I'm really sorry that it had taken so long to update. School has taken up most of my time, but, I had a four-day weekend last week, and so I wrote, and wrote. So, making up for the lack of updates, this chapter is a record 4,594 words long. That's pretty long. I am really sorry, REALLY. But, it's not like I'm homeschooled anymore, so I don't have a lot of time. But, since I love writing this story so much, and I really love this story, and I love all you guys, I will continue writing it, mind you, it may take awhile. But, I suspect there won't be THAT many more chapters. Max would for 4-6 chapters.
I'm hoping everyone will like this chapter as much as I did. It's kinda confusing, but that is also my point. Anyway, I'd really like to reply to your reviews, but I don't' have time. Please remember I made cover art, and the link is on my profile, so if you just go find it really quick, you can see it, and tell me what you think in this next review opportunity. Anyway, without further ado, I give you Mood Swing, part 2.
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Chapter Fourteen – Mood Swings PRT.2(Luke)
After searching for Mara for a full five standard minutes, Luke finally slumped down in the nearest chair, giving up. He sat, thinking for a few short moments before a teacher approached him.
"Young man, you're supposed to get up for this dance. Where is your partner?" Luke looked up to see Mr. Yurea.
"I don't have one." He said with effort. The teacher's mouth turned into the shape of an "O" and walked off.
One last time, Luke looked around; no sign of Mara, though. Of course, how could Luke blame her? Bantha fodder was more likable than him, so why wouldn't Mara run out on him? Luke watched as everyone else gathered to the dance floor, and one of the teachers started speaking about the traditional dance. Luke had been practicing the formal dance for quite some time now, and he thought he had reached the level where he was quite good. It started out like a Coruscanti waltz, and then morphed into a-
Luke turned his head to see Mara walking toward him, as she stuffed something into her bag, a rather upset look on her face. Luke observed curiously. As she continued forward and she realized that he had noticed her, her upset look was exchanged for a weak smile. She stepped right in front of his seat and sat there for a moment, both of them hearing their teacher in the background talking about the dance.
"I – I'm sorry about before." Luke's gaze shot to her face, surprised. "I was being quite rude. I've just been having a bad week and all that… stuff, or whatever. I always have something to blame on someone and I took it out on you because you were most," he watched her swallow hard and close her eyes," vulnerable… So, no hard feelings?"
He eyed her suspiciously before replying, "Where were you?"
"I was… In the 'fresher." She shrugged.
"Well… Okay. Why don't we go dance?" Luke suggested.
"Oh yeah! That'd be just great… Just great…" Mara then muttered under her breath, something which Luke could not hear, so he just shrugged it off. Things were, well, looking up… Maybe.
(Leia)
Leia continued to listen to probably one of the most boring speeches she had ever heard, besides that of her fathers. She tried to think of ways to entertain herself while the speech was going, but to no avail, and she was really beginning to get annoyed about how Han looked over at her every five seconds. But, she would have to keep her temper down; it was a very long night. Instead of getting angry, she tried a light topic.
"This is probably one of the most boring speeches I've ever heard." She whispered to Han.
"Really? Haven't you ever been to a senate meeting? Those things are way more boring than this." He whispered back.
"Since when have you been to a senate session?"
"I never have. I've watched some on the HoloNet, and I hardly made it ten minutes in."
"Sometimes they can be boring, yes, but I find it rather interesting. I wish I could be a politician."
"Really? I thought you were a Jedi, like your dear old dagger eyed dad." Han said, and Leia laughed at his statement.
"Right now I am still choosing." After his quiet laughter died down.
"You can choose to be a Jedi or not?" Han asked, rather puzzled. From what he'd heard about Jedi, once they were taken, they were sealed to that life forever.
"Yes, actually, you can. Few do though. You know, for as long as the Jedi can track, only twenty-five people have left the order? Up until the Clone Wars there were only twenty, but during Palpatine's short reign, many decided to leave, thinking the Jedi corrupt, or went to the Dark Side. Even then, it was only 5 actual Jedi." Leia informed him as the teacher droned on and on.
"Actual Jedi?"
"Well you see, you aren't an official Jedi until you reach Knighthood. I am still an apprentice, unfortunately, to my own father." Han almost barked in ironic laughter, but soon felt sorry for her.
"Why would he do that?"
"Well his excuse is that he loves me, but I swear it is to punish me. I don't even know why the masters allowed it. In fact, if my father had ever followed the code I wouldn't be here in the first place. I almost wish I wasn't."
"Wh-" Han was cut off as music started to play; he and Leia hadn't seen everyone else get into position, and had to hurry to do so.
"Hurry Han, take my hand," she instructed, and he did so," then the other…" she trailed off for a second, rolling her eyes, "on my waist. Then I put my hand here…" And they began to dance… Or, tried to anyway. Han had two left feet, and Leia found this out early on.
"Ouch! Have- ow – n't you ever danced before?"
"Well, not really," Han said looking down at his feet, "I don't get opportunities like this much. I usually don't even stay in one place more than a month." She looked up at him, surprised.
"And why is that?"
"Business." He replied flatly.
"What kind?"
"The kind that isn't YOUR business."
"Oh please, what could you possibly – ow - be doing at 18?"
"Believe me, you wouldn't want to know… Even if I could tell you." She winced as he stepped on her foot again.
"Right. What are you then? Some sort of spy?" she laughed and for a second he didn't reply. Her eyes widened, right as the music changed, and she watched as everyone switches partners around them. Han figured out what to do quickly and switched her to someone shorter than she was. She looked down a bit as he said hello to her.
(Anakin)
Anakin now sat with a group of five chaperones, playing Sabaac. They had given Anakin a chaperone badge, and some woman about his age started hitting on him. Anakin found it rather disturbing. She had gone on and on about how she had been such a fan of him during the Clone Wars, and started to bring up times when he had been the "poster man." Such included her bringing up times when he had almost been attacked by fan girls, interviews where the reporters had tried to dig into his darkest secrets, and many other unpleasant things. She was giggling the whole time. Anakin wanted to scream out that he was married with children, then storm out of the school. But no, he had to find Leia, and if he wanted to do that he'd have to somehow get on the dance floor. The only option would be to dance. Anakin's head turned to the annoying woman. No, better not encourage her feelings, Anakin looked at the others.
"Ahem," he started to get up, "Mrs. Burklay, would you care to dance?"
She just stared at him, quite shocked.
(Mara)
Mara Jade did not like dancing, but she was not getting paid to ignore Luke Skywalker. The traditional dance was, well, rather odd. First you waltzed, then you switched partners, and did the same thing. She was however, rather surprised about how quick Luke was on his feet. He did not miss one beat, and he looked completely calm and managed to be in deep concentration at the same time while dancing. Now, she only wished he was as quick and smooth when it came to talking. So far he had only blurted out a few things. She also found it rather awkward how she was taller than him, by several inches, but that could've been caused by her shoes. She shook her head at the dumb things she was thinking about. Get as much information out of him before the night is through, she told herself. She waited until she switched back to Luke.
"So, Sky- Luke… How do you like your father?" She asked, and he winced, she thought, but it may have been her imagination.
"Why are you so interested?" He counter asked.
"Because, we are at the prom together, we should get to know each other at least a little bit. Also, I couldn't help but hear a little bit of that conversation between you and your father before we left your house," she admitted, "what was that about your father and the dark side?"
"That's none of your business." Luke quipped.
"Do you and your father not get along?" Mara continued her interrogation.
"As I said-" but it was time to switch. Mara moved onto another young man, as Luke switched to a purple Twi'lek.
(Leia)
Leia managed to make her way to Han at the switch, but it seemed he was already dancing with a rather attractive blond. She gave the blond a death glare before she took Han as her partner.
"Explain." She said simply as they started to dance to the music, which had gotten to a considerably faster beat.
"I-" Han thought for a moment, "I didn't mean by that pause that I was a spy, I was just shocked by the… Allegation."
"Oh, I'm impressed. Not only have you managed to come up with yet another excuse, but you've also broadened your vocabulary in the process." Leia rolled her eyes as she continued to dance.
"You're impossible. My business is my own. I don't tell anybody because once they find out, they try to tell me what to do. Unlike you Jedi, no mystical power is choosing my destiny. I do what I do, so don't go getting angry for me not telling you. Just because we went to Prom together, doesn't mean you have a right to pry into MY business." The music got faster and it cued for a switch.
(Anakin)
Against all odds, Mrs. Burklay said yes, and Anakin now found himself dancing with the most undesirable woman he had ever met. Her pointy shoes kept hitting into Anakin, and he was beginning to wonder if she was doing it on purpose. And since when had the Nubian Traditional Dance become a swing dance? He had to switch with someone quickly. By miracle, it happened, and he let go of her like a disease and switched to another young woman quite quickly. He looked down at her… Oh, this was even more awkward than before. Here he was dancing with this young woman who probably wanted to cry because she had to dance with someone old…er. His thoughts trailed off a bit… He wasn't old. No, he wasn't. He wasn't even 40 yet… Well, close, but not yet. What a depressing thought, in just a few months he was going to be OLD. Now he knew how Padmé had felt when she began crying when she turned 40. There were disadvantages to her being older than him, but – switch.
(Luke)
Luke was now dancing right next to his father, but he had no idea. Leia's friend, Sabé, was now dancing with him, and she kept blabbing on nervously about who knew what.
"And you know how it is when you find yourself looking at your soul mate. You just know. It's like you see a light behind them as they walk by, and time goes still…"
What in Stars and Galaxies was she talking about? How could Leia even LOOK at her? How in the world did this woman manage to be more popular than him? What did people see in her?
And then it was time to switch. Why was the music going faster and faster? And Luke could've sworn he had just seen his father…
(Leia)
The music sped up rather fast, and Leia quickly just started dancing with someone, who by chance, was not a man, but a girl. It was Sabe.
"Leia, you came! I saw your brother just now, and someone was looking for you." She said as they began to quickly move to the beat.
"Who was looking for me?"
"Uhhh…Chaperone, I think." She replied.
"Great, just what I need. I wonder what I'm in trouble for now." She said mainly to herself.
"When did this dreaded dance become a swing?" Sabe asked as they continued to swing to the beat.
"I have no idea, but whoever did this, deserves to die. I thought the normal was bad enough!"
"Oh Leia, I just remembered who the chaperone was!"
"Tell me later, time to switch." Leia said and switched back to her original partner.
(Anakin)
Great. The annoying fan girl had decided to join in the dance, and now Anakin was stuck with her. She was dancing to close for Anakin's taste, and her breath smelt like Bantha poodoo.
"So, Anakin, how long have you lived on Naboo?" She asked yet another question in that annoyingly sweet voice. Wait, this was his chance to blow her off. Anakin plastered a smile on his face as he spoke.
"Oh, I just moved here from Coruscant. But every six months I move back."
"And why do you do that?" He really disliked this woman.
"It's for my family. I move here to live a normal life for awhile, you know, give my kids a chance to meet people. Then I go back to Coruscant, with my family to go back to our careers. You see, my wife has recently become Naboo's senator again, and my children are training to become Jedi. I do it because I love my family." He put an emphasis every time he mentioned any part of his family, to get the point across. Apparently it didn't work.
"Oh, how nice. You know though, that we're supposed to be swing dancing now, right?"
Anakin looked around nervously, "Uhhh…. Time for a switch."
(Luke)
He was now with Mara again, and she proceeded to interrogate him.
"Why don't you and your father get along very well?" She asked with labored breathing as they swung.
"Because we just have a hard time talking, that's why. There is nothing more too it. Period." Luke said, as he began to swing her with much difficulty.
"I just don't see why. It would seem you and your father would get along great. You like piloting, he likes piloting, fixing things, both love and hate being a Jedi. Why don't you get along?"
"Well, sometimes we just don't – hey wait, how would you know that?"
"Uh…" She paused for a split second before getting defensive. "Well, haven't you ever watched the HoloNet, the Skywalker's faces are practically plastered to that screen everyday. You'd think people would move on."
"Right." Luke said sarcastically.
"But really, why don't you get along." She asked again. Luke sighed.
"It's because of what happened a long time ago, and since then, he's just like Leia more than me. Leia is his "princess" and gets everything she wants, no matter if it hurts me or not."
"I'm sorry… What happened?"
"It's not your business, as I said, and have been saying. I don't think it's even MY business. If you want to know, go ask my father. Maybe if you're lucky," Luke paused to catch his breath, "he'll only take off your arm." And with that, Luke switched, now in a much duller mood than before.
(Leia)
Leia and Han began to dance, and it was silent for about a minute, as Leia thought. After a little bit of spinning to the fast tune, Leia refused to dance fast any longer. She looked straight into his eyes, searching for an answer. There was none. His eyes were blank, and he kept a straight face. Leia was exasperated.
"I at least deserve to know what kind of person I am dancing with!" Leia told him.
"Listen princess, if you couldn't tell what kind of person I was before, why'd you say yes?" He got up- down- in her face as he said it. She glared at him, and he smiled.
"You don't need to know. From the way you're acting, I have a feeling that after tonight we're not going to be seeing each other again." Han said, looking past her. Leia's own feelings surprised her; she felt rather disappointed for a moment, and she was glad he was not looking at her, for she let her face fall, but quickly hid it.
"Nevertheless, I should still be able to know. If you are a spy, and I have to be assuming so, than under the law of the Republic, I have to arrest you." Leia stated. He laughed a good laugh.
"And suppose I am a spy FOR the Republic?" Leia's face turned rather pink for a moment, and then she glared again.
"Are you?"
"No! I'm not a spy for anybody, as I said, I'm my own man!"
"Then I have to assume." Leia said.
"Listen, Leia, I don't have time for this… Besides, it's time for a switch." But Leia grabbed his hands and wouldn't let go.
"I am not 'switching' until I get an answer." Han sighed at her words.
"It really isn't your business." Han repeated, but Leia wouldn't move.
"It IS my business." Leia said.
"No, it's not."
"Yes, it is. I have a right." Leia said more forcefully this time.
"Well, I can see this conversation is going no where. If I tell you, you'll just get even more angry."
"I am NOT angry!"
Han looked at her. "I admit that I am a little upset, but I am not angry."
"You just keep telling yourself that, princess." Han said slowly.
"I told you to stop calling me that."
"Calling you what?" Han played innocent.
"Princess. I told you that awhile ago."
"I don't recall."
"Oh! Why do you have to be so difficult?" Leia raised her voice.
"And… We just missed another switch."
"We wouldn't if you just told me."
"Told you what?"
"Oh… I don't even remember anymore!" Leia was feeling very emotional at the moment, and her eyes began to sting. "You said you were a spy or something."
"Hey, I never said I was a spy." Han said, releasing himself from her grasp and putting his hands in the air. He noticed that look on her face, and Han began to feel bad. "Listen… If it makes you feel better, I'll tell you." She looked up, "As long as you promise not to tell your father, or anyone else for that matter."
"Alright."
"I'm getting into the smuggling business." Leia gasped. "Before you get all angry or something, just know that it isn't a bad job. It brings in good money for a pilot like me."
"Han, but smuggling is very illegal, I should turn you in-"
"You promised." Han said. Leia stared at him.
"But, I can't just go on and let you-"
"It's my life. Besides, it's not like I'm doing anything major, like smuggling bombs to Coruscant. A rookie like me just smuggles ale. Remember, you promised. I told you what I do, and now it's the end of the story, so, can we just dance?" Leia nodded reluctantly, and they began to dance.
(Luke)
The music was going a whole lot faster now, so it was like, dance 30 seconds, switch, dance 30 seconds, switch, switch, switch, switch… It was complicated.
Luke switched back to Sabe again.
"Oh Luke, let's continue our conversation from last time, shall we?"
Switch.
(Sabe)
How rude, Sabe thought finding herself with Biggs Darklighter now.
"Hello Biggs, how are you?"
"Fine Sabe, and you?"
"Good. Have you see-"
Switch.
(Biggs)
Biggs was enjoying his time at Prom, and he was especially enjoying this dance. After dancing with Sabe, his next Partner was a girl by the name of Leah. He couldn't find his words, and he almost stumbled over himself.
Switch.
(Leah)
Leah wanted very much to be picked up and be brought home. Her date wasn't going as planned, and to make it worse she found herself dancing with a Wookiee. His stray fur stuck to her dress and she found that she could not breathe in his presence.
Switch.
(Chewbacca)
Chewbacca was feeling rather abandoned tonight. Han had left him to be with the human woman, and he was left to learn how to dance these odd dances on his own. He was now dancing with the odd red haired woman that Han had paid Chewbacca's food money to. He growled at the thought.
Switch.
(Mara)
She found herself dancing yet again with Luke. "You didn't answer my previous question. Do you have any other family members?"
"I did answer. Several times." Luke replied. She could tell he was sick of her questioning, and Mara smiled at the thought.
Switch.
(Luke)
Luke never knew how many questions a woman could have, and for that matter, how many emotions they could have. Mara seemed to be going through a series of mood swings, and it was freaking Luke out.
Luke was completely disgusted when he found that he was dancing with Han Solo. Both had the most disgusted looks on their faces, and quickly switched.
(Han)
Well, that was disturbing, Han thought to himself as he again found himself with Leia, who seemed so much happier now. She had a large smile on her face as she danced with Han. "You're looking better."
"I'm feeling better." She replied.
Switch.
(Leia)
She was having a good time now, and she quickly found herself a new partner. She looked up at him, her smile instantly fading. A wash of emotions fell through her. What was he doing here? What was he THINKING? She felt like crying and yelling at the same time.
"DAD?" Leia whispered harshly as she just stood there.
"Leia! Uhh." Her father fumbled over his words.
"What are you DOING here?" She felt her face turn rather red, and her temper rose, along with her voice.
"I... I was worried-"
"So you came to my own PROM? You honestly can't trust me that much?" She asked incredulously, drawing the attention of those nearest to them.
"It's not that I… I don't trust you Leia, it's that Han guy-"
"You IDIOT!" She cried loudly to her father as she felt her eyes sting a bit. "Can you for once butt out of my life! Get it? MY LIFE! Got it? As in not yours!"
"Leia, stop yelling at your father-"
"I have every RIGHT to yell at you! Sithspit, I should have a right to do so much more than yell." Leia started to get frantic, and a lot more people started to notice.
"Leia, DO NOT-"
"Shut up! How could you even POSSIBLY THINK that I would be OK with you spying on me at my own prom? Did you think my life wasn't screwed up enough, so you decided to go and humiliate me at my prom?" She looked around and her face reddened more than thought possible.
"Leia, listen-" her father tried more gently this time, but she had had enough.
"Get away from me you schutta!" She said backing away from him, then stormed off.
(Han)
Han had stopped dancing when Leia had started to make a scene. He felt awfully bad for her, and somewhat proud for her acting off to her father. Han had never expected that the little miss prissy princess would even know the words schutta and sithspit, let alone say them out loud. He watched as she stormed out of the crowd, everyone watching as she did so. It only took a moment for Han to follow.
Weaving his way through the crowd, Han finally made it out and into the hall, chasing after Leia.
"Leia!" He called to her as she walked. "Leia," he called again, "Oh for Sith's sake, Leia! Slow down." He finally said as he caught up to her. He grabbed her elbow and spun her around.
"Take me home Han. Now." Han bristled.
"Wha-? What? No. I brought you here, so I'll take you back when the night is through." Han informed her and she glared.
"Oh for Sith- Leia, come on we haven't even made it through our first DANCE and you already want to go?"
"Yes, is it hard to believe? Wouldn't you want to go if your father or mother came to your prom to spy on you?" Leia questioned. Han smirked.
"Well, it really wouldn't make much of a difference, would it? I mean, I wouldn't recognize them if my life depended on it. Remember, orphan?"
"No," Leia said slowly, "You never told me that." She shook it off quickly, "Well, I'm sure you'd be pretty embarrassed if they did and you knew them. You'd want to go home too, so please take me home!"
"No. I worked hard for this night and I'm not about to give it up." Han said stubbornly.
"Why you- why not? I can't go back in there, I can't show my face. I'll just be out here doing nothing, because I am NOT going back in there."
"Well, I guess I'll be out her with you." Leia's face burned and her eyes glared daggers.
"Why you- why you stupid, scruffy looking - nerfherder!"
Han rubbed his chin, "Scruffy looking, eh? I may like the sound of that."
"You schutta!"
"Believe me, I've been called worse."
"Just take me home! Please!" She begged, and Han could see the tears in her eyes as she said it… He leaned in…
Yup, they were Fake. "No." He replied simply, his face just inches from hers.
"Agh! Get away from me you chubba face! Your breath smells like Bantha poodoo!" she said right before she pushed him and stormed off, screaming every once and awhile in distress. Han rolled his eyes. Women…
He turned around, heading back to the dance, but not before smelling his breath. "Oh, what a liar." He said to himself, rolling his eyes once again.
(Leia)
She stormed right out of the school, and onto the garden path. Every Nubian school had a garden path, and Leia was sure they were made just for young women who were in distress. It was very calming, seeing all the flowers, and it as strategically placed, to when the moon and the sun hit them, it looked just like a painting. Unfortunately, there was no moon tonight, because of the clouds. It was dark, and Leia could hardly see. She began to walk along the path, than sat down of the short brick wall holding the soil for some of the plants. She sighed, thinking.
Her day just kept getting worse. First, she found out she was going to have to go to Prom, then the argument right before they left, the argument when they got there, he father came, and now she was in ANOTHER fight with Han. She knew her day couldn't get anyworse.
But then, she spoke too soon. Just as she thought that, she felt a drop on her knuckle. Then another, and another until it really started to rain. Sithspit, she thought, my dress. She hurried, off of the wall, and along the path to the awning. She sat there a few moments before her eyes started to sting again as she thought about her situation at the moment.
But then, very suddenly, she sensed danger, and before she had time to react, a smooth gloved hand covered her mouth, muffling her screams, she then felt something sharp go into her, and she went limp, blacking out.
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Thank's much to everyone who is still reading. I am trying to update as soon as I can. Please review, it makes me so happy! It makes me happy enough to write! More happy more writing.
Please, though, really. I think I've lost a lot of my readers because of my lack of updates, but please. It DOES help me, but if not, oh well. Anyway, I hope you liked this chapter.
May the Force be with you all!
Miss-Jedi