Salvation To My Stars • Kylo Ren [2]

XLII

Jude's Pov

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When I heard the music it was like liquid adrenaline had been injected right into my blood stream. As if it was real, it didn't feel strong enough as to freak me out, but just enough to make me tingle and start to tap my foot. I have never had a dance class, but back on the base, the few friends I had would jump around whenever the rare occasion came.

After meeting Nalani's father during lunch yesterday, I was able to become more comfortable. Kabel Trelawney showed me respect before I even shook his hand and his sons did the same. Elämä was kind, quiet and polite but she never showed the emotion of dislike towards me.

As the music played on, Nalani twirled around the ballroom, Bli and Anfra by her side. She wasn't a mover or shaker, kinda shy in the way she moved, but I couldn't help but imagine myself beside her. Her hands raised above her head as if she was reaching for the sky and her eyes shut every time the beat of the song changed. She was completely and utterly beautiful, her hair was untouched, unbrushed and falling down her back. Somehow, I looked at her like I'd never really seen a woman before.

"Come on Jude!" Nalani called, her gold and pink gown simply a blur as she continued to spin. "Would it kill you to dance?"

"It would," I state, remaining at the wall. "I would die of embarrassment."

"You can't be that bad," She giggled, linking arms with Anfra. "You shouldn't turn down a queen!"

"You aren't a queen at the moment," I pointed out, nodding at Elämä who returned a small laugh. "You can't tell me what to do, plus I think we better get going if we want to reach the meadow before it gets too hot."

Nalani slowed down her pace and eventually became to a complete stop. "You're right," She curtsied towards her brothers. "We best be going."

Bli reached out to grab my shoulder. "Nothing will happen to her right?"

"You had my word," I promise. "She will return safe and unharmed. We will be back before you know it."

Bli nodded, exiting alongside his brother while Nalani turned towards me. "Alright, show me this famous meadow you grew up in."

"It would be my honour."

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There was a shallow ditch at edge of the meadow. The grass was thick and an old tree provided shade, a cool and refreshing breeze tickled my skin.  My freckles became even more noticeable due to the hot sun. The meadow lay peaceful in the thickening light of late afternoon. The meadow flowed like a sea of green over the field, spotted with an ocean of different colours. The two feet deep grass waved in the wind.

As we make our way to the shallow ditch, Nalani points at Amar's old shack. "That was your old home?"

"Old, past tense." I remind her, laying out a small blanket from the palace.

"I thought the palace was beautiful," She sits down, her eyes scanning the godly meadow. "But this? This is astonishing."

"When Bellamy and I thought we were invincible, we climbed this old tree and would jump into the grass,"
I lay my head against the tree providing shade. "I broke my arm after my third jump."

Nalani chuckled, shaking her head. "I've never broken a bone, ever."

"Don't jinx it your majesty," I tease, leaning over to fix her golden headpiece. "I don't want your brothers to kill me."

"They are very fond of you Jude," She plays with her hands. "They can't thank you enough for everything you have done for Naboo and I."

I give her a lazy smile, my eyes slightly squinted. "Well Nalani, you are actually a good person."

Nalani had that shy look young women often wear. Behind those slightly pursed lips was a smile just waiting to be tempted out. Sometimes she'd look my way and I generally pretended not to notice, thinking things would change. She tilted her head, her royal skills coming in. "What does that mean?"

"Isn't it obvious?" I ramble. "You have done nothing but put your people first. Before the senate overruled your statement, you would of stayed on Naboo even if it meant you might be killed. You single-handedly got the Republic to join the Resistance. In the med bay, you didn't complain once. Nalani, you are everything a strong woman is. You're extraordinary."

Her eyes showed an emotion I thought was just made up in my head. "You don't give yourself enough credit Jude. You are too busy thinking of others," She smiled. "How old are you? Seventeen? A Jedi Master, coping with his sister being a feared Sith, your family has had nothing but traumas. You are so strong Jude! Me? I'm nineteen and barely keeping myself together."

"But you keep smiling."

"And so do you."

It was silent for a second, nothing but the rustle of the grass against the wind. Then she inched her face closer to mine and when she kissed me, my brain lit on fire and the warmth spread throughout my entire body. After that I was addicted, I knew that if I lost her I would loose myself. She was the half that made me whole. Everything was so wrong, I was making a massive mistake but I couldn't stop.

She pulled away, her nose brushing against mine. "I kept falling in love with you and each time was harder than the last. Every time the feeling gets deeper, more complicated, more bewitching. There isn't a thing I wouldn't do to keep you safe. You never had to earn my affection because you it was yours the second we met. The more love I give you the more I feel complete... crazy, huh?" She shakes her head, completely flustered. "What am I doing? You're seventeen! Oh my gosh, what about Corinthia?"

"You're two years older than me," I comment. "And, I don't know what I'm going to do about Corinthia. I won't lie to you, she's been with me through every hardship and has done nothing wrong but you?" I pause, trying to figure out what I mean. "As soon as we met I knew you were the one. The one I would spend my days thinking of and the one I would spend my nights dreaming about. The one who would hold me when I cried and the one who would laugh with me. The one who I would share my life with and the one I would love. I knew all that as soon as we met. I know all of this but I'm still trying to figure everything out. Will you wait?"

She nodded. "I've been so selfless my entire life but for one second, I'm going to be selfish."

"Alright, enough with this crap."

My head snapped up and I immediately blocked myself in front of Nalani. "Bellamy?"

"The one and only."