Just as that thought came to be, the next photo was her and Marco in their fighting stance at the Dojo. His gee with the American flag with a black belt around his waist while her's was an unauthorized bright pink gee with a green belt. Good thing Marco was best friends with his mentor and allowed her to break the rules.
Star got into the sport after watching his sparring matches and couldn't believe how much of an amazing fighter he was. It seemed like it was second nature to him, but it truly required a lot of focus.
He loved the training rituals and how much time and effort it takes to perfect his fighting style, it was one of the small things that broke the title of being called the safe kid. The whole school knew about his discipline to combat arms and so much as becoming a small local celebrity. He attended numerous competitions that would result in him being in the top three or taking first place altogether.
She couldn't stop smiling at how serious they looked in the photo, the following ones showed them at competitions and winning trophies. Marco taught her everything he knew and that made her a beast just like him. The last photo of the set was the day she accidentally broke his nose.
Every day they would go to his Dojo and practice new movements or have small matches with each other. It was just another excuse for staying close to him, but she did enjoy the contact sport, especially when demonstrating more complicated moves. She could be thrown around by him all day if she had it her way.
Star felt horrible, but all he could do was whip away the blood and smile, "What are you crying about?"
"I'm… I'm not crying!?" She stomped her foot on the mat and started to cry even harder.
Pinching two fingers on the bridge of his nose and keeping his head high, he pulled her into a rough hug, "This is what we've been practicing for, I'm so proud of you Princess…"
The next time she would hear the word, Princess… it wouldn't be on a good note.
Star flipped through the photo album looking for another happy memory until she came across the exact opposite.
There were many tones in the way he would call her Princess, most times, it was light and happy making her smile with a little giggle. Then there were times he would praise her and it would make the knot in her stomach ten times larger. But, there were times when he would say it with so much disappointment, mostly, the time when she had a lapse in judgment with a certain boy.
A picture of her and Oskar Greason... Why was that still in there?
Her mind started to wander back to that moment in time as she tried her best to forget about it. Imaging herself trying to kick what she assumed was a physical representation of memory. Too bad she thought it looked like a dragon that knew how to wield a mini-gun. A part of her complaining about how the whole thing was overkill until the past started to play out in her head again.
She groaned as she remembered how disappointed Marco used to look back then.
Oskar Greason had troublemaker written all over him from the day his mother popped him out, his attitude always seemed to not have a care in the world. While in his mind, he thought he was a rock star playing horrible music on his keytar. Star took a sudden interest in him the moment he moved into town, by this point she was almost fifteen.
At the start of it, Marco didn't mind her wanting to hang out more with someone closer to her age. It gave him a small break and a chance to get to know his crush, Jackie. Giving him the chance to talk to her more without having the little blonde close by giving the green-eyed girl dirty looks.
However, there were a few things that he noticed about Star's new friend that just ticked him off even though she didn't seem to mind.
Star had turned fifteen and had just entered high school. Oskar would never remember her name when they talked. It was like the cute blonde didn't even matter enough to him as a person to remember her name at this point. Then even more infuriating was the fact he would wrap his arm around her waist pressing her body against his as they walked home after school.
Star rationalizes this as a normal relationship despite her uneasiness. One day, when Marco was on his fifth date with Jackie, the couple had been walking in the park late at night. It was late enough so he started off with a light compliment about her eyes and the moon. Stuttering his words a bit since this wasn't part of the plan at all, though as they walked along the pond talking about anything that came to mind.
The two of them managed to pick up a lighthearted conversation until he heard Star's voice coming from a secluded area. Jackie pointed out that it came from a place that was a local hot spot for teens who wanted to spend time together but not be seen. Remarking how it was a perfect spot to get 'your first feel of a girl' or even 'going all the way if you're bold enough'. A part of him wanted to ask how she knew that information but didn't ask as he left.
Bolting from her as she was about to mention one last thing while he ran into the brush to find his Princess, but by the time he found her. Oskar was pinning Star against him on his lap. Making Marco's face switch from shock to anger as Star looked up at him with big teary eyes as one of the snot-nosed punk's hands crept under her shirt.
All he wanted to do was snap the little bastard's neck like a twig, his expression sent chills down her spine despite her circumstance. Since this was the first time she had seen Marco so full of hate. Making her feel awful and disgusted at herself for letting this happen. Soon Marco said in a voice etched with disdain, "Let Star go…"
His hands curled into fists while Oskar took the hint and let the girl go. While she went over to Marco, she realized even more than wanting to do more 'adult things' wasn't the way to show him how mature she had grown. Making her hate how stupid she was for even letting Oskar talk her into it.
Then without a second thought, she ran into Marco's chest, Star buried her face deep in his chest as she held his shirt with a death grip, wanting to tell him how she felt. He petted her hair the same way he had always done since they were little, or when she was little. Telling her, "Hey, hey, hey… it's okay Princess… why don't you wait for me over there, it won't take me longer than a second."
His eyes never left the boy sitting on the grass as he stared off into the sky not caring that he was caught or that Star was crying. She looks up at him with her red puffy eyes, "Ca… can you… just take me home?"
While she didn't like what Oskar did to her, she still didn't want to see something bad happen to him. Her Knight gently pushed her away as he started to walk over to the boy, "Don't worry. It won't take me longer than a second, like I said."
She watched as he kept walking away and spoke to her, "Hey, why don't you find Jackie for me, tell her I'm sorry for cutting our date short. I'll be right behind you." Star nods her head and runs out of the area as she follows his orders.
Oskar knew he was in trouble, Marco walked to him with his head lower and eyes looked cold… no one had ever dared to hurt his little Princess. The young boy on the ground puts up his hands, "Look man, I was just having a little fun… if she didn't like it, then she should have said something."
"Do you have any idea what you just did?" Spite flies out of Marco's mouth.
"Almost make it to second base-?" Wrong answer, Oskar was gasping trying to pull off the hand around his neck.
The last word seems to be trapped in his throat, one reason might be that Marco's hand was crushing down on his windpipe while lifting him into the air. The hair that would cover Greason's eyes was now whipped to the side with his eyes showing nothing but fear in them.
On that note, it earned him a vicious headbutt giving Oskar a bloody nose.
As Star shouted out, "NO!"
The boy couldn't believe this was happening… he must have not known about Marco… or even cared, "Fuck man... that hurt! What's your deal? It was all in good fun!"
"Pay attention for once in your life when I say this." Then Marco pulled Oskar closer to his face. Their eyes locking onto each other for a brief second before the runt rolled his.
"Are we done here yet?" Clearly… this was not getting his point across.
"Shut your filthy mouth before you never see the light of day again… you chose the wrong girl to play those games. If what you've done affects the rest of her life… I promise you, your life will end very soon and it will not be quick!" Marco jerks the hand around his neck hard to keep the boy from passing out.
As he groaned in pain Marco went on, "If I catch you anywhere near Star ever again, I'll send you to the hospital."
Now the conversation was picking up traction, Marco's eyes looked ready to murder and sending him off to the ER might be too easy. He got his thoughts into order…
"You better listen up, I will make your death slow and painful… I swear… there will never be enough pieces to I.D. your body… do I make myself clear?" The petrified boy nodded his head over and over until Marco shoved him back knocking him flat on the ground.
"Good…" The Latino said as he stepped away, just as he walked out the area, Star pulled from Jackie and damn near tried to take him down. She couldn't hold back the tears anymore… Marco got on his knees and held her tight to make sure she knew, he would never leave her side.
Star shuttered over the whole ordeal… back in the present, she was on the floor now with her back leaning against the bed. She closed her eyes a bit as she still felt so frustrated at being so easy to manipulate back then.
The whole thing just left her feeling impure for some reason. Like she did something that made her feel less in his eyes? That kinda sucked since she liked looking at them whenever he didn't notice.
"Come on, got to think happy thoughts." She whispered to herself, she was glad to see the next picture of her taking a selfie after school with Marco looking confused behind her. After that one, she became all knowing what was going to happen next.
She placed the album on her chest and enjoyed the memories as she sniffed the air that smelt just like his favorite cologne, Cool Waters. Moving on to the next photo showed herself with red hearts on her cheeks, Marco with red domains, and Janna sporting black spades.
They sat at his dining room table lock in a fierce game of poker, Star went all out wearing black shades so they couldn't see her eye which didn't work with Marco being able to read her like an open book.
Janna was winning most of the night and he was more than sure there were a few cards up her sleeves. The last game he had her take it off which led up almost a whole set of cards flying out.
"Oh… would you look at that? Who put that there?" She wasn't fooling anyone as Marco gave a pissed off look and Star laughed.
"How we wonder… give us all your chips" He reached over to take them until she patted his hands away.
"ALL OR NOTHING?!" Janna fires off the chair not willing to cheat all- I mean not wanting to start all over again.
"Fine then, deal the cards!" Star snaps her fingers at him to get to work.
"Ugh okay…" Janna was seen whipping her wrist at him to show that Star had him wrapped around her pinky.
Marco rolls his eyes and deals out the cards while mumbling under his breath, the game comes to an ending with Star smacking her cards hard on the table, "ROYAL FLUSH CRUSH, READ IT AND WEEP IT!?"
Janna looks over her cards "That's not even a thing… you know that right?"
The hand consisted of Ace of Diamonds, King of Diamonds, Queen of Hearts, Jack of Diamonds, and 10 of Diamonds.
"Yeah, that's not how it works Princess…" After looking closer at the cards he realized what she was going for.
"Silly, silly, silly little Marco… I play by my own rulers, now pay up guys!" Her cheeks started to burn up not believing she just pulled that off as she collected the pot.
I know this is going to get a little weird, but I guess I never posted the rest of this fic after I reworked it. I've had this fic on my mind and started to reread it here on the site when I realized my error. Had to do some digging to find the document hasn't been opened since 2020.
Well, I'm still alive for the most part. Mostly been cooking up small lewd fics in my Dissrocd server with other writers and so on. Hoping I can come back soon and start posting again. Send me a PM if you guys want to chat!