A/N: Hello to all! I have crawled back from my writing hole to provide you this new chapter! It's freshly made! And edited, of course. And! It's on time! Not a late update of sorts! So...huzzah! Yay!! This chapter is slightly shorter than the rest yet important. Other than that I want to thank you all for reading my little AU! I honestly didn't think anyone would read it...
thewittywhy: Nice to see your reviewing! Always makes me smile to see a review. Reviews are great! And Star really is having trouble. It's something that constantly plagues her. And Mewberty...:) I won't reveal what that may be just yet.
Now, onto the story!
Her youthful pre-teen face was ablaze in burning company of dancing joy, her mind dashed with running possibilites as she plopped her small form down in her mother's still vehicle. She grasped at the darkly woven seatbelt and stretched it across her little body like a vine, tightly securing herself to her cushioned seat. She flashed a toothy grin toward Marco's general direction while he carefully perched himself beside her. Ecstatic, she planted her blue-colored backpack near her sneaker-clad feet as he strongly gripped the car door and slammed it shut with caution. A small silence arised like smoke and vapor, rippling through as the two twiddled with their thumbs, quiet, before Star squealed, her calm mask shattering and falling limply; enthusiasm pouring out of her.
"AH! Marco, we're going to Middle School! MIDDLE SCHOOL!!" She couldn't help it, if she were honest. Soon, her arms and hands had snaked over the boy's shoulders and she shook him back and forth, excitedly. He owlishly blinked multiple times, caught offguard, and laughed a bit as she sheepishly apologized, letting her grip loosen and drop.
Marco curled his lips a tiny bit and fixed his hoodie, brushing off invisible specks of imaginary dirt, "Yeah, I know! It's something." He remarked, his expression suddenly shadowed by a serious glint like a cloud blocking the sun. He glanced out the car window and directed his gaze toward his sister, "Star, be honest." His sudden tone and shift of mood darkened Star's blissfully elated eyes. She spared him a solemn incline of her head, bitting into her lip anxiously.
"Can you promise me if anything happens to you; if any bullies mess with you; that you'll tell me?" He almost commanded, authorative. Star dipped her stare, scratching at her arm as nervousness climbed up her throat like a crawling spider. Marco grabbed her hand, preventing her from scratching and interfering with her already injured arm.
Star frowned as her eyes lingered for a slight moment on her vastly large bruise adorning her forearm like a taunt. Marco butted his thick brows together, "I know you don't like telling me." He quietly murmured, a joyless glint reflecting off of his brown orbs. His stare darted toward her bruise, the opposite of a smile crossed his lips; cutting deeply through his face.
"You should always tell me. I'm your brother. I want to help you. I'm here to help you." He sincerely told her.
Star sighed, slumping in her seat as she folded her arms over her chest. "I know." She mumbled, somewhat sadly. "I just...I wanna defend myself sometimes. But, I know I can't." Her features scrunched up in a type of disappointment; not at him but at herself. Marco blinked, staying as silent as one could be. He eyed her stooped head, her bangs masking her frowning face.
He deeply exhaled, his forehead creased in thought, "Star, you can--"
The metallic door to the driver's seat propped open and closed as their mother sat herself in the respectively mentioned seat. She smiled brighty at them through the rear view mirror, as if nothing was wrong with the world, her green almond eyes shining with fondness, "You two kids ready for sixth grade?" She inserted her silver key into the ignition. The car shook and rumbled to life.
Star gave a weak smile in response as Marco eyed her, concern surfacing through his expression like a diver going up for the sweet release of air. "Yeah," he commenced, brows knitted, "I think we're ready."
I'll protect you, Star.
He instantly offered the blonde a cheerful smile, attempting to rise her spirirts.
I'll make sure of it.
A/N: Thank you all for reading! Next chapter coming soon! Also, something to note, time skips may be slightly frequent in this though I will let you know when it happens by marking it in the beginning of a chapter like I've done before. Anyways, have a nice night/day!