A/N: Though the Force does not exist in this fic, the Jedi do. They are kind of a cross between the Secret Service and the CIA. JEDI Judicial and Executive Defense and Intelligence.
Chapter 11: For Once
"So, should we get started?" Danni asked.
"Uh, yeah, you do that," Zekk replied.
"C'mon, Zekk, we gotta be responsible students," Jaina mockingly scolded him, but then added a bit more seriously, "Besides, if Kyp finds out you've skipped doing another lab, he'll murder you."
"How did he find out about that anyway? Do you think Mrs. S told him? I always figured her for a spy."
"Oh, yes, Saba Sebatyne, Yavin Academy's own undercover Jedi operative."
"Well, you never know who's in that. And your uncle did start it."
"Yes, I'm aware of his accomplishments," Jaina responded dryly. "So, Danni, when's this thing due?" Danni handed her the assignment sheet.
"Friday, we have work to do in class and at home." Jaina studied the sheet for a moment.
"It'll be more efficient if we break up the work," Jiana said, suddenly and uncharacteristically all business. "How 'bout Zekk and I do this…" she showed Danni the sheet and pointed out a section of instructions, "And you and Fel do that. Then we can do the in class work as an entire group."
Danni nodded and, Jag noted, blushed slightly, causing her soft green eyes to brighten. Jag seemed to be noticing the girl who would occasionally say a word or two to the people at his table a lot lately. The shy blonde was much different than a certain moody, over dramatic brunette; she was kinder, more honest, and vastly more intelligent. "That will work."
When the assignment sheet finally got passed to Jag, he looked at how Jaina had divided the work. She had assigned herself and Zekk infinitely less than she had Danni and Jag, but he never got the chance to protest.
The bell rang, and after what looked like a few harsh words to Danni, Jaina disappeared through the door with Zekk, Lowie and Tesar.
"Um, Jag?" Danni, it seemed, had been waiting for him just outside the door. "Since, um, we have to work together and all, I was thinking that maybe you might sit with me at lunch; you know, we could figure out where we'll work, and I know you sit with Jacen, but I just thought, it would be a good idea…"
"Yeah, I'd – that sounds good."
"Okay, then, um, you know where I sit?"
"Yeah, yeah, I know where you sit."
"So, I'll see you then."
"Yeah, see you then." She smiled then hurried away to her next class.
Lots of work meant lots of time together. Jag smiled. For once, he was happy with what Jaina had decided.
The other couple of classes before lunch flew by for Jag. He was too preoccupied with thinking about his new blonde lab partner to really pay attention to anything. He knew that most of their time together would be all work, but he still hoped that they would be able to get to know each other better, though he had no idea what they would talk about. He just hoped that their lunch conversation would be mostly about the work, so he would not have to make small talk.
As usual, Jag made his way into the cafeteria with the regular group at the lunch bell. Jaina suddenly appeared amidst the group, an unusual occurrence, as she was usually with Lowie, Zekk, and Tesar. She grabbed Tenel Ka by the upper arm and held onto her as they walked, whispering into her ear urgently.
Tenel Ka suddenly gasped and pulled away to whisper something into Jacen's ear. He looked confused for a moment, and then allowed a small smirk to appear on his face. Tenel Ka and Jaina went back to chatting in low tones.
The group arrived at their table, but Jag kept walking until he felt a tug on his arm.
"Hey, Jag, you preoccupied with something? You missed the table."
"No, I'm actually sitting with Danni today. You know, so we can go over the lab and stuff." He continued on his path towards Danni's table, but he could have sworn he heard Tenel Ka mutter, "I told you so."
Jag set his tray down beside Danni and greeted her as casually as he could.
"Oh, hi, Jag," she replied shyly. There were three other students at the table, all of whom were too entranced by their work to even look up.
"Talkative," he muttered to himself.
Danni giggled beside him. None of the girls at his usual table giggled, maybe Tahiri or Alema from time to time, but he had never heard Jaina or Tenel Ka giggling. He didn't even think it was possible for either of them to giggle, unless it was Jaina laughing with girlish glee after finally carrying out her hit list and beheading him with a blunt machete or something as equally grotesque and terrifying.
'Focus,' he scolded himself, and finally managed to ask, "So, have you thought about where we could work?"
"Oh, well, the library is always nice…" As great as the library was for studying, it was hardly good for Jag if he had any intention of getting to know Danni any better.
"How about we do it at my house? It's pretty quiet as long as we lock my little sister out of whatever room we decide to work in."
Her eyes lit up. "That sounds great. I don't go over to friends' houses very often. When do you want to start working on it?"
"You could come over tonight."
"Your parents won't mind?"
"Not at all."
"Okay."
A loud exclamation came from the Solo twins' table.
"I wonder what that was all about," Danni commented.
"I don't know. Jaina and Tenel Ka were whispering about something earlier while I was walking over here."
"What?" she asked with a hint of trepidation in her voice.
"I don't know. I didn't really hear, but Tenel Ka told Jacen something then said something like 'I told you so' a little later."
"Oh… weird," she frowned in an almost betrayed sort of way and was silent for a moment. "You know if you want, you can go sit with your friends," she said to Jag though she stared at her plate.
"I am sitting with a friend." Danni turned and beamed at him.
The two fell into comfortable silence as they began eating their lunch. Jag occasionally felt Danni watching him, but whenever he turned to look, she was already focusing on her food.
Jag really couldn't eat. He was trying to figure out how to get the shy blonde to open up, and how he would get himself to open up to her.
He knew that school and practice would not go fast enough.