I Think Earth Is A Pretty Great Place | SVTFOE

15~ // And It Happened

Sounds of chatter and movement filled the air, alongside loud party music. People were dressed in cute dresses and tuxes. Most of them were, at least. They were a few select people who stood in the corner not socializing. Those people didn't wear fancy clothing. Just a casual shirt and tie and a skirt and crop. Things like that. It was warm, given there were so many people in the gym at the same time. All cluttered together. Of course, there were people outside of the gym, but they didn't let students go into classrooms unless the door was open. The shutter click of the school year book camera was loud outside of the gym. The backdrop was a simple royal purple. Couples and friends and individuals got their pictures taken. As Maria's black van pulled up to the curb, Star sat in the quiet and warm car. She breathed deeply, shutting her eyes. "Star." Maria called. "Hm..?" Star asked, then opened her eyes, sitting up and looking to Maria. "You're going to be fine." Maria said, giving Star an encouraging smile. Star sighed, frowning, then looked back to Maria again. She smiled lightly. "I know." Star replied, quietly. "I'll see you Monday, okay?" Maria asked, tilting her head. "Wait, what? Monday?" Star quickly panicked. "I have a family reunion Saturday and Sunday, Star." Maria reminded her, frowning. "Right." Star frowned, looking out the window and to the crowded school. Maria laid her hand gently on Star's arm. She peered to Maria, sighing. "Go get 'em, tiger." Maria smiled, patting Star's arm. Star returned a hopeful gleam, and opened the door. As she took a step out, a few people looked over and watched. She climbed out of the car, taking light breaths. She felt her heart pounding, as she held the skirt of her dress up so it didn't reach the ground. "Glad you could make it, Butterfly." She heard, quickly looking up as she shut the car door. As the van drove off, Oskar smiled to her. "Thank you, Oskar.." She quietly thanked him, giving him a small smile. "Should we go get our photo?" He asked, tilting his head. His fringe was combed and slicked back in a quiff style. His blue eyes sparkled with kindness. "I- I'm actually kind of parched.." Star admitted, looking to her feet awkwardly. "Of course. Want me to get you a refreshment or would you like to come?" Oskar asked, raising an eyebrow. Star looked up at Oskar, shrugging. "I'm gonna look around, if that's alright?" She asked. "Oh, no! That's alright!" He smiled. "I'll get you a drink." He said, turning around and disappearing into the gym crowd. Star sighed, and looked around. There were people who- every so often- watched her as she walked around. Feeling uncomfortable, Star made her way away from the group of people, and to the table in front of the art room. As the voices and music drowned out, she sat down. Peering up to the sparkling night sky, she watched the moon shine bright. Almost as if it was watching her. She looked to a kid who took a sip of water from the water fountain. They wiped their mouth on their sleeve, smacking their lips before running back to the crowd of people. Star looked down at her hands, her stomach feeling empty. Her body felt tingly, as her mind felt blank. Something didn't feel right. "I have a bad feeling about tonight.." Star believed in the back of her mind, trying to bury it underneath many other thoughts.
Marco stood at Jackie's door, holding something behind his back. He wore a fine tailored black tuxedo, and a blue lily brooch. His hair was neatly fixed to the right, loose baby strand still doing their own thing. "Marco!" Jackie opened the door, smiling. He quickly grabbed attention to the cute black high-waisted circle-skirt and her pastel baby blue short sleeve shirt that was tucked under her skirt. She wore cute knee high white and blue socks, and black converse. "You look really pretty.." Marco breathed, taken back. "You clean up nice as well, Diaz." Jackie chuckled, stepping out onto her first step. She shut the door, smiling. Marco held out his arm, as Jackie grabbed on. As they began walking down the street to the school, they conversed about what they hoped of the night. Walking up onto the school curb, they eyed the crow of people. "There's a lot of people here." Marco pointed out. Jackie laughed, shaking her head. "No, I only see us and two other people. Really?" She joked. He laughed, as they walked inside the gym together. Music blaring, Jackie and Marco quickly winced at the amount of noise. That, and the amount of sweaty people dancing. He grabbed her hand, pulling her over to the refreshments table. "Ah nice, the nervous-first-dance-buffet." Jackie examined the area. Marco laughed, shaking his head. "There's less aggressive dancers here." Marco explained, loudly. "Sure, but there's going to be at least one aggressive barfer here." Jackie yelled over the music and talking. "You want a drink?" Marco laughed. Jackie nodded. "Sure, Diaz. I'm gonna go see if I can request some better jams." She chuckled. Marco nodded, as she walked off into the large crowd. He turned back to the table of nervous people, gripping two red solo cups. "Don't sweat it, kiddo." one of the aggressive dancer walked over, patting Marco's shoulder. Marco peered beside him to the blonde male who had been talking to him. "We're both in the same grade, dude." Marco furrowed his eyebrows. "Sure, buddy." The guy said, taking one of the drinks Marco had just grabbed. He gulped the entire thing, and handed it back to Marco. "Thanks, man." He wiped his chin with his hand, walking back off onto the gym "dance floor." Marco sighed, rolling his eyes. "This is going to be a long night." Marco thought to himself, dropping the single empty cup. He set down the other one in his hand, and walked out side of the gym. The cool fall air felt refreshing to him after being in the heat of the gym. Marco pushed his hair out of his face, and peered around. "It wouldn't hurt." He thought, making his way from the large crowd, getting further from the noises. As he turned the corner, he could make out a shadowy figure sitting there, sighing. "You really should come inside." He furrowed his eyebrows, trying to find out who it was.
"You really should come inside." She heard, and turned around with an expectation of Oskar. "OH!" Star scrambled to her feet, seeing someone completely different. "Star?!" Marco backed up. "Marco?!" Star blinked, shocked. "What a relief.." Star sighed in her mind. "Thank God.." Marco let out a breath of relief on his mind. " Wha- I thought you were going with Jackie?" Star tilted her head, furrowing her eyebrows. "And you, Oskar?" Marco raised an eyebrow. "They're doing something." They stated in unison. "Y-You wanna talk in the mean time?" Marco asked, his eyes sparkling hopefully. Star gave a little smile, standing up. "I kind of need to vent anyway." She chuckled, Marco holding open the art room door for her. She walked inside, and turned on a dim lamp at the corner of the front of the room. Marco shut the door behind him, and spun around to see Star messing with the paintbrushes. He chuckled. "Who are you?" He mocked himself from when they first met, sitting down in the exact same seat. Star peered over, smiling a little. She turned back to the paintbrushes. "Star Butterfly. Who are you?" Star imitated herself as well, picking up brushes and playing with the tips. Marco quickly stood up, snatching the brushes and putting them back in the cup gently. "Marco Diaz. Don't mess up the tips, you'll ruin them." He said in a serious tone. Star froze, her heart pounding again. She stared up at him, as he turned to face her. They both quickly grew flustered. "I forgot that happened.." Star felt her face glow red, and turned away. He coughed awkwardly, clasping his hands together and holding them together behind his head. "Yeah, me too.." He quickly responded, walking back over to the seat and plopping down. They waited a few minutes, before Star started chuckling again. "Do you have any friends here?" Marco quietly asked, continuing the imitation. "That's not how it went!" Star turned around, laughing. As he sat there watching Star giggling and smiling, he felt something inside him light up. He smiled as well, laughing along. "Jackie." Star responded, chuckling a little still. "You're friends with Jackie Lynn Thomas?!" He mocked himself in a high pitched voice, which made Star snort and giggle, as she walked to the side of the classroom. "I guess so. Why?" She turned around facing him, her smile slowly fading. "This isn't how it was before.. I went from frowning to smiling.." Her thoughts told her, making her pause for a moment. "You were the girl on the skateboard earlier?" Marco slowly stood up, frowning to Star. "What's wrong?" He asked. "Y-Yeah.. Oh- um.. Nothing." Star continued, trying to push aside the second conversation topic. "You're lying." Marco's face grew serious, as he furrowed his eyebrows. He walked over to her, pushing in chairs that got in the way. "D-Do you like her?" Star asked, ignoring his comment. She turned away from him, looking out the window across the room. He froze, standing still. "I don't know.." He quietly responded. "You're lying." Star turned around, looking him square in the eye, quoting his own words. "Really?!" Marco furrowed his eyebrows angrily. "Did she really just quote me?!" He asked himself. Star nodded, scrunching up her mouth. "Jackie Lynn Thomas thinks you, Marco Ubaldo Diaz, is cute. And what kind of news is that to you?" She questioned, quoting him once again. Marco sighed, and looked out the window. "That's the most confusing news I've heard all year." He admitted. "Wh-.. What do you mean?" Star cut off the imitation, raising her eyebrows in a worried manner. "Star.." Marco began, both of their hearts tingling.