Growing (An Islamic Life) *COMPLETED*

Chapter 2 (Food Fight)

As soon as I walked into my class, I saw my group of friends. Just like my friends, I was crazy in school. My friends and I would do the most random things in school. Last week, we actually started a food fight in the cafeteria, explaining Imran's earlier words.

I wished I could just listen to him but the was is, my brain never seemed to function when I was with my friends. I was not an idiot in class because I got mostly A's and B's. But I had been called crazy most of the time... Okay LOTS of times. But that's just who I was.

My group of friends consisted of 2 girls and 3 boys. We were really close. I was the only muslim girl in the group and believe it or not, nobody was racist in my school. Sure there were a few stares and whispers but it was not like how one would read in books, where people said, 'Oh hey terrorist,' or, 'Why do you even wear that?' People actually were nice, at least to my face.

My friends treat me no better than how they would treat everyone else. We were a pretty awesome gang and I was proud to say that I was the evil mastermind behind all our plans. I was the most crazy and daring.

Maya was my best friend. She was an African American who was a splitting image of Disney's Pocohontos. Apart from her, there was Ben, Andrew and Zain. Zain was the other muslim in the gang.

"Oh my God, you should have seen your face. I can't believe you actually slipped on tomato sauce. I am never deleting that picture," said Maya. Andrew's face turned heated up and turned red.

"Now where was I when that happened?" I asked laughing, as I sat down in my usual chair.

"On the way to the Principal's office," said Zain before cracking up looking at the picture of Andrew on Maya's phone.

"Oh yeah! Sweet sweet memories."

"It wouldn't have been so sweet if your parents came instead of your brother and saved your lucky bum," said Ben. Oh Ben.. Oh Ben! Only you would use the word 'bum'. Everybody laughed looking at all the pictures on Maya's phone.

"Now how did the food fight start in the first place?" asked Maya. Andrew blushed once more at that question.

I couldn't even control my laughter after that. I was literally rolling on the floor laughing that I swear I looked like a retarted seal clapping her hands with no sound coming out.

Ben, being the first one to stop laughing, started explaining to Maya. "Andrew tried to flirt with a girl in the lunch line and accidentally poured chocolate milk on her whilst trying to impress her. Then her 'boyfriend' came and poured the rest of the chocolate milk on Andrew's head."

I regained my composure and continued the story. "When Andrew tried to run away, he bumped into another student spilling food on her as well and then that student threw a perfectly yummy grilled cheese at Andrew, and he ducked in the perfect moment, that the grilled cheese landed on the 'boyfriend'. It all happened pretty fast and it was actually really shocking too.

Everyone was about to just drop the issue and go wash up but I being me threw my pudding cup at Zain and screamed, "FOOD FIGHT," and this was how it started. I swear I looked barbaric."

"What do you mean looked barbaric? You are barbaric," Andrew, the victim of the food fight, said.

"Oh shut up. I still can't believe I got caught though." Apparently before I threw the pudding, a teacher was already standing there and that's how I had gotten busted.

Well to be quite honest after I got caught, saying I was nervous was an understatement. As I made my way towards the Principal's office after the food fight, I saw someone exiting. He had a some papers in his hand and by his looks, I knew he was a new student.

He was not the type of guy that one would describe as 'oh my god he's so hot' but he was very attractive. And yes, it was haram (forbidden) to be looking at men but first glance was halal (permissible according to Islamic Law). So I kept staring until my eyes gave out and looked away. It wasn't like I was staring at him for his good looks, but because he was alien to me- the new kid. I mean who didn't stare at the new kid, right?

When he looked back at me, that's when I looked away, and as he passed, he greeted, "Assalamu Alaikum."

As he said that it was almost as if I had known his voice for years... Eh who was I kidding? It sounded like one of those singers who's voice didn't need anymore sugar to make them sweeter. Suddenly, my throat was all dry.

"Walaikum Salaam," I replied trying not to sound like a dying duck and continued walking.

I had waited for what seemed like eternity but was only 5 minutes when my brother walked in and boy, was he pissed. After a little formal greeting from the Principal and a massive discussion about me, they had decided to let this one go if I helped out at the library after school for the next two weeks with the voluntary group.

The school's voluntary group was something created by some students who actually wanted to help clean up the school and help the staff and all those things. I was sure they were the ones who ended up cleaning the cafeteria food fight. I was glad this was all I got, without suspension and all thanks to Imran who was a past pupil and was sort of the apple of the eye in school. Everyone loved him as he was very bright and athletic.

My thoughts were interrupted as the bell rang and our home room teacher walked into the class, silencing us. As she was about to start the lesson, the door opened once again and in walked the new kid. I could see from the corner of my eye Maya, who was sitting on my left, was gawking at him like he was a Greek God. He wasn't that good looking, right? He gave me a quick look and handed a paper to the teacher.

"Okay Class, looks like we have a new student. Do you want to introduce yourself to the rest of the class?" she asked looking at him.

"Umm okay." That voice again, so sweet yet so mysterious and husky. "My name is Omar Khan. I recently moved here." Yeah duh, isn't that a little too obvious? "And umm ummm..."

"Okay that's enough. You can take any empty seat that you find." With that he started to make his way towards the back of the class, one seat behind me. Thankfully the seats next to me were filled up by my best friends, I mean who wants to sit next to the new kid right? Or was it just me?

As the class went on, it got pretty boring and I was sure I dozed for a little when someone poked me from behind.

"Huh? What? Who?"

"Now Ms. Abdulla would you like to give me the answer?" Oh oh what answer to what question.

As I looked so clueless, I heard someone from behind say something along the lines of "Shakespeare."

Then with instinct I replied, "Shakespeare."

"Correct. So class as I was saying.... Oh Ms. Abdulla next time pay attention in class and Mr. Khan, passing answers is not the way to make new friends". Oh so she heard him. The whole class bursted out laughing.

With another 5 minutes, class was over and we all made our way out. I stopped at the door when someone grabbed my hand.

It was Omar.

Some kids walking out shoved Omar accidentally, which caused him to come closer than he intended to. I quickly turned to the side avoiding the collision. He came so close to me that his lips almost brushed against my ears outside my hijab. My cheeks already heated up by this much closeness and I was too shocked to move.

"You're welcome," he said after regaining his composure and acted cooly. He passed me and I just stood there too dumbstruck to move.

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