...

...

Don't you know, there's nothing I can do,
I gotta get to know you
Because you know, you're one of a kind,
And I can't get you out of my mind

-One Of A Kind

...

Musa put on her battered chucks and grabbed her clutch tightly.

Doing some last-minute preening at her shoulder-length hair, she bit her lip nervously. Layla decided not to straighten it, and leave it a little messy and wispy-she dubbed it the "mysterious look."After adding some other words, such as "all men are attracted to elusive, mysterious women with a sexy side," and "especially Riven," Musa had accepted her advice begrudgingly. Smoothing her bangs, she looked at Rhythm, who was standing next to her with a teddy bear in his other hand. Smiling at him, she picked him up, patting his head gently. "Does mommy look pretty today?" Rhythm nodded sluggishly, and Musa grinned, staring at the mirror. Will Riven think I look pretty? Sighing softly to herself, she touched Rhythm's forehead, and gasped. It was burning, and she rushed to her bedroom. Pulling out a thermometer, she measured his temperature, and was shocked to see that it was rising rapidly at 101 degrees.

"Hey, Muse, you ready?" Layla suddenly stepped out of her room, heels clicking on the hardwood. "Muse?"

"Layla. I really can't go, Rhythm has a fever."

Layla looked at Musa, and saw that she was grabbing a towel and some ice cubes from the refrigerator. Wrapping them tightly, she placed it on Rhythm's head, and started pulling out some Tylenol from the kitchen cabinet. Layla's heart ached as she saw how hard Musa was working for her child, and decided that it would be best not to push it. "Okay, I'll go by myself." She knew how disappointed Musa must feel, though she was scared for Rhythm and couldn't think about anything else. Walking over to him, Layla kissed his cheek gently.

"Little brat, you just ruined your mother's date," she whispered into his ear, before leaving.

But not if I can help it, she thought to herself, as she steered the car swiftly to Alfea.

"I don't think they're going to come," Flora said anxiously.

She held tightly to Helia's hand, nervous, while Helia kissed her cheek lightly. "Don't worry, I'm sure they will," he reassured her, placing his arm on her waist. It seemed that Flora wasn't the only one fretting-Bloom and Stella were scanning the place, looking at the front doors, but it was to no avail. Even the beautiful décor of the room, with its sparkling, golden drapes, floor-to-ceiling French windows, and gilded oak tables couldn't divert their attention. As Brandon and Sky also tried to calm them, Riven rolled his eyes. He was sweating slightly, and extremely nervous, but he had to act like he wasn't. Right beside him was his fiancée, Alyia, and he couldn't get distracted. Alyia was the girl he liked, not Musa. Musa was nothing to him anymore, because she left him. The almighty Riven couldn't possibly be in love with a girl who didn't want him anymore-right?

Suddenly, all girls gasped.

"LAYLA!" They screamed, and Riven turned his head.

A girl with cocoa skin and cerulean eyes the color of the sea suddenly emerged in front of them. A pang went through Riven's heart as he realized this was Nabu's fiancée before his death-and that she was Musa's best friend. She gave a big smile, and hugged everyone tightly in greeting. "So, did you all miss me?" She laughed, as Bloom, Stella, and Flora gave her a tight hug together again. The boys chuckled, the happy atmosphere being extremely contagious, while Riven kept his mouth shut in defiance. "Baby, who is that?" His fiancée asked, linking arms with him, while Riven just looked away. "An old friend," he said quietly, not wishing to add any more. "I see everyone's been busy these past years," Layla said, giving a glance at Bloom's stomach, showing everyone that her wit hadn't left her.

"What about you? We haven't seen you in so long. And Musa too-have you been in contact with her?" Flora asked.

"Yeah, after all, I know someone's very interested," Stella said, shooting glances at Riven.

Riven just frowned. Though he'd gotten a fiancée only a year after Musa left, he knew his friends never seemed to welcome Alyia. She didn't have magical powers, but she did know about this world, and she always listened to him. That was satisfactory to Riven, but no matter how much he tried to explain it to all his friends, they never listened. They always seemed to end up saying Musa's name in every conversation they had, which ticked him off. It was as if everyone believed that Musa was perfect for him, except for him, because he knew that she had left him. Just like his mother, just like all the people he'd gotten emotionally attached to, she was just another girl who used him for a couple years.

"Alyia, let's go dance," Riven said, turning away from Layla angrily.

Before he could move, however, Layla gave him a sly smile and grabbed his arm. "The only reason I'm here today is because of you, jerk."

Riven's eyes widened.

"Musa isn't here today because she has some business at home."

"So, business is more important than us, huh?" Techna said, furiously. He noticed that Techna always seemed hurt by the empty space Musa had left, and it was always openly. Though Musa and Techna were close, as they were former roommates, she tended to be upset by the fact that Musa had disappeared without telling her why. Riven knew it, mainly because he felt the same way. She hadn't trusted any of her friends, who believed in her. Trailing his eyes to Layla, and trying to ignore the curiosity that piqued him as the clock ticked, his heart nearly stopped at her words.

"No. But this business has something do to with Riven."

The gaze Layla gave him was strange, but the feeling in Riven's chest was even weirder. As Alyia looked at Riven, concerned, he pushed her in the direction of the refreshments table, Layla's gaze never leaving his. "This may take a while, babe, so go and eat something first, alright?" He asked her, as she nodded and left. Turning his face back to Layla, Riven snapped at her. "You know I have a fiancée, right? Would you mind not acting like that in front of her? I don't want her to get any thoughts that may make our relationship difficult." Feeling pained as he said it, the boys looked at Riven with disdain, while Layla just shrugged. "Sure, if you don't care about Musa, then you don't have to go. But just saying, she's a bit tied up right now-and she could really use some help.

Plus, don't you want to know why she left you?"

Her edgy, terse words cut at him like a knife.

"Here's her address. Make use of it."

She flipped a piece of paper to Riven, while he stared at it.

Unfolding it, he saw Layla's neat writing, showing him where Musa was. There was also a silver key enclosed, and Riven guessed that it was probably her house key. His heart racing, Stella nudged him, while Bloom and Flora gave condescending gazes. Techna had a small smile on her lips, like she was expecting this, while the boys stared at Riven. "You know, it would really do you some good if you met her, right?" Sky said bluntly. "You did change after you met Musa, and though she fights with you all the time, you know that you truly miss your bickering." Brandon replied. "And come on, you used to never be able to sleep at night unless you heard her music," Timmy added, grinning at him crookedly. Riven groaned as Helia patted his back and intercepted the boy's jeering with calm advice. "Things will never change unless you do something about it, Riven."

"Screw you guys," Riven said, as everyone laughed.

"Go get your girl," The guys hollered, as Riven dashed out of the hall, slipped into his car, and stared at the address.

I'm going to go see you, Musa.