So how did I get wrapped in a two-thousand-dollar dress and a seat at a table of A-list celebrities under a chandelier that could cost me my tuition?

Emma thought that the third-wheel date went so well, she persuaded Fisher to come with her to this starry night gala her parents hosted every year. Unfortunately, Fisher refused the two to go as a pair and invited me as well.

The gala was on a Sunday, but I had a chemistry test on Monday. I told him about it and he insisted he'd pay for the makeup and dress and still pay me for my third-wheel service.

I didn't say yes because of the glamorous makeover—I said it for the money. Even if it'd cost me a chemistry midterm.

I thanked Fisher for his generosity. He was the reason why my skin glowed, why my dark hair was wrapped in a bun and why I was wearing a sheer fabric embedded in a beautiful pattern of gold rhinestones. The Fisher left Emma and I at our table, and we both watched the crowd of tuxedos and glitter exchange pearly white smiles and laughter. I noticed several familiar celebrities under the dim lights of the ballroom, admiring the gorgeous dresses and outfits that I will never afford.

Emma had her legs crossed, the silk pink fabric draped over half her leg. She had a sexy slit down the side and despite Fisher's handsome features, I could feel her presence take everyone's breath away when we entered the room a few hours ago.

"Why doesn't Fisher want the public to know you two are together?" I asked her.

Emma hadn't stopped drinking champagne since we arrived. She drank moderately of course, but I was beginning to get concerned.

She tipped the glass back again, pouring the rest of the champagne down her throat. She grabbed the stranger's glass next to her and threw back the rest of the sparkling juice before meeting my gaze. "He says it's because he doesn't want to destroy whatever is left of our privacy. But I know it's more than that. He's not telling me something."

My brows drew together in confusion. "Have you talked to him about it?"

"He always say the same thing. 'They'll be all over us, babe. We won't get any privacy and people will always want to know what's going on between us. People will start rumors and it'll stir so much unnecessary attention towards us. Blah, blah, blah.'" She started running her finger along the rim of the glass, her stare drifting onto the tables behind me. "It's just... it doesn't make sense to me. We both don't have much of a private life. What's really holding him back?"

I twisted my torso around and saw Fisher laughing with a couple of familiar actors. He caught us staring and Emma and I both turned back to each other.

She leaned in and quickly spoke, "Don't tell him about my suspicion. But if you could figure out why without causing too much trouble, that'd be great."

I didn't get to reply as Fisher stepped up to our table. "Are you guys talking about me?" he said with an amused smile.

"Only about how annoying you are," Emma joked, returning the smile.

"I knew you ladies couldn't stop thinking about me," he retorted and nudged his elbow against my shoulder.

I stared up at him with the same genuine smile. I wondered what was hiding behind those fresh ocean blue eyes that carried more than child-like wonder, but perhaps dark secrets to protect Emma... or maybe just himself.

"What's wrong?"

I blinked back, watching his face fall into a concerned stare.

"Hm?"

"You're looking at me weird," he said, searching my face for an answer.

"It's probably all that champagne," Emma said and grabbed my hand. "C'mon, let's go dance."

"But I didn't drink any—"

"I'm not giving you an option," she cut in and snatched Fisher with her other hand. "You too."

Fisher ran his hand through his white strands and gave into Emma's heart-dropping smile. "Alright, alright."

At first I was intimidated to be dancing in front of Emma and Fisher, especially after seeing what they could do from the basketball game. I blamed my mom for how my body naturally picked itself up when a beat came on, and before I knew it, I was moving my head and feet around. The three of us danced under the lights, smiling and singing along to whatever mainstream song came on.

As Emma and Fisher followed this funky move I made up seconds ago, I realized I was truly happy with other people for the first time in a while. And it felt great.

The song began to slow down as the DJ put on a John Mayer song. Emma reached out to slow dance with me, but a gloved hand cupped my elbow and tugged me in the opposite direction of Emma.

"Oh." I pressed into a hard chest and glanced up to find an unfamiliar face. I glimpsed over my shoulder to see Emma a bit shocked before she looked over at Fisher. He stared after me and got caught in Emma's arms as she guided his hand to her waist.

"Sorry to surprise you like that," spoke the stranger. "Thought I could scoop you up for a second away from your friends."

I turned my head back to the stranger and noticed how he gelled his hair the same way as Luke: his blond hair was spiked up at the front that practically screamed: I'm a charmer and you're going to like me. "That's alright. Surprises keep life interesting."

The couple next to us broke their gaze and glimpsed at the stranger as he laughed aloud. "Ain't that the truth." He lifted his arm and spun me around, my dress twirling before he caught me by my waist. "What's your name?"

"Who wants to know?" I replied, a little skeptical about how forward this young man was being.

"William Blake The Fourth," he answered in the same confidence that my brother reeked.

"Your birth certificate must've been a little crowded."

"Yeah, the nurse thought my mom was joking." He shrugged a bit and grew his smile. "Unless you're my mom or my grandmother, you can call me Will."

"William Blake has a nice ring though. Like the poet." Oh, look at me. Geeking it out.

"Yeah, he was quite the notorious figure in the Romantic Age of poetry. The guy could really cook up a love poem."

Speaking of cooking, I could feel my neck heat up. Was he flirting with me? I really wasn't in the mood to be swept off my feet—there was so much already going on in my life. Plus, he was loud and thought he was charming. He was probably obnoxious if you stuck around long enough, and he really should had left the gel back in the 50s.

The Universe must have pitied me as the John Mayer song faded out before an upbeat pop song replaced it. People let go of each other and I took it as my cue to lift my hands off his chest. "It was nice meeting you, Will." I glimpsed around and spotted Fisher at the table. Where was Emma?

"Uh, yeah. Sure." Taken aback by my sudden dismissal, he grabbed my hand before I could leave and put his lips dangerously close to my ear. "Can I get one of your cards?"

And yet again, he managed to surprise me. "Excuse me?" I inched back, breathing in too much of his expensive cologne.

"Your business card. Fisher told me in the bathroom about your business."

Now both my neck and cheeks were heating up. Compose yourself, Leia. You're a businesswoman. He's simply asking for a deal.

I remember when Luke and I used to go into shops that sold bridal wear and tuxedo wear and lied to the clerks that we were getting married. We would never be able to afford anything in those stores but we always ended up laughing and cracking jokes in the change rooms while we tried on expensive brands we only dreamed of wearing. Well Luke did. I played dress up because I liked pretending to look older.

During those innocent times, I picked up a bit of knowledge on tuxedos. What was the right fit and what kind of salary you probably made based off the brand you wore. And I could easily pick up based on the tuxedo Will was wearing that he was loaded with cash.

"Seventy dollars an hour," I told him.

"Deal," he said right back.

I hid my curiosity of whether or not he was just desperate for my assistance or he didn't know how to bargain. I didn't want to question it—seventy dollars an hour was a score. The deadline for the payment was approaching fast and I was no where near the amount I needed for after graduation.

Was I ripping Will off? Probably. But I would do anything for the money.

A smug smile rested on Will's face, like I was the last piece in his puzzle. "Great. I'll ask Fisher to give me your information instead of you handing me your card. Just so nothing looks suspicious."

I stuck out my hand and kept a calm smile. "Thank you for doing business."

"Pleasure is all mine." He returned it with a firm handshake. "We start next week. I'll call you and we can sort out the paperwork then." I continued to nod my head as I grabbed my little purse attached to my wrist. I needed to record this date on my phone before I forgot. "I'm sure you will be a great escort."

I nodded my head a second too long before the word 'escort' flashed in my head. Escort?

"Will, what do you mean by—" I looked up and he was already gone. "Escort?" I said to myself. I punched in the date and a reminder in my phone and opened up a new browser to look up what an escort was. I hadn't heard a third wheeler be called an escort before...

My phone said there was no internet connection. "No service? What kind of party is this?" I snaked through the crowd and round tables, quickening my pace until I found a red Exit sign above a set of doors. "Bingo." I slipped through the doors and heard the siren of a police car several blocks down. I stepped through the alleyway, the night cold and damp from the rain a few hours ago.

"C'mon, c'mon." I put my phone in the air and kept walking up the alley, approaching the sidewalk on the main road.

"Leia!"

I jumped at the call of my name and heard the door swing open. "Fisher?"

"Are you okay? I saw you leaving," he said, rushing over. Emma was right behind him, both wearing a worried look that I hadn't seen in ages.

"You guys were scared for me?"

"Hell yes we were! And still are!" Emma exclaimed, putting her hand on my arm. "We care about you. What's wrong?"

An old feeling of warmth grew in my chest, and I put my hand on top of hers. "Thanks for caring about me guys." Fisher put his hand on my other shoulder as well, and I couldn't stop the smile rising on my face.

"So... nothing is wrong?" Emma asked, the relief slowly showing as her brows softened.

"No, no. I had no service in the building—"

"Oh my god, you've got to be kidding me." Fisher rolled his eyes and took off his hand.

"Actually. I wanted to ask you Fisher about this guy. He—"

A bright flash startled the three of us and we came face to face with a camera.

"Shit," Fisher hissed and tried to grab Emma and I. The swarm of paparazzi came in faster than I could think. One minute there was one Peter-Parker photographer and the next was a rush of bright lights, aggressive questions and microphones.

I raised my hand to block out the blinding lights and bumped into Emma who embraced the camera lights and tugged me back to the exit door we came from. But the paparazzi had us caged in, and I stood frozen next to Fisher who looked royally pissed.

"Are you dating Emma?"

"Emma, are you dating Fisher?"

It didn't take long for me pick up the common question among the reporters.

Then a new one appeared: "Whose the new girl, Fisher?"

"Her name is Leia," Emma answered for them. Fisher glared Emma down, but she didn't bother to give him a glance as she linked arms with me. "And she's our friend."

But the reporters soon lost interest in the random city girl that hung out with the A-listers and started bombarding Fisher and Emma with more questions about a relationship.

"Emma or Fisher, are you guys together?"

"Are you an item?"

"What ship names do you guys have?"

The questions were getting out of control and I spotted security burst through the exit doors and push their way towards us. We were saved. Everything was going to be alright.

I watched Emma inch closer to Fisher, her fingers uncurling from her palm and now open for his hand.

An arm snaked around my waist and Fisher pulled me to his side. "I'm dating Leia Skywalker."

+++

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