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Aaliyah was scrolling through her phone when she felt a hand on her shoulder.
"Hey, Lee. You okay?"
Aaliyah smiled as Lexi started to walk with her and she put her phone in her pocket "Yeah I'm doing good. What's up?"
Lexi rubbed her hands together nervously "Can I ask you for some advice?" Aaliyah could tell that something was bugging Lexi and so she nodded.
"If you...liked a guy would expect him to make the first move or should you just go for it?"
Aaliyah smirked at Lexi as she had never heard the girl mention boys before "Honestly, I think you should just go for it. It might not be the answer you want but at least you've followed your heart, you know?"
Lexi nodded "Okay, and how do I do that?" Aaliyah shrugged "Well, you tell him how you feel or you could see if that sexual attraction is there and you kiss him."
Lexi looked taken aback by Aaliyah's suggestion and she laughed nervously "I don't think I have the confidence to do that but...thanks, Lee."
Aaliyah smiled "No worries! Who is this guy anyway? Anyone I know?" Lexi looked down "It's just this guy I met on New Year's."
Aaliyah nodded and the girl walked away.
Truthfully, Aaliyah didn't remember much from the party so she didn't expect it to be Fezco.
She didn't think that she was Fezco's type anyway. If Aaliyah did realise it was Fezco then she would have given her completely different advice.
Still, she continued to walk down the hallway thinking of all the guys at school that Lexi would possibly think is attractive.
Aaliyah was too deep in her thoughts to notice a tall figure standing next to her waiting for her to acknowledge him.
"Can we talk, Aaliyah?" The girl froze as she heard the voice of the boy that she had been avoiding for weeks.
She breathed in deeply and turned to face him "I don't really wanna talk to you, Nate."
He nodded slowly "Well, that's fine but I want you to listen to what I have to say." Aaliyah folded her arms as Nate prepared to speak again.
"I'm trying to be a better person so I wanted to come over here and apologise to you. I've hurt you a lot and...I don't want you to feel like I'm the enemy because I'm not. I love you, Lee. And you don't even have to love me back, you know? You've been my best friend since day 1 and I understand that should mean something. I want us to go back to the way we were and I want the same thing with Maddy. I'm trying to get her back but...it's harder than I thought."
Aaliyah smirked "Good! You deserve a challenge for once."
Nate smiled genuinely "Yeah, I do. It's what I like about her. I did call your mom a couple of weeks ago but she said you were on house arrest."
Aaliyah frowned "Surely you already knew about that, Nate. She did it because you told her about me and Fezco."
Nate nodded "That's why I'm apologising. I always thought you deserved the world and I don't think he's good for you, Lee. I know that I don't have the right to tell you that but I wanna protect you. He did beat me up."
Aaliyah's eyes widened at Nate's obliviousness "Yeah, because you've hurt people, Nate! I don't blame him. He's furious because of what you've done to the people around him. Stop acting like you haven't done worse."
Nate stepped closer to Aaliyah "I know, Lee. I'm trying to do better now. I honestly feel better than I've ever been and I need you by my side again. We all miss you. My mom, my dad, even Aaron. You know how nervous he gets when he sees you. Why don't you come over one night like we used to?"
Aaliyah couldn't help but give in to Nate's apology.
It was a problem she had for years. She couldn't resist him. The two were meant to be with each other.
It was this invisible force that pulled them together. They're parents noticed it from a very young age.
It was a platonic adoration that Nate had for her but he sometimes wondered what it would have been like if he had dated her.
Aaliyah never was attracted to Nate. It was no secret Nate was attractive and so people often wondered if Aaliyah wasn't even interested in guys.
However, that wasn't the case.
Aaliyah loved boys but when it came to Nate, he was more like a brother to her.
"Yeah, that'll be nice." Nate smiled widely "Great. I'll text you."
Aaliyah nodded "Okay, I'll talk to you soon."
Nate walked off and Aaliyah sighed loudly. She hated herself for the control that Nate had on her. But she couldn't help it.
She then noticed Rue looking at her, biting her nails. When Rue noticed Aaliyah looking she immediately turned around.
The girl decided to approach Rue with caution. "What was that look about, Rue?"
The brunette kept her head in her locker and shrugged "I don't know what you're talking about."
Aaliyah crossed her arms "Oh, I think you do. Is it because I was talking to Nate?"
Rue finally looked at Aaliyah and sighed "Listen, Lee. I've known you for years now and I know that Nate can easily sweet talk you just like he does to Ma-"
"Are you really gonna give me some crappy advice about my friendship with Nate when you can't even maintain your own relationship with Jules?"
Rue looked taken aback by Aaliyah's words and she scoffed "That was low, Lee. All I was gonna say was that you're stronger than that. You don't need Nate. If you keep running back to him every time he asks then you're just gonna get hurt. You think you know everything because he's your best friend and you guys tell each other everything but you're wrong."
Aaliyah frowned and stepped closer to Rue "What are you saying, Rue? Do you know something I don't?"
Rue looked to her left and could see Elliot approaching the couple.
Knowing that their conversation would be over she gave one last bit of advice to the girl before she walked off.
"Be careful who you trust, Lee. And that goes for everyone you know."
