A week passed the news that the Jason McQueen had given the band, her band, a chance. The guys were excited, jumping up and down and demanding that they all go out. Roxy and Klaus were also excited when they heard as well. Musa wanted to jump straight into writing new songs with the band but everytime she sat down to write, the overwhelming feeling of excitement took over.

She told her father, she told Helia and Flora, but the person that she wanted to tell the most was her mother. Musa couldn't help but to think how proud her mother would be of just making it this far. Her mother never got the recognition that she deserved in her lifetime but maybe Musa and her band could do it. Making her mother proud was what kept Musa going through every setback.

However, she hadn't made it yet and Musa was currently cleaning up from her previous client who had just left for the day.

Musa was putting away the small instruments when her office phone sounded, letting her know that Miele was calling her from the front desk. Standing up from her place on the floor, Musa made her way over to the office phone and picked up.

"Yes?"

"Hey, Musa," Miele's chipper voice sounded from the other end of the receiver, "um, Liam's mom Linda called when you were with Janet to see if Liam had left his green, dinosaur chew necklace."

Musa began to scan the floor of her office, "I haven't seen it but I will-" a small, thick, green piece of rubber stuck out from under the piano bench. Musa went over to the bench and bent down and picked up the black string where at the end of the string was a small green dinosaur. Given the nature of the necklace and the bite marks, Musa deduced that it was Liam's.

"Musa? Are you there?" Miele's voice brough Musa back to the conversation.

"Yeah, I'm here and you can let Linda know that I found Liam's dinosaur. I can keep it here until his session next week."

"Sounds good, Musa, I will let Linda know."

"Thanks, Miele." Musa sighed in appreciation.

She hung up the phone and went back to cleaning up her office in preparation from the next client who would shortly be there for their session.

With the instruments put away and the office ready for her next session with a teen who preferred the larger instruments, Musa took some time to case note a few of her notes from her session with little Janet.

Musa sunk down to the floor, bringing Janet's file and her laptop with her. Her knees cracked and it was a time like this that she had opted to keep her desk in the office. However, she had sprawled out on the floor and looked up at the clock, a few minutes before she would be called down to grab her next client.

Opening up her laptop, Musa opened up the filing database and opened another window and played some music. She hummed along as she typed up her notes, but her mind kept going back to the phone call that she had gotten the previous week.

She looked around her office and thought about how she would miss this place and all of her clients if she were to make it. Could she be a music therapist and a worldwide superstar? Probably not. But she would make sure that her clients were left in good hands. Jason would have to understand. Right? She would cross that bridge when she got to it but for now, she would keep going on like nothing happened.

Her phone sounded off again and Musa slowly rose to her feet, her knees cracking once again. Musa groaned, she was only twenty-six years old, she couldn't have old lady knees already. That wouldn't be good for touring. She stretched and felt her back crack as well. Was she old? Flora was the same age and pregnant but she was as chipper and limber as ever. Musa chuckled to herself, maybe it was something in the tea that Flora drank.

Picking up the phone once again, she put the phone up to her ear and Miele's bright voice sounded on the other end. What was up with the Cortez women and their unusual cheeriness?

"Christopher is here!" Miele announced.

"Alright, I will be up there in a second."

Musa put away Janet's file and pulled out Christopher's before she made her way down the hallway of the office building and saw the fifteen-year-old boy slumped in the waiting room chair.

"Hey, Chris!" Musa smiled as she gave the boy a wave, "You're looking a little forlorn."

Christ stood up with a huff and walked over to Musa.

"My mom is just riding my ass again." Chris groaned.

Musa looked up at the face of the tall, lanky boy.

"You know that your mom means well, she just wants the best for you." Musa sighed.

"Hey, Musa," Musa turned to see Miele leaning over her desk, trying to get Musa's attention, "I called Linda to tell her that you had Liam's dinosaur and she said that she would send Liam's 'Big Brother' to get it."

"Oh, she didn't have to but I will bring it up to the front when I am done with Chris." Musa smiled and gave an affirming nod.

"I think that your piece is coming along really well. I am glad that we solidified the main melody line. What do you think that we should add to it?" Musa asked as she handed the notebook of staff paper back to Chris.

Chris shrugged as he took the notebook back from Musa, "I don't know, what do you think that I should add?"

"It's your piece, Chris. I am just here to help if you get stuck."

"Not to sound like a dick, but I don't know why my mom signed me up for this. I don't need therapy, I am fine. And I don't see why writing a song is helping me any."

Musa slumped back against the beanbag chair, "Tell me, Chris. What have you been thinking about when writing the song."

"I don't know, I just want to make the song sound good."

"And how do you feel when you work on the song? You have written the words and today we figured out the main melody. How do you feel about that?"

"Pretty proud I guess..." a small smile formed on Chris's face.

"Anything else?" Musa asked as she leaned forward.

"Happy."

"And how did you feel when you came here?"

"Pissed off at my mom and-" Chris took in a deep breath and closed his eyes, "Okay, I get it."

"What you have gone through in the past year has been tough and both your mother and I just want you happy and healthy. I think that your mom recognizes your talent and the only reason that I am here is to help you recognize it as well. If you want to talk about your feelings, you can go see Flora down the hall, but I think that you are expressing yourself just fine through your creativity. Just think of it as secret therapy. Though I suppose it isn't quite so secret when there is a plaque with my name and the words Music Therapist on the outside of this office door, huh?"

Chris chuckled and a small alarm went off on Musa's cell phone. She looked up at the wall clock and she shut off the alarm.

"Time really does fly," Musa remarked as she rose to her feet, holding out a hand to pull Chris up.

"We will pick up where we left off next week and I want you to think about what you want to add to this piece. Remember, it is yours and you can add whatever you want. Heck, it doesn't even have to sound good, as long as you are proud of it and are happy."

Chris grabbed his things as Musa grabbed the small green dinosaur chew necklace and both walked up to the front where Chris's mother would be waiting for him. They walked down the hall and Musa could hear Miele talking to someone, a voice that was different from the voices of the usual clients but one that sounded familiar nonetheless.

"-I graduate next spring, just spending the summer interning for my sister."

Miele's voice was as cheery as ever. As Musa entered the lobby, she saw a tall figure standing in front of the tall ledge in front of the front desk, leaning over and talking to Miele. Whoever it was at the desk was wearing a dark gray hoodie and dark jeans. They seemed to tower over the desk but judging by the smile that was plastered across Miele's face, the person was not a threat.

"Oh, Musa!" Miele turned her head when Musa caught her eye, "Liam's 'Big Brother' is here to pick up the dinosaur."

"Excellent timing," Musa smiled. She reached into the pocket of her dark, gray slacks and pulled out the small necklace. "I have it right h-" Musa's voice faltered as the figure at the desk turned around to reveal the one person that she suspected the least. "Here..."

There he was, standing the waiting room of her workplace. The same smug expression across his face when he saw Musa. Did he have any other expression?

"What are you doing here?" Musa asked as she narrowed her blue eyes, her mouth forming into a scowl.

"Hey, Riven!" Chris exclaimed as he took Riven's hand into his and folded their fingers together into an intricate greeting.

Musa stood back dumbfounded as now, Chris's mother had risen to her feet and made her way up to Riven.

What the Hell was going on?

"How is it going, man?" Riven asked as he gave Chris the first genuine smile from that man in a long time. She also saw Chris's face light up as he looked up at the tall, maroon-haired man.

"Riven," Chris's mother smiled, "when did you get back into town? I know that the boys miss you down at the gym."

Before Riven could reply, curiosity got the better of Musa.

"How do you know each other?" Musa asked.

Riven brought his attention back to Musa and the smirk also returned to his face.

"Riven used to coach wrestling and basketball at the community center." Chris's mother answered.

"Yeah, he was the coolest. Then he left." Chris turned to look at Riven, "Are you going to be coaching again?"

Riven looked down at the teen, "Afraid I can't this season but I spoke to Coach C and I should be able to next season."

"Ah damn." Chris sighed.

"Christopher!" his mother scolded.

"From what I heard that the team made it to the regional championship last year. Brandon is supposed to be catching your team again this year so I think that you will be in good hands."

"Brandon's cool and all but he isn't you." Chris lamented.

A smile grew across Riven's face, "True but I'll be sure to be at your games to cheer you on, alright?"

Riven held out his hand and Chris grabbed it, "Alright."

"Good, I'll see you around."

Chris and his mother said their goodbyes as Riven once again turned back to the two women in the lobby.

"You coach at the rec center? That's awesome! And you help out with Liam?" Miele asked, a smile on her face. She looked in awe at the tall man standing at the desk in front of her.

Musa wanted to roll her eyes but found herself too in shock to find the strength or awareness to control even the largest muscles of her body.

"Yeah, I-"

"You came for Liam's chew and here it is." Musa cut him off and pointed to the small dinosaur sitting on top of the ledge in front of the desk. "You may go now."

Musa turned around on her heels, desperate to leave the lobby. But she felt something follow behind her. She decided to ignore it and continued to make her way back to her office. He could follow her but she would take great satisfaction in slamming the door in his face.

"So Musa is your name, huh?"

Her hand froze on top of the handle of the door.

"And it says here that you are a music therapist. Musa Song."

Musa took a deep breath, "I am glad that you can read."

"And I am glad that I finally know your name," Riven replied.

Musa turned the handle to her office door and walked inside but she was too slow in shutting the door behind her. Riven had walked in, much to Musa's annoyance.

"What are you doing in my office? You cannot be in here." Musa groaned as she bent down and picked up Chris's file off of the floor where they had just finished their session.

"Curiosity." Was Riven's short reply.

Riven watched as Musa cleaned up from her previous session and began to set up for the next session.

"Well, I need to get ready for my next session and I need to get to the files and you cannot be in here for that. Now," Musa looked up at Riven as she walked over to the area of instruments, "get out."

Riven's face fell as he looked at Musa.

"I can't figure you out," Riven remarked.

"Really?" Musa blew a strand of dark hair from in front of her eyes that came loose from her high ponytail, "I could same about you. It's not every day that the asshole neighbor turns out to be a mentor."

"And it isn't often that the bitchy neighbor is the town shrink."

"I'm not a shrink." Musa rolled her eyes.

"But you are a bitch."

"Get the Hell out of my office." Musa pointed to the door, a glowering expression on her face as she looked at Riven.

"Look," Riven sighed as he ran a hand over his face, "I came back here to apologize. For the night at the bar and for the loud music the other week."

"And you had to it now? When I am at work? Did you know that I worked here?"

"I didn't even know your name, sweetheart," Riven scoffed, "Just think of this as a fortunate coincidence."

"I wouldn't call this fortunate. And you couldn't wait to tell me this back at the apartment?"

"Like you would have given me the chance." Riven rolled his eyes.

"I didn't give you the chance now, you kind of just forced yourself in here and then apologized after I told you to leave my office. It seems like you have a hard time hearing no."

"You have no idea what I-"

"You apologized, now get out."

"You haven't accepted," Riven remarked.

"I don't have to. You came here to get Liam's things, apparently took a detour to apologize, and you have done all of that. I owe you nothing. Especially to you of all people. Now leave."

Riven looked around the office and then back to Musa's angry face. There was a moment of tense silence between the pair. Musa looked up into his violet eyes and it was not the first time that she was taken aback by their odd quality. However, this time they were filled with anger and what appeared to be a tinge of sadness. It was like a magnet pulling her closer, despite the voice screaming in her head to back away.

"Hey, Musa, Mr. Higgins called and said that Lilia began throwing up after lunch so she won't be-oh." Flora peeked her head through the door before she stopped when she saw Musa and Riven, "I'm sorry, were you busy?"

Musa backed away from Riven and turned to face Flora who was leaning against the doorway, another cup of fucking tea in her hands.

"No, I was just leaving." Riven placed the small green dinosaur in his hands into the pocket of his hoodie. He walked to the door and past Flora and looked down at her protruding abdomen, "Congratulations."

Musa glared as he walked out of the room and was glad to see that he was finally leaving. However, after wishing Flora well wishes, he turned and faced Musa.

"You don't know the first thing about me."

With that, he walked away and Musa was left in her office, Flora standing at the door.

"Well, what was that?" Flora asked as she stepped inside Musa's office.

"Nothing," Musa replied as she put Lilia's file back into the cabinet and slammed the metal drawer shut.

"Are you-"

"I SAID IT WAS NOTHING!"

Flora pulled the hot mug of tea away from her lips and clutched it close to her chest.

"I see." Flora furrowed her brow in empathetic thought, "You know that you can tell me anything."

Musa sighed, "I know. I just...I really don't want to talk about it."

"Well if you ever you do, know that I am here." Flora placed a hand on Musa's shoulder, "And don't slam the file cabinet drawers. I can't keep calling Helia every time that you jam a drawer. However, that tall man was just in here looks mighty strong."

Flora wiggled her eyebrows with a suggestive look on her face.

"He won't be coming back." Musa replied.

"Aww, he was cute." Flora shrugged.

"Aren't you married and pregnant with my cousin's child?" Musa rolled her eyes and scoffed.

"I'm married, not blind, Musa." Flora smirked before taking another drink of her tea. "And that man was definitely easy on the eyes. Even if he was a little...large. Very different from Jared I would say."

"Flora," Musa groaned, "I say this to you as a member of my family and not as my boss but please, for the love of all that is good and right in this world, shut up."

Flora backed away and made her way to the door. She looked back at Musa and smiled, "I'll see you tomorrow, Musa."

Musa watched as Flora walked out of her office and back down the hall. With Lilia canceling, she was done with her appointments for the day. The responsible thing would have been to case note and file for the rest of the day. But after her...moment... with Riven, all Musa wanted to do was go back to her place, call Jared, and maybe see if he would come over. Maybe she could beat Riven back to the apartment building and then she wouldn't have to see him. She hoped that she would never have to see him again. But she knew that life, nor fate, would be that kind. Especially after the good news that she heard from Jason McQueen, Musa felt that she had used up any ounce of luck that she had for the foreseeable future.

Musa packed up her things in her work bag and threw it over her shoulder before scanning over her office to make sure that she was not leaving anything behind. Seeing that everything was in its place and accounted for, Musa turned off the lights and walked out of her office, shutting the door behind her.

"Are you leaving?" Miele asked.

"Yep." came Musa's short reply.

"Well," Miele's bright smile fell by a hair, "I will see you tomorrow then."

Musa gave Miele a short nod before pulling out her phone from her bag and connecting a pair of red headphones to the device. As the music blared in her ears, Musa made her way out of the small office building and set off for home.

Hmm, we are finding out a little more about Riven and we had a little more tension. I am excited for the next chapter and I hope to have it up soon so stay tuned. As always, I am on Instagram as starrynights513 and I have polls, inspo pics, and updates every so often so if you want to have your voice heard, make sure to check it out. Or just leave a review haha. Let me know what you think of the story! I love reading your comments and critiques!