"Good night and don't dream too much about me okay?" -Adam Mathews, IASWAD.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN: Start Of Something New

Zamzam Amin

"Hey scarfy." Adam said the moment I came home from Abdi's house. I ended up deciding to go home instead of staying the night. For a split second I forgot that he was staying with us for the time being. "Coming home this late? Shame." He smirked once he noticed how annoyed I was starting to get. "Whatever." I responded as I started to walk upstairs to my room.

Before I could take another step he called out for me. "What do you want?" I groaned. All I want to do right now is go to my room and go to sleep. Why is it so hard to do something as simple as that? "Why do I have to want anything? Can't I just want to talk?" He responded with a raised eyebrow. Sighing, I walk back down the stairs and to where he was standing.

"You're Adam Mathews," I stated. "You always want something."

The smirk on his face grew wider and wider by the second. Ugh, can I please slap it off? "Well I just wanted to say..." He walked closer to me. "Good night and don't dream too much about me okay?" He then winked as he walked past me and up the stairs into Isa's room.

Once a player always a player, I thought as I proceeded to walk into my room.

* * *

"Aliyah!" I squealed as I wrapped my arms around her. I didn't even know she came back. Last time I saw her was the day she moved to California around 6-7 years ago so imagine how shocked I was when I saw her come into my school. We were the best of friends in both elementary school and middle school. We'd always pull the funniest pranks on Isa and Amir together.

Whenever we were together we'd bring trouble, that's why we were called the biggest trouble makers. "Zam!" We ran to each other and engulfed each other in a big hug. "I missed you so much!" She said, squeezing me."Me too!" I replied with happiness. Finally I have one of my closest friends back at this school. Just then the bell for first period rang and we let go of each other. "So do you need help with your schedule?" I asked her. She shook her head from side to side.

"It's okay Amir said he'd help me. We should hang out after school."

Oh wow I forgot about the play rehearsals that are after school. I also have to work with Adam on our History project which is due this week. You know usually I'd dread seeing Adam but today I'm not dreading it for some odd reason. It's so weird that I also have to see him at my house for another night. It's hard to get used to him and Isa being friends.

"I can't. How about you come with me to rehearsals?" I suggested instead. "I can't becau-" Before she could finish her sentence she was interrupted.

"Scarfy!" Adam shouted as he came closer to us. Immediately people started turning towards our direction. You know what I said earlier about not dreading seeing him? Scratch that. Now I'm dreading it big time. "Hey cocky." I shot back in annoyance.

"Who's your friend here?" He winked at Aliyah. She of course had a bewildered look on her face. Aliyah is really pretty so she's used to guys flirting with her like that and she hates it. "I'm Aliyah and I'm also not interested. I'll meet up with you later." She then scurried off.

"She seems nice." He said in a sarcastic tone. I couldn't help but roll my eyes at him. Just when I thought he was becoming bearable he goes back to his jerk ways. "She is nice actually." I responded as I turned around and walked to my first period class. Adam started walking with me, most likely to annoy me which was unfortunately working. "So after the play rehearsals we have to finish up our project." He stated, walking next to me.

Thank you Captain Obvious, I thought to myself. "You know we only have five months until the bet will be over so tick tock, time is flying by." He said as he dug his hands deep in his jean pockets. I bet most girls would swoon at the thought of having Adam Mathews walking with them to class. I, on the other hand can't stand it. I mean seriously why can't he go annoy some other girl? There's like 500 other teenage girls walking these halls. Why does he have to bother me of all people?

We finally reached our class and I hurried off to my seat. I don't know why I'm starting to feel so annoyed. I usually can control how I feel but right now I don't want to talk to anyone. Especially Adam. It sucks because I know I have to meet up with him later and work on the set for the play.

Ugh.

* * *

"Okay this is the part where Troy and Gabriella meet. Now Adam and Kathie come over here," Mrs. Smith said as she instructed them to come closer. The tension between those two was so thick that you could cut it with a knife. What is wrong with them? I mean I know they dated before but did it end so badly that they can't even look at each other? "Come on guys!" Mrs. Smith exclaimed.

"I need a couple of minutes." Adam quickly stormed off leaving everyone confused.

Adam Mathews

How the hell am I supposed to act like I'm in love with a girl I can't stand to look at? I know I'm a great actor but I'm not that great to pull this off. I don't understand how her and Alex could do something like that to me. It's been so hard avoiding him because every time we saw each other he'd try to approach me. I already have a lot to deal with and I can't add this on to it. I mean last night was a complete fail. We couldn't find anything on Avon.

I also have to keep acting like everything is normal in front of Scarfy because I don't want her to start asking questions. Last night Isa, Amir and I made a pact that we'd keep her out of this. Believe it or not I actually am starting to care for her. I mean she's one of the only people who could tell me what I'm doing wrong. She also doesn't care what I think of her or anyone else for that matter. What is wrong with me!? Why am I thinking of her!? I'm seriously starting to lose my mind. The old me would just try to find another girl who gives me attention. No, I cannot start to change. I can't let her win!

"Hey," By the familiar clicking of her heels and annoying voice I could tell who it was. "I know I messed up okay? But get over yourself and get back to rehearsal! Put your feelings you have about me aside and let's go." I chuckled menacingly at her. Who does she think she is? "Excuse me?" I approached her. "Get over myself? How do you expect me to feel when I just figured my best friend for 10 years and my girlfriend were fooling around behind my back? Huh!? How do you expect me to act like everything is normal!? You know I was always told not to go out with you because you were a bitch but I decided not to listen to those people. I thought under all of that makeup and superficial stuff was just another regular girl trying to make something out of herself. But no I was wrong. Way wrong." I walked passed her and headed back to the gym. I'm going to get through rehearsals and this play even if it kills me, just so I could prove to both of them that they don't have as much affect on me as they thought. Even though they do I don't want them to know that.

After a couple of seconds she came back as well with watery eyes. But then very quickly she wiped them away and put on the same emotionless expression she had on before. "Are we ready?" Mrs. Smith asked. We both nodded our heads and grabbed the scripts. I don't know why but I turned to Zamzam who was busy with her sketch book. For a split second she looked up and we stared at each other. "Okay let's begin with The Start Of Something New!"

Turning away, I cleared my throat and started to sing.

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

"Living in my own world," I started off slowly. "Didn't understand that anything could happen...when you take a chance."

"I never believed in," Kathie started to sing her part. I have to give it up to her, she really can sing. No wonder she got the lead female part. "What I couldn't see. I never opened my heart,"

"Oh," I added in.

"To all the possibilities."

"I know." We started to sing together.

"That something has changed, never felt this way and right here tonight. This could be the start of something new. It feels so right to be here with you, oh. And now looking in your eyes, I feel in my heart the start of something new."

"...I never knew that it could happen till it happened to me!" I sang with as passion as I could put into it. Some people were 'whooping' while others got out their phones and started to record us. "I didn't know it before but now it's easy to see oh!" She sang off the top of her lungs.

"That it's the start of something new! It feels so right to be here with you, oh! And now looking in your eyes, I feel in my heart the start of something new." We continued to sing. "Start of something new." I added in a low voice.

"Start of something new."

"The start of something new." We finally ended the song. Once we finished everyone went wild, they started clapping and cheering. It felt good to be up here and be cheered on by my peers. "Bravo! That was amazing!" Mrs. Smith gave both of us a pat on the back.

"Now let's bop, bop, bop to the top!"

* * *

"I finished the 2d representation of our project." Zamzam took out her sketchbook and showed me a drawing. "I did a collage of drawings with cartoon versions of Martin Luther King Jr, Rosa Parks, Malcom X, Muhammad Ali and a lot of other Civil Rights Activists. I also added famous quotes said by these people. What do you think?" She asked, raising an eyebrow. I couldn't help but stare at the drawing in amazement.

"I think it's great." I said in awe.

"Great, now we're done!" She cheered and packed her stuff up.

"Oh and great job today during rehearsals." She said the last part so quietly that I had to strain my ears to hear it correctly. "Wow you're complimenting me?" I couldn't help but grin like an idiot. "Actually never mind, you're already cocky enough as it is. Wouldn't want your head to get bigger."

"Nope, you said it already Chica."

"Bye." She left without saying anything else.

* * *

Zamzam Amin

"What!?" I practically shouted. Aliyah quickly covered my mouth with her hands. "Quiet! My parents can hear you. But yeah I over heard them say that." She had a goofy grin on her face. I'm so happy for her!

"Wait so you and Amir?.." I trailed uncertainly. I mean I always knew they liked each other and they'd end up together one day. But now it's actually happening! "Yeah they also said that his dad is also going to talk to him about it today. I think they're planning on telling me during dinner."

"So how do you feel?" I questioned as I nudged her shoulder. "Honestly I'm on cloud nine! I've always had a crush on him and part of me believes he's had a crush on me too. He's exactly the kind of guy I'd always imagine myself getting married to and now it's a possibility." She responded with a goofy smile spread across her face.

"And hopefully that possibility will become a reality!" I squealed, jumping up and down. I know I'm acting like a child but could you blame me? I've been rooting for these two every since middle school! I know for a fact that Amir feels the same way because when Aliyah moved away he took it the hardest. Also I could read him like a book, that's what happens when you've been friends with someone for so long. You pick up the little things and then those little things add up to bigger things. Pretty soon you could tell what they're feeling by just looking at them.

Finally they're going to get the happiness they deserve and I couldn't be happier for them.

* * *

A little bit after I came home, my dad came to my room and knocked on my door. I told him to come inside. "Salam habibti." Baba said as he walked inside with a small smile on his face.

"Walaikumusalam, baba." I responded as I returned the same smile.

"How have you been? I feel like it's been forever since we've spoke." Baba said with a sigh.

"Alhamdulilah, everything's good. I know you've been busy with work and all so I didn't want to bother you." I said honestly.

"Habibti, I'm never too busy for you. I've missed you, I know lately we haven't seen much of each other. Which brings me to ask if you want to have a daddy/daughter day like we used to when you were younger." Baba stated as he sat at the edge of my bed. It's been forever since we've had a daddy/daughter day. I also haven't seen Baba a lot lately because he's always at work and that takes up a lot of his time.

Baba is a family rights lawyer and that coincides with a lot of hours at the office as well as with his clients. Not only does he work at the firm but he owns it too. He's also taken on a lot more cases ever since mama past away, that was the way he dealt with it all. So he's barely at the house and the only time he is in the morning when I'm going to school.

"That sounds great." I said excitedly.

"Okay, go get dressed and I'll be waiting downstairs for you." Baba then got up and closed my door. I quickly did as he said and got dressed then came downstairs where he was waiting. It was just us two home today because Grams is at the bakery and I'm guessing that Isa is at the gym as usual.

"Where do you want to go?" Baba asked as we made our way to his car. It feels weird being in the passenger seat for once. I tapped my finger on my chin as I pretended to think.

"Billy's? I want some ice cream!" I said excitedly, suddenly feeling like a little kid again.

"Sounds good!" Baba responded also with excitement which made us both laugh. I've missed spending time with Baba, just us two. I'm not going to lie, I've always been a daddy's girl ever since I was a little kid. Growing up, I used to think of my dad as super man. Whenever he was around all of my problems suddenly seemed so small.

I still think of him like that.

I KNOW THIS CHAPTER IS LAME BUT TRY TO UNDERSTAND THAT I HAD WRITERS BLOCK!! ALSO FOR THE PART ADAM AND KATHIE ARE SINGING TOGETHER I CUT SOME VERSES OUT CAUSE I DIDN'T FEEL LIKE TYPING ALL OF IT:/ I KNOW I AM SO LAZY LOL! ANYWAYS COMMENT YOUR THOUGHTS!!!

STAY

QURUX

MY

QURUXLEYS

MWAH!!:)😘