Alliyah

Rayne was the one who cleared her throat and created space between them. Alliyah looked down and muttered a 'Sorry‘ but the other girl didn’t seem to hear.

Instead, she asked what had been the origin of her panic attack. Alliyah updated Rayne on the phone call that had torn her open.

“I can see how that can be worrisome. But it’s not Mariam’s fault. The poor girl must have been terrified, witnessing ‘Angry Alliyah’. I know I was…”

Alliyah chuckled, but the smile dissipated quickly.

“I… I’ll call her.”

“I know you will, but for now let’s go for a walk.” She got up and held her hands down to the girl who still shivered.

“Why?”

“To cheer you up or at least calm you down. Come on, let’s go talk to the sweet locals you adore so much.”

“Oh, I wouldn’t wanna be ‘Annoying Alliyah’ by talking to everyone.” She rested her elbow on her knee and her head on her knuckles.

“What?”

“You called me annoying for talking to people.” She pouted.

Rayne stopped moving, Alliyah couldn’t read her face. Then she sat back down next to her.

“I didn’t mean what I said.” She spoke, looking out the broken motel window.

“Then why did you say it?”

Rayne sighed before mumbling a nearly inaudible answer, looking the complete opposite way from Alliyah.

“What?”

“I said…” Rayne started but derailed her answer by mumbling again.

“What?!”

“It’s actually cute when you talk to everyone but I prefer when you only talk to me, okay?!” She spoke louder and faster than usual, as she walked out of the room, at an equally fast pace.

Alliyah darted after her, but Rayne was light on her feet when she wasn’t wearing heavy platform boots. Her phone rang in her hand, and she immediately picked up, hoping it was Mariam.

“I got my nose pierced!” It was Z.

“Babe, I’m so glad for you, but there are a few things going on right now.” Alliyah spoke while walking down the stairs. She didn’t want to be the one telling her…

Her train of thought was interrupted when she got outside and found Rayne standing frozen outside the motel.

“What’s wrong, love?“

“Alliyah? There’s a weird sound on your side.” Instead of a reply from Rayne, she heard Z’s voice in her ear.