The Lies You Tell (2 page)

"Hi, I'm Ray, you're Aaliyah right?"

"Yeah, but, how'd you know my name?"

"I have my sources," Ray said with a smile

Aaliyah stood there with a puzzled look on her face until he finally said...

"No, the truth is I saw you when you walked in and I asked the library clerk for the book you just turned in so I could look at the checkout slip."

"Smooth, although I'm not sure I would've admitted that." Aaliyah giggled.

"Hey but, at least I'm honest and since we're being so straightforward, I was wondering would it be possible for me to get your number and text you sometime."

"No."

Ray had a defeated look on his face until Aaliyah continued to say...

"But, I suppose you could give me yours and when I have time I might text you."

In all reality, Aaliyah couldn't have been more excited that he had asked for her number but, she was trying to keep her cool. Ray gave her his number and she left making sure she walked away as gracefully as possible. Aaliyah walked in the house with a huge smile on her face; it was as if she was floating.

"What's wrong with you?" Cameron commented

"What's his name?" Jason followed

He knew that look, it was the same look Aaliyah had on her face when she first met her ex-boyfriend Chris but, this one was worse.

"Ray, such a simple name, for such an extraordinary man."

"Oh brother, and y’all tease me really?" sighed Cameron

"Tease all you want; this might just be your future brother-n-law," Aaliyah said

Jason and Cameron laughed and kept eating. 

"I'm serious, I'm just waiting for the right time to text him."

Aaliyah sat down with the guys to eat and kept thinking about Ray. After dinner, she went straight to her room where she had put her phone on the charger. She went into her message center and clicked new message. After five minutes of contemplating whether it was too soon or not, Aaliyah closed her text messages and laid down. Beginning to toss and turn, toss and turn, suddenly there was a loud scream. Jason burst into Aaliyah's room,

"Lele are you ok?"

Sitting up slightly groggy,

"Yeah I'm good J, sorry I was dreaming."

  "That must have been one bad dream"

"Not exactly," she said under her breath

"Huh?"

"Nothing J, good night."

After a dream like that, she knew she had to text Ray soon. Aaliyah had envisioned the two of them, all alone, making rough passionate love to one another. It was almost as if she could taste his smooth full lips, and feel his body gently nestled into hers. If Jason hadn't come in and woken her, she wouldn't have realized it was just a dream. They hadn’t even been on a date yet and her mind was racing like crazy.

Chapter 3

"Hey Ray, this is Aaliyah.” “Hope you're having a good day; on my way to class; talk with you later."

Finally getting up the courage to at least text Ray, Aaliyah was still a little nervous but, that dream of hers had gotten her curiosities flowing.

"Hey, my day is going pretty well; meet me for lunch after class?"

"Sure, see you then."

Aaliyah was so excited she could barely pay attention to her professor. As far as she was concerned this was their first date. The man she barely knew already had a hold over her that she just didn't understand. The clock struck 11:50a.m., professor Lawrence gave the homework assignment and Aaliyah darted out the door. Of course, she had to stop in the lady’s room to make sure she looked her best. When she finally made it to the campus cafe, she was greeted with a smile.

"Hello Beautiful,"

Aaliyah truly was beautiful, she stood at five foot four; seven with the three-inch heels she had worn to class. She used to dance and still held her coke bottle frame, with her caramel complected skin and pretty hazel eyes that'd make any man look twice. To top it all off, she had long flowing jet black hair that seemed to fall just right, just above the mid of her back. Ray pulled Aaliyah's chair out for her and she sat down.

"Thank you, you're such a gentleman."

“That’s just how my mom always taught me to be.”

“Sounds like a great woman.”

“Oh, she most certainly is.”

Aaliyah couldn’t help but to smile. She began to wonder if this was too good to be true. Smart, handsome, a gentleman, and single? There was no way.

“I have to admit after you didn’t text me yesterday, I thought you weren’t interested,” Ray Said

“I’m sorry I was just busy last night.”

“Well, I’m glad that was the case.” “So, Ms. Aaliyah, tell me about yourself.”

“What do you want to know?”

“Anything; Everything.”

Smiling Aaliyah says, “Ok, I’m twenty years old, I am studying to become a teacher, and I love to read, sing, and shop.”

Ray chuckles, “A lady as gorgeous as you have got to love shopping; so what kind of teacher do you want to be?”

“Well, I want to teach English but, I’m not sure what grade yet.”

“Ok, ok, cool.”

“Aaliyah looks at Ray and says, “What do you want to do?”

“Sports medicine.”

“Wow, nice!”

Ray and Aaliyah talked for hours, asking each other everything under the sun. They talked for so long Aaliyah didn’t even realize that it was way past time for her to pick Cam up from school. The only thing that got her attention was the fact that her phone began to ring.

“Oh shoot!” “I have to go.” “My little brother is waiting on me.” Aaliyah darted off.

“Ok, well Call me….” Ray tried to hurry and say, but Aaliyah was too far gone to hear him.

“Cam!” “I am so sorry, I got caught up at school,” Aaliyah said as Cam got in the Car.

“It’s all good, you’re here now; although, if I had my car, you wouldn’t have to worry about it,” Cam says, grinning from ear to ear.

“Yeah, yeah, ok, anyway, how was school?”

“It was fine.” Said Cam. “How was your day?”

Aaliyah smiles and says, “My day was amazing.”

“Let me guess, you saw that guy again?”

“Yep.”

“That’s cool and all sis, just don’t get caught up like last time.”

“Don’t worry little brother, I’m fine.”

“Ok, Aaliyah, I’m just saying.”

Aaliyah and Cam finally arrived home, both completely exhausted from the long day they’d had.

“Hey J.,” said Cam

“Hey J.” Said Aaliyah

“Hey, how was you all’s day?”

Cameron just looked at Jason and flopped down on the couch.

“Well, my day was long but amazing.”

“Yeah, I saw you walking to the campus café earlier, looking like you were in la la land.”

Aaliyah ignored Jason’s comment and walked into the kitchen to make herself a salad. To her delight when she sat down to eat, she noticed she had a text from Ray.

“Hey pretty lady, I had a great time talking with you earlier, hopefully, we can do it again.”

Aaliyah smiled as she read the message and replied, “Sure, I’d love that.” “How about this weekend?” “I’ll have more time.”

“Sounds good to me, send me your address, I’ll pick you up.” “I have the perfect spot.”

Aaliyah couldn’t have been more excited. She text Ray her address and told him good night. From that moment on all, she could think about is when she’d see Ray again. The days went by and while they shared a few texts, Aaliyah had been determined not to talk to Ray too much. She wanted to make sure that they had plenty to talk about on their date.

Chapter 4

Saturday finally arrived. Jason took Cam to their parent’s house for the weekend and Jason was helping their father with some long overdue chores around the house. With the house all to herself, and with no one to tease her, Aaliyah took extra time to look incredibly beautiful for her night out with Ray. The doorbell rang and Aaliyah felt butterflies. She hurried to the door and opened it.

“Hi, ma’am, I have a package here for a Jason Davis.”  It was just the UPS man. Aaliyah’s heart sank.

“Sure I’ll sign for it.”

“Thank you, ma’am, you have a great day.”

Aaliyah shut the door and then; ding dong

She opens the door.

“Yes, may I help you?”

Well, I thought we had a date today but, if now isn’t a good time…” Said Ray with a smile

“No, no, I’m sorry, the UPS guy just left and I thought maybe he forgot something.” “I mean, never mind.” “I’m so embarrassed.”

Ray says, “Don’t be, It’s all good.”

“I just need to grab my purse and I’m ready.”

Ray looked around as Aaliyah grabbed her bag. Aaliyah stepped outside and locked the door. She turned around to see Ray’s silver drop top Mercedes with black chrome wheels sitting in the parking lot.

“Nice Car,” She says.

“Thank you.”

“I didn’t even know those were out yet.”

“They’re not but, my dad works for the company and, well, here we are.

“Wow! That must be nice.”

“’Yeah, it is,” Ray answers with a grin.

Ray opened the car door, allowing Aaliyah to get in and, then they’re off.

“So that’s a nice place you have there, you live all by yourself?” Ray asks.

“Thank you, umm no, I live with my two brothers.”

“Ooooh snap, two brothers, I guess I better watch out huh?”

Laughing Aaliyah says, “Their bark, is much worse than their bite, you’ll be just fine.”

“I don’t know; they might pull out a shotgun on me with a sister as gorgeous as you.”

All Aaliyah could do was blush and smile. Ray was real smooth and, Aaliyah was the bread to his butter. Ray and Aaliyah arrived at the destination for their date. It was a quiet little restaurant called, “The boardwalk café. Ray had arranged for the two of them a private table in the back. They walked in and the room was astonishing. There was a couch over on the side wall. The most beautiful crystal chandeliers, dimmed lighting, a grand piano in the corner and, to top it all off, a bottle of chilled sparkling cider. 

“Wow! Ray, this is amazing!” “I was not expecting all of this.”

“Something extraordinary for an extraordinary lady.”

“Aww, aren’t you sweet.”

“I try,” Ray replied with a grin.

The date had been a fairy tale for Aaliyah. Never in her wildest dreams would she ever have expected for this to be her. Sure, Aaliyah was beautiful and smart but, contrary to what many might believe, Aaliyah was very shy. She was always humble when men approached her. She hadn’t had that much experience dating because she and her ex-boyfriend Chris had been together since the sixth grade. When things ended with them, it devastated her. Aaliyah thought she and Chris would get married, have children and, live happily ever after. All the guys since just hadn’t been able to live up to Aaliyah’s dream of what she wanted in a guy. Ray had started to change all of that though. The night had come to an end and Ray and Aaliyah were back in the car headed back to her place. When they arrived, Ray got out and walked Aaliyah to the door.

“I wish this night didn’t have to end.” “I’ve had an amazing time.” Said Ray

“Me, too.” Said Aaliyah.

“So does that mean I’ll get a second date with you?”

“Absolutely, just let me know when.”

“Ok then, I’ll do just that.” “Good night Ms. Aaliyah.”

“Good night Ray.”

Ray leaned in and gave Aaliyah a kiss on her cheek. As he pulled back slowly their eyes connected and Aaliyah couldn’t help but to taste the lips she had been dreaming about.

Chapter 5

The moment Aaliyah kissed Ray she knew she had messed up. That first kiss made her so weak that she almost collapsed right into his arms. Aaliyah opened the door, leading Ray inside. They closed the door and Ray picked her up against the door, kissing her with a vigorous passion. He carried her over to the couch and laid her down gently and began taking off his jacket. All of a sudden, Aaliyah says…

“Wait, wait, wait.” “We can’t, I mean I want to but...”

Completely out of breath Aaliyah could barely make out her words. Ray looked at her and said…

No, no, You’re right this is our first date, let's slow it down.” “I umm, I should go.”

“Ok, I’ll walk you out.” Says Aaliyah. “Thank you for an amazing night.”

“It was my pleasure, pretty lady.” “Talk to you tomorrow?”

“Yes, good night.”

“Good night.”

As Aaliyah closed the door behind Ray, she almost wanted to call him back. In all her life, she had never wanted a man so much. She didn’t know why he had such a strong hold to her but, there was just something about him that she could not shake. She began to try to walk to her room and stumbled all the way there. By the time Ray got home he sent Aaliyah a text saying, “I’ll be thinking of you all night.” Aaliyah couldn’t even reply, her mind was racing. She tossed and turned, tossed and turned relentlessly. She decided to get up and take a shower in hopes that it would help her relax. Her adrenaline was just too high. When that didn’t work she tried turning on the tv and, it seemed like everything she put it on was about love or had love scenes. She finally drifted off to sleep after attempting to read a book but, before she knew it, her alarm was going off, and it was time to get ready for church.