"She would never think of me the same way I think of her. Who would?" -Adam Mathews, IASWAD.
CHAPTER TWENTY THREE: Plays, Drama And Drama

Adam Mathews

I stared at my mother wide eyed as if I was imagining seeing her right in front of me. I mean I knew she was here but I didn't think I'd see her so soon. She as well looked surprised to see me but quickly recovered. "Adam take Zamzam and her friend now. I have to go somewhere." She commanded as she walked away from us. "Let's go get Aliyah." I told Zamzam as I walked beside her into the library.

"Wait, what's going on? How am I in danger?" She questioned worriedly.

"Look, let's just get your friend and go then I promise you after that I'll answer any questions you throw my way. Right now we don't have time okay?" I responded feeling irritated all of the sudden. She did as I told and got Aliyah. "Follow me!" I shouted as I unlocked my car and turned on the engine. For a moment I rest my head against the steering wheel as I tried to calm myself down. I just saw my mom after so many years of missing her... No Adam this isn't the time for that, I reminded myself. I need to get a grip of my emotions and clear my head. As I started driving, I noticed Zamzam and Aliyah driving behind me.

Suddenly my phone started vibrating so I answered it. "Hey where are you? Amir told me everything." I could hear panic in Isa's voice. "Where are you taking Zamzam?" He added worriedly. I groaned slightly at that part. Damn, I didn't think of where I should take her. "I don't know dude. Where do you think is safe for her at the moment?" I replied. Before he could answer my phone started ringing again indicating someone else was calling me. It's weird because it's a number that I don't recognize.

"Hello?"

"Its your mother, Adam. Bring Zamzam and her friend to an address that I'm about to text you. After you guys get here I want to have a real conversation with you explaining everything. I love you my son." My mom then hung up. A second later I received the address to wherever it was she wanted us to go. I then texted Isa and told him where I'd take Zamzam and Aliyah.

I just hope that everything turns out alright in the end. Right now in this moment I've never been so confused and messed up inside. So many things in my life has changed in just about two months. Before this I was the it boy, every girl wanted me and every guy wanted to be me. I used to understand why they would but now I don't understand why anyone would want me or want to be me, I'm damaged goods.

She would never think of me the same way I think of her. Who would?

My life is so screwed up. I mean my father tried to kill my mother and still is trying to! Who has parents like that? Even if she did like me there's no way we'd ever be together. She's Muslim and I'm not. I've never believed in a God and he's all she believes in. Why am I even thinking like this? I seriously need to get a grip!

My phone rang once again and this time I noticed it was Scarfy calling me. I picked up and rested my phone against my cheek as I paid attention to the road ahead of me. "Adam where are we going?!" This wasn't Zamzam's voice but Aliyah's. "Zamzam isn't answering any of my questions so fess up player boy." She added in a commanding tone. I couldn't help but let out a sigh as I continued to stare at the busy streets of New York City.

"Somewhere." I responded abruptly then hung up and threw my phone on the passenger seat. I really hope that after this everything will turn back to normal. If there really is a God then I hope he's listening to my prayer.

* * *

I parked my car in front of what seemed to be an old abandoned factory. I'm guessing this is where my mother was hanging out for the time being. After I stepped out of my car I noticed Zamzam pull in behind me. Both her and Aliyah got out of their car and walked to where I was standing. "Can someone explain what's happening!?" Aliyah exclaimed in annoyance.

"I'd keep my voice down if I were you." A deep voice was heard from inside the building. The man from the park walked out to where we were standing. This time he didn't have a scary dark era around him, he just looks like a man who wants justice to be served. I don't know what my father did to him but I could tell it was really bad.

"Who are you?" Aliyah questioned as she crossed her arms over her chest.

"You have a lot of questions."

"Yeah and not many answers!" She shot back in annoyance. Zamzam tapped her arm indicating for her to calm down but it didn't seem to work. She then whispered something into Aliyah's ear which actually did work because she started to calm down.

Zamzam Amin

To say I was confused would be a total understatement. Scar-face looked at Adam, Aliyah and then me with a skeptical look. Just then Ms. Mathews emerged from the abandoned factory and stood beside Scar-face. "We've brought you guys here because Alec has had men following you all day and we don't think it's safe." She announced.

Aliyah gripped my arm tightly, she only does that when she's freaked out and doesn't want to show it. I know I have a lot of explaining to do after this and I'm not looking forward to it. How am I supposed to explain something that I'm still confused about myself? "So what are we going to do about it?" I asked worriedly.

"Although it will be hard, try to be as natural as possible and go on with your daily lives. All my ex-husband wants is to keep you and Adam away from each other so you can't be seen anywhere other than at school together. Even there you need to be careful because a lot of the people that work for him are students from your school. He's been watching you and Adam very closely for a long time. So be extra careful. Got it?" Veronica exclaimed in a commanding tone. I looked at Adam and he looked back at me nodding his head. I let out a sigh as all of this information started to sink in. He's had men watching me and studying me. To say that scared me would be the biggest understatement of the century! Calm down Zam, I advised myself. I guess Adam saw the worried look I had on my face because he started to whisper something to me. 'You got this' he mouthed reassuringly. I nodded my head slightly and gave him a small smile.

If this is what has to be done then so be it.

"Adam can I speak to you for a moment?"

He then walked away with his mother hesitantly. I'm happy that he's finally with her now after so many years of missing her. Seeing them together makes me miss my mom. I let out a small sigh then turned to Aliyah. This is going to be hard to explain.

* * *

"Okay today is opening day for the play! It's been great working with all of you talented students. I know that this play will be amazing." Mrs. Smith said excitedly. I continued to make sure all of the sets looked exactly the way I wanted them to look before show time. Adam was sitting in a chair getting light make up applied to help compliment his face.

"Wait," He shouted as he chased after me. "Aren't you gong to wish me good luck?" He pretended to be hurt as he placed a hand over his heart. I couldn't help but smile at his childishness. "Break a leg!" I tried to walk away but was once again stopped by him. "You know it's kind of hard not being able to talk to you." He awkwardly scratched the back of his neck while leaning back and forth on his tip toes. "You know not being able to annoy you whenever I want or wherever I want."

I couldn't fight this smile that made its way across my face. "Curtains are about to go up in five minutes!" The stage director shouted over the chaos. I proceeded to walk to where I was sitting along with Isa and Baba. They were the only ones who were able to come, the others sadly had work. Pretty soon the play began and everyone quieted down.

* * *

I couldn't help but be amazed at how well Adam could sing, I mean I've heard sing a thousand times by now during rehearsals but tonight it sounded different. I don't know what's wrong with me but lately I've been thinking about him. Astaghfirrullah, why can't I stop? This is haram Zamzam! I scolded myself. I shouldn't be thinking about any boy like this! Especially Adam Mathews. Just two months ago he was the biggest jerk on planet Earth and I couldn't stand him, yet here I am constantly finding myself thinking about him.

After the play finished Isa and Baba had to go somewhere so they dropped me off at the house. The moment I walked up our drive way I noticed that Abdi's car was parked there. Weird, I thought to myself as I put in my key and stepped inside the house. When I walked in not only was Abdi here but so was Ihsan. "Salam." I said as I took off my shoes. As I walked inside the house I saw my brother sitting there looking pissed off for some reason. "Sit down." Abdi commanded as he pointed to the seat right next to him. I willing did what he said and sat down. Why do I have a feeling that I won't like what he's about to say to me?

"What's up?" I said nervously.

"What's going on between you and Adam?" He gave me a look that I couldn't exactly describe, it looked like a combination of anger and disappointment. Abdi usually wasn't one to show his feelings but when he did you could read him like a book. Right now I could tell he was mad at me but I don't get why.

"What's wrong with you?" I raised my eyebrows at him in wonder. I could see his knuckles turning white because of the tight grip he had on the armrest of our sofa. "Just answer the damn question Zamzam! What is going on between you and Adam? Why did a random person come up to me at work to tell me to keep you away from him!?"

"I don't know what you're talking about." I lied. Ya Allah please forgive me for lying, I silently prayed. This is the first time I had ever lied to Abdirahman and man did not feel good. I hate lying but right now what other choice do I have? This secret is not mine to tell. It's up to Isa and Adam to tell him, not me. "Wow Zamzam, I've never been so disappointed in you. I thought we always told each other the truth but I guess I was wrong. I never thought you were the kind of girl to sneak around with a boy. But I guess I was wrong." He spat the last part out as if it were venom. What did he just say? I know that he's mad that I lied but did he really just say I was the type of girl to mess around with a boy? Suddenly my eyes began to water as I stood up from the sofa.

"I can't believe you just said that. You know what Abdi? I've never been so disappointed in you. I never thought you were the type of person who would jump to conclusions before hearing the whole truth. But I guess I was wrong." I quickly rushed upstairs to my room and slammed my bedroom door. I wiped the tears I had on my face furiously but they wouldn't stop falling.

"Did you really have to accuse her of that!?" Ihsan shouted from downstairs.

"What else was I supposed to think!?" Abdirahman shouted back.

"You were supposed to trust her and know that she could make good decisions on her own!" Ihsan shouted, it then got really silent."She's not a baby anymore so you need to stop treating her like one. Also there isn't anything going on between her and that Adam boy. I know what's going on but I'm going to let her explain everything to you."She added with a sigh. There was another long pause before either of them said anything.

"I know," My brother finally stated. "I also can't believe I said that myself. I trust that there isn't anything going on between them." He let out a sigh. Pretty soon I could hear footsteps coming upstairs closer to my room.

"Zamzam I'm sorry please open the door so we could talk."

"Go away!" I turned to the other side of my bed and laid down. "Please Zamzam, I'm sorry for not trusting you and accusing you of sneaking around. I know that's not the kind of person you are and In Shaa Allah you never will be that kind of person. It's just I got freaked out about what that person told me and I assumed the worst. Look I know you are not a baby but you are still my baby sister. I want that best for you that's why I'm always so overprotective. Can you just please open the door for me?" I got up reluctantly and opened the door. "Don't cry," He wiped my tears away with the back of his palm once he saw them. "I'm really sorry about all of the stuff I said. I'll let you explain everything to me when you're ready."

And so I explained all that I could've at the moment and it felt like a whole weight was lifted off of my shoulders. Surprisingly he wasn't upset about the whole dare situation. Instead he said he was proud of me for trying to change someone for the better. After my brother and sister-in-law left, I laid back on my bed and for once was able to go to sleep without any worries.

THIS CHAPTER TOOK ME SO LONG TO WRITE BUT I HOPE YOU GUYS LIKED IT ANYWAYS!

STAY

QURUX

MY

QURUXLEYS

MWAH!!:)😘