Marceline took the long way back to her RV after leaving Bonnibel to her mother. She couldn't shake that gross feeling as she watched her friends entire demeanor change when her mom was around. She could feel the energy in the bus shift into something dark and sad. Even Finn seemed uncomfortable as she walked passed him, like he knew something she didn't.

Out of pure curiosity and totally not to stare at pictures of Bubblegum, Marceline pulled out her phone and opened instagram. She typed Princess Bubblegum into the search bar, finding the verified profile and clicking on it. She scrolled through the hundreds of photos of the actress turned pop star, ignoring the captions that were so obviously scripted for her.

She stopped scrolling as she came across a picture of Bubblegum and Broc Li. His arm around her as she took the photo. She scrunched her nose up in disgust as she glared down at the photo. Bonnibel looked..sad. She was smiling but it looked so forced.

As Marceline approached the RV, she quickly hit follow and shoved her phone back into her pocket. Keila had been sitting in a chair outside of the RV smoking a cigarette, watching Marceline as she got closer.

"Where'd you run off to?" Keila asked, taking a puff of her cigarette.

"Went to get coffee." Marceline responded, plopping herself down into the empty chair next to her friend.

"Then where's your coffee?" Keila raised her eyebrow at her friend, putting out the cigarette in the ashtray sitting on the ground.

"I drank it?"

"Marceline." Keila scowled.

"Okay, jeez. I did get coffee, but I wanted to stop by Bonnibels bus to see how she was feeling after yesterday." Marceline groaned, leaning her head back so she could face the clear blue sky.

"You keep calling her that."

"What, Bonnibel? It's her name." Marceline turned her head to look at her friend. Keila just grunted in disapproval as she lit up another cigarette. The two sat in silence, the only noise coming from the muffled sounds of screaming fans and music from the stage.

"I asked her about what she said last night. The possibility of doing a feature with her." Marceline broke the silence, lifting her head up and adjusting herself in the seat.

"Yeah, she was probably full of shit, right?" Keila laughed as she finished her smoke.

"No, actually. She said it would be interesting. Sounded like she actually wants to do it." Marceline turned her body to face her friend, who was now looking back at her in shock.

"Wait, seriously? How would that even work?"

"Uh, well, we didn't get to talk about the how. She got called to the stage I think, I was going to catch her show today." This raised an eyebrow from Keila, becuase Marceline hated radio music.

"You? Going to willingly listen to Princess Bubblegum?" Keila swung her hand over, placing the back of her palm on Marcelines tanned forhead. She grunted when she felt her normal cold skin against the back of her hand. "Who are you and what have you done with my best friend?"

"Whatever." Marceline mumbled as she swatted Keilas hand away. She slouched in her chair, folding her arms across her chest. "She's nice, okay? She saw our show yesterday, least I could do is the same."

"Whatever you say, Marceline." Keilas voice said more, she was concerned for her friend.

"Where are the guys?" Marceline asked, quickly trying to change the subject.

"They're still passed out. I couldn't sleep with Bongos loud ass snoring." Keila complained. It was true, he did keep them up a lot due to his snoring.

The two continued to talk outside, enjoying the clear day and beautiful summer weather. A few hours later Guy and Bongo came stumbling out of the RV, Guy personally complaining that Bongo already ate all the food and there was nothing for them to eat for breakfast, despite it now being two in the afternoon.

As the boys were bickering about food, or the lack there of, Marceline felt her phone vibrate in her pocket. Wasting no time in pulling it out, she couldn't help but hold back the smile on her face as she read the notificatios plastered across her screen.

P.Bubblegum has followed you back

You have (1) new message

"Hey, yo, earth to Marceline!" Marceline was pulled out of her thoughts as Keila started waving her hand infront of her friends face.

"Huh? Sorry, what were you saying?" Marceline locked her phone and looked up at her band mates.

"We said we are going to go grab food off festival grounds. You coming with or were you serious about going to see Bubblegum?" Keila, now standing in front of Marceline, stood there leaning on her foot with her arms crossed. She seemed annoyed, and Marceline was definitely the reason for that.

"I'm not hungry, you guys go ahead. Maybe get me something for later?" Keila rolled her eyes but agreed to Marcelines request.

She waited for her friends to leave before reclaiming her chair and pulling out her phone to open the message she had. Her face lit up as she read over the message.

P.Bubblegum (2:03pm): You'd better be careful, people might think you've gone soft when they see you follow dear ole me.

VampyrQueen (2:12pm): Might have to start calling me Marce-Mellow ;)

Marceline instantly cringed at her response, quickly typing out another message.

VampyrQueen (2:12pm): I take it back. Don't call me that.

P.Bubblegum (2:13pm): Too late, you will forever be referred to as Marce-Mellow :P

VampyrQueen (2:13pm): Go ahead and just whack me in the head with a bat then

P.Bubblegum (2:14pm): Dramatic much, Marshmellow Queen?

Marceline couldnt help but smile at the nickname. Had it been coming from anyone else, she would've probably walked into oncoming traffic.

VampyrQueen (2:15pm) Always ;)

VampyrQueen (2:15pm) Whens your show?

P.Bubblegum (2:17pm) I go on at 3. Looking forward to seeing you there 3

There it was, that unfamiliar tingling sensaton in Marcelines insides. That kind of tingling that felt like her stomach was going to fly away. Of course Bonnibel didn't mean anything with the heart, its Bonnibel. Theres no way. Marceline sat there re reading the message over and over again before another one came through.

P.Bubblegum (2:19pm) I'm working on convincing mother dearest about writing a song with you. I was serious about it, if the Scream Queens would be up for it.

VampyrQueen (2:19pm) I'll talk to them. See you soon, Princess

Marceline closed out of the app on her phone before locking it and shoving it back into her pocket. She sat in her own comfortable silence, getting lost in her own thoughts. Most of which were about bonnibel.

Why did she seem so scared of her mom, and why does her mom have such a huge influence on her entire career and relationships? Isnt Bonnibel an adult, and shouldnt she be in charge of her own stuff?

Something didnt sit right with Marceline the more she thought about it. She chose maybe it best to leave it be and stay out of it. Wasn't her business, afterall. Maybe Bonnibel could be her business one day...

She quickly shook that thought from her mind before standing up and making her way to the stage.

There was a dedicated section that was fenced off from the fans, just for the preformers. Marceline was fortunate to show up just in time to get a spot right near the front right side of the stage, a perfect view. She watched as the back stage crew finished getting everything set up, finishing off with a mic check before disapearing back stage.

The stage lit up with lights as the music faded in. Marceline could feel the roar from the fans as Bubblegum skipped out on stage, waving to the crowd as she centered herself up front.

It wasn't until she started singing that Marceline realized how beautiful her voice actually was. The control she had over her pitch, the flawless way the words poured from her throat. How has she not paid attention to this before?

Maybe it was the radio autotune. She never got to hear it live in front of her.

Marceline watched in awe as Princess Bubblegum danced around the stage with her backup dancers, singing to the song. She hadn't heard this one before, but the lyrics focused around strong woman and girl power.

Marceline admired how beautiful she looked on stage. The way her glittery eye makeup reflected off the stage lights, her green eyes practically sparkling.

As the first song faded out, the lights on the stage shifted into a different hue as the intro to the next faded in. This one was different, it was a love song. Or an infatuation song?

Marceline noticed the change in demeanor coming from Bubblegum. She was still smiling and dancing around on stage, but it seemed way too reheared. Those lyrics coming out of her mouth as she sang seemed disingenuous. Marceline could tell this one wasn't coming from the heart.

The crowd seemed to disagree though. Maybe Marceline was over thinking it.

Her lyrics always meant something to her, every time Marceline was on stage singing her emotions poured out if her through song. She had a keen eye for spotting those who don't feel with the music, and right now Bubblegum was that. Even the smile on her face seemed fake and forced.

Kiss me real slow, so I know how you do feel for me

(Don't you know you're coming on too strong?)

(Baby, you don't need to try so hard)

Dive in too deep, turn your phone off, and get with me

(Don't you know I can't help how I feel?)

(You're chasing an idеal)

I been thinkin' 'bout you all night (All night)

All night, all night (All night)

Baby, when the sun's out

I been tryna hit you up all night (All night)

All night, all night

Babe, you got mе unbound

Marceline kept her eyes on Bonnibel as she danced and sung on stage. She hadn't expected the preformer to notice her in the crowd off to the side.

But she did.

Bubblegums eyes met Marcelines. From the crowd, she raised her hand up to her head and gave a little finger wave at her friend. Something changed in that moment with Bubblegum, her face lit up, that forced smile now genuine, her body became less tense as she danced.

Bubblegum kept her eyes on her friend as she continued to sing.

You won't ever need another

When we get down with each other

I wanna have you all night (All night)

All night, all night (All night)

Baby, won't you be mine?

(Ooh) I'm tired of the same damn thing

(Ooh) This could be more than a thing, you see

Can't you see?

You got me unbound

I been thinkin' 'bout you all night

All night, all night

Babe, you got me unbound, ooh

Bubblegum eventually took her eyes off Marceline to finish off the song, resuming her prancing around the stage. She left Marceline standing there an awe with a face as red as her own bass.

Yeah, Marceline started to understand the apeal of the Princess of Pop.

Halfway through the set, Bubblegum announced they would be taking a quick, ten minute break to get ready for the second half of the show. Her eyes fell on Marceline once more, nodding her head in the direction of back stage, inviting her to come see her.

She wasted no time in getting out of the full crowd and to the back, pushing through the thick curtains. Marceline had to dance around the frantic people running about, all mumbling things about setting up the stage and light checks.

It took her a few minutes, but Marceline finally found a blob of pink sitting at a lit up vanity off to the side. As she approached she got stopped by a very tall and muscular woman with blonde hair tied up into a bun.

"You aren't supposed to be back here." The woman crossed her arms, her broad shoulders very intimidating. Just as Marceline was about to explain she's a preformer and had a pass, that same little bundle of pink approached and rested a hand on the strong womans arm.

"Susan, it's okay. She's with me." Bubblegum smiled up to the woman. She relaxed her tension, dropping her arms and nodding to the princess before walking away.

"Hey, Princess." Marceline waved her fingers.

"You know you don't have to call me that." Bonnibel giggled, grabbing onto Marcelines hand and dragging her over to the vanity she was sitting at prior. "I'm so glad you came, I wasn't sure if you were serious." Bubblegum took her seat. She started to fix some of her makeup in the mirror as Marceline leaned her back up against the table.

"I'm a woman of my word." Marceline smiled as she watched her friend fix her glitter.

"So what did you think?" Bonnibel put down the make up pallet, turning her body to face Marceline. She thought for a moment, should she be honest?

"It was good." She said with an unsureness in her voice. Bonnibel cocked an eyebrow at her friend.

"You're a terrible liar, Marshmellow Queen." Bonnibel frowned at her friend, slouching in her chair a little bit. "Was it bad?"

"No no no not at all!" Marceline quickly corrected herself. "It was good, it just uh," Marceline pushed back the redness in her cheeks, looking to the ground. "Just didnt seem like your heart was in it, you know?"

"Hm.." Bonnibel paused, her eyes admiring her friend. "Interesting." Interesting. Thats all she had to say?

Bubblegum placed a hand over the earpiece in her ear, rolling her eyes as a message came through.

"They're calling me back to stage. Can I come find you tonight?" She stood up in her chair, straightening out her pink dress.

"Yeah, we all will be in the RV later, we're working on some new stuff." Marceline nodded, pushing herself up off the table.

Bonnibel waved goodbye to her friend with a bright smile as she got ushered to the stage, leaving Marceline standing there alone. This time she didnt ignore the light feeling in her chest.