Afterwards (Starco)

Chapter 13

Two chaps in one day...i'm in the mood so why not...

Jackie leaned on her windowsill. She was buried in thoughts. She tried Kassie's advice, conquering her feelings for Marco. But why, oh why, won't they go away? Jackie had dated before, why was it so difficult this time to get over Marco?

She sighed and picked up her phone.

                                                            ~o~o~o~o~o

Kassie, Star, and Marco celebrated at Britta's Tacos. 

"Congrats, guys! Always knew you could do it!" Kassie cheered. "Congrats on the break too, Star."

Star looked worried. "I don't know...I'm really worried about my mom though.."

Marco gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. "Moon's very smart, she'll be fine, Star,"

"That's not what I'm worried about. What if she actually finds magic? What if she brings it back here and the humans took advantage of it to do bad stuff?" she gasped for breath.

"You need to calm down and stop worrying, Star. It's your day off! You can always worry later," Kassie commented with a cheeky grin. Star smiled at the girl and gave her a friendly punch. Then Kassie's phone buzzed and she picked it up. It was a text.

Jackie
Kas?

Kassie
Hey! What's up

Jackie
I need to clear my mind. Can you come over? I want to talk

Kassie
Abt what? What's wrong?

Jackie
...

Kassie
You know you can tell me right?
Abt anything

Jackie
I know...
....
Marco...

Kassie
Guessed it
But you'll have to wait a while, ok?

Jackie
Alright. See you later

Kassie
See ya

"Who was that?" Marco asked suspiciously.

"Jackie," Kassie blurted before realizing what she's done. "uhh- She just wanted to ask if the party is still on,"

"Okay..." Star shrugged. "Tell her it's postponed for a few days, then we'll get straight back to sorting this knot of a problem out,"

                                                            ~o~o~o~o~o~o

Moon sat high on the white horse, trotting slowly through the Forest of Certain Death. They were very deep into the forest, nobody's ever been here. The queen was busy reading the dusty old book she found in that hidden room. Suddenly, her cheeks felt hot. They were glowing. Moon jerked her hands up to touch her face. She knew that the cheek marks were back.

"It must be nearby," she muttered. As the horse and Moon went deeper into the forest, her cheek marks flashed on and off as with every continuing step. Then they stopped. Moon stopped the horse too. She touched her cheeks. They weren't glowing. She pulled out a mirror and examined her face. Two bright pink diamonds were etched onto her cheeks, just like before. Moon gasped and jumped off the horse without thinking, and she fell into the muddy ground. She stood up and brushed out the dress.

"Never knew that thing was so high up," she murmured, glaring at the horse. But then her eyes caught something else. A mysteriously shiny bush was to her right. Moon slowly peeked through it. 

                           ~o~o~o~o~o~o~

Jackie and Kassie both sat on the bed in Jackie's room. 

"I'm sorry. I just- I can't do this. I'm so unsure of my feelings! I know I'm not supposed to like him this way but-" she buried her head in her hands. Kassie patted her friend's back.

"Okay. Do you feel sad or hurt when you see Marco with Star?"

Jackie looked up, confused. "Yes..."

"Do you want Marco to be happy no matter what, even if it involves him dating another girl?"

"Yes...?"

"Do you feel like you can't be with anyone else but him, and you will stay that way even if he will never love you?"

'Yes...!" Jackie jumped up, shocked. "Wait what?"

Kassie shrugged. "It's easy; you're head over heels for him. You love him,"

Somehow saying these words made Kassie wildly uncomfortable.

Jackie plopped down onto the floor. "That was what I was afraid of,"

"Jackie, be strong. How about you try to talk it out with Marco? They always say it's better to confess!"

This remark made Jackie blushed and fumbled over her words. "B-but- I can't. He's very happy with Star! I can't go butting into their relationship like that!"

"Well you wouldn't be the first one," Kassie mumbled.

Jackie stood up and leaned towards Kassie and gave her a big hug. Kassie didn't know how to react. She returned it awkwardly. "Thanks, Kas. You're my best friend,"

Kassie's face burned.