Kezie: I have some teaaaaa fayouuuuu

Asmaa stares excitedly at this text as she and Yara leave the Dickinson Poon School of Law. They've just turned in their dissertations for the term and now, winter break can officially start.

Yay, her.

Just two more terms to go.

And girl was that close to being an international lawyer.

She texts Kezie back.

Meet me at the lot I can't waiiiiiittttt

"Now that we can breathe again," Yara begins with a laugh, "what're your plans for break?"

"Umm..."

"Because I was thinking," she grins excitedly, "since neither of us celebrates Christmas or any of that, we can have our own celebration somewhere else, right? Like, we go to dinner or go out, or...I dunno," she shrugs, "Something?"

"Oh, Yara," Asmaa frowns, "that sounds lovely but," she frowns again, "m'kinda doing exactly that for the holiday except," she grins, shrugging, "I'll be with Zayn."

"Zayn?"

She nods, "My boyfriend."

"Oh. Oh!" Minuyara blinks with knowing, "The one I've seen you with...tattoos, motorcycle, blonde hair..."

"Sounds like the one," Asmaa grins. "Sounds like Zayn."

"Gosh," Yara sighs, "I had no idea that was your actual boyfriend."

Asmaa laughs, "He'd probably be a bit offended to know I'm so busy studying, I don't talk about him with my law friends."

Yara giggles, "You're the only one I share anything remotely personal with, so he shouldn't be so offended," they walk through the quad towards the lot, "And for the record, you two are a beautiful couple. Your babies?" Minuyara sighs as Asmaa blushes heavily, "heartbreakers."

"We should double-date sometime," Asmaa says, causing Minuyara to snort aloud. "Me and Zayn with you and--"

"Who, Asmaa?"

"That co-worker you're always on about," she grins slyly, "The one who's super smart and loves math you pretend not to have a thing for?"

"Asmaa!" Yara chokes, "I--I don't!"

"Mhm..."

"I don't! We're--we're work friends, just..." She nudges her. "Not even friend-friends. Just...Asmaa, just no!"

"Liar."

"I..." She looks away, "...might be..."

Asmaa squeals.

"Anyway," Yara clears her throat, a deep blush tinting her brown skin. "Anyway," she clears her throat, "speaking of that co-worker, turns out he says he knows you."

"What?" Asmaa laughs. "What'cha saying about me, girl?"

"I was saying," Minuyara shakes her head, "that you were amazing and should work with us...Google's releasing their intern list in a few weeks, just so you know."

"Really?" Asmaa perks. "My friend and I both applied, so fingers crossed."

"Well, that's what we were talking about, actually. I said you were a shoe-in and he asked me who you were and what your name was and blah blah blah..."

Asmaa nods. "Right."

"And he says he knows you."

"Excuse me?" Asmaa exclaims, "He does?"

Yara laughs, "Asmaa, you sound surprised?"

"Because I literally know four people," she snorts, "including you." And she squints as Yara laughs. "What's his name?"

"Luke," Minuyara replies. "His name's Luke."

"Luke?" Asmaa blinks confusedly, fiddling with the end of her hijab. "I don't know any..."

And the pieces all begin to fall.

"Hemmings?"

"That's him," Yara grins, and Asmaa's stomach literally falls onto the ground as Yara giggles to herself.

Oh, no.

"Yeah, told you you'd know him. That's the one."

Luke is on cloud nine.

Like, he is.

Really.

To be perfectly honest, when he'd first seen the picture of Tia Sangria show up on his popular page, Luke never ever expected in his wildest imagination to end up actually being with the young woman he'd had an internet crush on since the beginning of the year.

And it was December.

And they were dating.

And Luke was happy. He was so happy because a part of Luke was nervous that she would be as perfect as she appeared on his phone screen. He thought he was going to end up with someone as flawless as the controlled content he'd fell in love with online.

It turns out that Desirée Espina was only "Tia Sangria" when she was at work, and this persona was just that, a persona. She was as flawed as he was. She was as imperfect as she was, and Luke was like, super stoked that his girl was a real girl. She had real insecurities and a real personality and a real background that made her all the more attractive to him. It made their relationship all the more real.

And she was finally letting him in.

Luke didn't care that Desi stripped. If she hadn't, who knows if they would have even met? What he did care about, though, was the fact that stripping had seemed to make her very distrustful of men—the men who came into strip clubs, anyway—and he was trying to show her that the only reason he'd even gone was for her. The only reason he stepped foot into Phoenix was to meet her.

And somehow, the gods were in his favor and the stars had aligned and he'd followed a rainbow to a pot of gold because lately, the unthinkable had happened.

Desi was trying, too.

"I'm not...easy," she had said to him after he'd pretty much bared his soul and told her of these feelings while he had locked them in the women's bathroom that night they'd gone out to Fabric; the night they'd gone to dinner with Ash and Cal and Kez and their other friend, Rory.

"I'm not either."

"No, but, I'm really not," she had admitted. "And it takes me a second to warm up to...to things like—"

"Love?" He'd joked. "Affection? Things other people would die for?"

"Maybe."

"I'm in no rush, Desi," he had said. "But you have to stop trying to push me away."

And for some reason, she had actually responded to this. After all that had happened, she actually agreed to commit to making them a real thing.

"Okay," she had said.

And Luke had truly been shocked. "Okay?"

She had nodded. "Let's...We can try."

The Desirée Espina that kissed him 'hello' was also Luke's favorite Desirée.

The Desirée Espina that invited him over for dinner was also a good one.

Ooh, and when she was really feeling good and she called him little pet names in Spanish?

That was almost too much for Luke; he loved that shit.

It's about seven-thirty on Wednesday night when Luke pulls up in front of Desirée's house and sits in the idled car.

This had been his habit lately. After work, instead of going to his, he'd gone to hers.

And he liked that.

He told her before, too.

"I like seeing you all the time. Fuck Phoenix. I want you here when I come home."

He sits in the car, now, texting her.

I'm here :)

And he waits for the door to open.

Luke shuts off his engine, jumping from the car to meet the girl at her front door.

"Honey, I'm home," he sings, and she rolls her eyes like she always does, but he doesn't care and since she knows he doesn't care she fights a smile.

"Saw that," he pokes her cheek, walking past her, inside.

She follows him into the kitchen, where she'd been cooking.

"Saw what?"

"That smile," he grins. "You like me, it's cool."

"Maybe," she replies cheekily. "Sometimes."

"I like me sometimes, too—sounds like we've got a lot in common."

"You're so weird."

"Love me," he cries, throwing his arms around her. "Please," he exclaims, burying his head against her neck, kissing her repeatedly. "Just...love me, already."

"Luke—Luke!" She screams, laughing.

"I'm...I'm begging you..."

"Okay, okay," she replies, giggling despite herself. "Oh my god..."

"Come with me to my Christmas party," he blurts, and pulls her closer as he feels her stiffen, "Please?"

"Luke..."

"Des—"

"Okay."

"Okay?" He pulls away to see her face, "Okay?"

She nods, laughing. "Fine. Okay."

"Just okay, Des?"

"Luke," she lifts a brow, "What do you want me to say, no?"

"Alright," he begins warily, "What's wrong?"

"Wrong? Nothing."

"Des, you agreeing to go to this Christmas party isn't exactly nothing when you've been fighting it since I met you."

She scoffs, "You're so extra."

He lifts an eyebrow, "Am I?"

"I wasn't about being in a relationship either, but here we are."

"Okay, true, but c'mon," he grins, holding out his arms, "look at me."

"Bye."

"Des, this is different," he chuckles. "What's up?"

"Okay, maybe it's kind of different, but is it really...?"

"What happened?"

"Nothing!"

"Is it work? Did something happen at Phoenix? Is it one of the girls? Did someone say something to you? I fucking swear, if another dude came in there and said something to you--"

"Luke, Luke," she shakes her head, planting her hands against his chest, "I swear, it's nothing like that."

"I don't believe you, Des."

He knew her better than that.

"It's not Phoenix," she states, and she sighs, her eyes flickering upward in annoyance before she starts rambling in Spanish and Luke starts getting lost in translation and he shakes his head because, wait?

What?

"Des."

"¿Sí?" She shakes her head, "Yes?"

"What's wrong?"

"It's not Phoenix, Luke, it's--"

"Before you lie to me again," he interjects, "remember I'm your boyfriend," he states, "and you're my girlfriend and you would hate me if I didn't ask, remember?"

This makes her laugh. "You love bringing that up, huh?"

"Sure do," he grins cheekily. And a smile plays on her lips as he hops onto the counter, taking a seat. "Now, try again."

"I talked to Romeo today," she sighs again.

"Okay," Luke nods. They talked all the time; she was always on the phone with her brothers.

"See?" she shakes her head, "Not Phoenix."

"Right...?"

"And António's apparently been acting out at school...Getting in trouble...My grandma's had to come to get him like, more than a few times this week."

Luke chuckles--He remembers António very clearly. "He's a kid, Des. It's what kids do at his age."

"But, that's not it," she shakes her head. "You know how I've been trying to get them out here, Luke. And Romeo's saying now that he wants to stay."

"Why?" Luke frowns. "He'd do anything to be with you again, I thought."

"That's what I thought too," she stresses, "But he thinks António's been acting out 'cause he's getting ready to leave; to go to college."

"Oh," Luke's face falls; he watches her pace the kitchen, "Ah, Des..."

"And he's telling me all this shit over the phone and it's making me feel great, and," she laughs exasperatedly, "there was more. It just couldn't end there. Apparently, Romeo walked in on Gabriel before bed a few nights ago," she swallows, "He said he heard him praying, and he was praying for the day I came back home," she pouts, "when we were all together again."

And she stops, turning to him with an expression so unlike her...Her shoulders have fallen and she's staring up at him with big, sad, brown eyes that kill him a little inside.

"Luke," she shakes her head, "That's my baby...I don't know what to do."

"Des," he pulls her close, so she stumbles between his legs, "it's the holidays, babe."

"Which almost makes things worse."

He shakes his head, "No, listen. Not what I mean," he chuckles. "It's just what happens. You know, during this time my mom calls me like, every day? Like, I swear during this month she thinks about me more than usual."

"She misses you," Desirée implores. "Her baby boy is gone."

He nods. "And she's used to having us all around for the New Year," he shrugs, "s'gotta be the same thing with your brothers. You guys are like, super close," he says, "So yeah, it sounds bad that António is acting out at school and Gabriel is thinking about you more and Romeo says he might stay in Panama, but in the grand scheme of things they just miss you, Des. And they're boys," he chuckles. "We're bad at voicing our feelings."

"This doesn't make me feel better, Luke," she pouts, almost like Gabriel, "This is still my fault. They're still feeling this way because of me."

"Why don't you surprise them, then?"

"Like, how?"

"Like, go home. Show up in Panama City with gifts and shit and make their whole holiday."

"I..." She blinks, "I'd love to but--"

"But, what?"

"But, the club is just starting that new promotion this week and Blaire's wedding is coming up and all of that shit is happening around Christmas," she shakes her head. "I don't think I can fly all the way over there for just a day," she sighs tiredly, "And for what? I go for two days only to leave them again?"

"Then bring them over here."

"For like, a million pounds?" She laughs aloud. "I know we make money stripping, but not that much, okay?"

And he stares at her, head cocked sideways, smiling slightly. "S'that what you want, then? Like, y'know, for Christmas?"

"Oh, god, Luke..."

"I mean, seriously!" He exclaims. "I was wondering what I'd get you, anyway," he shrugs, "Is this what you want?"

"Luke," she states, "if you bring my brothers to London for the holidays, I'd actually cry."

"You?" He gasps. "Showing...emotion? I don't fucking believe this--"

"You wanna go to this Christmas party alone, Luke?" She pokes him in the stomach, laughing as he recoils. "'Cause you can go alone."

"Oh, you're still going with me to that?" He gasps again. "Because I did not think you were serious."

"I..." She sighs, "I really don't want to..."

"Mhm," he rolls his eyes, "Pretty much what I figured."

"...but my man is cute and he wants me to go so," she shrugs, "I was gonna suck it up for him," she pokes him again as he fights the smile threatening to expose just how happy he is. "I guess."

"No take-backs now," he grins, grabbing her hands in his. And he stares at her, teeth grazing his lip, "We don't have to stay long."

She breathes out a little laugh, "Promise?"

He nods. "Promise."

And she smiles like, a full smile--And Luke can't even contain himself as Desi laughs again because Luke decides that this Desirée, the one who smiles like this, whose nose wrinkles, whose eyes get squinty, whose face transforms...that's got to be the standalone winner.

She leans against him, lifting her hands to the back of his neck, rising to her toes to place a kiss on his lips.

"Thank you, papi."

Nah, Luke thinks, as he grabs her waist and pulls her into another kiss, the pet names?

That shit had to be his favorite.

That shit had him about to learn Spanish.

Asmaa is standing on the edge of the parking lot, waiting for Rory to pick up both her and Kezie, when all of a sudden there's a voice in her ear.

"You will never guess what Calum told me last night."

"Kez!" She jumps. "Oh my goodness, you scared me!"

"Hi, babe," she grins, planting a kiss on her cheek as she giggles that adorable giggle. "Sorry. I couldn't wait to spill this tea."

"All of a sudden," Asmaa looks around, lowering her voice, "I've got tea, too."

"What?" Kezie brightens. "Okay, okay. You go first."

Asmaa slaps a hand to her forehead. "One of my law friends likes Luke."

"Luke?" Kezie blinks. "Like, my mate, Luke? Like," she blinks again, "Desi's Luke?"

"That Luke," Asmaa groans. "They work together, apparently, and she's got a crush on him and—"

She gon' have to get over that," Kezie laughs. "Find her someone else, 'cause that man is all the way taken."

"I know," sighs Asmaa. "But, how do you tell someone that?"

"Girl, rip that Band-Aid," Kezie replies.

"Ugh, Kez..."

"Seriously, though. It's better she find out now, this way, from a friend," she replies kindly. "Instead of some other way that is way more embarrassing."

"Okay, okay," Asmaa nods, because Kezie was right about that. "I'm sad, now. My story is over. Tell me. What did Calum say to you last night."

"Girl," Kezie rolls her eyes, dragging the 'i.' "You won't believe—"

"He's ready to lay you down and wife you up?"

"What?!" Chikezie laughs aloud. "Asmaa, you're officially spending too much time with Rory."

"Not just Rory," Asmaa laughs. "Don't exclude yourself."

Kezie laughs aloud as she shakes her head.

"Okay, okay. I'm serious. What did he say?"

"So," Kezie's expression changes, "remember that day we got nails done; that day when Des was complaining about Luke and Bun said she thought he was already invited to her wedding?"

Asmaa nods.

"Well, he is invited," Kezie rolls her eyes. "He's actually not just invited, he's a whole groomsman."

Asmaa's mind skips to Zayn. "No way."

"Way," Kezie nods, "Calum told me last night."

"How does he know that?"

"'Cause he's a groomsman, too. Blaire's man got like, eight groomsmen. And guess who else is one?"

"Lemme guess," Asmaa sighs, knowing already where this was going, "Zayn."

"Ding ding ding! We have a winner!" Kezie giggles. "I asked Calum to tell me who else was in the wedding, and 'Zayn Malik' was at the very top of the list," she shakes her head. "How unbelievably wild is this?"

"Too wild," Asmaa murmurs, her reservations returning all at once.

"Even wilder is that they just got fitted for tuxes. They just found out they were groomsmen. They essentially just found out they were in the bloody wedding."

"Kez," she begins slowly, "did Calum ever tell you why? Like, why they got invited so late?"

"All I know," she replies, "is that he and the friend getting married, Blaire's man, well, they used to be really close—they were a little crew in uni—and then they all got into a huge fight about a year ago that changed everything."

"Do you know what they fought about?"

"All Cal's ever mentioned is money," she replies. "They had some huge fight about money."

And Kezie raises her eyebrow. "Why, babe? Did Zayn say something to you?"

Asmaa shakes her head. "He's mentioned it, but...There's a girl involved too, apparently, and—"

"And," Kezie nods knowingly, "you think that girl..."

"Is in the wedding."

"Blaire."

"Yeah," Asmaa nods, "Our Momma."

And as Kezie falls silent, Asmaa sighs, "Kez?"

"Yeah, ma?"

"You think Blaire...you think she knows?"

"About the boys?"

Asmaa nods.

"I don't know but..." Kezie shakes her head. "Honestly? This close to the wedding?" She frowns, "I hope not."
____

I luh di story lol

more of rory and asmaa and zayn coming up

also shameless plug: if any of y'all are reading POLARIZE puhlease go comment on my wall and answer my latest question thank you lovessss