The Forgotten Jedi - Rey Skywalker // Book V in A Spark of Hope

Chapter Four- Luke.

"Hey, I just talked to Ben," Finn states, sitting down at the table next to Poe, Rey, Caden and Lyra. I can't help but eavesdrop on their conversation, as I too just spoke to Ben, and he was acting very different. "he's acting really weird."

Don't say anything, I think to myself, don't drop in on their conversation.

"What do you mean he's acting weird?" Rose asks, placing her tray down. "What did he say?"

"Well, I asked him to be one of my groomsmen," Finn explains. "he said no, and said that he doesn't deserve it. He also said we don't forgive him."

"That is weird." Rey says. "Maybe he's just tired?"

"Maybe." I say, and they turn to me, giving me questioning looks. "Yes, I was eavesdropping. It's not a crime. Get over it."

"Okay?" Poe says. "We literally said nothing wrong. But okay. What do you mean by 'maybe'?"

"I'm repeating my daughter." I reply. "And what I mean by maybe, I mean maybe that's what's going on. But I don't think it is. Because I also had a weird conversation with him."

"Oh, what did he say?" Lyra asks.

"Well, to start with, he asked if I felt lonely." I explain. "I told him yes, I did. And I asked if he was feeling that way. In reply, he said that he shouldn't have brought it up. Then he left."

"He almost sounds ... depressed?" Rey suggests. "We need to talk to him."

"What we need is to give him time." Caden says. "When my mom and sister died, my dad felt guilty. He felt guilty for allowing himself to be friends with that horrible person. I tried to talk to him, and he'd talk back, but I could tell he really didn't want to talk."

"You were just a child." Lyra states. "He probably didn't want to talk about it with you. He didn't want to upset you. My parents both had a ton of issues that they wouldn't talk about with me. Like, for instance, I made the mistake of asking what happened to my fathers leg and why it had all those scars on it, he went quiet and said it was nothing. We barely talk about Scarif now."

"I think we should talk to him," Rey admits. "I mean, after Luke told me that he's my father, I felt lonely even though I stated that I wanted to be alone. Then I ended up running away and almost getting myself killed."

Everyone freezes as realization hits us.

Ben, he wouldn't run away ... would he?

We all quickly stand, leaving behind our untouched meals.

We need to check on Ben.

We need to make sure he's still here.

~

"Ben?" I call, looking throughout the base. "BEN!?"

"Luke, what?" Leia asks, her and Han walking up to me. I turn to them quickly, seeing concerned looks painted across their faces. "What's wrong? Why are you calling for Ben? Is everything okay?"

"Um," I say. "well, it depends. Have you seen him?"

"No, not since yesterday." Han admits. "Why? Something wrong with him?"

Oh gosh, how do I tell them their son may have just possibly ran away? Of course they won't take it well! This is going to be hard...

"Luke," Leia says. "what's wrong? Where's Ben?"

"I don't know," I reply, and Han and Leia's faces fall. "I mean, we don't know. We're all searching for him, but he's been acting really weird."

"What do you mean he's acting weird?" Han asks.