Chapter 8

The week passes, as do both Raine and Jenos. Upon finding out at the start of the new week, Raine laughed in nervous tension. She had worried about her exam in Ancient Corellian History, since history in general was not her forte. A few hours after she found out she had passed her finals, she hears a knock on the door. She opens it and sees Jenos, trying hard to hide a smirk on his face.

“You passed, didn’t you.” Her statement makes me smile in spite of himself. He scratches the back of his head and nods. “Yup, I did.” Raine smiles and jumps at him, hugging him tightly. He keeps her off the ground and spins her a few times, laughing. He sets her back on the ground and finds out she had passed all her finals as well. “Good job, one last year now.” She nods and looks at him, smiling.

He looks at her and smiles. “So, what are you planning on doing during the summer?” Raine shrugs lightly. “Probably the usual, swimming and relaxing on the beach.” He nods. “Sounds like fun.” She lightly taps his chest with a fingernail. “And what about you, mister I’m-graduated-now?” He lightly laughs. “Well, I’m not too sure, really. I guess the best thing to do would be to start looking for a job, something I can do while I figure out for sure what I’m going to be doing with my life.”

She nods slowly, knowing that would mean less time he’d be around to be with her. “Well, see if you can get some days off so we can spend it together.” He looks at her, a smile slowly growing on his lips. “Sure, I’ll look into it and do what I can to get it done.” She smiles and hugs him, resting her head on his chest. Jenos keeps her close and rubs her back. “What were you planning on doing today?” Raine raises her head to his question.

“Well, I wasn’t intending on doing anything, actually.” She waves casually at her clothing. She was clad in just a simple shirt and shorts combination. He nods lightly. “I don’t have anything to do either.” She smiles. “Well, would you like to just spend the afternoon here then?” His lips pull back in a slight smile. “Sure, why not.”

The two walk inside and go into the living room, settling themselves in the love seat while the holoprojector turns on to a holodrama. They get comfortable in the loveseat, Jenos’ arm around her shoulders as she leans into his side, her head on his left shoulder. The holodrama doesn’t really interest the two, but it didn’t really matter as they were not paying it much attention. They sit together, as time passes by, enjoying the other’s company, even if no words were exchanged.

As hours pass and the holodrama ends to be replaced by another, the two get up to stretch a little. Raine looks at Jenos and smiles slightly before heading to the kitchen. He follows her and leans against a counter, watching her. She opens the refrigerator unit and pulls out a medium sized red fruit. The fruit makes a light crunching noise as she bites into it. She chews it thoughtfully and turns to Jenos. “Would you like something to eat?” He lightly shakes his head. “That’s okay, I’m not really hungry.” She nods and closes the door to the refrigerator before heading to the living room.

As she walks past, Jenos extends his right arm to block her from leaving. He sidesteps and turns his body, placing his chest against her back as his arms wrap around her. Raine leans back into him as she feels him gently kiss the top of her head. She smiles lightly and takes another bite out of the fruit before closing her eyes and relaxing in his embrace.

Jenos bends his head and kisses her cheek. She turns her head to his and kisses him back. The kiss lingers and they look at each other as the kiss breaks. She raises her left hand and gently caresses his right cheek. He nuzzles her palm, never looking away from her eyes. “I love you, Jen.” He turns his head to kiss her palm, still looking at her. “And I do you…” He hugs her tightly and just continues to hold her.

She turns around to face him. He looks at her, curious but doing his best not to show it. “I need to tell you something…” He nods. “Go ahead Raine.” She looks down at her feet and bites her lower lip, tightening her grip on the fruit in her right hand. “The night you came here drunk, you had given me a strange look.” His brow furrows. “Strange in what way?” She looks up at his eyes. “Strange in that it seemed like you were trying to undress me with your eyes. I, I could almost feel lust coming from you.”

He stiffens slightly as he looks at her. “And that’s the nothing you said you’d tell me later.” She nods glumly, feeling dread in her stomach. “Why did you take this long to finally tell me?” She looks away at his gaze. “I didn’t want you to be distracted from your studies, I know you needed to pass and finish school.” She hugs him and buries her face in his chest. Taken back, Jenos blinks at her sudden behavior. He hesitates then rubs her back as he feels her silent sobs. “I’ll accept your answer, and I’m surprised by your consideration. I’m not sure I would be able to have the foresight you showed.”

She slowly gets herself back under control and looks up at her. “You’re not mad at me for not telling you sooner?” He sighs lightly and shakes his head. “No, but I am angry at myself now.” “Why?” He looks in her wondering eyes. “I’m making you worry about being around me, and that isn’t good.” She raises her right hand to touch his cheek, but the fruit in her hand touches him first. She lightly laughs in nervous tension. He smirks and silently chuckles, slowly turning into laughter.

She soon joins in laughing at the ridiculousness of the action. After a minute of just laughing they look at each other and smile. “If it’ll help, I promise not to drink.” Raine smiles slightly. “All right, and I’ll hold you to it.” Jenos raises his right hand to his brow in a mock salute. “As ordered.” She laughs and leans into his chest. She stops laughing and looks up at him. “But I do have a question for you.” He looks back at her. “Fire away.” She bites her lower lip. “Was it the alcohol, or how you really feel?”

Jenos opens his mouth then closes it. He lets go of her and takes a step back so he can bow his head and scratch his chin and right side of his face with his left hand, a sight Raine has long known to mean he was thinking deeply. He looks back up and his hand goes to his side. “I’m not too sure how to answer it, as I’m not too sure of myself.” He folds his arms across his chest and bows his head again. “By that I mean I know I love you, just… I’m not sure if I love you as an older brother or more than that.” He looks up at her again. “I want to protect you and make you happy, but as to the more… intimate… issues, I myself am unsure.”

Raine nods slowly, beginning to wonder about her feelings herself. He moves towards her and hugs her lightly. She sighs lightly and sees the fruit in her hand, which she raises to her lips and takes a bite out of it. “Are you okay?” She looks up to Jenos at his question. “Hmm?” He repeats, “Are you okay?” She nods and smiles. “Yes, I’m fine.” Jen nods as well. “Okay.”

She glances at the chrono and sees it was 1708. “Wow, where did the time go?” Jenos looks at the chrono as well. “Probably where everything else in the galaxy goes to, a black hole for all eternity.” Raine smiles slightly at that. “So when we get there at the end it’ll be a reunion?” Jenos smirks. “Sure, why not. It’d be great to relive each moment with you again.” Raine blushes lightly and looks away. He smiles in response and turns his head as he hears the front door open up.

They walk towards the living room to see who it was. Darlene sees them and smiles. “Well, hello Jenos.” Jenos smiles back. “Hi Aunt Darlene.” She walks to them and looks at them. “So, will you be joining us for dinner tonight?” Jenos blinks once then shrugs lightly. “Haven’t thought about it, just noticed how late it was all ready.” Darlene nods. “Well, if you do, don’t forget to tell your mother so she doesn’t have to worry about you.” He smiles slightly. “Right.”

In the end, he decides not to stay for dinner. He tells Darlene to tell Rostan hello for him. As Darlene went to start dinner, Raine walks him out to the porch. “Well, will I see you tomorrow?” Jenos shrugs in response. “I’m not sure, need to go looking for a job.” Raine bites her lip. “You could ask my dad if he has any to offer.” Jenos hesitates then shrugs. “Maybe, but I’d like to get a job on my own abilities, as opposed to who I know or am related to.” Raine nods reluctantly. “I can see what you mean. Well, you know where I’ll be if you want to drop by.”

Jenos smiles. “Yeah, I know. Bye Raine.” He hugs her lightly. She hugs him back and kisses his cheek. “Bye Jen.” He caresses her left cheek then drops his hand to his side as he turns to leave. She waves goodbye and wraps her arms around her as she watches him head home. She whispers, “Bye… Jen…”