𝐑𝐡𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐦 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐃𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐬 • 𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐓𝐈 𝐎𝐒𝐀𝐌𝐀

✿ Chapter 10: Under The Stars ✿

It had been a long week since the fight, and Notti felt the weight of the world on his shoulders. Every night, he tossed and turned, replaying their argument over and over in his mind. He hadn't meant to let his jealousy spiral out of control, but seeing Aliyah with Tyler had lit a fire inside him. Every second without her felt like an eternity.

Notti stood outside her building, the cool night air hitting his face as he took a drag from his blunt. The smoke curled around him, helping to calm his nerves. He had hit up the bodega earlier that day and picked out the freshest red roses he could find, knowing they were Aliyah's favorite. Each blossom reminded him of her vibrant spirit, and he hoped they would help mend the rift between them.

"Let's get it," he muttered to himself as he finished the blunt and flicked it away. He stepped into the shadows, avoiding the streetlights, and approached the side of her building. Climbing up the fire escape felt like second nature; he had done it a million times when he was younger, sneaking away from home to hang with his boys.

When he reached her window, he paused, heart racing. He knocked softly, the sound barely audible over the city's nightlife below. "Aliyah, you in there?" he whispered, hoping she would hear him.

After a moment of silence, he tried again, this time gently pushing the window open. "C'mon, ma, just let me in," he pleaded, peeking through the gap. To his surprise, the window slid open with a soft creak, and he saw her silhouette against the moonlight.

"Really, Notti?" Aliyah's voice was sharp, laced with disbelief. "You think just because you're climbing through my window, I'm gonna forgive you?"

"Ma, hear me out," he said, hoisting himself through the window and landing quietly on the wooden floor. He glanced around her room, feeling a mix of nostalgia and longing. Posters of dancers covered the walls, and the faint scent of her favorite vanilla candle lingered in the air. "I brought you something."

He reached behind his back and revealed the red roses, holding them out like a peace offering. "These are for you, babe. I'm sorry for acting like a fool. I miss you, and I can't just sit around waiting for you to answer me."

Aliyah crossed her arms, her expression softening but still guarded. "You really think flowers are gonna fix this? It's not that simple."

"I know, I know," Notti said, stepping closer, careful not to invade her space too much. "But I don't want to fight anymore. You're too important to me, Aliyah. I can't just act like everything's cool when it's not. I was just—"

"Jealous?" she interrupted, raising an eyebrow. "You were acting like a possessive jerk, Notti. You can't just drag me away like that."

"True," he admitted, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. "But the thought of you with another dude got me twisted, you feel me? It's not that I don't trust you. I just... care about you a lot."

She took a deep breath, her defenses slowly crumbling. "I know you care, but you can't just control who I'm around. You gotta trust me to make my own choices."

"Yeah, I get that," he said, his voice softening. "I promise I'm working on it. Just don't shut me out like this. I can't stand it."

After a tense moment, Aliyah reached out and took the flowers from him, a small smile creeping onto her face. "Okay, you get some points for the flowers. They're pretty."

"Just pretty?" Notti smirked, the tension between them easing a little. "I thought they were fire."

"Alright, they're fire," she laughed, her eyes sparkling. "Now what? You're just gonna sneak in here and think everything's all good?"

Notti shrugged, his heart pounding in his chest. "How about I stay for a bit? We can chill, watch some movies, just like old times."

"Yeah, definitely. Let's do it," she replied, leaning against him, their shoulders touching. He felt a rush of affection, and the tension from the earlier argument melted away.