Thoughts{Arden}

[Riley Pearson]

"... Why can she hug her?" I asked outloud, hoping maybe if I talked about it, I'd stop thinking about it. "I-I can't.. no one else can.. at least that I know of.."

[Arden Patricks]

Okay, so maybe I could have asked.
I shake my head. "I don't... know. It doesn't make any sense. No one can hug ghosts, except maybe fellow ghosts."

[Riley Pearson]

I nod my head slightly, "... That's all I want..." I say silently after a few seconds, talking about wishing that I could hug her.

[Arden Patricks]

I bite my lip again sympathetically, thinking once again about moving over to hug him but not sure if I should.
"... I'm sorry," I say, needing to say something.

[Riley Pearson]

I nod my head faintly, hugging my knees close to me, kind of wishing that Arden didn't hate hugs so much. ".. Thanks.." I said quietly, wiping away another tear, something I felt like I was doing too much lately and thinking about how I didn't think I could ever be sick of hearing those two words.

[Arden Patricks]

I nod. "I wish I could do more."

[Riley Pearson]

"I wish I could too." I say quietly still. ".. Hey.. you wanna go inside? I don't think I should stay out here.." I add noting that I had stopped shivering and my hands were tingling kind of painfully.

[Arden Patricks]

I nod, noticing for the first time that I think my face is numb along with every part of me in contact with the ground. "We probably should, yes," I agree, walking over to him and holding out a hand to help him up. "How long have you been out here?"

[Riley Pearson]

I grabbed onto her hand as well as I could and stood up, "A few hours maybe.. I don't really know.." I shrugged.

[Arden Patricks]

"You should definitely get back inside then," I nod, shivering slightly now that I'm standing and more directly in the path of the wind.

[Riley Pearson]

I nod slightly, then seeing her shivering, "So should you, you look like you're frozen."

[Arden Patricks]

"That's because it's freezing out," I shrug, tugging gently on his sleeve in the direction of the castle. "We shouldn't be out here at all... much less for hours on your part."

[Riley Pearson]

I shrugged, walking with her after she tugs on my sleeve. I really could care less on my part.. I think to myself, thinking I didn't want to say it outloud. "..guess so."

[Arden Patricks]

Though I suppose you don't really give a damn, I think, biting my lip again. I hate how I don't know whether saying what I think will make things worse or better. I hate being silent and not being able to help. I hate when people die.
There's a real profound statement.

[Riley Pearson]

I rub the back of my neck slightly in the silence, ".. Anything you wanna talk about?" I asked her quietly.

[Arden Patricks]

I shake my head. The biggest problem in my life at the moment is pretty trivial next to this.
"Anything you do?" I ask in return.

[Riley Pearson]

I shrugged slightly, "No.. not really."

[Arden Patricks]

I nod again, bleakly, tightening my crossed arms against the cold as we make our way back to the castle.

[Riley Pearson]

I see her fold her arms infront of herself, looking really cold, so I put my arm around her as we walked and rubbed the side of her arm, not really thinking about how it probably made her uncomfortable till after I did it.

[Arden Patricks]

I glance over at him, startled and feeling really bad that I haven't hugged him like I'd like to, since apparently he doesn't mind that sort of thing. I twitch the corners of my mouth up at him, feeling my eyes get close to brimming with tears again.

[Riley Pearson]

I smile faintly back at her and leave my arm there when it looks like she didn't mind.

[Arden Patricks]

I try to work out how I could put an arm around him back, or something, because it feels almost like he's comforting me and that's not right. But I can't think of anything and just keep walking with him, silently.

[Riley Pearson]

I saw the castle up a little ways still, glad that we were getting close. There was only so long I could be freezing and still live. Though if Arden hadn't came out, I'd probably still be sitting out there. I felt my eyes water a bit and tried not to start crying again causing me to have a slight headache.

[Arden Patricks]

I glance over at him again and notice him seem to be on the verge of crying. Understandable. I try yet again to think of something to say, and fail, sighing slightly.

[Riley Pearson]

I rubbed my head slightly with my free hand, a few tears slipping out. I rubbed them away and as we came to the door, I opened it and waited for Arden to go in first.

[Arden Patricks]

I duck through the door like it's two feet shorter than it is, sighing slightly, and hold it open for him, still not speaking and still hating myself for that.

[Riley Pearson]

"Thanks.." I mumble, walking inside after after her as she held the door for me. Hating how quiet it was, but really not wanting to put the effort into thinking of something to say even though I probably should.

[Arden Patricks]

I nod, smiling slightly in acknowledgment... and then don't know what to do. We're inside now, but not talking. I can't just walk off, but I can think of absolutely nothing to say. I cross my arms again awkwardly.

[Riley Pearson]

I shake my head slightly, "I hate this." I say to her, at the silence.

[Arden Patricks]

"Ditto." I grimace slightly. "I hate this whole situation. I hate that I can't help you and I don't know what to say."