Aliyah cried herself to sleep that night and the next night and the next night until Isabelle felt like she had had enough.
She grabbed Aliyah's phone and Aliyah tried to grab it from her.

"What are you doing?" Aliyah asked with her arms crossed over her chest.

"Calling your fiancée."

"Why?"

"You told  me you had missed Arab meals."

"So?"

"I am tired of you wailing and crying every night."

"So?"

"You are going out tonight and don't worry Mrs Stone Heart won't find out. I will cover up for you."

"I am not going anywhere with -" Aliyah had to stop mid way as Isabelle put the phone on her ear.

"Hey." She heard Jaffar say on the other line.

"Hello?" She answered awkwardly and looked at Isabelle who stuck her tongue out for her.

"Sup?" He asked .

"I uuh.umm"

"Are you okay?" Jaffar pretended to care. He had to because his father made it clear that he must make it work with Aliyah or else he loses everything.

"Not really." She said after hearing his concerned voice.

"I will come pick you up in twenty." He said.

†************†***********†*****

Marla knew this whole engagement thing will cost them a lot. She went crazy when Aliyah called him. She wanted to find her and rip her apart when he heard Jaffar saying he was going to pick her up in twenty.

"Dude!" She shouted after he hanged up.

"What?" He asked as he put on his jacket.

"This is supposed to be our night in. Where do you think you are going?"

"I have to. I have to be nice to her or else I lose everything."

"I will be here for you even if you lose everything."

"Yea right." Jaffar smirked. "You will run the moment my dad deprives me of all these luxury."

Marla didn't argue since she knew it was true. He was the one paying for all her bills and bought her the apartment they were in.
***************************

Jaffar smiled when he saw her. She seemed like a mess. Her scarf was crooked and her eyes seemed tired.

"You look like you got hit by a bus." He commented and Isabelle smiled.

"Haa! I like this guy." She said and slapped him on the back. He faked an ouch and Aliyah smiled.

"Aaaaw!" Isabelle said. "You smiled."

"Go back in before Mrs Stonert finds out we are gone." Aliyah said and she walked away.

"You got a crazy friend." Jaffar said.

"Yea. She is a keeper."

"So we drive around or we go for a walk?"

"Actually I was thinking, dinner?" Aliyah said.

"At this hour?"

"We are in New York. There must be a place opened."

"Okay." Jaffar said. He found her too talkative that night.

"Ooh and I want Arab meals."

"Are you kidding me?" Jaffar was shocked. "We will have to go far. Aren't you afraid it will get late?"

"Other nights, yes. Tonight, no!"

"Ooh okkkay?" He said as he started the car.

She wanna go coocoo on me! Went the voice  in his head. Damn I hate my dad for forcing me to do this.

************†**********†*********
They ate their dinner and Aliyah surprisingly cried a little.

"Why did you cry?" Jaffar asked her as they were just walking around. It was around 10pm.

"I just missed Arab foods. Ooh and that tea, it was so good."

"Okay, you are officially the most weird girl I know."

They talked about everything and anything. Jaffar could not believe he was actually having fun.

"Can I ask something?"

"Yea sure." Jaffar said still smiling.

"What happened to your mother?" Jaffar's smile faded and Aliyah wished she hadn't asked that.

"She died." He said through gritted teeth.

"Mine too." She said trying to make the situation even.

"How did she die?" He suddenly asked after a long silence.

"Heart attack." She said trying hard not to remember the things that had happened in her life before.

"Mine had Cancer." He said and smiled. Aliyah looked at him and noticed for the first time that he had a dimple on his right cheek. Haytham has one too, but on his left cheek. She has on both of her cheeks.

"Let's not talk about that. What do you say we go to the Central park. It's beautiful at night."

"Am all in." Jaffar said and they drove to the park.
Marla called a few times but he ignored her. He was having fun.