Afterwards (Starco)

Chapter 2

But then a thought struck him. "Wait, does this means, you're going to leave me and go to France?" Marco questioned. Kassie stopped and a look of realization took over her face. "Oh, right," she said quietly. "But I'll always call you, and send letters!" she added quickly. Young Marco couldn't bear the thought of not having his best friend (at the time) by his side. Anger welled up inside him. He felt betrayed. Kassie would choose a scholarship over him! He couldn't believe it. So at that brief moment of uttermost stupidity, Marco raised her hand and... slapped his twin sister and ran upstairs to his room.

His fingernails were sharp, and they left a little cut on Kassie's right cheek. She could feel a tear trickle down her face and they soon turn into more and more tears. Angie and Rafael stood gaping at each other. Their well-raised boy would never do something like that! But he just did. Angie rushed upstairs to have a "chat" with Marco while Rafael tried to soothe Kassie. After that incident, they didn't talk for a week, and it was now time for Kassie to leave. She didn't get a goodbye from Marco, and she felt sad. Kassie touched the bracelet Marco had given her and couldn't contain her tears. Angie reassured her that everything will be fine. And so they did.

Back to the present...

Star closed her phone and bounced downstairs to find Marco bustling in the kitchen. "Watcha making, Marco?" she asked happily. The fact that Kassie, Marco's twin sister, is coming back in a week excited her very much. Marco turned and shoved a spoon into her mouth. Star took the spoon and her eyes widened. "Yum!" she said, pulling the spoon out of her mouth. It was covered in a chocolatey fudge. Marco smiled. "It's my new double chocolate fudge!" he observed his girlfriend and grinned. "What's exciting you so much today?" he looked at Star cheekily. Star rolled her eyes.

"Oh nothing," she said, but couldn't help but smile.

The next day was a school day. Star and Marco walked happily together, laughing and cuddling all the way. Janna watched them from her locker and smiled. "About time," she muttered. 

Janna wasn't the only one watching the couple. Jackie Lynn Thomas was also watching Star and Marco. She leaned against a tree, observing them. Marco looks so happy with Star, she thought. As they pass her, she couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness. Jackie bolted up and touched her face in concern. 

What's wrong with me?! She thought, Marco has a girlfriend now, and he seems very happy with her. He's my friend, I should be happy for them! Jackie tried to convince herself that she was happy for Starco. But deep down she secretly couldn't. What is this feeling? she thought as she jumped onto her skateboard and headed to class. 

With Kassie...

The girl sat on her bed, opposite her was her roommate, Olivia. She was on her phone, scrolling through some pictures of Mariposa and Starco that Star sent her. She smiled at Mariposa. The little angel! She thought. Kassie swiped on her phone and saw a picture of Star and Marco. They were both laughing with each other. They look so happy, that's good, she thought, pleased. After all those years, all she ever wished was for her beloved twin brother to be happy. 

"Olivia? You wanna go shopping?" she asked and put her phone down. Olivia spun around from her mirror. "I thought I'd never heard those words dropping from your mouth! Of course!"

Back to Star...

Star spread her arms above her head, the wind blowing in her face and running through her long golden hair. The sunset could be seen above the fixed Butterfly castle. She wrapped her arms around Marco, who was driving Nachos. "Star, Earth-ni is beautiful!" Marco shouted over the sound of the blowing wind. Star buried her face into his hoodie. "Mm-hmm" she replied. "I love you, Marco," she added softly. "I heard that," Marco said. He blushed. 

That night, Kelly and Star were lounging in her room, chatting and catching up on things. Kelly would be spending the night. Just then, Marco walked through the door.

"Hey, Kelly! Hey Star!" he said, "I was just coming over to get a goodnight kiss," he said, blushing. Man, that sounds weird saying it out loud, especially in front of Kelly, he thought. "Aww," Star gushed and walked over. She wrapped her arms around Marco and brought him into a quick kiss. Marco smiled at her. "Okay, I'll get going. Goodnight, babe,"

Those words hit Kelly hard in the stomach.