The next few weeks went by far too quickly for Anakin's liking. He went with his father and stepfamily on vacation to Greece for a week. His father owns a large house there is a village located near a beach. Anakin could go to the beach whenever he wanted as the beach is located a few minutes away from the house. Each time he went security would go with him and he saw a few photographers taking pictures of him something which he didn't like then and doesn't like now. He didn't inform his father about it and still doesn't intend too as he doesn't want to worry his father. The other days were spent going sightseeing around the village or visiting amusement parks. This is something Anakin liked the most as he could spent time with his father and stepmother. Through this he learned to know them better. The remaining time in Greece was spend in the house or the back garden either playing alone or with his father or his stepmother. Occasionally he could also play with Ahsoka when his father or stepmother were around. The security details could be seen in the garden and are in Anakin's opinion a bit too much. There are cameras on top of the high walls and near the front gate which can only be opened from inside the building. When he asked his father about it he told him that these are normal security measures for royalty. This didn't reassure Anakin as it still feels as too much security which feels is smothering to him. Anakin believes that he simply has to get used to it so that he is not so affected by the strangeness security brings with it. When they left Greece Anakin felt sad as it was the first real vacation he had. His mother couldn't afford such luxury vacations as she simply didn't have the money for it. Thus they usually went on short trips together. Anakin hopes that they will go back there next year as he made a friend there during the vacation with whom he wants to spend more time. His friend has rich and famous parents so he wasn't surprised to see security following Anakin as he always had his own security with him. Thinking back on this week Anakin deems it the best week in his life so far.
The other week was spent mostly in the palace or in the palace gardens playing on his own as his father and stepmother were busy with their duties. There was the occasional trip to buy school supplies Anakin went on with his stepmother. Anakin has now everything he needs for this school year and with the help of Tahl, he managed to ready his desk for school which starts next week. Anakin feels excited about school as he wants to meet the other children and hopes to make a few friends there. He doesn't look forward too much to his tutoring in Spanish as it will cut on his free time and time to play with other children. In Naboo Spanish and English are taught from the first grade so Anakin misses a few years of Spanish lessons. Also, most children also learn to speak English and Spanish at home. Currently, Anakin is readying himself for bed as tomorrow will be his first day at his new school. He knows he has to go to bed on time as he doesn't want to be tired on his first day. Suddenly there is a knock on the door and Anakin jumps a bit startled. He doesn't know who it is who knocked and he remembers his father telling him that he has to give permission for people to enter his room when he is inside of it. The only time someone can enter without his permission is in emergencies or when he isn't in the room.
"Come in" Anakin says and when the door opens he sees that it was his father who knocked on his door.
"Are you ready to go to bed, Anakin?" Qui-gon asks.
"Yes, father. I'm ready to go to bed. I don't want to be tired on my first school day" Anakin answers.
"If you want I can take you to school tomorrow. From then on a chauffeur will take you there each morning and he will also pick you up when your day is done" Qui-gon says and Anakin agrees. Qui-gon then mentions for Anakin to get into his bed. Putting the bed sheets over Anakin he kisses Anakin on his forehead.
"Good night, Anakin" Qui-gon says
"Good night, father" Anakin answers and he snuggles into his bed. Qui-gon then leaves the room to let Anakin sleep. Anakin is asleep within thirty minutes.
The next morning
Anakin walks towards the limousine taking him and his father to his new school. He had to go back to his room to pick up his backpack after breakfast. Arriving at the limousine he sees his father already there waiting for him. Walking up to his father Anakin says
"Father, I'm ready"
"Alright then, let's get going. I'm sure you're nervous about meeting your new classmates" Qui-gon says and steps into the limousine. Anakin quickly follows behind him and they are leaving the palace grounds a few minutes later. When Anakin looks out of the front window he can see two police officers on a bike meeting up with them after they are past the palace gates and driving in front of them. They have their sirens on and are cleaning the road that way for his group to quickly move across the roads. Looking out of the back window Anakin can see one black car following them. He feels sure that there is at least one car more behind them but because of the first car, he can't see them. They also have their sirens on. This is but the second time Anakin has traveled that way and he doesn't like it. It makes it look like everyone has to make way for them and that they are more important than the other people. It seems like a privileged treatment and that is exactly what Anakin doesn't want. During their vacation, they didn't have this treatment. Anakin does know that he starts to get used to security as he is behaving more normally when he knows they are around and doesn't always notice them anymore. In the beginning he always looked to see where security was and almost always found their location. Anakin knows that when he is at school security will be outside his classroom or outside of the building keeping an eye on him to make sure he is alright depending on where he is and what the situation is like. When he is on the playground his security will be in one of the coffee shops around school drinking a bit or across the street watching the playground. Anakin is happy that Rex and Fives will be his security as they have been doing since he met them at the hotel in Tatooine. He likes them and can get along with them really well. Alright, he knows that when they are free Echo, Jesse or both take over his security and when he is on the palace grounds they don't have to keep an eye on him as there is already plenty of security around. So then they will do other duties or will be allowed to go home depending on what time it is. Just then the limousine stops and Anakin looks out of the window on his father's side. To do that he has to lean forward and he can see the building of his new school. It is a pretty modern building as it is made of new bricks. It has the scrape of a rectangle with square windows equally spaced apart inside. All in all, it is an inconspicuous building but it houses one of the best private elementary schools in the capital. When the door opens Anakin takes his backpack and steps out of the car. Once he is on the sidewalk he puts the backpack on his back. Looking around Anakin can see his father standing next to the limousine and other parents looking at them. At least he believes they are the parents of the other children going to the same school as him as they stand around the playground and don't have cameras out. Also, most of them are dressed in nice looking clothing. Looking at the playground Anakin can see a man in a suit walking up to them and every child on the playground is also looking at them. Quickly walking up to his father Anakin takes a hold of his hand for support.
"Your Majesties, welcome to Theed elementary school. My name is Quarsh Panaka and I'm the school's principal as I'm sure you know. Allow me to tell you that we are glad you choose to enroll your son at our school" principal Panaka says while holding his hand out.
"Thank you. Anakin made the choice for Theed elementary together with Tahl and myself" Qui-gon says while shaking principal Panakas hand. He doesn't mention that they had checked out other schools before making a final choice but believes that the principal either can gather it from his comment or is already aware of this. Tahl and he actually preferred another school but after Anakin's insistence, they allowed him to enroll at Theed elementary. Qui-gon can hear the school bell ringing and knows that the other children will now be moving to their classrooms.
"If you would follow me then I will show you and prince Anakin to his new classroom. There you can meet his teacher before your son starts with his lessons" the principal says to which Qui-got agrees. Together they make their way towards Anakin new classroom. During their trip, the principal keeps talking about his school and only stops talking when they arrive at their destination. Anakin is slightly annoyed by the principals talking but when he looks to his father he sees that his father isn't visibly moved by the principals talking. He is using his diplomatic face. Thus Anakin suspects that this is something his father is used to and he dreads the fact that he will experience this when he is older. He doesn't know if he can handle it. Looking ahead Anakin sees an older looking woman with white hair waiting outside the classroom. She has her hair in a bun with two sticks inside it and is wearing dark blue jeans, a white blouse tougher with a black blazer. To Anakin, she gives the impression of a strict person with little compassion. He hopes that his first impression is wrong as he doesn't like such people a lot. He knows from experience that these kind of people are difficult to please.
"Welcome your majesty, it is a pleasure to meet you. My name is Jocasta Nu and I'll be your son's teacher this year" Miss Nu says as an introduction.
"Likewise" Qui-gon answers while shaking her hand. Then Miss Nu holds her hand out to Anakin and says
"It is nice to meet you, Anakin. I can call you Anakin, right?"
"Yes, you can miss Nu" Anakin says politely while shaking her hand and smiling shyly at his new teacher. His father and his new teacher talk for a few minutes about things Anakin can't remember. He looks around the hallway and can see where everyone has put their coats. On the walls of the hallway hang paintings but Anakin can't see who made it. From the looks of it the paintings are made by children as professional artists can make better paintings. Suddenly Anakin feels a hand on his shoulder and sees that it is his father who put the hand on his shoulder. His father moves his head subtly forwards and when Anakin looks in that direction he sees that Miss Nu is looking at him. When she sees that she has his attention she says
"Come, Anakin. Let's go meet your new class"
Anakin looks up to his father who wishes him good luck and then Anakin follows miss Nu into the classroom while his father leaves the school grounds to attend his appointments. After arriving in the classroom Anakin stays standing in front of the classroom as he has seen other children do at his previous school. His new classmates are all sitting at their desks and are talking to each other. Clapping her hand's Miss Nu has the classroom quiet in a few seconds and tells the class
"Good morning everyone and welcome back to a new year at Theed elementary. Before we start with reflecting on everyone's holiday I want you to meet your new classmate. He came here from the USA to live with his father and his stepmother and will be learning with us from today"
Miss nu then mentions for Anakin to introduce himself which he does.
"My name is Anakin Skywalker Jinn and it is nice to meet you all"
The classroom then erupts then in chaos as almost the entire class starts to ask questions. They are all aware of the fact that this is the crown prince who they will be in the same class as them as they saw his picture in the papers as well as having heard the news reports.
"Silence!" Miss Nu calls and the classroom quiets again in mere seconds.
"Anakin, you can sit in the empty seat in the front row" miss Nu days and Anakin goes sit where she told him to while Miss Nu continues on with her instructions
"Now we will all tell a short story about how our vacation was and then we will start with our first day of school"
Thus the first day of school started and at the end of the day, Anakin had already found a few classmates with whom he could play and who didn't befriend him for his position. They actually didn't seek him out on their own as most of the class did. They stayed back and only played with him after Anakin approached them on his own.
Two months after his first day at Theed elementary Anakin experiences a hard shock when suddenly Obi-Wan goes to live with his half-brother and he loses contact with his best friend. Obi-Wan couldn't give his half-brothers phone number to Anakin as he didn't have it nor was informed about the date when he would go live with his half-brother. Anakin is really upset about it as he didn't want to lose his best friend. He wants to stay in contact with him because Obi-Wan knows how he feels and he can't talk with any other child about it. His new friends don't understand what he feels as they have never experienced something like he did but they still always try to help him to the best of their abilities. He can only talk with his father, his stepmother and Miss Ti about it because they understand his feelings a bit. They do help him but are unable to exactly relate to how Anakin feels about it. Thus he is upset to lose contact with the one person who can relate to his feelings.