Here we go. I hope you're all dressed up and ready to dance. As with the other chapters, Star is always in italics. In this one Pony is upper case italics because she's you know, she's Ponyhead.
Favs, reviews, and constructive feedback are all really helpful. Thanks!
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Chapter 3 - Worst Prom Evah!
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Star's youngest looks closely at the pictures in the album as he tries to make out the details of mother's white gown.
"Before we get back to the story I want to remind you, I was REALLY frustrated that night. Between the big fight with your grandmother, your dad bugging me about his reminder app, the wrong dress, and me forgetting all sorts of stuff, I was REALLY on edge. On top of that it was the end of high school and I was worried about all this growing up stuff like college and what to do with my life. So what I'm saying is, I was totally-totally-totally-TOTALLY stressed out."
"Mom, that's a wedding dress."
"No-no, it was a prom dress that could maybe be used as a wedding dress. Don't you start giving me a hard time about this too."
"Do you still have it?
"If your father hasn't hidden it somewhere it should be boxed in my closet, why?"
"I like it. If I decided I wanted to wear a dress to my prom could I wear it?"
"I love you kiddo. If you end up anything like your father I'm not sure if it'll be your size when you're in high-school but, if wearing a dress to prom would make you happy, of course you can."
"So is there a place to hold swords in the back? I'll want to bring a few swords with me when I go to any sort of dance."
"Swords?"
"You know, in case there's a battle. I'll need to be ready."
"You need to be ready for a prom battle?"
"Yeah! A prom battle would be AWESOME!"
Star let out a sigh. "Yeah, a prom battle would have been totally awesome. Anyway, back to my prom..."
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Pony Head
Most students are already inside but the few by the door are treated to the sight of Star and Marco making a perfect dragoncycle landing right in front of the school's main entrance. After a thank you to their ride, hand-in-hand the couple enters the building. To Marco's surprise they are immediately met by Star's floating bestie.
"LOOKING GOOD GIRLFRIEND! ALL READY FOR YOUR SPECIAL NIGHT!"
"Pony! Why aren't you in the dance part of the dance and WHY did you order me the wrong dress!?"
"B-FLY, REMEMBER WE TALKED MAKEUP? I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR YOU AND YOU KNOW THAT'S THE DRESS YOU WANTED FOR..."
"Shh! Marco hun, excuse us for a second. Pony just needs to help me add a little bit of makeup and then we'll head to the gym. ~Be-right-baaaccckkk!~"
The young man gave a little wave as she walked away. "Alright, I'll be waiting out here for you."
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Pulling her original bestie into the girls room, Star is surprised to see an entire makeup case worth of colored lotions, powders, sticks, and pens spread across the counter. Before she can react the host of the Pony Head Show tosses an apron over her best friend, to protect the bridal gown, and gets to work.
"Pony, I said to just bring a few things. I don't need all this."
"STAR LISTEN TO ME, YOU SAID YOU WANTED TONIGHT TO BE PERFECT. PONY IS ALL ABOUT GETTING YOU PERFECT. SO, DID YOU ASK THE TURD YET?"
"No, I didn't ask him yet."
"STAR, YOU'RE GOING TO ASK HIM RIGHT? YOU'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT ASKING HIM FOR MONTHS."
"I know, I know! But no, I'm backing out for now and not just because of the dress. Today ended up being awful with my mom and it was all weird at this doctor's appointment and I don't know, something's wrong about tonight. Instead I'm thinking of waiting for a camping trip or maybe a summer night when there are fireworks. That would be perfect right?"
"STAR YOU NEED A PLAN. YOU KNOW HOW I LOVE TO LIVE ALL DANGER-LIKE BUT WE'RE TALKING REST OF YOUR LIFE B-FLY. WHEN IT COMES TO GETTING HITCHED A PRINCESS, CURRENT OR FORMER, NEEDS A PLAN."
"Yeah, I do need a plan. I'm gonna-maybe...I don't know. I mean w-what if he says no? Janna said that people from Earth don't get engaged at our age. Instead they're too busy getting fake IDs or something like that. I should be waiting until he's all done with college so I don't distract him. That's only like two more years I think."
"NO-NO-NO-NO-NO. WE BOTH KNOW THAT BOY LOVES YOU GIRL. HE'LL SAY YES BEFORE YOU FINISH ASKING. AND IT'S NOT LIKE YOUR GOING TO HAVE THE CEREMONY TOMORROW, YOUR JUST RESERVING HIM SO NO OTHER DORK-LOVING-PRINCESSES GETS THEIR PAWS ON HIM."
"You don't think I should do the Earth thing and wait?"
"SINCE WHEN DOES THIS REBEL PRINCESS-TYPE FOLLOW OTHER PEOPLE'S RULES? UH-UH, NOT MY STAR!"
"Fine but I'm still not doing it tonight. It was an awful day and Marco deserves great. With all the times he's had to deal with whatever mess I'm throwing at him, this proposal needs to be REALLY special. Special-special."
"B-FLY, THAT TURD LOVES YOUR MESS MORE THAN A PONY LOVES EATING CANDY FROM A TROUGH. WHEN YOU ASK HIM IT'LL BE SPECIAL AND IF YOU FINALLY WANT TO GET ALL SPECIAL-SPECIAL WITH HIM AFTER HE'S NOT GOING TO STOP YOU. YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING?"
Star sighed knowing that Pony was not going to let it go. "Yeah, I guess." She then stayed still while her floating friend finished up with some lipstick.
"ALRIGHT B-FLY, MAKEUP IS SET. I HOPE YOU'RE READY TO ROCK HIS TURD WORLD!"
Turning toward the mirror, Star's eyes nearly pop out of her head once she realizes what she has become. "Wow...pony. That was nice and quick but...ah...that's a lot of makeup."
"NO STAR, THAT'S A LOT OF BEAUTY. NOW GO LIVE THE BEAUTY."
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Stepping out of the bathroom, Star forces a smile as she stands in front of her stunned boyfriend.
"Star, is that you?"
"Yeah I know. Not what I planned."
"You still look -great- but I'm kind of afraid to touch your face."
"Totally don't touch it. Come on, tonight is not working out the way I wanted but we can still try to make the best of it."
"Hey, while I was waiting I messaged everyone to let them know that we're here. Did you remember to bring your phone for pictures?"
"No pockets so we'll just use yours. It's not like I'm going to need to call anyone."
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Principal Skeeves
As the pair approaches the gym they are greeted by Principal Skeeves. He is standing in the hall holding an official looking clipboard while slightly blocking their path. Behind him the young couple can see the darkened room beyond. One side is filled with tables where well-dressed students are eating dinner from a catered buffet. The other side is the dance floor where a crowd is just beginning to gather. On the far side of the gym the stage hosts a two-headed DJ, one head is focused on picking the next song while the other keeps an eye on the room. Amongst the chaos, students mill about while a few of Star and Marco's closest friends wait for them by the open gymnasium doors.
"I admit Star, I've really been looking forward to this. I know I still see the old gang on occasion but it's going to be really nice hanging out for the night. I can't remember the last time I saw Ferguson dance. Actually, not seeing him dance might be okay too."
"Star Butterfly and Marco Diaz! Good to see you both! Mr. Diaz, you really have grown a few inches haven't you."
"Hi Principal Skeeves! We're just running a little late but I can't wait to get my dance on! You should see what Marco and I have been practicing. Totally awesome moves that don't break the school's two-inches apart rule...much."
"Interesting dress and makeup Ms. Butterfly but I have some bad news for you. You're listed here as being with a guest but you never turned in the prom-guest paperwork that was due Thursday."
"Ah...prom-guest paperwork? Sorry, I TOTALLY forgot to turn that in. I've been so busy with finals, studying, class president stuff, you know, being all good-student-like. But hey, my guest is Marco. You know Marco. Everyone knows Marco."
With the current song ending Star's dark haired boyfriend puts his hands over his eyes as he begins to envision the trainwreck that is about to take place.
"I'm sorry Ms. Butterfly, the rules of the prom require that all guest information be provided ahead of time so the school can perform a quick background check. We wouldn't want any known felons mixing in with a bunch of impressionable high school students now do we?"
"B-but this is Marco. Marco-Marco! He's no felon. He's never even returned a library book late!"
"I'm sorry Ms. Butterfly. Ever since Ms. Orlaski was caught running a slime monster juice tasting bar during Friday detentions the PTO has been all over me about making sure all district rules are followed. Mr. Diaz is not going to be allowed in tonight."
"But Pony Head is here and she doesn't even go to our school!"
"The princess has a press pass Ms. Butterfly. I'm told we're going to get a feature on some hip new show I'm much too old to know anything about. The Butter-Head-Show or something silly like that."
"But-but-but..."
Feeling embarrassed, Marco finally interjects. "Star, it's fine. This is fine."
"Fine!? FINE!? HOW THE CORN IS THIS FINE!?"
"He's just following the rules and I'm sure everyone else remembered to turn in their guest forms. Maybe if you were more organized and you started tracking this kind of stuff you wouldn't..."
"MORE ORGANIZED! MORE ORGANIZED! LISTEN HERE -MARCO UBALDO DIAZ-, IF YOU REALLY WANT A GIRLFRIEND WHO'S MORE ORGANIZED MAYBE IT'S ABOUT TIME YOU GO FIND A NEW ONE BECAUSE IT SURE AS -FREAKIN CORN- ISN'T GOING TO BE ME!"
Star's words echo down the corridor and into the gym causing every head to turn toward the most well known teenage couple in all of Echo Creek. For a second Star could swear that the only sound in the entire school was the squeak of Principal Skeeves' shoes as he slowly backed down the hall. Wide eyed and embarrassed, Star pulls her Marco into a nearby empty classroom and closes the door. Once inside her brain begins to panic as she realizes what she might have implied.
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"Marco, I'm sooo sorry. I...I didn't..."
"Star, I'm going to go."
"G-go? Go where?"
"I don't know. Go think I guess. You...you have a good night."
"No wait! I'm not going to prom without my boyfriend!"
"You have friends here Star and this might be one of the last times you get to see them before everyone moves on to the next part of their lives. You should go and enjoy yourself tonight. Maybe you don't need me as a boyfriend anyway, it seems all I do is say things that make you angry."
"Marco, I didn't mean it! I don't want to break up with you!"
"Then consider us paused or something. I don't know, you figure it out."
Out of the classroom he went, never looking back. Star followed and watched from the school entrance as he walked over to the tree Nachos was resting under. After a few pats to the dragoncycle's head they flew off. Even from far away Star could see the puffiness of his eyes and the wrinkle on his brow. She guesses that he was either angry, crying, or both. Probably a lot of both.
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Be ready, I'm sick of these short chapters. The next two are a LOT longer and packed full of fun. Stay tuned for 'Chapter 4 - Damage Control'. Thanks! - Olin