(Marco's POV)

"It was a normal day for Marco Diaz. Which was strange because he didn't get many of those. But today, his best friend, Star, was sick at home, meaning he had to go to school by himself. He was used to it before Star had shown up, but ever since being kidnapped by some other-dimensional monsters, he had been getting paranoid by himself. He walked all the way to the bus stop at a slow and cautious pace, looking left and right quickly at even the slightest sound. He reminded himself to calm down. Star had destroyed the monster castle, so Toffee wasn't coming after them anymore. Marco stopped at the bus stop and thought to himself that not even a couple of months ago, he would've called someone crazy if they said that to him. Well, times change. It's only realistic if you change with them. Marco looked over to talk with Star about it but realized that she wasn't there. He turned back to the street a little annoyed. He wanted to stay and take care of her, but his parents had said that they could watch her and that he should go ahead to school.

"Hey, Marco." someone said. He was so lost in thought, he hadn't noticed his crush, Jackie Lynn-Thomas skate next to him. He jumped, almost immediately embarrassed.

"Hey, Jackie. You scared me." He said. He could have facepalmed. Yeah, Marco, He thought, Tell your life-long crush she scared you. Instant turn-on! To his relief, Jackie simply laughed, and Marco felt himself blush. There was something about her.

"So, you know the dance is coming up, and I was wondering if you were planning on going with anyone?" She asked nonchalantly but kept her eyes on the floor as she did so. Marco felt his heart fly. Was Jackie Lynn-Thomas, the love of his life, asking him to the dance? He wanted to yell at the heaven's, but he needed to keep his cool.

"No, why do you ask?" He said. He was physically struggling to keep from bursting open.

"Uh, are you okay? You seem a bit...jumpy." She eyed him up and down, and Marco felt himself panic. So he forced himself to act cool.

"Who, me? Naw, I'm fine. Just a little...excited. Yeah, for, uh...something I'm doing with Star after school." He said. it sounded so lame, he would've pounded his head on the ground if she wasn't here.

"Uh, actually, I've been meaning to ask you this for a while, but...are...you and Star...?"

"...Are we what?"

"Are you two...dating?" It seemed so nonchalant, but it filled Marco with a sense of confusion and panic.

"No! I mean, no, we're not. What makes you think that?" He asked, wondering why she was asking him this.

"Well, almost half of the school thinks you two are dating, because you spend so much time together, and people rarely see you apart." She said. It was good reasoning, but it seemed so...ludicrous to him. Him and Star? Dating? No way that would ever happen. But then again, Star was an amazing person. But also his best friend. Wouldn't that be weird? He shook off those thoughts and faced Jackie.

"Star and I are not dating. We're best friends." He said. Jackie smiled.

"Oh, then she won't mind if you go to the dance with me, right?" Marco froze. The full weight of what Jackie just said seemed to reach her, and the smile was replaced by a look of horror. She looked Marco straight in the eye, and quickly turned and walked away. When she was gone, Marco realized he had missed an opportunity to ask Jackie to the dance. This time he really did a facepalm. But then was filled with confusion. Why did Jackie looked so horrified at the idea of going to the dance with him? She really didn't like him, did she? Marco sighed. But then a sense of confusion filled him. Why would Jackie hint at it if she didn't want to go with him? He was lost in thought, and then the bus came.

(Star's POV)

Star sat up in bed. She already felt her sickness clearing up. She felt bad because she wanted to go with Marco to school. Star couldn't explain it, but a weird feeling rose in her chest when she thought of her best friend. It made her stomach flutter with, in Earth terms, butterflies. She felt her face heat up. She was filled with dread. Maybe this sickness wasn't quite cleared up yet. Star took a tissue and blew her nose. She thought upon this strange sensation, and decide to call her parents. She touched the mirror.

"Call mom." She told it.

"Calling Mom."It answered. At least when she was sick, it understood her. She waited a few seconds before her mother, Queen Butterfly, appeared on the glass.

"Oh, hello there, Star. You look awful, dear, what happened?"

"I'm just sick. I'm recovering, but I'm getting all these...weird feelings."She said.

"Like what, Star?" her mother asked.

"Well, my stomach feels all...fluttery. My face heats up, and heart starts going all wild. Maybe it's an allergy I just got?" Star said, curios. Her mother just smirked.

"Well...when do you get these feelings?" She asked. Star was too confused to notice her mother's tone.

"Usually when I'm around Marco. Or when I think about him. Or when I touch something of his. Wait, am I allergic to Marco?" She said. It would be horrible not to be able to hang out with him.

"Tell me, Star, when Marco isn't around, what do you feel?" Queen Butterfly asked. Star was confused, but thought for a moment.

"...Well, I feel...sad, I guess. I miss him...a lot. I...don't know." She said. For the first time in her life, she was unsure.

"Star, this feeling, it is as old as time." Her mother said. Star was even more confused.

"Really? So you know what it is?" She asked.

"Star...you are in love." She said. Star felt her jaw droop. In love? Sure, Oscar was a great guy, but she barley called it love. She decided to prod.

"With who?" She asked.

"Young Marco, obviously." She said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. Star felt herself disbelief fill her. In love? With Marco? No way! He was her best friend, that could never happen. Granted, he was a little attractive. And he was always worried about her. And he stayed with her, even after he was kidnapped. But in love with him? That wasn't possible.

"Now, Star, before you get all weird about it, it's completely natural."

"...But...are you sure it's Marco?"She asked.

"Only one way to be sure. Get closer. If you don't feel this way around him, it's not him. If you do, it is."

"...But...he's my best friend." She said.

"Only why this makes more sense. You know everything about each other. Just do it. Then you'll be sure. I got to go, your father is about to try and fight that elf king again." Then the image on the mirror disappeared, leaving Star staring at it aghast. In love with Marco? The idea was so...unthinkable. She couldn't be. But what if she was? It could be nice. But what if Marco didn't feel the same way? She would ruin their friendship if she tried something. Maybe she should take her mom's advice. And she knew exactly what to do.