Rendezvous of a hijabi

Chapter 4• Cattle of goats

A firm hand clamped on my shoulder. I yelped and stood up, roughly wiping my face.

Chocolate brown eyes peered at me curiously, "Yo, you good?"

Faisal stood, towering over me in concern.

I was so embarrassed, I could hardly say I was crying for 10 minutes because I got sent out of class. How pathetic was I?

"Nothing I'm fine," I managed to mutter straight faced.
I swallowed hard and went to find Ramirez's office again.

"Are you lost?" He chuckled, noticing my confused expression.
Submitting, I asked him to direct me to the Principal.

With a single raised eyebrow he gestured for me to follow behind him, "Didn't peg you as the type to get sent out of class,"

I flamed. "I didn't peg me as the type either," I admitted, "Bad luck I guess,"

We both walked down the corridor in a comfortable silence.
"Here it is," He declared, "Be sure to thank him for the fantastic company he offered this morning,"

With a wink he sauntered off towards the car park, clearly bunking off school.

Breathing shakily, I pushed open the heavy wooden door that led to my fate.

Okay a little bit dramatic.

"Well if it isn't the infamous Safa," Ramirez announced, "Twice in a day- that's a record."

"The first time I came here was to collect my timetable..."

Judging by the blank look on his face I doubt he cared.

I explained the events that occurred with Mr Jensen, heavily down playing it all.

After I finished, it just dawned to me that I had barely done anything wrong, yet I had been sobbing in the corridor like a sad sack.

I needed to get a grip, Mr Jensen had no right to send me out for not concentrating, it was art not Calculus.

I was internally combusting with anger, realising how much of a doormat I was.

Mr Ramirez rambled on about respect and warnings. But honestly, for the first time in my life.

I didn't even care.

¥•¥•¥

The bell blared through the school, notifying us for lunch.

As if to reply, my stomach growled and I made my way to the canteen.

**Authors note**
As I typed this my stomach rumbled too...loudly. #Ramadan 😂😂😂
On the other side of the Canteen I spotted Nasra sitting with a group and of girls, she smiled at me so I waved shyly.

"Safa! Come sit with us!" She yelled from across the room.

I made my way over, in no haste to meet Nasra's friends.

"Guys..this is Safa she's new to County Hall," Nasra introduced.

"Hey Safa! I'm Halima,"

"I LOVE you eyebrows OMG. How do you do them,"

"So how's your first day,"

I grinned widely at how friendly they were. After answering their questions and making conversation, I had learnt their names.
To my right on the bench was Halima who was Somali like me, to my left was Layla who was Iraqi, then there was Alicia who was from Spain.

"So guys is the food halal here," I asked, "I'm actually starving,"
Layla smiled , "Unfortunately, no. But we have two options: Eat from the vegetarian section like a cattle of goats. Or...we could sneak out to get a healthy McDonalds meal,"

All of us burst out laughing and in unison agreed for the latter.

"We are juniors so we aren't allowed to go outside for our lunch break," Nasra informed me, "So be discreet because man am I craving a fish-o-fillet burger,"
I agreed whole-heartedly as my stomach threatened to imitate a whale call.
"I CALL SHOTGUN!" Nasra screamed, bounding towards Alicia's gorgeous black Range Rover.
Halima grinned and rolled her eyes dramatically at her friend, gesturing for me to sit beside her at the back.

What's the worst that could happen?