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Post by Arden Patricks on Oct 9, 2008 22:50:57 GMT
No.
"Yeah, fine," I shrug, keeping my eyes half on Justin, half on the floor so I don't have to look up. "I just... I don't know... realized how long I've been gone, I guess."
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Post by Riley Pearson on Oct 9, 2008 22:57:48 GMT
I nodded a little bit, keeping my eyes on her as she looked down at Justin.. and what seemed to partially be the floor. After hearing what she said, I guess it would make sense. "I guess you were gone a while... but like I said.. haven't missed too much." I said shaking my head a little bit. I gave her a faint smile and stood up, placing my hand on her shoulder for a moment, rubbing for a second in a hopefully comforting way as I walked past her and to the counter.
I reached for the kettled and poured myself a mug of tea before going to sit back down.
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Post by Arden Patricks on Oct 9, 2008 23:03:38 GMT
Tell that to the 4-year-old nephew who turned five while I was gone. I certainly missed that, didn't I?
I nod instead of saying this, looking up to force a small smile at the twins again and trying to ignore the touch on my shoulder. I think that I'd like to get out of here now.
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Post by Riley Pearson on Oct 9, 2008 23:08:40 GMT
The twins exchanged a few glances, whispering a few things to eachother and giggling a little bit, before smiling lightly back at Arden.
"But you're back now," I said with a small smile to her. "So you won't be missing anything else now."
The twins nodded lightly, smiling to her still.
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Post by Arden Patricks on Oct 9, 2008 23:14:20 GMT
Unless I disappear again... but only if that becomes necessary. Which it won't. Right?
"True...." I smile faintly. "Unless I disappear again. But do you want him back? I'm not sure I'm readjusted to kids yet."
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Post by Riley Pearson on Oct 9, 2008 23:18:05 GMT
I smiled faltered slightly and the girls and I stayed silent for a few moments. Disapear again? Why would she want to do that? I just didn't get it, she was back now and if she was going to just leave again, why would she come visit me? Wasn't her leaving before bad enough?
She asked if I wanted him back and I sort of snapped out of my momentary trance and smiled faintly. "Yeah, sure." I said nodding a little bit and getting up so I could take him back.
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Post by Arden Patricks on Oct 9, 2008 23:26:43 GMT
Dammit... knew I shouldn't have said that.... Hence the attempt at distraction, but apparently they still noticed what I said. I look around at the three of them a moment and smile faintly again as I hand Justin back, then lean back against the wall with crossed arms.
"Not that I'm going to... I think," I say quickly. "Just the old contrariness." I shrug slightly. Riley at least knows about my inability to let anyone make definitive statements, so I think I can pass it off as that.
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Post by Riley Pearson on Oct 9, 2008 23:33:43 GMT
I nodded slightly as I took Justin back, giving her a small smile and nod at her reply. I guess I could see why she said it now if that's all she was thinking. "Right.. well, um.." I paused for a moment looking down at Justin for a few short seconds before lookng back to Arden. "Let me know if you change your mind about staying then.." I finished, really unsure about what to say.
"... I'm gonna go put Justin back in his crib.. he's looking kind of tired." I said after another moment , giving another faint smile before leaving to go back to Justin's room and set him down.
Really, the thought that maybe she still liked me, never even crossed my mind. Why would she be back if she still did? Then again, why would she be thinking about leaving if she didn't? I sighed slightly and just kept walking up the stairs to Justin's crib, leaving Arden with the girls in the kichen again.
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Post by Arden Patricks on Oct 9, 2008 23:39:52 GMT
I nod silently, biting the inside of my cheek because I'm really not sure if I will... if, that is, I even decide to leave again. What difference would it make to say goodbye? All it would do is bring up all the awkwardness again... which I hope he's unaware is still a problem on my part.
I shake my head after a moment, looking back at the girls. "... So...."
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Post by Riley Pearson on Oct 9, 2008 23:45:06 GMT
Both the girls looked back at Arden and it was Ella who spoke up first. "You totally like dad." She blurted out only to have Lottie hit the side of her arm lightly. Ella grabbed her arm and looked at her sister. "Ow.." She mumbled quietly as Lottie spoke up. "We weren't going to say anything." She said, before turning back to Arden. "... But do you?" She asked curiously, now both of them looking at her.
[ xD ]
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Post by Arden Patricks on Oct 9, 2008 23:59:44 GMT
"You know when people get that surprised look that basically means 'shit I just got found out'?"
It's a tidbit of conversation from about a dozen years ago and I really don't know what it's doing in my head... except that that's a lie. I don't know why the hell I still remember it verbatim, but I do know why it's popped into my head - because I'm giving the twins a frozen, deer-in-the-headlights sort of look that I'm pretty sure would fall into that category.
As soon as I realize this, I force a laugh and shake my head. It also could be a stunned, where-on-Earth-did-that-come-from sort of look, so that's the angle I'm playing.
"And what would give you that idea?" I ask, trying to be teasing and bemused.
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Post by Riley Pearson on Oct 10, 2008 0:05:11 GMT
They stared at her as Arden stared straight back at them with a certain deer-in-the-headlights expression. And really, that expression just sort of confirmed it for them.. at least, until she spoke up. Then they weren't really sure if it she did like him or if maybe she was just surprised and wondering why they had said that.
They both shrugged. "I dunno, the way you look at him?" Ella asked with another faint shrug. "But mainly it's just becuase we're ten and we know these things." Charlotte said with a certain and wise nod.
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Post by Arden Patricks on Oct 10, 2008 2:16:41 GMT
"Hm...." I keep smiling in a tolerant grownup way despite wondering if I really do look at Riley in some particular way or if they just have funny imaginations and it's a coincidence. "Well, I'm 27 and I know these things more," I say finally, sticking my tongue out. I don't want to outright lie unless I have to... but I hope that I won't have to.
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Post by Riley Pearson on Oct 10, 2008 15:38:53 GMT
They both sighed slightly and shrugged, but they were still smiling as they did. "Whatever you say.." Lottie said with another small contented sigh. But really, just because they thought that she looked at him differently, really made no difference, they didn't know for sure and by the way she was acting they just assumed that she didn't. They both giggled a little bit as she stuck her tongue out at them and did it back before looking at down at their food.
Really though, they were pretty worried. They had a feeling that something just wasn't right between their mum and dad and well, really, they didn't know what in the world was going on. Ella and Lottie both started to think about this now as they stared down at their half eaten grilled cheese sandwhiches. They were thinking that if something was to happen to their dad and mum.. that maybe if they split up, Arden could at least make their dad happy.
Honestly, they weren't thinking this through very much and they didn't really want to. They'd rather have their parents together and happy like it used to be. But if that wasn't going to happen then they just didn't know.
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Post by Arden Patricks on Oct 11, 2008 2:18:30 GMT
I manage a genuine smile at this, relieved and reassured. It's still a little bothersome that they'd even ask... but hopefully it's just the overactive imaginations.
I stay silent for a moment, just drawing imaginary pictures in the pattern on the floor, before I realize that they're being rather silent as well, and look up again to find them looking... mildly upset?
"Anything else on your minds?" I ask casually, tilting my head.
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Post by Riley Pearson on Oct 12, 2008 4:56:27 GMT
They both looked back up to her when she spoke and they shook their heads slightly, staying quiet for another few moments. And it probably wouldn've stayed that way if Ella didn't speak up again. "We're just wondering why mum isn't here.." She said with another faint shrug as Lottie sighed because she wasn't planning on mentioning any of this at all. "We don't want mum and dad to get divorced." She finished after another few seconds with Lottie nodding in agreeance.
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Post by Arden Patricks on Oct 12, 2008 23:38:25 GMT
I bite my lip a moment, trying to think how to answer. I suppose it's kind of silly to think they wouldn't notice things are weird, if Riyann's been disappearing to do Death Eater stuff and they've been in hiding and all.
"If it helps... I don't think that's a problem," I say after a moment. "Your mom just... has some things to do." I shrug helplessly. Gee, that's not vague enough.... "But maybe you should talk to your dad, if you're worried."
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Post by Riley Pearson on Oct 12, 2008 23:45:09 GMT
They both shrugged slightly, "Last time she had things to do she was with Shelby." Lottie said with a small sigh, picking up her plate and bringing it over to the sink. Setting it down in it and then walking back to her seat, Ella nodding a bit at what she said.
"Yeah.. I guess we could talk to him.." Ella said with another small nod. "Thanks Arden.." She added, poking her grilled cheese a bit before getting up to and putting her plate in the sink as well.
I just finished putting Justin back in his crib and then made my way back down the stairs. I walked into the kitchen seeing both the girls having already put their plates in the sink and sat back down at the table, taking a sip of my tea.
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Post by Arden Patricks on Oct 12, 2008 23:49:41 GMT
Right.... I bite my lip again, shrugging uncomfortably, but I don't really have a reply to that. I smile and nod to Ella though, ruffling her hair as she passes. "No problem."
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Post by Riley Pearson on Oct 12, 2008 23:56:17 GMT
"So um.. What're you guys up to?" I asked, with a small smile as I watched Arden ruffle up Ella's hair, Ella letting out a small laugh as she did. Ella nodded and then shrugged, "Nothing, dad." She said with Lottie nodding in agreeance with her. "We're gonna go to our room." They both said with a small smile to me before leaving the kitchen.
I nodded, watching them leave and sighed slightly, "So what's up? They didn't try to.. torture you or anything, right?" I asked with a small chuckle.
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Post by Arden Patricks on Oct 12, 2008 23:58:31 GMT
"No, not much...." I laugh slightly, shaking my head, and then pause. "They're worried, by the way, about the whole... situation, with Riyann being gone and all."
And also they're creepily observant....
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Post by Riley Pearson on Oct 13, 2008 0:01:31 GMT
I laughed a little with a small smile, "Good." I nodded a little bit, before hearing what she said next and frowning slightly, "Figured as much.." I said with a small sigh. "Might actually have a right to be worried this time though." I added nodding a little bit and staring sort of blankly into my mug before taking another drink of it.
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Post by Arden Patricks on Oct 13, 2008 0:06:19 GMT
"Mm...." I nod, biting my lip again. I don't really have a lot to say to that, so instead I just stare at his tea mug until I have to shake my head to get my eyes back in focus. I feel very twitchy all of a sudden, and move over to the counter before realizing I should have just stayed put.
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Post by Riley Pearson on Oct 13, 2008 0:09:51 GMT
"Yeah.." I said quietly, shaking my head a little bit, notcing her move over to the counter from where she was standing before. ".. I dunno, last she came back she had this.. strange idea that I don't love her anymore.. or something." I said shaking my head faintly and looking back at my tea.
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Post by Arden Patricks on Oct 13, 2008 0:15:53 GMT
"Hm...." I say again, frowning this time. I somewhat wish I could say something a little more profound than 'hm,' ... but funnily enough it's kind of difficult to talk through the relationship problems of someone you sort of have feelings for. He probably just needs to vent a bit anyway.
Finally, however, I do have something else to say. "Why would she think that?"
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Post by Riley Pearson on Oct 13, 2008 0:19:56 GMT
"That's the annoying part." I said with another small nod, looking up to her this time and moving over to her, wanting to talk quieter so the girls wouldn't hear us. I didn't need them hearing any of this. "I dunno.. she won't tell me, and I don't feel like I've done anything to make her think it." I said glancing to her and shaking my head faintly.
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Post by Arden Patricks on Oct 13, 2008 0:25:57 GMT
I sigh very slightly, shaking my head at the countertop as I lean forward on it, lacing my hands together. "Very helpful...."
It occurs to me suddenly that maybe she said it because she's the one feeling it... but I don't dare say something like that.
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Post by Riley Pearson on Oct 13, 2008 0:29:05 GMT
"Exactly.." I said through a slight sigh, taking another small drink of my tea, frowning a bit again. "But I dunno, maybe we just can't take anything else.. maybe we should just.. take a break." I said lookng over to Arden again. "I mean.. everytime she comes home we seem to get in a fight or something or another."
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Post by Arden Patricks on Oct 13, 2008 0:37:05 GMT
I half bite my lip again, willing myself not to nod or anything else. I don't think I'm allowed to have an opinion on this, considering... circumstances. Even privately, inside my own head, I will not allow myself an opinion. I can't trust my own judgment.
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Post by Riley Pearson on Oct 13, 2008 0:40:58 GMT
"I dunno..." I said quietly, shaking my head again, when I didn't hear Arden say anything. ".. I'm even starting to doubt myself.. a lot of thing's've changed." I added a moment or two later as I leaned against the counter, looking at the floor.
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