It's amazing how a nice new place, amazing new friends, and a new, well-paying job could work so many wonders on a girl's mood.

Despite being exhausted from her long night out, Asmaa felt better than she thought she could, waking up in a nice bed in a nice place with a nice friend who cooked breakfast when she wasn't too hungover.

And, Asmaa had money. Real money. She had actual pounds to spend during the day. She had actual notes to spend on things like coffee or pastries between class.

As the weeks progress, she is signed up to work the same three shifts from Thursday to Saturday, so she actually gets to keep her old job at the shop near The Eye, moving her hours to the morning from Monday to Wednesday.

The only issue was school.

She had classes from early afternoon into the evening on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, so her Thursday night shift at Phoenix left her dead for class the next day. If she didn't pull so much money from tips, she'd really be struggling to find the silver lining of working that Thursday night with the girls.

On a particular Friday, she asks Kezie how she does it.

Because of all of them, Kezie never looked tired. She was always upbeat and lively and sweet.

"Easy," she had grinned, "I get wasted at night and cope with coffee in the mornings."

"Coffee..." Asmaa had nodded. "Noted."

So, before classes, it had become routine for Asmaa to grab a cup with a double shot so she could stay awake and do homework or stay awake and participate in class. With it being three weeks into her new job, she had cut back her hours so much at the other place she was considering quitting.

Like, completely.

And she sits in the library, sipping her daily cup of coffee, wondering if only one job would drastically alter her ability to afford things like these cups of coffee, when she starts procrastinating and pulls out her phone.

It had become her routine to check Phoenix's Instagram page, now. Especially since she was a part of it. That was how the strip club had gotten popular in the first place. It advertised only through IG, showcasing its girls and the celebrities running through there on a daily basis. Not to mention, each day had a Happy Hour from 7 until 9, and ladies were always free until midnight. That kept the numbers of male customers really high.

It helped that the Instagram page was full of naked women.

Desirée was throughout. And Rory and Kezie weren't too far behind. You could tell the popularity of the models by the number of times they were showcased on flyers, or by the number of times they came up on Phoenix's IG. So, it surprised Asmaa like crazy to know that after her first weekend she showed up. In her black bodysuit, there she was, in a picture carrying lit bottles over her head to a table.

She wasn't tagged -- bottle girls weren't, only strippers -- but to see herself, long hair flowing down her back, slight grin on her face, was a lot for her. It made her feel kind of good.

So, more than anything, she checked IG to see if she showed up. So far, she'd only seen herself once, but for the past few weeks, she'd made it her Monday routine to check photos after the weekend; to see where she fit in at Phoenix.

She nearly has a heart attack when there's a tap on her shoulder.

She whirls around.

It's Zayn.

And he grins that grin and Asmaa melts a little.

"What'cha lookin' at?"

"Oh, nothing," she says quickly, nervously, laughing to play off that nervousness. She hopes he didn't just see her staring at herself on Phoenix's Instagram page.

That was not the look she was going for.

But, Zayn's smiling that easy-going smile of his so she completely allows the moment to pass.

"Anyway," she grins, "Where are you coming from?"

"Lecture," he replies, slipping into the seat beside her. He's not in leather today, but instead, in ripped acid wash jeans and a long-sleeved Supreme crewneck. The sleeves are pushed up so Asmaa gets an eyeful of tattoos, and he's wearing a Yankee's baseball cap that Asmaa didn't realize could make someone already that attractive even more attractive.

He leans forward, squinting at the textbook open on top of her laptop. "Global Ethics and Human Values?" He turns to her, grinning. "You look like--"

"What?" She asks at once. "What do I look like?"

"Like you'd be super smart," he nods. "Super into stuff like..." He taps her book. "Like this."

She snorts. "I'm studying Law."

"Figures."

"Hey!" She exclaims. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Means that you look like the type to save the world," he shrugs, "Do something cool."

Asmaa laughs. "And what do you do, Zayn?"

"Well," he grins, "if you must know, Asmaa," he jokes, "what I do and what I'm here studying are two completely different things."

"Yeah?"

He nods. "Yeah."

She closes her book on her phone, keeping the page. "Well," and she folds her hands across her lap, turning in her seat to face him. "Go on, then," she waves her hand about. "I've got all day."

And Zayn laughs aloud again, "I work at a shop," he says. "I fix cars and shit," he shrugs. "But, I'm here 'cause I want my PhD in music composition."

"That is completely different."

"Isn't it?" He laughs. And he pauses, head cocked, smiling at her. "I'd like to be a teacher someday. Or a producer if I could," he shrugs. "Who knows."

"That's," Asmaa blinks, "really fucking amazing, you know that?"

Zayn grins. "You're more excited about it than me, honestly."

"Like," Asmaa is still blinking. "Wow. Like, wow, Zayn. You're--"

"Not doing anything as worthwhile as you," he finishes, garnering a snort from her. "What?" He smiles, showing teeth, "Law? That's so...so, smart and important."

"I'd like to help girls," she says. "Be a human right's activist, y'know?" And she grins, tapping the textbook, "Hence--"

"Right," he nods, leaning forward to read her cover again, "the Global Ethics and Human Values."

"Power of deduction?" She giggles, "Sounds like someone might make a pretty decent lawyer."

"If the music thing doesn't work out," he grins, "you just might have to loan me some books."

"So talented," she muses. "Is there anything you can't do?"

"Actually?" He pauses, "Nah," he shakes his head, "No."

And he grins, leaning against the table as she laughs.

"You know," he begins, "I was really hoping I'd find you today."

Asmaa blinks. "Me?"

He shakes his head, "Unless you know any other 'Asmaa's' I should know about?"

"Oh," she fights that happy feeling in her stomach, "Oh, really?"

He hums. "Just heard Nicki Minaj being played in the halls. "Super Bass." Reminded me of you."

Well, now she doesn't even fight that smile.

"Glad you could associate me with The Queen."

"I like that," he grins, and smoothly, he slides her his phone, "That's what you're going in my contacts as," he cocks his head, "if you give me your number."

"Oh, well done," Asmaa claps her hands together, and Zayn laughs aloud, that high-pitched giggle of his back.

"Really?" He asks, as she takes his phone in her hands and punches in the number, "You liked that?"

"I did, actually," she nods, handing his phone back. "I really did."

"If you think I'm amazing now," he shakes his phone, "Wait 'till I text you."

"You know what?" She taps her chin, "I hope you prove yourself right."

She's in her last class when the message chain begins.

Hey it's Zayn :) x

Smiley faces? Kisses? Adorable

Me?
Btw I love getting texts from 'The Queen' just satin
*saying damn

XD Yes, you.
Who else?

I think you mean *badass or *blindingly attractive
**smoking hot yeah?

Asmaa finds herself smiling largely at her phone.

No no no I think I meant adorable

If I take you around on my bike will that change your mind?

She actually has to flip over her cell to focus on the rest of the lecture.

(But, that doesn't mean she doesn't keep checking to reread all of the previous texts.)

And she's in the bed that night with homework and she remains the last person to have messaged him, and because of course she had to tell Rory all about him she was quick to let her know not to message back and to wait.

Wait and see if he texts her.

"I can't think of anything to say!" She had told her, the conversation had eventually tapered off and to Asmaa, it seemed to be dying. "What if he thinks I'm boring?"

"He asked you for your number, right?"

"Well...yeah, but--"

"Nope. No, 'buts.' He doesn't think you're boring, Asmaa. I promise."

"But--"

Rory had laughed. "Believe me, if he likes you, he'll find something to talk about."

Now, she's in bed and all of her work has consumed her mind and she's focused and she isn't thinking about boys and she's not distracted and then her phone buzzes.

And Asmaa almost screams.

It's him.

Hey do you have any plans this weekend?
Like, Saturday night specifically?

And Rory is across the hall in her own room but Asmaa yells, anyway.

"Rory! He texted me back!"

Rory comes racing into the bedroom, a green mask on her face, hair wrapped in a scarf. "Who? What happened?"

"Zayn," Asmaa squeals happily. "He texted me back, you were right!"

"Well, of course," Rory grins. And she plops onto the bed. "What'd he say?"

"He asked if I had plans Saturday," Asmaa grins.

And Rory whistles. "Told ya," she smirks. "That's the power of that pussy."

Asmaa chokes. The things her new friends said literally never failed to amuse her.

"So," Rory pats the bed. "When are you going out!"

"I...Good question," Asmaa grins, staring excitedly at her phone. Now, all of a sudden, she's wondering what the hell she should say.

Saturday?

Hell yes to a night out with Zayn.

And that's when it hits her.

Saturday? Her shift started at nine.

She messages him back.

Dammit, I'm actually working Saturday night :((
I'm sorry

"What?" Rory notices her fallen expression immediately. "What is it? He hit you up?"

"No, no," Asmaa sighs. "It's just...Rory, I'll be at Phoenix when he wants to go out. I literally work throughout the weekend," she throws up her hands. "What the fuck was I thinking?"

"Oh, don't worry about it," Rory shrugs. "Seriously. You already see this boy is interested in you. I'm sure he'll make it work."

Asmaa nods, slightly unconvinced and a little nervous as Rory only grins, shaking her head and pushing herself from the bed.

She exits the room and Asmaa turns back to her work.

And her phone buzzes again.

Asmaa snatches it up.

Working? Really?? On a Saturday???? o_O
No worries.
Sunday then?
We could do something early yeah?

__

"Ooh," Blaire lifts an eyebrow the next day, watching as the water fills up around their feet and Asmaa's eyes stay glued to her cell. "Asmaa's over there, barely paying attention to anything but her phone."

She looks up, barely able to pick colors for her pedicure. "Not true! I'm listening!"

"Sure," Blaire laughs, because they had just been discussing Asmaa's new job at Phoenix and now she'd gone silent. "I don't believe it?"

"Wow. Thanks, Blaire. Thanks, a lot."

"You're welcome," she grins. "Now, spill," she rests her chin in her palm. "Who's the boy?"

"How are you so sure it's a boy?" Asmaa pauses. "It could just be my sister, or my mom."

"But..?" Rory grins, returning to her massage chair with nail polishes for both her hands and feet. "It's not. Don't lie."

"It's--" Asmaa exhales loudly, fiddling with the bottom of her hijab, "Fine. His name is Zayn. And how did you know I was talking to him?"

"Because," Blaire shrugs. "You've got the same look as Kezie when she's on the phone with her," she lifts her fingers, 'friend.'"

Rory laughs. "You mean, her Calum."

"Okay, I'm not that bad," Asmaa groans. "And besides, what's the deal with the two of them, anyway?"

If you asked Kezie, they were only friends. If you asked Kezie, they had only hooked up once.

Asmaa couldn't tell if that was actually the truth.

And she was trying to deflect the conversation from her.

"They have known each other forever," Blaire nods. "But, honestly? It feels like there's more to it. Who knows. She won't say."

"But," Rory adds, "I know he doesn't love that she works at Phoenix."

Asmaa scoffs. "Why? What's that got to do with him?"

"Absolutely nothing, that's what."

"Look," Asmaa shakes her head, holding up her phone, "I literally just met this man, so I'm not trying to jump to any conclusions or jinx anything."

Rory nods. "Okay, true."

"Besides," she groans, "he's already distracting me the hell away from all the homework I need to do."

Rory hums. "Good dick'll do that to you."

Blaire laughs.

Asmaa chokes.

"What?" Rory laughs. "Where is the lie, y'all?"

How did Asmaa let these girls drag her from her work, today?

Oh, right.

Because pedicures and manicures sounded fun and she had been dying to try acrylic nails like Kezie and Rory and Desirée. And she had money to do it. She actually had money to spend, so what was a few hours out, right?

That is, until a few hours turned into all fucking day.

About an hour later, Rory looks up from her painted nails.

"I'm getting waxed after this. You coming?"

"Excuse me?" Asmaa looks up from her new, long, black and gold acrylics--holy shit she was in love with them. "Waxed?"

"Yeah, Asmaa," Rory laughs, shaking out her long black fingernails in the air. "What the hell have you been doing this whole time?"

"Uh..." And Asmaa thinks to herself, "shaving?"

Blaire gasps, "Every night?"

She nods. "I didn't know there were other options, honestly. And it's dark in there, and the bodysuit kind of covers me, so some nights--"

Rory holds up a hand, silencing her. "Okay, nope. Say no more. Get up," she motions for her to follow, "You're coming with me."

"To..." She sputters, "to get waxed?"

"Yes! You can't shave every night, that's terrible! And how do you know you're getting a close shave?"

"I--"

"Nope," Rory shakes her head. "Nope, nope, nope."

"But," Asmaa whines, not moving from her chair, "besides like, a bikini wax or something, I haven't done like," she motions to her crotch with her new long nails, "everything down there."

"And before a few weeks ago, you'd never set foot in a strip club, had you?"

"Well..."

"Exactly. And, uh," Blaire laughs, "don't let Desi find out. She gets her anus bleached and everything--"

"Um, what?"

"Exactly," Rory nods. "Ex-a-c-tly."

"But--"

"No 'buts,' Asmaa! Damn!" Rory slaps her hand to her face. "I've already called for an appointment. This is a thing, now. It's happening."

"Fine," Asmaa mutters.

Rory claps her hands softly. "Yay!"

"But, if I die on the table..."

"Drama Queen," Rory scoffs. "You won't."

"You're sure?"

"Yeah, 'cause I don't know anyone who's died while getting waxed."

"I'm sure there are a few..."

"For a future lawyer, this is a horrible argument."

And Rory grins. "Besides, aren't you going out with Zayn this weekend?"

Asmaa looks away. "Yes..."

"Mhm," she nods. "Then do it for him, Asmaa. Do it for the dick."

__

literally in love with this story i'm so excited guys gahdamn