Marco pov
I stood beside her all night watching her sleep soundly. I took off around 11 and walked home. It was probably dumb for a 15 year old boy to be walking in the dark, but I'm capable of defending myself.

As I get home I  saw my mother passed out on the couch with her phone on her lap. She was either talking with someone or maybe dad? I sigh and grabbed a throw blanket and placed it over her.

She looked exhausted and I couldn't blame her. Now she's home and has to get into routine of keeping the house in check. The house is fine but I guess she wants to take a spin for herself.

As I dragged my body up the creaky stairs and made it to my bedroom, the bed was nicely made but dirty clothes scattered across the floor. Is sigh knowing i have to do laundry soon.

I changed my clothes and knocked out as soon as my head hit the pillow. The next morning I woke up to the smell of eggs and bacon, mom's cooking was always the best way to wake up to. I got out of bed and head downstairs and see mom setting a plate for me "Morning Marco, made breakfast for us"

I smiled and sat down and she did as well "How's Star?" I sigh and looked away from my plate "She's okay, she eventually went to sleep after the medicine kicked in" she nods and hums a bit "How are you feeling Marco?"

I looked away from her gaze which held worry "I'm fine mom, why are you asking me this?" She lowers her eyes away from me

"Well, you've been distant from the world" I didn't understand her "What? No I'm not? I'm fine mom honest" I gave her a reassuring smile "Alright just making sure your okay, especially knowing Star's procedure is a day away"

I lowered my head and dropped my fork. I hoped she didn't bring that up but she did and now I didn't feel good. "Mom, why did you bring that up? I really didn't want to think about it" I said kinda rudely while i stood up "Marco, I'm sorry I just wanted to know how your holding up"

I narrowed my eyes towards the front door and at her "I'm holding up, don't worry about it. It's nothing new anyways I'm taking a walk..bye" I took my hoodie and put on my shoes and took off. I needed to relax and stay calm and not think about the surgery.

I didn't realize that I absentmindly walked towards the Malt shop and I sigh. "Hey Diaz" I look up and see the gang "You okay buddy?" Oskar reached for my arm and I pushed him off "Don't touch me" he gave me a weird look and I really didn't care

"Dude, I was just wondering how you are? You seem stressed and out of it" I lowered my gaze and noticed Jackie look at me "Marco? You feeling alright? You know you could always tell us, we are your friends after all" she says with a smile but I didn't return it

"Are you guys really my friends?" I said coldly and saw their expression change "What the fuck Diaz?! What's the matter with you?!" Janna manage to say as she stood right in front of me "How can you all act like everything is fine when it's not?! You guys have dipped from my life because.."

"The only reason we dipped is because you left us for Star! You acted like she was the most important person to you. What happened to us?! Huh? We knew you longer than she has and now she's gonna be gone!"

I glared at Janna and pushed her. She gasped and stood up and shoved me against the brick walk of the malt shop "Marco! You have to face it! She's not gonna be here forever..your way too attach to her and that's the last thing she wanted you to do" Janna said as she released me from the wall

"You don't know what she wanted. None of you are close to her..you just support her but none of you make an effort to actually listen to her or even understand what she went through.." I could feel warm tears blur my vision and I didn't want to breakdown here in the middle of the sidewalk "Marco.."

Jackie tried to touch me but I moved it away "Don't touch me! I feel like I'm the only who cares about her! If you were my 'real' friends you would've been by my side through all those months.." I fell to the ground and just broke. I couldn't hold it all the pain anymore.

I felt the anger wash over me and felt somewhat better "Marco we have been by your side" Janna said as she kneeled beside me along with Jackie "Yeah dude, we tried encouraging you and supporting you the whole time, we've been there" they held my face and wrapped their arms around me

"Like we said before, we'll be there for you" Janna said as she gave me a smile and Jackie kissed my cheek wiping my tears away "I'm sorry for yelling at you guys" they giggled and shook their heads "Nah man we deserved it" Oskar said as he held a hand for me to grab. I took it and he helped me up

"We kinda made you feel like that..with me trying to win Star over even though she fell for you, Janna being jealous about having your attention and for Jackie who..uh I don't know what you did actually?" We laughed and I pulled them into a hug "Thanks guys.."

I felt a little better and I was relaxed a bit and able to think clearly. I had so much locked away that it just came out in wave, luckily my friends were kind enough to take it and not feel offended well..maybe a few of them.

I eventually went home and saw my mother on the couch with red eyes and was holding her knees up. I sigh and walked into the living room and say beside her "Mom" she looked up and wrapped me in her arms and started crying "Don't scare me like that Marco" I sigh and held her tight

"I'm sorry mamá" she kissed my head and ran her hands through my hair and smiled at me "I'm sorry for bringing that up, I just wanted to make sure you were okay. It's going to be rough Marco" I nodded and sigh "I know, I'm okay now..I talked to my friends and they helped me a bit" she smiles "I'm glad"

It was around 5 when I went to visit star. I brought my lucky bracelet with me for her to wear through the surgery the next day. As i made it towards her room she was laying down with a mask over her face "Hey star, how you feeling?" She smiles at me wearily and sits up "I'm good..I'm on a lot of medication right now.."

I smiled and sat beside her and held her fragile hands "Hey, since the surgery is tomorrow I wanted to give you this" she looked down and back at me "it's a bracelet I made when I was 7, it's a lucky charm and I wanted you to wear it" she looked at me and I could see tears forming "Y-you want me to wear it?" She asked softly

"Of course I do, here let me put it on" I placed it on her delicate wrist and kissed them afterwards "Now you have a lucky charm that will protect you through it" she moved towards me and wrapped her arms around my neck and held tight "T-thank you" she manages as she moves away and pulls her mask down

"Star you shouldn-" she cut me off with a kiss, it felt so light and soft that it felt like I was kissing air. After she kissed me she put her mask up and held my hand "I want you to be strong for me" I looked at her and I moved away a bit "Star.."

"Marco, I don't want you to cry for me if I don't make it, I want you to be strong and live life the way you want. Don't fall back because I'm not there anymore, you never needed me in the past and I don't want you to feel like you need me now"

I started to cry a bit but she still held that smile of hers "Promise me that you won't do something rash? I don't want to see that because it was my fault" I nodded "Promise me Marco" she said holding on my hand tightly "I promise star..I won't do anything crazy" she smiled

"Good..Marco can you do me one last favor?" I looked at her and nodded "Yes star?" She moved a bit and patted a side next to her "Cuddle with me" I smiled and crawled beside her and she placed her hand on my chest and buried her head in the crook of my neck "Stay.."

"Always.."