Author's Note: This was a tough chapter to write because Jackie's parts in this chapter are based on true events. And it only gets worse in the next chapter.

Star's POV

"W-What do you mean? Marco doesn't have scars on his wrist", Mrs. Diaz said.

I looked at her confused, "Yes he does. In fact, they're all over his arms. It looks really ugly. He says that he was born with them, but no other human I've seen has them."

For some reason, seemed out of it. It was like she couldn't believe what she he hearing, or she didn't want to believe it. I let her process what I said because I didn't want to annoy her with my endless pestering. After what felt like hours of awkward silence, turned to me and said, "Star, sweetie, do you think we could talk about this in the morning?"

I was surprised by the question, but I nodded and said, "Oh of course ma'am. Good night." I gave her a quick hug and began to walk out the room. Right when one foot was out the door I hear pick up her phone and dial a number.

I closed the door and I was met with a bunch of tired Lazer puppies barely able to stay awake. I giggled and scoped all of them up in my arms, "Come on little puppies", I said, "Let's get some sleep."

Marco's POV

As I was regaining consciousness, I felt something pecking me all over my face. It felt like the softest lips in the world. I recognized them as Jackie's lips. I would recognize those lips anywhere. I got a funny feeling in my stomach, it felt like I had eagles inside of me.

When I finally opened my eyes I saw Jackie Lynn Thomas, fully clothed (unfortunately) lying in front of me with eyes fixed on me. It seemed like she had been staring at me because it took a while for her to realize that I was now awake and looking back at her. When she finally realized it her eyes went wide and she blushed. The sight of Jackie blushing remains as one of the cutest things I've ever.

"Good morning", I greeted her, my voice was sore as I had just woken up.

"Morning", Jackie responded with a sweet smile, "Did you dream about anything?"

"Not really", I said. Thank God.

"You're so boring", Jackie said playfully. "Says the girl that made out with me", I said back.

Jackie giggled, "Fine, how about this. You're so boring, and a good kisser."

"That's better", I said getting up from the floor. Jackie followed suit and we walked into the kitchen where Janna was brushing her teeth using mountain dew and a toothbrush that looked disturbingly similar to mine.

"Please tell me that isn't my fucking toothbrush ", I said pointing at the object in her mouth. She stopped moving and slowly opened her mouth and said, "I was gonna wash it off."

My mouth slowly dropped opened and I almost screamed my ass off, but Jackie put her hand over my mouth. "I don't see what the problem is", Star said entering the kitchen, "I've been using Marco's toothbrush since the first day I came to Earth."

My mind completely broke at that one sentence. I couldn't decide if I wanted to yell at them or puke. When my insides started to get tired of being in my stomach, I knew what was gonna happen. I gently pushed Jackie out of my way and walked toward the trashcan.

"Marco, are y-", Star started to say, but I put my finger up, silencing her and her majestic voice for the time being. It was silent in the room for a few seconds until I finally bent over the trashcan and started to empty out my insides.

"What is Marco doing?", I somehow heard heard Star ask over my violent puking noices.

"Well", Janna started, "On Earth, sometimes our stomachs hate us."

I must've been puking for only a couple of seconds or maybe even a minute, but it felt like I was doing it forever. When I was finally done it felt like all the weight in my body had been sucked out of me. It was only when one of the girls put their hand on my back and starting rubbing me. "You feeling better Marco?", Jackie asked.

Although I wanted to say something corny like "I'm fine now that you're hear", or something on that level, I wasn't feeling up for it. I turned to Star and said, "The first chance I get, I'm going to get you your toothbrush, but for now, you don't use mine, ok?"

Star nodded and asked, "Does your stomach like you now?"

I shook my head, "No, but that's fine because I don't like it either."

Jackie chuckled and helped me off the floor. Once I was back to my feet she hugged me tightly. Surprised at her sudden action, I slowly hugged her back. When she broke the hug (to my displeasure) she said, "I should be getting home now." A concerned look came across my face as I thought about the horrors that awaited her at her "home".

"Yeah, I should be getting home to", Janna said after wiping her mouth, "My mom will kill me if I don't get home early. I swear she's the worst."

Jackie shot Janna an angry look that read, "You don't know how lucky you have it."

Jackie turned to me and said, "I'll see you later Marco." She gave me one more quick hug and made her way out the door. Why didn't I stop her? God I'm an idiot.

"I'll see you two later", Janna said waving goodbye to me and Star and walking out behind Jackie, shutting the door behind her.

"So, it's just us again", Star said looking at me with a smile.

"Yep, it feels like I've just walked into hell", I said ruffling Star's hair. As we were conversing, the sound of my mother making her way down the stairs silenced us both. She turned the corner and entered the kitchen. She looked like she hadn't got any sleep.

"Morning Mrs. Diaz/Mom", me and Star said.

My mother smiled her comforting, motherly smile and said, "Hello kids. Star, could you please give Marco and me some privacy? I need to talk to him about something important."

Star nodded and started to skip upstairs, giving me a little wave as she left. I turned back my mother and her warm smile was gone. She was now giving me a look of dread and worry. "Mom, is something wrong?", I asked her.

She didn't say anything, but with a we quick motion of her arm, she grabbed my wrist with a tight grip. I was caught off guard by her odd behavior, I didn't really know what she was trying to do. It was only when she grabbed my shirt sleeve is when I realized what might be happening. I knew that what I was thinking was random and unlikely, but I wasn't going to take any chances.

I tried to yank my arm away from her, but she tightened her grip on me and said, "Marco, stay still." In the blink of an eye, my mother pulled down my shirt sleeve revealing what seemed to be dozens of self harm scars on my arm.

At that very moment, time stood still. My mother's face showed a look of horror as she examined my arm. I was quiet, of course. I didn't know what to say. My mother had found out about my self harm after all these years. And I have a good guess of how she found out.

"Star told you, didn't she?", I asked already knowing the answer.

My mother didn't answer immediately, but after a couple of seconds she nodded her head "yes." She did this without taking her eyes off my arm. She finally looked at me and with tears in her eyes and quietly said, "How long have you been doing this to yourself?"

"Mom, it's okay, I stopped doing that a long time ago.", I said trying to stop her tears from flowing, "I regret even doing this. I stopped because I was terrified of you seeing my scars and-"

She put a finger to my mouth, silencing me. She looked at me and there were tears going down her face. I could've said something, but there was no use. My mother now knew one of my deepest darkest secrets, and I was probably gonna be in deep shit for this.

"Have I failed as a mother Marco? Am I an idiot for not noticing that this was happening?", my mother asked with a mix sadness and disappointment in her voice.

"Of course not Mom", I said, "You're a great mother. It's not your fault I did this to myself."

"Then why Marco? Why were you doing this to yourself?", she asked. Her voice was already shaky just from the little crying she has done so far. I opened my mouth to say something, but nothing came out. Should I tell her about what I did? What would she say if she knew?

I probably had my mouth hung open for a couple of seconds as if waiting for the perfect words to come out on their own, but nothing came out. I had no words to excuse the horrible bruises I have put on my body that will last even after I'm long gone and burried. What could I possibly say to justify myself?

The worst thing about this, is that I have made my mother cry. I wanted to shoot myself in the face right then and there for what I have done.

With nothing of any meaning left to say, I resort to, "Mom, I'm sorry, but I swear to you I stopped a long time ago and I wouldn't even think about doing it again."

My mother, with lifeless eyes, looked at me in the eyes and said, "I knew we should have gotten you help a long time ago."

A chill went down my spine when she said that. I would've prayed that she wasn't thinking what I thought she was thinking, but there would be no point in doing that because deep down, I knew my gate was sealed.

"Marco, when Star mentioned that you had scars are your wrist, I knew what that meant. I called your father and me and him had a long conversation about what to do about you.", she paused and looked down at my scars as if she was still taking in the presence of my scars, "We've decided that it was time that you get professional help. So, starting Monday after school, you will start going to daily therapy sessions."

"No", I said, "I'm not doing that Mom. I don't need help. I'm perfectly fine."

"No you're not son. We both know you haven't been 'perfectly fine' since you were a child-"

"That's because I'm not a damn child anymore Mom!", I yelled cutting her off. I've never yelled a my mother before, I've never even interrupted her before, but if there was ever a time to do it, it was now. "Come on Mom, it's been years since I've cut myself and I'm a lot more stable now than I was a long time ago, and even if I was mentally fucked up, talking to some random guy in a suit wouldn't help me."

Although it looked like my mother had already made up her mind it looked like she was taking my words into consideration. Either that or she was deciding whether or not to slap me in the face for yelling at her.

"How about this", she finally said, her voice was stern and serious, "You go to therapy for a weak, and if me and your father see even the slightest sign of something being wrong with you, you'll continue to attend these sessions until further notice."

"Fine.", I said.

She finally let go of my arm and hugged me. I hugged her back while saying 'I promise I'm okay" over and over again. When we broke the hug my mother said, "We are still going to have a talk with your father about this okay?'

I nodded. She kissed me on the forehead and said, "Now, go upstairs with Star, I need to get some work done in the kitchen."

I nodded again and began to make my way upstairs. I knew that the so called "work" that needed to be done in the kitchen was my mother throwing away all of the sharp objects we have in the kitchen. They've already taken anything I could kill myself with, so now I'm pretty sure everything in my house will be covered in bubble wrap by the end of the day.

I went into my bedroom and saw Star lying on my bed while playing with those fucking puppies. She noticed me and greeted me with a smile, "You wanna play with me and the puppies?"

I shook my head "No" and sat down on the edge of the bed, "What did you tell my mother last night?"

"Nothing", Star said barely paying attention to me. She was too busy tickling two of the puppies on their stomachs.

"Did you mention the cuts on my wrist?", I asked. This got Star's attention, "Oh yeah! I ask her about where you fought in war. She got all weird and spaced out for a moment. It seemed like the cuts were a sensitive topic for her. Do you know why?"

I didn't answer. I stayed at the edge of the bed and rested my face on the palms of my hands. I wasn't angry with Star. I wasn't even annoyed. I was just…lifeless. I now had to deal with a therapist, as if my life wasn't unbearable enough. Star must've felt my distress because I felt the bed move and I suddenly had Star's arm around me.

"Are you okay Marco?", Star asked, "You can tell me."

I turned to her. I wanted to hit her in the face so badly, but I can't do that. I could never do something like that to Star. No matter how angry I was at her. "I'm fine Star", I said. My voice was more lifeless than usual.

"Are you sure?", Star asked, "You seem kinda out of it?"

"Well", I started deciding to give in, "My mother and making me see I mind doctor." There's no way in hell that she'll understand what a therapist is. "On earth, a mind doctor is called a psychologist."

"Why do you have to see him? Your mind is just fine.", Star said with an adorable smile. It would've warmed my heart if it wasn't for the fact that my heart was already frozen in unmeltable ice.

"Well my mother doesn't think so. She wants to make sure that my mind is in tip top shape and not broken", I explained as simply as I could.

"In Mewni, if your mind is broken they just put you on a catapult and fling you into a volcano. I've lost several uncles that way.", Star said randomly. It didn't surprise me in the slightest that Star came from a family filled of people with "broken minds". She seemed liked she fit right in. Now that I think about it, being flung in a volcano sounded like a pretty easy way to commit suicide. Dammit. I should've came up with that years ago. Silly me.

"Well here on earth, if you have a broken mind, they try to fix it before it's completely fucked and un fixable, but don't worry Star, my mind is fine.", I said, "Now, get those mother fucking things off my bed."

Star rolled her eyes and started to get the puppies off my bed. Whenever the little fucks would look at me I'd turn my head and refuse to face it. Star got my attention when I heard her gasp loudly. I turned to her and I saw standing there with her mouth hanging open staring at the wall behind me.

"Are you okay?", I asked.

She didn't answer me. Her hung opened mouth formed into a happy smile and she whispered a word I made out to be, "William?"

I turned around and saw a man dressed in an odd uniform and holding a pair of siccors covered in what looked liked diamonds and jewels. I immediately became alert and got ready to fight, "Who the fuck are you?"

The guy put his arms up in the air as a form of surrender and backed up into the wall. Before I could do anything or ask him anymore questions, Star grabbed my arm and pulled me back. "Calm down Marco, this is William!" she said as she pointed at the oddly dressed man and jumped up and down excitedly.

"Who exactly is…", I turned back to the oddly dressed man momentarily and then back to Star, "…William?"

"William was my servant back in Mewni! He was also my first friend!", Star said excitedly. She ran up to William and gave him a huge hug. He hugged back and said, "I'm so glad you're okay Star! I was so worried about you." He turned to me and let go of Star.

He walked over to me and asked, "And who might you be good sir?"

I was pretty weirded out by this guy seeing as this guy was from the same place Star grew up in (a place I would not like to visit), but in order to make Star happy, I held my hand out and said, "I'm Marco Diaz. Nice to meet you."

The man shook my hand (I'm surprised he knows what that means) and says, "How exactly do you know Star?"

Before I could answer him, Star answered for me, "He was the first person I met when I came to earth. He found me on the streets after I got injured and took care of me. He also gave me my first kiss!"

William looked confused, "I thought your first kiss was with Tom?"

Star's mood remaind the same, "Let me correct myself, he gave me my first kiss that wasn't with a psychotic asshole!"

William turned back to me and inspected me a bit. I'm not sure exactly what he was looking at me like that for. Maybe he was looking for muscle mass or something. He finally smiled and said, "I thank you for taking good care of my little friend. I'd be crushed if anything would've happened to her. Everyone in Mewni has been worried sick about her."

At the mention of her home, Star became pissed off and stomped her foot on the ground. "I don't wanna hear about home", she warned.

William, obviously scared (and I personally don't blame him), decided to not mention Mewni anymore.

"Why are you even hear?", I asked William.

William sighed, "I've been sent here to take Star Butterfly home."

Jackie's POV

The worst part of my life is whenever I approach my front door and I hesitate to enter because I realize what awaits me. Why didn't I just stay at Marco's house? What the fuck was I thinking? I stood at the front door trying to work up the courage to enter and face my fears, but it just wasn't happening. I decided to cut my losses and head back to Marco's house, but the door suddenly opened.

I cursed under my breath and turned around to see my mother in the doorway. She was smoking a cigarette. It seemed like she was always smoking one of those damn things.

"Get in this damn house", she said before walking away. I sighed and slowly walked into the house. I was too scared to try and run away. God I'm such a coward

I entered the house and my mother immediately screamed at me, "Close that fucking door!"

I quickly close the front door and began to make my way to my room. I kept my head down and prayed that my father wouldn't notice me. I was already missing Marco's house. I felt safer sleeping on his living room floor than I did walking in the upstairs hallway of my own house.

I finally made it to my room and closed the door behind me, making sure I didn't slam it. I've become a pro at making absolutely no noise when I want to. When my door was finally closed I sat down on the filthy mess that was my bed. I was already missing Marco's bed, hell, I'll settle for the fucking floor.

My bed had to be the most uncomfortable piece of furniture in history. It was never washed because my parents couldn't be bothered to care and I was never taught how to use a washing machine. My sheets were covered in blood from my wrist, pee, resulting from me too scared to get up at night, and many other fluids.

Regardless of the awful state of my bed, I tried to fall asleep. I've learned that if I pretend to be asleep, or fall asleep for real, sometimes my parents won't bother waking me up to abuse me. Unless my drunken shit of a father decides to get his panties in a bunch.

As I try, and fail, to fall asleep, I look across the room to the shattered remains mirror that had been broken in one of the brutal encounters with my father. Normally I would get chills from looking at that mess, but for some reason, I didn't this time. For some reason I felt a need to go over there.

Slowly as a snail on a leaf and barely even breathing, I walked over the shattered mess. I picked up one of the bigger pieces and looked at my reflection. I didn't see that beautiful girl Marco was talking about. I swear that boy is insane. At least he cares about me though. That's more than what I get from most people.

Another chill went down my spine as I heard my bedroom door slam open. I didn't even have time to turn around as I felt a stiff punch in my back, causing me to fall toward the mirror remains. I managed to avoid the glass, but I wasn't able to avoid the punches my mother was throwing at me.

I could almost feel my teeth coming loose. I foolishly tried to get up and run, but I was met with a punch to the stomach. I kneeled over in pain and my mother kicked me in the stomach. I can get used to the name calling, but I will never get used to the pain my parents inflict on me. I layed on the ground and pretended to be unconscious, but that elementary school level trick didn't work on my mother, who was actually way smarter than she looked.

"I know you're not knocked out you idiot", she said with a snarl, "Stand. Up."

I get on two legs again and face my mother. I've learned that if I don't look either of them in the eye when they are talking, I will be met with harsh consequences.

"Have you been using my makeup?", my mother asked clearly angry with me.

If I tell the truth, I get beat. If I lie, I get beat. This is just a tough choice to make isn't it?

"…Y-Yes, I have." After I said this, I was immediately slapped in the face and pushed to the ground. I looked up and saw my mother as angry as she's ever been. The beatings I have never gotten used to, but the disgusted looks on my parents' face whenever they even do so little as glance at me, I will always be use to that.

"You stupid bitch!", my mother said as she slapped me in the face again. The side of my head collided with the floor and I grunted in pain. I closed my eyes at the point of impact and when I opened them, I'm looking at the pieces of the shattered mirror. My mother follows my eyes and within seconds, she has found a new method of torture.

She walks over and picks up the biggest piece of glass, the one I was looking in earlier. She walks over to me and says, "I'm gonna show you what happens when you take things that don't belong to you."

As she gets down on one knee and prepares to penetrate my face with the glass, I closed my eyes and prayed for it all to stop.

I had stopped believing in God a long time ago, but if a guy like Marco can notice me, then I guess miracles do exist.

Marco's POV

As soon as the words 'home' left William's mouth, I got in front of Star just in case he tried to do anything rash. He must've understood my gesture because he backed away with his arms in the air.

"You misunderstand me sir, I am not going to use force to take Star back.", he said backing himself into the corner.

"Well then how are you going to take her back?", I asked, "Because I'm damn sure she's not gonna go with you willingly. Especially after what her parents did to her."

He put his hands down and sighed, "Let me explain, I despise what Star's parents did to Star. I don't agree with arranged marriage and I don't approve of Tom at all. I would never make my children mary such a brute. I've been sent here to take her home, but I would prefer if she stayed with you here on earth."

"Really?", Star asked coming from behind me, "You'd actually prefer it if I stayed here?"

"Well", William started, "Are you being taken care of here? Are you being protected? Is this boy treating you with the upmost respect?"

"Yes to all of those questions", Star said giving me a soft hug, "Marco is my protector here on Earth. If I get assaulted, Marco will avenge me. If someone disrespects me, Marco will see to it that they learn some respect." Star smiled a bit and said, "I'm his Star."

William nodded and looked at me, "Well Marco, it seems like my little friend is in good hands, but I will continue to show up in this universe to check on her."

I put my hand up to stop him from talking, "I'm sorry, but how the fuck did you even get in my room?"

Willam pulled out the siccors he was holding, "Why, with these of course, these are interdimensional siccors."

"Those are how I came to earth!", Star said pointing at them.

I was silent for a moment. I stared at the siccors like they had just grown legs and walked off. Do they seriously expect me to believe that they used siccors to get to this dimension? I would've called them out on their bullshit if it wasn't for the fact that I heard my mother call for me from downstairs.

"Marco! Your fathers home! Come down here, we need to talk!", I heard my mother say.

"God dammit", I mumbled under my breath as I leaned on my bedroom wall, "The one time my father gets home early is the day I get busted for self harm."

I turned back around and saw William and Star playing with their so called 'Interdimensional Siccors' and said, "You guys don't leave this room, okay? I'm going to talk to my parents. You. Don't. Leave. This. Room. Understand?" My request fell on deaf ears. They didn't even notice that I was talking to them.

"For fuck sake", I mumbled under my breath. I walked out of my room and started to make my way downstairs. It goes without saying that I wasn't looking forward to this little family talk. I didn't know what would happen, all I know is that by the end of the day, I'm gonna wish I were dead.

Author's Note: There's a reason this is part 1. Part 2 will have a bunch of stuff in it that will progress the story.