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Post by Riley Neves on May 23, 2009 23:17:02 GMT -5
Riley hugged him, but quickly let go. She wanted to cling to him, but now was not the time. He'd call off the lunch, and Merlin only knew what Alison would think. She did not want the girl to think that Riley had anything against her at all.
"It's fine, Geoff," She said, flashing another smile, though she didn't hold his gaze for long. "Let's go. She'll wonder what's keeping us."
She was pushing him away. He had something really great going for him right now, and he didn't need her bringing him down. And frankly, she was already sick of hearing that it would get better. While everyone else seemed to be settling into their own ways of dealing with this, Riley just didn't know how. Nothing was getting easier. She would dream about him at night, and wake up every morning with the realization that he was gone, that she couldn't save him, and the pain just cut deeper and deeper. Nothing was getting better.
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Post by Geoffrey Montgomery on May 25, 2009 1:19:52 GMT -5
Some best friend he was. She was in pain, he knew it by the way she hugged him. And here he was, moving on with his life, falling in love, leaving her behind. It seemed like there should have been something he could do to help her, but there wasn't a thing. Only time would make this easier, and a part of her would always hurt. It wasn't fair.
"All right," he said softly. "We'll go. But just so you know... this doesn't change things between us. And if she decides to have a problem with that.... you're more important to me. You're as close to me as Christine. Maybe even closer. You know that, right?"
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Post by Riley Neves on May 25, 2009 10:48:17 GMT -5
"I know," Riley said. Of course she knew. It was a bond that she loved between them, and she would definitely have a problem if Alison didn't like it. On the other hand, she could completely understand if the girl got jealous. It was hard to watch a guy you loved be that close to another girl.
"I really don't think it will be a problem though," she said, giving him another forced smile. "I like her already. She's just laid back enough for you. Merlin only know what you would do with a high maintnence girl. Now, can we go?"
If he was any more sympathetic with her, she was going to break down again, and she'd really, really rather not.
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Post by Geoffrey Montgomery on May 25, 2009 23:03:58 GMT -5
Geoffrey smiled, but it was still tinged with sadness. "I'm really glad you like her. I knew you would... but if you didn't, I'd have to break up with her immediately."
He gave her a quick kiss on the forehead. If it was normalcy she wanted, he would give it to her. He could tell she was still upset, but he also knew that coddling her wasn't going to help. It would only make things worse. She would tell him what she needed.
"Yeah, OK. Let's go." He took her hand and squeezed it lightly before they apparated to Hogsmeade.
Arriving in front of the Hot Panini with a distinctive POP, Geoffrey smiled as he saw Alison. "Hey," he said. "Long time, no see, huh?"
His expression said he was clearly joking, but he actually meant it in a way. It had only been a minute, but he'd already missed her. Merlin... he was getting in deep.
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Post by Alison Hale on May 26, 2009 10:55:23 GMT -5
As many times as she had apparated, Alison thought she would be completely used to it by now. It was still not her strongest thing to do, but she got to where she was going so she was fine with that. Before Riley and Geoffrey got there, Alison straightened out her clothes. She was going to have to get better at this.
Alison never thought anything when they didn't arrive right behind her. They were best friends, and it always made her smile at how close the two were.
Once they appeared, a laugh escaped her. "Hey, and yes, its been ages," she said jokingly in response.
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Post by Geoffrey Montgomery on May 26, 2009 20:21:03 GMT -5
Geoffrey didn't let go of Riley's hand, but he moved over to where Alison was standing and wrapped his arm around her shoulders.
"I'm glad you're both here," he said. It was important to him that Riley understand that she was not going to be shut out of his life just because he was seeing Alison now. Especially now, when she needed him so much.
He let go of both of them when they reached the door to the Hot Panini, and held the door open for both of them. "Ladies first."
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Post by Riley Neves on May 27, 2009 14:19:19 GMT -5
Riley was getting overwhelmed. She liked Alison so far, and the girl wasn't giving her any death glares for being so close to Geoffrey. And she saw that look in Geoffrey's eyes... the girl made him happy.
But it was all so normal. Like there was nothing wrong in the world, and things were just moving on and a pace that she couldn't keep up with. It was so unfair that the world didn't just stop and give her time when Roland died.
But she wanted so badly to show Geoffrey that she liked Alison and had no problems with her.
She went through the open door first, to give Geoffrey and Alison just another moment of being close, when it hit her, once again, that the look he was giving Alison was the same one Roland looked at her with. Her hands fisted by her side for just a moment, and she took a deep breath.
"How about that booth by the window?" She suggested, pointing.
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Post by Geoffrey Montgomery on May 31, 2009 21:13:50 GMT -5
If Riley thought she was fooling him with that overly-perky tone in her voice, she was mistaken. He knew her better than that. But he also knew better than to say anything about it to her. When she was ready to come to him for help, he knew that she would. He'd made it very clear that he was always going to be available for her, to help her in any way, whenever she needed it.
The pure devotion he had for her was not something he'd ever analyzed or questioned. And some people might have thought there was something more to it than there was. But he and Riley had tried dating once, and it was too odd. They knew each other too well, and it just didn't work.
"Yeah, that one looks good," he said, nodding. He let Riley lead the way, while he gave Alison's hand a squeeze.
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Post by Alison Hale on Jun 1, 2009 12:43:33 GMT -5
Alison remained quiet for a few moments and just watched them. She found out that you could learn a lot about someone if you just stayed quiet and watched. Body language and facial expressions told a lot, and what she learned made her smile more and like Geoffrey even more. He cared about his friend, and she could tell that. There was no problem with it. If Alison had been a jealous person, she would have already left but she wasn't.
She squeezed back with a smile and followed them to a booth. Sliding into one side, she rested an elbow on the table. A table by the window is what she usually went for because she liked to look out.
Alison liked Riley. The girl hadn't given her any kind of looks that would make her skeptical about her, and Alison had always tried to do her best not to judge before she got to know. "Thanks for choosing here. I've had a craving for their chicken sandwhich for awhile," she said smiling.
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Post by Riley Neves on Jun 1, 2009 14:45:52 GMT -5
Riley nodded. "Of course. I like that sandwich too," she said, sitting across from the two of them. The sun through the window was warm, despite the cold January air outside, and it relaxed her a little bit.
She felt like she should ask them cute coupley questions, but she couldn't bring herself to. "Geoffrey told me you met at... was it Spellbound or Enchanted?" It was as close to 'so, tell me about your relationship' as she was going to get. It wasn't that she didn't want to know... she was just being selfish right now and she knew it.
One of the waitresses came over, bringing them all a water and saying she'd give them a few minutes to look over the menu.
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Post by Alison Hale on Jun 1, 2009 16:49:13 GMT -5
At Riley's question, her face tinted lightly. She hadn't really talked to anyone about dating Geoffrey. Alison hadn't even really told her parents but then again they hadn't really been around because they were out on a trip again.
"Spellbound," she responded. Of course she remembered where and what happened but she figured that Riley didn't really want to know all of the details. Alison didn't want to make Riley uncomfortable.
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Post by Riley Neves on Jun 1, 2009 18:10:30 GMT -5
"Spellbound, right," Riley said, giving Alison a gentle smile. "It's good fortune, I think, because Geoffrey isn't much for clubs. At least, not as long as I've known him, but for all I know, the Floo department might be the place to party."
She gave a teasing look to Geoffrey, but kept it brief. She knew he would be giving a look that said he was worried about her, and she really couldn't handle it right now.
"You know, Alison, that chicken sandwich sounds really good. I think I'm going to order that." Which was a lie. Nothing sounded good, but she had to eat something today, or Geoff would start pushing her.
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Post by Alison Hale on Jun 1, 2009 18:22:20 GMT -5
She laughed lightly. "That's what I hear," Alison added on jokingly. Yes, she had a feeling that she was going to get along with Riley.
Even though everything was usually really good at the Hot Panini, it never failed that Alison would get the chicken sandwich. Sometimes she would have strayed from that and got something different, but usually it was the same.
She didn't really need to open her menu because she knew if she did, she would more than likely try and second guess herself, only to go back to what she originally wanted. "I think its my favorite, other than the soups."
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Post by Geoffrey Montgomery on Jun 12, 2009 23:36:14 GMT -5
Geoffrey was quiet while the two girls talked. He hid his face behind the menu, eying Riley almost warily. He recognized when her tone was too bright and she was trying too hard, and that was what she was doing. Once again, he thought that this hadn't been the best idea. But it was important to him that Riley and Alison get along, because he didn't want to lose his best friend.
The timing might not have been the best, however. "I think I might just get soup and a Caesar salad," he commented. "I don't really feel like I can eat anything too heavy."
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Post by Riley Neves on Jun 15, 2009 15:49:50 GMT -5
Riley sent Geoffrey a look, though it would have been hard for him to interpret. It lasted only a moment, though, and her eyes were back on her menu.
She was losing him. He had Alison now, and everything he used to come to her for... well, she was sure Alison would be the one he went to now. She was really happy for him, and she really liked Alison, but she didn't know how to handle this, either. A while ago, she was giving him advice about Alison, and now here they were.
She sighed.
The waiter finally arrived, asking if they were ready to order, and Riley smiled at Alison. "Go ahead."
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