Sophia's P.O.V

I was still upset at what happened to Rayaan today. Even more upset that Abdi... I think his name was Abdi had the audacity to bad mouth her. Yesterday after prayer I went out of the prayer room and met him outside. At first he was a nice person until he started making rude comments about a friend of his who wears the niqab on and off. I felt very offended because that wasn't any of his business how or why she wears her niqab but before I could correct him he asked if he could see my face. He asked me to lift my veil. I was so stunned, because it was the first time a Muslim guy asked to see my face. I mean didn't he get the memo I am wearing a veil so he wouldn't see my face. But before I could lash out on him he said he was joking so I let it slid. But I don't think I'll ever let him slid for the things he said to Rayaan and about her in Somali. I intensely dislike him and the other girl who name slipped my mind. Rayaan is the kindest person I know and met. She is very sympathetic to other people's feelings and would rather you say mean words about her than hear her say something back to you. She might not seem like she cares what people say about her but she is very sensitive to it. She is a very simple person and very easy to get along with she likes to make everyone happy and smile. That's why I don't get what gives them the right to say all those mean stuff about her. I avoided mentioning what happened because I know she long forgotten about it and I honestly didn't want to ruin her good mood. She seemed very perky when I agree to the lunch with Michael even though I tried to hide it and miserably failed as she went to her room.

Today when she rushed out of the meeting room, I tried going after her still fuming but Michael insisted on going and when I tried to protest he said the I should calm down first and let him speak to her. She might be more upset if she sees her sister upset and angry and went after her. But I am happy he talked me out of it because she came back in a better mood like it never happened so I stayed because of her.

I still find it weird that everyone blindly believes we are sister. Weird in a good way though because in a way she is my sister even though we don't have the same genes. We might have some similar genes because our father are brother but still she is more my sister than my actual sister is. Ilhaan is still young and I barely see her, she is still my sister even though she is my half-sister I do love her a lot but she doesn't understand me yet as well as Rayaan. It seems as though Ray is only family I have left that understands me. That can see me not for who I was or who I am going to be but who I am trying to be. She understands the feeling of always being branded as something you didn't choose and always feeling like an outsider to those who are meant to be close to you and never even fitting in anywhere. That's why I decided in to moving our so that I wouldn't be a burden to abi and cause him and Khadijah is wife any discomfort to their perfect family. Ever since hoyoo's death my father has had a hard time looking at me in the face and talking to me without the pain in his eyes because I remind him so much of her and he believes her death was all his fault. But in truth It was meant to be. I miss Ami, It's still hard to believe she is gone but I accepted it because It all happened due to the Qadar of Allah. I remember the day I asked her why she named me Sophia a simple name and not some unique name that was out of this world I remember her saying that the best things in life are simple. And that she wanted me to me wise and live up to my name because Sophia means wise or wisdom. She also told me that it was the name of her mother and she was a very wise person my Allah bless her. Though I've never met her the stories ummi told me about her made me feel like I've known her all my life.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

I was sitting in the living room for a while and browsing through Youtube on my phone when I heard someone knocking the front door. I got up and looked through the peek hole and saw Mrs. Johnson and her daughter Emma  with her standing there so I opened the door.

"Sophia thank God you're home." Mrs. Johnson breathed out in relief when she saw me. "Sophia I really need your help babysitting Emma for me my babysitter bailed on me last minute and I can't take her with me to the place I am headed. I'll pay you I promise."

"Mrs. Johnson it's okay, I'll watch her for you no problem." I assured her and smiled at Emma

"Thank the lord I'll be back in 2-3 hours tops I promise." She said as she ushered Emma in and handed me a bag "everything you need is here and you have my number in case of an emergencies. If Emma needs something from home she has a spare key in her bag. Thank you again you are a life saver."

"You're welcome and again Mrs. Johnson it's no problem."

"Okay, okay bye Emma remember to behaver."

"I will mommy." Emma said nodding and hugged her mom just before she left and I closed the door.

"Did you eat dinner?" I asked because I was seriously craving a burrito

"No, I like it when you don't wear the mask you have beautiful hair."

"Why thank you young lady." I said with a very fake butchered British accent "Rayaan! I am going to go out with Emma  to chipotle do you want to come or should I get you something?"

"Emma is here?" Rayaan asked coming out of her room and when she spotted Emily she smiled widely an "Emma!" she yelled and opened her arms wide and Emma ran up to Ray and hugged her.

"So are you coming?" I asked rolling my eyes seeing them not an outsider would think that haven't seen each other for months but in reality it hasn't been that long they just seem very close. It's weird how close they are. I got ready but on my black over head abaya and tied my niqab and got the keys to lock up knowing Ray didn't want to stay. We got on the bus people were looking at us weirdly but as of now I am used to that actually I've always been used to it. We got out food and went home.

"Can we have a karaoke night?" Emma asked after finishing her taco

"That's a good." Ray replied

"I don't think so." I told them because to be honest I suck at singing I literally sound like a whaling whale.

"Come on Sophie let's do it for fun, come on pleas we promise not to make fun you can go last if you want I miss having karaoke night. It's more fun with more people. The more the merry."

"Yeah we promise not to laugh when you sing. Mommy said everyone that sings sounds beautiful."

I agree because they were looking at me with those eyes. The puppy eyes it was just really hard to say no to those faces especially Emma's face. Seriously Ray is becoming a very bad influence to that little girl nice thing you know Emma would be getting away with anything.

We had our fake microphone in place Ray's phone connected to the speaker Emily was going first

Used to be your baby, used to be your lady

Thought you were the perfect lover

All the harmony went fallin' out of key, so

Now you gotta find another

Now you're talkin' crazy, sayin' that you made me

Like I was your Cinderella

You and me are through though, watch me hit it solo

I'm a do it acapella, yeah

I'm a do it acapella, yeah [

Once upon a time, I met the perfect guy

He had that Colgate smile, he had that suit & tie

Mama always said, "Get a rich boyfriend,

You don't gotta love 'em, girl, you can pretend."

You bet I totes believed her, yeah, every word she said

Thought he was gluten-free, but all that I got was bread

Mama always said, "Nice guys finish last.

Beat him at his own game, honey, take the cash."

Ooh, and what a lucky girl you will be

But no, he didn't do jack for me

I want a bean with the beanstalk

And if the magic ain't right, time to walk

Seeing Emma  sing Accapella by Karmin and dance to it was mind blowing. I mean she had the song memorized and she was just six that was mind-blowingly amazing. MashaAllah the girl got talent.

Out on our first date, he took me gourmet

We hit that Olive Garden, my Little Italy

Daddy always said, "Let the gentleman pay.

Never ever go Dutch at the buffet."

I saw his bad intention, he didn't wanna talk

He put the saucy on it (Oops!) time to check my watch

Daddy always said, "Money can't buy class.

You don't wanna get stuck takin' out trash."

Ooh, and yeah I guess it wasn't meant to be

Because he didn't do jack for me

I want a bean with the beanstalk

And if the magic ain't right, time to walk

Used to be your baby, used to be your lady

Thought you were the perfect lover

All the harmony went fallin' out of key, so

Now you gotta find another

Now you're talkin' crazy sayin' that you made me

Like I was your Cinderella

You and me are through though, watch me hit it solo

I'm a do it acapella

Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh-oh

I'm a do it acapella

Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh-oh

Watch me do it in falsetto

Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh-oh

Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh

Never mind, bring the beat back

Used to be your baby, used to be your lady

Thought you were the perfect lover

All the harmony went fallin' out of key, so

Now you gotta find another

Now you're talkin' crazy sayin' that you made me

Like I was your Cinderella

You and me are through though, watch me hit it solo

I'm a do it acapella

Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh-oh

I'm a do it acapella, yeah

When she finally got the last note she was sweating but smiling from ear to ear Ray looked stunned her performance was just speechless.

"where did you learn that song." I asked after clapping frantically

"Aunty Dina sang it a lot when she came over and she was playing that song a lot."

"that was amazing." Ray said having a delayed reaction to the shock she hugged Emma

"Ray it's your turn." I reminded her desperately trying to get this over with.

She turn the music on and right away I knew the song Who says by Selena Gomez it's been Ray's fav since it came out a long time ago

I wouldn't wanna be anybody else.

You made me insecure

Told me I wasn't good enough

But who are you to judge

When you're a diamond in the rough

I'm sure you got some things

You'd like to change about yourself

But when it comes to me

I wouldn't want to be anybody else"

When she was done with her song it was finally my turn and I picked a classic stupid cupid but mand moore's version though

Stupid Cupid you're a real mean guy,

I'd like to clip your wings off so you can't fly.

I am in love and it's crying shame

& I know that you're the one to blame!

Hey hey, set me free

Stupid Cupid, stop picking on me.

I can't do my homework and I can't think straight

I meet him every morning, 'bout a half past eight.

I'm actin' like a lovesick fool.

You even got me carryin' his books to school

hey hey, set me free

Stupid Cupid, stop picking on me.

You mixed me up for good right from the very start.

Hey, go play Robin Hood, with somebody else's heart.

You've got me jumpin' like a crazy clown,

and I don't feature what you're putting down.

Since I kissed his loving lips of wine,

the thing that bothers me is that I like it fine

hey hey, set me free.

Stupid Cupid, stop picking on me.

You've got me jumpin' like a crazy clown,

and I don't feature what you're putting down.

Since I kissed his loving lips of wine,

The thing that bothers me is that I like it fine.

Hey, hey. Set me free

Stupid cupid stop picking on me.

Hey hey, Set me free

Stupid cupid, stop picking on me.

I felt happy when I was done and we kept going back and forth sing songs we even sang some together until Emma got sleepy and slept on the couch. Not long after her mom came to take her home. Ray when to her room to sleep as well after Emma left. And I saw the miss call and voice mail from one of the family lawyers telling me record all the lecture tomorrow from my logic's class and that she would meet me right after that class and formally report him to the school admissions so they can take action. And telling me not to worry about it everything will be okay. I felt every relieved Alhamdullilah. After praying Isha I slept peacefully

The next day I Ray and I got ready for school but before we left the building Ethan greeted us.

"Did you guys have a party last night?" he asked after exchanging our salaam

"No why?" I asked him wondering what he was talking about until I remembered that our walls where very thin and Ethan was our neighbor man this is the most awkward embarrassing situation ever he heard my whaling. Because of my stupidness I didn't think about the neighbors

"Oh My Allah! Please forgive me I totally forgot. We are so sorry for disturbing you last night." I told him feeling devastated that I ruined his night because prophet Muhammad Peace be upon him taught us to be kind to our neighbors and not to be evil towards them that neighbors have a right's upon you as well.

"It's okay, really it was quite entertaining." He laughed "Are you guys headed to school?"

"Yeah." I said still feeling guilty and thinking of a way to make it up to him and Michael since they are the only ones that live on our floor and are most likely the only ones that heard.

"Okay see you around." He said and walked away to the parking lot I then noticed that Ray had left me behind looking at the time I had a few more minutes to get to the bus stop so I ran there. Class when really smoothly other than me trying to stay awake in bio and after logic's my lawyer and I did write a formal complaint to the admissions and I met up with Rayaan who was sitting with Michael and this other girl in the school cafeteria booths. and remembered that Michael invited us to lunch who exactly is this going to work I am a niqabi. It in public with my niqab is hard and very awkward it would just mess up my niqab and jilbab. How about I just pretend I am eating and just talk to them to distract them I really don't want to mess this up for Ray she was really looking forward to this even though she plays it cool I have a suspicious feeling that she likes Michael. But until she's ready or does something very obvious I'll keep my opinions to myself.

"Salaam o Alyum." I greeted them all seating next to Rayaan as scooted over

"wa alykum salaam Sophia this is Hanaan. Hanaan this is my sister Sophia." Rayaan introduced us

"A niqabi? I've never personally met a niqabi before are you sure your twins your eyes don't look alike yours is brown and her eyes are green I think."

"they are fraternal twins." Michael answered before I could come up with an explanation "anyways do you guys mind if Ethan joins us?"

"No, not at all. Hanaan can join us too." Rayaan offered and Michael nodded in agreement

"join you guys where?" Hanaan asked

"We are going to subway for lunch. It's not that far from here" Rayaan told her

"Cool."

"Ethan texted me saying he is waiting outside we can all carpool there if that's okay with you guys." Michael said looking at me as though I had the final say. I just nodded

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