Dear Readers,
((Peeks out shyly, and narrowly escapes being hit with tomatoes and other veggies)) Hi guys… I know I left you hanging, but at least I was quick updating, right? I want to give a special thanks to everyone who reviewed chapter 4.
Jedi-Lover – I loved that parody too much girl! I think Han's job is one of those unsolved mysteries… Like why mayo grows hair, if you leave it in the sun too long… We just don't know! I'm glad you liked chapter four, I hope you like chapter five too!
Sithspawned – Oh yeah, Mara's pissed… but I think she's a little more hurt than angry. Anyways thank you so much for writing in, I hope you like this chapter.
PadawanSydneyBristow – Callista evil streak isn't as bold and outstanding as I make it out to be… in fact some crazy folks out there still think Luke should have ended up with her (crazy I tell you). But she definitely had an evil streak, that showed and I just make it harder on the old bat! LoL! I'm so glad you like this story so far, I hope you chapter 5 too!
Sweetdeath04 – Wow, I think you were the only one who wasn't sharpening a pitch fork! Were you really so surprised to get a dedication! Girl, you are one of my most loyal reviewers, OF COURSE YOU GET A CHAPTER DEDCATION! I'm SO glad you liked Han's reaction and I hope you like this chapter too! BLESS YOU!
preciousbabyblue – I know, tear! I hope you like this chapter!
Mistress Eden – I agree! Calli should die... Thank you so much for writing in! I really appreciate it.
Jelp – Well, that won't be in this chapter... but definitely later on. Thanks for writing in I hope you enjoy!
SoloKenobi – Thank you so much for writing in, I really appreciate it! And I hope you like chapter 5! ((And I find myself shouting a five letter word at Calli… WHILE I'M WRITING THIS STORY!)) -Clears throat awkwardly- In other words, I totally understand!
tensixtythree – Thank you so much for your compliments! I hope you like this chapter too!
Saber Girls (Leia) – YEAH! LET'S STICK HER! MWHAHAHAHAHAH! –clears throat- sorry, even I have a darkside! Thank you for your encouraging and fun review I really hope you like this chapter too!
Mara look-a-like – I know, Mara will make ya cry… I love her, I'd have to say she's my favorite… second only to Leia! Keep plotting on Calli… we might actually get her this time! Hehe! Thank you so much for all of your fun and motivating reviews for both of my L/M stories! Bless you!
Dedicated to Luke, himself! In my other story, "Take Your Pick," He was a moron, when it came to Mara! He begged for a chance to redeem himself, and in this chapter, his brains actually make an appearance… for once… so Luke! Enjoy, this one's for you!
"Master Skywalker's Secret Admirer"
Chapter 5 – Calli's Caught!
Luckily, Mara was able to hold back her tears until she got home. As soon as her door closed behind her, she couldn't hold them any longer and she cried her heart out. She fell on her couch and just shouted to the heavens. "WHY CAN'T ANYTHING IN MY LIFE… EVER… JUST ONCE… GO RIGHT? Why does the force… keep slapping me in the face like this?"
Her tears subsided, "I know I don't deserve him. I know I don't deserve to breathe the same air as him… But I just… wanted him to know… it was me who wrote him… everyday! It was me… who made him feel so good." She wiped her tears away and pulled out a durasteel box from under her couch. She popped off the lid, to reveal the same stationary and pen she'd used all this time.
"Maybe I should burn these, and just put an end to all of this." She stared at her beloved pen, lovely stationary, and contemplated her options. But instead of burning them like most people would. Mara began writing out her feelings, and frustrations.
Meanwhile, In A Diner…
Luke Skywalker sat across from Callista, who was now downing her ice-cream. He still wasn't quite so sure she was trying to pull another one of her tricks. So he decided to do a little fishing around on his own.
Calli looked up at him and asked, "What's up, still in shock."
"Yeah, you could say that."
"Well you believe me don't you?" she asked, just a little offended.
"Oh yeah, I believe you, it's just shocking s'all." He said, then glanced out the window, and noticed something. "Those moons are breath taking tonight, aren't they."
"Yes, lovely." She said flatly, powdering her nose.
"You're not even looking." He said, sounding like a child.
"You've seen one moon, you've seen em' all." She glanced anyway, "Besides, none of those moons are full they're all broken looking."
Luke smiled brightly and stood up. "Nice try Calli, but you're not fooling me this time!"
"What do you mean?" She asked in a panic.
"My admirer was nothing like you, on nights like this, she couldn't keep away from her balcony or windows. And she liked space travel too… all things you can't comprehend."
"Oh Luke, I said all of those things, because I know what a romantic you are." She said, still trying to trick him, but even without the force's aid, he could see straight through her lies.
"No, you didn't say any of those things. You didn't write me one letter! And you've wasted my entire evening; I only hope my real admirer can forgive me for my mistake." Luke said trying to walk away.
Callista followed him saying, "Luke, don't waste your time on this girl! She's no good for you, she's not worth you're time."
"The only person not worth my time right now, is you! We don't belong together, I learned that a long time ago, move on with your life, and get out of mine!" Luke demanded as he walked out the door.
Back in Kenobi Memorial Park…
Luke took a long walk, thinking about things, he went back to that same bench they were supposed to meet on, and sat down. Boy, he'd really messed up this time! Calli had ruined everything in such a short time, why did he leave with her, how could he have been so stupid. Deciding what he really needed right now was his best friend and some advice, Luke began walked towards home.
Instead of going to his floor, Luke went into the Knights quarters where Mara was staying (knighthood within her reach.) He rang the doorbell, but there was no answer… odd. Maybe she wasn't back yet; maybe she was ignoring him… All definite possibilities! But instead of deciding to comeback later, Luke just entered her access-code (as if it was his own) and went inside.
He found Mara lying on the couch. "Mara, why weren't you answering your- are you alright?"
"Hello to you too." She said quietly.
"You're so pale, and tears, have you been crying?" He asked wiping away some of her tears with his fingers.
"I think I'm okay; I just had a bad reaction to something I ate, that's all." She said quietly.
"Well hey; let's get you to bed then." He said easily scooping her up and carrying her like a baby.
"No, I don't want to hurt you." She murmured in his ear.
"That's not what you said last night." He said in a joking tone of voice, Mara did let out a giggle as horrible as she felt. "Now what in the stars did you eat that made you so sick?" He asked gently laying her in her bed and practically under the covers.
"I don't even know what that stuff was!" She groaned as he took her shoes off for her and tucked her in. ((AN: She learned her lesson, she's never cooking, unless it comes with instructions again.))
"Now, isn't that better than your couch?" He asked laying his head next to hers.
"Much, thanks Luke."
"No problem, was the food the only bad thing that happened or was there more?"
"Oh no, there's more, I went where I was supposed to, for these supplies, right. But when I get there this woman was already taking our stuff and running with it. Now we have to wait longer for our supplies just because of her little temper tantrum." Mara complained, sort of lying.
"Boy, you're night sounds strangely familiar to mine." Luke said.
"Oh yeah, your big date, how'd it go."
"Lousy!" He laughed and said, "You will not believe this, I told you about Calli's big return, right?"
"Yeah."
"Well she somehow found out about tonight, and dressed in an outfit like my admirer was supposed to be wearing. Blue sundress, purple flower, the whole package, and claimed it was her all along. She ruined everything!"
"Luke, I'm so sorry things didn't work out." Mara said sincerely.
"We'll that's not happening anymore! I told her to move on; you should have seen it… Now, I just hope my admirer can understand as easily as you can." He said sadly.
"She should, anyone can make a mistake." Mara said.
"I hope you're right." Luke said, and then he noticed how heavy Mara's eyes were getting. "You should get some sleep."
He was standing up to leave when Mara took his hand, "Luke, can you please stay with me, I don't feel well at all and I don't think I could handle this on my own-"
"Sure," Luke smiled.
"You're sure it isn't any trouble?"
"No, are you kidding? I wasn't looking forward to going home to that empty apartment, and Artoo's lectures anyway."
"Thank you, I'll owe you one." Mara smiled a little.
"No, I already owe you a bunch, all the nights you sat with me. I finally get to pay you back." He kissed her forehead and said, "You go on to sleep, and I'm going to just use the fresher real quick."
"Okay," she whispered back.
Luke only took a minute to ready himself for bed. He was about to turn out all of the lights and go climb into bed with Mara, when something strange caught his eye. Mara was a very tidy person, and her apartment was usually spotless. But for some reason her coffee table caught his eye.
There was a cerulean article of clothing all balled up underneath it, a withering flower, dura-steel box, some pens and crumpled pieces of filmsy scattered about its shiny glass surface. Curious, he walked over and investigated. As he got closer he recognized the stationary, and he picked up a pen and wrote something with it. This was the same ink and filmsy his admirer used all of the time. Then it hit him, Mara, she was he's admirer. But she doesn't care about him like that… does she?
Needing more information Luke started uncrumpling her letters. As soon as he saw that hand writing, there was no doubt in his mind anymore, it WAS Mara. She'd lied to him; this was all some game… Wait a minute; this isn't Calli he's dealing with here! Mara isn't like that, and would never hurt him like this! So with out any other alterative, Luke took a seat and started reading each note, one by one:
Dear Luke,
I came to the park at sun down and saw you with another girl. I just want you to know, that girl wasn't me! I'm not one of your crazed ex-girlfriends, I would never hurt you the way they did… I wish you could know who I was… WITHOUT everything getting so screwed up!
Dear Luke,
Why did you have to believe that body-snatcher! Why couldn't you have looked up and saw me, standing behind the tree, realized it was me all along and let me explain! Things would be a lot easier if you had!
Dearest Luke,
Why can't I ever stay mad at you? Why is it, I could be having the worst day of my life and you can still make me feel a lot better? You don't even have to be around; all I have to do is think about you! I went to the park and you were there with someone else. I'm not mad, anyone can make that mistake. I just wish we could try this whole evening over again… but maybe this isn't right. Maybe we're just not meant to be, and that's why everything went wrong… But if we're not supposed to be together, than why does the thought of giving up hurt so much. Why doesn't my heart stop aching? I wish I knew!
All of her letters were un finished yet heart felt and the ink was running, from her tears. Luke was shedding tears of his own now! Not only had he hurt his admirer, but his admirer was his best friend, whom he'd loved from the moment he first saw her. He had to do something to make this up to her, she was beginning to doubt…
But Luke as soon as he realized all of this, he also realized his friend had been VERY sneaky, and he couldn't let her off the hook so easily! He would have to get back at her for that! And he already had a plan working itself out in his mind... he balled the letters back up, turned off all of the lights, took a deep breath and walked back into the bedroom. Mara was dozing in that place between sleep and wakefulness… until she heard the door shut. Her eyes drifted open and she smiled softly at him. "Feeling any better?" Luke asked.
"A little," she sniffled, before she'd started dozing off, she'd started crying again… but she couldn't tell him that… or that seeing how wonderful he is, just broke her heart even more… so she tried to wipe the tears away with her blanket.
"Mara, is there something you're not telling me here?" He asked, helping her wipe her tears away.
"No, I've told you everything now, I've just had a really hard day." She lied, her voice barely a whisper… but she just couldn't tell him the truth. Even in her run down state, she still noticed something. There was a softness, or a glow in his eyes that wasn't there before. Something about him was different from before. He seemed, almost, happy, or cheerful… and he was staring at her, almost gazing! "Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Like what?" He asked softly, as he crawled into the bed beside her.
"I don't know, like that!" She said pointing at his face.
"I was just thinking how lucky I am, to have a friend like you. After a day and night like this, I can't think of anywhere else I'd rather be." He smiled.
"You know, I think you've got something there. I know I feel much better knowing you're here too!"
"I'm glad you feel that way," He kissed her on the cheek as he switch the light off using the force. "Mara, you're ice cold." Luke exclaimed touching her face and hands.
"I-uh, well… it is a little chilly in here." She said, totally taken off guard. Luke pulled her into his arms and held her close… knowing he was warm, "How's that?"
"Wonderful," Mara breathed, her eyes drifting closed as she took in his scent.
"What was that?" He asked… even though he heard her first reply perfectly.
"Uh- I said fine, just fine, but can you sleep like this? I mean are you comfortable too?"
"Oh yeah, are you?"
"Like a dream."
"What was that?"
"I said, yeah, I'm fine. A desert Farmboy like you, of course you have some warmth to spare." He couldn't help but laugh that time. She meant to kiss his cheek but she wasn't feeling good and it was dark, so instead of pecking his cheek, she pecked his lips and snuggled against him saying, "Goodnight Luke."
Luke was so taken aback by the short and sweet contact of her lips on his… it took him a moment to reply, and then he finally said, "Goodnight Mara." And he thanked the force for it being so dark… Otherwise, Mara would have surely seen the big, goofy grin he was wearing… 'Yep,' Luke's grin grew. 'Today didn't turn out too bad at all!'
There it is, HE KNOWS! So, like it, love it, hate it? Please let me know, I love hearing from all of you! Thanks again to everyone who wrote in and I hope you all liked it!
-SailorLeia
