Notes: This is Julia's fault. She got me thinking about the padawan again with her Island Girl fic. But I'm afraid this isn't nearly as interesting. I have no idea where this is going or how silly it's going to get. Let's just call it some nice little escapist, self-indulgent Obi fic and not hold it against me. :)

"Jedi schmedi," you say.

"Have you lost your mind?"

"Renna," you say, giving your roommate that huffy look of yours. "Read my lips: Meat market."

"So?"

You sigh and flap your hand at her. "They're only looking to get laid."

Renna flips her hair and places her hands on her hips. "I repeat: So??"

You laugh and shake your head. "Hey, if you want to be loaded up on the chuck wagon, be my guest."

"Listen," she says, "you just gotta play the right side. As far as I'm concerned, *they're* showing the merchandise. I admit, most of these women are going in there like a bunch of hamburger just waiting for any hungry dog to snap them up. But I'm going in there as an educated consumer and looking for the best steak I can find."

You groan and drop your head into your hands.

"And you're going with me," she adds.

"Oh, no," you say standing up and walking away from her.

"Oh, yes."

"Ren, you cannot ask me to go stand out their like those women," you say, stopping in front of your patio door and pointing to the group of women already amassed outside the Temple gate. It's not that you don't like Jedi. You are quite fond of them. But every so often they open their doors for what they call a public open house, which usually translates into women coming from far and wide to out-compete each other for a piece of the action while the Jedi sit back and casually take their pick of the goods.

Renna walks up besides you and looks out. She laughs. "Oh God, that's really pathetic."

"You see! Look at them, they're groupies."

"Yeah," she says, "at least we sit on our deck across the street and make suggestive comments out of earshot."

"And we certainly never look that desperate," you say.

"Right. I mean, it's perfectly normal for us to sit on our deck….with our legs dangling and our faces stuck between the bars."

Now it's your turn to laugh. "Exactly. We're four floors up anyway. That's *way* different than being on ground level with our faces stuck between the bars of their security gate."

"Of course," Renna says, hooking her arm around your elbow and dragging you from the door. "So, being the unique and different women that we are, we will simply arrive fashionably late, once the gates are open."

"You know I'm no good at working a room," you protest. "Couldn't we just go see a movie? Sit around and stuff our faces?"

"No," she says, pushing you into your room. "Now, find something to wear."

~*~

"I'm really not happy about this," you say as the two of you walk across the street.

"That's about the fifth time you've said that," Renna says.

"Well, it's true. I mean, how desperate and obvious is this?"

"You're just unhappy because you're on unfamiliar turf and aren't in control of every little variable," she says.

"Oh, like you aren't a control freak," you say.

"Yeah, but I've been without sex longer than you have," she says.

You laugh. "You'd better lock that little factoid deep down with this crowd. You'll never make it out of here alive."

"Now that's an intriguing thought," she says as the two of you cross the threshold into the lion's den.

The combined scent of a thousand terrible perfumes practically knocks the two of you unconscious as you enter the large reception hall. Your nose is suddenly assaulted by a violent tingling, and your eyes quickly water over.

"Oh great," you say before the sneeze wracks your entire body.

"Look, there are some doors open over there. That might help," Renna says.

You follow her across the room and toward the relief of fresh air. "Damn," you say as your allergies finally calm down, "shouldn't there be some sort of perfume check at security?"

"No kidding," Renna says. "It's like insect repellant."

"Hope nobody lights a match in here," you say, taking another breath of fresh air before turning toward the crowd.

"Alright," Renna says, "it appears that the tall and gorgeous women are over in that corner, the barely clothed and embarrassingly desperate in that corner…."

"I thought we were embarrassingly desperate," you say.

"No," she says, "we're only situationally desperate, meaning that we still have standards."

"I see."

"So it looks like," she continues, "this is the corner for the all-this-and-brains-too babes."

"Wow," you say. "It's amazing how we end up in the all-this-and-brains-too babes corner no matter where we go."

The two of you stand there for a few moments watching the crowd. And then Renna says, "Do you get the feeling that we are the oldest women here?"

"Um, yeah. Getting that distinct impression," you say. "Except perhaps for some of those in the barely clothed and embarrassingly desperate corner. Not that we want to find kinship with them, of course."

"Well, there are a few older men here, I guess," she says.

"Uh, they seem to be chaperoning," you say.

"Hello."

You and Renna look at each other, and then you turn to find a boy standing next to you who can't possibly be older than fifteen or sixteen. "Hello," you say with a polite smile.

He smiles, seemingly relieved that you actually responded. "Would…uh…would you like to…uh…dance?"

You know your mouth is hanging halfway open and that your eyebrows are arched high on your face. But you just don't know how to respond.

"Oh my God," Renna suddenly says.

"What?" you say, turning your head to her.

"My wallet is gone," she says, rummaging through her small purse. "I must have left it in the restroom. C'mon." She grabs your arm before you can respond and drags you away from the jailbait. You give him an apologetic smile as you are hurried across the center of the room. And then Renna begins to laugh.

"Stop laughing," you scold her through gritted teeth.

"I'm sorry," she says, still dragging you along. "We have to get the hell out of here."

"Yes, we do. You see, I told you we should have gone to a movie."

She stops suddenly and releases your arm. She turns to face you and says, "Oh, shut up."

You laugh as she continues walking again. "Wait, Ren," you say as she heads for the door.

"What?"

"Isn't that Kiana?"

"Where?" Renna looks in the direction you are looking. "Oh my God, it is. She really looks like shit."

"It's a satisfying sight to behold, isn't it?"

Renna laughs. "We're so bad."

"Ah, hell, she deserves it," you say with a smile.

"Let's bail before she sees us and has to tell us a pack of lies about how great her life is," Renna says, turning around quickly.

"Yeah, and tells everyone she saw us here hitting on underage boys."

"No, that would just be you."

"Oh, shut up," you laugh. "And how embarrassing is that? Fifteen year-olds never hit on me when I was fifteen. Why now?"

"I dunno," she said. "He's a Jedi. God only knows what he picked out of your brain."

"Oh, thanks for that thought," you say sarcastically. "This place makes me paranoid. We're at a complete disadvantage."

"Well, cope with that paranoid neuroticism a moment longer," Renna says. "I have to go to the bathroom."

"Okay, I'll wait for you just outside the front door. I need air now."

"Alright," she says, cutting down the hall toward the restroom.

You quickly walk outside and enjoy the feel of the cool night air on your skin. You cross your arms to keep your short black jacket closed as the breeze tries to push it open and reveal your little black dress that you knew was just too revealing for the chuck wagon show.

You look straight up and are amazed at the patch of open sky that is viewable from the Temple property. With a large plaza extending in front of the building, this is one of the few open spaces in the local vicinity. Although it's just traffic that looms far above your head, in the darkness of night, it's an eye-catching sight, hundreds of lights moving in formation against the glowing black sky. You continue to stand there, staring upwards and rather oblivious to your immediate surroundings down on the ground.

"Excuse me."

You finally shift your gaze to a normal level, feeling somewhat disoriented for a moment. Then you realize that whoever addressed you is standing behind you. You turn around and are struck yet again with the inability to speak.

"Is everything alright?" the Jedi says, glancing up to the sky and then back to you.

"Um, yeah," you say, unable to form coherent sentences in light of the fact that this man's eyes have somehow rendered you unable to move or think. "Just, uh, enjoying the open space here before heading back to urban hell."

He smiles, which only makes his presentation all that more appealing and delightfully unnerving. "You aren't walking alone, are you?"

You can't help but smile at the chivalrous question, your grin bordering on goofy due to the effect his voice is having on you. "No, just waiting for a friend…there she is," you say as you see Renna approach the door. As soon as she is outside, she stops dead in her tracks when he turns to look at her.

"Well," he says, turning back to you, "feel free to partake of our open space at your leisure."

You smile while Renna waggles her eyebrows behind his back. "Thanks…uh…."

"Obi-Wan," he says.

"Ah," you say with a nod. "Well, thanks, Obi-Wan."

He stands there for a moment, his face bearing a faint expression of anticipation. Then he takes a step back. "Well, enjoy your evening." He turns around, smiles politely at Renna, and then walks inside the building.

Once he is well inside, Renna marches up to you and slaps your arm. "What is wrong with you?"

"What?" you say defensively.

"That man was, a, beautiful, b, talking to you for no good reason, and, c, obviously trying to get your number," she says.

"Oh please," you groan.

"Why didn't you give him your name? He was standing here waiting for you to give him your name, and you just gave him a look like he was wasting your time."

"I did not!"

"You did," Renna says, pointing at you as the two of you begin to walk back home.

"Besides, if he wanted my name, he should have asked for it."

"You are impossible," Renna huffs. "This is why you have no man in your life. You never cut them any slack."

"Well, you said you were the one who'd been without sex longer. What's your excuse?" you tease.

"Oh, shut up," Renna says, walking a little faster.

"Besides, he's a Jedi. He should already know my name without my having to tell him," you add.

Renna sighs with frustration. "Alright, I'm not having this conversation with you anymore."

"Well, c'mon," you say. "They do read minds after all. He probably had my address, my high school locker combination, and my dead hamster's name before he even said a word."

Renna looks at you as you stop at the crosswalk. "You actually remember your high school locker combination?"

"Well, no. But I bet he could tell me. Oh! I bet he could also tell me where I lost my driver's license a few years back. That's always really bugged me, ya know."

She raises an eyebrow at you. "I think he's probably good for a lot more than that." She begins walking across the street. "But, you'll never know now since you're so damn stubborn."

You hurry to catch up. "Well, it's not so much a stubborn streak as it is social retardation."

"Tell me something I don't know," she snorts.

"Hey, I told you I was no good at this before you dragged me over," you say.

"You just use that as an excuse for sitting around in your pajamas," she says.

"Yeah? So?"

"So…. Wanna get some ice cream?" she asks, pulling open the door of your favorite comfort food haunt.

"You know it," you say, stepping inside the small diner with a silly grin on your face.

"You did not win," Renna says. "We went to the Temple, which was my idea. And now we are hanging out and stuffing our faces, which was your idea. It's a tie."

"Uh-huh," you say as you walk to your favorite table. "Face it, babe, we are just not chuck wagon girls."

"Yeah," she sighs as you both sit down. "Jedi schmedi."

"You know what I'm going to do?" you say as you walk out of your bedroom, just changed out of your work clothes into your too-long sweat pants and slightly warped t-shirt that used to actually cover your stomach before you washed it.

"Ummm, go stand on the deck and make fun of pedestrians?" Renna says, engrossed in a magazine as she sits on the sofa.

"How'd you know?"

"Because that's what you always do."

"Oh. Right." You saunter over to the door, securing your hair in a loose ponytail as you walk. "Well, it's actually fairly decent outside. I have to take advantage of the nice weather."

"Mmm-hmm."

"Oh, you have no faith in me," you say as you open the door.

"Give me a reason to," she says, still with her nose in the magazine.

You chuckle as you walk out onto the balcony, the early evening air a comfortable change from the circulated air you've been breathing all day at the office. Of course, you'd probably go into shock if you ever inhaled real, fresh, smog-free air. But everything is relative.

You lean against the railing and look straight down. The fourth floor flat you share with Renna is just low enough to allow for entertaining people watching but high enough so no one knows they're being watched.

It's the typical rush hour crowd, people hurrying to get home. But usually there's something worth spying on, especially since your building is across the street from the Jedi Temple. Well, it's more like kitty corner from the Temple, but since Jedi aren't exactly the materialistic type, there are always plenty to view as they walk down the sidewalk to wherever it is Jedi go.

You turn your head to the right, peering down the street. You smile as you spot a small sea of brown robes. You take a step back to the door. "Hey, Ren, get out here."

"Why?"

"Fresh meat."

"Ooohh."

You resume your perch next to the railing, squinting to try and see if there really is anything interesting to look at.

"Hmmm, too far away to see," Renna says, leaning against the railing next to you.

"Yeah, but they're headed this way."

"Too bad they didn't cross first. They'd be easier to see on our side of the street," she says.

"Ah well, this way they won't notice us watching them," you say.

"And that's why they should be on our side of the street. So they *do* notice. Duh."

You snort. "Hey, maybe we should hang some red lights and some velvet curtains here on the balcony."

"Yes, and show off our desirable goods draped in fleece and poly/cotton blends," Renna quips. "Shhhh," she says as you laugh. "They're getting closer."

You take a peek down the street. "Oh, please. They're all the way across the street. They'd have to look across and four stories up to see us."

"Doesn't matter. I think I see a worthy one. Assume casual, oblivious stance," she says, turning toward you and resting her left forearm on the railing.

You laugh and lean back into the corner of the railing. "You're a nut."

"This is so stupid," Renna laughs as she casually looks toward the flock of Jedi across the street. "We're acting like high school girls."

"Yeah, it's nice that things don't change all that much," you say. You glance over across the street and notice that your entertainment has stopped at the corner. "Hmmm, doesn't look like they're going to cross this way."

"Oh well," Renna says. "I wonder where the hell these guys go."

"Dunno," you say, both of you resuming your intent positions as you observe the oblivious Jedi who are too far away to hear you anyway.

"Oh my God. Isn't that your guy?" Renna says, pointing toward them.

You pull her arm down. "Don't point."

"They can't see me," she says.

"I don't care," you say, still gripping her arm. "And what guy?"

"The guy. The guy you were stupid with."

You squint toward the corner and then gasp. "I think it *is* him. Well, I dunno. It's hard to tell from this distance."

"He's got that ponytail. It's definitely him," Renna says.

"He had a ponytail? I don't think he had a ponytail. He just had a braid."

"They *all* have braids," she says as the two of you stare at what may or may not be Obi-Wan. "But he had a ponytail, too."

"Why would he have a braid *and* a ponytail. That just doesn't make sense."

"I don't know," Renna says. "But he definitely had one. I was looking at the back of his head while you were being stupid to his face."

"I wasn't being stupid."

"You were."

"I was nn--" Your words are cut off as suddenly, from all the way across the street, you see him turn his head and look straight up at you. No searching, no random glance. A most definite and deliberate look.

"Oh my God. That's him," Renna whispers.

"Yes," you whisper back.

"And he's looking right at us."

"Yes."

"But how?"

"Jedi schmedi," you whisper. He's too far away to make you feel any intimidation, but the earnest stare you are receiving still causes you to grip the railing in your hands. He appears to be studying you, his face full of serious concentration. And then you swear you see the corners of his mouth turn up, his eyebrows raising slightly with sudden recognition. And then his head turns as his friends begin to cross the street along their same route. He glances back up at your balcony and then turns and walks away.

"Okay," Renna finally says after several moments. "That was just *too* weird."

You nod, your grip on the railing loosening slightly.

"I mean, we're way up here, and he's way down there," she says, pointing toward the ground. "Too. Weird."

"Uh-huh."

And then she smiles. "And he looked right at you, girl!"

You replay the events in your mind for a moment. "You think?"

"Oh," Renna huffs, throwing her hands in the air and walking back inside. "You're impossible."

~*~

"I can't TAKE THIS ANYMORE!" you yell, kicking your mattress.

"They're going down!" Renna shouts, suddenly appearing in your doorway.

"Let's blast 'em back," you say, jumping out of bed and scrambling out into the living room. The music that your upstairs neighbors are blaring is even louder now, your entire ceiling vibrating.

"I have had ENOUGH of this shit!" Renna exclaims as she storms around the room.

"Okay, so, speakers on the ceiling?" It never fails that the minute the two of you go to bed, the neighbors begin their nightly aural assault.

"No, we tried that last time. I say we just go bang on their door," she says, fury burning in her eyes.

"We can't do that, Ren. They're guys. Big guys. And we're in our jammies," you say. You look toward the ceiling as the obnoxious music continues to wail.

"I have an idea," Renna says as she walks out to the door to the balcony.

"What?" You hurry after her. She is looking straight up, leaning back against the railing.

"We could throw something at their windows."

"As tempting as that sounds, I don't think it's a good idea," you say.

"Oh yeah?" Renna challenges, swooping down to pick up one of the many candles you leave out on the deck.

"No! Ren!" you scold, grabbing her arm as she tries to throw it.

"I can't sleep," she growls at you.

"I know, neither can I. But I don't think that breaking windows is going to help matters." And just then, the volume increases, the most God-awful music ever known to humankind pounding through the walls. "Oh, fuck it," you say, bending down to grab yourself a good-sized candle. One of the cheap ones, of course. But as you stand up, something catches your eye. You turn your head and look down. Straight down below you are five Jedi faces looking up. You reach out and pat Renna on the arm.

"What?" She leans over to see what has your attention. "Oh."

"Uh-huh," you say, suddenly painfully aware that you are standing outside on your balcony wearing sleeper shorts and a tank top. Although you did buy the cute matching set in the lingerie department as a summertime indulgence. But still. You feel the keen flush across your skin as you realize that Obi-Wan is one of the five faces.

"Do you need some help?" one of the other Jedi calls up as they stand at the edge of the sidewalk.

"Hi," Renna gushes, leaning over the railing.

You try to hide your chuckle. You knew she'd go for the tall, dark, and handsome rescuer.

She gives you a sideways glare and then flashes another smile. "Just having a little trouble with our neighbor."

"Does this happen often?" he asks, certainly loud enough to annoy your other neighbors so that you can hear him.

"Yeah, almost every night," she calls back.

The Jedi looks at the other four with a slight smile on his face, although you can't really take your eyes off the smile on Obi-Wan's face. They all look up again and then slightly above you.

And then the music cuts out.

You and Renna look at each other and then down to the Jedi. "Thanks!" she says.

"That should keep it quiet for a good, long while," the same Jedi says.

You try to think of something intelligent to say as five Jedi observe you silently as you shiver in your thin pajamas. And then you hear the upstairs door open. You bolt off the balcony and into the apartment while Renna stays there waving at your heroes. You scurry back out as you hear the grumbling of the upstairs jerk and grab her arm, catching a quick glance at Obi-Wan as they begin to walk away. You pull her away from the railing and quickly inside, shutting the door quietly behind you.

"Oh my God, that was amazing," Renna says with a giddy giggle.

You scrunch up your face. "Look how we're dressed!" You look down at yourself. "Or barely dressed, rather."

"Go us!" Renna says, waggling her eyebrows as she struts back into her bedroom.

You shake your head and roll your eyes. "I'm definitely going to have to put some red lights out on that deck."

Part 3

"Alright, that's the fifth time in as many days that you've spied on him walking down the sidewalk," Renna says to you as you peek out your bedroom window that faces the street. "You should at least go out on the balcony."

"No way," you mumble. "That's way too obvious."

"So? Isn't the point to attract his attention so he'll talk to you?"

"Please," you say. "I don't want him to think I'm that desperate."

"But you *are* that desperate," she says.

"Yes, but I can't have him knowing that. How embarrassing would that be?"

"Not as embarrassing as being eighty and sexless," Renna says, turning around to walk out of the room.

"It's the same time every day," you say, ignoring her commentary. "I wonder where he goes."

"I dunno," Renna calls from the living room. "Strip club?"

"Oh, shut up."

"Well, you asked."

"No, I didn't," you say as you watch him stop at the same corner to await the crossing signal. "I said, 'I wonder.' That makes it a statement."

"Okay, listen," Renna says, appearing in your room again. "Just go down there, walk really fast 'til you catch up to him, and say 'Hi.'"

"No way," you say, your breath steaming up the window as you watch him disappear around the corner.

"What are you going to do? Just watch him from your window forever?"

"Maybe," you say, turning away from the window and walking past Renna and into the living room as she groans and rubs her forehead.

~*~

On day seven of your padawan vigil, inspiration - or insanity - suddenly strikes. You hurriedly put on your shoes and run out of your room toward the front door.

"Where are you going?" Renna asks as you rush by.

"I am now officially stalking him," you say as you grab your keys.

"I see," she says as you hurry out the door.

You bounce restlessly on the street corner as you wait for the crossing signal to change. Obi-Wan has already disappeared around the next corner, so your patience is wearing thin. You know that being this far behind him is probably a good thing since he won't catch on to the fact that you are tailing him, but your libel to lose him if the light doesn't change soon. You can only hope that he hasn't rounded any other corners.

You dart around your fellow pedestrians, knowing full well that your appearance is most likely borderline psychotic. But since this is urban hell, no one will ever look you in the face.

You finally make it to the corner. You breathe a sigh of relief when you see him far in the distance, still walking a straight path to his mysterious destination. Your are able to gain some distance on him as he is stopped at yet another intersection when the light changes.

But then you gain a little too much distance. With only a half a block between you, you begin to exert all your will toward the stupid light that hangs over the crosswalk.

And then you pray really hard - but not too loudly - that he won't sense your approach.

You breathe another sigh of relief as the light changes, and he crosses the street. After a few more paces, he stops, opens a door, and disappears inside a building.

You walk even faster, beating the light as you dart across the street. Then you slow down as you approach the same door, scrunching up your face as you see the sign.

"Animal shelter?"

~*~

"So what type of dog are you looking for?" the woman at the counter asks you as your brain tries to figure out how the hell you got inside and started up a conversation about wanting to adopt a pet.

"Um," you respond eloquently as your eyes quickly scan the hallways on either side of the desk. "So are you the only tenant in this building?"

The woman gives you an odd look. "Yes, we are. We take up quite a bit of space here." She pauses for a moment as you remain unresponsive. "Maybe we should start with your living arrangements."

"Pardon me?" you say.

"Well, in order to determine what type of dog is best suited to you, it would be helpful to know where you live. Husband? Kids?"

"No and no," you say. "Maybe I could just look--" your brain freezes as you catch a glimpse of Obi-Wan crossing through the hall. Then your eyes pop open when you realize that he is leading a dog on a leash.

"Of course," the woman says slowly, turning her head to figure out what you're staring at with your mouth gaping open. "Oh, he's beautiful, isn't he?"

Your eyes dart back to her as you gulp. "Excuse me?"

"Very strong and solid," she says with a smile. "They're quite popular for breeding."

"What?!"

"Oh, but of course we've taken care of that since he is a rescued animal. All the animals up for adoption, including that one, have all been spayed or neutered."

You smile as your senses finally return. "Of course."

"Would you like to take a look at him?" she asks. "I could have Obi-Wan bring him up. At least I think that was Obi-Wan," she says, looking down the now empty hall.

You give her an odd, nervous chuckle. "He…uh…kinda…. He kinda looked like…a Jedi."

"Oh yes," she says as she smiles. "We have a volunteer program here."

"Oh."

"Walking the dogs, cleaning the kennels, that sort of thing."

"Oh," you say again, trying to imagine a Jedi playing with dogs.

She gives you that same odd look again. "Why don't you follow me back. I'll show you to the kennels." She steps out from behind the front desk and walks down the hallway.

You stand still. You watch her. You gulp. You turn around and run out the door.

~*~

"Oh my God, you are so pathetic," Renna says, shaking her head with dismay.

"Well, what could I do?" you say.

"You could have looked at the dogs and then accidentally bumped into him!"

"But then he would have known that I'd been following him!"

"No, he wouldn't."

"He's a Jedi!" you exclaim, grabbing Renna's arms.

"Who plays with dogs instead of girls!" she responds.

"Shut up," you finally laugh and playfully slap her arm. "I think it's cute," you say, walking over and flopping down on the couch. "He's probably never been allowed to have a pet."

"Yeah, and you're not making it any easier for him," she says with a smirk, ducking out of the way as you launch a pillow at her.

~*~

"What's wrong?"

You continue to storm across the apartment toward your bedroom, paying little attention to the picture you knocked off the wall when you slammed the front door. You throw your bag and keys on to the bed and then bend one leg at a time, grabbing the shoes off your feet and hurling them into the closet.

"What's wrong?" Renna repeats, standing in your doorway and out of firing range.

"I didn't get the job," you growl, turning quickly to face her.

"Oh, I'm sorry."

"You know, I've determined that there are two types of people in Corporate Coruscant. Workers and Leaders. Workers do all the work. Leaders sit around and bullshit all day and then get promoted. What do Workers get? More work!"

"Who'd they give it to?"

"Teryna," you huff.

"No way."

"You know, I've worked my ass off for them for the past year. All she's done with her ass is wear skirts that barely cover it. She smiles and bats her eyes at some dickhead of a client and suddenly she's got this great new job that she isn't qualified for when I'm the one who's done all the work to make sure we keep said dickhead client." You sigh heavily, slumping down on the edge of the bed and rubbing your temples.

"That sucks. She's an airhead," Renna says.

"I'm so sick of this shit."

"I know. Me, too."

"I give them all this effort and hard work, and I'm still struggling to make ends meet," you say. "Where's the freakin' payoff?"

"They're idiots," she says. "You need to find a new job."

"Yes, I do," you say, standing up and searching for your jeans.

"Well, just take it easy tonight," Renna says as she walks back into the living room. "I picked up a bottle of wine. I'll pour you some."

You find it in you to laugh. "Ah, so you had a fun day, too."

"Ooohh, yes," she says sarcastically.

You try to will your frazzled nerves to calm as you change into your jeans and sweater, the weather having suddenly turned for the worse today of all days. You wander out into the living room, thinking that perhaps the wine will help dull the agitated edginess you feel. You take the glass from Renna and take a slow sip. But you only find that it heightens the unhappy growl in your stomach.

"I just want to eat and call it a day," you say, walking into the kitchen and opening the refrigerator. You sigh again when you find nothing remotely appetizing. And then you remember the grocery list in your purse that you wrote out in the morning so that there'd be food for dinner. You growl as you slam the refrigerator shut.

"Sorry," Renna says with an apologetic look on her face. "I went out to lunch today, so I didn't think much about dinner. Just had some cereal."

"It's not your fault," you say, rubbing the bridge of your nose between your thumb and index finger. "Maybe I'll run out and get something," you say half-heartedly, despite your body's desire to drop where you stand.

"Do you want me to come with you?" Renna asks.

You smile as you regard her sitting on the couch in her pajamas and burrowed into the corner with a blanket wrapped around her and a book on her lap. "No, that's alright. I need some air and alone time to blow off some steam anyway." You walk back into your bedroom, grabbing your keys and your wallet. Of course, the wallet is as empty as you expected.

"I'll have to stop and get some money," you say as you walk toward the front door. "You need any?"

"No, I'm good."

"Food?"

"All set," she says. "Unless you happen to be buying dessert for yourself, of course."

You smile at her grin. "I might be able to arrange that. See ya later."

"Bye."

~*~

"Okay, let's try this again," you tell the cash machine with barely restrained irritation as you put your card in for the third time. The previous two times it spit your card back at you for no apparent reason. Your stomach growls loudly as you tap your foot impatiently as the machine processes your number. You smile slightly as it finally asks you for a withdrawal amount. This is farther than you got on your first two attempts.

You cross your arms and tap your foot again. Then you scrunch your face as an unwelcome message appears on the screen - Insufficient Funds. "You stupid piece of shit, I just got paid." You pound on the Cancel button.

And then the cash machine eats your card.

"HEY!" you yell, slamming your hand against the machine several times as the screen instructs you to visit the bank on the following business day in order to resolve *your* error.

So there you stand, verbally and physically abusing a malfunctioning computer on the outside wall of the bank building, hungry, completely over-stressed, and absolutely penniless for the moment.

You smack the wall one last time and then take a step back and stare at the machine. "I can't eat cereal again," you whine quietly, oblivious to whatever annoyed glances you may be receiving from pedestrians who'd rather not encounter any crazy people on their way home from work. You drop your head into your hands and breathe heavily, your self-control hanging by a thread as your body shakes from hunger, irritation, and the damn cold wind that insists on adding insult to injury.

"Are you alright?"

You spin around, startled at the sudden question. Then you gasp. "Oh, God," you inadvertently sigh, figuring you're likely to lose it at any moment and really preferring not to do it in front of the man you've been trying to consciously avoid for fear of appearing to be a desperate and idiotic woman. Now that you truly *are* a desperate and idiotic woman, and don't simply appear to be one, you have nowhere to hide.

"You seem upset," Obi-Wan says softly, taking a hesitant step forward, his concerned eyes studying your countenance.

You sigh and look away for a few moments. Then you turn back to him, "Yeah, you could say that."

"Do you…." He clears his throat taking another careful step toward you as though you have a time bomb strapped to your body. "Do you need any help…with…with anything?"

You sigh once more, placing your hands on your hips and looking down at the sidewalk. "No," you say, shaking your head. "I'm fine."

"You don't seem fine," he says, his brow wrinkling slightly and his hand raising to scratch the side of his head.

You shrug. "Just had a bad day. Needed to get some money to pickup some groceries. Machine ate my card. Typical stuff," you say with a forced half smile. "I suppose I should just get home before anything else blows up in my face."

"Well," he says, turning his head to look up the street, his eyes glancing around at nothing in particular. "Maybe I can help."

"Cutting the cash machine open with your lightsabre probably doesn't fall into the Jedi code of conduct, though," you say dryly.

His head finally turns back to you, his eyebrow arched as he regards you.

"Sorry," you say, waving a hand at him. "Stupid attempt at levity. I'll just be on my way now, but thanks for--"

"Let me buy you dinner."

Your eyes widen.

His eyebrows rise expectantly as the corners of his mouth turn upward.

And then you smile. "Alright."