Chapter 5

Aaliyah's morning had gone slowly, she welcomed the lunchtime bell. The silence that filled the school was like heaven. Aaliyah sat at her desk and took a deep breath in. Last nights events had finally caught up with her. Her moment was interrupted by a gentle knock at the classroom door. She looked round to see a glamorous young woman standing before her. She was wearing a high waist black pencil skirt, a cream blouse and a pair of black court shoes. Her hair was pulled back into a high ponytail. Aaliyah smiled, she recognized the woman as Bianca Scott. The school languages teacher. "I was just heading to the Diner for lunch and I wondered if you would like to join me" Bianca asked politely. Aaliyah nodded, she was grateful for the distraction, she quickly grabbed her bag from the side of her desk and followed Bianca out of the door and into the car park.

As the pair arrived in the Diner Bianca made her way to the counter. Aaliyah scanned the faces sat at the tables (checking for anyone who might be linked to Dylan) there was no-one she could recognize. When she was satisfied she finally made her way over to the counter and joined her new friend. Irene was stood the other side of the counter ready to take the girls orders. "So what can I get you Darl?" she asked Bianca as she grabbed a small note pad from the side of the till. "Er, can I get a Latte and a chicken salad please Irene" Bianca smiled as she looked at Aaliyah. "Yum, that sound's great, can I have the same but with a sparkling water instead of a coffee please" Aaliyah added.

They girls made their way over to an empty table and sat at it. "So, what's it like living next door to the Braxton's. Gina said it was like on constant house party when she lived there" Bianca asked eagerly. Aaliyah giggled a little "Not as bad as people think, they're not that bad actually" she replied a little defensive, she had no idea why but hearing someone slag them off had annoyed her a little. "So anyway tell me some more about your relationship with Liam?" Aaliyah broke the awkward silence immediately. The girls spent the next 45 minutes simply putting the world to rights. They had discussed anyone and everyone in Summer Bay, well everyone except for one person. "So you didn't tell me why you came to the bay" Bianca finally asked. Aaliyah didn't really want to reply so she changed the subject pretty sharpish. "Oh my god, look at the time" she exclaimed looking at her watch. Bianca also noticed how late it was getting. The women hurried back to school. As Aaliyah parked up in the car park Bianca turned to her. "I had a great time with you today" she smiled. Aaliyah nodded, it had been nice to have a conversation with someone, that didn't revolve around her past, or Riley. "Listen, maybe if you fancy it later we could go for a drink at Angelo's I can't remember the last time I went out" Aaliyah's eyes widened at Bianca suggestion. "I would love too, but I can't. I haven't got anybody to watch Riley" she replied a little disappointed. A night out sounded great. "Oh, that's OK. Why don't I bring a bottle of wine to your place instead?" Aaliyah nodded quickly "Erm…Riley goes to bed at 7pm so how about 7.30" Bianca grinned "It's a date" she replied before getting out of the car.

Aaliyah's day seemed to drag after lunch. She was relieved she didn't have a class with Casey. All she wanted to do was fetch her son from school and spend some time with him. She had decided to take him to the beach after school. He had been bugging her to go for the last few days. Aaliyah didn't know if she was heading to the beach to please or son or to simply avoid a run in with a certain teenager. As she sat on the sand next to Riley helping him build a sand castle she looked up and saw a familiar tattooed figure approaching her. He flashed her a big grin before dropping down in the sand beside her. "Hey, Heath" Riley said flicking his head up to look at the guy who was sat rather close to his mum. "So what do you think of my sand castle" Riley seemed to idolize Heath. "Yeah, it's awesome mate" Heath responded, turning his attention to Aaliyah "So, I was thinking, well more like wondering actually…Casey's offered to have Riley tonight, so I can take you out" Heath stumbled a little over his words. "Casey offered" Aaliyah was a bit confused. Why would he offer to do this? It was only this morning he had practically declared his love. "OK, so maybe not offered…I told him I'd pay him to do it" Heath smiled cheekily. Aaliyah laughed. This sounded more like it. "Well as attractive as that offer is, I've kinda got plans for tonight" Aaliyah replied. "Yeah like what" Aaliyah could tell Heath was a little disappointed. "Ive got a girly night in planned with Bianca, granted a girls night out would have been better but you know" Heaths smile returned a little when he realized Aaliyah's date was with another woman. He grinned even wider when an idea popped into his head "I tell you what I'll do a deal with you" Aaliyah looked at him curiously before gesturing him to continue "I'll come over and watch Riley for you tonight so you and Bianca can go out, as long as you let me pay Casey to watch Riley, so I can take you out for dinner on Friday night" Aaliyah couldn't help but smile at Heath's cockiness, but she had to admit, it did seem like a pretty good deal "Yeah, OK…but on one condition, dinner with you is not a date" she was adamant she didn't want Heath to get the wrong idea, even though she did enjoy flirting with him.

After her conversation with Heath on the beach Aaliyah wasted no time in texting Bianca- Hiya Sweetie, do you still fancy that night out. Seems like I have a babysitter after all ;-) x x x- Bianca smiled as she read the message, she quickly text her reply- Hiya yeah, sounds great I'll meet you in Angelo's at 7.30 ;-) x

Aaliyah was adding the final touches to her outfit when she heard a knock at the door. It was Heath. "Wow" he sighed as he looked her up and down. Aaliyah was putting the back on her ear-ring. She was wearing a simple little black dress which hugged her torso tightly paired with a pair of red platform shoes and a red clutch bag. Her hair was pulled up into a high ponytail with curls falling around each side of her shoulders. Her fringe swept across her face resting on top of her eyelashes. "I hope you're going to make this much effort when I take you out on Friday" Heath beamed confidently. Aaliyah just blushed a little before responding "My numbers on the fridge. We are only going to Angelo's so if you need me call me. I have told Riley you will be watching him" As Aaliyah looked up Heath was still watching her with that grin; she raised her eye brows as she waited for him to let her know he had heard it all. "Yeah OK" he nodded still staring at the blond. "I shouldn't be any later that 11" She took one last look in the mirror before turning to Heath "Thanks for this" she smiled finally before leaving the house.

As Aaliyah walked into Angelo's most of the men who were seated at the tables had looked up to pay attention to her. She felt a little uncomfortable as she made her way over to the bar, where she had seen Bianca perched on a bar stool. Even Brax stopped to notice Aaliyah approach. "Hi, wow you look hot" Bianca said as she spun round to greet her friend "Er, thanks you too" Aaliyah replied shyly. She had never been one to take a compliment well. "Well I hope you don't mind but I've taken the liberty of ordering our first drinks" Bianca pointed to the large glass of red wine that was stood on the bar. "Thanks" Aaliyah replied as she took quite a big swig of her drink. Brax and Bianca threw each other a look before Bianca spoke "So, Brax tell me you have left Riley with Heath, are you feeling brave" Bianca asked a little smugly. "What's that supposed to mean" Aaliyah was a little concerned as to exactly what Bianca meant. "Well let's just say if it came to someone looking after my kids Heath would be my last choice" Bianca explained. Aaliyah snapped "Are you insinuating I would leave my son with just anyone" she yelled before lowering her voice, after realizing she had drawn some attention "You might have a problem with Heath but I trust him completely with my son. And besides Riley idolizes him, and believe me that don't happen very often" Aaliyah felt Bianca's hand on her arm. "I'm sorry I shouldn't have said that, of course Riley will be fine" she smiled apologizing for her comment. The girls didn't let their disagreement ruin their night. They still manage to drink 2 bottles of red wine, 4 shots of sambuca and a couple of Bourbons. Brax couldn't help but laugh at the slightly drunk woman trying to help each other.

When Aaliyah arrived home she practically fell through the door, Heath nearly shot out of his skin before smiling. It must have been a good night he thought to himself. Aaliyah giggled as she kept bumping into things telling them to shush and be quiet. Heath found this quite amusing, as he helped her into bed, Aaliyah threw the covers back "Why don't you join me" she slurred. Heath would have loved to join her, but he knew she was in no fit state to make that offer right now. He pulled the covers back around her and kissed her on the cheek. "Maybe some other time" he whispered in her ear before quietly leaving the bedroom and then the house, locking the door and posting the keys behind him.

When Aaliyah woke up she felt as though she had been hit by a train, she looked at the time. It was 8.45; thank god it was a Sunday she thought to herself. What the hell had she been drinking last night? She shuffled her feet the best she could into Riley's bedroom, he was still fast asleep. She decided a shower might help her head, that and a couple of aspirin. As she was in the shower she heard a beep on her phone, followed by another one. After she had finished she grabbed a towel wrapped it around her torso and went to inspect the text messages- Morning Babe how's your head? Last night was fun we must do it again soon B x Aaliyah smiled as she remembered some of the previous nights activities. The smile was soon wiped off her face when she read the next message- Good night was it? You might wanna check you car over before you take it out! Aaliyah felt sick as she read this message. It was 10.30 when Riley finally woke up. Aaliyah had been sat at the kitchen table staring at her phone since she had received the text. She decided to act upon it. She opened the door and headed across the porch to the Braxton's house, she saw Brax on the drive unloading some surfboards from his Ute. "Hey, have you got a minute" Aaliyah asked walking over the oldest Braxton brother. Brax nodded "Yeah, why what's up?" Aaliyah wasn't sure how to reply. "Er. Do you know anything about cars?" Brax just responded with another nod "OK so this is gonna sound crazy, but would you mind giving it the once over for me, I've got this niggling feeling something might be wrong with it" Aaliyah was sure Brax would think she was crazy but he didn't question her at all. "Yeah, no worries have you got the keys" Aaliyah tossed him the keys. She watched him eagerly as he lifted the bonnet and gave it once over. As he finally appeared from under the car, he looked a little concerned "What is it, what's wrong" she asked nervously. "Your brakes have been tampered with, if you took car out today, you wouldn't have been able to stop" Brax was horrified, Aaliyah's face went pale she tried to speak but couldn't. "Why did you want me to check the car anyway?" Brax asked curiously. "Er…I got this message earlier, asking me if I enjoyed my night, then telling me to check my car before I go out in it" Aaliyah re-read the message on her phone. "Let me see that" Brax reached out and took the phone off Aaliyah, he read the message, then dialed the number. There was no dialing tone; the number was not in use. Whoever had sent that message had disconnected the phone straight after.

Well as far as hangover cures go, Aaliyah was pretty sure this one must have been the best!

I wonder who tampered with the brakes of Aaliyah's car; do you think it was them who sent the text message?

I have decided Aaliyah should have a female friend, someone she can gossip with and do lunch with. And maybe eventually some one she can confide in? Please let me know what you think of the story so far. Please R&R I would love to hear your opinions and ideas x x

Coming up-

Heath takes Aaliyah out for dinner but there night is cut short, who by?

Aaliyah continues to be watched, do they mean her harm or are they just looking out for her?