face the strange // f.w.

💘 chapter eight 💘

As time passed by, Christmas break snuck up on me faster than a deadline for a video. Sure, I was excited to stay home from school (even though I didn't even celebrate Christmas, aside from the annual New Years party at my aunt's house), but the thought of my brother coming home filled me with more dread than excitement. Even though I felt guilty about this, I couldn't help but fear the day December 31st came.

Despite this, I was still trying to pick out an outfit for the party. As much as I wanted to wear my favorite rainbow sweater, I didn't feel like getting shit on by my cousins. So, by the time I settled on my outfit, my mom was already calling for me to come downstairs.

"Gimme a minute!" I yelled back, hurrying to slip on my sweater and jeans. Running a hairbrush through my unruly curls, I pulled it back in a bun, letting a few strands frame my face. Looking into the mirror on my desk, I took a deep breath.

"If you can survive last New Years," I said to myself, forcing a smile, "you'll make it through this one."

With that, I grabbed my Converse and winter coat, and ran down the stairs.

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It was only the middle of the party, and my relatives had gone wild. My aunt Mariam was dancing on the coffee table to blasting Arabic music, and my uncles were pouring each other shots of Turkish coffee and liquor, respectively. It was probably to keep themselves both awake and drunk by the time the new year arrived, but I was still both terrified and impressed. 

Zaynab and I were at the "kids table" in the kitchen, which was mostly comprised of teenage cousins, while the actual children were knocked out, sleeping on the pile of coats in the corner of the room. We were only there because, somehow, it was only slightly less chaotic here.

"You little bitch!" my cousin Tamir said, his muscles bulging through his ugly Christmas sweater. He was yelling at his brother, Khalid, who had just won their round of poker. "I saw that bullshit straight through."

"Prove it, motherfucker," Khalid smirked. I rolled my eyes, and looked up at Zaynab. She offered me a sympathetic look, then went back to her phone. Tamir scoffed, and crossed his arms, and looked at me. 

"Yo, Ali, ask your dad if Khalid cheated at poker. The man's a fucking beast when it comes to this shit."

I couldn't help but smile: my dad's poker face was legendary, so that combined with his calculating nature made him a poker idol for my cousins and uncles. 

"Dude, he's probably abroad for a trip," I said. "I think he's in Saudi Arabia or something."

Tamir appeared confused, until Khalid spoke up as well.

"Nah man, he came a while ago," Khalid said, and Tamir nodded. "I mean, it was after you and your mom came, but I saw him with my dad when I went to get some food."

My eyebrows raised, and I looked up at Zaynab. She put down her phone, and nodded.

"Yeah, dude. I thought you knew?"

"I never know when it comes to him," I said, forcing a smile, but Tamir and Khalid immediately went back to their game. Zaynab frowned, rubbing my shoulder as my face fell.

"You okay, bud?" she asked. I lied and said yes. Even though she looked skeptical, she nodded reluctantly, and went back to her phone. Meanwhile, I looked at my hands, then to the entrance to the living room.

I didn't think my father would be here. My mom never said anything, and my dad sure as hell didn't call me to let me know. It wasn't like I was hurt by this, though: I was too used to this shit to get mad about it anymore.

Getting up from the table, I made my way into the living room, peeking out to spot my uncle Hussain talking and laughing with man in a suit. Only my dad would show up in a business suit to a casual party, so I knew it was him. Taking a deep breath, I made my over there, greeting relatives and declining any food on the way.

When I reached my uncle, I tapped him on the shoulder. He turned around, and grinned when he saw me, his cheeks glowing red from the alcohol. 

"Ali!" he yelled. "What's up, buddy? God, you've grown, swear to-"

"Thanks," I said, giving my best smile. "Can I talk to my father, please?"

Uncle Hussain's face went blank, as he thought about his answer, before getting distracted when he saw someone else, yelling their name as he walked away. I went up to my dad. We were both by the corner of the wall, and I could feel the floor vibrate with the music's beat. 

"Hey, Baba," I said, and waited for a response. My dad was quiet like me, which made for some lengthy awkward silences. "When did you get back?"

"An hour ago, or so," he said. "It was a bit last minute, so I couldn't make any calls."

"Don't worry," I said, shrugging. He looked at me up and down, his eyes settling on my sweater.

"That's a nice color," he observed, "where did you get it?"

"Goodwill," I answered. Even though his face was stoic, I could see his distaste from the way he shifted in his stance. 

"Of course," he replied, and I wondered what he meant by that. In any case, we just stood by the wall, making the same small talk as we always did. It was only when my mom came rushing over to us with a grin on her face that we paid attention.

"Ahmed just arrived!" she grinned. "And he brought a surprise as well!"

I tried not to get annoyed when my father seemed more interested at the mention of Ahmed than he was in our conversation, and how he immediately followed my mom to the front door to greet him outside.

Despite every bone in my body telling me not to, I decided to go outside with them as well. Even though I was jealous of Ahmed, he was still my brother, and I couldn't hate him just because I felt like my parents loved him more. 

It was only when I finally got outside to see the surprise that I knew I should've listened to every inner warning. 

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just finished a new chapter! what do you guys think the surprise is? let me know in the comments! also, outfit above is ali's outfit for the party

- the author