The group sat around a large table at Café Petite; the waitress had already taken their orders.

Flora felt awkward, mainly because of the couples sitting across from her; it saddened her to see Stella and Brandon cuddling, while Techna and Timmy were holding hands. It reminded her of all the times she'd done those same things with Helia….

The three people that weren't apart of a couple included Bloom, Flora, and Riven.

Why did Stella invite Riven?Flora wondered to herself.

Maybe she just felt bad for him because now he doesn't really have anyone to hang out with, and wanted to include him. Offered the other half of her head; it actually was a good possibility.

Riven sat between Flora and Bloom, all three feeling uncomfortable with the couples surrounding them. Flora noticed that Riven seemed the most awkward looking, but there was something else in his eyes that she couldn't quite identify.

Flora had also noticed that Bloom seemed to be paying a lot of attention to Riven. She had already taken off the jacket Stella had lent her, and kept adjusting her shirt (if you could even call it a shirt). She was also constantly peeking up at him. Flora simply assumed that this was Blooms way of dealing with a breakup: by checking out or flirting with other guys for a little while, and then finally learning to cope with it in the end.

Besides, Flora knew that Bloom would never make a move on Riven; the biggest factor of which was because Musa was her friend, and Riven was Musa's ex. Although she couldn't blame Bloom, he did look really good tonight….

Bloom suddenly got up to use the bathroom, purposefully thrusting her chest in Riven's direction as she stood up. When Riven paid no attention to her, she looked rather insulted, and huffed off the ladies room. Stella, Brandon, Techna, and Timmy became absorbed in their own conversations, while Riven and Flora just sat there, staring into space.

Which was why when someone started speaking to her, she didn't hear them at first.

"Did you really want to come here tonight?" Asked a voice beside her a second time. Flora turned to find Riven looking at her, the source of the voice. She didn't know how to answer to that, so just continued to stare at him.

"Don't get me wrong" he said "it's just that you look half as miserable as I do to be here."

"I only came because I didn't want to sit in my dorm room, moping all night." She replied to him.

Riven just muttered, and seemed to be more upset than before; almost angry somehow.

Flora continued "I mean with Musa gone, I feel so alone; if she were here though, she wouldn't want me to be sad because she left. She would want be to be living my life, regardless of if she was in it or not."

Riven sat there, not moving a muscle.

"Oh. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have mentioned her." Flora sat straight in her chair, staring directly in front of her.

"No, it's not that" Riven continued "I'm just surprised that that's the reason why you seem so upset."

Flora's throat constricted; she realized that he thought she'd been troubled for the other reason. She spoke quietly "I understand why he did it—and I'm not angry with him for it. The only reason I'm upset now is because Musa is gone." Only the last statement was a lie; Helia was a big factor as to why she was sad.

"You're really not angry at him for it?" Riven continued, surprised again. Flora shook her head.

"I understand why he did it, and if he doesn't feel the same about me anymore, then I don't want to make him unhappy by staying with me."

Riven looked shocked and angry, and was about to say more when Bloom arrived back from the bathroom. "Hey guys, what'd I miss?" She asked the table, but while batting her eyes at Riven as she sat back down.

"Oh, nothing much" piped Techna, going into a lengthy conversation involving a complex, solar-powered computer. Bloom hadn't expected this much information, but pretended to understand what Techna was saying anyway.

Flora sipped her ice-water, catching Riven glancing her way, and then turning his head to start arguing with Brandon.

Why is he starting to pay any attention to me?

Flora pondered this question for a while, but came up with no suitable answer.

When it was time to leave, they all stepped outside into the night; Flora shivered as the cool air scratched her skin. As the girls walked home, Flora kept silent as Bloom, Stella, and Techna discussed the night's events with much enthusiasm. Flora even thought she heard Bloom mention Riven's name, but couldn't be sure.

When they finally reached Alfea, Flora stumbled through the darkness until she eventually found her bed. She cuddled under the covers and as she fell toward unconsciousness, she groggily pondered the question she had been thinking earlier.

Why is he starting to pay any attention to me?