Our Jedi studies advanced, and I wasn't spending quite as much time with him. After all, he was the most promising student of the Academy. I went on a few missions, and was proving to be more capable than anyone before ever thought.

Most of my missions were solo because Kyle was busy searching for Rosh. I caught wind of one where Jaden had gone in approximately a week ago. I was beginning to get a little worried. According to the databanks that Master Skywalker's protocol droid, he was supposed to check out activity for the Cult of Ragnos.

"I'm going after him," I decided.

"You shouldn't," a Padwan friend of mine, Kira Rey, had said. "It wasn't assigned to you."

"Well someone's gotta go looking for him," I decided. I walked out to the hangar. I jumped in my ship, the Jakku Rain, and took off for the planet he had accepted a mission to, Dosuun.

It was a planet where they had suspected Ragnos operations, but wanted to keep it hush hush, which was sort of stupid in my opinion. But what did I know, being a Jedi child?

I landed far from the facility that Jaden had been told to check since I had my suspicions. I began a day's journey to the facility on foot, even with the Force aiding me in jumping up the ravine.

The next morning, I heard crackling of electricity and several yells. I grabbed my lightsaber and activated it as Imperial officials were running down the ravine to escape something-or someone, I noted with a little fear trickling down my spine.

I forced myself to run towards the sounds. I saw a hangar-type building and dropped in from the ceiling, and snuck in a specific door, careful not to make a sound as I climbed into the rafters. A pudgy man was holding Jaden's lightsaber and a gun that I knew Jaden had borrowed from the Praxeum's armory and my heart went to my throat.

I heard another yell of someone dying because of electrocution, and I snaked my way through the rafters, hoping to get rid of two in one stroke. When the person who was using the lightning approached the pudgy man, I was not prepared.

I almost fell out of my hiding place at the sight of Jaden, his face full of a rage I'd never suspected in him before.

"I get to go free. Now give me my lightsaber," he snarled.

"Too bad, I let this go too far." The man lifted his gun, and I dropped out of my hiding place and swiped through him. There was an unreadable expression on Jaden's face as he looked down at the man, and then he looked up at me, relieved to see me.

"I had it all under control, you know," he said.

I shrugged. "I figured you needed rescuing, so I did it myself. Sue me."

"Well, thanks," he said as he bent over and picked up his lightsaber and gun. "Need me to give you a lift back to your ship."

"That would be appreciated," I admitted. "I guess you didn't need saving after all."

"Oh, I needed it," he said. "I'd rather not know what would've happened." He then raced down to his Z-95 Headhunter, the Far Wanderer. I hopped in the second seat, and waited as he hovered over the ravine.

"That's my ride," I admitted, getting ready to jump ship. Jaden placed a hand over my wrist before I could unbuckle my restraints.

"Thanks Elle. It was sweet of you to care," he said. Something in me was electrified by those blue eyes.

"Any time, Jay," I said with a weak smile, and I unbuckled my restraints and jumped out onto my ship. He took off, and I got adjusted in the cockpit.

Back on Yavin IV, I was repairing the Jakku's Rain since it got damaged from the landing and from some Remnant guns that had fired at me when we'd left. I wondered why I felt like I needed to go after him then. Was it just because we were friends?

"Hey, Elle," I heard him say. I sat up, forgetting I was under the wing of the Jakku's Rain, and I hit my head on it.

"Ouch," I muttered as I slid out.

"Sorry," he said as he offered me a hand. I accepted it without thinking. I got to my feet as my astromech, Red, let out a series of chirps and whistles.

"Oh shut up, you rust-bucket," I snapped, but rust-bucket being teasing. I got some whistles back, but I didn't care. Jaden chuckled at that. I miss hearing him laugh. He doesn't anymore, not the kind of laugh he gave then. Warm and full of light. It's cold, now, and short. Sorry, let me get back on topic.

"Need something?" I'd asked as I leaned against my ship in attempt to save face.

"Not really, I just thought I'd thank you," he said as he put an arm up against the ship and leaned against it. His golden bangs fell into his blue eyes, and he swiped them away, giving me a fresh look at the eyes that started something in my heart.

I blushed and crossed my arms over my chest in some sort of defense.

"Well, it's like you said back there, you didn't really need my help. Because you're Mr. Perfect and all," I said with some resentment. I looked down at my beat-up boots.

"Hey, you did keep me from getting a bullet through my chest, and that's nicer than using some risky technique with the Force to keep me alive until someone comes along and patches me up," he said. "I can appreciate that. Besides, I'm far from perfect, just Jaden, remember."

"It's hard to remember when you're good at everything in this academy," I admitted dryly as my eyes returned to his. It was almost painful to keep eye contact, but I wanted to still look into those eyes forever.

"Okay, maybe I'm good at fighting and the Force," he admitted. "But remember, Elle, how you're better at some stuff than I am? You know so much, and you really can repair stuff. I still have no clue how your astromech is still going with all that rust."

"Oh, Red?" I asked. "He's an old droid, and sand gets everywhere, but since I managed to rearrange the system a little, he's holding out much longer than other droids. I'm going to have to get a new one soon, but I'm going to transfer the personality chip over. He's my little pet."

"Really?" He asked. "I never had a pet growing up."

"You were a Coruscant city boy. Where on that planet would you keep a pet?" I shot back.

"Good point," he conceded with another laugh. "Sorry, just, it's weird, seeing you get all jealous, especially when I sometimes get a little jealous of you."

"Of me?" I snorted. "I'm just a plain girl who happens to be lucky. That's really it."

"I don't think you're plain," he said as he reached a hand out for my hair and tugged a red strand. My heart skipped a beat. "I think you're actually kinda pretty."

Heat rose to my cheeks as our faces drew closer and closer as adrenaline rushed through our veins. Red then chirped loudly, and both of us jumped. I hit my head on the ship again.

"Ow!" I cried, holding the spot. "Sorry, I'd better get back to repairing."

"Yeah," he agreed, his face now as red as the Sith's lightsabers as he stumbled away.

I turned to Red. "Thanks a lot, rust-bucket."

He whistled and rolled away to continue repairs on the Jakku's Rain.

Later on, it was the night that we were studying for the Academy exams on history and diplomacy. Particularly the old Republic, over three-thousand years ago. I chose to stay in the bunks while the other students threw a study party, emphasis on the party.

I went through my battered data pad for the notes on Darth Revan when Jaden came in and dramatically flopped onto the bunk below what was once Rosh's. He groaned and pulled out his data pad.

"Trouble in paradise?" I asked with a smirk.

"Remind me to never attend Raltharan's study parties ever again," he groaned.

"Did they get the drinks out?" I asked, amused.

"That's why I left," Jaden admitted. "That, and it's an hour until lights out and I can't remember any of this stuff."

I chuckled. "Sounds like Mr. Perfect has finally met his match."

"Don't call me that, please," he groaned as he rubbed his eyes. "Just help me with this."

I pretended to ponder it. "And what do I get?" I asked teasingly.

"Whatever you want! Just help me!" Jaden begged.

"I don't know, I think-"

"PLEASE!" He looked very distraught. I dropped the joke.

"Okay, what do you have problems remembering?" I asked.

"The Exile's real name, if Revan was a man or a woman, if Atton Rand died on Malachor V or not, or if Zaalbar owed a life debt to Revan or Mission Vao," he said.

"That's not too bad," I admitted. "No one really remembers whether Revan was male or female. According to accounts, Revan was androgynous and everyone was too scared to ask. However, seeing as Revan married Bastila Shan and they had a kid, I think it's safe to say male."

"Revan's a dude, got it," Jaden said. "What about the rest?"

"Mission Vao and Zaalbar were friends, but Zaalbar owed a life debt to Revan," I explained. "No one's clear on Atton Rand's fate. Some say that he died on Malachor V, some say he helped recreate the Jedi Council, others say that he joined the Exile on her quest to find Revan. She was Meetra Surik, by the way."

"Zaalabar owes Revan, no one knows, and Meetra Surik," he repeated, and then he sighed. "I think that does it. I should pass, hopefully. Can I borrow your notes?" I nodded. "Thanks, Elle, you're a lifesaver."

"Glad I can help the Great and Mighty Jaden Korr," I mumbled as I handed him my notes and quizzed myself. I felt his eyes on me, but didn't say anything until it felt like too long.

"What?" I asked.

"I just noticed how your hair looks when it's not in that ponytail," he admitted.

"I know it's a mess," I huffed. "That's why I tie it back."

"Never said it looked bad," he said as he raised his eyebrows.

That shocked me into silence for a few moments.

"Thanks, then," I said.

"No problem," he replied. "So, what favor do I owe you?"

"Oh, Jaden, I was joking," I said.

"No, I do owe you one," he said.

"You don't have to," I protested.

"I want to," he insisted.

I threw my hands up. "Why do you Jedi boys have to be so noble and chivalrous?"

"It's just our nature," he said.

"Rosh wasn't," I pointed out. We both went quiet. Rosh could be annoying, but we missed him.

"Still, I want to do you a favor, so what do you want?" He asked.

"Still, I don't want one," I said, now a little irritated.

A smirk curled up his face. "A surprise then," he said. "Trust me, Elle, you're going to like this."

"Oh no," I groaned and I used my pillow to facepalm.

"You'll find out tomorrow, after the exams," he promised, and then we studied in peace until the tipsy students tumbled in.

Afterwards, I walked out of the room, mostly confident that I'd done well. I was heading to the canteen when Jaden joined me from the other rooms.

"How'd your exams go?" I asked him.

"Great, thanks to you," he said cheerfully. "How were yours?"

"Good, hopefully," I said. "I've got a good feeling."

"That's promising," he agreed. "I guess I have a favor I owe you."

"Yes," I said, growing a little uneasy. "You said I'm going to like this?"

"You are, you could use it," He said, and he cupped my chin in his fingers and kissed me, right in the middle of the hallway, with all the students watching. When he broke away, he smirked and drifted into the crowd so I couldn't spot him.

I went to find him near the canteen doors.

"Hey," I said, feeling somewhat shy.

"So how was it?" He asked, maintaining his cool a lot better than I was.

"You were right," I admitted as I blushed. "You have a lot of talent there, too."

His face went red, but the corners of his lips turned into a smile. We broke into a second one.