Padmé tried to ignore the few gawking faces they strolled past while Anakin's grip tightened on her hand. His extreme reluctance to let her go shining while he swung her arm casually like they were strolling through a park and no one else was around. She felt like she was still in some state of shock, or brain fog, just trying to keep up with his strides that made her feel like she was running beside him.

He only dropped her hand just in time to open the side door of the student union and wait for her to enter. What an… unexpected gentleman? Who was this guy and why wasn't he anything like the man that sat in front of her ignoring most of her instructions at least once a week during the semester and twice during finals?

She appeased him at the first door, stepping in front of him and then waiting again while he rushed around her to grab the second. He sought out her hand again on the way to the elevator but she managed to avoid him just enough to wrap her head around what was going on. That was until she got lost in her thought and felt the brush of his pinky finger against hers which she instinctually wrapped around his without taking a moment to glance over at him.

What was he doing? And better yet, what the hell was she doing?

Padmé found her hand wrapped in his, their fingers intertwined again while they waited in the very crowded line at Starbucks. Baffling as it was, the warmth of his palm against hers and the subtle possessiveness of his posture made her feel… Safe? Warm? Something Palo never did, preferring instead to stand at least a foot away from her at all times. Or so it felt like. She was… Not jealous, because Padmé Naberrie was not one to be jealous of her friends, but definitely not thrilled to be the only one of them to not have a tight arm around her whenever they went places. Seeing Yané and Saché fawning over each other, or Sabé with Harli when that was still a topic of discussion made her happy for them, of course. But a little insecure about her own relationship. Why couldn't Palo be like that? Why did he have to be so… Him?

Never mind any of that. Palo was gone, and he made it very clear he had zero intention of coming back, not that she wanted him to. And besides, for all the mystery of what was happening before her very eyes, Anakin was doing exactly what she'd dreamt of. Exactly what she wanted.

Despite the entire date being her idea, she couldn't shake the thought that there was something foreign and strange about being seen with him, though. She was thankful the way they were standing in line, their hands were mostly hidden from prying eyes and she didn't have to worry about onlookers.

"What do you normally get?" he asked, metaphorically popping her thought bubble.

"What?"

"I said what do you normally get? Y'know, your drink order."

"Oh…" She paused to scan the menu like this was her first time here and she didn't frequent the place more than once a day at times. Apparently this was her first day being a person beyond all else. "Uhh, what do you get?"

He gave her an odd look and then laughed softly. "You do come here, right? And order coffee? If not, I'm more than happy for us to go somewhere else."

Wow, she was… more embarrassing than she cared to admit, or ever wished to be. If she wasn't living it, she'd have second-hand embarrassment from her own stupid actions.

"Of course, silly," she said, nudging him with her shoulder enough to let go of his hand. Again, he gave her a quizzical look, more put off than the last one. "This is fine. I usually get a caramel macchiato. Iced. Venti, unfortunately because caffeine rules my life."

"That's… I don't know why, but that sounds very you."

"Very me? What exactly does that mean? And what's your order? It might say something just as loudly about you."

He scoffed, flashing her his signature smirk that she'd seen so many times during a session when she accused him of trying to cheat. He nudged her back and said proudly, "Mocha cookie crumble frap."

Well, if a caramel macchiato said something about her, she'd never heard anything more Anakin Skywalker than that frappuccino.

"Yeah, that tracks. Very you," she said, looking around the cafe area. In the back of her mind, she was trying to knock it off. She really was. To stop waiting to see people watching her—them—while she was this close to him and laughing mindlessly at tidbits of conversation.

"Yeah? And what does that mean?"

She casually shrugged. "Just seems exactly like the kind of drink you'd have on a regular basis. All hopped up on sugar and espresso. I guess those cold brews and lattes you bring to group are just for the rough nights?"

"Hey, a guy has to do what a guy has to do."

Yep. That sounded like him too.

The students in front of them finally cleared out of the way, freeing the counter for them to step forward. Before she could even start with her simple request, the barista shouted for Anakin. He ran up to the counter to slap hands with her supposed date and he returned the gesture.

"Hey, look who it is this early in the morning. Wild night last night, right? Can't believe you dragged yourself out of bed already and you're not still…" he lowered his voice. "Under someone's covers."

Anakin bit his lip as he smiled—not that she was paying enough attention to notice—and ran his hand over the back of his neck. And was he blushing again?

Padmé just tried to pretend she wasn't even there, and it wasn't her prospective sheets he could have been still under if she'd followed through with asking the question. Clearly, the man he was talking to hadn't noticed her to begin with so what was the point? She could just get her coffee and leave. And maybe she should.

"I—um—I actually didn't go. At all."

"Didn't go?" The guy—Kitster, according to his name tag—looked at him like he'd sprouted a third head from his shoulder. "What did you…"

Padmé poked his side with her elbow, tilting her head toward the young woman at the register who was patiently waiting to take their order. The impatience simmering just below that over her coworker's behavior that was holding up the line.

"Shit. Yeah, man, it's a long story. Let's catch up later? Swear, I'll tell you everything."

Kitster looked at him, then Padmé, before the slightest curl of his lip appeared with narrowed eyes. "Right. Don't let me slow you down any. If you get anything from the case, muffins on me, y'all."

Thanks? Oh, to be Anakin and know literally everyone on campus…

Anakin simply gave him a subtle lift of his chin before looking at the cashier, who glared at the both of them, clearly annoyed now.

"I'm so sorry. Just a venti iced caramel macchiato for me, and a…" Padmé let her words trail off, waiting for him to finish her order.

"Caramel ribbon crunch frappuccino, venti also," he finished with a head nod. "Oh, and I guess two blueberry muffins?"

The cashier rolled her eyes when she took the card from him to put on his meal plan and Padmé found herself holding back a laugh. There wasn't a single hint of surprise or astonishment on his face in response to the woman's reaction at all. In fact, Padmé wasn't really sure he even noticed. Is that what it was like to be him? All smiles and smooth talking and friends at every twist and turn? Not that it was unlikely for her to run into her sorority sisters or her own friends, but this was something different yet. This was a popularity she neither had, nor wanted.

Anakin nudged her to step away while he put the card back in his wallet and she joined the crowd of students at the other end of the counter waiting on their orders.

"Caramel ribbon? Branching out today?" she asked him, playfully with an arched eyebrow.

"Thought I'd join you with the caramel stuff. See if there's anything I've been missing out on."

"How adventurous of you."

Before he could respond, Padmé was inadvertently pushed to the wayside when a group of guys approached them and surrounded Anakin. A series of handshakes, back slaps, and whatever else guys did in their typical greetings caused enough noise that people were looking up now.

She made awkward eye contact with a woman she recognized from one of their sorority functions who tilted her head at Padmé, now awkwardly standing to the side with her hands held in front of her. Padmé shrugged back before stepping forward to take the muffins from the barista. Their drinks already sat on the counter but since Anakin was otherwise occupied, she tucked his muffin next to his drink and walked away without him.

Her date had been swept up in his own world. One that clearly overlooked her and she knew she had no business trying to fit into. And why should she bother? She was perfectly content to find a place on the stools that lined the tabletops by the windows. Anakin could come find her, or if not, she'd gotten a free coffee and muffin out of the endeavor. She supposed all's well that ends well in that case.

She dug her phone out, splitting the muffin in two parts to have better control over and started mindlessly scrolling through her missed notifications. Dormé sent her an unnecessary message reminding her to not do anything she wouldn't do, and then clarified in a second message she meant nothing she wouldn't do so early in the morning. Padmé laughed and turned her phone back over to just enjoy the view of the quad.

When she dared to turn her head, Anakin was still nowhere in sight, still somewhere in the herd of men crowding the floor that was drawing people in like a sort of black hole. A smaller group of women approached, all giggles and blushing faces, and it occurred to Padmé she must be staring at the entire men's baseball team. And judging by Kitster's reaction, they were probably after the star playboy who'd skipped out on their festivities.

Nope. He wasn't out with them last night. Instead, he was just casually awake in the middle of the night. Messaging his tutor.

"Hey! There you are. Why'd you run off like that?"

Padmé turned the opposite way to see Anakin at her side, a deep frown on his face.

"Run off?" She laughed, taking another drink of her coffee. "I was pushed out and I didn't want to just stand there in the way. Your friends clearly missed you. Shame you bailed on them last night because it seems like that was something really important."

"Some things are just—" Anakin hopped on the stool next to her and reached for her hand just as she slid it away. "—more important."

"Really? Like what, exactly?"

"Like coffee at 9am."

Oh no. Oh no, no, no.

Okay, she was putting a stop to this now. Enough was enough. She had to.

"Anakin, what are we doing?"

He dropped the hand that was stuffing half of the muffin top into his mouth and stared at her.

"We're having coffee?"

"Yes… I know that." Obviously, she thought. She waved a hand between them. "But what are we doing?"

He looked even more confused, running a hand over the top of his head. "I don't understand?"

Of course he didn't.

"You. Finding me on the app, inviting me here, holding my hand, buying my coffee. Why? Are you needing extra help on something or an extra session? Because I can't sway your TA just because you got me a muffin, you know."

"Wh-what?" Anakin let out an exhausted sound and looked all around them. "Is this a joke? What are you even talking about?"

"That's what I'm trying to figure out. Is this a joke? I'm your tutor, and we're coming up on finals and now, suddenly, you and I are texting at 2am and having coffee like we do this every day. Do you need my help with your creative writing class? Is there a final project you're missing for Pols 101? What is it?"

"Oh my god. What is your deal right now?" he asked with a laugh.

"My deal?"

"Yes. Your deal. You really want to know what's up?"

"Uh, yes I do."

"Yeah?"

"Absolutely. Please enlighten me, Anakin." She popped another bite of muffin in her mouth, awaiting whatever his response was going to be. It was sure to be the highlight of this interaction, right before she bolted for the door and put the whole experience behind her.

He dropped his head and laughed again. "Fuck, Padmé. I haven't been in any of those classes since last spring."

What?! Did he just…

"What? Then why the hell are you still in my group every week?!"

Anakin wet his lips and took a deep breath. He slid his hand forward and she was frozen in place, too stunned to yank her hand away when his covered hers completely. "I just come to see you."