Broken Promises

• T H R E E •

~ z a y n a ~

"Zayna?" I turn around to see Nasreen looking at me in concern. Saba and Hala had left me standing here drowning in my thoughts. "Are you okay? Your face is pale, you look as if you've seen a ghost."

I'm about to be a ghost.

"Zayna?" Nasreen waved her hand in front of my face. I grabbed her hand making her stop. Then suddenly I hear the engines of a car.

"Please don't tell me that's my brother's car," I tell her.

She looks behind me then back at me. "That's Khalid. And he's coming here, but why does he look like he's about to murder someone."

Oh no. "ZAYNA!" I wince. "Get in the car now!" He pulls me by my arm. I look over my shoulder at Nasreen who was shocked at his behavior. Khalid shoved me in the passenger side and walks back around to climb into the car. Hala was in the back confused.

"Lesh?! (Why)" Khalid looks at me furiously. The only time he starts speaking Arabic is when he's really mad, or sometimes with mom and dad.

I don't know what to say so I stay quiet. "Zayna. Talk." He glared.

"Uh..." Shoot. Think, Zayna, think.

"If you don't talk right this moment, I will call baba. You're lucky I haven't opened my mouth yet."

"No, no, no, don't call baba." I pleaded.

"Then talk."

Before I can open my mouth, Hala speaks up. "Khalid would you chill. We weren't going to go home with anyone, I just lied so you could come to get us."

Khalid looked at her then back at me. He was still tense. "Ehlefi (swear)." He commanded.

"Walahi (I swear) what she's saying is true. And I didn't even have anything to do with it. It was all her and Saba."

He looked at me for a little longer then turned around and drove away from the school. I sigh in relief. Even though he was still mad and currently speeding, I'm glad he didn't kill me on the spot. Now I just have to pray I get home safely.

"Can you please slow down?" I mutter.

"Shut up." He ignored me and continued speeding. Ya rabi (God) get me home in one piece.

We finally arrived at our neighborhood. Khalid slowed down and parked his car. I relax. Alhamduallah (thank God). I removed my seat belt and was about to get out of the car when Khalid stopped me. "Stay in the car. Hala, get out of my face." She runs out. My hands started shaking, and I look out the window.

"Turn your head towards me." I quickly did as told. Khalid was not someone to mess with when he's mad. "What did baba say about Ali?" He said looking me in the eye.

"He said to stay away from him and I did," I whisper.

"And..?"

"And the same thing with other boys."

"And why is this?"

"Because I'm a Muslimah and need to put my faith before anything. And I do." I don't know why he was asking me these things. I fear Allah and put my religion before anything.