Could be better;;{{Arden

[Riley Pearson]

I had hoped that there wouldn't be a bruise on my face from where Logan hit me, but when I got home later that night, I realized I wasn't that lucky. There really wasn't anything I could do for it by the time I saw, so I just left it as it was, hoping that it didn't look too ugly... I forgot how much of a pain it was to get in fights. But I guess I could at least be thankful that getting hit was all that happened. Because honestly, I'm sure that it could have been much worse.
Anyway, that was besides the point. It didn't look so great, but it didn't really hurt unless I pressed on it. Actually, I found myself doing that quite a bit. Never really knew why I did that, but I tended to do that eveytime I got bruises. Poke them, it hurts.. poke them later, big surprise, still hurts.
So on top of my face not looking so pretty, I also woke up feeling slightly apathetic and slightly sick as well. Ella came down with something a week prior and I was pretty sure that I'd caught that as well. So all in all, this wasn't a great combination. Sick, unpleasant looking, and apathetic.
But all the same, I had to leave the house and go run some errands... At least I wouldn't have to watch the girls or Justin too.
I sighed and took a sip of some tea that I had bought while I was out. And feeling a bit drained decided to just sit down before I continued any further, trying not to think about the events of the past few days.
I didn't much like the way Arden and I left things... and well, Logan and I never got off on the right foot, so there was nothing different there.
Sadly, I didn't get much time to relax because next thing I knew, the cloudy and cold day and turned into a lovely rainy and freezing day.
I groaned, staying where I was for a moment before standing up and going over to the nearest place of shelter, which actually just happened to be the bookstore. So I guess the day wasn't completely lost.
I ran inside and shivered a bit from the temperature change, before taking off my glasses and trying to get all the water off the soaked lenses.
I definitely could be having a better day.

[[gah, it's a bit horrible/jumpy ]]

[Arden Patricks]

I have yet to find an alternative to the endless wanderings - something that will distract me from how awful I feel at home without inadvertently bringing me to a variety of random public places.

This one isn't bad though. I do like books, and it's relatively quiet. It's more the principle of it, that I feel like I'm being forced here. And of course there's the fact that I don't really have any interest in any of the books around me right now. I've just been walking the aisles for almost fifteen minutes now, and have yet to pick one up or even take a second glance at a spine. This really has to stop, but I don't know how to end it.

I could just try and move on, of course, since there isn't any chance of going back. I could try and give poor Riley another chance, even if it does carry the risk that I'm going to hurt him again because clearly he's an idiot and somehow doesn't mind that. Or I could just try and move on in general... try to get over it. Try to stop feeling so hurt. But I am, and it's not working, and it's getting to the point where I don't care what it takes to make it stop. Anything at all and I'll do it.

I sigh faintly, glancing around with vague curiosity to determine where I've winded up and whether I should leave now... but no. A quick glance at the doorway reveals a less than idyllic state of weather... and a handful of people seeking refuge, including one I recognize.
I've turned and headed back down the aisle without even thinking about it before he can possibly have seen me... I hope.

[Riley Pearson]

In all honesty, I couldn't really see anything. I was attempting to clean off my glasses with an already wet shirt.. and well, needless to say, it wasn't working all too well. So eventually, I decided to just put them back on, wet, and let them air-dry. I sighed and looked around the store a bit before sneezing, with quite some force and having my glasses slip down my noise. I pushed them back up and taking another drink of my tea, walked over to a random aisle.
I glanced at some of the books, but didn't bother picking any of them up. I was almost sort of getting a headache, and I wished it would go away because it was making it difficult for me to think... Then again, I didn't really want to think did I.
I kept walking and turning down another aisle saw Arden. I paused for a moment and was about to turn around, but then, I of course, decided this was the perfect time to sneeze again and more than likely caught her attention.

[Arden Patricks]

I feel neither relief or shame when it appears that I've succeeded in getting away from him, but mostly just a weary, What in the hell are you doing? 'Cause really, it's ridiculous, and horridly childish of me. But I honestly don't care right now, and would probably continue wandering the aisles forever if someone hadn't sneezed behind me, making me turn.

Well, there you go then. I guess it must be fate and you can't run away.
"Hey, Riley," I half-sigh. "What're you doing here?"

[Riley Pearson]

I sighed slightly, feeling an uncomfortable twinge in my nose after I sneezed and sniffed a bit. Actually, I was hoping to get away. For once I don't think I was all too comfortable being around her. I think maybe I should stay away from her a bit, but apparently, whatever sickness that has seemed to take over me, disagrees. Because after I sneezed, she does turn around and I hold my hand up for a second, gesturing a small wave.
"Hey." I said with a faint half smile looking over to her, wondering if she'll take notice to the bruise on the side of my face or the fact that I probably look a bit ill.
"Just getting out of the rain actually." I answered, shaking my head faintly. "What about you?"

[Arden Patricks]

"... Wandering," I mutter, not really paying attention to my own voice and barely even hearing his questions because now I'm too busy frowning at the bruise on his face.
"What happened to you? Look like you got punched."

[Riley Pearson]

I nodded a bit at her answer, my eyes drifting toward a few books for a couple moments before I heard what she asked next.
"Ah.. yeah." I said scratching the top of head for a second. "That's because I did." I said with a small nod, looking back up to her.

[Arden Patricks]

I raise my eyebrows slightly, almost glad of this in a way because it seems I've found something to not be apathetic about.
"And who the hell punched you? I don't recall you being the sort to pick fights."

[Riley Pearson]

I paused for a moment, looking away from her for a few seconds. "Um.." I looked back over to her with a small shrug. ".. Logan." I answered eventually, biting my lip for a second.

[Arden Patricks]

I open my mouth to reply to that, but then don't seem to have any words. Or, really, I have words, but they don't seem to be in my mouth because they aren't coming out. Not for several heartbeats, anyway, and not without getting strangled.
"... He... he's not here though. Where did you run into him?"

[Riley Pearson]

I put a hand through my hair and shook my head a little bit. "It's my fault, I ran into him.." I said, not wanting to specifically where because that was one of my more idiotic moments. In Knockturn Alley.. "And sort of pissed him off." I finished eventually, wondering if that was enough information... probably not.

[Arden Patricks]

"Easy enough to do," I mutter, before returning to the matter at hand. "But he isn't supposed to even be here. That was half the point; he's supposed to be in Guam or something so he won't get caught."

[Riley Pearson]

I shrugged faintly, "Really easy actually." I added to that with a small nod, biting my lip for another second. "Well, he was definitely still here a couple days ago." I commented. "He told you he was leaving?"

[Arden Patricks]

"That was why I didn't argue anymore," I mutter, putting my hands to my forehead for a moment. "He said he'd disappear, and I realized that made sense."
And now it hurts even more than it did, because if he didn't disappear... what does that mean?

[Riley Pearson]

"Oh.." I said a bit quietly. Hearing that I felt a bit worse about the whole situation...
"Maybe he just hadn't gotten around to it yet?" I asked a couple moments later. If he said he was leaving and he didn't, I couldn't really imagine what she could be thinking.

[Arden Patricks]

"In which case he's an idiot," I mutter, shaking my head. "But never mind. It probably doesn't matter. So you two got into a fight then?"

[Riley Pearson]

I shrugged faintly, not knowing what to say about that. Cos, well, he could be an idiot. But so could I...
I nodded a little, "Yeah, nothing serious... He hit me, I hit him back..." I shrugged. "Then it was over."

[Arden Patricks]

"Which is odd, but then again what's normal with him?" I shake my head a bit, then shrug. "... So... how have you been, other than that?"

[Riley Pearson]

"I dunno.. I was glad he didn't do anything else though." I said shaking my head faintly. "Been worse, I guess..." I said with a faint shrug. "Just sort of sick."

[Arden Patricks]

"Hence the sneezing, I suppose." I grimace sympathetically, then pause. "How is he, by the way?"
Not that you can usually tell with him, of course, but I may as well ask.

[Riley Pearson]

I nodded a little bit. "Yeah." I said, before sniffing a bit for a second. I paused before answering, trying to remember how he really was. It was hard to tell with him. "Um.. Hard to say.. He.." I paused again. "He seemed sort of.. upset, I guess you could call it." I got out eventually. "I don't know really though."

[Arden Patricks]

"Wouldn't expect you to," I say, shaking my head again. "He's a little hard to read."

[Riley Pearson]

I nodded a little bit. "But um.. judging by this thing on my face, I would say that he's not happy." I said after a moment.

[Arden Patricks]

I half laugh at that, shaking my head. "He's never happy, I don't think. Not by most people's definitions anyway."

[Riley Pearson]

I laughed faintly. "Yeah, guess he's not... but.. I sort of, um.." I paused again giving a faint shrug. "Sort of mentioned you.."

[Arden Patricks]

"I see...." I nod briefly, frowning faintly but not pressing it.

[Riley Pearson]

She didn't press it and I wondered if I should continue or not. Which was why I decided to keep my mouth shut, she prbably didn't want to hear it.

[Arden Patricks]

"..." Sorry," I say after a moment of silence, sighing slightly and wondering myself what in the world I'm apologizing for.

[Riley Pearson]

I gave her a slightly confused look and shook my head. "Why're you saying sorry?" I asked.

[Arden Patricks]

"Seemed appropriate." I shrug, shaking my head. "I don't know."