"That was one time, and it wasn't my fault. I don't know why the pasta burned where it leaned out of the pot. It usually just... slides down," Anakin griped as he fiddled around the kitchen.
Obi-Wan shook his head at his roommate and went to go sort through his school supplies. After gathering everything he would need to study later, he placed it in a pile on the coffee table in the living room and plopped down on the couch. He allowed himself to sink into the cushions with a sigh. This was his first quiet moment of the day where he could just be, and presumably it would be his last before sleep claimed him later this evening. He closed his eyes and allowed himself to fall into a meditative state, like his theology adviser, Master Yoda, had taught him. He had to be wary not to relax too much, though, or else he might fall asleep. That would be no good for his self-imposed study session later that evening.
He stayed like this for quite some time, until Anakin called out that dinner was ready. With a reluctant sigh, Obi-Wan pulled himself out of his happy place and went to meet his roommate in the kitchen.
"Well, the smoke alarm didn't go off this time, so that was a good start," Obi-Wan teased, "let's just hope it's edible."
"If you dislike my cooking so much then why don't you do all the cooking?" Anakin quipped.
"Because. If I eat gourmet all the time then I'll get tired of it. If I eat garbage half the time then that gives me something to look forward to," Obi-Wan winked, twirling some pasta around his fork. He didn't think Anakin was a terrible cook. Sure, sometimes he did burn things, but he wasn't terrible. If anything, he just had basic teenage cooking skills. Obi-Wan knew he had Qui-Gon to thank for that. Qui-Gon wasn't the best cook either, but he tried, which was why Obi-Wan taught himself how to be a better cook. He saw his foster father come home after a long day of work and then proceed to make dinner for everyone. Obi-Wan wanted to take a task off his plate, so he chose to learn to cook. Qui-Gon always insisted that he would be content with just boxed mac and cheese and some hot dogs, but Obi-Wan saw how much his eyes lit up when he ate something more complex that Obi-Wan had made.
"Do you have a lot of studying to do?" Anakin asked as he sat down next to him.
"A decent amount. It's only one chapter, but it covered a lot, and I never know what to expect from Professor Windu." Obi-Wan sighed. That class was really testing him.
"Well, he sounds like a hard-ass," Anakin commented, "I don't see why you have to do both sides. If I taught the class, I'd just have everyone pick one."
"Well, you don't have the necessary law knowledge to teach the class, and by requiring both sides it makes us learn more material. It's useful in the long-run, but annoying in the moment."
"Like most things in life," Anakin sighed.
Obi-Wan gave Anakin a bemused look. For a 19 year old kid, he sure spoke like he was older than his years sometimes, but Obi-Wan knew well enough just how immature Anakin really was. Especially when he looked down at his plate.
"Did you sprinkle the parmesan cheese on my dish to look like a rocket ship?" Obi-Wan asked with a raised eyebrow.
Anakin shrugged, digging into his food, "You always say that presentation is important because people 'eat with their eyes first, Anakin.'"
Obi-Wan rolled his eyes and continued to eat his dinner. "What did you do today? Your fall semester starts this week, right?"
"Yeah. It starts on Wednesday. I didn't do much. I mostly tinkered around with some ideas for a new cat toy for Threepio, then I took Artoo for a walk to the dog park. When I got back, I played video games and then you came home. It was the quintessential day off."
Obi-Wan nodded, before adding "Don't forget that Threepio has a vet appointment for his shots on Tuesday. I know you raised him since he was a kitten and he's never been an outdoor cat, but he still needs his rabies shot if Rex is going to let him live here."
"I'm well aware," Anakin replied as he cleared their plates. "Want me to wait up so we can catch up on something on the DVR or are you going to be out late?"
"I'll be out late. Watch one of those horror films you recorded. You know I don't enjoy watching those things anyway," Obi-Wan said, waving him off. He slid out of his chair and walked back to get his books and notes from the coffee table in the other room. He waved to Anakin, grabbed his keys and made his way out of the apartment.
He didn't have to travel far, though. Their apartments sat on the second story of a building that housed a local college coffee shop on the first level. It was run by students and owned by Rex as well. The local cops also needed a coffee shop open late when they worked night shift. This just seemed like the best solution. Obi-Wan heard the bell to the coffee shop chime as he walked through the door. He gave the brightly lit front room of the shop a once-over before heading into the back room to his usual spot in the corner. He was about to mindlessly toss his books onto his usual table when he noticed that there was already a laptop and a copy of Common Sense sitting on the table. He blinked, a little perplexed that someone had stolen his spot. It wasn't like his name was etched into the table or anything, but he had been studying in that same spot since he was in undergrad. A little deflated, he set himself up at the next table and went to order himself a latte.
"Welcome to the Kamino Café, what can I get-" the server started to say before turning around, "Oh! Hi, Obi-Wan. The usual?"
"The usual, Ahsoka," Obi-Wan nodded, putting his exact change on the counter. "You're working late tonight."
"Rex had someone call out so I said I'd pick up the shift. I needed extra money to pay for Anakin's tutoring sessions, anyway," she shrugged, handing him his latte. "Good luck with whatever you're studying for. I'm sure you'll ace it."
"Thanks, Ahsoka," Obi-Wan nodded and walked back towards his table. He slid into his seat and cracked his knuckles before cracking open his book.
"You did not just do that," a small chuckle came from the table next to him, his former table. Obi-Wan shifted his gaze to see who dared to make fun of his study habits. He found himself clearing his throat quite awkwardly as he saw a beautiful young woman. Her brown hair was pulled back in an intricate low bun that landed at the base of her neck. She peeked over her laptop at him as she continued to type away.
He shrugged, apologetically, "I have a big test tomorrow and some woman happened to steal my lucky study seat."
"How dare she?" the woman replied, scandalously, but then in all serious added, "but do you want your seat back?"
Obi-Wan chuckled, flipping to the chapter for his test, "No, no. You were here first. What are you working on?"
"I have an essay for one of my political science classes. We were told to dissect a time of civil disobedience that was featured in major propaganda. I chose Common Sense," she said, holding up the book with a flourish. "What about you? What are you in for?"
"I have a law exam tomorrow. The professor requires you to read a set of facts about a case and then write both an argument for the prosecution and the defense," he explained.
"So you're in law school?" She asked.
"Unfortunately. Can you tell by how it's aged me ten years in ten months?" He joked, but in all honesty, everyone could tell he was tired. They just couldn't figure out from what.
"You don't look old," she murmured, "just tired. Like someone who has the weight of the world on his shoulders."
Obi-Wan smiled sadly, "Well, I'll let you get back to your paper."
Suddenly, the woman had a mischievous look on her face. "My paper isn't due til Friday, and it's mostly done anyways. I have it all outlined and it'll write itself. Why don't I help you study?"
"How do you propose you do that?"
"Hand me your notes. I'll quiz you. For things you don't have notes on, you can just teach me about them. I'll probably come across them in my studies anyway. Laws are laws. They don't change much," she smirked.
Obi-Wan twirled his mustache in thought for a moment before handing her his notebook. "Alright. Let's do it."
And so they did. The beautiful mystery woman helped him study into the late night hours. After suppressing three yawns in a row, she finally excused herself to go home. Obi-Wan took his notebook back from her and helped her pack up her things before wishing her a good night. He stayed another hour before Ahsoka told him she was leaving and that she'd walk him back to his apartment since she was just going down the hall to her house.
"So you and that lady were really hitting it off," Ahsoka commented, "are you going to see her again?"
Obi-Wan stopped in his tracks on the stairs, "You know, I never even got her name. I hope I see her again."
"She was very pretty, and she seemed to like you," Ahsoka teased.
"She was just helping a fellow student study," Obi-Wan said, waving her off. He walked Ahsoka to her door. "Well, have a good day at school tomorrow. Try to get some sleep, youngling."
Ahsoka rolled her eyes at her neighbor, "Night, Dad."
Obi-Wan smirked and shook his head on the way back to his front door.
Soon enough, he was going through the motions of getting ready for bed and falling asleep. Somehow, he wasn't worried about his test as much anymore. He felt fairly well-prepared. If he ever saw his wonderful mystery woman again, he definitely owed her one.