A Beautiful Masquerade

8

I glare at the dark circles under my eyes in the mirror. The nightmares had gotten worse to the point where I only had two or maybe three hours of sleep every night. Thinking so much about the psychotic bastard caused me to get sick, making me miss two more days of school. 

I was dressed for school today, wearing a red plaid shirt with black jeans and my favorite leather jacket. I left my brown hair open simply because it would serve as my shield when I get to school. I was not looking forward to the questions regarding my hijab.

"Maya's here." Yelda tells me from the bedroom door.

There were days that Maya decides she's going to pick me up for school and randomly shows up. I don't really mind, it's better than the slightly uncomfortable rides I have to endure with my sisters more often than not.

I walk out touching my necklace to make sure its with me and hide it under my shirt. I walk in the kitchen to see Maya talking to my parents.

"Ready to go Maya?" I ask her pretending to take a granola bar from the cabinet because I could feel her questioning eyes on me.

"Ah, yea let's go." She raises an eyebrow at my behavior but knows better than to question me where my entire family can hear.

We call out a quick bye after I putting on my sneakers and walk out. We quietly get in the car and Maya looks at me briefly before starting her car.

"Yesna, why aren't you wearing your hijab?" Maya got straight to the point. Neither of us were the type to beat around the bush, so she knew it would waste less time to just get to the point. I was kind of relieved when she sounded curious rather than upset or disappointed.

"Maya......just please." That's all I could say to her. I hadn't planned out what I would say to her or anyone about the hijab. because quite frankly there really is no way for me to justify my action. I wasn't going to lie and I couldn't tell her the truth. 

Play times over, the games begun and the psycho wants me back now; I'm sure he won't stop till he gets me and this time it's going to be a lot worse than the last.

We're both silent, waiting for the other to talk or explain but I stubbornly stay quiet. She abruptly stops the car and looks at me.

"Yesna, you're my friend, best friend and you can talk to me if anything and just know that I'll always be there for you. I know you're not the type to impulsively make these decisions so I'll support you no matter what." She gives me a quick hug.

"But that doesn't mean I'll let you go astray. You protected me in the past and I'll do the same for you. You're family to me and I'm not going to let anything happen to you at least not anymore." She gives a big smile.

I'm a little surprised by her words because neither of us are the chick flick types. She's an only child so I'm the closet person she has to a sister. When I first got here two years ago, she was really quiet but I had gotten her to talk and bring her out of her shell. Her parents had a nasty divorce when she was in middle school and she had just withdrawn into herself. Her father, who she lives with now, couldn't get her to open up. For her to say this it means a lot, to both of us and we both know that. It amazes me how someone I met two years ago could understand me better than my own family.

I made a silent promise to myself to make sure, to not get her involved or my other friends here. I would protect them, no matter the cost. I won't let the psycho anywhere near them.

"Thanks Maya and I appreciate that but.....when did you become such a sap cause I don't think we could be friends any more than." I tease her and she lightly hits my arm.