'Aliya' Part 3

[LilPixie10]

The morning passed without any awkwardness and Aliya was just beginning to relax when Jason decided to invite himself back to her place.
“Jason I told you I need to study. I’m almost finished with this assignment and I really want to get it done.” Plus, she didn’t quite know how she was going to handle Jason being in her space for so long.
“I know Sweetness. I’ll just chill out at yours and watch TV while you work. My kitchen fitters still haven’t finished and I’m getting sick of not being able to relax in my own house.” It was kind of true. He had told Aliya he was having his kitchen done. He just left out the fact that the fitters actually left this morning…
“Mmmm hmm. You just want more of my biscuits. I’ve got you sussed Mr. Greedy.”
“Hey you know I’ve always loved your baking. I swear to God you could solve all the problems of the world with your chocolate chip muffins!”
“Why thank you. And just for that, I suppose you may use my house as a doss house this afternoon. As long as you make yourself useful and brew up for me.”
“Deal”
And that was exactly how the afternoon went. Aliya worked on her assignment and Jason kept the cups of tea coming. It still amazed Jason just how focused Aliya was when she wanted to get something done. Just being with her this morning had eased some of the harsh protectiveness in him, and it made him feel better to think that she still enjoyed his company. She was relaxed enough with him in the house that when they got back from the coffee shop she had changed into her ‘comfy’s’ as she called them, and was now sitting at the dining table wearing a very old pair of pyjama bottoms and that damned hoodie. Jason placed the latest cup of tea next to Aliya and absently ran his fingers through her hair as he leaned over her shoulder. She stiffened immediately. The last time anyone had touched her, it had resulted in a lovely big bruise across her face. Stupid. She thought. Jason would never do that.
“You almost finished? It’s getting late.” Aliya had been concentrating so hard on what she was doing that she hadn’t seen the light fading outside.
“Ha! Yes. I’ve just written my last word! I can take it in tomorrow. You staying for dinner?” Why had she asked him that? He was supposed to be going home. Actually, he should have left ages ago.
“If you’re offering, Sweetness. Who am I to say no to a free meal?”
“Who indeed. I’ll think of a way you can pay me back later.” She barely managed to force her mask back into place. Jason couldn’t have noticed the way she had reacted to his touch. He would have said so. She knew him well enough to know that. Best not to let things slip or he would push her for answers. Answers she wasn’t ready to give him.
Jason let Aliya prepare dinner without imposing on her space. He needed time to think about her earlier reaction. When they had first met, and even through their time in college, they had always touched. Only the simple caresses of friendship – She mock punching him, he playing with her hair, a simple hug – But she had never, ever been hesitant. Never reacted with… fear. The realisation hit him full force. She had been afraid of him touching her! What the ****? He needed answers. Now. He couldn’t be gentle about this. If Blake had hurt her…

***

It didn’t take a degree in psychoanalysis to realise that Jason was angry about something. But what? She hadn’t been in the kitchen for that long and she hadn’t heard his phone ring. But he couldn’t be angry with her, she hadn’t done anything! He moved to take hold of her hand, but she quickly moved it out of his reach, disguising it as an effort to readjust her hair. She met his gaze and her heart stuttered. Jesus! His eyes were… burning. That was the only way to describe his expression.
“Jase?” She couldn’t say anymore. The words seemed to stick in her throat.
“What’s going on Aliya?” Oh, God he was pissed about something. He never called her Aliya unless he was annoyed with her. He didn’t let her speak.
“I know something’s wrong. Now why don’t you save us from having a fight and just tell me”
“Having a fight? The way you’re speaking anyone would think we were married!”
She was getting defensive. Well it wasn’t going to work. He knew he wasn’t hiding his anger well, so with considerable effort he gentled his tone.
“Please, Sweet. I can see you’re hurting. What’s the matter? What aren’t you telling me?”
“Jase, I’m fine” A blatant lie.
“Ali, you haven’t called me for the last two weeks. You’ve been avoiding me like the plague. What’s going on?”
How the hell did he do that? His eyes had softened to some emotion Aliya couldn’t name. But they were so sincere. He was worried about her. And he was her best friend. She could almost feel the pain he felt for her, his gaze was that intense. She made a choice.
“Blake… Blake hit me.”
“Jesus Christ Ali! When?” He couldn’t believe it! How dare anyone lay a finger on her? He’d kill the little ****. Simple as that.
“Two weeks ago. That’s why I didn’t want to see you. I knew you’d freak out and he didn’t mean it. He was just drunk. I know he won’t do it again.” Or would he? He’d done worse. She told the little voice in her head to Shut up!
“He bruised you?”
“Jase you’d better not do anything stupid.”
“I’m going to kill the bastard” His voice was so steady she knew he wasn’t joking.
“Jase don’t be silly. You know what would happen. He’d make you out to be the one in the wrong and then I’d never see you again. You know he’s got all sorts of powerful friends.” She was rambling, but he knew she was right. Blake did have some powerful friends and who knew what they were capable of.
“You should have told me Aliya.” The accusation in his voice hurt.
Aliya let her mask slip. “I’m telling you now Jase. Please. I just want to forget about it. Until he comes home, I just don’t want to think about him.”
“Ok. But if he ever so much as looks at you wrong Ali, you have to tell me.” Jason hated agreeing to that. It went against every one of his protective instincts. And he had those by the bucket load when it came to Aliya. But of this was what she needed from him right now, then that was what he would give her. He could help her forget about Blake for the next three months.

Ali froze as Jason caught her wrist when she went to open the front door for him. She looked at Jason with ice in her eyes. Well at least now he knows why I’m not all touchy-feely anymore. She hated the fact that Blake had done this to her. She had always loved to touch Jason. It just felt right. Like it was exactly what was meant to be done. But Jason either didn’t notice her reaction this time, or he simply didn’t care. He looked straight into her eyes as he held her wrist, refusing to let go. Oh God, now what? Was all Aliya could think. Jason was acting on instinct. He wanted to kiss her so badly, but his gut was telling him not to push too hard. Yet. Instead of kissing her, he cupped her face with his free hand and touched his forehead to hers. Aliya felt like Jason could see straight into her soul. The way he was looking at her, with such tenderness, it almost made her want to cry. To just wrap her arms around him and cry and tell him absolutely everything. Not just that Blake had hit her, but the biggest secret she held. The one she could never tell anyone. And yet, the urge to tell Jason was overpowering. Just as she thought she might give in, Jason closed his eyes, giving her the chance she needed to rebuild her walls.
“Night Ali. See you tomorrow.” As Jason closed the door behind himself, Ali slid down the wall and hugged her knees to her chest, wrapping her arms around herself. What was Jason playing at? Was he flirting with her? Did he actually feel more than friendship? Did he want more than friendship? Did she? She had always been attracted to him. That was nothing new. but they were friends, and that was where it ended. Only now Aliya was beginning to seriously re-think her feelings. Analyse them on a deeper level.

“Night Ali. See you tomorrow.” His voice rough with emotion, that was all Jason could manage to say. He had so many conflicting thoughts that he was surprised he got home safely. He had no memory of the journey whatsoever.
He had always cared for Aliya, ever since they first met. The protective instincts he felt towards her ran so deeply it was as if they were at his very core. As if he had been born to protect and love her. Love. He was blindsided by the realisation that he loved her. Not just the love of a friend, but the soul deep love that he knew would never fade, but instead would only grow with time. How could he have been so blind?! He had always loved his Ali. And there was no question about that now. She was his to protect. His to love. He had to make her see that Blake was no good for her. The only problem was her stubbornness. She would never admit that she was strong enough to leave Blake, although Jason knew that she had a spine of steal hidden away. She must have to be able to endure Blake for so long, let alone hide it so well from everyone. That thought made him want to swing for Blake. Jason just couldn’t understand what could possess anyone to cause Aliya pain. There was such goodness and tenderness in her that to make her hurt like that should go against the very laws of nature! There was only one solution. He would show Aliya how a woman should be treated. He would open her eyes to the fact that he should be the one she spent the rest of her life with. And she would have to accept that, because for Jason, now that he understood the depth of his feelings for her, he would not back off. Nor could he allow Aliya to accept anyone but him.

[tommysize1]

if you read and comment on this il return the favour.

It had been an excruciatingly long drive, but jon's mum had finally gotten them to their new home after taking the wheel off of jon's dad, who's maverick route planning system of taking seemingly random dirt track roads as possible shortcuts had failed miserably.
"so jon, what do you think of our new home town?" asked jons mum looking in the car mirror with a smile.
"he loves it! dont you jon?" replied jon's dad.
"yeah looks good" jon said with a sigh, his lack of enthusiasm clearly painted all over his face despite his words.

jon would rather his parents had never decided to move in the first place.
having to start a new school again wasn't something he was looking forward to, but at least this time he knew he wasn't going to be the only new kid as he was just about to start secondary school at the local college in this new town of his.
from out the car window jon had gathered that this town was incredibly green, as in nearly every house had a front garden with a tree and rows of bushes marking the boundries of properties.
he had to admit to himself, it looked a lot nicer than his old town.

his parents car turned the corner and drove past a big park, it didnt look like there was enough open space to play a full sized game of football though as their were to many trees in the way, a long windy path cut roughly through the centre of the park but the trees made it impossible to see right to the other side.
"hey jon! look a park! we could play some football there!"
"theres too many trees though dad"
"nonsense! just imagine they're defenders!"
jon's dad loved football, the one thing jon considered that they had in common.
"i guess we could use them as goal posts"
"thats the spirit jon! we'll show the locals a thing or two about how well we can play an' all eh?"
"not so fast boys!" jons mum piped up.
"we have to unpack first!"

just as jons mum had said that she turned the car up a short gravel driveway, parked the car, pulled the handbrake up and turned the engine off.
the family sat in silence for a few seconds.
"well this is it" jons mum said in relief, as though she thought they might not actually make it there.
"home sweet home" jons dad said as he turned to face jon in the car.
"seeing as this is the first time you've seen the house, take the keys and have a look around"
he took the keys out of his top shirt pocket and dangled them in the air, waiting for jon to reach out and grab them.
although jon wasn't that bothered, he considered to himself what would be more fun: exploring his new house or helping his parents unpack?

jon reached out and snatched the keys.
hard work was something he was good at avoiding.
as jon flung open the car door and started to run up to the front entrance of the house he could see his mum out of the corner of his eye looking at his dad with an annoyed expression, she obviously had wanted to get jon to help unpack.
jon felt a little guilty not helping but quickly stuck the key in the door and escaped into the house before his mum convinced his dad to change his mind.

.........................................any mistakes? or anything you would change?

[tommysize1]

.....................