Home is where freedom rings

Chapter four | friendship carries more to the heart than the eye

Tasneem's pov

"Yallah Khadijah eat this" I said grabbing her hand into the kitchen, and taking out a small biscuit wrapped in a yellow and see through packaging

She took the biscuit out of the packet and realized it had some chocolate and marshmallows filling , she looked at me with this confused smile before taking a bite, her eyes widened

"It's basically the Arab version of s'mores" I explained "they say that naughty kids eat this all the time, which explains why whenever we get them Omar finishes them"

She laughed "well I guess I'm a naughty kid because this is really good"

We talked for a bit, and to be honest, I really liked her, she was everything I didn't expect but in a a good way, she was bubbly and kind but to a certain point

I saw her waving at the woman giving her nasty looks, but I also saw her eyes challenging that same woman who mumbled something about her mother

We've been best friends, ever since she came into our house the second she arrived in America we clicked. I was a year younger than her 16 but It was as though our mind was the same age, we would laugh at each other's jiggly hands or even start making weird jokes

I helped her organize her room, from a blank white space to a beautiful simple room with white and black theme, she was really into space and stars so we started with that

We even went to this second handed bookstore and found really interesting books about astronomy some of them the same year the telescope had been created

We also got some black and galaxy colors, and painted a small section black with a Milky Way in the middle, it was so beautiful

Khadijah even helped me with my room, I was really into sports and skateboarding, so she got me a skateboard case I could put it in! I was in love with it, the case was so pretty!

Today was gonna be the day before school so I asked Omar to take me and Khadijah to the mall for stuff and maybe even done back to school outfits

I got out of my room, and into his room I knocked and went inside, he was reading this book and playing with a pencil, his eyes didn't even look up as he mumbled "Sho bedik Tasneem?"

"Omer can you take me and Khadijah to the mall today?" I asked, he looked at me, his brown eyes piercing mine "Who else is going?"

I rolled my eyes "no one Omer please don't be dramatic it's not like I'm going alone, Khadijah will be there and it's just the mall!"

He looked at me "You're not a citizen yet Tasneem, you and Khadijah, and this is still new for us, how about this, I'll come with you but I'll sit in a coffe ship while you girls shop"

"Omar-" I was getting annoyed I know he only wants the best for us but he is way too protective "Fine" I sighed

"Don't give me that look Tasneem" he said giving me a kiss on the cheek "I'll get you some coffee okay?"

I smiled at him "Ok shookran, now go get dressed so you don't embarrass us"I told him

He laughed, tilted his head back his Adam's apple blopping up and down "of course"

I left the room and texted Khadijah, so I put on a green turtleneck with a white hijab and pants, I also put on my favorite green shoes

As I went out of room I saw Omar, he was wearing a green sweater and some jeans, he also wore some of his silver rings and I saw some kohl under his eyes

"Yallah tell Khadija to be ready, I'll be in the garage" he said Getting his car keys

I nodded and went out, I knocked on the door and Khadijah answered, she looked beautiful, she was wearing a brown jacket with a beige turtleneck and beige pants, her hijab was brown and her bag and shoes were white

She gave me a side hug "Mashallah Darling you look gorgeous!"

I hugged back "literally shut up says you"

She laughed, "tell Omar thank you for taking us" she said "I'm happy to explore this country before school"

"Tell me about it, we've been cooped up reorganizing unpacking, we sure could use a break"

As we entered the garage we saw Omar playing with a stray cat, scratching behind her ears but when he saw us, he cleared his throat and walked to the car, his gaze lowered the second he saw Khadijah

The car ride was long but it wasn't awkward. I felt Omar's eyes on us, through the window but his eyes still on the road somehow

Soon after a few minutes of ok-speed driving we reached the mall, we parked near a boba shop but suddenly this man came and bumped into Khadijah he looked at her and scowled

"Freaking terriosts" he mumbled under his breath "come here to our country and just cause trouble"

Omar ago just finished locking the car heard this, "would you mind repeating that sir?" He asked his eye contact never once faded as he took a step closer to the man, who just noticed Omar

"I'm just saying how you guys come in here and cause trouble to our free country"

"If your country is so free and independent then shouldn't my cousin and sister be able to wear what they want without ancient skeletons giving their unwanted opinion?" He said raising a brow

I held Omar's hand "Khalas Omar leave him"

He didn't look at me, his gaze was still in the man, but soon he looked at me his eyes softened, he nodded and led us into the mall

Arabic glossary:

Sho bedik: what do you want
Shookran: thank you
Kohl: ancient eye cosmetic,
Yallah: come on
Mashallah: what god has willed
Khalas; stop/enough