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Post by Shelby Crescent on Jul 22, 2008 14:17:37 GMT
Looking over the grounds, Shell was sitting on a bench leaning her head on a window as the owls were flying in and out of the tower but it didn't phase her right now. She always came up here when she had to think things out. It was somewhat peaceful but it was noisy enough for her still.
Letting out a deep sigh, she subsciously put her hands on her stomach, and took a quick glance at it as well before closing her eyes and shaking her head. Due to her being so fickle again, she went off and had yet another affair. And as usual she might be pregnant. It always seemed that fate was out to get her every opportunity it could get with her.
Frowning a bit, she felt a tear roll down from her clouded aquamarine eyes before resting her messy curls onto the windowsill again before watching a couple of brown owls fly out from the empty tower and over the grounds into the distance. |
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Post by Arden Patricks on Jul 22, 2008 14:52:58 GMT
I don’t have any reason to be back here, really. I mean, the Shrieking Shack is one thing, but Hogwarts itself? I suppose I could try and claim – even though no one is likely to care; even during the war nobody protested all of the graduated strangers roaming over the grounds and such – that I’m here to see… River, or something. Yes, that would make sense. I’ve come up to the Hogwarts owlery to have a chat with a friend’s younger sister who is probably busy studying her OWLs at the moment. That makes lots of sense.
But it’s not as though I’m likely to run into anyone who’d even know I’m not a student. McGonagall might, perhaps, remember me… and I’m pretty sure that Slughorn would but he doesn’t even teach here anymore… but that’s about it, so it’s really not an issue. Maybe that’s even why I’m here – to be invisible. I could just as well stay home if that’s the case, or go to work. But I’m sick of home right now and work is too distracting. Maybe I don’t want to be distracted right now; I just want to wallow.
I’ve been avoiding friends again, particularly Riley since I heard vaguely that he and Riyann are back together. And Chance… for a while I suppose. He’s so busy with Katie a lot of the time that it’s pretty easy. And Lilith is similar; I probably won’t have to see her again until she needs a babysitter.
And that’s about it for friends now. I still talk to Greg and Meredith to keep up the appearance I’m all right, and I’ve visited Logan a bit… but that’s all. Maybe it’s Logan that’s got me feeling this way, in fact. Maybe the dementors are having a permanent effect on my mood. Or maybe I’m just having the sort of sad spell that accompanies the departure of two of my closest friends right around the same time that I’m avoiding another close friend due to the fact that the idiot kissed me.
I shake my head vaguely, feeling like my thoughts have taken a turn from coherency into something else, and leaning back against the wall of the owlery. If I was hoping that being here might cheer me up, it appears I was mistaken.
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Post by Shelby Crescent on Jul 22, 2008 15:01:16 GMT
Glancing around some, Shell heard a shuffling of feet and notices Arden was leaning against a far off wall from where she was staying. She hadn't seen her in the longest time, since the bookstore with Zoe. That seemed like heaven now, in that moment as she thought about it.
Jay was still alive, Zoe was still at home, everything was great and actually decent in her life. It was a matter of time before it had to ruined. Zoe ran away to Riley's and Riyann's place which was a whole other story for the fact of that Zoe was pregnant at the age of sixteen and Shell overreacted to it.
Sighing a bit, she glances back over to Arden and frowns a bit. "Do you always stand against the owlery walls when you come up here or did I take your bench and are waiting for me to leave?" she asks softly, suprised if Arden could even hear that from where she was compared to Shell.
Looking at her for a few more seconds, her attention span travels back to her might be pregnancy and glances out the window, watching the sun hide behind a few clouds and a few more owls traveling in and out of the window she was still seated at.
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Post by Arden Patricks on Jul 22, 2008 15:22:02 GMT
Self-absorbed as I am, the sudden voice takes me by surprise. But even when startled, it seems, I move in slow motion - looking up slowly, with a barely audibly "Hm?" before shrugging as if underwater. "I haven't been up here in years, so there isn't really a usually. What about you?"
My voice is too quiet, too tired. And I'm too aware of this because it seems I was mistaken in thinking that I couldn't run into anyone I know. I don't recall if I ought to dislike her or not and it's too much effort to figure it out.
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Post by Shelby Crescent on Jul 22, 2008 15:27:11 GMT
Shell shrugs as well, as she continues her look over the grounds. "I usually just sit here like this and look at what's going on. It just seems that everything stops when I'm up here." she says softly taking another look over at Arden.
"So, how have you been?" she asks knowing that had to be one of the dumbest questions ever. She heard about Arden and Riley kissing, and Riley told her that he hadn't seen her in a while. It seemed that she would always disappear and then show up randomly. "Everything alright with Melody your niece, if that's her name. I don't remember if that's right or not."
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Post by Arden Patricks on Jul 22, 2008 15:32:26 GMT
"That's right," I nod, then shrug. "And she's all right." As far as I know. I shrug again. "Everything's fine, I suppose."
I haven't felt this bad since Travis died, but everything's perfectly fine.
Belatedly I note that I didn't pay very much attention to what she said at first, and that normally I'd feel really selfish for that. But now I'm just too dull. Too dull even to care... much... if she notices.
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Post by Shelby Crescent on Jul 22, 2008 15:37:08 GMT
Shell nods lightly, swinging her legs under her as she starts to fiddle with her locks of hair. "That's good then. Anything interesting happen lately?"
Why do we always seem to not want to talk to each other when we run into one another...
Shell frowns a bit at her thought, but shrugs it off knowing exactly how Arden was feeling right now. "Are you sure you're alright Arden? I'm here if you want to talk."
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Post by Arden Patricks on Jul 22, 2008 15:47:29 GMT
"Fine," I shrug, shaking my head - an automatic response, before I cross my arms and mull over what a real response might be, and whether or not I want to give it.
I shrug and shake my head again. "No, nothing especially interesting. I've just been spending too much time in Azkaban, that's all."
I shrug again. Stupid reply. I'm sure she knows as well that Ian and Maddie aren't around... and also how it feels to be second best. So she would be a good person to talk to, really.
"How about you?" I finally ask. "You come up here very often or is something wrong?"
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Post by Shelby Crescent on Jul 22, 2008 16:05:19 GMT
Shell frowns a bit when she mentions Azkaban. She hated to go there, as it's fairly clear in her record of why she would but she avoided it all costs. "Why have you been going so much, not that it's my business." she says instantly dropping her glaze to her hands.
"I come up here often cause there's something wrong. It's where I come to think things through. Not much has happened. Might be pregnant to a man that I'm not married to. Doesn't that sound familiar..." she mutters the last part, hating that she did this again. Whoever said, History repeats itself was right.
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Post by Arden Patricks on Jul 22, 2008 16:16:42 GMT
"It's fine," I shrug, shaking my head. I can't figure out whether to say I'm there to visit a friend or a family member though, since neither is technically true, and decide to just drop it. Especially since there's something else to talk about anyway. I can't help but raise my eyebrows at that news, suppressing the urge to ask something like, 'Why on Earth must you be such a whore?' on the grounds that it might not be tactful.
"I'd say that's something happening," I say finally, unable to be terribly sympathetic.
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Post by Shelby Crescent on Jul 22, 2008 16:21:51 GMT
Shell sighs, biting her lip. "Yeah... I suppose." she says in the same tone that Arden just used. "I'm a terrible person and a whore aren't I?" Shell asks with a laugh, mostly at herself. She was so pitiful it wasn't even funny. She continues laughing until a few tears slide down her cheeks, not caring that Arden was either judging her in her mind or that she was even there at the moment.
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Post by Arden Patricks on Jul 22, 2008 16:27:49 GMT
I wince very slightly, but still can't manage much feeling. "You're not... well, you're not a terrible person," I say finally. Technically she probably does fit the definition of a whore, though I didn't necessarily mean to point this out.
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Post by Shelby Crescent on Jul 22, 2008 16:47:50 GMT
Shell frowns a bit, still staring at her hands, noticing that Arden doesn't mention the whore factor into this. "So you agree then? I'm a whore that's selfish and doesn't ever know what she wants right?" she asks wiping her tears away as she glances at her hands again.
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Post by Arden Patricks on Jul 22, 2008 16:54:12 GMT
"Well, not necessarily." I shrug slightly, too wrapped up in myself to give a better reply than that. "I don't know, to be honest. I'm not in your head. Maybe you technically are a bit of a whore and don't know what you want, but that doesn't mean you're selfish, necessarily." I shrug again.
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Post by Shelby Crescent on Jul 22, 2008 16:57:25 GMT
Glancing out the window for a bit, Shell sighs tucking a loose strand behind her ear. "Are you still avoiding Riley? I heard about you two and yeah..." she stops, knowing she probably shouldn't continue but they were best friends. Ian and Shell did this years ago and it was still awkward when they seen each other over all that time.
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Post by Arden Patricks on Jul 22, 2008 17:00:11 GMT
I raise my eyebrows again, briefly - mostly at the change in subject - then shrug and look away. "Just a bit, yes. Haven't seen him in a while and don't especially plan to. Simpler that way."
I'm now wondering exactly what she heard and hoping that it's accurate.
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Post by Shelby Crescent on Jul 23, 2008 1:13:08 GMT
Shell tilts her head slightly, but sighs. "I think it would be better if you would go see him. I know it would be awkward but you two are best friends still. He needs you right now more than ever." Shell says instantly thinking of their house being burnt down and Ariella running away.
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Post by Arden Patricks on Jul 23, 2008 12:35:48 GMT
"Why, what's happened?" I ask, immediately on the alert and realizing that most of the apathy has managed to slowly melt away.
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Post by Shelby Crescent on Jul 23, 2008 19:33:52 GMT
Shell's eyes widen a bit at this quick reaction before biting her lip some. "Their house burnt down and Ariella ran away. They're staying at his parent's house and have no clue where they went. She's been gone for three days now..." she says with a frown. Shell was glad everyone was alright until Ariella disappeared. They weren't even sure if she was kidnapped or just ran away on her own.
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Post by Arden Patricks on Jul 24, 2008 1:05:10 GMT
I stare at her a moment, taking in the enormity of this news before slowly bringing my hands up to iron my face, deciding at the same time to ignore how disgusting the ground here is and just sit on it anyway. My first thought, much as I'd hate to ever admit it, is that maybe I'll just keep avoiding him anyway. But my second is that I really ought to go see how he is and what I can do to help find my goddaughter.
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Post by Shelby Crescent on Jul 24, 2008 1:33:01 GMT
At that moment, Shell remembered that Arden was Ariella's godmother and she was Charlotte's godmother. Even if they really didn't get along or hate each other they always seemed to have a lot in common. "You okay over there?" she asks softly, biting her lip knowing it was a dumb question but Shell didn't know what else to ask.
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Post by Arden Patricks on Jul 24, 2008 1:38:28 GMT
"Fine... just feeling really awful," I mutter into my hands, before looking up and shaking my head. "Largely because half of me would still just like to avoid him. Why would Ariella run away?"
For that matter, why would Shelby know? Last I heard she and Riley weren't terribly likely to speak to each other. I have been out of touch for a while though.
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Post by Shelby Crescent on Jul 24, 2008 1:54:34 GMT
Shell raises an eyebrow at her, but frowns a bit. "I don't know... it's probably my fault anyway, with the whole thing with Riyann and I." Shell says sorta wondering if Arden heard about that or not.
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Post by Arden Patricks on Jul 24, 2008 1:58:25 GMT
I raise my eyebrows back at her, a little bit surprised she'd bring that up.
"And why would that make her run away? I mean... aren't things sort of, ah, fixed, now?"
I'm a terrible godmother, I realize now. I really haven't the faintest idea of anything about either of the girls. To be honest, I've never even been sure which one's my goddaughter, never really bothering to distinguish them much.
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Post by Shelby Crescent on Jul 24, 2008 2:13:51 GMT
"Yeah, I suppose." she says softly, glancing down at her hands.
At least I think for Riyann and Riley at least...
"It might be cause I think it was the twins' fault why the house was burnt down. I'm not positive though. I have no idea why she ran away. Ariella might be kidnapped, they don't know." Shell says letting out a deep sigh.
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Post by Arden Patricks on Jul 24, 2008 2:19:53 GMT
I nod, looking down at my own hands and deciding not to comment. Mostly fixed, anyway.
Then I look back up, nodding again and frowning now. "I definitely have to see Riley sometime soon then."
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Post by Shelby Crescent on Jul 24, 2008 2:41:59 GMT
Shell nods a bit. "Like I said, they're at his parent's house." she adds, falling quiet again.
Why can't I ever think of anything to talk about when I run into her?
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Post by Arden Patricks on Jul 24, 2008 2:46:25 GMT
I nod, still frowning slightly as I make a mental note to start worrying about Ariella and also go talk to her father for the first time in I-don't-know-how-long.
I glance up at Shelby then after a moment, and frown again. "So... how have you been?"
I'm sure I must have asked her this already... though maybe not. And now that my apathetic mood has broken through, it's practically a different conversation anyway.
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Post by Shelby Crescent on Jul 24, 2008 2:58:26 GMT
Shell sighs lightly. "Nothing much besides me being the youngest grandmother of all time. Her name's Kalin. She's so beautiful and looks like Zoe when she was born." she nods with a smile. On the inside, she was still disappointed that Zoe got pregnant at sixteen just like Shell did. Ironically, that was when Shell had Zoe, at sixteen.
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Post by Arden Patricks on Jul 24, 2008 23:13:09 GMT
I raise my eyebrows at that, too stunned for a moment to reply. "Wow... you're a grandmother now? Who...?" I ask, shaking my head. I may not be very good at keeping all her kids straight, but I do know that none of them is older than seventeen or eighteen, so I'd guess she's not entirely thrilled.
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