Fractured Innocence (#2 IFICS) Read Online Free Page B

village, they looked at her like she was a witch child. She’d grown used to the stares and the whispers, but here in America, she sorta blended in. This was one of the many things she had grown to love about the States. 
    Aaliyah realized she was still holding the vase and standing outside the doorway. The boy was still staring at her. 
    He cleared his throat as he stepped back, letting her pass him and enter the enormous house. A large chandelier hung in the open living room off to the left. She’d been awed by the rainbow colors reflecting off the light. Even today she could recall the feeling of longing to run her hand on the grand piano and wondering if the boy played. She’d later learned he played the piano as if his fingers were made of magic.    
    And then he uttered the words that changed her life forever. 
    “Will you go to the movies with me tonight?”
    Thankfully, she didn’t drop the vase. The request came out of nowhere. It was hard to breathe let alone speak.  “The movies? With you?” 
    “I know it’s sudden, but I’m afraid if I don’t ask now, I’ll never see you again.” 
    “Oh.” Aaliyah wasn’t sure what to say. This perfect boy wanted to see her again? She nodded her head. He was quite right. He probably never would see her again. “I would like that.” 
    “Where can I pick you up?”
    “I don’t live in a nice neighborhood.” She wasn’t embarrassed by their apartment, but felt she should warn him. The crime rate was high and not the safest part of the city. 
    “I don’t care. What’s your address?” 
    Aaliyah rattled off the address, her heart racing a mile a minute. They had been inseparable since that day. She had never believed in love at first sight, but it was instant for both of them. His parents did not approved at first, but they had come to accept her. Even like her.
    “Where did you go? Daydreaming again?” Noah laughed, wrapping his arms around her. 
    “I was thinking about the day we met.” 
    “I think about that day often. One of the best days of my life.” Noah’s lips met hers. His lips were soft and he tasted like cola and mint. She was breathless when they finally pulled away. She always got lost in his kisses. It wasn’t natural to be this happy. Was it? She didn’t care. As long as it lasted she would enjoy it. 
    “I should go,” Aaliyah said looking at the massive wooden clock on the wall. “I need to hurry to catch the bus.”
    “I wish you’d let me drive you home.” 
    “It’s too far away. And like you said you have a test tomorrow. You can drop me off at the bus station.”
     
     
    A short while later, Aaliyah hopped off the bus and hustled to get home quickly. The sun was dipping below the horizon. If she hurried, she would have just enough time to drop off her bag, check on her mamma and be a few minutes early to pick up Darrius. 
         More than anything, she hated to be late. 
    It was freezing out. She rubbed her hands together, wishing for the third time that she’d worn gloves as she made her way into the shabby apartment building. One good thing about the cold was that it kept the bad seeds from hanging out in front of the building. She hated the way they teased her. They often grabbed her school bag or yelled out crude things. Disgusting. 
    Ignoring the ratty elevator, she ran up the five flights of stairs and down the dingy hallway with the warped, drooping ceiling. An old woman passed her with a little white dog on a leash. Aaliyah said hello, but the lady didn’t bother to look up let alone reply. Most people in the building kept to themselves. 
      Not exactly a friendly bunch . 
    As she opened the door, Aaliyah was met with the smell of cigarette smoke and sandalwood incense. It really bothered her that Darrius’s father would not quit smoking. 
    Inside wasn’t much warmer than outside, but at least inside there wasn’t the freezing wind that cut through the bones. Her mother sat on the