On Saturday Winter arrives with a batch of her aunt Breha's blueberry muffins and a pint of Baskin-Robbins. Her best friend had never liked Hux, despite his well-to do social status and stellar looks. Or any man Mara's dated for that matter. She'd be pissed about it, if Winter's super powered jerk-detector hadn't proven its accuracy 99 percent of the time (even that time, the guy was a sleazeball: just not a heterosexual one). All things considered, Winter Celchu is a great person and an amazing friend. It's a shame she's an only child, she would gladly date a Celchu brother (as long as he was easy on the eyes of course). Sadly, Winter can't use her super weapon on herself due to the fact she's still letting her parents pick out dates for her. Granted, most of them are decent fellows with respectable incomes and table manners who actuallywant kids but they're so dull a piece of integral bread seems more invigorating than these cubicle lovers. She craves fire, her parents send her mud. Whereas Mara seeks enlightment and uncovers frustration.
"You know Mara, now that you're only working part time maybe my folks can arrange a few suitors for you. They love you ever since you beat up my ex, whom my parent's didn't choose ergo not a excuse for saying no."
" Winter, your last date was Rick Moranis's clone."
" How is it possible for someone to spend their Christmas vacation volunteering at Graham Windham teaching self-defense to abused children, annually donate their bonus to St. Jude's, attend Catholic Church weekly, work every summer with Greenpeace and still be inconceivably shallow?"
" Not you too, that Jinn guy I spent all Friday night cooped up in the elevator with, also said I was shallow. Although, he supposedly cured me of my wretched vanity so I could find my soul mate. I think it worked, immediately after I left the library, I caught a cab with this hunk. Then I got the hottest pizza delivery guy in history. "
" What'd he do, exorcise your great uncle's ghost from you?"
"Winter, I am going to ignore your last comment in order to avoid a homicide at 7:00 am."
They eat breakfast in silence. Mara knows there was no ill bearing in her friend's quip but too many people have ridiculed her great uncle recently. She'll make it up to Winter tonight, she can have complete control over Netflix. Right now though, her bff is momentarily set aside as she scrambles for a taxi. Sabine Wren, one of her co-workers called at 6:00 to ask if she could sub for Saturday rehearsals since Bo-Katan Wren's cancer shot up. While she loves having her job back for a while, Mara deeply wishes it was under happier circumstances. However, wishing doesn't ease the gaping heartache. That's what work is for. Next time, she's taking the subway. That way she can avoid running in ballet flats for three blocks at 8:30 in the morning. Her girls were all happy to see their instructor, they've been practicing so hard. Other than Jessica Pava inquiring about Rey, the class itself was uneventful. Rehearsals end at 12:00 and she browses the web to see if the eye patch on great-uncle's statue she saw on the way here is real or just paranoia. As usual, destiny picks the worst conclusion and the internet reveals the eye patch is accompanied by zits and a graffiti bra. Still dressed in her fuchsia skirted leotard, she empties her locker, shoves all her stuff in her bag and races to see if the culprit remains. At the crime scene, a figure is crouching over the statue of Sheev Palpatine's contemporary Yoda Masters. She throws him an axe kick, he falls on the ground in a flash.
"Miss, with all due respect I'd like to know what I did to deserve a kung fu attack."
"You earned my Jiu Jitsu attack by vandalizing history!"
"It was like that when I got here! I'm just cleaning up Yoda's statue. Some pervert drew a bra on all the statues. Haven't reached Palpatine yet, Mace Windu took me a while. Sorry for keeping the area clean."
He stays on the floor as he talks to her, careful to keep his back turned while his arms stretch through the earth. Almost like he's trying to find something. Doesn't look like he dropped anything. Unless that huge sweater, turtle neck or baggy pants have more compartments. Who wears a sweater in the middle of August? This isn't Alaska, it's 90 degrees today. The damn thing's so thick she can barely see his... hand. Oh shit, he's searching for his prosthetic. She opens his bag, hoping for a spare but all he has in there is cleaning supplies (crap, he was telling the truth), a flip phone, a Victor Hugo novel, some granola bars, medication for chronic pain and an Iraq war purple heart cap. Holy smokes, she face kicked an armless veteran. Now would be a good time for the earth to swallow her whole. Great uncle would be ashamed of me. Her mental self flagellation is cut short by a small shadow behind Finis Valorum's statue. For once, fate looks kindly upon her as she retrieves his artificial limb.
"I found your prosthetic. Words can't describe how sorry I am, if there's any way I can make it up to you..."
He turns to take back his hand. She is met with the most breathtaking face she's ever seen. If Philip the Handsome was half as ravishing then the nature of Joan the Mad's obsession is a mystery to her no more. She'd drag his body over Europe anyday. His hair is spun gold, his eyes are mazarine blue, he is neither giant or midget. Eat your heart out Qui-Gon Jinn, my fantasy man exists! My Emperor, I have found a godly man. Is this pleasing to you? Let Apollo satisfy our needs as Orpheus plays the lyre of love.
"Miss, I'm not offended. It was just a misunderstanding."
"Let me buy you lunch, it'll clear my conscience. Free dessert in exchange for your name."
"I'm Luke Skywalker. And you can stop the pity flirting now. It gets old pretty quick."
"Well, Luke Skywalker I'm Mara Jade and pity flirting is a phrase I've never heard of before, much less used."
"You actually want to be seen with me? In broad daylight, wearing a pink leotard? Is this a joke?"
"Just accept before I end up purchasing a horde of gift baskets for you."
"Fine, lunch. But don't say I didn't warn you."
They go to this French bistro and Luke opens the door for her. And keeps it open for the old lady going out. He takes off his coat and gives it to her when he sees her shivering. His sleeves are so long they hide his palm. How is he not melting? The sweater's a lot comfier than she thought it would be. When she thanks him for it, he says it's nothing. Polite, handsome,smart, funny and humble: where has he been hiding all her life? They fall into a easy conversation. Turns out he's an Opera fan. Even more surprising, he actually saw her when she played Sleeping Beauty last year and went again to see her dance but a different ballerina performed instead. She explains how she's a teacher and only performed that day cause the understudy was sick. He replies that the understudy should consider a vacation so she could dance more often. Mara kisses his cheek, he looks at her like she's a miracle. The waitress's perky attitude is reduced to a gasp when she sees them. Luke's hesitant smile disappears as the waitress fidgets while taking their order.
"Guess she's not used to serving men with killer good looks."
"Her reaction was mild, I get worse feedback from toddlers. Change of topics: are you allowed to drink that chocolate milkshake you ordered cause I thought dancers had this unrelenting diet plan. "
" We can splurge every now and then. Don't believe all that diehard healthnut propaganda. "
She asks if his girlfriend is some notorious calorie counter. Her heart skips a beat when he says he's single. Whoever crippled his self-esteem to the point his tone indicates assuming otherwise is impossible better watch out if she runs into him/her. Maybe it's the one arm situation. Losing a limb is pretty traumatizing. Luke joined the army at nineteen, he was honorably discharged three years later. While Mara was studying in Julliard, Luke was recovering from a dirty bomb blast. He spent two months in a coma, when he woke up doctors had amputated his hand and his body was covered in third degree burns combined with shrapnel. Lesser men would have committed suicide. Luke is grateful to be alive. Although she could have sworn the type of injuries he described left people severely disfigured. The army doesn't cover reconstructive surgery and Luke's family can't afford it. He says they're farmers, old school farmers. Guess he got the million dollar explosion. When they finish lunch, she gives back his coat and he buys a sandwich which is promptly given to the homeless man on the street.
" That was very nice of you."
"Not as nice as your company. You more than made up for that first impression."
"Well, next time I promise to ask questions before kicking people in the face."
"I'm happy you kicked me, this is the closest thing to a date I've had in four years."
"I could take you out on a real date this thursday if you want. We're going to the Metropolitan Art Museum. But you'd have to meet my best friend. No worries though, you might be the first guy she actually likes me dating. Can I have your phone number?"
"Uh sure, let's see how far we can stretch the miracle. This is my number, call me when you figure out the details."
"Great, I'll see you soon."
"Mara?..."
"Yeah farmboy?"
"If I don't hear from you, I appreciate everything anyway."