Broken Promises

• T W E N T Y - O N E •

~ z a y n a ~

I hid my face in my hands, trying to stop the tears and avoid Khalid's burning gaze.

"What. Just. Happened?" He asked calmly, but the anger was evident in his voice.

"Nothing," I managed, but the crack in my voice said otherwise.

"Are you crying?" He questioned.

When I didn't answer, he forcefully pulled my head up. Once his gaze met my face, his eyes flooded with rage.

"He's dead," he growled and ran out of the car.

"Khalid!" I yelled weakly, but he didn't stop and kept marching towards Ali.

Ya Allah. What should I do?

"Where is the idiot going?" Hala exclaimed from behind me.

"To his death bed," I muttered and rushed out of the car after him.

No matter how much I hate to admit it, Ali was much stronger than Khalid. Being a quarterback had its perks, and while he's angry at me, he wouldn't mind taking it out on Khalid.

"Get out of my face Khalid!!" I heard Ali yell at my brother. Some students that were in the parking lot were watching, some recording, waiting for the fight that was about to unfold.

"Why was she crying?" Khalid asked with a murderous expression, grabbing Ali by his shirt.

"Khalid, let him go!" I yelled, trying to stop him.

Khalid turned towards me, "get back in the car!"

My eyes widened at his tone. Never in my whole life has Khalid directed that tone at me. I grit my teeth. Like I was gonna listen.

"How about you ask her why she was?" Ali seethed.

"I asked you a question. You answer it!" Khalid yelled, getting angrier by the second.

"Khalid, stop!" I tried again, but he just ignored me.

"Khalid, get away from me before I do something I'd regret," Ali said calmly, trying to control himself.

"Answer the question," Khalid pushed through gritted teeth.

I could tell Ali had enough. "Khalid, I'm seriously trying not to hurt you!" Ali yelled, pushing my brother back. One thing led to another, and they both started throwing punches.

"Khalid!" I yelled. "Ali! Both of you stop!" Deep down, I knew no matter how much I yelled they weren't going to.

Students started crowding around us. Don't they have a life?

If those two keep it up, not only would I have a brother in the hospital but a lecture from my parents, and that's not something I wanted currently.

"Khalid! Stop it!" I hesitantly moved closer toward the two. "Stop!"

I knew I couldn't grab Ali's wrist as it was haram (prohibited), and this wasn't life or death. I made the dumb mistake of grabbing Khalid's left hand. While Ali froze mid-punch the moment he saw me, Khalid didn't stop his right fist. Next thing I know, my face jerks to the side.

I clutched the side of my face in shock and pain. Looking up at Khalid, my eyes wide. "I-I I'm so sor-"

"Don't." I stopped him, tears pricking my eyes, and turned around towards Ali. "I had a reason when I said don't get near me, and this is why!" I started leaving when I was pulled back by my wrist for the hundredth time today.