***Chapter 3***

Belonging

After the podrace ended Cy asked, "Want to come over to my house for lunch?"

"Uh, sure," Meria replied. "I guess I am pretty hungry."

Cy led her to his house. When they got there, they where greeted by another boy, about Meria's age.

"Hey, Cy! Have fun? Oh, and who is this?" the younger boy asked noticing Meria.

"This is Meria, I met her at the podrace," Cy explained. "Meria this is my younger brother, Dante."

"Hi," Meria said and shook Dante's outstretched hand.

Meria looked at Dante, and realized he was cuter then his brother. He had blonde hair and ice blue eyes. *This is awesome! * Thought Meria, *Two really hot guys! *

"Is Mom home?" Cy asked. "We wanted to get some lunch."

"No," Dante replied. "She had to work, again. So, I guess you're on your own. I was just about to get something to eat at the market, we could all go together."

"Sounds good," Cy replied. "That okay with you Meria?"

"Sure," Meria replied.

After they ate, Cy and Dante showed Meria around a little bit.

"So where exactly are you from?" Cy asked.

"I live on Coruscant," Meria answered.

"Why are you out here?" Dante asked.

"I ran away from home," Meria said, like it was no big deal.

Cy and Dante looked at her surprised.

"You're wondering why I ran away from home right? Well, my parents are so unfair. I can't do anything right, and my brother is like the perfect little angel, and I'm looking for somewhere I belong" Meria explained. "Now stop asking me questions, I feel like I'm being interrogated."

Cy and Dante laughed, "Sorry!"

Meria was starting to feel a little more comfortable around them. They were both really nice, and cute!

"So, do you guys ever podrace, besides just watching the races?" Meria asked.

Dante and Cy both laughed.

"Only one human has ever podraced," Dante explained. "And that was a long time ago. No human has attempted it after him."

"Oh, really?" Meria asked interested. "I bet I could."

Cy laughed. "I highly doubt that Meria. No offense but humans just don't race, and why do you think it will be any different with you?"

Meria rolled her eyes. "Whatever. Who was the only human to podrace, what was his name?"

"His name was Anakin Skywalker," Dante answered. "He had the Force, they say that's why he could race so well."

"Oh, my gosh! Anakin Skywalker!?" Meria asked.

"Ya," Cy answered. "What's it to you?"

"He was my grandfather," Meria explained.

"Wait, doesn't that make you, like, famous?" Dante asked. "Because didn't he turn into Darth Vader, and his son start the Jedi Academy or something?"

"Yes. His son, Luke Skywalker, is my dad. But that does not make me famous," Meria explained. "I don't like being recognized just because of my family. I want to get recognized for what I do."

"So, you're a Jedi, then?" Cy asked.

"Yes, I am." Proving that she could use the Force she 'called' a piece of fruit to her, and bit into it.

Back on Coruscant

"Leia," Luke started. "Meria has run away from home."

"What?" Leia asked. "She ran away from home? Why?"

"We got into a fight about the Dark side," he explained.

"Oh, I get it. Do you know where she might have gone?"

"No. We've been trying to reach her through the force the whole morning, but she's ignoring us."

"Why don't I have Jaina try?" Leia asked. "She has a pretty good relationship with Meria, and Meria will probably open up more to a cousin."

"That's a good idea, have Jaina try and tell me if you get anywhere."

"OK." And with that the transmission ended.

Leia went to Jaina's room and knocked on the door.

"Come in," Jaina voiced.

"I know you're here taking a break from finding a place to live and all but..." Jaina caught Leia off.

"You need me to do something, don't you?" she asked.

"Yes. Meria ran away from home, and she's not responding to Luke or Mara, or Ben for that matter. So, maybe you could try her," Leia explained.

"Okay, I will. This might take awhile though."