Aziza was overwhelmed.

As soon as she stepped into the school, it was like she was in the spotlight. People she never saw before applauded her whilst some reminded her to talk to them sometime.

"Nice party Aziza." A guy she knew as Qasim smiled at her as he passed her in the hallway and she grinned, nodding her head.

"You're famous now." Hilal appeared beside her making her flinch as she placed her hand on her chest.

"You scared me." She slapped his arm. "And why is that?" She asked as they walked to their class, feeling multiple eyes on them as they did.

"Because you hosted a party for one of the elites and it actually was lit. Do you know what that means?" Hilal widened his eyes, throwing her a look of disbelief.

"I mean, yes but there weren't much people." Aziza scrunched her brows.

"You literally gathered the children of the most influential people in a room and you were in the middle of it, of course that's what's going to happen." Hilal scoffed.

"When you say it like that." Aziza hummed.

"Not to mention, that's always been Maryam's thing, so you coming out of nowhere and pulling it off, is something." Hilal shot her a knowing look.

"But she left it in my hands." Aziza defended.

"I know that. Not everyone does though." Hilal raised his brows as they walked into the classroom finding Fuad and Bilal present as they spoke. They both shot her handsome smiles which further proved Hilal's point.

This past two weeks brought her and Fuad impossibly closer. She noticed Bilal was composed so he wasn't really someone you found her close with quickly but her hand Fuad were really hitting it off. They had late night phone calls and they made it a routine to meet in the library early in the morning, and Aziza was loving every single minute of it. It surprised Aziza how two weeks could bring two people impossibly closer.

Aziza shook her thoughts off going to sit in her normal spot. Precious was already smiling in her face as she told her about her encounter with a guy when she was coming back home from the birthday bash.

"He was so sweet. But as soon as he knew about my family, he left." Precious pouted as she rested her chin in her palm, crossing her legs making her skirt ride up from the action.

"So you fell in love with someone from a rival school?" Aziza summarized her whole story and Precious shrugged her shoulders, unbothered.

"I don't see what the problem is." Precious defended.

"You do know we're having a tournament against them this week, right?" Aziza reminded her.

"I am free to see whoever I want, they can't expect us not to widen our horizon." Precious said bitterly making Aziza raise her brow.

"Does this have anything to do with the fact that Faisal is on the team?" Aziza raised her brow knowingly earning an eye roll from Precious as she glanced at Faisal who was in his seat, scrolling through his phone.

"There are plenty fishes in the sea." Precious flipped her hair over shoulder trying to act nonchalant but Aziza could hear the defeat in her tone, and she wondered what happened between the two.

Maryam walked into the class and all eyes fell on her. Faisal was quick to embrace her and the girl laughed, tapping his shoulder as they pulled away. Maryam smiled when she met Fuad's eyes and he mirrored her smile before he continued scrolling through his phone.

Maryam's face fell with the way he reacted but fixed her face turning to Aziza who approached her, wrapping her arms around her in a bear hug. Maryam didn't hesitate to hug the smaller girl before they pulled away.

Maryam looked paler than usual and she lost some weight but she still wore her signature matching sweater with sneakers with the same necklace still clasped around her neck.

"I missed you." Aziza mumbled before pulling away making Maryam smile.

"I missed you too. You have no idea." Maryam chuckled.

"Aziza." Naseem called out making the her head snap in his direction as he approached the small group. He smiled sitting on one of the desks. "Nice party yesterday. Dopest I've ever been to." He chuckled making Aziza blush.

"We planned it together." Maryam chuckled furrowing her brows.

"But she brought everything together, that's all her to me." He shrugged and Aziza could see how Maryam's smile fell for the second time in less than three minutes and that made a shiver of satisfaction run through Aziza at the sight.

"Thank you." Was Aziza's only response and they get into another conversation with Naseem. Aziza knew there was a level of interest that Naseem had in her because of Maryam and she knew it was wrong, but their conversation was flirtier than usual because she wanted to see Fuad's reaction and as soon as she glanced at him, she met his eyes with his jaw set.

He smirked when he realized she was looking at him and she mirrored his expression, turning back to her conversation with Naseem feeling his eyes on her the whole time.

•••

It was lunch time and they were in their usual spot as the boys were practicing for their upcoming match, so they were coming later than expected.

"It kind of sucks." Maryam broke the silence making Aziza look up from her phone, as she was stalking Fuad's account but got nothing in return. He had some pictures on his account and mostly of the trio but there was no sign of Maryam in his account and that made Aziza a tad bit happy because of that.

"What does?" Aziza quirked her brow.

"I've been looking forward to this and I miss it and come to school and that's all they talk about." Maryam said with a low chuckle making Aziza raise her brows.

"You weren't around though." Aziza defended.

"Yeah I know Aziza." Maryam laughed furrowing her brows, giving her a look that obviously implied that was what she was talking about.

"Then why are you making it seem like — " Aziza started before Maryam cut her off mid sentence, already put off by her accusations.

"Making it seem like what Aziza?" Maryam tilted her head to the side, appearing annoyed.

"Like I stole your spotlight or something?" Aziza raised her brows defensively earning a look of disbelief from Maryam who tilted her head to the side.

"Don't put words in my mouth Aziza, I'm simply saying it sucks because I had high expectations for it. You did a great job and I'm happy you were in charge of it, but it doesn't mean I won't feel some way." Maryam defended taken aback by how defensive Aziza got when she was only expressing her feelings on the matter.

"Be honest with me," Aziza started. "Is it about the party or are you simply unhappy with the fact that you're not in the spotlight?" Aziza asked earning an offended look from Maryam.

"Are you serious?" She let out a breath as laugh, finding the whole conversation and where it's heading completely preposterous.

"I literally missed my best friends birthday party I organized, the last one we'll celebrate in a long time, I spent my time and money to get that and you expect me to not feel some way because I didn't get to see the end of it?" Maryam tilted her head to the side, a frown marring her pretty face.

This is the first time they're having an argument as friends, but with Aziza's feelings and the whole topic being a soft spot for Maryam, was blowing it out of proportions and there was no one to diffuse it.

"They're my best friends too!" Aziza scoffed raising her hands in an aggravated manner trying to control herself from snapping.

"I even ever said they weren't." Maryam defended.

"This is literally what you do, you pull me close only to remind me of my place every single time. Does it thrill you?" Aziza let out a breath as a laugh posing the question, making Maryam jerk her head back, disbelief coating her features finding it hard to believe Aziza implied that.

"It was no one's fault you were Ill, you can't expect us to put our lives on hold for you because you simply don't want to miss it?" Aziza added scoffing at the end of her sentence finding it ludacris.

Maryam took a few moments to collect herself and truly flipping through her mementoes trying to see if there was ever a time she did anything to make the girl attack her like that. The statement itself felt like an insult to her because Aziza had no idea the reason why she reacted the way she did, and was looking it from a twisted point of view.

"I get a sick thrill out of demeaning you, that's what you say?" Maryam repeated poking her cheek with her tongue, shooting Aziza a fed up smile. "I befriended you, went out of my way to get you out of Fatima's clutches, made my friends yours and the only thing I get in return is I'm sick?" Maryam's voice was eerily calm, but her voice was shaking with anger.

"See? That's the same thing you're doing. You're reminding me of the things you've done for me." Aziza scoffed standing to her feet leaving Maryam to stare at her with furrowed brows, an aggravated look on her face.

"I need to because it's like you need to realize that I didn't need to what I did for you, so you coming after me for no fucking reason, is mind boggling." Maryam stared into Aziza's eyes, crossing her arms over her chest leaning forward in her seat.

"I never asked for your help. You did that on your own so don't come out here acting like I put a gun to your head or something. Kama kan ki." Aziza threatened causing Maryam to sit up, her brows raising to her hairline in utter surprise.

"In kama kai na?" She tilted her head to the side. "I'm supposed to say that to you. I don't know what is going on with you, but don't come with your baggage because God knows I'm in no mood for it." Maryam snapped.

"I get it, you never had a mother in your life but you so desperately wanting to fill that hole by seeking for love in others is just pathetic, even for you." Aziza jabbed making Maryam jump to her feet, shooting a warning glare at Aziza.

"It's okay thing to insult me, but don't you ever bring up my mother." Maryam warned raising her finger. "I'm not scared of you, just like how I made you from nothing, I can easily take all that back, not even to you but to your ass licker of a father." Maryam squinted her eyes at Aziza who clenched her fists out of anger.

"At least I have both parents." Aziza shot back. "So tell me why I need to follow around a girl who has fucking mummy issues. No tell me." Aziza yelled making Maryam's jaw clench. She lunged at Aziza but was prevented from doing so as Faisal's arms circled her waist tugging her back.

"Woah what's going on here?" Faisal asked as Fuad and Bilal followed after him, stunned expressions painted on their faces as they witnessed the two close friends throw insults at each other with Faisal holding Maryam back.

"Oh yeah?" Maryam raised her brows. "Then it's funny how you took advantage of a person with mummy issues to get what you want, but I guess it runs in the family, am I right?" Maryam spat venomously making Aziza lunge at the girl but Fuad was quick to wrap his arms around her waist, pulling her back.

"No she can't say that. How dare you!" Aziza screamed wriggling in Fuad's hold.

"What happened?" Fuad asked Aziza in her ear as she glared at Maryam who was staring off to the side, blinking continuously as Faisal spoke to her lowly. When she didn't answer him and never took her eyes off her once best friend, Fuad pulled her with him and Maryam's eyes teared up as she witnessed the boy that held her heart captive pull Aziza with him.

She already won.

And Maryam failed to realize until it was too late.