Nabu saw his friend leave and didn't bother to stop him. He wasn't really in his best moods. He wondered if he could meet up with Layla and Musa. He knew they were shopping somewhere close. He stood for a minute and watched Riven storm out of the store.

"Is he always like that?" asked the short and small boy, who was standing beside Nabu. Nabu looked at him curiously. Meeting his gaze, Jared smiled widely again, and put his hand out.

"Hi, I'm Jared," he said.

Nabu shook his hand politely. "Nabu," he replied, smiling awkwardly. This didn't seem to be someone whom Riven hung out with. I wonder what he was saying to him?

The two men gazed at Riven, leaving the store. "He's not very cheery, is he?" asked Jared. Nabu nodded, silent. He wanted to ditch Jared, but he didn't know how to get rid of him, especially since Riven had just stormed out.

"How do you know Riven?" Nabu asked, inching away from him. It was certainly not the right question to ask. Jared grabbed him and sat him down on the store's sofa, and told him in rapid monologue about how he and Musa had met, where, when, how, why, what they ate for dinner, what he liked best about her, how long they had been friends, how long they had dated, how long they had not been in contact….he then started asking him about himself, and when he told him reluctantly about Layla, he wanted to know everything.

It was a good one and a half hour before Nabu escaped, explaining he was getting married the next day, and needed to get ready; which Jared automatically invited himself to.

Riven was walking, walking and walking. He walked and walked, random thoughts drifting through his mind like waves hitting the shore, sending sparks of frustrated emotions soaring through his being.

The youth grabbed his hair and headed towards his room in Red Fountain, where he would have no chance of running into the female population, especially one wench in particular.

The funny part was, he didn't know what he was going to think about, in the first place. Musa's old best friend was here, he had come from far away. Musa had called him, telling him she needed to talk, and he had come down from wherever-the-hell-he-stayed. She had dated that guy, and made out with him. Not slept with him, as far as he knew. So, what was there to think about? He knew he was dealing with bigger problems—problems with his past, with the way he had acted with Musa the past couple of days, and how he wondered if he could trust her again.

He realized he envied Nabu, his life was so perfect, with him getting married and with a feminist girlfriend who he trusted completely, and who didn't care what he wore as she walked down that isle and got her first glimpse of him.

"Riven," he opened his eyes. A curly blonde stood over him, taller than he was, her hands on her hips.

"Martyn says it's time to get up" Veronica said, pouting. Riven sat straight up, blushing. He had been dreaming about the girl who now stood in front of him. Only, she wore a more pleasant expression.

"Okay, okay," Riven said gruffly, as he got out of bed. "You can go now. I'll come"

Veronica didn't move. "I'm waiting till you are ready and I'm to escort you there."

"But I have to get ready!" he protested.

"So?,"veronica raised her eyebrows.

Grumbling, Riven pushed her out of the room and shut the door on her face, locking it. He hurriedly removed his pajamas and put on the orphanage uniform, the unsightly gray gaped at him coldly.

He looked at him self in the mirror, groaning at how small he looked. He wished he were bigger, stronger, and better looking. Maybe then, Veronica would notice him.

He opened the door. Veronica giggled as he came out, his hands nervously tousling his red hair.

"Martyn says you're in big trouble," she chuckled. "I wonder what it is this time"

"But I didn't do anything!" he cried. Veronica smiled devilishly. "Well, I told them it was you," she said, evilly. "It is you, isn't it?" she asked him, a strange look in her eyes.

Riven sighed. He knew it was coming, but somehow, he was never ready when it was. "What did I do?" he asked.

"You stole money from the orphanage accounts," she said calmly.

Riven's eyes widened. "You didn't!" he gasped. "Veronica that's ridiculous! How could you?," She put her finger on his lips. "Ssh…you want me to get in trouble?" she hissed. "You want me to be thrown out?"

"But what about me?" asked Riven. "I'll be thrown out…"

"No you won't" veronica hissed. "It's not a lot of money. Offer to work for it"

"But that's not fair!" Riven yelled.

"Keep your voice down!" she hissed.

"How much did you steal?" he asked, his shoulders slumped in defeat.

"About a thousand" she said casually, fliching her hand dismissively.

"That must be all the money! I'll have to work all my life!"

Veronica nodded solemnly.

Riven's anger mounted. It was the sixth time he was taking the blame for something she had done; and Veronica had gone too far this time.

"No," he said firmly.

Veronica grinned. "Oh come on, Ribbon!" she pleaded sweetly

Riven pushed her aside, and tried to leave his room. She blocked him with her arms, embracing him. The smell of her scent intoxicated him, making him dizzy. She pushed him roughly inside the room, and gave him a full kiss on the lips, her red lipstick smudged on his face.

"Come on, sweetheart…" she rasped in his ear. "I can pay you back for it"

Riven's heart thumped, his voice caught in his throat.

"Veronica," she grabbed his open mouth and stuck her tongue into it. It took all of Riven's resolve to push her away.

"Veronica…please," he panted. He had never been kissed like that. He could feel desire stir in his pants.

"I can'.t"

She giggled, "Let me help you…make the right choice," her hand stroked the buldge in his pants, and slowly pushed down the zipper.

Riven clenched his teeth. It felt so good, he wanted to…She pulled it out of the gap, her eyes studying his seductively

"I won't, not this time," he growled, loudly, spitting the words in her face..

Veronica's hooded eyes widened with anger. "Listen here, you little twerp," she growled. "You're doing exactly what I say, or you'll be sorry."

The threat released a stab of suppressed anger in him.

"No!" he yelled his voice outraged and nervous at the same time.

It happened so fast, he didn't have time to react. Veronica slapped him hard, across the face. The impact sent him into a daze, he heard a distorted scream from Veronica, and the next thing he knew, she was grabbing him and pulling him on top of her on the bed.

Minutes later, his vfoggy mind cleared, and he saw Martyn pull him away from Veronica, who was screaming, her clothes ripped off. She was crying.

"He raped me! He raped me!" her eyes full of tears.

"Don't you worry," Martyn said. "We'll take care of this ass"

"He even had the money." Veronica handed him five five hundred pound notes.

"You're a bastard, you are," said Martyn. "I'm gonna put you away for a long, long time"

Riven, still shocked, tried to explain. "Martyn….it's a set up….she's the one…she's faking it!."

"Shut yer trap" said Martyn. "If she were faking, why is there lipstick all over your goddamn mouth?" And he looked south, his gaze meaningful.

Riven's hand automatically went to his lips. Veronica winked at him when no one was looking, as he felt her red lipstick all over his fingers.

He was dragged to Martyn's room, and tied up, until the police arrived.

The police officer lifted him up and dragged him to the police car.

"Watch your head,"he said, as Riven's head collided with the roof.

"Where will I be going?"said Riven.

"To juvie" said the cop.

"Shit."

Those were the last words Riven said as a free man for a long, long time.

Author's Note: Overly dramatic? Over the top? I thought so...well, You might be thinking "she was away for so long to write this crap?"

I share your sentiments. I am a bad writer. Well, sometimes :D