Chapter 7

I was on the ground, with food all over my shirt, in the middle of the cafeteria. Everyone has stopped eating to see what have happened. I was shocked because of Adam's surprising action. When I thought he was actually looking to make me happy, right before when I thought I've made a decent friend, he goes and does something like this. What will he even gain? He will be gone next week, so why would he even do this if he's leaving soon? Why make a bad name for yourself right before you leave? Hatred started to grow in me. Was Fahad talking about Adam in the cold store when he said “your angel could be the complete opposite.”? I looked up and Saw Manal's face shocked for what just happened, her eyes on her stained clothes, then she looked at me, and saw how even worse I was.
“Are you okay?” Whispered Manal sweetly.
“Yeah,” I got on both feet to face her, ignoring all the yes that were tracing every inch of me, “I'm sorry, I think I tripped over something.” I said giving Adam a quick look. He gave me a quick wink right before he left my sight as I turned back to face Manal.
“I think we should get cleaned up before the bell rings.” She whispered as she ushered me towards the exit door.

We were alone now, I started recapping what just happened, then it hit me. That was Adam's plan, that's why he wished me good luck, and that wink wasn't a teasing wink, it was him saying “You are welcome”! He wanted me to be alone with Manal so we could talk freely!
“Do you have anything to wear?” I said trying to sound as casual as I could.
“Umm, I'm not sure, oh y-”
“Don't worry I've got a sweater in my locker that you could borrow. ” I cut her off.
“Really?” She blossomed like a rose, “But what about you? The spaghetti sauce style is no longer in.” She joked, reminding me of my own shirt.
I laughed, “I've got a spare.” I lied.
As we were walking towards the building, I saw Malak from a distance. I waved to her, trying to grab her attention, but her eyes were aimed on something else, I followed her gaze and found that she was looking towards Faisal, Fahad, and Faris. Faris was the oldest one of them, and it was his final year at the school. He was the brightest one of them, in fact he scored one of the highest GPA's in his class, so he was defiantly going to graduate in a couple of months. He is the one who provides the cigarets when he is around, because he could even pass for a twenty two year old from his great build.
“I still don't get why she's been hanging out with them so much these past few days.” Manal said asking the question in my head, except for one detail I didn't know.
“What do you mean for the past few days? When did you see her with them before?” I was surprised. Malak never liked hanging out with them, she just did it for me, she wanted me to stop going out with them because of their bad influences, and now when I finally stopped going with them, she starts ignoring me and decides to go see them? That doesn't make any sense! Why wouldn't she at least tell me?
“Aren't they your friends too?”
“Right, but you didn't answer my question.”
“So you fought with them? Well, ever since you stopped hanging out with them, I have been seeing her with them almost all the time.”
WHAT?
“What's wrong? Only Faisal is the stupid jerk, but the rest seem decent, despite all their secretive actions.”
“It's nothing that matters really, it's just that we haven't talked in a while.”
“These things happen, sometimes people leave for others to enter.” She hinted. I didn't like what she said, how could she possibly think that she could replace my best friend since childhood?
“Forget about this, let's get cleaned up.”

We made our way through the hallway, trying to avoid the teachers so we wouldn't get any questions about why we're like this, because none of us felt like remembering the embarrassing scene. When we finally reached the locker, I gave her my dark blue hoody, with the deep pockets. She looked at it smiling, but then her smile flipped when she looked inside my locker.
“You said you have another one.”
I hesitated for a second, because I haven't thought of a lie to back up the previous one, “I- it's in class... I forgot it there, I'll get it later.”
“I'll go change, will you wait for me?”

She came back, looking great, and comfortable, even though it was too big for her small body. “Why do you have a box of cards in your hoody?” She laughed.
My eyes froze, locked on the box that she got out of the pockets of my hoody. This box didn't have any cards in it, but it contained my cigarets. I broke out a smile at her and extended my arm towards her, with an open palm.
“Come on, don't be like that, let's play a game.” She said, sliding the tip of her finger over the top of the box, then she opened the box, and her eyes were startled, and confused. She shot a furious look at me, demanding an explanation. I thought fast, and acted as if I was confused myself, “I don't know where these came from.” I said.
“So you are telling me that somehow these cigarets magically replaced the cards in the box?”
“No, I'm saying that maybe someone put them there!” That wasn't a lie, because I've had this pack for quite a while, and it was given to me from Fahad.
“Why do you have to lie? Okay, so you smoke, there are probably dozens of guys who smoke at this school only, but why are you lying to me?”
“I'm telling you, I didn't put these here!” I shouted.
“But they are yours aren't they?” Just five seconds after she finished her sentence, the bell rang, “Saved by the bell.” Manal said coldly, as she stepped on the box, and kicked it away, “You should go pick it up.” She finished, and then she left.

I hurried towards the box, picking it up as if I was a dog fetching his food. I felt humiliated when I was down on my knees, shuffling about, trying to get it before anyone could see me. Just when I was about to push myself off the floor, a foot stomped on my chest threw me back on the ground, “Now your new girlfriend knows? It's okay, don't worry about her we'll fix that problem, but you should be much more worried about yourself.”Faris threatened me, as he walked away, making sure to step on my hand before the hallways get crowded.
I held the pain in, knowing this is nothing compared to what will come from them. Just Faris himself can send me to the hospital. I did not understand what was going on my life, everything was happening too fast. I lost my old friends, my best friend, my dignity, and now Manal. It doesn't make sense, why do people enter our lives if they aren't willing to accept us and stay with us? Is this is why the word 'friend' finishes with the word 'end'? Is it just a warning that these friendship will never last? Then again, does anything last? My
Mom's life didn't last long, and none of us is going to live forever. Maybe that's why everything ends, so we cherish and appreciate everything that happens in our lives, including the bad things that happen, because without the bad things we'll never know how great the taste of happiness is. So I decided I'll face them, I'll fight them and I'll take the beating if I have to, at least they can't take my life away if they wanted theirs. I'll also fight with myself, harder and harder everyday, until I stop smoking, so I'd deserve to have great friends in my life.