Sorry for another short chapter, but a lot more will happen in the next one. But there is also a reason why it's short.
I sat on a quiet hill in the field, with me legs crossed and eyes closed. The gentle breeze brought back Ezra's small voice, along with mine, as our ghost-like younger selves raced through the field back on Lothal. We were playing a game, when all the sudden Ezra had kept trying to get me to be quite. I didn't realize that a group of stormtroopers had found us, until one was right behind me. They let us go, with a strict warning. But my thoughts were soon interrupted by approaching footsteps. My eyes flew open.
"Ezra?" Before I knew it, the name already slipped off my tongue.
How can I be so stupid? I asked myself.
"H-how do you know my n-name?" A confused voice asked from behind me.
My eyes opened wide, and my mouth dropped open. I slightly turned to see if it was true. My bangs slid over my right eye, and hung in front of my left. But I could still see through the short hair, as well as Ezra could. My mind raced, yet my movements were slow. I wanted to move faster. To run over to him, and wrap my arms around him. But. Something held me back. I stood up, still facing him, and turned around. Ezra stood frozen to his spot. His eyes filled with hurt as he stared at the ground.
"You were alive.. All this time?" His voice came out weak, and then a little accusing.
"Ezra -" I started.
"Ara, why didn't you tell us? We all thought you were dead!"
"I almost was. You know damned well that I would have contacted you as soon as I thought I was able." I let the words sink in. "I would… I did take a bolt for you. For the crew. I've done it more than once, and I'd do it again. That I can promise you." Ezra shook his head at me.
"Can I even trust what you say anymore?" He quickly barked. I stood there, giving Ezra a blank stare, as he let all his anger out. My hands didn't ball up into fists. I was, for once, controlling my temper. I stood there with no emotion, while my pride and sense of belonging were shaved down to dust. This time I wasn't caught in the crossfire. It was all aimed at me. With Ezra's harsh words finally ending, it felt as if my lungs shrank, and I wasn't able to take in much air. His voice and tone lost it's lethality several moments ago, the sharpness became blunt, as a cold silence caped around us. He felt as if I abandoned him. Just up and left him, and he reacted the only way he knew how. At this point in my life, I may have been a hothead, but I still cared. And I didn't blame him for his reaction. The coldness in his eyes faded, as he calmed down. I still showed no emotion, but I damned well felt it. I sucked in a small breath as Ezra opened his mouth to speak again.
"It's great to know you feel that way." I turned on my heel, and stormed away. I couldn't take it any longer. I hated words in general. I couldn't stand to hear them anymore. I ignored Ezra's calls as I got further away. I flat out didn't hear anything. As my heart pitifully pulsed in my ears. There was nothing to stop me from walking away now.
"Ara wait. Ara! I didn't mean it!" If Ezra said it, I didn't hear it. "Ara! Stop, really I didn't mean it! Please. Ara, come back! We need you." A forgiving breeze lightheartedly lifted some of my hair, as Ezra's last words missed my ears. "I need you."
I hurriedly opened the back door, to where I had started to call home. The steel door slammed behind me. It thudded with a wave of mixed emotions. My hand didn't move from the cool metal, as my legs collapsed from under me. For the first time in two years. I broke down. Ezra's words rang through my head, but with a new voice. Then, before I knew what happened, I watched as a vision unfolded in my mind.