EPISODE TWENTY-SIX 26:WE'RE DONE

**HADIZAH'S POV**

I arrived at school quite early.

"Boo!" I heard from behind. I shrieked in fear, my back hitting the nearby locker.

"Ha ha, got ya! So you're this easy to scare? I should put you up on my TikTok sometime," Juliana said.

"Yeah, I'm a very easy person to scare," I admitted.

"Couldn't have agreed more with that," she said.

I forced a laugh, rubbing my sore back.

"Let's go," she said, extending her hand.

We both settled down.

"Do you want to come to my dance class today?" she asked.

"What period?" I inquired.

"Third," she replied.

"Perfect, I'll come. I have a free period then," I said.

"Don't worry, I'll get us some smoothies," she offered.

"No problem," I said.

"It's settled then. You could even get to know my sister better, Anne," she said.

"I'd gladly do so," I replied.

"Let's head to the shooting area," she suggested.

"Okay," I agreed, and we both left.

Minutes later, we were in the shooting area, a space filled with glass partitions, beautifully designed with yellow and wine-colored intricate patterns.

We put on headgear to protect our ears from the loud sounds of the non-lethal bullets-just in case a fight broke out. We didn't want our school to be closed down.

Juliana packed her hair into a bun, and I couldn't help but notice how beautiful she looked. She went first and was a natural, hitting the most vital points almost perfectly.

"Your turn, Hadi," she said.

"Okay," I said, picking up a gun.

I did my best and felt I had improved.

"Not bad," she complimented.

"Thank you," I said, blushing.

I noticed how her skirt clung tightly to her body, accentuating her curves without needing pop socks like mine. I felt a bit intimidated. Maybe I should stop wearing pop socks; perhaps then I could look as attractive as she did.

"Hadizah," she said, snapping me back to reality.

"Yes?" I asked.

"Keep your head in the game," she reminded me.

We practiced until later and then headed to our respective classes.

Classes weren't in full swing, but teachers were available for questions, so I went to drama.

As I was leaving, I saw Daniel getting bullied.

"Hey, leave him alone!" I said, trying to defend him as a crowd of students gathered around him.

"Hey, Onion, get out of here before you end up with the same fate," Dylan taunted.

"I'll report you to the principal," I said.

"Go on, and don't tell me you have feelings for him because he's fucking gay," Dylan said.

He's gay, and those things are strictly haram (forbidden) in my religion. Can I still be friends with Daniel? Should I help him, or does he deserve this beating?

"Dylan, leave him!" I shouted.

Dylan punched Daniel one more time in the gut, causing him to spit out blood.

"Let him go!" I demanded.

"He's all yours," Dylan said as he walked away, leaving Daniel on the floor.

"Daniel, are you okay?" I asked, examining him.

"I'm fine," he said, wiping the blood with his handkerchief.

"Fine then, I can take my leave," I said.

"I don't think you take me being gay alright," he said.

"Can we not do this? I don't know what to say," I said.

"You're my friend, a very good one at that. I don't want to lose you. I don't have many friends, and you're one of the few I have," he said.

"Fine then. My religion doesn't condone this nonsense or whatever you call it. I can't break my rules to be friends with you," I said.

I wasn't happy with him and didn't know how else to express it.

"Bye," I said, my head hanging low.

I walked out to the students' lounge to feel the breeze on my face.

"Why are you gloomy?" I heard my favorite voice say.

"Hey," I said, smiling.

"Do you want to talk about it?" he asked.

I explained everything to him, and he listened with a look of wisdom on his face.

"I understand where you're coming from," he said.

"But you should still be friendly with him even if you can't be friends. Isn't that right?" he suggested.

"I know, but this stuff isn't allowed where I come from. Nigerians will practically behead you if they find out; it's illegal in Nigeria," I explained.

"Try talking to him about it and don't just cut him off. Just so you know, he helped you with your case," he said.

"Oh, I didn't know, but I'll try my best. He's my friend after all," I said.

"Besides, I trust him around you," he added.

"Oh, now I get it. You trust him because he doesn't like girls," I said.

"Maybe, maybe not," he said with a smirk.

I giggled at his response.

A wave of silence washed over us as the trees swayed gently with the breeze.

"Julian," I called.

"Hmmm?" he answered.

"Can I ask you a question?" I asked.

"Yes, go ahead," he said.

"What do you think about Allah (God)?" I asked.

He took a deep breath before answering.

"I think God is the light that I've just found. I know I can't see Him, but I can feel Him and His creations, and that's enough for me. You know, I recently started taking this religion seriously, and I've never regretted it. Now I know what I want and I'll do anything to keep you. I know I have to keep my religion to have you," he said.

"Julian, you don't have to be a Muslim because of me. It has to be of your own free will," I said.

"Trust me, you are part of why I'm taking this religion seriously. But I've been a Muslim even before I met you," he said with his million-dollar smile.

"Thank you," I said.

"We don't thank each other. Have you forgotten?" he asked rhetorically.

"I'm sorry," I said.

"It's okay," he said, cupping my cheeks.

"I'm going to dance class," I told him.

"Since when do you dance?" he asked.

"Since your sister invited me," I said, laughing.

"Okay, carry on. I have hockey practice," he said.

"Okay," I said as I gently left the area.

******

"You made it!" Anna said as I approached her.

"Yeah," I said, immediately spotting Ava up on one of the chairs. Our eyes locked, and she quickly averted her gaze, hiding behind her book.

"What are you looking at?" Anna asked.

"Nothing," I said, forcing a smile.

"You can take the front row and see how it's done," she said.

"Okay," I said.

When I sat down, the speaker began blasting music. The dancers performed to popular tunes, then transitioned to a slow waltz and later tango.

I was mesmerized by their performances, especially Rose's. She was a natural, and her acrobatic stunts were out of this world.

"Like what you see?" Anna asked.

"Yeah, you rocked," I said.

"I know. Nobody is better than me," she said.

I giggled at her response.

"Let's go get those milkshakes," she said.

"Oh, I totally forgot about that," I said, genuinely.

"Let's go," she said.

"Okay," I agreed.

I really wanted to apologize to Ava, but that could wait. After all, I was making new friends.

We went out to get smoothies and chatted away. Anna was very fun to be with. She understood where I was coming from. She wasn't a Muslim like her brother, but she respected my boundaries.

"Let's go to lunch," Anna said.

"Okay," I said, and we headed for the hall.

We served each other's food and chatted while eating. I didn't regret spending time with her.

When lunch was over, I had completely forgotten about my intention to apologize to Ava. I had gotten caught up in my new friendship.

"Anna, I'll meet up with you later," I said.

"Alright, I'll see you later," she said.

"Bye," I said.

I went to the locker room for the girls' volleyball team.

Ava was there, with headphones on.

"Ava," I called.

She didn't hear me the first time, so I called again.

"Ava," I said more urgently.

This time she looked at me as if she didn't know me. This wasn't the Ava I knew.

"What do you want?" she asked coldly.

"I came to apologize for what I did. It was wrong of me to push you away when I should have been closer to you. I was an a-hole, and I'm very sorry. Can you please forgive me?" I asked.

"No, Hadizah. I don't forgive you because I know that when something bad happens to you, you'll run away again, and I don't want to go through that phase again in my life," she said.

I didn't understand. Isn't this the time for us to make up and get back together?

"I already apologized. Aren't you supposed to accept it so we can move on?" I asked.

"Yeah, just like you've moved on with your new friend, what's her name again? Oh yeah, Julianna Petros," she said, her voice dripping with disdain.

"Wait, are you jealous?" I asked in awe.

"Yes, jealous that you're now friends with that rich bimbo who thinks she's the best thing in the whole fucking world," she said, her anger evident.

"At least she's good at what she does," I said.

"Sorry, but I think our friendship should end here," she said.

"Fine. So be it. You're not worth being my friend anyway," I said.

"That's why you'll always be someone's sidekick," she said.

"At least I'm not a superficial, rude brat," I said.

"Thanks, and you may leave because you're not needed here, and you've overstayed your fucking welcome," she said.

"Fine," I said, and stormed out of the room. I was done with her. If that's how she had always felt about me, then let's end this.

I'M DONE.

WRITER'S NOTE :

Hmmmm, didn't think that their friendship was going to end like that. But she did make a new friend.

QOTD:

I'm not here to fit into your world I'm here to make my own.