Chapter 9: Outing

Her alarm goes on and it was six o'clock in the morning. Her mother came to her as always to check if she was awake or not, but this time Sara didn't know if her alarm went on because she slept for only an hour and now it was time for her to get ready and go to school. She had a test today and she didn't want to fail the test. She always made on top of her class, so her mother woke her up.

Ayesha waking her up, “Sara, come on get up. What happened? Are you alright? What time did you go to sleep last night?”

Sara still laying on her bed, but was awake, “I'm fine, mom. It's just that last night Farhan and I were talking and stayed up all night talking. So, I slept only for one hour. Can I go to school late? Can you wake me up around 10 or 11? Please, mom?”

Ayesha always did whatever made Sara happy and she knew that her daughter never liked staying home, “OK, I will wake you up at 10.”

Sara went back to sleep. Around 8 o'clock, her phone rang. She didn't feel like picking it up, but then she realized that it must be Neha because she was supposed to take her to school like always. So, she picks it up.

Sara talking in her sleep, “Hello?”

Neha concerned, “Hello? Where are you? It's time for school.”

Sara conveyed to her, “Hey, I can't come right now because I so sleepy, why don't you call John and ask him to give you a ride to school?”

Neha informed her, “No, I can't do that, and you have to come because someone special of yours is here at my place waiting for you.” It woke Sara up, “What? Aaron's at your place?”

Neha answered, “yeah.”

Sara asked, “What is he doing there?”

Neha told her, “He is waiting for you and me too.” Sara got up fast from her bed.

Sara immediately gets up, “Alright, I'll be there in one hour and tell him to wait for me, please. Bye,” Both of them hang up.

Sara gets ready and goes downstairs. Her mother was still there because she took the day off for the visitors.

Ayesha asked, “Sara, I thought you wanted to go to school late?”

Sara told her mom, “I totally forgot about Neha and she's waiting for me.” She takes her books and gets out of the house. Her mother goes after her.

Ayesha asked, “Sara, are you gonna have breakfast?”

Sara in hurry, “No, mom. I'll eat something in school, don't worry.”

Sara drives to Neha's house and she drove very fast so she could see Aaron because he was so mad at her last night. Sara parked her car at Neha's house, and she didn't see Aaron there. Neha gets in the car.

“Where is he?” Neha tries to pretend that she doesn't know what Sara's talking about. “Who?”

Sara rolls her eyes, “Aaron, who else?”

“Well, I want to tell you something.” Right at that point, when Neha said that she knew that he didn't come here, and Neha just wanted her to go to school. Sara got really mad because she was asleep, but she came all the way here to make herself a fool. She doesn't say anything to Neha and drives to school quietly. “Look, I'm really sorry about whatever I did, and I promise I will never do that again.”

Sara wasn't really mad Neha, but she was mad at herself because she didn't have time to meet Aaron. “Remember, yesterday he said that he won't go without me accepting him. I was such a fool because to make him go, I accepted the truth that I love him, and he wanted to meet me at night. So, I called him around 9, but dad's friend's family show up. That's why I couldn't meet him, and he's upset with me. I should have never accepted that I love him because now I can't even think of anything else, but him. What should I do? How do I tell him that I'm sorry? How do I make him come back to me? He doesn't love me. He just wanted me to accept him as every other girl does and after me accepting him then he could leave me easily. My father's right that all American boys are the same, they're not trustworthy. I just hate him so much.”

Neha told her, “Just relax. He'll come back and I'm sure he has the same feelings about you. He loves you a lot.” Sara interrupts immediately, “How do you know if he really loves me?”

Neha said, “I know because I'm also in love with somebody who doesn't love me back, but I still love him. If I get his love, then I won't stay away from him for even a minute. He's just mad at you, that's all. When he cools off, he'll come back.”

Sara agreed, “Yeah, you're right. He'll come back with a new girlfriend to make me jealous.” Neha laughs without making Sara know, “Yeah, laugh at me because I'm going crazy.”

Neha put her hand on her shoulder, “Oh baby, you're really in love with him and you're going crazy about him. You're even madder than I am because I don't feel the same way you guys feel about each other. My love is only one-sided, but here, the fire is on both sides.”

Sara told her, “Yeah, that's why I'm going crazier because when he didn't know I was okay, but when now he knows and he's mad at me, I just can't live without him. I can't go to sleep, eat, or do anything. Thank God that God has sent an angel to make me happy.”

She was talking about Farhan and Neha was confused, who she was talking about, “What are you talking about? You sound crazy now?”

Sara looked her way, “Oh I forgot to tell you about this family came to our house yesterday, that's why I couldn't go to meet Aaron and they have a son, Farhan. He is very nice, and he goes to college. He told me that I should apply to Stanford University in California and you know what my dad said that he will think about that. Maybe I'll go to California.”

Neha got worried about losing her friend, “Please, don't.”

Sara knew why she was stopping her, “Why don't you ask your parents too about going there? He told me that they have a very good Medical Program, but I'm not sure if my father will let me go there. If he does, then I'll convince your parents too, don't worry.”

“I hope you can because I don't like the university here.” They were already in school and were ready to go to their classes.

Sara parked the car, “I'll see you later. Bye.”

Neha gets out of the car and runs for her class, “Bye.”

Sara didn't have anything special in school today because she was thinking about Aaron all day and didn't know if she was gonna see him anymore. She was so scared that if he left her forever. Then to said to herself that it was just a misunderstanding, and they didn't even have a fight, so how could he leave her all by herself. It was already lunchtime when Sara and Neha go to the lunch line, where Johnathan was already waiting for them. Sara was quiet almost all day and didn't even talk to Neha that much. She just answered whatever she asked.

John looking at them, “Hi, girls?”

Neha replied, “Hello, how are you?” Sara didn't say anything because she was lost in thinking about Aaron. So, Neha elbowed her to say hi to John, “Hi, John. I'm really sorry I didn't hear you.”

John looking worried, “It's okay. I hope everything is fine because I've never seen you like this before.”

Sara smiled, “Yeah, everything is fine.” Suddenly, she remembers something, “Oh, I forgot to tell both of you guys that tonight we'll go out somewhere. Remember, Neha I told you about Farhan.”

Neha confused again, “Yeah. What about him?”

Sara told them, “Well, he said that he wants to look around the city and he said that we'll stay out till late. So, I told him that I will bring my friends along. So, what you guys say?”

John wanted to find out who this guy was, “Yeah, I'm okay with that, but who is this dude?”

Sara told him, “He's my father's friend's son. They're from California and they're here for few days to visit us. So, I want to show him around. What about you Neha? Please don't say, no. I'll talk to my mother and ask her to ask your mother about it. Okay?”

Neha smiled, “Then there's no problem at all.”

“Thank you.” After eating lunch, the bell rings, “Hey, John. Come to my house around 7 and we'll leave at that time. Also, do you know any club by any chance?”

John excitedly, “Of course, I do.”

Neha pulled Sara by the arm, “Come on, we're gonna be late for class.”

Sara reminding him again, “Just come home around 7. Okay,” Neha taking Sara by the arm while she was talking to John, “bye.”

Sara thought that after looking around the city, she takes Farhan to the club because she was sad and to occupy herself, now she didn't want to think about Aaron anymore. He had hurt her so much that she forgot about if the rest of the world existed. The school ended. Sara and Neha went to the parking lot, where John was waiting for them.

John asked, “So, you want me to show up at 7, but where we're gonna go.”

Sara scratching her hair, “I'm thinking about going to the lake first, or some other place, then around 10 we'll go to the club. I've never gone to a club, so I want to go and see how it is like.“

John told her, “Okay, I'll be there on time. We're gonna have so much fun.”

Sara excited too, “Thanks, see you later, then.”

John waves, “Bye.”

Neha waved at him, “Bye.” Sara puts on music so loud that she didn't want her mind to even think about anything or even talk to Neha about any of the stuff. She drove straight to Neha's house and lowers the volume when she reached Neha's house.

Sara told her, “Neha, put something fancy like a club type. I'm gonna wear something like that too. Okay?”

Neha answered, “Alright, Madam.”

“Bye” Neha waves at her and goes inside.

Sara puts the music louder again and goes home. She sees that they were watching a movie and she guess that Farhan would have been bored by now because he was sitting between older people.

Sara greeted everyone, “Hello, everybody?” Everyone said hi to her and she went to the kitchen to get something to eat. Her mother came into the kitchen to give her some food.

Ayesha lifted the lid from the pot, “I've cooked this special biriyani for you because you didn't eat anything in the morning.”

Sara hugs her, “Thank you, mom. Mom, today we're going out with Farhan. Did he tell you about it? I want to show him around?”

Sara started eating, “Yeah, he told me that and he also said that you're gonna take some of your friends from school.”

Sara told her, “Yeah, only Neha and John. That's all.”

Ayesha asked, “Oh I see. What time you guys will be back home?”

Sara said, “I don't know, mom? I'm gonna show him everything, so we'll be late, I guess.”

Ayesha nodded, “okay, but don't be too late.”

Sara assured her, “don't worry, mom. I've got my cell phone and you can call me to check on me.”

Ayesha told her, “It's not like I don't believe you, it's just that I care about you.” Suddenly Sara saw Farhan standing behind her mother. “Farhan, Hey? What time did you wake up?”

Her mother left the kitchen and went to the living room, “I got up around 11. So, how was your test?”

Sara drinking water, “Easy, but it was boring in school today.”

Farhan smiled. “I told you to stay home with me. You could've fun, but you missed it.” Sara smiled back while eating.

Sara whispering, “don't worry, we'll have more fun at the club.” Saying in low voice.

Farhan aloud, “What? We're gonna go to the club.”

Sara whispering again, “Say it slowly, yeah. Are you okay with that?”

Farhan said, “Hell yeah.” Both of them laugh.

Sara finished with her food and she told him that she's gonna get ready. She told him that her friends will come around 7 and he should get ready too. She goes to her room and takes shower. She looks for clothes in her closet and didn't know what to wear because she was going to the club for the first time, and she wanted to look nice. She went to all the dresses that she had but couldn't find a dress that would suit the club. She also couldn't ask her mother because if she knew then she won't let her go to the club. So, once again she looked through her closet. Finally, she found one dress that she thought would fit. It was a loose flowing skirt with Rhinestone Embellished straps, empire waist, and pleated bodice. It was a light pink that made her look pale, nobody could tell if she was Pakistani or American. She let her hair down and she did light make up. She looked so pretty in that dress when she came down. Everybody in the living room couldn't take eyes of her. Her father was at work and only her mother had the day off. Farhan also couldn't take his eyes off of her.

Sara told everyone, “Please, everybody. Stop staring at me. I get nervous, Do I look okay?”

Ayesha and Isha together, “You look beautiful.”

Sara shying, “Thank you. It's already 7. I'm ready on time.”

Farhan teasing her, “Yeah, it took you almost two hours to get ready.”

Sara laughed, “Just shut up. Mom, Did Neha call?”

Ayesha told her, “No, not yet?”

Sara asked, “What about Johnathan?”

Ayesha nodded, “No.”

Sara started looking around the living area, “Where did I put my phone?”

“It's on the dining table,” Sara called Neha and she told her that she couldn't go because she's grounded.

Sara begging her to come, “Please, Neha don't do this at the last minute. I'm ready and coming to pick you up.”

Neha apologized, “No, don't come because my mom grounded me, and I can't go with you. I'm really sorry, I wish I could go.”

Sara asked, “How about if my mom talks to you mom?”

Neha answered. “She still won't let me go.”

Sara wondered, “Why does it always happen to me? I hope Johnathan shows up.”

“Sorry, Sara. I'm really sorry.” Sara was sad because she wanted Neha to be with her, but she couldn't go.

Sara told her, “It's okay, I understand. I'm gonna call John and see if he is going?”

Neha responded, “Alright, bye.” Sara hangs up the phone and was sad because Neha wasn't going with them. She told Farhan that she doesn't want to go now, but Sara's mother insisted that she takes Farhan out. So, she called John to see if he was going too. John told her that he was on the way to her house, but Sara wished that some magic happens, and Neha could go with them. Seeing Sara's sad face, her mother called Neha's mom and asked her if she could go with them. She told them about Farhan's family and said that they'll drop her home safely. Neha's mother couldn't refuse Sara's mother, so Neha was going with them.

Sara excitedly, “Thank you, mom. You're the greatest mom, in the whole world.” Sara calls Neha again and tells her to get dress. “Be ready in ten minutes. Okay, I'll come there to pick you up.”

Neha asked, “But how did you convince my mom?”

Sara told her, “It wasn't me, it was my mother, who convinced your mother.”

Neha happily, “Man, your mother is great.”

Sara smiled, “I know, now hurry up. John's coming here and I'll come to pick you up as soon John reaches here.”

“OK, bye.” They hang up.

Farhan looking at her, “You're happy, now.”

Sara told him, “Yes, I am. I wanted you to meet my best friend, Neha.”

“Oh, I see.” Looking in Sara's eyes and she was looking back at him.

Sara waved her hand, “Stop staring. Come, let's go outside.” They get out of the house and Sara sees John coming to her driveway. She introduces them to each other and tells John that they'll go in one car. Now they were ready to go pick up Neha.

John asked, “if you don't mind, Can I drive?”

Sara gave him the keys, “Yeah, because I don't feel like driving.”

John took the keys and went to Neha's house. It was already 8 when they reached Neha's home. She was still getting ready.

“Neha hurry up. We've got to go now.” She was in her room and Sara was calling her from outside the room.

“I'm almost ready, two more minutes.” Neha got out and she was also wearing a mini skirt with a deep v neckline and it was in black. She was also looking pretty.

Sara commented, “You're looking so pretty.”

Neha asked worried, “Really?”

Sara responded, “Of course.”

“Thank you.” Neha looking down at her dress.

Sara told her, “Come on, let's go now.” They go outside and John drives. Sara didn't know where he was going because she never to those streets before. “Where are we going?”

John told her, “I thought you said we'll go to the club. So, I'm going there. It's gonna take almost an hour and a half.”

Neha asked, “What's the name of the club?”

John said, “The Shack. It's amazing and we'll have fun.” Sara and Neha were sitting in the back and John and Farhan sitting together in the front.

Sara asked, “but it's far, and do you think, we'll come back on time.”

John told her, “Yeah, don't worry. We'll be back on time.”

So, John kept driving. Sara and Neha were talking about Aaron, they were talking so quietly that Farhan and John couldn't hear them.

Neha asked, “Why is he mad at you?”

Sara told her, “I don't know, and I don't want to talk about him. If he loves me, then he'll come to me. Hey, do you have his number?”

Neha said, “No, I don't. Remember that night when he wanted to give his number, you didn't take it. So, now when you need it, you don't have it.”

Sara arrogantly, “Fine, I don't want his number. If he is mad at me, then I'm also angry with him. I won't talk to him if he comes in front of me. I just hate him so much.” Farhan interrupts, “Hey, Sara. It's a beautiful place and I'm loving it.”

Sara said, “I wish you stay here longer and I take you to my favorite places. Why don't you come here in the summer and we'll go to my favorite places?”

Farhan smiled, “That's a good idea. How about if you marry me and I'll move here with you?” Sara and Neha started laughing.

Sara said, “You're so funny.” John wasn't looking happy because of whatever Farhan said.

Neha asked, “Hey, Farhan. You know what you should find some other girl here because she's already booked.”

Farhan confused, “What? I didn't understand.” He didn't know what Neha was saying.

Sara eyeing her, “She doesn't know what she's saying.” She was telling Neha don’t tell him about Aaron because that's what she meant when she said that Sara's already booked.