"Star!" Marco shouted, his voice raw with emotion as he sprinted towards her
"Huh?" Star suddenly awake, her eyes fluttering open as her boyfriend burst into her room, a whirlwind of energy and urgency.
"It finally came, Star!" Marco exclaimed, his voice bubbling with uncontainable excitement.
"What?! The police know the truth?!" Star's voice shot up, filled with fear. Her eyes widened, and she started pacing the room, looking really worried.
"No," Marco said. His excitement went away. Now he was confused. "Hold on, what do you mean by 'the truth'?"
"Nothing," Star mumbled, suddenly going still. She avoided Marco's gaze, her cheeks flushing a faint shade of pink. "Just, uh, you know... girl stuff." She offered a weak smile, hoping he wouldn't press her further.
"Anyway, the response letter from my dream university came!" he said, carefully unfolding the crisp paper. He scanned the words, his brow furrowed in concentration. Suddenly, his eyes widened and a grin spread across his face. "It says I got accepted!" Marco jumped up, pumping his fist in the air. "I got in! I got in!"
"OMG, congrats Marco!" Star squealed, throwing her arms around him in a spontaneous hug. She pulled back, a puzzled expression replacing her initial excitement. "Wait, what does that even mean? Accepted where?"
"That means I got accepted to medical school, Star!" Marco explained, beaming. "You know, where they train to become doctors? I've been studying nonstop for this moment!" He threw his arms out wide, a sense of accomplishment washing over him. "It's a dream come true!"
"Yeah, I totally know that," Star said, nodding with feigned understanding. She gave Marco a too-wide-of-a-real-smile.
Marco chuckled, raising an eyebrow playfully. "You don't know, do you?" he asked. leaning in a little closer. "It's okay, Star. Not every pretty girl knows everything about Earth stuff," he said.
Star's cheeks suddenly flushed red. "What does that actually mean anyway?" Star asked, tilting her head.
That means I'm going to Japan to study there," said Marco, a hint of wistfulness in his voice. "It's a really prestigious medical program." He paused, a flicker of uncertainty crossing his face. "It's kind of far away, though..."
"Like a few minutes' walk?" Star asked, tilting her head. "Is Japan close to here?" A puzzled expression crossed her face, revealing her limited knowledge of Earth geography.
"No, it's really far away," Marco explained patiently. "Like, on the other side of the world far away. I'd have to take a really long plane ride to get there." He pulled up a map on his phone, pointing to a small island nation across the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean. "See? It's all the way over here."
"Whoa, that's really far!" Star exclaimed, her eyes widening as she took in the vast distance on the map. A moment of silence hung in the air. "Wait," she said. Suddenly, her face fell "does that mean... you're leaving? Now?"
"No," said Marco, a slight frown creasing his forehead. "I'm not leaving right now, right away. But in a few months." He looked at Star, his expression a mix of excitement and nervous. "It's... well, it's pretty soon."
"You okay with that?" Marco asked, his voice laced with a hint of uncertainty.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine," Star said, forcing a weak smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. " You should go. This is your dream. Don't let me hold you back" she added, her voice barely above a whisper. But even with her attempts to appear happy to Marco, a flicker of sadness betrayed her true feelings.
"Are you sure?" Marco asked, his brow furrowed with concern
"Yeah, I'm fine," Star said, a forced cheerfulness in her voice. She suddenly pushed Marco out of her room, a nervous energy suddenly propelling her movements. "I got something to do! Why don't you go tell your parents about it? Mrs. Diaz will be so happy about it!" she said, her words tumbling out in a rush. Before Marco could respond, she closed the door in his face.
Marco, decided to put her strangeness aside for the time being as he couldn't contain the news of his acceptance to his parents any longer. "Mom! Dad!" he called out, his voice echoing through the Diaz household. "You'll never guess what happened!" said Marco as he rushed downstair.
Meanwhile inside the girl room, Star let out a huge sigh. "Don't be stupid, Star. It's not like he's leaving you for good," she mumbled to herself, her voice barely a whisper. She hugged her knees to her chest. "He's just... going to Japan. For a while. And then... he'll come back, right?."
Suddenly, a ring tone shattered the silence of Star's room. She jumped, startled, her phone nearly leaping out of her hand.
It from Jackie. It have been while since Star hanging out her as Jackie busy studying abroad in France, they still exchange messages and call from time to time but not as close as before Star have to return to Mewni to deal with Toffee.
"Hey Star, how you doing?" it read
"Great, still the rebel princess you knew XD" Star replied
"Love that you still got that spirit after those year :)" Jackie messaged back
"Aw, you don't have said that 3" Star typed with a smile on a face
"Anyway," Jackie continued, "we're hosting girl only sleep-over this friday. You wanna come?"
"Sure I would love to" Star happily replied with excitement
"Okay see you this Friday girl"
Star closed the chatbox. Maybe a night out with friends was exactly what she needed to face the challenges ahead. And maybe, just maybe, she could even have some fun while doing it. Star thought to herself.
XOXOXOXO
The sleepover started with giggles and whispered secrets. Star had been so excited to see her best friends again after a while. Janna, Jackie, and even Pony Head were all there, sprawled across Star's bed in a tangle of pajamas and pillows. They were laughing and talking about their plans for the future, their voices a comforting murmur in the dimly lit room.
Star tried to join in, but every time one of her friends talked about their amazing plans, she felt left out.
After some chit-chat, Star learned that Jackie was a total skateboarding superstar now, winning competitions all over the place. The Pony Head show had her own show that was doing pretty well and was even on tour. And Janna of all people, had discovered a love for digging up old stuff – she was going to be an archaeologist! (make sense from the history of what she been doing with Marco in the past)
"What about you, Star?" Jackie suddenly asked, tilting her head. "What are your big plans? You always had so many ideas."
Star froze, her soda almost spilling. "Oh, I'm good," she said quickly. "Just... hanging out. You know, normal stuff."
She hoped her friends wouldn't notice the lie in her voice.
"So, how about you and the 'safe' kid?" Jackie asked, a playful smirk tugging at the corner of her lips. She raised her eyebrows suggestively, nudging Star with her elbow.
The question instantly capturing the attention of the other girls. Janna stifled a mischievous grin while Pony Head, perked up and listened closely.
Star felt her cheeks getting warm and a blush spreading across her face. She and Marco had been together for three years, but her friends' playful teasing still made her feel a bit shy.
Star felt her heart skip a beat at the mention of Marco. She tried to keep her voice casual as she replied, "Oh, you know, we're good. Same old, same old."
But Pony Head wasn't buying it. She floated closer, her eyes narrowing suspiciously. "Girl, spill the tea! Something's up, I can tell."
Star sighed, realizing she couldn't hide her feelings from her best friends. "Well... Marco got accepted into this fancy medical school. In Japan."
The room fell silent for a moment before erupting into a chorus of excited squeals and congratulations.
"That's amazing!" Jackie exclaimed.
"Who knew Marco had it in him?" Janna added with a smirk.
But Pony Head noticed the conflict in Star's eyes. "Hold up, B-Fly. You don't seem too thrilled about this."
Star hesitated, unsure of how to express her mixed feelings. "I mean, I'm happy for him. He deserves it and it's a great opportunity. But... he'll be so far away."
Her friends exchanged knowing looks before Jackie spoke up. "But you can still make it work, right? Long distance relationships are tough, but they can work if both parties are committed."
Star nodded slowly. She knew Jackie was right, and she wanted to make it work with Marco. But the thought of being apart from him for so long made her heart ache.
Sensing Star's discomfort, Jackie quickly changed the subject. "Hey, who wants to try out these new face masks I brought?" she asked, pulling out a bag filled with colorful packets.
"Ooh, me!" Pony Head exclaimed, floating over excitedly. "Is there one that'll make my horn extra shiny?"
The girls erupted into laughter, the tension in the room dissipating. They spent the next hour applying various masks, taking silly selfies, and gossiping about the latest drama in their lives. Star joined in, grateful for the distraction.
As the night wore on, they painted each other's nails in vibrant colors, shared embarrassing stories which ended in a fit of giggles
XOXOXOXO
Weeks passed fast like fly, and Star found herself spending more and more time alone. Her friends, caught up in their own exciting lives, had less time for her. Janna was often out on archaeological digs, Jackie was busy with her skateboarding competitions, and Pony Head's show kept her occupied with endless shootings. Even Marco was preoccupied, preparing for his move to Japan. He was consumed with packing, organizing documents, and tying up loose ends, leaving him with scarce moments to spend with Star.
It was as if everyone else had their lives figured out, while Star was left adrift in a sea of uncertainty. The thought of Marco leaving for Japan hung over her like a dark cloud, casting a shadow over her days. She missed their late-night talks, their shared laughter, and the comforting presence of his hand in hers.
Whenever she was around Marco, Star always put on that fake cheerful, hyper-happy personality that he had known for years. It was like she was trying to convince him, and maybe herself, that everything was okay. She would bounce around the room, chattering about silly things, and showering him with exaggerated affection.
But Marco didn't seems to buy it. He easily noticed the way her smile didn't quite reach her eyes, the way her laughter sometimes sounded a little too forced, and she always avoid any serious conversations about his upcoming departure. He wanted to reach out, to offer her comfort and reassurance, but he wasn't sure how.
XOXOXOXO
Time flew by, and suddenly it was the day before Marco was leaving for Japan. The Diaz house felt sad and empty. Marco's things were gone from his room, and there were boxes everywhere. Star felt more and more distant from Marco. Even though they tried to spend time together, it was like there was a wall between them.
Star spent most of the day in alone her room. It felt very quiet and empty. She often looked out the window, feeling sad and lost. She missed the old days when she and Marco had so much fun together. She was starting to feel like she didn't know who she was anymore.
XOXOXOXO
As dinnertime rolled around, Marco noticed Star's absence at the table. The Diaz family had always made it a point to have dinner together, a tradition that had only strengthened since Star became a part of their household. But tonight, Star's usual spot remained empty.
"Where's Star?" Mr. Diaz asked, glancing around the table. "Isn't she hungry?"
"I don't know," Marco replied, a flicker of worry crossing his face. He'd barely seen Star all day. She'd been holed up in her room, the door closed, her silence a heavy weight on his heart.
"Maybe she's not feeling well," Mrs. Diaz suggested, her voice laced with concern. "I'll go check on her."
When it was time for dinner, Marco noticed that Star wasn't there. The Diaz family always ate together, and Star usually sat with them.
"Where's Star?" Mr. Diaz asked. "Isn't she hungry?"
"I don't know," Marco said, his tummy feeling funny with worry. He hadn't seen Star much that day. She had stayed in her room with the door closed. He felt bad that he hadn't spent more time with her.
"Maybe she doesn't feel good," Mrs. Diaz said.
"I'll go see how she is," Marco said, getting up from the table. He wanted to make sure Star was okay.
He went upstairs, his heart beating fast. He stopped outside Star's door. He didn't want to bother her, but he was worried. He knocked softly.
"Star?" he said quietly. "Are you in there?"
Only silence met his knock. He knocked again, a little louder this time. "Star, it's me, Marco. Can I come in?"
Marco waited, but Star didn't answer. He knocked again, louder this time, but still nothing. Worried, He gently tried the doorknob, surprised to find it unlocked. He pushed the door open slowly, peeking into the dimly lit room.
Inside, Marco saw Star curled up on her bed, her face buried in a pillow. His usually cheerful, hyper girlfriend was a picture of sadness. Her shoulders shook with quiet sobs, and tear stains streaked her cheeks. It broke his heart to see her like this.
"Star, are you okay?" Marco asked, his voice filled with concern. He rushed to her side, sitting gently on the edge of the bed. He reached out, hesitantly placing a hand on her shoulder. "What's wrong?"
"It's nothing," Star mumbled into her pillow, her voice muffled and thick with tears. She tried to turn away, to hide her face from Marco.
"Star, I know something's wrong," Marco said softly, his voice full of concern. "You've been acting different lately. Distant. And you can't hide those tear stains from me."
"I said it's nothing!" Star snapped, her voice cracking with a mixture of sadness and frustration. She pulled away from Marco. "Just leave me alone, okay?"
Marco's concern deepened at Star's outburst. He knew he couldn't just leave her like this. He took a deep breath and said firmly, "No, Star. I won't leave you alone. Not when you're clearly not okay."
"I care about you, Star," Marco said, his voice earnest. "And it hurts me to see you hurting like this. Please, tell me what's wrong. Let me in."
He knew this wasn't easy for her, but he wouldn't back down. He wouldn't let her push him away.
Star finally crumbled. The tears she had been holding back for weeks flowed freely now, her sobs wracking her body. She clung to Marco, burying her face in his chest, her words tumbling out in a torrent of emotion.
"I don't want you to go!" she cried, her voice muffled against his shirt. "I'm going to miss you so much! I don't know what I'll do without you!"
"Am I being selfish?" Star sobbed, her voice thick with tears. "I know this is your dream, Marco. You've worked so hard for this. And I should be happy for you. But I... I can't bear the thought of you leaving."
"I'm so scared, Marco. What if things change between us? What if we drift apart? What if..." her voice cracked, "what if you forget about me?"
Marco leaned in and kissed Star. It wasn't a playful peck or a casual gesture of affection. It was a deep, passionate kiss, filled with all the emotions he couldn't express in words.
He wanted her to know, in the most primal way possible, that he wasn't going to forget her. That their bond was stronger than any distance. That his heart would always belong to her.
"I'm so sorry you felt that way, Star," Marco said, his voice thick with guilt. He gently touch Star cheek, his touch filled with tenderness and regret. "I should have spent more time with you. I got so caught up in preparing for Japan that I... I neglected you. And I'm so sorry."
He looked into her eyes, his own filled with remorse. "You're the most important person in my life, Star. And I hate that I made you feel like you weren't."
"Can tonight be only you and me?" Star asked, her voice small and hopeful. She looked up at Marco with pleading eyes, a silent request for one last night just only two of them forget about everything around the couple.
"Star..." Marco whispered, his voice hoarse with emotion as he pulled away from the kiss. "I want tonight to be special. Just you and me. No worries, no fears, just us."
Marco gently caressed Star's cheek, his thumb tracing the curve of her jaw. "You're so beautiful," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. "I want to make you feel good, Star. I want to show you how much I love you."
Star's breath caught in her throat as Marco's lips trailed down her neck, sending shivers down her spine. She arched her back slightly, her body responding to his touch. "I love you too, Marco," she whispered, her voice laced with longing.
Marco's hands moved slowly, deliberately, as he undressed Star, his eyes never leaving hers. He kissed her softly, his lips moving from her mouth to her neck, her shoulders, and down her body, leaving a trail of kisses and whispered words of love.
Star's heart raced as she felt Marco's hands exploring her body, his touch both gentle and passionate. She responded to his caresses, her hands running through his hair, pulling him closer. They moved in sync, their bodies entwined, their love and desire fueling the moment.
As they made love, the world around them faded away. It was just Star and Marco, lost in each other, their bodies moving as one, their hearts beating in perfect rhythm. They whispered words of love and promises to each other, their bond strengthening with every touch. They were each other first time.
As the night went by, their hearts still racing, their bodies glistening with sweat. Star snuggled closer to Marco. "I love you, Marco," she whispered.
Marco held her tighter. "I love you too, Star. Always and forever."
They fell asleep in each other's arms, their love stronger than ever, ready to face the challenges of the future together.
XOXOXOXO
The next morning, everyone felt happy and sad at the same time. They drove Marco to the airport. In the car, Mrs. Diaz told Marco to call them every week and to eat healthy food.
Marco smiled and listened to his mom. He knew she just wanted him to be okay.
Mariposa, Marco's little sister, wanted Marco to bring her back presents from Japan.
"Of course, Mariposa," Marco said. "I'll bring you lots of cool stuff."
At the airport, the hustle and bustle of travelers faded into background noise as Marco and Star stood facing each other, a silent understanding passing between them. The time had come to say goodbye.
Marco, his heart heavy with a mix of emotions, reached out and gently cupped Star's face in his hands. He looked deep into her eyes, memorizing every detail – the sparkling turquoise depths, the flecks of gold, the way they always seemed to hold a hint of mischief and magic.
"I love you, Star," he whispered, his voice filled with emotion. "More than words can say."
And then, he leaned in and kissed her. It was a kiss that held all their shared memories, all their laughter and tears, all their hopes and dreams for the future. It was a promise to stay connected, to keep their love alive across the miles.
When they finally broke apart, Star's eyes shimmered with tears, but a small smile played on her lips. She knew this wasn't the end. It was just the beginning of a new chapter in their love story.
Fin!