𝐑𝐡𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐦 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐃𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐬 • 𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐓𝐈 𝐎𝐒𝐀𝐌𝐀

✿ Chapter: 9 Love And Doubt ✿

The sun hung low in the New York sky, casting a warm glow over the streets as Aliyah finished her dance rehearsal. She felt energized, every beat of the music still echoing in her chest. But as she stepped out of the studio, she was unaware of the storm brewing on the horizon.

Notti had been feeling the pressure lately. The streets had their own unwritten rules, and even the smallest things could trigger a wave of jealousy. As Aliyah strolled through the park, her laughter rang out, bright and carefree—a sound he'd come to cherish. But today, it was overshadowed by an unease that settled in his gut.

"Yo, you seen Aliyah today?" Notti asked his boys as they leaned against a lamppost, chatting about their weekend plans.

"Yeah, she's with that childhood dude of hers, right?" one of his boys, Dudeylo, said, nodding towards the park. "They look tight."

"Yeah, but I don't trust that dude," Notti snapped, his voice sharper than he intended. "You know how these guys can be."

Dudeylo raised an eyebrow, sensing the shift in Notti's mood. "C'mon, my dude, you're trippin'. Aliyah is a Good person. She wouldn't do you dirty like that."

Notti ran a hand through his hair, feeling the tension mounting. "Nah, you don't get it. I don't like seeing her around other guys, especially him. You know how it goes."

As the words left his mouth, he felt a rush of anger. The thought of Aliyah laughing with her childhood best friend, Tyler, twisted something inside him. A wild urge to protect her flared up, but instead of feeling like a knight, he felt like a fool.

"Yo, I'm gonna go talk to her," he said abruptly, pushing off the lamppost. His boys exchanged glances, a mix of confusion and concern evident on their faces. "Don't follow me."

As Notti walked toward the group, the laughter faded, and all eyes turned to him. He spotted Aliyah in the center, her smile bright as she chatted animatedly with Tyler, her childhood best friend. But the sight of her leaning in too close to him, laughing like they shared some secret, twisted something inside him.

"Aliyah!" he called, his voice cutting through the air. She turned, her smile faltering slightly at the sight of his expression.

"Hey, Notti!" she said, her voice brightening. "We were just—"

"Yeah, I can see that," he interrupted, feeling the heat rise in his cheeks. "What's up with this dude?"

"Just chillin', Notti. It's not a big deal," she replied, her tone shifting as she sensed the tension. "This is Tyler, my childhood best friend."

Notti's eyes narrowed as he sized up Tyler, who had the nerve to smile at him. "Childhood best friend, huh? Or something more?"

Aliyah's face flushed with confusion. "What? Notti, it's not like that. We grew up together."

"Just friends, huh?" Notti shot back, unable to control the jealousy that bubbled over. "Looked a little too friendly to me."

The laughter faded completely as Destiny and the others stepped back, sensing the brewing storm. "Yo, what's your problem, Notti?" Destiny spoke up, trying to diffuse the situation. "They're just having fun."

"Nah, it's not cool, Destiny. You know how it is. I don't like seeing her with him like that," Notti spat, feeling the anger boiling within him.

"Seriously? You're gonna act like this over nothing?" Aliyah said, frustration edging into her voice. "I can't believe you think that. I'm allowed to have friends, Notti."

"Yeah? Friends who look at you like that?" Notti shot back, unable to shake the knot in his stomach. "You're mine, Aliyah. You know that."

"Are you serious right now?" she fired back, her eyes narrowing. "What about Maya? You didn't think I'd care when you were hanging around her?"

Notti's expression hardened at the mention of Maya, his ex. "That's different, Aliyah. You know I don't feel that way about her anymore."

"Is it? Because it seems like you're just as jealous as I am!" she shot back, her frustration bubbling over. "You can't just control who I talk to."

"Control? I care about you!" Notti yelled, his voice rising. "But damn, I'm not gonna stand by and watch you with some dude who's just waiting for his chance!"

"Maybe if you trusted me a little more, you wouldn't feel this way! This isn't some high school drama!" Aliyah exclaimed, her voice echoing in the park. "You're acting so possessive, it's ridiculous!"

With those words, the air crackled with tension, and Notti felt his anger morph into a deep sense of regret. He had never wanted to fight with her like this.

"Aliyah, wait," he said, his tone shifting as he tried to regain composure. "I didn't mean to—"

But before he could finish, he grabbed her wrist, dragging her away from the crowd. "C'mon, let's talk somewhere else," he said, trying to keep his voice steady.

As they moved away, he could feel the eyes of their friends on them, the weight of judgment thick in the air. Once they reached a quieter corner of the park, Notti let go of her wrist, running a hand through his hair in frustration.

"Why'd you have to bring up Maya?" he said, exasperated. "That's not fair."

"Fair?" Aliyah echoed, her voice rising again. "You think it's fair for you to act like I'm some prize you can control? I've known Tyler forever. He's like family to me."

"I know, I know," he said, his anger deflating as he took a step back. "But I can't help how I feel. I just... I can't lose you."

Aliyah took a step closer, her gaze steady. "You're not just worried about me, though. You're worried about your own insecurities. You need to figure that out."

"Yeah, I get it," he replied, frustration etched across his face. "I need to trust you more. You deserve  it.

"Yes, i do deserve it." Aliyah exhales, "Im sorry but i need space away from you right now i cant, i cant stand here and  look at you."

"Wait no Ma, Just please give me another chance." Notti yells, "Go home ethan." Aliyah yelled back and walked away.