SVTFOE: As Long as I Want You Ch. 15

Written by WriteFriend
Edited by An EditAnon


Things managed to cool down in the following days between Star and Jackie. Both apologized to each other, via Marco anyways, but he didn't mind since both accepted the relayed apologies. Both girls remembered what Janna had told them, separately of course; Jackie couldn't stomach being at Marco's house when Star was there but at school she watched Star like a hawk. Star wasn't totally oblivious to Jackie's stare and her ability to pop up out of nowhere when she and Marco started to have a conversation. Star tried to remain calm and acted like everything was normal. Marco had forgiven her fairly quickly, he had no reason to, of course, Star was the one who was jealous and liked Jackie getting hurt, but he was such a sweet guy that he just let it go. Marco had even promised her he'd make time for just the two of them! Star wasn't sure how he was going to pull that off, not with the constant supervision of Jackie, but she crossed her fingers anyway.

Star was going to follow Janna's advice in any way she could. The problem was she couldn't make it extremely obvious that she was trying to win Marco.  Now she didn’t care what Jackie thought of her, what she was worried was Marco himself, he overlooks a lot of things she does more so than she deserves; but Star doubts she can pull the seduction move again without serious repercussions. She'll just have to show Marco that she can fix the things he said about her, the things that make her unsuitable as a girlfriend. Give and take, give and take, those words still haunted her, it's true how much Marco sacrifices for her, but that changes now. Jackie may have a head start, but Star is about to catch her second wind.

Janna, however, has not been happy at all. She expected fireworks and so far has gotten duds. While she had been quietly whispering in both girl's ears, they haven't made much in terms of breaking the little love triangle they had going on. Both seem afraid of making big moves on each other out of fear of how Marco might react.  She had to give them credit, they both must genuinely love him to not meet up in a dark alley and have it out Mortal Kombat style. On weekends she started spying on Marco playing video games with Jackie in her room, a few times she would catch Star doing the same thing from across the street with a high-powered telescope, and a camera with powerful zoom...that girl came prepared. At night, she would usually skype with Jackie but since she's been busy with Marco, Janna has been forced to entertain herself, and goddamn was it boring. This particular night Janna resorted to browsing the internet and harassing people online for fun, things she used to do with Jackie. Next to her computer was her notebook that Jackie had at least given back to her. Janna wasn't sure if Jackie really did have copies of those…pages, but she was still glad to have it back. Janna flipped to the pages of her pictures, of her and Marco, "So not fair," Janna mumbled to herself.

Janna flipped to a blank page. She brought out her box of art supplies and started to draw. Marco had always been super nice to her even though she knows she can be a total bitch, and that despite his niceness he's not all that fond of her. Janna hates the way her mind works, she's had a crush on him almost as long as he's been crushing on Jackie and every time, every single fucking time Janna tried to be sweet to him, she came off like a freak. Rejection, it all comes down to her fear of rejection. Janna would love to just be able to pour her little heart out to him but that fear of him saying no makes her act like a flirty bitch instead, at least that way if he rejects her it might be for a good reason. And not because ya know, you aren't good enough to be loved.

Janna continued her drawing. She remembered one day in 5th grade when she fell off her bike trying to do stunts for some kids. In turn, those kids made fun of her and didn't bother even helping her get up, she scraped her knee pretty bad and it had hurt. Janna started to cry the first time in a long time, ordinarily she'd see it as a sign of weakness. Out of nowhere a hand appeared and pulled her up, the boy reached into his fanny pack and pulled out a wet towelette.

"This is going to hurt a little, you can squeeze my hand if you want," the boy told her.

Janna recognized him as Marco from the classroom down the hall.

"That little thing can't hurt me I'm tough," Janna muttered. Marco just smiled and readied the towelette to put it over her scrape. "Okaym tough girl, but it has alcohol on it and it's going to sting," Marco said.

"I don't care, not like-" Marco pressed the towelette against her scrape and Janna let out a little yelp of pain. She reached for Marco's hand and squeezed it so hard it turned purple. Marco squeezed it back.

"I tried to tell you, but it's for your own good so try to relax," Marco replied as Janna whimpered.

Marco finished cleaning her scrape and took a large bandaid from his fanny pack and placed it on the wound. The band aide had a picture of a ninja on it and Janna thought it was awesome.

"Your name is Janna, right?" Marco asked.

"Yes, do you know me?"

"Not reall,y I just like seeing you do wheelies and stuff, it's super cool." Marco zipped up his fanny pack. "Lucky for you I was watching your latest show, huh?"

"Yeah, I guess I was lucky, uh, Marco, right?"

"Yeah, Marco Diaz," Marco answered.

"Maybe next time you can do tricks with that other girl on her skateboard?" Marco asked.

"Oh yeah, I think you mean Jackie Lynn-"

"Yeah, her, she’s super awesome," Marco replied.

"Maybe, but I like being a solo act...you’ll keep watching me, right?" Jackie asked.

"Yeah, I like bikes more, actually. I just think Jackie is...really, really…um, yeah, anyways, she's cool like you,"

Both kids stared awkwardly at each other for a few seconds.

"Ok well, I should wait for my mom to get me, be safe Janna."

Janna looked down on her band-aid.

"I will, thanks for being there for me, Marco Diaz," Janna then punched Marco in the arm, "Just don't tell anyone I cried, you understand?"

"Oww! That hurt Janna, but fine I won't tell anyone," Marco rubbed his arm, "Not like crying makes you a bad person o it just means you feel pain like the rest of us, nothing wrong with that,"

He turned and began to walk away from Janna. "Take care, tough girl...cya around."

Back in the present Janna's notebook was getting soaked with her tears, even back then Janna just couldn’t help but put up a facade around him. Even then it was one of her best memories of him and growing up in general, if only Marco knew how much things like those small gestures really meant to her. She began to trace her pencil drawing with a black pen. It was a picture of Marco giving Janna a piggyback ride with a bunch of little hearts around them. Somehow Janna knew her little plan would probably backfire but she didn't care, at least she would try to win his heart. Much better then sitting back and watching her best friend give Marco a badly choreographed lap dance, or the magical princess that's only known him for a few months take him away like her knight in shining armor (literally).

Janna finished inking her drawing and looked at it. She always smiled in her art, but hardly ever in reality. If Janna really wanted to hurt someone, she would wish for them to walk a day in her shoes. Then they would know the true meaning of suffering.