At home later that day, my phone began to ring. I glanced up from my Spanish homework on the bed and lifted the phone to my ear.

"Hello?" I leaned back into her pillows, focusing on the lavender-colored wall in front of me that was decorated with hand-painted flowers and clouds.

"Yo, I cannot believe she actually said that to you!" Salah's voice was as loud as if she were sitting in person with me.

I used my foot to close my Spanish textbook, and then, remembering my mama taught me not to do things with my feet like that, I rubbed the textbook as if saying sorry.

Salah had finally read the texts I'd sent to her on my way home.

"Neither can I!"

"Was anyone else there?"

"Besides Jamie, I don't think so. People did see me trip, though."

"If it were me, I would've told them Valentino already asked me to prom, and all three of them could cry me a river."

"Well, I didn't want to lie..."

"You know what this means, right?" Salah asked though she gave me no room to answer. "It means everyone thinks you two are a couple! Goodie-two-shoes Inaya and hot-as-hell Valentino! Dating!"

I felt my face rage with blush. But I couldn't deny the bubbly feeling in my stomach at Salah's words, even if they were haram words.

"It's not like that!" I forced myself to say. "We're just friends."

"Plenty of relationships start that way. And sooner or later, we're gonna hear da-dahnt-ta-da, da-dahnt-ta-da!"

In the background, I could hear other, squeakier voices of Salah's younger siblings echo her imitation of wedding bells.

"Salah!" I whisper-shouted. I ran a hand to untie my dark brown hair from its ponytail out of anxiousness. Even my ears were burning.

"Okay, maybe you're not going to be true to your dad's culture when you guys get married—"

"SALAH!"

She giggled. "Okay, all right, Ms. Serious. But it's something to think about. We're going to college soon. Adults. If Valentino likes you now, imagine how much he'll like mature, successful Inaya?"

"That sounds like crazy talk to me," I shot back. But Salah's words made me grip my phone in unusual excitement. "If Valentino liked me, he would've asked me to prom."

"Well, you announced so early that you weren't going, so why would he ask you now?"

I frowned. Salah had a point there.

"Oh, also...I need to tell you something," she said, her voice taking on a mysterious tone. "The morning after we voted for the prom theme, I realized that I had left my pencil case in the homeroom. So, I went back there, and guess who I bumped into on the way?"

"Uh..." I responded half-heartedly, having no idea where Salah was going with this.

"I bumped into Valentino, obviously! We had some small talk and all, and then...." She paused dramatically before continuing, "He asked me, 'Why can't Muslim girls go to prom?'"

I inhaled sharply. My mind came up with thousands of different scenarios of how this tidbit was significant to me. The morning after everyone voted prom theme was also the one and only morning that I was late for school.

However, all I managed to say was, "Okay...and then?"

"Then, I explained to him that modesty is considered a virtue in Islam and that we believe prom doesn't contribute to that virtue in any way. That's why most of us don't go."

"Salah, what does this—"

"Patience, please! Geez...And then, I teased him. I was like, 'Why do you ask? Were you thinking of asking Inaya to be your partner for prom? Because she's a good girl and won't go.' He just made a face and then laughed before saying he was just curious. But I'm pretty sure I saw him blushing."

"You're delusional, Salah!" I chuckled loudly to hide the sudden fluttering in my chest.

"Am I? You guys do hang out a lot."

"As friends," I corrected.

"Okay, but what if he started getting feelings for you? Don't you think prom would've been his way to confess?"

I felt my mouth go dry. "I don't know."

"I think I do."

"Salah."

I didn't want to think that I missed my chance to be his. Not that I'd do anything about it...well, maybe I would've done something about it. I wouldn't know because it never got to happen!

Salah let out a disappointed sigh. "Okay, Miss Serious."

"Wait." I put down my phone, hearing someone walking down the hall to enter my room. "Someone is coming." I wrinkled my nose at the sight of Mama holding a plate of sliced pears. "Mama, I don't really like pears."

My mother gasped in horror. "I love pears!"

"I know, you always cut them. You can eat them, too."

"Fine. But I'm coming back with more fruit."

"I also want that chocolate in the fridge before Baba eats it!" I called as my mom turned around and left.

When I put her phone back to her ear, Salah said, "I can't believe you talk back to your mom like that."

I played with her hair as I ran my finger in circles over my textbook for no reason. "My mom's cool like that."

"Yeah, okay. Now, let's go back to that theory about you and Val—"

"I have Spanish homework to do, actually," I cut her off. "If you need any help with yours, just text me, okay?"

"F-i-i-ne," she drawled out. "Bye."

"Bye."

I released a heavy sigh as I placed my phone to the side. I had to end the conversation because I needed to complete my homework if I wanted to meet Valentino online tonight. I glanced at the clock on the wall and opened my Spanish textbook again.

But concentrating on my homework was torture since my mind wouldn't settle. Despite admitting it was haram, I wished I hadn't said anything about prom. Valentino could've asked me out! What would that have felt like? Hearing him say he wants me?

Minute by excruciating minute passed, and I finally scribbled the last word of my Spanish homework. With a high sense of accomplishment, I slapped the book close. ¡Ya terminé!

I settled into the chair behind my desk and logged into CrusadEon. Seeing Valentino's character online, I was suddenly overcome with guilt and disappointment from my conversation with Salah. Was it possible that he was acting standoffish earlier because he wasn't going to ask me out to prom anymore? It was respectful of him to do so, but that would land me back to being just friends with him. Just deskmates. And I didn't really want that.

Sharpen your weapons at the blacksmith before you fight

Oh right

Thnx

And don't forget to watch your hp

Right right

That's an NPC you can't hit em

Omg whats wrong with meeee

Cant remember even the simplest things

Haha

U didn't have problems with these kinda things before

U distracted?

Everything ok?

I bit my bottom lip.

Oh nothing

What else could I say? My fingers trembled a little. Elsa's words echoed in my mind.

Just

There's this girl I don't like

Ahh drama

What did she do?

I found that my fingers typed quicker now, eager to get the resentment I felt for Elsa out of my chest.

Lol yeah

she has something against me

but like idk what I've done to her!

every time she's near me, I feel like I'm in danger

Jealousy maybe

Yeah

it just bothers me a lot

ruins my day whenever I talk to her

you know?

Sounds rough

I could see how things like that could mess with you

don't let her win tho

you're pretty cool

Haha thanks!

Jealous people have ruined things for me before

Oh no :(

Just don't let what they say bother you and you'll be ok

Alright I'll keep that in mind

Lets forget about the haters

you too good for that

and you're almost lvl 34!

Yea!!!!!!

We completed a few more quests, but I had to excuse myself within the half hour. With another heavy sigh, I lay in bed and stared at the ceiling. It was so unfair. I didn't know what to feel about any of this. Flattered? Happy? No, I didn't feel any of that because he never got the chance to ask me in person. Disappointed? I wasn't supposed to go to prom anyway since Baba talked about kathra-al-sawad.

Exasperated, I turned over to bury my head into my pillow. It felt like God was playing a cruel trick on me by putting a perfectly charming guy into my life when I couldn't do anything about it. I turned back around and let out a big sigh. Well, that was how the saying went. Life was just one big exam. The trouble was most of the questions were open ended. The good thing was that God accepted partial credit, even if people didn't.

And I still have Tireya.

The thought made me sit up. If I couldn't be a closer friend to Valentino, and I needed convincing to be happy that I wasn't his prom date, then at least I could make up for it online—which meant Tireya would always be my secret.