Day three of shooting Musa's music video and Riven couldn't wait for it to be over. Thankfully, this one was the last one. He had no idea how Musa – or any other member of her team for that matter – did it. Much to his surprise, he hadn't hated her new single. It was by no means close to what he listened to but it was much better than the bubblegum bullshit her first album had been. He had to be honest that he hadn't given her music beyond that much of a listen, but he hadn't needed to to know he wouldn't like it, though. This new single – the first one she'd had full creative control over – was not half bad though. It had grown on him after listening to it for a few days during dance rehearsals – once they'd actually gotten around to dancing with the music. Now, though, after days of listening to it during rehearsals and hearing it almost constantly for the last two and a half days, he hated it. How Musa stomached listening to her own song constantly like this, plus having to perform it regularly on tour, baffled him.

What baffled him even more was how completely at ease she was in front of cameras. He'd assumed after the Luxure shoot that she was just as awkward in front of cameras as he was. Turned out, he was the problem. Musa had no problem playing up to the camera now that she was in her element.

Currently, she was shooting a solo dance scene that he'd learned from Tecna would be a transition scene in the video. Riven knew nothing about how video shoots worked, but from the angles the camera crew was using, it seemed like it would look pretty cool. In fact, from what he'd seen, the whole video would look pretty cool. Today's scenes – particularly the transition scenes – just seemed like the ones he'd like best.

Beyond being tired of hearing the damn song over and over, he did have another issue with today's shoot, though. Specifically, the outfit Stella – who he'd learned from Mirta was the brains responsible behind all of Musa's video, stage and award show outfits – had put her in. Her hair had been pulled up into two pigtails that reached her knees thanks to the extensions they'd had to get up at 3 am on Monday to have put in. The pigtails had been broken up into three braids each that made a cool effect whenever Musa whipped her hair around. Two thin braids hung down on each side of her face, framing her rosy cheeks perfectly and making her somehow look both adorable and incredibly sexy. Her damn hair wasn't the problem – though he did really like it – but rather the stupid fucking outfit. The sheer bodysuit that left no inch of her torso – save her chest, covered by a small black bra, and crotch, covered by black underwear – to the imagination. A black garter belt held up what could have been pant legs except for the fact that a significant, very important, part was missing. Namely, everything except the actual leg part. Instead, her ass and upper thighs were covered in fishnet tights. (1)

Maybe the reason he kept catching himself staring at her ass was just that he hadn't had sex since Darcy came over a week and a half earlier. No phone sex, no video sex, no actual sex. He hadn't even jerked off, so it had to be the pent-up hormones that were causing him to stare at Musa and fantasize about walking over there and smacking her ass until it was red and featured a prominent hand mark. Then maybe he'd strip her down and have her; lick her and fuck her until she'd screamed so much her voice went hoarse and she couldn't think or walk straight.

Pent-up hormones. That's it. He'd masturbate tonight and then the thoughts would go away.

"So, how are you liking the video shoot experience?" Aisha asked, dissolving the film playing in his mind. Riven leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees to hide the semi that he was sporting thanks to his cruel brain. Aisha paid no mind, though, as she took a seat beside him and focused primarily on trying to pick the mushrooms out of the salad she was eating.

"Salad for breakfast?"

"It's the only thing they had today that's appealing" Aisha shrugged as she ate a forkful of lettuce. "So, yeah, I'm having salad at 8:30 am."

"They have fruit too." Riven picked up the apple that he'd grabbed from the craft services table. Aisha insisted that she'd prefer the salad even though the container was so small that it would barely fill her more than any of the fruit available. "I'm gonna tell Nabu the girl he's into is a weirdo."

"And I'll tell him his best friend is a colossal ass" she snapped back.

"Jokes on you. He already knows that" Riven laughed, leaning back and taking a bite of the apple. "How are things going with him anyways?"

Nabu had mentioned that he and Aisha had been talking a lot since Saturday and that their first official date was scheduled for Friday, a fact which Aisha corroborated. Riven couldn't remember the last time he'd seen Nabu this excited about a potential relationship. He'd dated a lot since they'd met but had only had three actual relationships in that time. The first, a blond guy by the name of Geoffrey, who Riven hadn't liked much, had lasted a bit over a year and a half, and ended amicably. The second, a redheaded girl named Kaitlyn, Nabu had broken up with after she admitted to lying about being interested in sports to get to know him better. They'd been together for three months. Finally, about a year ago, Marge had broken up with Nabu in a fit of rage after he'd defended a comment that Riven had made as a joke. Apparently, teasing that Nabu could be her Homer was offensive. "Be good to him; he doesn't always have the best luck with girls."

"And you do?"

"What?"

"No offence, dude, but your girlfriend is kind of a complete cunt" Aisha said, mumbling something under her breath as she turned her head to look at Musa watching the playback of the shots they'd taken. Riven could swear he'd heard Aisha say Musa and choice but he had no idea what she'd said between that. When he asked her to repeat what she said, she ignored him, questioning instead whether Tecna or Helia were also getting the be good to my friend or else speech.

"I never said or else" Riven pointed out.

"It was implied."

"Yes. It was" he agreed with a chuckle. He could see why Musa had thought Aisha and Nabu would be good together. Aisha was smart, opinionated, razor sharp, honest and friendly; all qualities Nabu would adore. "And Tecna and Helia will be getting the speech, just without the implied or else."

"That hardly seems fair."

"You seem like you could be a heartbreaker, they don't."

"Whatever" Aisha laughed, rolling her eyes as she finished off her salad. She put the container by her feet, grabbing her phone from her bag at the same time. Riven had heard her phone go off multiple times a few seconds earlier, at the same time as Musa's beside him, so he assumed it was their group chat. He let Aisha check her phone in peace as he didn't particularly care to know what they talked about. That was, until Aisha's mouth fell open and she gasped so loudly she might as well have inhaled all the air in the room. "Everything okay?"

Aisha blinked a lot but she finally managed to regain her composure. She held her phone to her lap, hands folded over one another, as she turned to him with smile and expression that made him nervous. "I didn't know you modeled."

"Excuse me?" Riven demanded. He didn't model except for that one...

No.

No.

It couldn't be.

"Then how do you explain this?" Aisha held the phone up to his face. Her screen showed a picture of him leaning back against that damn chaise lounge with Musa in that goddamn red ensemble straddling him. Their bodies were pressed close together, his left hand placed firmly on her upper thigh and both of hers on his chest. Their faces were inches from each other's, and his right hand was in her hair, seemingly pulling her into a kiss. Staring at the picture now, Riven's mind swarmed with memories of her nails digging into his chest, her breath on his face, those ocean blue eyes watching him, seemingly as lost in him as he had been in her – though he rationalised that she'd been playing it up for the camera now that he'd seen how comfortable she truly was in front of one.

"This is a really hot shot. I would love to see the rest of them" Aisha commented, pulling the screen away from his face and taking a look at it. Riven wasn't paying her much attention now. His mind had been invaded by two conflicting thoughts. The first was that Musa looked just as smoldering and breathtaking that day as he remembered, and that she now stood about fifteen feet from him looking just as fucking irresistable. The second was that he still hadn't told Darcy it had been a lingerie shoot.

He was a dead man.

As if on cue – like she knew he had become aware of the fact that she would rip his throat out – his phone began to ring.

Darcy.

Riven watched it ring. He couldn't answer. He didn't want to deal with this. Not now. Beside him, Aisha watched with intrigue as he ignored his girlfriend's call. And again when Darcy called a second time a mere two seconds later.

"She doesn't know, does she?"

"No" Riven admitted. They'd spoken a single time since Saturday and that had been strained. The realisation that maybe his relationship had not been as perfect as he'd thought it to be had taken a sharp toll on him, and he just needed to not talk to Darcy for a bit. Unfortunately, she didn't know that, so she continued to call. Even more unfortunate was that Riven didn't know how to tell her that he needed space from her without it becoming a huge thing, so he lied. He told her that he was busy and couldn't talk. And he knew she wouldn't accept that answer if she was calling about the picture.

"Dude. You fucked up" Aisha gasped as she stood up to take her place on set. The six other dancers for this video were already behind Musa ready to go; the only one missing was Aisha on Musa's immediate right. Aisha turned away before Riven could answer that he knew he had and, as she was taking her place, a text came through.

Darcy (9:09 am): call me.

Fuck.

After they'd finished the final scene of the video, Aisha pulled Musa aside and shoved her phone into Musa's hands, demanding she look at the texts from the group chat. Musa didn't need to read them to know what the girls were saying; seeing her and Riven's Luxure ad told her everything already. But, oh fuck, did that picture turn out great. Musa forced herself to swallow, conscious of the fact that she had almost started to drool. She could usually tell when models she worked with had been retouched, especially when she knew them, but she was pretty sure they'd barely had to do anything on Riven because he already had the build of fucking Adonis.

It was cruel of the universe to put him in front of her, make him be so damn close to her, and completely unavailable. Musa wasn't usually one to complain about not being able to have something; she knew things weren't always available. She'd grown up being denied a lot of the things she wanted because the money wasn't there, and she refused to be one of those celebrities that thought the world would hand them everything just because they happened to be famous. But goddamn if it wasn't fair to have that dangled in front of her.

"You okay?"

"What?" Musa's head shot up. Aisha was watching her with raised eyebrows and a bemused smile that made Musa incredibly self-conscious. "Yeah, why?"

"I'm pretty sure you stopped breathing."

"Funny" Musa deadpanned, scrolling through the comments in the group chat.

Stella: BITCH

Stella: WHAT THE FUCK

Stella: HOW DID WE NOT KNOW ABOUT THIS

Bloom: :oooooooo

Bloom: MUSA WHAT THE FUCK

Bloom: That is... wow.

Stella: FUCKING HOT RIGHT

Tecna: I have so many questions

Aisha: ME TOO

Aisha: LIKE HOW YOU CAN POSSIBLY DENY HOW BADLY YOU WANT TO FUCK THIS MAN

Tecna: Can we start with the why didn't you tell us

Bloom: If you really want, but I'm with Aisha on this one

Stella: Same

Stella: Musa, darling. Explain yourself.

Tecna: She's on set

Stella: Fuck...

Stella: One of you two needs to confront her when she's done

Aisha: On it

Stella: And tell us what she says!

Bloom: What Stella said

"So, is this you confronting me?" Musa questioned, handing the phone back to Aisha. The dancer nodded resolutely, so Musa took a deep breath and explained how Riven had come to be the one to do the shoot with her. Musa had cornered Mirta a few days after it had happened to know herself. She'd thought it sweet that he'd been willing to step in, even if it was reluctantly and mainly for the money. It was something he hadn't had to do at all, and Musa had been furious to learn he'd made so little, especially when she considered that she was being paid close to twenty million for the three-ad deal and that Riven had literally saved the day. She'd contacted Mr. Avalon about upping Riven's pay, but the asshole had said it was too late, that Riven had signed a contract.

"Well, that's great, but what we really want to know is whether you've accepted that you want to fu-"

"Yes. Okay?" Musa replied shortly. "Yes. I've accepted that. Can we let it go now?"

"For now."

"Great cause I've gotta go." Musa walked away, ignoring Aisha's laughter. She didn't have time to deal with her friends' smugness when she needed to survive getting through the rest of the day. Today was the day. She'd thought about it for the last few days, and the more she thought about it, the more she realised it was the move she needed to make if she wanted to keep her sanity.

Jared lived in a high rise building not unlike her own. His apartment was not as big as hers, but it was still a beautiful place with a phenomenal view of the city. She'd wanted to go up alone, but, unsurprisingly, Riven reminded her that he couldn't let her do that. He offered to block his ears if she wanted, but that seemed entirely pointless to her. No one was fully deaf with their ears blocked anyways.

When Jared didn't answer the door, Musa let herself in with the key she'd been planning on giving back to him today. She and Riven slunk in to find Jared sitting at his kitchen table with his arms crossed, staring at the blank phone in front of him. He didn't react to their presence until Musa called to him. Jared motioned for her to take a seat beside him without ever looking at her.

It was only as she approached the table that she noticed the broken glass on the opposite side. Jared's jaw was set tight, and his fist – the one that wasn't reaching for his phone – was balled up so tight that she thought his nails must be digging into his skin.

"Care to explain this?" he demanded, sliding the phone over to her. Musa picked it up and took a quick glance at the phone; she should have fucking known he'd be up in arms about this. It was just that, frankly, she couldn't be bothered to give a damn that he was upset about the Luxure picture. "It's an ad."

"Oh? Is that it?"

"Yes."

"Cause it sure looks like a lot more than that to me." Jared ripped the phone from her hands and shoved it back in her face. "You're seriously going to tell me the chemistry in this picture was faked? That you two don't have something going on?"

How Musa managed to maintain a neutral face was beyond her, especially when all she wanted to do was take his phone and shove it into his mouth so that he couldn't speak anymore. Really, the audacity he had to start scolding her immediately upon arrival for doing absolutely nothing wrong was insane. Tecna would be so proud of how calm she was being, but Bloom, Aisha and Stella would be egging her on to destroy him. The only thing stopping her from going the more aggressive route was her reputation.

"Hell, I bet you two went back to the dressing room after this and fucked. Or maybe you didn't even make it to the dressing room. I mean, I know how mu-"

"You know what?" Musa interrupted. What little patience for his bullshit she'd come in with had snapped. She didn't have to sit there and take his accusations for the sake of a cordial – who was she kidding; that would never happen – breakup. "I wanted to do this nicely, but since you're gonna be such a goddamn ass, I don't see the point in it."

"Let me guess? You came to warn me about the picture so that I wouldn't be onto your affair?"

"Wha-"

"Well, too fucking late. If I didn't already believe it from the way you two act together, this shit would do the trick."

"There's no-"

"And who knows how many other people you fucked behind my back?" Jared ranted. He had completely lost it. He was red in the face, waving his arms around in accusation and refusing to let her get a word in. Musa forced herself not to step forward and deck him right in the face – maybe break the stupid nose he'd paid a fortune for. She could see Riven standing by the door in her peripheral vision; eyes narrowed, and hands clasped firmly together. He looked like he wanted to bash Jared's head in as badly as she did. "God knows you're fucking easy."

"Excuse me?" Musa hissed.

"Are you gonna deny it? You put out for me on the first date."

"So?"

"My mother always told me that only whores do that. I always thought that was just her conservative views, but I guess she was right because here you are, easy as could fucking be, screwing God knows how many people behind my back. I sh-"

"I'm gonna stop you right there, you fucking pompous, misogynistic, boring, egotistical, deceitful, pathetic, miserable little dildo. I may like –" Musa cut herself off as she caught Riven watching her with a smile on his face. Suddenly, she found herself really self-conscious about admitting that she enjoyed sex so much. It wasn't like he didn't know she had sex, but she didn't want him forming a negative opinion on her habits because of the weasel she called her soon-to-be ex-boyfriend. "Sorry. Riven, can you leave us alone for a minute?"

Riven's smile vanished and he assumed a rigid pose. He stood so straight and looked so serious that Musa would almost believe he was military. "I can't do that. I need to have eyes on you at all times unless you're in your own home."

Musa let out an irritated sigh. She's been out of his sights plenty of times when they weren't at home; why the fuck was he doing this now? She considered demanding he leave, but one look at the terrifyingly serious expression on his face told her there was no way she was getting her way. Musa had no choice but to suck it up. "Whatever" she scoffed, returning her attention to the swine that was Jared. "I may love sex, but I am not a whore or a cheater. The fact that you would even think that I would consider cheating tells me just how little you really know me."

"People can surprise you" Jared shrugged. He'd managed to regain some calm while Musa had addressed Riven after having been visibly thrown off when she'd interrupted him. "But you know what, we can work through it, love."

Musa fought hard to resist the urge to throw up. Jared had just gone off on her, accusing her of something she wouldn't wish on her worst enemy and then he'd had the gall to suggest they work through it. What a fucking skeeve. His hand reached for hers and she pulled it away so fast she was honestly surprised her arm didn't go flying. "You're right. People do surprise you. For example: I was surprised by what a piece of shit you turned out to be."

"What?"

"You. Are. Trash." Jared looked like he'd been slapped across the face. If only she had actually slapped him, that would've been so satisfying. "Anyways, I just came here to tell you that this," she waved her finger back and forth between them, "isn't working for me, and I'm breaking up with you."

"Musa..." Jared breathed. Tears pooled in his eyes as he stepped back from her. He sniffled. She retched. He started to ask – beg, not attractive – her to reconsider; to give them a chance. She had no patience for him anymore.

Riven had to admit that watching Musa tear into Jared had been amusing. He did wish she'd been a bit meaner considering he'd made her cry. Riven still had no idea how he'd made her cry, but the fact that he had was enough. But then the little jerk had had the balls to ask her to reconsider. Riven had managed to hold his tongue and not drop any snide comments through the whole ordeal – or pummel the moron, which sounded oh-so appealing – but he'd almost lost his cool at that point. Luckily, Musa had had enough and decided to leave, which meant he got to too before he got arrested for assault.

Musa was quiet as they waited for the elevator. He wasn't sure what possessed him to do it – maybe on some level he was worried about her? - but Riven found himself asking if she was okay. She had just ended a year-long relationship, and even though it had been with a complete twat, she must have been a little bit upset. Instead, she surprised him by asking why he didn't leave when she asked him to.

"Because it's my job?"

"Yeah, but you've left me alone plenty of times outside of my house before. Why was this any different?"

"Because..."

"Because?" she pressed, turning to face him with her hands firmly planted on her hips. Her hair, still up in the multiple pigtail braids, swung around as she did, hitting him in the arm. The oversized t-shirt she'd put on over a pair of ripped boyfriend jeans clung to her body, pulled taught from the way she held her hands. She looked so damn gorgeous right now – and this was not the time to think about that. "Well?"

"I didn't want to leave you alone with him. You know, just in case." He shrugged, trying to act as if it were no big deal when, in fact, Jared hurting her had been a real concern of his from the moment they'd walked in. That boy had a temper that he needed to get under control – something Riven knew about well – or he'd be a menace to every person in his life. For Riven, he'd needed to separate himself from the thing that made him angriest – his parents – and come to terms with the horrible childhood he'd had. It was still a work in progress, but he'd made a lot of improvement on not blowing up at people. Having a job that he liked that required restraint helped too.

"Oh... um... thanks" she mumbled, pivoting away from him and into the elevator as the doors opened.

"For what it's worth," he told her, stepping into the elevator behind her and selecting the main floor. "I didn't like him."

"You didn't like me either when we first met" Musa reminded him with a smirk.

"Yes, well. You have redeeming qualities. Him... not so much." Musa's smirk grew into a genuine smile, and Riven warmed at knowing that he'd caused it. Gods, she really was gorgeous when she smiled. And she was hot as fuck when she was angry, Riven thought as he replayed Musa going off on Jared in his mind. "By the way... A dildo?"

"Yeah" she laughed, "Cause he's too fake to be called a dick."

Riven snorted out a laugh as he opened the car door for her. She thanked him – she always did when he held the door – and he closed it behind her. Once he'd taken the front passenger seat and buckled in, Wizgiz took off towards home for the evening. The Irishman began asking about how it had gone – apparently, he'd known that Musa was planning on breaking up with Jared. When the hell had they spoken about that? They were never alone without him.

Musa started telling Wizgiz about Jared flipping out about the Luxure ad and Riven's heart dropped to his stomach. He still hadn't called Darcy. In fact, he'd been enjoying the dance shots of the video – and Musa's outfit – so much that he'd completely forgotten that she'd called. And that she'd demanded he call her back when he hadn't answered. That had been at nine that morning. It was now almost eight in the evening.

He was fucked.

Musa scrolled through the group chat as she started cooking. Completely predictable, the girls had gone gaga over the ad and awwed at Riven stepping in to save the shoot. She made no comments about it, responded to none of their questions. Instead, she gave them news that she knew would distract from Riven and Luxure.

Musa: I broke up with Jared today

Aisha: WHAT

Aisha: IS THAT WHERE YOU WENT AFTER THE SHOOT?

Bloom: Fucking finallyyyyyyyy

Bloom: Now Riven just needs to break up with that sociopath he calls a girlfriend and you two can fall in loveeeeeeee

Musa: Yes, that's where I went after

Musa: Bloom kindly shut the fuck up

Stella: OMGEE YES.

Tecna: Finally.

Stella: You deserve so much better than that ass

Bloom: Um. Rude.

Stella: I second what Bloom said tho

Bloom: I just want you to be happy

Aisha: I third what Bloom said

Bloom: And I just think Riven would make you happy

Tecna: What happened with Jared?

Tecna: Also, sorry, but I fourth what Bloom said

Musa: TECNA?

Musa: I expected this from them, but you too?

Stella: YES TECNA

Bloom: HAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHA

Bloom: I love you so much Tec

Aisha: See Musa, if Tecna says it too, it must be true

Aisha: Though I am very proud of you for finally admitting you want to fuck him

Aisha: Even though we already knew it

Stella: SHE SAID WHAT

Bloom: Aisha how could you skip that?

Bloom: I thought you were our friend

Stella: SO WHEN YOU GONNA FUCK HIM

Musa: Do you want to know about Jared or not? JFC

Tecna: I do

Stella: Yes. Okay. We'll be good.

They were not. The story of how the breakup had gone was interrupted almost ten times – especially around the point where Musa asked Riven to leave and he refused. The he cares about youuuuu and so sweet! Plus now he knows how fucking horny you are like all the time she got from Stella and Aisha were possibly the worst because they'd started the biggest conversations.

Darcy answered on the first ring. Her voice was cool; neutral. He hated it. He tried to play it cool. He apologized for not calling sooner, lied that work had been a bit hectic on the scheduling front today, and asked what was up. Darcy wasted no time in diving into the Luxure ad, just like he figured she would. She was angry, though her voice didn't indicate it. She'd had time to mull it over and her initial fury had calmed. He'd seen this before when she and Icy had gotten into a fight a year and a half earlier. This was when Darcy was at her most dangerous.

"I'd meant to tell you when I found out what the shoot was for, but it slipped my mind with everything else going on." Legitimately, it had. He'd been set on telling her about it when he got home that night, but then the actual photoshoot happened, and he'd been so fucking turned on by it that he'd had to jerk off when he got home and then he'd fallen asleep. Luckily, Musa had decided to take a shower, which gave him time. Every time he'd remembered that he wanted to tell Darcy after that, something came up. Most recently, it had been that letter and the subsequent fight.

"Everything else with Musa" Darcy spat out her name with so much contempt that it made Riven angry. Musa hadn't done anything to her. He was pretty sure that, if she had her way, she'd never have a stalker in the first place.

"Everything else with my job. The job, may I remind you, you encouraged me to take."

"I wasn't expecting you to get so close to princess."

Riven brushed his hand through his hair as he tried not to let his frustration get the better of him. Why couldn't Darcy get her head out of her ass for two fucking seconds and understand that the job he'd taken on was 24/7 and, much as he would have enjoyed spending the night fucking her, his priority had to be to Musa and her safety. Receiving that creepy letter from her stalker meant her safety had to be his sole focus for the next few days at the very minimum and that meant he couldn't have any distractions – like Darcy – around. Why was that so goddamn hard for her to grasp?

"Musa and I are on cordial terms" he hissed, "because we have to be." Okay, so, not entirely true but whatever. He liked being around Musa; she was nice and funny and smart. She was also honest and open and quirky and outgoing and... That was enough. She was great, that was it. "Since we're talking about each other's relationships, though, why don't we talk about yours and Flora's."

"What? Why?"

"Because you and your friends were complete bitches to someone you know is important to me." Darcy started to argue that they hadn't; that it was Flora's word against hers and how dare he not believe his girlfriend – as if Flora would ever lie about something like that. He'd even asked Aisha earlier that week to be sure and Aisha had corroborated the story. "Darcy, stop."

"I don't see what the big deal is. It was just a joke."

"You made fun of the way she speaks and never even tried to get to know her. Flora is the closest thing I have to family – I don't care that you don't think you'd like her or whatever other bullshit excuse you can think of; you should have tried. I don't think that's asking that much."

Darcy was quiet for a minute, reflecting on why her actions had been wrong, Riven hoped. She'd never been one to admit to being wrong – or actually apologise when needed as he'd recently realised. "You're right" she whispered. "I should apologise to her."

"Don't bother. It's not like you ever actually apologise anyways" he scoffed.

"What? I've apologised to you twice over the last week. I was mean to your friend, I'll apologise. Don't be such a little bitch about it."

Why was she always like this? So goddamn dismissive when he was upset or angry with her. Yet he always had to apologise and hear her out whenever he did something wrong. Riven knew he wasn't always perfect – far from it – but at least he could admit when he'd made a mistake. But her, it was like pulling teeth to get her to admit to having done wrong. Even then when she did, though, it was even harder to get anything beyond that to happen. He'd never really noticed it before – or maybe he'd ignored it because he'd wanted to believe their relationship was as perfect as could be – but now it grated him every time he thought about it. "I..."

"You?" she demanded; patience evidently thin.

"I think I need a break from this."

"Are you... breaking up with me?" Darcy asked after a beat. Her voice cracked. Her voice never cracked. Darcy was eternally calm and collected. Unless you knew her – really knew her – it was almost impossible to tell when she was upset. It seemed mean, but it made him happy to know she was upset. At least she cared.

"No. I just... I need some time to think, Darcy."

"About what?" Everything. "Talk to me about it."

How could he explain to her that part of the problem was that when he tried to address issues, she shut him down? If he went into some big spiel about how she never heard him and never seemed to care about what he thought – not when it really mattered – would it change anything? Would she make a conscious effort to listen to him? Would she do anything at all to change?

Even if she did; he wasn't in the space to explain in right now. His mind was too foggy, and he was too angry at her. His words would come out harsh and accusatory, and that's not how he wanted this conversation to go. "I will. Just not right now."

"Riven -"

As if on cue - as if she knew he needed an out – Musa called up that the food was ready, giving him the out he needed for this conversation without hurting Darcy too much. "I have to go. I'll call you."

"Okay... I love you." And he didn't doubt that she meant it.

"I love you too." He did doubt if he meant it. He just wasn't sure anymore. Seeing Darcy without rose coloured glasses had been a shock to him, and he wasn't sure he liked what he saw all that much.

Riven tossed his phone aside as he stood up, noticing now that he'd slid to the floor during the conversation to rest his head against the mattress. He smoothed out his clothes and brushed his hair back before heading downstairs for supper. He didn't feel like talking, but the idea of spending time with Musa and letting her ramble on about whatever stupidities her friends were talking about – the Luxure shoot he bet – sounded nice, and, best of all, distracting.

It worried her how quiet Riven had been since last night. He'd never been the chattiest person to begin with, but this was a new level of quiet since they'd found peace. They'd had supper together for the last three nights and conversation had been so easy the first two – they'd talked about their friends and how they'd ended up in their respective careers, nothing exciting but it was a start – but last night had been all her. Then again this morning on the drive to the radio station which they currently found themselves in, he'd been quiet again.

She was being set up at the recording station for the radio interview she was doing – the first of many, many interviews over the next few weeks. Riven sat in one of the chairs off to the side of the room directly behind her where he'd been instructed to silence his phone and try to make as little sound as possible. He'd sat there with his hands folded over his stomach, watching with a blank expression as she was given her instructions. Musa knew it wasn't her place to pry, but he seemed upset, and it worried her. If he'd tell her, maybe she could help. She wanted to help.

"First interview in almost a year and... what? Two months?" Chris, one of the hosts – a nice enough guy with a mild Australian accent – asked. "That must mean something is happening soon."

"Yes! Please tell me it means a new album is dropping soon" Marcus, the other host, begged. Musa had met Marcus before when he was doing a solo show a few years back. He still had the same long, curly red hair and stupid looking mustache, same beer belly and semi-permanent stupid grin. She liked Marcus. He struck her as a genuinely nice guy.

"Soon" she teased.

"That's all you give us? Soon?" Chris coaxed. "Come on. You gotta give us more than that."

"It's almost done." Actually, it was completely finished. And it was great. Musa was so excited about it, but she was under strict instructions not to say anything that could make people speculate about its drop. Apparently, she was not allowed to drop easter eggs like Taylor Swift. Which was fine by her; she was not as good at them as Taylor was anyways. Maybe Taylor gave courses on how to easter egg properly?

They spent most of the interview talking about what she'd been up to for the last few months since there'd not been many sightings of her. She told them about Stella's wedding and how she'd taken her father to Germany to see the Christmas markets last winter. All in all, it had been the perfect interview to ease herself back into doing them. Until, that is, Chris decided to ask her about rumours. "Now, I have to ask: what's the truth with the latest rumours that are going around?"

"I don't really follow rumours about myself, so please, enlighten me" Musa chuckled. Every single rumour that had gone around – save for the ones of her and Jared getting together – had been complete bullshit. Most of the time, Musa was happy to ignore them or refuse to comment when asked, but every now and then, a rumour came around that was just so hilarious she had to respond to it. And if it was interesting enough for Marcus and Chris – who for the most part didn't mention rumours on their show – to bring up, it had to be a doozy.

"Well, there's a rumour going around that you're, uh… how to put this?" Chris started, rubbing his beard between his index and thumb as he paused to think. "getting nasty with your bodyguard."

Musa's jaw dropped. She had no idea what to say or how to react. "Excuse me?"

(1). My first note on this fic.. Insane. This outfit is an exact replica of Jade's look from Little Mix's Sweet Melody video. Go watch it and be gay for Jade with me please.