The Coruscanti Secondary School for Talented Children

Whoa, that's a mouthful. You can also call this Star Wars High School, lol. The actual title for this fic is, as you know, Hormones Acting Up.

"You look excited, dear," Shmi said, noting Ahsoka's happy face.

She nodded eagerly. Today was her first day at the Coruscanti Secondary School for Talented Children. Her brother, Anakin, had been accepted last year as a quarterback, and she'd been accepted because of her talent with martial arts. Luckily, it didn't cost anything (the school was funded purely by rich alumni), or their mother would never be able to afford it.

"Heard some good things from Ani, I suppose?"

"Yeah... a lot about his friends and his girlfriend."

"Padmé's not my girlfriend!" Anakin said, pausing to look up from his eggs.

"You've already met Rex, though," Shmi replied, barreling over her son, "I thought you liked him." Rex was Anakin's best friend, and he was an absolutely moving writer and an even better speaker. Shmi and Ahsoka had read some of his 'crappy drafts' and they'd been amazing.

"He's really cool, but I really want to meet Padme," Shmi's adopted daughter said, looking pointedly at Anakin. Padme was a junior, getting preened to become a Senator, and it was obvious that Anakin liked her (even if he tried to deny it).

"She's not my girlfriend!" he exclaimed.

OooOooO

Ahsoka stepped out of the speeder, heart light and a smile on her face. Anakin slung his arm around her shoulders protectively, grinning at everyone he passed. Not surprisingly, they grinned back. Her brother was popular, after all.

"Anakin!" someone shouted, and they both turned to see a harried auburn-haired, gray-eyed teenager rushing toward them, his arms full of books and papers.

"Obi-Wan!" Anakin exclaimed as the other young man caught up to them. "Great to see you."

Oh, so this was Obi-Wan Kenobi. Known as the greatest student the CSSTC had ever had. He was just as popular as Anakin, but he was an all-around guy- a football player, an A student, a swimmer, a track runner, a saxophone player in the jazz band, and on top of that a truly likeable person. So likeable, he'd had a different girlfriend each year- as a freshman, Cerasi Vucora; as a sophomore, Siri Tachi, and as a junior, Satine Kryze.

"And you are?" Obi-Wan asked Ahsoka suddenly, pausing in his complaints to her brother about something that sounded like 'itssenioryearandidunnowhatimgonnadobecausethecolle gelettershaven'tcomebackyetand' and, after pausing to take a breath, 'satinesreallymadatmebecauseidumpedherandshewontbel ievemeandnowshewantstomakemylifehell'.

"I'm Ahsoka Tano," she answered proudly.

Then the bell rang.

"Get to your class!" Anakin exclaimed, surprised, and pushed her down the hallway towards her classroom.

OooOooO

She was late, the homeroom teacher was blabbering on about something, and there was one empty seat. So Ahsoka sat down next to someone wearing a black, baggy cloak pulled far over her forehead and a long black skirt. So it was a girl.

"Hi," she whispered, smiling brightly at her.

The hood moved to the right, and two bright blue eyes peeked out. "Hello," came a soft, timid, but definitely feminine, voice. Ahsoka mentally betted herself that under the extremely loose cloak was a very pretty girl.

She stuck her hand out. "I'm Ahsoka Tano."

"And I'm Barriss Offee," the girl said so softly it was only a mumble, gently reaching out and squeezing her hand.

Ahsoka grinned at her and turned back to the teacher.

"There are two Senatorial candidates in our class this year," the stiff, gray-haired woman announced. "Please acknowledge Mr. Lux Bonteri and Miss Riyo Chuchi."

The blue-skinned, golden-eyed girl on the other side of Ahsoka stood, silver jewelry softly clanking together as she brushed a strand of lavender hair behind her ear. She glanced around the room almost nervously, so Ahsoka smiled at her. The girl- Riyo- smiled gratefully back.

Ahsoka looked at the boy who was standing- Lux, was it?- with black hair that almost fell into his dark green eyes. He was cute. Like, really cute.

OooOooO

As Barriss was about to get up from her chair, she felt a hand on her forearm through her thick cloak.

"Hey, wait for me, would you, Barriss?" the little Togruta on her right, Ahsoka, asked, shuffling her papers into a thick white binder.

"Sure," she mumbled, watching the oldest Fett, a senior, walk by.

The Fetts were not to be trifled with, especially their father, Jango. His eldest son, Cody (the one Barriss was watching) had been accepted to the CSSTC as a musician. He played some string instrument or something. That didn't mean he wasn't taught in the Fett trade- assassination.

"What do you have next?" Ahsoka asked, and Barriss turned to answer.

"I've got history," Riyo answered.

"Same here!" the energetic girl exclaimed.

"Actually, so do I," Barriss murmured, looking down at her schedule.

"Great! Let's all walk together then!"

OooOooO

Following Barriss and Riyo, Ahsoka scanned the cafeteria for her brother. Having spotted him, she eagerly grabbed a tray, loaded it, and headed in his direction.

"Where are you going, Ahsoka?" the Pantoran girl asked from behind her, boots slapping against the tiled floor.

"To my brother," she answered eagerly.

"Anakin Skywalker?" Barriss inquired, her soft voice conveying confusion.

"Yeah. I was adopted."

Ahsoka reached the table and took stock of its occupants. There was Anakin, Rex, Obi-Wan, a guy who looked like a slightly older version of Rex but without the bleached hair, and a very pretty brunette girl. As well as some other people, too, but she was just focusing on the people she had a chance of knowing.

"Hey, Annie," she said, grinning at him.

"Hey, 'Soka. Say hi to Padme and Cody."

She did.

"Did you make any friends yourself, Snips?"

"Yeah," she answered, turning. Her friends were standing awkwardly by themselves, watching her. "That's Barriss and Riyo."

Padme, the pretty brunette girl, spoke. "Riyo? Riyo Chuchi? You're running for Senator of the Pantora sector, right?"

The girl nodded, smiled, and slid in next to Anakin's soon-to-be-girlfriend. Or I'm-totally-in-denial-but-she's-my-girlfriend. Now it was just Barriss standing, darting looks between her tray and Ahsoka.

"What's your talent?" Obi-Wan asked her gently.

"Music," the Mirialan answered, just as quietly.

Cody perked up. "What instrument?"

Barriss' bright blue gaze shifted to him, the folds of her black cloak moving. "The piano, mainly."

Obi-Wan sighed dramatically, a smile moving the corners of his lips upward. "Finally! Cody here-"

The aforementioned person interrupted him eagerly. "Great! I've been looking for a partner to practice this amazing duet I found..."

Barriss sat down next to him, a timid smile making its way onto her face as Cody explained what he wanted to do.

So Ahsoka grinned at her brother and started pestering Rex.

OooOooO

Now just some random snippets.

She couldn't believe she was talking to Padme Amidala.

Padmé was the most looked-up to political figure among young, aspiring protégés like herself. She had been a very competent Queen Regent for the sector of Naboo. She had cleverly disguised herself as a handmaiden and used decoys-

Riyo still couldn't believe she was talking to Padmé.

Cody was so eager about his duet. He played the cello; and after hearing that she also played the clarinet and flute, grew even more excited- apparently he had parts for those instruments too.

Obi-Wan, on the other hand, seemed a little less eager to help his friend out. Of course, the eldest Fett had managed to rope him into doing something and had dug up a violin part, ignoring his friend's protest of 'I haven't played the violin in years!'.

She tuned back into the conversation. "... So, if you're going to do this with us, Barriss, you're going to have to take down that hood of yours, especially if we end up doing it on the stage."

"What?" she exclaimed, surprised. Ahsoka and her brother turned to look at her- that was the loudest she'd been all day.

"Come on, you can't always hide behind that hood," Cody said, motioning to her cloak. "Besides, it's got to be seriously hot under that."

"It is black, after all," Obi-Wan added.

Barriss pursed her lips, knowing they wouldn't be able to see her expression. "Maybe," she mumbled. "Maybe."

"Stop pestering her, Cody," the younger Fett, Rex, scolded. "You know Mirial's a very religious sector."

His brother shrugged.

That's not why we hide behind headdresses and cloaks, Barriss wanted to say. That's not it at all.

I'll update this probably once every three or four weeks, so I have enough time to think of something to write.

~jedikhaleesi