The bookstore owner yawned as he groggily made his way to the door. He flipped the sign and unlocked the door. When he opened it, he was surprised to see such a slender figure standing at the door.

The girl smiled at him full of confidence. Her silky dark hair blew in the sight breeze. She wore a tailored suit to demonstrate her self proclaimed authority. He was surprised to see such a rich looking customer on his doorstep.

Her eyes peered at him unabashed, with a gaze of sharpness and daring. The scar over her eye wasn't off putting, in fact it seemed to add to her allure.

The bookstore owner was sure he's never seen this person before. So why did she look at him as if she was waiting for him?

"Old man." She said with a coy smile. Her voice full of arrogance, "Is that job still available?"

He nearly fell over at these words!

This was the girl who looked like she was about to die from hunger yesterday?! She had looked like a skeleton, and sure, this girl in front of him was malnourished looking... But her cheeks were rosy and her face was full of life.

He nearly choked on his tongue, "Huh? Yes."

She tossed her hair back, "Great. I'm ready to get started."

She walked past him, pushing him over. He shook his head and walked after her. This was the same girl from yesterday? What the hell happened over night?!

She was aware of his questioning gaze, but ignored it. Although she was willing to experience a new life, she still had the same personality.

"Wait? You're serious right? You really want to work here?"

She gave him an impatient look, "That's what I said."

He jumped into the air, "YAHOOO! I CAN FINALLY FIRE SCOTT!"

Her face twitched at his excitement, "Scott?"

He quickly pulled out his cell phone and dialed a number. He spoke into it, "Hey Scott! It's your boss. Yeah I don't care if you're going to be late again... You know why? CUZ YOU'RE FIRED SH*THEAD! Woo!"

Before he went to hang up, he paused and shouted into the phone, "And I know you've been stealing from me! Jokes on you! I slept with your girlfriend! HAH!"

He shut the phone off and gave a big smile, "Ahh. That felt good."

Leia just blinked at him wondering what she got herself into. He noticed her disapproving look.

"Don't worry, I didn't really sleep with his girlfriend. I just wanted to mess with him."

"That's not what I was worried about..."

And just like that, Leia started her job at the bookstore under a new identity. Despite her aloof attitude, she was actually a hard worker. Over time, her sunken cheeks filled out and her skin gained a healthy glow.

Whenever she had time, she would read a book from the shelf. She seemed to have an unnatural fascination with the adult romance section. It wasn't soon before she had read all of the books in the store.

To help business, she went out and used her charms and silver tongue to get more customers. Eventually, everyone was drawn to the bookstore because not only was the girl charming, but she could also recommend a good book.

The bookstore owner nearly collapsed at the end of the day, "I can't believe it! There's so many people coming in! We can't keep up...."

Leia leaned over the counter and thought for a moment, "What about hiring someone else?"

"I don't want another Scott..." He mumbled.

She rolled her eyes, "Calm down. I know someone who would be good."

His eyes lit up, "You do?!"

She nodded, "Yup. But they come from the same background I did."

"Who cares about that?! I used to steal cars!!!" He sighed in nostalgia, "I could use a good joy ride..."

Leia chuckled, "Well when I'm rich you can try to steal my cars."

His eyes lit up, "It's a promise!"

Leia went back to the bridge and sure enough, that girl was still there. She rushed to her side and declared that she would follow Leia anywhere.

The three of them started working at the bookstore. They were Leia's only friends. She couldn't help but like this new feeling. Unfortunately, over time she learned that even this wouldn't last. People grew up and they would grow apart.

"...College?"

The bookstore owner nodded when he pushed over the booklet to Leia. "Yes. I think you would do quite well. And it can really change your future."

"But I don't even have a high school diploma."

"That's fine. You can take the entrance test, if you pass it, you automatically receive one!"

So Leia decided to take the test since the bookstore owner was so insistent on it. When she got back her results, they all decided to open it together.

"I passed!!"

The girl hugged her, "I knew you could do it!"

"You didn't just pass! You aced it!!! Well... The math and science section at least. How are you this awful at English?!" He looked at the scores with a complicated expression.

Leia shrugged, "English is hard. Why is there so many rules?! That's boring."

Her friend sighed, "I'm so jealous... I've always wanted to go to college..."

The bookstore owner spoke, "What do you want to study?"

"Engineering!"

"Oh.. Like computers?"

"No! Robots! I want to make robots and take over the world! MUHAHA!"

"Huh.." The bookstore owner just blinked.

Leia smiled at her, "If you want to, then I will become rich and pay for you."

She chuckled, "If anyone can become rich, it's definitely you Leia."

And so, Leia headed off to college. Unfortunately, she wasn't lucky enough to have someone pay for tuition, so she decided to work as a waitress in addition to her bookstore job.

She hated that job even though she was good at it. She had to be nice to customers even when she wanted to shove their "wrong order" down their throat.

Even though it was hard, her natural ability to excel helped her succeed. She graduated with honors and got a good job placement.

Leia sat at the bar with a glass of whiskey in her hand. She whined to her friend next to her, "Auugh. I hate it. They keep b*tching about their boob jobs and how their husbands won't do dishes!! I can't take it!"

She chuckled, "What'd you think was going to happen? You work in the upper class part of the city."

Leia whimpered, "I know... But I chose it because it pays so nicely!"

"About that, thanks for the scholarship."

Leia looked away guiltily, "Whaaat? Scholarship? I have no idea what you mean."

She smiled at her friend, "I'm not stupid. The dean told me I qualified for a scholarship because someone wanted to sponsor me. Did you really think you could hide it?"

"Ah... I thought I could to be honest. But, oh well. You just better work hard and make your dream come true."

After that, Leia found it harder to meet with her friends. They were starting to grow apart. Her friend was busy with college, the bookstore owner got married and had kids, and Leia started spending more time at the bar.

She got bored with her job and got a new one. Now she found herself bored with the new one as well. She sobbed to the tattooed bartender.

"I can't handle it!!! I thought it was supposed to be fun..."

He rolled his eyes, "Why don't you like this one? Isn't the FBI exciting?"

Leia sighed, "I thought so too... I thought I'd be chasing serial killers and kicking a**! But instead I'm just profiling petty criminals!"

She let out a sob, "Just yesterday I profiled a burglar, but he was just some fat middle aged dude looking for excitement. Most would just cheat on their wives, but noooo. That was considered too risky even for him."

She chugged down her drink and sobbed, "I want excitement! I want danger! This is boring as sh*t! I need to be challenged!"

The bartender chuckled, "Isn't it better than working at a bar and listening to people's troubles?"

She smiled coyly at him, "That's true. Good thing you love your job!"

"Come on you f*cker! Pay up!"

"I told you! I don't have it on me, I will pay you later!"

Leia looked over at the argument instinctively. She saw a dangerous looking man heckling an older man. She recognized the man as a lone shark. She gave a malicious smile.

The bartender frowned at her expression, "Please don't cause trouble in my bar."

Leia ignored him and nudged the lone shark who glared at her. But when he noticed her coy smile and nice body he softened up.

She nodded to the man he was heckling, "How much does he owe you?"

"25 mil." He responded coldly.

"D*mn. That's alot. Okay, what if we make a bet?"

"A bet?"

"Yup." She motioned to the game on the TV, "Let's make a bet on the game."

"Do you even know sports?"

She chuckled, "Not a thing. So you make the bet. If I win, you forgive this mans debt."

"And if I win?"

"Then I'll double it."

He smiled at her offer. Girls were easier to bully than men. Plus, he could really have fun with a girl like this.

"It's a bet. I bet that number 74 will get ahold of the ball in this play."

"Alright. I accept. But if he doesn't get the ball at all, I win."

We watched the TV and the play ended with the player never touching the ball slightly. The bartender could only sigh and prepare for the worst.

"What the hell?!" The lone shark grit his teeth, "How could he not even touch the ball at all?!"

I smiled at him, "Looks like you lost. Guess his debts forgiven."

"You-" He went to grab Leia who watched him without emotion. The bartender slammed a gun onto the counter and the lone shark grew quiet.

His voice was cold, "Don't cause problems in my bar."

The lone shark clicked his tongue, "Fine. I won't forget this."

Leia only gave him a smile, "Let's play more next time."

The bartender sighed, "Could you please behave?"

The older man scooted over to her, "That was incredible!! So you really do know sports!"

Leia flashed him a charismatic smile, "I don't. I just knew that player would never touch the ball. But I made that man think he could."

"How?" His eyes sparkled in excitement.

She flashed him a coaster with the number 74 on it. "Subliminal messages." The older man hadn't realized it, but sure enough that number was everywhere in the bar!

She sat back proud of herself, "He didn't even know I was shoving that number down his throat. It was really too easy."

"That's incredible!!!"

The bartender frowned, "Don't encourage her."

He spoke, "My name is Mr. Kuma. I own a high end car dealership at the edge of town."

Her eyes widened, "I know the Kuma dealership. That place is really expensive!"

He nodded proudly, "That's right. We are the best around."

"Oh? If you're the best then why do you owe money to a loan shark?"

"Well... That's a bit embarrassing. I may have got too drunk one time and made a stupid bet... But you really saved me! Hehe! Here."

He handed Leia his business card, "If you ever want a job, come find me. I just know you'd excel in this career."

"Selling cars? I've never done that before."

He smiled, "You are a natural. I can tell. You could make some serious cash."

As Leia took the card she had dollar signs in her eyes. The bartender knew that she fully intended to accept the job.

So, she didn't hesitate and found herself working at the dealership shortly. Mr. Kuma smiled at her, "Welcome to the family, Leia!"

She thought every worker would hate each other since they were competing against each other. But it was just as Mr. Kuma had said.

They were a family.

They laughed together, cried together, drank together, they did everything together.

Leia no longer felt loneliness in her heart. She finally found a place to belong.

But she soon discovered...

That it was all just an illusion.