Disclaimer: Psh, no.

A/N: AGGGGHHHH I'm such a horrible fanfiction author! I just didn't have the time to write, if you get my gist. NOT ENOUGH TIME, agggghhhh…Please forgive me? Please? I'm so sorry, you all were absolutely wonderful and…aggghhh…Sorry?

PART ONE: BUDDING

Chapter Twenty One

Ali was fine. She was happy and smiling and content in life. Her mind was at peace, and she slept enough each and every night. Her days were filled with jokes and laughter with Master Lyra and her friends. Ali breezed through her classes, enjoying every moment of the wonderful life she lived in. She was fine. She was absolutely fine.

Bullshit. She thought wryly to herself, and fought to bite back a laugh. But hell, if she was going to lie, she might as well lie big…she cast a quick, discreet glance over at Anakin. He didn't look so great either. His hair was mussed, his face drawn, and bags hung under his red eyes. Obviously he hadn't been able to sleep since that disastrous night either.

She kept having doubts. They plagued her thoughts, through the mornings, afternoons, nights, and even her dreams. Not one day went by in which she didn't think: "Did I do the right thing? What would've happened if I had chosen differently? What would life be like now?" After about two weeks of this torturous hesitation, she decided to dismiss the issue completely. Perhaps if she ignored it, things might improve.

And yet it was very difficult to ignore when the center object of the issue was in all of her damn classes because she had thought at the beginning of the year that it would be a good idea to get the same schedule as her ex-best friend. Now, everywhere she looked, she saw his familiar blue eyes (except lacking that mischievous sparkle), and his tired, tired face, and remembered everything they had shared together.

She found peace in the meadow. Many times, when her soul was too beaten and exhausted to face yet another torturous class filled with unspoken, haunting memories with Anakin, she'd simply skip and run outside. Her attendance was getting worse and worse, and Lyra had been notified of it, causing extreme worry on the Master's part. Ali was quickly running out of excuses—they were getting lamer and lamer as time went on, and pretty soon she'd be repeating the one about the sqoala outside with a broken leg that needed her to help set it. Sadly enough, that was her best one yet.

But it was simply a phase, Ali argued to herself whenever her conscience confronted her about it. She needed some time alone, just to think, and that things would get better quickly. Then she'd move past this stage of doubt and continue pursuing a career as a strong, talented, intelligent Jedi Knight. She'd regain her focus very soon.

And so life continued, as it always does. The place Ali inhabited the most was no longer the practice room, but the grassy outdoors, where she'd simply lie on her back for hours, staring up at the clear, clear sky and wish that all of life was like that—one shade. Simple, easy, blue. No arguments about it, no other perspective, no second guessing. The sky was blue and the clouds were white.

Once upon a time the girl would get up and climb a tree, or walk about a bit, wandering aimlessly around the Temple, hoping to find an unknown answer to her question. It'd be so much easier to find an answer if she knew what exactly she was looking for in the first place.

She stopped doing that, though. The grounds were full of memories, and to walk around would only trigger or prompt them. She remembered that tree, where she had fallen after one of the weaker branches collapsed under her weight. Anakin had run to get a healer to fix her broken wrist at that time. She remembered that rock, where she had tripped and skinned her knee. Over in that stream, about shin deep, they had gone wading. That event had turned into a full blown splashing fight, and the two had spent the next hour sunbathing to dry themselves off. They practiced hand to hand combat in the left corner of the field. Anakin had loved the sweet smelling honeysuckle trellis that crept up that wall of the Jedi Temple. He had also cut himself on the Yualta bushes just a while ago.

No, Ali decided. It was better to stay put and go numb than to remember everything she had forsaken and turned away. Perhaps if she closed her eyes long enough, things might just turn out to be a really, really bad dream. Perhaps she might open them again to find that nothing had happened between her and Ani. Perhaps they were still friends, and her brain was just playing an evil, evil trick upon her.

And yet, Ali reflected as she sighed and got up, returning to the Temple. This never happened. Perhaps it'd be best if she faced reality.

It quite possibly gave her a heart attack when Anakin walked up to her during lunch. Just strolled right up, straight to her, as if the last few weeks hadn't happened. She had to literally shove her mouth shut. It was unbelievable.

He came up to her and plopped into the seat across the table, ignoring the waves of gossip that arose at seeing the two together. It was common news that they weren't speaking—something that gave many females of the Temple hope. Then he was silent, looking down at his folded hands.

"Hi." She said quietly, both of them looking anywhere but at each other. The Temple cafeteria tables had grown intensely interesting during the past few seconds. Patterned and light blue, someone (or something) must've spent a lot of time dabbing the designs over it. Who would have so much freedom on their hands to waste doing something so dull?

"Hello." He said back, equally awkward. His eyes were still glued to his hands. Then he took a big breath, as if bracing himself for something, and continued: "Master Obi-Wan and I have a mission to attend to on Dewar. We're investigating some breaches and violations of the embargo acts."

"Oh." She replied softly. What was she supposed to say?

"Just letting you know." He slid off the seat, eyes still downcast, and began to walk off.

She sat there, shoulders slumped, watching his retreating form. It was absolutely heartbreaking what their friendship had dissolved into.

He watched her a lot. He would never admit it out loud, say it for anyone to hear, but a class never passed without him sneaking a glance at his ex-best friend. Well, never a classwhen she was there. She wasn't there a lot anymore. Skipping, he supposed.

She didn't look too good these days. She was still beautiful, though. She always would be, with those red locks andgreen eyes and pretty smile.But nowshe looked weary, exhausted, tired, terribly worn out instead of alive and radiant. Andwhen she smiled, it was a sad one.As if her soul was bruised and trembling, and wouldn't survive another blow. After a while he'd force himself to look away, puzzling over exactly what was bothering her so.

He watched her now, out of the window of his ship. Somewhere, far, far away, in reality, Obi-Wan was calling his name. But he was too busy, too occupied, too focused upon her. She was sitting on the Temple grounds, leaning back on her palms, face upwards into the sun and eyes closed. As the airplane took off, thrusting off the ground with a roar, he took a mental picture of her, so relaxed and peaceful, one with Nature.He stored this precious gem inside his memory, inside his mind, to peruse and remember whenever he wanted. Then he pulled his gaze away once more to face his waiting Master, still leaning in the doorway.

"Anakin?" Obi-Wan asked worriedly. "Are you alright? I've been calling your name for two minutes now, and you couldn't hear me."

"Sorry, Master," Anakin replied,flashing one last glance at Ali. "I was distracted. What did you need?"

But later, upon reflection, he decided it wasn't distraction at all.Distraction was an inappropriate object that caught his attention. But Ali? Ali was where his attentionbelonged. Nothing was more appropriate than looking at her. Holding her, kissing her, being with her.

A/N: Very very short and boringchapter, I know, but I'm just not in the mood. But I have to write because I won't have time later, and then you all will hate me even MORE. If it's possible. Hang in there—the good stuff's coming. The next few should be quite ahhh…intriguing.

POLL—please respond: Happy or Sad Ending? I'm leaning towards the sad ending because I have it ALL planned out and it'll be beautiful (or so I think), but then I can't have a sequel. And there's nothing QUITE like a sequel…