The Quiet Moments
Marco looked at Star with a worried look. It's true, if she stayed with them, their safety would never be guaranteed. The monster last night snuck into the house completely under their noses and because of that, they nearly lost their lives. If all of the monsters Star would face would be that dangerous, it would be stupid to be around her—but that wasn't going to stop him.
"No!" Marco stood up strongly, objecting to this decision. "Star, I don't want you to go back out there alone!" He puts his hands on her shoulders, trying to get his point across. "You'll be completely exposed! They can attack you from wherever! At least here you'll have a base of operations!" Jackie admired his bravery and kindness. Marco felt the pain these monsters can cause first hand. Yet, he was willing to be in that situation again for a lonely girl. He truly was a good person.
"Right! I'll be here too!" She added stepping into Star's vision. "I'll be here to help with anything you need!" Star gives that sad smile once again.
"When Marco was on the floor,.." She looked at Janna, giving her a surprise. "Janna looked so scared.." The girl with the beanie looked away from the group, crossing her arms. Her brows furrowed and her face flushed in a light red as she sat away from them. "She must really love you, Marco. I never want to make someone feel how scared she was again.." A stream of guilt began to fill Marco's veins. He lets go of Star's shoulders and steps back in shame. A painful silence filled the room. Marco couldn't look at anyone, especially Janna, who kept her eyes to the floor. Jackie looked around at her friends and her morale began to plummet. Janna must really love Marco.. Of course she did but wasn't it platonic?
"So.." Star stood up. "Thank you so much for taking care of me." She told them all with an attitude as happy she can make. "And thank you for treating me nice when I was all dumb, Marco." She laughed a little. Marco looked at her with a brief weak smile. "..Bye." In the blink of an eye, Star ran toward the front door and exited the house.
"Star!" Jackie shouted. A loud alarm sound emits from the security panel near the backyard door. "Agh! She ran out with just that shirt and panties!" Jackie ran to the door, slipped on her shoes, and grabbed her skateboard before exiting. Marco ran to the panel and punched in a code, silencing it. He didn't take his hand off the panel, however. He was now alone with Janna and didn't know what to say. He didn't know if he should just leave or apologize.
"Hey." Janna got his attention and he turned his head to look at her. She was out of her chair and putting her boots on. "Quit feeling sorry for yourself. We can't let her be out there like that."
Star ran into the city, passing large buildings, cars, and crowds of people. She decided that she had ran far enough and started to walk.
"Okay.." She said to herself, catching her breath. "Now what?.. I guess I could find a spot place in the woods." She thought back to what Marco said about being completely exposed. "No, no, no, he's right. I'll get snuck up on.. but.. I didn't the entire time I was alone.." Star stops and gets lost in thought. She hasn't realized that the people passing by her were looking at her, given her attire. "Actually,.. I never even saw a monster when I was alone."
"Excuse me, little girl." A voice calls out to Star but she doesn't acknowledge it.
"How did I not get attacked for so long?"
"Hey." A poke on her shoulder shocks her.
"AH!" Star quickly turns and gets into a defensive position. She sees a man in blue uniform and hat. His belt had all kinds of items strapped on it. He had a large dark brown mustache and big glasses.
"Whoa! I didn't mean to startle ya, eh!" His demeanor was friendly but she wasn't going to let her guard down. She circles him with squinted eyes and cocked knees.
"Who are you?!" She questions ferociously and giving a sharp point.
"O-Officer Beaulieu!" He said with hands up, trying not to aggravate Star. "I recently transferred here from Banff! So it makes sense that you don't recognize me! Ha.. Y-You know that's up in Canada?"
"What?!" Star gave a confused grimace as she couldn't understand him. "You wanna fight?!"
"Oh, no, no!" The officer was becoming more and more frazzled, not wanting to hand cuff a young girl.
"Star!" Jackie's voice breaks the tension the two created. She skateboards toward them and stylishly kicks her board up to her hands as she arrives. She puts her hand on Star's shoulder. "Star, you can't go out like this!" She tells her with an exasperated tone.
"What? Why?" Star asked, straightening into a more relaxed stance.
"What do you mean why?" Jackie furrows her brows at her before looking at the officer with a forced friendly disposition. "Sorry, Officer Beaulieu. I'll take care of her!"
"You.. know this girl, Jackie?" He asked a little shocked, adjusting his glasses.
"She's my second cousin. Hahaha!" Jackie scratched the back of her head, trying her best to seem genuine. "She's from Europe so she's totally not used to things around here." She grabs Star's hand and begins to walk away with her. "Well, we're gonna go. See ya, Officer Beaulieu!"
"Uhh.. Okay!" The policeman felt confused but mostly relieved. "Oh, and get yourself a helmet, there, Jackie!" He told them as they walked off. Jackie looked back and smiled with a wave. The two turned a corner to different street, exiting the officer's view. Jackie releases a breath of relief and stops walking.
"Thank you for saving me, Jackie!" Star said happily as she escaped her grip. "Bye!"
"Oh, no! No!" Jackie quickly grabbed Star's hand before she could get away. "I can't let you be out here half-naked! You don't even have a bra!" Star pouted as she got scolded.
"But why does it matter if I'm a little naked? And what's a bra?" She asked, feeling slightly stupid.
"What's a bra?" Jackie repeated in uncertainty. "What do you mean, the thing we gotta wear to, you know,.." Jackie stretched out her collar to show her bra strap. "..keep our.. ladies discreet.." Star pondered for a moment before coming to a conclusion.
"Ohh! You mean your boobies!" Star lifts up Jackie's shirt to expose her bra, much to her dismay. "But I don't think mine can fit in a bra.." She said looking at Jackie's purple undergarment.
"Star!" Jackie swiftly pulled her shirt down, hoping that nobody saw. She looked around and saw an old lady with a walker staring with a very neutral look. It was like she was completely unfazed by the teenagers' actions. "Ahaha.." Jackie waved at her awkwardly. "Seriously, you're gonna drive me crazy.." She told Star with gritted teeth. "You act like a little girl!"
"Well.." Star put her index finger on her chin. "..the last thing I remember is being eight years old." This hit Jackie's understanding out of whack.
"The last.." Jackie thought back to Star's explanation on her friend, Primrose. "Oh,..." Her shoulders slumped and her eyes widened. "..that's.." Star was a special case—not just physically—but mentally as well. "..gonna be so awkward for you.." Jackie looked at Star with pity, "You poor girl." and petted her head. "Let's go back. I'll text Janna.."
Janna and Marco walked side by side in the more rural part of Echo Creek. They were nearing the Diaz house and could see Jackie and Star sitting near the front door. They were still around 50 meters away so they had time for idle chat and Marco definitely wanted that. They haven't said a word to each other in almost five minutes. He looked at Janna, her face was non-flinching and her expression was stoic. The emotion she showed when Marco was revived made him see her differently. He witnessed her vulnerability and passion. He knew she cared about him but he never thought she'd show it so powerfully.
"H-Hey.." Marco called out to her. She turned her head slightly and looked into his eyes. Her gaze made his eyes dart around. Her look was too overwhelming for him right now. "We've been pretty quiet for a while now.."
"...Nothing wrong with that." She told him plainly before looking ahead.
"Are you mad?" Marco asked.
"No." She answered quickly. "I'm not mad at all. Just.." She puts her hands in her jacket. "Don't you think you and I can have quiet moments like this?" Marco was slightly puzzled at the question.
"Um.. Yeah. I don't see why not."
"... I like these moments between us.." She looks at him, making his heart skip a beat. "I want to keep having these." Before Marco could respond, they arrive to the house. Jackie stands up from the front steps and greets them.
"You okay, Star?" Marco asks her softly. She stands up with her arms behind her back.
"Yup! Jackie said I should get bras." She said wiggling her hips side to side.
"B-Bras?.."
"Yeah, guys, we didn't think about something." Jackie informed.
"What?" Janna asked.
"Star.. still has the mind of an eight-year-old.. but she's a teenager." She told them. Star looked at the two and shrugged with her tongue out. "She doesn't have experience for, you know,.. the stuff that changes when you get older than eight."
"Ohh.." Janna understood. "God, I really don't wanna be the one to explain periods.." She put her hand on her head.
"Periods?" Star asked. "The thing that comes after a sentence?"
"You poor girl." Janna tells her.
"So.." Jackie interrupts. "I convinced Star to at least come on this shopping trip we had planned before she leaves. We can get her the stuff she needs." Janna sighs.
"Then get out of your pajamas so we can go." She said assertively. Marco shoots her a disappointed look before unlocking the door and entering with Star.
"Make more food!" Star demanded.
"It's only been twenty minutes!" Marco tells her. Before Janna could enter, Jackie grabs her shoulder. Janna looks at her to see her lean in for a whisper.
"This'll give us time to convince Star to stay for good." She tells her before walking into the door.
"Jackie." Janna calls out, making Jackie stop and look back. They looked at each other for a moment before Janna looks away. "Never mind.. Let's hurry."
Marco closes the door to his room and takes off his pajama shirt. He folds it neatly before removing his pants and doing the same with those, leaving him only in his black boxer briefs. He looks at the night stand by his bed and sees his phone.
"There you are." He says after not having it on him for a while. He picks it up to see a missed call and a voice mail from his mom's cellphone. He sits on his bed and ponders for a minute before putting his phone up to his ear to listen.
"Hey, Marco! How are you doing all alone? Bored? A boy your age having all that alone-time might be heaven though, haha! Your dad and I are doing fine... Your tío Ignacio's condition isn't getting much better, though.. so we plan on staying for as long as he wants us here... Well, anyway, call me back when you can!"
Marco moved the phone away from his ear and looked at the screen. Should he bring up Star? Even if he does, she might be gone by the time they come back. Besides, he didn't feel right making his dad leave his brother. After thinking for a moment, he pushes the call selection on his mother's caller ID. He waits for her to pick up as the rings rhythmically play in his ear. Someone picks up after a few.
"Hi, míjo!" His mother happily greets.
"Hey, mom!" Marco greets back.
"So what's up?" She asks.
"H-Huh?"
"Why'd you call last night? It's usually us that does the calling." Again, Marco had no reason to tell them about Star. In fact, it might even put them in danger. He remained silent and took a deep breath with a following exhale.
"I just.. I miss you guys! Miss your cooking." He says in a giddy voice.
"Aww, we miss you too. I promise when I get home, I'll cook something delicious."
"Good.." Marco smiles, happy to not make her worried.
"So everything's alright at the house? You can handle it all by yourself?"
"Y-Yeah, of course. This is nothing."
"Okay.. Hey, listen, I don't want Janna up in your room while we're not there, got it?"
"Mom!" His mother blows a raspberry before hanging up. Marco laughs and puts his phone down. He stands up with his hands on his hips with a confident smile. "You know what? I can handle this. I'm ready for anything!" He assures himself.
"Star! Stop! Come back!" Marco hear's Jackie scream in the room they were changing in before the door to his bedroom slams open.
"Marco, Marco!" Star rushes inside in only her panties and a purple bra much too big for her. "Look how big Jackie's bra fits me! Haha!" Star approaches Marco closely and puffs out her chest at him. Marco sees her nipples completely exposed as the massively-cupped bra arches over them.
"Ahhh!" Marco falls backward onto his bed and covers his half-naked self with his sheets. "Y-Y-Y-Your nip-nipples!" Star looks down at her chest.
"Hm? Haha! Yeah, they don't even get covered like Jackie's do!" She bends over toward Marco and he sees even more of her chest. "See?"
"Please! Go away!" Marco puts his hands over his crotch. "Before this gets weirder!.."
"Hmmm?" Star's eyes trail down Marco's body, before they reach his groin, a fist hammers down on top of her head. "Oww!"
"Bad, Star. Bad." Janna scolds her in a monotone voice. She never had to change—just had to put on socks—so she arrived quickly. Star stands up straight and rubs the top of her hurting head. "Don't let him see you naked." Janna looked at Marco, who was looking away and red as a berry.
"Why?" Star asks with a teary eye and frown. "I don't mind if he sees me. He already has anyway.."
"Doesn't matter." Janna turns Star toward the door and begins to walk her out. "Don't."
"Th—.. Thanks, Janna." Marco tells her before she closes the door.
"Just don't come out with that thing like that, Diaz." She responds with a drained tone and closes the door.
"Maybe I can't handle this." Marco tells himself in a broken tone.
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I'm excited for what's to come!
Sorry for the wait on this one. Ran into some shit at home, homies. (*ω*)
But it's over for now! Back to work!
The next chapter won't take as long to come out. Hope to you stick around to read it!
Byyyyyyye!
