ear Reader,
Sorry it took me so long to update. I've been on vacation and had exams. I plan on updating more since I'm out of school. Please enjoy. The next chap should be good.
-LunarLitLover
Preview for next time: the party and Ali has some realizations about Fatima/Yasmine
Recap: Admin and Ayska are good friends with both Fatima and Ali al Din. They are neighbors and a bit off the wall (by defying social protocol, etc.) Ali still doesn't know that Yasmine is a princess; he thinks she's just rich girl Fatima. They are becoming closer, and Yasmine/Fatima is in Ali's house to stay.
Chapter 10: Yasmine (Fatima)
Indecision and Infatuation
"Ayska, I've never been to anything remotely like this party. I haven't any ideas about what I should wear," I sighed in exasperation. I truly had never had an experience like this before. Or even knew an experience like this existed before.
In the palace, our functions were completely different. I was required to simply sit on a cushion by my father's side. It was very formal and not at all fun. However, Admin and Ayska were having a party. And an abnormal one at that. There would be male-female dancing – something very uncommon, from what I'm told – food served all throughout the night, and women could wear whatever outfits they wanted – there would be no more hiding the most beautiful and elaborate outfits in the privacy of their homes. This was indeed an unusual (and somewhat rebellious) party.
Needless to say, I was entirely at a loss in how to handle this.
It was a warm evening, and Ayska and I were in the silk shop I worked at. We were shopping for fabric for my party outfit. Even though Ayska was already extremely busy with the preparations, she insisted on making me a gorgeous outfit for the event. I was here to pick out the fabric and general design. Even with my extensive knowledge of fabric, this was proving difficult. I had no idea what I was looking for.
Ayska held up a roll of deep red, "What about this?"
I shook my head. Being royalty, I wore a lot of red in the palace. I didn't want to go back to those days. Plus, the color didn't do much for me.
Over the next several minutes, Ayska pulled out enough fabric to clothe all of Muhammad's descendants. However, none of it pleased me. Not one color or texture caught my eye. After I rejected one after another, Ayska threw her hands into the air. "Fatima, by Allah, you really don't want me to make this for you, do you! Do you distrust my sewing skills!"
"No, Ayska," I replied, trying to calm her. "I'm just a spoiled, picky, rich girl. I won't be happy until I get what I want." I grinned mischievously. "But at least this way," I added, "you won't be spending your time making something I don't want."
Although a smile played around the corners of her lips, Ayska crossed her arms stubbornly. "Fine, then," she replied. "I'll wait here while you choose."
I perused the shop but found nothing of interest. I then proceeded around it once more, being more thorough in my search this time. Finally, in the back of a corner I saw it. The silk was the perfect shade of purple, and had an older, softer feel. There wasn't much of it left, for it obviously had been in the shop a long time. However, there looked like there might be enough for me.
I called Ayska over and she approved of my choice. Actually, she was overly enthusiastic about the fabric. When I opened my mouth to tell her that I didn't know exactly how I wanted it to be worn, she beat me to it. She said, "Oh, leave it to me. I have the perfect idea for how to use this fabric. Well, it's not actually the best, but it's better than any ideas you would come up with."
In response, I jokingly glared at her.
She glared back before refocusing her attention on the fabric. She began to hold up different sections to my body, trying to figure out how it would all fit together.
A thought occurred to me. "Ayska, do you think Ali will like this color on me?"
Aysaka cocked her head to the side. "Who wouldn't like this color on you!"
I let out a short giggle, and then asked again, "But do you think Ali, and Ali in particular, will be especially pleased with it?"
"Fatima, I know you don't know this, but that boy would roll in circles for you if you came in a rag! He is infatuated with you. And it seems you feel the same way."
That comment surprised me. I immediately began to defend myself. "Infatuated! No one is infatuated with anyone! Why would you say a thing like that!"
"I seemed to have hit a nerve," Ayska replied smugly. "But you know, Fatima, I always speak the truth. Even if it is the very…truthful…kind we don't want to hear or acknowledge." A moment of silence passed before Ayska continued. "You must have some feeling for him, though," she said. "He did save your life, nurse you back to health, share his home with you and now get a job for you. That's no light list."
I sighed. "I guess you're right, Ayska. I do care about him. But not really because of those things."
She looked up at me in surprise as she measured the silk against the width of my hips. "Why do you care about him, then?"
I shrugged. "I don't really know why…do you have a reason for caring about Admin?"
She nodded. "He's himself. He's the one an only unique Admin."
I nodded back, comprehending. "That's what makes Ali special to me, I guess. There's no particular reason. He's just…him."
Ayska smiled. She recognized the feeling all too well.
"Fatima," she said. "Do you know why you feel that way?"
"Why?" I asked casually.
"Because you've fallen for him."
