A/N: A very nice reviewer put the question to me, "Are you going to update anytime ever again in this lifetime?" well, that was the long and short of it, and I decided I'd better do something, as I promised readers it would be worth their while to stick with this story. I would still like to reassure you that it is, only the author has been so busy that she hasn't had any time for anything. Fortunately, since college is now officially over, she can breathe again and write.
So here's a really long chapter to attempt to make up for my absence.
When she woke up, she felt immediately that something was different. For one thing, she was feeling hotter and cooler at the same time. Her room appeared to have become cold, but the form lying next to her was eminating a fair bit of heat. She gave a start. Form next to her? Almost simultaneously, she realized who it was and how they had become tangled in each other.
I don't care,she remembered thinking, Why he's here. All that matters is that he is. But that was yesterday. Today, with the vulnerability of the night gone, and the logic of the day restored, she realized that she did care, after all. What could be okay about awakening me in the middle of the night and, well, practically feasting on my lips, after having not spoken to me for days? There better be a really good explanation, she thought, surpressing a grin despite her obvious indignation.
What to do now, though? She surveyed her room, raising her head from the muscled shoulder she had apparently been snuggling into all night. Her earmuffs were around her neck, the music from them had run their course. Why was it so cold? And why was there so much sunlight? Her eyes fell on the door. A smashed door. The part where the door knob was supposed to be was instead a gaping hole. The door stood almost completely open, letting the sunlight and wind in. And also all the eyes of Alfea, if they just happened to pass by, she realized with a groan.
Riven seemed to be fast asleep. Her slight movements and groan had not awoken him the least. So the idiot smashed open the door and started kissing me, she recalled, blushing, and I gave in because…well…I wasn't thinking. There was something else, though…he said something about losing me or something, she remembered vaguely.
What was all this about, anyway? She was curious now, and tried to wiggle her waist a bit, but Riven's hands were wrapped securely around them, preventing much movement. She wiggled her toes. Her legs were, free, thankfully. She winced, remembering she was wearing panties when he had burst in. her handreached down to confirm they were still on. Yes. Relief. Disappointment? No. Relief.
She began to get a bit antsy. Was it because of something that happened at the party? She remembered the intense look in his eyes and quivered. Lost me? Why would Riven think he had lost me? She recalled being with Jared at the party, and the brief kiss he had given her. Did that make Riven jealous enough to burst in? perhaps he had thought Jared and I were together. She thought of the wedding, and the photograph of Riven and Layla. Had Riven finally realized that Layla and him could never be and come to her, on the rebound? No. She couldn't see him do that. The look of sincerity was clear in his eyes when he had said he was innocent despite the proof of the photographs. A flash of anger came with them. She remembered how he had spoken to her, yesterday. It was hard to forget the look of anger in his eyes. What had he said? That she spying on him? Taking photographs of him? She had found them innocently enough, in the bathroom, just before her show, that was what had driven her to make that big scene. She flinched at the memory of effectively ruining Layla's wedding. Could Riven have actually planted those photos in her bathroom?No. he couldn't. not him. What if he was madly in love with Layla? Could he have done that to sabotage the wedding perhaps? Was Riven in love with Layla? She had to know.
Her mind drifted to the icy tone of his voice when she had accused him of just that. He had said to her,"As for explanations; I don't need to give you any, besides, I haven't gone on the rebound with a two-bit twerp." Would he say that again if she woke him up right now and questioned him? Her reverie had wiped away the thrill from Riven's romantic impulsiveness of last night. He had been a jerk. A real jerk.
She was still not sure what to do though. She half-heartedly moved a bit, but Riven was a sound sleeper. Or was he just pretending to be asleep?
"Where are my panties?," she said softly, looking to see if his face changed. It didn't. out of ideas, Musa tried to free her arms, but one was pinned under her and the other was held under his own. She could only move her fingers, not arms.
She realized her legs were free though, and she could kick him. Would teach him a lesson, too. She could have called out for the girls too, but she doubted she wanted them seeing them in this compromising position.
She pulled her leg back and kicked. she hardly brushed his shins, and he just groaned sleepily. She decided to use her knee. She rooled up her leg and kneed him. As she had failed previously, she put more effort into it, and the force hit him with more power than she had intended. He instinctively rolled away, and fell with a thud, out of her bed.
She was a bit shocked, even a bit scared of his reaction. He sat up, holding his groin area and groaning. Musa wasn't sure whether to apologize or laugh. She simply sat up, and tried to show no emotion. 'You've always been a slow waker,' should she say that and laugh to break the ice? No. that would remind him of that night, and those disasterous circumstances that followed it.
He looked disapprovingly at her, if he was honest, he was at a loss to deal with the situation. He was feeling a plethora of feelings towards her—sheepishness at his extravagant gesture, a strong desire to kiss her and to yell at her for kicking him out of bed.
They both were silent, not knowing how to start. An annoying friend butting in to break the tension would be great right now, he thought with discontent. But none of them are here. They are all with Layla.. Right. He had to tell her. But how? Shock her? Prepare her for it? Go into a detailed explanation?
"Sorry," she said it nervously, anxiously, "I didn't mean to kick you…there. I just wanted to get up and couldn't because, well…" she lowered her voice,"You were holding me too tight."
He didn't like the formal nature of her tone. He would have expected her to greet him with a joke, Like 'I hope we can still have kids, ya?' or something like that. Not like this. Like a stranger.
But now, he would have to act that way, too. He was too intense for it, though, and got up stiffly.
"There are some things we have to talk about, important things you should know," he said unsteadily, standing up and sitting on her bed, his back to her, he continued,"Put on some pants and I will tell them to you."
His grave tone concerned her. There was too much formality between them. The joke was out, more as an involuntary reaction than an attempt at building a connection.
"Since when do I have to put on more clothes to speak to you?"
She wished she could have taken back the lame joke, because the answer hung like a thick, suffocating fog between them. Since we broke up. Since we stopped talking. Since we stopped being able to look at each other without sadness, or awkwardness or anger. Since that night that rainy night which ruined everything.
Riven didn't say anything. His lips curved into a bittersweet smile at the obvious answer. Musa obeyed him however, and was sitting beside him, eyes suspicious, wearing black leggings and even an orange pullover for extra emphasis.
"Don't interrupt, this wont take long," he said curtly. Musa nodded blankly.
"We were at the after party. I was talking with Alberta…"
"oh, I know," said Musa, coldly.
He regarded her with genuine anger this time, "Didn't I tell you to not interrupt?," he hissed, "Do that again and I'll walk out and you'll never know.."
"Okay," she said, softly.
He looked at her suspiciously for signs of coldness, but her eyes were large and sad. Her shoulders were hunched. She looked like he had already told her about the tragedy.
"I was at the afterparty, sitting with Alberta, when we heard screams. Bloom and Sky were with us. We went off, was there, with her horse…" He swallowed. She opened her mouth to ask why Layla was there, but she snapped it shut, and instinctively moved closer to Riven. He noticed her black slacks had two ropes to tie in the front, which dangled as she did this. She noticed his eyes and began to tie them up.
"Layla was alone. She had Nabu's beheaded body with her—"Musa shivered. He moved to put a hand around her shoulder. "She was crying, and there were a lot of people around us. Her dad picked her up and was taking her somewhere, she was babbling incoherently. When she caught my eye, she told me you were in danger. She said that Jared killed Nabu—"
"No," whispered Musa, appearing to tremble a bit
" I panicked that you were somewhere with…that you were in danger, so I ran to your room, but you didn't answer. I even called you up, but you didn't pick up your phone. So I did the only thing I could think of doing. I broke down your door."
"It wasn't even locked, you know," said Musa. She appeared to be shaking violently, and Riven pulled her close, almost into his lap.
He gave a tired chuckle,"I wasn't thinking that clearly, so everything I did and said can be put down to the effects of alcohol." He noticed her tense for just a second with those words, and she moved a fraction away from him.
"And that about settles it," he concluded, abruptly.
"How can Jared be a murderer? I've known him all my life. Even dated him. There must be some mistake," her voice echoed with emotion.
"Well, that's what Layla told me," he said shortly.
"Must be some mistake…" she insisted, softly
Riven clenched his fists into angry balls. Why was she defending Jared? She should be holding me, comforting him about Nabu right now…
A long silence followed. Riven stood up, pacing. Finally, Musa broke it.
"Riven?" she asked, tentatively. He was afraid she was going to ask him about last night. Him pouncing on her. Kissing her.
"Can you leave me alone for awhile? I need to digest what you have told me." it hit him like a slap in the face, and while he would have liked to walk out the door, if to do nothing but express his anger, he couldn't do that to her.
"I am supposed to protect you," he said curtly, "I am not leaving."
She laughed softly, mirthlessly. His muscles tensed.
"oh, come here, then," she ppatted the bed, and he sat back down again. "I am just going to have a little cry," she explained, matter-of-factly, moving towards her side of the bed and turning away from Riven.
He sat stiffly, shoulders tightening as he heard her sob louder. He could hear her trying to control it, but she couldn't. spying a bunch of tissues on the dresser, he dashed towards them, grabbed them and walked towards her. Despite himself, he sat down on her side and handed her a tissue. He remembered the last time he had cried, Musa had been with him. He clenched his teeth uneasily. She had not given him any tissues, but she had been way more comforting than he was being now.
He patted her arm awkwardly, "There, there," he said in what he deemed a soothing tone.
Musa laughed through her sobs. "You sound like a military camp instructor telling his wards where to put the boxes," she said.
"Well, I am not the one for comforting someone, that was always your job," said Riven. The gentleness in his voice was palpable. He was looking down sadly at her. "Don't cry for him, Muse, he's a rotten bastard."
She nodded. "I'm just overwhelmed, I guess," she agreed," a lot has happened to me since yesterday."
He stroked her hair tenderly. "I am sorry, "the words burst from his lips before he could stop them,"About what I said about those photographs today."
Musa tensed visibly under his hand. There. I shouldn't have said anything. Now, I'll have to tell her about Layla and me being siblings. To his surprise, she shrugged. "Thanks, it was no big deal," she replied.
No big deal? He disagreed. He really disagreed. It was a big deal.
She had stopped crying now. Wiping the tears from her eyes, she stood up. "where are the others?," she asked, in a voice that she was fighting to keep straight.
"I don't know," he admitted.
"Let's go," she gestured towards him, ushering him out of the room as she tried to find the key.
"I broke the handle," he reminded her. "Oh right." She mumbled a spell under her breadth and they watched as the door formed back into solid wood. She locked it and turned around. Riven took her hand in his before he could stop himself. She tried to suppress the quick look of surprise and pleasure that filled her face as they made their way out of Alfea.
A/N: So, what did you think? I really hope you review, I spent a whole evening and night thinking and writing about this.