Marco's Choice

Chapter Three: One Is The Loneliest Number...

In the days and weeks that followed, Marco and Jackie were practically inseparable. At school, they would walk down the halls and eat lunch together. They would go for walks in the local park, play at the local mini-golf side by side, and indulge in several other romantic activities, both loving every second of it.

At first, Star was happy Marco was so happy. But as time passed, she noticed that he was spending more time with Jackie and less with her. As a consequence, Star's dimensional scissors were being used less and less. Without Marco, trips to exciting new dimensions didn't really seem that exciting. Some days, Star barely had time to spend with Marco at all. The more time passed, the more Star started to feel left out.

One afternoon, Star (in dark green dress) was lying on the sofa, utterly bored. As she lay in her stupor, Marco returned home.

"Oh, there you are." Star said flatly. "Let me guess. Been on another date with Jackie?"

"You guess correctly." Marco smiled. "These last few weeks have been amazing." He sighed happily. "Just me and Jackie, being boyfriend and girlfriend... It's so wonderful..."

"Yeah, you and Jackie..." Star frowned.

"Huh?" Marco asked.

"Nothing." Star shrugged. "So, you up for a quick trip before dinner? I found this awesome dimension with flying pillows!"

"Oh..." Marco frowned. "That does sound like fun, but Jackie and me went for a walk in the park after school, so I'm kinda tired right now. We could check it some other time, though."

"Yeah, sure." Star said in a pseudo-positive tone. "It's not like the flying pillow dimension's going anywhere, right?"

"Right." Marco nodded. "Thanks for understanding. You really are a good friend."

"Yeah, I know." Star nodded.

"I'll be in my room if anyone needs me." Marco walked upstairs.

"At least one of us is still a good friend..." Star pouted.

The next morning, Star and Marco were waiting for the school bus, having a talk about old times as they did so.

"Remember that dimension filled with talking pies?" Star grinned.

"You bet I do." Marco chuckled. "They all went nuts after we took a couple of bites out of one of them."

"I was picking bits of fruit and crust out of my hair for days!" Star guffawed.

"Boy, that was a crazy day." Marco chuckled. "Even crazier than usual, actually."

"But still fun." She grinned. "We always have so much fun together."

"Yeah." Marco nodded.

Star was starting to feel better. Just hanging out and having fun with Marco made her feel like the old days were back.

Unfortunately, the feeling didn't last long. Once they boarded the bus, Jackie waved to Marco.

"Hey, Marco!" She called. "Wanna sit with me?"

"Do you even have to ask?" Marco grinned, sitting beside Jackie.

"Should've seen that coming..." Star frowned.

Star found a seat of her own, near the back of the bus, and sat down with a huff. While she had always liked Jackie, she was starting to resent how much of Marco's time and attention she was drawing. A part of her hated feeling that way, but her resentment won out over it.

'I guess now I know what Marco meant when he said everything was going to change.' She thought. 'I never imagined it would mean losing my best friend...'

After they reached Echo Creek Academy, Marco and Jackie got off the bus together, holding hands as they walked to class. Star followed behind them.

'If they like holding hands so much, maybe I should just use a spell to fuse those hands together.' She thought bitterly. 'No, then I'd never get to spend any time with Marco. Not with Jackie there all the time. Back to the drawing board, Butterfly...'

As they took their seats, Jackie blew a kiss Marco's way. Marco mimed "catching" it, patting his chest with the same hand. Star, who saw the whole thing, could only roll her eyes in annoyance.

Things only got worse as the day progressed; Marco and Jackie sat together at lunch, painted each other for art class, and even shared a kiss under the bleachers during gym class. As the end of school rang, Star held out hope that their interactions might end for the day, but those hopes were quickly dashed...

"Wanna go get a smoothie?" Jackie asked Marco.

'Oh no...' Star thought.

"Sure." Marco smiled. He turned in Star's direction. "Hey, Star. Let my folks know I'll be a little late again, okay?"

"Yeah, sure." Star muttered.

"Thanks." Marco grinned, as he and Jackie walked away. "See ya later!"

"Sure, later..." Star frowned.

Once she got home, Star informed Marco's parents that Marco was on a date with Jackie.

"Another date?" Angie cooed. "Our little guy sure is a ladies' man."

"He takes after his father, don't you think?" Rafael cuddled his wife.

"Oh, Rafael..." Angie giggled.

Having had her fill of lovey-dovey moments for the day, Star went up to her room, and flopped down on her bed.

'I don't know how much more of this I can take.' She thought.

Some time later, the door to Star's room opened, and Marco entered.

"Hey, Star." He smiled.

"Oh, so you do remember me." Star scowled. "I was beginning to wonder."

"Um... what?" Marco frowned. "...Star, are you okay?"

"Don't pretend you care." Star turned away.

"What do you mean, 'pretend'?" Marco asked. "Is something wrong?"

"I'm surprised you've noticed." Star growled. "What with you spending practically every waking minute with Jackie..."

"What does that have to do with anything?" Marco asked.

"You really wanna know?" Star growled. "Well, here's my problem: Ever since you starting dating Jackie, you've been spending all of your time with her!"

"Well, I wouldn't say all my time..." Marco muttered.

"And what about me?" Star asked. "Your bestie. We've barely hung out at all these past few weeks!"

"Of course we have." Marco countered. "Just... not as much as we used to."

"Exactly!" Star yelled. "Because you and Jackie are too busy making goo-goo eyes at each other!"

"Well, yeah." Marco nodded. "That's what boyfriends and girlfriends do, you know."

"Well, I'm sick of it!" Star snarled. "That Jackie's so clingy, having you go with her everywhere..."

"Yeah, because she likes spending time with me." Marco pointed.

"A little too much time, if you ask me." Star snorted.

"Why are you so down on Jackie all of a sudden?" Marco frowned. "You're the one who helped get us together, remember?"

"Yeah, well..." Star hesitated for a moment, before angrily blurting out "I'm starting to wish I hadn't! Maybe then you'd still want to hang out with me, and not spend all day around dumb old Jackie!"

"Okay, that's it." Marco scowled. "I'm not going to just stand here and let you insult the love of my live!"

"Wow, she's really got you whipped." Star sneered. "I bet you'd roll over and beg if she told you to."

"...You know what, I don't have to stand here and take this." Marco shook his head. "When you're done acting all crazy, let me know."

"Hah!" Star laughed flatly. "Like I'd even have a chance, with you hanging around Jackie like a lovesick puppy all the time!"

"Well, it sures beats having to deal with you right now!" Marco scowled.

Marco stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him. Star grabbed her pillow, and screamed into it. She then lay on her bed, alone with her anger.

'Stupid Marco.' She thought venomously. 'Stupid Jackie. If you ask me, they can have each other...'

Star remained on her bed for the next hour or so, her anger slowly ebbing. With each passing minute, she started to regret the things she said to Marco. She got up and walked over to her dressing table, gazing at the picture of Marco and herself lodged in the frame of its mirror.

'Way to go, Star.' She thought. 'You've driven your best friend away.' She glared at her reflection. 'What is wrong with me, anyway? Why did I just lose it like that?' She sighed heavily. 'Guess I never realised just how great it is being friends with Marco until he wasn't around anymore. And now he's really not going to want to spend more time with me. Not after that royal temper tantrum.'

Star stood stalk still for a moment, hating the feelings of loneliness coursing through her.

'I've gotta fix this.' She thought. 'If I even can...'

The repentant young princess left her room, and walked over to Marco's, knocking on the door.

"Marco?" She said quietly.

"Go away." Marco's muffled voice replied.

"Marco, I... I'm sorry." Star sighed. "I really am. I'm sorry I insulted Jackie, and you. Please, just let me in."

For a moment, there was silence. Star felt as if her plea had failed... until she heard the sound of the door unlocking. The door opened, Marco standing inside.

"This had better be good." He said flatly. Seeing the morose expression on her face, his own softened. "What's been going on with you?"

"I... I... I've been feeling left out, that's what." Star admitted. "You're spending all this time with Jackie, and hardly any with me. I miss having you around, just hanging out and having fun."

"Oh." Marco noted. "I guess I have been spending a lot of time with Jackie. I've been so happy that we're finally together, I guess I got carried away."

"You're not the only one." Star sighed."I really lost it back there, didn't I?"

"Yeah, you did." Marco said honestly. "But maybe I was a little sensitive about Jackie."

"I shouldn't have said that." Star admitted. "I was just being petty." She sighed again. "Look, you're not just my best friend, Marco. You're the best friend I've ever had. I guess I was afraid that we were drifting apart..."

"That would never happen." Marco smiled. "You're still really important to me, you know."

"Really?" Star smiled hopefully. "What about Jackie?"

"Who says I can't have two important ladies in my life?" Marco grinned. "You're the best friend I've ever had too."

"Thanks, Marco." Star grinned. "I am pretty awesome, aren't I?"

"No doubt." Marco admitted. "But you really should have told me you were feeling left out. Just because I like spending time with Jackie doesn't mean I'd knowingly neglect our friendship."

"I probably should have known that." Star said sheepishly. "Boy, do I feel dumb..."

"Forget about it." Marco grinned. "So, how about that trip to the dimension of flying pillows tomorrow?"

"Sure!" Star cheered, before catching herself. "I mean, if you and Jackie wouldn't prefer to just hang out. I mean, we could always save it for another time.."

"It's okay." Marco smiled. "Trust me, Jackie will understand if I'd like to spend the afternoon with my bestie."

"I always liked her..." Star smirked. "...So, we're cool?"

"Frosty." Marco nodded.

"Hugs!" Star hugged Marco tightly, and Marco returned the favor.

Star smiled widely. Her doubts had been quashed, as Marco had proven that they were still besties. Star was so happy, she could feel a warm fuzziness right in her stomach. All was right with the world again...

To Be Continued...

(Star vs. the Forces of Evil and all associated characters belong to Daron Nefcy and Disney.)