The Islam Tag [BXB]

2

A/N: What country do you live in?
                   
Chapter 2

As Naali and Nyla stepped out of their sleek, black BMW 7 Series 740i, they could feel the eyes of students and even some teachers on them. Not that anyone could be blamed; it wasn’t every day two high schoolers pulled up in a car that could cover the cost of several houses, or even send a kid to college debt-free. And all to attend a public school in a town where “designer” meant the latest from the mall.

Though their family’s status had always set them apart, it had been different in the UK. There, they’d attended private schools where kids came from families like theirs. But here in small-town America, the nearest private school was four hours away, and their mother refused to send them to boarding school. Spoiling them in other ways had been her compromise.

They were dressed to match—Naali in black, pressed pants and a crisp white shirt with sleeves rolled up, while Nyla wore a tailored black skirt and a stylish white top. She accessorized with her favorite pearl earrings and necklace, each glimmering subtly under the morning sun. Their mother, a celebrated fashion designer, had taught them from a young age how to dress impeccably, and today, they looked more like runway models than high school students.

Currently, the twins were seated in the principal’s office, patiently getting their registration finalized. After what felt like endless paperwork and polite nods, they were finally released to find their classrooms. Though they had a few shared interests, their schedules only overlapped in calculus—conveniently their first class of the day.

Walking into the classroom side by side, their heads held high, they radiated an effortless confidence, one that came naturally when wealth and elegance met. The room fell silent, eyes trailing after them, but it wasn’t just the usual curiosity about new students. A few whispers and side glances were directed specifically at Naali. It might have been his unusual hairstyle, his perfectly styled space buns, or the fact that he wore colorful, sparkling nail polish to match Nyla’s. After all, they’d had a family mani-pedi day the previous weekend, and he’d let his sister choose his colors.

The teacher introduced them briefly and motioned to two empty seats, both inconveniently located on opposite sides of the room. With a small sigh, Naali headed to the back, already missing his sister’s comforting presence. As he settled in, he rummaged through his bag only to realize he’d forgotten his calculus textbook. Resigned, he turned to his seatmate. “Hey, could I share your textbook with you? I think I left mine at home,” he whispered, trying to sound friendly.

The boy next to him glanced up, and Naali’s heart skipped a beat. It was the cute guy from the coffee shop, the one he’d been thinking about all weekend. Up close, he was even more striking—freckles dusted lightly across his skin, soft gray eyes hidden behind thin-framed glasses. Naali noticed he was staring a little too long. The boy, however, simply looked at him for a moment, then returned to his work, ignoring him completely.

Naali blinked, feeling an unexpected pang of hurt. Was it the hair? The nails? The carefully chosen outfit? The rejection stung a little, but he brushed it off, resolving to concentrate on the lecture. He caught Nyla’s eye across the room, and she gave him a reassuring smile and wave, which made him feel a little better. Still, he couldn’t help but feel out of place already.

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The rest of the day crawled by painfully slowly, with Naali drifting through classes with no one familiar in sight. By the time he got to Physical Education, he was beginning to wonder if he’d survive the day. Thankfully, he met Melanie, a lively girl with a bright smile who chatted with him about the town, school gossip, and all the local places to hang out. She was an instant friend, a small light in his otherwise lackluster first day.