This starts immediately after chapter 2. Star helps Marco work out his feelings. Who will he choose? Read!

When they re-entered, they found that the music was back on. And one more thing. Jackie was gone. Marco scanned the crowd for her but couldn't find her blond and aqua hair anywhere. Marco felt a bit guilty, thinking his karaoke with Star had caused her to leave, but remembered Jackie commenting about being tired. The outro of the song was playing, just a few riffs. Then the next song started.

As Star pulled Marco through the crowd-holding his hand, Marco just realized-he started to think. He had started ignoring Star since he and Jackie had officially started dating. She was neglected whenever Marco was distracted by Jackie. He'd never really realized what Star must have been going through.

And when Marco asked her to come which him to the school dance… he had messed up so badly. When Jackie had asked him, he didn't even consult Star. He just… ditched her. She'd played it off well, but that must have hurt a little.

More things came to mind. The Love Sentence concert. Jackie's and his first kiss had been so amazing for Marco, but it must have been torture the whole time. Star had set up the whole thing for us, and then got outcasted as a third wheel. And knowing what Marco knew now, it must have been so painful to see her crush kissing another girl. Right. In front. Of her. No wonder she had left.

Marco sighed. He had been an awful friend. But Marco hadn't even known. Star had endured all of that without a word. Star was even stronger than Marco knew. And even though it complicated things, Marco was glad she had told him. Marco couldn't imagine carrying around all that weight.

But it wasn't too late to start over. Marco wanted to start over with her, before it was all over and Star became too jealous and exploded on him. They could turn this around. Star felt lonely, and she would do most anything to find her way back to even just a normal friendship with Marco. The exhilarating thing was that she was so close to possibly being with him. This felt like a great opportunity to start over with something new-with a relationship-and hopefully get closer to each other.

[]

It would feel so great if that all worked out. A certain happiness she had felt only once before… but only for it to get stomped out later. She wanted to finally experience that feeling, except lasting. And she was so close. Tonight could be the night. She needed to make the most of it. She needed to come completely clean.

"Marco, I want-I need you to stay. I know this is really hard for you, and you don't have to make the decision just yet, but…" she put her hands firmly in his shoulders "...it's so hard watching you with Jackie and not being with you. It makes me think… dark thoughts. I sincerely don't believe that Jackie has the same dependency on you that I do. It's just… we've been through so many adventures together, and I feel so close to you. I'd trust you with my life. And… honestly, it's hard to see a future without you. I love you, Marco."

Marco just nodded silently for a few seconds, then spoke. "I don't know, but there's a possibility that I have developed feelings for you over the months since you arrived.

"I just don't know how to break up with Jackie or if I even want to. I don't want to hurt her. And I feel like we do have something. It just… it's hard to let go of her, after dreaming of dating her for so long then finally getting my dream. It just feels like… I'm throwing something away."

Silence ensued. As it lengthened, Marco looked around them, at the flashing lights and the blaring musics and the crowds of people. "Do you want to talk about it somewhere else? Like at home?"

Star thought. "Yeah," she agreed.

The two walked on the path to their house. Marco had again offered his hoodie to Star, who gratefully accepted it. They had a decent walk home-a few blocks. It was peaceful with the stars out and twinkling brightly. They didn't encounter anyone as they walked. It was a good a time as any to start talking.

"Okay, Star, I'm a little confused. So basically you have a crush on me and want be to break up with Jackie so we can start dating. That's your ideal situation, right?"

"Well… I guess. I don't want you to just dump Jackie or anything… Corn, this is awkward. I don't want you to do anything, I guess. I didn't want to mess anything up. I just thought you deserved to know… and, well, it came out subconsciously."

"What?"

"I want you to do whatever makes you happiest."

"I'm confused."

"Well, who do you like more, Jackie or me?" Star asked rhetorically.

She was surprised when Marco took a few seconds to think. "I… I don't know. That's what I can't decide!"

"Wait, you like be back?"

"Um… yes?" Marco sighed in frustration.

Star perked up. "That's news to me!"

Marco put his face in his hands. "All right, so you like me, I like you, I like Jackie, Jackie likes me."

"Love triangle."

It felt so weird talking about his love life with someone who had a crush on him. But that was what best friends would do, right? They were there for each other when they needed them most. Even if it meant awkwardness.

They arrived at the Diaz residence and sat down on the couch, facing each other.

"Look, Marco, of course I want you to choose me, but I want even more for you to be happy. I just need an answer, is all. It's too painful to be left wondering. Even if you tell me no, I'll be alright. I'll settle into being just friends, and I'll be fine with that. But I'm entirely ready to be more than friends."

"I just don't know what makes me happy."

"Think about the times we've had together and your times with Jackie. Which one was more enjoyable?" Star suggested thoughtfully.

"I mean, it's hard to compare. I mean, I've never been on a date with you-"

"Marco, we do couple things all the time. Think about our nacho and movie nights."

Marco nodded thoughtfully. He sat with his chin on his fist pensively for a while, staring down at the cushions between him and Star. He eventually lifted his head, looking into Star's blue eyes. "Thank you, Star. You've helped me a lot."

He pulled her in for a hug, and they embraced each other tightly. Marco couldn't help but notice that he liked the feeling of Star's hair brushing the back of his neck.

"I just… I have to…"

"Talk to Jackie," Star finished.

"Yeah."

[]

Star waited outside Marco's room as he talked to Jackie, able to hear Marco but unable to decipher his words. She heard Marco talk unintelligibly for a few minutes. He talked for a long time, and Jackie didn't seem to respond; she was just listening. And Marco seemed to have a lot to say. Then Marco stopped and didn't continue for a good two minutes. At first, Star thought he was done, but she then realized that Jackie had a lot to say to him, too. After that, the conversation became more of a dialogue, with Marco speaking and pausing regularly.

Star suddenly heard one word shouted by Marco: "What?!" Star suddenly grew concerned for him, but he lowered his voice even quieter than usual, and she couldn't hear a word. A few seconds later, Marco came stumbling out of the room, his eyes a little wet. He gave Star a bittersweet smile. "I'm all yours, Star; Jackie just broke up with me. On good terms. She just said that she knew this would happen all along and-" his voice cracked.

Multiple emotions swelled up inside her. Pity. Guilt. Relief. Star could see that Marco had taken it hard. Star hugged him, trying to offer her strength. "Hey, it's alright. We've got each other."

Marco cried. He actually cried. He never cried. Star could feel the tears hitting her skin. But what she couldn't see was the teary smile Marco had on his face.

[]

Marco pulled away. Tears lingered on his face, but he was no longer crying. Instead, he was smiling. This girl is amazing. She reached over and brushed his tear away, just like he had to her. Marco closed his eyes when she did so, and when he reopened them, he saw Star in an entirely new way. He hadn't realized it, but he'd had a girlfriend all along, even before Jackie. This wasn't a union of the two but a realization that they were already united. It felt like the moment could last forever, but neither of them wanted to wait to experience what would come next. Star seemed to get an idea, smiling, and told Marco to look for a movie. Then she disappeared into the kitchen.

Marco scrolled through movies on Netflix for a while, eventually settling on High School Musical. (A/N: What, it fits the scene. Don't hate on me.) Then he waited, listening to Star clatter around in the kitchen. He wondered what she was making, but it was obvious she wanted it to be a surprise.

A while later, she came out with a large pile of warm nachos. They looked just like Marco's. It made him smile. As she approached him, though, the cheeze seemed to be the wrong color, and the jalapeños seemed distorted and brown. The tomatoes were circular, unlike the normal diced ones Marco used. But it still looked delicious.

Star set the plate down, and Marco started the movie. They each took a chip and ate it at the same time. This chip exploded with flavor in Marco's mouth, but he did figure out that the cheese was caramel, the jalapeños were chocolate, and the tomatoes were maraschino cherries. It actually tasted amazingly good.

Star frowned. "They don't taste like yours at all!"

Marco smiled. "No, they don't. But they taste amazing. They're awesome in their own special way."

They watched the rest of the movie, making jokes or chatting during parts. The plate of nachos diminished until there was only one left. Marco took it and lifted it to his face, but Star dove in and bit off part of the chip. Before either of them knew it, their lips were touching in their first kiss. It lasted for only a second or two, as neither of them were really prepared for it. When they pulled away, Star's skin nearly matched her cheek marks.

"I didn't really mean to-"

"It's all right," Marco stopped her. "I liked it."

Star gave him a small smile. "I just wasn't sure, you know, since we've only been together for a few hours."

"Star, we've been together since you came here."

Marco came in and kissed Star again. This one lasted longer and conveyed all the affection the two had had for each other all this time without realizing it.

This two-shot is officially over! Besides a three-shot feeling like too much, I just don't know where to take it from here. If you want more Starco from me, watch for the sixth installment to my one-shot compilation, The Fault in Our Star. It is going to be called "Quinceañera" and will basically be an AU of "Stump Day." It is now out!

Added after revision:

Sorry all your suggestions were removed, Starshine89! We enjoyed them while they lasted, at least! :)

The full version of my original song "Meant to Be" is on the next chapter.