Chapter Seven

Salma eyed us as Ian and I stood on the doorstep, dripping wet. She looked unimpressed.

"You two look like you were in a romance film's rain scene." She snorted.

I glanced at Ian who stared at my sister with a mixture of confusion and embarrassment on his face. His cheeks suddenly bloomed a deep pink and I rolled my eyes and pushed past my amused sister, purposely shaking my hair so that my sister was subjected to the spray. She shrieked and ran off while I grinned, triumphantly.

Ian was behind me as we both took off our shoes. Carefully trying not to drag my soggy jeans onto the carpet, I turned and regarded Ian. His clothes clung to him and he was in desperate need of a towel. His blonde curls were pressed onto his forehead. I went to rummage the closet in the hallway for a towel and handed it over to him.

"You can wear my clothes while yours are in the dryer." I told him and quickly gathered a sweatshirt and jeans that looked around his size.

"Thanks." He mumbled, and went into the bathroom to change.

Once we were both in dry, comfortable clothes -- although he looked tiny in my large sweatshirt -- we sat back and watched TV. Salma joined us for a bit and offered us snacks and drinks and we chatted for awhile. Ian seemed curious about my sister's hair.

"I was surprised to see you without your hijab." He told her. "You look nice with and without it, though. Can I ask why you removed it?"

"Um, well." She looked off to the side as Ian waited patiently for her answer. "I just wanted to fit in, I suppose. Wearing it makes me feel like a...target."

"Target." Ian repeated the word as if it wasn't included in the English language. "Because of all the negativity on the media, you mean?"

Salma nodded looking equal parts glad to be understood and nervous as if she wanted him to drop the subject. I did, too.

"You shouldn't let it get to you, though." He went on, despite her discomfort. "The hijab is a symbol of pride, right? It's like the American flag of your religion! If you take it off, then how will you be recognised as a Muslim?"

While Salma's face paled, an image of a muslim girl wearing the American flag as a head covering popped over my head. It skipped along, merrily.

"It's easy when you just say it like that." Salma snapped. "But living it is different. Besides, what do you know?"

"Y-you're right." Ian sank into his seat, blushing scarlet. "Sorry. I'm just...I don't know anything."

While I disliked my sister being questioned for her decision, I also understood Ian's nature -- after spending many lunchtimes with him. He was honest and open, and could not keep his feelings and thoughts to himself. And he was outrageously idealistic and positive. I sensed that he only wanted Salma to take pride in her hijab and nothing else. His words somehow made me feel guilty because as Salma's Muslim brother, even I had not encouraged her to keep wearing it.

"Wow, look." I attempted to relieve the growing tension in the room by motioning to the TV, a news channel flashing on the screen. "Pokemon Go helped someone find a missing toddler."

"Incredible." Salma sniffed sarcastically, and looked directly at Ian. "Now if only it could help find respect."

"Salma." I groaned.

"I do...respect you." Ian murmured, beet red.

"Sure." Salma huffed and stood up. "Well, I'm going. Have fun."

After she left, Ian grabbed the nearest cushion and buried his face into it. I considered leaning over and making sure he wasn't crying, but before I could do anything his head snapped up and he whimpered.

"I just wanted her to know that it's okay if she wears the hijab and stands out. A lot of people do or wear things that make them different and they should take pride in it and not let society make them think it's not okay." He explained. "I didn't mean to offend her, though. I should just...never talk again."

"Nah, it's okay." I told him. "Maybe no one has told her that before so she didn't know how to respond."

"She probably hates me."

"No, she'll be fine."

"I'm hated."

"You're not." I rolled my eyes. "She'll live."

"Yes, but she'll live forever hating me." He whispered.

"Why do you care if she hates you so much?" I laughed.

Ian opened his mouth and then shut it. He mumbled something and shrugged his shoulders while I shook my head and stood up to stretch. I still had enormous amounts of homework to catch up on and decided to start on it. Spreading out my math assignments, I got to work while Ian flipped through channels, taking interest in crime shows and Animal Planet.

While I solved algebra problems, I also contemplated on what to do about Cody and his stupid friends. Back in freshman year I'd kept silent about the kids who liked to pick on me but after finally telling my parents, they'd went to the principal who solved the problem by giving the bullies extra work, under the impression that they needed to up their grades, to do at lunch and after school, preventing them from picking on me. After a while of this, the kid's eventually got bored and stopped seeking me out.

Since that principal had left the school last year, I wondered if the current principal would consider the tactic. I doubted that Cody would be easily distracted by the solution, though. Not to mention that my case had not been physical as Ian's was. We couldn't afford to wait longer, however. I tapped my pencil, thinking.

"You should just tell the principal everything." I said out loud. "Our school has a no bullying policy. You can get him expelled."

Ian shot up, surprised. "Will that work? What if the principal doesn't believe me?"

"Well." I frowned. "I'm a witness."

"Oh..." Ian brightened. "Then, it can work...What about his friends? Will they get expelled too?"

"If they physically assaulted you, then yeah." I nodded. "If they didn't then they'll get suspended, at the very least."

"What if they bother me after coming back?" He asked, concerned.

"Go to the principal again." I offered. "Do it until they stop. No one has the right to lay a hand on you. No one has the right to threaten or scare or harm you."

"Okay...will you come with me?"

"Yeah." I said. "I'll be your proof."

Ian nodded, happily and I was glad to see his mood had been uplifted. I continued my math homework, and and he turned back to the TV, now watching The Big Bang Theory and occasionally giggling at Sheldon's quips and remarks. Just before the sun set, Ian got up to leave and we both decided to go to the principal's office tomorrow after school. As I closed the door after he left, Salma popped into the living room.

"Oh, finally." She sighed, sinking into our loveseat and reaching for the remote. "I missed half my show."

"You know," I began, sitting down and opening up the book we had to read for English class. "You didn't have to be so mean to Ian. He was only trying to tell you that you don't have to let society discourage you from wearing the hijab."

"Mm hm." She hummed. "And he was also making it sound like I had to wear it in order to be recognised as a Muslim. What about Muslim men then? What are they recognised by?"

"Well, there's beards and kufis."

"You don't have a beard."

"Hey!" I exclaimed and frowned, rubbing my hairless face. "Don't remind me that I can't grow anything."

"Hmph." Salma huffed and began to mumble. "Why do I want to be recognised as a Muslim anyway? They're all crazy."

"Uhm, woah." I snorted, flipping a few pages of my book. "We're not the same as the crazies on TV."

"People think we are, though." She said.

"So?" I shrugged. "People think I score 100% on all my tests but sometimes I only score 99%"

"Listen, I'm trying to be serious here." She deadpanned. "If you want to brag about how smart you are go talk to the angel kid."

"Hey, all I'm saying is that what people think isn't how it always is."

Salma ignored me and yawned. "Oh, speaking about the angel kid. What happened to his lip?"

"Hm," I stalled, wondering if I should tell her and decided that it couldn't hurt. She wasn't one to gossip over such serious matters. "Cody and his crappy friends."

She raised an eyebrow. "You mean they were, like, bullying him? Today?"

"Yeah."

"Oh. I didn't know that."

I suspected she felt kind of guilty, especially after being rude to Ian today. I glanced at her and saw that her expression was too stiff and indifferent to be watching a comedy show. She didn't even laugh at the jokes and antics and when her favourite actor smiled, she did not respond whereas she would usually turn into a fangirling mess.

"We're gonna tell the principal tomorrow." I said. "Ian told me that it's been going on for some time. So, I told him we need to put a stop to it, once and for all."

"I hope it goes well." Salma breathed, softly.

"Me too."

-- -

The next morning, Ian was waiting at my locker, and I raised an eyebrow as I approached and stopped before him. He was leaning against the locker next to mine, eyebrows furrowed over his PSP, playing what seemed to be a racing game. It was no wonder he was so good at them, if he managed to play video games every time he found himself with free time.

"Hey." I greeted.

"Oh, hi." He mumbled, looking up. "Just wanted to stop by and make sure we're still gonna go to the principal's office today."

"Yep."

"So, which class-"

"Abdullah Nasser!"

He was interrupted by a loud scream, and I froze as I recognised the shrill voice. I turned to see Nadia fuming and made a point not to make a remark about how fiery her eyes looked as she burned holes into my face. She held out a large sheet of paper and I identified it as my half-finished portrait of her.

"Why did you make me look like that dwarf in Harry Potter?" She asked, her voice low.

A few people glanced at us with what looked like fear in their eyes. And pity, for me. I studied the art piece and cringed, because it did look rather awful. I wasn't the best artist, that was for sure. Somehow I had made Nadia's cute button nose resemble an house elf's ear and thus, I had invoked her wrath. Oh well, the good die young.

"Th-there's no dwarf in Harry Potter." I tried to laugh. "Um, do you mean Dobby?"

Nadia narrowed her eyes at me and I saw my short, pathetic life flash before my eyes. Before she could open her mouth and say anything however, Ian interrupted in a thoughtful voice. I considered booking it and leaving behind Ian, sacrificing the innocent kid to Nadia's anger. I had never pretended to be righteous.

"I can see how you thought he was a dwarf." He mused. "He is quite short. All the house elves are, I guess."

Nadia turned her fierce gaze to him and Ian, with his cute baby face and large eyes looked back. She regarded him for a moment before her shoulders relaxed. She seemed to approve of the small, skinny boy.

"Yes, they are, I guess." She nodded. "Dobby was the cutest, though."

"Oh, definitely." Ian quickly agreed while my heartbeat was restored.

"I can't believe he died, though." Nadia went on, sticking out her bottom lip. "It was so unfair!"

"And unnecessary." He pouted.

As they continued to discuss the unfortunate demise of Dobby the House Elf, I inched my way out of Nadia's line of vision, before she remembered the portrait she was holding. Art class was about to start in less than five minutes and while I was safe (for now) I wondered if I would make it out alive for the next period. While I contemplated if I could somehow snatch the portrait from her hands and burn the offending art piece, Salma walked up to stand beside me.

"Oh, here you two are." Salma drawled. "Class starts soon, you know."

If I wasn't afraid of invoking Nadia's attention -- along with her rage -- I would have scoffed. Salma was the Queen of slipping into class moments before the bell rang. She had no right to act as if we were always late. Nadia turned to her best friend, my portrait seemed to have been forgotten.

"Oh, Salma." She chirped. "Look at this cutie! Isn't he the most precious thing ever!"

I gulped. While I only thought good things of my crush, she sure made Ian look like a pet. It both irked and amused me, but the overwhelming annoyance was stronger. Ian looked both appalled and flattered.

Salma, however, stiffened at the sight of the short, blonde and snorted. "He's anything but precious."

"I have to disagree." Nadia gushed, and turned to Ian. "What's your name?"

"Ian." Ian said, shyly.

"Don't mind Salma, Ian." Nadia grinned. "She's hard to please."

"Oh."

"I'm also standing right here." Salma reminded the group.

"Uh, so am I." I also spoke up, deciding to risk my life. "And class starts soon, so...."

"Oh, of course!" Nadia laughed. "I wouldn't want you to be late, Ian. Have a good day."

She waved at Ian who smiled and turned to walk the other direction. Nadia waited for Salma and I to catch up to her as she strolled down the hallway and we made our way to the Art class. I eyed Nadia carefully, wondering how she'd managed to go from displaying raging anger to gushing praise in half a second. I'd never witnessed her behave so erratically before. Halfway there, she turned to Salma, dropping her cheerful attitude.

"That was the bullied kid?"

"You told her?" I turned on my sister.

"You never said I couldn't tell anyone." Salma defended.

"Well, I didn't think I had to." I threw my hands into the air. "You don't tell people these things!"

"I agree." Naida interrupted. "But, I'm not just anyone, I'm her best friend. And besides, you can trust me."

"Right." I mumbled. "You didn't have to act all fake and cheerful, though. He's not a kicked puppy. He's a human, like all of us."

Nadia scoffed and resumed her sweet voice, batting her eyelashes. "But he was sooooo cute!"

I raised an eyebrow and the three of us entered our first class of the day. The smell of paint and clay greeted us, and our art teachers bored expression. While she gave the class tips on how to draw a good portrait, I studied my partner, but not for the day's assignment. Nadia wasn't usually one to act fake and overly enthusiastic over anyone. As the teacher sat down and the class got to work, I noticed that she was unusually silent for the rest of the period. The strangest thing of all, was the stiff smile on her face. If I hadn't been focusing on her mouth for my portrait that day, I would not have noticed.

-- -

By lunchtime, I was sitting against the trunk of the tree that Ian and I have all but claimed, peeling the crusts off my sandwiches. Ian seemed to be running late, and I thought it unusual because he'd never missed lunch before nor was he the type to earn himself lunchtime detention. After my sandwich had been consumed and I'd spent the last ten minutes playing on my phone, I got up and brushed myself off, heading into the school. Perhaps he was delayed by a long line at the cafeteria.

If it wasn't for the doors located at the back of the school, slamming loudly, and catching my attention, making me look towards a mop of blond curls, I would have missed it. The drifting sound of Cody's voice was cut off by the closing of the door and I made my way towards it, throwing them open. Cody and his friends looked up at my appearance, and I searched for blonde hair. I found Ian curled up on the ground in front of Cody, clutching his stomach. I grated my teeth.

"What the hell do you guys get by picking on someone smaller than you?" I snapped.

"Free lunch." A boy snorted.

"Money." Another offered. "A punching bag."

This last reply made Cody cackle in laughter. He high fived the kid with the smart mouth, making my nostrils flare. Ian looked up at me with shame, his cheek dusted with gravel and dirt. I lunged at Cody, pushing him against the wall. This ended the laughter abruptly but caused Cody's eyes to spark angrily and suddenly his elbow lashed out and caught me in the jaw.

I stepped back but the rage in my stomach pushed me forward once more and I grabbed him by the collar and kicked at his legs. He stumbled and pulled me down with him, his nails digging into my arms. I curled my hands into fists and raised my arm, when Cody stopped struggling against me, a mocking smile slipped on his face.

"Hope you don't punch like a girl." He said, making my grasp on his collar tighten.

"Why don't we find out?"

We did not, however, because before I could wipe his sneer off his face, a large hand landed on my shoulder. I looked over and saw the Principal's face looming over mine.

________________________________

*drum roll* 

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