AN: Okay so this chapter may not be that great and it's kind of short, but I've been having terrible writer's block with this one because I'm conflicted with two different directions I can take this story. I've been trying to work it out, but I can't seem to decide. Anyways, this chapter is more filler than anything else. The next chapter will be either filler or something important and the one after that will most likely be about the mission, since that is the larger story arc. Enjoy, and be warned that I will probably make changes to this chapter when I'm feeling a little more motivated.
Previously
"Musa, what a surprise!" Stella squealed as she went in for a big bear hug.
"Nice to see you too Stella," Musa choked out.
"What are you doing in Solaria?"
"I had a gig," Musa replied.
Footsteps could be heard coming down the hall and Musa saw Brandon appear in front of her. Back in the day, besides Riven, Brandon was one of the specialists that was closest to her. He had always helped her decipher Riven and his actions.
"Hey Musa," Brandon said his greetings. Stella was still encasing Musa in a hug and it was beginning to take its toll as Musa could no longer feel her ribs.
"Stella, you can let go now," Musa pleaded.
"Oh, I'm sorry darling," Stella let go.
"So how's it going?" Musa asked, rubbing her ribcage.
"We're doing well," Stella remarked, looking over at her schnookums.
"The kids?" Musa inquired, raising an eyebrow.
"They're doing fine," Brandon said as he came up to Stella to put a hand on her back.
"Please tell me that you're going to be staying for the night," Stella insisted.
"I don't want to intrude," Musa hesitated.
"Oh you're not intruding, right Schnookums?" Stella turned to her husband and pinched his cheek.
Musa had to suppress a giggle because of their adorably, and sometimes disgusting, romantic gestures, granted Musa was a cynical person when it came to love, partly thanks to Riven.
"You should stay," Brandon said turning to Musa.
"I guess I will then," Musa replied to both of them.
Stella and Brandon went back into the house, more like castle or mansion, with Musa following behind them.
"Come on, I'll show you to the guest bedroom," Stella pulled on Musa's arm to steer her in the right direction.
"Thanks," Musa smiled as she was pulled through the hallway towards the guest wing of the castle.
The pair walked in silence until they walked up on a large mahogany door.
"Here you go. You can stay here for now," Stella motioned towards the room like she was modeling a prize on a game show.
"Thanks Stell," Musa couldn't suppress the yawn that her body needed.
"Where did you come from that got you so tired?" Stella asked.
"Flora's," Musa replied.
"Oh, er, did you see," Stella trailed off, knowing full well who was at Flora's.
"Yeah, I did," Musa grumbled, "where's Flora and Helia's son anyways?" Musa had wondered, but hadn't bothered to ask.
"Oh, he's with Saladian," Stella replied and Musa could vaguely remember that Helia was Saladian's nephew or grandson or something like that.
"I see," Musa replied. She could tell that Stella wanted to talk about what happened with Riven, but she just wasn't in the mood. Her verbal spats always turned emotional and wore her down.
"So, how was Flora's?" Stella questioned, pushing Musa to tell her what had gone down with Riven.
"It was fine. I think I'm going to get some sleep now, we can talk in the morning though," Musa suggested.
Stella nodded and then walked down the hallway so that Musa could get settled.
Musa walked into the large suite and was comforted by the fact that there was a large plush bed in the middle. She let out a large sigh and threw her bag next to the foot of the bed and jumped to land in the sheets of the bed.
She let out a laugh and turned over on her side, snuggling deeper into the blankets. She closed her eyes and began to drift into a blissful sleep.
"I don't understand," Musa whispered in shock. Riven had just mumbled something and she couldn't be sure, but it sounded like he had just told her he loved her. He wouldn't have done that though, he couldn't have. He wasn't that type of person. He was more likely to cut his head off than tell her how he felt about her. It might have been a little sad, but it was entirely true.
"I love you," he said a little clearer.
"What?" she exclaimed.
He rolled his eyes and Musa began to feel that it was the real Riven she was indeed talking to.
"Do I really need to repeat it?" he asked harshly.
Yup, this was definitely the Riven she was used to.
"No, I think I got it," she looked at him incredulously. She still couldn't believe that he had just said this.
"Well?" he raised his eyebrow at her, waiting for her response.
She was completely flabbergasted. His confession had thrown her off and she, no matter what she did, couldn't find the nicely paved path back to sanity.
"I love you too," she finally whispered.
"Good," he replied before he pulled her into an embrace and brought his coarse lips down to hers.
It didn't feel right, the kiss, it just…didn't. This couldn't be real could it? Riven wasn't one to tell his feelings outright to her.
"Wake up sleepyhead!" Stella called from outside of the door.
Musa opened her eyes and couldn't make out her surroundings due to the blurriness.
"Wha?" she muttered groggily. She rubbed the sleep out of her eyes and began to see the room a little bit clearer.
"Open up! We need to talk," Stella prodded from the other side of the door.
"No!" Musa called back, unable and unwilling to get up from the plush, comfy sheets.
"Musa! Now!" Stella chastised.
Musa let out a groan and reluctantly rolled over on the bed until her feet her planted on the ground. She then lifted herself up off the bed and walked over to the door to open it. Stella hadn't changed one bit from her bossy, loud self that she was in high school and college.
"What do you want?" Musa whined.
"What happened?" Stella demanded.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Musa feigned innocence and opened her mouth to let out a yawn.
"You know exactly what I'm talking about. What went on with you and Riven?" Stella asked again, this time her voice a little more stern.
"Why does it even matter?" Musa walked over to the bed and fell on top of it, her face in her pillow.
"Because you still love him and I know he still likes you," Stella said, walking up to the bed.
"That's so not true," Musa's muffled voice came out.
"Yes it is. As much as I disapprove of him and would have rathered seen you work it out with Jared, you and Riven are too much alike to not be good together," Stella said with a little disgust in her voice, though it was hard for her to even admit that Riven and Musa were not that bad of a pairing.
"Wow, that's big of you. Just leave me alone," Musa begged from her pillow. She really wasn't in the mood to discuss her failed love life.
"Musa, stop acting like a six year old," Stella crossed her arms in front of her and pursed her lips together.
"He cheated on me Stella. To me, that's unforgiveable and I don't care what's said on either side, we are never getting back together," Musa cried out.
"That was like five years ago," Stella rolled her eyes.
"Yeah, well, it felt like it was just a few days ago, so there," Musa lifted her head and stuck her tongue out at Stella.
"The sad part is that you're supposed to be the responsible one," Stella sighed at Musa's preschool antics.
"So?" Musa blurted out.
"Musa, grow up. It was a long time ago, the least you could do is to at least talk civilly to him, maybe even discuss what happened," Stella suggested.
"When did you become responsible?" Musa looked at her usually perky friend.
"Since you didn't want to be," Stella reprimanded, but held a twinkle in her eye that showed she wasn't completely different.
"Either way, Riven and I won't work," Musa stated.
"Fine, then I get to set you up with someone," Stella squealed and Musa was reminded of the things that annoyed her about Stella, the need to play matchmaker.
"Oh really?" Musa decided to entertain Stella.
"I know the perfect person," Stella grinned and Musa felt a sinking feeling in her gut. Whenever Stella said she knew the perfect person she knew she was in for it, there was no getting away from a Stella set up.
"How about no?" Musa hoped that Stella wouldn't make her go on the stupid date.
"Nope, I'm calling him right now and you are going to go and have some fun. You deserve it," Stella laughed as she walked out of the room.
Musa could feel a throbbing pain in her temple and figured it was definitely because of Stella and her insane ideas. She forced herself to get up and walked to the bathroom to take a shower. On her way to the bathroom she checked her phone and saw the reminder from her manager that her gig was tomorrow and she had to show up early.
She undressed, walked into the shower and turned on the water. Once she felt that the water was a temperature in between hot and cold based on the water on her foot she walked her full body to be underneath the water spout. She could feel the droplets cascade down her body and sighed from the relaxing feeling.
She could hear her phone ringing, but decided to let it ring. She was finally able to relax and wasn't about to ruin her "Musa-time".
Once she was finished she dried herself off and wrapped her hair in a towel. She wrapped a plush bathrobe around her body and as comforted by the softness. It was like she was wrapped in a cloud from heaven.
"Musa?" a voice called from outside and Musa's heart dropped when she realized it was Stella, most likely back from arranging the date.
"What?"
"Let me in," Stella demanded.
Musa went and opened the door just as Stella ran in, obviously enthusiastic for Musa's date that had been forced upon the music fairy.
"He's going to meet you at HaLo tonight and he's going to be wearing dark jeans and a black polo," Stella informed her.
"I don't feel so good," Musa attempted to get out of the arranged date.
"I don't believe you. You're going to wear this," Stella brought the outfit that had been hidden behind her out. It was a black skirt with a white chiffon long sleeved collared shirt that Musa figured would be tucked into the skirt. Stella also had red, Musa's favorite color, heels in her hand and Musa inwardly groaned. She didn't like to wear heels anymore than she had to; they were too uncomfortable.
"Whatever," Musa took the ensemble from Stella before pushing her out of the room.
"Might as well make the best of a bad situation," Musa rolled her eyes before setting down the clothes on the bed.
"Have fun tonight!" Stella called out to her friend as Musa walked out the door.
"Sure," Musa replied sarcastically before she disappeared as the door closed.