That was never It!!

chapter 31

"This is the address." Haytham said as he stopped in front of a bakery.  Hanif gave him a 'seriously' look.

"A bakery?" He asked but Haytham ignored him, got  out of the car and entered Mama's bakery. Drex's mom was wiping the counter when they walked in.

"What can I get these handsome young men." She said with a smile.

"A cup of coffee, please?" Haytham said politely.

"Sweetheart, this is mama's bakery. We don't serve bitter stuff." She said and laughed.

"Nice one." Hanif said teasingly. They were given a creamy cake to enjoy.

"She is not here." Hanif sighed.

"Shishhhh!" Haytham whispered. Hanif rolled his eyes in a freakishly good way.

Creepy! Haytham thought.

"No Drex! That's not fair. You tricked me!" Isabelle walked in shouting.

"Yea I did." Drex smirked and froze at the door when he saw Hanif.

"I will get you for this." Isabelle was about to pull his dreadlocks when she saw Hanif and Haytham. She also froze. Not because of Hanif's presence but because of Haytham.

"I know you wanna run around me and sing 'I told you so' so go ahead." Hanif told Haytham.

"Nope." He scoffed. "I will save that for later when the audience is not this big."

Hanif gave both Drex and Isabelle a long lecture about how wrong it was to scare others that way. Isabelle could barely hear a thing. All she could think about was how Aliyah would react after seeing Haytham for the second time.

"I am so disappointed in you Drex. You knew how worried Aliyah was and you didn't bother to tell her." He finished and Haytham sighed.

"Dude! Take a chill pill." He said and laughed. Everyone looked at him confused. 

"I was just...but you guys didn't..." He tried to explain.  "Forget it. Lemmi drive you to your place."

"NO!" Isabelle shouted. Everyone looked at her even more confused. "I mean you don't have to, you nice stranger. Ha ha ha ha." She said nervously.

"Uuh, I will pretend that didn't happen." Haytham said. "So into my car and off we go."

Why? Why? Why? Isabelle slapped herself severally. Drex held her hand and asked her if she is okay.

"You never mentioned she is crazy." Haytham said and Hanif poked him with his elbow.

"Ouuuuch?!" Haytham complained.

"Serves you right." Isabelle said and stuck her tongue at him.

"Wow! Nice way to say hello to a stranger." Haytham said.

Despite Isabelle's complains and lame excuses Haytham drove them to Aliyah's apartment.

Oh Aliyah! May this be easy for you. Isabelle prayed silently.

****†*****†******†******†****
Jaffar was getting desperate. Every time he tried to approached Aliyah she would ignore him. There was only one thing left to do.

"Hello." He said through the phone. Deep in his heart he felt terrible. He remembered the things his mother had taught him but he didn't stop. "I have a job for you. But you have to make sure no one gets hurt."

"How much?" Richo, a well known thug said with a smirk.

"Name your price." He said and the deal was made. He knew it wasn't right but he was still doing it. She was on her  own and so no one will save her.

That night he felt really guilty but he ignored it. It was the best. It would be better with time. She will learn to love him.  He convinced himself.