I just finished writing this chapter and realized how long it is. Never mind. I guess you won't complain about that, will you? XD

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I could not quite read Rania's expression when Noaf and I returned, my bruises covered up.

Noaf handed me some of the wrist bands everyone would get when they entered the festival.

Soon later it was dark outside and Noaf, Rania and I were handing out the bracelets.

"Nice hairstyle", I heard a guy complimenting Noaf.

"Thanks", she replied clearly not interested, not even looking up from attaching the bracelet to his wrist.

"You look like you're i na rock band or something like that. Are you?", he asked her.

She scoffed and shook her head.

Seriously, this boy was making my blood boil. How could anyone be so oblivious?

Suddenly Rania joined the scene. "Ahmad, sorry, I didn't see you. I was busy with those little kids", she chimed in.

"Hey there, babe", he greeted her.

Now I felt even more disgusted. Rania was his girlfriend and he did not bother to flirt with Noaf just a few feet away?!

"Hey", she greeted him back.

"So I was just getting to know your friend here", he declared and I definitely did not like the tone of his voice. Noaf was averting her eyes.

"Hey, Noaf! Could you help me out please?", I requested and took a hold of her arm to pull her over slightly.

"Sure", she agreed and followed me.

I could feel the eyes of the guy on us, while he was complimenting Rania. Creepy and pathetic in one go.

"That was gross", Noaf mumbled and started handing out more bracelets.

"Definitely. This guy has literally no shame", I added. "The only thing that was missing to make it even worse was a terrible pick-up line", I considered.

"Oh, yeah." Noaf chuckled. "Something like: Do you believe in love at first sight or should I walk by again?"

I started laughing. "Yeah. Or Is it hot here or is it just you?", I suggested.

"If I said you had a nice body would you hold it against me?"

"If I could rearrange the alphabet I would put U and I together."

"I got lost. Can you give me directions to your heart?"

We could not stop laughing anymore until our eyes met and we stared at each other for a not exactly short moment.

Someone fake-coughed next to us to get our attention and give him a bracelet.

Had I just imagined the tension between Noaf and me? Probably. After all I was head over heels for her. So I should not trust my perception too much.

The last people were ready. So theoretically we were free to enjoy the festival ourselves now.

"So I'm gonna go to Mariam for the plan now. Are you in?", Noaf wondered.

I nodded and followed her to Dina's cookie stand.

Mariam apologized for something and Noaf told her to not do it again. I wondered what had happened between them and realized that their conversation I had seen must have been a discussion instead. Now I felt even more stupid for getting jealous.

"You told (f/n)?", Mariam concluded.

"Of course. How could I not?", Noaf shot back.

"So what exactly is the plan?", Dina changed the topic.

Mariam explained the plan to us, that we were fooling Ruqayyah with a fake account of a guy who was 'in love with her' and that we needed to separate her from her two friends.

We waited a bit before texting Ruqayyah and instead listened to Layan singing.

"Want one?" Noaf offered me a lollipop.

I took it with a smile. "Thanks."

Despite everything cruel Layan had done before I had to admit that she was a great singer and I actually enjoyed listening to her singing.

In the course of the evening we managed to manipulate Ruqayyah more and more. When she sent us the, for her, revealing photo I felt guilty.

"Do we really wanna post this?", I interjected.

"Are you kidding? This is the jackpot. We can finally make her pay", Mariam exclaimed.

"Don't you think we're going too far? We dunno what will happen to her if we publish this photo", I considered.

"Don't you think she's been going too far way too many times?", Noaf questioned back while slightly pinching the bruises on my waist making me wince.

"We wouldn't be any better than them. Maybe ..."

Mariam interrupted me: "Stop it! If you want to chicken out it's your decision. But I'm not as pathetic as you and back down when it's getting serious."

Suddenly Noaf grabbed Mariam by the collar. "What did you just say?", she growled.

"I think we should all calm down", Dina interfered.

"Noaf, it's fine. Just let her go", I requested.

She turned her head to face me. Anger was evident on her face.

"You want me to let it slip? Since you stood up for her you had to endure a lot and she didn't even thank you. Instead she's insulting you for expressing your opinion", Noaf ranted. Then she addressed Mariam directly: "I want to make Ruqayyah pay as well. For endangering my sister and tormenting (f/n), but if you continue to behave like the queen because you have some stupid plan then I'm going to let you drop quicker than you can recognize."

Noaf let go of Mariam and took a step back. Honestly we were all shocked by Noaf's words.

"Okay. You're right. I didn't think clearly and I'm sorry. And thanks for standing up for me, (f/n). I do appreciate it. But I won't back down now, no matter what anyone of you says", she proclaimed and uploaded the picture of Ruqayyah.

Mariam's action was quickly showing itself around us as everyone started looking at Ruqayyah when she returned from the restroom. You could clearly see the terror on her face and she started hyperventilating.

Honestly I felt the need to help her out. Nobody deserved to feel like this. Out of all people we should know best and yet we had initiated this outcome.

Noaf and Dina appeared to feel guilty now as well as insulting comments were raining down on our post with Ruqayyah's picture.

Luckily Layan and Rania stepped in to defend Ruqayyah and brought her away from the watching crowd.

I left as well Noaf following me. I leaned against a tree sliding down against it and burying my face in my arms.

"What did we do?", I whispered.

"(f/n), it was her decision to send us the photo", Noaf tried persuading both of us.

"You don't know her family. I heard that they're really strict. We probably ruined her life, at least the next few years", I realized.

Silence erupted between us.

"I thought we were just playing around with her a bit. Publishing the photo was too much", I uttered.

"How can you say this after everything Ruqayyah has done? She stole Nisma's asthma spray and beat you up. Maybe she'll reconsider her behavior now", Noaf suggested.

"But what's the price for that? Noaf. We know how it feels. We should have acted better than her."

"So what? We can't change it anymore", she reminded me.

"But we can stop doing any more harm", I considered.

"I dunno", Noaf noted with a sigh. "Let's just head home for now."

She helped me up and we returned to the festival. Noaf informed Ms. Abeer that our parents would pick us up and soon later we were sitting inside my parents' car.

On the next day another discussion erupted in our group. Now that Ruqayyah would not return to school Dina and I thought that we had done enough harm, but especially Mariam was determined to continue.

Suddenly Noaf got a text message from Layan or rather our fake account got a message from Layan.

"I'm going to find you and make you pay for what you did, you coward", Mariam read it out.

Mariam and Noaf grinned at each other while Dina and I exchanged a worried glance.

"Don't reply. What if they somehow track it", Dina assumed.

"No way. Not a chance in hell", Noaf stated calmly and watched Mariam typing in a reply.

A short moment later Noaf showed us the message as well: 'If I were you I would be careful from now on. You're next.'

"Mariam, what have you done? Are you really planning to go after Layan and Rania now? Isn't what we did to Ruqayyah enough?", Dina interjected.

"No, it's not enough, Dina! Nowhere near enough. Just getting back at Ruqayyah was like doing nothing. They'll all need to feel the pain they've caused. Otherwise everything we've done is just for nothing. And so ... we would have ruined Ruqayyah's life for nothing", Mariam claimed.

The discussion continued until Mariam left and Noaf escaped a conversation with Dina by getting herself something to eat.

"Even if it feels like it, you didn't say the wrong things right now, Dina. Just because we don't support their plans doesn't mean we aren't supporting them as our friends anymore", I attempted comforting her.

"At least you're thinking clearly", Dina noted with a sigh. "How are we going to stop them?"

"I don't think there's any way to stop Mariam. She won't be listening to us. Maybe I could stop Noaf but I'm not sure if it would really help that much", I resonated.

"So what's the plan then?", Dina wondered.

"Honestly I don't have one yet. I'll think about it", I promised her.

Later when we got back to Noaf and Mariam, Mariam was obviously excluding Dina. I bet she would have excluded me too, but Noaf did not care and included me casually.

Suddenly Rania appeared and pushed Noaf against the nearest wall accusing her of being a slut because Noaf was apparently following her boyfriend on Instagram. Rania wanted her to unfollow him and Mariam even supported that idea.

Noaf confronted Rania head on. So I did not feel the need to help her out. I just stepped in when Layan intended to chime in. Two against one was not fair after all.

In the end Rania destroyed Noaf's phone before walking off as the bell started ringing.

I picked up the broken phone and handed it to Noaf.

"What the hell? It's like we're living in a soap opera. I can't believe how bitchy they are", Dina proposed.

"Well. You better believe it now, Dina", Mariam shot back.

Mariam intended to go to class but Noaf stopped her by grabbing her wrist.

"Hey, wait! What the hell was that just now, huh?", Noaf questioned.

"You never told me her boyfriend followed you. Then why would you follow him back?"

"What are you saying?"

"I'm saying now was not the time for this shit. We don't want to draw attention to ourselves. We've an important job to do", Mariam clarified.

"Oh, are you serious? Because last time I checked I don't need your permission to do anything."

"Yes, Noaf. When it messes with my plan obviously you need my permission."

"Oh, your plan? I thought it was our plan."

"Guys, look. Take it easy. Mariam didn't mean it", Dina interjected.

"To be honest with you ... I'm not really in the mood for you or your plan. Finish it on your own", Noaf suggested. "I'm out", she added and walked off.

"You know what, Noaf. I really don't care", Mariam declared and went the opposite direction.

Once again they had left Dina and me behind on our own. Said girl was appearing to be completely overwhelmed.

"Maybe it's better for now", I considered. "If we're lucky Mariam will notice that she needs us after all."

Then I went after Noaf, while Dina went after Mariam.

"Noaf", I called out for her and to my surprise she waited for me.

"I can't believe she did it again", Noaf ranted. "Why's she always playing the boss?"

"Yeah, that was shitty and it's right that you don't let her push you around. Let's just take some time and space and see how everything develops, okay?", I suggested.

Noaf nodded seeming at least a bit calmer.

The running drills Rania forced us through during football practice felt relieving. I had so much frustration bottled up in me. But by the time Miss Jumana returned I was beat.

After getting to know that Rania and Mariam had made it into the national team and Layan losing her temper once again, Noaf, Dina and I went to the changing rooms.

I did not know what had happened between Dina and Mariam. But I felt sorry for Mariam when I saw her all alone on the football field. She was going through more than just a rough time after all, although nothing would excuse her shitty behavior toward us.

The atmosphere between the three of us was tense as the fight with Mariam was hanging in the air. But that shifted when we noticed the mumbling of the students around us as they were reading something.

"What's that?", I wondered and picked up one of the papers myself.

"Mariam's diary?!", Dina realized.

"Oh, shit", Noaf noted and started snatching the papers out of the students' hands.

"Dina, you go and collect every paper outside. (f/n), you collect the papers flying around and sticking on walls and stuff. I'll take care of the other students inside", Noaf directed us and we did not even consider questioning to follow her instructions.

This was not about power. Our complicated relationship with Mariam aside, we had to help her out. This would have been cruel enough if it had happened to a stranger. We needed to support her now.

I pushed every note I could find into my backpack. Throwing them into the trash can would not make them disappear for good after all. Although there was another thought nagging at the back of my mind. If Layan, who obviously had to be behind this, still had Mariam's diary she could just make more copies. But I had to ignore that fact for now and give my best to improve the situation as much as possible.

The restrooms were in an even worse state. Everything was 'decorated' with Mariam's diary pages.

When I was standing in front of another restroom I could already hear several voices. I opened the door being welcomed by voices yelling 'psycho girl' over and over.

Something inside of me snapped as I realized that they were insulting Mariam who was now trapped inside one of the stalls.

"Just shut up!", I drowned out their own yelling.

All eyes turned toward me. Layan was wearing a mischievous smile on her lips.

"What the hell are you doing? You're calling Mariam a psycho? Did you ever reconsider your behavior? Did you ever try to show some empathy? How would you feel if you were treated like Mariam?", I confronted them.

Then I approached Layan and growled: "You may feel great and powerful right now. But all you're doing is making others feel miserable. And your so-called friends are only staying with you because they're scared to be your next victim. In reality you're all alone. Ruqayyah's gone and Rania's only staying with you because she doesn't know it any better yet. You don't have any people you can truly rely on. Actually I pity you."

They had all turned silent to listen to my words. Shocked expressions were visible on their faces. Even Layan was too shocked to react. No one was standing up for Layan.

"We need to get out! The teacher's coming! Quickly!" Some girl warned the others and they all left without another word.

"Mariam, they left. I won't force you to open the door, but I'll wait here until you're ready", I enlightened her and sat down waiting for her to react sooner or later after i had collected the notes inside the restroom. I did not care that I was missing a lesson right now. This school actually had to learn a lesson. How could they let all of this happen?

No matter what I tried to comfort Mariam it did not work and I could understand her. If I was in her position I would not want to keep on fighting as well. So despite our attempts, as Dina and Noaf joined me later on, Mariam wanted to switch schools now.

"We gotta do something", Dina uttered desperately. "I'll figure something out."

At least school was over soon. At her bus station Noaf pulled me up with her.

"What are you doing?", I asked her. We had not talked since the incident with Mariam.

"You're coming home with me", she decided and pulled me out of the bus. It was not hard as I did not resist.

I quickly texted my mom that I was staying at Noaf's place for the next hours.

"Where's Nisma?", I wondered.

"Staying with a friend during the weekend."

"(f/n)! I'm glad to see you again. Noaf's so much more grumbly when you're not around", Inaya greeted me.

"Funny mom", the former shot back sarcastically. "We're going to my room. Gotta settle something important. So please no interruptions."

I sat down on Noaf's desk chair, my usual spot in her room, while she sat down on her bed facing me.

"So what are we going to do to stop Mariam from switching schools?", Noaf asked me.

"I'm not sure if we should stop her at all. You didn't see how they treated her in the restroom when I arrived", I recalled.

"But we can't just give up now, can we? They'll never learn their lesson that way", she considered.

"But what does this lesson cost? This whole plan was a mess. We probably ruined Ruqayyah's life and only got us into more trouble", I reminded her.

"Okay ... let's think about what would happen if we stopped now. Mariam would switch schools and Layan and Rania would target us even more", Noaf suggested.

"They're going to target me either way. I humiliated Layan in front of all her so-called friends to such an extent that no one dared to reply a thing", I enlightened her.

"Wait! Seriously?"

I nodded and could not help but smile at the proud grin on Noaf's face.

"Then we need Mariam as an ally even more", she assumed.

"But that's completely selfish", I claimed.

"Maybe you should be more selfish considering that you're always getting into trouble for standing up for others", Noaf recalled.

"Isn't that why you got expelled from your old school", I reminded her with a grin.

"So I know what I'm saying", she defended herself and threw a stuffed animal at my face.

"Ow! What the hell? Is that yours?", I asked her with a chuckle as I was holding a stuffed tiger in my hands.

"If so, then what?", she shot back.

"Nothing. Just never saw it before", I noted and threw it back at her.

It hit her straight in the face. She had not even attempted to block or catch it. Instead a full-out pillow fight erupted between us.

"I win", she announced as she was sitting on me threatening me with a pillow.

We had somehow landed on the ground.

"Not fair", I fake-pouted and tried to resist.

But Noaf simply let go of the pillow and pinned my hands to the ground. Now I was definitely blushing. We were staring at each other until she got closer and our lips met. She let go of my wrists to make sure I was comfortable and could show her to stop if I wanted to. But of course I did not want her to stop. The human need to breathe was taunting.

Noaf got off of me and pulled me into a sitting position.

"Did this really just happen?", I reassured in a daze.

Noaf chuckled nervously. "Yeah."

"Is it going to happen again?"

"If you want to", she replied with a grin.

This time I was the one initiating the kiss and it quickly developed into an intense make-out session.

After a while we had to stop and recollect ourselves.

"I didn't know you liked girls", I stated.

We were sitting next to each other on Noaf's bed now.

"Me neither", she remarked. "But dammit I didn't expect this to feel so great!"

"I did", I blurted out bluntly.