Chapter 7

And there they were again, sat around the Braxton table staring at a text message. This time though it was Brax, Heath and Aaliyah, Riley was sat on the sofa watching cartoons. "Are you sure you can't think of anyone else it could be?" Brax asked finally breaking the silence. "It has to be him, if it was someone Johnny had sent they wouldn't be commenting on how hot I looked, lets face it they wouldn't dare" Brax nodded. Heath didn't speak. He was thinking about what Aaliyah had said. If Johnny really was that bad, maybe starting a relationship with this woman wasn't such a great idea. His thoughts were interrupted "What do you think Heath?" Brax spoke, "What...er…yeah?" he replied not really knowing what Brax was asking him. Aaliyah and Brax threw each other a confused look which Heath picked up on "What was the question?" he responded finally rejoining the conversation. "I was just saying maybe one of us should stay at Aaliyah's place for a few nights until we work out what's going on" Heath nodded, hoping Brax wouldn't ask him to do it. Although he didn't want to embark on a relationship with Aaliyah, he knew if he had to stay with her he wouldn't be able to keep his hands off her. She was hot after all. "Maybe Casey could stay with you" Brax suggested. This caused Heath and Aaliyah both to look up. Heath nodded then added "Yeah, Casey". Aaliyah reluctantly agreed, she wasn't sure if Casey would want to do it. But if he did at least she would be able to talk to him.

Aaliyah was sat in the lounge listening to the argument next door; she assumed Brax had told Casey he had to stay with her. After another 10 minutes of shouting the argument finally ended when Casey stormed out slamming the door. Aaliyah felt bad, she knew why Casey felt this. She decided she had to do something, she grabbed her phone and started tapping a message- Case, please can we talk – Aaliyah hit the send button, hoping for a reply. After a few minutes she got a reply- Leave me alone, you've said enough- Aaliyah was saddened by Casey's reply. She knew how upset he must be feeling. It was getting late, she realised he wasn't going to come back so she decided to take herself off to bed. She had never needed a protector before, so why did she need one now. She couldn't have been more wrong.

She woke after hearing a loud noise. Suddenly there was a loud crash outside; she dialled the last person she had contacted, Casey. It rang and then went dead; she tried a few more times but nothing. There was another bang outside. Aaliyah's motherly instinct sent her into Riley's room, he was still asleep. Aaliyah could hear someone outside Riley's window as she opened the blind to look there was someone stood the other side of the glass looking in, Aaliyah screamed, waking Riley up. Then BANG someone had kicked the door down. Aaliyah was frantic, she quickly grabbed Riley's cricket bat walking out of Riley's room "Ali" she recognized the voice instantly as Casey's. Relief swept over her as she fell into him. "Outside, there's someone outside!" Aaliyah sobbed. Brax and Heath, who had followed Casey in, turned and ran outside. They couldn't see anybody.

Back inside Casey was still holding Aaliyah, Riley was watching his mum sobbing. He went and gave her a hug. She pulled him onto her knee and hugged him tightly.

The Braxton's stayed with Aaliyah for a while after the police had gone. They were informed that the guy had been caught a few streets away trying to break into another house. He had been on the prowl for weeks. Aaliyah and Riley were on the sofa cuddled up; they had both dropped to sleep. Brax covered them over with throw, from off the back of the sofa. He then turned to his siblings they all shared the same look. "Someone needs to stay here" Brax ordered looking at Casey. "If you don't want to then I will" he added sternly. "No, I'll do it" Casey replied. Casey realised that what ever had happened between Aaliyah and Heath didn't matter anymore. All he knew was he couldn't bare it if anything had happened to her tonight. It scared the life out of him and he never wanted to feel like that again.

Aaliyah woke from her sleep a few hours later. It was 11.30am. As she slowly opened her eyes she saw Casey sat on the chair opposite her. Riley was still fast asleep, Casey had moved him into his own bed. Aaliyah sat up-right so she was now at eye level with Casey. "I'm so sorry" she stuttered, Casey stood up and sat beside her. "Hey it doesn't matter anymore, it's not important" He replied gently taking her hands. "All that matter's is that you're ok" Casey leant forward and kissed Aaliyah. This time it didn't feel wrong or complicated. It felt right; Casey put his hand up to the side of her face, Aaliyah did the same, she gently pulled him back onto the sofa, he was now laid over her. "We don't have to" Casey broke away from the kiss. "I know what I want" Aaliyah responded kissing him again.

Casey lay beside Aaliyah on the sofa with a blanket on them, her was tracing her spine with his fingers "It didn't mean anything you know" Aaliyah spoke softly. "As far as I'm concerned it didn't happen, all that's important is this, me and you" Casey replied kissing her head.

Their romantic moment was ruined by a knock on the door "Aaliyah it's Gina" a voice shouted through the door. "Shit" Aaliyah exclaimed as she shot off the sofa. "Quick, get in the shower" Aaliyah was throwing Casey's clothes at him. Casey scooped them up and ran into the bathroom; Aaliyah quickly put on her dressing gown and went to the door, scanning the room one last time for any clothes that shouldn't be there. She took a deep breath and opened the door. "Gina, Hi" she yelled hoping Casey would hear her. Gina looked abit puzzled as to who Aaliyah was yelling at. "I just came over to see if you were ok, John said he heard you were almost broken into last night" Gina seemed concerned. "Oh, yeah I'm fine, I was just about to go in the shower actually" Aaliyah was trying to get rid of her. "Oh, ok well I just came by to let you know if you needed anytime off work to recover then that would be understandable" Gina smiled. Aaliyah just nodded "Thanks Gina" she flashed a grin at the confused looking head mistress before shutting the door. Casey waited a few minutes before rejoining Aaliyah in the kitchen he had put his shorts back on. Aaliyah was pouring herself a coffee, when Casey came up behind her putting his arms around her causing her to giggle. "So you're going for a shower, maybe I could help you with that" He spoke softly in her ear before kissing her neck. "Casey, stop it" Aaliyah giggled trying to move him away. Casey took a step back just in time, because out of no-where Riley appeared. "Hey, baby did you have a good sleep" Aaliyah rushed over to Riley hugging him. Riley nodded rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. "Did I miss breakfast" he said sleepily. Aaliyah and Casey both laughed at the little boys comment.

It had been a few day's since the whole burglar incident. Aaliyah and Casey had been having secret liaisons whenever they could. The fact Brax had asked him to stay there had made it alot easier for the secret lovers.

It was her first day back at school after the few days off she had allowed herself 'to recover from recent incidents' as Gina had called them. Aaliyah was on time for a change, Casey had already left for school, he had wanted to catch up with Xavier and a few of his other friends. As Aaliyah pulled up outside Riley's school he turned to face her "Do you think I will see Scott at school today Mum?" he asked innocently. "Who's Scott sweetie, one of your school friends?" Aaliyah asked reaching to the passenger foot well to get her bag. "No it's the man that talk's to me at the school gate at break time" Aaliyah froze at her son's words. "What man?" Aaliyah quizzed a worried looking Riley. "Have I been naughty mum?" Aaliyah put her hand on her sons arm, "No baby of course not, but listen to me you mustn't talk to anybody you don't know, ok" Aaliyah tried to explain to her son without scaring him too much. After dropping Riley off, Aaliyah had a word with his teacher, to make sure they keep an eye on who he talks to at the gate, and if they see hi again to contact the police.

Her chat with Riley's school teacher had made her a little late. She hurried up the corridor and straight into her first lesson which was a double lesson with year 10 students. After the bell had rung for break Aaliyah's classroom had cleared. She took her phone out of the top drawer of her desk. She felt her heart sink as she realized she had a message, she couldn't bare to read it. After finally picking up the courage, she was relieved the message was from Heath-Hiya, so Darcy want's to know if Riley can come to our house tonight for tea?- Aaliyah smiled, and replied with a simple yeah sure, I'll drop him off after school. Aaliyah hadn't seen Casey all day, he didn't have any lessons with her, and she had spent lunchtime with Bianca at the Diner, filling her in on her scary experience. Obviously she left out the bit about Casey. She had a feeling not everyone would be as happy about their relationship as her and Casey were. Besides she enjoyed the secret meetings, it made it exciting and she was happy to keep it that way for now.

Ok so I know Casey and Aaliyah happened abit quick, But I wanted Aaliyah's night with Heath to be the thing that finally brings them together. Hope you are all still enjoying it. A big thank-you, to all who have reviewed, and added me to your alerts/favourites. Please keep reading and reviewing. My next chapter maybe a bit longer but it will be action packed!

Coming up-

Aaliyah and Casey are nearly caught out, who by?

The school makes a big mistake, is Riley's life in danger?

Aaliyah makes a shocking discovery, whose life is about to change forever?