Foreigner of Fire

13 - Aliyah

"Hey." The girl standing in front of Lily was dressed with an abaya over her head and a long sleeved shirt topped off with jeans. Lily put down her pen and turned her attention to the girl. She had the prettiest pair of dark brown eyes Lily had ever laid eyes on.

"Hi." She smiled. "Sit." She motioned to the patch of grass next to her.

"Thanks." The girl smiled back and sat down beside Lily. They say in silence, staring out at the lake for a while. "My name's Aliyah."

"My name's Lily."

"Like the flower." Aliyah comments. "I saw your painting of Christ. Very beautiful."

"Oh!" Lily gasped, wide eyed. "Aren't you muslim?"

"Doesn't mean I can't appreciate a good piece of art." Aliyah grinned.

"Actually..." Lily took in a deep breath. "I didn't paint that." She confessed. "Ash did."

"Your partner of the week, right?" Aliyah asked. "That's so sweet of him..."

"Whole month, more like." Lily rolled her eyes. "Counsellor Regina made sure we understood."

"Tough luck." Aliyah shook her head.

"A little bit." Lily cringed. "I'm not taking this whole interaction thing the camp calls for very well..."

"I think you're doing fine at your own pace."

"The problem is..."

"Yes?" Aliyah raised her eyebrows.

"I...I think I have a teensy weensy crush on Ash.." Lily looked down at her hands, which was fiddling with her pencil as her journal lay open on her lap. 

"So? What's the problem?" Aliyah frowned.

"He's in a relationship with Hecate."

"Oh boy. Girl, no." Aliyah began to laugh. "If this is true, you need to go and tell that man to break up with her."

"Why?" Lily was confused.

"Because she's cheating on him." Aliyah said, matter-of-factly.

"Good. They go with each other, then." Lily shrugged.

"Listen." Aliyah's face turned serious. "Communication is key. You're probably taking a time out from him – and that's good. But don't let the relationship die before it even starts. Hecate is a big B. I. T. C. H. and you know it." Aliyah stood up slowly. "I have some movies on my laptop, let's go and cheer you up."

"Okay." Lily closed her journal and stood up as well. "Which one's your cabin?"

"12."

"Okay. I'll meet you there." Lily smiled. "I have to make a phone call to my mom." Aliyah nodded and headed off. Lily went to her cabin and took out her phone. Her parents had asked her to take the month off and only call them in an emergency. She dialed her mother's number and waited.

"Lily?" Her mother answered on the 5th ring.

"Hey, mom." Lily began. "I miss you."

"Oh! We miss you too, dear. Your father and I talk about you every night, put you in our prayers before sleep. But...Why the sudden call? Is anything the matter?" Her mother's tone switched over immediately from cheerful to worried.

"Not that serious." Lily let out a small chuckle. "It's just that...Um..." She took in a deep breath and found herself unable to continue.

"Yes? Darling? Go on?" Her mother urged.

"There's this man..." Lily only got the few words out when her mother began reacting.

"What man? What's he doing? Is he bothering you? Are you in trouble? Did he do anything to you? What did he do? Tell me, Lily. I'll do something about it." Her mother continued quickly.

"No, no. Mom. It's nothing like that." Sort of, Lily thought. "I like this man...More than a friend."

"Oh...Is he Christian? God-loving? Devote?"

"Yes." Lily lied. She couldn't possibly tell the truth and let her parents know that she fell for an anti-christ. It would break their hearts and she didn't want that.

"That sounds lovely! Did he ask you out or anything? I expect he shouldn't, if he really is devoted to Christ." Her mother drawled on.

"No, mom. He didn't ask me out." Lily bit her lip. This wasn't exactly a lie, was it? "He doesn't know know I feel about him. I don't know how to tell him."

"He sounds like a very fine suitor though...Sounds super gentlemanly..."

"I know. But I don't know how to confess to him. I think he's already seeing someone else too..."

"Oh...Don't ruin a relationship, Lily." Her mother warned.

"I won't! I'm not that bad." Lily scoffed.

"Good. Be good, darling. You're a good girl. You know what to do and how to behave."

"Thanks mom."