A Nerdy Muslim Girl's Youth

It's Written Down

"So how was studying with Majd," asks Amal as she raises her eyebrows. 

I roll my eyes. "Much better than what just happened now. I pretty much exploded on him, and what resulted was an aftermath unknown."

"Whoa, why did you explode?" 

"I asked him why he talked so properly with me - you know the way you're supposed to talk normally with people, and he said he did it because he wanted to impress me. So I got angry, and I started to yell about how guys like him will go nowhere in life, and that he shouldn't even try to impress me because it wasn't worth it." 

"I thought you liked him," she said while she chuckled. "I thought you saw him reading a book or whatever and imediately fell in love with him. Or is that not the case anymore?" 

"I don't know. I've always known how he was, but I guess I saw more than that with seeing him secretly read. You know I know his Tumblr URL? Don't ask." 

"I won't. I'll just figure you completely stalked him and found out."

I wiped away a fake tear. "You know me, you REALLY know me!" 

"What kind of bestfriend would I be if I didn't?" 

"You wouldn't. You'd just be a friend. Speaking of friends, how are things going with Moe?" Moe was Amals non-halal boyfriend. Amal was always the type to have a guy-friend and maintain a 'flirtationship', because her dad was really strict, and forced her to wear the hijab against her will, so Amal acted out by dating guys. What results out of it is 3 a.m texts and bruises I never ask about. 

"He's okay, I guess. He really loves me, and I'm not bragging when I say it, but he does. He wants our families to meet." 

"Well, are you going to," I ask with a tone of jealousy. 

"No, heaven's no. God, who do you think I am?" 

"Well things are serious with Moe. Your year anniversary is this month. You guys have been together since eighth grade. To make it this far, from a transition that big, I mean, he simply has to love you. You're not a scarfie whore, you aren't, but if you want to be with him, you should know that at some point, in whatever relationship you're in with whatever guy, you HAVE to meet his parents." 

"I know you're not religious, and you hate wearing the hijab, but in the Quran it says the moment you are born, you're soulmate is written down next to your name. Is that person Moe?" 

"Oh God Nadirah, I don't know. Is he?" She looks at me like a lost puppy. "I don't, I don't think he is. I mean, part of the reason I even dated him to begin with was just to piss off my dad. My dad doesn't even know about him yet." 

"Because you've done a good job at hiding him. You hid him because you love him, Amal. Meet his parents. It's not like they'll hold it against you guys if you two decide to break it off. We are only 14." 

"You're right, I think I do love him. Damn, are you good at this stuff."

"And yet I still hate boys. Always have, always will." 

"They aren't that bad Nadirah." 

"I know, I know. But you think i'll find a guy who can deal with my obsession with Harry Potter and nerdy-ness?" 

"Like you said, when you're born, there is someone written down." 

I hope so, I thought to myself. 

----

The whole school day was full of me ignoring him in the rest of my classes and vice versa. I'm sure he didn't want to talk to me as much as I didn't want to talk to him, so I kept my distance. I'd talk to him later, we could wait a day or two to finish this project. 

I got home, and checked my phone, I had a text from Majd.  

"'Hey...So library today?'"

Did I really want to see him today, after all that happened? 

"'Can't. Family came up. Tomorrow?'"

He didn't write back until an hour had passed, but I was content with that. I wasn't looking for a precedent so a conversation should start. I turned off my phone and started to do my homework., trying to get my mind off of my worries. Tomorrow will be a better day, at least, I sure hope so.