A/N: As always, look to the notes at the bottom for any foreign words and customs! Enjoy! :) 

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      I went to the library this morning to wait while my parents went shopping with my siblings. I didn't even want to come. I don't come anywhere anyway, so they dropped me off at the library and drove off. I watched their car leave before turning and going inside.

      I walked all the way to the back of the fiction section, trailing my fingers over the worn books I'd read over and over again. It was warmer and quieter back here. I smiled to myself before pulling a book off the shelf and settling into a corner, crossing my legs and leaning against the wall, the book resting against my knees.

I could hear people murmuring in the background and I slumped against the brick walls of the library, my feet pressing against the dull, patterned carpet.

     I finished half the book before realizing how late it was. Where'd my parents go? I reached into my pocket and my hand came out empty. Eh? I patted my pockets, slowly standing up and letting the book fall to the floor. Awww shitzle. I forgot my phone.

Crap crap crap. Uhh...

I put the book back on its shelf and dragged my feet outside, a pit growing in my stomach. It kept growing as I realized the librarian was the only one left in the library other than me.

She turned to look at me and smiled. "Oh! I didn't know there was anyone left. We're closing in five minutes."

I pursed my lips and gave her a tight smile. "Uh, yeah. Sorry. I didn't realize..."
She laughed. "We all get absorbed in books sometimes. Just be careful, okay? I almost left, and you would've been locked inside."

I nodded. "Yes, I will." I lifted my hand awkwardly. "Bye."

She nodded, picking up a set of keys and pulling on her jacket. "Good night." She looked at me. "Do you have someone picking you up?"

"Y-yes."
"Okay then." She looked relieved.

I waved and walked outside. Crapshoot. It was getting dark already. And we're in summer...it must be around seven or eight. I started towards the sidewalk as the librarian passed me in her car. She smiled and I waved, trying to act like I knew what I was doing.

Great fireballs. I should've asked her if I could use her phone...

I wrapped my arms around myself and wandered back to the library door. Maybe they'll be here in awhile. Any minute now...

The whole parking lot was empty, and I bit back the rising panic in the back of my throat. Did they forget about me? How could they forget about me? It wouldn't be the first time, but how'd they forget about me?

Okay, deep breaths. Breathe in, breathe out. I'm Iqra. Iqra. I can get myself out of---

"Iqra!"

       Yack! I jumped and turned around towards the sound of a car door slamming shut. A familiar head of red hair jogged up to me and I felt my face scrunch up into its default frown. I watched him approach with my arms crossed over my chest, trying to keep up the impression that I had everything under control. His hair was damp and stuck to his forehead, beads of sweat making their way down his temples. He paused to wipe them away with the back of his hand before he walked up to me, breathing hard. I raised an eyebrow.

"Why do you look like that?"
He blinked. "Like what?"

"A sweaty mess."
His eyes widened slightly before he looked down at me, smiling. Smiling. Why.

"You're always so suspicious of everything." He wiped his forehead, turning his head towards the street and I watched a droplet make a trail down the side of his neck until it disappeared under his shirt. Then I mentally slapped myself. Shame on me.

He turned back to me. "I was playing soccer with some friends. I was gonna drive home but I saw you before I started the car."

There was silence as he tilted his head to study me. I turned towards the street and swallowed. "Hmm."

"...And...Do you..." He clamped his mouth shut. Then he breathed out. "What're you doing out so late?"
I stayed quiet for a minute. "I was in the library. Parents should be coming soon..."

"To pick you up." It wasn't a question.

I nodded anyway.

"You sure?"

I nodded again. "Should be here any minute now." I pursed my lips into a tight smile directed at the road in front of me. We watched a car pass by. Yousuf sighed.

"Okay then, I'll see you back home. Bye."

      I waved silently in his general direction and heard him walk away. A minute later, a car door slammed shut. I sat down on the curb and rested my head in my hands. No engine started up. I watched a random car roll down the street, as I leaned back on the heels of my hands. The concrete dug into my palms. It was quiet.

I sighed and waited for him to leave. The sun dipped lower over the trees and the sky turned dark gray. A car door slammed shut and footsteps walked up to me. I ignored them.

"You sure you don't need a ride?"
I nodded. "Yes. I'm sure."
I could see his sneakers from the corner of my eye.

"Where's your phone? Have you tried calling them?"
I stiffened. "Err..."

"You forgot it."
"Tch. No."

"Really. Then call them."

I frowned. "They'll come eventually."
He shifted next to me. "Here. Use mine. Call Auntie."

       I sighed and gave up, resting my hands on my knees and pushing myself up from the curb. I turned to him and gently took the phone from his hands. I pushed in mom's number before turning away from him. The phone rang once and filled the silence between us. Yousuf reached over my shoulder and took the phone from my hands. I turned back to him.

"Hey! What're you doing?"
He ignored me and put the phone up to his ear, pressing a finger to his lips. Keep quiet. I pouted.

The phone rang one more time and I heard my mother's voice on the other end, saying hello.

Yousuf cleared his throat. "Yes, Salaam Auntie. How are you?"
He stayed quiet for a second then gave a polite smile. "Yes, I'm fine too, thank you. I was just coming back from the park, actually, and I saw Iqra in front of the library."

My mother interrupted him and I could just barely make out her saying that I was in my room.

        Yousuf shook his head and frowned. "No, she's still here. Do you want me to bring her home?....No, no, it's no trouble, really. I was just heading home myself...Yes...Well, it would save you another trip. I'll do it. No problem...It's nothing, Auntie." He laughed. Again, it was a polite laugh. "Mmhmm...okay. Allah hafiz." He turned his head to look at me while he put down the phone. I stared back at him. I didn't have any energy left to argue. A part of me had stopped panicking now that I at least had someone I knew around...even if that person was Yousuf.

He cleared his throat again and watched me. "You're coming home with me."

My shoulders slumped and I sighed. "Fine."
        I followed him to the car. He held the door open and I sat down, muttering my thanks. He nodded before circling around the front to the driver's side. I curled myself up in my seat and rested my head against the window. He started the car and we backed out of the parking space and were on our way home within seconds. I watched the trees fly past in a blur as my eyelids drooped. I reached a hand up to straighten my headscarf.

"Does this happen often?"

"Hmm?"
"Do they forget to pick you up often?"
"....Once or twice." I laughed humorlessly. "Once they ate dinner without realizing I wasn't there."

Yousuf was silent.

I shrugged and closed my eyes. "....The perks of being the middle child in a big family..." My words slurred and I shook myself awake and sat up. I couldn't go to sleep here. I rubbed my eyes and straightened my scarf, biting my lip.

Yousuf clicked his tongue and glanced at me before turning back to the road. "I didn't realize..."
I didn't say anything back, sticking my hands under my thighs and staring at my feet instead.

Our neighborhood came into view and his house rolled past. I turned to look at him. He pulled into my driveway and unlocked the doors.

"You didn't have to come this far, you know. I could've walked here from your driveway. It's just next door."
"I know." He slid his hands over the steering wheel. "But you're my responsibility right now, and I need to make sure you get home safely."
"....I can take care of myself, you know."

That got a smile out of him and he turned to look at me as I climbed out of the car.

"I know, Iqra. I know."
I looked away.

"Thanks..."
"No problem." He winked at me. I frowned. Tch.

"Allah hafiz, Iqra. Don't let them forget you again."
I rolled my eyes. "Allah hafiz."

"Or better yet, don't forget your phone, Shortcake."
I narrowed my eyes at him. He's so infuriating. "I'm not short."
"Yes you are."

        "Whatever. I won't." I turned and shut the door, tugging at my sleeves as I made my way up the driveway. His car backed out and pulled into his own driveway. I kept myself from looking back as I rang the doorbell and waited for the door to open. Adam's face peeked out at me from the window and the door slowly opened, revealing a struggling Aqsa hanging onto the doorknob. A car door slammed shut as I headed inside, picking up Aqsa and calling out my arrival to my family.

I sighed and ran upstairs without stopping in the kitchen for dinner. It's been a long day and I needed some time to myself.

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Our neighbors called us over for dinner two days later. I frowned. Maybe I could fake being sick. Again.

But then, they were only next door. Try as I might, I wouldn't get out of this one.

Why was I born into a social family?

I threw on the clothes my mom had left out for me on the bed. It was a modest salwar kameez. Meh. At least it was comfortable.

      I wrapped a headscarf over my hair and came downstairs to wait on everyone else. Dawud was wrestling with Adam, who was squealing as he got lifted up and spun around. I smiled, watching them. Aqsa came over in her frilly pink dress and rested her head in my lap. I picked her up and put her on the couch beside me and she played with my fingers. Mom and Fatima were still upstairs.

       Another thirty minutes passed. I ran around helping my mother with different things. Bringing purses upstairs, finding Adam's shoes (in the backyard. Go figure.), changing Aqsa's clothes when she spilled water over herself. The list went on and on. Then I had to pack the cake we were bringing over for dessert. I grimaced to myself. At this rate, I'd hate cake before the summer was out.

I placed it inside the cover and clicked the lid shut. Safe. For now.

After much screaming and yelling, we finally got out the door. I frowned. We were late. My family...I sighed. What the heck.

A short walk across the yard, and my brother rang the doorbell. I sighed and waited for the door to open.

Yousuf's mother opened the door, and I smiled at her as we all filed in. My family is so huge I wanted to slap myself. Why's it gotta be so big?

"What does?"

I turned around to see Yousuf locking the door.

"Huh?"

He turned to me. "Assalaamu Alaikum."

"Er...Walaikum Assalaam. Did you say something?"

His face was unreadable. He looked so uptight today. "What's gotta be so big?"

"Oh." My cheeks felt warm. Darn it. I did it again. "My family," I muttered.

He chuckled. "It's cool."

I furrowed my brow. "I don't think I see where this conversation is..."

Yousuf turned around and walked up the stairs. I pursed my lips.

"Going." I sighed. Nevermind.

        I followed Fatima and my mom over to the living room and sat down on the sofa until I was called for dinner. I didn't see Yousuf at dinner, thankfully, because we were ate in different places. I was with the women and children--mainly Aqsa and Adam--while my father, Dawud, Yousuf, and his father ate dinner in another room. I relaxed my shoulders. If I can make it through today without seeing him, I'll be fine.

Dinner passed and I helped pick up dishes then went back to my little corner on the couch.

The cake was finally cut and I took my bowl, drifting out into the backyard with Adam and Aqsa. I watched them absently as I picked at my cake. It felt strange, being on the other side of the fence. I could see my house...

"Your mom said you could."

I turned to see Yousuf standing beside me, looking straight ahead. I stepped to the side to make more space between us.

"What now?"

"You can help out with the play at the community center."

My jaw dropped. "What? W-who-how--What'd you do, Yousuf?" I narrowed my eyes at him.

He shrugged. "Your mom was talking about you moping around the house, and I told her we had a spot open at the community center play. Backstage help. She agreed." He looked at me. "Guess you're not saying no anymore."

I pouted. Darn it, mother. Why couldn't you be on my side?

"Don't make a face like that."

"I can make whatever face I want to."

"Fine, but you keeping making faces like that, and you never know..if the wind blows the wrong way, it'll get stuck like that."

I looked up at him in surprise. "What the--"

"Or that." He grinned and stuck something in my mouth. I jerked my head backwards, tasting something sweet and creamy on my tongue. Cake. My eyes widened as he smiled at me.

"You're not getting away that quickly, Iqra."

The backyard lights shone over his wavy red hair, highlighting the stray strands, turning them gold on his head. He reached his hand up to wipe something from my mouth and I stepped back at his touch. I rubbed my hand across my lips and tried to come up with a response in my rattled brain.

He gave me a small smile. "See you tomorrow. Good night, Iqra."

He turned away, sticking a spoonful of cake in his mouth as he walked back inside.

I rubbed my eyes with both hands, shaking my head. What an idiot.

Wait.

My bowl of cake was missing.

I swiveled around, trying to see where I'd dropped it. Nowhere. I puffed my cheeks out as it clicked.

The idiot stole my cake.

I looked towards the backdoor to see him grinning at me. He waved the bowl in the air, sticking the spoon back in his mouth. You want it back? He mouthed.

I wrinkled my nose. Hell no.

I took a deep breath, trying to squash my anger like I'd imagined squashing his head.

"Come on, Aqsa. Let's go home."

Aqsa squeaked in indignation as I picked her up in my arms. Adam trailed behind me, following his poor twin.

I told mom I wasn't feeling well. A headache, I said. I wasn't feeling well, I said.

       She believed me, despite the frown I was struggling to keep off my face. I was free to go home. As long as I took a safety child with me when I went, since it was nighttime. I took two of them, both Adam and Aqsa holding onto my fingers as I led them back into our own house, saying my goodbyes to Auntie and Uncle. I ignored Yousuf.

Me helping out with a play. With Yousuf, of all people. Not if I could help it. Not at all.

I pushed open the door, and the twins waddled inside, sitting on the ground in front of the door to pull their shoes off. I watched them struggle and kick their feet around for a moment before kneeling down to help them.

Help.

Be stage manager, my butt.

Yeah right.

"Iqra!"

I blinked and looked at Aqsa. She was kicking her leg, trying to get up.

"Let go!"
I looked down at her foot. I'd grabbed her ankle. Oh. Oops.

"Sorry." I released her leg and she stumbled off, following Adam into the living room, probably taking out their blocks and legos.

I flopped down on my back on the couch, watching Adam and Aqsa work. Or play. Whatever four-year olds do.

Where's my phone...

I reached down and dragged my hands over the floor before remembering I'd left it upstairs. I'd never taken it to his house. Their house. Not his house. Whatever.

I got up off the couch and brought my phone back downstairs. It was sitting on my bed under my pile of clothes. Of course that'd be where I'd leave it.

I opened my messages and slumped in my seat. She still hadn't texted back.

Hey Taylor.

It's Iqra. Just decided to drop by and say hi.

My thumbs danced in the air as I tried to decide what to write.

Guess who came back? Yousuf's back home for the summer. He's trying to make me become the stage manager for some play going on in the community center.

I sighed and bit my lip. Here goes nothing.

My thumb hovered over the little airplane button. Send?

I clicked it.

Sent. 

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Note:

Not a Friday, I know. Please bear with me while I work out my updating schedule... Which is already worked out, but I'm just impatient to update. I'll go back to a Tuesday/Friday update next week, I promise! >.< 

*Assalaam Alaikum: "May peace be with you." (Hello) (Some of the characters said just "Salaam" which isn't used as often, but I wrote it to make it easier to read. I realize not everyone is familiar with these words.)

*Allah Hafiz: "God protect you." (Goodbye)

*Salwar kameez: The clothing that lady was wearing in the last chapter media section. 

~Happy Thursday/Friday! I hope you liked the long chapter....the next one isn't as long. Forgive me. ;) 

~October.