CHAPTER | TWO | UMAYMA | POV

Mom's words echoed in my ears: 'We've ran out of Nutella'.

First day of school and the most disastrous thing that could have happened actually occurred, and instead of maybe borrowing some from the neighbours like I usually do – well, steal, same difference; I'm here on the floor of my room reciting a somewhat angry Dua to Allah SWT. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't angry at Allah for me finishing the jar, I was angry because my sister had to come into my room a mere two minutes ago with her own jar and saying she won't give me any.

Sighing I got off the floor with a new found attitude to discard my sisters awful behaviour towards my needs and decided to get ready. The outfit chosen for me by Assia was laid on the back of my chair and before anyone else could claim the bathroom, I took the bunch of clothes and hopped inside to have a shower. There was nothing like a hot shower to make you feel ready for school, but the motivation to get through it was obviously by praying Fajr in the morning.

Even though I felt like I was ready to be going back to school, I knew I was just lying to myself. Same old people with the same old attitude I would have to be facing throughout the year and having Assia by my side just wasn't enough. That's the thing about Stanley High School – no matter how hard you try to fit in with the people while having your own opinions just wasn't accepted.

Oh well, things like this weren't worth thinking about I told myself as I wrapped a hijab around my head and grabbing my bag to do downstairs. As usual there was chaos in the kitchen which made me smile. Zakariya, my brother was arm wrestling my younger brother Mohammed and I found the perfect opportunity to take his glazed doughnut to make up for not having any Nutella. I would've sneaked up to him to grab the doughnut, but I knew there was no chance he would notice and he actually didn't. Smiling to myself with the doughnut in hand, I kissed mom and dad on the cheek and left the house to make way to the gates of school.

There couldn't have been a better moment than walking to school on my own while hearing birds chirping above me on the trees, but obviously good things don't always last and as I approached the turning to the school gates a sticky sensation hit my arm. Looking down to see the damage, a whole blob of custard was on the sleeve of my leather jacket. I knew something like this was going to happen, so instead of letting out a shriek, I brushed it off and took a handkerchief out my pocket and wiped away the gunk on my sleeve. The laughter could be heard a mile away and as I looked up, I saw exactly who I thought it would be.

Maryam wasn't someone I always got along with and because I hated the way she dressed, acted and spoke, she always thought she could pick on me along with her little gang of popular friends. So obviously, I didn't doubt that she was the one who filled a balloon with custard and threw it at me. To be honest, her tricks were just lame and if I wanted to, I could have done so much worse to her, but the sake of friendship our parents had and knowing that she would tell them if I did anything wrong, I put my head down and always pretended she never does anything wrong to me. If only our families weren't close though.

Passing by them their laughter still hadn't died down and catching a glimpse at them, no one had even a bit of sympathy towards me. I wouldn't say I got picked on by them, but they didn't exactly make high school any better place to be at. Maryam got overwhelmed by the thought of being popular that her hijab flew out the window and the person who I knew respected her the most, doesn't even want to hear her name being uttered anymore.

Thank fully by the time I reached my locker, there wasn't any trace of custard left on my arm, even though I could still feel the wetness of it. My textbooks which I had left in here over a month ago was back in sight and I took them out and headed to homeroom where I could get some rest. The rest of days at school I would have put my feet up and demand food from people, but since it was the first day and I was wearing a dress, the thought of food would have to wait for lunch. Now that we were seniors, we were allowed to have lunch before anyone else and extra free periods were allowed this year which is something I'm totally up for.

What I liked about our year, without the popular people, was how genuine everyone else was and that they were all friendly enough to say hello to each other.

"Look Fatty's back." Screamed Lisa from the back of the class towards me which made me laugh. Everyone laughed alongside me because they knew how much I liked to eat, hence the name 'Fatty' which I was given years back. It wasn't something to even be bothered about because everyone just joked around with each other, unless you were one of the popular people. There was no joking to them; it was as if their only sense of humour came from torturing people.

Homeroom went by pretty fast considering it was the first day of school, but even as the time went by, I didn't see Assia walk through the door to greet me with her Salaam's and hugs. Not going to lie, but it sort of put me down a little that my best friend didn't tell me she wasn't going to be here on the first day of school – especially with all the preparation she did.

"Umaymah, would you like to tell the class what will happen if we mixed Coca Cola alongside Mento's?" I didn't realise sir had asked me a question until Alexis poked my side with the tip of her pencil. I looked up to see Dr. Pennyworth smiling at me waiting for an answer. Before I could reply though, someone beat me to it.

"The 911." Looking back, I saw Thomas with a smirk which was quickly swiped off as the door to the lab opened. I didn't pay attention to the newcomer as I was busy sending glares to Thomas at the back of the lab.

"Detention after school with me Thomas and you can finish your first day of school grading papers with me. Now Shoaib, it would be appreciated if you came to school on time for once." My head whipped back as soon as I heard that name and in an instant my gaze lowered to the pencil that was on the table. Without even looking around though, I could tell all the girls either had lustful expressions or like me had their heads down, but not for the same reason as me.

I didn't expect to have the same lessons as Shoaib and was kind of hoping I wouldn't even have to acknowledge his existence during the whole day. It was a silly thought though since I was hoping to have to talk to him if I wanted him to be a better person in and out. There must be another way to sort things out though; I'd probably think of something later, no use of wasting my fabulous brains on this. He must have brushed sir off and went to sit down because I didn't hear a reply.

"Lunch, outside by the fields." Since Thomas was sitting right behind me, I could hear every single word that Shoaib had just whispered to him. If it gave me shivers just by listening to him say that, I wonder what Thomas must have felt like. There was no denying the anger in his voice as well as the anticipation to what he was going to do to Thomas at lunch.

Violence wasn't my strong point and I hated every aspect of it, so even if he did just make a rude terrorist joke, I'm going to be having to save his butt today. There was also no mistaking that Shoaib wanted to knock him out. I didn't care that this wasn't an open invitation to everyone, but I wasn't brought up to see someone get hurt.

"Now, before that rude interruption, would you like to answer the question Umayma?" Out of all my teachers, Dr. Pennyworth had to be my favourite and that was because he was one of them who was totally laid back and actually cared about the students. He also didn't discriminate like some of the pupils in this school.

"An explosion." Was my brilliant answer to his question and even though it wasn't considered to have 'scientific terms' he simply laughed with the class and carried on teaching the dangers of an atomic bomb. Even though I would have totally been excited about this subject, I just couldn't wait for lunch; and mostly about the food, but also about what was going to happen by the fields.

I'm not saying that I'm going to stop Thomas getting knocked out just because of the morals I live by, but also because Shoaib needs to stop having violence as something regular he can resort to whenever he doesn't like somebody. I doubt that he would listen to someone like me, but I'm hoping for old times' sake that he would have the brains to not hurt anybody.

The bell rang and like everybody else, I was out the door in no time hoping that I could get to class without seeing some particular people along the way. Ain't nobody got time for people who looks like their summer tan was made in the carrot factory – and not saying that everyone's tan was like that; I still look pale as the tiled floors and probably because going out in the summer wasn't what I did on the regular.

"Umayma, girl we got a free period!" Screamed Tanya from down the hallway. Facepalming myself became something I was doing more often these days and I don't know where my head was in order to have forgotten something as blessed as having a free period, but I'm glad Tanya reminded me.

"Hey girl, thanks for that. Would've been embarrassing if I turned up for class." I said as I hugged the life out my little mixed race midget. Tanya was beautiful in her own unique way. She was half Spanish and half white. Her red hair fell midway down her back and she pulled it off way better than Ariana Grande ever will.

"Oh, you mean like that one time you burst into the Juniors class crying to Miss Belinda that you left your glasses at home and lost your timetable so you were late to her class?" A groan escaped my mouth as we entered the library and the memory of last year hit me and how embarrassing those two minutes were. The Juniors made fun of me for a whole week, mimicking me crying and some who had glasses hid them and pretended to be blind. Oh, Juniors, how fun they are.

We made our way to the table right at the back and dumped our bags on the floor while I got out my supply of food. Normally we wouldn't be allowed food in here, but they've known me long enough to know that I would just eat it anyway. "Let it go Fatty, let it go." I replied to her and went to munching my Kit Kats which Tanya looked hungrily at.

"You're not going to get any, don't look at me like that." I could be really blunt but I always said it as a joke so that people wouldn't get offended with the things that came out of my mouth. She gave me a light punch and much to my protest, grabbed half of my peanut butter jelly sandwich which I had stayed up after the Masjid to prepare for school the next day.

"So tell me how your summer was. Any cute boys?" I nearly choked on the bar of chocolate and Tan knew exactly what she had just done, which is why there was a smirk on her face right now.

"Why so Haraam though?!" I shrieked out to her and fell back on the chair with a sad face. I didn't let my eyes wander on boys like most girls here; the only thing they be wandering over is food.

She rolled her eyes at me and took a deep breath. I knew it was her turn to tell me about her summer now. "So, my step brother might be coming to stay over with us for the rest of the school year." Was the only thing she said to me whom left me confused? Normally she would be excited about anything and was always prepared to share even the smallest of news with us; but this is all she says?

"I don't get it, aren't you happy about it or something?" I asked, nibbling on the other half of my sandwich. It came out pretty nice if I say so myself.

"No, I am! But he's just so quiet! I've spoken to him a million times and he will never keep the conversation going, so I have no idea how he's supposed to spend a year with someone who's worse than a Justin Bieber song on repeat." I loved this girl and how she made me laugh so much.

It was nothing worrying about though and soon enough as the hour to our free period was over, the clock ticked on to how close lunch was coming. Thomas, your Superwoman is coming to save your day – to be honest, I'm expecting some sort of Halal food from this act of bravery or he can kiss his face goodbye.