Title: One Very Long Day
Author: snowprincess
Rating: PG
Category: General/Angst
Summary: Obi-Wan is NOT having a good day.
Diclaimer: I don't own anything. All things Star Wars belong to George
Lucas.
A/N: I wrote this after reading JA6. Slightly AU (Bruck hasn't died yet). I have to thank Ginger Ninja big time for posting this for me.
Obi-Wan was running around his room, trying to eat his breakfast, grab all the stuff he'd need for his classes, and get dressed at the same time. He had woken up late again, and he had to hurry or he would be scolded by his teachers again. Now he was hopping on one foot, while trying to chew what was left of his food. It was a bad move, for he began to choke.
After a few moments of repeditly slamming his fist into his chest, he swallowed and coughed, finally getting some air into his lungs. "One thing at a time, Obi-Wan," came Qui-Gon's unemotional reply from the kitchen.
The boy's eyes went downcast as he grabbed his bag. Finishing putting on his boot, he made his way to the door of their quarters, "Bye Master Qui-Gon." Grabbing his robe, he left and began to jog to his first class.
The reason he was running late was partly his fault and Qui-Gon's. Before Melida/Daan, Obi-Wan and his Master had a growing relationship. Their bond had been getting stronger, and they were becoming friends. Then after the Padawan made the biggest mistake of his life, everything plummeted.
In the morning, Qui-Gon used to call the boy to awaken him. Now he left the task to the frequently malfunctioning chrono in Obi-Wan's room. The Master only reguarded him when he did something wrong. The trust was gone, and guilt weighed heavily on the young one's shoulders. He was still on probation, only being allowed to attend classes in the small chance he would be allowed to return to being a Jedi.
'No,' he amended, 'This whole mess is entirely my fault.'
The quickest way to his levitation class was through the temple gardens. LIght flakes of snow fell from the grey, gloomy skies above. Obi-Wan felt as though those grey clouds described him. Dark, gloomy, unnoticed, unwanted. Everyone always wants white clouds that are fluffy and full of life, not ones that bring lifeless cold.
Obi-Wan knew it was his fault, and he felt guilty all the time, among other things. The way Qui-Gon had been treating him made him feel like a useless piece of Bantha fodder. Sometimes he thought it would have been better if he had just stayed on the planet to which he had briefly given up his dream for. The boy was still also grieving for his lost friend, Cerasi.
So caught up in his thoughts about his current predicament, he failed to notice the ice patch ahead of him. Suddenly his feet were flying out from under him, and his head made a loud smack on the pavement as he lay sprawled on the sidewalk. Groaning, he shook the spots away from his eyes, and got up. Now fast walking instead of running, he travelled the last distance to his class, al the while rubbing the newly forming bump on is head.
He just barely made it into the room and onto his assigned mat next to Garen and Reeft when Master Al Kuma walked in. " Today class, we will be working on focus. Each of you will take the items I give yo, and levitate each one to a certain different height. "
Obi-Wan's day just got a little worse. Normally, he was not very skilled in levitaion although he tried his best. Also, he had trouble maintaining his focus. He was sure putting these two things together would equal disaster.
" Ah, Master Al Kuma? " Bruck asked. "Are you sure Obi-Wan should be allowed to do this? He'll probably do something stupid and hurt us or himself. "
The entire class except for the accused and his two friends burst up in laughter. The boy's face quickly became red and he buried it in the shallow depths of his hands. The Master gave his class a stern look to quiet them down. " That is quite enough, Mr.Chun! Every Jedi has his or her own strengths and weaknesses. While say, Obi-Wan may have trouble with levitaion, you may have trouble controlling your emotions. With time, practice, and patience, any Jedi can overcome those barriers. "
Obi-Wan slowly raised his face although it was still burning. "Don't listen to him," Reeft said.
"Yeah, " Garen added, placing a hand on his friend's shoulder. " Bruck's just a bully."
" Thanks guys."
Master Al Kuma brought out a box and went around, giving a set of five items to each student. " I want all of you to practice with the items. I will be going around to test your focus and levitation skill as well as council you."
Obi-Wan recieved five square blocks, each one a different size. He laid them out in front of the mat and glanced around the room. Many students who recieved their objects before him were already levitating, some of them making their objects do different things. Taking a deep breath, he was about to begin when something hard hit the back of his head. The boy had to fight the urge to hiss at th added level of pain
On his headache from the fall. He turned around to see Bruck looking at him with and evil smile.
" Hey, Oafy-Wan. Try not to kill us all. "
Choosing to ignore the comment and the new wave of emotional pain, he turned to let his frustrations out on the objects.
The next few classes followed like that, with Bruck making insults at him and the class loving it. His friends were only in his first and last hours, and they sat together at lunch. Throughout the morning and most of the afternoon, he was alone. For the most part he had gotten used to it, but somehow the insults always seemed to get to him.
After waiting in what everyday seemed to be an unending and unmoving line for ten minutes and sixteen seconds, he had his lunch and was heading to the table where Reeft, Garen, and Bant sat. " I hope your day hasn't been as bad as mine, " Obi-Wan said in greeting.
" Oh Obi-Wan, not again, " Bant groaned in sympathy.
" Yep, again."
" What's it been today? " Reeeft asked.
" Well, I woke up late, slipped on ice, choked on breakfast, got insulted by 'you know who' in every class, couldn't levitate my objects, couldn't focus........... Do I need to go on? "
" No, " everyone at the table replied in unison.
" So what's new with you guys? " the boy asked, eager to leave their current subject behind.
" Well, Master and I are leaving on a mission tomorrow, " Garen stated. Obi-Wan flinched, and Bant and Reeft glared at him. " What? Oh! Sorry Obi. "
The boy shook his head, " It's okay. Just because Master Jinn and I are not on well terms at the moment, doestn't mean you should have to shield what you say around me."
" But- "
" No. I want some normality in my life that's not Bruck, and you guys are it. It's my fault this whole thing happened anyway. Given time, maybe things can be back to normal."
TBC
Sorry but I'm out of time. Join me in part two of One Very Long Day............. Coming to your nearest FF.net website soon. Bye guys!