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Chapter #8

I Still Hate You

(MaahirahFurqaan)

I can't believe that I'm actually walking down the hallway with my friends to a freaking party. At once, horrendous thoughts start sending frequencies to my brain. I bring my legs to a halt and grab Fadiya's arm.

"Fadiya," I whisper when she looks at me."Parties are no-no in Islam."

But, before Fadi can open her mouth, Ellie speaks up."Maahirah, it's just a 'get-together'. No biggie," She air-quotes the word get-together.

"You weren't supposed to hear that!" I mutter."I whispered it,"

Ellie scoffs."You didn't whisper it!"

"Anyways, I think we should think this through," I say.'

"And, here we go, again, "Grace mumbles.

I shoot her look and she just shrugs.

"Look, if there is any inappropriate stuff going on, you can merely walk out right through the door. You, Fadiya, Alizey, Dua and, um, Maryam can leave!"

"Um, okay?" It comes out more like a question and, I mentally curse myself when I see the exasperated look Ellie's gives me.

"Fine!" I throw my hands up.

We resume our 'mission' to get into the 'get together'. In two minutes, we're pushing our way through gorgeously made double glass doors. They are made of normal thick glass but everything about the door screams style and elegant.

Even though, the doors from the outside looks purely innocent and goodness knows, what the heck is going on behind those closed doors.

I close my eyes, in fear of what I've to say when I get in. Taking a deep breaths, and inhaling and exhaling, I'm about to open my eyes when I hear Fadiya gasp, and involuntarily my eyes open and I look at her. She simply points at the area.

This time I gasp, because the images my mind pulled for me to see is nothing compared to what is in front of me. I want to laugh at my inner brain and taunt it till no end.

It's a huge lounge room. A game room kind of area is at the farthest end. There are few couches across the bar which has all kind of drinks except, I think, alcohol isn't there. Thank God. A velvet red rope separates it from the chill-area. Teenagers are just chilling, here and there. I find myself nodding at the atmosphere around.

Once done with my inspection, I realize I'm the only one standing at the doorway. Stupid me. I walk on the linoleum floor and for a second, I've this sudden urge to skate and slide all over it. My sneakers will help me perfectly in gliding around. But, before, this urge can get strong; I saunter my way towards my long lost friends.

"See. Peaceful. Amazin'." Grace emphasizes on each and every word.

"Yeah, Yeah. Yeah and yeah!" I smile.

Alizey, Dua and Maryam are hurdled in the corner probably connecting their devices to wi-fi. Grace and Fads are next to me, but Ellie, is nowhere in sight. So, I ask them.

"Oh, Ellie.......Chace called her and they both made their way to the bar." Fads replies.

Grace snorts. "I'll be back in few minutes!"

"Where are you going?" I give her a puzzled look.

"Makin' some new friends, duh!" She walks away.

"Funny, huh?!" says Fadiya.

Without looking at her, I reply."I know it's useless."

"What?"

I look at her."Making new friends in here, they won't see each other after this!"

Fadi laughs."No, it's not useless. It's called being social. Besides, I wasn't talking about Grace, I was talking about this party."

"What is funny in this get together?" I frown.

"Everything's so quiet and un-partyish and I like it!"

I nod."Yeah!"

"Let's get some drinkable liquid. My throat is dry."

I laugh. "Let's go,"

After carefully analyzing each and every drink, I set on cranberry juice. I fill my plastic glass with it, and with a satisfying smile, I turn around.

I start to look for retracting figure of Fadiya, yeah, she ditched me. Someone collides with my back and this jerk sends me forward, causing the juice to splatter on my shirt. I groan.

"I'm sorry. So sorry. I really am...." The person speaks behind me.

I'm in too frantic condition to decipher the voice so when I turn around to tell him that it is fine, but my voice dies in my throat and a gasp escapes instead.

His' expressions are pretty much the same, but he smirks."On a second thought, I'm so not sorry."

My eyes bulge out."What?!"

"What what?"

"You bump into me and rather than apologizing you say it's no big deal,"

"I don't go around saying sorry to people for such trivial things!" He states.

"You just ruined my shirt, jerk!" I say trying my best to keep my anger in check.

"So?" He shrugs.

This does the trick. I feel fumes illuminating from every vein in my body. I feel hotness all over. And, without thinking twice, I dump my remaining drink all over his chest.

He gasps."Maahirah!"

"Aw, I'm sorry!"

He digs his glass into the punch bowl, and filling it, aims at me. I duck and move aside. The entire juice splatters on a total stranger.

"Who did this?" He demands.

Poor guy, has no idea who it is. I'm about to give away Aayan when the guy spills his juice on someone else. I bite my lip and hide myself behind the counter as everyone start aiming their drinks at each other.

I know this stupid party was never a good idea. Ya Allah, I never ,never ,never will ever step into a stupid-party-kind-of-get-together. Urgh! Fadiya is so gonna get from me.

All I hear is splattering voices from every way. I wonder when will it end. I know I'm not safe in here. Sooner or later, I've to get out from this hideout.....

I jump when I feel droplets of some drink falling on me. I look up to see some idiot has left his glass on the counter which fell and its content prickled all over my head. I groan as I wipe my face with my hand. My hand is all sticky now.

"Enough!" Someone shouts in the microphone and everyone stops in their actions

"I've no idea what happened in here or how or why? But, all I know is that I'm ashamed of you all. I do not want to hear single credence. I do not want o know who was responsible for this. Whatever I'll decide with Ms.Brooke will be decided in the meeting which is in twenty minutes. I want all of you to be present in there!!" Mr.Brackson storms out of the room with specks of rage and fury.

The cleaning staff enters and I look around to find that almost everyone was involved in this is from my school. All of our heads bowed in shame. But, no one moves. Still statutes. Not until Chace comes up in the center and speaks in his clear, authentic and demanding voice.

"Look, everybody just scramble now. It was a wrong move from our side and now, we've to accept the consequences. So, just clean yourselves and head to the meeting. How much worse can an angry Mr.Brackson get?!" He shrugs and everyone nods around him and start making their way out - leaving the cleaning staff to wipe our deeds.

*************************

Very.

In my opinion, an angry Mr.Brackson can get very furious. He has been staring at each one of us for good thirty seconds.

I and Fads were the first one to enter the meeting hall; all dressed up. Slowly and gradually , the hall started filing and exactly after ten minutes, Mr.Brackson entered with three females and a male. All four of them are wearing caps on which 'Mentor' is written. They stand at the corner while Mr.Bracskon looks at us - pointedly.

He clears his throat very loudly, and I jump.

"Today what happened in there is everyone's fault and I've nothing else to say except that I'm very disappointed in each and everyone of you." He says.

"Due to this behaviour I've decided to shorten your trip into one week and this trip will now be an educational!" Murmuring protests fill the air at Mr.Brackson words and he shouts."Silence!"

After restoration of peace, he continues."The people behind me are here so that you can go under their custody and, they could tour you around the city. They will take you to the places where you'll earn something useful and knowledgeable."He pauses."All twenty five of you've been divided into a group of six. Antonia, Iva, Isabelle and Melanie have your names in their lists. They will call you one by one's and you've to walk up to them and, hence, from then on, you're going to do what they say." He turns and starts talking quietly to the mentors.

I look at Fadiya. She gives me the same puzzled and confused look.

"Apparently, Chace was wrong. He can get angry, way too angry." I mutter.

She simply nods, a stiff forced nod.

I do not say anything after that.

A lady with jet black chin length hair, from the group of mentors, steps forward."Hello, everyone! I'm Isabelle. The students on my list are Fadiya Lewis. Sarah Matthews. Jaffar Azad. Jennifer Johns. Kyle Rivers and Maryam Daoud. Please come forward."

Fadiya takes my hand, and, gives it a hard squeeze. I squeeze it back. Unsure whether I'm comforting her or myself.

Next is Melanie, and, the only thing standing about her is her pierced lower lip. I mentally pray that I'm not on her list. I just can't stand people with pierced lips or nape. It's also, I don't know disgusting.

I'm very very glad when she announces all the six students and I'm not on her list. Next is, Iva, and her name is soft and beautiful and so is her voice. Her striking large blue eyes scan the thirteen students left, calling out their names and nodding at them - beckoning them to stand next to her.

When she's done, only seven of us are there. The only Guy Mentor walks up to us, beaming. Everyone is talking to their mentors discussing their schedule. When finally he walks up to us, his smile widens, and, I cringe at his huge smile.

"Hi, I'm Antonio," His accent thick like a Brazilian accent."How are you!?"Without waiting for our response, he continues."I'm a college student but I've a semester off, just to, um, you know, enjoy. Anyways, I'll call your name and you just have to raise your hand so I can know you. Aayan Aslam ?"

"Here, Sir!" His voice is awfully close so naturally, I jump and turn around to see him standing just behind me. I hastily side step away from him.

"Chace Crawford? Summer Barns? "

"Here!" They both chorus.

I pretend not to gag as I realize that Summer and I are in the same group.

"Ellie O'Shea? Maahirah Furqaan? "

We simply raise our hands. Antonia's gaze lingers a longer on me, and, I shake way the paranoid thoughts. Most probably, I'm wearing my hijab or headscarf he must have had looked at it.

Victoria Lerman and Sterling Thomas are the last two members.

"So, we'll meet at seven thirty sharp in the morning in room 201 and from then on we'll decide what to do and what not to do. Now, you're free to do whatever might please you!"

Just as we're about to exit, Mr.Brackson calls our attention - again. "I just want to inform you that your room mates are changed, too. The list is on the notice boards in your hallways...."

"Sir, you can't do that," Ellie cuts him off.

"I'm sorry I've done it!" He nods grimly, and stalks off the room.

*****************************

The entire evening, I and Fadiya hang around the city - drinking coffee, window shopping and just sitting on the benches, watching the moving city. It was beautiful and amazing.

Fadiya's room-mate is Sandra, and yep, I got paired up with Summer. Fadiya is pretty pissed off and, hence she didn't talk to me properly the entire evening. I talked she nodded. I laughed she smiled. I cracked a joke she just sat there motionless. Therefore, I shut my mouth and just let the cool breeze settle between us and erase all the memories of today.

However, that's the stupid thing, memories can't be erased. They just stick in your head for the rest of your life; whether they are good or bad. I let myself drone in the memory of today's day...

Then it clicks me just like when you turn the key and the locks click. I bide Fadiya goodbye when we enter the resort and I tell her that I'll meet with her tomorrow and she , surprisingly, doesn't question me.

On my way, I feel guilt seeping in every vein of my body. This is stupid. It has been mine fault. Everything has been mine fault. Guilt is annoying and irrational and...just stupid guilt.

Everyone is suffering because of me and I should have had realized it earlier.

The elevator opens with a ding and I get out, hastily. My watch reads 7:00 pm and I inhale deep breaths and gathering up all the courage in my body, I knock on room 203.

Without hearing any response, I barge in and start speaking, "Mr.Brackson, it's my fault. " I walk up to his desk."I'm the one who started the drink-fight game." Well, partially. "And, I don't want anyone else suffering the consequences of what I've done. Just unleash everyone from this tragic curse and grant me any punishment."

Mr.Brackson blinks."Are you sure that it is you?"

I look at him, puzzled "Of course I'm!"

"Wow, because exactly two minutes before you stumbled in Aayan took the whole blame and I was deciding his punishment" He gestures his hand behind me

I side step and whip my head around to find Aayan sitting on the chair, waving gingerly at me."Hi!"

"What?" I say.

Mr.Brakson asks me to take the seat in front of his desk and I do. Aayan sits in the next chair.

"Now, will you two tell me that what is the real story?"

I look at Aayan and he sighs. "Mr.Brackson It really really is my fault. I bumped into Maahirah and due to this her drink fell on her shirt. Instead of apologizing, I laughed at her..."

"And, I dumped my remaining drink on him!" I interject.

Mr.Brackson nods.

"I then was aiming at her but accidentaly it spills on someone else and thus this game begin!" Aayan finshes it.

I clench my fists, preparing to hear the worst but all I hear is Mr.Brackson laughing. Laughing on us. Once again, Aayan and I looked at each other - shocked and confused.

"Oh, that was fun. I wish I had taken part in that drink fight game!" Mr.Brackson smiles.

"But.....you...? I choke on my words.

"You shorten our trip and made it into..."Aayan speaks up and then gags."...and made it into..."His lips twitches into disgust as if he has just tasted something sour."....educational trip!"

I smile at his childishness.

"That had to be done, dears. We recieved a message from Mr.Franklin to make this into an educational trip and to lessen the days of the trip because the school will shut little early for winter and Christmas break."

"Oh,"Is all I say.

"Yes," Mr.Brackson smiles again.

"What about our room mates? I got paired up with Chris Pines!" Aayan says.

I stifle a laugh. Chris is a person who is going through dark phase of his life so I'm pretty sure everything around Aayan might be in darker shades.

"Same thing can be said about you, you got paired up with Summer!" He smirks.

Immediately, the smile drops from my face."Yeah, right!"

"Now, that was my punishment but since you two have confessed it up, quite boldly I'm impressed! You can swap with your rommies tomorrow!" Mr.Brackson says

"Finally, something good!" Aayan throws his hand in the air.

"But, what about our punishments?" I ask.

"Nothing," He winks at us. "Because you already have suffered enough. So, you , two are off the hook but be careful next time, okay?"

I nod and maybe he does, too, and I didn't look at him.

I stand up."Thank you, Sir!"

"Yes," Aayan stands up, too.

Mr.Brackson nods.

"Have a good night!" With that, I chuck out of his room.

Since our rooms are on the next floor so for that we had to either use the staircase or the elevator. I opt for the staircase because there's no way I'll travel though the elevator if Aayan and I are to go alone in it.

When Aayan scrambles in the life, I make a dash for the staircase. After fifteen flights, I reach our floor.

Panting, I bend down and cup my hands on my knees and catch my breath. My heartbeat is erratic and my thigh muscles ache due to the production of lactic acid. I'm never running on the staircase , ever again.

"Hey, Maahirah - again!" Aayan's voice makes me jump.

"What are you doing here?" I frown. He is supposed to be in his room. The lift is fast.

"I've been watching you and waiting for you!" He digs his hands in his pockets.

"Why?" I stand straight now, after my breaths are normal.

"Just wondering why did you use stairs?"

"Um," I miss the teasing in his voice and continue dumbly." I've....heard that it is, um, good exercise. Yeah!"

"You losing weight?" He laughs. "Now, this is something new!"

I'm too embarrassed to feel angry."Are you calling me fat?"

"What?" The laughs stop."No, I mean you can always use the advanced technology." He gestures to the elevator. "Technology is amazing, sometimes."

I nod."I didn't feel like going in the lift. Nausea. Dizziness." Lies roll out of my tongue with such ease, leaving no regrets.

"You've to admit that, Maahirah," He smirks."You were nervous because I was gonna be in there with you like last time."

I swallow as my cheeks heat up."No, you do not scare me!"

He chuckles."You know what, do me a favour!"

"A favour?" I raise an eyebrow.

"Yeah, a favour and that is never lie to anyone even if you're life is at stake." He says.

Once again, I blush."I hate you!" These are the words that escape first.

"You suck in lying. This is the very nice advice for you given by me!"

"And, I still hate you!" I walk away - away from his echoing laughs.

Once outside my room, I call Mom. She immediately answers it as if she has been waiting for my call. We talk for a long time. I tell her about my day , escaping the drinks fight game scene. I tell her not to worry about me and everything is fine. I fill in her about the details of my tomorrow and inform about the trip shortened. I ask her to pay my regards to everyone at home and, then we hang up.

I wait few seconds and then twisting the door knob, I get in. As soon as I set myself in, Summer yelps and drops the water bottle from her hand.

I look at her, confused and let my gaze linger down on the fallen object. My eyes bulge out as I realize that it is my water bottle.

Frowning, I meet Summer's eyes and she's hiding her hands behind her back. Rocking on her heels - back and forth, and her eyes look here and there never once meeting mine.

I slam the door shut with a loud bam and with a single long stride, I'm in front of her. She stumbles back.

"What were you doing? And what are you hiding?" I demand.

To my utter horror, she bursts into tears.

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