The Chapter With The Concert

The motorcycle ride was fun. Unprecedented, a bit shocking. But fun. Jackie led Star to her motorcycle (well, it wasn't her motorcycle, it was technically her uncle's) and drove her to the concert. Now, Star has ridden dragons, fairies giants, and pegasi before, but a motorcycle was completely different. For one thing, the motorcycle didn't try to eat her or set her on fire, so that was an automatic plus. And for another, Star had to sit in very close proximity to Jackie Lynn-Thomas, not that she minded.

"Here, wrap your arms around my waist," Jackie said as she turned on the motorcycle, putting on her helmet.

Star stared at her helmet for a few moments, trying to ease her rapid heartbeat. Putting on the helmet, Star pulled down the visor and looked at Jackie Lynn-Thomas's back for a moment.

"Why?" Star asked innocently.

Jackie Lynn-Thomas turned on the motorcycle and laughed so low that Star had to focus on what she said. "Otherwise, you'll fall right off," she answered. "Come on."

Hesitantly, Star leaned in to Jackie Lynn-Thomas and wrapped her arms, tentatively, around her waist. Jackie Lynn-Thomas shifted a little and Star recoiled. "Sorry, did I squeeze too hard?" Star asked, painfully aware of her monstrous strength.

Jackie meekly shook her head. "No, just um." She cleared her throat, took Star's hands and wrapped them comfortably around her waist. "Do it like that."

"Okay," Star squeaked, hoping the sound of the motorcycle would mask her nervous disposition.

Despite the high speeds and subsequent cold, Star felt completely warm and fuzzy the entire time over, wary of the positioning of her hands and eventually, she leaned in entirely, resting her head on Jackie Lynn-Thomas's back and tried to listen for her heartbeat.

After what felt like an eternity, they arrived at the Echo Creek Convention Center. Star stepped off the motorcycle, her arms and legs feeling like jelly but she just associated it with the long ride over rather than her turbulent emotions. Staring up at the convention center, it was lit up beautifully in an array of lights. An ocean of people milled about outside, all dressed eccentrically in paraphernalia of Exploding Hamster Wheels, she even saw someone with a helmet shaped like a hamster wheel.

"Whoooa," Star cooed, removing her helmet to get a better look. "I haven't seen this many people since the Great Fire of Mewni."

"How'd that happen?" Jackie Lynn-Thomas asked.

Star turned, prepared to explain but found her words got stuck in her throat as she saw Jackie take off her helmet and adjusting her hair. It was ridiculous, after all, Star saw Jackie hundreds of times but for some reason, this time, under the light of the stars she looked… bright.

Jackie Lynn-Thomas smiled and Star felt like the rest of the universe melted away.

"Um… I started a fire at the local bazaar," Star explained, unable to tear her eyes off Jackie Lynn-Thomas. "It spread and hundreds of people were dislocated."

Jackie chuckled. "You always tell the weirdest story, Star."

"Haha, yeah." Star rubbed the back of her wand. "Weird, right."

Jackie Lynn-Thomas extended out her elbow in a polite manner. "Shall we, Princess?"

Star blushed, giggled nervously, and then earnestly took Jackie's elbow. "Why thank you!"

The concert was a bit of a blur. Star only remembered bits and pieces of it. She remembered being in the middle of hundreds of people, shouting and singing as best she could even though she couldn't hear herself. She remembered holding Jackie's hand the entire time. Star remembered feeling fuzzy and light, like if she let go of Jackie she'd float off into the sky, so, she held on as tightly as she could.

Star's throat killed afterward. She was sitting in the grass sipping on some water as Jackie sat next to her, trying hard not to laugh or smile but failing epically. "Wow, I didn't know you had those set of pipes on you," Jackie said with a smile. "I think you were the loudest in the whole concert."

"Really?" Star croaked, noting how weird she sounded. "Thanks!"

"Was that your first concert?"

Star shook her head. "Technically no. When I was little, my parents hired a bunch of musicians to play for me, but apparently I never liked them."

"What happened to them?"

"I ordered them to be shot out of the kingdom on a catapult."

"Sounds intense."

"For them. I was five. You know, I don't get it, but you sound so similar to my mom."

"Really?" Jackie grinned, standing up and posing in a stiff and aristocratic manner. "Star Butterfly," she said in a posh accent, perfecting imitating her Queen Butterfly. "A Princess must not present herself in such a disheveled manner."

Star cracked up even though it hurt to laugh as Jackie Lynn-Thomas pranced around in a stiff gait, like a soldier with a broom up their backside. "A Princess does not chortle, Star Butterfly!"

"That is so creepy how you sound like her!" Star croaked.

Jackie Lynn-Thomas laughed and plopped herself back down next to Star. "So um…" She looked fidgety and stared up at the sky, the stars reflecting in her eyes. "Didja have fun?"

Star nodded vigorously to save her voice. "It was awesome! I only wish Marco were here, he would've loved it."

Jackie raised an eyebrow. "Really?" she asked incredulously. "I didn't think this was his scene."

Star shrugged. "As long as we're having a good time, that would've been good enough for him."

Jackie fiddled with her necklace, a bright orange seashell. "I didn't know that."

"He's nice like that," she explained. "But um, is that why you didn't invite him?"

Jackie stayed quiet for a count of five and Star worried if she said something wrong. Then suddenly she shifted closer to Star, still keeping her eyes on her necklace. "I dunno," she muttered. "Marco's… different. I mean, he doesn't like skateboarding or surfing or, you know, anything I like. I didn't think he'd like this, to be honest."

Star wanted to protest that Marco likes her but stopped herself. She wasn't sure why… but she blamed her sore throat even though she knew that wasn't the truth.

"But I had a good time," Jackie concluded, looking at Star with those bright emerald eyes and pretty smile. "Did you?"

Star nodded again, wanting to say something else but a cool breeze blew through and the princess shivered. Without hesitation, Jackie removed her leather jacket and draped it over Star. "Thanks," Star squeaked, perfectly aware of her blushing face.

"It's getting late," Jackie said, looking at her phone. "I should take you home."

Again, Star wanted to protest that she wanted to stay a bit longer… but Jackie knelt formally, bowed her head and extended her arm. "Your carriage awaits, Your Highness."

Star giggled, taking her hand and standing up. "Why thank you, Lady Lynn-Thomas."

Jackie stood and grinned but her eyes went foggy and distant as she stared at Star's hand. "What's up?" Star asked.

"Nothing just um…" Jackie unconsciously stroke Star's hand with her thumb and it felt like lightning was running up and down her arm. "I just wanted to know if you wanted to do this again."

"Another concert?"

"Not exactly," Jackie answered. "Just you know, hang out, with me."

"Oh. Um…"

Star stared at the night sky, watching a million stars twinkle above. Jackie Lynn-Thomas's jacket draped over her shoulders dousing Star in her scent, the smell of sea-salt and cinnamon, making her head feel fuzzy.

She looked at Jackie Lynn-Thomas, noticing a perceptible blush on her face. Her throat ached, her hand, holding Jackie's hand, tingled like crazy…

"Yeah!"