Amira Sarker

As soon as I got home, I checked my Google chat. Damon didn't chat with me. I felt a tinge of disappointment ache in my chest and I mentally slapped myself.

What the hell is wrong with me? Stop craving his messages, nitwit!

I closed the laptop and went upstairs to my room to do homework. As I finished up half of my work, Tanwir barged into my room.

"Sup, Tubby," he said as he laid himself on the bed. Tubby was a nickname he always called me.

"What do you want?"

"Nothing," he said while getting comfortable on my bed.

"Then get out. I'm doing homework. Now leave," I commanded as I tried pulling him off.

"But I'm too comfy," he playfully whined.

It was funny how he could go from the worst to the best. He sure was bipolar.

"Get off, you pig," I grumbled.

"Nah. I'm enjoying myself here."

"Mum! Bhaiyah (brother) won't get off my bed and he's annoying me!" I yelled.

Either she didn't hear or she didn't want to deal with us.

"You annoy Mum too much, Tubby. Give the woman a break."

"Look who's talking? You're the one with bipolar moods," I stated as I crossed my arms over my chest.

"I have my reasons."

"Care to share?" I asked.

"Nope. Stop pulling me," he ordered.

I didn't stop. This time I took a pillow and started hitting him with it. He kept dodging my hits, laughing at my weak attempts.

"Get a life, you weirdo," I glared.

"I have a life. You don't," he smirked.

"Get off my bed!" I whined as I pulled at his legs. He didn't even move!

"Hey! What's going on in there?" yelled Mum as she walked into my room. She saw the scene in front of her and sighed. "Grow up you two! You act like five year olds."

"He started it," I said as I pointed a finger at Tanwir.

"She's disturbing the peace, Mum. Make her shut up," he groaned while placing a pillow on his ears.

I gasped, exaggerating how offended I was of course. "You came into my room and you laid on my bed. You disturbed the peace not me."

"Both of you stop it! Tanwir, leave your sister alone and Amira respect your brother more," scolded Mum before walking out.

Tanwir got up. "See ya, tubby," he said as he left.

"Jerk face," I mumbled to myself.

When Tanwir left my room, I felt ease crawl back into my heart, witnessing how easygoing he was today without bursting in rage. He was unpredictable at times, but today his mood was differed, and oddly enough it was reassuring. On a normal day, we would have bickered nonstop until eventually someone left either in tears or in rage. On the other hand, today neither of us erupted like volcanoes at one another, which was a step towards progress.

Or I was over analyzing the whole situation.

I decided to check my Google chat on the laptop. As I expected, Damon sent me a message. I felt excitement rush through my veins. Geez, I needed to calm myself down. He's just a guy, nothing special.

Damon: I can't believe they did that 2 u in gym.

Me: I know right! So messed up. But eh I've seen worse.

Damon: Can I ask u a question?

Me: Sure.

I wondered what he wanted to ask me, anxiously waiting for his reply.

Damon: Y do Muslims have to have an arranged marriage?

I knew what he was thinking. He thought Muslims were forced into a marriage with a complete stranger. I shook my head. Society made Islam sound like a prison when it really wasn't.

Me: It's not the type of marriage u think. It's not a forced marriage. It's actually haraam (forbidden) to force a person into marriage. The girl or guy has the choice to refuse the proposal. And the point of not dating is so we stay pure for our spouse and vice versa. We believe that self respect for ourselves mean not flaunting or using our bodies in inappropriate ways.

Damon: Y does a girl or guy have to follow that guideline?

Me: Allah knows what's best and for those who keep themselves pure, it's rewarding for both parties. A man and woman are each other's first, so the experience is different. It's really about self-respect. For example, I don't waltz into any guys arms because a lot of people are just looking for a casual relationship with no indication towards a married life, which is why Muslims wait.

Damon: But u still have to marry a stranger. That's dumb.

Instantly, I felt my defensive side rise. I didn't like it when people insulted my religious beliefs and Allah's word, but I understood where Damon was coming from. He, like many others, didn't know the truth behind everything. It made them blind towards Islamic teachings and a complete victim to falsehood.

Me: Actually, the guy and girl meet up with each other in a public place to get to know each other before accepting the proposal and everything. There is a supervisor who makes sure things don't go out of hands with the guy and girl when they meet up. So they r not completely strangers.

Damon: Oh. Well, I still prefer to have my sexual freedom. It's the twenty first century after all.

Me: You do have a reputation that precedes you.

It was silent for a bit, and I wondered if I took it too far with the subtle comment.

Damon: Well, at my old school, I did have a lot of friends with benefits, but idk I'm trying to focus on just school now. My mom would kill me if I didn't.

Me: Y would she do that?

Damon: My mom wants me to get into a good college before my dad gambles everything, because addiction is a thing. I'm basically relying heavily on some scholarship money, and fooling around with girls isn't going to give me that.

His dad was a gambler. I couldn't believe it.

Me: Your father gambles?

Damon: Yeah. He does it behind my mom's back sometimes, but it's usually not too much money.

Me: Damon, I'm so sorry you have to go through that.

Damon: Don't worry about it. It's no big deal.

Me: But that still doesn't explain why ur so tense around me.

Damon: U know the rumors of a fight. Make an educated guess.

Me: I don't want to believe in all rumors.

Damon: I don't want to talk about it then.

I didn't need to be told twice to drop that conversation, but it still made me wonder. What did that Muslim student do to Damon for him to be so untrusting towards any Muslim that he saw and so bitter? Questions flew around my thoughts like a flock of birds. I didn't act upon my inquisitive nature, knowing it was too personal.

The only way I could show Damon that not all Muslims were horrible was by being a good Muslim myself.

Me: What r u doing?

Damon: Watching Pretty Little Liars.

Oh my Allah. Guys watched Pretty Little Liars too? I thought mostly girls watched that show because it was all about how pretty girls find themselves in the middle of a murder mystery.

Me: OMG I love that show!

Damon: Lol yeah it's pretty great. My little bro and I watch it together.

Me: U never did tell me about ur family. How many siblings do u have?

Damon: I'm the oldest. I have 2 little brothers. One is in 13 and the other is 10. The 13 year old watches it with me.

That was so cool. I wondered if they look like Damon. I never would have guessed that he had two younger siblings.

Me: Cool. I just have an older brother. He's so mean to me. Like today he just sat on my bed and wouldn't get off. I even pulled him! And then he said, "I disturbed the peace." Can u believe that?

Damon: XD Lol I can believe that. U do disturb the peace

Me: Ur so mean!

Damon: Don't u know it sweetheart ;)

Me: What's up with u and ur nicknames. I have a name ya know?

Damon: But I like teasing u.

I didn't know why, but that comment made my stomach clench. I shouldn't feel this way. It never ended well.

Me: Another reason on y ur mean.

Damon: U know u love it.

Me: Y are you suddenly being so nice to me?

Damon: To be honest, I felt a bit guilty after that library day. I was out of line.

Me: Really? What brought the sudden change? No offense, but you always seems so cautious around me like I'd bomb you or hurt you.

Damon: That's because I believed one day that you would.

Me: Should I be worried?

Damon: Probably not. U don't seem like the rest or as threatening.

Me: I'll take that as a compliment, but u know that not all Muslims are terrorists right?

Damon: I don't know what to believe anymore.

Me: What do u mean?

He was quiet again for a brief moment as if he was contemplating whether or not to tell me what really happened in that fight, something that other students didn't know. In that regard, Damon and I weren't that different. I had a secret I concealed my whole life, a trauma that I hid behind my writings or my complete focus on my schoolwork.

Sometimes, I wondered why death had taken such an important person away from me, why I was meant to suffer while others lived happily. Death didn't discriminate against who it took, but I knew it was all a test from Allah, a test of patience and healing, a test of my faith.

Damon: It's nothing. Just personal things honestly.

Once again, I dropped the issue, not wanting to pry.

Me: Thanks for the compliment today and the apology. I really appreciated it.

Damon: It's all part of the charm sweetheart.

I rolled my eyes. He was such an arrogant jerk. Here I was, offering my gratitude, and he was praising himself instead.

Me: Ur too cocky for ur own good.

Damon: Am not.

Me: Yeah u r.

Damon: No I'm an irresistible member of society who has the ability to make a girl weak at the knees.

Me: Whatever playboy. I know the truth.

Damon: XD

Me: I need to go to bed. Bye.

Damon: Sweet dreams sweetheart ;)

I giggled a little, before I stopped myself. What was wrong with me? He was bad news, a walking disaster. Falling in love was something I refused, especially to a boy like Damon. He was not someone who would learn about Islam or go through all the processes just to get married. I mean, the guy wasn't a big fan of Islam to begin with.

Although the thought that he would never like me did sting a little, I felt relieved. I had nothing to worry about. I'm sure he'll get bored and stop talking eventually. That however, did nothing to ease the guilt that began to blossom in my heart.

Sighing, I rose from my seat. I'm sure praying would ease my anxious mind.

* * * *

I was about to sleep after I prayed, but I got thirsty. I walked down the stairs, but stopped as I passed Tanwir's room. He was most likely downstairs fixing a midnight snack, so being the annoying sister I was, I went inside his room.

I was looking at all the cool books he had and the heavy textbooks, completely astonished at their size. My fingers gently brushed against the side of his shelf before my eyes landed on a small stack of notes on his desk. I looked closer and saw that they were notes to himself.

Remember to pray on time.

Not sleep late.

Work on controlling anger

Maybe he wasn't as bad as my parents thought he was. He was at least trying. Didn't that count for something in the eyes of Allah? Sometimes people had a bad attitude on the outside, but their relationship with Allah could be closer than it seemed. Not many people remembered that and just judged the person straight on.

I put his notes back, walking back to my room with a small smile playing on my lips as pride bloomed within me. My thirst was forgotten. Tanwir wasn't a bad person. He was trying to change. He just needed a push, and I was going to be the one to deliver it.

* * * *

I was in English class with Damon where we were typing up an essay about a book we read in class. My brain hurt form trying to formulate complex sentences and finding perfect examples. We only had one class period to write the whole thing, and I was determined for a high grade.

Of course, Damon sitting next to me was nothing but pure distraction.

"Hey, check this out," said Damon as he nudged me.

I turned towards his computer screen. He finished his essay and was playing on the computer. It was a game called Happy Wheels. He purposely killed his players by flipping them over. I cringed in disgust.

"Ew, Damon. Just gross," I winced as I watched the guy lose his arms.

"It's just a game," he chuckled.

"Still. It's disturbing to see at the least."

"You're just too innocent," he shook his head with a smile.

"At least I have standards in games," I playfully glared.

"Whatever you say, sweetheart," he winked.

I gave him a blank stare before heading back to my essay. I was almost done. After I wrote the last paragraph, Damon nudged me again.

"What now?" I snapped.

"I'm bored. Entertain me," he pouted.

"Damon, get a life."

"I have one and it involves you," he winked.

"Flattering," I said, sarcastically.

He leaned back in his chair and stretched. His shirt outlined his muscles. My eyes gazed at the flex of his muscles for a moment, before I turned away, feeling my cheeks heat up. Shaking my head, I looked back to my screen and printed the essay out. I was about to get up and get it, but Damon stopped me.

"I'll go get it," he said as he got up.

"Thanks," I murmured.

Damon came back after a few minutes. "Looks good. You're a very talented at writing, Amira," he said while handing me my paper.

"I guess."

"No, really. It's really impressive."

"Thank you," I smiled.

I walked over to one of my friends, Alexis, who wiggled her brows at me. Damon was still distracted by the game, finding more creative ways to kill off the game characters and disgust me even more.

"Want to explain why Damon and you got so close?" she asked playfully.

My eyes went wide. "No, we're not. He's just an annoying jerk that won't leave me alone," I scoffed.

"I'm not annoying. I'm charming," Damon's deep voice spoke behind me.

I jumped. "What in the world do you think you're doing?"

"What does it look like I'm doing? I'm defending myself. And here I thought you were the smart one," he teased.

"Damon! Go away!" I exclaimed, frustrated, flopping down in my seat.

"Nah I like it here," he smirked as he leaned against the wall.

"Damon," I growled through gritted teeth.

"Amira," he grinned.

"I give up with you. Forget it," I sighed, falling into my chair.

"I think I'll be going now," Damon said.

"Oh, so now you leave?" I said sarcastically.

He just chuckled, walking towards his friends. I turned back to look Alexis, whose grin reminded me of Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland, surprisingly widening when my scowl deepened.

Alexis patted me on the shoulder. "And you wonder why I tease you about Damon," she laughed.

"Whatever," I muttered.

I took a glance at Damon. I didn't feel any romantic feelings for him, but could I guarantee that it would stay that way?

Oh Allah, please protect me from shaytan's (satan) evil doings, I silently prayed.

Assalamualaikum guys!

School started now, so if I update kind of late you know that I'm trying to get the chapters up as soon as possible. I want this story to not only be fun to read, but teach you a lot of important Islamic life lessons. Remember to vote, comment, and fan. Thanks!