Title: Just Isn't The Same
Author: Erisi
Timeframe: YJK-NJO
Characters: Jaina , Zekk, Jacen
Summary: The graduation ceremony is dawning and Jaina has a heart-to-heart talk with her brother about Zekk and she realizes that something is going to end.
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Jaina marked another day off of her holo-calendar as
the day came to a close. There were three more days
until the graduation. She was excited, yet she wasn't.
The temple was buzzing with pre-graduation
preparation. That meant sending out holo-invites all
across the galaxy to long lost family members that
cared. For the young Solo, that part was a piece of
cake; her family practically lived at the temple. Well
they were having more along the lines of a long and
very much needed holiday.
What really bothered her was the fact that Zekk had
invited Anja. Jaina knew her emotions were getting in
the way of her consciousness, but that didn't mean she
wouldn't like to strangle Anja that very moment in
time. She began to mumble aloud to herself.
"Why did he have to invite her? Anyone, but her! That
little Sith Witch, why I would-" She stopped short as
Jacen entered.
"I would appreciate it if you informed me of the fight
before it happened. I'd be honored to attend the death
of the so-called 'Sith Witch.'"
"You're not helping," she said. A frown slid onto
Jaina's face as Jacen took a seat on her bed.
"So, why are you so bothered with Anja coming?" Her
mouth about fell five feet to the stone floor.
"You know how I feel about her. You know she's been a
little Sith since she arrived!" Jaina was frantic.
Jacen knew where this conversation needed to go.
"Is it her who's been the Sith, or is it you?"
Jaina stopped her pacing and faced him, arms folded
across her chest. "What?"
"You know what I said, Jaina. It's not really her
who's been the little Sith Witch. It's been you."
Jacen called one of Jaina's many decorative items to
him and levitated it above his palm. "Am I right?"
Jaina nodded slowly taking a few deep breaths. "You're
just jealous that Anja is coming because you know
somewhere deep inside Zekk, he has feelings for her,
just like he does you. What it comes down to is, you
are being a little over-protective about your
boyfriend."
Jaina knew he was right, most of the time he was, yet
something inside her didn't want to listen. Jacen felt
for his twin.
"I know how you've felt him pulling away since
graduation has gotten closer, but that's all fear
Jaina. And you know what Uncle Luke always says about
fear."
Jaina hated when her brother could find the truth with
in her. It broke her to know how self-centered she had
been. She swiped at her pale cheeks. She knew she
needed to talk to him, and she knew just where to find
him.
Zekk relocated his lightsaber, feeling Jaina's
presence as she entered onto the balcony. They both
started, "We -"
Jaina blushed and Zekk rubbed his neck uncomfortably.
"Go ahead." Zekk motioned politely.
"Well, we need to talk." She was as jittery as a
Rancor on feeding day.
"I know."
All light-heartedness that she had seen over the last
few years was gone. His once bright face was as grave
as a darkening sky. She didn't look surprised. "First
of all, I need – well, want to ask, why did you invite
Anja?" She was blunt, and subtle in her question,
asking for the truth and nothing but the truth.
"That's why we need to talk. I invited her because
she's a good friend of mine. Anja contacted me awhile
back and asked me to inform her when the ceremony
would be, so I did," he confessed and looked out on
the setting sun.
"Yet, you knew how I felt about her, Zekk. So tell me
why, because I know it's not the truth." Tears pricked
at her brandy brown eyes, yet she forced herself not
to cry.
"Jaina, you know I'm leaving."
"Don't change the subject, Zekk. I want to know why."
"Why are you asking me? You already know why." He
turned to leave. She placed a hand on his arm and
pulled him back to her.
"Because, I want to hear it from your own lips, Zekk,
that's why I'm asking you."
He lowered his head not daring to look at her.
"Because, we can't, we weren't meant to be together."
Jaina blinked past the realization of what had just
come from Zekk's lips. "What do you mean?" She wrapped
her arms around her self and leaned against the
balcony's edge for support.
"I'm leaving, we can't always be together. I can't, I
can't do that."
She could hold the tears back no longer and the
crystal tears brimmed. Jaina had known from the start
that this was coming. She had felt it all along. "So
that's it? You're leaving? Once the ceremony is over
you and Anja are leaving?"
Zekk nodded, he couldn't deny it.
Pursing her lips Jaina tried to slow the thoughts and
feelings down. She swiped at her eyes trying not to
let Zekk see her cry, but he did as she left the
balcony and headed down the hall.