Chapter Eleven:
Mara watched the door close with an air of apprehension, and steeled herself against the onslaught she knew would be coming now. She waited several moments while nothing happened.
Frowning, Mara turned and discovered that Luke was in the process of putting the game away. She bit her lip, thinking, before moving over to help him.
Their hands brushed once, and at that moment their eyes met.
"Mara…," Luke began tentatively.
Mara dropped her gaze, waiting for it with baited breath.
"I'm sorry about Jaina's comments." Luke went on, causing Mara to look at him in wonder. "I'm sure she wasn't trying to make anyone feel… uncomfortable."
Mara noticed he was fidgeting nervously.
"Luke, I never answered her final question." Mara swallowed. "Because I… I don't know how to answer it."
"That's okay." Luke murmured, not meeting her gaze.
But it wasn't alright, Mara could see. However, Luke was either too shy to press the issue, or afraid of pushing her away by doing so.
Mara sighed and got to her feet. "I'm tired, I think I'll head out too if you don't mind."
"Will I see you in the morning?" he asked.
Mara pursed her lips. "Well, the ball is in three days. It's hard to believe a week has passed already."
"Yes." Luke murmured. "Time flies when you're having fun."
"I did have fun, Luke." Mara told him. "One more class tomorrow, and then we can use the next two days to rest so we are fresh for the grand event."
"That sounds fine." Luke agreed, rising. "Thank you for the wonderful week, and this dinner was amazing. You passed with flying colors, Mara."
"Just don't tell Karrde, okay?" Mara snipped. "I might get demoted to galley chef."
Luke grimaced. "That would be horrible."
Mara readily agreed. "I don't feel like feeding a hoard of hungry men day-in and day-out."
Luke smiled. "I don't think he would give up his best employee so easily. You hold too much value with him."
Something dark flashed across her face then, and her mood soured.
"What's wrong?" Luke asked in concern.
"Nothing." Mara brushed past him to get her satchel. "I'll see you tomorrow, okay?"
Luke frowned. "Are you sure it's nothing?"
"I wouldn't say so if I wasn't!" Mara snapped.
Luke flinched. "Sorry."
Mara's gaze softened with a sigh. "It's nothing you did, Luke. I'm just stressed okay?"
Luke said nothing, but nodded once.
Mara ran a hand through her hair, and she opened her mouth to say something more, but she decided she couldn't right then. Instead she nodded in return and left him alone.
Mara walked quickly home with her head down, not wanting anyone to recognize and stop her. She locked her door behind her when she finally arrived home, and she hurled her sack across the room in anger.
In her wrath, Mara slammed a fist into the wall, and let out a frustrated yell. She would attend this ball because Karrde had asked her to and she was his employee. But she was tired of being a playing piece in everyone's game of dejarik.
Everyone wanted to use her skills or ask her to use her supposed good looks, her 'charm' to win over potential clients. It was always look this way, dress that way… smile to this man, wave to that senator… Mara was sick of it all.
Not everyone…that small voice in her head whispered.
She blinked, raising her eyes to the wall.
No. There was one person who truly wanted her to be happy. And as much as she wanted to give in to his obvious desire to love her, she wasn't worthy of him.
And she never would be.
Mara crumpled to the floor, overcome, and wept for a love that could never be.
00000
Luke gazed at Mara as she walked through the door to their training room one last time. He smiled warmly at her, trying to put her at ease, and though she returned a small smile, she was tense yet.
He sensed something underlying her calm outward façade, and wondered if it had anything or everything to do with last night. That was why he had come to class this morning prepared with a remedy.
"Good morning, Mara." Luke said.
"Hello Luke."
"If you don't mind, I thought we could liven things up a bit today." Luke offered, holding up a datapad.
Mara scrutinized the offered 'pad, and then her gaze jerked to his in shock.
"You want to do the foxtrot, and the Kuati Tango?" she asked.
"I do. Both look like a lot of fun, and I did my homework already." Luke said proudly. "I know the basic steps on my own. All we have to do is get me to do it with a partner."
Mara appraised him openly at that, and Luke felt his spirits rise as a smile slowly grew on her face. She placed her music player on the table and set up a list of appropriate songs.
"I like the sound of that, Skywalker." She finally said when she joined him in the center of the floor. "Let's see what you learned already."
"Which one first?" Luke clarified.
"Foxtrot." Mara answered.
Luke nodded and offered his hand, which she took, and he pulled her gently into the start position as the music played.
"Let me just find the beat here…" Luke bit his lip, listening. "Okay, here goes."
Luke took her into the dance, beginning with 'slow, slow, quick, quick' to match the music. Mara lifted an impressed eyebrow, and then nodded. They danced that beat until the music changed, forcing Luke to switch to 'slow, quick, quick'.
"Impressive, Skywalker." Mara said earnestly. "Most impressive indeed."
Luke grinned at her, but it faltered as he continued to count cadence in his mind.
Slow, quick, quick… slow, quick, quick.
Mara chuckled when she realized this. "Hey, Farmboy, just relax okay? Let it come naturally just like in Jedi training. Trust your feet to have the rhythm down by now."
Luke brought his eyes to hers and immediately felt at ease. His feet became lighter, and he found that indeed he could dance the foxtrot without keeping regular time like a metronome.
They spun about the room in smooth order, breathing in concert with the music as their feet swirled in synchronization. Luke felt his heart flutter when Mara threw he head back and let out a joyous sound.
The music ended, and Luke led them to a finish before he bowed to her.
"That was great, Luke." Mara patted his shoulder. "I need a drink before we do the Kuati Tango though."
"I'm right there with you." Luke said as he grabbed a water bottle from his bag.
He stretched his legs to keep them loose as they rested. Mara replaced her water and motioned him back on to the floor. Luke took one last swig before he followed.
"Alright, Skywalker: scene two." Mara gestured with her hand.
Luke bowed to her, and offered his arm, which she again took. The music began and Mara frowned
"Oh, that's the wrong number. Hang on a second." She broke from his dancer's embrace to change the tune.
A new, much different song started, and Mara nodded contentedly. "Ah, much better."
Mara returned to Luke, and they took up start position again with Mara resting in the crook of his arm while her right hand rested on his waist. Luke found the beat, and gingerly led her across the floor in the first few basic steps to the Kuati Tango. They went in a loose semi-circle, and Mara nodded appreciatively.
"Nicely done. Let's do that again so you can be more comfortable with it."
Luke inclined his head, and led her in another loose crescent-pattern. He tried to focus on Mara's happy expression instead of the way her hips were sensually brushing against his. He reminded himself that he chose this song, knowing that it was one of the more sensual of the ballroom dance selection.
But the other reason he chose it was to give him a live-action trial in this style of dancing. This way he was less likely to make a total fool of himself at the ball when he attempted the Corellian Rumba with Mara. But the more he thought about it, the more he wondered if that would be the most appropriate setting for such an intimate dance.
Luke grew steadily more confident in his movements, and began to incorporate some of the head-snaps and exaggerated strides. He allowed a goofy grin to spread across his face as he got Mara laughing when he theatrically bent his leg, snapped his head the opposite direction and strode Mara across the floor with gusto.
She chortled again as he continued his exaggerated movements, feeling his heart soaring with each melodious tone his companion emitted. Finally the music ended, and Luke reluctantly released a still laughing Mara.
Her amusement became contagious and he soon found himself laughing with her, breathing hard from his exertions. He had achieved his goal for the morning: cheer Mara up.
I love hearing her laugh! Luke thought happily.
"Want to dance something else?" Luke offered.
Mara looked at him. "Are you cramming before the big dance, Skywalker?"
He shrugged. "Maybe."
Mara glanced at the chrono and saw that they had been at this for over three hours now.
"Wow. It's almost noon already."
Luke glanced at his own chrono and blinked. "Oh. Well, my offer still stands. I've got the whole day free."
"How about we do one last dance and then go grab some chow?" Mara suggested.
"What dance would you like to do?" he asked curiously.
"Well…," Mara bit her lip. "Actually, there is something I'd like to try with you if you feel brave enough."
Luke felt some sort of warning bell chime in his head at her statement, but he shook it off.
"Whatever you want to do…" he said carefully.
"Have you ever been clubbing?" she asked.
"Ah… no." Luke said honestly. "I've never had a reason to go, and, well, you know how well I danced before we started classes."
Mara smirked. "Well then, consider this a pop quiz."
Luke thought about it, and then offered a tentative smile. "Okay teacher, just nothing too risqué please."
Mara snorted. "I'm not talking about having-sex-on-the-dance-floor clubbing, Skywalker."
Luke blushed furiously. "I didn't know there was any other kind of 'clubbing'." He defended.
Mara chuckled. "I'm sorry, maybe that was too strong a term. There are establishments that have actual standards and mature dancing."
Luke lifted an eyebrow, unable to resist. "Mature dancing huh?"
It was Mara's turn to blush. "I walked right into that one, didn't I?"
"Yes." Luke chortled. "But that's okay. Let's go clubbing then."
"First we clean up and eat." Mara corrected. "I'm starved."
"I'll buy." Luke told her.
"If you're offering, I won't pass that up." Mara said.