Alliyah

“So, what did you think of your first subway ride?”

“You weren’t kidding about the rats.” Rayne shuddered. ”But at least there were not many humans present.”

“Should be the same around this time in October at the park.”

“Full of rats?” Rayne joked, to Alliyah’s wonderment.

They didn’t wait long on the line for the snacks, and soon Alliyah was holding an Oreo milkshake with one hand and a hot-dog with the other. Rayne chose a cheesy hot-dog, yet no beverage.

“Don’t come asking me for a sip of my milkshake when you realize you should’ve ordered one!” Alliyah playfully glared while they were on their way to the beach. “I’m just kidding, I’ll share if you want.”

Rayne just smiled before taking a bite off her snack. Alliyah was relishing looking at her and seeing her pale white skin shine in different colors due to the lights from the park’s attractions.

When they reached the beach, those colors had faded. Instead, the moonlight danced over their skins, almost painting them blue. Alliyah took off her jacket so Rayne would sit on it and not directly on the sand. For a while, they just ate and enjoyed the view of the waves lapping at the beach.

Alliyah suppressed a shudder, thinking back to Kenya, moreover, she was glad to hear Rayne's voice, which drew her out of the memory.

“Why are you always so… Delightful?” Rayne asked, almost as if it was a bad trait.

“I mean," Alliyah furrowed her brow. "Why shouldn’t I be?” She chuckled.

“It’s just…”

Rayne was interrupted by a cheeky wave almost wetting their feet, asking for attention. When she returned her attention back to Alliyah, she found her already observing her.

“…I’m aware you have been through some things, still you never gave up on humans.”

“You answered yourself.” She shrugged. “What happened to me wasn’t, you know, the hot-dog seller’s fault, you know? So, why not smile at her? I can’t explain. Some nights I am mad that I don’t have and don’t remember my parents, I am mad I was shot and other stuff I may never talk about.”

She took her fingers to the pendant on her chest.

“I’m mad at homophobes and racists in general. But that can’t stop me from smiling at people who aren’t like that and at people who never did me wrong.”

“I adore that about you.” Rayne dipped her hand in the sand and started fidgeting with it as she talked. “You’re so kind to everyone and not because you want something back from people. You’re just genuinely good because you know you can make the world a better place. It’s admirable, Alliyah.”

“When I’m kind to you, I do want something from you.” She couldn’t help smiling as Rayne looked at her with a raised brow. “I want you to be happy.”

Rayne shook her head and rolled her eyes, but smiled:

“That only further validates my point.” Her features ultimately created a frown. “When we met, I was in a rather dark place. I think I was there all my life, honestly. But then Ocean came along, and he brought you along and even the rest of the group… You know how I sometimes call you ‘sunshine’?”

She turned to shyly look at Alliyah, and the latter smiled and nodded.

“Well, it started sarcastically… But now it is genuine. You just… Shine a light in my life, I don’t even care if that is cliche.”

She chuckled, running her slender fingers through her hair, but her eyes had a glimmer as though she held back tears. Alliyah moved to sit closer to her and held her hand.

“I’m so glad to hear that. Ever since we met, you’ve been in my mind all the time - the brown of your eyes, the black of your smile," Alliyah moved her fingers and almost touched Rayne's lips, but withdrew her hand. "The waves of your hair. The soft tone of your voice. The way you blush so easily…”

“Hey, I don’t blush. I’m the night, and you fear me!”

Alliyah laughed at the interruption:

“Sure thing, baby girl.” She patted the girl’s knee, and when she looked back at her, Rayne was - no surprise there - blushing.

Alliyah sighed, but when Rayne talked, her tone was serious.

“I… I feel like I need to tell you something.”

“What is it?” Alliyah furrowed her brow.