Author's Note:: Everyday, I get new feedback from the reviewers and readers, and feel guilty. Finally, here's another update on the story. I liked it, so you guys better, too. Tell me if you don't. we'll work something out!

Timmy stared silently at his phone as Riven slammed the door on his face. It started ringing again. As if in a trance, he automatically picked it up.

It was Musa. She was crying. "Don't hang up…" she begged.

"I…" Timmy tried to say something, but she was too distressed to figure out who it was. "Riven…I'm…sorry…" she burst into tears.

Timmy knocked on Riven's door.

"Leave me the hell alone!" came the reply.

"It's Musa man….she's a wreck…" Timmy half pleaded, half scolded Riven. He knew he didn't want to get involved, but he knew he was, already.

"Good. That will teach her to keep her mouth shut," retorted the angry specialist loudly from the door.

Musa heard the conversation through the phone. Trying to control her emotions, she politely said, "Thanks for passing on my message, Timmy, goodbye."

"But…Musa…Riven…" the poor boy frailed his arms about frantically, at loss for what to say. But she hung up, and he listened to the dial tone for a long time before keeping the phone in his pocket.

Back in Alfea, Musa looked sorrowfully down at her hands, which where balled into fists of anger and frustration at her boyfriend. Why was she dating such a jerk? Why was he being such a stubborn ass? And she…she was calling like a desperate loser and asking his friend if she could talk to him! He was not worth it; he was not worth it….she dissolved into tears on the floor. Why didt she care so much? Why did it hurt so bad

Riven woke up next morning with Nabu standing over him.

"Hello," he said, in his usual deep, dark voice. "I hoped you'd like to come….err…shopping with me today."

Riven looked back blankly at him. Since when did they shop?

Nabu seemed to understand. "You know…" he prompted. "For the wedding?"

Riven stood up, rubbing his eyes sleepily.

"Go with Sky or Brandon…" he said, sounding less half-hearted than he felt. He hated to shop. He remembered wanting to buy something for Musa… but he wouldn't now.

"Come on man, they're out with their girlfriends."

"Aren't those weird fairies supposed to be assisting your bride?" Riven asked suspiciously.

Nabu shook his head. "No…Musa's doing that."

Riven felt like a sour lemon had been pushed down his throat. So that's how it was, was it? Both of them would help the bride and groom? Well, he was not taking this shit.

"No." he lay back on his bed.

"Come on man….I can't go alone….I wont be able to ask anyone for their opinion on the clothes and other stuff."

"Ask the store clerk," Riven replied nonchalantly.

Nabu groaned. This was not going to be easy.

"Look man…I know this Musa thing is really affecting you, but…"

Riven got up with one swift motion, and grabbed his jacket from the hook.

"I'm fine," he replied, looking at Nabu's questioning look. "Let's get this over with."

Nabu smiled. He wondered if Riven knew how easy he was to play.-

Musa smiled as she raised a silver tiara to her friend's head. Shopping was certainly therapeutic. She had stopped moping over Riven already.

"Layla, this is perfect….silver looks great with your hair and skin tone," she said, pushing Layla towards the mirror.

The dark-skinned girl smiled. She knew exactly why her friend was being so over enthusiastic about everything. She had heard all about the disagreement from Techna.

"Musa…" she looked seriously at her best friend. " Do you wanna talk about it?"

"It?" the pale-skinned girl faked confusion in her voice, but it was evident from her embarrassed expression that she knew exactly what Layla was talking about.

"Riven," Layla stated plainly, watching Musa's face go red. "What exactly happened between you two?"

Musa looked away. "Nothing," she retorted coldly, and then changing the topic, she grabbed a blue bracelet from the jewellery display. "What about this one?" she asked, faking another brilliant smile. "Something blue?"

Layla sighed. Guess she wouldn't get through to her friend just yet. After the wedding, she promised herself. After the wedding, I will sort this out.

Riven glanced distastefully at the collection of suits Nabu was admiring. This guy was going to wear those? He thought scornfully. Nothing said 'I'm gay' more than that. However, he wanted to get this over with. He wanted to go back to his room and relax, and not bother about different colours, patterns, and textures of cloth.

"What about this one?" Nabu asked, holding up a dull black suit with straight lines on it. Compared to the rest of the bullshit he had asked him about, this was somewhat acceptable. Not something he would be caught dead wearing, but acceptable none the less.

Riven nodded. "Decent," he said.

Nabu smirked at his friend. Since when did he use that word? Well, he had finally approved of something. He picked up the suit and glanced at the price tag. His eyes widened. It was a little steep, certainly above his budget, but what the hell….one didn't get married everyday, right?

He nodded. "Okay," he said. "I'll get this billed."

Riven walked around the store as Nabu billed his suit. He was looking casually at the bandanas, when he heard his name being called.

"Riven! Hey Riven!" he turned around, surprised to hear an unfamiliar male voice call his name.

He looked at the boy. He was short and small, and had a huge grin plastered across his face. Riven's expression turned cold, as he realized he didn't recognize the boy.

"Who are you?" he barked.

The boy's enthusiasm faded slightly, but he still had a nervous smile on his face.

"I'm …I'm Jared," he stammered. "We haven't met, but I've seen your photos"

Great, Riven thought. Now guys are hitting on me in this mega-pansy store.

Riven glared at him. "Look buddy, I'm not interested in you," he said, sternly. "I'm straight….got a girlfriend and all." Well, at least he thought he did.

The boy's face brightened. "Yes I know! I know! She's the one who showed me the photos! Musa, right?"

Riven nodded mutely. Thinking about it, he vaguely remembered Musa mentioning some guy who lived far away, who was her best friend or something.

He smiled uncertainly. "Don't you live in Harema?" he asked.

Jared smiled more enthusiastically. "Oooh….you know…so that little sexy thing did mention my name to you." His face turned seriously, oblivious to Riven's sudden spurt of anger over his cheeky statement. "she been okay?"

"What do you mean?" Riven's anger melted into curiosity. Had Musa mentioned their fight to this twerp?

"Well…" Jared rolled his tongue around as if holding Riven in suspense. "She's the one who called me down here…said she wanted to talk to me, tell me something important. You know what's up?" he asked, watching the specialist's face twist into different expressions at the speed of light.

"No." Riven clenched his fists to prevent himself from smashing Jared's face. He didn't know himself, why he was so angry. Musa had every right to call her friends and talk about hre problems to them….but Jared…

(FLASHBACK)

He remembered the day exactly, when he and Musa lay in each other's arms, exhausted from their sexual encounter, Riven finally managed to voice the nagging thought that had been troubling him forever.

"Have you ever done this with anyone else?" he said it so fast, that he had to repeat the question again, embarrassing himself further. But he had to know.

Musa looked up at him, laughter in her eyes.

"Riven! Stop kidding around!" she pushed him roughly.

But he wouldn't back down. Holding her shoulders, gazing into her eyes, he repeated the question.

Musa's expression changed into one more solemn. "You serious?" she asked him.

He nodded gravely. She looked away as she answered him.

"Well…there was this one guy…Jared."

"Your friend?" he asked, shocked.

Musa nodded, uncomfortably. "He always really liked me, and asked me out one day…and since you weren't paying attention to me at that time, I said yes."

His eyes darkened.

"It was just one date…" Musa continued. "But we ended up making out in the end, and well, some other…stuff. But we didn't go all the way, of cause," she added hastely.

Musa's eyes met his. "We're only friends now," she clarified. "Nothing else."

Riven nodded, but it had always bothered him.

(END FLASHBACK)

And now, he stood before him, grinning from ear to ear.

"I gotta go," Riven mumbled, and he left the store without glancing back even once.