Love Over Friends.

Chapter 10 - Alisha's lies.

Aaliyah's Point of View:
It's midnight, and I've already packed my things into my backpack: toothbrush, toothpaste, a change of clothes, phone charger, another pair of shoes, some food, and £300 in cash. I'm planning to run away. I just can't handle school or Alisha anymore. The weight of it all is suffocating me, and I need to escape. I can't believe I'm actually doing this.

I change into my black hoodie with the Deathly Hallows symbol, tights with black shorts over them, and my black ankle boots. I gather my hair into a messy side plait, grab my bag, and quietly creep downstairs. My hand lingers on the door handle, and I take a final glance around the house, letting my eyes drift up the stairs to where Shahrukh Mama is sleeping.

"Sorry, Mama," I whisper to myself as I slowly open the door and slip outside, making sure it closes quietly behind me.

The night air is cool against my skin, and the streets are dark and unfamiliar. I don't know much about London, but it doesn't matter. I trust my gut to guide me somewhere far away from here. I walk for what feels like forever until I finally come across a shabby-looking motel.

"Excuse me, I'd like a room, please," I say to the woman behind the reception desk. She eyes me from head to toe, a look of suspicion crossing her face.

"Aren't you a bit young to be traveling on your own?" she asks.

"No, I'm not," I reply curtly, not in the mood for questions.

"Fine. How long do you want to stay?" she says, a trace of skepticism still lingering in her tone.

"Just for the night. I'm leaving in the morning." She hands me a key without another word, and I make my way to the room, collapsing onto the bed as soon as I get inside.

-

The next morning, the sun's rays seep through the thin curtains, waking me up. I blink groggily, taking in the pale hues of dawn outside. The sunrise is beautiful—streaks of pink, blue, and gold painting the sky. If only my life were as simple and peaceful as this scene.

I jump into the shower quickly and put on the same clothes from yesterday. I don't have the energy to dig out something new. After paying the lady at the desk £15 and returning the key, I head out into the chilly morning.

Alisha's Point of View:
It's Sunday, and I can't stop thinking about Aaliyah. By now, she must have left for Shahrukh Mama's house, or maybe she's still planning to leave. I pack my bags and take one last look around before heading downstairs.

"Alisha, you ready?" Hrithik Mama calls out.

"Yes, I'm coming," I reply, carrying my things down.

"It's good you're going back. Shahrukh's house is closer to your school, but I'll miss having you around," Hrithik Mama says, offering a small smile.

"Is your face still hurting a lot?" he asks, lightly touching the bruise on my cheek.

"It's only a little sore," I say, brushing it off.

Before we can continue, the doorbell rings. Hrithik Mama tells me to wait as he goes to answer it. I sit on the sofa in the living room, pulling out my phone to text Hussain. I scroll through WhatsApp, finding his name.

Hi, I type, and stare at his profile picture for a moment. Before I can send another message, I hear a familiar voice.

"Alisha," says Riteish Bhai, my older brother. It's impossible. He can't be here.

I jump up from the sofa and rush to the entryway to see him standing there.

"Bhai!" I exclaim, throwing my arms around him in a tight hug.

"What happened to your face?" he asks, gently pulling away to get a better look at me.

"It was Aaliyah, wasn't it?" Bhai asks, his tone darkening as I nod, unable to meet his eyes.

"I was about to take her to Shahrukh's house. Aaliyah is leaving soon," Hrithik Mama says.

"She's moving out?" Bhai looks surprised.

"I think she'll be fine. Let's go," I suggest quickly, trying to steer the conversation away from Aaliyah and the bruises.

"Alright, we're leaving," Hrithik Mama agrees as Bhai grabs my things and we head out.

Aaliyah's Point of View:
Alisha is probably back at Shahrukh Mama's house by now, and they'll all realize I'm gone. I have no idea where I'm heading, but I can't stay in one place for too long. I need to find somewhere temporary—a hotel or another motel if I stumble upon one.

Alisha's Point of View:
When we arrive at Shahrukh Mama's house, something feels off. The door is unlocked, which is unusual. As we step inside, the house is a mess, with things scattered everywhere. A loud, heart-wrenching sob echoes from the living room. We rush in to find Shahrukh Mama on the floor, his face streaked with tears. Aryan Bhai stands near the window, his expression tense and worried.

Shahrukh Mama suddenly looks up at us, his eyes bloodshot, his face pale. He springs to his feet and grabs me by the shoulders, shaking me.

"Alisha! ALISHA! WHERE IS AALIYAH?" he shouts, his voice breaking with panic.

"I—I don't know," I stammer, my heart racing. "She didn't tell me anything. What happened?"

"Don't pretend to care!" Mama snapped, his hands trembling as he releases me. "I know everything that happened. I spoke to the teachers at school—about what happened in P.E. I know you lied."

I'm frozen in place, the weight of his words hitting me hard. Bhai moves forward, placing a hand on Shahrukh Mama's shoulder.

"Mama, let's take a step back and—" Bhai starts, but Shahrukh Mama cuts him off.

"Aaliyah's gone! She's missing! My niece ran away, and I have no idea where she could be. How am I going to explain this to her brother?" Shahrukh Mama's voice cracks as fresh tears spill down his cheeks.

"Aaliyah is missing?" Bhai repeats, looking stunned. I can see the pain in his eyes—he cares for her as much as he does for me.

"Everything needs to be handled carefully," Hrithik Mama says, trying to keep everyone calm. "We can't make rash decisions."

"Aaliyah couldn't handle the pain anymore," Shahrukh Mama continues, his voice barely a whisper. "She was cutting herself every night. I saw her arm once, covered in blood. She's been struggling with depression because of all this. And do you want to know why?" His gaze pierces me as he points accusingly in my direction.

"Alisha, why would you do something so reckless? And to your own cousin?" Bhai's voice rises in anger.

"But—" I try to explain, but Bhai's fury cuts me off.

"What else are you going to lie about?" Riteish Bhai asked raising his voice.

"Calm down," Hrithik Mama intervenes. "We need to handle this step by step. Yelling at Alisha won't solve anything."

"You know what? You should've just left me in New York why did you need to bring me back when I'll be going back anyway?" I shouted with the frustration boiling as I walked over to the garden.

Aaliyah's Point of View:
I wonder what's happening back at the house right now. It doesn't matter, though. I need to forget the people who caused me so much grief. I don't know where I'm going, but I keep walking, letting my thoughts drift.

As I wander, I recognise a park. It's a place from my childhood; Alisha and I used to play here when we'd visit our uncle. I head to the swings and sit down, gripping the chains. The memories swirl around me—of laughter, games, and simpler times. How did everything become so complicated and cruel?