I hear echoes of my name being called as they try to wake me up by gently slapping my face.

I could feel the water that was splashed on to me drip down my hijab.

I don't know how long I was down. 

I was deeply hoping that I fainted from the scorching sun on this hot June day.

Not because my best friend was kidnapped.

By an extremely large drug dealer.

I begin opening my eyes as I start to see more clearly.

I begin making out the faces that were standing over me clearly looking worried.

I could see my mom.

My dad.

Mr. Demarco

That annoying fake blond cheerleader.

and Tamir.

I start to laugh.

Great! I'm hallucinating now too.

They look at me as if I was crazy.

Maybe I am.

"YA ALLAH ARE YOU OKAY HANAN!" My mom was hysterical 

"Ye...Yeah.. I'm okay" My head was pounding and I got up to sit back on that dumbass chair.

My dad grabbed my arm to help me up and Tamir gave me a bottle of water.

HOLD UP.

Is this part of hallucinating.

Because he feels pretty real to me.

I look at him and he gives me a look of "I'll tell you everything later"

OH HELL NO

YOU HAVEN'T TALKED TO ME IN TWO YEARS

YOU HAVEN'T TEXTED

MY BEST FRIEND IS KIDNAPPED BECAUSE OF YOU

THERE'S A LOT OF SHIT I WANT TO TELL HIM BUT I HAVE TO REMAIN CALM.

It's hard to remain calm when you really want to slap the person in front of you

with a chair

that has nails sticking out

while It's on fire.

But most importantly, 

I don't want my parents or her parents to find out because they'll go to the police.

And I don't want to risk Hajer's life.

Mr. Demarco looked relieved when I got up.

probably because he doesn't want to sign any accident reports on graduation day.

Tamir kept staring at me.

It began to sink in.

the fact that Tamir is here

my best friend is kidnapped

And I have no idea what to do

All I know is that It's his fault.

Everything is Tamir's fault.

Just when we started getting used to beautiful sunny days

a tornado has to come and rip our life apart.

Tamir is my tornado.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

After the ceremony ended we all quietly went home

'We' meaning me, mom, dad and Tamir.

As I look to my left I feel the breeze coming from the car window.

The breeze calmed me a bit but my brain was still tangled.

I kept thinking of ways to save Hajer that doesn't involve me going to the police but the more I think about it the more frantic I start to get.

My feelings evolve every second I'm in this car.

The silence was killing me.

I'm not claustrophobic but somehow I feel like the sides of the car was starting to close on me.

I looked at the rear view mirror and those damn hazel eyes were focused on me.

He was sitting in the passenger seat while my father was driving 

He kept looking at me from the rear view mirror 

his eyebrows furrowed

he looked worried about me

or he probably was thinking of another master plan to ruin my life.

Either way he better have an idea of how to get Hajer back.

Because I don't think I can survive without my best friend.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

We finally arrive at my house.

The fifteen-minute ride felt like a fifteen hour punishment.

I look at my bright red cap and gown that I'm still wearing.

Ha.

I almost forgot I actually graduated today

what a happy day

It's certainly a day to remember alright.

My mom was talking to Tamir about fixing the guest room for him.

Great he's going to be staying with us.

maybe I should drug him in his sleep and drag him to Ryker myself.

*Buzz*

I haven't seen a notification with his name on it for about two years.

Tamir: Meet me in the guest room at 11:30pm tonight.

Me: Why would I do that?

Tamir: We're going to save Hajer