Back Again..;;Arden

[Riley Pearson]

Here I was.. again. This seemed to be happening a lot lately and I've come to realise the one of the only things that has driven me to drinking is Riyann. Whether it's directly or indirectly, she's usually the reason.
That can't be healthy.. I thought to myself as I signaled for another firewhiskey, pushing the two empty bottles away from me as the bartender brought me a full one. I nodded a thanks and took a drink from it, thinking about what was going on with me.
From what Shelby told me, Riyann already had divorce papers, which I wondered if was even true. I didn't really see how it could be. That just wasn't something that seemed real to me. I sighed and took another drink. If it was true, I didn't even want to start thinking about the girls or the house and definately not Shelby. I had always disliked her but I never thought I could actually hate her.
"I guess I proved myself wrong..." I said silently to myself, taking another sip, wishing I could take my mind off everything.
In my opinion right now, this was all my fault. If I hadn't kissed Arden or least if I hadn't told Riyann about it, maybe none of this would've happend. Maybe she wouldn't've left and maybe I wouldn't have to find a way to tell the girls their mum walked out on us again, which I was holding back on saying.
I didn't know what to do and I just wished everything was okay.

[Arden Patricks]

I really haven’t got a clue why I’m here. I never really did the few times I was here back when I was in school, but now it makes even less sense. I hate bars. I don’t ordinarily spend a lot of time in Hogsmeade.

Lately I’ve been spending a little bit of time up at the shrieking shack, of course, but that still doesn’t explain it. Except it sort of does. I was on my way there when I decided that doing so was childish and really kind of weird. But technically at that point I should have gone back home, and instead I’m walking into the Hog’s Head.

This had better be good, I mutter to whatever impish little portion of my mind or prompting of fate has decided to point me this direction. I sigh slightly as I look around the room, trying to decide what I should do now that I’m in here as directed. Then, I spot Riley, looking like he’s drinking a little too much and probably plans to drink more.

Oh… now you’re just annoying me, I mutter to Fate, shaking my head and sighing again. I really don’t know if I should go and try to talk to him or just walk away now.

[Riley Pearson]

I couldn't get the talk I had with Shelby out of my head, and everything she had told me seemed to all flood back to me as I took another, slightly longer, drink of my firewhiskey, leaning slightly heavily against the bar. I kept my eyes on my bottle staring down at it as I heard the door open to the bar. I sighed biting my lip againt, not bothering to look over. Not many people I knew came in here. At least not lately.

I wasn't really even sure why I was drinking. I already did this and all it left me with was a very bad hangover, taken, it does feel better before the hangover comes. My mind drifts back to Riaynn and how Shelby told me that she didn't want to be with me and then back to the divorce papers she supposedly had. I just shook my head to myself, taking another drink.

I felt a pair of eyes on me and turned around, seeing Arden looking over at me. I wasn't sure of what to do and settled with a small wave, which mainly consisted of raising my hand slightly to her.

[Arden Patricks]

Well, now he's bloody seen me. So hope you're happy.
I don't think it's a bad thing necessarily to talk back to voices in your head. So does that mean it's all right to talk back to a voice that isn't even there?

I shrug slightly, heading over to him and crossing my arms in a disapproving way. Maybe I can just pretend that nothing ever happened, and act the way I normally would.
"What are you doing here, Riley?" I ask somewhat wearily, guessing that the answer isn't anything good, and not wanting to think whether I might be involved somehow. I am pretending otherwise, after all.

[Riley Pearson]

She walked over to me with her arms crossed infront of her and shrugged faintly when she asked why I was here. "Cause I've had a horrible couple of days.." I said slightly simply shaking my head a little bit. Not to mention nearly every one of those days I spent at least some portion of the day here.
"Riyann's left me." I said finally taking another drink of my firewhiskey, which now didn't burn my throat as much anymore. The talk with Shelby if anything just made me hate her even more and I was pretty sure now that I wasn't planning on ever talking to her again if I could help it.
A moment later I thought about how Arden probably thought that this was her fault and decided to speak up again, instead of dwelling on those thoughts, which seemed to make me even sicker than I already was.
"It wasn't your fault either, so please don't say that you think it is." I said shaking my head a little before leaning a little more on the bar and leaning my head down, my bottle still in my hand.

[Arden Patricks]

I feel very guilty again, and sink down to sit next to him without being invited. I guess that I can no longer really pretend that nothing happened... although that's more about hiding my feelings for him anyway, so I can certainly keep doing that.

I think I broke up a marriage, I think before I can stop myself. No, don't be silly, they were messed up as it was. The only difference now is that you get to watch him be upset by this and have it bother you for reasons it shouldn't.

I'd been fine until that stupid, awful kiss. If that hadn't happened, I could be sympathetic and hope that they get back together or at least that Riley's happy again and everything is well. But now, I can have all that and have it hurt as well, because I was blissfully ignorant of any sort of crush or whatever this is until that stupid kiss.

"I don't suppose I helped," I say finally, shaking my head. I don't suppose it was my fault, really, but I'm sure I didn't help.

[Riley Pearson]

"Depends on what you would call helping.." I said slightly muffled since my head was still leaning against my arm. I moment later I lifted my head, staring at my bottle before taking another drink. "I told her about what happend." I said starting to explain to her so maybe she would feel a little better about the situation. "And when I thought everything was going to be okay, she told me that she slept with Shelby." I said nodding slightly. "And that she didn't know who she loved more." I paused staring down at the bar and taking another drink.
"So I left, told her I'd be back later.. but she was already gone by the time I got there.." I finished looking over to her for a moment. "Left me a note saying she needed to think, it's not like I don't know where she went.."
I guess was right in assuming that she went to Shelby's and found out not too long ago when I talked to Shelby. I really wish that never happend and right now I couldn't care less if I never talked to her again.

[Arden Patricks]

I grimace slightly, sympathetically, and am not really sure what to say. Not at all. Maybe if he hadn't bloody kissed me I would have a better idea, but now I'm not quite sure where I stand on this, and what's right. Ordinarily I think I'd put hand on his shoulder or something, just to be comforting, but now I don't think I should.

"So... how are you about it, then?" I ask finally, cautiously. I'm not sure if that makes sense, and clearly at least part of the answer is 'not great' if he's sitting here drinking. He doesn't normally drink, I know that much.

[Riley Pearson]

I looked over to her and shook my head a little. "How am I about it?" I asked slightly confused. "You mean.. how am I doing?" I asked raising my eyebrows very slightly. I think it was pretty obvious how I was doing. It wasn't normal for me to be getting drunk like this.
I took the last drink from this bottle and signaled for another one, pushing the empty one to the side with my other empty ones.
"Shitty." I asnwered thanking the bartender silently as he handed me another one.

[Arden Patricks]

I tilt my head slightly at that, since yes I suppose it was obvious and now I don't know what to say.
But I do eye this new bottle of firewhiskey with strong disapproval, shaking my head. "Riley, how many of those have you had?"

[Riley Pearson]

I shrugged faintly before she asked me how many I've had, "This's my fourth.." I said with a small sigh, looking at my bottle. I was starting to feel it slightly, that's what I get for not drinking a lot. Though I did find out that I could handle at least six from the other night.

[Arden Patricks]

"And don't you think maybe that might be enough?" I ask, half gently and half a bit sarcastically. I have no idea what's okay as far as drinking goes... but i am pretty sure that very, very little is okay as far as drinking when upset.

[Riley Pearson]

I shrugged slightly, "Maybe.. I usually just figure that out as I go.." I said taking another drink. I already paid for this one, so I figured I should at least finish it. Although I was planning on probably having another.. I'm not sure if it's a good idea now though now that Arden's here. "Do you think I've had enough?"

[Arden Patricks]

"I think you shouldn't be here in the first place any more than I'm allowed to hack my arms up when upset," I counter, then shrug. "But do whatever you like."
I don't really mean that, of course, but I don't know what to do and so indecision has bred indifference.

[Riley Pearson]

I stared at my drink at she said that and paused for a moment, not really likeing the phrase she used, it making me a little more uncomfortable.
"I guess I should stop then.." I said before finishing off the bottle a little quicker than the other ones and setting it down.

[Arden Patricks]

I shrug again, looking down at the table, though I am a bit relieved he's decided to stop. I just wish he hadn't started in the first place.
"Why do you do that?" I ask, nodding at the bottles to indicate what 'that' is... though I'm pretty sure that he hasn't done this in years.

[Riley Pearson]

I nodded slightly, taking out my wallet and putting down some money, feeling a little dizzy. I shrugged slightly when she asked, "It helps.." I said with a small nod, going to stand up and losing my balance slightly, leaning against the bar slightly. "Sort of.."

[Arden Patricks]

I shake my head at that, but decide not to question it - especially considering what I've just compared it to. Not that I've done that in a while, of course, but it did help. Just hurt at the same time.
Plus there's the fact that he clearly really did have a bit too much, as he seems to be having trouble standing up straight. My disgust for alcohol is certainly not lessening any.

[Riley Pearson]

I shrugged slightly, "Can you help me get home?" I asked looking over to her. "I don't really want to get hit by another car.." I said shaking my head a little bit. "And if I stay in here I might end up drinking more.." I was pretty sure that being drunk wasn't the most attractive thing in the world, though it did make me feel a little better.

[Arden Patricks]

"Yeah, that's true," I nod, not entirely replying to anything specific. "And of course I will. I don't even know why I'm here." I shrug slightly.

[Riley Pearson]

I nodded slightly, "Thanks Arden." I said leaning forward and kissing her cheek lightly and then slightly losing my balance again and falling slightly into her. "S-Sorry.." I said shaking my head and blinking a few times and trying to regain my balance.

[Arden Patricks]

I close my eyes briefly, willing myself not to be annoyed, or hurt, or angry or anything like that because as much as he really shouldn't be drunk I think he is so therefore some things are excusable.
"It's fine," I shrug, shaking my head.

[Riley Pearson]

I nodded slightly, kind of wondering how I managed to get home the other night. I had drank way more then and I think it was actually a good thing I stopped when I did today. I cleared my throat slightly and rubbed my head. "Sorry though.." I said again. "I'll try my best not to fall over on you."

[Arden Patricks]

I nod, not saying anything to that. Silence really is underrated. There's nothing wrong at all with not saying a word to someone you're rather annoyed with but think maybe you shouldn't be.

[Riley Pearson]

She stayed silent, only nodding and I just nodded a little bit. This really probably wasn't helping the situtation, me being slightly drunk, but I guess it could've been worse. I could've ignored Arden and drank more than I should have again.
"Um.. So why're you in here then?" I asked, starting to wonder that myself. I never saw Arden as the bar type.

[Arden Patricks]

"No idea," I shrug. "I just... came here. I really don't know why."
It happens... not necessarily regularly, but often enough. There were all the times shortly after my memory went missing when I found myself skulking around Knockturn Alley and couldn't for the life of me give an explanation - it just "felt right" to be there, that's all. And the same thing has happened at other times, but never so strongly that they really stand out in my head.

[Riley Pearson]

I nodded slightly at her answer. "Thanks though... For randomly being here.." I said glancing over to her for a moment. "I probably wouldn't even be here if it wasn't for running into Shelby.."

[Arden Patricks]

I bite my lip at that, not really sure what to say. "I suppose that would be rather...." I shrug, not sure whether to go with sarcasm or not. "And... anytime, really. Except hopefully I don't need to because hopefully you don't do this very often."

[Riley Pearson]

"It wasn't good.." I said quietly. "I don't care if I ever see her again." I told her, completely meaning it.
I nodded slightly. "Yeah.. I'm not really planning on doing this again.. at least not anytime soon.."

[Arden Patricks]

I'm really not sure what to say to that first part. I've often forgotten over the years - largely because we're really not that close - just how many people dislike Shelby and that Riley is among them.

"Or ever," I mutter instead, then pause, wondering if I should ask about it anyway. It's hard to remember that I'm trying to be less nosy.