| BETRAYAL, TRUST AND TRUTHFULNESS (One week before "Darkness be my friend") by Kit Part one: BETRAYAL **** Sara smiled to herself as she made her way up the stairs towards her weekly training session with Xanatos. So far her day had gone really rather well, her Master had remembered to tell her that she was staying at Qui-Gon's apartment for the next two weeks, rather then leaving her a note. Adu-Reil had also made Sara breakfast and had remembered to get fresh milk and juice. Despite the fact these gestures were small, Sara felt, for the first time in ages, like things were looking up in the world. She came to the top of the stairs and smiled. It was the staying with Qui-Gon that she was looking forward to. Two whole weeks at his apartment. Sara thought to herself, Nice food, fresh milk, no laundry and of course Xani! Sara smiled again. Just the thought of Xani made her smile to herself. There was the sound of voices as Sara came close to the door, but that was nothing unusual, the training rooms were often frequented by other padawans and their Masters. Sara smiled again and walked just a little bit faster round the doorway. She stopped as she reached the door, the sight before her shocking her into a standstill. A black haired boy was standing with her back to her, his arms encircled around a girl’s pretty waist. They were talking softly and then the girl leant in and kissed him. Sara’s stomach twisted, the black haired boy looked like Xanatos, but it couldn’t be. Xani wouldn’t be hugging anyone but her, let alone kissing them. It can’t be Xani. Sara reasoned with herself, Can it? "Xan?" Sara asked into the now quiet room. The two broke away with a start, the black-haired boy turned around blocking her view of the girl and Sara bit back a cry. It was Xanatos. He stared at her, blue eyes apologetic and sad. The girl behind him shifted and for the first time Sara could see who it was. Juli. Her legs suddenly went weak at the knees and her breathing jerked in her throat. She turned and fled from the doorway. Half crying and running at the same time Sara bolted into the safety of the turbo lifts and pressed the button for her floor. It was only when she got home that she remembered that she was supposed to be staying at Qui-Gon's apartments. She felt sick, as the full reality of her situation sunk in. Sinking down against the door, she wrapped her arms around her knees and began to sob. Not only had Xani betrayed her, but she had to stay at his apartment and so there was going to be no escape from it either. He had been kissing Juli, not just hugging her, kissing her. Another wave of emotional pain swept over Sara and she cried harder into her knees until the material was soaked. ‘Are you okay?" A voice asked from beside her. Sara blinked back tears to look up into the brown eyes of a Jedi padawan about her own age. "I’m fine." Sara said softly. "Well that is the strangest looking fine, I’ve ever seen." The girl mumbled. She collapsed into a sitting position beside Sara. She was rather tubby with brown hair that hung is wisps around her face and freckles across her nose. She leant back and for the first time Sara noticed that she was carrying a rucksack. Sara sniffed a few times and searched for a tissue, the other girl smiled and reached into her own pocket. A second later she brought out a handful of folded handkerchiefs. "My Master always insists on always having at least one clean hanky." The girl said, "You never know when you will be called on to wipe an initiates nose." The brown haired girl said curling a finger through her fine hair. She was obviously doing an impersonation of her Master and Sara smiled feeling marginally better. It didn’t help much though, the pain and hurt Xanatos had caused her was still too raw. "Where are you going to go?" The girl asked, "You can’t just cry in the corridor you know." "Uh, to Master Jinn’s house." Even the name of his Master made Sara feel like she was going to burst into fresh tears. "You’re Master Jinn’s padawan?" She asked incredulous, "Really?" "No. I’m not." Sara felt like crying again, "My Master has gone away." "Oh." The girl said sounding a little disappointed. Sara felt a momentary flash of resentment that being Master Jinn’s padawan was anything special. She had always seen Master Jinn as being just another Master in the temple system albeit an excellent swordsman at the same time. The thought of Master Jinn brought Xani to mind and Sara began to cry again. "I’m sorry." The girl said quickly, "Did I upset you?" "No." Sara replied through her tears, "I have just had a rotten afternoon that is all." "I could walk you home if you like." The girl asked. Sara nodded, liking the girl for her comfort and for the outright generosity. The girl helped Sara to her feet and the two made their way along the corridor. "Are you back from a mission?" Sara found the voice to ask after a few moments. "I am." The other girl smiled at Sara, "My Master and I had to test a force-sensitive child and then bring him back to the temple." "So are you training to be a crèche Master?" Sara asked. "I am." The girl repeated. "It is fun. I like the kids too. Most of them are nice, although some can be a bit hard to handle." There was a long pause and then the girl stated plainly, "You can tell me about your rotten day you know. It might help." There was another pause and then as they walked Sara began to explain about how her day started out so nicely and how she had walked in on Juli and Xani. The girl’s face hardened at the mention of how Xani had betrayed her trust, but she put a comforting arm around Sara’s shoulders as the blue-eyed girl began to cry. By the time they had reached Qui-Gon's door Sara had almost stopped crying. She still felt awful but part of the pain at Xani’s betrayal had gone. She smiled at the other padawan. "Thank you." She said, "You’ve been very kind." "That’s okay." The pudgy girl smiled, "I like helping people." Sara keyed in the door-code and as the door swung open, she remembered that she hadn’t asked the girl her name. "I’m sorry, I forgot to introduce myself. Or at least after all you have done, to ask your name." Sara said softly. "I’m Sara Tencourt." The girl smiled back and stuck out her hand for Sara to shake rather then bowing. "My Master calls me Charly." The girl said. "But I’m really Charrlia Yyr." Sara smiled at Charly and the girl gave a positive smile in return. "I’m sure it will work out." She said patting Sara’s arm. Sara nodded her face falling a little. "I’m sure my Master will be wondering where I am." Charrlia said. "Maybe we will see each other around sometime." Sara nodded silently and Charrlia smiled again, before hitching her backpack higher and trundling off down the hall. Sara’s smile faded as soon as the girl disappeared from sight. Slowly she turned and headed into the apartment towards her room. "Sara?" It was Xani coming out of the kitchen. Sara turned away from him hoping that she wasn't going to burst into tears. "Sara? I shouldn't...please Monnie talk to me." Her answer was the slam of the door from her room and the tense silence that reverberated around the house. Inside her room Sara collapsed on the bed, tears running down her face she curled up into a ball. Pain and misery welled up inside until it became unbearable and then softly and silently Sara began to cry once again. |
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