Chapter 9
Authors Note: Sorry this took so long everybody. I've had severe writers block. To all those who reviewed last chapter thank you. And if there's anyone still following this story thank you for your patience. If any of one reading this celebrates Thanksgiving then I hope you have a happy one.
Waking up Riven groaned mostly due to the crick in his neck from sleeping in an odd position on the couch. He stretched and moved his head sideways and then around to get it to crack hoping to alleviate some of the pain. Thankfully it worked then he got up folded the blanket and went to the bathroom to take care of morning necessities. After that he went to the kitchen and made a pot of coffee leaned against the counter while he waited listening to it percolate and just enjoying the wonderful aroma of the glorious caffeinated drink spreading throughout the kitchen. Yawning he grabbed a cup and filled it with coffee then went back into the living room to just sit and enjoy the quiet of the morning.
About midway through his second cup of coffee he started hearing garbled noises and grunts glancing over at the playpen he noticed James was beginning to stir. Setting his coffee down he went to go wake Musa. Walking through the door he stopped and just stared Musa's hair was sprawled out around her while a few strands still managed to stay in the ponytail that she had worn yesterday. The light from his bedroom window encasing her in a heavenly glow. Even while she was sleeping with her hair a wild and crazy mess she still managed to look so beautiful. Shaking his head he pushed the thought from his mind. She already has a boyfriend and a baby he reminded himself. Besides he didn't like her like that it was just old feelings trying to swim to the surface and confuse him. He cleared his throat and went to speak but stopped as he noticed the small bags under her eyes, then recalled the conversation yesterday how James was just now starting to sleep through the night. Deciding to let her get a little more sleep he turned around and went to go look after James himself how hard could it be he thought. "What's wrong little guy?" He asked as he picked up the whimpering baby cradling him in his arms. "Never mind I think know. You need a diaper change." He said as felt the wetness coming from the baby's bottom through his outfit. "This shouldn't be too hard I saw Musa do it yesterday." While still holding James he rummaged through the diaper bag grabbing out a diaper, the changing mat, wipes, and a new onesie. After he unfolded the mat he gently set James down on it. "Okay now how does this thing come off?" He wondered surveying the outfit. "I see buttons on the bottom I'll start there." He unsnapped the buttons and pulled it up to reveal the diaper. "Well that makes things easy instead of having to take off pants whoever made these things are a genius." He grabbed the clean diaper and unfolded it and laid it next to him. "Alright let's do this." He said undid one fastener then the other pulled it down and got shot in the face by something warm and wet. With a shout he quickly refastened the diaper then ran to the kitchen to washing his face vigorously a few times before returning to the baby. "Okay the old me would have run to your mother but I've grown up and I'll take that as an initiation and that it means you like me, but please don't do that again. He unfastened the diaper and kept his head to the side just in case. Grabbed a wipe to clean him off lifted his legs removed the dirty diaper and placed the clean one underneath brought up the front of the new diaper and fastened it together. "Well that wasn't so hard it stays on an everything." he said lifting up James a bit admiring his handiwork. "Now your outfit." He said setting him back down and carefully removed the soiled onesie and put the new one on snapping it together at the bottom. "Well that was easy I don't see why people complain so much about it. Granted I did get peed on but now I know that it can happen I know to avoid it." He said." For I am Riven the master of diaper changes." He told him in a baritone voice, which got a smile from James. "But if you tell anyone I just said that I'll deny it."
"Good luck with that cause I heard every word." Musa said from the doorway hair still a mess.
"I'll still deny it. And what're you doing up?" He asked.
"A scream woke me up. It took me a minute to realize where I was though."
"Sorry that was me I didn't mean to wake you."
"Why'd you scream?"
"He peed on me."
She just started laughing
"Not funny Musa."
"No its not." She said between laughs. "Well maybe a little." Getting her laughter under control she told him. "But you know you can't be a master of diaper changes until you've taken on the terror that is the diarrhea demon. Which I have."
"Then I revoke my title and bow to the real master." He said with a nod while standing up. "Now if you'll excuse me nature calls and I'm going to take a shower so if you need the bathroom now's the time to use it."
"I went just before I came in here so I'm good." She told him.
"Alright then there's coffee in the kitchen, cups are in the cupboard just above it. Feel free to help yourself to whatever you want." He said then went to leave the room.
"Oh Riven."
"Yeah?" He asked peeking his head around the doorframe.
"How long has he been up?"
"Not long. Why?"
"Just curious."
"Okay anything else?" He wondered.
"Nope." She said while shaking her head.
He nodded and left the room.
"Wow he voluntarily changed your diaper Daddy doesn't even do that." She told James. "It's still a little soon for your breakfast but I'll get your bottle ready while I make myself a cup of coffee." She said as she placed James back in his playpen and went to the kitchen.
Grabbing a mug from the cupboard Musa poured herself some coffee. Then went to the fridge and grabbed a bottle out she had made yesterday. Now all she needed was a pan to heat the bottle up with. Glancing around the room gave her no inclination as to where Riven kept his pots and pans. So she just started going through his cabinets searching for one as she drank her coffee. When she finally found one she filled it with water placed the bottle inside and turned on the stove and went back to the living room to finish drinking her coffee, she'd come back and check on it in a few minutes. Halfway through her coffee she went and checked on the bottle the water was boiling. Turning off the burner she carefully removed the bottle from the water checked the temperature on her wrist to make sure it wasn't too hot and went back to see if James was ready to eat. He was, so she fed him while she finished her coffee. After his bottle she burped him put him back in the playpen and took her mug and Riven's to the kitchen washed them and the pot she used for the bottle.
"Come to think of it we never cleaned up the dishes from last night." She said aloud to herself.
So she went out to the back patio and gathered up the plates they had used the night before and went to take them back into the house, when Riven bumped into her and the plates went falling to the ground. They tried to catch them but the plates danced around hopping in their hands before crashing to the ground.
"Oh My Gosh Riven I'm so sorry." Musa said in a rush as she hastily bent down started picking up the broken pieces in a frenzy.
"Its fine Musa don't worry about it." He told her as he bent down and started picking up the pieces.
"It's not. You worked hard to buy them." She said scooping up pieces.
"I paid ten dollars for the set and would you be careful you're going to..."
"Ow." Musa gasped as she pulled her hand back dropping the pieces in her hand.
"Cut yourself." He finished. Putting down his pieces he grabbed Musa's arm helped her up and led her to the kitchen turned on the water to rinse the blood from her hand. Grabbing the first aid kit from one of the cabinets he sterilized the wound and put a band aide on it.
Musa never took her eyes off Riven as he worked, he wasn't even mad that the plates broke he only cared about her wellbeing. It was a feeling she hadn't felt in a while so she just stared and got lost in his beautiful violet eyes. She forgot how easy it was to get lost in them like the first rays of the morning sun trying to peeking over the horizon bringing light to the day chasing away the dark of the night.
"What?" he asked looking into her eyes.
Their faces so close all she had to do was lean in just so and she could kiss him. Just like she used back when they were younger.
"You okay Musa?" he asked worriedly.
She shook her head "Yeah I'm fine I just zoned out for a second."
"Good cause for an instant it looked like you wanted to kiss me," he teased.
"We couldn't have that." She teased back though to be honest in that moment she really did want to.
Before he could say anything his phone buzzed in his pocket, pulling it out he checked his message and groaned. "That was Layla she wants us at the bar as soon as possible to help set up for theme night tomorrow."
"I forgot I told her I'd help." Musa said. "I guess I can drop James off at my dad's for a bit he's been wanting to see him. I'll just get the plates cleaned up, get James ready and see you at the bar."
"How about I clean up the plates while you get James ready then I'll help you put everything in your truck then see you later."
"Sounds like a plan." Musa agreed.
Riven grabbed the broom and dustpan and went to clean up the plates, while Musa went and strapped James into his car seat and took the playpen down. By the time she was done Riven had returned grabbed the playpen and diaper bag then walked Musa out to her truck and placed the playpen in the bed of the truck and the diaper bag in the backseat as Musa strapped in James on the other side. "See you later today." He said coming around the truck.
"Yeah I'll see you later." She said.
The two hugged, Musa got into her truck and drove away.
"Hey I'm here what do want me to do first?" Riven asked Layla when he walked into the Fruity Music Bar.
"Where's Musa?" She asked.
"She took James to her dads then she'll be here." He told her.
"Alright well there's some haystacks out back I need you to go help Nabu bring them in and set them up on the stage."
"Hiring a band are we?"
"Yep. Can't have a country theme night without a band." She told him cheerily then got a strange look on her face.
"You okay?"
"Yeah I'm just fine my stomach has been upset all morning excuse me." She told him and ran for the restroom.
"I hope you feel better." He called after her then went to help Nabu with the haystacks.
"Hey." Riven said to Nabu while grabbing one of the haystacks.
"Hey." Nabu said in return.
"Is Layla okay?" Riven asked worriedly while the two brought the haystacks to the stage.
"Is she in the bathroom again?"
"Yeah went running for it after I got here."
Nabu sighed as he set his down. "She's been getting sick every morning and night for the past few days. I told her she should go to the doctors and get checked out but she refused, said this week is too busy with your party and theme night tomorrow but she did promise me that if it still persisted she'd get checked out."
"That's good, and first off I didn't want a party, and she didn't get sick at my place last night." Riven said situating the haystack around.
"I know you didn't but you can't deny that you had fun yesterday and once we got home last night she started getting sick."
"Never said I didn't. And second is it possible that Layla's you know… Riven said punching the air and making a clicking sound with his tongue.
"Pregnant?" Nabu asked
"Yeah."
"She just finished with her cycle so no." Nabu told him.
"That was a little too much info for me thank you."
"Hey you asked."
"I know now I wish I hadn't." Riven said as he hopped off the stage and went with Nabu to get more haystacks.
Musa walked in to an empty Fruity Music Bar. "Hello?" She called out. "Anybody here?" she asked while walking around.
"I'm here." Layla said as she came out of the bathroom.
Causing Musa to jump. "You startled me." She told her.
"Sorry."
"That's okay, but are you feeling alright you look a little pale." Musa asked concerned.
"I'm fine just a little stomachache."
"You sure?"
"Positive. Now let's get started decorating we've got a theme night to get ready for."
"Alright then. What do want to start with first?" Musa asked following Layla.
"Streamers." Layla said stopping at a table and pulling out a multicolored streamers of flags, cowboy hats, and horses from a box.
"Okay how do want them?"
"Untangled for start." Layla said holding out the streamers that were intertwined with each other.
"Yeah let's do this." Musa said grabbing a handful of her own from the box then sat at the table and began to try and figure out how to unravel the jumbled mess.
Layla sat down and began to do the same.
"I think their might be something wrong with me." Musa said as she worked on the streamers.
"How so? Like sick wise?" Layla asked worriedly.
"No nothing like that." Musa assured her, "It's just…"
"What?"
"It's stupid really. Never mind."
"I'm sure it's not now tell me what's wrong." She urged.
Musa took a deep breath and sighed, "Well ever since Riven came back and we've been spending time together all the feelings I had for him when I was younger started coming back to the surface. And earlier back at his place I kind of wanted to kiss him."
"Are you telling me that you have feelings for Riven?" Layla asked with a smile.
"Yeah. Maybe. I don't know." Musa said exasperated resting her head in her hands. "When we were younger he was this rude brash hotheaded quick tempered guy, but underneath it all was a warmhearted caring person. I realized early on that all that meanness was a sort of armor because he was bounced around while in the foster care system since he was little. And all that anger was just a way to keep people at bay so he wouldn't get attached and have to lose anyone."
"Wow that's deep." Layla said as she neatly folded a streamer and placed it on the table next to them.
"I'm serious Lay. He seems different now nicer more gentle but push him far enough and he'll kick your ass."
"I can see that he's changed but we're straying from the subject do you have feeling for Riven?"
"I'm with Derrick."
"That doesn't matter you can be with one person and still have feelings for another. You remember Roy don't you?"
"Wasn't he the captain of the swim team."
"Yeah I had a crush on him for a time but my heart truly belonged to Nabu, and shortly my feelings for Roy faded away.
"Did you ever act upon your feelings for Roy?"
"No I didn't. Nabu's a perfect match for me but Roy wasn't bad to look at from time to time."
"Yeah he did have a handsome six pack." Musa agreed.
"Anyway back to you, you don't have to give me an answer now about your newly acquired feelings. But know this people can fall out of love just as much as they fall in it. I know you care about Derrick heck the two of you have a kid. If you're confused about it weigh your options life with Derrick and life with Riven which in your opinion is better."
"Are you saying to make a pro's and con's list for the two?" Musa asked.
"If that's how you see it. Now hurry and untangle that we've got to get this place ready for tomorrow." Layla ordered as she grabbed another streamer.
With a heavy sigh Musa grabbed a streamer and began unraveling it along with her jumbled thoughts and emotions.
"You seem awful quite, not enough coffee this morning?" Nabu asked Riven as they were unloading bales of hay off the rental truck.
"I had enough. Just thinking." He replied.
"About?"
"Musa."
"Really." Nabu replied and leaned against a haystack. "Do elaborate."
"You're becoming just as gossipy as the girls." Riven told him.
"Can't help it. When you spend so much time with gossiping girls it rubs off on you after a while. So what's the story?"
"If it gets me out this manual labor why not." Riven sighed and sat on a haystack. "This morning I went to wake her up since James was awake and well… when I saw her lying there the sun shining down on her hair all a mess to me she looked like this beautiful goddess. And when we were cleaning up last night's dinner a plate broke and as we were cleaning it up, the way she looked at me it was if she wanted to kiss me. So I made a joke of it but to be honest it felt like I was back in high school staring at a girl I liked and was too chicken to make a move on."
"Hence the joke." Nabu said.
"Yeah. Plus she has a boyfriend."
"That's also an issue." Nabu agreed.
"So what do I do?"
"Depends are your feelings for Musa genuine or are they just nostalgic ones."
Riven sighed heavily, "What I'm about to tell you stays between us alright."
"Scouts honor." Nabu said holding up his hand.
"You were never a boy scout." Riven said.
"Still your secret is safe with me."
Riven cleared his throat. "Okay here goes…" he sighed, "The truth is I never stopped loving Musa. I only agreed to the breakup so she could fulfill her dream of becoming a famous singer. I dated a few girls and had some flings but I never really loved any of them the way I loved Musa."
"Wow." Nabu said.
"Yeah. Well now that I think about it I lied to myself for years, telling myself that I was over her and it was just a high school romance that it didn't mean anything. But after I saw her again it all just came back."
"That's rough. Are you going to tell her how you feel?"
"I don't know." Riven said scratching his head.
"Well whatever you decide I've got your back. Now we need to get these things inside before the wife comes out an tans our hides. Nabu said the last part with a southern drawl.
"Tan our hide?"
"Hey just getting in the country spirit." Nabu said and grabbed a haystack and started back for the bar.
Riven grabbed a bail and followed Nabu.
"Okay now that, that's done all we need to do now is hang these up." Layla said.
"How do you want to hang them?" Musa asked
"Well I want hang some up on the front of the stage and stage ceiling. Then I want to hang some crisscrossed over the ceiling in the dining and dancing area.
"Alright then let's get started. Where do you keep your ladders?" Musa asked.
"In the janitors' closet."
They both went to the closet and grabbed a ladder. "I've got the stage." Layla said.
"Then I'll start working on the dining and dancing area."
The two separated and went to hang the streamers.
"Crap." Layla said from atop her ladder.
"What?" Musa asked starting up hers.
"We forgot to grab staplers."
"Want me to grab them?"
"No I'll get them." Layla said hopping off her ladder
"Hey beautiful where are you off to in such a hurry." Nabu asked as Layla passed him.
She turned and faced him. "We forgot staplers, and we need to talk."
"About what?"
"Just meet me in the closet."
"You know we're not alone here."
"It's not like that get your mind out of the gutter." She told him and walked off.
Nabu placed his haystack on the stage and went to the closet. "What's up?"
Layla shut the door.
"You tell me to get my mind out the gutter but here you are shutting us in the closet."
Layla just rolled her eyes. "I just found out the most amazing thing." She said happily.
"Really what's that?"
"Musa still has feelings for Riven." She said with a smile.
"How'd you find that out?"
"She told me duh."
"And just what do you plan on doing with this information?"
"Try and figure a way to get them together of course." She said like it was the most obvious answer.
"You know Musa has a boyfriend right."
"So none of us like him."
"Except for Musa."
"She doesn't like him. She's just afraid of being alone."
"How do you know that?"
"Woman's intuition."
"You're forgetting one crucial point." He told her.
"And that is?"
"Riven's feelings."
"That is why I asked you here. You're Riven's best friend and he tells you everything even though he doesn't want to. So does he have feelings for Musa?"
"Don't know he hasn't told me." He said.
"Oh my sweet you forget I can tell when you're lying. Tell me the truth does he have feelings for her?"
"I made a promise, and you know I always keep my promises."
"I'll take that as a yes." She said with a smile.
"What're you going to do?"
"Why get our friends together of course." She said and left the closet.
