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Padmé was absolutely livid. Arrogant, self-righteous, know-it-all! She seethed. How darehe even try to suggest that I was attempting to cuddle with him. The nerve! She raged. She flopped into her chair, brown eyes smoldering with anger. However, the softer side of her personality-the one with feelings simply refused to let her stew. Well, he issort of handsome…and he's nicer than most of the guys around here…he probably didn't mean anything by it. Maybe I should apologize. She thought, unconsciously biting her bottom lip. Puzzled, she crossed her arms defiantly and stared at the whiteboard.
"You know, your face is going to get stuck like that if you keep scowling." Anakin's masculine voice intoned behind her.
Padmé almost flinched, but fought the impulse, clenching her hands into fists. She must have missed his entrance. "What do you want? This isn't even your homeroom." Padmé demanded icily.
"You left your bag in my car. I thought you might need it." Anakin replied levelly, extending the object.
Padmé snatched the backpack from him. "Thanks, I guess." She mumbled.
"You're welcome." Anakin's tone was friendly, with an undercurrent that was equal parts hurt and anger. "I have to go. I'll see you after school-this week's practice sessions are it before the preliminaries that decide who goes to Regionals." Anakin explained, his clothing rustling as he rose from the chair behind her.
"Wait!" Padmé requested, louder than she'd intended, drawing stares from some of her other classmates.
Anakin turned as he reached the door, his face drawn and tired. "What?" His voice was sharp, which surprised her.
"I'm sorry." Padmé said. Her guilt prevented her from meeting his eyes; she was too afraid of what she would see in them.
"I know." With that, Anakin left the room.
Padmé tried to ignore the stinging in her eyes as she glared at the rest of her classmates. "What are you looking at?" She growled, waiting until after they'd turned away to catch the tear falling from her left eye.
Anakin hurried to his classroom, still annoyed at Padmé's insolence. He had known it wasn't going to be easy to try and be friends with her, but a little appreciation every once in a while would have been nice. He'd been nothing but kind to her since he'd arrived, which was definitely more than he could say for her, save for the few private moments of reconciliation they had shared.
Still pondering over his muddled feelings for Padmé, he arrived in his homeroom in the nick of time, sinking into his seat just as the bell rang. Is it really worth the -trouble? He wondered. If she treated Paolo like this, it's no wonder they broke up… Anakin thought. Still, I get the feeling there's something she's not telling me Sure, she's self-centered, and quirky, and extremely self-reliant-Force, I sound like a shrink. But, I don't believe she's that way by nature. She said she was Class President-I wouldn't have voted for her if she acted like she does now…I wonder what happened to change all that? He mused.
He thought back to their discussion in the auto-repair shop. When Padmé had tried to explain why she was the way she was, her story had seemed generic, believable, and safe.
Almost too believable.
Exactly the kind of thing you would say if you were trying to hide something.
Besides, Anakin thought. You can't spell 'believe' without 'lie'. He sighed. I'm probably reading too much into this-she's probably just having a bad day. He took a deep breath and turned his attention to the back of the room.
In his office, Quinlan Vos, the school guidance counselor, reviewed his student psych-files. Currently, he was updating at Padmé's psycho-profile- a record-all students were required to have to help chart their growth as members of society.
Quinlan was pleasantly surprised- Padmé seemed happier lately. She'd reconnected with Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Mace Windu after a particularly venomous falling out in her junior year, and she seemed to have taken an interest in the new student from Tattooine, Anakin Skywalker.
Quinlan turned to his computer and began to scroll through his previous entries.
::Data Transcription from the records of Professor Quinlan N. Vos::
::Note- all dates have been converted from Galactic Calander Standard to Coruscant Time Measurement Protocol in compliance with Ordinances Pertaining to Data Entry Page 119, Section 6, Sub-Section 2b, footnote.::
Username: QNVos
Password **********
[Decryption Complete]
Welcome Counselor.
Psychological Evaluation-Padmé Naberrie
August 31, 2004
Today is the start of a new school year. I've had the pleasure of being able to meet with many of our new students, but one in particular seems to fit in quite well with the student body- Padmé Naberrie. I will be watching her scholastic progression with great interest.
September 3, 2005
Everything seems to be going well with Miss Naberrie as she returns to begin her sophmore year. She seems to have strengthened her relationship with two of her classmates- Obi-Wan Kenobi and Mace Windu. I sincerely hope she is able to continue to connect with her peers.
November 14, 2005
Padmé is doing spectacularly. She has been elected as Class President and shows no significant change in the way she deals with her classmates. I am impressed with her ability to remain practical with a view to the power she has recently gained. I look forward to following her advancements.
February 20, 2005
I must admit, I was very surprised when Padmé announced that she was resigning as Class President-she seems to be a natural leader. However, she enlightened me today, dropping by for a brief visit during study hall. She was visibly upset and said that she couldn't stand to be in the cutthroat world of politics…I can't say that I blame her. She also said something about trouble at home, but then she caught herself and clammed up. She left immediately thereafter, claiming she had homework to finish. I hope she's alright.
October 7, 2006
I for one am shocked. I happened to be passing by the student commons when I stumbled upon a very heated argument between Obi-Wan Kenobi, Mace Windu, and Padmé Naberrie. Padmé was furious, hurling hateful insults and calling the two of them several very vulgar names that I don't feel comfortable repeating, even in a psych-evaluation. She claimed that they 'didn't know anything about her or her life' and should therefore 'butt the kriff out before someone else got hurt.' Several other choice words were exchanged, and the quarrel ended with Padmé striking both of them physically several times. She then stormed off, screaming that 'I hate you!' brushing past me in tears. In the brief glimpse I caught of her face, I notice several, bruises, some recent, some old, and a few scars on her arms as she reached up to cover her face. The last two fingers of her left hand were taped together, presumably broken. I attempted to comfort her, but she shook me off and stormed off down the hall, crying the whole way.
While I would like to attribute this fight to nothing more than a hormone-induced fury, I can't shake the feeling that something more sinister is going on here. I attempted to question her about the incident, but she was very evasive, refusing to give a direct answer to the any of my questions. Perhaps I should speak with her parents…
October 10, 2006
I met with Padmé's parents yesterday. Her mother seemed like a very pleasant individual. Her father was also very kind, but he seemed a little out of sorts, and was gruff at times, but nothing too out of the ordinary. Neither of them could think of a reason for Padmé's sudden withdraw from her peers. I thanked them for their time and asked that they keep me informed if there are any drastic changes at home. They agreed, and then left.
Padmé came to school today with a broken arm, citing a skateboard injury as the cause. She seems to be becoming more and more jaded, cynical, lashing out at others for no apparent reason. I pray that nothing's happened to her, she used to be such a kind soul. And perhaps I should tell her to be more careful on her skateboard-I didn't know she was interested that sort of thing. She told me once that she was terrified of such things. I wonder what would possess her to take up something that frightens her?-that contraption will be the death of her.
September 4, 2007
A new student has arrived, a transfer from Tattooine. His name is Anakin Skywalker. Padmé seemed rude to him at first, but I think she'll warm up to him eventually. He seems to be a very amicable young man.
::End Trascript::
So, what do you think? Hit? Miss? Let me know! Remember: First to review gets and A/P one-shot of their choice! Review please!
See you next chapter, and May the Force be with you.
(Sorry, I couldn't resist.)
~Ink