Sorry for not updating last week. I'm trying to put myself on a schedule again. AHHHHH, school starts up again in a week and I'm kinda stressing out. Anyway, I tried not to make it so cliche, but it probably is. Oh and if anyone gets the Mean Girls quote, you are awesome.-Kiera

CHAPTER 17

Everyone in the Rebel stronghold seemed to notice Ahsoka's change in demeanor. She walked with an extra spring in her step, a blinding smile graced her face, and her eyes shone with joy. She was cheerful, light, and she radiated romance. She couldn't get over her conversation with Lux last night. He wanted to see her. Her. With her limited knowledge of relationships, Ahsoka read between the lines. Falling asleep on her, having dinner in her room with her, asking to see her tonight. It all lead to one thing, Lux had a crush on her. Her cheeks warmed with a blush, the burnt orange deepening into a light tan.

Heading over to the kitchen she whipped up, to the best of her ability, a cake. The cake itself was a little charred, the icing was watery and dripped off the plate, and the messy writing was almost illegible. After placing the cake in the fridge, she rushed to the botanical gardens. The Alderaanian lilys were in full bloom, their creamy white buds dotted with hints of pale pink. Inhaling their sweet fragrance she selected the most resplendent florets. She bundled them together into a splendiferous bouquet, tying it with a silky, red ribbon.

She decamped to her quarters to give herself a makeover. Ahsoka spent an hour trying on various scrubs, face masks, and body washes. She enveloped herself in a mountain of bubbles and soaked her dry skin in a bath of milk. After Ahsoka was satisfied with the state of her skin, she powdered her face with a light blush. Her eyelashes were dipped in mascara, her lips painted a sultry red. Ahsoka squeezed herself into the only dress she owned. It was a deep blue spaghetti strap dress that clung to her waist and flare out at the hips. It had caught her eye when she was first living on Shili. Ahsoka had brought it along in case she needed it for some reconaiisance mission. That's what she told herself, secretly she had come to enjoy the way it made her feel pretty.

Retrieving the cake and flowers, she made her way to Lux's room. The door was slightly ajar, and she slipped through the crack to see her former best friend nibbling a slice of toast. Barriss Offee was casually eating breakfast, as if she hadn't bombed half the temple and framed Ahsoka. Once Ahsoka overcame the initial shock, she did what any normal person would do in the presence of a terrorist. She dropped everything and decked Barriss. Barriss gave a weak squeak of surprise. Fat, wet tears pooled in Ahsoka's eyes and spilled over her chin, dripping onto Bariss's shawl. Her heart felt like it was in her stomach.

Then, the door creaked open and in came Lux carrying a silver platter of tea cups. Setting the tea and crumpets on the settee, he seperated the distraught girls from each other. Ahsoka immediately retaliated by clocking him in the nose.

"So this is what you've been doing! Harboring a criminal!"

Lux took a deep breath and gently explained his reasoning. "A few months before I joined the Rebellion, Barriss appeared at my apartment. She had just escaped an Imperial prison colony. She said that she had learned that violence wasn't the way to create change. Ahsoka, she's changed, she isn't the same person that bombed the Temple. When I joined the Rebels, I snuck her aboard and she's been helping me ever since."

That only served to infuriate Ahsoka more. "Come on Lux, you can't be this naive! She betrayed me! She betrayed the Republic! You know, I really thought there was something between us, but clearly I was wrong!"

She threw the mangled bouquet at him. "Here, you can take your stupid flowers!"

She brushed past Barriss and stormed off. A worried expression crossed Lux's face as he turned heel towers the door, but Barriss placed a comforting hand in his shoulder.

"It's me she's really mad at," Barriss shook her head. "And I'm pretty sure I deserve it too."

Barriss scanned for Ahsoka's presence in the Force. As she predicted, it was a swirling maelstrom of disbelief, betrayal, and sadness. The poor girl had just experienced her first rejection. She may not be an expert on love, but she had heard some stories from fellow inmates. Through the Force, she could sense the residue of Ahsoka's presence in the hallway. She followed the wisps like someone would follow the scent of their favorite food. The little tendrils nestled at her feet, encircling her legs. They led her to the starfighter hanger, rows upon rows of gleaming X-wings greeted Barriss. Muffled weeping came from behind some micellaneus engine parts.

She found Ahsoka curled into a ball, engine grease and tears staining her lovely gown. Cautiously, Barriss seated herself next to Ahsoka, and tentatively put an arm around the distressed Togruta. Ashoka just brushed her arm away with a trembling hand.

"Go away," muttered Ahsoka.

Barriss instead scooted closer to her until their shoulders were pressed together. " I know I've done terrible, and I'm not going to make excuses or pretend what I did never happened. I came to realize that, back then, I had never really understood the concept of friendship. I had never really formed an attachment before I met you. I took our bond for granted and I used it for my own gain. What I'm trying to say is that I'm sorry, for everything. What I did was awful and I deserved every second I spent incarcerated. Ahsoka, I know that you probably never want to see my face again, but the thing is I spent two years without a single real friend. I will never ever be able to recreate the bond that we share. I hate myself for my actions, especially hurting you. Please, I know that this will probably take time, so I'll leave you alone. I just hope that maybe, just maybe, we could be friends again. I missed you, I missed being with you. I'm sorry, Ahsoka." She had risen to her feet when a hand clasped around her wrist.

" Wait," Ahsoka whispered. "You're right, it will take some time for me to fully forgive you, but I miss our friendship too. For now, um, can you just stay with me?"

Barriss blushed, " Of course."

Ahsoka rested her montrals on her shoulders. "Did Lux ever, you know, like me?"

Barriss sighed," Oh Ahsoka."

Ahsoka moved her head into Barriss's stomach. In return, Barris wrapped her slender arms around Ahsoka's wilted form. The two stayed there until long after curfew, comforting each other.