sort of acting that way too. But...

"That's just an excuse, though. A lame one. It's not like a bad break-up is mind controlling Marco into being a jerk. He's choosing to act that way." Not to mention the fact that Marco didn't seem the least bit bothered by the break-up itself.

Tom blinked, then awkwardly scratched his head. "Yeah, that… did seem like a lousy justification for how I used to be. Sorry."

Star looked at Tom for a moment. She remembered the Blood Moon Ball, and the fake career counselor drama. The demon prince had spent an entire year trying to get back together with her. It was flattering, in a way, but at the same time, it had been mostly unnerving, stressful, and more than a bit creepy.The problem back then wasn't that Tom liked her, but that he was so obsessed with winning her back that he had ignored her own feelings on the matter.

Then, the moment he had given up in his pursuit, he began seeing the same things about him that worried Star, and decided to do something about it. He had decided to change, not to get her back, but for himself. Honestly, that had made him like ten times more attractive, and Star had quickly remembered all of the things that had made her like Tom the first time around.

Yes, Tom had changed. He was improving himself. And he liked Star, a lot. Star herself was trying to improve as well by being a better princess. She dared say she