Chapter 29：Happy Ally

***

Writer's POV:

An amused Asahd poked his head in first, looking around the apartment to make sure Djafar wasn't seated there.

Saïda was behind him in the corridor, biting her finger and hoping her father wasn't awake. She'd kept her phone off throughout and when she'd put it on, she got notifications from about five of her father's missed calls.

-

The apartment was completely dark, meaning Djafar had long retired to bed.

"Is he there?" Saïda whispered.

"No. Let's go in." Asahd replied "Shhh."

They tiptoed into the apartment and Saïda quietly and carefully locked the door behind her.

They started making their way through the furniture to get to their rooms. Everything was fine until in the dark, Saïda hit her leg against a chair and it made her trip over. Asahd, at the exact same moment, who'd heard the noise from the chair, was turning to ask Saïda to quiet down and was taken by surprise at a falling Saïda.

She fell forward and before Asahd could stabilise himself and catch her, she fell on him. Though he succeeded in wrapping his arms around her, it was still unexpected and in the dark, he lost balance and fell from Saïda's weight. They landed on the carpet with a heavy thud, Saïda on top of Asahd who'd hit part of his head against a chair while falling.

She was fast enough to put a hand over his mouth, muffling his groan of pain.

"Oh my gosh, I'm sorry." she gasped, automatically rubbing that part of his head.

He couldn't blame her. The apartment was completely dark.

"I'll- I'll survive. Hopefully we don't wake Djafar." Asahd whispered.

"Hopefully."

Just then, both realised how they were positioned. Saïda's knees and thighs rested at his sides, like she was straddling him. Asahd had his arms around her lower waist and his right hand was a little too low, resting at the top of her butt.

She sat up immediately and at the same moment, Asahd hurriedly took his arms and hands off her. She got off him and stood. He got up right after.

"We should rush to our rooms before he hears more noise." Saïda whispered and carefully tiptoed her way towards her door, in the dark.

Asahd did same, going in search of his door.

"If my father asks me questions tomorrow, which he definitely will, you've got my back, right?"

"Sure. Goodnight."

"Goodnight."

He waited for her to enter her room and then he stepped into his.

"Time for me to get rid of these wet clothes." he said to himself.

***

**

That night, Asahd called Saïda to his room.

"Yes?" she sat on his bed and stared up at him. He had two shirts in his hands.

"Which of these two cheap and pathetic shirts would look best on me?" he mused.

"You're terrible. They're great."

"Nothing compared to my clothes that you abandoned in Zagreh!" he picked a pillow and threw it in her face. She laughed.

"Good for you."

Asahd rolled his eyes in amusement.

"So which?"

"Aaaw, it's cute how you are dressing to impress Allison."

He laughed out in the most sarcastic manner.

"Saïda, I thought you knew me. I dress to impress everyone. Fashion has always been at the top of my list, Darling. I gotta look charismatic in everything I do." he ended proudly. She laughed because it was a fact. Asahd wasn't even thinking about impressing Allison. He was doing that to get everyone's attention, which he loved.

"Girls dress to impress me. It shouldn't be the other way round."

"Wait till you fall in love. Hopefully with Allison. I swear, Asahd, you'll wear the best clothes around her. Just to impress her and only her."

"Yeah, yeah whatever. Didn't call you here for a chit chat." he teased and she rolled her eyes.

"Fine. Wear the first one."

"Why?"

"Because it's cool. They're both beautiful shirts but I like the first most especially because it's blue. That's my favorite color."

"Who cares?" he laughed and threw the blue shirt away, "Because you chose that one, I'll wear this one instead. The oxblood. Ha-ha."

Asahd was a stubborn case. Saïda shook her head in amusement and picked the blue shirt. Asahd watched her silently make her way to the door and open it. Before stepping out, she said in the most satisfied manner:

"Reverse psychology, Asahd. I knew you wouldn't pick what I would chose and so I intentionally picked the one I liked the least. Oxblood is my fav, dumbass."

Asahd's smile faded a little and she laughed.

"Alright, give me the blue shirt." Asahd mused.

"Nope." she rushed out.

"Saïda!" Asahd followed her and by the time he found her, she gave the shirt back. Only problem was, it was soaked with water, "Are you serious?!"

"Oxblood goes with your eyes. You'll thank me later." she mused and went to sit with her father who had been busy watching TV.

***

Allison's heart skipped a beat when she saw Asahd walk down the sidewalk and towards her.

"How are you?" he smiled and gave her a warm hug. Allison melted on the inside. His sweet smell caused goosebumps on her skin.

"I'm fine. And you?" she asked softly, raising her head to look at him once they'd parted.

"I'm good."

"I like your shirt. Goes with your eyes." she complimented and Asahd smiled a little.

'Guess that stubborn kid was right.' he thought, referring to Saïda.

"Thank you. You look great too."

"Thanks." she blushed.

"Let's go get our tickets then. Have you chosen a movie?"

"Mmhmm. I hope you won't mind it."

"Don't worry. I'll watch what you want to watch."

"You're sweet."

*

Asahd's POV:

'What the fuck am I watching, right now?'

We'd not watched half of the movie Allison had chosen, yet I was beginning to regret. She'd chosen a romantic tragedy. A tragedy! If it was a normal romantic movie or even a romantic comedy, it would've been cool. But it was a tragedy. Someone was going to die at the end for sure. I hated tragedies.

"You like it?" she whispered and I smiled a little.

"Yeah."

She giggled.

"Omg, it's so obvious you don't like it. It's written all over your face." she mused.

"It's horrible." I chuckled and she laughed lowly.

"Okay I won't force you to finish it. I have two options. Pick. Either we leave and watch another movie they're projecting tonight, or, we go to a fast food." she proposed.

"I already like you very much for proposing that." I mused. It pleased me that she was also this fun and playful girl.

"Ooou, I'm blushing again." she said and we laughed a little.

"Ssshhhh." a few angry people hushed us.

"We'll do both." I whispered and grabbed her hand, "C'mon. Let's get out of here."

"Oki."

I stood, holding her hand and leading us out of that boring place.

*

The second movie was way better and we left the theatres, laughing and in a better mood. We were chatting and walking down the streets, in search of a fast food restaurant when Allison held my hand in hers. I smiled at her and she smiled back, reddening. She had a very cute smile.

"I love your smile."

"Thank you, Asahd."

We walked a little distance and found a restaurant. We got in, ordered and sat down to eat. Allison told me about herself and so far, she'd said nothing that could drive me away. She was so simple and such a darling.

"And you? Tell me about you, Asahd." she said, wiping the corners of her mouth with a tish.

"Well, we moved in a month ago."

"From your country or a different city?"

"My country. I'm here with my father and sister, whom you already know about. We came to America to start a new life. Start afresh. It was really hard at first, but things are beginning to come into place."

"And I hope they get better."

We continued chatting and I had to come up with a lot of fake stuff to add to my story. Other than that, we really had a good time.

--

We were finished by past ten and Allison and I stood on the sidewalk while we waited for a free cab.

"I had a great time, Asahd. Thank you." she smiled.

"You're welcome. I had a lot of fun too. You're even cooler than I thought."

"Thank you." she giggled and shyly looked away, "I had to tell you something. Remember?"

"True. Tell me."

She covered her face with her palms and giggled a little.

"Okay. Um..." she looked up, though avoiding my eyes a little, "I like you. Like really, really, really like you."

My lips twitched in amusement and she giggled nervously.

"Oookaaay." I smiled.

"Um, so now you know. And before I pass out or something," she laughed nervously again, "I just want you to know that I've never asked a boy out, before. But it's gonna be different this time. I like you very much and- and if you don't mind, I would like us to be more than friends." she ended, shutting her eyes in amusement and embarrassment.

Even if I wanted to say no, I don't think I could've. She was so cute in everything she did.

"So, you want me to be your boyfriend, actually?" I teased with a little chuckle and she laughed.

"Omg, I'm embarrassed enough. Please don't make me cringe even more." she giggled, her whole face reddening.

I laughed and pulled her in for a hug. She hugged me back with a giggle.

"So? What do you say?" she asked when we parted.

"I'm going to be honest with you." I held her hands.

"Oh gawd, you're gonna reject me?" she shut her eyes tight and I chuckled.

"Listen to me first. Open your eyes, please."

"Okay." she did but avoided my look.

"Okay." I started, "For now, I like you as a friend."

"Oh, boy..."

"Hold on, I'm not finished." I laughed. It was so amusing.

"Okay, go on. Rip the bandaid off. I'll survive..." she laughed a little, even more nervous.

"Okay. I was saying that I like you very much as a friend, for now. But I believe with little time, I'll get to like you more than a friend. I'll do everything to because you're amazing."

She blushed and smiled shyly.

"Thanks."

"It's true. I want to be your boyfriend and you my girlfriend."

I saw her brighten up.

"It'll be a one-sided thing, sure, but I believe that if I'm in a relationship with you, though I don't like you more than a friend yet, I'll eventually and gradually fall for you. Is that fine by you?"

She smiled brightly and I chuckled.

"Yes! I know you'll like me with time. I'll do everything to make you like me." she smiled happily, "This means we're officially dating now?"

"I believe so."

She smiled and stepped forward. I knew exactly what she wanted and so I gave it to her. I leaned in and kissed her.