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0.9 // omar's opinions

0 . 9 / / o m a r ' s   o p i n i o n s

Grade Nine // Age 15

THE HALLWAYS of Green Heights Secondary School were always very eerily quiet after school hours. It had only been twenty minutes since the students were dismissed, but already Alexandria felt like she was walking in a horror movie. She wondered what the weapon of choice would be—a hammer? Chainsaw? Pencil? Alex shook her head, she really needed to get some sleep. She was starting to lose her mind.

Alex was walking through the halls towards a yearbook meeting when she heard a commotion from around the next corner. Furrowing her brows, she picked up the pace. There were several boys standing in the middle of the hallway, three boys against one. She walked slowly and quietly, trying to understand the situation before getting involved. It didn't look like a normal hangout.

"You think you're better than us? That you're all holy and shit? Well guess what, you're not. We might not be saints, but at least we don't follow backwards religions that force girls to cover up and give up their education. Though the whole multiple wives things does sound good," a chuckle. Alexandria didn't recognize the boys—they might have been from another grade or something—but the boy that stood alone was Omar Qatari. He was in her math class, and really damn smart. He was a genius, and she loved working with him. The way he solved questions . . . it was beautiful. Weird, she knew, but seeing him scrawl the numbers and symbols, barely pausing before writing down the answer he solved in his head . . . it was just beautiful. Alex has a feeling he would go one to do great things.

"No, I don't think I'm better than you because of my religion," he said. There were some grunts of satisfaction from the bullies. "I think I'm better than you, period."

Alexandria choked back a laugh, her eyes widening. But all humour left her when the main guy hissed a, "You son of a bitch," and geared up to strike Omar with a punch.

"Hey!" Alex yelled, momentarily stopping the boy. He turned, any fear leaving him as he took her in.

"Scurry along, little girl. This isn't about you," he said.

"Of course it is," she said. "You're bullying him. Why? Because of his religion? You realize how pathetic that is? Don't you have anything better to do than to corner people after school to make fun of and fight them?"

"Who the hell are you calling pathetic—" one of the other guys started before the leader lifted a hand to stop him. It was all too 'I feel like I'm in a movie' for Alex's taste.

"Who are you, little girl?" the leader said. Seriously? He's going to let that name stick?

"Someone who recorded you, and has no problem going to the office with it," her phone was in her hand already, and she gave it a shake to emphasize her point. "And," she added with a shrug and smile. "They love me there, they'll believe me. Then, they'll kick your asses faster than you can say 'suspension.'"

"Bullshit," he spat out.

"Try me," she shot back. "I got two guys suspended last year for talking shit, I'll do it again."

"Hey, yo, maybe we should listen—" the other boy who hadn't spoken yet said. He looked wryly at her, like she might turn into a bully-eating monster. The thought wasn't too unpleasant to Alex.

"Nick, I swear to God, shut your fucking mouth—" the boy who had threatened her before said, before getting interrupted again by the leader's hand going up to stop him. With his face piercing, tattoos peaking from his collar, and the bad attitude, he fit the stereotypical 'bad boy' image. Alex internally rolled her eyes. Was no one even trying to be original anymore?

"Are you done?" Alex said, placing a hand on her hip and schooling her face into a bored expression. "I don't have all day."

For a moment, the leader stared at her quietly. He had harsh features, a sharp jawline and cheekbones, long eyelashes, straight dark brown hair, and eyes that were so dark and filled with calculating awareness, hate, and disgust that it almost threw off Alex's bored expression. She forced herself to maintain eye-contact. She must not break. For both her and Omar's sake.

"Okay," he said, and then turned towards Omar. "You're lucky your girlfriend saved you this time. Never let me see you alone again." Omar nodded eagerly, and Alex felt a surge of hate for this boy with cruel words. Omar would now live in fear because of this boy.

Finally, the boys left Omar and Alex alone. Alex let out a breath, breathing easily now that the threat has left. "Are you okay?" she asked Omar. He nodded, smiling at her.

"Thank you," he said. "Truly. You saved me."

Alex shrugged. "We have to stand together, right? I would want someone to stand up for me if something happened. And it's just not right," she shook her head. She could spend hours talking about inequality, ranting at the injustice of it all. But now was not that time. "You should tell the office about him. You might have won now, but if you let him dangle it over you, he'll win. You have to stop him."

"Do you really have that recording of him?" he asked.

Alex shook her head with an apologetic look. "Sorry, no. I just said that."

"Damn," he cursed. "It would have really helped. He has two witnesses, it'll be a whole he said-she said."

"I wish I could do more," she said.

"You've done plenty. Really, thank you. I don't know how I could ever repay you," he said.

Alex smiled, "Find a way to make him pay for his Islamophobia." Omar looked a little surprised that she knew the term, but why wouldn't she? It was an unfortunately common occurrence now, and Alex, who was an avid follower of the news and twitter, knew all about it. Just because she wasn't Muslim didn't mean she couldn't fight against it. She would want someone to help her if some racist tried to fight her, and she would do the same to help anyone who needed help from the bigots and racists of this world.

Less than a month later, the news spread that Jack Higgins was expelled for hate speech, and assaulting another student. His lackeys both go a two week suspension that went on their permanent record. When Alex saw Omar that day, they shared a secret smile.

Omar never forgot Alex's kindness. No one had ever been that kind to him, not when it mattered. He and Alex's paths didn't often intersect, they didn't hang out in the same circles. But he always remembered her with fondness, and thought that asking her to the dance would be a good idea. If she said yes, than they go out. If she said no, he was ready to move on and think of her as nothing more than the girl who once stood up for him against islamphobes.

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Hi everyone, and I hope you enjoyed this chapter!

It's a little heavier than usual, but I really wanted to write about this issue. Especially at this time.

Anyways, we're back to lighter chapters soon. What do you think Alexandria will say? Will she accept him? Next chapter is her response!

See you next chapter,
Sage