-I wrote the following novel nearly two decades ago. In the years between then and now I've honed my craft, and my perception of this world; my thoughts and ideas; have changed dramatically. However, I still enjoy the premise and have decided to do an overhaul of revisions and rewrites, though likely not until sometime next year. (Though I'm sure I'll do a little as I post chapters)
For now I hope you will enjoy a glimpse into my book writing beginnings...
They are the closest of friends though they have never met in waking life.
Prologue-PT1 Prologue-PT2 Chapter 1
Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10
Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13
Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16
Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19
Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Chapter 22
Chapter 23 Chapter 24 Chapter 25
Chapter 26 Chapter 27 Chapter 28
Chapter 29 Chapter 30 Chapter 31
Chapter 32 Chapter 33 Chapter 34
Chapter 35 Chapter 36 Chapter 37
Chapter 38 Chapter 39 Chapter 40
Chapter 41 Chapter 42 Chapter 43
Chapter 44 Chapter 45 Chapter 46
Chapter 47 Chapter 48 Chapter 49
Chapter Fifty Two
The next morning Aliyah woke up feeling sad, and for a moment she didn’t know why. Then she remembered; Dark Eyes had lost his brother.
She pictured him crying as she held him and started crying again herself. She tried to stop, she didn’t want her parent’s to ask what was wrong after all. The tears only came harder so she decided she better hit the bathroom and get in the shower where she could cry freely.
By the time she got out she was feeling better. She believed that the God of creation was a God of love, so she had to believe that out of this tragedy something good would come.
It was a half day of school so the only time she had to tell Amy what happened was during the fifteen minute break there was between second and third period. She pulled her into the girl’s bathroom and gave her the details.
“Oh my god, that’s awful!” She exclaimed.
“I’m worried about him. I can’t imagine how I would feel if that was Ephraim, and I at least believe in heaven.”
“Well, he does have that couple to help him through it, and you too.”
“I know, thank God for John and Katherine.”
“I can’t believe he told you their names. That’s a pretty big clue considering you know that he’s going to be a professor somewhere and she’s a psychiatrist. That might make it a little easier to find him someday.”
“Yeah, I know. I wish I could find him right now, hug him for real.”
“You did hug him for real. Those dreams are as real to you as this is, aren’t they?”
Aliyah nodded.
She didn’t get a chance to see Dave before her mom was due to pick her up, and she was a little glad. He would have kept asking what was wrong and what could she tell him?
**
Her mom took her to Ithaca and they ate in the Commons at a Mexican restaurant. The food was delicious and she found she was able to focus her attention back on the dance and happier things so her mom wouldn’t wonder what was wrong. They went to the mall and she picked out a funky, tye-dyed patterned skirt, but without all the colors. It was mostly light blue with some white through it. She found a form fitting white shirt to match it and then went to another store for shoes.
“You’re going to look so beautiful, Dave will have to fight off all of the other young men who will be asking you to dance.”
“Oh stop, he will not.”
“Oh yes, even if they don’t have the nerve to ask you they will be wishing they did.”
**
The next couple of days seemed to drag by. She didn’t dream of Dark Eyes, which was super frustrating. Friday finally arrived and Aliyah was ready for it, she had packed her overnight bag the evening before since she was going straight from practice to Amy’s house.
She caught herself watching the clock all day long, which of course made it seem longer, and when the last bell rang she raced from the Science room. She wasn’t the only one, most of the people in her grade were excited about the dance.
Mrs. Hurnard drove them back to the Hurnard household smiling the whole way as she listened to the girls talk excitedly about their night. Like her mom she was also reminiscing about the past and told her own first dance, first boy story.
They ate dinner quickly then headed upstairs to Amy’s room.
“It’s five-thirty, we have two hours.” Amy stated as she pulled out her own new outfit- a dark red skirt and an off white, off the shoulder blouse.
After they dressed they started on their hair, making their up-do’s slightly different- Amy had all of her hair up,held in place with red butterfly clips while Aliyah curled the hair that framed her face and let it hang loose, putting the back up with clear flower clips- then they went to town with hairspray, something they rarely ever used.
Next was makeup, this was tricky since neither of them usually used any. They had to figure out just the right colors and make it subtle. As a last touch they put little glittery stars that matched their outfits in the corner of their eyes.
They finished up and stood side by side in front of the full length mirror on Amy’s bedroom door admiring their work. It was already seven thirty- they had needed every ounce of those two hours.
Mrs. Hurnard knocked and came in. “Girls, you look beautiful!”
She hurried out again and came back with a digital camera, taking a slew of pictures and stating that Aliyah’s mom was definitely going to want some.
“You look all grown up.” Her eyes misted over and Amy laughed.
“Mom, you’re so emotional. It’s just a dance.”
“I know, I know,” she waved it off. “But you’ll never have another first dance.”
They went downstairs to parade in front of Mr. Hurnard who jokingly protested. “I am going to have to buy a baseball bat to scare off the throngs of suitors the two of you are going to have.”
“Honey, really,” Mrs. Hurnard grinned.
The girls giggled and grabbed their jackets.
“All ready?”
“Yup.”
“Okay, let’s go.”
They got to the school at just before eight, gave Mrs. Hurnard a quick hug; then rushed up the steps giggling as they spotted Dave and Greg waiting for them by the ticket table.
Greg whistled. “I definitely chose well.”
“Yes you did kemo sabe,” Dave grinned, “but not as well as me.”
Aliyah grinned up at him and he brushed his lips over hers
before heading to the gym, all four of them stopping to gawk at the entrance. It was hard to believe this was the place where they had played volleyball earlier in the day- there were decorations hanging everywhere, a refreshment table, and a score of other tables all along the outskirts, and strobe lights in every corner. At least a hundred people were already inside and the music was so loud they practically had to shout to hear each other.
The current song was a fast one and the guys pulled the girls out on the floor where they danced for the next four songs straight, laughing and whirling. It made Aliyah think of the yacht and she wondered if Amy was thinking about it too. She felt a twinge of guilt about Chris then brushed it off, she'd only danced with the guy.
A slow song came on and Dave pulled her into his chest. It had been awhile since they had been that close; you couldn’t do that in school unless you wanted to hide under the stairwells which were generally occupied by older kids making out.
She caught a faint hint of cologne and breathed in deeply, knowing she would always associate the delicious smell with this night.
She looked over at Amy whose head was on Greg’s shoulder. Aww so cute, she laughed.
Dave pulled back and shouted “What’s so funny?”
“I’ll tell you later,” she shouted back.
The song ended and went in to another fast song and they decided to take a break.
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