"Although he's annoying and somewhat bossy, he's also loyal and protective of the people he loves and those are two great qualities." -Bayan Ameer, CSl.

C H A P T E R F I V E: OH NO

Bayan Ameer

The nikkah is in two weeks and I'm still trying to wrap my mind around it. As soon as Omar said yes my parents went straight into planning the wedding. At first I was really nervous about it but now I think I'm more excited than I am nervous.  I'm suppose to go dress shopping with Amira, Alima, and mom in a couple of days. We're also suppose to look for flower girl dresses for Amina.

This is all too crazy and happening too fast! Oh God, I sighed as I put my head down. This is the first time all day that I am able to just relax for a while. "

Ya Allah can time go by slower? This is happening too fast." I mumbled as I rubbed my head with the back of my hand.

This is the only moment I had to myself in a long time, alone in my room. It feels like every thing has been put into high gear and we're going on full speed ahead. Suddenly there was a knock on my door and there stood my two brothers. Both of them seemed to have somber looks on their faces and I don't know why. After the wedding I am still going to be living here until I graduate. That was the only condition I had to it and my parents gladly agreed. When they asked me why I still wanted to live at home, I told them that I wanted to focus more on school and not allow myself to get too distracted. But the main reason was because I'm still very nervous and awkward around Omar. I still want to get to know him more before moving in with him.

Abdullahi and Mohamed both walked into my room and sat down on my bed. "I can't believe my little sister is getting married so soon." Abdullahi said as he sighed. Both him and Mohamed continued to stare at me which kind of annoyed me a little. At the same time I felt sad too, although they annoy the hell out of me, I still love them.

Ever since we were young, Abdullahi has always looked out for me. He's only three years older than me yet he feels much more mature and wise beyond his years. I swear sometimes I think he's a thirty year old trapped in twenty one year old's body, Mashallah. I believe that whatever girl he ends up marrying will be very lucky. Although he's annoying and somewhat bossy, he's also loyal and protective of the people he loves and those are two great qualities.

Same goes for my younger brother Mohamed. He's also very mature for his age and another thing that I admire about him is how driven he is. At only the young age of fifteen, he already knows who he is and what he wants to be. His dream was always to play professional basketball and now he's in the school varsity team when all of the other boys his age are in junior varsity. Mashallah, when he grows up he is going to be a heartbreaker. Well, he kind of already is and so is Abdullahi. I don't know what girls see in them both but I'm very lucky to have them in my life.

I don't think I've told them that in a long time.

"You guys I'm not dying. I'm still going to be your sister and we're still going to see each other everyday." I said reassuringly. I really don't see what the big deal is, I'm still going to live here until college. I'm still going to be their sister and I'll pick on them like I always do. But at the same time I also get what they're saying.

"We know it's just... we didn't think we were going to have to share you with someone else so soon." Mohamed spoke with sadness in his tone. "Aw, why are you so cute?" I cooed as I got up and hugged my little brother, even though he's a pain I can't help but love him. Now it's really hitting me... in a couple of weeks I will be a married women. Me! Bayan Ameer is going to be married! That's insane.

"No matter what you're always going to be my little sis." Abdullahi added as he joined the hugging session. I think I am going to cry due to all this real talk. All of this hugging and emotions is so not us. Usually at this time one of us would come up with a joke to break the tension but not now, it all just seems so surreal like this is actually happening.

"Okay we need to stop before I bawl my eyes out." I said as I wiped the tear streaks off of my face. Ever since I was little I hated crying so I'd stop myself every time I was close to it.

"We really should." Mohamed added while clearing his throat.

Suddenly Amina ran inside the room while pouting at all of us. "You guys are having sibling bonding time without me!?" She asked while crossing her arms. Aw she's so cute, I love this little munchkin. I quickly walked over to my baby sister and picked her up. "Bay... please don't leave me with them. Take me with you! I want to live with you and Omar!" She whined.

"Don't worry, Mina. I'm not going anywhere and plus I can't leave you with them, bleh. Boys have cooties." I joked which made her laugh.

"Ew, Abdullahi and Mohamed! You guys have cooties." She joked and wiggled out of my grip.

"Oh yeah? Well I'm gonna getcha and give you my cooties!" Abdullahi exclaimed as he chased her around the room. "Come on, Mohamed. Let's get her." He added as they ran out of them room and continued to chase Amina.

I couldn't fight my smile as I heard her laughter echoing throughout the house.

* * *

I walked through the halls of my school as I tried my best to get to class on time. Today Mohamed and I both woke up late which set us back ten minutes late and if anyone knows me, they know I can't stand being tardy. I have a perfect attendance record to keep up with and I'm not about to start slipping up now. I'm also just trying to act like everything is normal and I'm not getting married in less than a week but it's kind of impossible because after school I have to go dress shopping and check out the venue for the nikkah. As I walked to Brit Lit, I sat down in my normal seat next to the window. The bell rang and everyone walks to their seats before Mrs. Loise walked into the room.

"Hello class we have a new student joining us today." Mrs. Loise said as she gestured for someone to come into the class. The moment I realized who it was my heart sank and I started to panic. He looked at me with his signature evil smirk as he bit his lip. What is he doing here!? When did he transfer to this school?! I quickly looked away from him and stared at my desk, once again trying to calm my racing heart.

"Introduce yourself." Mrs. Loise told him with a gentle smile.

"Hi I'm Josh Anderson. I'm new to this school so please take it easy on me." He said to the class. Take it easy on him? Ha! He deserves to go to jail. Because of him... because of him I was almost... I can't even bring myself to begin to finish that sentence without having another panic attack.

If I didn't go there that day then I never would've put myself in that kind of position. I don't regret saving a fellow Muslim brother from doing something really stupid but I do regret running into Josh there. I took that as I sign to ask him to help me because I needed someone strong to help me get the said Muslim brother out and Abdullahi was at work so I couldn't ask him. I thought he was my friend and that I could actually trust him. I didn't know he would try to do something like that to me. I was stupid and naïve to think so mindlessly. But it wasn't my fault, I can't blame it on myself.

"You may sit anywhere you'd like to." The teacher instructed. He looked at me and smiled again as he sat right next to me. I did my best to look away from him but it was nearly impossible.

Don't look back Bay don't! I thought to myself.

"Nice to see you again, Bay." He whispered into my ear.

I shivered because of the close proximity between us. I then moved away from him and plugged headphones into my ears. I'm not giving into you Josh, not now not ever. This is just a test from Allah, to see if I'll bend or break. And I sure as hell will never break because of Josh Anderson of all people.

Ya Allah please give me enough patience to make it through the rest of the class, I prayed. Hell, please give me enough patience to make it through the rest of the year! I could feel his gaze on me as I turned to the window right beside me which made me even more uncomfortable. It's at times like these that I'm so grateful that I'm a Muslim and have my hijab to help shield me from disgusting men like him. Men who use and abuse women and children as if we are nothing but their toys, men who don't have any respect for anyone, men who think that they're the boss of everyone. Men who...touch women against their will.

It men like those that Allah will In Shaa Allah give them the punishments that they rightfully deserve.

* * *

"Get the hell away from me!" I shouted once I noticed he was following me. What does he want? Didn't he already do enough to me? I continued to walk outside where I was supposed to meet Amira. That when I remembered she said she wasn't coming to school today because of her doctor appointment! Great, just great.

Suddenly he grabbed my arm and made me face him.

"Don't you dare fucking touch me, you asshole!" I shrieked. I was never one to curse but at this point I could not control myself.

"Ooh, so little miss perfect curses. I like it." He said with a laugh.

I don't know what came over at this moment but it felt like something else possessed me and all of the pain I felt for over year came flooding to the surface, making my blood boil. "I don't know who the hell you think you are but let's get something straight, you are nothing but trash and you always will be. I hope you burn in the hottest fires of hell because of what you did to me and probably a lot of other girls as well. Don't think for a minute that I forgot the kind of person you are." I spat those words out as if they were venom.

That just seemed to anger him more.

"I don't know who you think you are but let's get one thing straight. You wanted that to happen." He then grabbed my arm once again and I tried my best to fight back.

The next thing that happened I did not expect.

Omar Ali

"Why do we have to do this again?" I turned to Abdullahi with raised eyebrows. "Because you're going to surprise her! Don't you want to see your soon to be wife?" He asked as he slowed down the car. Soon to be wife, that sounds so strange. I kind of like it though. I don't know why. After making up my mind I started to warm up to the idea of marrying Bayan. If I had to marry anyone I'm glad it's her. Abdullahi turned into the school parking lot and we both got out. What I saw next surprised me, it was that boy from the carnival and Bayan. It seemed as if they were in a very heated conversation.

He grabbed her arm and she tried to shake it off and before I knew it I walked up to them and ripped his hand off of her arm. They both stared at me, shocked as to what I did.

"You again. What is this? Are you guys dating or something? I thought Muslims couldn't date." The guy looked between both me and Bayan. What the hell is wrong with him? I swear seeing men like him harassing women pisses me off more than I can explain. Especially if the person he's harassing is my fiance.

"We're not dating, I'm her soon to be husband so if you want to mess with her, you have to go through me." I snapped and pushed him back. He's really pissing me off. What kind of guy treats women like that? He looked back at me with an amused look on his face.

"If you ever mess with my sister again you'll see what happens." Abdullahi said threateningly as he walked up to where we were visibly pissed off as well.

"Wow you sure do have a lot of knights in shining armors. They won't be around you forever." He said walking away. I turned back to Bayan to see if she was okay. She looked shaken up a bit but other than that she looked fine.

"Are you okay?" I asked worriedly. She nodded her head slowly as she looked at the ground.

"Lets get you home."

* * *

I walked into my house and sat my keys down on the counter near the front door. I don't know why but I'm suddenly nervous about marrying Bayan. There's something that's telling me that this is going to be one crazy rollercoaster. I'm not afraid of adventure and going through ups and downs but I'm afraid of the possibility that we'll never get back up after them. This is a commitment and I can't take it lightly, I have to give my all to this marriage for it to survive.

I didn't know I was so deep in thought until I heard someone clear their throat. Hakeem stood in front of me with his arms crossed and a cup of coffee in his hands. "Thinking about the marriage? You're going through everything I went through when I was deciding whether or not I should marry Asma. It's difficult but I think you made the right decision." He put the cup of coffee on the table. I smiled at him and took the cup.

"How did you know it was right for you?" I asked curiously.

"I don't know, I guess I just knew. Pray to Allah and he'll guide you through it." He responded as he ruffled my hair. I swat his hand away and fixed my hair. I always hated when he did that.

"Thanks for the advise."

"Anytime bro."

OKAY SO THIS IS THE BEST I COULD DO RIGHT NOW:( I'M SORRY BUT NEXT TIME I PROMISE IT WILL BE LONGER AND MORE INTERESTING. RIGHT NOW I'M JUST SO TIRED AND I PROMISED MYSELF I WOULD UPDATE THIS ON SATURDAY. I THINK I'LL UPDATE EVERY SATURDAY FROM NOW ON:)

ALSO PLEASE MAKE SURE TO GET THIS UP TO 1K READS WITHIN THIS MONTH!! BECAUSE IF YOU DO I WILL UPLOAD A NEVER BEFORE SEEN INTERVIEW WITH YOURS TRULY!! BAYAN AMEER!! AND IF IT GOES UP TO 2K READS REALLY SOON I WILL UPLOAD A FUN ONE SHOT OF OMAR! SO TELL YOUR FRIENDS ABOUT THIS BOOK!

STAY

QURUX

MY

QURUXLEYS

MWAH!!:)