A Halal Love Story #Wattys2019 - BEING EDITED

Chapter 1

I wake up to the noise of my alarm blaring in my ears. I close it and go take a quick shower. Mondays in general were very hard for me. I walk into my closet and chose a beige maxi skirt, a crème chiffon scarf, and a black full sleeve top. In ten minutes, I was ready.

Being a hijabi in this day's society was very hard but it wasn't impossible. I walk downstairs and say Assalam O Alaikom to my mom and dad. They were both drinking traditional Arabic tea.

My mom comes from an English family and converted in university. She was very fond of the Arabic language and culture, that as a kid she begged her grandparents to learn the language and traditions. It was in her fourth year in residency that she met dad, and they both got married the halal way.

I start eating breakfast which is cereal, berries, and chocolate crepes. I also pour myself tea, as I love traditional Arabic tea.

My sister (Asma) then comes downstairs and greets my parents with a Salam. She is 24, pregnant, and married. Her husband, whose name is Ibrahim; also stayed with us for the night. Since they are moving to a new house, they had to stay with us over the night as they will get their keys today.

She is a pharmacist and he is a surgeon. Although they have a three year difference, they love each other dearly. I have two brothers as well, but one is pre-med and the other one is in residency.

I see the time and quickly say Allah Fiz to mom and dad and kiss them both on the cheek. I also say Allah Fiz to Asma and Ibrahim as I leave.

I wait outside for Umme, and Saafiya. I see Umme's car come up in the driveway and head to her car. Since she turned 18 first in our trio, her parents gifted her a car first, and naturally now gives us both rides from and to school.

"Asalam O Alaikom." I say to both of them

"Walaikom Assalam Umme."

"Umme, did you finish the biology homework?" Asks Saafiya.

"Ya I did most it, and you?"

"Well I totally forgot until this morning." She said worryingly.

"Mr. Chase is totally going to give you a satisfactory for the learning skills Saafiya." I say teasingly.

"I know, but it's not my fault his class is hard."

"Do you guys want to go out after school for lunch?" Asked Umme.

"Ya, I'm pretty sure I can. I'll just text mom to let her know."

"Ya ditto."

We arrived at school in the next 5 minutes and then headed to our lockers. Umme was wearing a crème top, a black skirt, and a navy blue scarf while Saafiya wore a grey skirt, royal blue shirt, and a black scarf. In this school, we were the only hijabis, so somehow we naturally became best friends since grade 9.

"Layla the bell is going to ring in a few minutes! Hurry!" Saafiya said impatiently.

"Just wait a second. I just need my textbook...and let's go." I say with a smile

"So did you hear what Mr. Chase said last week guys?" Umme says.

"What?"

"Well apparently we will have a new student today."

"Really! Well that's news. We haven't had one since like grade 10."

"Ya and apparently he's going to be from England."

"Oh it's a guy." Saafiya and I both say together.

"Um, ya didn't you hear?"

"Nope." Me and Saafiya both say simultaneously.

The bell quickly rings and we head to first period biology. This is the first time in the four years that we have attended this school, that we all had a class together, so it's pretty fun.

We all take our seats, which are in the back and open up our textbooks.

"Ok class, get out your homework and face it towards me." We all do it but Saafiya.

"Saafiya, you better have your homework done for tomorrow. I'm extremely disappointed."

Gloomily Saafiya sulks and we all open up our notebooks and textbooks to the pages that he has written on the board. Class was pretty boring until there was a knock on the door, and...

Author's Note: So In Sha Allah I will post in a week or two, so around the 17th-24th but if I feel like earlier, than I will do it earlier. Please be patient with this story as 1st chapters of books are never extraordinary and if there were ANY mistakes please tell me and once I'm done the book, I'll re-edit or even maybe earlier. If you have any ideas to where this story should be headed feel free to comment and I'll reply.

If you have any want to do a book cover for me or banners, please tell me in the comment section below and I'll give an email address when I write the next chapter.