Layla
When I walked into that class I wasn't expecting the reaction I received. My whole educational career up until that point took place at an Islamic school. So you would guess that my reaction to seeing another Muslim and one that I once knew would be to immediately feel ease. Instead I felt the same wave of hate coming from Noor when I sat in the seat next to his, it's not like I had a choice there were no other seats available. I was a shy girl and I started to shuffle in my seat under the gaze of my new classmates. Mrs. Ross glared at everyone and began to assign partners for an upcoming writing assignment.
In my Islamic school I was in advanced classes so at this school I was placed in higher classes like this one, College level creative writing. Mrs. Ross explained our assignment and said that our partners would be the person seated next to us. I looked to my left and saw the girl next to already partnered with someone else. I slowly turned to my right and saw Noor looking at the door with no partner. I was about to say something when the bell rang. He ran out of the room.
While looking for my next class I had memories of Noor from when we were younger. He used to be a soft spoken boy with nothing but kindness to offer me. What happened to him? When I learned we were going to this high school I immediately thought of Noor and how he transferred here without telling Musa. I didn't tell him because he like most Muslim men would assume I had feelings for Noor. Well I used to have feelings for him.
The next class was an elective for juniors while the rest I had were with Noor. I don't think he recognized me, four years did pass. Anyways, he was making it hard for me to tell him about being partners. After every bell he would run out of class.
By lunch time I was starving, so I ran straight on line and got a bagel with cream cheese, yoghurt, a peach cup chocolate milk and a water bottle. I know I know I eat a lot but I take BJJ (Brazilian Ju Jitsu) and I wrestle with my little brothers so I work up an appetite.
I was on the line waiting to pay and these two blonde girls in front of me, who looked like twins, looked at my tray in disgust. One of them said "what is she an elephant?" and the other giggled.
I looked at their trays, there were four of them, and then looked up at them (I'm 5'1) then quickly looked down, I wasn't good at confrontations.
After I finished paying I walked around looking for a seat. I sat down at an empty table in the farthest corner of the cafeteria. I began to eat and I noticed that I forgotten utensils. As I was getting up to get them I saw Noor and thought that I could tell him. I watched as I walked over and saw that he sat down at a table with two boys and the blonde girls. I couldn't believe what I saw next. The girls were all over him and one of them was touching his beautiful black beard and long hair. I couldn't stop my feet they were their own two beings. I stopped. All I saw was his face, he was beautiful with black hair, a thick beard, black eyes and tanned skin. I snapped out of it when I heard him snap at the girl next to him and swiftly turned around.
I got back to my seat completely ashamed of myself for not lowering my gaze. I didn't lose my appetite after that encounter I finished my food and the bell rang.
The rest of the day passed in a blur. I met up with my brother and we walked home.
"Did you see Noor today?" Musa asked me.
"Yeah" I then told him about Noor being my partner and how I was unable to tell him. I was going to say something about the girls to Musa but I held my tongue. I didn't want to be the one to spread rumors whether they were true or not I knew how much they could hurt.
"It's okay I'm meeting him later at the masjid for asr. I'll just tell him."
We finally got home. I went straight to my mother and kissed her three times and gave her a hug.
"How was your first day jan? Is it better than the other school?" she asked concerned.
"Madar jan it was a thousand times better than the other school" I said with a genuine smile. I never lie to my mother.
