Rylie Ryan

Nodding, she curled in closer to him, letting the warmth of his body comfort her. Letting loose a small sigh, she let herself relax, the tension leaving her muscles slowly. Stretching her legs out, she yawned, feeling drained. “Can I stay with you tonight?”

“Course you can.” He told her as he put on where they had left off of the office. “Want to borrow something to sleep in?”

arwenholiday‌:

Through the crowd, Arwen had lost sight of Xander. They had been talking earlier in the night, but had gotten separated. Now, she weaved her way through the throng of people, looking for him. She spotted several familiar faces, but not the one she was looking for. 

She couldn’t remember the lounge ever being more packed. Where was he? A few friends called out her name and she smiled and waved at them, but continued one her way. Finally, after about a quarter of an hour’s searching, she found him. She let out a sight of relief and started toward him, but froze when she realized he was not alone. He was talking to someone and it took Arwen a few seconds to recognize her. Riley.

Arwen hadn’t seen her since the night Riley and Xander’s relationship had ended. Now, here she was. Arwen’s heart constricted at the sight of the two of them together. For a moment, all she could do was stare as she was torn with indecision, part of her want to turn and run away before either noticed her or to interrupt them and draw attention to her presence. She bit her lip, trying to decide what to do.

@rileyxthompson, @rileduprylie, @xanderscrimgeour

Riley had been having a better time than even she’d expected - she still didn’t know what to feel about Xander, and having everyone all together made it even easier to slip back into their old habits. It also helped that she was fairly drunk, but for one night, she wanted not to think about it. To just let loose and have a good time, like there was nothing complicated going on in her life. “Do you know -” She murmured, the alcohol making it way too easy to admit things she should probably keep quiet as she toyed with the ring she’d decided to wear around her neck for the night - Xander’s ring - her old engagement ring, which up until tonight had been sitting at the bottom of her jewelry box. “That you were my last New Year’s kiss? Merlin, that’s sad, isn’t it?” She laughed, shaking her head. 

Glancing around, she tried to locate her friends. She felt slightly guilty. She’d dragged them all here, and felt like she was spending most of her time with her ex. Her eyes landed on a familiar face, but not that of Rylie’s or David’s. “Arwen!” She cried, lighting up in excitement as she waved her over. “Xan!” She chastised, turning back to the man for a moment. “You didn’t tell me she was here!”

@xanderscrimgeour​

Xander’s gaze was transfixed. The moment she had begun fiddling with what he clearly recognized as the engagement ring he had given her he had felt a surge of hope, of possibility and positivity flood through him. She hadn’t thrown it out, hell, she hadn’t even hidden it away. She was there, in his bar, wearing his ring. Alright, so it wasn’t on her finger, it wasn’t like they were engaged again, but it had to mean something, it’s not like she’d wear it by accident. He was going to respond, to tell her that he hadn’t had a New Year’s kiss since her either, that if it was sad then at least they were in good company, but her sudden excitement had him thrown and as much as he hated himself for thinking it, he couldn’t help but be somewhat disappointed at the fact she had found his best friend, that their conversation was clearly no longer a private one.

Looking towards where she had spotted Arwen he threw his friend a slightly strained smile as he noticed another familiar face behind her. His lips pursed at the sight and he turned back to her with a forced smile. “You didn’t tell me Ryan was here either,” he responded, watching as the man came over. “Merlin, I hope he’s not going to hex me,” he muttered as much to himself as his ex. “Ryan!” he spoke in a rather fake friendly tone, “good to see you, how have you been?”

He sighed at his empty glass as he headed for a water. That was until he saw Rylie with Xander and the ring twirling on her fingers. Maybe one more drink. "Hey man, nice place." Rylie said with a nod and a slightly forced smile. Any thing to make Riley happy. That was always his goal. "Rils, water?" He asked before seeing Arwen joining them as well. "Hey stranger! Long time no see. Can I get you a drink?"

@arwenholiday

Feeling small, Riley shrugged. She knew why - it made her feel tiny and helpless, and she hated it - but it was hard to voice out loud. “They’re the same.” Her voice was quiet, unsure, and she hid her face in his neck. They were always the same - the flash of green, the screams, someone was crying, and then suddenly, nothing. She always felt incredibly empty when she woke, and that was maybe the worst part. “I’m sorry.”

Originally posted by izombeez

“don’t apologize.” He said gently, kissing the top of her head. He just wanted to ease her. “Want to watch something stupid on tv?” He offered, thinking of the dumb shows they watched that might make her feel better.

Rylie chuckled, going to answer with a sassy reply but was stopped as her expression changed. There was a flash of green light reflected in her eyes. He reached out to her but before he could reach her, before he could protect her he woke up. Pulled away from the dream he had been having by a loudly ringing phone. Rileys face from his dream fading as he seen her face lighting his phone screen. “Rils? Hey, you okay? It’s…” He blinked as he looked at the clock, his new dog Murphy licking at his face sleepily. “two am. what’s wrong?”

“Come on,” She whispered into the dark of her room, free hand clenching around her blankets as she held them close to herself. “Come on, come on, come on.” Riley squeezed her eyes shut tight, praying he would answer. Please be awake. Her eyes snapped open at his voice, and she choked back a sob of relief. “I…. I can’t - can I come over?”

Riley laughed as Murphy came between them, slobbering a messy kiss all over her cheek. Second only to the one that came before it. She smirked, standing with her two boys, slapping a hand lightly across Rylie’s butt as she followed them toward the back door, gasping and feigning shock. “Are you jealous?”

“Of our fur baby? Never.” He grinned, turning and catching her around the waist once the dog was out back. “More like jealous of the kitchen since it’s gotten your attention all day.” He smirked playfully pulling her.

“I know!” She played along, as if it were an entirely absurd idea, before she dissolved into a fit of giggles, resting her head on his shoulder as she calmed down. “He is not!” She cried, not bothering to lower her voice even though she was now much closer to his ear. “And I do not, he’s not even in that department and I am certainly not going to do anything bad enough to get a hit wizard on my tail.”

“Correction, you’re not going to do anything intentional to end up with HIT on your tail.” Rylie joked. “As your best friend I must remind and inform you that you are the clumsiest person I know and could probably somehow managed to accidentally almost kill the president or something because you seen a puppy and got to excited.”

She sighed heavily, finally getting her breathing completely under control as she laid her head on his shoulder, turning her head to dry her eyes on his shirt. “I don’t know.” Riley admitted, not knowing even herself why a little light would set her off. It wasn’t anything like her nightmares, really. And they’d never haunted her while she was awake before. She shook her head at his question, flicking her eyes up to look at him, instantly guilty, and slowly nodded her head. They’d gotten worse after her and Xander had split.

“Why didn’t you tell me Rils?” He asked a sadness to his voice. He hated how much her nightmares botherd her. He’d only ever wanted to fix them. “Are they still the same thing or are they changing?”