CH.7: Girls and feelings

Marco stood outside of Jackie's house the following day…well…turns out it was finally the weekend. Yes…time flew and somehow he had managed to get close to having an actual conversation with Jackie and then he'd freeze…or…Star would show up. Star was a force to be reckoned with as he often operated on her time. Where did she even live? There was so much about Star and so many questions and yet the only answers he got were often mumbled or quickly interrupted by some well-placed universal interruption of sorts.

It was Saturday…and…given the fact monster hunting kind of slowed down and school work, if not already finished…wound up for later in the night, he was free. Star had told him that Janna was fitting in well with Tom and was learning to not feed on human blood. While that did settle some of his worries…his gut was telling him something was up. Tom just seemed a bit too agreeable in helping out…and he'd get to the bottom of it…eventually, maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow…but Monday for sure.

"Mom I am going out for a bit. Oh hi Marco…didn't see you there." Marco blushes noting the white short top that Jackie is wearing and the shorts that showed off leg.

"Uh, hi, hi Jackie…nice weather we're having right?" Marco wanted to hit his head against the nearby wall but felt he needed some brain cells to do the extra credit he had for Math.

"Well…it is rad enough weather to skate, so, no complaints here. I haven't seen a lot of you lately, you ok?" Marco laughs nervously and he shifts about on the soles of his shoes.

"What, me, yeah I am fine…nothing to worry about. So where are you off to?" Marco plays with the zipper of his red hoodie as he tries to be cool.

"I was just off to the skate park. Say…did you want to come? I have an extra skateboard and helmet, could be rad fun, what do you say?" She did love the word rad…however…if it meant spending time with Jackie heck yeah.

"Sure…I love to skateboard, haven't done it in forever so I might be a bit rusty." Marco saw her laugh and he laughed too. Honestly he had never skated before in his life so hopefully she didn't see through the slight lie. Then again he had been lying to his parents…then again that was so wrong.

"Alright so just wait there Mr. Pro." She disappeared as she went to her garage and he couldn't stop his heart from racing. Great…what had he talked himself into?

"Psst…Marco!" Marco did a jump before he settled back to the ground. Looking around he notices he is the only one there. Strange…but no matter maybe it was just his nerves. "Marco, oh Marco…Marco!"

Marco finally looks over and sees that Star was in the bushes. "Uh…Star…what are you doing…in the bushes?"

"We kind of have a situation…seems there is this shifty looking guy about. It might bear looking into, so, c'mon we got work to do." Marco knew that his job had him hunting things in the daylight as well as the night…but…he also had a personal life to consider.

"Star…I-I can't, see me and Jackie were going to go skate." He watches her face before laugh lines form.

"Marco…you…skate?" She giggled a bit and while he admitted his heart did many flips over it he also knew that he couldn't stand for it to carry on.

"Yes, I can skate…I think, look that doesn't matter…I am unavailable to hunt any monsters…or shifty looking guys. Why don't you get Tom to help you?" Marco didn't know what had overcome him…or…why he had even said that name.

"Marco, I…well fine. I hope you fall on your butt…face." The two of them exchange looks and Marco feels like he is making a grave mistake but also what other chance would he have to hang with Jackie? All he knew was his hunting life and that had occupied a lot of time that drew him into a shell where talking to girls like Jackie proved impossible.

"That doesn't even make any sense…but…whatever. Happy hunting." Marco turned his back on her and then she left. Part of him was inclined to apologize…but…just then Jackie shows with a red skateboard and helmet.

"You know it is kind of funny, me having a red board and your favorite color being red. So, ready to go shred?" She tossed him the board and helmet and he caught them. He was a bit surprised…even given he was a hunter his skills at catching fast flying objects wasn't that great.

"Rad." He offered a smile though he wasn't feeling too good about now. Talking to girls, he was getting a hang of…feelings…that was a whole other problem. He just hoped Star would be ok.


Star Butterfly had left Marco's house feeling a bit let down. She had been hoping that she and Marco would be able to hang…but…clearly he was too caught up on personal life stuff. The blonde kicked at the ground wondering what his deal was with Tom. Tom was a sweet guy…true he had his faults, but, he was looking after Janna so there was that.

Her history with Tom was sort of rocky and given their past it was not something she was wanting to jump back into. The shifty looking gentleman she saw…it bore investigating into and if she did not have Marco…who did she have? Wearing her cute white top over skirt she felt a brush of wind against her legs, her instincts kicking into gear as she rolls forward as a slice of death nearly seared her skin and took out her spine.

"Star Butterfly…alone…how fitting." Star knew that voice and it chilled her to no end. She stood up straight as she turns to see a figure in a long trench coat.

"You…I should have known." She spreads her feet a bit as she reaches behind her but hears the tsk sound coming from the drawn down hood.

"Would you really attack me in broad daylight Star Butterfly? I would think your parents raised you better. Your skill with a blade is quite impressive…and…the offer still stands if you would only-."

"You offer me that hand of yours and you will see it before your feet. I thought I had-." She could feel her hand shake a bit as she tries to draw her blade out.

"Yes, well, if you had done what you claim to…you would have made sure the job was done properly. I like that you have found a new life for yourself here…but…it never lasts. And that boy, so sad, you have fallen for him but he is into someone else-."

"Shut up!" She brings her weapon out and as she charges the trench coat figure side steps and as he removes his weapon the butt of it goes down onto her back sending her down with a cry of pain lancing her back.

"You used to have a level head…I must say I am disappointed. Echo Creek…it might bear more inspection on my part…so…till next we meet Star Butterfly." The figure walks off and Star tries to get up but the pain is almost too much on her part. It would pass but one thing was certain…she had to find Marco and warn him.


Marco stood at the base of the ramp looking down…his eyes drawn wide as he notes the steep descent. "Uh…is this safe?"

Jackie laughs a bit as she looks over at him. She was wearing her helmet and those big eyes of hers…he felt like he was drowning helplessly in them.

"Marco…you aren't scared are you? C'mon, live a little…let the extreme in and whatever you do…don't panic. You need control of the board…too much movement and you will crash. So…you got all that?" Marco wanted to say yes, but, he found himself leaning forward.

"Uh…Jackie?" He suddenly looked forward noting he was moving down. His arms move about but he seems to recall 'don't panic', so, he just focused on staying centered. Of course there was the next ramp approaching fast and he felt his breakfast pushing against his throat and he has to swallow it back down.

"Marco…you are doing great!" Marco imagined that is what she said. However all he heard was, "Marco…doing…great…" He wanted to say something back but as he rose up the ramp…he noticed a figure waiting there. They wore a trench coat of sorts and he almost felt like he was being judged.

"Everything you know and care about will fall…just like you are about to. Happy trip Marco Diaz." He wanted to ask how he knew his name…cause he figured it was a guy…but before he knew it he was falling. Turning his body about he tumbles and groans a bit as he feels sore and he kind of hopes nothing is broken.


Star manages to get to the skate park where she imagined Marco had gone on his 'date' with Jackie. He did not know anything about her…pfft…falling for Marco, please. Marco was her friend who helped her out from time to time…and…yes they went to school together…but that didn't mean anything. Right now she had to focus on telling Marco…he was back.

Her back was still in a lot of pain and if not for her certain special traits such a blow would have rendered her helpless. She knew that he had not aimed to put her out of commission…and also knew that he had held back from killing her…as he had done before. Looking around the park she spots Marco ascending the ramp at fast speed…worry set in.

What if something happened and the last thing said…no…she would not let it happen. Star was about to do something when she saw him. He was waiting for Marco and though she couldn't' hear him…it boiled her blood. Marco seemed transfixed…till he fell. His tumble was hard to watch and as he settled down below…she thought to go to him.

However Jackie got to him first. She pulled back lying in cover…her feelings conflicted. So long ago it had been Tom…and since then she had closed herself to ever feeling like that again. Jackie and him share a few words till she kisses his cheek and Star's world explodes. Her mouth trembles and she sniffs a bit before backing away and hurrying off. She had to get away…this was just too much.

Authors note: Ah young love. Anyway apologies on the length of time…but hopefully it won't be as long next time. Next chapter awkwardness and zombies.