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[Arden Patricks]

"Thank you again." I smile faintly, then shake my head. "No, I think I can manage not to off myself just in the time it takes to pack some clothes."
... Damn. That was not the right thing to say. But maybe he won't notice. I can say something in reply about the girls again, maybe, to distract him... but nothing is coming to mind.

[Riley Pearson]

"You're welcome." I said again, before adding, "It's really no problem though.. Anything for a friend." I smiled. Actually, friend was an understatement.. I should have at least said best friend.. only friend, maybe. Something like that.
I looked up at her at what she said. "Maybe I should come anyway." I said in reply a moment later, after staring at her a couple seconds.

[Arden Patricks]

"No, you really don't have to," I say quickly, closing my eyes briefly as I shake my head. "I don't... it's fine, it was just a poor joke. I'm really not that much of a mess that... that I actually would."
Or at least I really hope not. "I don't need supervision, I promise."

[Riley Pearson]

I looked at her for a few moments while I decided whether or not I should believe her. I guess I should be able to, but now I was a bit more nervous about leaving her alone..
But I went possibly against my better judgement and nodded, ".. Okay.. But please let me know if you change your mind."

[Arden Patricks]

"Okay," I nod. "That's why I'm here."
And I think I want to say something else, but I can't think of it. Or maybe just give him a hug again but I think we've done enough of that.

[Riley Pearson]

I nodded, faintly, feeling slightly better at what she said. Giving her a small smile, I thought about giving her another hug, but decided against it, since it had already happened a few times. "Good." I added with as I looked at her.
Setting the glass on a table, I cleaned up the floor with some magic before speaking, "So um.." I started a moment later. I guess the silence was going to start sooner than expected.

[Arden Patricks]

I smile faintly again, then look down at the floor. Hate silence. I really think it ought to be outlawed, but then I guess we'd both be in trouble... and I don't intend to go back to Azkaban anytime soon.
But I guess that joke would be in pretty poor taste also, and I'll have to stick with silence because it's all I can think of to say, until he finally speaks and I look up, raising my eyebrows expectantly.

[Riley Pearson]

She looked back up to me, but I realized that I still didn't know what I was going to say. I could only think of one thing to ask really, and I wasn't sure that it would be the wisest thing to bring up.. But what else was there to say?
I was curious though... so I let it get the better of me and after a few moments looked back up to her. ".. So what happened then?" I asked a moment later. "To make you... leave?" I asked, hoping she understood what I meant. That I was implying that to mean, Why did she leave him? Especially after choosing him after me.. though I wasn't going to mention that.

[Arden Patricks]

Oh, damn. I think even silence would be better than this.
I look back down at the ground again, swallowing dryly, and take a deep breath before I can speak - much less organize my thoughts, which I realize I still haven't done even though I've opened my mouth. I close it again and look away, then close my eyes as well and shrug slightly.
"I had a lot of time to think in there. I don't know. I just...." I shake my head.
Well, that and I found out that he killed Travis.

[Riley Pearson]

I bit my lip, immediately regretting ever opening my mouth. I shouldn't have asked. I knew I shouldn't have and I still did.
I looked up at her again as she started to speak and I nodded faintly at her response. "It's okay... You don't have to answer... Just, forget I asked." I said shaking my head. "... I shouldn't have.."

[Arden Patricks]

"No, it's fine," I say quietly, shaking my head, and trying again to swallow the lump in my throat. I cross my arms tightly, hunching in on myself without realizing, then decide to stay that way when I do notice. "I also found out that... th-that he's the one who killed Travis," I say after a moment. "And I decided after a while that I couldn't live with that."

I'm not really sure why I have to tell him this. Maybe to ensure that he can remind me of it if I ever try to change my mind? I don't know.

"It's why I didn't really want to be there anymore," I add, after another brief pause. "It's one thing to die to save you, when you're innocent, but another when he's not and he wasn't stepping forward." I shrug slightly, keeping my arms crossed.

[Riley Pearson]

I wasn't exactly sure how I should be feeling now, but I was happy that she decided to tell me what she knew. Logan killed him.. with my wand and then after Arden turned herself in for me, he didn't have the nerve to step up. Which is ridiculous considering it was his fault.. and that he should be in the place anyway.. I guess that maybe he hated that place a bit more than he loved her.

"Thanks for telling me." I said after a moment, before walking closer and hugging her again. I know I had already hugged her quite a bit, but I think that called for one. "You did the right thing." I added with a small nod.

I just couldn't believe that he really wouldn't do anything about that.. that he wouldn't turn himself in. "I can't believe he wouldn't turn himself in.." I added outloud a moment later.

[Arden Patricks]

I hug him back gratefully, not really sure what to say to that first part that can't be expressed in a hug. It's very good to hear and I need that right now... but I still can't quite agree with his last sentence, shaking my head quickly and giving a half-laugh. "Would you? I'm not sure I wouldn, not again. I mean... it's not that I expected him to confess or anything."

[Riley Pearson]

She hugged me back and I held her faintly tighter for a few moments, and hearing what she said next, I nodded. "Okay, so I can believe it..." I agreed with the same half sort of laugh. "But I don't know.. Thought maybe he could do something good with himself.."

[Arden Patricks]

I shrug slightly, looking away as I pull back. "I think he did enough good, for a bit. But I guess it couldn't last." I pause to cross my arms, biting my lip. "And it's really my fault as much as anything, so please don't... I mean... well, just because we're over doesn't mean I want to hear you trash him. Please?"

[Riley Pearson]

I looked away from her for a moment before nodding at what she says, "Sorry," I said eventually, "I didn't purposely mean to trash him.." Not that time at least.. I was just commenting.. Or well, I thought I was just commenting, maybe it came out different.
"I won't.." I added a moment or two later. Hopefully nothing will slip then because I already don't like him very much and this somehow has just made it that much easier to dislike him.

[Arden Patricks]

"No, I guess you probably didn't, but.... could we maybe not talk about this?" I shrug slightly. "It's just... that I'm pretty sure I pushed him to it, and it doesn't feel right to just blame it all on him."

[Riley Pearson]

"I.. Yeah," I said with a small nod. "We don't have to.." I added, even though I wouldn't mind commenting on the second part of her thoughts. I didn't really understand what she was saying there. What did she push him to do?
"... Sorry, but what?" I asked a moment later with a slightly confused look. "You pushed him to something?"

[Arden Patricks]

I shake my head briskly, grimacing a bit and contemplating evasiveness, but then just shrugging instead.
"... He was trying harder than I was, I think, to make things work. If I'd not been so fickle, this never would have happened."

[Riley Pearson]

I just shook my head at her answer. Knowing her, I can understand where she's coming from with that, but I'm finding it ridiculous.
"That... So you're blaming yourself?" I asked, looking back to her. "I can see where you're coming from, I guess, but it is pretty ridiculous, Arden."

[Arden Patricks]

"At least in part, yes," I argue, then shrug again. "I know it's not entirely my fault, but it isn't all his either."

[Riley Pearson]

"I guess it's just sort of hard for me to see it that way." I replied with with a small shrug in return. He's the one who killed him.. it's not like Arden helped. Not in my eyes, at least.

[Arden Patricks]

"I guess you don't really have to," I shrug. "I don't know. Maybe we ought to stop talking about this."

[Riley Pearson]

"Probably not, I guess." I agreed with with her, nodding my head once as I spoke. "Do you have anything else to talk about?"

[Arden Patricks]

"I don't know... but you'd think that we should, after so long." I smile faintly. "Hasn't anything happened lately?"

[Riley Pearson]

I smiled faintly back and nodded, "Yeah, I'd think the same." I agreed, trying to remember if anything really had happened. I wasn't sure if anything had though.
"I don't think so.." I said after a moment. "Um.. might possibly try things with Riyann again.." I added a few seconds later before looking back up at her for a reaction.

[Arden Patricks]

I know that it's selfish and ridiculous of me to be bothered by that - as if I want him to wait around for me or something, even after what I did. But it seems to be involuntary, so I just work on suppressing it while trying not to let on.
"Oh... well, that's good. Good for you." I smile faintly. "I... hope it works out then."

[Riley Pearson]

I watch her carefully for a moment, trying to see if she'd actually show some type of reaction. But I don't catch much of anything other than the small smile that she gave me.
"Thanks.." I said with a faint smile back, "... But um... What do you think?" I asked a moment later. "Should I... again?" I asked.

[Arden Patricks]

Dammit. He would have t press it.
"I... I don't know," I say finally, shaking my head. "I'm not sure I can really be impartial here, and I don't even know what to think about her anymore." I shrug slightly. "... Do what makes you happy, I guess."

[Riley Pearson]

"What's causing you not to be impartial then?" I asked a moment later, sort of wanting to hear it from her instead of just assuming things. From experience, I should know by now that assuming really does no good. Though, I had to admit, asking that question is pretty stupid.
"I'm not sure what will make me happy anymore." I said with a faint shrug.