"Shouldn't you be at Marco's party?" Confused, Janna questions me as together, we sit down on Janna's sofa watching a monster movie, my legs over Janna's as I lean on the arm of the sofa, holding the bowl of sweet and salted popcorn, the best popcorn, no butter, butter ruins it, or toffee yuck!
"Nah, things are weird now…" Bluntly, I deadpan taking a piece and chucking it over to Janna.
"You mean with Star and Marco about time." Smoothly, Janna opens her mouth catching the popcorn.
"I know and it's just…I'm trying to bridge the gap but it's…" Struggling, I groan leaning over the arm.
"Hard…" Janna gathers.
"Unbearable they are so awkward it makes me want to smash my head into a wall." Annoyed, I growl.
"And Michael…?" Janna arches a brow.
"…" quietly, I much on a handful of popcorn.
"You haven't even spoken to him not even when you bumped into him at the concert!?" Irritated, Janna furrows her brow as I groan.
"He seems pretty busy with those girls…" Casually, I shrug only then to hear the faint buzz at the same time with Janna, making both of us share a look at Star's message, an emergency meeting great.
"And finally, Star wants to talk…what are you doing with that popcorn!?" Horrified, I gasp as she steals my popcorn attempting to devour it all causing a mess.
"What do you mean? You're not bringing it are you?" Frowning, Janna asks me.
"We do not waste food and yes it's mine now." Protectively, I hug the bowl.
"Fine whatever come on…" Janna sighs as we head over to the Diaz household…
"So now, Marco and I can barely make eye contact because of Ruberiot's dumb song. I mean, Marco actually thinks I have a crush on him." Deluded, Star cackles as I sit on her bed with Kelly, Ponyhead, Starfan and Janna listen to the crazy girl's hysterical laughter.
"Yeah, but, like... don't you, though?" Ponyhead furrows her brow.
"What?! No! Okay, maybe once." Stammering, Star glances to the side making Starfan gasps hopeful.
"Thank you see I'm not the only one who saw it!" Relieved, I sigh.
"You knew?" Surprised, Star blinks.
"I had an inkling." Laid back, I shrug as I take a handful of popcorn.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Star frowns at me.
"Star you can't really stop crushes," Bluntly, I deadpan.
"But I don't anymore." Quickly, she rejects making Starfan pout.
"A bit fast there weren't you Star?" Slyly, I remark making her furrow her brow.
"I just think he's kinda cute. I think lots of things are cute. Puppies are cute, kitties are cute, tiny peppers are cute…" Animatedly, Star gushes.
"Star, it's cool. We believe you." Expressionless, Janna hugs Star who lays her head on Janna's shoulder.
"I just want things to go back to normal. What if they never do, Kelly? What if they never do? Ash how can we all be friends all I will do is make things awkward for us three." Ashamed, Star tells me making me roll my eyes.
"Relax. This won't change anything." Calmly, I assure her.
"Girl don't freak out. Maybe you two just need some space. Like me and Tad, we're on our third break this week." Fondly, Kelly assures her.
"Third?" Worried, I arch a brow.
"Come on, Star. Let's ditch this place and go to the party the bad kids are having. I heard it's super dangerous…Ash got an invite!" Janna points out.
"It isnt as bad as you think it is. And you don't get invited you just go." Tiredly, I sigh.
"You've been to them before?" Surprised, Star blinks.
"Eh sometimes. Its usually the reason I snuck out." I confess.
"Oh! Star, you know what? You love danger." Eager, Ponyhead beams.
"That is true." Star hums out loud contemplating it.
"Boom! You're in! Let's go! Ash lead the way!" Excited, Ponyhead grabs Star by the collar and carries her out.
"You know what only cause you got my name right I will." I comply as the guys follow me as we head to the rooftop.
Groaning, Ludo awakens finding himself trapped within a ice crystal as he finds the monster temple interior beginning to move about, his blurry vison attempts to focus on the intruders in his household, the high commission and…
"Ugh... Who are you...? Please don't take my organs... Queen Moon? What are you doing here?" Surprised, Ludo raises a brow at the woman in her warrior attire.
"Give me that!" Angrily, Moon takes Ludo's wand.
"Hey!" Scowling, Ludo frowns at her.
"Where's Glossaryck?" Sternly, she demands from him.
"Glossaryck? Um, he's gone." Ludo shrugs causing Moon to gasp…
"What do you mean he's gone? What did you do with him?" Scowling, Moon demands from the kappa.
"I didn't do anything. Glossaryck showed me something in the spell book, and next thing I know, I wake up, and they're gone." Honest, Ludo confesses.
"Oh, come on. You stole the book." Scoffing, Moon accuses.
"Whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa. Glossaryck said the book is mine now. How's that stealing? And I think we can all agree Glossaryck comes and goes as he pleases." Frowning, Ludo defends himself.
"That's true." Sighing, Rhombulus gives him that.
"Yeah." Hekapoo furrows her brow crossing her arms at his valid point.
"And I suppose it's just a coincidence that you've taken up shelter here in this ancient monster temple." Smirking, Moon gestures to the monster temple.
"I'm supposed to know that? This place was empty, so I moved in. It's cold out there! I'm wearing a chip bag, for corn's sake!" Annoyed, Ludo argues back.
"What about your wand? You have half my family's crystal embedded in it." Insulted, Moon points out.
"It doesn't even work anymore. If it's yours, you can have it. Face it. You've got nothing on me." Smugly, Ludo leans back in his crystal prison.
"All right, all right, all right, this is getting us nowhere. Time for Plan B." Impatiently, Rhombulus steps up.
"No. Wait." Quickly, Moon stops him.
"No, we need to find Glossaryck." Sternly, Hekapoo argues. Frowning, the Magic High Commission members leave the room. Moon starts to follow, but hesitates, she stops and looks back at Ludo.
"Oh, I... I saw your family, Ludo." Gently, Moon tells him.
"My family? Let me tell you about my family…"
"Yo Ash! You made it!" Smirking, we make it to the convenient store rooftop as immediately, I am greeted by a few friendly faces.
"Hey, Tucker you got the stuff?" I ask him.
"Do I have the stuff!? Hah you know it!" Giddily, he grins revealing form his zipped up back the waterbombs and fireworks.
"Awesome…" Janna leans over approving of it.
"The stuff?" Warily, Star furrows her brow.
"Relax it's nothing bad." I assure her.
"Yeah usually we either fire off some fireworks into the sky or throw water bombs at people." Janna explains to her.
"Isn't that illegal?" Concerned, Star questions.
"Nah besides not many people come out at night and those who do typically deserve it. Ooh first I got some burning to do! Janna you coming? Oh, and relax, the fires are controlled…usually." I assure Star placing my hand on her shoulder.
"Heck yeah! Woohoo!" Pumped up, Star beams as I follow after her towards the bonfire.
"This is pretty cool, right? Janna's having a good time." Kelly smiles gesturing to us chanting, laughing and dancing before the flames. We chuck random stuff into the flames dancing around the fire.
"Burn! Burn!" Cackling, Janna laughs.
"Yeah..." Unsure, Star smiles.
"Oh, come on, B-Fly, you need to loosen up. Here. Throw this math quiz into the fire." Ponyhead levitates a math book into her hands.
"Yeah, I don't feel anything. You guys were so awesome to bring me here, but I just don't think I'm in a party mood right now." Honestly Star confesses as she throws a math quiz into the trash can fire
"No, I'm not like that." Ponyhead frowns.
"You guys stay and have fun with your controlled burn. I'll see you back at my place." Solemnly, Star smiles making me frown as I watch her try to leave only for my ears to perk up at the familiar god-awful sound of music, oh yeah I forgot he often joined us up here. Smirking, I approach Oscar with his new hair cut on his car.
"Yo Ash what up?" He greets me.
"Nothing much you?" I ask.
"Dropped out of school. I haven't seen you up here in a while." Smiling, he informs me.
"Yeah things have been busy still hey remember that Star girl?" Curious, I question him.
"Star yeah why do you ask? I haven't seen her in a while." Smiling, he nods his head.
"Funny enough she's here!" Grinning, I reveal to him.
"Is she?" Hopeful, he smiles.
"Yeah want me to bring you to her?" I offer.
"You don't mind?" Impressed, he smiles.
"Nah of course not come on!" Smirking, I wrap my arm around his as I help him down and approach Star, her back turned about to leave.
"Thanks dude." Oscar smiles at me.
"Yeah, yeah, Anytime…hey Star! Someone wants to meet you!" Dismally, I wave him off and raise my hand calling out to Star startling her.
"Um whose?" Confused, she glances at me.
"You remember Oscar, right?" Brightly, I smile untangling my arm from his to place my hands on their shoulders, a hidden glint in my yellows.
"Os…kar?" Awestruck, Star whispers gazing into his turquoise hues.
"It's me, Oskar. I got a haircut. Check it out. Mmm!" Proudly, he flicks his hair.
"Oskar?" Surprised, Star whispers.
"You're not leaving already, are you?" Disappointed, Star whispers.
"Uh..." Unsure, Star glances at me as I shake my head then she turns to the other girls, agreeing with me as I push them forward towards his car.
"So I haven't seen you at school in a while…" Carefully, I keep an eye on the two as I sit myself down on a log by Tucker, cackling at his latest adventure with Janna by myself as we roast some marshmallows and eat snacks as I keep a careful eye on Star.
"Yeah, I... dropped out to pursue my music." Dramatically, Oskar exclaims.
"Oh, you just gonna play... that right now?" Bored, Star mutters out. Determined, Oskar plays some synthesized rock music on his keytar. He then spins his keytar around his neck until the strap snaps and sends the keytar flying into the sky, disgusted, I shudder at the pitch of the keys thanking the deities up there for destroying that stupid instrument.
"You think maybe... it'll end up on Mars?" Intensely, Oskar whispers.
"Oh, I don't know. I mean, heh, Mars is pretty far away." Shyly, Star smiles.
"What are you saying?" Oskar furrows his brow.
"Oh, no, no. I mean, yeah! Yeah, maybe. Maybe. Maybe it'll end up on Mars." Quickly, Star corrects herself as I sigh.
"You see, Star? That's what I like most about you. You always believed in me." Smiling, Oskar holds his hand out for a fist-bump]
"Oh, no, I... I always do that wrong. You know that fist punchy thingy." Awkwardly, Star smiles.
"What are you talking about? You can't do it wrong. Just do what you feel." Calmly, Oskar assures her as nervously, she puts hand on Oskar's fist.
"Is this okay?" Unsure, she questions him unaware of Oskar blushing making me sigh as I lean back against the log bench seat thing.
"Good work girl!" Amazed, Ponyhead smirks at me.
"What can I say? I'm a pretty good matchmaker," I smirk.
"Now if only we can get you someone…so tell me is there anything specific you see?" Curious Ponyhead asks.
"Hey she has Michael…" Janna reminds her.
"Yeah but if that doesn't work out." Cheekily, Ponyhead wiggles a brow.
"It didn't work out." Struggling, I groan trying to come up with a valid response.
"What do you mean?" Kelly furrows her brow.
"He cheated on me look I don't have any types maybe its cause I grew up not really seeing love dovey couples. I just so long as I feel like I know that person, I mean I've never had a crush before." Honestly, I confess.
"Serious? Have you felt attracted to anyone?" Surprised, Kelly arches a brow.
"Honestly, no I don't think so I think I mean I want to find someone but I just…I don't care who or what they are I just need to trust them…" Earnestly, I confess to the group, taking out my phone as I glance at the image of Michael and I in, his beaming face and me I just…frustrated, I shut my phone off, scowling at the painful stinging ache in my chest.
"But for you to trust them Ash you need to let them in…" Gently, Janna tells me making mee exhale at her valid point.
"I know Jan…I know. I just...I've been hurt by so many people who say they would love, protect and look after me each one who said that… I would be back in the orphanage within a week. I just…" Pained, I whisper, my voice trembling. I close my eyes, feeling tears threatening to fall as I release a small sniffle of a sob, brushing off the tears. I simply stare up at the starry sky…
*How do you think Ash is feeling? Would love to know your theories on her.*