"Is- is it a no?"

"It's a not now Steven."

After those words, Connie held onto Steven in comfort, nuzzling her face in his neck. She loved what he did for her. The picnic basket, the jam, the song. Even the glow bracelet from the first time they met. It was all perfect.

But Steven was moving way too fast. She likes him, more than he would ever know. And this whole proposal was very nice and well executed, not to mention cute. But she was still young, and so was he. There was no way they could get married now. Even if a small part of her wanted to say yes. She had school, sword training, so many activities to be done. Marriage would just be a wedge in all that.

She pulled away, looking intently at Steven's face. She could sense a growing feeling of unhappiness in him. All he did was stare at her in bittersweet sadness. She opened her mouth to say something but was interrupted. Her phone buzzed in her pocket, signalling that her fifteen minutes were over. She had to continue studying.

"Oh, Steven. I'm so sorry. I have to go, my break is over." She said, turning away towards Lion. Before she could take a step towards him, however, she was startled by a hand resting a upon her shoulder.

"Connie." Steven said in a sad, soft voice.

Hearing her name, Connie turned around to face Steven.

Just in time for an unusually pink fist to connect with her jaw.

The force of the punch turned her head to the side as she lost balance, falling to the ground, the sand cushioning her fall.

"Ow, Steven why did you--?" Connie said, tears springing to her eyes. Looking up, she made eye contact with him. He looked down on her, his whole body glowing pink and his fists clenched. He was breathing heavily, his chest heaving up and down as he stared.

"Y-you're scaring me. I need to go home." She pleaded. She attempts to get up, only to be brought more pain as the boy stomps down on Connie's stomach.

"What do you mean 'not now'?!!" Steven yelled, frowning as Connie clutched her stomach and lied on her side. "What does it mean? Do you expect me to wait a thousand years to marry you?!"

He stepped closer towards her, and she held her hands up to block any further attacks from him. This did nothing as he swung his fist once more, this time hitting the side of her head and making her go dizzy.

Connie started crying now, sobbing loudly as her head pounded.

"You know... I've been going through a lot Connie." He started again. "I've been going through so much stress and you KNOW that!" He kneeled down and leaned towards her face. "And I thought I could fix all of this by marrying the girl that I love. But of course, nothing ever goes to PLAN!" Steven yelled, the last word echoing around them.

Sent into another fury, he let on an onslaught on punches to Connie's face. Connecting with her jaw, eye, even her mouth. She could taste blood on her tongue as the hits continued. She could swear he even knocked a tooth or two out. But nothing could help her flee from her pink assailant.

He stopped again, looking down to see the damage he had done. Connie's left eye was swollen shut, and she breathed heavily, only stopping for a short moment to let out a sob.

"I want to- to go home." She said defeated.

Steven chuckled humourlessly and stood up.

"Okay. I've let out all my anger. Come here." He said, grabbing her arm and pulling her up. Looking at her tear stained face, he kissed her cheek. "You can go home now. Lion will take you back. But you have to promise me something."

"What?" She asked, sniffling and shaking under his touch.

"You shouldn't tell anyone. You WON'T tell anyone actually. Because if you do... well. I think you already know where this is going." He raised his hand to hit her and she flinched, making him laugh. "Oh! Almost forgot." He licked his hand and rubbed it over here face, healing the bruises and wounds he gave her. "There we go. Feel better?"

All she could do is feebly nod.

"Good, I feel better too. I'll see you soon, Connie." He said, placing a quick kiss on her lips. "Now go. The gems are worried about me."

Connie turned around and ran to Lion, who had been patiently waiting the entire time. Cursing herself for not calling for his aid, she got utop him. The ride home was not a long one, but she still cried all the way there. Once home she entered, half heartedly stated her arrival, and locked herself in her room.

She spent the rest of the afternoon crying into a pillow.