Don't Forget Me (22)

It was the most awkward sleepover ever.

I had to pretend I was asleep while Lulu and Sarah were chatting downstairs. I didn't know if Lulu told Sarah about us, but Sarah definitely knew something was up.

They went to sleep at around 3 AM, and I still hadn't gone to sleep yet. What sucked was that they slept before I did. Lulu probably slept with a guilt-free conscious. 

I woke up, got dressed in a long baby blue sweater and black leggings, and wore my black ankle-high boots. I didn't put on any makeup except for my daily eyeliner and that was it; I was just not feeling it. 

My suitcase was ready by the door and I toasted two slices of bread for breakfast. Lulu and Sarah were outside on their phones as they waited for me to finish so we can go home. The car ride was definitely going to be interesting.

"Yallah?" I said. Mostly to Sarah, who served as our medium. They both got up from the bench to join me inside as we carried our suitcases to the car.

I sighed as I looked at the chalet; I thought this was going to be the best weekend ever but it quickly made a 180 turn and now I just wanted to go home and snuggle in bed with my laptop to distract me. 

We got in the car and passed by Zaid's chalet. My heart ached. 

I really wanted to see him again, to just make sure he was okay and ask him how he was doing. 

I didn't know whether to text him or not, really. Mabi a9eer khafeefa, bas maybe he wanted me to text first, or maybe he didn't want me to text at all. I was still very confused and decided to take the whole car ride to figure it out. 

Sarah was uncomfortable between me and Lulu, and she could barely lift her hands to look at her phone. Lulu was in charge of the AUX and her mood was basically depressing music that I would make fun of her for if we were on good terms. Only we weren't on good terms and I didn't think we ever would be. She basically exploited me if not ruined my reputation. I could never forgive her for that. 

They dropped me off my house first, even if my house was closer to Lulu's and they could've dropped Sarah off first. I guessed the tension was too much, and it was. The air was so toxic I might just drop dead. 

"Mashkoureen," I said as I exited the car. 

"Bye," Sarah said, sad that I was leaving. Lulu said nothing, of course. It was probably the last time all three of us would be together.

 Maybe some friendship didn't really depend on how long we were friends. 

/

I bit my lip as I sat in my bathroom robe on my bed to compose my text.

I spent a good five minutes trying out different texts but they all sounded weird so I finally sent the text that I found appropriate. 

Hey,

I got dressed in an old Juicy Couture olive-colored training suit while I waited for him to reply. He didn't have a last seen which sucked because I didn't know if his number was active or not. 

"Omniyah?" my mom said as she knocked on my door. 

"Na3am?" I called out. 

"Matabeen '3ada?" she asked. 

"Ee yallah al7een bayi," I told her as I brushed my hair and pulled it up in a ponytail. I left my room, glancing at my phone every five seconds, and joined my mother at the dining table downstairs. 

"Chicken nuggets?" I asked her as I took a heart-shaped one. 

"Shift'hum oo shawigoni," she said as she chuckled. I chuckled too but I stopped when my phone buzzed on the table. 

Hey

I quickly texted under the table. Which was glass.

How are you? I didn't know you were back.

"Niyah khalay hatha oo ta'3aday," my mom said. I felt my phone buzz next to me and it took every shred of self control not to check my phone. 

"Shlon ilshalaih?" she asked. 

"Il7mdilla zain bes kan bard," I said. I tried to leave out what had happened between me and Lulu for now. 

She began to talk about her weekend at my grandparents' house, where they went, etc, but my mind was honestly on the buzzing messages. I felt so bad that I couldn't concentrate on what she'd had to say. 

I placed my fork and spoon next to each other and checked my phone as my mom got up from her seat.

I'm fine thank you. 

I got back a week ago and am leaving next week. 

Just a week left? It was too soon.

Too soon?

I waited for his reply as I walked to my room absent minded. 

It is

I didn't know what to text back but I saw that he was typing something.

When can I see you?

***

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