Okay so, a little explanation to this real world-type AU - in my other works, there is a lot of heavy stuff about to happen: A huge battle on Dathomir (COMJ), Des and Nadia are about to jump back into the war (TOTB), Moira and Corso are still figuring stuff out on Taris (SW: DT) and, yes, Malavai Quinn and Gira are still making malignant plans to hunt down the Jedi's two greatest champions. Therefore, I decided a little bit of a lighter-hearted change wouldn't be amiss. It's still Star Wars, just in this world - kinda. Enjoy. Please read and review.

Mara Jade rolled her eyes as she hoisted her book bag more comfortably onto her shoulders. World Religions Class was, without a doubt the most boring thing she had ever been through and she still had three quarters of a semester to go. And here, her legal guardians, she refused to call the disgustingly wealthy old man and his gold digging mistress parents, had told her this would be fun. At least old man Sheev Palpatine was kind and she did like living there but it was good to get out for school.

When she got to her next class and found the door locked with a note saying it was cancelled, Mara gave a small smirk. Score! No class 'til one p.m. Time to go relax and get ahead on some homework while rocking out to some Bach.

It was only ten a.m. and she hurried to the commons area, rolled out a blanket, plopped down and put her earphones in. For a few moments, she sat there listening before she opened her books.

"Oh come on, Luke! We all know you have a thing for her. You don't hide it very well, you know;" said Han Solo, a senior, to Luke Skywalker, a freshman. They had became friends pretty quickly.

Luke shook his head, blushing madly and saying, "Are you kidding me? Dude, she'd either laugh in my face or try to knife me. Trust me, she thinks I'm just some nobody kid from some small farm town. I don't have a chance in a thousand."

Han elbowed him jovially. "You're not denying any of what I said. You do obviously have a crush on her."

"It doesn't matter, Han. Say, when are you asking that Leia girl out? You seem to like her a lot."

Han lifted a hand and said, "Wait a second, Kid. We aren't talking about me. We're talking about... would you look at that! No class! Hey, when's your next one?"

Luke grinned and said, "One I think. Where're you headed? I'm going to the commons area."

Han winked and said, "Got a couple of um... deliveries at my apartment. Nothing you need to concern yourself with... unless you want to buy some really good shine."

Luke snorted and said, "Not on your life. That stuff would probably make you go blind faster than dumping it straight into your eyes."

They left the building and looked out over the commons. There was a group from the band hanging out, laughing about something or another. Some of the football players were lounging in the gazebo. There were pairs and trios of students everywhere but out in the grass sat Mara Jade, her gold red hair like a beacon as the sun glinted off it. That hair was something else and Luke constantly caught himself staring at it - along with other parts of her. Han chuckled beside him. "Come on, Luke. Go for it. What's the worse that could happen?"

Luke gave him a pointed look. "Don't you have something to pick up at your apartment, Han?"

With a chuckle, Han walked away. Luke's eyes wandered back to where Mara was sitting. She was still there - probably listening to music and doing homework. Luke had much the same idea. He whistled cheerfully, found an open patch of ground and plopped down, kicking his legs out in front of him. He took a textbook out of his backpack along with the bag of candy he always carried, grabbed his Ipod - it was old and cracked but it still worked well - put his earphones in and laid back, using his backpack as a pillow. He chewed the candy, listened and read but it wasn't long before his book was laying face down on his chest and he was snoring softly.

Out of the corner of her eye, Mara had watched Luke cross the commons and lay back. She had chuckled when he had stopped eating his sweets and the book had collapsed onto his chest. Luke was always nice to her - well to everyone actually. She had learned a bit about him too, just from listening around. He was raised by his aunt and uncle on a farm, something the Mara had been delighted to find out. She still couldn't wait for the opportunity to torment him about it. During the first day of one of the classes they took together, she and Luke were in a group with two other kids, Leia and a senior named Han and the professor wanted them to get to know one another. It was one of those stupid games where you say your name, what your major was going to be and what you loved to do for a hobby. Mara didn't much care but she played along for the sake of courtesy. Han was a business major and he liked street racing in the city thirty minutes away. Leia was a political science major and she enjoyed just hanging out with friends. Mara was a business major as well and she enjoyed a good book and classical music. Luke had gone last. He was soft spoken and even a little shy. He was a criminal justice major and he had raced cars a little back home.

She was debating going over and harassing him a little, a hobby she had developed, when one of the students in some of her business classes plopped down. Mara stifled a curse. It was Lando Calrissian, a man who certainly seemed to think he had something to offer her. He flashed white teeth in what Mara assumed was supposed to be a dashing smile and said, "Hello Mara. You're looking mighty fine as always."

Mara cleared her throat and said, "Thank you. Do you need something, Lando?"

Lando nodded and said, "I just heard that there's a party this Friday night and was wondering if you'd like to go with me."

Mara had less than no desire to go - especially with Lando. The guy was insufferable. Desperately, she looked around for an excuse. "I have plans this Friday, Lando. Thanks though."

"Oh come on. Are you sure you don't want to go with me? It's supposed to be a pretty good time;" cajoled the man, his smile widening if at all possible.

Mara was known for a short temper and right now, she was losing hers. "Look, Lando, I have stuff I need to do this weekend. We have midterms coming up and I want to be ready. Besides, I already..." and she made up the first thing she could on the fly even though she'd be kicking herself for it later, "... I promised Luke Skywalker I would help him with his psych homework. That reminds me, we have class in fifteen minutes. I gotta go make sure the farm boy is awake."

Abruptly, she put her stuff back in her bag, pocketed her iphone and walked over to Skywalker. Calrissian seemed surprised, "You're spending a weekend doing homework with that kid?"

Mara stopped and looked at him, saying, "Yeah. What's wrong with him?"

Lando chuckled and said, "Rumor has it he's an orphan who works on a farm with his aunt and uncle. He got a second rate education and spent his free time racing cars and fixing them up to earn extra money."

"So?"

Lando just chuckled. "Forgive me but it just didn't seem like the two of you would share the same social circles. That's all."

Mara opened her mouth and shut it again. She was sick of this conversation and she couldn't believe that people thought she cared about 'social circles'. "Look, Lando, I have to go."

He caught her arm and said, "I'm sorry if I offended you..."

"Lando, I HAVE to GO!" she snapped and walked away.

She was so mad that she nearly just kicked Luke's shoe to wake him before bending down and gently shaking his shoulder. He jolted to wakefulness with a snort and said, "What?"

She had to admit, the guy looked adorable with his sleepy, confused expression. "Sorry, I didn't want to wake you but class starts soon and I figured you didn't want to be late."

Luke checked his watch and said, "Oh wow, must have dozed off. Thanks."

Mara nodded and snatched up the bag of treats. "What have we here? You know this stuff is terrible for you. You shouldn't eat it so much, Farmboy. You might lose all your teeth."

She opened the bag and helped herself to a chocolate with a mischievous smile. Luke gave her a strange look. "Wait? What did you call me?"

Cheerfully, she put the bag of candy back in his bag for him as she replied, "'Farmboy', why? People don't usually call you that?"

Luke chuckled and said, "You'd be the first, actually. Anyhow, I like sweet stuff. My aunt and uncle limited it so much so when I finally got out there, I decided that I'd try more and apparently I have a sweet tooth. Feel free to help yourself by the way."

Mara chuckled at his dry humor as they went inside. After a moment of silence, she turned to him as they walked and asked him, "I don't suppose you have plans this weekend, do you?"

Luke shrugged. "Nah. My roommate Wedge Antilles has a date so I'm all on my own. That's fine though. There's always catching up to do with homework and I could always keep watching Knight Fall. Why do you ask?"

Mara bit her lip before saying, "I might or might not have told Lando Calrissian that I couldn't go to a party with him because I was helping you with psych this weekend."

Luke looked at her and frowned for a moment before bursting into chuckles. "Well I suppose that works, though I think I'm on top of psych. If you want, we can just do something else..." and he thought for a moment before saying, "... or if you really just need a cover story, we can make one up."

Mara looked at him, studying his side profile. The thing is she hated weekends. The parties could be fun but she wasn't brave enough, or maybe stupid enough, to go to the parties in the frat houses. Mostly, she just got ahead in classes, stayed in the dorm and listened to music, read, worked out and played strategy video games. After considering for a minute, Mara said, "You know what, I think that sounds fun. How far along are you in Knight Fall?"

Luke smiled with pleasure and said, "Oh I just started it. I'm only a couple episodes in."

Mara grinned wickedly and said, "Oh so you haven't found out that the king is actually..."

Luke shushed her and said, "Don't tell me! I want it to be a surprise!"

Mara chuckled and said, "Oh right, sorry;" not even a little sorry.

Boy, teasing Luke was lots of fun. He took it pretty well too, which was a good thing. She had seen him get angry early in the semester when some of the Iota Sigma Beta boys were harassing Leia and her roommate Winter. When one of them tried to put a hand on Winter, Luke was suddenly there, his blue eyes blazing and he said in the most level, calm tone that they shouldn't be treating young women like that. Mara was sure that the ISB guys were going to beat the farm boy up but they just laughed at him and walked away.

The class was already full when they got there so Luke and Mara slipped into the back and took the two seats in the back corner. While Professor Cracken gave the lecture, Luke opened his bag of sweets and offered one to Mara. She smiled and mouthed 'thank you' as she accepted one. For the entire class, they sat there eating candy, taking notes and stealing secretive glances at each other.

Updated 10.15.2018