Chapter Eight
Obi-Wan stepped out of the lift tube and took a deep breath. Bant told him that Melody had returned from a mission a couple of minutes ago and was on her way to her apartment. It was the first time since she was shot six months ago that they were both in the Temple at the same time. He was determined to talk to her and find out why she was avoiding him. He didn't care if it was classified or not. He also wanted to know how Melody had known that the guards were coming when neither of them could use the Force.
Obi-Wan turned down the corridor leading to Melody's apartment. Melody stood outside of the door to her apartment, typing the entrance code on the small keypad next to the door. She wore a short red skirt and a matching bikini like top. "Melody," he called, walking at a quick pace to catch up with her before she entered the apartment. He could see her posture stiffen as she heard him, but she waited quietly without turning around to look at him. "I need to talk to you."
"I have to study for an exam tomorrow," she told him. He noticed that she sounded strange.
"Mel, we really need to talk. I'll help you study and then we can talk."
"Obi-Wan, this really is not a good time," Melody replied. She pushed a button on the keypad and the door quietly slid open.
"Melody," Obi-Wan said, as he reached out his hand and grabbed her upper arm to prevent her from entering her residence. "Why do you keep avoiding me?"
Melody finally turned to look at him. Pink tears streamed down her cheeks; her puffy red eyes were a dark purple color instead of their usual lavender. "I'm not avoiding you; this really is not a good time Obi-Wan."
He thought that she looked beautiful when she was so upset. "What is wrong?" he asked releasing her arm. As soon as her arm was free, she walked through the opened door. Obi-Wan knew she was trying to get out of talking to him, but he was tired of her constant refusal to talk to him. He quickly followed her inside before the door hissed shut behind him.
"Obi-Wan, would you…"
"Go away," he finished for her. "No. Not until you tell me why you are crying."
Melody stormed across the living area and into her bedroom. Without thinking, Obi-Wan followed her inside her sleep room. The brightly colored trinkets that were neatly arranged on top of her dresser, shelves, and desktop caught his attention first. The colorful pillowcases and blankets that covered her sleep couch were not the standard Jedi issue; vivid colors swirled over the soft looking material. They looked much more comfortable than his did. As he stood looking around the room, he noticed the sharp contrast in the temperature of Melody's room and the rest of the apartment; the room was too warm. He guessed that her Master's room was most likely too cold, since Master Gararr, who was covered in thick fur, was from a cold planet. He wondered if Melody's home world was warm, perhaps like a desert world.
Obi-Wan watched as the seventeen-year-old girl sat on the edge of her neatly made sleep couch and covered her face with her hands. He could tell by the change in her breathing that she had begun to cry again. She apparently no longer cared that he stood near her in the small room.
Obi-Wan slowly sat down beside her on the bed. With a sigh he gently pulled her hands away from her face. "Did something happen to Master Gararr?" He asked realizing that he had not seen her Master all day.
"No," she shook her head. "She's on a mission with Master Barauga to their home planet again, something with their family. Actually Élan and I will join them in a few days when they are ready for us."
"Mel, please tell me what's wrong. I'm your friend; I would like to help you," he said, wishing that there could be more than friendship between them. Melody's violet eyes stared into his, studying the depths of his blue/green ones.
"It's nothing," Melody sighed. Her small hands felt warm and smooth in his as he continued to hold them. "It was just a stupid childish thing. I did want to thank you for talking to Ember though. When I spoke with her from my home she told me that you had come to see her and that you told her I was ill."
"No problem, but you're not changing the subject Mel. If it was nothing you wouldn't be so upset," he assured her rubbing his thumb back and forth gently over her soft pale skin. He was beginning to sweat in the warm room; he wondered if there was something wrong with her temperature controls or if the warmth was deliberate. He noted, however, that it did not seem to affect Melody.
"I can't tell you Obi-Wan," she told him. There were too many things about herself, she couldn't tell him. She wished she could tell him everything he wanted to know; everything that she wanted to tell him, but she couldn't. Too many people already knew about her home world. Perhaps one day she could tell him everything. She looked down at their hands as Obi-Wan's finger continued to gently slide back and forth over her skin. The contact was very distracting, and nearly caused her to forget why he was in her room.
"Why? I won't laugh, or think any less of you," he assured her. Removing his right hand from hers, he lifted her chin so that she again looked into his eyes. He hoped she could see the sincerity of his words reflected in his gaze, or sense it through the shields that he had lowered for her.
"I did something stupid and my feelings were hurt. I'll be fine really." As she looked into his concern filled eyes she knew that he would not leave without getting her to tell him exactly what happened. Melody sighed and closed her eyes, before finally speaking again. "My friend from home was riding with me in the transport…"
"Your home?" Obi-Wan asked, interrupting her without realizing. He bit his lip quickly hoping she did not change her mind about telling him.
"I was visiting my family; I go to see them sometimes between missions. Anyway my friend and I were talking. I asked him something and he refused. I doubt he'll ever want to talk to me again."
"Mel, if he does not want to be your friend anymore, I don't think he was ever a good friend, not a true friend anyway."
Melody smiled slightly, "If Bant asked you to sleep with her and you refused, could you still face her? Could you still be her friend and act as if nothing had happened?"
Obi-Wan opened his mouth to reply, but closed it again as her words finally impacted with his brain. He realized suddenly that he must have heard her wrong. "You mean you asked your friend to…" he trailed off, staring at her in surprise when she didn't correct him. For the first time, he saw Melody Kazala blush. The blush brought color to her normally pale cheeks.
"Until now, I have been at home since I was shot. While at home, I had time to think. I could have died and I never um… did that. Well not that I would remember, or want to. I thought that since we were friends that he wouldn't mind. I was wrong. Boys don't think of me in that way. They either think of me as a little kid, just a friend, or a little sister." Another tear streamed down Melody's cheek. She once again looked away from him and stared at the red high-heeled boots she wore.
While he still held Melody's petite hand in his left hand, Obi-Wan lifted his other hand back up to her face and gently wiped away the tears that still slithered down her cheek. "I don't think of you as a kid. You are a beautiful young woman with amazing eyes that change color and gorgeous burgundy hair," his left hand lingered on her cheek as he stared into her eyes that had slowly begun to soften to a lighter shade of violet.
"Obi-Wan, I don't need you to lie to me. I know you are just like all the others that think of me as a little sister. I think you should go now. I need to change and contact Salene. She was in a meeting with Masters Windu and Gallia when I first tried to contact her, and Ember was taking a nap. I need to visit with her too; it's been too long since I've seen her."
Obi-Wan let out a sigh of defeat. He did not know how to prove that when he thought of her, a sister was the furthest thing from his mind. He released her hand and was about to stand up when he sensed her affection for him through her shields. He did not know that she had feelings for him. He knew that she had a crush on him three years ago, but she had told him that she didn't anymore. She had lied to him.
Suddenly he knew how to prove to her that he was not lying. Obi-Wan leaned closer to her until his lips softly brushed against hers. He moved his hand to the back of her head, as she wrapped her arms around his waist. His heart thundered wildly in his chest as she opened her mouth to him; it was all the invitation that he needed. He deepened the kiss. The sweet taste of muja fruit permeated his senses as their tongues danced to a sensual melody that only they could hear.
When they finally pulled apart, they were both breathing hard. They stared into one another's eyes. Obi-Wan finally broke the silence with a grin, "I definitely would not kiss my sister like that, if I had a sister." With his right hand still entwined in her silky hair, he moved his other hand to the bare skin at her side, just above the hem of her skirt. The warmth of her skin beneath his hand rapidly spread up his arm and through his body.
When she grinned back at him, Obi-Wan gently kissed her lips again and then began to kiss his way down her chin to her neck. He reveled in the tangy taste of her skin and the fragrant smell of the perfume that she wore. Melody tilted her head back giving him better access to her neck.
The sudden sound of the door chime interrupted them. Obi-Wan guiltily released her and moved back. Melody smiled at him and went to see who was at the door. Obi-Wan remained on her bed trying to coax his heart into beating at a regular pace.
"Master Windu," he heard Melody say and sensed the Councilman enter her apartment.
"Padawan Kazala, how are you feeling?" the Master's voice reverberated through the room. Obi-Wan quickly made sure that his shields were tightly in place, hoping Master Windu would not sense his presence in Melody's room.
"Good, the healers at home say that I'm ready to go on missions again."
"Good, Master Gararr requests your presence on Ursa Major. A transport will be waiting for you in Hangar 2 in one standard hour. Your Master asked me to remind you to bring your thermal clothing."
"An hour, but I thought we would not be needed there for a few days."
"The mission has progressed faster than anticipated and they are ready for you and Élan now," Mace told her.
"Thank you Master Windu, I will prepare to leave in an hour."
"I'm glad that you are talking to Padawan Kenobi again as well, although you might want to give him a message for me. Tell him that his shields are not as strong as he thinks, and that his Master will be contacting him shortly for a mission of his own," the Councilman informed her. Obi-Wan could tell by the tone of his voice that the man was smiling. It was not very often that he smiled. "Have fun," Mace told her. Obi-Wan sensed his presence moving further away from the apartment. Melody entered her sleep room and leaned against the doorway of her room a slight smile on her face.
"I guess I have to leave again," she told him obviously choosing to ignore the Master's comment about Obi-Wan's shields.
"I wish you didn't have to go," Obi-Wan told her. He stood and walked over to where she stood.
"Me too," she admitted, "but I guess you're leaving too."
Obi-Wan wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close, holding her tightly. Despite her small size, he thought that she fit perfectly in his embrace. He wished he could keep her wrapped in his arms forever, but he knew it was impossible.
"I have to get my things ready to go and let Bant and Salene know that I have to leave," Melody told him. Her head now rested on his chest allowing her to feel his steady heartbeat.
Reluctantly Obi-Wan released his hold; "Maybe we could see each other when we get back."
"I would like that," Melody told him with a smile. Her eyes had returned to their usual lavender color.
Obi-Wan lowered his head and gave Melody a last quick kiss on the lips before he slowly walked to the entrance and exited the apartment.
Melody touched her lips and smiled as she stared at the door that he had just walked through. She knew that if she became one with the Force on her next mission, she would take one last breath and know how it felt to love. As the Force welcomed her in its everlasting embrace, she would accept its will, grateful for the short time she had spent with Obi-Wan Kenobi.
The End
