Learning

Chapter 8: Mothers

Ahsoka woke up in the morning with the sound of Barriss snoring coming to an end as the alarm clock went off beside her. The events of yesterday evening came rushing back to her and Ahsoka slammed her head into her pillow. There was a knocking at Barriss's door and her mum poked her head around. "Good morning girls, I hope you slept well. Ahsoka, good to see you. Breakfast is pancakes and already on the table." She left with a smile to pack Barriss's lunch.

Barriss groaned as she swung her leg over the bed, nearly kicking Ahsoka in the face who lay beneath her. "Sorry, God I hate getting up. How are you going to get dressed? Your uniform isn't here." She gently stepped over Ahsoka who sat up and rubbed her eyes.

She sighed. "I'll go back to mine after breakfast, it's not that far away. I'll just wear my dress until then." Ahsoka glanced at the clock in front of her. "Wow Barriss! Why do you get up at five? I didn't think it took you that long to do your make-up." Ahsoka joked as she stood up, a little bit wobbly in the bouncy mattress.

Barriss came running back into her bedroom with a flannel in her palm. "What?! MUUUUUMMMM! Why are we being woken up at this ungodly hour?!" She started to stomp downstairs to where her mum was waiting.

"Well you see dear, when your friend stays over unannounced with only a very pretty dress to wear; I like to make sure that you both have enough time to eat breakfast, talk about why she's here and go back home to get changed into her uniform. Ahsoka, how are you dear?" Shiyma Offee looked up the stairs at her with a gentle smile.

Ahsoka returned the expression albeit sleepily. "I'm fine thank you Shiyma, how are you?" She made her way down the stairs and hugged the older woman. In many ways Shiyma and her husband Bizao were like her second parents. They looked after her a lot of the time when she was younger and Ahsoka had known that they wouldn't have minded an impromptu sleepover.

The older lady walked them into the kitchen where Bizao was stood by the sink. Pancakes were laid out on the counter like Shiyma had promised. Barriss and Ahsoka happily ate their breakfast in silence while her parents worked around them. "Oh Ahsoka, your Mum called last night to make sure that you were okay. She explained to me what happened I told her that we were happy to have you over whenever you felt like it." Ahsoka smiled at them, grateful for their hospitality.

Bizao spoke up then, sipping his coffee. "And whilst what my wife says is true, perhaps some warning beforehand. Just so that we can prepare for your arrival and make you feel more at home." Ahsoka knew that they had a right to ask for notice seeing as she had just randomly arrived.

Barriss nodded alongside her parents and smiled at her best friend. "I'll see you later, then? You need to go and get changed." Ahsoka nodded as she handed her finished plate of pancakes to Shiyma.

"Ahsoka? Your dress and jacket are drying in the hall, you can go and get changed in the bathroom before you go home. It's very pretty, I'm rather envious." She laughed as she led Ahsoka to her clothes.

However Barriss raised her eyebrows while smirking. "I hope it's just the dress Mum for the jacket will have to be negotiated separately." Ahsoka's eyes widened as she slightly shook her head at Barriss while her mum looked confused.

"What do you mean dear?" She handed Ahsoka her clothes.

Barriss grinned. "Well the jacket doesn't belong to Ahsoka, it's her boyfriend's." She laughed at the terrified look on Ahsoka's face.

Shiyma started to clap excitedly. "Yay! Oh, Ahsoka who's the lucky boy? I'm so happy!" She jumped over to her husband. "Isn't this great Bizao?"

He looked mildly sorry in Ahsoka's direction. "Yeah it's great but it's Ahsoka's business. We shouldn't interfere." Bizao finished his coffee and started to wash the dishes.

Shiyma huffed but didn't argue. Ahsoka glared at Barriss before she went and changed. After she was finished, she waved goodbye to the Offees' and went back to her home.

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Ahsoka opened her front door to a darkened house. She could hear the gentle breathing of her mum which meant she was home but asleep. That worked for Ahsoka just fine. Quietly making her way upstairs, she checked in on her and saw a wine glass as well as their old photo album lying on Ashla's bedside table. Ahsoka shook her head and sighed. 'I knew this would happen.' She huffed but took comfort in the knowledge that it was only one glass.

Going into her bedroom, Ahsoka realised that she had been optimistic. Her bedsheets and pillow had been thrown to the floor in a tantrum, her laptop lay precariously on the windowsill and her clothes were cut to shreds, laid out on the floor. The only thing that was left undamaged was her school uniform. Checking her purse, Ahsoka realised that she was also twenty pounds less and the word TRAITOR had been written across the wall above her bed. Ahsoka sighed at her mother's behaviour and wasn't sure if herself or Hosin was the traitor. 'Hard to tell.' Ahsoka sighed as she started to clean up or save what she could of her belongings. "Ow!" Ahsoka gasped as she cut her shoulder on a shard of glass. A bead of blood bloomed where it pricked her and Ahsoka could see that her window was also a bit cracked.

Hiding her dress in the airing cupboard, Ahsoka quickly slipped her uniform on before going downstairs to pack her bag. All she needed was lunch, her pencil case, phone, headphones and... Lux's jacket. 'Nice and easy.' Ahsoka smiled to herself as she looked around the rest of the house to assess the damage. It seemed like her bedroom was the only room affected by the whirlwind that was a drunken and angry Ashla Tano.

Knowing there was little she could do at this time that she hadn't already done, Ahsoka left the house again with a note for her mum. She grabbed her bike and cycled away from the chaos that was her home life.

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Anakin had arrived earlier than he had yesterday and was settled into his desk when Obi-wan came in. "Well, let's see if your second day is as successful as your first. I have a few of your Tutor today so I'll be asking them what they think of you." He smiled at his friend who pretended he has been stabbed with his fork.

"How could you my friend? Ah, I don't mind. They will all say positive things about me." Anakin grinned as the bell rang out again. "That's your cue." He made a shooing motion with his hands as Obi-wan walked away while laughing.

Anakin cared deeply about his best friend for he was like his brother, he would do anything for him. His attitude towards him sometimes had formed from years of Obi-wan looking out for him. He realised that what Obi-wan had done for him is probably what he should do for Ahsoka if Anakin thought that she needed help. Yes, that seemed like a good idea, regardless of what Padme suggested.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter, Barriss's parents seem nice, if a little overexcited for Ahsoka to be in a relationship. I'll update again tomorrow. Bye, bye.