Learning

Chapter 7: Advice

Ashla and Hosin were sat in silence at their table since Ahsoka walked out on them. The restaurant bell rang out and they turned around to see who it was but it was a teenage boy who came and sat down at the table behind them. Suddenly, her phone rang. "It's Ahsoka!" Ashla gasped before hurriedly checking her messages. 'Staying at Barriss's house for a sleepover. Took the bus. Will see you in the morning. He better be long gone, just like before. Love you, Mum.' Both parents read the message and they both soon fell into an angrier silence. "What does that mean Hosin?" Ashla asked him through pursed lips.

Hosin sighed. "Well it's pretty self-explanatory but I think what Ahsoka is saying is that she is spending the night at her friend's house. She loves you greatly and hates my guts. Self-explanatory." He ran a hand through his hair and played with the food on his fork.

Ashla huffed, clearly annoyed. "You should've handled things differently." She held her hand up to silence him. "I don't mean tonight, I mean the divorce. You and I both know that it didn't end end well. It was hard for Ahsoka and you left without giving her any guidance as to how to incorporate you into her life." She sipped her drink while glaring a bit. "How are the twins?" Her voice was strained and they both knew it.

Hosin coughed, surprised. "Their fine, thank you. Just turned six so that's Year One. Crazy how the time files, right? Anyway, Yaz is good, just got a big promotion at work..." He trailed off, awkward for he knew that she wouldn't and didn't care about the life of his new wife. "I know that I did kind of leave Ahsoka hanging and I'm sorry about that but you didn't exactly handle it great yourself. I understand that you were angry with me however you made Ahsoka see that I was the bad guy. It takes two people to end a marriage. The two in the marriage." Hosin pointed out although Ashla merely sucked her cheeks in.

Eventually she snapped at him. "AM I SUPPOSED TO SAY SORRY? YOU LEFT US WITH NO SUPPORT! NOT A SINGLE PENNY OF CHILD SUPPORT! I WANTED THE DIVORCE AS MUCH AS YOU DID, MAYBE MORE! I COULDN'T CARE WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU! MAYBE THERE IS A REASON AHSOKA SEES YOU AS THE BAD GUY!" Ashla stopped to gather her breath and lower her voice for people were starting to look over at their table again. "It's Ahsoka I'm most worried about. She was affected by the divorce then I think we both thought. She feels replaced. Barely a year after you leave and I go on social media to see that woman has posted that she has given birth. To twins. Imagine how that felt for Ahsoka. It's not me you need to apologise to, I don't feel angry anymore over what you did. It's Ahsoka you need to say sorry to, she feels like you don't love her anymore." The waiter arrived, looking rather awkward and handed them the cheque. "Thank you, you're paying, remember?" She picked up her handbag as Hosin pulled out his wallet.

"Yeah I know, the food was good. Just the actual evening wasn't a complete success." He looked up when Ashla snorted but decided not to say anything. They went outside and walked to their respective cars parked next to each other. "I hope Ahsoka is okay, it was nice to see her again. I hope you are well Ashla, goodbye." They shook hands and drove away to their separate houses, once more.

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Ahsoka paid the bus driver and thanked him before stepping out into the light rain now and walked towards Barriss's house. It was three houses away from the bus stop and closer to the school than Ahsoka's was. She'd spent many days over the years here whenever her parent's arguing got too bad or when her mum just couldn't cope. Barriss's parents were like second parents to her and Ahsoka was very grateful to them and her.

Ringing the doorbell, Ahsoka shivered slightly and realised that she was still wearing Lux's jacket. It smelled of the cologne he was wearing and brought a smile to her face. Barriss opened the door in her pajamas and blinked, surprised, at the sight of her friend. "Ahsoka? What are you doing here?" She stepped aside to let Ahsoka in, who gratefully accepted the offer.

She hugged Barriss quickly but then grimaced when she realised she gotten her pajamas damp. "Sorry, but it's a long story. Are your parents' home?" Ahsoka looked around and waited for Barriss's parents to come out and hug her as well.

Barriss shook her head. "No, they went out for date night. I'm home alone. Seriously though, what happened? Why are you wearing this?" She gestured to Ahsoka's fancy dress and Lux's jacket.

Together the two friends walked into the living room and sat on the couch, Ahsoka careful not to dampen anything. "Well, I came home and my dad was there. I know! It was a bombshell to me too! Anyway, I was acting towards him how you would expect me to and Mum had the audacity to suggest that we all go out for dinner. Hence the dress, it was the restaurant at the end of town that is really fancy. We got there and I kind of lost it after a while, storming out  in the rain and made my way to the bus stop. Then I came here on the bus and texted Mum where I was going." Ahsoka looked expectantly at her best friend, waiting for the great advice that she would give her. However Ahsoka wasn't sure why she had omitted the part of the bus stop with Lux bit she merely hoped that Barriss didn't question the jacket. It did make her wonder why Lux hadn't remembered to ask for it back.

Barriss took a deep breath and gave Ahsoka a big hug. "Poor you, that's sucks for your first day. Still, they have probably gone their separate ways now." She winced. "Sorry, bad choice of words. However do you want to stay here tonight? Don't worry, my parents won't mind." She stood up and went out into the hallway where the cupboard that contained the air mattress stayed.

Ahsoka laughed. "I was counting on it, actually. Thanks, you're a great friend." She slipped off the jacket and hung it up before helping her carry the mattress up the stairs.

Barriss shook her head from the top of the stairs. "Don't thank me yet, I want details. Not of your parents, I don't want to know for that was upsetting the first time. I want to know about that jacket, it's not yours." Ahsoka laughed and shook her head, feeling her cheeks flush. "So spill! What's the story?" Barriss pestered as they placed the mattress on her bedroom floor.

Ahsoka shrugged her shoulders. "I take it back, you're a terrible friend. However, I'm staying here at last minute notice so I suppose it's fair. It belongs to Lux, the new boy in our year. Him and his Mother were also there at the restaurant and he was kind enough to run after me. I was cold so he gave me the jacket and we both forgot to give it back." Barriss was doing a funny face bit Ahsoka knew what she was implying. "No, it's nothing like that. We're just friends." The best friends continued to laugh together and tease each other into the night, to take Ahsoka's mind off her parents' disaster relationship.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter, I was worried I would not be able to update tonight but I did. Yay! I'll update again tomorrow so bye, bye.