39 ??Old friendships??

☂︎FOUR MONTHS LATER☂︎

LEIA

It was my orientation day.

The clouds were thick and heavy with rain in a late January's afternoon and I was hoping there'd be no rain outside otherwise the baggy clothes I was wearing would cling to my body—especially my belly.

It was difficult to hide the big thing especially since I had reached the seventh month of my pregnancy. But it wasn't that apparent when I looked like . . . this.

My robe was almost five sizes bigger than usual but that wasn't the worst of it. Instead of my usual chiffon scarf, I was wearing this huge shawl-like thing over my head. It reached my mid-thighs.

I looked absolutely ridiculous.

And not that girly I'm-so-pretty-but-I'm-going-to-create-some-drama-so-other-people-can-compliment-me way. I genuinely looked bad.

Even Ammar had laughed when he saw me. Labeeb and my parents were too nice to say anything but I could tell they thought the same thing.

God.

When I reached school, I had been listening to a soothing and motivating recitation of the Qur'an so I was feeling much better already. Unbothered, I got out of the car, barely bidding Ammar farewell.

Oh, and you might be wondering about Ammar and I. Well, that was a story for another time.

I stared at the building for a second before muttering my prayers and walking the pavement of Leroy High. I kept talking to myself and didn't pay attention to anyone. I told myself that nobody was staring and it made me instantly relax.

People were so stressful sometimes.

My plan for today was to keep my head and eyes down. No looking at anyone. Pretend to belong to the A-Levels. I wouldn't take off my robe and nobody would know who I am.

It was a genius plan, really.

It's not like anybody wore a robe except for me.

I was standing in the basketball court when I was pulled from behind. I let out a short shriek, terrified of falling. Arms wrapped around me and I found my nose stuck in a bony shoulder.

"Ah!" Hoor laughed. "Your hands are tickling me!"

I reluctantly removed said hands from where I was clutching my stomach, still not quite hugging her.

"Where did you suddenly come from?" I managed to ask.

She pulled back, staring me up and down, a strange look in her eyes. Yep. I knew I looked amazing. No comment, please.

Instead, a grin pulled up her lips. "I saw you basically running from your car all the way here. I literally called you a thousand times but you kept fleeing."

My cheeks burned. "I didn't want to miss the orientation."

She flippantly waved a hand. "We had it last year too. Nothing too important. Some really hot guy just comes to give these dumb instructions that no one really listens too."

I chuckled unexpectedly. "Thanks for telling me. Why are you here if it isn't important?"

"Uh . . ." she bit her lip, looking to the right from out of the corners of her eyes. "Well . . . nothing."

I slowly nodded, not wanting to force her to tell me anything. I could barely remember the last time we had talked.

"Well, look who we've got here," A voice drawled from our right. Anas grinned cheekily, looking from me to Hoor. "How are you, my sisies-in-law?"

My heart took off at even the implication that there was something between Zayn and I.

I wished there was. I wished he was my husband instead of Ammar. I wish I was carrying his baby instead of Ammar's.

I knew coming to school wasn't a good idea. It was all just a painful reminder of what I wanted but couldn't have.

"Oh, God," Hoor groaned. "He is so annoying."

"I heard you, you know," Anas said, that smile not moving a single bit away from his face. "But that's fine. You girls made both of my super manly friends lose their bets so you have my utmost respect."

I had no idea what to do with myself. I looked like a ball of . . . something. And I felt weird standing here next to these perfectly sculptured people. I was about to help myself out when Hoor called out my name.

"Yeah?"

"Are you going inside without me?"

Why did she sound hurt?

"I—uh—no. Let's go together."

She smiled, nodding. I didn't understand why she liked me. Most people didn't. They would look away as soon as they saw me covered up. She was so nice.

Ah. At last. Someone was nice.

"Are you leaving without me?" Anas pouted. "I'm so hurt."

"Whatever," Hoor said, looping her arms through mine.

I immediately placed a hand over my belly out of habit but then I lowered it, not wanting anyone to take notice.

We were at the door when Hoor's arms tightened around me almost painfully.

"Oh my God, oh my God. Oh no. Leia. We need to hide. Now."

"What's wrong?"

A panicky expression marred her face. She tried to hide her face behind her hand. "He's here. Zeeshan is here. Why is he everywhere I go?"

I looked up the steps of the auditorium and saw Zeeshan standing at the very end, just before the lighting room. That meant . . .

"Can't you do anything correctly for once!?"

Oh, Lord, no.

Here it comes.

From across the room, Zayn's heated gaze collided with mine.