READ WHEN TWO WORLDS COLLIDE BEFORE READING THIS STORY!
Chapter 3- Missing Piece
"So...you sure you got everything?" Marco asked.
"I uh...I think so." Star said as she took her backpack off her back, zipping it open and looking inside, rummaging through it. "Yup. Mmm-hmm. Uh-huh. Yeah! I got everything." Star added as she zipped her backpack closed and slung it back on her back.
She and Marco stood in front of the Diaz residence on the sidewalk. Today was Star's first day back at Echo Creek Academy. This year was going to be a little different. Not only were monsters now included in the roster. It was also Marco's first day at Echo Creek Community College. Since he was able to get a G.E.D. early, he was able to jump ahead. This meant that he wasn't coming with Star. They were going to be separated most of the day.
"So...Marco...you uh...excited for college courses?" Star asked, trying to break the awkward silence.
"Yeah! I don't know exactly what I'm going to get a degree in so I picked a few different courses; culinary arts, psychology, national diplomacy. Maybe it'll help me decide what I want to do." Marco explained.
"Good idea." Star told him. Silence filled the air once again as they stood on the sidewalk, looking left and right, seeing if the bus would come soon. Marco bit his lip. They didn't enjoy the fact that they were now going to different schools. They've been by each other's side almost all day and every day for so long; fighting evil and exploring other dimensions. Now, things were changing, much to their dismay. But with all they have been through in the past, they know that there are times when you just have to move forward and accept the journey ahead of you, even if it was something completely new to them. Marco, however, couldn't help but worry about Star being without him during her days at school.
"Hey. Are-...are you sure you're going to be okay without me with you?" Marco asked.
"Pfft. Please. I'm going to be 17 soon. I'm a big girl." Star told him with a chuckle as she patted his head.
"Yeah. Guess you're right." Marco replied. "Maybe I'm just worrying too much." He added.
"It's okay. It's the boyfriend's job to worry." Star said as she lightly nudged his arm. Marco chuckled as he rubbed it. Star appreciated Marco's concern for her. It gave her reassurance of how much he loves and cares for her. Nevertheless, she knew Marco had to go to college at some point since he talked about it on Mewni with her many months ago. She didn't want him to blatantly give up his goals just for her. Star wanted what was best for him.
Suddenly, Star and Marco could hear a motor coming from the left, down the street.
"Well, here's my ride." Star spoke as the yellow and black bus Star and Marco knew very well came to a stop in front of them. The door opened, revealing a green slime-monster bus driver.
"Star Butterfly! Nice to see you!" The bus driver spoke happily.
"Heeeey!" Star replied, happy to see a fellow monster friend at the wheel. She turned to Marco before hopping inside. "Britta's after school?"
"Sure." Marco responded with a smile before Star kissed his cheek.
"See ya!" Star said as she walked up the steps into the bus.
"Marco!?" Two familiar voices exclaimed. Marco glanced at the windows of the bus, catching sight of Alfonso and Ferguson poking their heads out of one of them.
"Hey, guys! Long time no see!" Marco replied with glee, happy to see his buddies again.
"You're telling me! You're the one that left the planet for months!" Alfonso told him. Marco forgot how long he had been on Mewni. It felt shorter than it seemed.
"You getting in?" Ferguson asked.
"Nope! I graduated early! Remember? It's my first day of college!" Marco asked.
"Aw, man! We were planning on having a big role-playing game during lunch today!" Alfonso told him. He suddenly realized how he put that response. It made it seem like he didn't want Marco to go to college at all. "I mean, not saying that it's not a good thing that you graduated because, you know...it's great that you graduated!" He sheepishly spoke.
"I know what you're saying." Marco told them with a slight chuckle. Star suddenly opened a window next to them, poking her head outside.
"Hey, guys!" Star exclaimed, waving to Alfonso and Ferguson.
"Star!" Alfonso and Ferguson shouted together in joy. The motor on the bus vroomed once again as the bus was about to drive off.
"I'll try to catch up with you guys later, okay?" Marco said to his two friends.
"No problem, dude!" Alfonso said.
"Have fun at college!" Ferguson added. Marco turned his head to Star.
"Call me if you need anythi-" Marco shouted, trying to be louder than the bus's motor.
"Bye, Marco!" Star interrupted loudly as the bus drove off. Marco watched as the bus went farther and farther away from him before it disappeared within the horizon. Once it was out of his sight, he took a deep breath in, letting it out slowly with a confident smile.
"Alright, Diaz. New day. New school. Let's do this." He told himself as he walked into his home, closing the door behind him.
The school bell rang as the outside of Echo Creek Academy. Buses were parked in front of the school, dropping students, being humans, mewmans, and monsters, off for their first day. Students were shuffling in their lockers, putting their coats and other belongings in them. Star skipped down the hallway with glee, happy to be a part of a brand new era of Echo Creek Academy, where beings of all kinds come together to take part in learning something new. Although Star dreaded the thought of being in another hour-long math or English class, she was so excited to make some new friends. She stayed confident that today would be a day that would be talked about for years to come. With Star's hands holding on to her backpack straps and a bright smile on her face, she could hear everyone saying a bright hello to her from every direction.
"Hey, Star!" A fellow female student called to her.
"What's up!" Star exclaimed, waving to them.
"¡Hola estrella! ¡Te extrañé mucho!" A male student said to her, saying he missed her a lot.
"¡Yo también te extrañé!" Star replied, saying she missed him too, pointing at him. She stopped herself, feeling surprised at herself. "Huh. Spanish actually paid off back two years ago." Star thought to herself. Suddenly, Star was tackled in a hug by a familiar student.
"STAAAAAARR!" Starfan13 exclaimed, hugging her tightly, crying just a bit.
"Awww Starfan13! Wait, what's your actual name?" Star told her.
"It's Starfan13! I had it legally changed!" Starfan13 told her as she held up a legal document, proving the name change as she giggled. Star nervously smiled in response.
"Star Butterface?" Another familiar voice sounded from behind Star. Star turned her head, seeing Brittany standing there with her arms crossed.
"Heeeeeey! Brittany!" Star awkwardly said to her as Starfan13 let her go. Brittany breathed in, about to speak before Star interrupted her. "Look. I had a lot of time to think since I last saw you. I might've not realized it before, being the...well...pretty oblivious person I was when I first came to Earth but...you were...really mean to me then. I've been through a lot since I last saw you that's really made me stronger." Star spoke. Brittany stared at Star, wide-eyed at her remark to her.
"Star Butterfly saved the planet not too long ago, you know!" Starfan13 said proudly, backing Star up.
"It's okay, Starfan. I got this." Star told her, patting her on the shoulder. "So...so if you have anything to say, just let it out. Let's just get it over with."She never thought she would hear those words coming out of Star. Brittany was honestly surprised. She didn't know what to say.
"I...uh…" Brittany hesitated, seeing the confident look on Star's face. Star was serious with what she said. Star knew that after everything she's been through in the past few years, a bully could never get inside her head. She's dealt with far worse. Plus, without Star, Brittany's own world possibly would be ruled by evil. Brittany let out a breath. "...welcome back." Brittany said with a smile as she reached a hand out to shake hers. Star was astonished. Brittany? Being nice to her? This was definitely new. Star didn't need to hear a sorry from her. Just hearing Brittany showing kindness to her is all she needed. Star smiled back as she took Brittany's hand, shaking it lightly.
"Thanks." Star said with a smile. Starfan13 looked at Brittany and Star before taking them both into a ginormous hug.
"Friendshiiiiip." Starfan13 spoke as Star and Brittany stared wide-eyed at each other. Brittany pushed herself out of the hug.
"Woah! Hey! One step at a time, okay?" Brittany told them as she flipped her hair, walking away.
"She'll get there. Sheee'll get there." Star told Starfan13, patting her shoulder once again.
Marco stood in front of the long-stretched building that is Echo Creek Community College. He was as stiff as a block of wood. It's not every day that an almost 17-year-old kid goes into college. This was a big step for him. Marco didn't even know what to expect. All he knew is what he'd seen in some sitcoms of characters listening to boring college professors in a lecture hall. Marco looked around at other college students, being humans, mewmans, and monsters, walking into the building. They all seemed as if they knew what they were doing. Marco only wondered how people could be so confident on the first day. Marco reached in his pocket and took out his cell, bringing up a picture of the community college on the screen.
"It's uh...much bigger than I thought it'd look." Marco swallowed in a slight tinge of fear. It's nerve-wracking for anyone to go to a completely new school. The worry of getting lost finding a classroom, meeting new people, traversing into a new level of learning; who wouldn't be a tad bit nervous? Marco could feel the sweat dripping from his forehead. Wiping the bit of sweat off, he tried to trick his mind, thinking logically instead of out of fear and terror.
"Come on. It's just college. It's not the neverzone. You're not trying to blow the flames off of hundreds of Heckapoos' heads. You've been through way worse than academics." Marco told himself, putting his phone in his pocket before looking confidently back at the college. "Just go in and act like you know what you're doing. Simple as that." Marco added before taking his first step forward, walking up the few bits of steps, right to the doors. The doors opened automatically, proceeding for Marco to walk inside, right into the atrium. His eyes widened.
The atrium's ceilings were really tall. Tables and chairs were placed around the area; a few of them occupied by students working on their coursework or studying for an upcoming exam. Marco wondered if the students studying were over-achievers, being that it was only the first day. To the left was a mini coffee shop. A coffee shop? In a college? Marco never would've guessed that would be here! He could smell the mouth-watering java beans roasting from it. He wondered if the barista was able to make herbal teas.
Everything seemed to look amazingly clean and sterile, almost as clean as a hospital would be, which is something Marco appreciated, being the organized and tidy person he is. There was even a janitor to the right still mopping a part of the floor that was already spotless. Marco honestly appreciated the janitor's effort in keeping everything nice and neat. Marco took a second to reach inside his backpack and take out a folder. He opened up the folder, taking out a map he printed out at home; a veeerrryyy complicated map. There were so many more classrooms than Echo Creek academy ever had. He attempted to take out his college schedule before he accidentally elbowed someone behind him.
"Ow!" A male voice yelled behind him. Marco could only think how smoothly this day could go already. Marco turned around quickly, seeing an aqua-blue scaled monster on the floor. Marco could notice the gills he had on his neck. He could only guess he must have been from the Waterfolk Kingdom. The monster was about Marco's height, wearing a pine-green hoodie, almost like Marco's, a pair of dark ripped jeans, and black converse sneakers. He was rubbing his head from the impact of Marco's elbow. His books and a few papers surrounded him on the floor. Marco desperately hoped he didn't cause a concussion with the karate-like elbow strikes he was able to perform.
"Oh no! Dude, I'm so sorry!" Marco spoke, getting on a knee to help him up. "Are you okay?" He asked concerningly.
"Don't worry. Everything's all good." The monster told him with a slight chuckle.
"Whew. That's a relief." Marco replied. "Here. Let me help you with these." He added as he helped the monster pick up the papers and books all over the floor. Marco handed them to the monster before helping him up off the floor. "All good?" He asked.
"Don't worry about it. You didn't do any damage." The monster reassured him.
"What a relief. Oh! I'm Marco, by the way. Marco Diaz." Marco told him, reaching out to shake a hand.
"Wesley Kelpbottom." The monster replied, introducing himself. Marco found his last name way too familiar. He couldn't help but ask about it.
"Wait, Kelpbottom? Are you-" Marco wondered. Wesley chuckled a bit.
"No, no, no. You're confusing me with Larry, the prince of Waterfolk Kingdom. I'm his second cousin." Wesley told him.
"Ohhhh. So, hold on. What are you doing here? I mean, you're living in a palace being waited on hand and foot. You don't have to go to college. You know?" Marco asked.
"Oh, I know. Truthfully, it's not as luxurious as you would think. It gets pretty boring. All I've been doing is just sitting around doing nothing but eating whatever you ask for and playing video games." Wesley told him.
"But that sounds amazing, man! You don't have any responsibilities to worry about! I would love to live a life like that." Marco spoke.
"That's the thing though. I want to have responsibilities! I feel useless just lounging around. I want to actually make a good enough contribution to society. I want to make a difference for other people." Wesley explained. "I don't exactly know what I want to do though so I thought going to college could help me decide that." Wesley told Marco.
"Well, hey. You're off to a good start. You're in college and you've made a new friend." Marco told him with a smile.
"That's great! I could use a college buddy. I'm kind of nervous. With me being a monster I'm not exactly familiar with places like this." Wesley nervously stated.
"I think you'll be fine. Besides, if anyone decides to mess with you, you've got back up." Marco told him.
"That's a relief. So what's your schedule like? We can check to see if we have any classes together." Wesley asked. Marco and Wesley took their printed schedules and traded them with one another. They observed them closely.
"No way." They spoke together.
Their schedules were exactly the same.
Star, now walking down the halls of Echo Creek Academy, held her schedule and books as she made her way to their first classes. She took notice of the students walking past her. Star noticed how a lot of monsters, humans, and mewmans were already getting along and becoming friends with one another. It was a great thing to witness. Star was always determined to have everyone be treated with respect and equality in her world. She was thrilled that it's finally happened.
"Hey, Star." A familiar voice spoke behind Star, tapping her shoulder. Star knew exactly who was speaking.
"Janna!" Star said as she turned her head, seeing Janna...and Tom? "Wait, Tom? What are you doing here?" Star asked.
"My parents thought it would be good for me to be enrolled." Tom shrugged. "Plus, it's an excuse to spend time with Janna." Tom said with a smile.
"You do know this is high school, right?" Star asked, worried that he doesn't even know what happens in this place.
"Come on. It can't be that bad. Janna told me I'm going to love it." Tom told her. Star raised an eyebrow at Janna as Janna shed a smirk.
"He has no idea what he's in for." Janna whispered to Star.
"Wait, what?" Tom asked, wondering what his girlfriend just said.
"She said that uh...yoooou're in for a real treat! Right, Mar-" Star started, turning her head to her side…
...forgetting that Marco wasn't with her. She was hoping she wouldn't think about Marco today, not because she doesn't miss him or anything, but because she doesn't want to think about how much she misses him. Star was hoping it would stay out of her mind with the help of constant distractions. Her face went glum for a minute.
"You okay?" Janna asked, noticing that Star spaced out. Star snapped out of it, hearing Janna's voice.
"Oh! Um…yeah! I'm fine." Star said with an obviously fake smile.
"You know, it's okay if you miss Marco." Tom told her, knowing exactly what Star was thinking. Being Star's ex-boyfriend, Tom could read her like a book.
"Please. I'm fine. I mean, it's not like I have to be around him every single minute of my life." Star said, sweating a little bit before she quickly took her cell phone out of her pocket, dialing Marco's phone. It didn't take long at all to hear a response.
"Hi! It's Marco! I'm not at the phone right now but if you leave a message, I'll get back to you when I can. Thanks!"
Marco's voicemail ended before Star took the phone away from her ear. Usually, Marco answers her calls. Hearing the phone go straight to voicemail was a bit unexpected...and a bit anxiety-inducing. Did Marco forget about her? That's all she could think was the case here.
"Huh? Straight to voicemail?" Star spoke to herself.
"He might be in a college class right now." Tom shrugged, trying to relieve Star of her worries.
"Maybe." Star said. Janna reached in her pocket and took out her cell to check the time.
"We'd better get to class. We have five minutes." Janna told the group.
"Hey. You two know this place better than I do. Lead the way." Tom said before they all began making their way to their assigned classroom. Star drifted in the back of the pack, a bit occupied with her thoughts. Sure. She was excited to be back and to see all her Earth friends again. She was thrilled to see monsters, mewmans, and humans all in the same curriculum and getting along. Star couldn't help but miss Marco though. She tried to avoid the thought of missing him but...she just couldn't. It just didn't feel the same to her without Marco by her side. Star could only wonder if he missed her too.
Marco's phone continued to vibrate in his backpack as he kept getting calls from Star. He was sitting next to Wesley in a psychology class, listening to the lecture given by the professor. All of the students had notebooks and laptops in front of them, typing out notes that the professor provided, being shown by a projector. Marco was typing on his laptop as fast as he could, feeling that the professor was going a little bit fast with his notes.
"Now, if you turn to page 132 of your textbook-" The professor continued. Marco was scrambling to get his online textbook from his computer. He minimized his notes before catching sight of his desktop wallpaper; a photo of him and Star when they were last at the beach. Marco couldn't help but stop and stare at it; taking account of her blue eyes, golden-blonde hair, and fair-skinned cheeks with her petal-pink hearts. He took his pointer finger and stroked her cheek in the photo. He let out a happy sigh.
"You okay, dude?" Wesley asked as he noticed Marco stroking his computer screen. He leaned over to take a glance at Marco's wallpaper. "Who's that?" Wesley asked, pointing at Star.
"Oh, that's just Star." Marco told him. Wesley grinned, noticing Marco's demeanor.
"Your girlfriend, huh?" Wesley questioned.
"How could you have guessed?" Marco asked, wondering how he could possibly know that.
"Oh, I know the look of someone who's in love. I've been there before." Wesley said.
"Really?" Marco asked.
"Yeah. I was in love once…well, actually, I still am in fact." Wesley leaned back a bit, deep in thought all of a sudden.
"So...what's her name?" Marco asked, curious as to know the details.
"Her name's Ellie. She lived in the Waterfolk kingdom like me, except she's not royal in any way. She lived in a small town not too far from the castle with her parents. Her family didn't have a lot of money but that didn't mean anything to her. What kept her going through the struggles of poverty is her artwork. She's an amazing artist. The first time I saw her, she was on a cliffside, looking out at the ocean while painting an ocean landscape on a small canvas." Wesley smiled, thinking about his love while Marco listened to his story about her. "I decided to go up to her and see what she was painting that day. The curiosity was killing me; not just to see what she was painting but to meet her as well. I startled her a little bit though when I spoke a friendly hello. She jumped and her little cups of paint fell right on my head. We couldn't help but laugh at it though. It was hilarious. I looked like I just came out of a brawl with a rainbow." Wesley laughed before continuing.
"We started spending more time together after that. We actually became good friends, hanging out whenever we can and telling each other about ourselves, learning more and more about each other every day that went by. Then, one day, we were both walking down the beach during a beautiful sunset. We didn't really plan the get-together. We just looked outside our windows one day and thought of it. She was talking about her ideas for another painting of hers. I always loved hearing her talk about her art. It's what makes her happiest. That day though, I felt something...you know, different...inside me. Like, a tickle in my stomach. I couldn't stop smiling no matter how hard I tried. I couldn't help but stare at her while her long wavy brown hair kept waving in the breeze. I desperately wanted to just take her hand and hold it. I mean, nothing happened that caused me to think that. I just...thought it." Wesley continued.
"Heh. You're reminding me of the last time Star and I went to the beach. When she took the braids out of her hair, I couldn't help but stare." Marco smiled. "That's actually where this photo is from, except I'm the one that planned it all. She was stressed so I decided to take her for a night out to relax." Marco spoke, thinking about that night. It was one he wished he could relive over and over again...except the part when they were woken up by an officer." Marco nervously cackled. "So what happened after that? Did you tell her how you felt? I mean, Star and I had feelings for each other since we first met. I guess we were just too oblivious to even notice."
"Well, I did wait a while to see if what I was feeling would still be there. After that night, though, I couldn't stop thinking about her. I couldn't sleep because all that was on my mind was her. Every waking minute, she was all that was on my mind; while I ate, while I read books, while I watched TV, the image of her wouldn't go away. So one late night, I called her up out of the blue and told her to meet me on the cliffside where we first met. She was up for it thankfully. An hour later, we met up. We sat on the cliffside for a while and I...well, I told her. I told her how I felt and how I really like her and want to be more than just friends. I know it sounds cheesy but it was honestly the truth. After that, I just waited for her answer." Wesley told him.
"What did she say?" Marco asked, curious.
"...she didn't say anything." Wesley made a happy little sigh. "She didn't have to."
"I'm confused." Marco responded.
"...she kissed me. That answered everything." Wesley told Marco.
"That seriously sounds like a fairytale, man. You should tell her to paint all of this." Marco told her. Wesley's smile suddenly turned into a frown. Marco took notice of his sudden change in mood. "You-...you okay?"
"...I can't tell her." Wesley replied.
"What? Why? I think she'd love the idea!" Marco spoke.
"No. You don't understand. I literally can't tell her." Wesley said somberly.
"But...but I actually don't understand. What do you mean?" Marco wondered.
"...before the whole world changed those few months ago...and Earth and Mewni fused, Ellie told me she was going on a trip. She was so excited about it. She told me she was going to explore other dimensions for inspiration. She said she would have at least 20 new paintings when she came back to the Waterfolk Kingdom. I encouraged it one hundred percent. I always encourage something that would improve her talents. But...then...after she left...the world...it changed and-..." Wesley couldn't finish his sentence, but there was no need for him to do so. Marco knew exactly what he was about to say.
Wesley and Ellie were forever separated after the cleaving of Earth and Mewni.
Marco felt so guilty inside. He and Star were the reason that they could never see each other again. Marco couldn't tell Wesley that it was his doing though. Wesley would tell everyone he knows and word would spread all over Earthni. It would make him and Star a target. Plus, Marco feared that if he said a word, Wesley would hate him forever if he told him, which meant he would lose a friend. This made Marco extremely anxious.
Suddenly, Marco had a weird feeling in his stomach.
It wasn't pain or anything like that.
It was just...weird.
It was like nothing he's ever felt.
Then, he wondered...
...was it the dark magic from the stab wound? If it is, why would it be doing this now? Was it an emotional response? Whatever it was, he knew at that moment that he had to see Eclipsa as soon as he possibly could. But right now? He didn't want Wesley to know it was there. He had to pretend like nothing was wrong. Marco took a deep breath without Wesley noticing. As he calmed down, the weird feeling started to diminish. Marco was thankful for that. He didn't want to cause trouble, especially after finding out what Wesley told him.
"Man I'm...I'm so sorry." Marco told him, feeling even more sorry than he seemed to be.
"Don't be. It's okay. I haven't lost hope that she'll come back; that she'll be with me again. I think she hopes for that too...wherever she is." Wesley smiled. "But enough about me. Back to you and Star. So, where is she? Maybe we could get together for lunch!"
"Oh, she can't. She's at Echo Creek Academy." Marco told him. Wesley looked at him wide-eyed.
"...and you arrrrrrrre how old?" Wesley asked.
"Hey! It's not like that! I'm almost 17! I just graduated early." Marco told him.
"So, wait. You and Star are the same age and were going to the same school, but you decided to graduate early?" Wesley asked.
"Well, it's more than that. A lot of stuff was going on. She was staying on Earth for a while and had to leave so I just followed her to Mewni and spent some time there. I received my G.E.D. early so I could go there." Marco explained.
"Man, I feel sorry for you." Wesley told him.
"Wait, why?" Marco asked, confused.
"Well, you both went to high school together. Now you're separated for most of the day. That honestly has to be rough. If Ellie and I were in both your shoes, we would miss each other every single minute." Wesley told him. They suddenly heard the professor call to them.
"Excuse me? Have something to share with the class?" The professor asked Wesley.
"Um, no. I'm sorry." Wesley replied, acting a little embarrassed.
"Mmm. Now, as I was saying-" The professor continued. As Wesley focused back on the lecture, Marco spaced out, thinking about what Wesley said. He looked beside him at the empty seat right near him. He let out a sigh.
I'm just so used to one thing changing and then the next and the next and then sooner or later, I guess I just worry that this...you know, us...is going to change too.
He remembered what Star told him the other day. Of course, Marco missed her. Why wouldn't he? She's his girlfriend. He's in love with her. They spent almost every waking minute together for a long time. They've had many adventures and battled countless evildoers side by side. He's always willing to accept changes in life but...these changes; going to different schools most of the week? They just felt off to him.
After hearing Wesley's story, Marco couldn't help but contemplate things. For the rest of the lecture, he was unable to focus. He missed a few notes that the professor displayed on the projector. Marco wasn't normally like this in school. He's usually the one who wrote every note neatly in his notebook and aced every test he's ever taken. This time, however, he couldn't even concentrate. Every time he tried, his mind kept going back to Star, making him go off track again. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't stop thinking about her.
Marco really missed having Star with him.
Star, Tom, and Janna sat in a classroom, listening to another one of those boring math lessons just like last year. Star was in the front at her usual window seat while Tom and Janna were seated in the back of the room. Surprisingly, Ms. Skullnick was their teacher once again...and was still a troll. Star wondered if Ms. Skullnick enjoyed being one after discovering more about them during that class field trip to the dimension of wonders and amazements. Star decided not to even bring up the subject to avoid further issues.
Star wondered what the point was to even take math classes. Like most students who hate math, She had a feeling she wouldn't have to ever use it in the future. Then again, Star had no idea where she would even be in the future. Would she be helping with ruling Earthni like she was supposed to in Mewni? Is she meant to actually take on a career like most people, even though she was a member of the Butterfly family? Who knew what the future held for her. All she knew was that math is boring and she wanted out of this classroom as soon as possible.
The feeling of boredom was severe; much more severe than other times she's been in math classes. She tried to entertain herself by taking her pencil and etching things on the desk like she's done many times before. Her desk has been replaced many times so her 'workspace' felt way too empty. First, she started drawing a few butterflies. Then, a few spiders. After that, she drew a giant heart, adding little mini stars around it. She giggled as she finished etching it out, feeling proud of her doodle-work. She then turned her head to her right.
"Hey, Ma-" Star started quietly. She realized she did it again, thinking Marco was next to her, forgetting that he was in college now. She just kept forgetting. Or...
...was it just that she couldn't accept the facts?
Star sighed. She thought this year would feel just the same as every other year; boring classes, fun with friends, and gross cafeteria food, like the cardboard-like pizza and unidentifiable whatever-it-is that she always avoided. Something just didn't feel right. She knew exactly what that something was too. She missed having Marco with her. Star tried to not think about it. She tried to focus on other things like classes and lunch and hanging out with her friends. However, everything just felt off; as if this whole day was like a puzzle and it had a missing piece.
Marco told her that he was stuck with her. But...he wasn't here with her now. It just didn't feel right. She knew that things would change in the long run...but this was too much for her. Star couldn't do anything about it though. She was stuck in this class with this teacher learning this same boring subject that Marco always seemed to excel in. There was no way she could graduate early. Star wasn't at Marco-level intelligence. She kind of missed having him as encouragement for her to actually do well, even though she barely tried.
She wished Marco was sitting next to her like he always did; that is, unless she was moved to the back of the room where Janna sits because of letting the hamster out the window or muttering something in class that she shouldn't. But Janna had Tom with her now. Star was now the third wheel. She felt so alone.
Star just couldn't wait for the day to be over...so she could see Marco back home.
After school was over, Star made her way into the living room. Mrs. Diaz poked her head out of the kitchen, watching as she came in with a somber look on her face.
"So how was school?" Mrs. Diaz asked, walking into the living room.
"Meh." Star spoke as she dragged her way to the couch, face-planting right into it.
"Oh. Well, Marco should be home in a few hours. He told me he had one more class left." Mrs. Diaz told her.
Star stayed silent as she lied face down on the couch. Mrs. Diaz could tell something was wrong. She made her way over to the couch and sat next to her, even though it was a tight squeeze from Star taking up most of it.
"Need to talk about it?" Mrs. Diaz asked, patting her on the back Star let out a sigh as her face dug into the couch cushions. Mrs. Diaz looked to her side, trying to think of how to respond to that. From previous experiences with Marco, she thought it'd be best to just give her some space instead of forcing it out of her. "I'll be making some chocolate chip cookies in the kitchen. If you want any, feel free to come in and take a few." Mrs. Diaz told her as she stood up. "And...if you ever need to talk, I'm here." She added before walking into the kitchen.
Suddenly, Star tugged on her shirt.
"I miss Marco." Star told her as she sat up. "I thought I would be fine in school without him there but-" Star hesitated. She sighed once again. Mrs. Diaz couldn't help but smile, seeing how much Star loved her son. She knew this feeling all too well. Mrs. Diaz sat on the couch next to her again to give some support.
"When I met Rafael at your age, I couldn't get him out of my mind either. I'm sure Marco told you about when I went on a trip to France. I thought that trip would be fun and thrilling and that absolutely nothing could ruin it. Then, I thought of how much I loved Rafael and missed him. It felt like there was this long, painful emptiness inside me." Mrs. Diaz told her. Star's eyes watered up a little. Mrs. Diaz put a hand on her shoulder.
"But you know what? It's okay to feel that way. That's what true love feels like. Yes, it hurts to be apart but...it's a way of knowing that even though you're apart, no matter how far you are from him, nothing can separate the way you feel about one another." Mrs. Diaz spoke with a smile. Star wiped her nose with her arM.
"Do you think he misses me right now?" Star asked.
"With how much he talks to me about you, without a doubt." Mrs. Diaz replied. "And I know that when he comes home, he's going to show you how much." Star smiled before hugging Mrs. Diaz.
"I needed to hear that. Thank you." Star said.
"My pleasure." Mrs. Diaz said before they let go of one another. "Anyway, I'll be in the kitchen baking those cookies." Mrs. Diaz told her as she stood up. "If you need anything, come talk to me." She finished, putting one hand on Star's shoulder before walking away towards the kitchen. Star, feeling a bit better after that slice of solace, took the television remote from the coffee table and turned on Y.O.U.T.H.S, making herself comfortable on the couch, waiting for Marco to come home.
It was 8:25 at night. Star watched five episodes so far, although she honestly felt as if she watched twenty. A few hours can honestly feel like two whole days, especially when you keep looking at the clock every two minutes. Checking the time so often can make the hours go extremely slow. Star kept looking at the door, waiting for that doorknob to turn and her brown-haired prince to come walking through the doorway.
Suddenly, the doorknob finally turned. Star shot up a little, looking in the same direction, feeling a wave of hope that Marco was finally home. The door opened, revealing an exhausted Marco at the doorway. Star jumped up from the couch and ran to him.
"So uh...sorry if I ran a little la-" Marco started before Star glomped him in a ginormous hug. Marco stood there for a few seconds, a little shocked. "Oh! Uh...okay. This is nice." Marco chuckled as he dropped his backpack and hugged Star tightly. "So, how was school?"
Star froze. What was she supposed to tell him? She figured that Marco probably hoped she had a great day. She couldn't lie to him.
"...to be honest, it wasn't as great as I thought it would be." Star replied. Marco let go after hearing what she said.
"Really? What happened?" Marco asked.
"Oh! Nothing! Nothing happened. It's just…"
Star hesitated.
"...everything else was great. I saw all my friends and had fun. The classes were boring but that's nothing new. Basically, everything was just like I thought and hoped it would be." Star told him. "But...not having you with me made the day feel...weird." Star chuckled nervously. Marco noticed her expression turning somber.
"I really missed you." Star spoke.
Marco understood exactly how Star felt.
He felt the exact same way when he was at college the whole day.
Marco took his hand and lifted her chin up. He cupped her face and took her in for a sweet kiss. They both took in the feeling of their lips touching. After a day like they had, it's what they needed to make the day just a bit better. After a minute, they slowly parted.
"I missed you too." Marco told her with a soft smile as he stared into her blue eyes that he loves so much. Star reciprocated before remembering something kind of amusing.
"You know, there was actually one thing that was different." Star remembered.
"Really?" Marco spoke.
"Yeah. Tom's now enrolled." Star told him.
"Tom? Going to Echo Creek Academy? Really?" Marco laughed, unable to believe that Tom would actually be involved in academics.
"Oh, I'll tell you all about it." Star laughed right back as they made their way to the living room with their arms wrapped around one another.
After a few hours of TV time and cuddles, everyone in the household went to their rooms and fell asleep for the night...
...except for Marco.
Marco opened his room door just a tad bit so he could poke his head out and take a peek at the hallway, making sure that no one was awake and walking around .for a drink of water, a snack, or to use the bathroom. Once he noticed that the coast was clear, he retreated back in his room, closing the door quietly. He walked over to his desk and sat in the chair in front of it before taking out his phone and dialed a number.
"Hey…yeah. Sorry, I'm calling so late...yeah I think I'm going to do it." Marco spoke through the phone to someone. "...yup. I talked with him and he seemed fine with it." He continued. "...yeah. Of course we can still hang out. We're friends...I know...I'm glad you're okay with all of this...oh. Okay...I'll talk to you later...okay. Night." Marco finished before hanging up and placing the phone on his desk.
The next day, Star sat at her usual desk, just like yesterday, waiting to not even listen to another boring math lesson from Ms. Skullnick once again. The class hasn't even started and she already felt like she was about to doze off. Star only wished she could bring a pillow to class. It would make the lesson so much more tolerable. Out of nowhere, Ms. Skullnick spoke.
"Now, I know this is only the second day of school for all of you, but we have a new student joining our class." Ms. Skullnick told the students.
"Great. Another poor wretched soul about to be bored by endless numbers." Star spoke sarcastically
"I would keep your mouth shut if I were you, Star." Ms. Skullnick snapped, pointing at her with darting eyes. Suddenly, the door opened.
The new student walked into the classroom.
Star shot up out of her seat.
It couldn't be.
"Hi! I'm Marco. You probably already know me already but-" Marco introduced himself before being interrupted by Ms. Skullnick.
"Just take your seat." Ms. Skullnick told him as she rolled her eyes, just wanting to get on with the lesson for the day
Star sat there with wide eyes, watching as Marco sat at the empty desk next to her. She was beyond confused.
"But...but I-...why are you-" Star stuttered.
"Surprised to see me?" Marco chuckled slightly.
"But…you have a G.E.D.!" Star shouted.
Marco took his G.E.D. out of his pocket, taking it in his hands
...and ripping it into pieces.
"Yesterday, I made a friend. His name's Wesley. You'll meet him soon enough. When I told him about us and our relationship, he opened my eyes to something I honestly tried to avoid. I really wanted to come back here. So, I talked to the principal here and he said it was okay for me to go back to being a high school student."
"But...but why would you want to come back here? It's high school for crying out loud!" Star asked.
"I missed you too much to be in college." Marco said to her.
Star's eyes lit up.
"I mean, I love you. I want you by my side no matter what I have to go through to make that happen." Marco finished. Star sniffled, on the verge of tears.
"You're...you're willing to suffer through high school for me!?" Star cried.
"Uhhhh...yeah. I mean, I don't suffer through it but-" Marco started.
"You are...like...the best boyfriend I've ever had!" Star sobbed.
"Uh...Star? I know you're happy for me but uh...people are staring." Marco spoke.
"Oh. Sorry." Star said as she stopped crying, realizing she was causing a scene. Marco, then, noticed something etched on Star's desk, including the big heart she drew. Marco took her pencil from atop her desk and started etching something in the middle of the heart. He lifted his hand once he was done to reveal an 'M+S' on it.
"Awww" Star spoke quietly. She and Marco gazed into one another's eyes before taking each other's hand, happy to be together again.
"Wait, I need to fix the S." Marco said, taking the pencil and beginning to add his artistic side to it until...
"Marco! Stop making marks on the desk!" Ms. Skullnick yelled.
CHAPTER 4 COMING SOON!
So fun fact about this chapter! I've had this chapter idea in my mind since the beginning of When Two Worlds Collide! However, I felt that it wasn't right to put it in that installment because of the situation that Earthni was in. I thought that once everything on Earthni calmed down and everything was somewhat in order again, it would be right for this chapter to be written. I put a LOT of heart and soul into this chapter (obviously, with it being how long it is haha) so I really hope you like this one! The next chapter will be here soon! :)