Janna, Starfan13, and Alfonzo were standing near Marco's locker waiting for him to come by before lunch. His patterns in the school day could be timed on a stopwatch given his manner of planning things out. They were a bit nervous of approaching him as for the last few days they had left him to deal with the sudden tension between him and Star. But as Sunday passed and now with it being Thursday they needed to check in on him and this would be a convenient time. They were making tense conversation as best they could until he arrived with Alfonzo finally speaking up.

"Hey guys I see him!" They turned towards the approaching Marco eagerly. "Hey Marco wha- ohhhhhh." Everyone froze as they took Marco in seeing he was in extremely bad condition.

He had black circles around his eyes showing he had not slept for quite some time with his tired and sluggish movements pushing the point home. He had a dazed and unfocused look to his eyes showing that he was not paying much attention to anything. His hair was ruffled with his clothes being unkempt showing he had not focused on personal hygiene for a little while. He didn't even seem to notice Alfonzo's call out as he shuffled right by the group and went up to his locker going through the combo once and getting it wrong. Angrily he slammed his fist on the door and went for it again with Starfan13 speaking up.

"Marco, how's…"

"I DON'T KNOW OK!" Everyone leapt back at Marco's words as he seemed to realize what he had done. "Ahem, sorry I'm not in so good a state." He turned back to his locker getting it wrong again. "Why won't this damn door work!?" He slammed his fist against it again with Janna speaking up.

"Allow me." She quickly put in the right combo and opened the locker for him with Marco's frustration ebbing slightly. "So, care to fill us in man? Rumors are flying around the school at this point given how you and Star have been acting differently." Marco sighed and nodded speaking up.

"I don't have an answer for Star yet; no matter how much I try to 'follow my heart' or 'rationalize things' I've got nothing, big fat fucking nothing!" Everyone blinked in shock as Marco openly cussed as he went through his locker. "I can't just turn her down if I don't know for sure as it might damage our friendship especially if I develop feelings for her later on down the line, I can't just accept her advances because if I don't have a crush on her it will hurt her eventually given how sensitive she is, and I can't just 'try things out' with her as she'll think I'm pandering to her in a bad way! I have got nothing and it's eating away at both of us every day. *sigh* And what's more I think our friendship has already been compromised. She's been acting rather distant with me since the incident. She doesn't talk to me that much, she hides in her room frequently, and she doesn't join me for bestie activities anymore. I get she thinks I need some space but man… this is way too much space." Marco leaned his head against a locker door sighing again with Starfan13 speaking up.

"Or like how her heater wasn't working and she refused you acting as her heater pillow despite how risky it was for her." Everyone turned to Starfan13 with unnerved looks on their faces. "What, I like keeping an eye on Star." Janna smiled slyly and nodded approvingly speaking up.

"You, I like your style." Alfonzo coughed getting everyone's attention before speaking up.

"Stalking aside maybe she's trying to just treat you as a friend now thinking you're not going to accept her and maybe distancing herself from you will help?" Marco looked at Alfonzo in shock before groaning and slammed his head into a locker hard enough to make everyone wince.

"Why does life have to be like this?" Janna gave him a look conveying how frustrated she was at the situation before speaking.

"Can't you just man up and make a choice already if this is eating at you so hard dude?" Marco slowly turned towards Janna glaring with a gaze that would cut through diamonds before speaking.

"Do you have a reply for Ferguson yet?" Janna went to answer but froze turning a brilliant crimson before she spat at Marco.

"Fuck you man!" She turned and ran off with Marco scoffing at her as he closed his locker.

"That's what I thought." He turned and walked away with Starfan13 speaking to Alfonzo.

"Speaking of which, you should confront Chloe about what she told you." Alfonzo blushed slightly nodding at that speaking up.

"I would, but she keeps on avoiding me; could you help me find her?"

Frustration didn't describe Marco's emotions right now, well they did but inadequately. He couldn't properly find words to describe it although shame would likely fit in with the various emotions right now. He knew he needed to make a decision and he knew how hard it was for Star but he just couldn't simply because, and this made him feel pathetic, he didn't trust himself. He tried looking for advice from other people but his friends likely would not provide much help, none of the teachers could provide support, and the school counselor told him to just follow his heart which didn't help. As for his parents, well they were more obsessed with the idea of Marco and Star getting together then helping him sort out the confusing emotions; in fact it probably made things worse for Star given how they may have harassed her. He groaned in frustration again as the school bell rang signaling the start of class with him deciding he was in no shape to go to class and would just cut it this once. He leaned back against the wall behind him as he tried thinking of someone who could help him and got nothing… well, almost nothing. Of course going to that person was risky simply because…

"*sigh* What options do I have? Star is taking medication twice a day at this point." Marco pulled out the mobile mirror and spoke to it. "Call Toffee." The mirror rang for a few seconds with Toffee picking up.

"Marco, what a pleasant…" He saw the state Marco was in and double took with a look of shock on his face. "Oh this is not good is it?"

"Um… is Moon around by any chance?" Toffee nodded and put Marco on hold. After a few tense minutes of silence the mirror was picked back up again with Moon and Toffee in the image with Moon speaking up.

"So Marco, what seems to be the issue?" Marco heaved a hefty sigh and began going into what had happened over the last few days.

The words started out hard at first but as the conversation progressed they began to flow more easily until if felt like he was vomiting up everything. He even went into great detail on how he didn't trust his own judgement bringing up the points Toffee had brought up with him on the concert night. Moon and Toffee said nothing listening to Marco quietly as he spoke until Marco reached the end of his rant nearly crying at that point.

"So now I don't know what to do, have no one to turn to, can't wait any longer, and don't trust myself in the slightest." He waited for a second before looking up at them double taking in shock as the duo were smiling at each other in an understanding way.

"Doesn't this just take you back my shining moon?"

"Indeed it does, in a way that is not entirely pleasant but funny enough looking back at it." Moon turned towards Marco speaking in an understanding manner. "Believe it or not we actually faced something similar. On my 15th birthday party we snuck out to have a private party with my friends in the woods. However during one song being played Toffee and I got caught up in the moment and kissed each other without fully thinking things through. It was an… awkward six weeks afterword to put it mildly."

"Or to put it another way, I ran and hid from it and Moon was in denial of it." Moon giggled at Toffee's words as he flashed her a quick lopsided grin. "Eventually Moon finally did confront me about it and I had to make a snap decision myself; fortunately by chance I chose the proper way to think about it and I'm going to tell you how I came by my conclusion. Don't ask yourself whether you have a crush on Star or not, ask yourself what Star means to you. How does she fit into your life and what would it be like without her in that spot? And don't worry I'm not going to come after you like a stereotypical father who thinks that no boy will ever be good enough for his girl; although you still have a bit of work to do..." Moon elbowed Toffee in the ribs hard enough to make him gasp as she spoke up.

"What he meant was there will be no pressure from us in the slightest. As strange as it may sound you will have to trust yourself and I am fairly certain you will know what the right answer is when you ask the right question. And for now…" She grabbed Toffee by his neckline pulling his head down to her level. "… all this talk of nostalgic awkward love has given me an… itch that needs scratching." Toffee spoke up sounding a bit confused.

"Really, this turns you on dear?" He then turned towards Marco speaking up. "This is the part where you end the call so you're not traumatized." Marco quickly hung up putting the mirror away to think.

He switched his mindset from deciding whether or not he had a crush on Star to asking himself what she meant to him and how she fit into his life. He spent about a total of 15 seconds before he actually got his answer startling him by how quickly he reached that conclusion. He also now knew what he had to do; he only hoped he would be able to find the right words to do it in the right way.

Star was playing Age of Mythology and trying to keep her mind off of Marco but was having trouble doing either. She just couldn't shake the anxiety of what Marco might chose as it wasn't the choice itself she hated, it was waiting for him to make a choice. A soft mew from her lap made her idly stroke Nacho's fur with him nuzzling up to her trying to provide comfort. Star smiled down at him warmly feeling his purr echo through her body when a knock at the door startled her followed by Marco's voice.

"Star, can I talk to you for a minute. I have an answer." Star immediately stood up picking up Nacho who complained a little at the sudden change of location and ran for the door. "I get if it's not a good time…" Star flung the door open making Marco take a step back in shock as she spoke up.

"No um, now is good…" She paused upon seeing something floating by Marco's head. "What's the Truth Box doing here?"

"Oh I am here upon Marco's request to confirm that he is indeed telling the truth to you so there are no doubts in the slightest. Now then Marco, the truth." Marco nodded to it and turned towards Star speaking up.

"So Star… could you put Nacho down first he looks uncomfortable."

"Sorry!" Star set Nacho down who mewed in annoyance before he moved to the side and smoothed down his fur.

"Anyways, I have an answer for you but… let me explain why I made my decision before I give you my answer." Marco fidgeted his fingers nervously looking down slightly as if nervous to face Star. Star on the other hand was facing him with a look that held both fear and hope in an equally balanced mix. "Star… I had been pining for Jackie for nearly 8 years and she was the one who confessed to me; not I to her but her to me. And when the relationship started I focused too much on finally having accomplished that goal that… I didn't even have a plan for what came next. I was so in love with the idea of being with Jackie I didn't even stop to properly consider what I might do if I succeeded in hindsight. And now seeing my best friend, someone who I have only known for about six months or so including that time when we were four, confess to me even if prompted by the Truth Box… it makes me realize what I am. I'm a coward Star, an insecure and immature coward who didn't even pick up on signals I should have seen a mile away when it came to you. The worst part is I actually had to get the truth of what was wrong with me from your own father in a painful manner as well in order to finally accept it." Star blinked in shock at this and spoke up.

"Wait, dad contacted you about what has happened between us in the past; even when I told him not to?!" Marco saw Star get mad and calmed her down quickly.

"I was the one who contacted him Star because I felt like I needed the truth ok?" Star glanced over to the Truth Box who gave her the truth screen confirming Marco's words. "But that's beside the point, the point is through all this I'm not sure if I trust myself to be a good boyfriend or even a good friend at this point. Mostly because I was so focused on just taking care of you and being Jackie's boyfriend and everything else I… abused both relationships and didn't really notice what was going on with you. I was so focused on getting Jackie that the idea of another person being 'the one' didn't even rear its head. So first off I would like to apologize to you for… not being sensitive enough to notice when I failed. As for what I feel towards you… I was extremely conflicted on that as I had not even considered it and was asking the wrong questions to myself. Once again, your parents actually helped me out on this one." Star chuckled nervously and pulled some stray hair behind her ear.

"Yeah they are pretty good with everything."

"Regardless, they told me about the proper question to ask myself; what you meant to me. After thinking about that everything slipped into place in my mind at long last." Star sharply in took some breath and held it as his answer had finally come.

Kingdom Hearts II Soundtrack- Sanctuary (watch?v=HTUq3Ik1GHM)

"Star you are my bestie… and so much more than that. I've gotten to know you as a person better then I think I ever could with anyone else in my life. We know each other so well that some stuff people would find strange to do comes second nature to us. We snuggle beneath our friendship blanket every Thursday, we go on life changing adventures all the time, we risk life and limb for each other, we leap to help each other when we're mentally or emotionally troubled, hell we even sleep together some nights. I wanted to improve myself at Toffee's harsh words of truth, but you might be my motivation. I want to be the best me I can be just to take care of you and to be taken care of by you. I want to make my late night nachos for you, I want to be your therapist, to be your heater pillow, to be the friend you go on adventures with. In essence, I want to share life with you and I… want to love you and for you to love me back. Not for a week, not for year, but for as long as possible I want to be with you. You've come into my life and given me purpose that I never knew I needed so I don't just want you… I need to be your boyfriend. Will you be my girlfriend?"

"Truth!" Marco finally heaved a few breaths waiting for Star's reply as the Truth Box confirmed his words. He felt as if he just vomited everything up getting a jittery vulnerable feeling throughout his body. He figured he had messed it up but at least it was now over. As no reply came from Star Marco finally dared to look up and double took at her watery eyes and her goofy and relived smile. Before Marco could say another word though Star grabbed and pulled him into a hug that made his bones creak while sobbing.

"MArco *sniff* I've been so loNEly." Marco felt the pressure increase with him gasping for air. "I thought no one worthwhile would look at me that way Marco because I'm *sniff* a half-blooded freak. Most people wouldn't approach me because I look ugly and many more would be deterred by my high position as a princess. *sniff* The few who would dare come to me would be because they just wanted to be king and *sniff* the privileges that come with it. And when Tom turned out the way he was *sob* I thought I could trust no one to be that close to me." Marco gasped trying to get air into his lungs as Star's grip tightened even more. "I felt like I was going to alienate my best friend by getting a crush on him but *sniff* the fact you feel the same way about me *sob* THIS IS THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE!" Marco felt something snap in his body with a sharp pain shooting out from it, fortunately Star noticed that. "Marco… MARCO!" Star set Marco down on her bed as he gasped for breath with her retrieving her wand using a new spell she had learned. "LEUS HAAL" Marco felt his body completely heal from the snap with him speaking up.

"Wow, no more tentacle arm eh?" Star grabbed him again being gentler in the hug.

"I am so sorry Marco, I just don't know my own strength and…" Star felt the tension lift however when his arms came around her holding her close.

"It's ok Star everything is fine. I like that strength of yours to be honest, so long as you don't kill me with it." Star snuggled in close to him with Marco holding her close for a second before continuing. "Also, if this is the best day of your life there are going to be… plenty more than where that came from." The two let out exhausted chuckles and sobs feeling completely drained like an empty bathtub.

They pulled away from each other to arm's length sitting on Star's bed with her sparkling purplish-green eyes locking with his warm chocolate eyes. They stared at each other not noticing the Truth Box shut down with Nacho and the laser puppies watching them silently. After what seemed like an eternity Marco and Star began leaning in close to each other with their faces getting closer by millimeters. If this were a cheap romance story something would intervene to stop the kiss from happening or make it awkward, but the author to this story is sick of those clichés himself. Their lips met, uninterrupted and without a sense of forced drama upon it, and they pulled each other in close to savor their first kiss. It didn't feel like any kiss that they had before this point with others; not an awkward smooch, not burning hot, not like lightning, not too rough, not even just pressing against each other. It felt warm and comforting, like taking off your shoes and stretching out after a long hard day knowing you were in for a long peaceful rest with everything you liked. They held that kiss for the longest time feeling an additional tingling sensation in their cheeks like a strange type of blush. As they finally pulled back to look at each other Marco saw Star's marks were glowing a light pink and Star saw he had crescent moon shaped cheek marks that were glowing a brilliant white.

"Marco… your cheeks." Star spoke in dazed manner as Marco felt his own cheeks feeling the heat come from his marks.

"That… must be from when I used your wand at St. Olga's. Guess we're cheek buddies to." The two giggled with Star looking at him dreamily and speaking softly.

"We are everything buddies now Marco," She pulled in close for a hug snuggling up next to him. "for as long as we are together." They sat there in each other's embrace enjoying to relief and comfort of being with each other until they heard Nacho give out a single mew.

(end music)

"Oh hey Nacho, what's up?" Marco spoke with both of them turning to Nacho who batted at their feet and gestured at the door. "Hmmm… oh yeah tonight is friendship Thursday, what movie do you wanna watch?" Marco turned towards Star who smiled feeling light and bubbly as she replied.

"How about 'Beauty and the Beast'? Everyone has advocated for it Marco so let's see it." Marco nodded before responding.

"You know what, sure let's see that." Star giggled and kissed his cheek softly before getting up and moving out of the room calling back to him.

"I'm getting in my pj's this evening, you do what you want." Star waved to him flirtatiously as she bounded away leaving Marco with a warm sensation inside of him.

"Yeah, I should do the same." He spoke softly to himself with Nacho batting at his feet impatiently. "Aright alright I'll get moving so you can snuggle with us but this is our first date so don't come between us too much got it?" Nacho nodded demurely as he padded off with Marco getting ready to make his nachos.

And with that, the love drama between Star and Marco is finished. :')