When I came to class the next day, I quietly freaked out. The guys sat sour-faced, and kept looking at me… well… I don't even know. I'd call it a hunted look. Or guilty… squared. The special spice was the emotions, which sent goosebumps running all over me. Not pleasant.
"What's wrong with you?!" The surprise came out as sincere as it gets. I genuinely didn't understand what was going on. I got myself into it, I dealt with it—maybe something happened while I was gone?
"You're not mad?" Lina sounded surprised.
"About what?"
"Well… we left you there, and you… did the penance… for everyone," Ramira mumbled, surrounded by the twins. The guys had recently started guarding the girl like the apple of their eye.
"Like, you weren't even at fault," I shrug. "If I hadn't made that scene back then, it all would've blown over. I should be the one apologizing to you for dragging you in at all. And we should check on the techies too—really was awkward."
"But you stood up for us!" Feng howled. "Rias was coming at us, calling us weaklings and ordering us around. But then you showed up… with a kick, sending him into the workbench. And then the wreckage. And in general…"
"And why the hell was he rolling a barrel?" I cut the Zabrak off. "We, peo—uh… Tythonites are free folk. We decide ourselves what, how, and when to do. And besides, I can't stand it when important types think they're better than everyone else. If you're strong—good for you. But if you start bending others, someone will bend you, because screw that. That's how it always was, is, and will be. We were the first to occupy that machine, and even if he's almost a graduate, it doesn't give him the right to chase us off."
"That's exactly why we're apologizing," Ves spoke up. "You're always standing up for us, helping, and taking hits, while we…"
"Drop it," I wave them off and turn toward my desk. Reaching it, I flop onto the chair. "In the end, we're friends. I know that if something happens, I can count on you, and that's enough." I smile and look at them. Mom was right—my circle formed on its own. I just had to wait a bit. Ramira outright burst into tears, jumped up, and ran over to hug me. "Hey—stop, everyone's looking at us!" I exclaim, gesturing at the snickering group.
"Nope. Let everyone know how shy you are," Ves sang, perching right on my desk. Her pose was so provocative my self-control waved at me and left. Curvy chest, slim figure, and those shooting eyes—this cat worked at a hundred percent. And for the second year now, I've been feeling hormones pounding into my skull. Besides, I can't deny it: this kitty is pretty damn cute.
"Oh!" Ramira yelped, accidentally bumping into the consequences of my reaction. "And what…"
"Alright, THAT'S ENOUGH!" I bark, slamming the desk and knocking Ramira off it. Even Ves jumped from surprise.
"Pha-ha-ha-ha-ha…" the guys laughed, while Ves leaned down, licked my cheek, and walked off to her desk, leaving me in a quiet stupor.
Okay… what was that just now?!
***
"…And I'm telling you, cutting that beast is useless. It has no blood. You have to chop it!"
"But something still spills out!"
"Yeah. Sand and dust."
"But it can't spill out forever."
"You sure?"
"What are you boys arguing about?" Ramira hung between them, looping an arm around each of their necks.
"About the flint lizard," I answer calmly, then add, "Guys, you're both wrong."
"What?!"
"Ouyr-r-r-ri gr-a-o."
"After a hammer to the head, no one's going to be okay!"
"Ga-r-r-r u-u-i-r."
"And axes too. And rocks. And any heavy object, really—and if it's spiked, then…"
"So, guys: if we meet a beast like that again, we hit it with something heavier right in the forehead. Questions?" The twins shook their heads.
"Excellent!"
"Y-ieo-ey-oi."
"Trophies are sacred, sure, but who's going to carry them?"
"R-r-ri ar-rg u-u-r."
"Pha-ha-ha-ha-ha…"
"Even ten! As long as you haul them."
"He'll haul them," Ves stated. The Wookiee started grinning from ear to ear.
"Alright, guys, let's go. I still need to do extra duty for Master Garos."
"What for this time?" Lina asked mischievously.
"'Unworthy behavior in the presence of elders,'" I quote with air quotes. "So, business as usual."
"Alright. See you."
"See you, Li."
"Gra-i-i-i."
"Bye, Gris," someone hugged me.
"Zeng, Feng, Ramira," I give the three Zabrak a slight bow.
"Go on, Shade," they bow slightly as well. Funny thing: every species has its own greeting and farewell. For Zabrak, it's a slight bow; for Wookiees, a handshake—or if you're close, they hug you. For Miraluka, some weird hand pass that I turned into a high-five. But that's only with Li—others will require "tradition." As for Ves…
"Good luck," she whispered, and licked my cheek, then turned and, walking with her hips, led the others away. And her tail gives her away. Side to side, sharp flicks—one, two, three. Heh.
In general, every goodbye or hello with her turned into a mini-game called "Lick Shade." For days now I've been trying to make myself a note to finally check what that gesture even means, because there's no way I'll believe it's just a "friendship gesture." But every time I either forget, or I'm wa-a-a-ay too lazy to go ask somewhere. Especially after extra duty. Or extra lessons. Or both. And when asked, she only shoots her eyes and keeps quiet. I tried asking our people, but some just shrug, some keep quiet, and some suspiciously blush. Eh… alright. Let's see what the Master came up with today. Every takedu it's something new.
"Master Garos?" I call out to the Zabrak. Wait… why does he look so pleased?
"Ah, Shade. Master Tsikuna was looking for you," he says without looking up from his Force exercises—this… this… BASTARD.
"What?!"
"She's in the next room. Also, you'll be doing extra duty with her. Good luck, my best student!" And the grin—what a grin… someone give me a brick. Or at least a lemon. A whole one.
"Master Garos! Do you have a conscience?"
"And what?"
"Instead of sympathizing with your beloved student, you're mocking him!"
"You're beloved?"
"Sure! You love assigning me extra duty. Especially with you. And you yourself called me the best!"
"Best? Maybe. From the bottom."
"That's hurtful," I grumble.
"And that's good!" he raised a finger.
"And what about extra duty? And…"
"What else am I supposed to do when other people complain about you?" he cut me off. "No, just think about it…" He pulled a sheet of paper from inside his robe and read. "'Broke a workbench'…"
"That wasn't me! Someone was thrown into me and—"
"'Swore during meditation'…"
"I expressed my opinion eloquently."
"'Broke the horns off a wandering Devaronian'…"
"Note: without using the Force!"
"'Drove Master Runa into a psychosis.'" He paused. "HOW?! How did you do that?! He's Talid! And a monk!!! Their species has mental stability honed by endless spiritual meditations—HOW did you throw him off balance?" He shook a thick stack of papers in front of my nose.
"And what, he was lecturing me that I'm a spawn of the dark side of the Force? I just proved the opposite!"
"You showed how right he is! And I fully agree with him. More than that, he started drinking sometimes in the company of Master Uval, whom I won't even mention. But what kills me most is…" He glanced at the sheet. "'Asked questions in the wrong place at the wrong time.' What is that even supposed to mean?!"
"What am I supposed to do if Masters run away from me?"
"They run because you've worn them out. They don't even want to take you for extra duty anymore—just so they don't have to see your face. But no, you'll dig them up from under the ground. The only one who's happy to take you is Master Drags."
"But it's interesting!" I protest.
"Where, where do you get so much energy? Even Aala was more restrained than you in this regard…" He remembered something. "Though from her, almost all the guys in the area ran away too—but she scared them off. You, though… you cling like a parasite and won't calm down until you suck out every bit of information you need!"
"You're exaggerating. I won't deny I'm persistent, but not that much!"
"Tell that to Master Runa," he snorted.
"Uh… okay. I'll tell him next time I see him."
"NO! Don't you dare! And in general—don't go near him."
"But you—"
"That's enough. Go. I've already spent too much time talking to you."
Before I could say anything, I found myself outside the door.
Well… that was awkward. But it's fine, it's fine. He'll cool down a bit—I'll come back with something tasty, apologize, and we'll definitely make up. Probably. Maybe.