Chapter Text
AUTHOR'S NOTE: I do not own Star Wars, Anakin Skywalker, Padmé Naberrie, or any other characters. All rights belong to Lucasfilm.
It was the year 2007…
One high school, somewhere in Seattle...
No, not just any high school, but Seattle Academy…
Seattle Academy was a top-rated independent middle and high school, ranked seventh best private high school, ninth best private high school for college preparation, and fifty-eighth best private high school with a diverse offering in the state of Washington. And it was the school for children who later wanted to study at elite universities and graduate there.
Padmé Amidala Naberrie and Anakin Skywalker were among them.
Padmé was the younger daughter of Ruwee Naberrie, who had been governor of Washington State for ten years. His wife, Jobal, studied management, but she did not work, choosing instead to devote herself to raising their children. Now, as the governor's wife, she had to represent him and support charitable organizations, which served to enhance her husband's reputation. Sola Naberrie, who was six years older than Padmé, had finished her studies and was already married. She had a daughter when Padmé graduated from high school.
The governor's elegant residence was located at 45 Holly Hill Dr , Mercer Island. It was the most beautiful house in a street full of beautiful houses, though not the most beautiful house on the island as a whole. The large property, which featured a beautiful garden with a terrace and pool, sloped down to Washington Lake, and at the end of this beautiful garden was a long jetty leading to the governor's Bavaria motor yacht.
Padmé grew up in luxury and well protected. She was Daddy's little girl. Her mother, Jobal, loved her firstborn a little more, although the parents claimed to love both daughters equally. Of course.
Padmé was a beautiful girl, 5'5" tall and slim, with long chestnut brown curly hair and warm brown eyes. She had beautiful features, and when she smiled at someone, her white teeth sparkled to charm the person the smile was for. She never had a steady boyfriend, or she was good at hiding him... but no, she didn't have one. She had only given them hope.
Anakin Skywalker was the son of a single mother who worked as a key account manager at Goldman Sachs. The name of the bank is well known, but not how little the bank pays its employees. So, Anakin's mother had a second job. She worked like a slave just to fulfill a few extra wishes for her son. He had a '68 Mustang that he had rescued from the scrap press to breathe new life into it, as well as a Harley-Davidson that shared the same fate, to give Anakin pleasure during the summer months.
Shmi Skywalker did not have close contact with the father of her child, in that sense, but he always paid the costs of school fees and some necessities, perhaps even some things that were not absolutely necessary. He took care of his son, at least in that respect. Only Shmi Skywalker knew who the father was. Rumor had it that it was the Mayor of Seattle, P.J. Clovis, but no, and for heaven's sake, that would make Anakin and Rush Clovis half-brothers. It was another man, now married and in the public eye, far away in Washington, D.C.
Anakin and his mother lived in a neighborhood that wasn't as nice as Mercer Island, but the house was beautiful, located at 11014 SE 28th Place. Shmi had put almost all of her extra earnings over the years into the mortgage. So, this house was hers and her son's.
Anakin was a shy boy who loved to play guitar and was also in a band with Rex, Cody, and Fives. They called themselves the Jedi Knights and occasionally performed in clubs. Rex and Cody had known Anakin for a long time; they had been together since elementary school. The three boys also played for the junior ice hockey club, Thunder Birds, known as the T-Birds. The hard training had made them well-built, and some girls lost their eyes, but not necessarily because of Anakin, even though he was actually very good-looking. At eighteen, he was already 6'1". He had a handsome face and bright blue eyes, but his sandy blond curls were always a tad too long and messy.
Unlike his classmates, Anakin always dressed rather sloppily, wearing baggy jeans that were two sizes too big and a few inches too long, so that the ends were badly frayed. Well, there were reasons for all that, thankfully less and less so in the last two years. He paired them with T-shirts and flannel shirts, sometimes oversized hoodies, and you could really think that the clothes didn't belong to him but to his older brother.
But he had neither a brother nor a father. He only had his mother, whom he adored. It was obvious how she sacrificed herself for him, had practically no life of her own, and did everything for him. To live up to her sacrifice, he studied hard and was the best in his class year after year. His mother was proud of him and happy that he was repaying her love in this way. Not only was he a good student, but he also helped his mother wherever he could, including with the housework: laundry, tidying up, gardening, and even cooking. He was also very handy and could repair anything: toasters, irons, lawnmowers... no matter what, Shmi didn't need to buy new appliances, Anakin saved her the expense because they didn't exactly have money to burn. It wasn't that they had to go hungry, they just couldn't afford expensive Ferraris, Lamborghinis, or designer clothes like Gucci and Prada. They had everything they needed for a normal life.
In the high school corridors during breaks, all the students saw each other, not just those who took the same classes.
Padmé and her friends Dormé and Sabé wanted to study law at Harvard University and took the same classes; they were always together, practically inseparable.
Anakin took some classes with Padmé, so he saw her every day.
Even when he was fourteen, he always looked to see where Padmé was; she was like a magnet for his eyes, he was madly in love with her. She noticed that his glances were becoming more intense and waited for him to make the first move, but he didn't dare to go beyond the usual. He didn't think he was good enough for her. She was a girl with rich and influential parents, and he was a boy from the middle class.
New Year's Eve 2007 was celebrated at The Mercury @ MachineWerks. The club was near Seattle Academy, as everyone knew. It seemed as if the entire high school wanted to celebrate there. The Jedi Knights were scheduled to play until midnight, after which a DJ would take over. The band members were dressed uniformly, all wearing baggy jeans, white T-shirts, and blue and white college jackets, like the Seattle flag.
There was little eating, lots of drinking, and intense dancing. Everyone was on the dance floor because the band was playing well.
Padmé danced with several boys, including Rush Clovis, a few times. She was friends with him because their parents were friends. Political high society.
Anakin grabbed the microphone and announced the last song of the evening:
“We have ten minutes until midnight. The last song is by Tal Bachman—She's So High. You all know the song.”
He started singing and looked at Padmé. She stood in front of the podium, moving slightly to the rhythm and smiling at him. She didn't want to dance with anyone, knowing that this song was for her.
She's blood, flesh, and bone
No tucks or silicone
She's touch, smell, sight, taste, and sound
But somehow I can't believe
That anything should happen
I know where I belong
And nothing's going to happen, yeah …. and looked at her
'Cause she's so high
High above me
She's so lovely…………. …. … his gaze caught her
…………………………………
…………………………………
What could a guy like me
Ever really offer? …. sad expression was on his face
She's perfect as she can be
Why should I even bother?
…………………………….
…………………………….
She's so high,
High above me,………….
( Tal Bachman: She's So High https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ElORM9O-0U )
The song ended, the band members bowed once, and Anakin bowed again in Padmé's direction. She smiled and shook her head. Shortly afterwards, his new iPhone 2G rang, something he absolutely had to have; well, his father took care of such extras. It was Padmé:
*Not true.*
He recognized her voice. *How did you get my number?*
*I know someone who knows someone.*
*Um... Happy New Year.*
*On the phone?*
*Where are you?*
*At the entrance.*
*Okay, I'm coming.*
He ran to the entrance, and at that moment, the countdown was already running. At zero, he stood in front of her. She put her hands on his shoulders and kissed him on the cheek.
“Happy New Year, Anakin.”
“Same to you. Shall we go inside? It's cold here.”
“True, but you can't talk inside; it's too loud.”
“That's true.” He just didn't dare ask her to dance.
“But we can dance... if you like.”
“Yes, I'd like to, I was just about to ask you,” he lied. Yes, he wanted to, but he lacked the courage, was too shy, and didn't want to be rejected. Who does?
The dance floor had become crowded again, which gave him the opportunity to pull her a little closer to him. It felt intoxicating. Her hair smelled of lily of the valley, lilac, magnolia, and roses all at once, each scent clearly distinguishable; the first three like the freshness of spring, and the rich scent of roses like the warmth of summer. The warmth of her body made his feelings for her noticeable, so he had to create some distance, otherwise it would be uncomfortable for both of them.
"I think your friends are already missing you."
“Maybe. Will you accompany me until I find them?”
“Of course.”
Everyone watched them walk across the room together and wondered, especially her friends. They knew that Anakin was shy and that Padmé always hung out with Rush Clovis.
“Thank you, Anakin.”
“You're welcome...and I wish you all a Happy New Year.”
“Wait a minute, Skywalker! Where's the kiss?” Sabé asked, testing Padmé's reaction.
“You want a kiss? OK, here you go.” He took her face in his hands and pressed his lips to hers. “Well, then, enjoy the party, ladies.” It had been a huge effort for him to overcome his inhibitions and act like a playboy, which he wasn't.
Padmé stood there with her mouth open. Sabé, you are such a bitch, she thought, but said nothing.
Sabé laughed. “You... didn't get a kiss?”
“No, I didn't know he could do that. He was always so shy.”
“The boy is growing up, Padmé, and he's not bad looking, and his lips are so...”
“Stop it. Just stop it!”
Sabé looked at Dormé and winked. A-ha.
………….
Best regards from Germany!
