HADIZAH'S POV

Today is definitely not my best day.

I woke up late.

I had, you know, the pain every girl has every month.

Got in trouble for not doing the dishes before going to bed.

And worst of all, I got to Mr. Louis's class late.

"Mr. Owens," Mr. Louis called out and he immediately stood up.

"What year was the slave trade abolished?" he asked.

"In the year... 17..., no,... 18, no..., 20 and," he stammered and the class erupted in laughter.

"It's not nice to laugh at someone's problems," I understand him because I get that a lot because of my eyepatch.

"Silence," Mr. Lois ordered.

"What's your first name again?" he asked.

"Cha… Chase, sir," he answered.

"I hear some names and I wonder, people should learn to live up to their names, because I do not understand, what are you chasing in your life? Failure?" he asked and the whole class snickered.

What he was doing wasn't fair. Out of the six blacks in my class, Chase is the least vibrant. Mocking him with his problems of stammering isn't nice. They are supposed to help him.

Chase hastily cleaned the tear that came down his cheek under his glasses.

"Have your seat," Mr. Louis said, and instead of sitting, he ran out of the class.

"You are all just dumb," I mumbled.

"Do you have something to say, Miss Damilare?" he asked.

"No, sir," I said, and I quickly kept quiet.

I don't have the nerve to talk back to the teacher, not yet.

"Class, dismissed," he said, and the bell signaled the end of class.

I packed my binders and left the class. I had a spare period now.

I sat at the bleachers to feel the cold wind.

I hummed to Jax's song, "My Father."

"I wanna come home to roses.
Dirty little notes on post-its.
And when my hair starts turning gray.
He'll say I'm like a fine wine, better with age.

I guess I learned it from my parents.
That true love starts with friendship.
A kiss on the forehead.
A date night.
Fake an apology after a fight.

I need a man.
Who makes me feel young.
Gets out of the car.
And holds the door.
I wanna slow dance in the living room like.
We're 18 at senior prom."

"Arianna Grande in the making," I heard a voice, Ethan.

"It's not that great," I said.

"Yes, you're right, it was fantastic," he said, and I blushed.

"Stop flattering me," I said.

"We do not have a female in my band. It'll be lit if we had a pretty voice like you. I like that, pitch-perfect, baby tiny voice," he said.

"I bet you could pull off a high F," he said.

"Well, I could if I tried. I try lip-syncing to Arianna's songs," I said.

"But I do it mostly because of the Quran," I said.

"Oh, that book. I listen to Omar Hisham," he said.

"What?" I said.

"When you came, I stumbled upon an app, so here we are," he said.

"But it's no big deal," he said.

"OK, that's nice to hear," I said.

"So what is the real reason you are here?" I asked.

"Hey Dee," Ethan said.

"So now you remember to greet me," I said.

"Hey E," I said back.

He chuckled.

"What? It rhymes, and I thought it was nice," I said, and I smiled.

"Fair enough. I just came to ask you about my concert. You didn't show up but your friend did," he said.

"I was actually going to come but I got caught up in some issues. I'll try coming next time," I said.

"I'll take that as a promise," he said.

"No, no, no, I don't do promises. It's a debt," I said.

"Very good, then I'm sure you are coming," he said.

"Ugh," I sighed.

"It's going to be good, trust me," he said, and I just leaned on one of the chairs.

"How's your girlfriend?" I asked.

"Can we ever have a conversation without Lina coming up?" he said.

"Aww, lover boy has a nickname for his GF," I said.

"Very funny, D, very funny," he said as he blushed.

"What? I was only trying to lighten up the mood," I said.

"Anyways, she is at dance practice as a cheerleader, of course," he said.

"Captain of the football team + Cheerleader, perfect match," I said.

"You know Rosy isn't that bad if you get to know her," he said.

"Yeah, whatever helps you sleep at night," I said.

"Michael ran on the track field, with track clothes on.

You know that moment in a cartoon when a character runs past and all your clothes go flying in the air.

Now, that's how fast he was.

OK, I tend to over-exaggerate.

But boy, was he fast.

He didn't even spare a glance.

It would have been better if that jerk were to be nicer," I said.

"Who? Oh, you mean Michael," he asked.

"Yeah, who else is here other than us?" I asked rhetorically.

"Well, he used to be nice until his sister died," he said.

I didn't realize how he felt deep down. Losing a family member is like losing a piece of oneself.

It can be so hard to get over it. It was like that when my cousin died. We were so close and inseparable. It took me over a year to get over her.

"His twin sister, specifically. They were so close, almost inseparable," he said.

I felt hurt. He lost a family member. It must have hurt a lot to be like this because of her.

"How would you know that?" I asked.

"Because we used to be best friends," he answered.

"You're best friends with that jerk?" I asked.

"I really need to stop calling him a jerk.

Michael Williams, the most vibrant boy and the school's hottest black," he said.

"I didn't ask for the details," I said.

"I do know he's hot, but not the hottest," I said and I realized what I just said.

"See, even you admit he's hot," he said.

"No, no, I only said what I know," and the bell rang for lunch.

"Bye, I am starving," I said, and I was set to leave, but he didn't leave his seat.

"Aren't you coming?" I asked.

"Nah, I'll go get Lina first," he said.

"Ugh, bye, lover boy," I said and I left.

"Bye," he said back.

I got to the cafeteria and immediately spotted Ava.

"Hey, Aves," I said.

"Hey," she said, putting a morsel of food in her mouth.

"Where have you been?" she asked.

"At the bleachers to get some fresh air," I answered.

"Oh," she said.

"I cannot believe exams start soon," I said.

"Tell me about it," she said.

We continued talking until Julian entered the lunch hall. I tried my best not to look, but it was almost impossible. Those black eyes were so hypnotizing.

My eyes drifted over to Julian's table. He was there with his boy gang. Immediately, his eyes met mine, and I drifted back to Ava.

I have been avoiding him for a week now, and it has been so hard.

He would have noticed by now.

I've never had this feeling before, especially for a boy I barely knew.

Not in my entire life have I had a crush.

Why did he make me feel vulnerable?

At that a white boy named Julian.

"Hadizah," Ava shouted.

"What?" I asked.

"You've been lost in your own thoughts," she said.

"Sorry, I just have a lot to think about," I said.

"By the way, you've been avoiding your friend," she said.

"Who?" I asked, feigning ignorance.

"Seriously, that's how you wanna play it?" she asked.

"What? I'm lost," I said.

"OK, Julian A.K.A Jay, as you like to call him," she said.

"Fine, I have been avoiding him, but for a good reason," I said.

"Which is?" she asked.

"Promise you'll be understanding," I asked.

"Hmmmmmm," she said, tapping her chin.

"Ava," I said.

"OK, fine," she said.

So, I was at practice, and I explained everything to her without leaving out any detail.

"So?" I asked.

"That's overwhelming," she said.

"Meaning?" I asked.

"In my opinion, I think he likes you," she said.

"No, in my dreams, Ava, have you seen this guy? He's not a joke, like you haven't seen the Queens drooling over him, almost a model himself," I said.

"Queens is the name all girls in my school go by, by the public specifically."

"And you like him," she finished.

"No, that is not possible, I barely know this guy," I said.

"It's normal, and he seems OK to me," she said.

"I seem… vulnerable, like a piece of irrelevant human fabric," I said.

"No, it's our hormones working as teenagers," she said.

"What if it is infatuation?" I asked.

"Then that is up to you," she said.

"This is so confusing," I said.

"Take it easy, dear. It'll take time," she said.

"Thanks, Aves," I said.

"Can I sit here?" I heard an unfamiliar voice say.

I looked up, and it was Julian's other sister, Julianne.

"If you are not here to cause trouble, then why not," I said.

"I'm not like my sister. We might be triplets, but we are different from each other," she said.

"I'm Hadizah, by the way," I said.

"I'm Ava," she said.

"I already know you guys," she said.

"Oh," we both chorused and giggled.

"I don't think I should be introducing myself again," she said.

"Yeah," we both chorused.

"What's up, beautiful?" that idiot said to Anne or Annie, choose whichever one you think is OK.

"What's up, douchebag?" she answered.

"Touché, I like feisty," he said, leaning on the table.

"He is disgusting," I thought.

"But it wasn't my fight.

If you do not leave, I'll disgrace your legacy," she said.

"What can a girl do?" he said.

"Repeat that," she said with her voice laced with anger.

"I'm only doing you a favor. Date the hottest, most feared, and the most fearless boy you will ever meet," he said.

"You know, I knew a guy named Dylan, and you know what happened to him? A girl scared him so much he ended up seeing the girl in his nightmares and couldn't live without seeing his therapist," she said, and we all snickered.

"I'm done, girls. I'll be leaving," she said, and she stood up to leave.

But then Dylan dragged her and pulled her close to his chest.

"Nobody embarrasses me and gets away with it. You are no less than the girls I have in my bed," he said with his voice laced with venom.

"Oh, and I forgot to tell you something, you bastard. I'm Julianne Petros, and I'm not like any other girl," she said.

She hit his abdomen and held his hair tightly, hitting his head on the lunch table.

She opened her purse and brought out a dead lizard.

"Ewwww," everyone said.

"Open your mouth," she ordered, and all we could hear was Dylan's screams like a little girl.

"Open up, you idiot," she said.

"I'll never stoop low. Do your worst," he said.

"Fine then, suit yourself," she said, about to squeeze the lizard into his mouth.

"OK, fine, I'm sorry, please," he begged.

"Now, that's better," she said, letting go of him.

He scurried away like a rat.

"That was awesome," I said.

"Thanks," she said, holding up the lizard.

"Could you put it down, please?" Ava said.

"Oh, you mean this? Chill, no worries. It's a plastic lizard, a toy for my little sister," she said.

"Man, it does pay to be good," I said.

"A plastic lizard. Maybe I could get one to work on SICO."

Lunch was over, and we headed to class.

Class was over, and luckily it was Mr. Jones. I love his classes.

I was at my locker to pick up my binders when a slight shadow appeared, the hallway decorated with beautiful lights to make learning fun.

I smelled this cologne, this Harami cologne, a smell that always swept me off my feet.

"Hey Nick," he said.

"He... hey Julian," I stammered, smoothing my hijab. "I have to leave now," I said, on my way to leave.

"Please wait," he said.

His words were like medicine that soothed my troubled heart.

"What?" I whispered.

"Is this about last time?" he asked.

"What do you think this is about, if it isn't last time?" I asked.

"Nicky, I'm sorry about last time, but I thought you felt the same," he said.

"Even if I did feel the same, it was your right to have asked how I felt," I said, on the verge of losing my breath.

"I'm sorry," he said, moving closer.

I pushed my hands forward, motioning him to stop.

"This is exactly what I was talking about. You don't understand the norms of my religion. You can't come near me to a certain extent. Just stay away from me," I said, leaving.

"Don't walk away from me, Nick. I mean Hadizah, you are not allowed to walk away from me," he said.

"What?" I asked, my brows furrowed.

"Everybody walks away, but I'm not going to let you. I'm not supposed to feel this way. I'm not expected to feel this way, but I feel like I need you more than I need water. You are more than just a friend to me. I don't understand this feeling, but I know I care, and I'm not supposed to care. I have girls lining up to have me, but you, you are different. You are a challenge. A puzzle my brain is still finding hard to fix together," he said, holding his hair tightly.

All I could see was a broken, seventeen-year-old boy, a boy that was scared to be left alone, a boy that didn't want to lose the things he cherished.

This was Julian, Julian Petros.

The Greek boy who got a Nigerian girl to feel more for him than a friend.

Now it was my turn to apologize.

I put my hand on the place where I saw a wound on his face.

His tensed muscles relaxed under my touch.

I needed to make him feel better.

He was hurt because of me.

"I'm sorry, but I can't keep getting close to you. It's against my religion," I said, letting my hand down.

"So, your religion can't let us be like this?" he said, holding my hand up again.

"Julian, stop," I said.

He let go of my hand.

"OK, I promise to abide by your rules, unless I feel the need to. OK?" he said.

"It's OK. Let's just leave," I said.

"No, Nicky, we aren't just gonna leave. How about you?" he asked.

"Jay, I mean Julian, I'm new to this. Give me time to process my feelings. When I'm sure of it, I'll let it be clear to you. Till then, let's just be good to each other," I said.

"Then can we be friends?" he asked.

"No problem, friends we are," I said, letting out a smile.

A smile for new beginnings.

A smile for this boy I barely knew.

We both left the hallway.

He immediately put his arms across my neck.

"One day, you'll be my sweetie. Today, tomorrow, and forever," he said.

"Don't call me your sweetie and get your damn hands off me," I said.

"And you don't get angry when Daniel calls you darling," he said, taking his hand off.

"Daniel calls all the girls in this school darling. I can't be an exception," I said, and we both laughed it off.

"Then just imagine me as Daniel," he said.

"In your dreams," I said.

"Ugh, picky much," he said.

"Let's just head to class, Petros," I said.

"First-name basis are we?" he said.

"Deal with it," I said, hitting his chest with my binders.

"Race you to class," I said.

"That's cheating," he said, and I took off running.

School is now over, meaning it's time for my real tryouts.

I've been seriously praying to get in. I just hope I do get in.

"Hey, everything good?" I heard this thick British accent.

I looked up, and it was SICO.

"I thought you used the black American accent. Why the sudden change?" I asked.

"There are a lot of things you do not know about me," he said.

"Right, Michael the mysterious guy," I snorted.

"Very funny," he said.

"You nervous?" he asked.

"I could faint on the spot," I said.

"It's OK to be nervous. Just think about the outcome of the tryouts," he said.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.

"Thanks," I said, giving a weak smile.

"It's fine. I'll be over there watching you," he said, pointing to the bleachers.

"OK, I'll keep that in my mind. I need to go change," I said.

"OK, go on. You can do it," he said with a thumbs up.

It would have been better if he could have smiled.

I got into the locker room and changed my clothes.

Each sports team has its own special bathroom.

I got into the basketball bathroom, and I met Dahlia and her gang there.

I summoned up the courage.

I took a deep breath and went over to the sink.

"Who gave you the right to use the bathroom? You haven't made the team yet," Dahlia said.

I kept silent, hoping she would do the same.

"You know those wretched black wings you terrorist think you have grown? I am going to snip it off one by one till the only thing you can do is crawl beneath us, the believers of Christ," she said.

"Care to hear a fun fact, witch?" I said, and I chuckled.

"How dare you," Violet said, coming up to me.

"Oh, I thought the believers of Christ didn't resort to violence," I said.

"But then again, Violet and violence do go together," I said.

"Fuck you," Violet said.

"Seriously, language. Jesus wouldn't like that," I said.

"You know what, Hook? I'm going to make your life hell on the team, that is, if you make it," she said.

"You know what, Sugar? I'm going to make the team because I am worth it, not like you all, who only care about looking good for the boys on the basketball team," I said.

"Damn, where did I get this courage from?" I thought.

"I am going to make your life hell," she said.

"I would like to see you try and touch a hair on my head," I said.

I knew her code. She liked Avery. I found it out from Ava.

"Who's going to protect you?" she said.

"I have Avery," I said.

"Stay away from him," she said.

"Sorry, too late. He is already my tutor. Unless you have a dull brain, I could ask him to tutor you," I said.

"Aghhh," she shouted.

"Sugar, this is the least of your problems. The real one begins soon," I said.

"Game on," she said, and I left the bathroom.

I hope that was enough to scare her off.

I went to the locker room, and I met Julian there.

He was already on the basketball team, in his jersey.

His muscles were perfectly toned. Astagfirllah (Allah forgive me).

"I didn't think you would come for my tryouts," I said.

"Wouldn't miss it for the world," he said.

This black-eyed dude always found a way for my heart to skip a beat.

"Thanks again. I'll be sure to make you proud," I said.

He walked over, and he intertwined our fingers.

I wanted to let go, but I couldn't. It was soo magnetic, like he helped me feel so vulnerable.

"I'll always be there for you, and I know you are a strong and independent girl, if you could stand up to Dahlia," he said.

"How could a seventeen-year-old always be there for a sixteen-year-old? Now that sounds absurd," I thought.

"Strong a bit, but independent, I still live on my mum's cooking," I said, and he laughed.

"You glow, girl," he said.

"I know, and thank you," I said.

"Now run along," he said.

"Bye," I said, jogging onto the court.

I got onto the basketball court.

Our tryout is just to show what we've got, and the other girls had their own tryouts.

Trust me, those girls were good.

It's going to be hard to beat them.

Coach called my name, and I jogged up to the field.

I said my prayers and started. Bismillah (in the name of Allah).

I took the ball, heaved a huge breath, and bounced the ball back and forth, dribbling with both hands.

I left one ball and dunked.

Who says girls can't dunk?

I did three three-pointers.

When I was done, I felt a ball coming my way.

I wasn't given the time to think.

Flashback:

"Your opponent is your enemy on the battlefield," he said.

"The ball doesn't play you; you play the ball," his voice boomed in my ears.

"If your opponent goes low, you go way higher than them," he said.

"The ball can never outsmart you," he said.

"Be the ball," he said.

And immediately, I came back to reality.

I caught the ball mid-air with no extra effort, and I was breathing heavily.

The whole court burst into applause.

I was so happy.

Coach said the results would be announced in the next thirty minutes.

Apparently, there were fifteen girls who tried out, and only ten would be chosen.

"You rocked," Julian said.

"Thanks, I've been waiting a while for this," I said.

"I knew you would do great," he said.

I saw Michael coming my way, but suddenly he stopped and turned back.

What's wrong with him?

"Now I'm sure you'll get in," he said.

"So you had your doubts?" I joked.

"No, just assured," he said.

"Now let's just hope patiently."

Thirty minutes later...

"The results have been posted on the notice board," Coach said.

I immediately ran to the notice board, and Julian followed behind me.

I checked from the bottom, but I didn't find my name, and I was already sweating.

"No. 1 Hadizah Damilare," I read.

"Jay, I got in," I said, and he high-fived me.

"I told you, you rock," he said.

"Congratulations, sis," Ava said, hugging me.

"Thanks, Aves," I said.

"You deserved every bit of it," she said.

"All of SICO'S hard training has finally worked out," I said.

"Speaking of Michael, do you know where he is?" I asked.

"He left not long ago," Ava said.

I went to the parking lot, looking for Michael.

"Where do you think you're going?" I asked, taking the keys from him.

"What, you probably don't need me as your coach anymore," he said.

"What do you mean by that? You didn't even congratulate me. You should be happy your student did not fail you," I said.

"Well, congratulations. Jay is probably waiting for you," he said.

"Why is this about him?" I asked.

"Just give me my damn keys," he ordered.

"Fine, take them and don't ever talk to me again," I said, leaving.

I took a few steps and I was angry at what he thought of me.

I felt his huge hand on mine.

"Let go of me," I ordered.

"I'm sorry, I don't know what got into my head," he said genuinely.

"It's fine. I just wanted to be the first to tell you, and it would have been cool if you hadn't acted like an asshole," I said.

"I'm sorry. Let's go meet Coach," he said.

"OK," I said, and we both went to meet him.

"Your jerseys will be ready by next week," Coach said to the other girls, and they all left.

"Hadizah, come here," Coach motioned me.

I moved forward, and so did Michael.

"You did great. That's why you ranked number one," he said.

"Thanks, Coach," I said.

"I'm guessing you don't need him anymore," he said, referring to Michael.

"If you don't want him, you're free to let him go," he finished.

I looked at him.

"No, Coach, I still have a lot to learn from him. He's the best teacher, but he can be annoying at times," I said.

Coach snickered.

"Anyway, welcome to the team. You can leave. The practice schedule will be sent to you," he said.

"No problem, Coach. I'll be sure to do great," I said.

"Thank you, Michael," whispered in my hear.

"You are welcome," I whispered back and I smiled, but as usual he did not return it. That's Michael for you.

"Do you mind if I drop you off? You've missed the bus," he asked.

"Thank you, but I already have my own ride. Julian will be dropping me off," I said.

"OK," he said.

"Bye," I said.

"Bye," he said and left.

I got to my locker and packed my stuff, getting ready to go home. I got into his car, a 2020 BMW, blue in color.

"Your car is cool," I said.

"Thank you," he said.

He played some music, but the sound was only faint.

"Do you like slow music?" I asked.

"Yep, life is sad sometimes, so rock and pop don't have to get it all the time," he said.

"That's right," I said.

"I got you this as a congratulatory gift," he said, handing me a gift bag.

I opened it, and there was a basketball with my nickname customized on it.

𝓝𝓲𝓬𝓴𝓕𝓾𝓻𝔂.

"Thank you," I said.

"We're not allowed to thank each other.

Ko to ope akin dupe ara eni.

(You don't have to say thank you; when we do good to ourselves, we do not say thank you)," he said.

I burst out laughing. The way he said it was so funny.

"Who taught you that?" I asked, still laughing.

"I don't know, Instagram," he said with one hand on the steering wheel.

"You're even learning my language. How nice," I said.

"Anything for you, Nick," he said.

"My stop is there," I said, pointing to our house.

"Your house is normal," he said.

"I know. It's not like the mansion you all live in," I said.

"I'm proud of it no matter what," I said.

"I love that spirit," he said.

"Bye," I said.

"Bye, Nick," he said, and he watched me enter before he sped off.

"It's funny how a boy could make my heart flutter so much that I think I more than like him," I thought.

I got into the house and heard my mom in the kitchen, but I wanted to clean up first. Salat was off my mind for now.

I went back to the kitchen with a scarf on and only shorts and a baggy sweater on.

"Salaam Alaikum, mommy," I said.

"Wa Alaikum Salaam, Adunni," she said.

"How was work?" I asked.

"Work was great," she answered.

"I got into the basketball team," I said.

"Wow, Masha Allah," she said.

"I'm so happy," I said.

"Who dropped you off?" she asked.

"Oh, that? It was Julian, the boy I told you about during camping. He's now at our school, and I missed the bus, so he offered to drop me," I said.

"OK, and the gift?" she asked.

African mothers, when they hear about boys in secondary school, trust me, they become detectives.

"Just a congratulatory gift," I said.

"A boy you barely know?" she asked.

"One month, mom," I said.

"You might think I'm doing too much, but it's only for your own good," she said.

"I know, mommy. I'll be careful around him, I promise, OK?" I assured her.

"OK, I trust you. You're still a teenager; your hormones are running wild," she said.

"Thanks, mommy," I said.

"By the way, mom, what do you do when you have an Atheist in your life and you want him to see religion from a different perspective?" I asked.

"What to do when you have an Atheist in your life, hmmmm," she said.

"You let him see the beauty of the world.

You show him life from a different perspective.

You show him that there is always hope, no matter what," she said and stopped.

"OK," I said, urging her to tell me more.

"You say good stuff to him. You don't force it on him or her.

You take it little by little because you do not want to be a fanatic," she said.

"And lastly, show him the light," she said and finished.

"That's all?" I asked.

"Yes, Adunni. Now help me with these carrots," she said.

"OK, mommy," I said and took a knife.

I took the knife and I couldn't help but think about what she had just said.

Show him the light.

Show Michael the light.

AUTHOR'S NOTE :
it's an update.
Happy Eid.
I have these really cool shoes, I am going to rock in shaa Allah. How about you?
QOTD :
"If you could choose between having the ability to read minds or the ability to teleport, which would you pick and why?"

"I'd definitely go for teleportation! Reading minds sounds cool until you realize how many embarrassing thoughts you'd accidentally pick up. Plus, with teleportation, I could finally beat rush hour traffic and never have to worry about finding parking again. Who needs mind-reading drama when you can just zap yourself to a beach whenever you want?"