Chapter 10: longing for Starco

AN: quick warning the story will divert along two paths of fate that will flow to the same end. Be admonished the story may yet get harder to follow. I'll try to put up dividing lines to help ease any confusion that may arise but know that I write without Wi-Fi and at the time have no access to said lines.

The next morning Star and Marco approached the school there was a bit of hidden animosity between them not towards each other but to the angelic figure hovering between them. On their way, Marco took them on a slight detour to pick up Jackie who'd agreed to walk with them, for obvious reasons. Thereafter Star looked downtrodden, and Indifference took notice. Upon their arrival, they saw something no-one had expected, there was a crowd around Oscar. Indifference took the sword at his side by the sheath and lifted it high above the multitudes. To almost everyone's surprise, the crowd immediately parted making a clear path for him to walk up to him as he said, "you pick up quick. If you'd of learned properly instead of trying to learn by ear and mimicking songs no-one understands. You'd of known starting off with songs everyone knows and working your way towards originality will garner more admirers."

"I don't care if people like it I just wanna play."

"Look in the hat I have you"

"Ok... How'd all this money get here? Usually, when I put down a hat I end up with less money."

"It got there because now you have fans."

"Didn't I have fans before?"

"Not fans, fan, Singular. On that note how'd you like to date a fangirl?" Star's body jolted up at the implication. Oscar merely shrugged and said, "I'm good with whatever." Star's eyes began to shine and she began to hesitantly approach him only for Brittney to beat her to it. She began speaking to him in innuendos and at every opportunity, Oscar took her literally. Star's countenance quickly changed from bitterness to anger, to jealousy, to sympathy. Soon enough everyone began to laugh at how dense Oscar was, that at every single subtle hint he responded with a blank stare and a literal query. Indifference turned to Star and asked, "isn't it strange to see it from the outside?"

"Yeah, you know I never thought I'd say this but I feel bad for Brittney."

"Agreed, let's make her feel worse. *turns to Oscar* Yo!"

"Sup?"

"You wanna go out with Star?"

"I guess?"

"BTW Brittney wants you inside her."

"I don't follow."

"You should spend your date at the bookstore then, you both stand to learn a few things."

"Any books in mind?"

"Oh, you know just urban dictionaries, books on idioms, and overall figures of speech."

"Eww grammar books."

"Grammar books and coffee."

"Fine, but you're paying for it."

"Alright *reaches into pocket* this is a black card *gives* its a credit card without a limit remember I'm just paying for books and coffee and I don't want to see any pornographic titles on my next bill. Especially if you're getting one called Harry blond gets stiffed. At least buy some MLP books if you don't want to read about words."

"What's MLP?"

"My Little Pony."

"If rather learn."

"Awesome. *turns back to Star* make sure he sticks to what he said cause if he lies to my face I'll rip his off"

"No promises" Marco then added, "why'd you come to school with us today again?"

"Because Skeeves is cheap and miss Skullnick is sick." Oscar got off his car and said, "wait, if you're subbing I might actually learn something."

"I know you've not been attending classes"

"That's cause no one else knows how to teach right."

"All I did was put you to sleep with a dream that forced you to learn in whatever way you would. I honestly thought you'd be in a coma for at least a week. You're smarter than I thought you were."

"Thanks, I don't ever get that from anyone."

"Thought so." The school day came and went. Thereafter Marco watched Star get into Oscar's car and leave for her date with Oscar. The implacable smile that had been gone over the weekend was back in full effect and Marco couldn't help the bitter sweetness of seeing his best friend happy again. Before a second of regret could hit him Jackie twirled him around and stuck her tongue down his throat so fast he could scarcely register who it partying he realized not only had he been horribly torn from his train of thought but everybody and their mothers were watching them. Brittney was the first to protest, "it's not fair! How come tweedle Diaz and tweedle dumbass get hot dates before me?!" Almost immediately Indifference shattered her phingers(spelt wrong on purpose) with a ruler. "Your foul mouth will earn the scorn of sailors." Before she could complain he took to the skies split in two and flew to two separate locations.

Perched on the roof of Barnes and noble was a two foot six boyish man I'm full tuxedo with an oversized sword at his side drank his coffee while reading a copy of "Trigun Multiple Bullets". Right below him, a date unfolded. Star began. "So Oscar what do you like to do for fun? You know besides being a musical genius."

"I drink coffee while writing angsty poetry about my social life."

"Can I see?"

"You were the girl that always sat next to my car and listen to me play right?"

"Yeah..."

"Then you probably heard if already. Most of my poetry gets turned into songs."

"Oh... what do you do for fun?"

"I usually play keytar but when it runs out of batteries I like to put a hotdog on a fishing pole and hop on my mom's boyfriend until he catches the thing in his mouth or throws me off."

"Uh... what do you see in a girl?"

"...Come again?"

"What do you look for in a girlfriend?"

"Never thought about it." Star sighed as her date was not what she'd thought it'd be she looked out the window and wondered what Marco was up to.

Marco and Jackie were rolling about the park giggles, chortles, and laughter galore. Jackie constantly tickled Marco as he begged her stop. When she did, she straddled his waist and put an inch of distance between her face and his. "Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why should I stop tickling you?"

"Why do you want to tickle me in the first place?"

"Cause it's fun and I like seeing you squirm beneath me"

"That's not a reason."

"Better than yours" he sighed opened his mouth to speak then closed it and rolled them over holding down both of her wrists so she couldn't tickle him anymore. "Well, you've got me in a compromising position. What are you going to do with me?" She said, a coy smile gracing her features. His eyes widened and his grip loosened. She got an arm free and continued their little wrestling match until she lay tired on his chest saying, "this was fun. I haven't messed with anybody that ticklish in ages." She laughed it off but Marco just felt empty like the girl for him this was not, as he noticed the short, winged man standing in the tree they lay under.

Star had to sit through a lecture about how different brands of keytar make different sounds and are more or less capable of having the sound swapped for another found either in nature or online.

Marco's luck was no better as he was now a glorified pillow for the girl he liked for the longest time yet now not so sure.

They both sighed at the exact same moment in time though in different locations looked out at the same rising moon and said, "if only you were here with me."

Afterword: as promised here's the tenth chapter on time and on a cliff hanger