Chapter 10: Headache

"Jag." He turned when Anakin called his name.

"Hi, Anakin."

"Listen," the younger boy said, "Tahiri told me about what you two were talking about at practice. I should've known Zekk was just trying to mess with me."

"Hey, no problem."

"It's just that, I mean, she's my girl, man. And, anyway, I'm…" Jag could hear Anakin's hesitance but didn't push. "I'm sorry for jumping to conclusions."

"It's fine."

"So, we're good?"

"Of course." Anakin nodded and headed over to where Tahiri was waiting on the other side of the hall.

"Now that wasn't so hard was it?" he could hear Tahiri say as the couple walked away, their normal entourage following.

Jag ducked into his Biology class and took his seat as the warning bell rang. Zekk sauntered through the door just after the tardy bell and took the long way to his seat in the far corner of the classroom, ignoring the glares he was receiving from Mrs. Sebatyne.

"Class," their teacher hissed out, and everyone fell silent. "Today, this class will begin a new lab; however, because of last week's… mishap…" There were several snickers spread throughout the room. Lowie and Tesar high-fived then threw grins towards where Jaina and Zekk sat, both of whom were probably pleased with themselves. "Lab groups will be switched."

Of course, had it been any other group to set not only their own lab station on fire but three others as well, Mrs. Sebatyne would surely throw them out of class and never let them do another lab, but no, it was Goddess Jaina's group in which one of the members was Mrs. Sebatyne's son.

"Lowie, Tesar, Raynar, and Ganner in group one… Jacen, Malinza, Tenel Ka, and Ja-" she cut herself off and suinted at the list she had in her hands. 'Please say my name, please say my name,' Jag silently begged. "Excuse this one, and Jeffery in group two… Jaina, Zekk-" There was a loud clap of hands in the back where the two had obviously slapped hands. "Danni-"

This time a loud shout of joy came from the two. They were certainly pleased that they had the girl whose name was always praised by the teachers; the girl in question had turned beet red as the two chanted, "We got Danni, we got Danni…"

"If Jaina and Zekk don't mind…?" The teacher reprimanded, and the chanting duo quieted. "And Jagged in group three…"

Everyone in the class and jumped and turned to look as a loud bang echoed in the room. Jaina Solo had slammed her head on the desk in front of her and was now moaning – whether in pain or complete dismay that Jag was in her group, he had no idea, maybe both.

"Is Jaina all right?" Mrs. Sebatyne called from the front of the class.

"Just peachy, Mrs. S," she answered without moving her head from the desk. The class went back to facing forward. Just as Mrs. Sebatyne took a breah to read the next group names, Jaina continued, "I do have a headache though."

"Perhaps Jaina should have thought of that before smashing her head against her desk."

"Wow, Mrs. S, you're so smart. I wish I could be as smart as you…"

"Flattery will not get Jaina a pass to the nurse."

"Damnit."

"Language."

"Sorry, Mrs. S."

Mrs. Sebatyne took her roll book back up to begin again but paused before reading and said, "Is Jaina done disrupting this class now?"

Everyone looked back at Jaina who lifted her head off her desk and pretended to be in deep thought. "I'm good for now; thanks for asking though."

"Oh, of course," Mrs. Sebatyne said dryly, then continued reading off her list, but Jag wasn't paying attention. The entire class had been in stitches while Jaina and Mrs. Sebatyne had their exchange. Of course, he was not included in that generalization, and as he glanced over to Danni, who was pouring over her textbook in deep concentration and biting her lip, he guessed that he wasn't the only one.

After all the names had been called, the lab groups went to their stations.

Jag's group sat down; he, unfortunately, managed to get stuck next to Jaina. It was the Monday after the royal ball, and she had yet to even glance his way since storming out of the garden. He didn't know her to be so affected by what others say, but she was particularly icy towards him that morning.

"Jaina, how's your headache?" Danni asked.

"Oh, well, I get the feeling I'm going to have it for a while." She glared pointedly at Jag.

"Yeah, me too," he replied in kind. She raised an eyebrow at his tone but said nothing ad simply turned to a notebook she'd brought and started scribbling in it.

"Working on that hit list, Jaina?" Zekk asked, trying to peer over the table to see what Jaina was writing.

"Always."

"Yeah, how's it coming?"

"Oh, you know how it is… someone pisses me off then buys me a gift; it's all very complicated."

"I can imagine. But the person who's been at the top is still there right?"

"Oh yeah, that spot hasn't moved for several weeks. Bobby Ernsberger really pissed me off a couple weeks back, but he only got second."

Jag glanced at Danni to see what she made of the exchange, but she was already entranced by the assignment that had been passed out. Jaina and Zekk seemed to be deadly serious in their discussion, but they couldn't be, could they?