Chapter 12
Autumn was long gone, days were now long and hot. The LA sky shone brightly with its dreamy clear blue shades; the sun was strong and hard on her young, delicate skin, yet it did nothing on her spirits, apart from lifting them.
The breeze of the ocean reached and hit Padmé like a soft caress, warm like summer itself, sweet as a kiss from the man she loved; the one she watched with eyes sparkling with love, deep and stronger than any force, wrong or evil in the world.
They held each other with the easiness and innocence of teenagers, the passion of lovers, the adoration of soulmates.
"Are you ready to go back?" Anakin asked as he navigated his uncle's boat.
Padmé ran like an excited child, appearing behind him, throwing her arms around his waist, pressing herself against him. "Yes, this has been a really fun day!" she said, laying soft kisses on his bared back. "But I don't want it to end so soon. Do you want to hang on the beach for a little while?"
"I'd rather we just go have dinner," Anakin said, turning to face her. "You know I don't like going to the beach."
"I know," she smiled. "Because of all the sand…"
"Come on, honey! It's coarse and rough and irritating—"
"And it gets everywhere," Padmé mocked.
"But I guess we can stay for a little…" he lowered his voice and kissed her, deeply against the lips.
When they played together on the beach, it was almost like being children again, swimming, running free, unaware of the future that lay ahead, yet very curious about it.
"Do you think things will change much when we go to college?" Anakin asked, the pale moon reflecting on the sea, Padmé laying comfortably on his broad chest.
"Absolutely not," she said. "At least not with us. We'll still see each other, and we'll always love each other… We just won't be able to play so much!" she said, suddenly throwing sand at him and running away, laughing loudly.
Anakin chased after her, his laughter also mixing with the sound of waves, harmoniously building a song of happiness. When he caught her, they were both almost engulfed and kidnapped by the pacific tide.
"Gotcha' My Lady!" he laughed.
"I believe the term is Your Majesty," she joked, getting a hold of his wet hair and kissing him.
Throwing her on the sandy floor again, getting on top of her and removing his shirt, he apologized. "I forgot you were a queen..."
"How could you, my Faithful Knight!" she said, catching on his game. Their game. One they hadn't played since they were kids.
It was a fun game, Padmé suddenly remembered. When they were neighbors and shared the most innocent of friendships. Anakin was an odd kid, he had several nicknames for Padmé, Angel being his favorite, giving her unearthly beauty. But when on one occasion he heard Mr. Naberrie refer to her as his little princess, he thought that was too small for what Padmé inspired. So he started calling her Queen Amidala, and he often defended her from others; which caused her to call him her Errant Knight.
"Do you remember how you used to defend me from other kids?" she asked, staring into his blue eyes, more in love than ever.
"Yeah," he said. "Though if I remember, you hardly ever needed saving."
"Yes," she laughed. "But it was sweet of you, Ani. I always knew that if I needed help, I could rely on you. My Knight in shining armor. My Vader!"
The clear night sky darkened.
Black clouds formed over her perfect summer night; the bright moon hid behind them. Pitch-black darkness on the beach and on his heart.
The memory of one of the greatest days of her life changed. As if fate was cruel and her mind delusional. She screamed Anakin's name over and over again, trying to find him in the darkness; over and over again she was to be disappointed, looking for a light in vain. Her mind much like her heart aching, as an odd, unnatural breathing sound covered her ears, taking away the beautiful music of the waves, allowing an awful confession out and loose again.
"I killed them! They're all dead, I killed them!" his voice was like thunder, loud and scary.
"Ani, please!" she begged for him.
"They're like animals so I slaughtered them like animals!"
"Anakin," she couldn't see him, neither the darkness, her own tears blinding her. "You're breaking my heart!"
"Vader did it!"
"Anakin!" despair broke her voice, it ripped like a knife on her vocal chords.
"Stop looking for her. Don't bother in trying to find her. She's not there."
"Ah… Ani…" she couldn't breathe anymore.
"I killed them…"
"Vader?" she gasped.
"Padmé?"
Tears had never hurt so much, as she curled up in his arms. She felt choked, smothered and ill. What the hell was that? How could she forgot where she had heard the name Vader before those phone calls?
"Oh she's waking up," Padmé heard Dormé's voice, her roommate breathed out a sigh of relief.
"Yes," Anakin said, stroking her cheek. "She was moving a lot so I figured she was dreaming."
Padmé suddenly opened her eyes wide. "Anakin…" she tried to move away from him.
"You might want to eat a sandwich," Officer Ozzel said, his usual lack of tact surprising no one, yet his presence startling Padmé to the point of jumping.
"You're here," Padmé breathed, eyeing Ozzel as he stood on a corner, Officer Piett conspicuously next to him.
"Yes, Miss. Really, you should consider my suggestion. Even when under a lot of stress, it isn't normal for girls to just faint." Ozzel neared her, his eyes only on Anakin, though.
"What happened…?" Padmé muttered, resting her head on Anakin's shoulder.
"You fainted in my arms, scaring the living daylights out of me," Anakin explained.
"Yeah," she shook her head. "I scared you… again. But," she turned to see the policemen. "It was you who scared me. I saw your guns… and I don't know… I was tired and confused."
"We're sorry about it," Officer Piett said. "Didn't mean to frighten you."
"And about that," Ozzel said. "Why were you sneaking into the house, Frat boy?" he questioned Anakin.
He seemed calm yet embarrassed. "I heard a girl was killed tonight," he said. "I just wanted to make sure it wasn't Padmé."
"Understandable if insensitive," Ozzel was now a step from them. "But why sneaking into the house, Frat boy?"
"My name is Anakin Skywalker," he said in an insolent tone, causing every muscle in Padmé to tighten. "I didn't knock because… I didn't want to let anyone know I was coming."
"Especially Padmé," Ozzel smiled and narrowed his eyes.
"Yes," Anakin admitted, the short word incredibly bitter.
"Did you want to surprise her? Kind of a dick move on your part, Skywalker."
"Hate that I agree with him," Dormé whispered, lighting a cigarette.
Anakin looked down and waited a few moments. "I thought she wouldn't open the door."
"Why's that, boy?" Piett asked, coming closer.
Another moment of silence.
"We broke up today," Padmé at last said, closing her eyes for a moment.
"What?" Dormé's stunned voice broke the silence.
The policemen stared at the couple. Moving awkwardly, Padmé broke away from Anakin.
"Did you, now?" Ozzel questioned. "Why is that?"
"I believe that's private," Padmé said, angrily. "And forgive me but this night has been long enough. Please leave us."
Piett apologized and agreed.
"Right," Ozzel said. "You heard the lady, Skywalker. Let's leave them to sleep."
"I'm gonna stay," Anakin said, decisively. "I need to talk to you, Padmé—"
"I believe we said all we had to say earlier," she responded, avoiding his eyes. "Please go," she pleaded. My love, you're not safe here…
Anakin vacillated but at last he let the policemen push him away. "We need to talk," he said, staring at Padmé just as they had reached the door.
"I assume you're gonna stay outside?" Dormé said, looking at the policemen.
"Of course," Piett nodded. "We're not gonna abandon you, girls."
"Certainly," Ozzel smiled grimly. "You can rest assure, I'm not gonna rest until we catch that bastard, and you can be sure," he stared at Padmé. "We will find him."
"We're all going to breathe easier once that psycho is behind bars," Dormé said.
"Oh," Ozzel chuckled. "By God that won't happen. That Vader, as you call him, has an unavoidable date with the electric chair," he stared at Anakin, smiling still, and at last they left.
Padmé let Dormé take her upstairs to their room, unsure of how her broken heart was still beating.
It would've been ridiculous for Padmé to pretend her mind was together enough to attend her classes, yet nothing could've prevented her from getting up early in the morning to get ready.
She sat in front of her mirror, finishing her hair and makeup, like always, doing that reminded her of her missing friend and roommate. Oh Cordé…
She turned to see her sleeping roommate. "So you are not going to class?" she asked Dormé.
"Fuck off," Dormé muttered, putting a large pillow over her head and turning around.
"Okay," Padmé sighed. "Guess it's just me then."
And so she ventured outside her bedroom on her own, what she found immediately depressing her.
Everyone was getting ready to leave, packing their bags, calling their families, saying goodbye...
Reaching the breakfast room, a place once so comfortable and filled with female laughter, Padmé found the large table empty except for Mrs. Luminara, her face looking two decades older than in the night before. She had no food apart from a glass of wine, the bottle was standing in front of her in the table, almost drained.
"At what time will you be leaving, dear?" Mrs. Luminara said, her voice so tranquil it was disturbing.
Padmé sat by her side. "I'm not leaving," she said. "I can't."
"Oh Padmé don't worry about me. If you ought to go you…"
"I won't," Padmé said, determinately.
There was no arguing and after having a cup of coffee, silently, she left.
Walking around campus was now unbearable.
She was used to being watched, but usually with either admiration or jealousy. Now, eyes just stared at her with morbid curiosity. She was determinate to not let it get to her, she shouldn't allow that to affect her. She went to every class, ignoring everyone but her professors.
Her professors…
It got her thinking, Officer Ozzel was really suspicious about Anakin last night, maybe it was just her nerves, but she definitely thought the way he stared at Anakin was strange… Did Clovis betray their deal? She could expect so much from him… But she would not allow that creep to fool her.
Her feet walked, almost by themselves and without her permission, taking her to his building, unsure of what she would say.
Standing in front of his apartment door, she knocked and she could hear his steps inside, standing before the door and asking, "Who is it?"
She took a deep breath. "It's Padmé."
There were a few moments of silence, then he laughed and opened the door.
"Well hello," Clovis smiled, his face still bruised and unappealing. Effrontery reflecting on his wide eyes. "Didn't expect you today. Did you miss me in class?"
"We need to talk," Padmé said, her voice annoyed. He nodded. "We had made a deal, Clovis. I promised not to tell what you did to me, as long as you didn't tell what Anakin did to you!"
"Yes," he sat on a couch and motioned her to do the same. "And what?"
She was almost fuming now. "Well, have you said anything?"
"I said I was robbed, and that I didn't see who it was. That was all, my darling. I have not heard from the police since," he stopped, then said, "Why? Have you?"
She didn't answer.
"I can assure you, my dear Padmé, your secret is safe with me."
She stood up. "If only I could trust you, Clovis…"
"You haven't a choice… Where're you going?"
"I just came to ask you that—I have no intention of spending more time in your company than necessary," she said with spite.
"All right… I'll walk you to the door," he tried putting a hand on her back but she dodged him. "And please be at ease, I'm taking that secret to the grave."
"You better…" she muttered under her breath.
Padmé walked down the stairs unsure of whether she believed him or not, she knew Clovis was smart, and he wouldn't risk getting marked as a sexual predator who preys on his students… But why would Ozzel suspect Anakin then? Because he's been acting suspicious… Her mind answered. Even you have thought…
The feeling of someone's eyes on her took her out of her thoughts. Loud steps behind her made her turn around. And he was there, appearing out of nowhere like a sudden shadow.
"What are you doing here?" she asked.
"I told you, we need to talk," he said, nearing her, his blue eyes sparkling under the sunlight, filled with hurt, almost crowded with tears.
"Anakin… What are you doing outside Clovis's building?" she asked, suspiciously.
As soon as she finished her question she regretted it. "This is Clovis's building?" he asked, sudden darkness on his beautiful eyes. His anger rising and threatening to come out.
Fuck.
"What the hell were you doing paying him a visit?" Anakin demanded, his tone painfully jealous; his tall figure towering over her small one.
She took a step back, struggling to think of an excuse that could satisfy and calm him down… When behind his tall body, she saw a police car, one that was becoming very familiar to her. The one that usually patrolled Kappa Kappa Delta. And inside, she could almost distinguish Ozzel and Piett.
Fuck!
"Anakin we shouldn't be seen together," she nervously muttered to herself, unaware of how it also reached his ears.
"Why not?"
She was sweating like crazy now. "Because we broke up," she offered as an excuse, the words immediately hurting him, erasing his apparent anger.
"Oh Padmé," his voice softened. "I can't believe that actually happened," he put his hands on her waist. She struggled to be released, mainly because she didn't want to. Oh how she missed his touch! "Please let's talk about it, I just can't believe…"
She couldn't hear his words, her own thoughts resonated inside her head too strongly. She thought of how she had told a story to the police, a story they now could call bluff, seeing her in his arms out in the open. Just outside the building where a professor, one who was attacked, lived. She thought about the dream she had the night before, and what it reminded and revealed… she thought of how Ozzel was looking for a killer to kill… and the thought of losing Anakin almost sent her to insanity, one step closer to absolute madness…
"Stop!" she suddenly yelled, startling him. "Let go of me!"
He did so, his face completely miserable. He really didn't seem to understand what she was doing and why. It looked like he just thought Padmé didn't love him anymore and wanted to be free from him.
"I will leave you… for now," he said ominously.
"Anakin," she said when he had turned his back on her. He stopped but didn't turn to face her. "Do you remember how we used to go sailing on your uncle Qui-Gon's boat?"
He silently nodded.
"I had a dream about one of those occasions last night… The last time we went before collage?"
"Yeah, I remember," he said, still not facing her.
"It was one of the happiest days of my life," she said, completely honest. Her voice now trembling as she held back tears. Though she had to stay away from him, she couldn't see him suffer. "Please remember, Ani… I love you. I always will. We just can't be together right now. Please," tears fell down her pale cheeks. "I know you don't want space between us—but it's necessary."
He didn't say anything, he walked and disappeared from her sight.
Sighing, Padmé also moved, straight to the police car.
She watched them both cough awkwardly as she approached them.
"So now you're following me?" she asked with extreme anger and displeasure.
"We're only doing our job," Officer Ozzel said, unapologetic.
"We must make sure you and your sorority sisters are safe," Officer Piett said.
"I believe your job was to patrol Kappa Kappa Delta," rage turned her sweet voice bitter. "And you're quite far from it, Officers."
"We'll go there tonight, don't worry," Piett said.
"We just have a few people to interrogate beforehand," Ozzel spat. "Don't you have classes to attend to?"
She took a step back, realizing he was trying to get rid of her. Rolling her eyes, she turned her back on them and started walking, she walked to her next class, expecting to be followed. Every now and then she turned to her sides and behind, expecting to see the police car; but just as she reached the building she was looking for, she realized, terrified… They haven't been following her at all.
It was Anakin… The thought was chilling. Officers Ozzel and Piett had been following Anakin.
AN: Ani is in trouble :( We're almost there!
Please review and let me know if you liked the new chapter, and any theories as to how this is going to end? Mmhh…
