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Post by Riley Pearson on May 16, 2009 7:12:49 GMT
Well, one way to look at today was that it was one more thing that I could cross off the list... being accused of murder, the prime suspect to be exact, is not exactly what you would call pleasant, but I can say that I wasn't expecting it... Nor would I have ever thought it would be something I'd be able to cross off a list. It's quite the obvious... as expected, I'm sure, that it's not something you want to happen to put on a list like that. But of course it happened to me because that's just my sort of luck as of right now... as of my life, actually.
It all started this afternoon when my cleaning of the kitchen was interrupted by a brief knock at my front door. The girls had just taken their lunch to their room, promising they would finally clean it up and then I go to answer the door to find two Ministry Agents... Employees... whatever they're called, standing in front of me.
I hadn't known.
He'd been dead for nearly a week now and I didn't know. I mean, I hadn't even seen him after he 'came back to life'. It was sort of like he never came back in the first place to me right now.. except for the fact that I knew he was alive, that is.
What kind of a friend am I? ... Well, I guess I was the kind that was trying to distance himself. Arden and I weren't doing what you would exactly call 'well' on the friendship basis and after the last time we spoke, I thought it would be best to give her some room to not be around me... maybe it would help things get back to normal sooner than I feel like they would. But the main point is, her not-dead, dead boyfriend, was in fact, no longer living... again. And I wasn't there for her. She must be a mess... and I just wanted to see if she was okay.
And now that I was actually allowed to leave my house, after being mercilessly questioned and told that I was having an eye kept on me at "all times", I decided to go over to Arden's, to not just make sure she was okay, but to talk to her about this.. I figured it was safe to go over since Logan was supposedly gone, so at least that's one good thing... possibly... well, for me...
Actually... Now that I was standing in front of her doorway, I was wondering if it would be a good idea to tell her about this. It's really ridiculous. Me being accused of murder, that is. Especially the murder of Travis... I wouldn't do that... I couldn't... One reason being because I was not capable of murder and the other being that I hadn't even seen my wand in weeks... And I think that Arden knew both of those things...
But I had already knocked, so I guess I'd just tell her depending on how she's doing... but more than likely, it's gonna come out... I mean, what else has happened to me lately that's actually worth saying?
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Post by Arden Patricks on May 16, 2009 14:41:32 GMT
There has got to be more in my life, I've decided. I have no idea what, but I do know this isn't enough. Logan's not enough, family isn't enough, and a job is not enough. What the hell is the point?
Not, of course, that I'm suicidal again. Or even really depressed. It's just a logical question that I've asked myself repeatedly over the years, and I kind of wish I remember what the answer was last time because now I can't think of anything.
And I can't get rid of the feeling that maybe that's because I'm too old now. I determined a very long time ago that if I wasn't dead by forty-two, I'd find a way to change that, because it's really just too many years. What do people do with that many years? I always wondered. And now I know the answer is nothing, just like I suspected. I'm 28 years old and there's real;ly no purpose to my life. I I had one at some point, I've served it, and now... what, I hang around here for at least twice as many years as I've already existed? Why? What for? There's nothing left to do. So who the hell decided to make people live that long?
A knock on the door interrupts my thoughts, but maybe that's a good thing because they're getting dangerously close to suicidal. So now I just have to make sure I don't admit that.
"Hey, Riley," I say, surprised. I wonder what's made him crazy enough to come here for a moment, before I realize he doesn't yet know that Logan's back.
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Post by Riley Pearson on May 17, 2009 1:05:03 GMT
I wasn't sure why she seemed surprised to see me, but I just ignored it and said, "Hey," back to her. I realised now that I should have worked all of this out on my way here. I wasn't positive what to tell her... So I ended up pausing and just standing there for another moment trying to figure something out. "Um.." I shook my head fainty as I paused again, "I heard about Travis.." I ended up saying, sort of quietly. "Just, um.. wanted to see if you were okay." I finished looking up to her, wondering if I should have started out that way... maybe I shouldn't have even mentioned it. [[ gah, short.  ]] |
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Post by Arden Patricks on May 17, 2009 1:55:16 GMT
"I'm fine," I say automatically, looking at the floor and swallowing hard to get rid of the lump in my throat. And I am, really. At least about that. It's only when it's mentioned like this that it hurts just a bit.
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Post by Riley Pearson on May 17, 2009 2:02:45 GMT
I looked down for a moment at her reaction and nodded faintly. "... Sorry." I said after a little bit, biting my lip for a second. "I shouldn't've mentioned it.."
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Post by Arden Patricks on May 17, 2009 2:07:01 GMT
"No reason not to," I shrug. "I would've told you anyway, if I thought you didn't know." Pause. "Thank you, anyway. For... making sure I'm okay." I shrug again.
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Post by Riley Pearson on May 17, 2009 2:08:48 GMT
I shrugged faintly, "Just found out this afternoon.." I commented, biting my lip for another second. ".. You're welcome, I guess... Wouldn't be much of a friend if I didn't.."
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Post by Arden Patricks on May 17, 2009 2:13:04 GMT
"No...." I agree absently. But I'd deserve it.
I glance back over my shoulder then, though I know that Logan's not home, while I debate the risks and gains of letting him in. It would be awfully rude if I don't at least offer, though....
"... So, do... d'you want to come in?"
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Post by Riley Pearson on May 17, 2009 2:17:53 GMT
I watched her glance back over her shoulder, slightly confused why she would.. but just deciding to ignore it.. It wasn't like Logan was here anymore.
".. If you're not up to anything.." I said, putting my hands in my pockets after another moment with another shrug.
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Post by Arden Patricks on May 17, 2009 2:23:15 GMT
"Contemplating the futility of life," I shrug, with a half-amused laugh. "So... no, by all means, come in. Unless... you have anything else to do?"
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Post by Riley Pearson on May 17, 2009 2:27:26 GMT
"That... doesn't sound very pleasant..." I commented looking up to her for a short moment, biting my lip for another second. "Nah... nothing to do." I said with a small shake of my head. ".. Had a weird day.."
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Post by Arden Patricks on May 17, 2009 2:29:01 GMT
I shrug off the first bit while opening the door up more properly and ushering him in, then frown slightly. "Oh, how so?"
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Post by Riley Pearson on May 17, 2009 2:35:49 GMT
I walked inside and shrugged faintly, wondering if I should say it. I didn't really want to mention Travis again. "The Ministry showed up my house and questioned me.."
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Post by Arden Patricks on May 17, 2009 2:36:53 GMT
"Oh?" I ask again, surprised. "What about?"
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Post by Riley Pearson on May 17, 2009 2:39:34 GMT
I paused again, not wanted to say it but I guess it was a bit late for that, "... For murdering Travis." I said eventually.
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Post by Arden Patricks on May 17, 2009 2:45:13 GMT
I think that I've stopped breathing for a second, and have a strong urge to back away from him despite the fact this must be some sick joke.
"Excuse me?"
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Post by Riley Pearson on May 17, 2009 3:31:05 GMT
"They think I did it." I said looking back up to her, trying to decide from what she's just said whether or not she actually would think I did that. "They showed up at my house asking questions... accusing me..."
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Post by Arden Patricks on May 17, 2009 3:36:35 GMT
Which is essentially what I've just done, I realize, but the way that he said it was a bit misleading.
"Right, sorry... why in the hell would anyone think that you killed him?"
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Post by Riley Pearson on May 17, 2009 3:41:12 GMT
"Sorry, I said that a bit weird." I said quietly, shaking my head faintly for a second. ".. They know that I knew him... Kind of found my wand there..."
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Post by Arden Patricks on May 17, 2009 3:48:17 GMT
"Well, obviously I knew him too and they haven't -" I stop short to catch up with the second statement, and shake my head quickly. "Sorry... your wand as in the one you thought you left here?"
I'm starting to feel a bit chilled and sick, but I try to shake it off. He couldn't have; it's ridiculous. Why would he? And what are the chances Riley actually did leave his wand here, of all places?
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Post by Riley Pearson on May 17, 2009 3:51:16 GMT
"Better hope they don't show up here then..." I paused again, ".. Actually, they're watching everything I do, so they might show up here anyway." I added sort of quietly, with a small frown.
I nodded, "Yeah... I haven't seen it in weeks.... I could've left it anywhere." I shrugged faintly. "... You don't think I did it, do you?" I asked a bit later, looking over to her.
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Post by Arden Patricks on May 17, 2009 4:03:14 GMT
"No, of course not." I shake my head quickly, stifling the doubts. I'm far more worried that Logan did it, really, and though I think I'd rather it was Riley... I can't actually imagine it. "I mean, why would you? Why... why would anyone?"
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Post by Riley Pearson on May 17, 2009 4:06:06 GMT
I nodded faintly, biting my lip for another moment, hoping she was telling me the truth when she said that. "I wouldn't.. And I don't know... I don't really see why anyone would.."
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Post by Arden Patricks on May 18, 2009 3:20:50 GMT
"Though obviously somebody did," I murmur under my breath, nodding.
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Post by Riley Pearson on May 18, 2009 3:24:16 GMT
I shrugged faintly, biting my lip for another moment. Didn't I say I wasn't going to talk about this? At least not right away? I guess that didn't exactly go as planned...
".. Yeah.." I muttered back to her before sighing and pushing some hair from my face. ".. Really sorry if they come here, by the way.. Didn't even think about that before I came.."
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Post by Arden Patricks on May 18, 2009 3:29:26 GMT
"It's fine," I shrug. "What've I got to hide besides a murderous fugitive?"
Wait, did I just say that out loud? And was I even thinking about it before I said it? I don't think I was, or it wouldn't be so frightening now that it's occurred to me.
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Post by Riley Pearson on May 18, 2009 3:36:41 GMT
I nodded, but after a split second I realised what she told me and shot my eyes over to her. "You told me he left?" I asked, feeling a bit more panicky now. "Is he here?" I asked a short moment later, finding my eyes roaming around the house even though it was obvious he wasn't in the same room as us.
I didn't care about myself, I mean, what's facing him, when I'm being suspected of murder? I could end up in Azkaban... I'd rather he just kill me.
I was concerned for Arden, what if she was caught hiding Logan? That's not good.
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Post by Arden Patricks on May 18, 2009 3:43:42 GMT
"Technically, you could still say I'm hiding him even if he isn't here, just as long as he was and I didn't report it," I say, rather unnecessarily, watching him look around the room as if he expects Logan to jump out of a corner any moment. "And he did leave," I add, dropping my eyes. "We... ran into each other again and he came back."
And I'm pretty sure I'm at more risk than Riley here, or I wouldn't be okay with this. But Logan has never really hurt him, so the only thing likely to happen if he were to walk in is that he'd leave again - incidentally solving the problem of whether I'll be caught harboring a fugitive.
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Post by Riley Pearson on May 18, 2009 3:51:06 GMT
"Yeah, but it's not exactly good if someone shows up here cos I was here and then finds him." I said shaking my head faintly for a moment. "It's not like they'll just take him to Azkaban. And it'd be my fault because I came here." And they're following me... despite the fact that I do not have a wand.
I nodded, "Right.. should have figured." I said when she mentioned running into him again. "He never stays away for long.." I added, mostly to myself.
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Post by Arden Patricks on May 18, 2009 3:55:35 GMT
"Long enough," I mutter, then shake my head quickly because that's not really the issue here. "And it isn't your fault; you didn't know. So if they do come by... I'll just pray he isn't here and I can be a better liar when it matters. And I'll try to convince them that there's no way in hell you'd've killed him."
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