpected. But I’m not expecting that in this neighborhood okay?”

As Craig received the sandwich from him, Steven followed him to his room. “So if you're coming over to my family reunion, do you think we'll have some time to get to know each other?”

“Possibly for sure, but with all of your relatives keeping me occupied, it won’t be much.” They walked up the stairs, heading into Craig’s bedroom. “But we can make the most of it, just like how your sister did when she met me.”

“What does she see in you exactly?” Craig said sitting on his bed. 

“A one of a kind from that way I dress.” As Steven closes Craig’s bedroom door, he heads back to the living room to watch the film with the others. While Craig looked at his sandwich, he didn’t forget the bump he made with Steven, as if he’s hiding something that’s part of his body. He took a bite of his sandwich, thinking about who Steven really is.

“I’m aware he’s more than a grown teen.”