That was never It!!

Chapter 32

Aliyah was so happy when Hanif called to inform her that they were on their way. She thanked Allah silently for keeping Isabelle safe. Amina, who was crushing in with her, laughed at her reaction. She found Aliyah a little paranoid.

"Seems like you really love her." Berenice said while getting comfortable on the couch. Aliyah smiled. Berenice was really nice, just like her brother Hanif. She was really helpful with searching for Isabelle and also taming the twin ; Hassan and Hussein. She somehow managed to make them reduce their pranking acts.

Aliyah walked around anxiously. Suddenly all her worries for the past weeks turned to anger. How can Isabelle disappear for so long and not tell her? Didn't she say Aliyah was her only family? What happened to the great bond they shared?

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Richo was planning to get to her. It couldn't be hard in a city that big where everyone minds his own business. The fact that he had to make sure no one gets hurt, made his job hard. It meant he had to use some other move and not force. But little Richo knows how to use force only.

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The door was knocked and Aliyah jumped off the couch to get it. Berenice and Amina laughed at her. Isabelle was the first one to enter. She had a serious look on her face. Aliyah immediately pulled her ear.
"How dare you disappear like that. Have you no shame?" She started angrily.

"Aliyah I need to tell you that.. "

"Do you know how worried I was?"

"Aliyah please listen-"

"For all those days? Couldn't you disappear for just a week and come back or at least contact me." She pinched her ear until it turned pink and then finally pulled her for a hug. "I really missed you Belle."

"He is here." Isabelle whispered in her ear.

"Who?" She said and looked behind her and saw Drex and Hanif.

"Oh yea, Drex deserves to be pinched too. Since I can't do it myself Hanif will do it for me." Isabelle sighed. Where is Haytham? She wondered.

"My pleasure." Hanif smirked. "Can I just punch him?"

"NO!" Isabelle shouted surprising everyone, even herself.

"Awkwaaaaad!" Berenice said and everyone laughed. Isabelle pulled Aliyah to a corner.

"I need to tell you something important." She said with a lot of seriousness. Aliyah felt suddenly nervous. Nothing good comes out of her mouth when she is serious.

"What is it?"

"Haytham, what took you so long?" Hanif said and Aliyah froze.

"He is here." Isabelle whispered and reached for her hand. It was so cold and sweaty.

Thousands of thoughts went through her head in a second. Most of them were questions and they all started with Why.

"I couldn't find a space to park the car and then I kinda couldn't find this apartment either." He said and walked in.

Aliyah felt her throat go dry and her heart beating faster. She pinched Isabelle so hard she let out a cry. Everyone looked at them.

"What's wrong?" Drex asked.

Aliyah's eyes went wide open and her grip on Isabelle's hand got tighter.

"Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! That really hurts." Isabelle shouted. Aliyah could barely hear a thing. There was a ringing sound in her ears and she felt dizzy.

"Aliyah?" Was the last sound she heard. Everyone ran to her but Haytham. He stood there frozen and lost.