Riley's Box

Part 32

"I know, Jason, and you have every right to feel annoyed about what's happening with him." 

Jason's eyes warmed with appreciation, then. It was good to see the resemblance of a calmer expression on his face, even if he didn't feel completely at peace. 

I knew that he felt completely misunderstood, but I wanted to be able to be there for him, no matter what. Even if I didn't totally understand everything that he was going through, I could offer a listening ear. 

"You're easy to talk to, Riles. That's why I'll always be glad that you are my best friend," he said. "I honestly don't know what I would do without you. We look out for each other, right? You should know by now that you can talk to me about anything, too. So, are you sure that it's just stress. There's nothing else going on, is there?" he asked me. 

I really hoped that my expression wouldn't betray me on this occasion. Swallowing down some anxiety, I soon managed to find my voice again. "It's just stress, Jason." There was so much more to it, he had no idea. However, I knew that I couldn't tell Jason everything, at least not yet. There would be plenty of time to explain things to him, after I had some reassurance that we were actually going to be able to get the shadow spirits back to Hell. 

"You know, I really do think that we're going to be alright. I think that you're going to be alright, Riles, no matter what it is that you're currently going through and not telling me about," he said. Oh, he was too good, when it came to these things. He could see right though me, as though I had a window into my mind. I was lucky that I didn't because a lot of thoughts occurred up there that Jason was probably better off not being clued into. "You can talk to me about anything. You know, I can be reasonably intelligent at times, so I can offer advice, or just listen, too." 

"Thank you, Jason. I should probably go and get on with some studying. I was going to take a walk in the park by myself. I think I need some time alone, right now, but we can call tonight, alright?" I asked him. I knew that I needed to spend more time with Jason, especially if I didn't want his curiosity to pique too much, but I had a lot of matters to sort out with the Sins, too. Things were different, now. The days of the simple Jason and Riley friendship were long gone. We were both facing our problems and all I could do was be there, when it was possible for me to be there. Right now, though, that was no easy feat. The world has literally changed, seemingly overnight, all thanks to seven strange beings. Perhaps, they should consider changing their group name. 

"Yeah. We can call tonight," Jason agreed. "It will be nice to talk to someone who, though may not totally get it, at least tries their hardest to. I appreciate you so much, Riles. I don't want that to get lost in everything just because Susie and I are dating now-" 

Back. The. Hell. Up. 

Susie and Jason. 

I thought Susie and Eric were dating! 

What the Hell was going on here? 

"You summoned me," Avidicci said in my ear. 

I exhaled in mild indignation. 

Alright, tell a lie. It wasn't mild indignation. Nothing about my indignation was mild at all. I was annoyed. How could Jason have kept this from me? 

Time felt as though it had slowed down and though the sun was shining in through the hall window, I felt as though my world had never been darker. Screw a shadow spirit. Jason and Susie were now dating? Could this week get any more messed up? 

At that thought, Susie walked on right over and took Jason's hand in hers. 

Oh, Invidia thought she was the Queen of Envy? I would show her the Queen of Envy, alright! 

"I had a feeling you would be over here! Now, Riley, I know this is a big change but I just want you to know that nothing should change, now that Jason and I are dating. I want you to know that we're all still friends, right?" she asked me. 

I tried to keep any anger out of my voice, when I replied to he question. 

"Oh yeah, totally. We're all still friends. We're going to get on like black birds in a pie," I said. 

"What? I don't think I'm familiar with-" Susie started to say but cut off, as an expression of bewilderment took over her face. 

Then, I started to laugh. I had heard that laughter helped you cope with pain. Unfortunately, in this situation, that was not working out so well for me. 

Susie looked towards Jason with an expression that read, 'is she okay?'.

The truth was, I didn't think that I had actually been okay for a while. 

Now, I really felt as though the Universe, or God, or whatever else it was that was out there, was really testing me. 

"I think that everything happens for a reason and, well, Jason and I meeting definitely happened for a reason! I know we're going to be together for a very long time." 

Yeah. Sure. 

"Of course, you are," I said. I felt my throat close up in irritation. I was literally breaking down. My body was about to lose it, just as much as my soul felt that it had. 

"I mean...I had a lot of work to do, before I started dating, but now I feel as though I can help people better!" she said. 

Jason didn't need any help. He just needed his best friend, which I would very much have liked to remind Susie that she was not. 

"Of course," I spoke again, unsure of what else, exactly, I could say.