Over the next couple months, Zaid got Talia used to phone calls.
"Hey, how are you doing?"
"Horrible." Talia wished she could have forced her enthusiasm a little more, but it was impossible to smile with the sheet of paper in her hand. "Hope your day's been better."
She heard the click of a door locking before his voice came closer to the speaker again. "Mind telling me what's wrong? I've spent the last thirteen hours slaving away over a lab report in the library, if you wanted to get an idea of my day."
She dropped to a random bench outside the chemistry building, happy no one would recognize her on this part of campus. "Still sounds better than mine. I just killed an exam and not in the good way."
"Did you just take it or get the grade back?"
"The grade." The red letter mocked her as she stared down at the paper in her lap, almost as red as her face. "It's ugly, Zaid."
"Impossible. I'm sure you're just exaggerating." When she said nothing for a few moments, he sighed. "Could at least tell me what it is?"
She closed her eyes. "An eighty-two."
"What?"
"I know right." She drew one knee up to her chest and buried her face into it, as if he could even see her. "It counts for thirty percent of my grade, too."
"No, no—I mean, what are you talking about? In engineering an eighty-two is worth celebrating."
"It's a B minus, Zaid."
"All I hear is a passing grade. But wait..." He paused for a moment, seeming to rethink his words. "Is your GPA that bad you needed an A in this class to boost it?"
"It's the opposite," she croaked, trying to withhold her first grade-induced cry of the semester. "A B minus will destroy my beautiful three-point-nine-seven."
A pause.
"I'm this close to blocking your number, Talia."
She squeezed her eyes shut, now almost on the verge of laughter. "My grades have gotten me places, okay? They're the only reason I have an internship this summer that will pay me seven-grand a month. I'm not ruining them this close to the end."
"Fuck it," he grunted, "maybe I should become the housewife. A B minus is now a terrible grade, Talia."
"Zaid."
"No, no, back to studying you go."
He hung up.
***
Zaid زيد
How's Arabic going?
Talia
I still can't believe I'm taking it
Did you know I was the last person to sign up for the class?
Zaid زيد
What can I say?
I'm a great influence
Talia
No you're a horrible influence
Arabic is somehow worse than Topology
And that class has one of the highest fail rates at my college
Zaid زيد
Oh come on, Talia
It's your native language
Talia
You mean YOUR native language
Although the aspiring CIA bros in my class do make me feel better about my accent lmao
Zaid زيد
Ah yes, the imperialists that study abroad at my university for the Oriental experience
Come on, let me test your knowledge
You've probably caught on to more than you think
Talia
It's only been a month but fine
I'll give it my best shot
Zaid زيد
That's my girl
I'll go easy on you
Talia
I'm terrified
Zaid زيد
Okay here goes
تاليا
Talia
Of course I know that one lol
That's Talia
Zaid زيد
Finally you get the "ta"
كيف
Talia
What?
No how
That's "how"
Zaid زيد
بيت
Talia
Why are there so many dots
Everything looks the same Zaid
Zaid زيد
Fine, I'll give you that one
"House"
Talia
Okay now I'm embarrassed
That was definitely on my quiz last week
Zaid زيد
Try another then
قمر
Talia
I KNOW A QAF WHEN I SEE ONE
"Moon" right?
Zaid زيد
I prefer its more romantic usage
But good job
Talia
Thank you, thank you
What else do you have?
Zaid زيد
Let me think
...
بحبك
Talia
I am suddenly blind Zaid
Zaid زيد
Squint a little more
...
Come on, you can do it
Talia
Okay I'm trying
I think I got it
Oh my god Zaid
I love you more
Zaid زيد
I see you figured it out, hayati
Talia
Can you teach me how to spell that?
Zaid زيد
Spell what?
Talia
Hayati
You've never called me that before
Zaid زيد
I'll be assigning it as homework
Text me again when you figure it out
***
"You paying attention?"
Talia looked up from the screen of her Mac, mouse hovering over the messages app. In the five minutes she'd zoned out, a handwritten balance sheet had appeared on the white board, spanning half its length. She probably should have been paying attention to the midterm review, but she was over this semester in every way possible, and it was only mid-March.
"Wait, what's she talking about?"
"I was asking you, Talia." Neela leaned over, hand fanning over her chin, half concealing the goofy grin overtaking her face. She glanced between her laptop screen and Talia's pink cheeks once again. "Is that fine piece of desert ass texting you again?"
"How many times do I have to tell you that name's racist?"
She lifted a finger, head held high. "It's not racist if it's true. I'd love if a hot Arab man fell head over heels for me—and a rich one, too? Any chance he can hook me up with a loaded sheikh?"
"Zaid's not royalty, Neela." But he damn better make me his queen one day. "He has a best friend, though. Can't guarantee he's single...but Fahed's pretty easy on the eyes."
"A taken man has never stopped a depraved woman, Talia. Have always wanted to add homewrecker to my failed pre-med identity, anyway."
Talia
I can't believe this week is still not over
But at least I have better news to report
Zaid زيد
I'm listening
Well, reading
Talia
I somehow pulled my grade up to a 91 in that class from Hell
Zaid زيد
Only an A minus?
I'm ashamed of you Talia
Talia
I've lowered my standards okay
An A- is a great grade
(Still praying for the scale to save me though)
Zaid زيد
I expected nothing less of you at this point
Talia
Okay enough about me
What are your weekend plans?
Not that it matters for me
God, I miss seeing your face in person
Zaid زيد
I miss yours even more
And shockingly, I have some plans
Spring break starts in two days
Talia
Already? Mine is still two weeks away
Heading to Miami to see some actual sun?
Zaid زيد
I wish
I'm going home for the week
Talia
Really? Any reason why?
Zaid زيد
I'd love to give a lighter answer
But the anniversary of my father's death is the reason
Leaving my mother alone on that day feels kind of wrong
Talia
I'm so sorry
I'm here if you need to vent
A pause ensued, almost making her wish she'd asked anything else. Neela left in the meantime, somehow believing Talia was going to head to the gym and not actually hide out in a café until sunset.
Cold brew in hand, she tucked herself away in the shop's corner table and braced herself for an empty home screen.
Zaid زيد
I don't have much to say
It doesn't get better by the year
But at least it doesn't get worse
Talia
I won't pretend I understand your pain
But please know, you're allowed to feel it
Zaid زيد
I know
Going back isn't all that bad at least
I'm happy to have food with actual spices again
Talia
Now you're making me miss Teta's cooking
Her stuffed grape leaves are god tier
Zaid زيد
She misses you a ton
Actually, I think Fouad misses you even more
I can't even tell
All I know is the man hates me deep down
Talia
My grandfather does NOT hate you Zaid
He's such a loving person
Zaid زيد
You'd be surprised...
Anyway, I guess I'll leave you to study
Wouldn't want any more A minuses, right?
Talia
Wait a sec
I kind of have a weird request
Can you send me some photos when you go back?
Zaid زيد
Of what...?
Talia
Oh God
I mean of your home
Those photos in that album were beautiful
Zaid زيد
We actually moved out of that neighborhood when I was eight
But this one is still pretty scenic, won't lie
Any reason you're asking?
Talia
Not really to be honest
I just haven't gone back in ages
I've almost forgotten what the country looks like
Zaid زيد
Anything for you, Talia
Talia
Thank you حياتي
She smiled, finally having done her damn homework.
***
does this chapter exist because I was too lazy to write actual narration and not just dialogue? yes. is it also still kind of cute? I think so.
make sure to leave a comment and vote! we're almost to the end!
- G.