©copyright 2015

COVER BY HornsOfARebel

"It's fashion, get with it." -Mohamed Ameer, CSL.

C H A P T E R O N E:  Welcome To My Complicated Life

Bayan Ameer

"Bayan! Hurry up and come downstairs!" Mama yelled from the bottom steps. "Okay Mama, I'm coming." I sighed as I hurriedly threw on my clothes, grabbed my bag and stopped to look at myself in the mirror. Alhamdulilah I am satisfied with my outfit, I am wearing a long sleeved pink dress with a belt to tie it in the middle. A darker shade pink hijab as well as a beige bag paired with beige shoes. I don't usually carry a backpack around because all of my books are in my car which I'll put in my locker, then I'll only carry the books that I need for each class following my schedule. The reason why I don't usually carry a backpack is because they hurt my shoulders way too much. After fixing my scarf, I then hurried down the steps as if my life depended on it which it kind of did, you see my mom isn't a very patient person, it runs in the family.

"I'm coming, I'm coming!"I grabbed my shoes and car keys while putting a bagel in my mouth.

Yes this is procrastination at its finest people, take notes. This is what happens when you have 2 annoying pig like brothers who hog up the bathroom as if it's theirs. Also a 5 year old little sister that needs to use the bathroom every two minutes. Don't get me wrong, I love my family and all but some times I wonder if they are a blessing or a test. "Mohamed are you ready yet!? If you aren't I'm going to leave you!" I yelled up the stairs to my younger brother. Oh lord my teacher is going to freak if I'm late again.

My fifteen year old brother ran down the steps quickly with one bag over his shoulder and his phone dangling loosely in his hands. I look at him and couldn't help but laugh at his messy bed head. "Ah you sure you don't want to fix that first?" I ask pointing at his mop head. He walked up to the mirror and shrugged. "It's fashion, get with it." He replies. I couldn't help but roll my eyes at him. Grabbing my keys from the counter, I quickly said goodbye to mom and headed out the front door with Mohamed following me.

* * *

Being a senior is really hard, knowing that next year you'll be in college and not a child anymore. Sometimes I still can't believe it, you know? Time just flies by too fast but I am ready for. I remember the speech Mama and Baba gave me about being responsible and just because I'll be going off to college doesn't mean that I can completely change. I think it's ridiculous that they even thought I would. I wouldn't want to change even if I was going to college, I'd want to stay like this forever. Plus I plan on staying in state for college and I already applied to a lot of colleges here. My dream is to go to Detroit University and study political science. I want to become a lawyer and no not the one that stands up for criminals. I want to become a family lawyer In Shaa Allah.

I let out a sigh as I sat down in my seat waiting for Brit Lit to start but it feels like it taking forever.  Suddenly my phone buzzes and I saw a text from my best friend Amira.

Amira: Hey meet me at the bench after class is over. Oh and nice scarf, I didn't think pink was your color :)

I turned around and looked through the window near my seat, Amira is sitting on the bench waving her hands at me. I sticked out my tongue and turned around, not even seconds later I got a text. Oh this girl.

Amira: :)

I reply back.

Me: Why wouldn't pink be my color?

I quickly send it.

Amira: I don't know. Because ur not a pink person? XD

Rolling my eyes, I put my phone away and waited for Mr. Fitz to start teaching. I don't know why I feel like today is going to be a very important day. For some reason I don't think it's going to be in a good way. I hope my gut feeling is wrong.

* * *

After class was over I met up with Amira at the courtyard which was our spot to go to during lunch. The courtyard is huge and has a beautiful rose garden next to it called the garden of roses, pretty original right? Note the sarcasm. I've always loved coming to this place ever since freshman year because it helps calm me down when I am feeling overwhelmed or just need a break from everything. I started coming here a lot more after what happened to me last year which I don't even want to think about again.

"So, what's up?" I asked Amira as we sat down.

"Nothing much, just dealing with the regular stuff. What about you?" She responded as she took a bite out of her sandwich.

"Same here but this year I am just determined to focus on school and not let the events of last year distract me." I responded.

"That's good. How about this? We make a promise to not let each other get distracted."

"That's a great idea." I responded. We then extended our pinkies and linked them together.

Omar Ali

My father walked inside the house with a confused look on his face. I then looked at his hands and noticed the big white acceptance letter that I threw in the trash earlier today. Shit, I thought to myself.

"Omar! What is this that I found in the trash?" My dad hurriedly walked up to me and held the paper out for me to look at. I knew I shouldn't have hid there but I just didn't want either of my parents to see it. I couldn't help but groan as I ran my hand through my short blonde hair. He wasn't supposed to see that, what am I going to do now?

I'm toast.

"I- It's nothing dad." I tried to grab it but he moved his hands.

He opened the envelope quickly and furrows his eyebrows as he read it. I started fidgeting while waiting for his explosion which didn't seem like was on the way. wow that's weird, I thought he was going to yell at me for throwing it away and not telling either him or Mama about it.

"Y-You got accepted, why would you want to throw this away?" He sounded happy and confused at the same time. I wish I could just tell him straight up that I don't want to go to the college he went to. All my life he would go on and on about he wanted me and my older brother to go to Alma Mater and how he wanted to keep the family legacy alive. Hakeem refused to go there when he graduated which only made my father force that dream on me more. I just wanted to make him happy so I applied but I didn't know that I would get in and I really don't want to disappoint him.

I wish I had the courage to tell him how I really feel about it.

"Abi you don't-" Before I could finish my sentence, my father tackled me in a hug.

"I'm so happy for you son!"

He smiled happily at me. Man now how can I tell him? It'll crush him, I can't do that to him.

"Honey! Come here!" Abi called for mom who was making food in the kitchen.

She walked in the living room with her apron still on her. "What is it?" She asked as she sat down. Abi walked over to her and showed her the letter of acceptance.

"Oh my gosh! Omar honey I'm so proud of you!" Mama squealed while a happy tear rolled down her cheeks. I faked a smile while looking at the both of them. They've done so much for me, I can do this for them. No scratch that, I have to do this for them. Anything to keep my parents happy right? "Oh wait the good news doesn't stop here. Earlier I got a call from my friend that I've known for a really long time. He wants all of us to have dinner at his place." Dad said with another humongous smile.

This day is just... great.

Bayan Ameer

"Baby come in sit down let's talk. I got a lot to say so I guess I'll start by, saying that I love you but you know this thing ain't been no walk in the park for us~" I sang while washing the dishes. I don't know why but the only time I sing is when I'm cleaning. I love to sing but I never do it in front of people other than my family members and close friends, even with them I barely sing.

Some of them think I'm weird because I don't like show my quote on quote talent in front of people, but I'm just a really shy person. Anyways Mama said that people are coming over so I have to help clean the house. Yay me right? Suddenly the door opened and Baba walked in looking tired.

"Salam, are you okay dad?" I asked worriedly.

"Yes habibti, it was just a really busy day today in the office. "Anyways I'm going to change and get ready." Baba said as he walked up to me and gave me a peck on the forehead. After I finished I went upstairs to get ready.

What can you wear when your dad's  friend's family is coming over? I wish they made a guide for these things. I walked into my closet while roaming it with my eyes. The only thing that caught my eye was the abaya I bought with my mom when we went to Dubai in the summer. You'd think it would look too fancy but it really doesn't, it's just a plain abaya with small gems on the sleeves. I grabbed it with a purple scarf and black long cardigan. It's not too much and it's not too little so in other words, it's perfect.

* * *

The doorbell rang and in came Amira and her little sister Samar. Samar and my little sister Amina are like best friends, they literally do everything together. Just like me and Amira, inseparable since birth."Hey so I have something to tell you" Amira grabbed my hand and pulled me upstairs with her. "Ok what's up?" I asked her while wiggling my eyebrows up and down.

"So you know that intern job I was talking about earlier? I got in! But that's not all, they're also looking for another intern for the arts department and I volunteered you! We get to work together and do what we love!" She bounced up and down. A huge smile grew across my face, I'm not hearing this am I? I'm not imagining it, am I!?

"Oh my Allah that's awesome!" I squealed. "Yay we can go there after school together!" She squealed as well. Wow we've been squealing a lot today and trust me I'm not the kind of girl that squeals' every time she hears good news. "Bay! Mom's asking everyone to come downstairs. They're about to come." My older brother Abdullahi yelled.

"Let's go"

* * *

Amira and Samar left a couple of minutes ago and now I'm helping mom get the table ready. All of the boys are in the living room watching TV which I think is unfair. I tried to tell mom to make them do something but she responded with, 'they're men honey they can't help with anything because they don't know how to do anything'. Well it is kind of true because these men in our family know how to do nothing. "Bay look! I lost my tooth today." Amina ran up to me while pointing at her mouth. "Wow! That's amazing, Mina. Did you show dad yet? I bet he'd be really happy to see that." I replied while smiling at her. Wow she really is growing up, she lost her first tooth today!

Suddenly the doorbell rang and Abdullahi got up to open it.

"I'm going to go make Amina wash up." I told my mom while grabbing Amina's hands. Just before I was about to go upstairs with Amina I hear someone call my name. Turning around I see my dad and his friend hugging, behind them was a lady who was smiling at me and Amina and a boy who was talking to Abdi. That lady must've been the one who called my name.

As I walked towards the family, I smiled politely.

"Assalamualaikum Auntie." I replied.

I grabbed Amina and made her salam them as well. It's hard to believe she's shy with people she doesn't know. But when she gets to know you she becomes crazy, like crazy. She's just unique like that. "Aw you guys are so adorable. You both can call me Aunty Aliya, okay?" The lady said to us. After we all greeted each other we walked in the dining room where mom was still tidying up a little.

"Oh my Allah, I didn't even realize you guys were standing there. Aliya!" My mother squealed while hugging Aunty Aliya. I don't know why but I have a strange feeling like someone is staring at me. Slowly turning around, I saw Aunty Aliya and Uncle Ahmed's son staring at me. He's very handsome. Mashallah. He's tall with dirty blonde hair and looks around Abdullahi's age. It makes sense that he has blonde hair because Aunty Aliyah is white while Uncle Ahmed is Indian.  He quickly averted his eyes once he noticed that I saw him.

That's weird.

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