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{That's the picture I drew (let's pretend Zamzam drew this although it's not that good.}
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"I guess he isn't so perfect after all." -Zamzam Amin, IASWAD.

CHAPTER SEVEN:  Mr Perfect Is Not So Perfect

Zamzam Amin

"Guess what today is!?" Zahra shrieked, jumping up and down. You know for a girl who's a senior in high school she sure is childish. Don't get me wrong it's not in a bad way at all. In fact I'm pretty childish too. And when we're together we're super childish. I mean have you seen all the pranks we've pulled on Amir over the years? We're like the dynamic duo!

I started jumping along with her. "What's today!?" I asked excitedly. I honestly don't know why we're jumping but I kind of like it. She finally stopped jumping and held me down. "It's the girls masjid event day!" She shrieked once again. These girls events happens twice every year. It's a day all of the sisters at our local masjid get together, eat, play sports, do poetry etc. I used to go to it a lot with my mom.

I suddenly didn't feel so excited anymore. I mean how can I be? The last time I went was with mom, I remember that day so clearly.

"Let's go!" Mom shouted excitedly. We got out of her car and approached the masjid. Today felt like such a nice sunny happy day and you know what else made it more perfect? Spending the day with my mother.

"Are you okay?" Zahra asked me worriedly. I nodded my head slowly with a faint smile. It was fake, I can't even try to smile sincerely. I still feel that pain in my chest, the longing for her. I will always feel that for the rest of my life. There's no way to get over a loss like that.

"We don't have to go. I mean we can get some snacks and pop in a few movies if you want." She gave me a reassuring smile. "I don't want to make you stay. We should go." I said with all the confidence I could muster up. I can do this! Zahra smiled at me before attacking me in a hug. "I'm so proud of you! You know that right? I mean you're so strong Mashallah!" She gushed.

"Thanks, I kind of have to be. And it really helps having friends like you and Amir." I responded sincerely as I hugged her back. I honestly don't know what I would've done if I hadn't ran in to those two at the park almost 10 years ago. After our hug session we got ready and left my house. Let's hope that I don't start crying while we're at the masjid.

Ya Allah please give me enough strength to get through this in one piece, I mentally prayed.

Ameen.

* * *

"Zamzam! Zahra!" Nasra started walking towards us. Nasra has been a friend of ours for the longest time. I smiled once I saw her, I seriously missed this girl. We always used to hangout after school and stay to clean up at the masjid together. But since she moved districts and I haven't come to this masjid a lot, we couldn't spend much time together. "Hey!" Zahra responded, wrapping an arm around her. "Hey girly girl!" Now it was my turn to hug her.

"What's up? How are you guys?"

"Good, alhamdulilah. How are you?" Zahra asked curiously. I know that a lot has changed for Nasra as well. I mean her dad moved to Somalia and now it's only her, her mom and siblings. Also her sister just got married a couple of months ago and her aunt came from Egypt to live with her family. I know because we still contact each other and keep in touch from time to time.

"I'm okay as well. Just really excited for the soccer competition! Get ready cause I'm about to kick some butt!" She said excitedly. This girl always did love her soccer! Oh and her Kdramas, she's seriously obsessed! Like she could go on and on about some actor named Lee Min Ho. Whenever I used to ask her why she liked it so much she would always say "I don't know, once you start you can't stop."

"I can't wait for the food!" I exclaimed.

"You and me both!"

"Hey guys lets go sit down." Nasra pointed to some empty seats up in the front. We quickly went and sat down on the chairs. As we did some other people rushed to their seats as well because the event was starting.

So far I've been good with keeping myself together. I mean I thought it would be really hard for me to sit here and not freak out. I know that I need to remain strong because mom wouldn't want me to be like this.

You know sometimes it's tiring being strong. For the past couple of months I've tried my best to be. I mean Isa and Abdirahman make it look so easy. I know that they're just as torn up and devastated as me but they hide their emotions so well. Everyone in family especially Baba and grams are good at keeping themselves together. They've been our rock and anchor for so long, they've always kept us together. I don't know what I would do without them.

I know it's not easy always being the shoulder everyone cries on because sometimes you have to cry too. That's why I'm going to keep my tears back. So I don't make it harder for Baba and Grams. Suddenly the lights started to dim and a girl who looked my age was standing in the middle of the masjid with a mic in her hands."Asalamualaikum my name is Habiba." She gave us a smile. Wow Mashallah she is so beautiful. If I stood next to her I'd probably look like road kill. "I'll be your host for this half of the event."

"First I'd like to ask if any of our wonderful sisters want to come up here and share something with us? It could be anything, a poem, a nasheed you want to sing for us. Don't be shy," She looked around the crowd. Zahra nudged me on my arm making me turn to her with an annoyed look. "What!?"

"You should go up there and sing. Come on! I've heard you sing before and you're really good!"

She's funny if she thinks I'm going up there! Ha!

"No way!" I replied, crossing my arms over my chest.

"Um excuse me. She'd  like to go!" Zahra gave me an evil smirk. Now everyone's eyes were on me. Damn it, I don't want to go up there! What if I choke? What nasheed would I even sing!? I glared at Zahra big time, she's so going to get it later. "Great! Come on up!" Habiba beamed.

I slowly got out of my chair and stood where Habiba was standing. I nervously grabbed the mic from her. Closing my eyes, I imagine my mom sitting there in the crowd cheering me on. Now I know the perfect nasheed to sing.

" I was a foolish little child, crazy things I used to do. And all the pain I put you through... Momma now I'm here for you." I sang softly with a tear making its way down my cheek. I could tell people were surprised because there was complete and utter silence. They're probably wondering why I'm crying. I knew this would happen! I was so afraid of this happening but what can I do now?

"For all the times I made you cry. The days I told you lies and now it's time for you to rise for all the things you sacrificed! Oh, if I could turn back time, rewind if I could make it undone I swear that I would! I would make it up to you!" It was close to the chorus. "Mom I'm grown up now! It's a brand new day. I'd like to put a smile on your face everyday! Mom I'm grown up now and it's not too late! I'd like to put a smile on your face everyday."

"You know you are the number one for me! You know you are the number one for me! You know you are the number one for me! Oh oh number one for me!" I finally open my eyes and saw the crowd in front of me. Some people had tears in their eyes, others mouths were dropped open almost touching the floor. I wiped the tears off my face and gave the mic back to Habiba.

Walking over to my seat, I grabbed my phone and bag. "Hey I'm just going to get some air." I said as I started to walk out. "Do you need me to come with you?" Zahra asked in a worried tone. I shook my head softly.

"No I kind of just want to be alone. Don't worry I'll come back for the second half."

"Okay." She replied and walked back to her seat. As soon as I opened the Masjid's doors I felt the nice cool breeze against my skin. Perfect time to go to the park and think. Also a great time to draw, good thing I brought my new sketch book with me.

Adam Mathews

"Bye Adam. See you later okay?" The girl I was with giggled flirtatiously as she walked away. I turned on the engine of my car and got out of her driveway and on to the main road. For some reason my nanny keeps on texting me telling me I need to come home asap. I wonder what's going on. After a ten minute drive I made my way to my drive way and parked the car. It's weird because dad's car is here, damn it. Now I know what's going to happen. He's going to force me to talk to him. Well it's better to tell him now that I don't want to speak to him.

Walking inside the house, I was surprised to see another lady sitting with my father. What's going on? I couldn't help but wonder. "Adam! Sit down." Dad gestured to the seat across from him and the mystery women.

"This is Jennifer." He gestured to the lady who was smiling at me. "She's ah-" He stopped mid sentence. "She's my fiancé." He said with hesitation. Fiancé?
Since when was he engaged!? When did they even start dating!? You know what, why am I even surprised? This is so typical of him.

I silently got up and grabbed my keys once again. "I'm out. Have fun with your fiancé dad. Or should I even call you that?" I exclaimed in full blown anger. So what? Now I'm supposed to have a step mom? I felt like punching something. First he drove away my actual mother and now he wants to bring in another lady and wait until they're already engaged to tell me!?

"Adam! That is no way to talk to me young man. Also show some respect! Jennifer is going to be your new mother and my wife!" Dad gave me a hard stare. Ha! New mom!?

"Actually I could talk to you however I want father. And this lady," I pointed towards her. "She's not my mother nor will she ever be. So if you guys are done I'm leaving now." I left before they could even reply. Right now there's only one place I want to go to clear my head, the park.

That's the place I always used to go to clear my head. Or whenever I got into an argument with my dad. It's like my safe haven you know? The one place where I could just think. Look at me I'm starting to sound like Scarfy. Ha, I guess she's starting to rub off on me.

Zamzam Amin

When I finally got to the park the sun was just about to set across the horizon. The view was beautiful...There's no way I could capture the beauty and put it on paper. No one could replicate Allah's creations no matter how much they try. Everything is so beautiful. Suddenly one of my favourite Quran versus popped into my mind.

Had we sent down the Quran to a mountain, you would have seen it humbled, burst apart out of Awe of Allah. [Quran 59:21]

Subhannallah, isn't that beautiful? The beauty of Allah and his creations is truly amazing.

I quickly started to sketch what I was seeing on the sketch book that Abdirahman bought me. I started to draw the grass and made my way to the sunset. I was so into my zone right now it feels like nothing could distract me. At least that's what I thought.

"Damn it!"

I heard a familiar voice shout. Wait... Is that Cocky!? I turned my head and saw him punch a tree. Ouch that must've hurt. Grabbing my stuff, I quickly walked up to him. Once I was close enough to see his hand I noticed it was bleeding.

"Are you okay?" I asked worriedly.

He looked surprised to see me, we have been bumping into each other a lot lately. "I'm fine." He covered up his bleeding hand. "No you're not! Here let me go get my first aid kit from my car." I tried to walk towards my car but he grabbed my arm stopping me from doing so.

"Sorry." He let go of it as he scratched the back of his neck. "I'm fine I can take care of myself. What are you doing here?" He asked curiously. "What are you doing here?" I replied with just as much curiously, maybe even more. Could you blame me? This dude just literally punched a tree and now he's bleeding!He seems really upset.

"I asked you first."

"I asked you second." I shot back.

He sighed in defeat. "I just needed to clear my head." He replied after a moment of silence. Why would he need to do that? Isn't he the guy who always claims that he's perfect? What could Mr. Perfect be so upset about? I guess he isn't so perfect after all. "What about you?" He asked with a raised eyebrow. Now it was my turn to sigh.

"Same."

"What's that in your hand?" He pointed to my sketch book and color pencils. I looked at the drawing so far, it's not that bad. "It's my sketch book. Whenever I'm upset I draw." I responded, looking up at the sunset.

"How about this, if you tell me what's wrong with you I'll tell you what's wrong with me." He suggested. That seemed fair enough, why not?

"Okay, you go first."

"It's my dad, he's getting married."

There seemed like there was more to the story than that but I didn't push. There's probably a reason why he doesn't want to say the other half. "You're turn."

"I miss my mom." I said, cutting to the chase. It was silent for a moment, I guess he doesn't know what to say or maybe he did and he just didn't know how to say it. "I get it, missing your mom. I haven't seen my mom for the past 9 years. I never even got the chance to say goodbye to her." He had a sad look on his face. I guess he really does know how it feels.

"That sucks." I looked back up at the clouds. I remember when I was little I used to make shapes or animals out of them. I looked at Adam and he was also staring at them. "I see a big Giraffe." He pointed to a cloud which weirdly did look like a Giraffe.

Giraffe...Amir... Zahra! Oh dang I have to head back! "Oh shoot! Sorry there's somewhere I need to be." I said apologetically. Adam nodded his head and stood up as well. "Hey, you know this doesn't change things...again. Let's just pretend that today never happened." He rubbed the back of his neck nervously. I shrugged my shoulders, "Good because I don't want to win too easily." I replied with a smirk of my own. "Don't worry because you won't win at all." He then walked passed me and into his car.

Great now he's back to his normal cocky ways.

* * *

"I'm here!" I ran inside the masjid, panting. The second half of the event is about to be over by now. Dang it I wish I got here earlier. Once I spotted Zahra and Nasra I walked up to them. "Hey I'm so sorry I'm late I just got caught up with something." I tried to explain. More like someone, I thought to myself. "It's cool we're about to start the soccer game." Nasra beamed at the thought of playing soccer. "That's good." I let out a sigh of relief.

"Are you alright though?" Zahra looked worried once again. I really love how caring she is, she's always asking if other people are okay and never really worries that much about her own problems. But sometimes that could also be a bad thing. Sometimes I think she cares too much about everyone else's well being when she already has a lot to handle herself. She knows how I feel because she went through the same thing yet she still finds a way to smile.

"Yeah I am." I returned her smile with my own.

* * *

"Isa!!! Get out of the bathroom!" I banged on the door as loud as I could. I really hate sharing a bathroom with this ape! He makes everywhere wet, he somehow manages to get toothpaste all over the sink and he makes the whole entire bathroom smell like his cheap cologne. I wonder how so many girls are attracted to him? Like seriously what is wrong with them?

"I'm out." The moment he opened the door I started to choke on the smell of his cologne.

"You know that cologne doesn't smell good right?"

"You know I don't care what you think right?" He mocked. I slapped him on his arm before closing the door on his face. Once I was done brushing my teeth I walked into my room I grabbed my phone and noticed that I got a text message

Mr. Cocky: Hey Scarfy! Meet me at the football field. The boys have something to say to you.

Would they really apologize to me? Part of me was actually excited to see them apologize for what they've done and the other part was nervous. I shoved the nervous feeling aside and let a sigh. Lets see what today brings.

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WHAT DID YOU GUYS THINK OF THIS SUPER LONG CHAPTER? GUYS IT OVER 3000 WORDS!!!!! LIKE I'VE NEVER WRITTEN THAT MUCH FOR ONE CHAPTER! BUT YOU GUYS DESERVE IT! COMMENT, SHARE, FOLLOW Y'ALL KNOW THE DRILL LOL. LOVE YOU!!

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