"Star Butterfly? That's a unique name but nice nonetheless." Marco replied, grinning. "We need people with more unique names, like Annalise, Evangeline, Emmett."

"Well, I appreciate hearing that, Marco," Star replied as she gave the boy a slight bow.

"You know, you don't always have to be formal around us if that makes you comfortable," Janna said. She was not used to seeing someone so formal.

"I apologise, Janna, though, I've been stated that formality is a necessity," Star replied, slightly little disappointed. "I'm not familiar with your lifestyle yet, but I'll be more than happy if you could teach me how you live your lives."

Janna then perked up at the idea. "Yes! You're going to love what I'm about to show you!"

"Oh, no, no, no!" Marco replied, clutching Janna by her shoulders to prevent her from reaching Star. The Latino teen knew what Janna was going to teach her. "You're not going to show her your 'stash', aren't you?"

Janna stayed quiet for a matter of seconds before replying, "...What if I want to?"

Marco sighed at his friend's comment. "You know what? Janna, just go home."

"Fine! But only because I want to!" Janna replied as she began to walk past the two teens before heading home. "Bye, Star!"

"Goodbye." Star gave a small wave before turning to Marco. "Your friend seems interesting."

"She's always been like that since we were kids." Marco shook his head slowly as he recalls his friend's teasings over the years. "Janna has always been teasing me ever since, but I don't mind. We've been close friends for a while, so I only get used to it."

"Ah, I see. It must be nice to have someone close to you..." Marco noticed that Star's reply had a hint of sadness in it. "I haven't made a friend for a long time."

"Are you serious?" Marco looked shocked at the comment. "How come?"

Star looked away, pondering if she should explain her reason. "I-I don't feel like... Saying. Sorry."

Marco looked embarrassed. He might have accidentally stepped too close to her boundaries. "I-I'm sorry! I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable!"

"N-No! I understand. We just met a-and we don't know much about our history." Star replied, caressing her shoulders as she attempted to make herself more comfortable. Star left Mewni to forget her past, but there's always something that'll remind her of her homeland.

"I'm sorry again." Marco started to sweat a little. He's one hundred per cent ruining the moment. "But if you're down, you and I could become... You know... Friends? That's if you're comfortable!"

Star looked at Marco with her eyes wide. Just barely a day in, somebody asked her if they wanted to be friends. The princess wasn't sure if everyone was like this or if this was only exclusive on Earth, but seeing that she's met someone who looked around her age for the first time in many years, maybe this is how they interact with one another.

Star wasn't sure if she wanted to be friends with someone just yet. She's only been on Earth for a couple of minutes, and she hasn't done much research on how they live.

"I-I don't know... I haven't had a friend for a long time, and seeing that you want to become one..." Star didn't know how to respond to the request.

"Look, you don't have to say anything just yet. But if you do or don't, that's fine with me. It's up to you. Just don't feel pressured because of me." Marco replied with a smile.

Star gave a slight nod in reply. "T-Thank you so much. I appreciate the request, though."

Marco only smiled. "It's all good."

The Latino teen noticed that the sun had already set on the horizon, giving them both a cold feeling and telling them that it was already getting dark. The sky showed its beautiful shades of blue, yellow, and orange texture. Marco cannot get over how amazing the view is from their street.

"It's a beautiful sunset isn't it?" Marco asks as he continues to look at the orange sky.

Star turned around to look at what Marco was looking. She was amazed at the view in the distance. If she was, to be honest, Star couldn't remember the last time witnessed a sunset. She doesn't even know if Earth's sunset was better than the one in Mewni.

"It... It is beautiful." Star added. "Is it always like this on Earth?"

"Yep. It's the same with the sunrise and sunset." Marco replied as he stuffed his hands inside his pockets. "Anyway, I assume you have somewhere to be since you arrived here by yourself?"

"Actually, I have no clue what to do," Star replied awkwardly. "I just arrived here assuming it would still be a day so I could plan everything."

"Oh. So you don't have a place to stay?" Marco asked, slightly worried. "You know, when it gets dark, it gets pretty dangerous. There are usually bad guys who roam the streets looking for danger or to mess things up. Are you sure you don't have a place to stay?"

"Unfortunately, I don't have a place to reside," Star replied, seeming slightly disappointed. "Do you know, by any chance, a place where I could stay?"

It slightly annoyed the princess that she didn't plan the whole escape, but it was her first time doing something like this, so who could blame her? To add to that, she didn't know what Earth was like and what inhabited it, so of course, there were going to be times when it doesn't plan out.

"Um... This might sound a little weird, but you could stay in my house for a bit." Marco gave the blonde girl an awkward smile. "My house has a spare bedroom for you to stay in though that's your choice! I don't want to force you to do anything you don't want to do."

Star didn't feel comfortable going to a person's house that she simply met. "I, um. I-I appreciate the offer, but I'll try and find another place. I'm sorry if that came out wrong!"

"No, no! That's fine, I understand." Marco replied with a chuckle. "Do you want me to help you search for a place?"

Star gave a tiny nod in reply. "That would be very nice of you."

"Don't worry about it. I got my phone on me. Let me search for a place where you could stay. hopefully, they aren't too expensive." Drawing his phone out of his pocket, Marco began his search for accommodations. "I think we should find a place to sit down for a while. Maybe... My house?"

The both of them were growing tired from standing at the same spot for some time now. Marco thought that maybe asking her to come to his house could help them both find a place where Star could stay. He merely hopes that she doesn't get the wrong idea.

"I... I still don't know, Marco." Star replied, feeling a little unsafe at the moment. "I just don't feel comfortable going somewhere with someone I'm not sure about."

"I know you feel uncomfortable about that," Marco says warmly. It did somehow make Star feel less weird about the other teen. "But if it makes you feel better, my parents are there. They love meeting new people. I think staying here in the open is pretty dangerous, in my opinion. Plus, I don't like leaving people in danger."

Hearing Marco's last sentences made Star feel a little comfortable around him. Unfortunately, Marco was right. If they remained where they are right now, they're more than in danger. But if she were to follow Marco to his house right now, they'll be able to find more places for her stay. It looks like she doesn't have a choice.

"I guess I might take the offer," Star admitted. "I'll follow you to your home."

"Great!" Marco beamed at Star's acceptance. "Trust me! My parents will love to see you."

As Star follows behind Marco, the secret princess couldn't help but feel hesitant about meeting Marco's parents. How will they see her?

"Well, here it is! My house!"

Standing on what appears to be a footpath, the princess took in Marco's house. Star never thought she'll see a regular house, even inside it. Star lived inside a castle her whole life where anything she requested will be provided for her.

Out of the rest of the houses they've walked past on the street, Star could tell that Marco's home has more cultural influence to it. The front yard was filled with sand and a hint of cactuses instead of grass. The house's roof was coloured red while the outside walls were white with square windows placed in some places. The other homes they've passed more or less looked the same as the others. It was nice that Marco's house was unique.

"Your house is really nice," Star commented as she continues to look at the house. "But if you don't mind me asking, why is your front yard sand?"

"Ah, I see you've noticed," Marco says as they walk on the cobblestone footpath that leads to the front entrance. "When my parents moved here, which is Los Angeles, my dad wanted to bring a bit of his home to their new home. My dad's from Mexico, which is far from where we are."

"That sounds nice. I'm guessing Mexico is a dessert?" Star asked.

"Not entirely. A lot of movies depict Mexico as all 'desserty' and flat, with cactus being the only plant there. But if you were to go there, there are beautiful beaches, nice people, ancient artifacts, lots of cultural beliefs, and plenty more. It's not all just sand. But, that's only half of it..."

"Wow, that sounds interesting." Star hopes that in the future, she'll travel to Mexico. If she was going to move here, she might as well see what Earth has to give. "I'll probably visit Mexico in the future."

"Yeah, I haven't been there in a while," Marco replied, slightly sad. "I haven't seen my cousins for a long time, and the trip's overdue. But that's okay."

As they approached the blue door, Marco pulled out his keys to the house from his pocket. Behind him, Star stood a little worried and nervous to meet Marco's parents. But didn't Marco say that his parents love meeting new people? So what's there to be anxious about? They won't backstab her, right?

What if they see her as weird? What if they immediately judge her for what she appears? Maybe it was a bad idea to follow Marco back to his house. With such little time she talked to Marco, she noticed that the teenager was such a nice person. So wouldn't that mean his parents would be the same? Star hoped they'll find her appropriate.

"Star? Are you okay?" Marco asks as he notices Star looking a little distant.

Hearing Marco's voice, Star snapped back into reality as she turned to him. "Um... Yes! I'm fine, thank you."

"...Okay." Marco looked uncertain at Star's response but didn't want to press into it just in case.

Turning the doorknob, Marco stepped to the side to allow the girl in first. "Ladies first."

Star was a little surprised at the boy's manners. "Thank you."

As Star slowly stepped inside Diaz's household, the princess was welcomed with a bright interior house with a lamp being the first object she sees. Looking around at her surroundings, Star noticed that the flooring was blue, and the walls were cream-coloured bricks. On the other side, there was a fireplace with plants and a photo placed above it with artworks framed around it.

In the centre of the room sat a couch with a small coffee table with two mats beneath it. Across from that is something that Star is unfamiliar with. On top of a table appeared a big flat frame that revealed people inside of it moving. Star wasn't sure how to describe it because it was her first time seeing it. It reminded her of the compact mirror but was much larger and clearer.

But Star wasn't able to question what it was when Marco said something before she did.

"So this is the living room where we do our usual family hangout," Marco said as he stood in the living room. "And over there is the dining room, and past that is the kitchen."

The two of them walked to where the dining room was when Marco noticed two people inside the kitchen.

"Mom, dad!" Marco yelled out as he dashed to the two people in the kitchen.

Star stood in the dining room as she didn't want to disturb Marco's moment with his parents. She could hear talking in the kitchen with the sound of sizzling which made it harder for Star to understand their conversation. As Star was breathing, she couldn't help but admire the smell arriving from the kitchen. It wasn't like any scent she smelt during her time in Mewni. It was so much better than any food she ate in the castle.

The princess heard footsteps approaching her from her right. Turning to the source, Star was greeted by two happy-looking adults with massive smiles covering their whole faces.

On the left of Marco revealed a towering muscular and slightly tanned man with a small moustache that wore a yellow shirt with grey pants and white shoes. On the right side of Marco was his wife. She wore a pink sweater with a grey dress and sandals.

"Mum, Dad, this is Star Butterfly," Marco says as he made a gesture to show his parents. "Star, meet my mum and dad."

Marco's dad reached out his hand for a handshake. "It's good to see you, Star! My name is Rafael. Rafael Diaz."

Star shyly reached for the man's hands. "It's nice to meet you, Mr Diaz."

As the blonde girl got her hand back, she turned her head to the innocent-looking mother of Marco. Her whole life, she hadn't been sure how mothers operate. Growing up, she was raised by someone who was strict with her and who always bossed her around, notifying her that whatever she does is always wrong. Could Marco's mother be the same?

The mother then reached her hand out for a handshake with a warm smile. Was this how everyone on Earth introduce themselves? "My name is Angela, but you can call me Angie if you want."

Star wasn't sure if she wanted to go for the handshake or just ignore it just to be safe. But she didn't want their first impression of her to be poor. This is a new person, for goodness sake! They could be better than her mother.

Reaching for her hand slowly, Star replied, "N-Nice to meet you."

No one noticed that after the handshake, Star swiftly brought her hand back as if it was going to be taken away from her.

Turning to his parents, Marco then said, "We're just going to head to my room real qui-"

"Marco! Aren't you going to tell us how you two meet?" Rafael asked with an eyebrow raised.

"Oh, you're right!" Marco smacked his head at his stupidity. "As Janna and I were walking back home from school when we accidentally bumped into each other on the street. We talked a little bit, and yeah!"

Star looked at Marco, shocked at his lie. She was expecting him to explain that she came out of a portal and that she was from another dimension, but instead, he lied to them. Why didn't he tell them the truth?

"Ah! So you don't go to the same school?" Angie asked.

School?! Do they attend schools on Earth? A reform school? Just the word school gives Star a traumatising flashback to when her parents forced her to attend that reformatory school. All the times she was abused, touched, harassed... She could still feel their touches all around her body.

"School...?!" Star whispered out but wasn't audible to anyone else.

"No, we don't. But that's all good." Marco replied as he turned to Star. "Star just moved into Echo Creek, isn't that right, Star?"

Marco noticed a horrified expression on the girl's face, something that he hasn't witnessed before on her. He knew that Star was extremely shy, but seeing this made him a little worried about her. Did he say something that offered her?

"Star? Are you okay?" He asks worriedly. "Did I say something wrong?"

Just as he was about to place a hand on her shoulder, Star flinched and pushed Marco away from her forcefully, causing the boy to stumble back a little. Stepping back from him with a scared expression telling the family that she didn't want to be messed with, Star yelled, "DON'T TOUCH ME!"

Marco was speechless to say. He'd never thought Star would react badly to being touched.

"Star, calm down! I didn't mean to hurt you in any way!" Marco says he puts his hands up in defence. "I'm really sorry. I didn't know you were going to react that way."

Calming down a little, Star was breathing rapidly as sweat started to form all around her face. The images inside her head of the time when she was in St. Olga's were slowly going away but were still visible to her.

Shaking a little bit, Star wrapped her arms around her as she whispered, "J-Just... Please don't touch me... I'm sorry..."

"Okay... I won't..." Suddenly, it became quiet for the first time in a while inside the Diaz household with the only sound audible being the stove top where Angie and Rafael were cooking. Usually, the house is typically bright and happy, but seeing something someone aggressive is very foreign to the Diaz family. "Look, let me bring you to the spare room where hopefully you're comfortable. Is that okay for you?"

"...Yes." That was all Star said.

"C'mon, follow me upstairs," Marco said as he gestured to follow him.

Silently, Angie and Rafael only watched as their eyes followed Marco and Star up the stairs to the second floor. They've never seen someone react that violently to someone else just having someone's hand placed on your shoulder. What could've made her react that badly?

"Why did she react that way?" Rafael asked quietly as he resumed back to his cooking.

"I don't know, but I wish the best for her," Angie replied worriedly still looking at the stairs. "Let's hope Marco can do something."

"The room's here." Marco stopped in front of the door.

Turning the doorknob, Marco pushed the door open, revealing a dark and cold room that looked like it hadn't been used for a while. Turning on the lights, the room uncovered a bed with a lamp and a window on both sides. Beside the window was a drawer for clothes with another lamp sitting on top. On the ground was a pink rug which Star thought was adorable.

On their side of the room, sitting in the corner was a wooden table and chair with another lamp. Star thought it was weird how there were so many lamps inside their house.

"Well, this is our spare room where our exchange students sleep. It hasn't been used in a while, but that's about it." Marco says.

"It's... It's rather cosey in here." Star commented quietly, trying her best to move on from what happened a minute ago. Walking to the table, Star asked, "Do you mind if I place my bag on the table?"

"Totally! You can sit on the bed if you like. I'm just gonna get my laptop from my room. I'll be back!" Marco then dashed back out of the room and retrieve his laptop for their accommodation search.

Star was left alone in the room as she waited on the bed for Marco to arrive back with the 'Laptop' he mentioned. To speed up time, Star decided to look outside the window next to her. She noticed that the sky didn't look that interesting from Earth and it disappointed her slightly. There were stars here and there, but it wasn't enough to compare to Mewni, unfortunately. Being distant from Mewni made her feel a little lost and vulnerable. Her separation anxiety wasn't helping with adapting to a new place.

The moon looked beautiful with its crescent shape hanging in the night sky. It was the only object in the sky that Star could only look at it. Good thing there weren't any clouds in the sky destroying its beautiful bright light.

Still looking outside the window, Star heard Marco's footsteps through the walls notifying her that he returned from his little expedition to his room.

"I'm back! Let's do this thing!" Bringing his laptop with him, Marco sat down at the that was in the corner of the room.

"So is this what you call a 'laptop'?" Star asked as she walked back to the table witnessing Marco's laptop.

"Yep! With this, you're able to access almost anything you want." Marco replied as he boots it up.

Star was amazed at how advanced Earth appears to be. People can access anything they want? Her father was right. Earth was more developed than it should be. With how many advances Earth has made, Mewni looked like a third-world country.

Mewni did solve its problem with the slums and poverty, but it wasn't enough to level against Earth.

"Does this 'Laptop' use the power of magic for it to work?" Star asks as they wait for the laptop to finish starting up.

"Magic?" Marco asked with a slight chuckle. But he remembered that Star isn't from Earth. "Oh. Uhh... No! Our laptops are powered by electricity. Laptops are technology and anything technological is powered by electricity. For example, this lamp right here."

Marco gestured to the lamp next to the table. Star asked, "Is this also powered by electricity?"

"Yep!" Marco replied with a smile. "Without electricity, we wouldn't have the stuff we have right now. It's one of the most important inversions in history."

"Wow..." Star was amazed at how essential electricity is to this house.

"I know, right? The whole world relies on electricity." Marco replied.

"So, there's no magic on Earth?" Star asked as she was surprised by the culture of Earth.

"Nope. Magic here is just a belief. It doesn't exist." Marco replied as he turned to his laptop.

So it's known to Star that instead of magic, people rely on the use of electricity. She was told that it was everywhere around her. Star can tell that the people here are lucky to have access to something that can help their way of life.

"Alright! Let's look for a place for you!" Marco then opened the browser and typed in accommodations.

Marco clicked on the first link. A list of accommodations appeared throughout the entire page which didn't surprise Marco at all since Echo Creek is almost a tourist spot. The housings shown ranged from sketchy-looking places to outright mansions. Surely Star didn't want to live in either place, right?

As he looked at the prices, Marco almost closed the tab as he's never thought the costs would be so high. Why are people placing prices that are impossible to pay? People nowadays just put the craziest price on anything for no reason.

"Wow... These places are expensive..." Marco muttered out. Turning to who was behind him, he asked, "Star, you have money, right?"

The one thing she said she would bring wasn't with her. "Unfortunately, I... I don't."

"I don't want to sound rude, but on Earth, money is kinda important." Marco hoped that Star didn't take it the wrong way.

"I know. I was planning on bringing some Mewni currency, but I forgot. I'm really sorry! It just slipped in my mind, and I-"

"Star, it's okay! People make mistakes and that's how we learn from them." Marco says as he offered the girl a warm smile. He then thought back to what he suggested earlier when they were still on the footpath. "Look, since you don't have money at the moment, why don't you stay with us for now until we find you the right place? At least you have a roof over your head and at least have some people with you, am I right?"

As Star stayed inside the Diaz household, the blonde girl felt slightly comfortable being with Marco as he made sure he would make sure to make her feel relaxed as possible. He always made sure that he doesn't step over her boundaries which she is thankful for.

"As I always say, I don't want to pressure you into anyth-"

"I... Do you think I could stay?" Star asks as she looks away from the boy in embarrassment.

Marco's eyes widened as a huge smile appeared on his face. "I'm more than happy to! I'll just ask my parents for their confirmation. I'll be back!"

Swiftly standing up from his seat, Marco ran down the stairs in a dash leaving the girl again in the spare room with his laptop sill open. She hoped after screaming at their son, they'll still allow her to stay for a couple of days until Marco finds her a place.

If her request was denied, the streets were her last resort. That would mean she would have watched her back at all costs. Star doesn't have any knowledge about fighting and defending so that meant she would be vulnerable to anyone. At the same time, she doesn't even know to use the wand. She wasn't given her wand yet because apparently, she wasn't 'ready yet'. At least she has the book of spells, but it would take a while to understand one spell.

Sitting down on her bed, her head pointed to the doorway as the sound of footsteps coming up the stairs told her that Marco's back from his little conversation with his parents. "They said yes! You're fine to stay with us!"

A satisfied sigh came out of Star's mouth as she knew she didn't have to walk around in the dark streets. With a small smile, Star said, "Thank you so much, Marco. I don't know how to thank you enough."

"No need to tha-" Marco was cut off by seeing Star smile for the first time. "Hey! You smiled."

Suddenly, Star felt she's been caught something she was not supposed to. In a quick motion, Star looked away as she covered her mouth, hiding the rare smile she gave.

"Wow, Star. What's wrong?" Marco asks worriedly again.

"I'm... I'm not allowed to smile..." Star says still covering her mouth.

"Who told you that?" Marco questions as he frowned at the silly comment that was told to her.

Star can't tell him the truth, so she lies. "Someone I know."

"Look, you're on Earth now, so whoever told you that is not here now," Marco said as he sat down next to her on her bed. "And smiles are the most important part of living. Just smiling helps boost your mood, you know? Don't let some dumb rule get the best of you."

Marco was right. Her mother is still back in Mewni while she's somewhere else living her own life. Without restriction, she'll be able to do anything she wants without anyone telling her what to do. Star imaged all the possibilities she could do with something holding her back.

"You're... You're right!" Star says a little louder than usual. "I should forget what that person said!"

"That's the spirit, Star!" Marco said proudly. Standing up from the bed, he asked, "Now, show me your smile!"

In return, Star stood up from the bed and smiled proudly at Marco, a new feeling rising inside her body. It wasn't bad. It was good. Like a rush of energy building inside of her. She felt like she could achieve almost anything. Is what it feels like when you smile?

"There you go!" Marco said as he smiled back at her. "It feels good to smile, doesn't it?"

"It really does!" Star more enthusiastically. "You're right! When I smile, I have this sensation inside of me that makes me feel... Happy."

"Well, there you go! By the way, my parents made dinner." Marco said.

Suddenly, Star's nervousness returned as she forgot she hadn't eaten in a while. "You don't mind if eat you and your family, do you?"

"Of course! Everyone gets to eat. It's illegal not to eat in our family."

Star lay in her bed as she stared at the white ceiling above her. The moon outside managed to seep through the window and allow a little bit of its white light to come inside her room. After dinner with Marco's family, she returned to her room and changed into her night blue nightgown that had a blue moon in the centre.

She was so thankful for meeting someone so caring and friendly towards her and she could same for their family. Marco's and his family's attitude and behaviour were so foreign to her that she wished she encountered them when she was young. Laying in her bed, Star almost burst into tears at seeing someone being nice to her. It was a moment she was going to cherish her whole life.

Ever since she was a child, she was being controlled by her parents, more specifically her mother. But seeing someone willing to be nice to her made her appreciate Earth more than Mewni. Everyone saw her as royalty and not who she was. It annoyed her. Star wanted to be treated as a regular person, not some celebrity.

Moving to another dimension was the best choice for Star. She didn't know how long she could handle her mother's antics. She can't imagine herself staying there her whole life.

Star's eyes slowly shut as sleep starts to overpower the girl. Her body hasn't slept for almost the whole day, so falling asleep won't be a problem. With everything that happened, Star just wanted to sleep in for once without anything or anyone disturbing her. The best thing was she doesn't have a schedule anymore.

For the first in forever, Star slept peacefully.