avoidance

[Arden Patricks]

I feel about seventeen again as I hesitate at the front door of what I think is Riley’s parents’ house. It’s been a fair while since I was this scared to knock on someone’s door.

Of course, I really don’t know if it’s the right door or not. And it’s also been a while since I avoided anybody so thoroughly, thus making it more awkward than necessary to finally show up again. Especially when you don’t even know if you’re at the right place. It was only after scanning all the Pearsons in the phone book that I realized that wouldn’t really be his mother and stepfather’s name and that I really don’t remember what it is. Because, of course, I still don’t really want to stop avoiding him, it then took longer than it should have to start looking through scraps of paper to see if I happened to have, for some reason, the address of a friend’s parents written down (I did not.) and then even longer to finally ask Lilith if she happened to know it.

I don’t know why she did, but there you go. If, that is, this is the right address. But I can’t find that out by just standing here. What I can do by just standing here is delay the moment when I stop avoiding one of my closest friends whose daughter has just disappeared and who therefore could probably use my support.

Suddenly exasperated with my own idiocy, I step forward at once and rap sharply on the door… half-hoping that it’s the wrong one, and half-hoping not.

[Riley Pearson]

I didn't know what to do anymore. I didn't know where to look or what to think.. or anything for that matter. The only thing I could think about was how it'd been too long since I'd seen Ella and I wanted to know where she was, or if she was okay. No, she was okay. At least that's what I kept telling myself and Riyann. She was okay, and soon she'd be right back in our arms. But it keeps crossing the mind that what if she really isn't? Both of us are nervous wrecks and I couldn't even make it to work today. There was no way I'd be able to concentrate.

There was a knock on the door and the first thing I thought was that it was Ella.. or someone with Ella. Which was why I practically ran to the door from the kitchen. I opened it seeing Arden, feeling my hopes slghtly crushed but smiling faintly at her anyway. "Hey.." I said kind of quietly, surpirsed that she knew we were staying here.

Actually, I didn't mind seeing her right now and it was actually kind of nice. She always seemed to make me feel better in a situation and it was nice to see her at the door.. even if Ella wasn't with her.

[Arden Patricks]

"Hey," I say just as quietly back, glancing downward briefly. If I'm not mistaken, that was disappointment on his face for a second, but I decide not to question it.
"Um... hi," I add after a moment. "I, ah, heard that maybe some things haven't been going so well for you."
This really doesn't seem like the most tactful sentence once I've said it, but it doesn't leave much room to tack on anything else.

[Riley Pearson]

I shrugged faintly, biting my lip a little bit. "Yeah.. been a pretty horrible week.." I said quietly to her. "I really apprciate you stopping by though.." I said giving her a faint smile.
I stepped a little back from the door and motioned for her to come inside. "I didn't know you were my parent's lived." I said as I waited for her come inside.

[Arden Patricks]

"I didn't," I shrug, shaking my head as I step inside. "But most of my friends are apparently omniscient, so here I am." I shrug again, preparing to have to say 'never mind' when I realize how puzzling that sentence might be. There's a slight pause, before I decide that there's no other response to what else he's said except to hug him, but on the other hand I don't want to do that given the recent awkwardness... so instead there's just a pause with nothing to fill it.

[Riley Pearson]

I chuckled softly at her comment and nodded a little. "Well, I'm glad they're omniscent then." I said as I shut the door quietly behind her. "It's good to see you again." I said giving her a small smile. There was a small pause for a moment between us, before I walked a little closer to her and pulled her into a hug. I wasn't sure if she really wanted to hug me, but I didn't really think much about it at the time. I just felt like I needed a hug. Hopefully, it wasn't going to be too awkward.

[Arden Patricks]

I hesitate a moment before hugging him back, berating myself for being selfish - he probably needs this more than I need to not feel awkward.
"Good to see you too." I smile very faintly as I step back. And it is, I think.

[Riley Pearson]

I felt her hesitate for a moment before hugging me back. Really, I was kind of expecting it, but I didn't say anything about it and I smiled faintly back to her, letting her step back after a moment. "So how've you been then?" I asked her ruffling some of my hair lightly.

[Arden Patricks]

"All right," I shrug, not bothering to think about the answer before I give it. "But what about you though? I mean, Shelby told me a bit of what's happened, but how are you?"

[Riley Pearson]

I nodded slightly, "That's good.." I said after she said she was all right. "Um.. You were talking to Shelby about it?" I asked a moment later looking over at her. "I'm guessing I wasn't talked about very highly then.." I muttered to myself, before just shaking my head a little. "Okay for the circumstances." I said with a small nod.

[Arden Patricks]

I wince inwardly, then shrug and shake my head. "She told me I should talk to you, actually, because you might need a friend. But never mind. Any... no word on Ella then?" I ask anxiously.

[Riley Pearson]

I nodded a little. "That was nice of her then.." I said quietly, shaking a couple of pieces of hair from my eyes. "I do.." I said quietly with a small nod. "Um.. no.. nothing yet."

[Arden Patricks]

I bite my lip, glancing downward. "Anything I can do to help?"

[Riley Pearson]

"Not that I can really think of.." I said quietly with a small shrug. "Just keep an eye out for her I guess.."

[Arden Patricks]

"Will do," I nod, wishing there was actually something I could really do. It's not as if I'm likely to run into her.
"Do you have any idea why she'd have gone?"

[Riley Pearson]

I nodded a little before shaking my head at what she asked. "I really don't know.. I mean.. she seemed fine.."

[Arden Patricks]

I shake my head at that, hardly able to offer up anything helpful. I could mention how that makes it seem more likely that she might have been kidnapped... but that would not be helpful.

[Riley Pearson]

"We're not even sure ran away..." I said quietly, looking down at the floor for a moment. "But um.. you want anything to drink? Or anything?"

[Arden Patricks]

"No, I'm fine," I say quickly, shaking my head. Especially not tea.
But it's stupid to think of that now. I shake my head again, frowning slightly. "When exactly did you notice her missing?"

[Riley Pearson]

I raised my eyebrows slightly at how quickly she answered and nodded a little. "Okay.." I said quietly, biting my lip a little bit. I kind of wanted tea, but for some reason I feel like I shouldn't be making any right now.
"I didn't actually.. Riyann did." I said with a small nod. "I found out when I got home from work.."

[Arden Patricks]

"I kind of meant you in the plural, I suppose...." I shrug slightly, trying not to be impatient or sardonic. "But I mean... do you know what sort of time span she had to disappear in? Anything?"

[Riley Pearson]

"Right.. sorry." I said shaking my head a little bit. "Um.. I think Riyann said it wasn't too long.. maybe twenty minutes or so.. or something.."

[Arden Patricks]

"Hm." I frown again, then shake my head. I don't know why I think I can somehow show up, play detective, and solve it all, when they've probably discussed all this already.
"So what about Charlotte?" I ask after a moment, suddenly remembering her. "Does she know anything? And how is she?"

[Riley Pearson]

She mentioned Charlotte and I shook my head a little bit. "No.. We asked her.. a few times now.. She doesn't know anything.. at least that she's telling us." I told Arden quietly. "Plus I think that she probably would be with her if she knew anything.."
"She's.. quiet.. Isn't really talking too much." I said with a small nod.

[Arden Patricks]

I shake my head again, wondering how it would feel to be a nine-year-old girl whose twin has run away or possibly been kidnapped.
"No, I suppose she would be telling if she knew anything... probably."

[Riley Pearson]

I nodded a little. "I'd hope so at least." I said kind of quietly, starting to feel ancy just standing there and needing somehting to do with myself. Maybe I'll make that tea anyway. "Probably would have.." I repeated after her, ruffling the hair on the back of my head, before pointing a little toward the kitchen. "I-I need to do something with myself.. You sure you don't want anything?" I asked starting to walk toward the kitchen, motioning for her to follow me.

[Arden Patricks]

"I'm fine," I say again, shaking my head a bit more normally this time as I follow him, vaguely uneasy in the unfamiliar house. Ella's disappearance is by far more important, of course, but I'm sure it can't help that he's lost his home, either.

[Riley Pearson]

I nodded slightly as we walked to the kitchen, arriving it in a few moments later. There were a couple newspapers on the kitchen table, but other than that and a few clean mugs in the sink, drying, it was relatively clean. I didn't know why, but cleaning was oddly distracting.
I turned the light on when we got there, but it was still slightly dimly lit and personally, I could tell that it wasn't our house, but my parents, which pretty much hadn't changed at all since I had grown up there.
I put some water on to boil and leaned against the counter biting my lip a little bit. "So.. I know this probably isn't the best time.. but we didn't really get to talk about, um, anything.. last time we saw eachother.." I said after a moment, lookng up to her, wondering if I should've said anything at all. But this conversation was distracting and I found myself wanting to talk about it rather than about how Ella was gone, making me feel like a horrible parent.

[Arden Patricks]

I raise my eyebrows at him, leaning back awkwardly against my hands wrapped around the back of a chair. "Anything like what?" I ask cautiously.

[Riley Pearson]

"About what happend.. before." I said nodding a little, biting my lip slightly, "About kissing you.." I added to clarify even though I was sure she knew what I was talking about.