Broken Promises

• T W E N T Y •

Sorry...

~ z a y n a ~

I sighed in relief as I finished my last math problem. I stretched my cramping hand from all the writing. I don't understand why teachers make us show our work. I'm just writing extra stuff for no specific reason.

I started putting up my notebook when my door opened.

I rolled my eyes and turned around to see a tired Khalid. "Can't you knock? Or wait, sorry, you only do that when you need something."

"Snappy," he mumbled underneath his breath and threw himself on my bed, burying his head in my blanket.

I sighed and turned around to close my bookbag up. "How's your first day?" I asked Khalid, putting up my now eraser-free pencil.

"It's honestly not that bad, but my feet hurt like hell." He groaned, turning his head towards me.

I turned back around towards him, "well, I wonder why."

He rolled his eyes, and we stayed silent for a few minutes. Finally, Khalid spoke up, "Ali came to the cafe."

My eyes widened in surprise. "And?" I asked tentatively.

Khalid sighed heavily, and I winced, knowing it wasn't good news. "He yelled at me a couple of times."

"About?"

"He seems to forgive you, though," Khalid continued, ignoring my question.

"How do you know?" I asked.

"I can tell." I gave him a look that said, 'I don't believe you'. Khalid rolled his eyes, "I'm serious. He said, and I quote, 'maybe I did. What's it to you?'"

"Exactly, he said maybe," I pointed out quickly. He'd never forgive me easily.

"I'm not even gonna try with you," he sighed, getting up. "Just remember what we agreed on."

"No talking to him, I know."

"It's for your own good," he gave me a small smile. Before leaving the room, he placed a kiss on my head.

"That's what you always say," I whispered to the air once he left.

~•~

"Bye, Mama!" I called, walking out the front door.

"Bye, khalto(auntie)!" Nasreen called out after me.

"Bye! And take care!"

I shut the front door and followed Nasreen to her car.

"Y'all take forever," Hala complained once we got in the car.

"It's Zayna," Nasreen said, turning on the car.

"No, it isn't. You're the one who decided to have a conversation with me." I pointed at her.

"And you were responding to the conversation." She retorted and pulled out of the driveway.

I huffed, "fine. I won't talk to you anymore."

"Aw, is Zayn mad," Nasreen cooed. I rolled my eyes, holding back a smile, but stayed quiet.

Ten minutes later, we made it to school.

Hala groaned "I don't want to be here."

"I don't either," I agreed as I grabbed my bag from beneath me and stepped out of the car.

"Hi, Saba!" Hala waved from beside me.

I turned around to a delighted Saba. "Hi!" She waved back.