As expected, quite a few students approached Luke and Mara about the picture online. To their surprise, most were sympathetic rather than derogatory but there were still a few malicious and even hostile encounters. Natasi Daala sneered at Mara, asking if she had any standards at all and Max Veers and his buddies would constantly harass Luke about it. Each time though, they would shrug it off and largely ignore them. When the Iota Sigma Beta boys cornered Luke in the library, one of them asked, "So how was it, Joe Dirt?"
Luke gave a huge grin and replied, "Wouldn't you like to know."
The guy sneered and said, "Oh please! We all know it didn't actually happen, Skywalker. Mara Jade does have some self respect after all."
Luke just shrugged. "Whatever you say. Is there something I can help you with or are you just here to attempt to mock me for something and then deny that it ever happened?"
"We warned you once, Kid. You and her..."
Luke waved it away and shouldered his way through. "Yeah, yeah. 'We're not in the same social circles and we're not compatible so it will never work out.' Whatever you say. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a really hot lunch date with a certain gorgeous redhead."
Whistling cheerfully, Luke left the ISB boys fuming.
Mara sat at a table, waiting eagerly for Luke. For one thing, he had packed a lunch for both of them so that they wouldn't have to suffer the cafeteria's nasty food. For another, she just really, really liked him and spending time with him was always the highlight of her day. She enjoyed spending time with her friends and really liked them but it wasn't the same as being with Luke. Suddenly, someone sat down across from her - someone decidedly NOT Luke. "Hello Miss Jade. How are you today?"
It was Melina Carniss, the head cheerleader and someone who Mara didn't really care for. "I'm doing alright, Miss Carniss. Can I help you with something?"
She nodded and said, "Everyone knows that the picture of you and Luke Skywalker is fake and anyone with half a brain probably knows that there isn't any truth behind it. However, I am curious - what is Luke Skywalker like? We all know he's quiet and sweet and shy and a gentleman but what is he really like once you get him to open up?"
Mara smiled, only too willing to talk about her boyfriend's attributes even if she was a little guarded about it. "He's all those things but he's much more out going once you get to know him. He is perfectly considerate and will do anything for anyone. Whoever said good boys finish last never met him. He also has a bit of an adventurous and spontaneous side. Luke's also a great cook."
Melina's eyes turned a little dreamy. "If only I could find someone like that."
Mara smirked and said, "Good luck, just keep away from Luke. He's MY Farmboy!"
Melina giggled and stood, "Speaking of - here he comes. Have a nice day, Miss Jade."
As she walked away, Luke walked up. "Hello, Beautiful;" he said and leaned down to give her a kiss before sitting. She smiled and returned in a smokey voice, "Hello, Handsome. What do you have for me?"
Luke grinned and handed her a small aluminum foil-wrapped package. Inside was a wrap with chicken, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes and so on. Mara took a bite and said, "This is delicious. There is no way you made this yourself."
Luke looked affronted. "Yes I did. So, how many classes are left today? I heard one of them - psych I think - was cancelled. That's it for me. How about you?"
Mara pouted and said, "I still have government to go through but I'm thinking of ditching."
Luke laughed, almost choking on his food. "That's hilarious - you ditching a class - it will never happen."
Mara tried to glare at him but his laugh was infectious. "Hey! I could skip class if I wanted to!"
Luke laughed harder, nearly rolling out of his seat. Mara herself was giggling pretty hard at the idea but still managed to say, "Fine. Since you're not being nice to me, you don't get to see me for the rest of the day until the party and talent show tonight."
Luke regained control of himself and said, "I'm sorry, Mara. You just never skip class. You could be dying of something and you'd still go to class if it was still on."
Mara turned her nose up to him and said, "Nope. You laughed at me and there is no way I'm changing my mind."
Luke sighed and said, "Okay;" and he did his very best to look dejected but that only caused Mara to giggle more.
"You aren't very good at the whole pouting thing, Farmboy. Here, let me show you;" and she pouted, her lower lip trembling just barely and she said in a quiet voice, "Why did you laugh at me?"
Luke sighed and stood, bending across and kissing her on the forehead. When he sat back down, she smiled. "See? That's how you do it."
Luke smiled and said, "I'll never do it as well as you. Seriously though, are you not going to hang out with me today?"
Mara reached across and took one of his scarred and callused hands. "I actually can't. There are a couple homework assignments I need to do and I need to get my costume ready for tonight."
Luke looked truly disappointed but he understood. "Okay. Actually, that gives me a little time to work on my car. I need to change out the breaks, the oil and the spark plugs. I guess it will work out."
"What are you going as tonight?" asked Mara.
Luke grinned and said, "You'll see tonight."
Later, after working on his car, getting cleaned up and changing into his costume, Luke headed to the gymnasium where the party and talent show were being held. He felt a little ridiculous in his costume but since there were swaths of people dressed like animals, like movie and tv characters, like sports players, like superheroes and everything else in between, he quickly felt less foolish. In the gym, a large number of round tables and chairs were set up near a dais that would act as the stage for the talent show. It allowed all kinds of entries. There was a magician, a comedy act, several different singers, some full sized bands and so on. Mara had tried to convince him to enter but he couldn't think of talent that he could perform in public so he decided to be a spectator. The shows were mostly pretty good but they all paled to his girlfriend's performance. The lights went down and music began to play - slower, swaying music and a spotlight turned on, falling on Mara Jade. She wore a long, green, shimmery dress that nicely hugged her figure and her curly, gold-red hair was down. The color of her dress set off her emerald eyes and, upon seeing him in the crowed, she gave Luke a sultry wink before beginning to sing.
When marimba rhythms start to play,
dance with me, make me sway,
like a lazy ocean hugs the shore
hold me close, sway me more
Luke's mouth was hanging wide open as he stared and listened. Mara was absolutely hypnotic as she swayed and turned to the music. Her voice was beautiful and the music, played by four of their fellow students, was perfectly rehearsed.
Like a flower bending in the breeze,
Bend with me, sway with ease
When you dance you have a way with me
stay with me, sway with me
Luke closed his mouth and gulped and took a sip from the cup of punch in his hand. Mara looked at him again and smiled as she sang. He smiled back and sat down in one of the chairs nearest to the dais. Mara sashayed towards him, her hips swaying to the soft, slow beat of the music as she sang. When she reached him, she eased into his lap and brushed his hair with an amused smile. Between two stanzas she placed a kiss on his forehead, leaving the perfect outline of her lips in red lipstick. With that, she stood and walked back up to the stage and finished her act. As the music slowly died, the gym erupted with cheers, clapping, catcalls and whistling. Mara smiled and bowed before she and her musicians left the stage. Luke met her behind the stage, a huge, ridiculous grin on his face. "You are an absolute goddess, Mara. You never told me you could sing."
She beamed at him and said, "Thanks, Baby. Did you really like it?"
Luke's blue eyes widened. "Like it? You were angelic - absolutely divine."
To his surprise, Mara's cheeks turned red and she looked down almost shyly, "Shush, Luke. You're making me blush."
She looked back up and giggled, wiping the lipstick off his forehead. "I'm going to go get changed really fast, my love. I think you'll like my costume too."
Luke frowned and looked at her shimmering green dress. "I thought this was your costume."
Mara laughed. "What am I supposed to be dressed as exactly?"
As she walked away, a ridiculous grin crossed Luke's face. "My girlfriend is so hot;" he said to himself out loud, not even realizing he was saying it.
From behind him, a disgusted voice said, "You're absolutely right. She is way too hot for you at any rate. Tell me something, Farmer John, what the hell makes you think that you're good enough for her? Her adopted father is the CEO of the largest company in the nation and she has gotten the highest education from the best private schools. The only reason she came here is because this University has the best programs in the nation for Business, Law, Criminal Justice and Nursing. You probably went to some hick-town highschool surrounded by fields of corn and cow pastures."
Luke laughed out loud at the other boy's picture. The truth was that it wasn't horribly far from the truth. The school and its facilities had a large cattle ranch on one side and tall fields of corn on the other. Behind it was a large lake and park area. "I may not be good enough for her but it really doesn't matter now, does it? She doesn't think so or, at the very least, doesn't care if she does think so. Besides, what's so terrible about Hick Town High. It's well known for its sports teams, its drive-a-tractor-to-school day and is probably the last Highschool in the country where the principle will go into the school parking lot with a student to compare hunting rifles and shotguns."
Vak just sneered and said, "My point is that..."
"No wait, don't tell me. Let me guess, 'She and I are in different social circles and it would be best if our relationship stayed completely friendly and didn't go anywhere.' Is that what you were going to say, Vak?"
The other boy just glared at him. Luke chuckled. "Look, Vak, I don't really care about your elitist social designations. Have a nice night and enjoy the party, boys."
With that, he turned and walked towards the refreshment tables. He nibble on the food and refilled his glass with punch. When he went to take a sip, he pulled a face before going and pouring it down the drinking fountain's drain. "It's just not a party if someone doesn't spike the punch;" he muttered to himself.
Suddenly, a small hand tapped his shoulder. Turning around, Luke's jaw dropped. Mara stood their, a smile on her face, her hands on her hips and those hips cocked to one side. She wore a skin tight fake leather jumpsuit that was black in color. On her wrists were gauntlets of some kind and her slim, curved waist had a belt around it. Her long red hair was down and the curls straightened ever so slightly, giving her hair a wavy appearance. The neckline was just low enough to tease at just enough cleavage to drive Luke to distraction. In short, she looked so sexy that Luke had to drink some water before he could speak and his voice was still a little hoarse. All he could manage at first was, "Wow..."
Mara giggled and said, "So what do you think? Do I look like Black Widow?"
Luke nodded and said, "It would be insulting to say that you look like Black Widow. You blow her out of the water."
Mara smirked and did a sexy little spin. "Really?"
Luke's head bobbed vigorously and Mara smiled with pleasure. "And I take it you're supposed to be a greaser or something - like from Grease?"
Luke nodded, feeling a little foolish. His costume was simple - a white t-shirt, blue jeans, black high topped shoes and a black leather jacket. His hair had grease of some kind in it and was slicked perfectly for the look. Mara giggled and said, "Well come on, Stud, let's go dancing."
Luke followed her reluctantly, muttering as he did. "I'm not real good at dancing."
"Well, I'll teach you some stuff;" replied Mara, holding on to his hand and dragging him towards the area where the other students were dancing. "Come on. You can dance like a butterfly and sting like a be when working on your crazy martial arts footwork. This is only slightly different."
She turned out to be right and pretty soon, Luke was dancing with her and didn't look too terribly ridiculous doing it either. The first few songs were faster dancing songs and Mara swayed, twisted and spun hypnotically. Then a slower song came on and Luke grinned, bowing and offering her his hand. Mara took it and allowed him to pull her close. She laid her head in his shoulder and placed her forehead against his left cheek. Time seemed to slow down as they gently swayed to the music. Their friends watched with smiles, elbowing and nudging each other knowingly. Leia Organa, dressed as a tomboy in overalls, a tied up button down shirt and a straw hat, was grinning when Han Solo, dressed as an mobster in a well fitted pinstripe suit complete with a fedora and everything, proffered his hand. "Want to dance?"
Leia smiled and nodded. It wasn't long before her and Han were lost in each other's eyes just as Luke and Mara were.
For the next couple hours, Luke and Mara danced on and off throughout the night - sometimes watching the others, sometimes conversing with their friends and class mates. One of the other students was going around taking pictures for the event board and year book. He got a great picture of Mara on Luke's lap, decked out as she was in her costume, her red-gold head thrown back in laughter at something he had said while Luke tried desperately not to look down her outfit.
After several hours, Mara was getting tired. Luke looked at her as she yawned for the third time and asked, "Are you ready to head out yet, Babe? It's getting late, even for a Friday night."
Mara took his hand and turned it to check his watch. It was just passed midnight. She nodded and said, "Let me grab my dress and bag and then we can go."
Before she had made it three steps, a tall figure stepped in front of her and said in a proud, almost regal voice, "Mara, I haven't had the pleasure of a dance with you yet. Would you do me the honor?"
His name was Derran Takkar and he had a reputation as a rich, arrogant and elitist young man who usually got what he wanted one way or another. His father was a government official who had quite the following and his family was said to be close to Sheev Palpatine, Mara's legal guardian. With a polite smile, Mara replied, "No, thank you, Derran. I'm exhausted and was just about to leave. Maybe next time."
She went to walk past him but Derran lifted a forestalling hand, frowning slightly. "One dance isn't too much to ask, is it?"
Luke took a couple steps towards them but then stopped, remaining within ear shot but deciding that Mara wouldn't appreciate him jumping in all over-protectively. They had gotten into small arguments about it in the past. She leveled a cold look at Derran and said, "This time it is, Derran. I'm very tired, I had a long day and I'd like to head back to my dorm room now."
They stared at each other for several long moments before he stepped to the side, muttering as he did, "I just don't get how you can be with that Skywalker kid when there are a hundred and one far more eligible guys here. For crying out loud, he grew up on a farm, raised by his uncle and aunt in a nowhere county."
Mara turned on him and snapped, "And maybe if you were, your giant ego wouldn't get in the way of making friends and meaningful relationships. Goodnight, Derran. Tell your daddy I said 'hi'."
With that, she marched away towards the women's locker room. Luke followed at a distance to wait down the hall from the locker room, shooting a rather perturbed-looking Derran a smirk as he passed. It didn't take long for Mara to gather her gym bag and garment bag from the locker room. As soon as she walked out, Luke said, "Let me carry something for you."
With a grateful smile, Mara handed Luke the garment bag that contained her green dress. Together, they headed out into the night back towards Mara's apartment. the commons area was on the way and there was a group of drunken football players in the commons area, laughing about whatever it was that jocks laughed at when they were hammered. Seeing Luke and Mara, they made their way over, laughing and shouting as they did. "Hey - hey, Luke! Love the costume man! You look like you stepped out of Grease. And Mara, damn! You look great!"
Both Luke and Mara laughed. The football players were largely goofy, harmless guys with bigger hearts than they ever let on and were always polite to Luke and Mara. Four of them walked with the couple back towards Mara's dorm, laughing and telling drunkenly as they went. A couple times, Luke tried to shush them, chuckling as he warned them about campus security and local police officers. They always tried to quiet down but it never lasted more than a few seconds. As they went up the walk towards the dorm, one of the guys put an arm around his shoulder and tried to whisper to him, though the others could still hear him. "Tell me, Luke, did you and Mara actually-" and he waggled his eyebrows suggestively.
Luke blushed and shook his head. "No we didn't. We decided to take it slow for awhile before getting into that."
With a heavy hand, the guy clapped Luke on the back and said loudly, "Good for you, Buddy. That's the way a real gentleman should act!"
Mara covered her mouth to hide a giggle. When they were at the door, the four football players stumbled off, laughing and joking together while Luke looked at Mara. She looked so good in her Halloween costume that he didn't want to leave her. Mara stretched her hand out and asked, "Would you like to come in? The RA's are all probably still at the party so we won't get in trouble."
Luke nodded and they headed up together.
Mara's dorm was clean and Luke was facing the door as she got changed. He heard her laugh quietly behind him and say, "Such a gentleman, letting a girl change without even stealing a look."
Luke smiled and said, "And it only took every ounce of my self control to do it, especially after seeing you in that outfit. You know, I never had a Black Widow fantasy until you wore that but now it seems you gave me one."
Mara wrapped her arms around him from behind and said, "Really? You like me in that outfit that much, huh?"
"Skin tight leather, a low neckline, having the body, face and eyes of a goddess - yup I liked it that much;" said Luke, placing his hands on hers affectionately.
After just a moment, Mara said, "Turn around, Farmboy;"
Luke turned and smiled at her. She wore silky tank top and soft pajama pants. Even just in that, she looked so beautiful. "Can you stay for an hour or so? It's not like we have anything going on tomorrow, right?" she asked.
Luke nodded and took his shoes and leather jacket off. They snuggled together on her bed, kissing each other tenderly. Mara kept her hands on Luke's chest while his were wrapped around her, one hand brushing up and down her back. When he suddenly felt soft skin, he stopped and pulled the silky shirt back down, covering her lower back. Mara smiled and laid her head against his chest and they settled in to do their favorite thing when hanging out - listen to an audiobook. It had been a great day and Luke couldn't be happier, even if he had tried to be. Looking down at the girl in his arms, Luke smiled. "You are so gorgeous;" he couldn't help but murmur as he brushed a hand through her curls.
Mara gave a sleepy smile and said, "You're just trying to get into bed with me."
Luke couldn't help but chuckle quietly. "I AM in bed with you."
Mara shivered slightly and Luke pulled a blanket over them. Within the next half hour, they were both fast asleep, their audiobook droning on as they slept.
Hope you enjoyed. Just a shout out to Dean Martin for his song 'Sway'. It's a favorite of mine though I heard a much slower, more sultry cover a couple years back that inspired this. Anyhow, credit goes to him. I hope everyone enjoyed. Please read and review.
Updated 10/15/2018
