The Sinner's Saint

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We got through our appointments, came home, and got dressed.

Hala went all out, she wore a deep burgundy strapless sweetheart dress with sequin bodice, ruched knot waist detail and smooth jersey skirt with a small train, gold heeled sandals, flower gold jewellery set, a mini gold shell clutch tiny that brings the whole outfit tgt like a period at the end of a sentence.

Kendall wore a sequin champagne halter dress with a key-end thingy on her chest/boob area, silver jewelled heels with a bow, heavy ass diamond jewellery from somewhere expensive on the ears and fingers, and a white box clutch with a gold floral clasp from Jimmy Choo.

I wore black because everything thing else with colour was strapless. I wore a black micro-crystal fitted gown that goes to the floor, silver Rene Caovilla heels with straps, a silver box clutch and jewellery I chose myself because I have opinions about that unlike my hair and makeup.

Speaking of those two, Hala did my makeup and hair by force after telling me the way I held a makeup brush looked like I was about to attack someone. I took personal offence but we moved on.

I look at myself in the mirror and lick my lipgloss immediately. Lev got it for me, it's strawberry scented and flavoured. I cannot have lip gloss on my lips for more than three minutes without consuming it and one day the cumulative amount will catch up with me but today is not that day.

"Try it again and I'll hit u," Hala warns me, holding the tube like she means it. "You ruin every finish." This is rich coming from someone who puts her hair up after having it done down professionally.

"Quit it guys, it's time to go," Kendall calls from the driveway. I grab my bag and walk out with Hala. Mrs Dajani sent her butler to pick us up. Kendall convinced him to move and let her drive, which is its own act of either confidence or aggression depending on how you look at it. She drives like she has nine lives and an extra twenty-four hours on each one.

"Get up. Let him drive," Hala says flatly from the back seat. Kendall ignores and starts the car.

"Hey big man," I greet the butler with a hug, he's a cool guy. The first time we met, he gave me a pack of mints cause I was staring at him, it wasn't necessarily him though, he had a grain of rice on his cheek and I was curious to know how long it would stay there until he realised. He never did, and I never told him. We've been on good terms ever since.

"How many people are going to be there," Kendall asks, scrolling through her playlist. I get in and buckle my seatbelt carefully. My ribs have opinions about sudden movements and I've learned to respect that.

"At least 800 people, depending on Mama's mood," I reconsider every decision I've made leading up to this moment. I like people but I have a limit. If Hala and Kendall go off to mingle and leave me alone I will air that place out.

☾☀︎
We finally arrive.

We walk in slowly, already mapping all the places I can hide while Hala and Kendall walk like they own the place. Mrs Dajani spots us immediately and waves us over. Her family's already there, Hala's two older brothers, Mr Moretti, and Mrs Dajani herself, arms already open.

Hala hugs her first, then her dad, then her brothers. Kendall does the same. Then me.

Mrs Dajani holds me at arm's length after and gives me the specific look she reserves for me and nobody else.

"Have you been eating," she asks, her classy arab american accent laying on thick. I look away.
She sighs in the way that contains an entire lecture she's decided not to give right now.

"You're coming to live with us for a week," Mr Moretti says, patting my cheek with a grin. I shake my head immediately. They would absolutely force-feed me ragù and musakhan until I drop dead.