Chapter 10
After I heard the Imam say that we were married. I froze. I was just behind the curtain looking like a complete idiot. Why am I not calling out to him? Why isn't he calling me? maybe he was frozen too. "Jalilah baby", my mom said. I turned around and looked at her. She had a smile across her face. "Yes Ummi?", I asked. She looked at me then pointed to the tall figure that stood in front of me. "Dulamah wants to speak with you", she says.
I stare at him and he has his mask on. "Come on", he says walking away. I get up and follow after him. When I catch up we're in the parking lot in front of his car. "Yes?", I asked. "Come with me, we're going home", he says. "What? my home is with my parents, my family", I say to him. He turns around and looks at me. "I'm your family too Jalilah. Come on. I have to get back to my sister", he says.
I sighed and climbed into the car. I felt comfortable somehow. I'm not used to being in a car with someone other than my father, uncle, brother etc. Dulamah climbed in and backed out. "Will I be able to get my.things from my parents home tonight?", I asked. He glanced at me then turned his attention back to the road. "Yeah of course", he says. "I didn't expect us to.be married tonight", he adds. I look at him and nod my head in agreement. "Didn't expect it either".
***
We arrived at my parents home and I got out of Dulamah's car and went inside since the front door was opened. "You're a cutie Amen. I'll change that baby", I heard some weird voice say. I was surprised by the voice. Oddly it was a females voice. I hope.it's not what I think it is.
"Monica get the hell out. Point blank", the voice of Ameen says. "Amen I'm pretty sure you want me to stay just a tad bit longer. I'll reward you, if you know what I mean", Monica says with a chuckle. "Please leave or I'm gonna call the cops", Ameen says. I sat down on the stairs and listened.
"Just play with me for thirty damn minutes and my ass will be gone before your family even gets here", Monica says. Qasim Ameen better make the right choice cause if his ass doesn't then he knows what to expect when I tell my mom. "Look Monica, glad to know that you've had a crush on me since freshman but to be honest I can care less. So do yourself and your community a favor. Step out of my home and don't return", he says to her.
"I am not going until I get something from you", I hear her say. "Look Monica. I'm going to say this to you for the last time. Please get out", Ameen says calmly. "I know you like me Amen but I will be back", I hear her say. "Mmmhmmm and when you step foot in my home I'll have the cops on speed dial", he says. "Whatever. Night Amen", she says walking away towards the exit.
She passes me but doesn't see me at all. I grab her by her hair yanking her back. "Who the hell are you?", I ask. She pulls away and stares at me. "Monica, and who the hell are you?", she asks with her arms crossed over her chest. "That's none of your damn business", I say. "What are you doing here?", I ask. She shrugs. "Like I would tell you", she chuckles. I punch her in her face and she falls hurrying to stand back up. I kick her in her stomach and she moans trying to stand back up. "You won't ever get my brother, you nasty creep", I say to her.
"Jalilah what the hell is going on?", Ameen says running into the hallway with Dulamah. "I found this creep coming out of our house", I said to Ameen. "Jalilah that's Monica", he says. "Who the hell is Monica?", I asked. "Her", he said pointing to the girl that had blood rushing from her nose. "Ugh Lila, please go away. I'll handle this", Ameen says. "What? I'm not leaving you with this creep", I say to him. "Please. I'm fine", he says. I roll my eyes and run upstairs and slam my bedroom door.
A few seconds later Dulamah enters with a weird look. "Come on. Need any help?", he asks. "No thanks, I'm fine", I tell him. He nods his head and sits down on my bed as I go through my drawers folding my clothes neatly placing them in my cheetah print suitcase.
