Letters To Lux Bonteri

Chapter Nine

Lux was perched on one of the wide railings bordering the main entrance to Coruscant High. He was busy checking over an essay he'd written for Galactican History for any mistakes.

Suddenly he heard footsteps. But he didn't look up. It was probably one of the school staff coming in to start the day. After all, it was still very early.

Suddenly, he heard a voice. "Who is she?"

Lux looked up from his homework, his eyes immediately meeting those of his girlfriend for nearly a year and a half, Steela Gerrera. He chuckled at her abrupt excuse for a question. "Well, hello to you too, Stee."

Steela crossed her arms and cocked her hip in the way that he had always looked so good on her. "Seriously though. Who is she?" she asked. Her lips were compressed into a tight line.

"I'm fine, thanks for asking."

She sighed. "Lux! Come on, this isn't the time for jokes!"

"All right, all right," he said, laughing. "I'll stop. Uh... Who are you asking about, exactly? I know more than a few people who fit under the 'she' category."

"The Togruta girl you were paired up with in class," Steela specified, coming to stand in front of him. "Who is she? Do you know her? Where is she from? I haven't seen her in school before."

"Whoa, whoa! Slow down, woman! I barely know her. She's just some girl I'm gonna be working on a project with." He jumped down from the railing, taking the few steps that separated them and resting his hands on her hips. "What is it that I keep telling you?"

Steela smiled, putting her arms around his neck. "That I'm your ay'aniika."

"And what does that mean?"

She played along with her usual line. "You know I haven't studied Old Onderonian in the same depth that your mother had you learn it, Lux. How could I possibly know what it means?"

"Loosely translated, it means 'one and only'. So," he murmured, "when I call you ay'aniika, I'm reminding you that you're my one and only, Stee."

"And that's a title I intend to keep," she said, her turquoise eyes meeting his.

"Yeah," Lux whispered, leaning in to kiss her.

But before he could get close enough, she put the tips of her fingers on his lips. "So don't get too attached to her, all right? I want to keep you where I have you. I don't think I could take losing you to someone else..."

He nodded, a caring look on his face. "I know, Stee. You don't have to worry - I'm sure you never will. And besides, you're my queen." He kissed the tip of her nose. "The queen of Coruscant High."

"I know," Steela whispered softly, and reached up to press her lips to his.

Because after all, she thought, what is a queen without her consort?

Ahsoka walked up the steps to the front entrance of Coruscant High, her back hunched and arms wrapped tightly around her in an effort to escape notice. She knew that people were still staring at her, because even though it had been a day since her incident with Lux Bonteri, no one had forgotten.

She would have to wait until everyone was completely absorbed in the next bit of drama to try talking to people. But even so, her social standing had been scarred for all eternity. The popular kids would still look upon her and frown in disapproval, even if Lux had forgiven her.

After an unbearably long walk under the other students' critical gazes, she reached her locked. She punched her combination into the panel on the locker door, and sighed in relief as if opened. She didn't know what she would do if she forgot her combo again, something she had sadly done more than once since she'd been transferred to the Coruscant orphanage system.