Beautiful Things (A Muslim Love Story)

Chapter Four: The Last Person

I saw Adam today.

After classes ended, I bumped into a familiar looking boy. He had that same, "I know that person" look. I quickly apologized then ran away.

Was that Adam? I kept wondering. It was. I saw him talking to one of his friends, and when they were leaving the friend said, "Bye Adam, see you later!"

I suddenly knew everything about him.

Remember when I was that weird boy-obsessed girl in Junior High? And that I had massive crushes on all the boys in the class except one? Yeah. That guy was Adam. I hated Adam. I truly did. He ruined my life by constantly being a bully. I don't know why he hated me so much, but he just did. 

That was why my brain told me I hated him. He was a popular bully. All the girls had crushes on him except for me. To them, he was gorgeous, to me, he was ugly. Maybe he hated me because I didn't have any feelings for him, where else the other girls did.

..........

The next day I sat down beside a guy. It was Adam.

The hell? Why is he turning up everywhere? I stared at him, and when he noticed, he smiled and leaned over. He smelled like a nice smelling cologne.

"Hey," he said. "Are you Asiyah? I think I remember you from Junior High. Do you?"

"Um, yeah. It's Adam, right?" 

"Yeah. I thought you looked familiar."

I felt really embarrassed.

Girls in my class turned and looked at him, smiles twisting a their mouths. He was supposed to be good looking or something. That must of been a joke.

The whole time Adam kept running his hands through his hair and tried to impress the girls. I almost threw up on my white Birkenstocks. 

When class ended, I knew Adam wanted to talk to me, but I definitely didn't want to talk to him. So I scurried at of the room before anyone else did.

I met Almas outside. 

"Hey," she smiled. "Why out so early?"

"Remember Adam from Junior High?" 

She frowned. "You mean that guy you always complained about on the phone when we were like, fourteen?" Almas has never really met Adam in person. Almas and I have always been neighbors, but I went to an Islamic school and she went to a public school. So everyday I used to talk to her about the guy who ruined my life.

"Yeah," I shrugged.

She glanced over my shoulder. "He's over there. And he's looking at you."

I ducked. "Quick, don't let him see me!" I hissed. "He wants to talk to me."

"What for?" Almas asked.

"I don't know. To apologize, maybe. But there is no way I am forgiving HIM."

Almas giggled. "Why not? He's actually kinda cute."

"EW! Almas, stop talking nonsense. I hope you're not going to marry him or anything disgusting like that."

She made a face. "Aw, Asiyah's jealous! She wants Adam for herself!"

I slapped her hand. "Shut up," I growled. "He's the LAST person I would wanna marry."