Choosing The Right Path

19)✒School Drama✒

We didn't go to school yesterday. Raeesa was now staying with us since her parents were also out of town. In fact, they were in Japan, attending to a recent earthquake. They left without even letting her know, since it was a crazy emergency and they were prepared to offer their services to the needy.

Azlan never asked what Raeesa and I were doing around Marion Park when we were attacked. It was not like we asked him what he was doing there either. Personally, I was just thankful that he showed up in time. We had just given in our statements of what had happened and for right back home. He didn't even ask how we were. I guess I couldn't complain, though. Not when this guy saved our lives.

So today, we were all back in class. I took my seat next to Raeesa because we were going to be working on our project on interviewing someone who inspired us. All we needed to do, was think of what questions to ask Mr. Ali.

Mrs. Jacobs suddenly called, "Rubina! You haven't been in class for a long time. In fact, this is probably the first time that I'm seeing you this month. You better get your act together. Since you haven't bothered to attend school, I will place you in a group," Mrs. Jacobs scanned the classroom. Her eyes fell on me. "You can join Aamirah, since being constantly absent is convenient for you, so will working with your cousin."

Azlan snorted from the other side of the class. I wanted to slap him. Hard.

Rubina got up, straightened her dress and strutted over to our table. She sat down across Raeesa and I and glared at me. I ignored her challenging eyes and explained the project to her. When we told her that we would be interviewing Mr. Ali, she frowned, "That's so typical of you to interview a fellow Muslim." Rubina snarled at us. "Anyway, forget the project, let's discuss my party."

I rolled my eyes. Was she really still thinking about that stupid party? Did she really think that I wanted to talk about it? "This is class time that we're using to get this project done. We don't have time to discuss parties right now. Get your priorities straight." Raeesa gave me a look. I silently thanked her for standing up for me like that. During arguments, I just felt as if I was wasting my breath because there are some people that you just cannot talk to. To me, Rubina Omar was one of them.

"Whatever. Just to let you know, though, the party's gonna be this weekend so you can work the project around that." Rubina said nonchalantly. The way she examined her nails without a care in the world might have been what pushed me to snap.

"The is our only time to work on this project so screw your party, Rubina!" I hissed at her. "If you don't want to come to the interview, that's fine. I'll tell Mrs. Jacobs that the project doesn't mean enough to you. You better get one thing straight; just because you're my cousin, it doesn't mean I'm gonna shield your ass from facing the consequences of not being a team player." Rubina stared at me, wide-eyed.

"Tell me when and I'll be there." She muttered before retreating back to her desks to collect her books for the next lesson as the bell had just gone.

》》》

"Great. Now I'm just dreading working on this project," Raeesa shoved a forkful of lettuce into her mouth before continuing. "I mean, she clearly doesn't care about this whole thing." I grimaced as Raeesa continued to eat her lettuce.

Did I ever mention that I hate anything edible that's green?

"Who knows? Maybe she'll surprise us by being responsible for something for once." I chuckled at the thought. It would make me happy to see Rubina acting up and playing her part. Behind her 'Barbie-doll' stature, I knew that there was more to Rubina than any of us could imagine.

She just needed time to create herself into the person that she really wanted to be. Right now, she was just fake. Tomorrow, she could change completely. Allah has a plan for each and every one of us. I guesed that His plan for Rubina, Safina and Sakeenah was slightly different but a good plan, anyhow.

"Maybe. Look, now that I'm staying with you guys, I feel like my life is something out of a book or movie. Do you ever feel that way?"

I shrugged. Raeesa could be so weird. Her ideas are sometimes just a little worrying. "So you think that we could be like characters from a book?"

"Basically."

"This is why I worry about you, dude." We laughed until the bell rang. That was a very long 5 seconds, indeed.

On the way back to class I stopped at my locker to change my books and quickly got a chance to check my phone.

Unknown:
Hey. Why so stressed out? Is something bothering you?

I gasped. It was the same person that texted me some time back. I had archived the chat in case I was contacted by him/her again. Good thing I did. With my books in my arms, I shut my locker, shoved my phone into my satchel and walked to class.

Raeesa and I both did physical sciences. We also managed to get seats next to each other. Once Mrs. Wang greeted us, I showed Raeesa the text. "Someone's just pranking you. Ignore."

"I want to know who it is, though."

"Aamirah, you have pretty much the entire twelfth grade on your phone. Think of who you don't have. Or, he or she could just be some nut job from another grade."

"You know what, you're probably right. Thanks for keeping me in check." Raeesa gave me a knowing smile.

"Aamirah Omar and Raeesa Moolla." I turned my head to see Mrs. Wang's unimpressed face. "Stop talking. You've just had break. What do you people find to talk about anyway?"

Despite Mrs. Wang's very rhetorical question, the class erupted into a series of suggestions of what we talk about during break. Some people even tried to guess what Raeesa and I were talking about.
Mrs. Wang facepalmed.

That had to be the highlight of my day.

° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° °

Finally got down to writing again. I had a huge writers' block. I completely lost my inspiration but I got a bit of it back.

Quote of the day:
"Never water yourself down just because someone can't handle you at 100 proof." ~(21 October 2016; 03:04am)