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Chapter 6

Everybody loves the things you do.

"So, how are you liking school?" Bryce asked, turning his blinker off once he reached the other lane. He couldn't help but smile as he glances at Aliyah.

From the way you talk, to the way you move. 

"It's okay, I guess." School wasn't all that great, after what happened to Jeff. It was just, grey. No one wanted to talk about it, it was always just, empty.  "Yeah, They are already putting up drunk driving posters" Bryce scoffed, stopping at a blinking stop light. He checked the roads then continued to drive. 

Everybody here is watching, cause you feel like home. 

Aliyah didn't think anyone else was feeling grief about Jeff.  "But. Aliyah, you can't let that hold you back. You can keep him in your heart as long as you want, but don't let it weigh your heart down," He sighs a bit. "If that even makes sense. All I am saying is, Jeff wouldn't want to see you unhappy" He put his hand on hers and gave it a sympathetic squeeze before putting it back on the wheel. Aliyah smiled briefly as how kind he was being. This was a side she had never seen. 

It's like a dream come true. 

It wasn't long before Bryce was pulling his car into Aliyah's driveway. "Do you want me to wait out here, or follow?" He asked, parking. He put his hand on the key, but didn't shut the car off. "Yeah, you can" Aliyah smirked, getting out. That's when Bryce shut it off then followed her to the front door. 

Aliyah walked in fast, but was quicker to stop in her tracks. Bryce furrowed his eyebrows as he watched her before following her gaze. Her older brother Zeke was home, causing a sigh to fall from her mouth. She glanced at Bryce before looking back to her brother, forcing a smile. "What are you doing home?" She asked, closing the door behind Bryce. Zeke laughed as he held his gaze on the Tv. "Um I live here" He answered with a laugh,  looking back. When he did, he frowned seeing Bryce standing behind her. "What's he doing here" Zeke scolded, standing up. He walked to the edge of the living room then leaned against the wall, crossing his arms. "Shut up Zeke" Aliyah rolled her eyes, grabbing Bryce's hand, she pulled him upstairs to her room. "Sorry about that," Aliyah sighed, closing her bedroom door. "I don't know why he's being rude" she rolls her eyes, going to her closet. 

"Zeke and I used to be friends" Bryce answered, watching her as she walked to her closet. He didn't dare to tell her why Zeke hated him now. He knew she would for sure never talk to him again if he told her. "I guess we just drifted," He shrugged, plopping down on her bed. Aliyah looked at him frowning, she had a hot pink summer dress in her hand. "I'm sorry to hear that," She says, grabbing her sandals to go with her outfit. "It's high school," He shrugged. Aliyah rolled her eyes. "Can you turn around so I can change?" She asked, smirking a little.

Bryce chuckled then turned so his back was facing her. Aliyah grabbed new underwear and put them on, before picking up her dress. "I hate how people use that as an excuse," she then replied to his comment about high school. "If you let a relationship you have with someone slip because 'it's just high school' then it's your fault people aren't in your life, because you are making excuses to not try" Aliyah wasn't directing what she was saying to him, she was just saying in general. 

After she got her dress on, she pulled her sandals on then brushed her hair until it was straight. Bryce had gotten quiet, what she said had actually made him think about how he treated people. "You can look now," Aliyah said, pulling his attention to her. He plastered a convincing smile on his face. "What's the occasion? " He asked, laughing slightly. 

"Well you dressed cute, I figured I would too" Bryce raised his eyebrows at her comment as he smiled. "So I'm cute huh?" He asked. Aliyah didn't realize she had said that until he pointed it out, which only made her blush. "I..um''

"Aliyah it's fine" Bryce stood up, chuckling. He walked over to her, fixing her hair. "I think I'm cute too" 

Aliyah rolled her eyes at him, but she began laughing, which defeated the purpose of the eye roll. "Gosh you are a dork!" Bryce just proceeded to smile and lick his lips. "Are you ready to go?" Bryce walked to the door, resting his hand on the knob. 

"Yes!" Aliyah exclaimed, Bryce laughed at how excited she had gotten then opened the door. "After you" In reality, he didn't wanna go out there first, if Zeke was still there. Aliyah just smiled and walked past him, when she got to the bottom of the stairs, she glanced in the living room to see if Zeke was still there. He wasn't. Which was some kind of relief for Aliyah, it made her uncomfortable when people were rude, but she was always to scared to stand up for her or anyone else at that. 

"Are we taking your car or mine?" Aliyah asked, walking toward the door, she stopped to hear his answer, just in case she needed to get her keys. "yea, we can take my car" He nodded, walking up behind her. Aliyah smiled then opened the door, accidentally running into him, "Sorry" she blushed, walking outside to his passenger door. She lifted the handle in hopes it would open it, the handle only moved up. Bryce laughed at her, hitting the unlock button on his key pad them walked to his side.  

Aliyah was quick to get in, buckling her seat belt. "Do you like Lobster?" Bryce asked, shutting the door behind him as he got in. Aliyah shrugged at him, "I've never had it" She smirked. Bryce grinned. "This is gonna be interesting."