Karma's a Bitch* #26

Saif’s P.O.V

I woke up late to the sound of Salama’s voice calling me. I was totally exhausted. The whole day with Shamma had kept eating at me, making sleep impossible to find. I had tossed and turned all night, finally giving up and watching some lame old late movie on t.v. until I dozed off near dawn.

I knew I'd pretty much acted like an ass right from the start. tI'd known it while I was doing it. But at the time I'd reasoned that she didn't deserve any special treatment from me. I thought she’d be okay with me kissing her. After all, it was all for attention, right?

I was pretty much lying to myself, though. Mostly I just really wanted to kiss her. Ever since my lips made contact with her skin I'd been completely distracted, wanting a lot more. All that stuff about putting on a show for everyone was me just rationalizing what I really wanted to do, which was for her to be mine.

And then she got pissed, and I got defensive and sarcastic. Then she told me about how she wasn't one of those girls and her reasons for being there were all noble and shit. Every word of it was true, I could tell. That was when I started to feel just a little bit bad about what I'd done, which was entirely new territory for me.

I sat up all night wrestling with this irritating, unfamiliar feeling of guilt, this feeling I couldn't escape that I'd done something wrong, which I didn't like.

The tricky part, though, was that I knew she wanted me too. I didn't imagine what happened. Sure I started it, but she was giving as good as she got. It wasn't like I forced myself on her and assaulted her. Okay, maybe I forced myself on her a little…but she liked it. But I still felt bad about it, which was weird. I guess it was because she was determined to ignore whatever had flared up between us and I pushed her anyway. I could feel something between us spark, but it certainly wasn't love, not on her side, at least. Then I gave her a hard time for it, and I sort of insulted her.

And back to what had flared up between us…What. The. Fuck. Was. That? I had more than my share of experience with girls. In fact, that was a laughable understatement. But I had no frame of reference for what happened last night. That electricity every time I touched her, the way my mind went completely blank when I kissed her and some sort of crazy instinct took over and swamped my senses, it was overwhelming. That kiss shook me to the core…and it was just a kiss. The only parts of her my hands touched was her shoulders and her hair, but that currently ranked as one of the hottest experiences of my life. How fucked up was that? Even now, fifteen hours later, I could still taste her on my tongue, feel her under my hands, feel her hands gripping my hair...

I wondered if it felt that intense for her, too and remembering her responses, the way she hung on to me, I thought that maybe it had. This situation we're in is complicated, and that would just make it infinitely more so. Unlike me, she was able to act based on common sense, to do what was right and not be a slave to her urges. And now I felt like a total asshole, since she was being mature and making responsible choices and I was… not.

Man, I really hated feeling so bad about myself.

I heard Salama calling my name again and I groaned and buried my face in the pillow, trying to avoid her for another few minutes. Why was she even here? She had her own place, but she was almost never there, preferring to torture me instead. Truthfully though, I was sort of glad for her constant presence in my life. It was one of the only things in my life that still felt healthy and good.

"Saif?" She was in my room now.

I pulled my head free of the covers and managed to open one eye. Just a crack. "Shu tbain Salooom?"

"What happened yesterday?"

"Don't ask."

"Uh-oh."

"Uh-oh is right."

"Shu msawy?"

I picked my head up off the pillow and looked at her with both eyes. "Why is it you automatically assume it was me who fucked up?"

She cocked her head to the side and smiled at me. "Saif… come on."

I groaned and flopped back down. "Alright. I fucked up."

"Tell me."

"Salama, this is sort of private."

"Whatever you did, you might as well spit it out."

I flopped over on my back and sighed, staring at the ceiling.
I sort of broke my word to Shamma. I told her that no one should know about this deal between us, but my sister knew about it. I wasn’t able to keep it away from her, so I thought it’d be okay to tell her about what had happened yesterday.

"I sort of…3agait 3mre 3alaiha…twice. And then when she got mad and called me on it I got… mean. And I insulted her. I might have implied that she was a Khalifa-chasing whore."

Salama winced. She lowered herself to sit on the bed next to me and reached out to stroke my hand absently.

"Saif," she said softly, "you know that you're broken, right?"

Well, fuck. Ouch. As if I didn't feel crappy enough. When your adored baby sister, who has looked at you her whole life with nothing but admiration, looks at you with that pitying expression on her face and tells you that you're broken, then you know you've hit rock bottom.

I dragged my hands through my hair roughly and scrubbed my eyes with the heels of my hands.

"But Saif," she amended quickly, "You weren't always broken! I know the good is still there in you! And we can fix you! You can fix you. You just have to try. This situation you're in with Shamma, maybe it is exactly what you need. So reform yourself already! Don't just act like you have! Do it!"

I sighed deeply. She was right. I knew she was right. But I felt so lost. And helpless. And overwhelmed.

"Salama," I said softly, "I don't even know what to do anymore. Ever since mum passed away, I’ve been a total mess. Dad isn’t around anymore and I just have to take care of you guys. I need to. And this thing with Chloe is just so messed up. I don’t even love her bas it’s like I need her for some weird reason. She’s the only one who’s able to hook me up with drug dealers. And sometimes, I think I need that! It’s the only thing that can offer me an escape from reality. It just feels like this heavy, invisible weight is lifted off my shoulders for the time being. Bas at the same time, I want to be with Shamma too. You don’t get it do you?"

I paused for a minute before I cracked up out of the blue. "Shiiit! hahahaha I totally sound like a sissy! Yl3an this shitty, crappy, messed up life of mine.”

She chuckled lightly then her facial expression turned into a serious one. "You used to be that person, used to be. You’re not anymore, okay? If you go back to all that shit, ya wailek! I’m serious Saif, we’re done with that. Stop being pathetic and chasing Chloe. You can't fix everything all at once, so lat7awel. Pick one thing and focus on that. Fix things with Shamma. Do that first."

"Any ideas on how I do that?"

"I'll get to know her, go out with her, maybe go shopping together? Come with me. Talk to her. Apologize and start over."

"You're going shopping with her?" I raised an eyebrow at her.

"Yeah," Salama said, a tad defensively. "I think I’ll like her. A lot. From what I’ve heard about her, she’s a real sweetheart."

"She's fallen into the clutches of the crazed fashion-obsessed psycho! She's doomed!" I joked as I reached out and ruffled her hair.

Salama screeched and slapped my hands away and I laughed, the heavy mood broken for the moment. I felt better that at least I had a plan. Now I just needed to figure out what the hell I was going to say.

Karma's a Bitch* #25

Shamma’s P.O.V

When I arrived at the university, it was so early that it was still nearly deserted. Meera and I had most of our classes early in the morning, while most students had theirs in the afternoon. There were a few students scattered here and there, but otherwise the building was mostly empty.

I greeted some of my friends and headed down the long hallway to look for Meera. It was too early for the students in my class to be in yet, so it was empty and dark. I passed through by it and into the studio. It was scattered with instruments and equipment, all dark and shut off. The walls were dark with the foam soundproofing covering every surface. The studio had some homey touches added, which was nice since we spent so much time here. There were a couple of worn Persian rugs scattered over the bare concrete floor and there was a sagging, squishy couch in one corner.

That's where Meera sat, waiting for me. It was at least half an hour before anyone else was due in, so we had plenty of privacy.

She folded her long legs underneath her and turned to face me as I came in. She was "dressed down" today, in no makeup and her black hair in a high ponytail, wearing ordinary jeans and a white t shirt and she still looked unreal.

"So" she began as soon as I walked in the door, "tell me everything."

"Before I say anything... I didn’t tell you this before, but SaifandIarejustfakingit.”

That caught her off guard. "What? What do you mean faking it?"

"He wants his ex back, I’m helping, long story. It doesn’t really matter. El mhm sm3yyy what happened el bar7a...”

"aih enti shu hoh eli it doesn’t really matter? Why are you helping him?"

"Ba3dain Ba3dain, now sm3eeeeeny!"

"Shammoh tell me now!” she warned.

"Listen listen listen listen listen listen listen listen listen listen listen listen…”

"Ufff 5alaaa9 I’m listening! Yallah fkeeeny w tell me what happened yesterday.”

"Oh my god I saw the cutest couple yesterday. Seriously, Meeroh. It was like in a movie, with little hearts circling their heads and their eyes going all starry and birds singing and shit. I've never seen anything like it...”

"Wait," Meera barked, pointing her finger at me, "We're getting distracted. What about you? What happened el bar7a? What are you trying to hide?"

I closed my eyes and sighed before falling onto the sofa heavily beside her. "Ugh Meeroh, it was awful!"

"Awful in what way?"

"He was mostly a jerk, a total ass. It was really uncomfortable. I mean, I wasn't thrilled either, but I was at least willing to try and be civil. But he was rude and arrogant. And then…." I trailed off, not sure how to explain the other things that happened, although I knew I'd have to.

There was no fooling Meera, though. She knew my face too well.

"What happened? Did he do anything?"

“Laa. Maybe. Haih.."

"What did he do?" Her teeth were clenched.

"It wasn't that big of a deal. At least not at first. There were those girls in the library and they were saying how all this is actually fake and everything, so Saif wanted to pretend to make out. And at first it was... just pretend. It was even kind of funny. But then... I don't know. Something changed. And then he was kissing my neck and..." I could feel the fierce blush flooding my face up to my hairline.

"Then it wasn't pretend anymore?" she asked softly.

I shook my head, my eyes squeezed shut. Just talking about it made it all come back, his lips on my neck, his fingers on the back of my neck... the memory was making my heart race and I hated my weakness.

Then I took a deep breath because I hadn't even told her the really bad part yet.

"But we got past that. I made him stop and he did, and we went our separate ways. Bas ba3dain, he came over to my place and…"

"It happened again??"

"Worse." Or better, I thought... depending on your point of view. "He kissed me."

Meera let it hang there a minute, waiting for me to explain, only I didn't know what to say. Finally she asked me, "and...?"

"Oh God, Meeroh..." I flopped back on the couch and let my head fall back, staring at the ceiling. The memory, and the heat, was flooding my system. I fought to control my breathing and calm myself down.

"That good?"

"No one has ever, ever made me feel like that," I said, blushing again. I hated that my body always gave me away like that. "This was... so beyond. And it was just a kiss..."

"Shit. Poor you, this is complicated."

I nodded my head, "Very complicated."

Her eyes snapped up to me. She could hear the guilt in my voice. She knew what I was torturing myself about.

"Did you kiss him back?" she asked accusingly.

I couldn't even answer, I just shut my eyes tight and nodded.

"I couldn't help it," I finally managed to whisper.

"Well, that makes it harder. And glty enah he wants Chloe back so mb chanah this is like so weird somehow. Maybe you should pull out. I don't want you to be hurt. I saw the way he was looking at you before and I was afraid he wouldn't be able to keep his hands to himself."

"Yeah tell me about it, bas come on Meeroh. It's not all on him. I didn't exactly beat him away. And besides, I don't even know if we're on anymore. We got in a fight after that...because of that. He said some awful things and I got pissed and said some awful things back and we didn't really talk later on. We might be done. And what I said to him... well, I don't think he'll kiss me again. Which is good. But it sucks a little bit too, t3arfeen?"

"Yeah, I know." Then she laughed and shook her head slowly. "Only you Shammoh."

"Shu?"

"Only you could get into a fight with Saif, the definition of sexiness, because he kissed you, when every other girl on the planet would be begging him for it."

"Yeah, well, that's why I fought with him. To keep myself from begging for it."

I thanked God for Meera. That I had someone I could be so brutally honest with. It felt good to confess what I was feeling to somebody, and I knew she wouldn't judge me at all, even though I'd acted stupidly and engaged in completely inappropriate behavior with a total jerk.

"So, now what?" she asked.

"I don't know what's happening next and right now, I really don't care. I just want to forget for now.."

Karma's a Bitch* #24

Shamma’s P.O.V

I groaned when I heard the doorbell ring. I forced myself up and dragged my feet across the hall to answer it. Rolling my eyes and in an annoyed tone, I shouted, “I thought I told you not to come!”

I flung the door open and to my utmost surprise, there stood the last person I thought I’d see right now.

“5-5leefah?!” I asked shocked.

“Can I come in?” He was already stepping into the apartment before I had a chance to answer him.

“Be my guest.” I replied sarcastically.

“What’s with the sarcasm? And balach msta’3rbah? Were you expecting someone else?” he asked as he eyed me.

“uhh haa? Laa ma7ad t7arait Meeroh was going to come over,” I stuttered nervously.

“ahaaa Meeroh haa?” he looked at me suspiciously.

He went over to sit on the couch and said, “ta3aly ba5abrch shay,” as he patted the seat next to him.

I walked over closer to him, “5leefah why are you here?”

“Listen forget everything that’s been happening. Can we like start over?”

“Start over? Shu 8a9dek?” I asked as I tilted my head to look at him.

“I want to be with you Shamma. I thought I told you that already.”

“5leefah forget it. If you had said this to me way back, I might have had a different answer. But right now, after knowing your true colors, I’m gona have to say no, I don’t want to.”

“Is this because of hal 7aywan Saif?” he said gritting his teeth.

“Don’t talk about him like that. Plus enta may59k feeni, so don’t get involved in things that have nothing to do with you at all!” I told him as I let out the anger that was buried deep inside me.

“Awanch 3ad matr’6ain 3alaih?”

“T3arf shu? Go to hell! You’re one to talk,” I retorted, my voice full of venom, “the girls back in bu’6abi, girls at the club and now Chloe!”

“Ya3ne shu you’re jealous al7een?”

“ahahahahaha me?! Jealous?! You wish! You could be worth millions to somebody, but to me, you’re just like any ordinary person out there right now.”

“You know what?” I said as I pulled him up by his hand, and dragged him to the door. “Baykoon a7san if you just went back to where you came from.” The door flew open and I instantly pushed him outside. “w don’t come back here again!” I screamed as I quickly shut the door, leaving him standing outside, before he opens his mouth to say anything else.

As I was just about to walk back to the living room, I heard the sound of the doorbell once again.

Ohooo shu mshkelteh haa!

I stomped back to the door and flung it open, “ya5eee what the hell do you want?!!?”

“Damn girl, lhadaraja tkrheeny? If I knew, I wouldn’t have come,” Saif said pulling off a fake upset voice the whole way through, “5ala9 I’ll go back wala yhmch.”

He turned around to leave when I placed my hand on his arm to stop him. “Oh sorry wallah, don’t go. I didn’t realize enah it was you.”

He slowly turned back around to face me. His eyes were full of concern as soon as they met mine. “Shamma shu feech?” he asked, concern filling his voice.

“laa mashay I’m fine, just tired that’s all.” I said pulling off a fake smile, hoping that it’ll ease his worry.

“tg9een 3ala mnu? I don’t believe you,” He chuckled slightly.

"Oh…" I said, because I had no other response to that piece of information and his nearness was making me positively stupid.

"Shamma?" His face was just inches away from my ear.

"Yes?"

"Hold still," he said, and then his mouth came down on mine.

His arms were around my shoulders as he turned my body into him and pressed my back against the door in one swift motion. The vibrations of electricity I'd felt when he had his lips on my neck was absolutely nothing to what happened now. Every single inch of me exploded against him.

His lips moved firmly against mine. It felt commanding, but controlled, and I thought for a minute that this might really just be for the benefit of getting used to being near me, no matter how I was responding to it. He felt and tasted every bit as good as I thought he might. And his scent … I could smell his alluring scent filling up the air around me. I didn’t quite know what the smell was, after shave, cigarettes, mixture of perfumes and something else which must have been just Saif. It was making me feel drunk.

I felt his tongue slip along my bottom lip. Oh, God. This was so not for show anymore, since there wasn’t anyone here! My stupid traitorous body didn't seem to care. His tongue slipped into my mouth and I met it with mine. My hands flew to his shoulders to steady myself, but then I realized I was gripping him hard, pulling him into me. His hands slid up to cradle the back of my head, his fingers knotting tightly into my hair. He moved forward into me and my back pressed into door. He kept moving and crushed himself against me. And now it didn't feel controlled anymore... at all.

My hands slipped up to the back of his neck and I finally got to touch the hair that had been calling to me since we met. I tangled my fingers in the hair just above his collar and made a tight fist. One of his hands left my hair and slipped down over my shoulder.

That’s that's when my brain woke up. Because there was only one place this was leading. And it did not matter that no one's hands and lips had ever made me feel like that. I was not about to let myself do this, continue making out with this incredibly hot and sexy stranger, consequences be damned.

This is so not me! What the hell is happening to me? I’ve got dignity, morals, pride! Bas 3gb shuuuu!?

This is complicated because we have an arrangement to deal with. He actually wants his ex back, as he said. How can I forget that? How can he forget that?!

So I let go of his hair and stiffened in his arms for a second time tonight. He moved back a tiny bit, sensing my resistance. He pulled his lips from mine and I dropped my head quickly, so I didn't have to look at him as I gasped for breath. His breathing sounded just as ragged. He moved his hands to rest lightly, harmlessly on my shoulders.

"I didn't mean for that to happen…like that," he muttered, his voice sounding a bit bothered.

I took a deep breath hoping I could trust my own voice.

"Let's just forget it."

"But…"

"Forget it," I snapped, because if I didn't get mad I was going to cry. "Look, let's…" I was about to go off on him, but instead, I slipped out from underneath his hands and walked over to sit on the barstool. He paused for a millisecond and then shot out in front of me.

He fell into the barstool next to mine before he threw a glance at me. I fought to hang on to my anger. He started talking before I could.

"Sure that got a little intense. But I'm not sure what you're so unhappy about. We're supposed to be a couple. So we got carried away a little bit. Since you're in this for grabbing a hold of 5leefah, I thought that would make you happy. It'll make you ecstatic, right? Mb enti you’re chasing 5leefah? Ma tbainah? And isn't that what you want? Isn't that why you're here?" His voice was dripping with sarcasm.

I drew in a sharp breath and my eyes narrowed at him. Fucking asshole.

"That is not why I'm here. I couldn't care less what this does for me. I don't give a shit about 5leefah or anything else. I would do almost anything most of the time to help out others, even something I hate. On the other hand, even though I don’t care what people say about me, and I don’t care what the public thinks most of the time since a3arf 3mry 3adel, I do care now. They probably think I’m some type of whore. People actually saw us. This might actually get you Chloe back. And that's a good thing. For you."

Okay, I was exaggerating a little. There were definitely parts of tonight that I in no way hated. But I needed to gain control of this situation. And he needed to not touch me anymore. That wouldn't get us anywhere.

He clenched and unclenched his jaw for a moment, staring straight ahead as he thought about what I said. I really didn't want to keep fighting, so I sagged with relief when he simply stayed quiet.

My phone beeped to indicate I had a text. I grabbed it and glanced at the screen. It was Meera. What happened? –M

I texted back. Long story. Tomorrow –S

Saif glanced from my phone to my face and back again.

"Do you need to call someone?"

"No."

His face turned to stone again and he didn't speak. I had no idea where we stood. Was our arrangement still in place? Or were we done before we'd even really started? But I was too upset and tired tonight to ask him, especially since he looked so angry and mean. I was just going to try to forget about it for a little while and figure it all out later. Besides, if we talked about this anymore tonight I was pretty sure I would cry and that would be humiliating to the extreme.

He stood up and walked to the door, without a single word. I didn't want to linger to see what he would or wouldn't say.

I hurried up to my room and shut the door. I heard shuffling in the living room for another few minutes before I heard the door slam shut. Much to my dismay, I started to cry. Not hard, but tears leaked out from under my lids nonetheless.

My phone rang. "So?" Meera jumped right in, "What's going on? Shu estwa that day when you ran off telling me that you gotta do something 3gb ma you asked me all that weird stuff?"

I just sighed.

"Tell me everything!"

"I will Meeroh, I promise. But not now. Tell you what, get to el jam3a half an hour early tomorrow morning and I'll tell you then."

This satisfied Meera and I was able to slink off to bed and bury my miserable head in the covers. I wasn't going to sleep any time soon, though, I knew it. Between thinking about what tomorrow would bring and reliving every touch from him, I tossed and turned the whole night, finally drifting into a restless sleep in the early pre-dawn hours. I dreamt of Saif, Saif's hands and Saif's lips, and Saif's words. I woke up feeling just as close to tears as I felt last night.

Karma's a Bitch* #23

Shamma’s P.O.V

Oh. My. God.

Fuck.

I latched the bathroom stall door and sat down on the closed toilet. I put my head down on my knees and squeezed my eyes shut. I drew deep breaths, trying all my old tricks from the early days, when I had horrible stage fright during school plays.

Slowly I felt like I was regaining some control over myself. I pulled out my cell phone and scrolled to Meera’s number. I had typed in the text, one word, HELP, and paused with my thumb over “send”.

Why was I texting Meeroh? Up until a minute ago it had been going okay. Sure it was awkward and forced, but we were complete strangers pretending to be dating. It was bound to be awkward. Okay, so he was an ass, and frikin impossible to deal with.

But then he kissed my neck…

I couldn’t argue with the reason he’d done it. That’s what we’re supposed to do, to make people believe that we’re together. And when I thought back, it really had started out innocent. I was even sort of giggling.

And then it hadn’t been so innocent.

So he got carried away, why am I so freaked out?

Because I did too.

Damn it. That had been the hottest, sexiest thing that had ever happened to me. And the feeling when he touched me…my God. Like I’d been zapped by lightning. I’ve never felt like that ever. My skin still tingled at every point on my body that he had touched.

Even after I pulled away, as I looked at him, looking so damn stunning with that gorgeous hair going everywhere, all I really wanted to do was keep going where we left off.

This was bad. But it’s also not really his fault. Okay, so he started it, kissing my neck like that, but it’s not his problem that I can’t control my reaction to him. I was just another stupid girl falling prey to the ‘Saif charm’. I would have to be stronger than this. I could do this. I had to.

I stood up and left the stall and checked myself in the mirror. I might feel like an earthquake just rocked my whole body, but I looked just the same, so that’s good. I caught the girl to my left checking me out in the mirror sneakily. I could nearly hear her thoughts.

Yes bitch, I’m with Saif. And I ain’t going anywhere anytime soon.

I straightened up myself again, threw my shoulders back and headed back to the library. The girls that Saif had ratted out as spies were so engrossed in some major gossip conversation.

Hope you enjoyed the show, ladies. It was all for you. Well, it was supposed to be for you. My feelings told a whole different story.

Saif was sitting at a chair outside the library with his head in his hands. He looked up at me questioningly as he noticed my presence. I shot him what I hoped was a calm, reassuring smile, even though the sight of him made my stomach clench and my heart speed up. He looked at me a moment longer then shrugged slightly and looked away.

Before I knew it, Saif was standing and getting ready to leave. We still hadn’t said more than a handful of words to each other.

He cleared his throat, “e7m, Shamma ana baseer, I don’t have any more classes for the rest of the day.”

“uhh yeah okay me too, I’ve got a lecture in 5 mins.”

I turned around quickly and started to walk away without some sort of proper goodbye.

I stopped for a minute and looked back just in time to see a skanky-looking girl literally checking Saif out from top to bottom. And it was pissing me off for some weird reason that I can’t seem to wrap my head around.

Hey bitch, this may be ‘fake’ but you don’t know that! He’s with me!

All I could do to stand there and stare into space and pretend I didn’t notice her grinning at him and him shooting her that crooked sexy grin.

As I regained my focus back, I realized that Saif was gone already. Suddenly, I whirled around and headed to the main door. To hell with the lectures, I’m going home.

I slipped through the gate to the parking lot and started walking back to my apartment.

“Come on, pick up!” I repeated over and over again into the receiver. “Damn it Meeroh!” I cursed shoving my cell into my bag.

My mind was whirling and swirling.

I was still walking, occasionally picking up the phone and dialing Meera’s number, but every time I had no answer.

“Where is she? Yom I desperately need her, ma a7a9lha!” I was talking to myself like some lunatic when all of a sudden, my phone rang. “Finally!” I breathed in relief as I quickly answered. “Where have you been? I’ve been calling you mn el9b7. You won’t believe what happened!” I said in one breath.

My face turned bright red when I heard a familiar voice from the other side of the line.

“Hey, didn’t know you wanted me that bad. That kiss in the library left you craving, huh?”

I could almost feel that cocky smirk plastered on that face of his.

“Saif!” I hissed between clenched teeth.

“The one and only, love.”

“What do you want?” I growled.

“I think the question is, what do you want? Mb enti eli tawch tgoleen ench mn el9b7 you’re trying to reach me,” he answered cockily.

“I thought you were someone else,” I answered dryly.

“Who?” The question was out of his lips before he could hold back.

“Ma7ad!” I barked.

“Yala 3ad, I thought you were supposed to tell me everything,” he replied smugly.

“Since when do I have to tell you anything?”

“Since you became my girl.”

“I’m not your girl, Saif.” He was really starting to get on my nerves.

“Of course you are.”

“What do you want?” I asked again.

“Just wanted to know how my girl was doing,” he continued with a slurred tone.

“I’m fine!” I said hanging up the phone on his face.

Seconds later the phone was ringing again.

“Hello?” I answered.

“Not nice to hang up the phone in someone’s face babe. Especially not your boyfriend.”

“You are not my boyfriend, Saif!”

“No need to shout love.”

I sighed loudly. The sound of his voice the next second caught me off guard. Gone was the cocky voice to be replaced by a serious and almost concerned tone.

“Are you ok?”

“I’m fine,” I said frustrated.

“You don’t sound fine.”

“Saif, just leave me alone. I’m not in the mood for sa5afatek and another of your games. You win ok?” I was almost begging him.

I reached the building and the sound of the elevator was heard.

There was a moment of silence before he said, “I’ll be there in two minutes.”

“What? Saif? La!” Before I could say anything else, I got the dead signal from the other side of the line. “Oh God no…”

Karma's a Bitch* #22

i was gone for too long, wasn't i ? =x So sooorry you guys! :*
e9ara7a i wasn't in the mood for blogger, seriously :p
el mhmmm .. i'll leave you with the post, yalla scroll doooown! =p

Saif’s P.O.V

She let out a deep sigh, pulling her arm out of my grip. “What do you suggest we do?”

I paused for a moment, even though I already knew the answer to her question.

I just hadn’t figured out the best way to inform her of it...

“Well, we...”

“We kiss. In front of everyone,” I finally managed to say.

Shamma’s eyes widened in horror. “I can’t kiss you. If I kiss you I’ll probably... La laa I just can’t!”

“She’s not dating Saif. It’s all a scam to get Khalifa.” We heard the girls insist on the other side of the bookcase. Their voice was becoming clearer and it was obvious that they were rounding the corner to enter the same corridor me and Shamma were in.

“Hey Shamma,” I murmured, scooting closer to her with a smile, “See the girls over there? Don’t look!” I motioned slightly with my chin. She nodded. “They’re coming closer. As you obviously heard, they don’t believe this thing going between us. I think we should give them a little something to accept the fact that it’s true, don’t you?”

Her eyes widened in alarm.

Damn, was being touched by me really such an unpleasant thing to her?

“Relax, it’s just for show.”

And before she could flip out or protest, I angled my body across hers and buried my face in the crook of her neck.

“See? No big deal,” I whispered into her neck. She just about leapt out of her skin.

“You’re tickling me!” she hissed.

“Hold still!”

“But it tickles when you talk!” she was squirming underneath me and trying to stifle a giggle.

“Quit wiggling! Okay, I won’t talk.”

She started to squeal, but I slid my right hand up to the base of her neck and angled her head to the side, giving me better access to her neck. I trailed my lips along the length of her neck, just barely touching her.

My intention was to just goof around, give those girls a show and maybe get a rise out of Shamma at the same time. But now that I was here, with my nose buried in her hair, her floral, pleasant scent was making me lightheaded. And her hair, what was that scent? Strawberries. It was such a simple girlish smell. I was used to women smelling like a complex mix of very expensive products. Her silly strawberry shampoo was killing me. And there was this feeling when I touched her like this, like electricity, I could feel it sing along my fingers and down my spine.

It was crazy, and intoxicating, and I didn’t want to stop.

My fingers unwillingly caressed the back of her neck and her eyes slid closed. I dragged my lips back up her neck with more pressure and I gave it one slow open mouthed kiss and let my lips linger. She drew in a long unsteady breath. My own breathing was becoming ragged.

I really should stop this.

I had only meant to fool around for a minute.

I had had no intention of starting anything.

But she wasn’t stopping me.

And it felt really good.

And I really wanted to.

I’ve wanted to touch her like this since the instant I laid eyes on her.

She softened in my arms. My left hand, that had been resting lightly on her hip, clenched into her and pulled her closer. Her hand was slipping up my back, clinging to me. I gripped her hip tighter. My lips traveled back up her glorious neck and then along her jaw. I could kiss her. I’m almost there. I’ve been staring at her mouth all day and wondering what it feels like, what it tastes like.

I pulled my face back just enough to make eye contact with her. Her hooded dark eyes met mine and then snapped open. Her spine stiffened and in one movement she’d slid herself half a foot away from me.

“Wh-what was that?” she stammered.

I held my hands up in front of me trying to look innocent. “Sorry, I got carried away. You smell really good.” I tried a flash of the dazzling smile, but she wasn’t having it. She scooted around to the other side of the bookcase in a flash.

“I have to go to the toilet.”

A high-toned squeak announced the girls’ presence and I turned around to look at the dumbstruck duo. I smiled secretly as I realized that I had achieved my goal.

I then watched Shamma as she strode across the library and into the hall. Then I watched the face of every goddamned guy in the place as they watched her cross the hallway.

They should really back off. She’s mine.

Except she’s not. And the point was, a girl like her wouldn’t be mine.

That’s why this stupid “pretend game” is laughable, really. I could probably get any girl I want, and they’d be ready, willing and eager. But Shamma…she freaks out and runs to the ladies room. So okay, maybe Ghanem was right. She was different and too good for me. Or maybe it was that I was too bad for her.

Except that... she liked it?

Karma's a Bitch* #21

Shamma’s P.O.V

I sighed heavily, letting my fingers thread between my hazel strands. I stared blindly ahead at no particular thing. I felt an unexpected slight tap on my shoulder which made me jump up to attention.

“Umeeeeh!” I screamed as I half-jumped in the air and turned around to come face to face with no other than Meera, “Meeerooh hay enty!”

“Bsmellah shu feeech?!” she said as she took a seat next to me on the bleachers.

“Ya5e zaya’3teeeenii!”

“Hahah 7asha!” she laughed, “kel ha cause of this light tap.”

We sat in silence for a moment, just watching the empty football field, until Meera decided to speak. “So..”

I cut her off before she had a chance to speak any further, “Meeroh am I self-centered?”

I slowly rocked myself back and forth, hugging my denim-covered legs against my chest.

“Akeeed la, laish ts2leeen?” Meera frowned.

“La mashay.” I shook my head and returned my gaze to the green field that spread before our eyes.

“Shu esalfah? Shu mstwe?” she looked at me with questioning eyes.

I rested my chin on my knees, my eyes never darting away from the view ahead of me.

“Enzain what about heartless and stubborn?” I asked again.

“Where did you get that from? Shammoh, 7ad gayelech shay?”

Finally, I turned to look at Meera, “be honest.”

“Well...” she hesitated for a moment. “You can be a bit... harsh sometimes. Especially if you’ve been hurt,” she admitted.

I closed my eyes for a few moments and then stood up.

“Oh god. Mayarii I gotta go... do something. I’ll see you later.”

I looked for him in the entire university and the only place left to search was the library. It was useless. He had left. Despite that, I decided to give it a try. My eyes widened as I entered and found a familiar figure sitting in the back, carving the sleek wood of the tables with his sharp pocket knife.

“Hey,” I whispered as I approached him.

I look at him, but he doesn't look at me.

One glance out of those coldly indifferent eyes and no more.

That look in his eyes... Gosh, I wish I'd killed myself before I opened my mouth earlier.

“5air?” he said coldly, “do you need anything?”

I was just about to sit down, but the moment I bent down he was up and walking over to a wall covered with books. I sighed and walked after him.

“Ok I guess I deserved that,” I grumbled apologetically, but he wouldn’t hear of it as he moved along the corridor, pretending to look for a book.

“Saaif!” I called out a bit too loud and was immediately shushed by the librarian. “Saif!” I hissed pulling at his polo shirt, but he continued to pretend I wasn’t even there, staring up at the shelves.

Having no other choice, I moved between him and the bookcase. My back was pressed against the shelves. I held my breath as I realized that my simple motion had put me in a very dangerous situation. My heart was racing and my palms were sweaty. Only a few inches separate his body from my own!

“Will you please move?” he asked looking straight through me.

“Not until you talk to me,” I managed to say as I stared up at him.

I nearly gasped as he looked down at me, never bothering to move away. “What do you want?” he asked coldly.

I blinked wildly for a few seconds as I tried to get a hold of myself.

What the hell is happening to me?

“I-I’m sorry,” I managed to stutter.

He eyed me suspiciously, not uttering a single word.

“I realize enah I can be a pain sometimes...” I said.

“Bas sometimes?” he said sarcastically, raising his eyebrow.

“Yala 3ad I’m apologizing here. Give me a break.”

Saif stood still waiting for me to continue.

“And you just caught me in one of those... sometimes. So I’m sorry for saying eli gltah, ok?”

I waited for an answer but he simply stared down at me.

Ma gdart at7amal the closeness between us anymore. It was becoming unbearable.

My breath hitched in my throat at the sight him.

I’ve had enough of this tension. “Enzain 3ade you just step back a little? My blood oxygen levels are becoming an issue here,” I hesitantly said.

**********************************************************************************
Saif’s P.O.V

Nodding slightly, I stepped back but remained silent.

“So...” she started, trying hard to break the stillness between us, but failing miserably at it. Eventually, she gave up and let out a loud sigh before asking, “are you giving me the silent treatment? Cause it’s really starting to freak me out.”

“You talk too much,” I said simply.

I continued to search the shelves for something. It was obvious enah I wasn’t actually looking for anything.

“Shu tsawe hne a9lan?” she finally asked after a few moments.

“You just can’t keep quiet, can you?”

“I don’t like silence. It makes me uncomfortable.”

I shot her this weird look. “What?” she asked defensively.

“Nothing,” she said as I continued my meaningless search.

It wasn’t long before she spoke once again, “you never answered my question. What are you doing here?”

“Reading,” I stated the obvious, my eyes still wandering over the mountain of books displayed before me.

“You read?” she scoffed.

“Ever since I was six. Isn’t that just amazing?” I said with sarcastic enthusiasm.

Shamma forced a plastic smile on her face which instantly crumbled. We continued to slowly make our way down the corridor, until I reached for a book and started skimming through it aimlessly. She simply leaned on the bookcase and waited for me to finish whatever it is I’m doing when we heard two whispering voices coming from the corridor next to ours.

“What do you mean mat9adgeen? Of course they’re together.”

“No they’re not. I mean, one minute they hate each other and the next they’re walking down the halls holding hands and sitting together. Come on, it’s so fake! Ybayen!”

“Who are those shitheads?!” Shamma mouthed to me, as I put down the book and was now eavesdropping on the conversation going now.

“No way. They are so together. The never-ending arguments and teasing each other all the time? All a façade to hide the undeniable attraction that pulls them together,” some girl argued, “and now that they’ve realized it, they’re on their way down major make-out lane.”

Shamma cringed at the statement, her facial muscles twisting up.

“A-ha!” the other girl cried out, “a9lan there was no make-out. Ever! And that is my point. If what they have is ‘undeniable attraction’ then we should have witnessed some major smooching by now. But all we got was pathetic holding hands and sitting together.”

“Maybe Shamma wants to take it slow. You know, maybe she’s still hurt because of Khalifa.”

“Shamma? Taking it slow? Ha!” they laughed, “I bet she’s just doing this 3sb tba Khalifa y’3ar. That girl would do absolutely anything. It’s pathetic.”

Her eyes instantly widened and anger flashed in them. “Shu hal 5aysa! Mnu tt7ara 3mrha?!” she growled.

Shamma began to storm down the corridor, when my strong hand caught a grip on her arm. “Calm down,” I hissed pulling her closer, “beating the crap out of hal 5yas is not going to solve anything.”

“They think I’m... I’m... easy!” she snapped.

“Believe me when I say that you are not easy. There is nothing easy about you.”

She stopped for a second trying to figure out if what I had said was a compliment or not.

“I told you no one would believe it. I mean, we didn’t even fool the nerds back there.” I tilted my head towards the bookcase that separated us from the nerdy shlah.

She let out a deep sigh, pulling her arm out of my grip. “What do you suggest we do?”

I paused for a moment, even though I already knew the answer to her question.

I just hadn’t figured out the best way to inform her of it...

“Well, we...”

Karma's a Bitch* #20

Show me the LOOOOVE people! =p

Shamma’s P.O.V

“Ready to work on your acting skills? Cause you sure as hell are long way from an award winning performance. What was all that staring about by the way?” Saif asked.

“What staring? I don’t stare,” I said simply as I continued to rummage through my bag, before turning to leave the classroom.

“Sure you don’t,” he said sarcastically before snaking his arm around my waist.

“Hey!” I instinctively slapped his hand away from me.

“Well love, lazem tt3awdain. Our unexpected passion won’t look very believable if you keep jumping up every time I come near you, now will it?” he asked tilting his head.

I rolled my eyes and sighed, taking his hand in mine I dragged him out of the classroom and into the hall

It wasn’t hard to realize that everyone was staring.

This was just weird. Just plain weirdness.

“They’re staring. They’ll never believe this,” I said.

“9adgeeny they’ll believe it.”

“This is a stupid plan. It’ll never work,” I grunted as I turned to face Saif.

“Will you stop being so- “

I cut him off, “rbee3k is coming our way.”

“Sawaaaf! 7abeeeby 3loomk?”

“Hala hala ‘3anooom! Good good w mn 9obk?”

“Tamam wallah.”

“Doom enshallah. Shammani 7ayatii u know Sara right?”

“Haih I do, hey Saroh sh7alch?” I said as I salamt 3alaiha.

“B5air 7abeebti and you?”

“Not bad I guess.”

We stood still for a couple of seconds.

No one was saying anything.

Silence.

Incredibly uncomfortable silence.

Sarah was eyeing us curiously.

“So...” Sarah was the one to break the stillness. She had been waiting the entire day to ask a question, ever since Ghanem had told her the news it had become an itch she was just dying to scratch. So being Sarah, she did, “Since when are you and Shamma here going steady?”

The familiar silence was back, until Sarah’s voice hovered over us again,

“You and Shamma are an item huh?”

“Yes.”

“Why?” she quickly continued her questioning.

“Why?!” I asked. Now that was a smart question. Everyone who had dared to ask about my choice of ‘boyfriend’ had asked something along the lines of ‘how, not why’. “Well... he and I... we...” I struggled for an explanation.

“It’s physical!” Saif aka ‘my knight in shining armor’ stepped in. “She just couldn’t resist my attraction,” he said with the most serious tone in the world, “I think she fell for me when I saved her.”

“From being mugged?” Sarah asked as she recalled her conversation with Ghanem on the subject.

“Haih.”

I just stood in my place, trying hard not to roll my eyes. ‘God! The nerve of some people!’ In my mind a string of curses was directed at Saif, who now had his arm wrapped around my waist.

Sarah frowned a little but decided to accept the explanation, especially since her boyfriend was currently shooting her a knowing look so that she’d stop throwing questions at us.

Suddenly, extreme silence took over as Ghanem and Sarah gawked at something behind us. Saif and I turned around to find the object of their attention and we couldn’t help but gulp as we watched Chloe and Khalifa. We exchanged electrically charged glances as we remained perfectly still for a second. We all watched as the Khalifa walked closer to us, his heavy arms draped over Chloe’s shoulders. He stopped and looked at us.

“Shamma,” he greeted dryly with a nod. Turning to look at Saif, he practically spat, “Saif.”

“5leefah. Chloe,” Saif greeted back with a plastic smile as he possessively tightened his arm around my waist.

Silence. Everyone waited and watched.

“Shamma 3nde some of your cd’s in my apartment,” Khalifa started, “when do you want them back?”

“Keep them,” I answered dryly as I felt my stomach turn at the sight of Chloe pressing herself against Khalifa’s chest. Her hands traced patterns on his abs as she shot me a dirty look. “I don’t need them.”

Khalifa was taken aback by my cold and distant tone, but soon recovered. He stood up straight and mumbled, “fine. Suit yourself.”

And with that he turned on his heels and left, dragging Chloe with him.

As soon as I could, I made my way to the nearest bathrooms, locking myself in the stall furthest from the door. I sat on the covered toilet, waiting for the adrenaline in my system to reach acceptable levels. I felt my stomach flip-flop at the memory of Chloe arrogantly clinging to Khalifa, trying as best as possible to let me know that he was now her property, that he belonged to her.

Arrogant little-

Suddenly I heard a light knock on the door.

I bent down to peep from under the door, trying hard not to ruin my outfit, hair or makeup. I found a pair of shoes tapping the tiled floor impatiently. Familiar Gucci sneakers, to be exact. In a flash, I opened the door. “What the hell are you-“

I was cut off as Saif quickly placed his finger on my lips.

“Do you want to get me into trouble?”

Before I could answer him, I was being dragged out of the bathroom, down the hall and out the side door of the building to the backside.

“Why did you drag me here?” I snapped annoyed.

He ignored me and grinned wildly at me. “Did you see Chloe’s face? And hal ahbal? God, I never thought it would work this fast.”

I scratched my head as I watched him ramble on and on about how the plan was amazing and was working perfectly.

“Pretty soon Chloe will be so jealous she won’t have a choice other than enha trdly. God, I miss her so much!”

Something about the way he said it, the sincerity in his tone maybe, made my stomach turn and I had to fight back the urge to kick him.

“Did you drag me here to listen to your pathetic love struck ramblings, Romeo?” I grumbled, crossing my hands over my chest and leaning on the wall.

“Sm3y, no matter what you say or how nasty you are right now, you are not going to ruin my good mood. I guarantee you,” he said, a goofy smile still plastered over his lips and an annoying sparkle brightening his eyes.

“She practically glued herself to 5leefah!” I said.

“Because she was jealous.”

“Men really like to fool themselves.”

“Batrdly, you’ll see.”

“She doesn’t care about you! Get it through that thick skull of yours,” I said, but he just wouldn’t hear a thing.

“I know Chloe.”

“Right. That’s why you knew she was making out with 5leefah.”

At that, the smile on his face crumbled, quickly being replaced by a strange empty look in his eyes. Without a word he turned to leave, but my small hand gripped him by his arm.

“Look, I’m sorry. Ma kan 8ad9e-“

Before I could finish my sentence, he was in my face, anger flashing in his eyes.

“You are the most self-centered, heartless, stubborn little brat I’ve ever met in my entire life.”

Karma's a Bitch* #19

This post goes out to all you silent readers ;) SO NO MORE SILENT READERS HAAA ?! =p

Shamma’s P.O.V

“What do you mean she walked away with him?” Ashley asked incredulously, staring wide-eyed at Meera who walked beside her.

“I told u! She just slid her arm around his and dragged him out of here,” Meera explained for the 100th time.

“And you haven’t spoken to her the whole weekend?” Ashley continued to question.

“I did but .. every time I called to ask about what has been going on, she’d make up some excuse and hang up.”

“But-” she trailed off as the highlight of their discussion appeared behind them.

“Hey guys,” I greeted them with little enthusiasm.

“There you are! What has been up with you all weekend?!” Meera asked as we continued to walk down the hall.

“uhh well-”

Suddenly, looking more closely, I realized everyone in the hall was gawking at me, “oh God! Do I have like a giant pimple on my face or something?” I asked about to have a panic attack.

Ashley and Meera both shook their head.

“Then why is everyone staring at me?”

“Maybe because of the weird Saif-loving event back on Friday afternoon?” Ashley said with a hint of sarcasm.

“Oh, that...”

“Yes that! I thought we were back to 'hating Saif’s boney ass' mode,” Meera said.

“Well we-“

I wasn’t able to finish my sentence...

I felt two arms wrap around my waist from behind..

I felt those arms pull me close so my back rested against some chest...

My back was pulled flush against a strong chest…

Definitely a male chest!

Before my brain had time to question who it belonged to, a low whispering voice in my ears gave me the answer.

“Morning Shammani.”

I froze...

My body suddenly went rigid...

I couldn’t physically move a muscle...

My heart seemed to skip a beat and leap to my throat...

Nervousness filled each breath I took...

I quickly wriggled out of his grip and backed away.

“Hey...” I greeted back with much less enthusiasm.

God, this is just so strange. WRONG! WRONG! Go away!

A squeaking voice screamed in my head, but I just put on my best imitation of a smile.

I don't know why, but I could feel my cheeks heat up, and my whole body temperature went up at least 20 degrees.

Am I about to start blushing?!

I fought back a blush when I realized how obvious every reaction I had must be to him.

“So how are you?” he asked.

“Uhh fine and you?” I said as I turned my head to face him. I was surprised to find a perfectly calm and cool Saif grinning back at me.

“B5air dam el galb b5air,” he said as his grin grew wider.

I seemed to zone out for a second and when I was back to full attention, the last thing I heard was, “...do you have now?”

“Huh...? What?” I asked, shaking my head as I realized I was still staring up at Saif who was now lazily playing with the edge of my shirt.

Not again! That Stupid distracting smirk!

I tried my hardest to keep my thoughts focused on anything other than that smirk of his.

I quickly moved my gaze over to Meera while Saif repeated his question, “what class do you have now?”

“umm...” I struggled with my memory, but for some strange disturbing reason, the feel of his hypnotizing eyes on me seemed to block all my thinking abilities.

Thankfully my life savior Meera butted in, “we’ve got math.”

“ohh yeah math!”

“Well bashofch in third period. 3ndna English together right?” Saif asked as his hand came up to brush a lock of hair off my face.

“uhh..”

Think stupid! Think!

“Haih I-I think we do.”

“See you later then,” he shouted as he made his way down the hall, leaving three dumbstruck people behind.

“What. The Hell. Was that?” Ashley tried to ask as calmly as she could manage.

“uhh ,, it’s,, umm...” I struggled with my words, “we better get going, we’re already late. Cu later,” I shouted as I quickly made my way to my next class, dragging a confused Meera behind me.

“But-” Ashley was left standing in the middle of an empty hall as we quickly snuck into the classroom.

During class, I stared at the small crunched up piece of paper lying on my desk.

Written in small bold red letters, I read, ‘what was that all about?’

I looked up and to my right to find Meera staring back at me, eyes wide open.

“Later,” I mouthed.

“Shamma!” The teacher’s voice hovered over the class and everyone turned to gawk at me.

“Sorry,” I mumbled.

The old woman nodded slightly and returned to her dull rambling. When I realized I was off the hook, I turned to whisper, “ba5abrch later wallah.”

Class was over and in a flash, Meera was standing next to me, eyes staring widely at me, anxiously waiting for an explanation.

“Uff yalla 5abreeni! What’s happening Shamoh?” Meera asked as her patience ran out.

I paused for a moment and looked up at my best friend. I really didn’t want to lie, but I had promised.

I swallowed hard and in one low and fast breath, I said “Saifsmyboyfriend.”

With that I quickly made my way to the door.

“Shuuuu?!” Meera shouted after me, her high heels making a knocking sound as she tried to catch up with me.

“Explain,” she simply said as soon as she reached my side.

“Saif and I are going out,” I tried to sound as laid-back about it as possible.

“haaa!? kaaif? Mn mta enshallah?” she shouted.

“Shhhh! Mn... last Friday.”

“Hooow?!”

“We figured out that we have a lot in common.”

“Mthl shuuu?!” she asked straight away.

“Mthl... ma3arf, wayed stuff ... mthl...”

“The mutual hatred that you two share?” Meera said with a hint of sarcasm.

“I can’t explain it to you. We’re together now. Things changed.”

Meera opened her mouth to say something, but I cut her off...

“Just trust me, Meeroh. I know what I’m doing.”

Well, I hope...

Karma's a Bitch* #18

Was this fast enough for you guys? and it's pretty looong too, eh? ;) you could actually use a break in the middle of it haha :p newaaays hope you enjoooy! :D and silent readers don't forget to commeeeeeentt ! :p

Shamma’s P.O.V

“Well we better go,” I said practically dragging a dumbstruck Saif by his hand. “Bye Chloe,” I shouted with a huge fake smile plastered on my face. I passed by Meera and she was giving me a look that screamed ‘what-on-earth-are-you-doing?’ “Meeroh don’t kill me,” I whispered, “bat9lbch later wallah.”

Meera was just gawking at us, the 'odd couple', her jaw glued to the floor along with everyone else’s

-------
My arms snapped away from his the moment my feet touched the concrete on the other side of the street, away from prying eyes. I doubled my pace as I noticed Saif still staring at me, clearly not believing what had just happened. After a few painfully silent steps, I suddenly stopped and spun around to face him.

“Shuuu?!” I asked trying to sound as annoyed as I could, but the emotion in my voice was definitely awkwardness.

Saif looked down at me and his lips curled to one side for a slight smile. Nodding, he softly said “Thanks.”

I was a bit thrown off by his reaction, it actually sounded sincere. This was abnormal. I shook my head nervously as if trying to push down the strange feeling that crept up my spine.

“You’re welcome bas don’t expect me to do that for you mara thanyeh. Che a7s yatne some sort of allergic reaction just from touching you,” I tried to sound convincingly disgusted but failed miserably and I could tell he wasn’t buying it as his trademark smirk crept over his lips.

He shoved his hands into his pockets and started to walk beside me, “whatever you say .. 7ubi.”

“And don’t call me 7ubi!” I snapped at him as I shot daggers at him with my eyes.

“Sure galbi.”

There it was again!

On his face!

That stupid, dreadful, cocky grin that was making me ...











nervous?

What?! No!

Stupid dreadful cocky grin was supposed to make me angry ,, disgusted ,, annoyed ...

Not nervous!

Never nervous!

I kicked myself mentally as I realized too much time had passed since his last reply for me to come up with a successful comeback.

That stupid distracting grin! I thought to myself as I kicked the pebbles that lay in my path.

Once again we walked in a nerve-racking silence, making me fidget with the straps of my coat. Suddenly I whipped my head around to face him. “Why are you here?” I asked out of the blue.

“Laneh my mom and dad were really horny about 19 years ago?” he said with a smirk.

Stupid, distracting ... eheee snap out of it Shamma! I scolded myself mentally.

“Oh you’re funny!” I replied sarcastically.

He smiled at me and eventually answered the question sarcastically, “walking my girlfriend home.”

Somehow, that simple phrase made it impossible for me to control my breathing and swallowing at the same time and I was practically coughing my lungs.

“Are you ok 7ubi?” he asked somewhat concerned as he watched me bend over, trying hard to breathe.

Saif watched in panic as my face changed from red to purple to blue and finally back to red cheeks and a furious looking face.

I looked up at him, flushed face, shooting daggers at him, “don’t *cough* call me *cough* that...”

I simply started to march my way down the street and into the building with a panicked Saif trailing closely behind. “I hate you,” I grumbled as I sat down at one of the tables in the lobby.

“Same here Shamsa,” he answered crossing his arms over his chest as he stood close by.

I opened my mouth to protest but gave up half way.

I was too tired...

It was Friday afternoon and I’d had a full week.

I just didn’t have the energy to argue with hal annoying ensan.

So I chose to remain there perfectly still, occasionally letting out a sigh or two hoping that he might take a hint and simply leave me alone. To my misfortune he did no such thing. Instead he made his way to the where I was sitting and took a seat opposite of me, with the same annoying grin plastered on his face.

“Ufff shu tba?” I grumbled as I held my head between my hands, my fingers buried in my hazel strands, my eyes staring down at the marble table. Before he had a chance to answer, I let out a heavy sigh and looked up to stare at him, “why do you insist on torturing me? Just go. Go Away. Be free.” I waved my hand at him but he paid no attention to it.

“You know it’ll work. That’s why you helped me out today.”

“No I helped you out because that scene was just so painfully pathetic, that it just wasn’t fun to watch anymore,” I said, “I just don’t get it. Why in God’s name would you put yourself through kel hal embarrassing public humiliation just for her. What do you see in that fugly bit-"

I wasn’t able to finish my sentence as he was on his feet and towering over my petite form in an instant. “Gb’6y lsanech etha battkalmain 3anha this way. You don't know anything,” he growled as he was still dangerously close to me.

A hint of fear sent a chill down my spine as I looked up at him, but my facial expression never showed that. The strong fearless look was still on my face and it didn’t fade for a second. It was like awany 3ad mb zay’3eh even though I was actually zaga el 3afya. I couldn’t help but let out a small sigh of relief when he backed away moments after.

“Look I’m sorry... I- Just don’t talk about Chloe that way,” he finally said as he moved back to his seat.

I held my hands up in the air in a sign of surrender, “fine.”

We stayed in an awkward silence for a few minutes, both trying hard to find a topic that would put an end to this uncomfortable moment.

Saif was the first to try, “so...”

“So...?”

“What about the plan? Is it back... on?” he dared to ask.

“You really like her that much?”

Saif said nothing. He simply nodded. It wasn’t necessary for him to say anything.

I shook my head as I couldn’t believe what I was about to say. “Ok. Fine. I’ll do it,” I grumbled in a low voice.

An instant spark flashed in his eyes, “what?!” he asked in disbelief.

“Are you deaf aw shay? Glt I’ll do it, zain che?”

In a flash he was out of his seat and pulled me out of mine wrapping his arms around me, smashing my small form against his chest in the process.

I froze.

My paralyzed arms were glued to my sides.

I didn’t know what to say.

I was in shock.

Eventually, when I realized he wasn’t going to let go of me any time soon, I said, “umm ... Saif? Shu yales tsawe?”

That simple question was enough to bring him out from his abnormal bizarre moment and in an instant he let go of me and took a step backwards. “Sorry. Wasn’t thinking.”

“Next time you have one of those weird moments, let me know, ok?” I said nervously as I sat back down.

He simply nodded and dropped back onto the chair.

“Why are you sitting down?” A puzzled look spread across my face, and I raised an eyebrow as if waiting for Saif to tell me something I didn’t know.

“Umm,” he mumbled confused, “we have to plan?”

“Plan what?”

“What we are going to do tomorrow, you know. How we are supposed to act,” he said as if he was stating the obvious.

“Oh...” I frowned for a moment, thinking about what the limits would have to be, “we’ll walk together and hold hands?” And with that I slumped against the chair and stared up at the ceiling. A beautiful and expensive-looking chandelier dangled down from the high ceiling, the tiny crystals coated with a thin layer of gold. I started to count the crystals not knowing what else to do.

“Hold hands? That’s it?” he asked incredulously moving his chair closer to mine.

My eyes were still fixed on the chandelier. Nervousness took over me.

“H-haih,” I replied in an uncertain tone.

“Oh come on! Ma7ad bay9adeg kel ha if they don’t see some action,” he said lifting his eyebrows up and down as a naughty grin lit up his face.

“Hey! we’re not going to- There will definitely be no ‘action’. And there will be no one watching me and you do whatever it is you’re thinking about!” My eyes went back to the chandelier once again. Damn it! No more crystals left for me to count! What do I do now?

Saif smirked as he realized what I was thinking, “ya3ne making out, french kissing. Nothing else.”

“You want me and you to k-kiss? F-french kiss?!”

Saif simply nodded.

"I want to kiss you," he forced out.

I was staring at him in disbelief.

"W-What did you say?"

"You heard me, I said that I want to kiss you. I want to be able to inhale your scent, to breathe in your amazing scent. I want to keep it with me forever and ever. Everyday. I want to kiss you so badly. I want to feel your lips on mine," he said.

I looked really confused.

"You can't be serious," I whispered, searching his eyes for the truth.

My face was turning very red and so hot that Saif could probably feel the heat radiating off of me.

"I really want to kiss you. I haven't been able to stop to thinking about you. The feeling of your lips on mine is always on my mind. You're always on my mind. So can I kiss you?"

I was now flushed, seriously!

"uhh w-what the hell? I- I- what are you saying? No. No way! I wouldn’t want to touch you with a ten-foot pole, let alone let you stick your tongue down my throat!” My face flushed in all sorts of ways as I nervously searched for something to occupy myself with.

A roar of laughter erupted from Saif, “HAHAHA! YOU SHOULD HAVE SEEN YOUR FACE! WAHAHAHA T’6A7KEEN WALLAH! 3ad eli ygool I actually wana kiss you.”

My face was flushed by the sudden burst of heat.

“Chub chub don't flatter yourself, I'm immune to you. A9lan you don’t have that effect on me w plus I was just hot cuz estwa 7ar hne and-” I said.

“9eeeeew 6aaaaaa5! yeah right! a9lan I was just messing with you bas it’s not like you wouldn’t like that. I know you think I'm hot and you sure as hell wana kiss me. You want me to kiss you senseless, make the rest of the world just disappear. Don’t deny it,” he said with that smug smirk of his.

His voice was so deep and husky and simply oozing sexiness. It made me shut up!

“hahaha sakatnaha! Enzaaain el mhmmm ... so we’re just supposed to hold hands?! They’ll never believe it and you know it!” he said.

“I. Am. Not. Kissing. You,” I said flatly.

“But-“

“Take it or leave it!” I said as I stood up, my chin held high as if I had made my mind up and there’s no use trying to change it.

Saif knew that he couldn't make me change my mind no matter what. He couldn’t help but sigh, shaking his head as he mumbled, “fine .. we’ll just hold hands...”

Karma's a Bitch* #17

yo silent readers out there how about you make some noooiise ? =p

Shamma’s P.O.V

Angry footsteps echoed through the entire apartment as I made my way back to the living room.

“Oh god not again! Will you stop doing that?!” I growled as I saw Saif sprawled on my couch, TV remote in his hands as he mindlessly flipped through the channels.

“Doing what?” Saif asked without looking at her.

“Msh chaneh I kept you out? Why don’t you go over to your place? It’s my TV, my living room, my apartment. What are you doing in it?!” I glared at him as I stood there, arms folded over my chest.

Saif turned his head and glanced at me before returning his attention back to the screen. “Ya5e kaife,” he mumbled, “enti shu 7arenech?”

I stomped my way to the middle of the living room standing between him and the TV.

“You’re blocking the view love,” he grumbled looking up at me.

“Glad you noticed, that’s the point. What are you doing here?”

Saif sat up and turned off the TV, “talk about tomorrow.”

“What about tomorrow? Saif wake up. It’s over! It didn’t work,” I tried to knock some sense into him.

“Shu ba3ad it didn’t work? Of course it did,” he said.

“What reality were you in? Cause in mine people were staring at us like we were crazy or something. Everyone knows we hate each other. It’ll never work,” I said firmly.

“It’s going to work,” Saif insisted standing up.

“Ok which part exactly didn’t you get? Cause Bared ashra7 again and again if you need me to.”

“I need to make this work Shams-“

“IT’S SHAMMA!” I screamed waving my hands in the air and trudging my way into the kitchen, leaving him behind.

A few seconds later, he was in front of me leaning against the fridge. “umm .. I’m sorry?” he mumbled.

I just stood there, a warm mug of hot chocolate in my hands, watching him with an annoyed expression.

“I need for this to work...” he started after swallowing hard, “I-I need her back. I need Chloe with me or...” The words seemed to choke in his throat.

Somewhere deep inside, I felt a hint of pity for him but before I could stop myself, harsh words escaped my lips. “Seer 9ee7 ba3ad, why don’t you?”

Saif froze looking down at me. He narrowed his eyes, instant anger flashing in them. Without a word, he turned on his heels left the apartment, slamming the door behind him.

I just stood there for a second, a pang of regret causing me to think about going after him.

Shit I forgot. My wisdom says never hurt a man's ego. Men survive on their ego. To hurt their ego is like pulling the plug on their life support system. Bas whatever, it’s not like I really care about hurting Saif’s ego, right?

But eventually that pang of regret disappeared and I just left him be. The day passed by wala chanah shay 9ar and all was good.

-------

The next day while I was at uni, I let my head fall limply to the desk, while in the background the teacher’s voice rambled on and on about the importance of engineering education to the world’s continued success and bla bla...

“God! Just kill me now and end my suffering,” I mumbled between clenched teeth.

As if someone had answered my prayer, the teacher announced that the class was over. In a flash, I straightened up looking wide eyed at my watch. “It’s a miracle!” I sang out as I gathered by stuff, “I survived! Fakkah! Thank God today’s over.”

“You really do hate this class, don’t you?” Meera laughed.

“More than anything in the entire world,” I answered as we walked out of the classroom. I came to a stop as I saw the infamous Saif further down the hall, “Correction, it’s the second thing I hate most in the world.”

“So we’re back to hating Saif?” she asked.

“What?” I asked as I was too engrossed in my blackberry, not really listening to what Meera was saying.

“Hating Saif. Back on the priority list?”

“Oh top priority! No doubt!” I nodded forcefully.

“Good, cause that little episode in the food court area yesterday just seemed so .. what’s the word? Oh yeah, wrong!”

I smiled slightly at her and just as I was about to reply back, the conversation going on a few feet away from us caught my attention.

“Come on just for a second. I need to talk to you,” Saif’s begging tone made my stomach crunch up as I turned around to see him leaning against the wall, “Please just for a sec,” he practically begged while Chloe remained still, arms crossed over her chest, staring annoyed into nothingness.

“Are you done yet? I told you Saif, it’s over! I have nothing to say or hear from you. Stop being so pathetic, just go get a proper life and let go of this,” she said turning on her heels to leave while everyone in the hall eyed the couple. But he didn’t care. He needed to talk to her, get some sense into that pretty little head of hers, so he grabbed her arm and spun her around to face him.

“Come on!” he growled, “just...”

“Just let go of me!” Chloe said freeing her arm from his grip, “I-“

“There you are! I’ve been looking all over for you.”

The entire hall froze in place watching as I moved closer to Saif, touched my fingers to my lips then placed them on his lips, letting them linger there for a moment. I turned to Chloe with a smirk on my face, “hey Chloe!”

Chloe just looked at me with a frown, while Saif simply stared at me not knowing what the hell has got in to me.

OMG! Seriously, what has gotten into me?!

“Well we better go,” I said practically dragging a dumbstruck Saif by his hand. “Bye Chloe,” I shouted with a huge fake smile plastered on my face. I passed by Meera and she was giving me a look that screamed ‘what-on-earth-are-you-doing?’ “Meeroh don’t kill me,” I whispered, “bat9lbch later wallah.”

Meera was just gawking at us, the 'odd couple', her jaw glued to the floor along with everyone else’s while I was just lost in deep thoughts...

Where did I get the guts? What did I just do?

Most importantly, why does Saif want Chloe back so bad?

It’s like his want for her had become like a need more and more everyday as she disappeared from his sight.

Does he really love her that much? Are they truly madly deeply in love? Or fe shay thany wara kel ha?

There has to be something else.

Something else going on there, behind the scenes...

Karma's a Bitch* #16

Sorry for the delay. I've got no reason, except that i didn't feel like writing at all this past week :p

P.S. i suggest you read this if u haven't yet! =p
-Khalifa told Shamma how he felt about her when they were 16 and now they’re 19 ,, and don’t be surprised if his actions say otherwise because he is a player che wela che and you know how it is
-A lot of time has passed so they’re not gona keep pining helplessly over each other all the time
-Shamma went to study abroad for 3 years after Khalifa told her how he felt and then when she came back, she was actually planning on staying in Abu Dhabi for good instead of going back to the U.S
-When she got a call from her bro asking her if she wanted to visit, she went to the States thinking she was staying there for a while but suddenly had a change of plans and decided to just stay there and not go back to Abu Dhabi
-Saif and Shamma truly hate each other ,, this ‘thing’ going on between them is just lust ,, she’s a girl, he’s a guy, a forceful yearning might stir inside them and something is bound to happen sooner or later
-Shamma never actually said she ‘loves’ Khalifa, she just really likes/liked him so don’t be surprised if her actions say otherwise too
-Saif honestly wants his ex back and is trying to make her jealous ,, so this isn’t just a way to get closer to Shamma

hope this cleared things up somehow ,, anyways enjoy <3
*****
Shamma’s P.O.V

Meera mindlessly ran her hand through her hair as she sipped her coffee, her eyes scanning the food court area. Suddenly, they widened as she saw a certain guy heading their way and eventually sitting next to me.

“Hey!” he smirked as he put his arm around my shoulder as if it was the most natural thing to do.

Everyone in that place froze. They literally froze!

“uhh hey?” one of my friends calmly replied.

I freaked out once I noticed the questioning looks and daggers Meera and Ashley were shooting at me.

I shook his arm, pulling myself away from him, “hey Saif,” I squeaked in a low voice, my eyes never turning away from the mug of hot chocolate. It wasn’t a very pretty sight, but at least it kept me safe from the hundreds of eyes that fell upon me.

“So...” Saif tried to start up a conversation, but it seemed impossible considering the stunned state everyone was in. The girls at the table seemed to be drooling over him. Who wouldn’t?

“I’m Saif,” he said, flashing his million-dollar smile.

“y-yeah we know,” Ashley simply said as she was probably still too busy fantasizing about him.

The silence at the table seemed to fade away by the low whispering that now filled the entire place.

“Shu yaybnk hne?” Meera finally managed to snap out of her daze.

“uhh he- well we- he’s just-” I said nervously not knowing what to do or say.

“Just felt like sitting with the damsel in distress here,” Saif said as he leaned back in his chair and smirked.

“Damsel in distress?”

“Yup. Shamsa-“ Saif winced as I kicked him under the table. “umm Shamma, here was being mugged on her way home and I happened to be passing by and was her knight in shining armor.”

I was being mugged?! I thought we agreed to something that is more realistic!

“You saved Shamma from being robbed?” Ashley asked sarcastically.

“Yeah that’s pretty much it. Beat him up real good. And he wasn’t small either. Big, muscular, six feet and a half. Huge, giant- Ouch!” he winced as I once again aimed my 4-inch heels to his leg.

Allah y5s bleesah, oh my god shu yales y5rb6 ha?!

“What the hell?" i mumbled under my breath. "He’s exaggerating!” I said quickly giving them a wide, plastic smile.

“No, I’m not. He was huge and he had a gun-”

“No, he didn’t!” I cut him off shooting fireballs from my brown eyes.

“Yes, he did. You just didn’t see it,” Saif insisted.

“No, he didn’t.”

“Yes, he did.”

“No, he –“

“Someone please stop them,” Ashley pleaded banging her head on the table.

“I-I think that the important thing is that you’re safe and nothing bad happened,” Ashley said flashing me a fake smile. That smile that says 'i’m not buying any of this crap, ya know.”

Saif and I eyed each other in disgust, eventually returning out attention elsewhere. There was silence for a long moment.

Not comfortable silence, more like the 'what-the-hell-is-going-on’ silence.

We just sat there in silence for what feels like an eternity.

“Well, we better go,” I suddenly broke the silence and stood up as the stillness finally got to me.

“Yeah. Classes and all,” Meera quickly said following me and leaving the rest of them to just stare at each other.

-------

“What were you thinking?” I shrieked as I stomped quickly down the road.

“I was just doing what you told me to,” Saif defended himself as he quickened his pace to catch up with me.

“What I told you to do? Six feet and a half? And with a gun ba3ad?” I stopped to look at him, incredulous.

“What? So I exaggerated a little,” he shrugged.

“A little? You call that a little?” I growled, “I think you should buy yourself a dictionary because that was definitely not a little. I mean do you honestly think that they would believe you. How dumb do you think they are?” I saw the cocky grin starting to spread over his lips and quickly added, “Don’t answer that!”

With a loud sigh I began walking again, the building coming into view.

“uhh I wanted to make the story a little more interesting?” Saif said trying to look innocent as possible.

“Interesting? I thought we were aiming for believable!” I said as I continued to make my way to my apartment without glancing at him.

I made my way over to the elevator the instant I entered the building. As soon as I heard the elevator ping, I got in with him right behind me.

“Look I’m sorry alright?” he apologized oh-so-sincerely. NOT.

“Sorry?” I started but he interrupted me.

“Ok, could you please stop repeating every word I say? It’s really starting to get to me.”

At that exact moment, the elevator came to a stop.

“Uffff…” I growled as I quickly got out, pushed the door of my apartment open and slammed the door in his face.

I tried to figure this whole thing out.

All I could do was pace around this entire place.

I was pacing like a madman on a mission in my apartment.

What the hell was I thinking when I agreed to this?!

I can’t stick to our little agreement.

I can’t keep pretending.

I hate him.

I can’t stand being close to him any longer.

I don’t want to do this.












Or do I?

Karma's a Bitch* #15

Shamma’s P.O.V

I exhaled sharply as I entered my apartment, dropping the million shopping bags I was holding, dragging my aching feet on the floor plopping down on the couch with closed eyes and sighing. I was tired from the shopping trip I just came from. My heavy eyelids shot open when I heard a deep male laughter coming from the kitchen.

Msh '3areebah hal '6a7kah, i thought.

“What the hell?” I whispered to myself.

As I stood up and reached the kitchen, my jaw fell to the floor. There, around the isle, stood...

“Saif?” I asked shocked.

Saif just muffled his laughter at the sight of me. “s-shu tsawe hne? Kaif d5alt a9lan?! Oh god what if someone saw you come in?! Shu yaybnk?!” I shrieked.

He stood up, and walked towards me dragging me to the couch in the living room, “I have my ways,” he smirked.

I turned my head towards him and made a face, “I don’t think this is such a good idea anymore.”

“Oh, come on, Shamsa! You can’t back out now. It’s just for a few of days. If I can stand it so can you. I mean, don’t you want to have that ass begging and drooling over you. Just imagine him on his knees begging for you to get together with him and you telling him to get a life in front of everyone,” he said.

Images matching the description Saif had made flashed before my eyes and I felt the overwhelming rush of power and revenge run through my veins. I exhaled sharply, “ohooo ok! allah y3eeeny ,, i'll do it” I said, causing Saif to sigh in relief, “bas awal shay you’re definitely going to have to memorize my name. It’s Shamma. Get it through that head of yours. Sham-ma. It’s not that hard.”

“yeah yeah okay whatever,” he said dryly as he made himself comfortable, sitting on the couch with his feet propped on the table in front of him chanah el mkan mkan uboh.

“uhh aih enta you do realize that you’re at my place?”

“uhh aih enti you do realize that I don’t give a damn?” he mocked me.

“Have I ever told you how much I hate you?” I asked looking right into his eyes with a deadly serious expression. “All the time,” he said, a cocky grin settling on his lips as he stared right back at me.

He got up and walked towards me. He was getting closer and closer and closer …

I saw him standing so close to me, his eyes boring into mine. His warmth and scent soaking through my senses, quickly becoming an irresistible sensation. We stood there and it felt like my heart was going to jump right out of my chest, it was beating so hard.

He shifted his gaze away from mine for a minute and I couldn’t help it ..

I studied his face. No, not only his face. I couldn't help but let my eyes travel all over his oh-so-sexy body, lingering longer than necessary. My eyes involuntarily scanned down to his shirt, where the fabric clung to him, showing off his perfectly sculpted abs through the shirt. Then down to his white board shorts hanging loosely off of his hips.

I shook my head before returning my gaze back to his face. I turned the other way from his hypnotizing eyes so I wouldn’t get caught staring.

“What are you staring at?” he asked casually.

From the corners of my eyes I could see him gazing at me for a moment. I shivered.

I turned my head slowly again to caught another breathtaking sight of him. At that moment I found myself staring into his eyes.

HE IS LOOKING AT ME!

My mind was screaming and my heart was pumping fast, like I had just run a marathon.

I broke the eye contact and I looked nervously around the room. I raised my gaze again at him and I felt like I could die at that very moment.

“Hmm?” I replied, snapping out of my trance. It was as though he'd pulled me out of some fantasy.

Saif was looking at me and when our eyes met I quickly looked away. Like I'd just been caught with my hand in a cookie jar ..

“I said, what are you staring at? I can feel you staring at me. Your eyes were practically boring holes right through me,” he said. I noticed the wicked grin plastered on his face.

Yal f’6ee7ah! Shiiit yl3an el '3abaaa2!

I felt a blush creep to my face, he had caught me staring at him and now he was doing exactly the same thing. He stared down at me, a slight smirk tugging at one corner of his lips.

Saif merely stares. I don’t like it. It feels too much like an invasion of privacy, the way he’s gazing at me. Shu ha? He doesn't even try to disguise the fact he's staring.

**********************************************************************************
Saif’s P.O.V

I found myself staring at her. I gulped when I realized how breathtaking she was. But that was nothing compared to what followed. I stared right into her eyes and I almost had a heart attack. Her light brown eyes completing the view of her face, the most perfect artwork of the most talented artist.

I let my eyes travel slowly, drinking in the sight. I knew it was making her uncomfortable, but I couldn’t help it. She was more than I’d ever dared to dream.

Reluctantly, I lifted my eyes from her body, back to her face.

She was blushing furiously. I couldn’t help but chuckle. For some reason, her shyness was amusing to me. Perhaps because I really couldn’t understand what she had to be shy about. I had never seen anyone so perfect before, not even Chloe.

I leaned in and nearly had her trapped between the wall and me. I placed my hand on the wall beside her, effectively closing in on her. I was standing so close ,, our breath mingled.

“By the way,” I whispered after a few minutes of studying her face, “I know I got you hypnotized, so mesmerized.”

Karma's a Bitch* #14

Shamma’s P.O.V

I took in a deep breath as I walked side by side with Meera and entered the familiar building.

The guys were acting giddy, staring at us like they had never seen girls before, while jealousy was running in the veins of just about every girl out there. They all envy us.

We’re gorgeous, there’s no use denying it. I’m rather petite, but with curves in all the right places. I have shoulder-length, hazel wavy hair and short bangs which frame my face perfectly and slightly tan skin. My cheekbones are high and well-defined and my eyebrows are high-arched. I’ve got light brown eyes, a sharp long nose, pouty cherry pink lips with and to top it off, a beauty mark right next to my upper lip. Meera is a bit taller than me, slender and curvy. She has long, flowing black hair that goes down to the middle of her back, big deep brown eyes, tiny noise and bright pink lips. She had a beauty mark just below her eye that only added to her beauty. We both had a slight glow about our faces, we were the picture of innocent beauty.

“Ah... Monday! Don’t you just love it?” Meera asked with a huge satisfied grin on her face.

Under heavy eyelids, I threw a glance in my best friend’s direction before shaking my head and sighing, “You’re in serious need of psychiatric treatment, t3arfeen?”

“What? I like school, so?” I shrugged, “a7b when they stare and get envious of what they can’t have.”

“My point exactly. Liking school is one of the clear signs that shows you need MAJOR help,” I said with a serious tone.

Meera’s right eyebrow cocked up and I continued, “It’s true. In any teen’s brain, there’s a logical equation engraved: fun equals good, school equals bad. Therefore if school is bad, this means no happy faces on Monday mornings, especially at 9 am. It’s considered weird, just weird!”

Meera just stared at me and asked, “Who are you and what have you done with Shamma?”

I sighed heavily and said, “I couldn’t sleep last night, again! So I stayed up late watching the Discovery channel. Big show on psychology, logics and madre shu, bas don’t worry it’ll probably go away in- Saif!” I stopped my explanations as Saif stood in my way and blocked the path.

“Need to talk to you, Shamsa!” he said with a dry voice.

“It’s Shamma,” I muttered rolling my eyes in annoyance, “and I can’t now, I have classes.” I tried to move around him, but he took a step and once again was towering over me. “It won’t take long,” he grumbled.

It was clear he didn’t want to be there. He scanned the hall and saw several people staring at us. It was easy to understand why. Everyone knew about the wall of deep hatred between me and Saif. Obviously, they expected the usual shouting and swearing that usually happened within five minutes of us being near each other. This time it wasn’t happening. Why? All the students wondered as they watched.

I sighed and turned to face Meera, “Meeroh enti seery, I’ll catch up with you in a minute.”

“Shu tba?” I grumbled as I looked at Saif.

“Bakalmch,” he said coldly.

“uhh enzain? I’m here, talk w fkny,” I said dryly.

“Mb hne,” he frowned, throwing evil glances at all the students that stared at us, before grabbing me by the arm and dragging me out of there.

“Ouch! Y3awerrr!” I shouted, trying to pull my arm out of his grip but failing, “Hdnyyy!” I practically screamed as we rounded a corner and reached the back of the school.

He stopped and let go of my arm. “That hurt yal 7mar,” I grumbled rubbing my sore arm, “7aywan, stupid, idiot, dipshit, asswipe, jerk.”

“Are we done with the cursing, love?” he asked annoyed.

“No! You’re also the biggest asshole I’ve ever seen and stop calling me love,” I yelled again, “Shu tba?”

“Chloe back,” he answered simply.

I paused for a second before I said, “Ok, I realize you’re a bit slow and all but...” I began to speak slowly, exaggerating every single word, “I. Am. Not. Chloe” I tilted my head towards him, as if trying to find out if he had understood me.

“Oh, you’re definitely not Chloe,” he said with a sarcastic tone, which made me flinch. “What’s that supposed to mean?” I muttered angrily.

“Let’s not go down that road,” he quickly tried to change the subject, “I think we can help each other. You want 5leefah, I want Chloe back, we should join forces.”

“Two things: I would never ever join anything with you and I don’t want 5leefah. I just want him to get a very painful disease which would cause his private parts to fall off,” I said with a huge fake grin.

Saif couldn’t help but wince at the description. Shaking himself out of that bad place in his mind he said, “Ma tbain 5leefah? Tg9een 3ala mnu enti?” Trach tla7geenah everywhere since you saw him that night at the club.”

“Just until I find the best way to cause a hell lot of pain to that bastard,” I said harshly.

Saif paused for second while I just sighed annoyingly and began to walk away. “How about having him head over heels for you?” he shouted.

I stopped, turned around to look at him and lifted an eyebrow, “I’m listening.”

“I can help you get him. Even if you show him you don’t want him, he’ll be begging at your feet,” he started to explain as he walked towards me.

“Begging is good,” I said simply as I waited to hear the rest of the plan.

“And at the same time I can get Chloe back.”

“So shu lazem asawy?” I asked “Pretendtobemygirlfriend,” he said in one breath.

“Whaaaaat?!” I shrieked, “are you out of your mind?!”

“The moment the 2 of them see us together they’ll go nuts with jealousy. Chloe b3dha t7bne I know it,” Saif quickly explained.

“What about 5leefah?” I asked as I turned my head towards him.

“He could never stand seeing me and Chloe happy, 3shan che ybaha. Etha chafny wyach, he’ll want you. Plus there’s nothing that a man wants than something he can’t have.”

“You’ve hit your head recently, haven’t you?” I asked sincerely.

“No, I’m telling you it’ll work trust me, I know 5leefah,” he said.

“Trust? You? Oh you’ve definitely lost it,” I laughed.

Saif kept mumbling something under his breath as he reached into his pockets and took out a pack of cigarettes, bringing one to his lips and lighting it.

“Hey hey hey, no smoking!” I grabbed the cigarette, which dangled from his mouth and dropped it to the floor as I stepped on it. He just shot me an evil look.

There was a moment of silence. I scanned the outlying football field recognizing the form of Khalifa. In the distance I saw Chloe clapping hysterically at each successful pass Khalifa performed. I felt my stomach twist in disgust, and without turning to look at Saif who was behind me I asked, “Shu asawe?”

“Hang out with me. People have to see us together, holding hands, hugging and che t3arfeen,” Saif said.

“No, nooooo way in hell!” I shook my head and waved my arms around as I turned to face him. “I’m not touching you! Maba agareb 9obek!”

“You don’t see me jumping around singing ‘oh, joy! Oh, joy!’ either, love,” he said coldly.

“Ughh fine!” I finally said, “bas we hang out when I want mb 3a kaifk u come whenever you want.”

“What? No! lazem we hang out a lot wela it won’t work!” he said shaking his head.

“No way and that’s final. We do it my way or it’s off,” I said as I crossed my arms waiting for his answer.

Eventually, he gave up and shaking his head he mumbled, “Fine, we’ll do it your way.”

“Good. When do we start?” I asked. “hmm tomorrow?” he said.

“Ok, tomorrow we’re officially a couple,” I mumbled sarcastically.

“One more thing. No one can know about our little deal or it’s off,” he warned me.

“Tstahbal? It wouldn’t exactly work if everyone knew about it, ya thak thak enta.”

“Just making sure. No telling rbee3tch hay or anyone!” he said. “What? bas Meeroh’s not gonna tell anyone,” I shot back.

“I don’t care. No one can know,” he said dryly. “But…” I said, but he cut me off. “No buts, 7abeebti.”

“Fine!” I muttered looking at my watch. “Damn it! Damn it! Damn it! I’m sooo late!” I said as I looked up at him with a deadly gaze, “Kela mnk. Oh and one more thing, I hate you!” I yelled as I ran to my next class.

“same here, el 7ub!” he shouted after me laughing his ass off.