Anakin tapped his fingers in nervous anticipation on top of the desk in his Outer Rim Sociology class as his eyes darted to and fro from the chrono on the wall above the holoboard to his datapad. He could swear that time was moving backward. Just twenty more minutes and he would get to see Padmé. He was planning on taking her to training room one where he would show her all the pre-saber drills he had learned, and how he could manipulate the Force and move some of the small strategic objects placed about the space. He knew she would be impressed and he couldn't wait to show her what he could do.
His agitated movements soon caught the attention of his classmate, the dark-haired girl who sat next to him on his right.
"Why are you so nervous? Didn't you study for next period's exam?" Riven whispered to him.
"No." Anakin whispered back with a small grin, also excited that his Master was actually allowing him to skip the exam.
"Waddya mean no? Master Poof's exams aren't easy!"
"I didn't study 'cuz I'm not taking it."
"Huh?" The female padwan asked before they were both shushed by Master Gallia who was walking about the room, monitoring the students, while a padawan on the other side read aloud.
Anakin quieted immediately. He had to be careful. Master Gallia had already given him two demerits in the class for being tardy before. One more demerit and he would be suspended.
Anakin looked back down to his datapad, pretending he was absorbed in the material flashing across the screen and following along with the text.
"My master is letting me make it up. I've got something I gotta go do." He whispered back to Riven without turning his head
"What?"
But the question was answered by someone other than Anakin. A brown-headed padawan who sat beneath them in the next row. Taldor turned around with a cruel smirk on his face. "He's gotta go meet with his Master's girlfriend who won't give him the time of day. Why don't you wise up Skywhiner? She doesn't care about you!"
Taldor turned back around just as Adi Gallia's eyes turned their direction. The Jedi Master began walking their way, but Anakin hadn't noticed. His eyes bore into the back of Taldor's skull and his fingers flicked out in anger, causing the Force to ripple and knock Taldor out of his seat -- right in front of Master Gallia, who had to jump at the last second to keep from tripping over him.
Taldor immediately jumped up and screamed that somebody had pushed him down using the Force.
"Who did this?" Master Gallia demanded and was surprised as a small hand stole up into the air.
"Padawan Suln? Are you responsible for this?"
"Yes, Master Gallia" The young girl announced quietly to Anakin's stunned silence.
"You'll need to stay after class today and we'll have to talk with your Master about this. I'm very disappointed in you, Padawan."
"Yes ma'am." The girl agreed, bowing her head in mock shame.
"Why did you do that for me?" Anakin questioned Riven as soon as class was dismissed.
"You're my friend." The girl shrugged her shoulders. "And I didn't want you getting into trouble. I don't have any demerits. You've got two."
"I…I don't know what to say." The young boy stammered. No one in the Temple had taken up for him before. At least no one besides his Master.
"Then just say thank you." Riven smiled and Anakin just then noticed how brown her eyes were. Just like Padmé's. A responding smile crept over the small boy's face.
"Thanks." He acknowledged with a grin.
Both of them the young padawans then turned their heads to catch a glimpse of the approaching glare upon the face of Master Gallia.
"You're welcome." Riven whispered, leaning closer to him. "But you owe me one."
The young boy tripped down the stairs and out into the hallway, where he was surprised to see his Master standing next to Padmé. However, he was quickly relieved as Obi-Wan explained his presence.
"I can't stay. I need to go meet with the Council. Anakin, you have two hours and then you have to make it to your fourth period. Master Windu says you're already behind and can't afford to miss another class."
Anakin shrugged off his disappointment. Two hours was better than nothing. "That's okay, Master. I understand." He answered, turned his attention toward Padmé and smiled. "Ready to go?"
"Ready if you are!" She answered cheerfully as Anakin reached for her hand and began to drag her down the hall.
Before leaving however, she reached out behind her and grabbed ahold of Obi-Wan's outstretched hand who allowed hers to slip through his own as a gesture of good luck and tenderness. The older Jedi then watched the pair head off toward the training wing with mixed emotions.
He trusted Padmé implicitly, but if she did not handle his padawan carefully, the situation could get much, much worse.