Jaan

Part 1- Bullies

Then suddenly Allah decided, let's give her one friend at least and made me meet with Ayla.

A sweet Turkish girl whom I met near the end of my second year. It was unfortunate that we met when school was ending because we immediately connected and had a great vibe together. But, eventually, we met the year after and that's when we became very good friends.

She's the only one who gets me and who accepts me no matter my size, religion and skin colour.

I was walking down the hallway when I felt someone grab my bag and I knew it was her. She wrapped her arms around me in a hug.

"Hi! Bestie!" she said all excited.

"Why are you so happy?" I asked pulling away.

"I'm always positive and you know that" she reminded me.

"Ah right," I said. I really don't get where she gets all this positivity from.

We were walking in the crowded hallway making our way towards our lockers. I hate walking in crowded places, where everyone pushes others without even looking at where they are going.

This one time this guy pushed me and it was clearly his fault, I was waiting for him to apologize but guess what he said instead? "Not my problem that you take this much space" that's exactly what he said. I remember it perfectly because it was the first time a guy body-shamed me.

Did it hurt me? Nah.

Being a desi brown Muslim girl in a Pakistani household that's something I hear every day. My parents tease me every day and so does my older brother. It's an everyday routine.

"Move away!! They're coming through!!" someone yelled from far away.

Who's coming through? The principal or something?

Everyone was dispersing left and right letting three guys make their entrance through the hallway. Ayla and I moved as well when they suddenly stopped.

They were tall and well built, wearing leather jackets and jeans. They looked like those cool guys we see in movies that get off their bikes and all the girls die for them.

"Whoever catches this bag will get rewarded," one of the guys said.

He threw the bag in the air and a random girl who was passing by and that was unaware of what was happening just like everyone else caught it. The three guys were making their way towards her but she got scared and threw it up in the air once again before running away.

Another girl who stood beside me caught it and smirked at them. Who is she?

She made her way to them with confidence and grabbed the middle guy's collar pulling him close to her. If there were a definition for beauty it would be her. She's drop-dead gorgeous.

"You finally arrived at my school," she said to him. He stared at her emotionless.

"I don't think that's the way to go though—I'll help you out," she said.

"What is going on?"Ayla whispered to me.

I raised my shoulders. I have no idea but I know that the bell will ring in a minute.

She turned facing all the students and looked at us with a devilish smile. She was slowly approaching each student and checking them out in a weird way. Ayla's and my turn was coming.

She stopped at Ayla who was grabbing onto my arm a little too tightly. I was trying to avoid eye contact with that girl. I don't want to face this girl. She looks me up and down while avoiding eye contact.