I woke up to my blaring alarm as I harshly hit it with lots of vexation.

Umair came in and was already dressed up for school.

"I'm leaving sleepy head, school starts in half an hour. Mom isn't giving you a ride because she left for work. Have fun being late for school, loser," He said snickering while running downstairs then said, "You better lock the door before you leave".

I rolled my eyes and said, "Whatever".

I quickly took a shower, yes, yes, I know, I already late but I don't want to leave the house smelling like garbage. After I was done, I wore a white t-shirt with blue jeans and denim jacket. And paired it with a blue hijabi and silver watch.

I hurriedly went to the garage and took my skateboard and rode it to school. It's hard to believe I was actually able to make it on time. With a couple of minutes till the school bell officially rings, I saw Umair from afar and yelled, "Umair, in your face idiot, I'm here on time looking amazing as always." I said laughing as his eyes widened probably shocked that I made it on time.

I was walking to my locker when I saw Firdaus and Khaleel waiting for me.

"Salaamu Allaikum, my beautiful friend",Firdaus tapped me on the back, grinning. I noticed today she didn't put on any make up like she always did, instead going for a more natural look, her eyes lit with morning cheerfulness.

"Wa Allaikummusalaam, you look stunning, Masha Allah", I complimented.

I really want to tell them what happened the past days but I guess I'll just have to wait a bit. Firdaus started telling us how her weekend was crazy. We all know Firdaus is a horrible cook, she tried baking cookies and almost ended up burning the whole house. We were all laughing and talking about the most hilarious things we did in middle school.

Before we went to our various classes, I spotted Austin smoking around the corner. Since when did he smoke? I have to ask him if everything's okay. We're friends now, and I don't want any friend of mine to go astray. Luckily, Firdaus and Khaleel didn't see him or else I wouldn't hear the end of it. I wouldn't want anyone to talk about my new partner.

"I'll see you guys later",I said waving at them and jogged towards Austin's direction.

"Hey ,how've you been?" I said waving at him, but he just ignored me. Ok that was rude.

"Are you gonna just ignore me?", I asked placing both hands on my hips. His brows were puckered,and his hair had the whole'just rolled out of bed' look. In fact, on further inspection, he looked...terrible.

Austin meets my eyes with disdain,"What's it with you, just leave me alone". He muttered bitterly and walked away, leaving me mystified to his sudden moodiness. Anytime Austin saw me, it's either he gives a cocky comment or smartass remark, but the way he's acting right now is so unlike him.Seeing Austin act this way really disturbs me, I have to know what's wrong.

I ran after him, when I was able to up, I blocked his path.

"Austin, please I know something's bothering you and I wanna help, so stop being stubborn and tell me what's wrong", I said.

"Just shut up and get out of my way. What would a stupid terrorist who always wears a towel know? If you don't move then I'll make you",He yelled out of anger. This made everyone in the hallway look towards our direction.

I wanted to cry, I don't know why but what he said really hurt me.

I looked into his eyes with sadness and said, "I thought there was more to you than just being what everyone said you were, I began to trust you. Ever since, my father died, I stopped trusting men, I even stopped trusting my brother, I thought you helped me that day because you cared, but I guess I was wrong. I thought you were my friend, but now I see that you are a selfish jerk, Austin Woods". I saw a hint of regret and pain in his eyes. But I didn't care, I want nothing to do with him again. And with this I stormed off.

"Umaira, wait!",I could hear Austin calling me but I dared not to look back. This is what happens when you start trusting people.

The only thing you'll gain later is...

Pain.

****

"The cell wall of a bacterium is made up of pep-ti-do-gly-can" Firdaus sang as we answered questions in biology about cells. Seriously, all we did was textbook questions, and the occasional dissection.

"That song has been stuck in my head since year seven", Jessica groaned from beside me. I was between Firdaus and her each biology class.

"I know, right" Firdaus talked to her over me, so I was literally in the middle.

"It helps to remember", Jessica said brushing back a lock of blonde hair from her face.

"Hey Umaira, what's the answer to question seven", she said glancing at my work. One thing I found irritating about her was that she was constantly trying to peek at my answers, she'd bat her long eyelashes at me, smiling imploringly at me so that I'd eventually give in and tell the answer. I could try explaining but she'd say, "Can't you just tell me the answer, I still don't understand,"

"Bacteriophage" I replied ignoring the look Firdaus gave me, she didn't like the fact that I gave Jessica the answer instead of working it out by herself.

"What about question eight, I wrote acrosome is it correct?" I knew what Jessica was doing, she would purposely say the wrong answer and 'double check' with me.

I shook my head as Firdaus stifled a laugh beside me,"No, it's incorrect" I told her. Jessica looked disappointed, she glanced at her work with a pinch of frown in her waxed eyebrows "Oh, but I thought..."

"It's mitochondria", I divulged, knowing she would keep pressing until I gave her the answer.

"Pushover" Firdaus muttered, and I nudged her with my elbow.

"I'm not a pushover, I'm just being nice"I hissed back.

Firdaus rolled her eyes and the bell rang. Finally!

"Thank you so much, Umaira", Jessica smiled sweetly at me, but I offered a weak smile before saying,"Anytime". I know Jessica hates me, but I don't know why she's trying to be nice to me. Back when we were in year seven, she would make fun of my hijab and call me names. She apologized later at that. Do I really think Jessica meant it? Not really.

Firdaus and I were just about to leave the class when Jessica suddenly called out to me. "Firdaus, you can go ahead I'll catch up"

"Can I talk to you for a sec?"Jessica said.

"Okay", I said hesitantly.

"Look, I don't know what's up with you and Austin, but there's one thing I know for sure is that he's mine. Stay away from him or else I swear you're gonna regret it" She said in a threatening tone. Yep, she's still the same old Jessica.

"Regret what? And who said Austin and I were a thing. Now if you'll excuse me I have other important things to do, see ya later", and with I left her alone. The nerve of that girl, you just come around to give me warnings over stupid things.

*****

"Hey, guys my mom wants you to come over for dinner" Firdaus brought up at lunch. My friends and I like to have lunch beneath a shady tree, the sunlight dappling our faces as we lay on the grass, just the three of us.

"Okay, I'll let my mom know", I said taking a bite of my sandwich.

"Check it out, the popular couples are arguing", Khaleel pointed out across the grass, Austin leaning against a tree as Jessica stood in front of him crying her eyes out. As what seemed like forever, she finally slapped him and run off.

"It's going round the school that they broke up and Jessica doesn't want to accept it", Firdaus muttered sardonically.

"Austin's just stupid, letting go of a hot chick like Jess", Khaleel said checking her out as she was running.

"Oh please", Firdaus said.

"Jealous, Firdaus?", Khaleel raised an eyebrow at her, smirking.

Firdaus looked away, frowning, "Not in a million years,I'm just disgusted at how she thinks she's so..."

"Hot? Yeah I agree, I mean look at her chest...damn", Khaleel said with a cheeky grin.

"Guys like you are such perverts", Firdaus punched his shoulder, to which he reacted with a wince.

"Hey, that hurts, I was just appreciating her beauty" Khaleel protested.

"Well, there's one thing I know for sure is that, there's more to beauty than just appearance, it comes from the heart and soul"I thumped my chest.

"Exactly, but I don't think Khaleel will ever understand this concept",Firdaus turned to Khaleel, who was still ogling Jessica. "So you still think she's beautiful?"

Khaleel shrugged, "If she isn't then who is? Besides, beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder, and in my eyes, she's hot, so yeah"

"How did we end up with a friend like him?"Firdaus rolled her eyes.

"Beats me", I shrugged.

I turned around to see Austin still leaning against the tree like a model. He was staring into the distance,brows srunched up and I was sure I saw his lips quiver slightly, I saw him wipe his eyes furiously with the back of his hand. When he was about to leave, our eyes met and he jogged towards my direction.

"How are you?" He said while he wanted to hug me.

"Okay no" I said putting my hands down.

"I'm still mad at you", I simply said.

"Look, I'm sorry but a lot has happened to me the past days and I just couldn't handle it"

I looked at him with sadness then said, "You can share them with me, but that's if it's okay with me"I turned his face to mine with my fingers.

"Okay" He said rubbing the back of his head.

"Please can we meet after school?"I suggested since it was almost time for the bell to ring.

"Sure, meet me at the bench behind the school" He said.

*School was over*

I sat down on the bench and waited for Austin. A few minutes later, I saw him running towards my direction.

"So, spill it", I said.

"Okay, so a few years back my mum had cancer, it was really tough for the both of us. We had a lot of bills to pay but my mum had to pay them all alone since my dad left us. Recently, my mum started coughing blood and when I took her to the hospital, the doctors said she had six months to live. And that man was back in our house acting like nothing happened"

"He moved away and started a new family", He stopped talking and was looking at the sky.

"I'm so sorry",that was the only thing that could come out of my mouth. I mean what could I possibly say.

"When I saw him at our house I didn't let him speak and I left immediately."

"I lost my dad when I was twelve", I said looking at my hands, because if I looked at Austin I would have started crying.

"I'm so sorry for you, Umaira", He said.

"He died in a car accident. I'm telling you this because I'd do anything just to talk to him again. Yes, your dad made the wrong decisions in the past, but hear him out, you have the opportunity to talk to him, but some of us don't" This time I looked at him and smiled.

"What about your mum, what type of cancer does she have?" As soon as those words left my mouth Austin's eyes softened slightly.

"Lung",he replied softly, so softly that I would have missed it.

"So is she getting chemotherapy", Austin nodded suddenly appearing vulnerable I wished I could hug him. But I can't since I know it wasn't a halal thing.

"Yeah, she's gonna fight through it. But I know... I know how it ends", He said.

"You don't know yet, only God knows if she'll survive or not", I said forgetting temporarily who I was talking to. Like he would turn to God at a time like this. Austin is an atheist, and as if to prove this his expression hardens.

"God? What kind of God those this to His people? If He cares so much then why did He create cancer?"Austin's hostile attitude towards God wasn't surprising, considering he was a self-proclaimed atheist.I lived in a non-Muslim country, so this wasn't new to me, unfortunately.

"God has a reason for everything, we as human beings cannot fully understand everything, however we just know that whatever misfortune is sent our way is a test from God"

"What about my mum, is this part of God's test?", Austin didn't understand, but I still have to be open-minded about this.

"I would believe so, and if I were in your position, I wouldn't give up hope. Hope is the only thing you have left. With religion, at least one could pray to God, but for you, as an atheist, you can cling onto hope"

"There's no hope in this stupid life", he stated coldly.

"What if I told you Islam was a religion of hope?"

"Yeah right, I bet you couldn't get to convert to your stupid religion", Austin muttered bitterly.

"What if I could?"

Now I've gotten his attention, "Fine then let's make a bet"

"A bet?" I echoed suspiciously.

He looked hesitant for a moment before saying, "Thank you for the talk, Umaira. I really appreciate it. And I'm also sorry for the way I acted earlier"

"It's okay, friend", I responded giving him a punch on the upper shoulder.

"But, I want you to promise me something", I said.

"Anytime you have a problem, please don't keep it to yourself, okay?"

"I promise", He said.

"Come on, I'll give you a ride home", He said.

I nodded and we walked towards his car.