Chapter Text
Padmé pulled her coat tighter as she ascended the steps of the subway station, stepping into the bustling cityscape of Williamsburg. Despite living in Boston during its harsh winters, Padmé never quite adapted to near freezing temperatures, nor did she ever learn to dress appropriately for winter conditions. Besides, tonight was supposed to be a night out with her closest friends. She was expecting alcohol. A lot of alcohol. And she was sure that would keep her warm tonight.
Padmé despised being late. She was supposed to meet Cordé, Sabé, and Dormé at 6:30 pm sharp. But several outfit changes after discovering a rip in her favorite shirt, one not-so-brief conversation with her parents, and a late train, she was finally arriving 30 minutes late.
I’m so sorry, Padmé wrote to the group text as she stepped into the subway car. Could you order me a rosé? It’s been a rough 48 hours.
Of course! Dormé responded. Can’t wait to hear the tea.
Now, as Padmé rounded the corner and saw the bar within sight, she could feel the stress from the last 48 hours dissipating. As if closing out her second-to-last semester at Harvard Law wasn’t stressful enough, her boyfriend of one year, Palo, had decided to end their relationship when Padmé had rejected essentially being his trophy wife. Padmé did not come to Harvard and bury herself under mountains of debt just to be a man’s arm candy. She came to graduate top of her class and secure a high-profile job with a top law firm.
In all honesty, Padmé wasn’t that mad about the breakup. It was more of an annoyance than anything. All men were exactly the same: threatened by powerful and intelligent women who could think for themselves. And to be fair, it’s not like those Harvard boys were looking for a partner to be their equal anyways.
Padmé rounded the corner and reached the restaurant. Dormé had been raving about Ten Hope Restaurant & Bar for months. According to Dormé, it’s known for its outdoor patio just as much as its Mediterranean cuisine. But for Padmé, its white brick and blue windows and doors façade reminded her of her time living in Georgetown for undergrad. If anything, it made her feel more relaxed and at home.
Padmé tugged open the door and was greeted with a tranquil interior. The restaurant was filled with college kids and young professionals. But despite the crowd, Padmé felt at ease. She scanned the restaurant and found her friends tucked into a cozy corner. She caught Cordé’s eye and managed a quick wave before making her way across the restaurant.
When she reached the table, she found it covered in appetizers and drinks, including her rosé which was developing a slow sweat that was pooling on the table. She took a quick glance at the decadent appetizers on the table and then turned to greet her friends.
“I’m so sorry,” Padmé said as she kissed each of her friends on the cheek. “It’s been a wild 48 hours.”
“Oh my gosh, don’t apologize,” Sabé said. “Sit, sit, we ordered plenty.”
Padmé shrugged off her coat and scarf and sat in the chair next to Dormé. “This place is so nice,” Padmé said as she marveled at her surroundings.
“Yeah, too bad it’s subzero temperatures or we could’ve sat on the patio out back,” Dormé said as she took a sip of her purple cocktail. “But anyways, we’re so glad you’re here. Tell us all about Harvard. Tell us all about this shitty ex-boyfriend of yours.”
Padmé shook her head as she loaded some flatbread onto her plate and casually scanned the menu. “Well, I’ll tell you all about Harvard first because that is somehow the simple part.”
It wasn’t very often that Padmé had the chance to meet up with her three closest friends. Even though she still was a New Yorker through and through, she’d been staying in Boston to stay focused with work and school. While her friends were helping aspiring leaders get elected to Congress or City Council, Padmé was spending her time poring over legal files at corporate law firms in Cambridge. The thought of attending community events with her friends to learn about the real issues in her city appealed to Padmé, but they just didn’t quite fit in her schedule.
Padmé knew that law school was a rather boring career route in comparison to her friends. Dormé was currently the state Press Secretary for New York’s junior Senator. Cordé was currently Deputy Communications Director for a think tank based on Midtown. And Sabé was finishing her degree in Public Policy at New York University while also managing a campaign for City Council. Her friends lived way more exciting lives than her. She didn’t want to bore them with stories on studying tax law.
“But enough about me, tell me about you guys! What’s new?” Padmé exclaimed, taking a large gulp of her rosé.
“Ah, no,” Sabé said, pointing her glass of wine at Padmé. “You’re not getting off that easy. Tell us what happened with Palo.”
Padmé rolled her eyes, taking another sip of her rosé in the process. She really thought she could get through this dinner without talking about him. Padmé had kept the details vague when she mentioned to the group text that she was no longer with Palo. At the time, she was bombarded with sympathy texts, but now, of course they wanted the gossip.
Padmé shrugged, taking another gulp of her rosé. “There’s nothing to tell. Men are shit and he dumped me.”
Dormé polished off her purple cocktail and slammed the glass on the table. “Well, fuck him then,” she said. Padmé could tell that whatever cocktail she was drinking was already hitting her hard. Dormé – always prim and proper – got very outspoken when she was sloshed. Padmé made a mental note to cut her off after the second drink.
Padmé popped another piece of flatbread in her mouth and washed it down with her rosé. “Whatever, I’m not at Harvard to find a partner. I’m there to graduate top of my class – which I will as long as I perform well this final semester – and then pass the bar and secure a high-profile job at a law firm here in the city.”
“Fucking A!” Dormé exclaimed. “That calls for another round of drinks!”
Padmé giggled and then polished off her rosé. “I can grab more drinks from the bar.”
“No, no,” Sabé interjected as she rose from her seat. Clearly, she was the most sober out of the group so far. “I’ll grab drinks. Another rosé for you, Padmé? And then Dormé, what was that purple thing you had?”
“It was the Empress Punch,” Dormé slurred.
Sabé nodded. As she departed the table, she glanced at Padmé, as if to say “We are cutting off Dormé after this drink.” Padmé nodded in agreement.
Silence fell among the three remaining women. They noticed the restaurant had grown a bit livelier since they arrived. The bar was overcrowded with patrons while a group of people had gathered outside to wait for a table. A steady stream of servers filtered in and out of the dining room as they tended to their guests.
Sabé returned to the table with a small tray of drinks, carefully setting it on the edge of the table. She carefully distributed the drinks to her friends before quickly disappearing to return the tray. Before they knew it, she was back in her seat, contentedly sipping on her beer.
“Wow, Sabé, I can see those server skills are still intact,” Dormé said as she took a large gulp of her cocktail. Oh yes, they would definitely need to cut her off.
“Oh shush,” Sabé scoffed, rolling her eyes. “And don’t try to change the subject.” She turned her attention back to Padmé. “Palo is trash and you’re a wonderful person, Padmé. Men are just incredibly immature and self-conscious.”
Padmé giggled. “Thanks guys,” she said. “Like I said, I’m not worried about a man. I’m just going to focus on school. Actually…” Padmé reached for her rosé, lifting the glass above the table. “I’m gonna toast.”
Dormé, Cordé, and Sabé raise their glasses as well in concurrence. “To personal development, personal success, and lives completely free of men!”
“Here, here!” Dormé agreed.
The group clinked their glasses together before each taking a drink from their respective glasses. Padmé had just finished off her rosé as she noticed Sabé’s gaze had wandered slightly over her shoulder. Suddenly, Sabé choked on her beer, the amber liquid spilling out of the glass and down the front of her silk blouse.
“Oh my God, Sabé, are you okay?” Padmé exclaimed, handing her some napkins from across the table. Sabé blotted at her shirt as she violently coughed. “Seriously, are you okay?” Padmé reiterated.
“I’m fine,” Sabé wheezed, waving the wad of napkins around. Her gaze was focused down the front of her shirt, but Padmé knew it wasn’t because of the beer. Padmé gaze traveled over to Cordé, who sat frozen in her seat and gazing wide-eyed into the distance.
“Wait, what’s going on?” Dormé twisted around in her seat and followed Cordé’s gaze. When she spotted the subject of her gaze, Dormé’s jaw dropped. “Holy fuck.”
Padmé rolled her eyes. What were they even being so dramatic about anyways? She tossed the soiled napkins onto the table and turned in her chair. At first, she wasn’t quite sure what they were looking at and what had them all worked up. She scanned the front of the restaurant before finally noticing the man in the dark coat at the entrance. Of course, her luck would have it that he would show up right after her most recent relationship had met its demise. Of course, he would show up right after she swore off men in a toast.
In the doorway, standing six feet tall and handsome as ever, was Anakin fucking Skywalker.