Remedy

2) Riley

Silence
There always was a sense of calmness when there was no sound but silence also held the factor of fear
Silence may have meant something bigger could be in the works
Silence may have meant that everything was finally falling into place
In this case, I had no clue.. 

"What are you doing here? Where is Nick?" Caden said pulling out of our hug. I hadn't been very touchy recently, the idea of being touched by anyone, harmless or not was not something I was not something I wanted or encouraged at all
"He's uh, He's back at his place I assume" I said, his brown eyes bounced back to me with confusion laced in them 
Almost like he had a thousand questions and knowing Caden, he will have asked them by the end of the night 

Behind him stood a familiar faces, I knew two of them personally and then the other three I'd seen via Caden's social media
The fact the only way I know some of his closest friends speaks for itself really 

"What happened?" He asked but I shook my head
"Not the time, nor place" I said
"nor the company" I muttered making Caden zone back into the room and out of the bubble he has put us in
We weren't alone and hadn't been this time but yet Caden is acting like that is a surprise 
Not like he had just walked into the house with them all 5 minutes ago

"Roo this is Hunter, West and James. You of course know Eldon and Michelle" Caden said pulling me towards the group of people 
The moment I was close enough Michelle had pulled me into one of her tight hugs that always seems to follow the moment I enter a room with her 
Eldon had come with Michelle and Caden a few times when they had come to visit me, he was a sweet. Which begs the question as to why he was friends with my brother but I've learnt not to ask 

The final three who I hadn't met until today stood there, two of the with bright smiles on their faces, Hunter and West I think there names where. They seemed welcoming enough, sort of similar to Eldon and her persona but the final one not so much 

James stood there watching me like he was trying to figure me out. It was creepy or as creepy as I probably make it out to be but it was different to the others
The others stood there with grins, welcome arms
James stood there marking my every move trying to understand me without even saying a single word to me
I don't know if I like that right now 

"When you said you would talk to her, I had no idea that she would come home this soon!" Michelle gushed happily as we had all retreated to the living room at this point
"talk to me?" I asked looking directly at me brother
"Michelle wanted to know if you would be her Maid of Honour" Caden said taking a sip of the whiskey in his glass

"Maid of honour? You have plenty of close friends, surely you would want them to do it?" I asked her but she frantically shook her head
"God know, if I let them do it then I can promise you I would not make it down the aisle" She protested 

"hey!" Caden groaned making Michelle giggle lightly before turning to my brother cuddling up to him lightly almost like she was licking his wounds better

--

The rest of the evening was rather uneventful, I had excused myself from everyone a while ago and had been sat out in Caden's garden for a while 
It's strange to picture how different things were last time I had been in this town
Caden was living in our parents basement, he hadn't even the smallest clue what he wanted to do. He completely out on a whim when he applied for college but I guess it paid off
Now here he is, a big old house, the girl he's head over heels for whilst planning their wedding
He's started a company with his best friend to the point as far as I'm aware they are both living comfortable 

Caden shaped his world to be exactly what our Mum had wanted for the both of us.. 
While I did the opposite - I don't want to think she would be disappointed in me but at the same time, I truly wouldn't blame her at all

"Hey" A voice said making me jump turning around to see James stood with his figure looming in front of the patio door, he looked at me again before shrugging and throwing the butt of his cigarette down on the floor making his way over to the chair next to me 
My body would have instantly cringed the moment someone sat that close to me but yet for some reason on this occasion it didn't 
I looked over at him a little confused, he probably thinks I'm confused as to why he is here but in reality I'm confused as to why my body isn't yelling at me to create more distance

It always does that.. without fail

"How long are you back in town for?" James asked, had that question had the bite it should have it would have been more of a threat to head straight out
No question like that should be anything more then a threat, or that is at least what I'm used to I guess
"Uh I wasn't planning on leaving again I guess, if me being here is too much trouble I can-" I started watching James face shift to concern and confusion, like mine had been moments ago
"I'm not your keeper. I don't even know you so why would my opinion matter?" He asked, asking the big questions clearly 

"I think I'm just going to head to bed" I mumbled standing up to head inside

I waited for a moment, waiting for the snide comment, the yelling, the fighting all of it but it never come. 
James was right, he didn't know me and I didn't know him

So why was I so convinced he would be exactly the same..