Mara added the last of the black eyeliner around her eyes and stepped back from the mirror to observe her handy work. She had covered her face with white powder, giving her a dead look that was a very popular style among the Imperials, added with the sunken look from the black eyeliner. Instead of her usual blood red lipstick, she tried a dark plum, clashing horibly with her green eyes, but survival was brutal like that. Her days of sucking up were about to begin, and she nearly gagged at the thought.

She pulled her hair back into a loose bun, and tied it with a black leather band. Her shirt was tight and backless, made of a soft black felt material that clung to her curves. Her skirt was very short and black, spikes running up the sides. The red fishnet stockings she wore didn't cover much more, in fact it was the knee high army boots that covered the most sin on her.

Mara grabbed her keys and bag before leaving her apartment, readying herself for the day's torment. Figuring she'd get hit up as a prostitute if she walked to school like that, she took her speeder for what seemed the first time that year.

000

She hesitantly approached Darren, making sure her face remained calm the whole time. He watched her, his eyes holding the look of dominance as she stood before him. Mara bowed her head, so that he would not be able to tell that she was lying, and began her days of brown nosing.

" I'm sorry. I learned my lesson. Can you forgive me?" she asked him in a soft fearful voice. He laughed slightly and placed and hand against her cheek, an action that would have made Mara weak in the knees if it had been Luke. But she only quivered as his other hand slid down her bare skin to her lower back, pulling her closer. She could see Fern watching them both, jealousy flashing in her yellow eyes.

The bell rang loudly, like an alarm awakening her numbing world, and she just felt herself being pulled into the building by someone, as though she were being dragged to hell by the Devil's Advocate.

000

When recess started up, Mara nearly chewed her own arm off when she noticed that they had to pass by the Lightsiders. Darren's arm was wrapped tightly around her waist, a wicked smile on his face as they walked into the enem territory. Her eyes were set on the many faces' surprised looks when they saw her dressed the way she was, with Darren feeling her up. She could feel her cheeks burning beneath the thick makeup that coated her face. She nearly laughed when she thought of it as warpaint, for that almost was what it was; Warpaint.

000

" Yo, Luke, your little Imperial has turned on ya man. I see she ran back to her leader, and they seem to have things resolved." Lando said to Luke, a frown twisting on his mouth. Tionne spoke up next, snottily as she usual was when sober.

" My God! That little bitch. Look at her, she's dressed like such a whore." Leia turned to her, setting her in her place.

" Tionne you're wearing less than she is. And she is not the whore, you are." Cilghal joined in the conversation, surprise in her voice.

" Why don't you two sound surprised?" she asked Luke and Leia. The twins smirked at each other before turning back to their comrads.

" Let's just say, we were apart of that." Luke said pointing to the Imperial couple walking away from them. Han smiled brightly, happy that Mara was indeed not a traitor, finding the little redhead to be an interesting person.

" Wait, you three planned this up. That's brilliant. So is she on our side or what?" Han asked very eager to know.

" She is on her own side. This isn't a plot to screw over the Imperials, though it would have been good. It's a plot to help her live through each day with them. The method known as butt-kissery." Luke answered his best friend, grinning slightly. Leia leaned forward and wrapped her arms around her brother's neck in a sisterly fashion.

" Now the rest is up to her." she said softly to her twin.

000

The tatoo shop was always interesting whenever she went inside, carrying something new each time. The last time she was here she had gotten the sith dragon that was permanately stained into her back now, the only tatoo she had so far. But the shop also did peircings anywhere you wanted them. Darren and Fern had dragged her in there after school had ended, talking her into peircing somewhere on her body. She had taken the easy route and decided on another set of holes in her ears, making this now four sets of holes in her ears.

As she sat back in the chair, her thoughts wandered back to Luke and what he would say to this. He would probably just smile and shake his head, telling her that it was her body and her choice. But when the droid stuck the peircing pin through her ears, there was no friendly face greeting her from her reverie, just two bitchy Imperials.

A/N: Ok, I know this still wasn't that long, but I have to climb my way up to the good part which is soon to come. Bear with me, I have a paper due Friday.