It had been a week since Gloassaryck dove back into his book, she had tried to coax him out to talk. But he wouldn't come out. The book wouldn't even open.
      But she didn't worry too much. Not much she could do. So her and Jackie went to the arcade dimension and hung out there for the Saturday. Janna had called them and joined them as well.
     Star played Lance Lance Revolution with some squares, her being destroyed multiple times. But she had fun. Jackie played a few arcade games in the corner by herself. And Janna just watched the two.
     The day was peaceful, and they were having fun.
     "Get that wand!" A squeaky voice rang out. She heard the bloops of portal travel as she finished her game.
     Really, Ludo? Star moaned internally. This was the first time in forever. And quite frankly, she wasn't in the mood.
     She turned around after being defeated. Ludo had a completely new set of monsters. Aside from Buff Frog. They all seemed just about as competent as the ones before them. Not very.
     And the battle began. Jackie and Janna just stood back and watched. Not really sure what to do. Ludo made orders atop Buff Frog's shoulder.
     "Marco could appear any minute! Be ready!" Star heard Ludo cry out. Her heart ached. Ludo didn't know?
     The battle kept going. After a few more minutes, Ludo was actually beginning to wonder where Marco was.
     "Seriously, where is he? He is way past his cue!" Ludo chanted out. It was like a game to him.
     Star dispatched the last Monster before looking toward Ludo. Her eyes started to brim with tears.
     "He's dead," She whispered, Ludo barely heard it. His eyes widened in shock.
     "Wh-what?" He stuttered.
     "You heard me," she grabbed her dimensional scissors.
     She casually tore a hole into time and space, Jackie and Janna hurried through it. And she followed, her left leg stepping into the portal.
      A small hand grabbed her dress, stopping her. She turned and looked down. Ludo had hopped off of Buff Frog's should and walked to her.
      "I'm... sorry for your loss. Here. Take this, it's not much. But it helped me through hard times." He took his necklace off and handed it to her.
     The necklace was a green emerald with sharp jagged edges going through it. And a rough string of hide as the necklace. She put it in her purse
      "Thank you," she looked at him thankfully.
      "Just don't wear it for long periods of time. It starts to mess with you," he informed her. "We will be leaving you alone for a while. So rest up. You'll have a real battle waiting!" He smiled at her.
     "Will do, Luuudo," she laughed, stepping through the portal. Was the necklace enchanted?
     She was home. Jackie and Janna sitting on her bed. The two playing on their phones. They both looked shook. She didn't know if they had paid attention to the encounter or not.
     "We're gonna head out, Star. Oskar is having a get together at his place. If you wanna come just hit us up," Jackie said as her and Janna got up.
     "Alright! I'll see you guys later!" She yawned and looked at the time. Eleven at night. The magic torches in her room were already lit. She took a shower, changed her clothes, and laid down for bed.
      She sighed and looked at her night stand. "Oh Marco," her eyes felt heavy as tears flooded them. She grabbed the picture of the two.
     He stood there in the picture, his arm wrapped around her shoulder with a peace sign up. She was laughing, her cheeks glowing a bright pink.
     "I never told you," she spoke to herself. "That glow... from my cheeks. It means that... I love you. They have never glowed for anyone else." She sat in her room alone. No one heard her.
      I wonder what that necklace does, Star asked herself.
     She grabbed it from her purse and slipped it over heard head. Which was quite easy since Ludo had a big head.
     Nothing happened. I hope it helps like you said Ludo. She thought.
     She laid there. Eventually exhaustion took over, and she fell asleep. Soon her mind drifted off to Marco filled dreams
-----
     The next morning crept up on the princess, she didn't even have an alarm at this point. She merely woke up when her body woke her up.
      She stared at the canopy of her four poster bed. The Star on the top of it brought no smile to her face. What should she do today?
     Lay around like yesterday? Or she probably would tomorrow? Sounded like a plan. Nothing better to do with her life. And that is what she did until three in the afternoon. And she heard at knock at her door.
      Angie, Mrs. Diaz let herself in after the knock. "What are you doing Star?" She asked. Mrs. Diaz had taken the loss of Marco pretty hard. Like any parent would. She had aged ten years in the last six months. All of her youth evaporated with the death of her son.
     Star sat there for a second. Angie loved her. And treated her like her own daughter. The two had bonded quite a bit. Even before Marco died.
     "Just layin' around," Star answered, a sourness in her voice.
     "What do yah say we go watch some TV? Golden Girls is on all evening! And I got some Marshmallow Popcorn!" Angie cheered.
      Star smiled, while this didn't make her completely happy, she lived for these moments. Angie didn't wait for an answer as she softly grabbed Star's arm and dragged her down stairs.

8 hours later

     "Thank you for being a friend!" Star and Angie sang together. The two had sat and watched TV on the couch all day. It truly boosted Star's mood.
     The two looked at the clock. "Goodness. We had some fun with that marathon, huh Star?" Angie laughed.
     "We sure did!" Star was almost happy enough to start being jittery. Almost.
     "Well, I'm going to bed Star. Have a good night. I saw on the TV guide that there will be a marathon of Seinfeld tomorrow if you want to join me. Sweet dreams," Angie told her as she went up the stairs, yawning on her way up.
     Star looked at the TV for a second. All of that happiness throughout the day vanished. Where were the nachos? Where was the red hoodie? Where was Marco?
    Tears flowed almost immediately. "Marco... Please come back," She silently sobbed. Her heart ached for him. She felt the necklace grow heavy on the chest. The silence of the house made her weary.
     A hand stroked her hair. The blonde beauty jumped, almost screeching.
     "Shhhhhh, it's okay," a familiar voice whispered to her.
     She leaned into the touch of whoever was comforting her. Her eyes closed and her head on a chest, she broke down. "I miss him..." She sobbed a little louder.
     "You don't have to. Look at me," The voice said. She could hear the smile in their tone.
     She opened her eyes and looked up. The first thing she saw was red. A red hoodie. Then. She slowly lead her head up their body.
     She reached their neck, her breathing shook like never before as she looked higher. A mole sat on his cheek.
     Marco Diaz sat in front of her.
     "Marco," She barely croaked out.