I am NOT and Never Will Be A Jedi

Secret Admirer

Padme invited me to come with them to the art museum... again.
I tucked away Anakin's note in my back pocket as I made my way up the stairs. Anakin didn't accompany me on account of Master Obi-wan taking him on a mission to Ansion. If I recall, it had something to do with a boarder dispute. Ansion has a lot of those.
Padme was standing at the entrance, admiring a portrait of Chancellor Palpatine. His Majesty's painting hung prominently in the lobby to show off his prestigious position that could only be captured in a 7ft×4ft work of art worth an estimated sum of 600,000 credits Tax dollars at work, huh?
Padme waved me over while still keeping her enquiring brown eyes fixed on our political leader. "Hi Kevin," she sighed, "He's so inspiring."
I assumed she was referring to Chancellor Palpatine. "Right..." I replied half-heartedly. I knew well enough not to engage a young politician with my own opinion so I remained quiet.
It's not that I thought Palpatine was necessarily a bad man, but I wasn't convinced that he was the upstanding leader that the rest of the galaxy saw him as. Something about him was just off...
I peeked over the heads of the people milling around the museum. "Where's Palo?" I asked. Padme's eyes flickered with the slightest hint of annoyance. "He got in line to see the new exhibit, again... I told him that I would wait for you."
I paced behind her as she returned her side-long gaze to the portrait. It was obvious that her enthusiasm towards revisiting the museum every time they changed a lightbulb was not as authentic as Palo's. "Palo really likes art, doesn't he?" I noted. Padme's eyes fell to the floor. "He loves it. Sometimes, I think, more than he loves me."
Ouch.
As we continued looking at the painting in front of us, it occured to me that Padme may not have been as in love with Palo as I thought. Maybe she wasn't as happy as her smile let on.
It occurred to me to give her the letter at that point. I pulled out the crumbled note and smoothed it out on my leg, wishing I had been more careful when I put it in my pocket. "Um, uh, this is for you... from a friend," I stuttered.
She grinned as she accepted the paper. "A letter?" she laughed.
Now, even though I hold the all-time record for most consecutive wins in the galactic scholastic decathalon, it never occured to me the common sense to read Anakin's letter before delivering it to Padme.
I should have known better.
I heard every word as they left Padme's lips while she read aloud:
Dear Padme,
It's been long since our paths have crossed, my dearest angel. But as fate would have it, we have been given another chance!
Our age should not matter, for although I am young, my love for you cannot be measured in years!
I think of you every day in training for you are the light of my life.
-Your Secret Admirer
Give me a break Anakin.
Padme stared at me wide eyes as she clutched the letter between her hands. A faint pinkness spread across her face as if stunned and mortified by the letter. I wondered if she was going to faint.
"Kevin..." she peeped in the smallest hint of a voice, "I didn't know you felt that way about me."
I was confused for only a second. Then my brain began working again and the conclusion that I drew made me turn white. Padme didn't think the letter was from Anakin.
She thought it was from me.