Chapter Eighteen - I Never Did

Sabrina stared at Khalid. Did he just say thank you to me? She thought. She was sure her mouth was hanging open. She never would have guessed that Khalid would be standing in front of her without a snarl pasted on his face. Time had certainly changed him. Up close he looked even more breath taking than he usually did. She blinked before she got too lost in his unusually soft eyes.

"Are you...high?" She asked, more jokingly then serious.

"What? No." He said, and then blinked. "I mean I dont think I...I mean no!"

Sabrina laughed and watched as his face softened. He gave a sheepish grin. She marvelled at how they were facing each other and not spitting venom at each other's faces. Suddenly, she stopped as she realized where they were. They were in a hospital, for Allah's sake. Why am I laughing? Khalid's mother might be fighting for her life and I'm laughing? A question popped into her mind, one she didn't know why she didn't ask earlier.

"What happened to your mom?" She asked before she considered how personal it was.

Khalid's face went blank and he turned away, his eyes scanning the walls, the tiles on the floor. Anything but her face. It was like he suddenly didn't want to look at her anymore. Sabrina felt her heart drop but she wasn't sure weather it was because of his reaction or because of the absence of his gaze. She felt guilty for both.

"She...was shot." He mumbled. "She's losing alot of blood and neither me or my dad have the same blood type. It was a freaking miracle that you happened to come along..."

Sabrina's blood went cold. Shot? She couldn't believe it. Who would do such a thing? But then her initial theory of Khalid's gang came to mind. What if they did this? But why would they target his mother? 

"Do you know who..." She asked slowly, afraid he might burst.

But Khalid just shook his head. Either he didn't know or he didn't want to say. Sabrina caught a flash of guilt in his eyes and she wondered how it would feel like if your mistakes and choices cost you your mother's life. 

"Insha'Allah, she'll get better." She whispered, encouragingly.

Khalid looked up, and his face changed. He stared at her, as if he was caught between screaming and thanking her. He was so...uncertain.

"Why?" He croaked. "All this time you hate on us and then you go and...and save my mom's life? What is up with you?"

"You know I never hated you or all Arabs, Khalid." Sabrina said, staring back at him.

Sabrina wanted him to see the honesty in her eyes. Look at me, she thought silently to him. I'm earnest. I'm sincere. I'm truthful. And I never hated you, ever. He gazed at her, silently. His eyes looked confused as if he wanted to accept what she said but something held him back. Finally he sighed, giving up.

"Then why did you insult us all those years ago?" He asked, his eyes blank. He knew the answer. He knew. But maybe he just wanted to hear her say it. So she did.

"I was angry." She said, quietly. "I didn't mean it. And I'm sorry for that. I'm sorry for hurting you and creating all this hate between us."

They stared at each other. Finally Khalid chuckled, dryly, his eyes glassy.

"If anyone should be saying sorry - it should be me." He said, his voice flat. "I'm the one who believed all the crap that Leena told me. I'm the one who over reacted. So yeah...I'm sorry."

Sabrina tried not to let her eyes widen. She only dreamed of this day, never expecting it to actually happen. Finally, she thought. Finally. She nodded while mentally screaming in joy. Khalid watched her reaction, hopefully. He seemed to breathe a sigh of relief when she silently accepted his apology.

"I still don't get why you helped my mom, though." He said, raking his hand through his hair. "I did kinda try to ruin your life. You do realize that any normal person would have sat back and watched me suffer, right?"

"Well then, I guess I'm not normal" Sabrina snorted. "Why would I let the fact that I dislike you, stand in front of possibly saving an innocent person's life?"

"Guess you're not normal, then." Khalid agreed.

"I don't care if the whole world is gonna fight hate with hate. I'm gonna go ahead and fight with love." Sabrina said, crossing her arms and setting her mouth in a stubborn line.

Khalid smiled at that, making Sabrina's heart jump. "You were always like this, you know. You always had this stubborn sense of justice. You were always different than most girls...." 

"I...was?" Sabrina asked, slightly shocked by the fact that Khalid - the boy who had ruined half her life - was regarding her with kind words.

"Yeah..I think that was why I liked you." He said, his face turning pink.

Suddenly, Sabrina felt as if the air had vanished. She stared at him, her mind coming to a complete stop. It picked itself up again, racing with thoughts and memories all of which should have hinted that he had indeed liked her. And not just like. Like like. She calmed down as she realized that they were talking about the past. He didn't like her anymore. The thought both relieved and depressed her. Meanwhile Khalid went on, straining to get the words out. It was as if he'd been holding them back forever.

"...after that day, I hated your guts. I never liked anyone before. After I met you, it was like I suddenly had a reason to keep on living. You were that important to me. But after that day, after what you said, I couldn't stand the fact that the girl I was falling in love with, could possibly hate me - and not just me - but all Arabs. Maybe that's why I hated you so much. It was like I was trying to hate you, trying to deny that I ever liked you."

It was like air didn't even exist anymore. She struggled to breathe. Struggled to understand what Khalid was saying. She never, in a million years, expected this. Khalid watched her, his eyes so intense with emotion that she almost looked away. She should have at least suspected. There were so many hints. The way he had looked at her. The way he had felt so comfortable around her.

"I knew you never felt the same way. I was just a friend to you. And I know there's no point in me telling all this to you now, but...I just thought you should know. That I don't hate you. I never did." He sighed. "Say something, Sabrina. This is getting awkward."

He gazed at her expectantly. What did he want her to say? Sabrina didn't know how she even felt, let alone what she thought she should say. She sure as heck wasn't about to make him feel better by pretending that she liked him back. No way. That was just...not right. But she seriously wondered...did she like him back? 

"I-" She began but was cut off by a sharp voice.

"Hello. Sorry to interrupt."

Sabrina's eyes slid over Khalid's shoulders. Two Police Officers walked up behind him, clad in their blue uniforms. Their guns hung from their belts. An officer with grey eyes stepped forward. 

"Are you Khalid Fayad?" He asked, his voice gruff.

"Uh..yes." Khalid said, looking as if he wanted to make a run for it. The officer's eyes hardened.

"Then I'm afraid that you'll have to come with me."

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Dunno if that's how it really works..."like oh hi, look, you're suspected of a crime so come along now."

Kay so...wow! Khalid's under arrest and (more importantly) HE LIKES SABRINA?? WHAT? WHAT IS THIS, YOU WEIRD AUTHOR WHO HATES LOVE STORIES BUT HAS BEEN SEEMINGLY WRITING ONE THIS WHOLE TIME? 

um..sorry? 

It isn't...though...a love story, I mean. I swear. I just needed to add some...emotion...and drama...and you know...drama.(and I also don't hate love stories - only when its an "Islamic story" and the guy and girl date/drool over each other...like seriously? How is this Islamic?)

But yeah, hope you enjoyed! Please don't forget to vote, comment and share your thoughts!!