Story Of My Life

CHAPTER 3

It was the beginning of Grade 8; and let me tell you, I may be quite an amazing friend with the people in my building but honestly, at school I just may have been a nobody. Keeping the fact aside that I had been in quite a lot of stage events in school but under the category of "friends", I wasn't the best choice.

But this year had something different in store for me, this year my class was the most notorious class in the whole school with the naughtiest kids in it. We might have been the worst class but to each other, we were the supports. And for the first time in my 6 years of being in that school did I feel belonged, did I feel like I had friends; friends who I can talk to about the most random things. This class in my eyes were split into 3 groups – the badass ones, the popular ones and the wallflowers; the final being where I belonged. There was this guy who I got close too, Malay – Sri Lankan exactly like me, his name or pet name was Fufu. A cute guy might I add, we were close, maybe not too much really, but we were. We used to sit together during Arabic class, the only class where we could change our places. And then slowly my relationships with the others in my class also was building, not like I'm hard to approach, I'm easy to talk with just that I get too loud, obnoxious and talkative which isn't on everyone's list of a friend. But learning from your mistakes is a part of life.

This was the year where I became truly proper friends with one of my current best friend's Bella (short for Isabella, she hates being called that though). At that moment, she had another best friend who might I say was quite the pompous one. I mean she can't go two lines without praising herself, even though she may have been a nice person a few times, but everywhere she went she thought she was the Queen bee and God I hated her, just because of her. That year for the summer we went to Lebanon (my family), and that country is just beautiful, its actually the only Arab country that I bothered to appreciate. It was like when you look at one side you see the beautiful crisp blue ocean and if you turn to the other, the mighty mountains. That vacation was my absolute favorite compared to most countries I have visited. That summer after the vacation was when my life had to take a complete somersault, it was two weeks before school and my dad suddenly says "You got to start wearing hijab from now!" and I was just like "Wait, what?". I was beyond confused, I mean I've heard my dad tell my mom too but she always brushed it off, but for him to force it on me without my consent was beyond mannered. I cried and cried hoping his mind would change, but it just didn't. I couldn't just start like only old people wore hijabs in our family; but I had no choice, I started and following me, my mom did too.

I was beyond pissed with my father, thinking how could he even do this without asking me. But the change had begun and now I couldn't go back. When school started, everyone was shocked, like it was so sudden. And then slowly, that very year a lot of girls in our Grade started with the hijab and I really didn't dwell on the thought ten much.

Bella and me used to talk quite a lot then cause Ms. Queen bee – Zahra – would be travelling to her country for higher studies. That year, there was this real cute guy in my class, Mohsin and I had like this massive crush on him that I just couldn't fathom. The first friend I ever had in that school, Manal knew about this, she even had a boyfriend herself and at that time they weren't in good terms. So, what she did just to spite me was start flirting with Mohsin and let me tell you, Mohsin knew I liked him. I mean it was as obvious as it being written on my head with a neon sign saying "Look Here". I mean it was all fun and jokes in the beginning but, while Manal kept going on she started falling for him as well which in turn made all the flirting a whole lot more meaningful, it went so far to the extent that she broke up with her three-year boyfriend for Mohsin. I honestly was shattered, and to top it perfectly, he was the only guy I crushed with a decent mind.

When they started dating, I was hurt, more by Manal actually. Because she knew how bad I had it for him ad for her to go and do that, stoop to such a level was too low for her. I started hating her, truly hating her. People tell me I cried for Mohsin which I sincerely can't remember, but if I did then oh well! That year was also the first I had made cupcakes for anyone other than my family, there was like this party in school for Children's Day where I made chocolate cupcakes with pink/red sprinkles and brought. And trust me in a matter of 15 minutes, 6 boxes were devoured like it was some sort of prey. I learnt how to get tough that year, stand for myself and fight for anyone who needed it. I was and still am quite witty and combine with a mouth of a sailor and you have a politician, I was feisty you could say.

But that was the year where I started valuing friendship, actually understanding people, understanding myself and just knew to truly just be me. Not what people, parents or teachers want you to be. Because its either you can be amazing in the elders' eyes but you won't really have much friends or vice-versa.

I used to go to tuition that year with a few friends from my school, Sayed and Iram. In this tuition was where all the best people in Salmiya used to come to study, from this teacher. I started telling people in school about where I go and people started coming, a lot of people started coming. My friend circle was getting bigger, but people I liked as well as disliked started to come and it really made me get annoyed with myself for telling kids in my school. I was smart in the educational way but not really in the social way. Making friends was easy for me, but maintaining them was tough.

My personality was changing to the way that made easy for me to have friends, but it would always turn back around and be that same girl I was before – snobby, that's what I was. I disliked that quality and in my offence I never realized that's how I was behaving, but people noticed; people started talking behind me, snitching like it was the most important thing. Judging me for whatever I did, scrutinizing my every move well at least that's how I felt. And you would think that those same people who would laugh and joke with me do this. The ones who had seeked your help before anyone else's. I was beyond pissed, but more so hurt! I used to wonder what did I do for receiving such things, such feelings. But then later, sitting and thinking to myself I realized what a stuck up I was, encouraging myself that I must change actually reduce that quality of mine.

(AN:// I hope you guys liked this chapter. Please,  please vote and I would love to read your comments about the book.  The next chapter would be  small and there will be a double update! AGAIN PLEASE VOTE AND COMMENT. Love you guys loads!! xoxo)