Part 57 – Class Is In Session

Have you ever wondered about life?

Specifically, how unpredictable it is.

You never know where you’re going to end up and you never know who is going to be a supporter.

It’s kind of daunting to make friends if you think about it like that. To trust people, let them get to know you and your family only for them to completely ice you out or break that trust.

These are the questions that popped into my head during my first week back at school.

It was all because I kept bumping into Zaheer. He was unavoidable. Every time I rounded a corner, he would be standing there, talking to someone or engrossed in a textbook. I would walk past him really quickly to avoid any awkward interaction.

It was strange to think that only a few months ago he had been so concerned about my maths grade and now we had no idea what was going on in each other’s lives.

Well, that wasn’t entirely true. I was kept in the loop of all his family updates through Aaliya, who I saw every few weeks. I knew where they had travelled to and what they did on their weekends. I knew more than I would have liked to know but I never stopped Aaliya from talking about her brother.

Snapping me out of my train of thought, Lia sided up to me. The bell had just rang, signalling the end of school.

LIA: How is winter break over already? I need another holiday.

I smiled, totally agreeing.

LIA: School was stressful enough but now we have to write personal statements and make life changing decisions and decide what our futures are going to be and-

ME: Woah girl, take a breath. If you start spiralling, you’ll get nowhere.

LIA: There’s so much to think about! So many decisions to make.

ME: Well, do you know what you want to do?

Lia gave me a deadpan look as if I had asked the most ridiculous question.

LIA: Of course I don’t know what I want to do! I’m eighteen! Whoever decided that we should be allowed to make decisions at eighteen was seriously misguided.

I rolled my eyes but laughed. Lia was comical.

ME: If it makes you feel any better, I have no clue either.

LIA: Great! So we can be clueless together.

ME: Why are you even stressing about this now? We only have to apply next year in year thirteen?

LIA: Yes… but you can get into a lot of American universities with just year twelve.

ME: So, that’s your plan?

LIA: Yeah girl, I want out of this place.

I raised an eyebrow.

ME: But- you love it here. I mean, I thought you got along with everyone.

Lia sighed and leaned against her locker.

LIA: I do but… between you and me, our high school can be so childish. I mean, take everything that happened with Ashley and Zaheer. They just iced you out for no reason and everyone was expected to do the same. And for what? Because Ashley was insecure about your friendship with Zaheer.

Well, this was news to me.

LIA: But it’s more than that. I’m ready to leave high school. I’m ready for a change of scenery and place. You’re the only person I’ve told this to so…

ME: I got it. I won’t tell a soul.

Lia smiled.

ME: So, where do you want to move to?

LIA: America for sure. I used to live there so it feels natural to go back.

ME: Must be nice to have options.

LIA: What do you mean?

ME: I mean- it’s different for me. My parents want me to be independent and have a good education. They want me to be able to stand on my own two feet but… there are limits, justified limits.

LIA: Justified limits?

ME: Yeah… Um- how do I explain this? It’s based on religious beliefs, in essence. And you accept and respect it because… that’s what having faith is all about.

Lia nodded her head.

ME: I didn’t mean to preach-

LIA: No no, by all means. Everyone’s entitled to their own religious beliefs. Imagine how surface level our lives would be if we had no faith. I mean, I’m Hindu. I might not be the holiest Hindu but faith is still something that’s important to me.

ME: Yeah so, you get it then? It’s about balancing the options I have. I want to get a degree. My parents will support me but I won’t be able to travel to America by myself like you can.

LIA: So, what options will you have?

I shrugged my shoulders. I honestly didn’t know.

My parents and I had not yet had the conversation about my future but I felt like now was good a time as any to ask them what my options were, so I could prepare myself.

It felt strange to talk to Fatimah and Lia who were both already focused on the next phase in their life: higher education. Life beyond high school. It was daunting but exciting. I was happy for them

Just as I was about to say goodbye to Lia, Zaheer walked up to us. He looked at me. I looked away.

ZAHEER: Lia, Ms. Cooper was looking for you.

LIA: Oh shoot! I was supposed to see her! Crap, I’ll see you tomorrow Yaz. And remember…

She held a finger to her lips and I assured her that my lips were sealed. I grabbed my bag from my locker expecting Zaheer to have left but when I turned around, he was still there.

ZAHEER: I asked, how was your break?

ME: Oh- It was fine.

An awkward pause.

ME: I have to go.

Zaheer nodded his head and then did something out of character; he gave me a small wave as I turned around and exited the building.

I was convinced: Boys were from Mars.