I would like to thank everyone for all the love you have given this story. And I am pleased to know that I have made so many people happy.

I was stuck on a direction to take the story and didn't think I'd ever come back to it, but seeing how many people wanted it pulled my dark heart into the light. Alas the story will go on.

Also, it has come to my attention that I had a duplicate chapter hanging around. So in that I've deleted chapter 7. And now we're up to 10 chapters. Whoop, whoop!

Just yesterday Marco was covered in purple hearts and today he had decided to put more distance between himself and his interdenominational roommate. Of course being away from Star only made him think about her more. Soon he came on the realization that ever since he had been given this mark, the two had more and more reason to keep apart. He wondered woefully, how much longer this would endure.

"Marco! Could you come down here for just a second." Marco heard his father call him cheerfully.

"Yeah Dad, what's up?" When he reached the bottom of the stairs he saw that his father was covered in clumps of white gunk and goo, paintbrush in one hand and a ball of newspaper strips in the other.

He didn't seemed to mind the mess he was in. "I was just working on some paper mache for my Cinco de Mayo float, I know it's still far away, but when it comes around I need to be prepared. Any who I'm almost out of flour. Could you run to the store and pick up some more?

""Yeah, sure, let me get my shoes on." He took a step or two upwards before his father added.

"Perfect, just tell Star whenever you're ready."

"Uh, what? Star's coming?" He stopped.

"Yes, she mentioned something about needing more glitter for her school work. And this would be a good time for he to practice her driving."

"You know what, this might not be the best time. I just remembered I have lots more homework to do. Plus I gotta help Ferguson-"

"Nonsense Marco." His mother chimed in, coming from around the corner, she was just as messy as his father. "This trip shouldn't take more than a half hour."

Marco sighed deeply. He recalled the last time he was alone with Star. How her fingers felt as they grazed along his skin.

"Fine. " His voice cracked. He wasn't getting out of this one." I'll just be a second." He retreated to get his shoes.

By the time he came down the stairs again Star was waiting.

"Thank you son." His father handed the keys to Star and her face went pale as she realized what was happening.

"Wait, I thought Mr. Diaz was gonna take me. I don't really need the glitter that bad I have a lot of homework to do, and then there's Ferguson-"

"What is with you too?" The senior Diaz was puzzled. "Lover's quarrel?"

"No!" They both shouted.

"Ah, it's the creepy cashier, the one with two lazy eyes? Well, if you don't come back in an hour we'll call the police." Mr. Diaz led them out the door. Marco and Star made it to the car, beginning their trek.

In the car, the two hadn't spoken much, or even at all. Star was focused on the road and Marco was focused on her. It was nearing the afternoon and the horizon had turned a warm burnt amber.

His eyes kept wandering to her hands, where they were now wrapped around the steering wheel, but just the other day they were tracing along his shoulders… along his chest.

"Hey Star, how about a little music." Marco interrupted his own thoughts, turning on the stereo before getting an answer.. It didn't matter what was on, anything was better than the silence between them.

Hey pretty baby with the high heels on,

You give me fever like I've never, ever know,

You're just a product of loveliness,

I like the groove of your walk, your talk, your dress,

I feel your fever from miles around,

I'll pick you up in my car and we'll paint the town,

Just kiss me baby and tell me twice,

That you're the one for me

The way you make me feel!

You really turn me on! BEEP

Marco changed the station.

"Okay, that may not be the song we're looking for." Marco gulped.

Touch my body, put me on the floor- BEEP

"Nope, sorry." He changed it again.

Both teens were blushing like idiots.

Come a little closer, come a little closer, come a little closer

This one's not so bad. Marco relaxed, he wasn't a fan of country music, but he could make an exception.

Girl the way you look tonight, my eyes are the only thing I don't wanna take off of you… BEEP!

Marco's chest just about exploded. What is wrong with these people!

I don't see nothing wrong, with a little bump and grind- BEEP!

"Maybe music's not what we need right now." He was sweating bullets. "We could just talk." He offered.

"Talk? Just making sounds with our mouths, that will be translated by our ears into vocal patterns that convey meaning. Got it!" Star was a mess. Marco was a mess. The whole car ride was a mess. And there was a slinking suspicion that their conversation might just be a bigger mess.

"So… last time you said you had a plan. How's that working?" Marco asked. Suspicion confirmed.

"Gonna get right to it huh. Well, it's not going terribly. One time when I was five I got my head stuck in a wasn't any butter in the palace, so my father pulled me out using pig grease. I smelled like bacon for a month."

"Okay, but what about your plan?"

"Well I was getting to that. Luckily my plan does not involve pig grease, so…" She trailed off before adding quietly, "that's gotta be worth something."

"RIght. I guess that it is. Oh, don't forget to take a right after this light, and before that don't forget your blinker."

They had reached their destination. The burnt amber cooled into night. The car stopped and Star shut off the engine.

Just as Marco was reaching for the door Star spoke up.

"Can I ask you something?" Marco stopped and settled again in his seat. "I know this whole mark situation is… weird, and it's making us weird. I messed things up and kept a lot from you, but I just feel like it's getting a whole lot worse, before it's getting any better. So I just, I have to know. Marco are we still friends?"

She looked up at him as seriously as Marco had ever seen her. In a movement it felt like he weighed a thousand pounds. How could he make her feel like this? He had never wanted her to question how much he cared for her. Even if they could only be friends, even if that's all she ever wanted from him, he would have to make it enough.

He had decided that being distant only hurt her, it hurt the both of them.

He gave a sure nod, and said "Best friends."

Star's mood changed instantly. "So normally we hug during these kind of moments." She opened her arms and moved towards him.

Marco felt his heart racing. His neck felt undeniably warm. He wanted to be close to her.

But right now he couldn't.

"Oh. I don't think that's such a good idea. I think I might just kiss you." Marco blurted out, when he saw the hearts on Star's cheeks light up he realized his mistake.

Star didn't say anything, she couldn't.

"Uh... Gotta get the flour." He quickly added and jumped out the car.

I'm not running away. He thought to himself heading into the store.

But, he was definitely running away.

Thanks for reading!

Smell ya later,

Atilla.