Chapter 3- Renegade

The next morning, Zekk had taken Jaina out somewhere where they could be alone for a while. They walked around part of the academy, reminiscing about the time when they had trained there. Jaina remembered how exciting it was to come to an entirely new place. She had been glad Jacen was with her, but it was still exciting to meet all sorts of new creatures and make all kinds of new friends. Zekk grabbed her hand, snapping her back to reality. Jaina smiled, looking away from him. She didn't want to tell Zekk, but she, just as Tenel Ka, had been having bad feelings of future events. Zekk could sense something was wrong with her. "What's the matter, Jaina?" Zekk asked gently. Jaina turned her head to his.

-Jaina POV- I wish I knew why his voice makes me feel so calm. Why do I want to melt every time he says something to me? But more importantly, why did he ask me what's wrong? Nothings wrong.well.not really. Not that I can name. There's something there.tugging at my mind- teasing me. I hate not knowing what it is.

-Zekk POV- Man.she's gorgeous. I don't know what it is about her that twists my stomach up. I love everything about her. The perfect way her hair falls around her shoulders, the way her eyes turn to stare at me, the way her lips move when she talks to me. I just wish she'd tell me what is bothering her.I just wish I knew.

"I just don't feel well.there's something wrong.but I don't know what it is yet." She said quickly. They stopped walking, and a slight grin swept over Zekk's face. Jaina raised her eyebrows in confusion. "I know how to make you feel better." Zekk said eagerly.

Zekk leaned down and kissed her lightly. Jaina's arms twisted around his neck, pressing her mouth harder against his. Zekk's tongue parted her lips, ardently teasing hers. He ran his tongue along her bottom lip. Jaina deepened the kiss, caressing his neck gingerly. Zekk broke the kiss, trailing small kisses down her neck and along her collarbone. Jaina leaned her head back, savoring the feeling of his warm lips against her neck. He pulled her closer to him. She tenderly nibbled on his earlobe as he relaxed into her body. "I love you, Jaina." He whispered. "I know." She replied.

---

Tenel Ka woke up, stretching. She felt a pressure applied to her stomach, and opened her eyes to see what it was. Jacen's head was snuggled comfortably into her abdomen, with his arm wrapped around her hips. She smiled, stroking his hair softly.

-Tenel Ka POV- He's so calm. I guess he can't sense what I can through the Force. Maybe that's a good thing. I just wish I knew why I feel so uncomfortable. What could possibly go wrong that I can't see?

Tenel Ka's thoughts were interrupted as Jacen moved his head, waking up. She moved her hand away from his head. "Mmmm.that felt good, my love." Jacen said, half asleep. Tenel Ka placed her hand back on his soft hair, gently messing it up. 'I guess I should tell him.' She thought to herself.

'Tell me what?' Jacen sent her through the Force.

"Stay out of my thoughts, Jacen." Tenel Ka said.

"Sorry, your highness." Jacen said in a mocking tone.

Jacen lifted his head up off of her stomach, propping himself up on his forearm. "Now what did you need to tell me?" Jacen asked.

"I do not know." She said honestly.

-Jacen POV- She's holding back, but what it is I can't decide. It could be a number of things. For starters, it could be that she actually wants to go back to Hapes and rule as Queen. Or, maybe she's been having dreams as well.but yet, it could quite possibly be.

Jacen shivered. "Please tell me." He urged her on.

"I cannot. I do not know, myself." Tenel Ka said, staring into his eyes.

There was a long silence between the two. Jacen's eyes trailed, marking every feature on her face. Her beautiful lips, her well-formed cheek-bones, her perfectly-shaped jaw line, her deep gray eyes. "I love you."

"And I love you." Tenel Ka replied.

Jacen felt relief take over his body. He sat up, placing his hand on top of hers. She relaxed at his touch, but immediately tensed back up as a flash of images rolled through her head.

-Tenel Ka POV- -You see Jacen. It's just him, standing alone. He looks worried, like he's lost something that he can't find. He turns to look behind him, and as he stops moving.he's gone. He disappeared. Where to.? I can't tell you that. Get out of my head! Why do you torment me like this? Who am I talking to? Who's there? -Tenel Ka. It's me. Don't you remember? I'm back. No, I do not remember. Tell me. -Here.let me show you. --You were 7, rather- I am 7. All those years ago. You rejected me. I'm the you that never was. I talked to you, but you ignored me. You only believed in me part of the time, but it wasn't enough. I disappeared back into the shadows.until now. I'm back, Tenel Ka. I'm back. I remember.all too well.