The Other Exchange Student
Today was a big day. Marcia put up a streamer as her parents hung up a banner.
Marcia and her parents stopped moving when they heard footsteps moving upstairs.
"She's coming," Marcia said
Marica got down from her little step ladder. Marcia and her parents gathered together waiting for Star to come downstairs.
Star let out a large yawn as she came downstairs in her pajamas.
"Surprise!" The Diaz family said
Marcia, Mr. Diaz, and Mrs. Diaz wear party hats and stand under a banner that reads 'Happy 47th Day on Earth, Star' with Mr. Diaz holding a cake.
"Happy 47th day on Earth, Star!"
The laser puppies ran around their feet barking happily.
"A party? For me? I can't believe it!" Star squealed out.
"You can't?" Marcia questioned cocking her head, "We've done this every day since you got here."
"Here, Star. I made you a cake," Mr. Diaz said
Mr. Diaz holds out a cake that had Star's face drawn on it in frosting.
"And I wrote you a poem," Mrs. Diaz said pulling out a sheet of paper, "Our lives were so small and puny 'til this angel arrived from Mewni."
Star gets teary-eyed at the poem.
"And I've got you another one of Marcia's earth tips pamphlet," Marcia said hanging star a folded up pamphlet.
"Oooooo, I wonder what this one's on," Star said opening the pamphlet, "Is it a Monster or a Strange Man," Star read.
"Yeah. I thought it'd be a good idea after you magic blasted the man with the super bushy mustache," Marcia said
"Thanks, Marcia," Star said
*DING DONG*
"The door!" Marcia said running over.
Marcia removes her party hat and answers the front door. Star was too busy drooling over her cake.
"Hello! It is I, Gustav!"
"No way!" Marcia said
"Haha Marcia! My American friend!" Gustav said holding his arms up.
Marcia and Gustav do an elaborate secret handshake ending in a double high-five.
"Look who's here!" Marcia said pulling Gustav into the house.
"*GASP* How wonderful!" Mr. Diaz said
"What a wonderful surprise!" Mrs. Diaz said
Star who was preparing to grab a slice of cake is sadly disheartened when Mr. and Mrs. Diaz pulls it away to greet and hug Gustav.
"We've missed you so much!" Mrs. Diaz said
"Um...hi," Star greeted awkwardly.
"Oh, hello. I am Gustav. I was the Diaz's' exchange student last year," Gustav said
"What?! But I thought I was your one and only foreign exchange student," Star exclaimed
"Not even close. I mean, who did you think all these kids were?" Marcia said pointing to a wall.
Star looks up to the wall to see dozens of photos of the Diaz's past foreign exchange students, and for some reason a robot, and a llama.
"Hmm…" Star said studying the pictures.
"I brought gifts from Scandinavia! For Mrs. D, a pair of clogs," Gustav said
"Ooh!" Mrs. Diaz said
"For Marcia, the handheld game Lederhosen Tycoon," Gustav said
Marcia squeals happily and grabs the game but not before giving the foreign boy a quick hug. The boy's cheeks tint pink, which doesn't go unnoticed by Star.
Mr. Diaz claps excitedly as Gustav comes over to him.
"And for Mr. Diaz, a genuine Viking helmet," Gustav said
Mr. Diaz gasped he removes his party hat, puts on the Viking helmet, and runs forward driving the horns into a wall.
Gustav turns to Star, "And for you...nothing! I did not know you existed! Ha-ha!"
"Oh," Star said with a frown.
"Oh! Mrs. D, you've gotten so thin. I need to fatten you up," Gustav said
"Hahaha!" Mrs. Diaz laughed
"Come, everyone, and I will cook you my meatballs," Gustav said
"Oh, Gustav!" Marcia said happily.
Gustav leads the Diaz's into the kitchen, leaving Star behind. Star's balloon deflates, as an annoyed look comes onto her face.
"The Scandinavian monsoons were over, but the danger had just begun. The iceberg was sinking. Heedless of my own peril, I disrobed. I dove into the freezing fjord and I carried Yuri back to his mother!" Gustav said as he told his dramatic story.
Cut back to Diaz Household.
Mr. and Mrs. Diaz Oohed and gasped at the story.
"Whoa," Marcia said impressed
"Meh," Star said chewing on a meatball.
"Marcia, think fast!" Gustav said
Gustav flings a meatball at Marcia. She jumps and catches it in her mouth.
"So, uh, Gustav, where exactly are you from?" Star asked
Gustav narrows his eyes, "How much do you know about Europe?"
"I know it's a place. I'm pretty sure," Star said
"Ohhh, well, then. I come from the country of Scandinavia. It is a land where Vikings teach gym class and everyone has a pet penguin, even if you don't like penguins. Oop, too bad, here's your penguin," Gustav said
"Hey, Gustav, I'm open. Meatball me!" Marcia said
"Anything for you Marcia," Gustav said happily flinging a meatball.
Gustav flings another meatball at Marcia, and he catches it in his mouth.
"Ooh, now me, Gustav. Now me! Haha!" Mr. Diaz said
Gustav flings two meatballs at Mr. Diaz, and he catches them on his helmet horns.
"Are you sure those are cooked?" Star questioned
Gustav plays hacky sack with the meatballs as the Diazes catch them in their mouths.
"Over here!" Mrs. Diaz said
Star gets a weirded out look on her face.
"Just think, three more weeks of this!" Marcia said happily.
Star continues to look weirded out at the group.
The next morning Star walks down the stairs in her pajamas just like any other morning.
"Surprise!" The Diaz family said
"Aah! A party for me—!"
Star stops talking when she sees that the party banner read "Happy 2nd Day of Your Visit, Gustav!".
"Happy second day of your visit, Gustav!"
Gustav comes down the stairs behind Star.
"Oh, Diaz family. You are so full of pleasantness," Gustav said
The Diaz family start chanting Gustav's name.
Star gets annoyed and sits down on the couch crossing her arms. As she does so she knocks over Gustav's bag as it falls onto the floor.
"Huh?" Star questioned looking down.
Out of Gustav's bag falls out a map and books titled Scandinavian for Doofuses and Customs of Scandinavia. Star picks up the Scandinavian for Doofuses book studying it.
"Whaaat?" Star said
Gustav quickly snatches the book away from Star and replaces it with a slice of cake.
"Oh, look at you. Such a curious girl," Gustav leans into Star, "Now, eat your cake and mind your own business!" Gustav said in a menacing tone.
"Okay...?" Star said
Gustav puts a smile on his face, "More cake for everyone!"
Star grabs Marcia and pulls her away.
"Marcia, listen. I think there's something off about Gustav. I found Scandinavian books and language tapes in his bag. Why would someone need to learn his own language?" Star said
"Uh…" Marcia said
"Why is he always making meatballs? Meatballs aren't so great. I can make things too!" Star said pulling out her wand. She waves her wand and creates a spider in a top hat. It crawls away "Oooo spider with a hat," Marcia said holding the spider, "And do I sense some jealousy in your time?" Marcia said raising an eyebrow.
"Hey, Marcia! Think fast!" Gustav said
Marcia quickly turns around to catch a meatball in her mouth.
"I hope he never leaves!" Marcia said
"Oh, no, thank you," Mrs. Diaz said as Gustav held up a large slice of cake.
Gustav shoves the whole slice of cake into Mrs. Diaz's mouth while looking at Star menacingly.
"Oh! That's a very big bite," Mrs. Diaz said with a full mouth.
Star shudders and goes to walk away. As she takes a step back her foot lands on a piece of paper. Star lifts her foot up to see a folded piece of paper. She picks up the paper and unfolds a small part of it, her eyes widen when she see's a drawing of Marcia. As she goes to unfold the rest of the paper it is quickly snatched out of Stars hand. Star quickly look up to see Gustav stuffing the paper in his pocket. Star narrows her eyes at Gustav.
? ﾟﾄﾾ? ﾟﾅﾃ? ﾟﾄﾶ? ? ﾟﾄﾸ? ﾟﾄﾴ
Star takes a picture of Gustav making a secret phone call.
Star sees Gustav in the garage packing an ax in his bag.
Star puts her photos up on her bedroom wall, looking suspicious at them.
Star watched as Gustav puts a book in his bag that had Marcia's name written on it.
Star climbed up a tree and watches Gustav as he makes dozens of meatballs. Higher in the tree Buff Frog was spying on Star in the same tree, Star looks up and they catch each other. "Huh?" The two said
Star, slowly looking crazier, sticks pieces of paper to her bedroom wall, building her suspicion wall. Star spies on Gustav as he takes Mr. and Mrs. Diaz's measurements in their sleep. Then watches him as he takes pictures of Marcia in her sleep.
Star puts more and more photos on her wall, almost obscuring the screen.
m̴o̴n̴t̴a̴g̴e̴ ̴o̴v̴e̴r̴
Marcia approaches Star's bedroom door whistling.
"Oh, Star. We're about to-"
Star's bedroom door opens quickly, and Star pulls Marcia inside.
"Whaa!" Marcia said surprised.
Star pins Marcia to the wall and Marcia looks up to see photos of Gustav on the wall with a red string connecting things. Star has a crazed look in her eyes and was panting.
"What's going on?!" Marcia said a little freaked out.
"I've been awake for days spying on Gustav, and I'm this close to figuring out what he's plotting!" Star said
"What?!" Marcia said
"His stories don't add up, Marcia! Penguins? Icebergs? Polar bears?! What the heck is a polar bear?! And he's making phone calls, Marcia. Phone calls! He's up to something terrible!" Star said
"...You have lost your mind. But if you find it, we're meeting Gustav for a picnic at Isolation Point, where no one can hear you scream...with enjoyment!" Marcia said with a smile.
Marcia walks out the room leaving Star alone.
Star looks her wall and gets a thoughtful look on her face. Visions of Gustav and the Diazes drift over her head.
"Oh, Mrs. D, you've gotten so thin," Vision Gustav said
"Gustav, Gustav, Gustav, Gustav!"
"Now, eat your cake and mind your own business! Meatballs, meatballs, meatballs."
"Here is your penguin. I need to fatten you up."
Star imagines the Diaz's turning into meatballs.
"AHHHHHH! Gustav's not taking them on a picnic! They are the picnic!" Star yelled
Star hears a car engine start outside and runs to the window. She looks out the window and sees the Diaz's drive away in their minivan.
"Wait!" Star yelled out.
She bolts to the front door but is too late as she sees the van drive out of view.
Star points her wand away from her, "Bunny Rabbit Blast!" Star rockets herself into the air and lands on top of the van. She makes a magic seat belt and secures herself to the top of the moving vehicle. She hangs over the side and pounds on the window.
"You're all going to die!" Star screamed out.
No one can hear Star screaming because everyone in the car is singing, "She'll Be Coming 'Round the Mountain".
"Oh, we're gonna eat some meatballs in the woods Yeah, we're gonna eat some meatballs in the woods (in the woods) Yeah, we're gonna eat some meatballs, yeah, we're gonna eat some meatballs…"
The minivan drives towards Isolation Point making Star gasp. She sees a sign on the road that reads "ISOLATION PT" that was pointing right. She blasts the sign with her wand and changes the sign that it was pointing left. As the minivan makes a left turn, Star jumps off the van and continues right toward Isolation Point.
*Thunder rumble*
Gustav is seen in a clearing preparing a campfire. Star peeks out of a bush watching him. Gustav then pulls out an ax.
*THUNDER STRIKE*
"*GASP*" Star jumped out of the bushes, "I knew you were up to no good, meatball boy!"
"AHHHH!" Gustav screamed as he dropped the ax. He immediately runs away and Star follows.
"Get back here!" Star yelled as she ran after him she tripped on his bag and a book falls out. She recognizes the book and grabs it before running after Gustav.
Gustav runs through the woods quickly running out of breath but Star is right on his trail.
"Dagger Heart Blast! Glowworm Blast! Narwhal Blast!"
Star fires several blasts at Gustav, he dodges them all and keeps running. Gustav runs across a rope bridge and cuts the ropes with a pocketknife.
Gustav watches the bridge fall and laughs at Star.
"Glitter Dragon Escalation!"
While Gustav was laughing he failed to notice that Star had created a magical dragon and was now flying towards him.
The laughing boy notices a large shadow being cast over him and he looks up to see Star on the dragon and he lets out a squeal like gasp.
"Give it up, Gustav!" Star said
"AHHHHHHH!" Gustav screamed.
Star's glitter dragon bites down the ground near Gustav and then it explodes.
"Whoa!" Gustav said
Splintered pieces of wood fly everywhere as Star walks up to Gustav and points her wand at his face.
"It's over, Gustav! I know you aren't who you say you are," Star said
Gustav starts crying and falls to his knees, "It's true! I'm full of lies!"
"So, you admit you're planning to eat the Diazes?!" Star said
"Yes, yes!...Wait, what?" Gustav stops crying and stands up, "No, I don't want to eat them!"
"But you said…" Star said
"I mean, I'm not from Scandinavia," Gustav said without his accent, "Truth is my name is Charlie Booth, and I'm just a guy from Bakersfieldville. Nobody's heard of it. Back home, I'm just another boring face in a really boring 's not a good place for a talented guy like me."
"But what about the phone calls? And the ax? And those meatballs?!" Star said
"Well…" Charlie said
Flashback
Charlie making secret phone calls in a closet.
"The phone calls were to my meat guy, but he wouldn't pick up," Charlie said
"I'm the meat guy, leave a message."
"Bro, it's me. Come on, man, I need the meeeaaat," Charlie said
"The ax was to cut firewood for today's feast. As for the meatballs, my dream is to become a chef and open a restaurant in Bakersfieldville that uses spices and flavors! So that's why I ran away and moved in with the Diaz's."
Present
"Well, then what about this book!" Star said pulling out a red book that had Marcia's name on it.
Charlie gasped and reached for the book but Star pulled it away.
"Give me that!" Charlie said
"Aha! Let's see what secrets you've got," Star said about to open the book.
"NOOOO!" Charlie said
"Let's see-whaaaaaaaa?" Star said opening the book.
The book was filled with pages and pages of photos of Marcia, most of them candid shots. Star continued to flip through the book dodging Charlie as he tried to get the book back. She finally gets to a page and her eyes widen when she see's the drawing of Marcia she found earlier that fell out of Charlie's pocket. The whole drawing was shown and it was of Charlie and Marcia holding hands with hearts all around it.
Star puts the book down to look at a sweating Charlie. She has a funny grin on her face as she slides up next to the nervous boy.
"Yoooouuuuu have a crush on Marcia," Star said teasingly.
"What? No, I don't?!" Charlie said
"That's not what this book says," Star said holding up a book.
Star continues to giggle and poke fun at the boy until she remembers something.
"Wait I just remembered! Why were measuring the Diaz's in their sleep?" Star questioned.
"Uhhhhh…" Charlie said
A car horn honks and the two look over to see the Diaz's van pull up.
"Star?! What a pleasant surprise!" Mr. Diaz said
"You made it!" Mrs. Diaz said
"Yeah, I did. And I came here to tell you something about Gustav," Star said
Charlie lets out a gasp and starts to nervously chuckle.
The Diaz's all have big smiles on their faces as they wait for Star's news. Star's expression softens and she looks over at Charlie who gulps.
"He's made you, even more, meatballs!" Star said
"Yay!" Mrs. Diaz cheered.
"Fantastic!" Mr. Diaz said
"Woo-hoo!" Marcia cheered
The Diazes run toward the campfire leaving Star and Charlie.
"Phew. Thanks for not blowing my cover, Star. If there's ever anything I can do for you…" Charlie said
"Well, as a matter of fact, Charlie, there is," Star said
c̶u̶t̶a̶w̶a̶y̶
Charlie has his bags all packed and he was standing outside the Diaz house.
"Bye! Bye-bye, Gustav! Bye!" Star said waving the boy off.
The Diaz all smile and wave telling the boy goodbye.
As Charlie leaves, he walks in the middle of the road, and two cars screech to a stop before they run him over.
"Hey, get off the road!"
"See you next year, Gustav!" Marcia said
"Or not! You never know! Bye now!" Star said
Star and Marcia go inside the house and close the door.
"Surprise!"
Mr. and Mrs. Diaz are standing under a banner that reads "Happy 51st Day on Earth, Star" while holding up a cake.
"Happy 51st day on Earth, Star."
"Aah! A party for me?!" Star said
"Who wants cake?" Mr. Diaz asked
Mr. Diaz gives Star two slices of cake and Star gives one to Marcia.
"I'm sorry your favorite exchange student had to leave so soon," Star said
"You kidding? You're my favorite, you're like the sister I've always wanted," Marcia said
"Aww…" Star said giving Marcia a hug.
"I will miss seeing him, though. That guy is just so...real," Marcia said
"Hehe I bet he'll really miss you too," Star said with a knowing grin.
"What's with that look?" Marcia questioned
"Oh nothing~? ﾝﾅﾥ?￢ﾀﾝ Star sang out.
Marcia just gives Star a weird look before shrugging her shoulders and biting into her cake.
END