"I'm swinging higher than you," Milana says on the swing beside me.

No your not. I'm swinging higher," I say swinging.

Milana laughs. "Dude I've always been able to swing higher than you. Ever since we were kids," she says.

I turn to look at her. "Yeah right," I said rolling my eyes. I slow down and get off the swing.

"Hey, why'd you get off?" She asks.

"I'm gonna go get ice cream. Wanna come?" I ask her.

She frowns. "I can't," she says.

I furrow my eyebrows. "Why not?" I ask her confused.

Her face is blank and her mouth is in a straight line. "I'm dead," she says bluntly.

I chuckle. "What? No, you not," I say laughing at her joke.

"I am. I've been dead for two years," she tells me.

"Haha very funny. Now cmon, I wanna get ice cream," I say walking away from the swings.

"I'm serious. This isn't real. Your asleep," she yells out in a humorless voice.

I stop walking and I feel frustrated. "Oh yeah? Then how am I talking to you?" I ask.

"BECAUSE YOUR DREAMING," she yells out but her voice feels far away. I turn around and I look to the swings to see that it's empty. The swing is still going but nobody is there. I look around and nobody is there but me. I'm the only one in the park.

Where did she go? She was right there. She was in that swing but now she's not. So where is she?

"I'M WHAT?" I yell out, angry and confused. I feel scared and lonely because no one is here and I'm all alone. I look up at the sky to see it's gone from bright to dark in a matter of seconds.

I gasp when I feel a hand on my shoulder and jump. I've spun around and my eyes immediately meet black ones. It's Milana, only she looks different. She looks dead and less alive than before.

"YOU HEARD ME. NOW WAKE UP," she screams in my face.

My eyes open and I sit up gasping for breath. My lungs feel tight like I can't breathe and my heart and racing fast. Sweat is coming all down my back and my body is shaking uncontrollably. I throw the covers off and pull my legs up to my chest. I count to twenty to get my heart rate under control.

Once I'm calm, I hurriedly get out of bed and take off my pajamas. I grab some running shorts, a sports bra, and my Nikes. I put them on and then I grab my phone and AirPods and head out of my room. I head down the stairs and out the door. I make sure to grab my key so I don't get locked out. I look at my phone to see it's 5:30 am.

I put on some music and put my AirPods in my ears. My phone is in my armband so that I don't have to carry it. I start running, keeping a steady pace until I decide to speed up.
I keep on going to the next street without stopping. The music is pounding my ears but it's what keeps me going.  I run and I run until sweat is just coming down my body.

When I finally stop running, I look around to see that I ended back on my street. I take deep breaths to slow my heart rate down because it's beating fast. I take a minute to rest before going back to my house. I take my phone out and the time says 6:15.

I run back to my house and up my driveway to my front door. I get my key out of my phone case and open the door with it. I go inside and lock the door behind me. I go to the stairs and head up them as quietly as I can.

When I pass my brother's room I'm very quiet so that I don't wake him. Thank god his door's closed. I don't want him asking why I am up this early and why do I have on running gear.

I go to my room, take off my clothes and get in the shower. I get my sponge and lather up and then rinse off. I grab my towel as I'm getting out and wrap it around me.

I decide to get ready for school because I'm not gonna be able to go back to sleep anyways. I go to my closet and pick out an outfit. I choose a white crop top, with blue ripped jeans and my black leather jacket. I pair it with my black Adidas.  My makeup today is nude eyeshadow, with black mascara, and nude lipstick. I straighten my hair with the flat iron.

Once I'm ready, I go downstairs to the kitchen and make some waffles in the waffle maker. The timer goes off and I take my waffles out then pour some syrup on me. I get a glass of orange juice to begins eating while looking on Snapchat.

I hear footsteps coming into the kitchen, and my brother walks in looking like he just woke up. He yawns and ruffles his messy hair, walking straight to the coffee machine.

He makes a cup of coffee, then turns around, looking surprised to see me there.

"What are you doing up this early?" He asks confused.

"What does it look like I'm doing? I'm eating breakfast," I say in a duh tone.

He raises his eyebrows. "Yeah I know that, but why?" He asks.

I just shrug. "I was hungry. Plus it's almost time to go to school anyway," I lied.

"Dude school starts at 8:30 and you're never awake at this time. You always get up at like 7:30. It's currently 7:00.

"Maybe I wanted a head start to my day," I tell him.

"Right. Sure," he says, not convinced.

I continue eating my breakfast in silence until our parents walk in.

"Good morning kids. How was your first day yesterday?" Dad asks.

"Morning. It was good and I have some pretty good classes," Alden tells him.

"Well good. I'm glad to hear that. What about you Aaliyah?"

I look up from my phone. "Uhh it was fine I guess. I made some new friends."

He raises an eyebrow. "These friends won't  get you into any trouble will they?"

"No sir. They won't. They're good friends dad," I tell him.

"Hm. I'll believe it when I'll see it," he replies.

"What about you Alden? Make any new friends?" Mom asks him.

"Yeah, I did. They're in a couple of my classes and one plays baseball and the other plays soccer," he tells her.

"Wow, that's wonderful honey. I'm so happy that we moved here. I can tell there's gonna be some greats things happening in our lives."

Great things huh? Well, we will see.

I finish eating and then I put my plate in the dishwasher. I go back upstairs to brush my teeth and then I grab my phone and bag.

As I'm coming down the stairs, Alden comes around the corner.

"You're leaving already?" He asks.

"Yeah. I'm gonna stop at Starbucks on the way," I say walking past him. He grabs my arm making me turn.

"You okay?" He asks concerned.

I smile. "Yeah. Why wouldn't I be."

"Okay. Just checking," he smiles back.

"Okay. See ya at school. Bye."

I walk past him, heading to the garage, and only then do I release the breath that I was holding.

That was close. Very close. For a minute I thought he'd see right through my lies. I'm
glad didn't though. I can't have him worrying and stressing over me like he's done in the past two years. I just can't.

The garage opens and I walk to my black Ashton Martin. I get in and turn on the car then bag out the driveway. I head to the nearest Starbucks.  I don't feel like getting out so I just go around the window. 

The woman at the window asks me what I want so I order an ice passion tango tea. I pay with my credit card and she hands me my drink. I sip on it while driving to school.

I pull up in the school parking lot and find a space. I finish my drink in the car because we aren't to bring food and drinks from restaurants inside the school.

I grab my stuff and get out of the car. I lock my doors before heading inside. People are staring at me as I'm walking inside. It's honestly getting on my nerves. Yeah I know I'm the new girl but damn. All that staring is unnecessary. Like, get a life, please. Thank you.

I go to my locker and open it to grab what I need for class.

"Tell her that pineapple goes on pizza," Kinsley says walking up to me with Jocelyn.

"No it doesn't," Jocelyn says.

"Yes, it does. It's sweet and it has fiber," Natalie argues back.

"So? That doesn't mean it belongs on Pizza. I mean it's a fruit. Right Aaliyah?" She looks at me.

"Hey don't put me in this. This is between you and Kinsley," I say.

"But we need your opinion to settle this argument. Otherwise, we will still be arguing about as we did in the car," Kinsey says.

"Ok fine. I believe that pineapple does belong on pizza because it's good for you and it tastes good," I tell them.

"Ha. I told you. I was right all along," Kinsley says smirking.

Jocelyn rolls her eyes. "Whatever. I still wouldn't eat it on pizza. Now let's get to class before we're late."

We say our goodbyes and part ways. I head to my first-period class and something tells me today is going to be eventful.

A/N:

Wow, this chapter was a lot. Writing the beginning made me a little sad and emotional. I didn't think I was gonna dive into heavy stuff this early but I did. I admit it was hard to write tho.

Next few chapters you will be seeing Halden more. So get ready.😁😆

Who do you think Milana is? And who is she to Aaliyah?

Also, do you think that Aaliyah's parents are good?

Do you think that Aaliyah was wrong for not telling her brother?

Comment what you think. I wanna know your thoughts.

Also, I like pineapple on pizza. What about you guys?

Make sure to vote, comment, and share.

See you again my loves❤️