Permanent Mark

Chapter Eleven

Luke receives the package from his sister. He puts it away for later. Ben didn't need to see it right away. Luke believes Ben needs some solitude from his parents and whoever this young girl is. Apparently his sister has taken in an orphan from Jakku. Luke believes perhaps Ben formed an unhealthy attachment to the child. 

Maybe after he'd gotten a better understanding of the force, Luke would give the package to him. 

Ben grumbles to himself as he works in the library. Luke doesn't even realize or care that Ben knows the Jedi texts backwards and forwards. He's studied them since he was a young child. 

He doesn't need a better understanding. He understands them completely. He just understands them differently. 

He is tired of copying so he flips to a blank page and pens a letter to Rey. 

He has snuck his calligraphy set with him today so he draws a birthday greeting to her, knowing it's the best he can do. 

"Happy Birthday Rey. Hope your day was great. Hugs from Ben."

Hey kid,

Sorry I couldn't be there. Thinking of you though. I hope your first birthday was good. You deserve it. Eat some cake for me. I miss you. 

Ben

It was all he could think to say. He had not received anything from home, which didn't surprise him about his parents. But nothing from Rey? That struck him as strange. 

He can't help but suspect that someone was keeping something from him. He feels it. 

I told you, they don't care. Now who is this person you are keeping from ME? I know you are hiding someone. 

"Go away, I don't have to tell you everything," Ben whispers. 

Yes you DO boy. No secrets!! I will find out. You know I will. 

Ben has kept the voice from seeking Rey out. There's no way he'll reveal it. 

It's the only time he's angry at the voice. When it asks about Rey. 

She's too special, too precious. It won't touch her. He won't let it. 

He wonders how well she's hidden her force sensitivity from Leia.

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Rey is enjoying school for the most part. 

Kay is a good friend. Rey had not tried to make any other friends. She wasn't used to a crowd so one friend was more than enough. 

Kay didn't seem to have many friends. Rey wondered why. She is a sweet person, quiet and giving. 

One day they are outside on the school lawn. The younger children climbed on the playground but Kay didn't seem to be interested in that, so they sat and chatted. 

Rey pulls out her notebook, the one she usually leaves at home. The one she writes her deepest thoughts in. The night before, she was on the balcony. The very balcony that she'd last seen Ben on. She was supposed to be doing her homework but she had fetched her precious notebook to fill it with her thoughts of the stars and the moon and the person on her heart. 

Han wandered outside and came to see how her studies were progressing. Rey quickly closed her notebook, slipping it into her satchel. 

She had forgotten to return it to her hiding spot, under a stack of blankets in her closet.