MONEY TREES, gossip girl [DISCONTINUED]

17

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CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
DON'T ASK
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"WHY do they have to be here?"

"Stop being ridiculous, Cristian."

"I'm not being ridiculous. I'm having a very reasonable reaction," CJ huffs, crossing his arms over his chest and mirroring his mother's stern glare, "Today is supposed to be for family It's always been just us."

Farah rolls her eyes, "Ed and Chandler are family."

"No, they're not," He spits back, "Besides, they aren't even Muslim. They probably don't even know what Mawlid is."

If they were talking about anyone else, Cristian knows he wouldn't have a problem with it. Their mosque is open to non-muslims and always has been. Cristian once brought a kindergarten friend (who was jewish) to prayer during Ramadan and there was no issue— this instance, however, is personal.

"Then explain it to them!" His mother seethes, casting a glance to her aforementioned husband and step-son, he wait patiently outside the mosque. She faces CJ with a heavy sigh, "They are your family now whether you like it or not, and families celebrate holidays together."

"You don't see me celebrating Hanukah with them." He mutters.

"I— That's a discussion for another day," Farah tells him, her exasperation clear as day, "We need to head inside, and you are going to be respectful once we're in there. No causing a scene."

CJ tries not to let his hurt show, "You really think I'd do that?"

"I wouldn't put it past you." Farah confirms his worst fear, one that's been proven over and over again. Cristian always hopes he'd be proven wrong for a change, but never is.

Farah retreats back to Ed and Chandler, leaving CJ to sulk over her words. He already knew she thought little of him, but he didn't know she viewed him so poorly that he'd purposefully fuck up a holiday. Maybe he can be petty here and there, but he'd never bring that kind of behavior into the mosque. Never in a million years.

When Ed calls out, asking CJ if he's joint them, he waves them off. His "family" heads inside the mosque while CJ pulls out his phone, looking through it one last time before heading in.

Gossip Girl has made a post, but it's something so minuscule that CJ doesn't care much for it. It's just some stupid Junior drama. Gossip Girl tends to pull her punches on people that aren't her main targets— her main targets being the likes of Julien and Zoya and even CJ himself, unfortunately. She only posts about others when her favorites have kept themselves out of trouble. Luckily this week, they have.