Chapter 1
I’ve never felt this way about anyone. But all I can do is stay quiet, it’s haram.
6 MONTHS BEFORE
It’s currently January 1st, school starts back in two days and I’m not excited. I’m a freshman, the year has been okay but I just wish the school year was over. It’s not that I hate school but I just don’t enjoy it much like I used to. At least I have my best friend Ayatt. We’ve been best friends since the day I could remember.
“Yasmin” , my mom calls. “Yallah (come on in arabic) we’re leaving to go to the azooma (gathering).
“Coming” I shout back.
Here we go. I don’t really like these types of things unless Ayatt is going to be there, but this time I’m meeting my dads uncles, aunts, and cousins for the first time since last year. I cut off everyone that I didn’t talk to for a while because of something that happened. Ever since then I haven’t gone to any azoomas. I just feel left out sometimes. I head out of my room and outside the front door towards the car. The car ride was normal, my parents talking and my siblings talking about the most random stuff. I live with my parents and my two younger brothers, which means I’m the only girl my parents have. My brothers are twins and just turned ten in December.
When we get to the azooma, my dad and brothers went from the back where all the men are and my mom and I go from the front door. I don’t know why I’m so nervous, I’ve met everyone here before. My mom rings the doorbell and this random lady I’ve never met opens it. My mom and I say hi then walk in. As my mom goes into the kitchen I head to the living room where I see everyone sitting. Right when some woman recognizes me they whisper to each other. Yay, great start. I smile a little then sit down, I just sit down next to this girl that looks around my age probably a year older than me that I’ve never seen before.
“So Yasmin, how are you? I haven’t seen you in a while,” my dads aunt says.
“Oh um I’ve been okay. Yeah I just never felt like going to a gathering lately.” I say.
“Oh well um how old are you?” she asks.
Of course she asks how old I am. Whenever she asks anyone that she wants them to marry her son. Also wasn’t she just talking bad about me whispering into someone else’s ear?
“I’m turning fifteen in march” I reply.
She nods then leaves my direction. Finally. I get my phone from out of my purse and start texting Ayatt.
Me: At a azooma wish you were here.
A couple seconds later I get a reply back from Ayatt.
Ayatt: Make sure you actually talk to people this time, not like last year.
Me: No promises!
I put my phone back in my purse then just get up and go to the bathroom. I hate this. I go into the bathroom and look at myself in the mirror. I wash my face, take a deep breath then walk out. As I’m walking out I accidentally bump into someone.
“Sorry” the voice says.
I don’t recognize the voice but it sounds like a guy.
“No it’s okay” I say walking away.
I sit back down and just listen to everyone else talking.
About two hours later, my mom tells me we’re going home. Which is a relief because I’ve been bored. My mom says goodbye to everyone then we go outside, my dad is talking to this man. We go up to my dad for the keys.
“Hey, can I get the keys?” I ask my dad.
“Oh someone already turned on the car, he just went to the car now” he replies.
I walk away confused then I tell my mom. When we get to the car I see the guy I bumped into near it.
“What are you doing?” I ask him
“I just turned on your car for you. Your dad asked me to,” he says. “My name is Yousif by the way, what’s yours?”
“Oh, my name is Yasmin,” I say.
“Yasmin, I guess you’ve met Yousif. He goes to your school” I hear my dad say.
“Wait, you go to my highschool? I’ve never seen you” I turn back to Yousif.
“Yeah I do, I’m a sophomore” he says.
I nod then get into the car.
When we get home it’s around 6pm and I call Yasmin right away to tell her about the azooma. I start to call her then she answers.
“Soooo, how was it?” she asks me. “Did you talk to anyone?”
“It was alright I guess, and I didn’t talk to anyone. Well there was someone but that doesn’t matter.” I say.
“Who was it?” she asks
“This guy, his name is Yousif and he goes to our highschool,” I say.
“It’s a boy,” she says smiling.
“Yes it was a boy and don’t you dare even think about it, I’m only a freshman and don’t want that right now” I say.
