Chapter 2

Monday morning I wore a beige headscarf with a plain black abaya. I wore flat, black pumps.

I wore a beige handbag.

My brother Mustafa drove me and Yasir to school.

We stopped by Samiya's house.

I saw Yasir do a quick check in the mirror. Then he quickly scanned his clothes.

I snorted.

He glared back at me. "What? Don't you need to make sure you're looking decent for school?"

"Yasir, Samiya doesn't care about how you look." I said. "Just chill out and wait until you're old enough to marry her."

Mustafa tutted. "Yasir, I find your little crush too weird."

He pressed the horn again.

Samiya rushed out and dropped a few things. A couple of books and her purse.

She managed to keep her Quran in her arms. Then as she juggled he Quran and her bag, she dropped the remains of her bag.

I saw her grow annoyed and I smiled, fondly.

Just as I got ready to get out of the car, Yasir opened the door and rushed out to help her.

Samiya came back sounding breathless and exhausted. "My own best friend didn't help me, but her brother did. Hi, Am."

"Hey, Sami." I replied. "Anyway, I'm tired. Yasir is the only one who is alert at this time."

"Of course and we all know why." Mustafa muttered.

I grinned at Mustafa, watching Yasir stiffen.

Samiya frowned. "What is going on?"

Yasir turned to her, smiling, then he glared at me and Mustafa.

"Oh nothing." I said, then looked at the Quran in her hand. "I thought you said you were never going to go back to mosque."

She ignored me and looked at Yasir suspiciously.

Samiya gave me a look that said, 'you're telling me all of it and you cant miss out a tiny bit'.

This was a look she always gave me when the topic came to Yasir, but I always dodged it.

Mustafa parked the car and in an instant we were surrounded.

Mustafa was surrounded by his friends, Yasir by his and me by mine.

Yasir ignored the cheerleader (who was supposedly my friend, but I knew she was only my friend because of Yasir being my brother), who was hanging off his arm. He looked around for Samiya, who was talking to one of Mustafa's friends. His face fell but he muscled past the cheerleaders and pushed the guy out of the way.

The guy frowned but went on his way.

Soon I saw them laughing and I think I saw Yasir flirt with her!

As I went by, I gave Yasir a warning look and went on.

I went to Mustafa. " ... they were flirting..."

Mustafa snorted. "Samiya, innocent, little Samiya was flirting."

"Well, technically, Yasir was flirting with her."

"Hey, Ami,"

My eyes narrowed. "What? Seriously, what now, Jim."

He smiled, mischievously. "Just saying hi. And wondering why you look so fat today."

Mustafa and I glared at him.

"Dude, you do realise your talking to my sister that way, don't you?" Mustafa said, standing in front of me.

Jim smiled, "Mustafa, I'm only teasing her."

Mustafa shrugged. "Back off a little." he walked away.

Jim stood looking at me. "Ami."

I crossed my arms, expectantly. "Yeah?"

He walked forward until he was right near me.

I looked up at him, curious.

He smiled, reaching a hand out to my face ... He gently ran a finger across my cheek.

I stiffened, taking a step back.

"You look pretty fat today." he said, taking a step forward and running his finger over my lips. "It's a good look on you."

I pushed him and said, "I really don't know what mind games you're trying to play, but it stops right now. Ok? Because I've really had enough of you, Jim. If you don't like me then dont talk to me at all."

He smirked. "But that's just it, I don't not like you ..."

"Well, then you hate me!" I snapped. "So just leave me alone and don't talk to me."

He looked taken-aback. "Ami, I don't hate you or even dislike you ..."

"Well, that's not the way I see it ..." I started.

"Stop being so paranoid, Ami," he said, annoyed. "I've been joking with you and teasing ..."

"Joking?" I said, sceptically. "Is that what you think? You think calling me fat is a joke? That hurt me ..."

"It shouldn't hurt." he said, snorting. "You're not fat ..."

"That's not the point ..."

"Well, what is ... ?"

"You're messing with my feelings." I snapped. "I am a human being, you know. And I have feelings that can be hurt. You don't think about that, do you? You don't even care how I feel."

He stared at me, shocked.

Silence.

"Ami..." he started, apologetic.

"You know what?" I said, absolutely calm now. "Well, leave it at this. It's not like it matters, anyway."

He looked regretful. "I don't want to ..."

"And don't call me, Ami," and I walked away.

"... there she is!" I heard someone say excitedly as I reached Samiya and Yasir.

I turned to the person ...

Wham!

I flew to the ground.

Everyone began crowding around me, trying to have a good look at me.

I whimpered, as I lay on the ground.

"Go away!" Samiya yelled at the crowd. "She's hurt."

She squinted at me. "Oh, my god, she's really hurt. Yasir, call someone."

Samiya was fussing and holding a tissue to my nose.

Yasir was having fierce argument with someone.

" ... why cant you watch where you're going?" Yasir snapped. "You idiot, you cant even notice a girl stood in front of you."

"Can I see if she's ok?" said the guy, anxiously.

"No!" Jim snarled.

Jim? When did he get there?

"Ami..." he said, softly.

I sat up, staring up at him like he was an alien.

"You ok?" he gently brushed my face.

I jerked back. "Don't touch me!"

He rolled his eyes. "We're going to have to get over this dispute. Come on, Ami, I'm a nice guy deep down."

"Yeah, so deep down you're actually a bad person." I muttered.

Jim frowned. "I'm only trying to help..."

"I don't want your help." I snapped.

He stood up. "I said I was sorry."

"Just leave me alone!" I cried.

Samiya pushed him back. "Just go, Jim."

He looked at me, angry. Then he left without looking back.

Samiya smiled at me, sympathetically.

I adjusted my scarf, feeling a tender spot on me head.

I touched it and winced. "Oww. My head!"

Samiya panicked. "Show me your head, Amal!"

The bell rang and most people set off for their home rooms. There were only my friends, Yasir and the protectors.

"Hey, what happened?" Mustafa said, from somewhere behind me.

"Fucking hell, Mustafa!" Yasir yelled. "Your sister's been smashed to the ground and you don't know because you were making out with some slut ..."

"Making out?" I whimpered as Samiya carefully lifted my scarf from the back.

Yasir spat at the ground. "Yeah. Making out with some slut."

Mustafa walked forward and he was in my line of view.

He glared at Yasir. "You never speak to me that way. Understood? I'm older than you, so respect me."

Yasir scoffed. "You've lost your respect, dude. You were too busy playing tonsil tennis with some girl you probably don't know the name of, that you didn't even know that your little sister, your precious little sister, got smashed into the ground by this big fool here ..."

"Hey ...!" Embry started.

"Shut up!" Yasir snapped. "You hurt my sister, I have every right to speak to you that way."

Embry looked at me. He smiled, sad and worried.

I nodded in acknowledgement.

He looked ecstatic at this little bit of civility.

I almost smiled then. But I didn't because of that 'unfortunate past'.

Yasir and Mustafa were staring each other down.

Mustafa was the first to break the silence. He chuckled.

We all looked at him, incredulous.

"Yasir, at least the girls that I like, like me back, but you ..." he trailed off for effect.

Yasir froze.

"Mustafa," I whispered. "Don't."

He smiled at me. "Little sis, it's fine. It's time to let the cat out of the bag."

Embry, Quil and Jacob looked at each other in confusion.

"Mustafa, please dont." I begged.

He ignored me. "Samiya, guess who's got a little crush on you."

Samiya stared at Mustafa, then at me, in confusion.

Embry and his friends looked horrified.

Why were they horrified?

"Yasir does." Mustafa continued.

Samiya stared at Yasir, who avoided her eyes. "Yasir?"

Yasir closed his eyes and didn't answer.

"Mustafa!" I said, angry. "I told you not to ..."

"Eh, it's alright." he strode over to me. "Now, how's that head of yours?"

I dodged his hand. "I told you not to! That was a dirty, low trick, Mustafa."

Mustafa looked at me in surprise. "Amal, it's me, Mustafa. You love me, I'm your favourite brother."

"You shouldn't have, Mustafa." I yelled. "You knew that he wouldn't ... you know how he feels."

Mustafa was still shocked. "Amal..."

"Leave her alone." a firm voice said.

Mustafa stared at him in anger. "She's my sister, dude. Stay out of it."

"Embry," I said, quietly, looking up at him. "Just go."

Embry stared at me, dazed.

"Hey!" Mustafa barked. "That's my sister your looking at,"

I looked at Samiya, who was standing up.

"You knew he liked me, but you didn't tell me ..." her voice was accusing.

"I'm sorry." I said. "But I couldn't. Everything would have been awkward ..."

Samiya stood up. "I never want to talk to you again."

"Samiya ..." I called, as she walked away.

I felt tears form in my eyes.

I turned to Mustafa. "This is all your fault. You ruined everything. I hate you. You're the worst brother in the world."

I got up ignoring Embry and Mustafa and went to Yasir, who was watching where Samiya had disappeared.

I linked arms with him and whispered to him, "I'm so sorry, Yasir."

He looked devastated, but he gave me a quick smile and we went into school.

Abaya- it's Arabic for the long, loose, usually black robe worn by Muslim women