Chapter Twenty - Until Next Time 

"Woah." Leila muttered, as she stared at a list which was posted on the wall. "I passed."

The three girls were standing in the hallway, their eyes glued on the list of people hung up on the wall. The names of all the people who had successfully passed Grade Twelve were posted that morning.

"Of course you passed!" Emaan said, before turning back to the list. "Cant say the same for Leena, though." She mused.

Sabrina, who had been observing silently as her friends pondered over the fact that Leena failed, felt a pang of pity for the blue eyed girl. Sure, she had a not-so-positive relationship with her but she couldn't help but feel slightly sorry for Leena. Sabrina, scanning the list once more, did a double take as her eyes landed on someone else's name - someone she had initially thought would have had a difficult time completing the year.

Khalid's.

It wasn't as if she thought he was dumb or slow. She merely assumed he would have stayed behind because of all the...dilemmas he was facing. She continued to stare at his name, and a fluttery feeling rose in her stomach as she realized he would be graduating with her.

"Bree? Why are you grinning like that?" Emaan asked, eyeing Sabrina.

"What?" Sabrina asked, snapping out of her thoughts. "Oh uh, I'm just happy that we're all graduating!"

"Riiiight." Leila smirked, flashing a naughty grin. "You mean that you're happy that Khalid is graduating along with us."

"I..uh..no." Sabrina stammered, flushing pink. "Whatever do you mean?"

"OH." Emaan said loudly, pointing at the list. "He is graduating with us!" 

Sabrina raised her eyebrows at Emaan, who shrugged, with an unapologetic smile. Sabrina gathered that Emaan's statement was solely to embarrass her further and pursed her lips, before giving Leila and Emaan a smug smile. 

"So...what are you wearing to Grad?" She asked, knowing full well that, if not Emaan, Leila would be totally distracted by the question.

She was correct in thinking so, because two seconds later Lelia was listing down all the brand names and designer dresses she was thinking of wearing, her eyes alight with pure glee. Sabrina rolled her eyes and inwardly chuckled at her best friends materialistic interests. She was the same fashionista that Sabrina had met in Elementary and most likely would never change. Sabrina, however, hope she didn't. She was happy with the way Leila was and always would be.

Her innocent question, that had been directed to throw Leila off guard, also did the same to her. What should I wear to Grad? she thought. She'd never been one to think endlessly over such things but even she had to admit that Grad was important. She was finishing high school. And in two weeks, she would be walking across the stage, accepting her Diploma and never looking back.

So what to wear?

* * *

"Only you would wear an abaya to Grad!" Leila huffed, fixing Sabrina's hijab and applying a smudge of concealer on Sabrina's face. Only Leila could manage the two seperate actions at once.

"It's a beautiful abaya though!" Sabrina defended her dress-like outfit with a pout. 

"It is. You look absolutely gorgeous." Emaan agreed, with a brilliant smile.

Leila grunted as she finished Sabrina's make up and stepped back to admire her work. Sabrina turned and gasped, pleasantly surprised to see that the make up had been done well to her liking. Light and striking, Leila had brought out her chocolate brown eyes with a soft smoky eye shadow and her lips were painted a glowing pink color. Her abaya, a long black gown with a purple belt had been topped off with a fun colorful hijab which made the look outgoing but still modest.

She glanced back at Leila and gave her a hug, careful not to wreak havoc on Leila's elegant dress more fitted for a ball room than a graduation ceremony. 

"Wow, Lee!" She gushed. "You make me look almost as pretty as you!"

"Please." Leila snorted. "You already are."

"Both of you are equally just as breath-takingly gorgeous." Emaan said, with a roll of her eyes. "Now lets go!" 

"SubhanAllah! You girls look amazing!" Sabrina's mother chirped, as she chose that precise moment to barge into the room. 

Leila put away her make up and tidied up her room as Sabrina's mother took pictures of Sabrina and Emaan, gushing over them. Emaan was wearing a mermaid styled dress, which flared up at the bottom in elegant ruffles. She looked beautiful as always, with perfect make up and a wide smile. Sabrina beamed next to her as she smiled at the camera.

An hour later the three girls and their mothers entered New Hope High for the last time. This was it, Sabrina thought happily. After this we'll be in University and on the way to shaping up our futures. They had all passed with excellent grades and hoped to keep it that way. Sabrina had decided to pursue a path in Nursing and while Emaan wasn't sure what she would do, decided to go for a Bachelor in Science while Leila considered teaching. The best part was that they had been accepted into the same University.

But Sabrina pushed all this to the back of her mind as she entered the Gym, focusing on this special night. It was decorated beautifully, blue and silver colors draped over the walls and stage, giving the Gymnasium a more fun and festive look. Behind her Leila and Emaan argued over boys and Sabrina rolled her eyes a the petty conversation. Their mothers - who engaged in their own conversation - took no notice of what their daughters were shamelessly arguing over.

"No...Robin Hale definitely looks the best in a suit." Leila was saying glancing at an arrogant looking boy with way too much gel in his hair. "I mean look at that boy. Look at him."

"How about we don't," Sabrina laughed before scolding her. "I mean astagfirullah, Leila. Lower your gaze."

"Yeah!" Emaan said firmly, then totally contradicting her statement, went on to say: "And besides: Eric Lemmer looks way better in a suit that Robin."

Sabrina rolled her eyes at this comment and tuned the two bickering girls out. She found her gaze roaming the room, searching for a noticeably absent figure. She shook her head, realizing that she was looking for Khalid. She felt Leila poke her and turned to see her best friend looking at something over her shoulder, her eyes wide.

"Wow." She breathed. "Never expected Khalid to look so damn fine in a suit."

Sabrina turned, her breath caught in her throat and saw that Leila was, in fact, correct. Khalid strode into the Gym as if he owned it, his hair combed back, his eyes flashing in that haughty way of his. He was wearing a tight black suit, with a blue tie and as he made his way closer to where Sabrina stood, she could almost smell his enticing scent.

She was just about to look away, when his eyes found hers and he openly stared at her. She quickly let her gaze drift around the room as if she hadn't seen him at all. Though, her eyes were no longer on him, she felt his gaze burning on her.

"That boy better close his mouth." Emaan giggled. 

"Hey Khalid!" Leila cried out, making Sabrina jump in horror. "You have a phone - so use it! A picture lasts longer."

Sabrina peeked a look at him, and watched as his eyes slid to Leila who was smirking proudly. He sent her a nasty glare and, with a turn, slipped into the crowd. Sabrina immediately felt a sigh of relief escape her throat, glad his intense gaze was not directed at her any longer. He thrilled her with his presence and that was something Sabrina was not used to. However, her traitorous heart ached after he left.

"He totally likes you." Leila said, her eyes bright. "Omg I knew it."

"What?" Sabrina asked, utterly taken by surprise at that last statement. "What do you mean by 'I knew it'?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Emaan went on to explain. "After you two made up, he no longer hates you and since he used to like you back in Elementary...all those feelings are coming back."

"Yep." Leila confirmed.

"No..you guys are being silly." Sabrina said, shaking her head. "Besides even if he did: I don't. So whatever."

"Are you sure you don't like him back." Leila asked, her eyes boring into Sabrina's.

"Positive." Sabrina said, though she said it with a hesitant breath.

She didn't like him. Not the way he liked her, at least. She repeated it to herself throughout the night and even as she smiled and walked up the stage to receive her Diploma. She turned, paused for a picture and out of the corner of her eyes, saw Khalid leaning against the wall, his gaze following her as she climbed down the steps of the stage and slipped into the excited crowd. 

The next forty minutes consisted of alot of picture taking and food. Sabrina stood at the side, a plate of cake in her hands and watched as Leila and Emaan instagrammed plates of cake, the chocolate fountain and took selfies. She joined in on a few, making silly faces because, as she stated, it was better to look ugly on purpose to which Emaan smacked her and demanded that she recite: 'I am beautiful and I know it' ten times.

With a reluctant but happy sigh she did so and as she finished, she raised her eyebrows at her friends with a 'well are you happy now' look, but was interrupted by an dry chuckle.

"Well, that was magnificently entertaining." A voice said behind her and Sabrina stiffened at the familiar and slightly cocky tone. Leila and Emaan glanced at each other and silently sneaked off, sending Sabrina meaningful looks as she mentally cursed them for leaving her alone. She sighed and turned to face an amused looking Khalid.

"And quite accurate, too." He added.

"Well, I'm glad one person thinks so." Sabrina muttered, trying not to dwell on the fact that he was complmenting her.

"Why?" He asked, raising an eyebrow. "You dont think your beautiful?"

"Um...I dunno." She said, with a shrug.

"Well I think you are." Khalid said, his gaze drifting over her. Sabrina looked away, hiding the blush that was threatenting to creep over her face. Internally, she was screaming.

Khalid smirked at her, amused by her reaction, and leaned back, slipping his hands in his pockets. Sabrina was suddenly aware that she should not be talking to a boy, by herself, even if she was in a Gym full of people - and especially when her mother was present. She quickly thought of an excuse and was just about to blurt it out, when Khalid spoke up. 

"So which University are you planning to go to?" He asked, a flicker of hope flashing in his eyes.

"Capilano." Sabrina answered. "Why?"

"Oh, me too." Khalid said, letting out a sigh which sounded suspiciously relieved. He quickly covered it up by turning and staring off into the crowd with a blank face. 

Almost as if he was glad, Sabrina thought as she replayed his sigh in her mind. She denied the thought immediately and realized with a start that Khalid would be attending the same University as her. She blinked at the wonderfully horrible news and looked up to see him staring down at her with a intense expression as if he was trying to make out what she was thinking. She stepped back and stammered out a goodbye.

"Well, then, I should be going. Salaam." She said, her mind still swirling around the unexpected revealtion.

"Yeah, okay." He sighed, sounding rather irritated. "Walaikum'asalaam. Until next time."

She dived into the crowd of joyous graduates and poked her way across the room where she had seen Leila and Emaan head off too. She was still trying to wrap her mind around the fact that, once again, Khalid would be included in her life. It wasn't enough to have him present in Junior High and High School. Oh no, he had to be with her in University too, she thought sarcastically. Her heart did a happy somersault while her mind grimaced. 

"BREEE!" Leila screeched into her ear, seeming to pop out of nowhere."What happened? What did he say?"

"Nothing important." Sabrina said. "Just asked which University I'd be going to. And why did you leave me?" She huffed.

"Well, we had to make sure the moms wouldn't, hmm, stumble upon your little chat with Khalid. So we were busy keeping them occupied." Emaan explained, waggling her eyebrows. 

"You little devils." Sabrina chuckled, gratefully.

While Leila and Emaan discussed Khalid and his presence at their University, Sabrina found her eyes scanning the Gym. Blue eyes stared at her from among the crowd and she gulped, looking away, wondering why in the world she was affected so much by the infuriatingly handsome boy. One thing was certain: Sabrina and Khalid were to cross paths again. For better or for worse, they were both included in each other's futures.

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GAAHH. Wow this was hard to write. I'm sad this book is over :(( BUT OMG I have soo many surprises for the next book. The author's note has more details, so if you wanna know what will happen next - please read on!

And I will post a sneak peek of the next book, soon, in perhaps a week or so.

Dont forget to vote if you liked! And please share your thoughts? 

Yes, that is Sabrina's abaya on the side.

SubhanAllah: Glory be to Allah

Astagfirullah: I seek forgivness form Allah.