Marco's Choice
Chapter One: Tongue Tied
Star Butterfly, wearing her sea green dress, was lying on the couch of the Diazes' living room, balancing her wand on her nose. She had been living on Earth for two years now, and had seen plenty of action during that time. But at the moment, it was a dull, quiet day, and she was entertaining herself any way she could, hence the nose balancing.
"Five more seconds, and it's a new record!" She told herself.
Marco then entered the house.
"Ugh!" He slammed the door behind him. "Stupid, stupid, stupid!"
Star sat up, her wand dropping onto her lap.
"What's wrong, Marco?" She asked. "Who's stupid?"
"It's... Jackie." Marco sighed, referring to his long-time crush, Jackie Lynn Thomas.
"Jackie's stupid?" Star frowned.
"No!" Marco growled. "Look, I ran into her after school. I wanted to tell her how I feel, and ask her out, but... I couldn't get the words out, so I just stood there, mumbling like a doofus!"
"Oh, Marco..." Star shook her head sadly.
Marco had made great strides in talking to Jackie over the years. But when it come to actually speaking from the heart, he just wasn't there yet.
"I'm such an idiot." Marco groaned. He sat down on the couch and buried his face in his hands. "Why can't I just tell her how I feel?"
"I could tell her." Star suggested.
"No, no way!" Marco yelled.
"Why not?" Star asked.
"Because... because I want her to hear it from me." Marco insisted.
"That's nice and all... except she won't be hearing it at all the way you're going!" Star nudged him.
"I know." Marco frowned. "Please don't tell Jackie. I know it's stupid, but it's got to be me. No matter how long it takes..."
"Okay." Star put her hand on Marco's shoulder. "I won't tell her."
"Thanks, Star." Marco smiled weakly.
"Hey, what are besties for?" Star beamed.
That night, Star lay awake in bed, racking her brains for some way to help Marco admit his feelings to Jackie. Suddenly, it hit her.
'Maybe I could... Yeah, that's it!' She thought, giddy. 'I am so smart! Hang in there, Marco. Matchmaker Star's gonna help set you up good...'
The next morning, Star, wearing her blue outfit, could barely keep herself from jumping for joy.
"What are you so happy about?" Marco asked.
"Oh, nothing." Star shrugged. "Just that I've figured out a way for you to tell Jackie how you feel about her!"
"Really?" Marco's face lit up for a moment... before turning into a frown. "Wait a second. Is this going to be one of your crazy ideas that ends up causing bigger problems than it solves?"
"Of course not!" Star snorted. "Trust me, this is a perfect, can't fail plan."
"So what is this 'can't fail plan'?" Marco asked.
"Ah-ah, not just yet." Star put a finger to his lips. "You'll find out when the time comes."
"Yeah, because that doesn't sound suspicious at all..." Marco rolled his eyes.
"Come on!" Star suddenly shoved Marco through the door. "We're gonna be late for school!"
As Marco and Star boarded the bus, Marco saw Jackie sitting near the back. She waved at Marco, who weakly waved back, their last encounter still painfully fresh in his mind.
Once they got to school, they went through their classes as normal, though Marco couldn't help but notice Star being more fidgety than usual. She was barely staying in her chair, staring at the wall clock with a huge grin on her face. Marco could only guess it had something to do with the "plan" she had in mind.
'I must be nuts for going along with this.' He thought, before glancing at Jackie. As ever, her beauty struck a chord within his heart. 'But what choice do I have?'
As the school day ended, the students filed out of Echo Creek Academy. Marco started to wonder if Star was even going to put her so-called plan into action, when she suddenly grabbed him by the hoodie, pulling him back.
"What was that for?" Marco growled.
"Look." Star pointed.
Marco turned to see Jackie nearby.
"There she is!" Star grinned. "Time to put the plan into action!"
"And, uh... what is the plan, exactly?" Marco asked.
"This." Star suddenly pointed her wand at Marco. "Tongueus Twistus Truthus!"
"What are you-gakk!" Marco croaked mid-sentence, as a beam of magic struck his tongue. The muscle twisted and curled in on itself, before returning to normal. "What... what was that?!"
"Let me answer that question with a question." Star smirked. "Marco, what do you put in your nacho cheese?"
"Just a little pinch of parmesan, and a touch of mozzarella-wait, why did I just say that?" Marco gulped, having never divulged his recipe before.
"It worked!" Star grinned. "My truth spell worked!"
"Truth spe- oh, no..." Marco cringed.
"Oh, yes!" Star nodded. "Now you can tell Jackie exactly how you feel!"
"But... but..." Marco spluttered. "Star, this isn't-"
"Here comes Jackie!" Star squeed, as Jackie drew near. "Go get her, tiger!"
"Star, don't-!" Marco started to protest, but Star simply shoved him into Jackie's path.
"Oh. Hey, Marco." Jackie smiled pleasantly.
"Uh... hi, Jackie." Marco said nervously, terrified of what might spill out of his mouth. "It's a beautiful day, isn't it?"
"Sure is." Jackie nodded. "Gorgeous."
"But it's nowhere near as gorgeous as you." Marco blurted out.
"Huh?" Jackie did a double take. "Did you just say I was gorgeous?"
"Yes!" Marco found himself saying. "I mean, you're the most beautiful girl in school!"
"You really think so?" Jackie smiled, a blush tinting her freckled cheeks.
"I do." Marco smiled in spite of himself. "And you're so cool, and really nice, and you have the prettiest eyes."
"Thanks, Marco." Jackie blushed even harder. "I never knew you felt this way about me..."
"Actually, I've been crushing on you since kindergarten." Marco confessed. "I've just... never been able to tell you until now. I've always wanted to ask you out on a date, but I've was afraid you'd say 'no', or worse." He hung his head. "If you don't want to go, I'll understand."
"Actually... that sounds nice." Jackie smiled.
"It does?" Marco looked up. "You'd... you'd like to go on a date with me?"
"Why wouldn't I?" Jackie asked. "You're the nicest guy I know. And right now, the sweetest."
"Really?" Marco smiled, hardly believing his long-time crush was saying such words.
"Really." Jackie kissed him on the cheek. "I've got family stuff at home to do today, but I'm totally free after school tomorrow. Maybe we could drop by the smoothie place together?"
"That... that would be perfect." Marco said, giddy with joy.
"Awesome." Jackie beamed. "See you then!"
Jackie raced off on her skateboard, casting an adoring look Marco's way.
"Ohhhh, yeah!" Star suddenly leapt in, grabbing Marco by the shoulders. "I told you it'd work, didn't I?"
"Yeah, you did." Marco nodded. "But I wasn't nearly that confident. I mean, considering how many of your other plans have ended in total disaster..."
"Yeah, I know." Star nodded.
"And not just disaster." Marco continued. "We're talking utter catastrophe."
"Yeah, yeah..." Star scowled, annoyed.
Apocalyptic, even..." Marco added.
"Okay, that's enough of the truth for one day." Star pouted. "Tongueus Twistus Talkus!"
A beam of magic struck Marco's tongue. After more painful contortions, Marco regained the ability to reign in the truth.
"But still, thanks, Star." Marco hugged his best friend. "Because of you, I finally got a date with Jackie Lynn Thomas!"
"Yeah, you did!" Star jabbed him in the shoulder.
"Wait..." Marco froze, as the full enormity of the situation hit him. "I've got a date with Jackie Lynn Thomas! What'll I wear? What'll I say? What if something goes wrong?"
"Oh, boy..." Star sighed, as Marco continued panicking. "Relax, Marco. You'll do just fine. Just be yourself, and Jackie can't help but like you."
"You think so?" Marco asked.
"I know so." Star grinned. "You're gonna give Jackie a date to remember. A date she'll never forget."
"That's the plan." Marco nodded. "But considering the track record for plans around here, that's easier said than done..."
To Be Continued...
(Star vs. the Forces of Evil and all associated characters belong to Daron Nefcy and Disney.)
