Chapter 3: Layers
Echo Creek Academy was always a hub of buzz and excitement, which could be seen as ironic, considering it was a school. Most of the teenagers that spent their days there, wasting away from boredom in cramped classrooms while listening to equally bored teachers waffle on about uninteresting topics, were inherently miserable. However, the social aspect of going to school and hanging out with friends for small portions of the day was always appealing to the students, as they could band together in their shared misery and contempt for the place.
The most revered time for this sort of social interaction was, of course, lunchtime. There was nothing more refreshing than to give a small break to these fed up students and allow them to grab a bite to eat in order to refuel their systems, along with giving them all a chance to catch up with each other on all the recent gossip. And even though the food at Echo Creek Academy was … average, at best, this didn't stop the eager students from capitalising on the opportunity to have a nice friendly chat with their friends and peers.
One student in particular, who was at this very moment walking over to a table with a tray of food in her hands, was the one and only Star Butterfly. While she overall enjoyed the whole earth experience, school was without a doubt her least favourite aspect of it. She just didn't see much point in having to learn all about how things work on earth when her future was set in stone, as the mysterious Mr Candle put it. Seriously, I've never met a queen who failed at ruling because of her lack of knowledge of algebra.
However, what Star did love about school was the fact that she got to spend some time with her much loved earth friends, besides Marco of course. As she sat down at the table in the cafeteria, ready to munch down on some well needed grub, two of her aforementioned earth friends made themselves comfortable opposite her.
There was of course, one of Star's closest friends, the mischievous Janna. The girl sat down and immediately started prodding her food with her fork, a look of apprehension on her face.
"I swear, if I get detention for putting paint bombs in people's lockers, the cooks should get detention for putting whatever this is on my plate." said Janna, sticking out her tongue.
Star giggled. Like her, Janna also had a sense of rebellion and adventure, which was probably why the two got on so well. The girl could, as well, always bring a grin to Star's face, and ever since their shared experience of a particularly exciting detention together, the two had been close friends.
"Dude, you do realise there is only so much of your hijinks that Skeeves will take," said the girl next to Janna, and although there was a subtle warning in her voice, she couldn't contain a cool smile, clearly amused by said hijinks.
Jackie Lynn Thomas was another one of Star's friends. She was the cool, sharp skater chick that just about everyone thought was cool. No matter what the situation, she always managed to stay composed and chilled out, which Star admired, as she herself was prone to lose herself a bit in times of stress.
"Well," Janna began, letting the oddly coloured food slide greasily off of her fork, "I'm not the only one up to a few hijinks recently," She pointed the fork at Star, "Am I, princess?"
Jackie looked at Star in confusion, and she sighed. She knew exactly what Janna was talking about, as she had mentioned to her earlier about the whole … Marco situation. And like most things that Star did, she immediately regretted it afterwards. She had received none stop teasing from Janna all day, and while Star could normally just laugh it off, something about this whole joke was making her flustered and moody.
"So what's up, Star?" Jackie asked, shooting a grin over to Star. The princess shifted uncomfortably and looked down. She didn't feel comfortable with talking about this whole thing with Jackie, knowing that Marco had the biggest crush on her. I dunno, I just don't want Jackie to get the wrong idea and spoil Marco's chances with her, Star thought.
Before Star could come up with a way to explain the situation as best as possible, Janna seized that role for herself. "Looks like Star and a certain boy of the Latino persuasion are going on a hot date," the beanie wearing girl smirked, causing Star to look up in horror and Jackie to raise her eyebrows.
"No no no no NO!" Star whisper-screamed, eyes darting around to make sure no one had heard that. Janna just snorted with laughter, while Jackie sat back in her chair with a smug look on her face.
"Well it is about time."
The colour drained from Star's face. What did she mean by that? About time for what? The princess composed herself, and got ready to explain the full story to Jackie.
"We are not going on a date, like Janna said." Star shot Janna a glare, who just shrugged and carried on picking through her food. "Okay Jackie, so basically…"
Star retold the story of her predicament, about how Marco had to pretend to be her boyfriend for this dumb ball so that she didn't have to pick out a prince to sign a binding marriage contact with. Jackie listened intently, while Janna, who had heard the story previously, resorted to flinging globs on food across the cafeteria with a mundane expression on her face.
When she finished, Star took a deep breath and looked at Jackie. "So, ya know, it's all just pretend. Marco's doing me a favour, is all. We are definitely not actually together and he is still 100% single."
Once again, Jackie looked confused. "Why is that important?"
Shoot, Star mentally punched herself, c'mon Star, don't mess things up more for Marco. "I mean, I was just clarifying the fact that this whole 'pretend couple' deal is definitely pretend." Star smiled nervously, and Jackie just nodded, seeming to accept this excuse.
Janna, who had for a while now remained quiet, decided to join the fray once more. "Are you suuuure Star? I mean, once you see Marco all suited and booted, you sure you won't fall off your feet and faint?"
Jackie chuckled as Janna acted out swooning and fainting, putting her hand to her forehead and falling into Jackie's arms. Star, meanwhile, just sat there blushing and huffed in annoyance. Marco … in a suit? Pfft, I've seen him in a suit before! No big deal, right?
Thinking back, Star did remember the suit Marco had worn to the Blood Moon Ball. While he had looked … enchanting, to say the least, it was really the whole mystery of the stranger who has whisked her off her feet that had had Star swooning. At least, that's what she assumed. Makes the most sense, right?
While the other two girls were laughing their heads off, Star decided to put a stop to this once and for all. She stood up, put both her hands on the table and leaned in towards her two friends. "Guys! I've said this a gajillion times already! Marco and I are only doing this to save my skin, so can we please just drop it!"
At this point a few people on surrounding tables had looked round to see what this random outburst was all about, unnoticed by Star, who was still hovering over Janna and Jackie. Star's two friends studied the girl, seeing how flustered and irritated the girl had gotten. They decided to drop it.
"Sure, no problem Star," said Janna nonchalantly, and Jackie nodded. Star took a deep breath and just sat back down, "Super! Now, let me tell you gals what happened in Miss Skullnick's class this morning.."
As Star rambled on, she didn't notice the sly, knowing smiles exchanged between Janna and Jackie. Whatever they thought they would keep to themselves, as they turned around to face Star again and listened to her story.
Meanwhile, across the cafeteria, little did those three girls know that three boys were having a much similar conversation.
Marco sat at the table, his lunch forgotten, as he was in a very exhausted mood. Across from him sat his two friends, Ferguson and Alfonso, who seemed to be complete polar opposites to each other in appearance, and yet shared the same childish sense of humour. Explains why they're so attached at the hip, thought Marco, before his train of thought was lost as Ferguson continued on with what he had been saying.
"Gotta be honest dude, never thought you would agree to something like this." Ferguson managed to say between mouthfuls, "I mean, what about your thing for Jackie?"
Marco sighed. How many times do I have to explain this to them? "Ferg, it's not a real relationship! Star just needs me to pretend to be her boyfriend, this doesn't affect Jackie in the slightest."
Alfonso squinted, taking off his glasses and rubbing them on his shirt. "I dunno, Marco. People may get the wrong idea about all this. Heck, they get the wrong idea already."
This caught Marco's attention. "What is that supposed to mean?"
The bespectacled boy just chuckled, "Come on, Marco? Half the school already thinks you're a couple now! Who knows what they're gonna think after they get wind of this."
Marco, who had returned to his food and was in the middle of a spoonful, choked on his grub. "What?!"
Alfonsos looked to Ferguson for confirmation, and the large ginger boy nodded in agreement. "Yeah man. I can see why they would think that as well."
Marco had no idea how anyone could possibly think that of him and Star, and gestured for Ferg to continue, a disbelieving look on his face.
"Oh boy, where to begin?" smirked Ferguson, to which Alfonso chuckled. "First off, you two live in the same house together. You are literally with her more than you're not! Even Alfonso and I don't see each other that much!"
Alfonso nodded, making Marco just blink. "Yeah, but-"
"Secondly," Ferguson interrupted, taking a swig of his drink. "You guys do everything together. You go on adventures to other dimensions, you do things around town together, anything one of you does, the other will always be involved. Heck, I saw a few people do a double take at you just moments ago when they saw that you weren't sat with Star. People are just used to seeing you together!"
At this, Marco scrunched his nose and looked away, "Erm.."
"And finally," Ferguson concluded, a smug grin now etched across his face, "You two are basically siamese twins, the way you are always latched onto each other hugging!"
Marco's face went a deep red colour as Alfonso snickered. He scratched his head absentmindedly, lost in his thoughts. Are me and Star really that much like a couple? I mean sure, we hug a lot, but we're best friends! That's normal for best friends … right?
Ferguson and Alfonso continued to discuss the odd friendship of Star and Marco, while the Latino boy in question was still racking those thoughts around his head. I've never really thought of Star as anything more than a friend. I don't think I have, anyway. I mean, she is great … maybe we do act like more of a couple than I thought…? Oh gosh, I really hope this whole arrangement with her for this ball doesn't make things weird and awkward...
While Marco was still processing his thoughts and feelings, Alfonso and Ferguson's conversation continued.
"I just dunno many people who would do something like this for their best friend," began Ferguson, chewing through his words, "Unless there was something more there."
"To be fair," stated Alfonso, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose, "We all know that, to Star, he is very dutiful. Right Marco?"
Marco, still deep in thought, barely looked up at the two as he replied, "Of course I think Star is very beautiful! Who doesn't?"
Ferguson dropped his fork and stared at Marco, Alfonso having a similar reaction. They shared a look of confusion, and then turned back to Marco, who seemingly had not realised the misunderstanding nor what he had just said.
"Doesn't prove anything," mumbled Marco. Right, I need to stop thinking to deeply about all of this. I'm just Star's best friend helping her out of a predicament. It is as simple as that. No layers to this, none whatsoever.
He was pulled out of his thoughts when he looked up and just saw his two friends staring at him, mouths slightly agape. "What?" he asked, puzzled at their expressions.
"You just-" began Alfonso, until he received a sharp nudge from Ferguson.
"We were just in shock at how you guys can have such a unique friendship!" Ferguson grinned, as Alfonso nursed his side sourly. "Right, Al?"
Ferg gave Alfonso a 'let-him-get-there-on-his-own' kind of look, and being the close friends that they are, Alfonso understood almost immediately and nodded to Marco.
"Yeah man. Unique." he said, smiling.
Marco thought on this, and smiled back. "Yeah, I guess it is unique. Thanks guys." Listen to me, worrying about all this stuff with Star. These guys are right! Our friendship is amazing, and I wouldn't trade it for the world.
And with that, Marco dug back into his food, thinking about how thankful he was for such a 'unique' friendship with Star.
