BROKEN

Crop Tops and Lies

I couldn't stop thinking about Tasneem and Naima's new friendship for the rest of the day. Did Tasneem hate me enough to join forces with Naima? I decided to ask Ahmed the next morning before school. I knocked on Hakeem's door and like always, Ahmed answered.

"Where's Hakeem?" I asked.

"In his room."

"Good. I need to talk to you about something."

"What's up?

"You and Naima are dating, right?" I asked.

"Kind of.."

"Is she friends with Tasneem?"

"Well all I know is that me and Naima were hanging out at the mall a few weeks ago and Tasneem was there. Tasneem saw me and she came running and said hi and stuff. Then I asked her why she hasn't been around lately." he explained.

"And then?"

"She told me that she has no reason to come over to your place anymore since you guys aren't friends. Then I introduced her to Naima and we all kicked it for a while. They exchanged numbers and I don't know what happened next."

I was deep in thought when Hakeem came out of his room. "Are you guys ready to go?" he asked.

"Yeah." we both said.

"Where are we stopping first?" Hakeem asked.

"Tim Horton's." I said before Ahmed could suggest it.

---

I went to my first period class and Faisal was sitting in the seat next to me again. I looked two rows ahead, Naima was playing on her phone.

"So you know about Ahmed and Naima?" Faisal asked me before class started.

"Yeah, I was with Bayden when we saw them."

"That's so messed up." he shook his head.

"Do you think Hakeem would care?" I asked.

"Honestly, I think so. That would be like me and Bayden breaking up and then Hakeem dating her. It's not right." he shrugged. "Especially after how their break up went down."

"How did it go down?" I asked. Hakeem had already told me but I wanted confirmation.

"I heard she cheated. That's what Hakeem told me at least." I raised my eyebrows, these stories didn't line up.

"Are you sure?" I asked.

"Yeah. When I heard that I automatically cut her off. That's why we all hate her. I just don't get what Ahmed wants with her."

I guess we were talking really loud because the whole class had turned around, including Naima.

"What are you guys talking about?" she asked.

"How you cheated on Hakeem." Faisal said confidently. She immediately started laughing.

"Did Hakeem tell you that?"

"Yup." The whole class was watching their encounter. Before Naima could respond Miss. Matthews walked in.

"Are you guys ready to get started?" she asked excitedly. I looked at Naima, she looked back and forth at me and Faisal and then turned around.

---

I couldn't help but wonder why Hakeem and Naima broke up and why everybody had a different side of the story. I decided to ask Bayden at lunch.

"I don't know why they broke up." she shrugged. "Maybe that's why Faisal hates her, but I have my own reasons."

"Something just isn't adding up. I keep hearing different stories."