𝐙𝐀𝐈𝐃 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐘𝐀𝐌 ~ 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐈𝐑 𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐘 ♡

25 - Persuasion

MARYAM SHEIKH

Kiara stayed silent throughout the whole meal. Aziz once caught my eye across the table and asked if there was anything wrong but I just shook my head. After I finished, I got up to leave but then someone took hold of my elbow, stopping me.

"I know we both want the same thing," she said, looking at me sternly. I tried to pull my arm back but she held on tight.

"Look," I started, finally losing it with her, "I really don't know what's the deal with you but I promise you I don't have anything to do with this." Then I walked away.

"Its Zaid," she persuaded, following me into the house. "Its obvious that you like him but just so you know, the odds aren't in your favour."

"And I don't expect it to," I hissed and turned around to face her. "What do you want, Kiara? You just seem so desperate and so..." I eyed her down and she scoffed.

I went into the balcony to have some peace and quiet. I didn't have anything to do with Kiara and yet she followed me and observed me everywhere.

"Got you something," said a deep familiar voice.

Zaid was standing in the doorway, holding two plates of chocolate brownies with vanilla ice cream on top.

He handed me one, "I saw you skip dessert and thought that was so-o unlike of you."

I thanked him and took the dessert. I was very grateful because even I hadn't noticed I forgot dessert.

"So what was...," he asked, looking at me. I knew he referred to Kiara. "Your  friend was a little..."

"Persuasive?" He offered. I looked at him then, "Yes! That's the word. How do you know her anyway?"

"Family friend," he confided. "She's actually one of the nieces of the Queen."

"The Queen of England?"

Zaid shot me a glare, "No, the Amirah."

I almost choked on my brownie. I was being fan girled by royalty? Wow, I must be good.

"My family likes to keep her on the good side," Zaid continued, taking a bite out of his brownie. "So maybe that's why..." He looked at me again and maybe he was wondering how much I knew or could tell.

"Yeah, Amr told me," I confessed dropping my gaze to the floor. I didn't want him to feel uncomfortable talking about it.

"Congratulations. You're lucky to have her."

Zaid and didn't say anything and resumed staring at his fork.

Sometimes, situations like this makes you rethink your whole life. What you've done and how the hell you got to where you are now. One time you're happy you was and in the others, rethinking your life choices would be the wisest thing to do then. But now, I feel like I'm in the middle. Neither happy of where I am or neither too sad to leave it. Just middle.

With the past few months Zaid has re entered into my life, I though things were gonna be the same as tenth grade. Each of us would never be happy with the other person in the room, and somehow constantly bickered.

Even though we still constantly bicker, and we both turn heads when we see each other, this time I felt an inkling of maybe somehow there was something more to it. Like the time he sat next to me his first day, when we did homework in Fatima's apartment, when he tapped his pencil on my head when I got an answer  wrong on our group project or the way his ears turned red when I lectured him on his floorplans.

Only if fate could turn around.

Or who am I even kidding? The feeling's clearly not mutual and I'm not going to be the one revealing that.

☆☆☆☆☆☆

"And when I saw those photos of your dress I literally squealed, like he designed those dress just for you and-,"

"Now he did not do that," I stopped Fatima before her delusions ran the wrong way. "It just happened to be there's in his collection."

"Oh I'm sorry, did you forget it was something he never told the whole world about?" Fatima asked, rasing an eyebrow. "Just confirm girl, he's fallen for you. So tell princess to find her own prince."

"Okay, that's enough for one day, good bye! Love you," then I cut the red end button. Too much Fatima is just not what you could handle. It was seven pm in the evening and all the others had gone to attend a gala but I called in sick saying I had a headache. The truth was, I just wanted some time alone with myself. I'd been attending parties for a week straight now and I can not fake smile anymore in those sandals.

I got downstairs to get some water and I noticed Zaid in the living room, watching tv with Eman and Noor. Those two had been left behind of course, but I wondered where their nannies were.

"You left the party early?" I inferred.

He looked up. He was wearing a white button up and when he looked, I noticed his eyes were warm. And tired.

"I just got bored," he sighed. "It's the same every time. Same talks, same food. " I just needed to get away."

I thought for a minute and then an idea came up to me. "I think I just know what might cheer you up."